So exciting! The Panorama looks beautiful!We have been on 8 Disney cruises and 2 RC. We will be trying out Carnival in the spring of 2023. Looking forward to it!,,
It’s what I usually recommend to people who have sailed mostly on DCL. The new ships have more to offer and they are (obviously) in a much better shape than the rest of the fleet. I haven’t try a havana cabin yet but I know they are coming with nice perks (ex: the Havana pool being very rarely crowded).Since it is our first time on Carnival, I wanted a newer ship. We also booked a Havana aft balcony...because of the past year.
I don't think there is one specifically in this forum as RCCL has it's own section. But this thread has often veered into DCL vs. all other cruise lines, so if we can be of any help, I'd say feel free to post!Sorry, wrong thread but, is there a RCCL/Royal Caribbean thread? I can't find one and didn't want to start a new one just for my conundrum. Also I've checked RCCL forum but they don't have a large RCCL vs DCL thread either. Thanks in advance.
There are a few reviews that compared DCL and RCCL but nothing like this thread.Sorry, wrong thread but, is there a RCCL/Royal Caribbean thread? I can't find one and didn't want to start a new one just for my conundrum. Also I've checked RCCL forum but they don't have a large RCCL vs DCL thread either. Thanks in advance.
We do not have children, so I can't comment on that, but we did sail both RCCL and DCL to Alaska. To be honest we enjoy the onboard experience on DCL more than we have on the older RCCL ships (I'm not sure which one you are looking at, but we were on Jewel of the Seas). Certainly NOT 7K more though - on shore it doesn't matter which ship you're on and an Alaskan cruise is very much about Alaska. The overall experience and our glacier day was much better on RCCL - Hubbard was much more active and impressive than Endicott was (we did not make it into Tracy Arm on our DCL cruise). We also loved debarking in Anchorage and heading on to Denali - I wish DCL would offer one ways! I still want to do a third Alaska cruise to visit Glacier Bay and that will also have to be on a line other than DCL as they don't go there. I think I would try Princess next rather than sail with RCCL again unless it were a newer larger ship. We simply were bored in the evenings...the shows were OK but the later evening adult ones were a bit crass and disappointing, and I'm not a big drinker. Neither of us gamble... and I don't know much about 70s or 80s trivia... having "Disney" as the theme is a plus in my book as I like it. We spent a lot of time on the pool deck playing cribbage or reading in our room as there just wasnt a lot to do on the schedule for us on RCCL.Thank you! I've booked a DCL balcony for Alaska for summer 2022 for $12k.... But RCCL is $5k for something comparable. I did some basic research so I know what each cruise line brings to the experience. If money were no object, I would just stick with DCL, but $7k difference is quite a lot and hard to ignore. We could book the excursions that we want and still have enough left over for another RCCL cruise. So for the people who went and experienced both cruises, did the cruise line you choose matter all that much? Another possibility is to downgrade to DCL porthole room for $8k, that’s priced between what we have and RCCL. For background, we're a young family with 2 toddlers, cruising for the first time, living here in the US.
I can't compare Alaska unfortunately (our September sailing on the NCL Encore was cancelledThank you! I've booked a DCL balcony for Alaska for summer 2022 for $12k.... But RCCL Quantum is $5k for something comparable. I did some basic research so I know what each cruise line brings to the experience. If money were no object, I would just stick with DCL, but $7k difference is quite a lot and hard to ignore. We could book the excursions that we want and still have enough left over for another RCCL cruise. So for the people who went and experienced both cruises, did the cruise line you choose matter all that much? Another possibility is to downgrade to DCL porthole room for $8k, that’s priced between what we have and RCCL. For background, we're a young family with 2 toddlers, cruising for the first time, living here in the US.
edit: RCCL is with Quantum of the Sea
I tried those "newer" "bigger" ships. so not for us. taking away free spaces to make way for paid stuff. Spa was incredible looking. but on other cruises I felt we were all treated the same no matter where your cabin was. or what category. Now I worry because I have not sailed on DCL and if its comparrison to the newer ships on carnival I will be greatly disappointedIt’s what I usually recommend to people who have sailed mostly on DCL. The new ships have more to offer and they are (obviously) in a much better shape than the rest of the fleet. I haven’t try a havana cabin yet but I know they are coming with nice perks (ex: the Havana pool being very rarely crowded).
