Looking for opinions on these two cruises

[Hesky]

I want to take my wife on a cruise to celebrate her birthday. She has been wanting to go to the Caribbean for a long time and she loves Disney, so I thought a Disney cruise would be perfect! However, while doing research I'm having second thoughts and I wanted to ask for your opinions, since neither of us has ever been on a cruise or to the Caribbean. Another thing to consider is that we had a baby this year, and he will be almost 8 months old in January, which is when we would take the cruise because that's when we'll be able to get some time off from work.

I think I've narrowed down our choices to a couple options:

• Western Caribbean itinerary on Disney Magic: it stops in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth and Castaway Cay.
• Southern Caribbean itinerary on Royal Caribbean: it stops in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; St. John's, Antigua; Fort De France, Martinique; Castries, St. Lucia; St. George's, Grenada and San Juan, Puerto Rico

Without knowing the Caribbean, I personally think the ports of call on the Royal Caribbean cruise look much more interesting and for some reason I've always wanted to go to St. Lucia. Also, I don't anticipate being someone who enjoy days at sea as much as being in a different port each day since I love exploring, but then again I don't know if given the age of our baby having those extra days at sea in the Disney itinerary would be convenient.

On the other hand, the Disney cruise is, well, a Disney cruise. And we love Disney and we try to go to Disney World every year. Plus I imagine that having a baby, no company would be as welcoming as Disney.

From a cost perspective, a room with an ocean view on the Disney Magic costs slightly more than a room with a balcony on the Royal Caribbean cruise.

So in other words, I like the cost and ports of call offered by Royal Caribbean. But I feel like we would probably (likely) like the Disney boat better.

What is your opinion regarding these two companies? When you select a cruise, do you usually prioritize the boat or the ports of call? For those that have traveled with a baby, do you prefer exploring ports or days at sea?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I want to take my wife on a cruise to celebrate her birthday. She has been wanting to go to the Caribbean for a long time and she loves Disney, so I thought a Disney cruise would be perfect! However, while doing research I'm having second thoughts and I wanted to ask for your opinions, since neither of us has ever been on a cruise or to the Caribbean. Another thing to consider is that we had a baby this year, and he will be almost 8 months old in January, which is when we would take the cruise because that's when we'll be able to get some time off from work.

I think I've narrowed down our choices to a couple options:

• Western Caribbean itinerary on Disney Magic: it stops in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth and Castaway Cay.
• Southern Caribbean itinerary on Royal Caribbean: it stops in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; St. John's, Antigua; Fort De France, Martinique; Castries, St. Lucia; St. George's, Grenada and San Juan, Puerto Rico

Without knowing the Caribbean, I personally think the ports of call on the Royal Caribbean cruise look much more interesting and for some reason I've always wanted to go to St. Lucia. Also, I don't anticipate being someone who enjoy days at sea as much as being in a different port each day since I love exploring, but then again I don't know if given the age of our baby having those extra days at sea in the Disney itinerary would be convenient.

On the other hand, the Disney cruise is, well, a Disney cruise. And we love Disney and we try to go to Disney World every year. Plus I imagine that having a baby, no company would be as welcoming as Disney.

From a cost perspective, a room with an ocean view on the Disney Magic costs slightly more than a room with a balcony on the Royal Caribbean cruise.

So in other words, I like the cost and ports of call offered by Royal Caribbean. But I feel like we would probably (likely) like the Disney boat better.

What is your opinion regarding these two companies? When you select a cruise, do you usually prioritize the boat or the ports of call? For those that have traveled with a baby, do you prefer exploring ports or days at sea?

I say do the Southern Carribean it's great and DCL do not do it too often, so go RCI those are great ports of call

 

[cris0809]

Some people sail for the ship, some for the itinerary. You'll get a Disney-skewed set of answers here most likely (it is a Disney board after all).

Is the Royal sailing on Jewel or Adventure? That would sway my response a bit one way or the other...

The Southern ports you listed are some great ones. The Western ports aren't really my thing but people that like more active excursions seem to enjoy them. Ready to hike some ruins?

However, I'd almost always pick a balance of sea and port days. We've done port-intensive cruises and while they are fun they just aren't as relaxing as some with each. Sea days is probably my favorite part of cruising! It was really hard to picture that before sailing the first time.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Since you are asking for opinions...

I would choose the Western. Not just because it's Disney, although that would sway me with a baby, but because the itinerary seems like a nice balance of relaxation and adventure.

Whatever you choose, I am sure you will have a great cruise.

 

[KristiMc]

I think with having the baby, I would pick the Western. The Southern itinerary looks great but a little too port intensive. We enjoy sea days and you can put your little one in the nursery so that can enjoy some of the adult areas.

