CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[mevelandry]

Earlier in the thread I have spoken about decorations I ordered. You can see part of it on a picture I posted yesterday but I wanted to show you more clearly.

They were very affordable and somebody suggested that they were going to be cheap and look cheap.

Well, we were very satisfied with it. They held perfectly.

And the cake tasted pretty good! (Better than the one we had ordered with DCL) And it was much more affordable.




Also, the chocolates and strawberries we ordered with the Barefoot Champagne were delicious!

 

[mevelandry]

Now the cons:

The windows and port holes were not super clean. Seats (cushions) in the Lido were in need of a deep clean.

And the main pooldeck and parts of the cruiseship still has old wood floor with no varnish... Some furniture show a lot of wear and tear...

I just think that unlike DCL who will replace everything that has a scratch, Carnival will replace one thing at the time when it's not good anymore.

The pools and hot tubs look old and the hot tubs could be renamed "luke warm tubs"... But we used them as pools since we like our pools heated.

That being said, we have seen people working on the ship to clean it or fix it every day... It just needs a little bit more, in my opinion.

But still, not a bad ship and all. Most rooms were in excellent shape.

 

[ilovetexas]

Thanks for the review! I haven't been on the Victory but recommend you try one of the newer ships, too. My husband wasn't a huge Carnival fan until we went on the Breeze. Until then, he complained if we went on anything other than DCL or Celebrity. Since the Breeze, we've been on Sunshine and have Vista booked - his requests! DCL's ships are prettier than CCL's ships but the new CCL ships are very nice looking and offer great fun, food, etc.

Speaking of food, we've always said Remy (on the Fantasy) was the best meal we've ever had at sea. That was until we did the Chef's Table on CCL Sunshine. I HIGHLY recommend it!

 

[mevelandry]

Thanks for the review! I haven't been on the Victory but recommend you try one of the newer ships, too. My husband wasn't a huge Carnival fan until we went on the Breeze. Until then, he complained if we went on anything other than DCL or Celebrity. Since the Breeze, we've been on Sunshine and have Vista booked - his requests! DCL's ships are prettier than CCL's ships but the new CCL ships are very nice looking and offer great fun, food, etc.

Speaking of food, we've always said Remy (on the Fantasy) was the best meal we've ever had at sea. That was until we did the Chef's Table on CCL Sunshine. I HIGHLY recommend it!

My husband's review about the Victory:

Comedy shows were great (he prefered that to all Disney entertainment), the music playing in public spaces was excellent, food was very good, drinks were amazing, he loved the casino (I, for myself, am not a fan of casinos but he is)... Room was perfect, nothing to complain about (and it wasn't renovated), he did not mind the old tv.

Not gonna lie to you: We could switch our next Disney cruise for Carnival and he would be perfectly fine with it.

I am excited with the idea of the cruise on the Wonder and so are his parents so we'll stick to our plan... But jumping ship is a big fat yes to him, especially since he had just as much fun (if not more!) for 50% less $$$.

 

[mevelandry]

Thanks for the review! I haven't been on the Victory but recommend you try one of the newer ships, too. My husband wasn't a huge Carnival fan until we went on the Breeze. Until then, he complained if we went on anything other than DCL or Celebrity. Since the Breeze, we've been on Sunshine and have Vista booked - his requests! DCL's ships are prettier than CCL's ships but the new CCL ships are very nice looking and offer great fun, food, etc.

Speaking of food, we've always said Remy (on the Fantasy) was the best meal we've ever had at sea. That was until we did the Chef's Table on CCL Sunshine. I HIGHLY recommend it!

I would most likely try a big new ship like Breeze or Vista.

 

[Ofinn]

I think you would really like the Vista. The ship is designed so much better than the Dream or Fantasy. The amount of outdoor seating areas is crazy. You will have no trouble finding a quite spot or a loud one if thats what you want. The ship never feels crowded. There's just so many places to go on the ship unlike the Dream where everyone is always in one area.. Best service weve ever had between the room steward and the dining room has been on this ship.

 

[mevelandry]

Is the Vista only doing European cruises right now?

I'd love to try it on this side of the world.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Is the Vista only doing European cruises right now?

I'd love to try it on this side of the world.

Her transatlantic is in 5 days, then she will make her way to her home port in Miami. We will be on her for 14 glorious nights starting 6/3/17!

 

[mevelandry]

Her transatlantic is in 5 days, then she will make her way to her home port in Miami. We will be on her for 14 glorious nights starting 6/3/17!

I've always wondered how much a 14 nights cruise cost...

 

[ilovetexas]

I've always wondered how much a 14 nights cruise cost...

The Vista is alternating six and eight day runs after she gets to Miami. They're doing a back to back if they're on for 14 days. That's what I've always wanted to do, a back to back!! One day...

