DCL, RCI, or NCL?

[Momof4DisneyLuvrs]

Opinions please....

We are a family of 7 with 5 kids ages 21-6. We will have book 2 cabins for a cruise. We've only been on one cruise and that was a 5 day on the Wonder. We LOVED it! We can only go in November due to band and sports commitments so our window is pretty small. I'm looking at a 5 day on the Magic, 6 day on NCL Getaway, or a 7 day on RCL Freedom of the Seas. NCL comes in $500 less than DCL and DCL is $400 less than RCI. I would really appreciate insights as this would only be our second cruise.

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Opinions please....

We are a family of 7 with 5 kids ages 21-6. We will have book 2 cabins for a cruise. We've only been on one cruise and that was a 5 day on the Wonder. We LOVED it! We can only go in November due to band and sports commitments so our window is pretty small. I'm looking at a 5 day on the Magic, 6 day on NCL Getaway, or a 7 day on RCL Freedom of the Seas. NCL comes in $500 less than DCL and DCL is $400 less than RCI. I would really appreciate insights as this would only be our second cruise.

Thanks!

Really, I think asking this on a Disney Cruise board will have some fairly biased answers. Personally, I'd do DCL.

 

[Momof4DisneyLuvrs]

I'm sure everyone here loved their Disney cruise as much as we did. It was great! Just hoping that someone may have taken one of the others can can offer their insights to compare. Do you think I should delete my post and move it to the RCI section? I didn't know if asking here was a no, no....

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm sure everyone here loved their Disney cruise as much as we did. It was great! Just hoping that someone may have taken one of the others can can offer their insights to compare. Do you think I should delete my post and move it to the RCI section? I didn't know if asking here was a no, no....

Oh, no, your post is just fine here. I'm just pointing out that some of the answers may be weighted toward the Disney side. It probably wouldn't hurt to also post on the RCI board. There's also Cruise Critic that encompasses many different cruise lines.

We've not been on RCCL, or NCL as yet, so I can't really comment on their ships/cruises. But I'm quite satisfied with DCL.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Talking about RCI here isn't a no-no; you'll just get more biased answers here. Overall, we like DCL better than RCI, but if there's a price advantage for similar itineraries, we will go with the cheaper cruise.

We had the worst cruise of our lives on NCL and will not sail with them again.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Opinions please....

We are a family of 7 with 5 kids ages 21-6. We will have book 2 cabins for a cruise. We've only been on one cruise and that was a 5 day on the Wonder. We LOVED it! We can only go in November due to band and sports commitments so our window is pretty small. I'm looking at a 5 day on the Magic, 6 day on NCL Getaway, or a 7 day on RCL Freedom of the Seas. NCL comes in $500 less than DCL and DCL is $400 less than RCI. I would really appreciate insights as this would only be our second cruise.

Thanks!

We've only sailed DCL but have a Mediterranean planned next year on the new Carnival Vista. We can only cruise in June and have done both Caribbean itineraries on the Fantasy so wanted to try something different. I'm a little nervous to jump the Disney ship but it's kind of a necessity for us.

If I was in your shoes, for the price difference of those 3, I would without a doubt do the Magic. I'm normally a longer is better cruise guy but not for those prices. Just my $.02

 

[MillauFr]

I would pick NCL

 

[TXDCLfan]

Opinions please....

We are a family of 7 with 5 kids ages 21-6. We will have book 2 cabins for a cruise. We've only been on one cruise and that was a 5 day on the Wonder. We LOVED it! We can only go in November due to band and sports commitments so our window is pretty small. I'm looking at a 5 day on the Magic, 6 day on NCL Getaway, or a 7 day on RCL Freedom of the Seas. NCL comes in $500 less than DCL and DCL is $400 less than RCI. I would really appreciate insights as this would only be our second cruise.

Thanks!

Having cruised on all 3 of the lines that you mentioned I would chose NCL Getaway hands down. We were on her last week and LOVED HER! The service is just as good as DCL,food was good,the water slides were amazing along with the ropes/walking the plank course. There is so much more to do after 11pm than on DCL ( and you do not even have to go to the casino to find things to do)

 

[TXDCLfan]

Oh, no, your post is just fine here. I'm just pointing out that some of the answers may be weighted toward the Disney side. It probably wouldn't hurt to also post on the RCI board. There's also Cruise Critic that encompasses many different cruise lines.

