DCL vs RCL with kids ages 7, 8

[GroguAndStitch]

Debating doing either RCL new icon ship or DCL treasure for spring break 2025. Cost for 5 nights on DCL is the same as 7 nights on RCL to very similar itineraries. Anyone have any input on this. I realize this IS Disboards... just trying to debate which of newest family ships is best for us!

we'd do an ocean view balcony or verandah, no suite life is in the budget for us.

 

[WildernessMickey]

They are both great choices. I want to try both of these new ships. I think the experiences will be very different. At this point I am leaning towards the Icon myself since I have sailed on the Wish and I know the Treasure will be similar, but the Icon is a new class of ship and looks like a lot of fun. Good luck on making a decision and I wish you could do both!

 

[GroguAndStitch]

They are both great choices. I want to try both of these new ships. I think the experiences will be very different. At this point I am leaning towards the Icon myself since I have sailed on the Wish and I know the Treasure will be similar, but the Icon is a new class of ship and looks like a lot of fun. Good luck on making a decision and I wish you could do both!

Thanks. I want to try them both too! I think we are leaning towards icon as well, but we've never done a DCL cruise so I am tempted to try the treasure! Ugh!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I would try the Treasure since the DCL experience is quite different. They you'll know if you like it enough to pay the premium moving forward or not.

 

[randumb0]

I have only sailed Disney for the past decade, but I want to sail on the Icon so badly. I would book it over the Treasure

 

[pinkxray]

Tough choice. We haven’t been on a cruise in a few years but back when DD was 6 we went on the Disney Dream. It was fantastic, especially for me since I am a Disney lover.

The next year we went on RCL Oasis of the Seas (this was around 2011/2012 when these were the newest ships) We had a blast! There was so much to do. After that we decided RCL would be our preferred line.

That said, we are booked on DCL in Nov. 2024 with our DS8 and DD6. They havent been on a cruise yet and I want to experience DCL with them at least once while they are the perfect ages. I figure we have many years in the future to experience RCL while they will age out of the kids club and stuff on DCL.

 

[Flcruising]

Debating doing either RCL new icon ship or DCL treasure for spring break 2025. Cost for 5 nights on DCL is the same as 7 nights on RCL to very similar itineraries. Anyone have any input on this. I realize this IS Disboards... just trying to debate which of newest family ships is best for us!

we'd do an ocean view balcony or verandah, no suite life is in the budget for us.

Done both. Like both. Your kids aren't going to be 7 and 8 forever. If they like Disney now is the time to experience that Disney magic. Disney is always fun. But that same magic doesn't last in the same way. RC will still be there when they are older. DCL won't be the same if you wait.. If they like Dosney now is the time.

 

[Maisie78]

Debating doing either RCL new icon ship or DCL treasure for spring break 2025. Cost for 5 nights on DCL is the same as 7 nights on RCL to very similar itineraries. Anyone have any input on this. I realize this IS Disboards... just trying to debate which of newest family ships is best for us!

we'd do an ocean view balcony or verandah, no suite life is in the budget for us.

You mention a 5 night on DCL in terms of cost comparison. I don't think the Treasure is going to be doing 5 nights.

 

[GroguAndStitch]

Done both. Like both. Your kids aren't going to be 7 and 8 forever. If they like Disney now is the time to experience that Disney magic. Disney is always fun. But that same magic doesn't last in the same way. RC will still be there when they are older. DCL won't be the same if you wait.. If they like Dosney now is the time.

very good point. I hadn't thought of it this way. Thanks!

