If not DCL, then who would you cruise with?

[mevelandry]

I would absolutely do the Carnival Vista out of Galveston, she’s in Miami right now but is moving to Galveston later this year. I didn’t think I could ever like a ship more than the Disney Fantasy but I absolutely prefer the Vista now. Here’s a link to a trip report with pictures I did on our first sailing on her in 2016. We’ve been on her 2 more times since then and are bookednon her sister Horizon next year. Fantastic and fun ship, great service and awesome food choices.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/thoughts-on-the-new-carnival-vista.3521334/

I approve this message.

 

[mevelandry]

It's hard for me to get past Carnival's rep of being a booze cruise. I wonder if that is for shorter cruises.

Probably the shorter cruises (3 nights) I've done a 4 nights and a 6 nights and it was very quiet.

 

[braysmommy]

The past 7 years we have only sailed Disney but this May we are branching out. We will do westbound transatlantic on Carnivals new ship the Horizon. It looks awesome and my son is very excited to try out all the new stuff. Will be weird not seeing the characters around but a savings of over $4,000 compared to eastbound transatlantic on the Magic this May.

 

[cadien]

This is good to know for adult only cruises. I don't hear much about Viking Ocean or River cruises. I'll have to look into them.

Viking Ocean is super new, just a couple years old, but has received great reviews. It’s a little weird because they’re one of the more affordable river cruise lines but mid-luxury for ocean.

 

[cadien]

We sailed with DCL before we tried Carnival. Honestly we were not disappointed at all! Carnival really took a "family-friendly" turn in the last years... Especially on the new ships (Vista & Horizon). I would highly recommend them.

Next cruise line we're trying will be Royal Caribbean and I am shocked by what they offer compared to DCL. The Quantum and Oasis class ships look amazing. Can't wait to try them.

Carnival Vista’s Havana area is just gorgeous. I’ve seriously considered booking them just for that.

 

[mevelandry]

The past 7 years we have only sailed Disney but this May we are branching out. We will do westbound transatlantic on Carnivals new ship the Horizon. It looks awesome and my son is very excited to try out all the new stuff. Will be weird not seeing the characters around but a savings of over $4,000 compared to eastbound transatlantic on the Magic this May.

If you really like characters, there's the towel elephant and Dr Seuss's Sam-I-am, Cat in the hat, Thing 1 & Thing 2.

 

[cedricandsophie]

For kids we would never do anything but Disney. Without kids Crystal is amazing as is silver sea. Both are all inclusive.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

This is good to know for adult only cruises. I don't hear much about Viking Ocean or River cruises. I'll have to look into them.

We've done both and can highly recommend either one. Viking is excellent.

 

[smiths02]

It's hard for me to get past Carnival's rep of being a booze cruise. I wonder if that is for shorter cruises.

I have a hard time getting past Costa Concordia, Carnival Triumph, and Carnival Splendor.

Anyhow, my DH's cousins-a father, a mother, and a pre-teen/teen (she was 10/11 on one cruise and 13 on the next) have gone on 2 cruises with Carnival. They love the food and activities. They do not drink at all nor gamble, and they still keep wanting to cruise with Carnival again.

 

[disneymom3]

What did your teems think of vista? Would they prefer it to DCL also?

My teens loved the Breeze which is the second newest ship. They didn't even do much in the teen club but they had a blast with all the different activities available. The food options are great and the size is such that the staff recognizes you and greets you by name. Two of mine also really liked the teen club on the Allure but we all missed feeling like we were actually on the ocean. And we also find the food on Carnival to be SO much better on Carnival than Royal. NCL is okay, but I haven't been on their newer ships and I was just with adults on those cruises.

 

[disneymom3]

It's hard for me to get past Carnival's rep of being a booze cruise. I wonder if that is for shorter cruises.

Pretty much any line but Disney is a booze cruise if you go on n the long weekend ones. Carnival has a LOT of ships so they have several available to do those short cruises. You'll notice that Princess and Holland which are also owned by Carnival Corp don't even offer short cruises as they want to avoid that clientele. Princess used to have a ship on the West coast that did alternating three and four day but they took it out of there. I did a cruise on them when it was still there and it was a pretty similar vibe to the Carnival ones also out of Long Beach.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We sailed with DCL before we tried Carnival. Honestly we were not disappointed at all! Carnival really took a "family-friendly" turn in the last years... Especially on the new ships (Vista & Horizon). I would highly recommend them.

Next cruise line we're trying will be Royal Caribbean and I am shocked by what they offer compared to DCL. The Quantum and Oasis class ships look amazing. Can't wait to try them.

