You are so misinformed on cruising. You really need to find out for yourself the differences between the cruise lines. I have cruised Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise line multiple times. The Disney ship is nice as all the other ships are. but that pretty much covers where they are equal. As an adult I don't enjoy the Disney shows anymore because they are stories and not really production shows. Ok, but nothing like you would see on another ship. Some great dancing and singing. The Disney show is completely taped and so you see singers lip synch.
Many of the cruise lines have high quality production shows. Disney isn't even in their class. Yes, of course, your kids will enjoy the shows, but my preference is not made by what kids like. My grandson who has been dancing since he was three years old saw three cruises of Disney shows and liked them. He than saw the production numbers on the Carnival and RCLL cruise lines and would rather watch them for the dancing quality. He is 11 years old now and an 8 year dance student..
The other cruise lines have bunches of children also. They do not have the Disney Logo which is so prominent on the Disney ship. However the water park area on some of the other ships completely outclasses the water areas on the Disney ship. RCCL has a ship that its water park for children is as big as the water park and the adult area on the Disney ships. The water area provides geysers, cascaduing waterfalls and several different pools for the kids to play in. They also have a great kids club. Many of the older kids were out on the flow-rider doing the boogie board and stand up surfing or climbing the wall and maybe even shooting hoops on the full size basketball court.
A 7-day cruise costs a child $28.00 for unlimited soft drink privileges. I don't know where you got that figure of $100.00 for drink privileges.
The private beaches of RCCL are are certainly equal to or better than Castaway Cay. Labadee in Haiti is beautiful with the mountains surrounding the beach and the flightline ride, a zip line starting at 500 feet above the beach for about 1/2 mile to the beach, and its cozy corners and ruins, in the hills, that you can explore. I personally would rate Labadee much higher than Castaway Cay.
Check this link to see some of the advantages RCCL has over the DCL.
http://ekorgan2.com/freedom_of_the_seas.htm
RCCL does have a curfew for the teens. It is 2:00 am in the morning and it is enforced by the many security men that walk about the ship watching for any trouble. RCCL has three dining rooms to serve its passenger the evening meal with. They have a buffet restaurant for all day long and a Your-Time dining room. The also have two restaurants call "Chops" and "Portofino" which you pay to dine in.
RCLL , and all shops, have a sail away party. Every cruise I have been on had a party at sailing time. Only 25 - 30 cruises on about 6 different lines.
As far as money goes, RCCL is cheaper than the DCL, much cheaper. What cost me $1600.00 on a Disney 7 day cruise with a Florida discount, I got on the Freedom for 1200.00. Probably would have been a little less if I had originally booked as a single.
So I think it is best to compare when you have the experience to compare with. I don't think cruising on Disney several times, by any means, gives anyone the expertise to compare their experience with the other lines. You need to do it to say it.
I forgot the circus parade and the dancing in the 70's street show on the Royal Promenade on the Freedom The Royal Promenade is about 1 1/2 times the length of a football field and 12 yards wide, about the width of a smalll country street. The parades were beautiful.
Many of the cruise lines have high quality production shows. Disney isn't even in their class. Yes, of course, your kids will enjoy the shows, but my preference is not made by what kids like. My grandson who has been dancing since he was three years old saw three cruises of Disney shows and liked them. He than saw the production numbers on the Carnival and RCLL cruise lines and would rather watch them for the dancing quality. He is 11 years old now and an 8 year dance student..
The other cruise lines have bunches of children also. They do not have the Disney Logo which is so prominent on the Disney ship. However the water park area on some of the other ships completely outclasses the water areas on the Disney ship. RCCL has a ship that its water park for children is as big as the water park and the adult area on the Disney ships. The water area provides geysers, cascaduing waterfalls and several different pools for the kids to play in. They also have a great kids club. Many of the older kids were out on the flow-rider doing the boogie board and stand up surfing or climbing the wall and maybe even shooting hoops on the full size basketball court.
A 7-day cruise costs a child $28.00 for unlimited soft drink privileges. I don't know where you got that figure of $100.00 for drink privileges.
The private beaches of RCCL are are certainly equal to or better than Castaway Cay. Labadee in Haiti is beautiful with the mountains surrounding the beach and the flightline ride, a zip line starting at 500 feet above the beach for about 1/2 mile to the beach, and its cozy corners and ruins, in the hills, that you can explore. I personally would rate Labadee much higher than Castaway Cay.
Check this link to see some of the advantages RCCL has over the DCL.
http://ekorgan2.com/freedom_of_the_seas.htm
RCCL does have a curfew for the teens. It is 2:00 am in the morning and it is enforced by the many security men that walk about the ship watching for any trouble. RCCL has three dining rooms to serve its passenger the evening meal with. They have a buffet restaurant for all day long and a Your-Time dining room. The also have two restaurants call "Chops" and "Portofino" which you pay to dine in.
RCLL , and all shops, have a sail away party. Every cruise I have been on had a party at sailing time. Only 25 - 30 cruises on about 6 different lines.
As far as money goes, RCCL is cheaper than the DCL, much cheaper. What cost me $1600.00 on a Disney 7 day cruise with a Florida discount, I got on the Freedom for 1200.00. Probably would have been a little less if I had originally booked as a single.
So I think it is best to compare when you have the experience to compare with. I don't think cruising on Disney several times, by any means, gives anyone the expertise to compare their experience with the other lines. You need to do it to say it.
I forgot the circus parade and the dancing in the 70's street show on the Royal Promenade on the Freedom The Royal Promenade is about 1 1/2 times the length of a football field and 12 yards wide, about the width of a smalll country street. The parades were beautiful.
