We chose the dark side - Carnival VS Disney

[Club Disney Chandler]

Thanks for the info. I've been thinking I'm not going to get a good read on that area until the ship is in the Caribbean. PIF date isn't until mid-February, so there's still time. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

I think the Havana area is going to be a huge party in the Caribbean. When we were on the Vista in June, the singers and dancers from the stage shows were down there hanging out dancing with the passengers a couple nights after the shows, it was kind of cool.

 

[ilovetexas]

I think the Havana area is going to be a huge party in the Caribbean. When we were on the Vista in June, the singers and dancers from the stage shows were down there hanging out dancing with the passengers a couple nights after the shows, it was kind of cool.

I'm one of those boring people who goes to bed early on cruises so I'm hoping it won't be too noisy back there. But, we'll be two decks up so fingers crossed. Then again, maybe I'll catch the Havana fever and go dance with the crew!

 

[mevelandry]

I'm one of those boring people who goes to bed early on cruises so I'm hoping it won't be too noisy back there. But, we'll be two decks up so fingers crossed. Then again, maybe I'll catch the Havana fever and go dance with the crew!

We're part of those boring people too... but we get to wake up early and take advantage of pools when people are still at brunch!

 

[Love2Cruz]

Just want to pass this along. AMEX is offering a benefit for Carnival cruises...Book a Reservation with CCL, spend $500 and get $100 back. I just used this benefit to make a payment on an already booked cruise. @Ofinn @mevelandry @Club Disney Chandler

 

[ChicosWife]

Well... It was on our list. We chose to try it and turns out we like it just as much as DCL.

Can't believe we used to snob Carnival.

The "dark side" is so much fun and our wallet loved it.

Some of us like to take a vacation every year and can't afford the inflated prices of DCL. I can vacation for 2 years on Carnival for the cost of 1 DCL cruise. Not hard to decide what to do there.

To each their own. It's all about what you value in a cruise-experience. I said Carnival would not be on my list, but you are welcome to have it on yours.

 

[Ofinn]

To each their own. It's all about what you value in a cruise-experience. I said Carnival would not be on my list, but you are welcome to have it on yours.

Did you pull up this thread from the ashes just to be rude? Sorry it bothers you people on here actually like Carnival. Now go back to the pricing thread and talk about how much you love DCL prices and how they are worth the premium.

 

[SpaceSquirrel]

Of course I prefer DCL but I also prefer to take two trips a year, so I do one DCL and one CC

 

[MunFam]

This thread was a count 666...just bumping it to 667.

 

[Sanchez]

To each their own. It's all about what you value in a cruise-experience. I said Carnival would not be on my list, but you are welcome to have it on yours.

Let me get this straight. You have been on one 4 night DCL trip, potentially have another in the distant future, have not been on any other lines, and are playing the role of the DCL snob by dismissing alternatives you know nothing about? Bad form.

 

[Ofinn]

Let me get this straight. You have been on one 4 night DCL trip, potentially have another in the distant future, have not been on any other lines, and are playing the role of the DCL snob by dismissing alternatives you know nothing about? Bad form.

Isn't it funny. Over the last fours I've spent a great deal of time on DCL ships, but not once did I ever come on this board and bash other cruiselines or proclaim DCL to be the best cruiseline. How could I? How would I know? I'd never been on another cruise line. Have my DCL cruises been Great? Yes. Are there people out there that have cruised 13 times on RCCL, CCL and NCL and had great cruises? After spending some time on Cruise Critic I'm going to say yes.
I find the people that proclaim DCL to be the best in the industry.
1. Have never cruised on another cruiseline or have very limited experience on other lines
2. Have very limited cruise experience in general, and are basing their opinion on a few DCL cruises.
I guess these two things make you a cruise industry expert.

It's one of weirdest things I've encountered on these boards. One of the posters I swear I thought he'd been on like 20+ DCL cruises the way he talks up and defends DCL, and then I come to find out he's been on 4 over a span of several years. I've been on 13 DCL cruises all were great. One Carnival it was Great. In no way shape or form do I feel qualified to proclaim any cruiseline better than the other.

 

[KalamityJane]

@Ofinn, how long are the waits for the slides and air bike thingy? I'm very interested in booking a FH suite on the vista

Also, anyone happen to know what carnival is like for food allergies (mainly gluten free)?

 

[cmph]

Also, anyone happen to know what carnival is like for food allergies (mainly gluten free)?

I would definitely like to hear more stories, but there is a detailed review on celiac.com from 2015 as a starter point. Hopefully this is allowed (don't know why it wouldn't be): [URL]http://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/topic/111748-carnival-cruise-gluten-free-experience/[/URL]
Freestyle dining on other lines definitely worries me, just b/c it's such a pain to explain and re-explain celiac needs for every single meal.

 

[Ofinn]

@Ofinn, how long are the waits for the slides and air bike thingy? I'm very interested in booking a FH suite on the vista

Also, anyone happen to know what carnival is like for food allergies (mainly gluten free)?

The slides no wait on our cruise. There were not a lot of kids and the weather was in the 70's so the pools really weren't that busy. The sky ride will have a wait. Port days are the best for that. As far as the gluten free I don't know, but my husband is diabetic and I clicked on that when we booked and they sent me this email with whole long list of questions that was ridiculous. I changed it to say he wasn't diabetic because he knows what to eat and not eat.

