CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[daisyx3]

[QUOTE="What type of cabin do you have on the Fantasy? ... Because while I haven't tried it for myself, I have heard that Havana Cabana were pure heaven and I've watched it from the Aft Pool on the Vista: nice and quiet place. I'm curious to see how you think they compare.[/QUOTE]

We are in a 5A cabin on deck 9. On our cruises so far we have stayed center, closer to the top. We were on deck 8 on the Wonder in 03, deck 6 on the magic in 04 (my parents anniversary trip so they picked the deck, although we were midship), deck 9 on the Dream in 16. I was going to try to get an aft cabin but they were gone before we hatched this plan.
Our thing is this...do we love the DCL cruises because it's DCL, or because it's a cruise? My logic is we can't be sure until we cruise another line, and what better one to try than one with a whole kid-free area? (i've done my time, my youngest is 20). We will be at WDW in March anyway.

 

[hdrolfe]

I have only cruised Carnival and Royal and haven't paid for much extra. Nothing that wouldn't be extra on other lines from what I understand. I pay gratuities, excursions, I usually buy a few drinks, and we shop in the stores for something fun to remember the ship. We did do specialty dining on our last RCL cruise, one night in the Mexican place, but doesn't DCL have specialty dining as well? Our cabins have all been pretty big except on Majesty of the Seas which had tiny cabins! I love that they will split the beds apart for us since I travel with my son. I don't think you can do that on DCL? Though I guess he'd have a couch-bed or something? You don't pay for the ice skating, flow rider, or rock climbing, unless you want lessons or something, but we haven't been on the big ships. Any way. I really really want to do a DCL cruise while my son is still young enough to appreciate it, he wants to do a Star Wars cruise. But oh the cost... I have such a hard time justifying it when we can go on another line for half the price. We loved the last Carnival cruise, the ships was perfect for us (except the buffet layout which we did not like). I really want to go on Horizon and stay in the Family Harbor area, and when he's older perhaps the Havana area.

When I look at the cost of the cruise, I could do a 13 night on Carnival Sunshine for about $1000 less than 7 nights on Disney, in an Outside cabin on Sunshine vs Interior on Disney. That would cover gratuities and excursions! Or perhaps a day or two at Disney before or after. Any way. Everyone gets to make their own choices, and I've been happy with ours so far! As long as I get to keep cruising

 

[mevelandry]

[QUOTE="What type of cabin do you have on the Fantasy? ... Because while I haven't tried it for myself, I have heard that Havana Cabana were pure heaven and I've watched it from the Aft Pool on the Vista: nice and quiet place. I'm curious to see how you think they compare.

We are in a 5A cabin on deck 9. On our cruises so far we have stayed center, closer to the top. We were on deck 8 on the Wonder in 03, deck 6 on the magic in 04 (my parents anniversary trip so they picked the deck, although we were midship), deck 9 on the Dream in 16. I was going to try to get an aft cabin but they were gone before we hatched this plan.
Our thing is this...do we love the DCL cruises because it's DCL, or because it's a cruise? My logic is we can't be sure until we cruise another line, and what better one to try than one with a whole kid-free area? (i've done my time, my youngest is 20). We will be at WDW in March anyway.[/QUOTE]

Trying something else is the best way to find out what you like the most.

 

[belle032]

SURVEY

Are you interested in a ROLL CALL section a the beginning of this thread?

A) Yes!!! I like to send wishes to people before their cruise and read their reviews.

B) I'm fine with or without it.

C) I don't care about other people's cruises and reviews and I don't want to give you my dates either.


P.s.: As you can imagine, I would vote A.

A for me! I love seeing who's sailing where and on what.

