DCL vs RCL Oasis of the Seas honeymoon

[ShuisFan584]

Hey all, I've never posted on the Disney cruise board before since I've never gone on a Disney cruise. But I'm looking for opinions/suggestions. I figured my best bet is to ask a bunch of cruise junkies.

So here's the situation. My fiance and I are getting married in January. Our honeymoon will be 2 weeks long. We're going to spend the first week on a cruise, and the second week in Disney. I'm a DVC member and go to Disney a lot and will be using my timeshare to stay at BCV for the second week of our honeymoon. This part of the honeymoon has already been booked for months. For the first week of our honeymoon, we wanted a cruise that cruised out of Florida, for 7 days, with very specific dates. This gave us a few options, and we narrowed it down to Disney and RCL Oasis of the Seas.

I figured I should also mention that I've only been on one cruise before in my life - on Carnival Valor. My fiance has never been on a cruise. So I consider both of us complete newbies to cruises.

Both cruises have very similar itineraries to the Eastern caribbean and would be about the same price. Disney cruises out of Port Canaveral which is great since it would be a short ride over to Disney after the cruise. Plus, it's Disney! But would a Disney cruise and WDW be too much Disney? Oasis of the Seas looks like it's going to be an amazing ship with so much to do. But then again, would it be too big and too overwhelming for cruise newbies? Plus, this one cruises out of Fort Lauderdale so we'd have to rent a car and make a 3.5 hour drive up to Orlando after the cruise to go to Disney.

We keep going back and forth between the two and it's just so hard since we know nothing about cruises. I'm hoping those of you who are more experienced with cruises would have some good opinions to offer to help us make a decision, considering we know nothing about DCL or RCL. And I'm assuming you won't all be biased and just say "Disney, Disney!!" since it seems like most of you are fans of other cruise lines as well. TIA!

 

[princessdaisy]

The Disney ships are very nice and we have cruised 8 times but the Oasis looks AMAZING and has soooo much more to do and the Aquatic show looks wonderful. I would vote for Oasis, especially if you will be in the Disney parks. You can get your Disney fix and then experience Oasis Have a great time whatever you choose

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

The Disney ships are very nice and we have cruised 8 times but the Oasis looks AMAZING and has soooo much more to do and the Aquatic show looks wonderful. I would vote for Oasis, especially if you will be in the Disney parks. You can get your Disney fix and then experience Oasis Have a great time whatever you choose

I agree. Oasis looks beautiful and I'm looking forward to sailing on her eventually.

As much as I love DCL, I think there will be many more adult choices for a honeymooning couple on the Oasis.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

My DH and I spent our Honeymoon at DW.

I would go on DCL and continue the "Magic".

Because:
It is easy to go from your resort to the ship.
And hey...you can keep wearing your Mickey and Minnie Honeymoon ears
Just like at DW the cast members on the ships will keep saying "Congrats" and I would be willing to bet they would give some type of surprise.
I know they will in the dining room.

 

[kcashner]

Another vote for DCL...but then, this is a DIS board. The drive to Ft. Lauderdale is NOT pleasant. Transportation from WDW is quick and easy. We LOVE the Magic. I find plenty of adult areas, shows, and things to do. OK, I've never been on a ship with a climbing wall or an ice rink, but I don't do those things at home so don't need them at sea.

 

[MagicMe]

Another vote for DCL...but then, this is a DIS board. The drive to Ft. Lauderdale is NOT pleasant. Transportation from WDW is quick and easy. We LOVE the Magic. I find plenty of adult areas, shows, and things to do. OK, I've never been on a ship with a climbing wall or an ice rink, but I don't do those things at home so don't need them at sea.

The oasis looks beautiful although I will say I saw a picture of her sailing today and she looks very boxy looking. Still I will probably try her someday. That being said, I would expect if you want a big experience, the Oasis might fit your needs. However, since you are talking about similar itineraries and I believe you won't find any bargains this early in the Ossis sailing, I would pick dcl.

I think you will get a more personal cruise with dcl. They are experts in giving those personal touches. And since you are new to dcl, and practically new to cruising, I think there will be plenty for you to do (the adult areas are really great). I also think the ship size is more intimate.

For a vacation I might chose oasis but for a honeymoon, I'd choose dcl.

 

[MagicMe]

Sorry hit the quote button when I just wanted to hit the post button. That's what I get for trying to post when I'm on my I-phone!

 

[KensJen]

I would vote for RCCL. I love Disney, but I think you will get a lot of Disney at the parks, etc on the other week. It might be nice to sort of have a different type of experience the first week. I think it is good to end with Disney!

