Today's newest cruise ships are all the rage with ice skating rinks, rollercoasters, go-kart tracks, waterparks, and more. However, newer isn't always better. Last year, I sailed on three old cruise ships built in the 1990s for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney, and my experiences couldn't have been more different.
For example, my cabin aboard Vision of the Seas felt like it was stuck in the 90s with outdated decor and a noticeable lack of outlets. In comparison, my interior stateroom on Disney Magic also had a nostalgic charm but greater attention to detail.
The bathroom was spacious with a tub-shower combination, and plenty of outlets were dispersed throughout the cabin, including beside the bed.
Similarly, while Carnival is known for its lively atmosphere, I was disappointed with the adults-only area on Carnival Elation which only had two tiny hot tubs, whereas the Solarium on Vision of the Seas was expansive with a private pool and easy access to snacks at the Park Cafe.
Older ships aren't known for their flashy attractions or new concepts. However, that doesn't make them a bad choice for a cruise vacation, especially if you appreciate intimate environments and port-intensive itineraries.
I wouldn't hesitate to book a cruise on two of these ships again; however, compared to Disney Magic and Vision of the Seas, Carnival Elation wasn't worth the money.
Cabin
I was taken aback by how large my inside cabin was on Carnival Elation. Plus, it was evident that Carnival had spent money updating the stateroom to include a more modern design compared to the now-retired Fantasy Class ships like Carnival Ecstasy—I appreciated the USB ports built into the headboard!
However, I wish the cabin's layout incorporated a separate seating area like my staterooms on Disney Magic and Vision of the Seas. There wasn't a great catch-all place because there wasn't another chair separate from the vanity's stool.
Moreover, there was only one nightstand. We elected to keep the twin beds pushed together, so I didn't have a convenient place to keep my water bottle at night.
The bathroom was the worst part of the cabin, though. Not only did it lack adequate storage space but it was poorly maintained. The shower head showed signs of limescale build-up and broke a few days into our sailing. Additionally, our toilet stopped flushing on the third day, and the shower curtain was stained.
My staterooms on Disney Magic and Vision of the Seas also showed wear and tear due to their age. For instance, one nightstand on Vision was missing a back panel. However, I never questioned their cleanliness.
I never felt clean after showering on Carnival Elation because of how disgusting the shower head was! Thankfully, it was apparent Royal Caribbean and Disney had replaced the shower heads, which made the cabin experience more enjoyable.
Out of the three, my favorite stateroom was on Disney Magic. The simple décor gave it a classic ocean liner feel, yet it didn't feel outdated or poorly maintained. The bedside outlets were appreciated, but I was particularly impressed with the bathroom.
The tub-shower combination was spacious and well-designed. Plus, Disney provides upgraded toiletries compared to Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Though I prefer to use my own products in the shower, Disney's liquid hand soap and body lotion were far superior to the other lines' cheap bar soap that always dries my hands out.
Read more: I sailed in tiny interior cabins on old Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships. I'd only book one again
Dining
Food is incredibly subjective. Everyone has different taste buds and may prefer different flavors and textures. For instance, I cannot stand most fish; however, my partner will eat salmon any day of the week.
It's no surprise that cruise lines have made major cuts in the past few years, and one area where they are pretty noticeable is dining. Unfortunately, the main dining experience on Carnival Elation was the most disappointing out of the three ships.
The food lacked the quality that I had experienced on other Carnival ships. Instead, most dishes felt mass-produced with little attention to detail or presentation. For example, the chicken breast was bland and served with poorly seasoned and mushy vegetables.
It was a stark contrast to the food onboard Disney Magic and Vision of the Seas, where the Main Dining Room dinners felt more thoughtfully prepared.
Vision of the Seas' dining was the most memorable, though I enjoyed the themed dining rooms on Disney Magic. Izumi Sushi, in particular, was a major standout. Everything from the savory miso soup to the creamy champagne roll exceeded my expectations.
The complimentary dining was also tasty, with the French Onion Soup, Crispy Coconut Jumbo Shrimp, Rustic Chicken Korma, and Tiramisu leaving a memorable impression.