When I look at the cost of the cruise, I could do a 13 night on Carnival Sunshine for about $1000 less than 7 nights on Disney, in an Outside cabin on Sunshine vs Interior on Disney. That would cover gratuities and excursions! Or perhaps a day or two at Disney before or after. Any way. Everyone gets to make their own choices, and I've been happy with ours so far! As long as I get to keep cruising

Agreed! DH & I have only sailed Carnival, including get married on Carnival last year and honeymoon this year. I've sailed once on RCCL (w/an ex-boyfriend and I don't remember much! ) We looked at NCL, RCCL & DCL for our cruise this year and honestly, Carnival just seems like the best bang for our buck. We've always had an amazing time. And sure, everyone has a preference, but it does annoy me that people badmouth the line when they've never tried it. I hate when people ask what line we're cruising and I respond "Carnival" and I get like a look of pity.

We are planning on the DCL British Isles cruise next year. Mainly because the itinerary, cruise length and dates work great for us. And this will be our first time on DCL. I have ALWAYS wanted to do a Disney cruise & go back to Europe so this is our excuse. Yes, we know it will be expensive so that will be our vacation next year. But bottom line? if it comes down to cruising 3 times a year on Carnival (or whatever line) vs. maybe once a year on DCL...it's a no brainer for us.

 

[RedSox68]

Awwww... Thank you very much.

(Where do I send the cheque?)

 

[mevelandry]

Alright guys! ROLL CALL!!!!!

I have just started the roll call at the end of post #1!

Let me know what Carnival cruises you have coming in 2018-2019-2020 and I will add them!

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Alright guys! ROLL CALL!!!!!

I have just started the roll call at the end of post #1!

Let me know what Carnival cruises you have coming in 2018-2019-2020 and I will add them!

Well you can start me off with Carnival Vista June 2 2018!

Next up for us is Carnival Panorama May 30 2020

 

[belle032]

Alright guys! ROLL CALL!!!!!

I have just started the roll call at the end of post #1!

Let me know what Carnival cruises you have coming in 2018-2019-2020 and I will add them!

Cool! Put me down for the Carnival Conquest on Sept. 29, 2018!

 

[belle032]

Well you can start me off with Carnival Vista June 2 2018!

So jealous that’s tomorrow! I’m eager to hear how you like the ship, I know it’s different than any of the others and I’d like to give it a try in the near future!

 

[mevelandry]

Well you can start me off with Carnival Vista June 2 2018!

Next up for us is Carnival Panorama May 30 2020

Added!

 

[mevelandry]

Cool! Put me down for the Carnival Conquest on Sept. 29, 2018!

Added!

 

[mevelandry]

So jealous that’s tomorrow! I’m eager to hear how you like the ship, I know it’s different than any of the others and I’d like to give it a try in the near future!

I have sailed on the Vista in October. Some of the long time fans of Carnival don't like it but I loved it. I absolutely loved the layout and how they focused on the outdoor sections on deck 5. We picked an inside Cloud 9 Spa cabin but somehow always found a quiet place to sit down and have our "ocean view coffee" every morning.

 

[Monykalyn]

Newbie cruiser here
Carnival Valor Oct 11-15.

 

[hdrolfe]

I need to book a trip... I keep wavering on what to book! Horizon 6-night? Breeze 7-night? Sunshine? Too many trips I want to take... So many ports I want to visit and ships I want to try! Plus of course get to Disney to check out Toy Story Land when it opens.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Just got an incredible price drop on my January 12 2019 Carnival Sunshine cruise - saved $442 plus $600 casino cash (plus some gifts, welcome aboard cocktail party, and drinks on us card for the casino from day 1). I had already booked that cruise and the fact that they made it a Casino Premiere cruise is truly icing on the cake.

the downside is I did the costing for all of my fall 2018 - early 2019 cruises and realized that the DCL cruises are twice as much per day (or more) than the other stuff I have booked. I really want to do a Star Wars day at sea cruise and a Marvel days at sea cruise but the cost

I'm about to make a whole bunch of people crazy when I tell you our plans:

14 N / 10 N / 14 N - Caribbean Princess (total 38 days);
5 N - Celebrity Infinity;
13 N - Carnival Sunshine;
7 N - Disney Fantasy;
5 N - Disney Magic.

total 68 days of cruising between November 25 2018 and February 7 2019.

