Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Pricing and planning a family cruise: Comparing Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean

disney carnival cruise

Therefore, it’s crucial to consider your preferred destinations when choosing the perfect cruise for your vacation. Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line both offer a range of short and long-term cruise options. Disney cruises typically last between three and eleven days, with occasional extended itineraries exceeding eleven days. Most Carnival cruises last 3-12 days, but they also offer some 2-day trips and several journeys lasting up to a month.

Disney cruise costs, recapped

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It’s also worth considering what type of traveler you are when comparing prices. Carnival Cruise Line may be a better option for budget-conscious couples or groups of friends who are looking for a fun and affordable vacation. There are also youth clubs for tweens and teens and a nursery for infants and toddlers.While both programs are top-notch, Disney’s program stands out for its theming and character interactions. Camp Carnival counselors are trained to supervise and engage with kids in a fun and safe environment. Teens have their own club, Circle “C,” where they can hang out, play games, and meet new friends. For those who prefer a more relaxing vacation, Carnival also offers spa treatments at Cloud 9 Spa and thermal suites with pools (certain vessels) and quiet lounges where guests can unwind.

Is Food Included on a Disney Cruise? Yes (Mostly).

Carnival cruises are positioned as bringing a family-friendly approach to cruising and are often mentioned as a great option for first-time travelers and those with children. This line isn’t, however, the best for those looking for a more upscale sailing. Disney is widely considered the most family-geared because of the brand, but Royal Caribbean and Carnival do a lot to optimize for families as well. Disney’s entertainment features Broadway-scale performances of classic Disney stories plus performances of original stories for the cruise ships. Beyond that, the ships are all licensed to screen Disney movies — including those that are still in theaters on land.

Cruises

Flex that vacation muscle at Disney Fantasy’s pools, including Nemo’s Reef for children and rides on the AquaDuck, a hybrid water slide and roller coaster with 765 feet of tubes above the top deck. Those sorts of prices will only be available during the offseason, such as in mid-to-late January and early February or for repositioning cruises as the ship moves from, say, Puerto Rico to Florida. That same cruise during spring break can cost double or more, so the more date flexibility you have, the better.

Because there’s so much to do, these ships trump Carnival and Disney when it comes to family-geared offerings too. Basically, if you want your cruise to feel a bit like it has an onboard amusement park or mall, Royal Caribbean comes the closest. Most of your daily expenses, including your food and non-alcoholic beverages, are included when sailing on a Disney cruise. However, if you’d like specialty drinks or alcohol, you’ll need to pay extra. Gratuities are not included, and Disney Cruise Line's recommended tip is a minimum of $14.50 per guest, per night.

Night Caribbean - Eastern CruiseDetails

Both lines have impeccable programs that keep kids entertained throughout the day with age-appropriate activities and different spaces for kids of all ages. For younger kids, you just can't beat the size and innovation of Disney's Oceaneer Club. Packed with interactive features and themed spaces, Disney’s Oceaneer Club allows kids ages 3-12 to play in a "Toy Story"-themed room, explore Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell, and take a simulated flight on the Millennium Falcon.

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disney carnival cruise

Carnival does not have a nursery for kids under age 2, but at night, parents can drop their youngsters off at Night Owls, where kids ages 6 months to 11 years can enjoy games, activities and parties or get some rest until 1 a.m. The smaller ships on both cruise lines (Disney Cruise Line's Magic class and Carnival Cruise Line's Fantasy and Spirit classes) carry between 2,000 and 3,000 guests. Or if you enjoy casino games.All of Carnival's ships offer a casino with table games and slot machines. Usually located on the promenade deck, the casino is a hub of activity in the evening, with live music and free-flowing drinks located close to the dings from a winning pull. As for size, you're sailing with about 4,000 other passengers on a Disney ship; most Carnival ships range between 4,000 and 6,000 passengers.

disney carnival cruise

The two lines offer tricked-out play areas for kids and adults-only sun decks and fun bars for mom and dad. Couples looking for rest and relaxation and seniors wishing to play bingo or sip martinis can find their happy place on either Carnival or Disney. Whereas Disney might suit families with younger children or passengers of any age that are huge Disney fans, are big fans of Disney's land-based resorts and now want to experience Disney at sea. If you’ve caught yourself researching Disney cruises lately, we don’t blame you — with waterslides galore and a reputation for luxury, Disney cruises can be a lot of fun.

