Would you do DCL or another?

[Disneydreamer5]

My famiy and I have always wanted to go on a Disney Cruise.
As things happen we will not be able to do this until 2011.
At that time my children will be 12,16,18,19,& 21.
Where I am pretty certain myself, DH, my 21 year old as well as my 12 & 16 year olds will have plenty to do and will be well entertained I am alittle concerned that my 18 & 19 year won't have any fun.
Being that they are not young enough for youth activies still too young for adult things I am wondering if I would be better off to go with something else for the trip in 2011.
I would rather go with Disney as I know the service is better and I have always wanted to go to castaway cay but I want this trip to be fun for everyone.
Anyone has older children and can tell me about your expericense?

 

[kcashner]

DCL is addressing the issue of the 18-22 group by having a college get together each evening on 7 night cruises as well as having occasional lunches. These are all "hosted" by a member of the cruise staff. Unfortunately, on our last cruise we had 3 nights when the only person who showed up was my daughter and the CM. Great, after I made her go. There were A LOT of college kids on the cruise, they just didn't show up for the meet.

On previous cruises, there have been many more participating. The idea is to get them to meet others in their age range, and then they do whatever on their own...usually come over to Rockin Bar D for the fun there.

 

[su_kraft]

My famiy and I have always wanted to go on a Disney Cruise.
As things happen we will not be able to do this until 2011.
At that time my children will be 12,16,18,19,& 21.
Where I am pretty certain myself, DH, my 21 year old as well as my 12 & 16 year olds will have plenty to do and will be well entertained I am alittle concerned that my 18 & 19 year won't have any fun.
Being that they are not young enough for youth activies still too young for adult things I am wondering if I would be better off to go with something else for the trip in 2011.
I would rather go with Disney as I know the service is better and I have always wanted to go to castaway cay but I want this trip to be fun for everyone.
Anyone has older children and can tell me about your expericense?

Our first DCL trip my 18 year old Neice wasw with us. She had a riot! She made plenty of friends to hang out with in the Stack and they did all sorts of cool stuff.

 

[Sccrmnky2005]

My first cruise was when I was 21 turning 22 back in March, me and my boyfriend went. It was such a good time. Now all we sail is DCL, I'm spoiled by them. There is plenty to do for everyone on the ship. Since the 18 19 and 21 year old will be able to go to all the adult activities I think they will have a lot of fun! Me and my boyfriend are now going back for our third cruise we had so much fun!

 

[MouseMomx2]

Your 18 & 19 year olds will be considered adults. They will be able to access all adult-only areas, including the nightclubs, Palo, Quiet Cove pool, spa & health club, etc. They will not be able to drink (DCL keeps the 21 yo age limit even at sea) but they will be able to enjoy those areas as they please.

 

[Edd]

I would check around for another cruise line for your teens. There are many things to do on the DCL, but there are a lot more for the teens on some of the other ships. My favorite right now is the RCCL Freedom of the Seas. It has a lot of adventures and many kids in the teens and older. Aboard ship ice-skating is interesting, rock wall climbing, full basketball court and flow-rider are among some of the few that the teens would enjoy very much, that the DCL does not have. If you go to the Labadee private beach they would love riding on the Flight-Line, which is a 2600 foot zip line beginning 500 feet up in the mountains down to the beach at sea level. It is an awesome ride.

The parades and dancing in the street parties are also awesome on the Freedom. Many of the younger kids would enjoy the Circus parade on the Royal Promenade. Also on the Royal Promenade is Sorrentos, which offers free pizza and pudding all day long.

You may find you can schedule a 7 day cruise on other lines that you would pay for a 4 day cruise on the DCL.

The Freedom has great production shows and one of the headliners is a Magician Allusionist, Drew Thomas. His show was truly outstanding.

Here is a link some of the adventures I experienced while cruising on the Freedom three weeks ago.

http://ekorgan2.com/freedom_of_the_seas.htm

 

[lovethedream]

My famiy and I have always wanted to go on a Disney Cruise.
As things happen we will not be able to do this until 2011.
At that time my children will be 12,16,18,19,& 21.
Where I am pretty certain myself, DH, my 21 year old as well as my 12 & 16 year olds will have plenty to do and will be well entertained I am alittle concerned that my 18 & 19 year won't have any fun.
Being that they are not young enough for youth activies still too young for adult things I am wondering if I would be better off to go with something else for the trip in 2011.
I would rather go with Disney as I know the service is better and I have always wanted to go to castaway cay but I want this trip to be fun for everyone.
Anyone has older children and can tell me about your expericense?