We've not been on RCCL, or NCL as yet, so I can't really comment on their ships/cruises. But I'm quite satisfied with DCL.

Then maybe you should have not replied in post #2.....just saying. The OP was looking for "others" that could give "insights" into the other cruise lines.

 

[Suzy Mickle]

I'm sure everyone here loved their Disney cruise as much as we did.

 

[Barbydoll8]

I am always looking for others opinions too. We've done 3 DCL and have one booked for March 2016 (gotta get to gold status). I am looking to book a 3/4 days Christmas cruise 2016. First it's just DH and me so inside cheap seats as I call it is fine for us. We are only in the stateroom to sleep, shower and change. I also need midship as I am prone to sea sickness. I've been thinking about RCL & Carnival. I went to Cruise Critic and the ship on RCL I wanted only has a 77% good rating as the Carnival ship (the Valor) has a 88% so I think they win. I work w/ a girl who cruises several times a year on multi lines (no DCL though due to price). She has done NCL twice and both times where horrible. She won't do them again. With her opinion and the lower rating on the ship in question, I think Carnvial Valor maybe the pick. DCL is almost triple the price for what I want. If I can't get a free drink package though, it maybe worth going DCL as after I add it per day (even though I don't drink, DH does and they make you buy it for everyone) it may come out to be close to the same as DCL as DH brings his own beer. Yes he still buys a few but not as many as if he didn't have it with him. Doing the math helps a lot. I'm nervous about going to another line but life is short and why limit to just one thing.

 

[Annabell]

We have cruised with DCL and NCL (on the Getaway) but not on RCI (yet). We enjoy both lines but we do have a preference.

In your situation where the price difference is only around $500, I would choose DCL.

Don't get me wrong, we did enjoy the NCL Getaway cruise and we will not hesitate to cruise with NCL again if price is right but overall speaking we still felt DCL offers a much better product. So for me, I am willing to pay some extra to do DCL.

Last time we sailed the NCL Getway iso DCL because the price difference was huge. It was during summer month and the Getaway was less than half price compared with DCL. I am willing to pay a bit extra but not that much !

Again, we enjoyed our Getaway cruise but IMO DCL is better especially in terms of service and entertainment. HTH

No matter what you choose, I am sure you will have a great time !

 

[mkmommy]

I been on all 4 DCL ships, usually with my kids, 1 NCL cruise and 2 RCL cruises but without kids.

I have loved all my cruises, but after all my non DCL cruises I have come homing saying I am glad I did not take my kids . They do not go to the Kids Club on DCL , love all the family activities and shows on DCL and the other cruise lines just don't have those options. It just seems to me that other cruise lines have all the kids activities in the kids clubs and few families can do together.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Our family has done all three cruise lines.

Personally, I would go with DCL, (die-hard DCL fan here.) Second choice would be the NCL Getaway. (We just returned from the Getaway, and it was great!)

Our two cruises on RCI were so bad that, if they were the only cruise line out there, we wouldn't cruise. JMHO.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

If the price difference is that little between NCL and DCL and RCCL is more expensive, I would totally do DCL. I liked NCL (different ship than you), but I liked DCL much more. Plus, DCL has bigger rooms. Save NCL and RCCL for another cruise where the price difference will be much more substantial.

 

[ldo]

