DCL vs Royal Caribbean

[Studios94]

I need advice from you cruise experts!

My husband and I would like to take a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise in September or October. We took a 4 day DCL cruise last fall and loved it. We checked around and found that we could go on a Royal Caribbean (Voyager of the Seas ship) cruise for a much cheaper rate than the Disney 7 day Western cruise.

We're trying to decide if we should try Royal Caribbean or stick with Disney. Has anyone been on both Disney and Royal Caribbean? How does the food compare? How does Royal Carribean's private island (Ladabee) compare to Castaway Cay?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

While I absolutely loved Disney Wonder and Castaway Cay, my all-time favorite ship remains to be Explorer of the Seas (RCCL) and my favorite stop is Labadee. I do believe Disney's food is superior to RCCL's but I certainly didn't starve on Explorer. I enjoyed the layout of Explorer better than Disney Wonder and all the amenities she had to offer. The Voyager-class ships are destinations in themselves and should be experienced at least once. Castaway Cay is amazing but Labadee is the most beautiful spot I've ever seen. I will be returning to Explorer next year but will certainly try another Disney cruise soon after!

 

[hilltopfamily]

I was interested in your comments, particularly since just for kicks I priced a 7 day eastern on Navigator of the Seas for the same time we are booked on the Eastern Magic. Even at this late date, it is approx $1100 cheaper on the main RCCL site. This wasn't even checking w/a TA, which would likely do better price-wise. We have never "cruised" yet and were excited by all the positives we've heard about Disney, but now I am certainly wondering if we should look more @ RCCL for an equal experience at a lot less $$. My question to you or any others who have done RCCL--

what did you think of kids programs? equal to Disney? We have DD 12, DS 9, & DD 6 at cruise time. Looks like DD 12 could be w/12-14 yr olds (which she'd love better than on Disney w/10-12 yr olds).

Also--we're not looking for a very "formal" experience as we're a pretty casual Nebraska family!! I watched travel channel last night on Adventure of the Seas and dinner looked pretty "formal". What was your experience? thanks for anyones opinions/thoughts on this. Penny

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

Disney Magic or RCCL Navigator? Well, the good news is that is a win/win choice for sure Personally, since you've never cruised and have nothing to compare to, I'd save some money and go Navigator. But there is something very "magical" about Disney too! I don't think you will be sorry either way! If this is a once in a lifetime thing.....do Disney 7 day. If you think that just maybe you will cruise again, then do Navigator 7 day and with the money you save perhaps do a Disney Wonder 3 or 4 day cruise in the future to get a Disney "fix". Good luck deciding!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I'd like to know more about the kids programs too. We just got off the 3/29 Magic and would love to take a cruise on RCL. I'd like to know more about RCL's proceeds for checking kids out of their activities & what they have to do on board.

Are there good discussion boards out their for RCL?

 

[pal2pluto]

Bonnie Voyager...........what makes Labadee so wonderful? I'm curious....isn't it part of cuba or haiti?

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

Labadee is a protected peninsula located on Dominica (I believe) which is also home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is the most breathtaking view I have seen in many travels. Absolutely stunning, lush, green mountainous area amidst the beautiful blue seas. The ship is docked in the middle of all this splendor. We spent the day relaxing at an uncrowded area of the beach looking out at this amazing view. I will try to give a link to one of my photos of Labadee. I hope it works!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/36726107/36726356NsIwxO[/URL]

 

[pal2pluto]

That is beautiful! Do they only go to Labadee on their western cruises? Or when? I only knew of Cocoa Cay........

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

We visited Labadee on Explorer's old Eastern Itinerary, but now Explorer only visits Labadee on the Western Itinerary (she goes to St. Martin instead of Labadee on the Eastern route ) Navigator, however, has taken over Explorer's old Eastern Itinerary as far as I know and she makes the stop at Labadee. Definitely worth seeing! I'm headed back to Labadee in 2004 (Explorer Western)!

 

[snwwht]

The Navigator of the Seas does an alternating Eastern/Western sailing and the Eastern leg does stop at Labadee also.We have cruised RCCL 8 times and now usually only get off the ship for Labadee.We think it looks like what the Garden of Eden must have! VERY lush.Don't have children so I can't comment about their kid programs but can't imagine anyone being dissapointed with RCCL.

 

[Studios94]

Thanks for the advice! I think we'll go with Royal Caribbean this year and then do a Disney Cruise next year. Best of both worlds

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Bev J]

If you want more information or a board for RCI then go to www.cruisecritic.com the royal caribbean board is busy and full of information. There are also plenty of trip reports to read.