That said, I did enjoy the fast-casual spots on Carnival Elation. Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina never miss! Vision of the Seas didn't have the same variety at the Park Cafe, and I didn't get to try the Duck-In Diner on my short 3-night cruise aboard Disney Magic. However, Daisy's De-Lights served tasty wraps and Asian-inspired noodle bowls.
Disney Magic also had the most impressive buffet out of the three ships. On embarkation day, I was surprised to see offerings ranging from crab legs to chilled shrimp. Compartively, Carnival Elation's buffet was extremely limited with just two rotating stations.
Read more: I tried Carnival's older cruise ships and never want to go back
Entertainment
Each cruise line has its entertainment strengths. For example, I'm a firm believer that Carnival has the best comedy shows at sea, while Royal Caribbean has unique offerings like ice skating and high-diving shows.
Sometimes, however, the older ships can't capitalize on the big productions like newer ships. Vision, for instance, doesn't have the space for an ice skating rink or AquaTheater.
I was impressed that Disney Cruise Line didn't skimp on its theater productions on Disney Magic, the line's oldest ship. Each show, from Tangled: The Musical to Disney Dreams - An Enchanted Classic and Twice Charmed: A Twist on the Cinderella Story, was Broadway-caliber and helped justify the higher price of the cruise considering how expensive Broadway tickets are.
The production shows on Vision of the Seas and Carnival Elation were far more basic in terms of scale. They were more akin to what you'd expect for cruise ship entertainment.
The casts were talented, but it was evident the budget for the costumes, props, and sets was significantly less. It doesn't mean they weren't entertaining, but they weren't comparable to those on Disney Magic.
Carnival Elation's redeeming quality was the Punchliner Comedy Club. Comedy shows on other mainstream lines are hit or miss; however, I love the adult shows on Carnival Cruise Line. The comedians are sharp and willing to push boundaries, which makes the performance funnier!
Cleanliness
Carnival Elation was in desperate need of some TLC. The piano bar, for example, felt worn out with chipped tables. Plus, the Serenity lounge chairs were stained with black soot that transferred easily to our clothing. There were also a few occasions where we were served drinks in filthy glasses.
It would have been foolish to board an older cruise ship expecting everything to be pristine; however, it would have been nice for Carnival to make a greater effort to maintain the ship's cleanliness.
In fact, Carnival Elation received one of the poorest CDC sanitation ratings for the cruise line in 2024, coming in at 89 compared to Vision of the Seas' 97 and Disney Magic's 96.
Carnival Elation's health violations ranged from flies on food to crew members who didn't promptly report gastrointestinal symptoms. While the crew didn't report to work (thankfully!), they did dine in the crew-only mess hall before communicating their symptoms.
I didn't have similar experiences with Disney Magic or Vision of the Seas. Though the ships weren't brand-new, I could tell the crew took great pride in maintaining the vessels, and the high sanitation ratings reflected the crew's commitment to cleanliness and passenger safety!
Read more: I sailed on my first Disney cruise. I loved the Broadway-style shows but didn't enjoy all the food
The cheapest cruise was the 5-night sailing on Vision of the Seas
Typically, older ships have more competitive rates compared to flashy vessels with state-of-the-art amenities and accommodations. Vision of the Seas was the most affordable, coming in at $1,396.76 for our 5-night sailing for two people in an interior cabin. Carnival Elation wasn't much more especially considering we went during spring break. The 5-night Bahamas cruise from Jacksonville, Florida, cost $1,475.30 in March 2024.
As expected, the 3-night voyage on Disney Magic was the most expensive, despite sailing in an interior cabin during the off-season. Though the overall price wasn't much more compared to Vision of the Seas and Carnival Elation, the nightly price was around $528 for two people, whereas my friend and I paid about half per night for our Bermuda cruise on Vision—or around $279. Finally, the nightly price for Carnival Elation broke down to $295.
Considering how much we got aboard Vision of the Seas for less than what we paid for Carnival Elation, I'd say Vision provided the best value. However, I enjoyed my cruise on Disney Magic the most, even though it was more expensive. Thanks to Disney Magic's overall condition and entertainment quality, I didn't feel like I was on an old cruise ship.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
