DCL --> RCL: a Review

[OKW Lover]

I'll be interested to follow your review. We are RCL Diamond+ and DCL Platinum. We sail both regularly and go into each one with a different mindset.

Wondering what level cabin you are sailing on each ship.

 

[ldo]

We much prefer DCL over RCI, but sail RCI when there is a large pricing difference. We've sailed on both cruise lines a number of times. We took 4 young adult kids (20s) and us (60s) on the Dream a year ago and loved it. This July, We went on RCI Oasis out of Barcelona. RCI was $7500 for 3 sets of central park balconies. 3 DCL OV cabins would be 3X more and even 2 cabins with 3 occupants would have been more than double.
We had a fantastic time! Although there were lots of kids/teens, I didn't see anything any more unruly than I've seen on DCL. And, although buffet could get very crowded, MDR food was from "almost DCL to a notch below," and also no obvious trash bins (I've seen similar on Princess/Celebrity), we all loved the ship/cruise. Smoking was easily avoided by internet search beforehand or checking deck plan and walking elsewhere. We did miss the Disney Broadway shows and first run movies on DCL, but Oasis entertainment, including Broadway, diving/aqua, and ice skating shows, was a fun alternative.
DH and I liked it so much, we're planning a couples sailing on a sister ship next spring and then a family trip the next year (3 cabins for 8 day Caribbean in Jan were less than less than 2 cabins for 4 day DCL Bahamas). We'll return to DCL, but hoping there's another "deal."

 

[peacefrogdog]

I'm currently a RCI cruiser who last cruised on DCL in 2013 (on the Fantasy) when my kids were younger. Kids are now adults. For those who cruise without young kids and prefer DCL over RCI, what are the specifics of DCL that appeal to you? I hope not to re-stimulate a DCL vs RCI debate but want to hear more about to keep options open in case there are deals or appealing itineraries on DCL.

 

[ldo]

For those who cruise without young kids and prefer DCL over RCI, what are the specifics of DCL that appeal to you?

We (50s) and kids (20s), prefer DCL for the entertainment, choreographed dining experience, movie theater, and overall Disney vibe ("kids" still go to character meet/greets). Disney seems to focus more on the customer experience, and have better (more individualized) customer service. But, we just sailed Oasis and everyone loved it.
We also enjoy Celebrity, RCI, and Princess for couple-only sailing. For us, Voyager/Oasis+ ships or DCL works best for family cruising. With up to 6 cruising, we are also in the camp of "if we can get a deal, we'll sail DCL" now.

 

[Retiredcruiser]

We (50s) and kids (20s), prefer DCL for the entertainment, choreographed dining experience, movie theater, and overall Disney vibe ("kids" still go to character meet/greets). Disney seems to focus more on the customer experience, and have better (more individualized) customer service. But, we just sailed Oasis and everyone loved it.
We also enjoy Celebrity, RCI, and Princess for couple-only sailing. For us, Voyager/Oasis+ ships or DCL works best for family cruising. With up to 6 cruising, we are also in the camp of "if we can get a deal, we'll sail DCL" now.

We are in our 50s with kids in their 20s as well and agree the overall vibe on DCL is hands down the best end-to-end experience specifically when compared with RCL. We just sailed with RCL Star class to Alaska in May and they couldn't have dropped more balls if they tried to in regards to failing to deliver on customer service.
With RCL crossed off our list (this includes cruise credits we refuse to use) we have Virgin and Celebrity booked along with 6 DCL upcoming cruises including our recent Destiny booking. Love this forum to hear about different experiences including those who are loyal to RCL. For us, after experiencing the best RCL has to offer compared to the best DCL has to offer every single category (food, service, entertainment, vibe, etc.) goes to DCL. In regards to cost comparisons, I'll simply say you get what you pay for.

 

[ldo]

What issues did you have on RCL? Asking, as my friends (late 50s, with 20s kids) just returned from Ovation to Alaska and said they had a great time.

 

[Retiredcruiser]

What issues did you have on RCL? Asking, as my friends (late 50s, with 20s kids) just returned from Ovation to Alaska and said they had a great time.

Glad to hear your friends had a good time. We were on Quantum and our experience was far from that. I posted a review in the DCL forum so I'll spare the details in this post...in short, our assigned Genie was incompetent at best and the onboard experiences including speciality restaurants were some of the worst we have ever experienced. I'll add, RCL is also the only cruise line we have been on where we have experienced the guests being rude both to each other as well as to the service folks. Suffice it to say after two trips, RCL just isn't for us.

 

[John VN]

We are in our 50s with kids in their 20s as well and agree the overall vibe on DCL is hands down the best end-to-end experience specifically when compared with RCL. We just sailed with RCL Star class to Alaska in May and they couldn't have dropped more balls if they tried to in regards to failing to deliver on customer service.
With RCL crossed off our list (this includes cruise credits we refuse to use) we have Virgin and Celebrity booked along with 6 DCL upcoming cruises including our recent Destiny booking. Love this forum to hear about different experiences including those who are loyal to RCL. For us, after experiencing the best RCL has to offer compared to the best DCL has to offer every single category (food, service, entertainment, vibe, etc.) goes to DCL. In regards to cost comparisons, I'll simply say you get what you pay for.

r.e.bold -- Often heard and know it's not always true.

 

[asgur5]

Love all the extra kids activities they have onboard compared to dcl (waterslides, slides, ice skating, zip lines etc). But I cant help thinking from the videos it looks like having a holiday in a shopping mall or at an airport.

Does it actually feel special like dcl or does it just feel like a shopping centre?

 

[starvenger]

Does it actually feel special like dcl or does it just feel like a shopping centre?

I would say that it's more like a floating resort than a shopping centre. Resorts have a lot more going on outdoors, of course, but it's a cruise ship, so that can't be helped.

With that said, shops are more front and centre in the Royal Promenade as compared to how DCL tucks them away. Personally I'm not a fan of this, but then again I'm also not one to buy expensive jewellery or watches on a cruise ship. Of course, Royal isn't the only cruise line to have these fancy shops in their main thoroughfare - I saw this on Regal Princess, where the shops were all built around their Piazza centrum.

As to whether it "feels special"... I mean that's sort of in the eye of the beholder, right? I've never felt as if DCL was "special" - to me it was a nice, Disneyfied cruise ship. Take away the Disney and it really wasn't much different from other cruise lines outside of a clear focus on kids.

But does Royal Caribbean "feel special"? I would also say no. Like Disney, there are unique elements on Royal and those might speak to you. But at the end of the day does it feel "special" to me? Not really. But I do vibe more with what Royal has to offer.

With that said, put me on a cruise and I'll figure out ways to enjoy myself.