dcl vs royal caribbean

[DrDoodle]

we are looking to do an alaskan cruise in 2015. We are currently booked on DCL, but are considering switching to the royal carribean cruise in june. Who can compare the pro's con's of these lines?

 

[jdb in AZ]

we are looking to do an alaskan cruise in 2015. We are currently booked on DCL, but are considering switching to the royal carribean cruise in june. Who can compare the pro's con's of these lines?

They're similar quality, but RCL doesn't have the mouse, so you don't have to pay his salary.

Neither DCL or RCCL sails to Glacier Bay, so I would recommend cruising Alaska on Princess rather than DCL or RCCL.

 

[Dug720]

They're similar quality, but RCL doesn't have the mouse, so you don't have to pay his salary.

Neither DCL or RCCL sails to Glacier Bay, so I would recommend cruising Alaska on Princess rather than DCL or RCCL.

HAL also does Glacier Bay. I fully admit I am a Disney girl. HAL was ok, but it was definitely NOT Disney. Contrary to reputation, there were PLENTY of families on HAL...and the kids were perhaps more noticeable due to the limited kids' club hours and no designated adult area.

I haven't done RCL yet...will be doing it this summer to AK. It will be interesting to see.

I will say that I actually like HAL and RCL's thing of charging you for your excursions when you book the excursions instead of when you're on board - that way I feel like the trip is pretty much paid for when I take it rather than having a big bill when I get home.

 

[jdb in AZ]

HAL also does Glacier Bay. I fully admit I am a Disney girl. HAL was ok, but it was definitely NOT Disney. Contrary to reputation, there were PLENTY of families on HAL...and the kids were perhaps more noticeable due to the limited kids' club hours and no designated adult area.

I haven't done RCL yet...will be doing it this summer to AK. It will be interesting to see.

I will say that I actually like HAL and RCL's thing of charging you for your excursions when you book the excursions instead of when you're on board - that way I feel like the trip is pretty much paid for when I take it rather than having a big bill when I get home.

We've cruised to Alaska on HAL as well, but we preferred Princess, probably because the ship was in better shape (ship shape?)

the problem with pre-paying excursions is when you book them 6 mos out. I don't like a cruise line having my $$$ that far in advance.

 

[Dug720]

We've cruised to Alaska on HAL as well, but we preferred Princess, probably because the ship was in better shape (ship shape?) the problem with pre-paying excursions is when you book them 6 mos out. I don't like a cruise line having my $$$ that far in advance.

I was by no means praising HAL. I was pretty shocked to see the lack of repair on some stair carpets (especially having seen them replacing some stair carpeting that was SLIGHTLY worn on the Dream in February). But Princess is not the only line that goes into Glacier Bay as your post implied. Some people actually like HAL.

As for excursions, you don't HAVE to book them "six months in advance" - I booked whale watching like 2 or 3 months out. It's all preference though. I don't make a big deal about who has the money - I would actually RATHER them have it so I don't accidentally spend it on something else or have to stress about having enough when on board. I can just chill.

 

[xlxo]

Some thoughts...

• Disney Wonder depart only from Vancouver. RCL offers Seattle and Vancouver.
• Disney Wonder offers Skagway, Ketchican, and Juneau.... RCL offers ports further North and allows you have an extended stay in Seward.
• DCL offers great internet (1gb for $89 at 24Mbps). What does RCL (and others) charge and how fast does it work?
• DCL offers great movies... Love Marvel.

With regards to HAL...

• how many 4 person rooms do they offer. On my Zuiderdaam trip, I was shocked how few quad rooms they offered.
• HAL also offers an option to cruise halfway to Skagway then fly, train, bus to Yukon and join another cruise ship in Anchorage/Seward return to Vancouver/Seattle.

With regards to Princess....

• Does Princess they offer unlimited photo packages? There was none on my reposition cruise. I am very weak to photo's.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I was by no means praising HAL. I was pretty shocked to see the lack of repair on some stair carpets (especially having seen them replacing some stair carpeting that was SLIGHTLY worn on the Dream in February). But Princess is not the only line that goes into Glacier Bay as your post implied. Some people actually like HAL. FWIW, NCL also has a few cruises that include Glacier Bay. A friend cruised there with NCL and had a good time, tho she said it was hard to understand the international crew. But you could say that about 'most any cruise line.

As for excursions, you don't HAVE to book them "six months in advance" - I booked whale watching like 2 or 3 months out. I don't even remember what shore excursion we booked that far in advance. We're used to DCL excursions booking up way too soon, so we got it when we could.It's all preference though. I don't make a big deal about who has the money - I would actually RATHER them have it so I don't accidentally spend it on something else or have to stress about having enough when on board. I can just chill.

One thing we really liked about RCL -- it was a one-way cruise from Vancouver to Seward and we walked from the ship to the scenic train, which took us straight to the airport in Anchorage. Our luggage was picked up the last night of the cruise, and the next time we saw it was at our home airport.