Paid stuff: Do you have any examples?I tried those "newer" "bigger" ships. so not for us. taking away free spaces to make way for paid stuff. Spa was incredible looking. but on other cruises I felt we were all treated the same no matter where your cabin was. or what category. Now I worry because I have not sailed on DCL and if its comparrison to the newer ships on carnival I will be greatly disappointed
We strayed from DCL when Carnival Vista (Panorama’s slightly older sister), was brand new, we were on her 3rd sailing. We really fell in love with Carnival and the Vista class ships. As long as you go into your cruise knowing it won’t be the same level of service as DCL, you’ll be fine. They really are different experiences, SCL is definitely a pampered more luxury experience, and Carnival is a ton of fun! We love both lines but for different reasons! We’ve been on Vista 4 times and know her pretty well, feel free to reach out if you have any questions.Since it is our first time on Carnival, I wanted a newer ship. We also booked a Havana aft balcony...because of the past year.
That is so exciting! I can’t wait to hear your review about the “new” way of cruising.We are one of the people who just had our Carnival Mardi Gras June cruise canceled. I’m definitely bummed but figured it would happen so booked a B2B on her for June 2022. We also had a WDW vacation booked for the same week as Mardi Gras for this year as a back up. We are now canceling it because I just booked Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas for June 26, 2021. They are sailing out of Nassau, so we are spending a day at Atlantis before the cruise. We will have 2 days at Perfect Day at CoCoCay, 2 sea days and a stop in Cozumel and Grand Bahama Island. We are required to be vaccinated and still don’t know what the mask policy will be.
We are beyond excited to be on a ship this year. They are sailing out of Nassau so they don’t have to follow the CDC rules and no sail order. This will be our first time on Royal and are very excited. It’s a really good rate too, $4800 for 4 people in 2 connecting balcony cabins. Mevelandry, what did you think of Adventure of the Seas?
Loved it! I love the look of the ship overall. I am not that much into casinos, but the Adventure‘s casino decor is my favorite to this day (the dancers statue and the decor at the entrance did it for me)...We are one of the people who just had our Carnival Mardi Gras June cruise canceled. I’m definitely bummed but figured it would happen so booked a B2B on her for June 2022. We also had a WDW vacation booked for the same week as Mardi Gras for this year as a back up. We are now canceling it because I just booked Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas for June 26, 2021. They are sailing out of Nassau, so we are spending a day at Atlantis before the cruise. We will have 2 days at Perfect Day at CoCoCay, 2 sea days and a stop in Cozumel and Grand Bahama Island. We are required to be vaccinated and still don’t know what the mask policy will be.
We are beyond excited to be on a ship this year. They are sailing out of Nassau so they don’t have to follow the CDC rules and no sail order. This will be our first time on Royal and are very excited. It’s a really good rate too, $4800 for 4 people in 2 connecting balcony cabins. Mevelandry, what did you think of Adventure of the Seas?
Well I'm jealous! That trip out of Nassau looks amazing. Or maybe I'm just really wanting to cruise? Naw, 2 days at Coco Cay, plus some other stops? If I could get out of Canada (without a 2 week quarantine when I get back) I'd be on it! I am sure you will have an amazing time. All adults? Adventure does look like it has quite a bit for adults and kids to do. Full report when you get back pleaseWe are one of the people who just had our Carnival Mardi Gras June cruise canceled. I’m definitely bummed but figured it would happen so booked a B2B on her for June 2022. We also had a WDW vacation booked for the same week as Mardi Gras for this year as a back up. We are now canceling it because I just booked Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas for June 26, 2021. They are sailing out of Nassau, so we are spending a day at Atlantis before the cruise. We will have 2 days at Perfect Day at CoCoCay, 2 sea days and a stop in Cozumel and Grand Bahama Island. We are required to be vaccinated and still don’t know what the mask policy will be.
We are beyond excited to be on a ship this year. They are sailing out of Nassau so they don’t have to follow the CDC rules and no sail order. This will be our first time on Royal and are very excited. It’s a really good rate too, $4800 for 4 people in 2 connecting balcony cabins. Mevelandry, what did you think of Adventure of the Seas?
I think that's great reasoning that works perfect for your family. Your littles are the perfect age for Disney! I know you'll have a wonderful time!Hi, so we stayed with Disney, but downgrading it to a porthole cabin. So it's halfway between a RCCL balcony and Disney balcony. Plus my wife was starting to get anxious about kids climbing and falling off of the balcony (more about the stress-free experience vs worrying about actually falling out of balcony)
Still, quite a price difference, but we wanted to come away with a great family experience, and I think that Disney would be the best opportunity for that. Other than the morning excursions which we will no doubt be psyched about, but also want to be mindful of not doing too much, and be back on board the ship before the kids have a meltdown. We will take advantage of all the Disney activities it has to offer while it seems like RCCL is geared towards older kids.
Thank you all for your help!