We sailed on the Disney Wonder twice and then tried RCCL Freedom of the Seas. For our next cruise we decided to go back to Disney. We are looking at either the Dream and/or the Magic in 2011. Our DS will be in the 16 year range with two younger DD's at that time.

For us, the service on DCL was better, the food was better and the entertainment was better. We loved the fireworks and the deck parties. Castaway Cay was one of the highlights of the trip (ya just can't beat a private island experience).

I can't specifically answer your question concerning your 18/19 year old's as I just don't have any experience with that age group yet.

 

[NancyIL]

I took my then 17 and 23-year-old kids on a Royal Caribbean cruise (Adventure of the Seas) in March 2008 out of San Juan. I figured there would be more for them to enjoy on RCI than on Disney, and I wasn't willing to pay DCL's spring break prices. After recently returning from my 2nd adults-only cruise on DCL where I found the activities for adults to be lacking - I would still choose Royal Caribbean for a cruise with teens and young adults.

P.S. Our service on Royal Caribbean was every bit as good as the service on the Wonder.

 

[Tneah]

We cruised on Disney Womder for 3 days (have cruised with Disney prior to this) and then after that we got on RCCL Freedom of The Seas.

My kids are only 13 and 10, but they loved the RCCL class. My daughter loved that she could go ice skating and rock climbing. My son and DH loved the boogie boarding and surfing.

Dh and I loved the gym they have on board. We liked the shows and activities better. Your kids are much older and I feel they would like RCCL better to keep them interested with activities.

My kids loved Rccl over Disney, but we aren't really Disney character types. We would rate DCL as our second favorite. We were booked on the Dream, but when I had the kids decide and they chose RCCL. So, I cancelled the Dream Ressies.

 

[Tneah]

I would check around for another cruise line for your teens. There are many things to do on the DCL, but there are a lot more for the teens on some of the other ships. My favorite right now is the RCCL Freedom of the Seas. It has a lot of adventures and many kids in the teens and older. Aboard ship ice-skating is interesting, rock wall climbing, full basketball court and flow-rider are among some of the few that the teens would enjoy very much, that the DCL does not have. If you go to the Labadee private beach they would love riding on the Flight-Line, which is a 2600 foot zip line beginning 500 feet up in the mountains down to the beach at sea level. It is an awesome ride.

The parades and dancing in the street parties are also awesome on the Freedom. Many of the younger kids would enjoy the Circus parade on the Royal Promenade. Also on the Royal Promenade is Sorrentos, which offers free pizza and pudding all day long.

You may find you can schedule a 7 day cruise on other lines that you would pay for a 4 day cruise on the DCL.

The Freedom has great production shows and one of the headliners is a Magician Allusionist, Drew Thomas. His show was truly outstanding.
Here is a link some of the adventures I experienced while cruising on the Freedom three weeks ago.

http://ekorgan2.com/freedom_of_the_seas.htm

Oh, I have to ask. We had a outstanding magician, too. The one we had made it "snow" in the theater. Was this the same guy? I almost cried, that was very touching and cool.

I took a look at the pictures! They bring back many memories. LOVE, Love the Freedom and Liberty.

 

[musicgirl]

We have done 4 DCL followed by Princess and NCL. The last one our ds was 17 almost 18. He loved every single one. We talked about what to do next since he is an adult-tweener.

I think you will find that all lines face the same problem. Too old for the clubs and too young to drink and be merry......

Honestly, the last 3 cruises once he met up with kids his age, they only used the club for meeting or just hanging out. They really didn't do the "planned" activities. Well they did do a few things, but the clubs were merely a base.

There may be some cool activities for them on the other lines like the rock climbing and the surf pool, but you can't do that the whole time. From reading reports, the climbing wall is closed alot due to the wind and everyone wants to surf.

So you have to make the decision on what is best for the family. By switching to another line, will that really solve the problem for your adult-tweeners? Will you be sacrificing the family vacation to try to make it more fun for them? Quite honestly, by the after 18 age, most young adults will manage to have a good time no matter where they are!