Another thing we enjoyed about Princess was their land-sea option. We stayed in a lodge at the base of Mt. McKinley, and went to Denali Park.

There's so many ways to do Alaska; it helps to do your homework and decide what works best for your family. Or keep going back, which is great too. We've cruised Alaska five times now, and it's definitely our favorite place to escape the summer heat.

 

[lfishe3]

Princess basically owns Alaska. They were there 1st. We are very loyal to DCL but cruise Princess to Alaska.

 

[Bree]

I've sailed on RCCL and DCL, but on Caribbean itineraries. We like RCCL just fine, but the staterooms are itty bitty. I would book no less than a Jr Suite for my family of four and it would still be smaller than a category 04A on DCL.

 

[icesk8abc]

We cruised Alaska on Princess and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. We didn't have kids at the time so I can't comment on activities for them, but there was plenty for is to do. We had a standard balcony room that was smaller than Disney's but plenty big for the 2 of us.

 

[nikkistevej]

We did NCL Pearl to Alaska(it did go to Glacier Bay), check them out too. They had nice pools, slides, etc. I admit I did like the anytime dining. Of course, there was no Mickey......

 

[tidefan]

They're similar quality, but RCL doesn't have the mouse, so you don't have to pay his salary. Neither DCL or RCCL sails to Glacier Bay, so I would recommend cruising Alaska on Princess rather than DCL or RCCL.

I'll second that. Princess is our favorite line outside of DCL and they do a great job in Alaska. They own their own lodges and have some great land tours as well...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I'll second that. Princess is our favorite line outside of DCL and they do a great job in Alaska. They own their own lodges and have some great land tours as well...

Do you know if Princess does anything in Alaska earlier than mid-May? My youngest son's biggest wish in life is to see the Northern lights. I'd love to tie that into a cruise. My understanding is viewing (further north, of course) is okay thru mid-April. Trying to figure this out!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Do you know if Princess does anything in Alaska earlier than mid-May? My youngest son's biggest wish in life is to see the Northern lights. I'd love to tie that into a cruise. My understanding is viewing (further north, of course) is okay thru mid-April. Trying to figure this out!

Next year's first cruise is May 9th.

 

[LisaT91403]

I've sailed on RCCL and DCL, but on Caribbean itineraries. We like RCCL just fine, but the staterooms are itty bitty. I would book no less than a Jr Suite for my family of four and it would still be smaller than a category 04A on DCL.

I think you are mistaken. The Junior Suites vary in size depending on which ship you are on, but here are examples:

JS on Allure/Oasis (the smallest cabins for RCL): 287 sq ft, plus 78 sq ft balcony
JS on Mariner (another RCL ship, similar to what's sailing in AK, I believe): 297 sq ft, plus 65 sq ft balcony

04A on Fantasy: 234 sq ft, plus 65 sq ft balcony

 

[bumbershoot]

I think you are mistaken. The Junior Suites vary in size depending on which ship you are on, but here are examples:

JS on Allure/Oasis (the smallest cabins for RCL): 287 sq ft, plus 78 sq ft balcony
JS on Mariner (another RCL ship, similar to what's sailing in AK, I believe): 297 sq ft, plus 65 sq ft balcony

04A on Fantasy: 234 sq ft, plus 65 sq ft balcony

I completely agree. We've never even gotten a Jr suite on Royal, and our rooms have been the same size or bigger than our rooms on Disney Dream.

 

[tidefan]

I completely agree. We've never even gotten a Jr suite on Royal, and our rooms have been the same size or bigger than our rooms on Disney Dream.

Our Balcony on the Serenade of the Seas was 169 sq ft. Our inside on the Magic was 184 sq.
Ft.

 

[LisaT91403]

On Royal, cabin sizes vary by ship. But as a rule of thumb, I think it's safe to say that DCL has larger cabins when you compare the same/similar category on RCL. In other words, comparing Inside to Inside, Outside to Outside, Balcony to Verandah, etc. But the PP had suggested that a Verandah on DCL was bigger than a Junior Suite on RCL...and that's not true. The DCL Verandah cabins are bigger than a Balcony on RCL, but not as big as the Junior Suite. They are right in between.

 

[Bree]

I think you are mistaken. The Junior Suites vary in size depending on which ship you are on, but here are examples: JS on Allure/Oasis (the smallest cabins for RCL): 287 sq ft, plus 78 sq ft balcony JS on Mariner (another RCL ship, similar to what's sailing in AK, I believe): 297 sq ft, plus 65 sq ft balcony 04A on Fantasy: 234 sq ft, plus 65 sq ft balcony

A 04A is 256sq ft w/ a 43 sq ft balcony. I stand corrected on the JS on radiance class.

 

[LisaT91403]

A 04A is 256sq ft w/ a 43 sq ft balcony. I stand corrected on the JS on radiance class.

And I stand corrected on the ratio of cabin to verandah space on Fantasy. I had the 299 total sq ft correct, but the breakdown of the square footage was wrong. Sorry!