Previous: Page 23
Health and SafetyNext: Page 25
Vs. Carnival Freedom
Disney is known for its fanatical devotees, but Carnival has a fast following as well—at a substantially lower price.
|
 |
| Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Spirit | Disney Cruise Line Disney Dream |
| Double Occupancy: 2124 | Double Occupancy: 2500 |
| Gross Tonnage: 88500 | Gross Tonnage: 128000 | 12 decks | 16 decks |
| CDC Score: 96 | CDC Score: 100 |
| Launched: 2001 | Launched: 2010 |
The Disney Dream does a great job of catering to all audiences—young and old alike—and the ship’s beautifully honed art deco nuances are a tribute to the golden era of ocean liners. Having debuted in 2011, the ship is stuffed with the latest cruise technology, a smashing water-coaster, and it’s quite a bit larger than Carnival Spirit—129,690 tons compared to 85,920. If all berths are occupied, the Dream carries almost double the passengers of Spirit, yet the passenger space ratio also works is Disney’s favor—it’s a less cramped ship.
Carnival Spirit also works hard to appeal to a wide spectrum of cruisers, but the ship has two aces up its sleeve that the Disney Dream doesn’t: Carnival Spirit has a casino, while Disney—other than Bingo games—eschews one-armed bandits and table games. Also, a cruise with Carnival is priced quite a bit less than what Disney offers; in most instances it will be less expensive to purchase two side-by-side cabins on Carnival Spirit than a party of four or five sharing a single cabin on the Disney Dream. And with its expanded waterpark, dedicated adult pool deck and quality shows in a grand theater, Carnival Spirit has a solid array of diversions that are nothing to sneeze at.
Just out of dry dock following a $155 million renovation, we joined the inaugural cruise of the former Carnival Destiny. The “new” ship, Carnival Sunshine, was not ready for the spotlight. Read More...
Considering an upscale cruise journey? Use our handy guide to distinguish the leading luxe cruise lines from one another. Read More...
(add your own)