How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost?

My favorite part was our private verandah, where we spent a lot of time hanging out, reading and enjoying the wine we’d brought with us. I was grateful for the curtain divider that separated the “living room” from the “bedroom,” since my brother and I each had a private space. Casual meals can be had at Cabanas or ordered via 24-hour room service on board the Disney Magic. Otherwise, stop by Duck-In Diner for hot dogs, chicken fingers, or a shawarma sandwich or enjoy a quick lunch at Pinocchio’s Pizzeria.

They also offer cruises to Alaska and Europe, but their itineraries are more limited than Carnival’s. Recently, Disney Cruise Line announced that it would position a ship in Singapore. When planning a family vacation, visiting a theme park or a cruise is often at the top of the list. Of course, paid extras are also available, including private cabanas at Castaway Cay. Elsewhere on Disney itineraries, you'll find shore excursions in Cozumel, Nassau and Alaska, to name a few.

You might assume Disney is the Hercules of family cruising — the all-powerful competitor with no rival. With just four ships compared to the 52 operated by family cruise giants Carnival and Royal Caribbean, Disney is like the cruising equivalent of Olaf from "Frozen" — a bit secondary to the plot, if still much beloved. In terms of passenger capacity, Disney is currently barely a tenth the size of Royal Caribbean alone, and it doesn't offer nearly as diverse an array of home ports and itineraries. Meanwhile, Carnival's Playlist Productions are high-energy shows that feature elaborate costumes and scenery, all set to popular music that's tied together with a loose storyline. Carnival also stands out with its comedy shows, scheduled throughout each sailing in the Punchliner Comedy Club.

Kids can also participate in activities like storytelling, crafts, and games while interacting with their favorite characters. Disney’s kids’ program, called the Oceaneer Club, is designed to immerse children in the world of Disney. The club features areas based on popular Disney franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and Frozen. Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of bars and lounges, each with its unique theme and atmosphere. For example, the “Skyline” bar on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy features a changing skyline that simulates the world’s most famous cities.

These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage. If you are on a ship that charges by day instead of by the amount of data used, expect the prices to vary from $12-$36 per day, depending on the speed you select. There are often discounts for buying Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise. Edge is a much smaller space, but tweens have tons of fun playing video games, having dance parties, doing crafts, playing trivia games and more with their newfound cruise friends. All five Disney ships have amazing spaces for kids in the 3-to-12-year-old range in the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab.

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Disney went so far into charting its own path as to get special approval from the U.S. Coast Guard for its ships' lifeboats to be yellow instead of regulation orange, to tie into the colors of Mickey himself — black, red, white and yellow. Royal Caribbean also features more older kid and teen amusements than Disney as Disney is geared at the younger crowd with most attractions. So, families with teens and those looking for a more extreme time with attractions might prefer Royal Caribbean of the three.

Also, expect the kids to want to dress up -- as pirates, princesses and other Disney characters. During the day, the dress code is always casual; at night it's usually the same, though you can't wear swimwear and tank tops in the dining rooms, but you can wear jeans or shorts. On the optional formal and semiformal night, you'll find many people glitzing it up. Instead, enjoy the plethora of complimentary activities, such as pools, movies, shows, karaoke, dancing and more. And when it comes to food and beverage, simply sip the included soda and coffee, eat the (already amazing) free food and don’t forget to order a Mickey ice cream bar with your complimentary room service. The base fare for these trips includes almost everything, so if you’re looking to drop the cost of a Disney cruise, consider avoiding add-ons.

The same itinerary on Disney Fantasy starts at $5,171 for an inside cabin or $6,445 for a verandah cabin for two people. On Carnival's larger Excel-class ships, such as Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, guests will find an abundance of amenities that aren't available on the smaller and older ships like Carnival Elation. The Excel-class ships have a roller coaster, ropes course and a flex-space theater in the middle of the ship with panoramic views of the ocean. While the party vibe is high on Carnival Elation, Carnival's smallest and oldest ship, the over-the-top amenities just aren't available.

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