 

[Ofinn]

I would definitely like to hear more stories, but there is a detailed review on celiac.com from 2015 as a starter point. Hopefully this is allowed (don't know why it wouldn't be): [URL]http://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/topic/111748-carnival-cruise-gluten-free-experience/[/URL]
Freestyle dining on other lines definitely worries me, just b/c it's such a pain to explain and re-explain celiac needs for every single meal.

We had your time dining. You check in on deck five and then walk down one or two flights of stairs to be seated on Deck 3 or 4. Our servers always addressed us by name so I'm sure any food allergy would be noted on your reservation. Our service was very good and I don't see any reason why allergies would be a problem. I'm sure there are more gluten intolerant people on Carnival then there are on DCL. Remember Carnival has a lot of ships. Carries passengers of all ages and demographics. They are no stranger to all types of food allergies, medical problems etc.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

@Ofinn, how long are the waits for the slides and air bike thingy? I'm very interested in booking a FH suite on the vista

Also, anyone happen to know what carnival is like for food allergies (mainly gluten free)?

We waited for about 20 minutes for the Sky Ride on our June cruise. I think I read recently that they implemented a new system they is kind of like a fast pass, you pick up a ticket At some point during the day and they give you a time frame to return to ride. The Vista is really a great ship!

 

[Love2Cruz]

My cruise on the Vista is going to be a "cruise for the ship" type vacation. I may get off and walk around the ports, and maybe a beach half day at St. Maarten, but otherwise I intend on getting to know the ship really well. I can take a ferry to one of the beaches on St. Maarten and rent a beach chair and umbrella for like $20 (it was hotel that Gambee recommended.) These are repeat ports for me so I can skip the excursions...plus after the European cruise this summer which was heavy port intensive, I'm looking forward to a relaxing week.

 

[Love2Cruz]

BTW, having done both, fixed dinner time and YTD, I prefer the former. I liked having the same wait staff and table mates. With this coming cruise, I originally booked it with YTD, but wanted to switch, but now cannot because fixed dining is now sold out. I put myself on the waiting list, but doubt I will get it. I wonder if most people who have tried YTD went back to fixed dinner seating?
Although I didn't have long wait times, I just missed having a rapport with the dining staff and having them remember my preferences from day to day. I noticed that when I took my last cruise.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

@Ofinn, how long are the waits for the slides and air bike thingy? I'm very interested in booking a FH suite on the vista

Also, anyone happen to know what carnival is like for food allergies (mainly gluten free)?

Carnival is very good with food allergies. They even offer a gluten free version of their famous Chocolate Melting Cake.

Instead of dealing with your servers when ordering, you'll mostly deal with one of the hostesses. They will bring over the next night's menu and help you make selections.

Gluten free is pizza is also available and the deli has gluten free bread (and will ensure that your food is prepared separately) and they will easily accommodate your needs in the MDR in the morning or for the sea day brunch. The buffet (like any buffet) is a little trickier due to potential cross contamination. Talk to one of the chef's (not a cleaner or server) in the buffet and they are happy to help.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Let me get this straight. You have been on one 4 night DCL trip, potentially have another in the distant future, have not been on any other lines, and are playing the role of the DCL snob by dismissing alternatives you know nothing about? Bad form.

LOL

 

[RedSox68]

Isn't it funny. Over the last fours I've spent a great deal of time on DCL ships, but not once did I ever come on this board and bash other cruiselines or proclaim DCL to be the best cruiseline. How could I? How would I know? I'd never been on another cruise line. Have my DCL cruises been Great? Yes. Are there people out there that have cruised 13 times on RCCL, CCL and NCL and had great cruises? After spending some time on Cruise Critic I'm going to say yes.
I find the people that proclaim DCL to be the best in the industry.
1. Have never cruised on another cruiseline or have very limited experience on other lines
2. Have very limited cruise experience in general, and are basing their opinion on a few DCL cruises.
I guess these two things make you a cruise industry expert.

It's one of weirdest things I've encountered on these boards. One of the posters I swear I thought he'd been on like 20+ DCL cruises the way he talks up and defends DCL, and then I come to find out he's been on 4 over a span of several years. I've been on 13 DCL cruises all were great. One Carnival it was Great. In no way shape or form do I feel qualified to proclaim any cruiseline better than the other.

Well spoken. We have done 10 Disney cruises, and 6 other cruises on 4 other cruise lines. We love Disney because of its uniqueness with rotation dining, their stage shows and, of course, the characters and Disney feel. But we also loved every other cruise we have taken on HAL, Princess, NCL and Carnival. Each one had their own style, food and way of doing things -- some we liked, some we didn't. But I love trying new things. We sail strictly for the itineraries now. Our first five Disney cruises it was just to be on the Disney ship, then it was about their new itineraries -- then sticker shock hit and we started exploring other alternatives. Because we knew if we wanted to see as much as we could see, we'd have to go cheaper. I have never bashed any Disney cruisers who are faithful to Disney and, for them, can justify paying those prices. I have brought up examples of ways to save money by doing another cruise line, but never faulted those who were naysayers about not being loyal to Disney. In that respect, I would expect the same courtesy when I talk about other cruise lines and what great deals we got