 

[mevelandry]

Newbie cruiser here
Carnival Valor Oct 11-15.

Added! ... And Welcome!

 

[mevelandry]

I need to book a trip... I keep wavering on what to book! Horizon 6-night? Breeze 7-night? Sunshine? Too many trips I want to take... So many ports I want to visit and ships I want to try! Plus of course get to Disney to check out Toy Story Land when it opens.

Land & Sea?

The Sunshine is leaving from Port Canaveral...

 

[mevelandry]

Just got an incredible price drop on my January 12 2019 Carnival Sunshine cruise - saved $442 plus $600 casino cash (plus some gifts, welcome aboard cocktail party, and drinks on us card for the casino from day 1). I had already booked that cruise and the fact that they made it a Casino Premiere cruise is truly icing on the cake.

the downside is I did the costing for all of my fall 2018 - early 2019 cruises and realized that the DCL cruises are twice as much per day (or more) than the other stuff I have booked. I really want to do a Star Wars day at sea cruise and a Marvel days at sea cruise but the cost

I'm about to make a whole bunch of people crazy when I tell you our plans:

14 N / 10 N / 14 N - Caribbean Princess (total 38 days);
5 N - Celebrity Infinity;
13 N - Carnival Sunshine;
7 N - Disney Fantasy;
5 N - Disney Magic.

total 68 days of cruising between November 25 2018 and February 7 2019.

Crazy? No, no... Just extremely jealous.

 

[mevelandry]

Just got an incredible price drop on my January 12 2019 Carnival Sunshine cruise - saved $442 plus $600 casino cash (plus some gifts, welcome aboard cocktail party, and drinks on us card for the casino from day 1). I had already booked that cruise and the fact that they made it a Casino Premiere cruise is truly icing on the cake.

the downside is I did the costing for all of my fall 2018 - early 2019 cruises and realized that the DCL cruises are twice as much per day (or more) than the other stuff I have booked. I really want to do a Star Wars day at sea cruise and a Marvel days at sea cruise but the cost

I'm about to make a whole bunch of people crazy when I tell you our plans:

14 N / 10 N / 14 N - Caribbean Princess (total 38 days);
5 N - Celebrity Infinity;
13 N - Carnival Sunshine;
7 N - Disney Fantasy;
5 N - Disney Magic.

total 68 days of cruising between November 25 2018 and February 7 2019.

That's a great price drop. I wish I could get one like that for my Sunshine cruise!

p.s.: I added your cruise on the Sunshine to the Roll Call!

 

[hdrolfe]

Just got an incredible price drop on my January 12 2019 Carnival Sunshine cruise - saved $442 plus $600 casino cash (plus some gifts, welcome aboard cocktail party, and drinks on us card for the casino from day 1). I had already booked that cruise and the fact that they made it a Casino Premiere cruise is truly icing on the cake.

the downside is I did the costing for all of my fall 2018 - early 2019 cruises and realized that the DCL cruises are twice as much per day (or more) than the other stuff I have booked. I really want to do a Star Wars day at sea cruise and a Marvel days at sea cruise but the cost

I'm about to make a whole bunch of people crazy when I tell you our plans:

14 N / 10 N / 14 N - Caribbean Princess (total 38 days);
5 N - Celebrity Infinity;
13 N - Carnival Sunshine;
7 N - Disney Fantasy;
5 N - Disney Magic.

total 68 days of cruising between November 25 2018 and February 7 2019.

Yup, totally jealous. I keep looking at that 13 night cruise and wishing I could do it but we over extended the past couple trips and I'm trying to catch up again. I'm not a gambler so no casino offer for me. Guess I should play something on the ships so I can get the extra good deals? Your end date there (Feb 7) is my birthday... maybe it's a sign lol. I'll have to book something!