What did we do? Well didn't go on a vacation this past summer. Not because of taking an 18/19 year old but rather he was graduating and going to college and we felt the money would be better spent toward his education.

Will he get to cruise with us soon? Probably not with taking summer courses to be a junior after one year, co-oping etc. I'm thinking his next cruise will be when he's taking us!!!

 

[NancyIL]

So you have to make the decision on what is best for the family. By switching to another line, will that really solve the problem for your adult-tweeners? Will you be sacrificing the family vacation to try to make it more fun for them? Quite honestly, by the after 18 age, most young adults will manage to have a good time no matter where they are!

I got the impression that the OP's family hadn't cruised at all, so no "switching to another line" would be involved.

 

[Edd]

So what do you do with the teens. Stick them with MM, DD and Goofy until they leave your home? Kids ten and on up find many great things to do on the other lines. In some cases the other lines have better kids clubs. The water area (H2O) on the Freedom is much bigger and better than what is on the DCL right now. I bet the new DCL ships won't compare to what is on the Freedom (including the Oasis) now. Just because there isn't much for youngsters and teens to do on the DCL, that doesn't mean that RCCL and Carnival have less for them to do.

Teens can ice-skate, not available on the DCL. Kids love Flow-rider, that is not availaqble on the DCL. My grandson (10 years old) spent a lot of time riding the flow-rider. There were a lot of kids riding on it and I didn't hear anyone complain about having to wait. There were a lot of kids playing basketball, dodgeball and soccer. The rock climbing wall is open 5 to 6 hours everyday and there are kids climbing on it everyday. The only time they don't climb on it is when it is storming. Who would really want to. How many times do you see stormy weather in the Caribbean on a cruise. The movie theatre also attracts many for the showings.

The gym was huge with a lot of equipment there to use. It was pretty unique when you look over and watch people either exercising in the boxing ring or taking lessions in boxing or kick boxing.

If you love to watch Cinderella, Goofy and all the Disney characters I guess you would like the production stories. But they simply are nothing big and definately don't have the dancing movements and choreography the other lines stage. All the other lines have better porduction shows than the DCL and what headliners DCL has I have never heard of any of the ones I watched. Headliners on the other ships usually are better known or have made marks on the entertainment field for many years. I enjoyed Drew Thomas, rising star, The Platters, past star, Bobbie Arvin, past star, El Goucho and several others I have seen or heard about.

I won't even mention the parades and other activities that are staged on the huge Royal Promenade. The food on the RCCL was excellent, however there were no mashed potatoes, pancakes or waffles shaped in MM heads. I generally felt the food was better on all the RCCL and Carnival cruises I have been on. However we went to the same dining room every night. I don't really need the change in scenery to enjoy a meal better.

The DCL Beach is beautiful, but the Labadee Beach is on step up. It is nestled at the foot of hills in a cove or bay. There are huge trees and hills all over. The DCL beach is flat. Both compare pretty much in things to do, but the most awesome experience is to ride the 2600 foot zip line at Labadee. It starts 500 feet in the air down to the ocean floor to the landing.

The best news is that most of the other lines are much cheaper than DCL. The smaller and older ships of the Disney fleet was cruising of yesteryear. The new ships coming out bring many innovations and adventures the DCL probably won't be able to keep up with.

My own personal opinion is that WDW is the most magical and fun place to visit, they are #1 in the park business, but the DCL has a lot to be desired. Disney being the rookie in the cruise business will have to work hard to catch up with the others.

 

[lovethedream]

So what do you do with the teens. Stick them with MM, DD and Goofy until they leave your home? Kids ten and on up find many great things to do on the other lines. In some cases the other lines have better kids clubs. The water area (H2O) on the Freedom is much bigger and better than what is on the DCL right now. I bet the new DCL ships won't compare to what is on the Freedom (including the Oasis) now. Just because there isn't much for youngsters and teens to do on the DCL, that doesn't mean that RCCL and Carnival have less for them to do.

