We chose the dark side - Carnival VS Disney

[mevelandry]

Last year we had booked a Bermuda Cruise on the Sunshine. Then, after our 2nd cruise with Disney in December, we decided to cancel our 2016 Bermuda cruise to invest in a Disney Cruise with my in-laws in April 2017.

We're still doing it. But... we still had a credit with Carnival and "miles" to book plane tickets and 1 or 2 nights at the hotel so we decided to celebrate our 5th anniversary with Carnival in October 2016 *Gasp!*

So here is the comparison so far...

We picked a small four nights Bahamian cruise (Freeport-Nassau-Sea Day) on the Carnival Victory. So far, it cost us 50% than what a DCL 4 nights cruise would have cost us for a similar type of room.

I booked excursions today because there was a 20% off deal if we booked one excursion for each port of calls (basically mu husband pay his 2nd excursion 5$ !) I don't think that ever happened with Disney. I also found that Carnival had much more choices of excursions than Disney.

The Carnival Sunshine had more $ specialty restaurants that you could add, they were less expensive than Disney too. I'm not surr I am interested in adding the $ specialty restaurants from the Victory yet. (TBD) So far, the selection of food sounds sufficiently interesting for me.

So far, the things I know I'll miss is Castaway Cay. Since we don't make a stop in Half Moon Cay in this cruise, I picked the "Family Beach Escape", hoping to get our "beach fix".

I'm keeping Atlantis for the 2017 Disney Family Cruise so we picked a Glass Bottom Boat Tour in Nassau. Our expectations are pretty low. I hope we'll enjoy it.

We had to prepay the excursions right away. I like that option better, to be honest.

I also like the fact that you can add on board credit online with Carnival instead of a call/fax sheet with Disney.

I find the in-room decorations packages to be less expensive with Carnival than with Disney.

I'm still studying the soda package thing.

I did not see many images of the boats and the rooms. Cannot really compare, yet. (TBD)

I decided that I would love that cruise, even though it's not Disney.

Still, I am looking for Disney AND Carnival fans to help me plan this cruise!

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

P.S.: I want to do a full review and comparison when I come back from the Carnival Cruise.

 

[Ofinn]

There are a few people on here including myself that are giving Carnival a try. Beware though theres lots of Carnival bashers on these board. There are also some people on these boards that have given them a very positive review. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[Love2Cruz]

I love Carnival, have cruised them many times! Victory is a nice ship, a bit smaller that their new builds, but still beautiful. She has an "underwater" theme.

 

[mevelandry]

I noticed there was video tours of her on Youtube. Will be watching it for sure tonight!

 

[Love2Cruz]

I noticed there was video tours of her on Youtube. Will be watching it for sure tonight!

They have this beautiful ceiling on the atrium for great photo ops...it's an emerald green. I'll see if I can find a pic and post it.

 

[MsMamaBear]

I've only cruised Carnival. I'm looking into another next summer, the first time with my daughter. You will enjoy it!

 

[Love2Cruz]

This is my DD about 3 years ago under the emerald atrium.




Also Gambee reviewed the ship...www.cruisewithgambee.com
It's a VERY thorough review, you'll get to see a lot of pics.

 

[kodes]

We have cruised Carnival twice - once on the Glory and once on the Miracle. Truthfully both were great cruises. I'm really looking forward to my first Disney cruise, despite the astronomical cost. I feel like Disney will be enjoyable for my kids for only so long, which will make it MORE enjoyable for me

 

[scdak]

25 Carnival cruises under my belt and although I am sure that there are issues at times..........there are issues with every cruise line! My last 2 cruises have actually been on Holland America since they were specialty charter cruises (Country Music) but when I decide I want to cruise again for a non-specialty cruise it will be on Carnival. OP - you will enjoy yourself, it might be different than Disney but its a cruise............that in itself is awesome. Go in with eyes open for new adventures, new food, new entertainment, new experiences and I think you will have a great time. Have a Molten Chocolate Lava cake for me..........I sure have missed them on my last 2 cruises

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Last year we had booked a Bermuda Cruise on the Sunshine. Then, after our 2nd cruise with Disney in December, we decided to cancel our 2016 Bermuda cruise to invest in a Disney Cruise with my in-laws in April 2017.