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

The Vista is alternating six and eight day runs after she gets to Miami. They're doing a back to back if they're on for 14 days. That's what I've always wanted to do, a back to back!! One day...

I've always wondered how much a 14 nights cruise cost...

Yep, that's what we're doing. 8 day Southern Caribbean followed by a 6 day Western Caribbean, 7 port days and 7 sea days. For 4 of us in 2 inside cabins, including pre-paid gratuity and trip insurance we paid just under $10,000.

Our last cruise on DCL fantasy was a 7 day Western Caribbean in 2 insides in June 2014, we paid $7200, not including gratuity and that was with our 10% OBB discount.

 

[mevelandry]

Yep, that's what we're doing. 8 day Southern Caribbean followed by a 6 day Western Caribbean, 7 port days and 7 sea days. For 4 of us in 2 inside cabins, including pre-paid gratuity and trip insurance we paid just under $10,000.

Our last cruise on DCL fantasy was a 7 day Western Caribbean in 2 insides in June 2014, we paid $7200, not including gratuity and that was with our 10% OBB discount.

Wow... Exactly was I've been saying all along... You can do two cruises for the price of a DCL cruise.

 

[Ofinn]

Wow... Exactly was I've been saying all along... You can do two cruises for the price of a DCL cruise.

2 cabins makes any cruise cost more. We are in one oceanview and the price for this 10 day cruise was 3k that includes gratuity. We paid 5300 for a verandah room on the Fantasy the first week of June in 2014. That was with a VGT rate.

 

[mevelandry]

2 cabins makes any cruise cost more. We are in one oceanview and the price for this 10 day cruise was 3k that includes gratuity. We paid 5300 for a verandah room on the Fantasy the first week of June in 2014. That was with a VGT rate.

But... That was in 2014. The prices has gotten up really bad since!

 

[mevelandry]

We booked a 3 nights to the Bahamas for April 2017: Inside room for 2, same itinerary (same type of room, same spot, without protection plan and transfers which are pretty similar).

Total cost...

With DCL: 1381.60$ (Which is our current reservation)

With Carnival: 695.00$

 

[Ofinn]

But... That was in 2014. The prices has gotten up really bad since!

Oh yes I know. I was just pointing out that the cost of two cabins is much higher especially on carnival where the 3rd and 4th passenger cost practially nothing and on Ncl they are free. I could do a 14 day cruise on the vista for around 5 to 6k because we only need one cabin for the four of us. On dcl Im sure a b2b would be upwards of 12k.

 

[mevelandry]

Oh yes I know. I was just pointing out that the cost of two cabins is much higher especially on carnival where the 3rd and 4th passenger cost practially nothing and on Ncl they are free. I could do a 14 day cruise on the vista for around 5 to 6k because we only need one cabin for the four of us. On dcl Im sure a b2b would be upwards of 12k.

Really? I did not know (I only travel with my husband only).

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Oh yes I know. I was just pointing out that the cost of two cabins is much higher especially on carnival where the 3rd and 4th passenger cost practially nothing and on Ncl they are free. I could do a 14 day cruise on the vista for around 5 to 6k because we only need one cabin for the four of us. On dcl Im sure a b2b would be upwards of 12k.

This is so true! I was pricing a cruise on the Carnival Valor the other day in the Captain Suite, fare for my wife and I was about $2200 each, adding in my kids was only another $300 for each of them, its crazy!

 

[cmph]

OK, Carnival folks who have me just about ready to book in celebration of our nearly-joint 40th b-days (DH is 10 days older than me)... what is the bed situation for 3rd and 4th passengers compared to DCL? My kids are tall. DD is about 5'6" but has a couple years to grow still. DS is almost 5ft, and he's, um, just barely 8. At some point I feel like I'm going to be picking vacations literally based upon how we will fit in the beds!! I don't want separate rooms for a few more years at least. @Ofinn it sounds like you are doing 4 in one cabin?

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

OK, Carnival folks who have me just about ready to book in celebration of our nearly-joint 40th b-days (DH is 10 days older than me)... what is the bed situation for 3rd and 4th passengers compared to DCL? My kids are tall. DD is about 5'6" but has a couple years to grow still. DS is almost 5ft, and he's, um, just barely 8. At some point I feel like I'm going to be picking vacations literally based upon how we will fit in the beds!! I don't want separate rooms for a few more years at least. @Ofinn it sounds like you are doing 4 in one cabin?

Just like DCL, twin size sofa bed and twin size upper Pullman above. BTW, on some of the ships they have connecting rooms that are insides fir the kids connected to verandas for adults. We've been doing connecting rooms since our kids were 10 and 11, just leave connecting door open all night. Love having 2 bathrooms.