Disney vs. Carnival Cruise vs. other?

Question

Which cruiseline would you recommend and for what reasons? I need all the help I can get so don't be bashful :)

Answer 1

depnds on your preference of activities.  Do you have kids?  Are you set on going on a cruise or are you open to other travel options?

Answer 2

Disney is expensive.  Unless you or your kids are big fans of Disney, the extra cost is not worth it.  Also, if your kids are big fans of Disney, can you put up with Disney 24/3 or 24/4 or 24/7?

Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian are also very family friendly.  All the Carnival ships have water slides as do most of the Norwegian ships.  None of the Royal Caribbean ships have water slides that an adult would use.  All the Royal Caribbean ships and some Norwegian ships have rock climbing walls.  None of the Carnival ships have rock climbing walls.  

The biggest of the Royal Caribbean ships (the Voyager and Freedom class ships) have a lot to offer.  All have a central promenade that is great for shopping, people watching, or just looking at.  All also have ice skating rinks and miniature golf courses.  In addition the Voyager class ships (Voyager, Explorer, Adventurer, Navigator and Mariner) have an inline skating track.  The Freedom class ships (Freedom, Liberty and not yet built Independence) have a Flowrider (surfing simulator) instead of the inline skating track and the Freedom class ships have a miniature water park (the H2O Zone).

If you have teenagers, the expanded teen area on the newest Voyager ships (Navigator and Mariner) or the Freedom class ships will be a plus.  Carnival's expanded teen center is called Club O2.  I am not sure which ships it is on (and it is being added to some of the ships that don't have it).  I am not familiar with the Norwegian teen program.

Disney, Carnival Freedom and Liberty, and the Grand class Princess ships have a large outdoor movie screen that can be used to watch movies and sporting events during the day (while out by the pool) or movies at night.

A photo of the large outdoor movie screen (this one on the Carnival Liberty) ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

A typical Carnival water slide (from the Carnival Glory) ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

H2O Zone on the Freedom of the Seas ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

The Flowrider on the Freedom of the Seas ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

The ice rink on Freedom of the Seas (also on the Voyager class ships) ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

The Royal Promenade (this one on the Navigator of the Seas) ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

Answer 3

If you are taking kids and can afford it - I would recommend Disney.  It is first class all the way - and they really have great programs for the kids.  We have been on the Disney Wonder.  It is more expensive then Carnival though - so it depends on your finances.

Another choice I would recommend instead of Carnival would be Royal Caribbean.

Answer 4

I personally book a lot of passengers on Princess.

Great service and quality.

Answer 5

i would recommend norwegian cruise  line. there is many reasons they are better, i am not going to explain. but wwe have chosen them and a couople others we know, and we all LOVED NCL!