We're still doing it. But... we still had a credit with Carnival and "miles" to book plane tickets and 1 or 2 nights at the hotel so we decided to celebrate our 5th anniversary with Carnival in October 2016 *Gasp!*

So here is the comparison so far...

We picked a small four nights Bahamian cruise (Freeport-Nassau-Sea Day) on the Carnival Victory. So far, it cost us 50% than what a DCL 4 nights cruise would have cost us for a similar type of room.

I booked excursions today because there was a 20% off deal if we booked one excursion for each port of calls (basically mu husband pay his 2nd excursion 5$ !) I don't think that ever happened with Disney. I also found that Carnival had much more choices of excursions than Disney.

The Carnival Sunshine had more $ specialty restaurants that you could add, they were less expensive than Disney too. I'm not surr I am interested in adding the $ specialty restaurants from the Victory yet. (TBD) So far, the selection of food sounds sufficiently interesting for me.

So far, the things I know I'll miss is Castaway Cay. Since we don't make a stop in Half Moon Cay in this cruise, I picked the "Family Beach Escape", hoping to get our "beach fix".

I'm keeping Atlantis for the 2017 Disney Family Cruise so we picked a Glass Bottom Boat Tour in Nassau. Our expectations are pretty low. I hope we'll enjoy it.

We had to prepay the excursions right away. I like that option better, to be honest.

I also like the fact that you can add on board credit online with Carnival instead of a call/fax sheet with Disney.

I find the in-room decorations packages to be less expensive with Carnival than with Disney.

I'm still studying the soda package thing.

I did not see many images of the boats and the rooms. Cannot really compare, yet. (TBD)

I decided that I would love that cruise, even though it's not Disney.

Still, I am looking for Disney AND Carnival lovers to help me plan this cruise!

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Well, I don't know that I'd place myself in the Carnival "lovers" group, as we've only done one Carnival cruise. While I went with trepidation, it wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe. Now, I believe our cruise was atypical for the type cruise it was (a 4 night Baja cruise). I can see how it could be a "party cruise" and be pretty rowdy. The biggest issue we had was the e-x-t-r-eeeeeeee-m-l-y loud music on the pool deck. Forget about having any sort of conversation, or reading a book. Which also applied to the hairy chest contest audio level. The rooms, of course, are much smaller than the equivalent category/type rooms on DCL.

All that said, I'm not adverse to giving Carnival another shot, although it would probably by on a longer cruise, on a different ship. We were on the Inspiration, and I was less than overwhelmed with the neon/aluminum decor (like a cheap Vegas casino).

 

[Love2Cruz]

If Victory got the 2.0 upgrades, then you're in for a treat with Guy's burgers and Blue Iguana Cantina.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Princess Shmoo...the quick getaway trips tend to be more on the party side...but give them another shot..go on a 6 day or longer cruise on one of their newer ships, Breeze, Dream or Magic...or the brand new one Vista which debuts next month...you'll be pleasantly surprised.
As for the music, yes, you'll get that...and I enjoy some reggae or calypso on the pool deck with a frozen drink in hand...it's part of the ambiance for me of sailing on the open water. I was a little bored on the Disney deck when the only entertainment for us adults was the cartoons on the big screen. Yes, there is an adult area, but I go with my DD and I wouldn't leave her alone on the pool deck..so I am stuck there.
Also, Disney's entertainment is very "wholesome"..which is fine as I go for my DD, Carnival is more appealing to all age groups.

But, ANY day on a cruise is better than the best day at work...lol..so I am so thankful I can cruise. Period.