I have been on NCL and RCCL with similar ships, for DCL, only Fantasy and Dream. Here's my view:
Getaway (I went on Epic-similar)-great evening entertainment--different than any other ship--Blue man group, etc. loved the bowling alley--but it costs $5PP if that is a concern. loved the free pub next to the bowling alley. MDR food was good-very good. pool area seems more enclosed than other 2 ships and more crowded, great slide. Feels more closed in and more like a very nice resort vs a cruise ship. no movie theater-they showed 1 Bourne Identity movie near the pub 1X during the day. rock climbing wall. but, overall, very nice and my teens liked it.
Freedom (went on Liberty-same ship)-good central indoor promenade. fun pizza parlor (free), johnny rockets (small fee). no movie theater, but they will play a few movies by the pool and 1-2 3D in the show theater usually on seas days. rock wall. awesome flowrider (free). not quite as fancy as Epic, but fun vibe. If you have sports oriented teens/young adults, then this is a very good ship. MDR food good to just OK. Will upgrade dining at least 2 nights on RCCL in the future.
DCL--pros--very good MDR food, fun atmosphere, staffed teens club all day (RCCL only staffed at night-they do sports, games around the ship some during the day, don't recall NCL), dedicated movie theater with 1st run movies. LOVE, LOVE , LOVE DCL--but will sail on RCCL next spring b/c I got a great deal.
With your ages, I might try the Getaway, as I found the Epic to be a step or two above the Liberty. good luck. Elaine

 

[havoc315]

Opinions please....

We are a family of 7 with 5 kids ages 21-6. We will have book 2 cabins for a cruise. We've only been on one cruise and that was a 5 day on the Wonder. We LOVED it! We can only go in November due to band and sports commitments so our window is pretty small. I'm looking at a 5 day on the Magic, 6 day on NCL Getaway, or a 7 day on RCL Freedom of the Seas. NCL comes in $500 less than DCL and DCL is $400 less than RCI. I would really appreciate insights as this would only be our second cruise.

Thanks!

In the last 3 years, I've done 1 Disney cruise and 2 NCL. I did RCL years ago, so won't even mention is.

I will say that overall, you get much more for your money on DCL. Whether it's worth the price difference is subjective, but to me, the biggest most fundamental values you get on DCL over NCL:

-- This is the biggest for me. It's the reason I would pick DCL over NCL every time, until my kids are older: IF you plan on using the kids clubs, they are FAR superior on DCL. Not even in the same league. The NCL kids clubs have very limited hours, which, IMHO, make them nearly worthless. They close from 12-2 and 5-7, times when I really would have wanted to use them. Made it pointless to check the kids in, for the morning..(have a casual morning, get ready, have breakfast... by that time, it is 10:30-11:00.. do I really want the hassle of signing them into the club and then just an hour later, waiting on line again to sign them out?) Primarily due to the time limitations, the NCL kids clubs are awful. Now, if you don't intend to utilize the kids clubs, then this is a non-issue. Certainly, the 21 year old kids won't be using them.

-- Some people LOVE the massive city-sized cruise ships. That's what you get on the NCL Getaway. Others, myself included, feel it may be getting to the point of too big, too congested, too over the top. To me, even the large DCL ships, still preserve a more classic and intimate feel. But this is a subjective preference. This alone wouldn't prevent me from sailing NCL.

-- Service is simply better on DCL. Disney prides itself on service, and it shows. You will get less English speaking staff on NCL, you will get a lower level of service overall.

-- Not to skip the advantages of NCL --- The freestyle dining can be a positive, and is a huge difference from the Disney rotations.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

-- This is the biggest for me. It's the reason I would pick DCL over NCL every time, until my kids are older: IF you plan on using the kids clubs, they are FAR superior on DCL.

You might be surprised when your kids are older, and don't use the clubs anymore. They STILL might prefer DCL. (Our DD is now 20, and still favors DCL. We just returned from NCL Getaway, which she LOVED. However, she also said "DCL will ALWAYS be my favorite.) That's fine with me!

 

[Momof4DisneyLuvrs]

Thank you everyone for the insights! I really, really appreciate it.

 

[havoc315]

You might be surprised when your kids are older, and don't use the clubs anymore. They STILL might prefer DCL. (Our DD is now 20, and still favors DCL. We just returned from NCL Getaway, which she LOVED. However, she also said "DCL will ALWAYS be my favorite.) That's fine with me!

Oh.... I totally believe it. But I'm not thinking of them, I'm thinking of me! lol

On DCL, with the kids club, the segregation of adult areas.... I felt it was very possible to have adult couple time, and lots of family time. A great balance. On NCL, ever since they limited the club hours, I felt it was solely a family vacation. Rarely used the kids clubs, and therefore always had the kids with us. And in general, kids swarmed all over the NCL ships, there were no true adult areas.

So when they are older.... Even if they prefer DCL, they can still go do their own thing on NCL.