Hilltopfamily: where in Nebraska are you? We are in Lincoln. Have cruised with RCI many times and have another trip booked in October on the Rhapsody of the Seas out of Galveston TX, we got a balcony cabin for 750 pp total. We cannot convince the other 3 couples we are cruiseing with to try a Voyager class ship. so next cruise we will try one with our kids. As to your question about formal. Most nights a nice shirt and kakis will do and nice pants/blouse or sundress. Formal night is formal in the main dining room but you can choose to eat less casual elsewhere. We have gotten some real bargains at Dillards/Yonkers on dressy clothes for women and a dark suit will do for men if you want formal, you will see tux's and sequins for some but a nice coctail dress or a black skirt and fancy blouse will work too. We have never felt underdressed on a cruise and the only time these clothes come out is for a cruise. We live in jeans and t-shirts at home.

 

[hilltopfamily]

Bev J:

we're from Lincoln also--What a small world!

What a great deal you're getting from Galveston--it makes my DCL cost look ridiculous. Best deal I could find (and we booked over 7 months out) was $6516. for 2 category 10 inside connecting rooms on the Eastern itinerary.

With a family of 5 (3 kids) this was a better deal than getting the category 4 family veranda suite w/DCL, but we end up paying 4 adult fares & 1 child. Our cost is $1303. per person!

Is yours a 7 day cruise and what itinerary? I did watch the Travel channel tonight about DCL--it was fun to see. I just hope we love this cruise enough to make me forget the cost and how I could have gone for a lot less with another line.

thanks also for the info on dressing--you guys sound a lot like how we live, too! jeans 99% of the time when not at work.

 

[Bev J]

Hilltopfamily, yes it is a small world. The Rhapsody is a 7 day going to Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. We sailed on her sister ship a couple of years ago and had a great time and the ship was the perfect size. Some of our group is considering driving down to Galveston, we might also if we cannot get a good airfare.
I am sure you will have a great time with DCL, we did but the only way we can afford to take a 7 day with our kids is on RCI. That is fine with us, our kids are 16 and 8 so the 16 year old is dying to try the rockclimbing wall and golf and everything else.
Since we have tried both lines we know we will be happy with RCI and use the extra money for tours. I did find the Explorer of the Seas for the same week we are going for only about $100 more per person. So maybe next year when the kids are off school for that week again we will try for the family and leave the friends at home!

 

[mac_tlc]

We have been on the Magic twice (third coming up 11/8/03) along with the Explorer of the Seas (Western) and the Navigator of the Seas (Eastern). You can't go wrong with either choice. I too absolutely love Labadee. I would change itineraries to stop there.

I have the Compass activitiy sheets from the Navigator 2/15/03 Eastern posted on my web site :

www.new-horizons-travel.com

Explorer Compass sheets from 8/17/02 Western should be available in a week or so.

Also coming is a detailed comparison between DCL and RCCL Voyager-class ships. Both have advantages .. all depends on what is important to you .. If $$ is critical, RCCL will almost always be chaeper than DCL...

mac_tlc

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Thanks for the info! We are seriously looking at doing RCCL just because of the price difference and the ability to book late and get significant $$$ savings.

 

[HRCCrazy]

Thanks to you all, been think about doing an RCCL Voyager class, as it's half the cost of the Disney,for Sept/Oct this year but I'm hooked on the DCL cruise. The only thing that has me thinking about doing the RCCL is the stop in San Juan (one more Hard Rock Cafe -HRC- on my list)

Can you sail without Mickey ?

HRCCrazy aka Big John

 

[BCMG]

To all that responded, I too am looking for a less expensive cruise before we take our planned Disney cruise in Feb., where is the best place to get a quote for a 7- night RCCL?

 

[mac_tlc]

HRCCrazy,
It is a challenge to cruise without the Mick-ster. But, there are plenty of other advantages to the Voyager class ships. The Royal Promenade is a great feature, including the Promenade view rooms (only double occupancy, about 167 sq. ft. ) Activities galore with the rock climbing wall, inline skating track, mini golf, skating rink, full-size b-ball court, etc, etc, etc. Having four (soon to be five) ships in this class has some advantages too. That's a lot of cabins to fill every week .. beter prices ... Plus the Adventure goes out of San Juan and gets to ports that DCL can't reach ..... yet .....

mac_tlc

 

[wovenwonder]

Originally posted by BCMG
To all that responded, I too am looking for a less expensive cruise before we take our planned Disney cruise in Feb., where is the best place to get a quote for a 7- night RCCL?

first check with Dreamsunlimted.com as they also book non Disney Cruises. We know their reputation is great!

Second I would recommend pricing with Buycruises.com they have very competitive pricing and also a very good reputation.