 

[mcd2745]

In the end, I'm sure they would have great time on either one. That said, to us, the biggest difference between the other lines (and we've done RCL, NCL, and Carnival) and DCL (we are now Platinum), is that on the other lines, the kids clubs are not open continuously throughout the day as it is on DCL. They would open from 9am-noon, then close for 2 hours. Re-open from 2-5pm, and close again from 5-7pm before opening again 7-10pm. Then, if they stay open after 10pm, there is an hourly change. Our kids are older (in college) now, so no longer a factor for us anymore. However, that frustrated us when they were younger. I'm sure it may not have been as a big a deal to some families, depending on how much time their kids were/would be spending in the clubs, and just as importantly, when they would be in the clubs. As an example, on sea days we generally slept later (even the kids) and typically went to breakfast right before the buffet shut down - usually 10:30 to 11am. So we'd finish breakfast and it would be pointless for them to go to the kids club if it was closing at noon. For a family who typically gets up early and would be done with breakfast by 9am, may not be as big a deal to them. Similar with dinner. Their schedule seemingly assumes families with younger kids will be eating early/first seating. So they close the clubs from 5-7 while you're at dinner. But we always did late/second - even when the kids were young. So when it would be convenient to have the in the clubs while mom and dad were getting ready for (2nd seating) dinner, they were closed. YMMV, of course.

This ends my kids clubs (on non-DCL cruises) rant. Apologies for the long post.

 

[Garyjames220]

Tough choice. We haven’t been on a cruise in a few years but back when DD was 6 we went on the Disney Dream. It was fantastic, especially for me since I am a Disney lover.

The next year we went on RCL Oasis of the Seas (this was around 2011/2012 when these were the newest ships) We had a blast! There was so much to do. After that we decided RCL would be our preferred line.

That said, we are booked on DCL in Nov. 2024 with our DS8 and DD6. They havent been on a cruise yet and I want to experience DCL with them at least once while they are the perfect ages. I figure we have many years in the future to experience RCL while they will age out of the kids club and stuff on DCL.

what age do you or others think kids age out the kids clubs

i thought Disney always had something for all ages in there kids clubs going on

 

[Maisie78]

what age do you or others think kids age out the kids clubs

i thought Disney always had something for all ages in there kids clubs going on

Based on my own experience (and with the caveat that I've only sailed DCL), the Disney Kids Clubs are special and VERY Disney. The tween and teen clubs are less so. Last 2 cruises my kids were in Edge and I think the only thing they did was play video games. I'd imagine their experience might be similar in tween clubs on other lines, but, as a Disney fan, you are not going to get anything like the Oceaneers Club/Lab on other lines. 11 and 12 year olds can go to both Edge and Oceaneers but, once my kids were eligible for Edge, they refused to set foot in Oceaneers.

 

[rinse82]

We're booked on Icon for March 2024 so will let you know!

Coincidentally we are also booked on Treasure March 2025

Kids are aged similar to yours (9,6 and 6)

 

[DCLMP]

what age do you or others think kids age out the kids clubs

i thought Disney always had something for all ages in there kids clubs going on

They don’t age out on Disney. Disney has teen clubs just like every cruise line. They also have the 1820 society. Teenagers just want to hangout, socialize and do stuff together. Any kid that “ages out” just doesn’t like that kind of socialization or doesn’t feel comfortable. I know because I have one of each type of kid.

If you have an athletic kid then they’ll find a lot more to do on Royal.

 

[Memepoppy]

what age do you or others think kids age out the kids clubs

i thought Disney always had something for all ages in there kids clubs going on

Don't think it's so much the kids "aging out" of the clubs, as previous posters have stated Disney has clubs up through late teens. What I do think is the kids "age out" of the Disney cuteness. On Disney ships you have the Aqua Duck and its newer iterations and Mid Ship Detective Agency for the older ones who are not into princesses and video games. Other lines have multiple water slides, dry slides, zip lines, rock walls, go cart tracks, etc. Much more to do for kids that are not into Disney or have outgrown Disney.

Younger children who love all things Disney would love any of the Disney ships. Older children most likely would be more entertained on some of the other lines. This is the case with our 6 grandkids as they've gotten older - the Disney magic is no longer there. Not saying we won't cruise Disney again, but if so it will just be DW and I as we still enjoy the quality of some of the things on Disney. If the grandkids are along it will be RCL or NCL.