That's good to hear. Our family of six (kids ages 1-10) is going on our first cruise next month (7 night Eastern Caribbean DCL w SW DAS). My brother-in-law just got married and he and his wife decided that they want everyone to go on a cruise this November to celebrate. It sounds like they're thinking Carnival out of Port Canaveral (although I think Galveston might make more sense, since so many of us live in TX). I don't think DCL is in their budget (it'd be them and my BIL's 9 yo son, plus other extended family), and I was a little worried DCL would "ruin" other cruise lines for us.

 

[soniam]

We’ve done Royal and really enjoy it. In many ways it’s the same and in some ways it’s better.

We’ll do Celebrity soon. It has a casino (bonus for DH) and there’s no smoking in it (good for me and good for DH since he can’t gamble on Royal if he wants to come back to the stateroom
because I am just that sensitive to smoke).

We are doing our first Celebrity cruise in April. I was ecstatic to find out that the casino is smoke free. I am extremely sensitive to it too, but I like to go to the casino some.

Celebrity’s teen club looks amazing. They give them GoPros to use in port and then teach them how to edit the movies.

I have heard about that. I plan to check it out, if I can, since we will be sans kiddo when we do Celebrity. However, we are going on an older ship, so it may not have the same amenities.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

The past 7 years we have only sailed Disney but this May we are branching out. We will do westbound transatlantic on Carnivals new ship the Horizon. It looks awesome and my son is very excited to try out all the new stuff. Will be weird not seeing the characters around but a savings of over $4,000 compared to eastbound transatlantic on the Magic this May.

He’ll love the ship, it’s so amazing. Make sure you look into doing the Cat in the Hat breakfast on board. It’s only $5/person and has some really awesome food, especially for kids, but I highly recommend the steak and eggs. I also highly recommend the daily brunch in the MDR, there’s some very nice food choices for that. After spending 22 nights on Vista, I’m so jealous of your transatlantic cruise, have a ton of fun.

 

[cruiser21]

The past 7 years we have only sailed Disney but this May we are branching out. We will do westbound transatlantic on Carnivals new ship the Horizon. It looks awesome and my son is very excited to try out all the new stuff. Will be weird not seeing the characters around but a savings of over $4,000 compared to eastbound transatlantic on the Magic this May.

You also have the advantage of going east to west.

 

[dcassetta]

Viking Ocean is super new, just a couple years old, but has received great reviews. It’s a little weird because they’re one of the more affordable river cruise lines but mid-luxury for ocean.

My parents are sailing on a Viking ocean cruise beginning tomorrow in the Med. there river cruises are great. I'll be really interested to hear their impressions, the ship looks beautiful. In addition to Disney I've sailed on Norwegian, but that was about 30 years ago and I don't even have much memory of that cruise. Sailed Princess to Alaska which was a nice journey, but very few kids on board at least at the time we sailed. I also enjoy Holland America, their service is on par with Disney as far as professionalism, but I would not say it's as friendly. I think Holland America and Disney have the prettiest ships with the dark hulls.

 

[mevelandry]

That's good to hear. Our family of six (kids ages 1-10) is going on our first cruise next month (7 night Eastern Caribbean DCL w SW DAS). My brother-in-law just got married and he and his wife decided that they want everyone to go on a cruise this November to celebrate. It sounds like they're thinking Carnival out of Port Canaveral (although I think Galveston might make more sense, since so many of us live in TX). I don't think DCL is in their budget (it'd be them and my BIL's 9 yo son, plus other extended family), and I was a little worried DCL would "ruin" other cruise lines for us.

As long as your mind is open, I think you will enjoy your cruise. Carnival does things differently than DCL but they are good at what they are doing. I recommend you do a little research before you cruise with them just to know what to expect/how they work.

 

[plutolovr]

FYI: http://www.ajc.com/news/national/mo...il-health-inspections/fjS9LEtcxG7cRxLF3YjtDJ/

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

FYI: http://www.ajc.com/news/national/mo...il-health-inspections/fjS9LEtcxG7cRxLF3YjtDJ/

This is my issue. I've taken a hard look at Vista cruises, but this is what has been keeping me away from the line overall.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

If you really like characters, there's the towel elephant and Dr Seuss's Sam-I-am, Cat in the hat, Thing 1 & Thing 2.

We've also seen Mr and Mrs Potato Head on some of our Carnival Cruises.

Carnival has partnered with Hasbro which has increased many of their family friendly options - you're find Carnival Tower (Giant Jenga game), Trivial Pursuit group trivia (on sea days), connect 4 tournaments, Clue Mystery game and of course, the Hasbro Game Show (main theatre event). They also stock the library with a large variety of Hasbro games so if you're looking for family friendly on a sea day and none of the activities interest your gang - you can always head to the library and play candyland, battleship, monopoly, risk, clue, etc.