 

[Fishteacher]

My vote would be for the southern itinerary. We have sailed both Royal and Disney. Both are fantastic companies with pros and cons. I suggest the Royal because having a balcony is HUGE when traveling with an infant. You and your wife could put the baby to sleep and relax on the balcony with a glass of wine! If you are worried about too many port days, there is a very simple solution... Stay on the ship and enjoy the amenities while most people get off of the ship. Good luck, you can't go wrong with either choice.

 

[wilkeliza]

As another person pointed out I would go with the RCCL ship for you and your little one.

Just like Disney RCCL is a pay to play for kids under 3. So I looked it up and the nursery is $6 an hour for day time and $8 an hour for night time. I would use the money you saved by going with RCCL to book some nursery time for your little one and enjoy yourself.

As others pointed out the balcony will give you somewhere that you can escape to but not be too far away from baby.

Now the thing is I'm not sure how RCCL works with dinning and such. I know you have to book your dinning time etc. One thing I love about Disney is not having to worry about when or where I am going to dine. Also as much as RCCL tries to be a family friendly ship it isn't tailored more towards families as Disney is so there is the casino and such. Not saying those are bad things but the Disney boats tend to be quieter but RCCL does seem to offer a lot to do on board.

 

[crafty91]

The ONLY consideration I see in your choices is having an 8 month old. IMO the only way to go on a cruise with a child that young is to go Disney. Since you know Disney you know they will take great care of your baby so you guys can have some MUCH needed time alone! Enjoy!

 

[Bree]

The RCI itinerary looks fantastic, but I personally wouldn't do it with such a young child. You might find yourself very restricted when it comes to excursions because of the child's age. Also, since you mentioned it is for your wife, what does SHE want? Does she work or is she at home? I am a SAHM to two older children and my husband has a very demanding job. That means I do 99% of the household duties as well as chauffeur for the kids and their activities/friends. I would rather relax than rush rush rush on a port intensive cruise.

 

[mmfox316]

The day care on Disney is the tie breaker IMO. However for me there is no better place on Earth than Castaway Cay.

 

[BrookeMQ]

We wanted to do the southern itinerary. But after our 7 day cruise this past January with only 4 stops (Western Caribbean) we realized 6 islands is just too many for us with the kids.

If no kids I would choose the southern in a heartbeat

 

[bumbershoot]

Now the thing is I'm not sure how RCCL works with dinning and such. I know you have to book your dinning time etc. One thing I love about Disney is not having to worry about when or where I am going to dine.

RCCL has MORE dining options than Disney. If it's not "sold out" you can book early or late dining, which gives you the exact same experience as with Disney (though you stay in the same room instead of moving). OR you can book "my time", which means you can actually schedule things out (ahead of time, or even that morning) or just show up and be a walk-up.



OP I want to do that itinerary on Royal! Very very much. But...the more ports you have, the higher the cost can be if you get off the ship. And with those neat ports, of course you want to get off the ship! So you're looking at excursion fees or cab fare or lunch because you're out late enough that you're hungry but not quite close enough to the ship to get there happily for lunch (that was us in San Juan AND St Maarten).


Although we weren't cruising when DS was that age (we solely used cloth diapers but didn't want to deal with using public washers, plus we couldn't afford the lines that even have public washers like Disney, and that was one of the main reasons we didn't cruise then), at 8 months old my son went where we went. Put him in the mei tai or moby (and later, once I could afford it, the Ergo, Ergos ROCK and if you don't have one, get one, or a Beco) and off we went! He was exclusively nursed so food and water wasn't an issue as long as I could get food and water. It was all soooo easy.

Now that he's ancient (10, lol) and has pesky opinions on things and I can't just put him on my back, we have to take his legs into account for walking excursions, he always wants souvenirs, etc etc.

It would have been a million times easier to take him on that awesome itinerary when he was 8 months old and my little barnacle, vs now. So I'd go on the port-intensive one, if you guys can find easy-to-get-to things to do at the ports! Buy an Igloo MaxCold cooler backpack, get the Replenish beverage package (or another one with the 500ml bottles of water that you pick up as you need them) and stock up on waters each day (one at a time, it can take a little work) to take with you, and just head on out into the ports!


I love sea days. NOW. I would NOT have loved sea days as much with an 8 month old. Again, it would have just been him and me most of the time (with occasional bouts of amusement with DH until it was milk or sleep time again), hanging out, walking around and around on the ship or in the room.... Give me a port so we can DO something!

 

[Hesky]

Thanks everyone for your input! You've definitely given us a lot of food for thought (I shared this thread with my wife yesterday).