Teens can ice-skate, not available on the DCL. Kids love Flow-rider, that is not availaqble on the DCL. My grandson (10 years old) spent a lot of time riding the flow-rider. There were a lot of kids riding on it and I didn't hear anyone complain about having to wait. There were a lot of kids playing basketball, dodgeball and soccer. The rock climbing wall is open 5 to 6 hours everyday and there are kids climbing on it everyday. The only time they don't climb on it is when it is storming. Who would really want to. How many times do you see stormy weather in the Caribbean on a cruise. The movie theatre also attracts many for the showings.

The gym was huge with a lot of equipment there to use. It was pretty unique when you look over and watch people either exercising in the boxing ring or taking lessions in boxing or kick boxing.

If you love to watch Cinderella, Goofy and all the Disney characters I guess you would like the production stories. But they simply are nothing big and definately don't have the dancing movements and choreography the other lines stage. All the other lines have better porduction shows than the DCL and what headliners DCL has I have never heard of any of the ones I watched. Headliners on the other ships usually are better known or have made marks on the entertainment field for many years. I enjoyed Drew Thomas, rising star, The Platters, past star, Bobbie Arvin, past star, El Goucho and several others I have seen or heard about.

I won't even mention the parades and other activities that are staged on the huge Royal Promenade. The food on the RCCL was excellent, however there were no mashed potatoes, pancakes or waffles shaped in MM heads. I generally felt the food was better on all the RCCL and Carnival cruises I have been on. However we went to the same dining room every night. I don't really need the change in scenery to enjoy a meal better.

The DCL Beach is beautiful, but the Labadee Beach is on step up. It is nestled at the foot of hills in a cove or bay. There are huge trees and hills all over. The DCL beach is flat. Both compare pretty much in things to do, but the most awesome experience is to ride the 2600 foot zip line at Labadee. It starts 500 feet in the air down to the ocean floor to the landing.

The best news is that most of the other lines are much cheaper than DCL. The smaller and older ships of the Disney fleet was cruising of yesteryear. The new ships coming out bring many innovations and adventures the DCL probably won't be able to keep up with.

My own personal opinion is that WDW is the most magical and fun place to visit, they are #1 in the park business, but the DCL has a lot to be desired. Disney being the rookie in the cruise business will have to work hard to catch up with the others.

We tried the Freedom of the Seas and were not impressed. Just was not for us, especially the shows as we were bored to tears with em. We are going to stick with DCL and will be booking with them again in 2011.

It is my opinion that when DCL came out, the others had to work hard to catch up, and still have a ways to go.

Castaway Cay was awesome and can't be beat. The entertainment is the best on the ocean, the deck parties are a can't miss, and the food was to die for. Loved the rotational dining. Just our opinion.

 

[Edd]

Well if you liked the Disney shows I can understand why you would be bored with the shows on the other ships. However RCCL is the leader in the industry and has proven to be a stalart cruise line to about 1000 percent more passengers than the DCL.

 

[tchrmom]

We had ONLY done Disney until our 2008 Liberty of the Seas cruise. My kids are now 18 and 14. I think now they would be bored on a Disney cruise. BUT.....they were constantly busy with the rock wall, flow-rider ice rink.....etc.....on The Freedom class of ships. However....if your family has their heart set on Disney, and you can afford it....I say go for it! ENJOY!!!!

 

[jessa07]

Well if you liked the Disney shows I can understand why you would be bored with the shows on the other ships. However RCCL is the leader in the industry and has proven to be a stalart cruise line to about 1000 percent more passengers than the DCL.

Of course RCCL carries more passengers than DCL, their fleet is huge compared to Disney's.

 

[Edd]

There must be a reason they have such a huge fleet. Maybe customer satisfaction, agenda, food and entertainment!!!!!

 

[lovethedream]

Well if you liked the Disney shows I can understand why you would be bored with the shows on the other ships. However RCCL is the leader in the industry and has proven to be a stalart cruise line to about 1000 percent more passengers than the DCL.

Well, that does not mean everybody is going to like them. We do not, we felt DCL was far superior to RCCL FOTS, and we actually sailed on it before we offered our opinion. Same for our in laws with Carnival. And they love to gamble.

I was only trying to answer the OP's question based upon our experience and offer alternatives or further explanations if possible.

 

[lovethedream]

There must be a reason they have such a huge fleet. Maybe customer satisfaction, agenda, food and entertainment!!!!!

I have yet to see a poll where DCL came in behind RCCL. Could you please post or give links to alternative polls? Thanks