I'm not sure if you have future plans to have children, but if you do, you'll have plenty of time to do some Disney cruises. Go on a cruise now that you'd never do with kids, whether it is the ship or the itinerary that makes it that way. RCL isn't the best line for really young kids, so that might be a good choice.

I really don't think the drive from Ft. Lauderdale would be a make it/break it thing for me. 3.5 hours isn't that long, and when you are first married and in love, a drive together is always fun and romantic. It's when you've been married a few years that you run out of stuff to talk about and argue about directions. We did a lot of traveling on our honeymoon (seriously, planes, trains and automobiles!) but sometimes the journey is just as fun as the destination.

My DH and I went on 2 Disney cruises before we had children...in fact, he proposed on one of them. There is a lot for adults to do away from the kids, and it can be a romantic experience. It just isn't the cruise I'd pick for a honeymoon. JMHO. I'd love to go on one of the RCCL mega ships, but our kids are very small, and now is not a good time. But I think it would be awesome to go as a couple, and especially on a honeymoon.

 

[4Goofys4Dis]

A little off topic - but our wedding anniversary is Jan. 16th...by my calculations yours is the same day??! This year will be 11 years and we LOVE having our anniversary in January. We go away every year (sometimes with kids sometimes w/out). The past 4 Januarys have been with kids with DCL.

We LOVE DCL but I think next year we will be doing another cruise line without kids. DCL service is AMAZING and that is what we like about it, but would like to try another line with more adult activities and a different itinerary. We have done 2 westerns and 1 eastern (our second eastern this Jan) and are ready for some other islands...I am glad DCLis venturing out to some other ports!

Whatever you do, you will have a BLAST and you will LOVE having something to celebrate every January!! Its such a nice break from the cold!!

CONGRATS!!

 

[mkmommy]

Have you thought about the RCCL Freedom of the Seas.It sails out of Cape Canaveral, so you would not have to drive that far. Currently is is RCCL's largest ship and newest ship. It has some of the same features as the Oasis, like the Ice rink and florider, and Promenade. I think for a first time cruiser Oasis would be overwhelming with that many people.

DCL is great and the service is outstanding,. I think you should decide if you are looking for a lay back and relax cruise DCL, or are you are looking for a more active ship with more nightlife, which the Freedom would be a good choice.

 

[karibritt01]

I think DCL has a lot to offer adults. Beautiful adult areas on the ship and Castaway Cay. Nightclubs. Comedians. My DH and I really enjoyed the Broadway-style shows as opposed to Vegas-styled shows that most cruise lines offer. We care nothing for casinos, so it was nice not having them onboard.

With an Eastern itenerary, you will have 3 sea days. If you want to relax, then I think DCL would be nice. If you are more active, then RCCL may be a better choice. As for the drive time... an extra 2.5 hour drive over the course of 2 weeks is not going to make that much difference. I would make a decision based on your idea of a good vacation, and go from there.

 

[Haley]

I think either choice would be fantastic!

 

[DollyXXXX]

Wow! You have us by one year and four days!!!

A little off topic - but our wedding anniversary is Jan. 16th...by my calculations yours is the same day??! This year will be 11 years and we LOVE having our anniversary in January. We go away every year (sometimes with kids sometimes w/out). The past 4 Januarys have been with kids with DCL.

We LOVE DCL but I think next year we will be doing another cruise line without kids. DCL service is AMAZING and that is what we like about it, but would like to try another line with more adult activities and a different itinerary. We have done 2 westerns and 1 eastern (our second eastern this Jan) and are ready for some other islands...I am glad DCLis venturing out to some other ports!

Whatever you do, you will have a BLAST and you will LOVE having something to celebrate every January!! Its such a nice break from the cold!!

CONGRATS!!

 

[ShuisFan584]

A little off topic - but our wedding anniversary is Jan. 16th...by my calculations yours is the same day??! This year will be 11 years and we LOVE having our anniversary in January. We go away every year (sometimes with kids sometimes w/out). The past 4 Januarys have been with kids with DCL.

Close! Our wedding day is January 15. But our honeymoon will start on the 16th!

As for RCL Freedom of the Seas, I don't think that was an option. We were very specific on our dates (January 16 - January 23) and I don't think that was one of the options. The only ships out of Port Canaveral were DCL and a Carnival ship. But Carnival was not an option for us.

Thanks all so much for all of your input! You definitely brought up a lot of points that we'll have to think about. I'm sure whichever we choose will end up being great. And whichever we don't choose, we can easily do in the future!