 

[bcwife76]

I was seriously considering booking the Carnival Legend to Alaska for August 2017. Ultimately I booked the 5 night to Alaska on Disney, but I fear that will be our only Disney cruise to Alaska. I will absolutely consider Carnival for future Alaskan cruises.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Princess Shmoo...the quick getaway trips tend to be more on the party side...but give them another shot..go on a 6 day or longer cruise on one of their newer ships, Breeze, Dream or Magic...or the brand new one Vista which debuts next month...you'll be pleasantly surprised.
As for the music, yes, you'll get that...and I enjoy some reggae or calypso on the pool deck with a frozen drink in hand...it's part of the ambiance for me of sailing on the open water. I was a little bored on the Disney deck when the only entertainment for us adults was the cartoons on the big screen. Yes, there is an adult area, but I go with my DD and I wouldn't leave her alone on the pool deck..so I am stuck there.
Also, Disney's entertainment is very "wholesome"..which is fine as I go for my DD, Carnival is more appealing to all age groups.

But, ANY day on a cruise is better than the best day at work...lol..so I am so thankful I can cruise. Period.

Oh, I know that. I was saying, I went at that cruise with the knowledge that it was probably going to be a party cruise. But we needed a get away (and we don't have much choice on the west coast). As it turned out, that particular cruise wasn't what I had been envisioning. Generally things were real laid back. To the point that when the Cruise Director was doing his pre-show warmup, I could see most people just sitting back, arms crossed, with a "let's get on with the show" look on their faces.

As I said, the biggest issue we had was the fact that we couldn't spend any "quiet time" at the pool. We're very "wholesome" people, and like entertainment that isn't suggestive, rude, or vulgar. The comedians on our cruise were so far from our taste that I'm real gun shy about trying any of those shows again, even if we do go on Carnival again.

We certainly are not adverse to giving Carnival another try, just not a short cruise, or on that ship.

 

[Heidiatmn]

Our first cruise was on the carnival triumph and loved it. Then we did the sensation and ugh not so good. We Disney probably exceeded carnival and rcl for that matter however our next cruise most likely will not be Disney. Although they're great we didn't feel like it was so much better that it justifies spending thousands more. Id rather do 2 cruises!

 

[Hundredacre]

I think it might be dcl that's gone to the dark side

 

[mevelandry]

This is my DD about 3 years ago under the emerald atrium.




Also Gambee reviewed the ship...www.cruisewithgambee.com
It's a VERY thorough review, you'll get to see a lot of pics.

Beautiful! I love lights and colors like that!

 

[mevelandry]

25 Carnival cruises under my belt and although I am sure that there are issues at times..........there are issues with every cruise line! My last 2 cruises have actually been on Holland America since they were specialty charter cruises (Country Music) but when I decide I want to cruise again for a non-specialty cruise it will be on Carnival. OP - you will enjoy yourself, it might be different than Disney but its a cruise............that in itself is awesome. Go in with eyes open for new adventures, new food, new entertainment, new experiences and I think you will have a great time. Have a Molten Chocolate Lava cake for me..........I sure have missed them on my last 2 cruises

I need to know where to get that Molten Chocolate Lava cake!!!!!

 

[mevelandry]

If Victory got the 2.0 upgrades, then you're in for a treat with Guy's burgers and Blue Iguana Cantina.

It's not part of the options unfortunately.

 

[mevelandry]

Oh, I know that. I was saying, I went at that cruise with the knowledge that it was probably going to be a party cruise. But we needed a get away (and we don't have much choice on the west coast). As it turned out, that particular cruise wasn't what I had been envisioning. Generally things were real laid back. To the point that when the Cruise Director was doing his pre-show warmup, I could see most people just sitting back, arms crossed, with a "let's get on with the show" look on their faces.

As I said, the biggest issue we had was the fact that we couldn't spend any "quiet time" at the pool. We're very "wholesome" people, and like entertainment that isn't suggestive, rude, or vulgar. The comedians on our cruise were so far from our taste that I'm real gun shy about trying any of those shows again, even if we do go on Carnival again.

We certainly are not adverse to giving Carnival another try, just not a short cruise, or on that ship.

If I like comedians like Louis CK and Amy Schumer... Am I going to enjoy the comedians?