DCL vs RCL-adventure of the seas

[BethA]

We have cruised DCL 4 times and are trying RCL this year because of west coast cruise. We chose Adventure of the Seas out of PR and now I see a lot of very negative reviews. Anyone here have any comparisons?

I am excited for our Magic cruise in 2006, but not for this one in June! I know I'll miss the Disney Magic, but I'm getting worries this cruise will be awful!!

I'd love to hear from anyone who has cruised both, especially AOS.
thanks.
Beth

 

[LoveMyBaby]

I have not sailed AOS, but I sailed its identical twin sister ship, Voyager of the Seas. I must say I liked the boat MUCH more than the Disney Magic, (and I loved the Disney Magic). The main difference is size. The AOS is MUCH larger than the Magic. There are many, many more activities to do on the bigger ship. We never felt crowded, and there was so much more space around the pool areas. Also, I felt the staff on the RCCL ship was much more professional than on the Disney cruise, but that probably varies year to year, as staff turnover on all cruise lines is so high.

What you would lose on the RCCL vs. DCL is the activities for kids. There is so much more on DCL for kids that you will not find on RCCL. Also, although the RCCL ship offers many more restaurant and bar choices, you won't get the rotating dinner spots that DCL offers.

 

[SandraLee]

LoveMyBaby . . . What about night time shows? I love the entertainment on DCL and my kids love to go to live shows. How are these on RCCL? Are they kids friendly? Are they good quality?

I will be going on one more DCL (either the May repo or Thanksgiving, 2005), then I'm going to try on of the Radiance class ships. These are the same size as the Magic -- not the Mega size ones like the explorer...

 

[BethA]

I'm curious about shows also and what family activities there might be

 

[Jamashp]

I am equally curious.

We crusied the Magic over New Jersey teachers convention week in Oct/Nov. 2004. RCCL Voyager of the Seas goes out of Cape Liberty (New Jersey) on the Friday before the 2005 teacher's convention and returns the Sunday after teachers convention. This amounts to 9 nights on the ship, no flights, no hotels, and only a maximum of three days of school being missed.

Our children will be 7, 11, and 13 at the time. The children's programs on RCCL fit better with their ages than on the Magic (especially for our 13 year old.) Wish they had continuous hours like on the Magic. 9 - 12 noon, 2 - 5:00, 7:00 - 9:00 (or something like that). We're hoping for the best.

Anyway, given that we were able to get a room/suite for five, 9 nights on the ship, concierge level, not have the added expenses of flights and hotels, AND the price was the same as a the 7 day western Magic in a category 4, we are giving it a try.

Hope we made the right choice. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Scott