Disney or other? convince me

[ksmom]

We have been on the Disney Wonder for the 4 day and loved it. Now we want to do a cruise again in 2005 for 7 days. My husband wants to try a different cruise line. We have 2 daughters that will go with us, ages next year 20 and 22, so all adults. Who has been on different cruises that can convince my husband to do Disney again?

 

[NCRedding]

My husband had the same view: let's try another line. Here is what convinced him to stick with Disney following our RCCL Radiance to Alaska:
1. I've never come back from guest services crying on DCL like I did on RCCL because of the way I was treated.
2. we've never spent so long in line waiting to get into the dock that we accrued an additional 3.50 in taxi costs like we did on RCCL.
3. We've never taken 2 1/2 hours to get on board a DCL ship, sitting cramped up on folding chairs on concrete, with no A/C in 80 degrees heat, being directed by staff who didn't know they were doing. Embarkation was a nightmare.
4. He loves seeing first run movies and great entertainment (even if it does have Mickey in it, its great--these are his words, not mine).
5. The food is so much better on DCL.
6. Adult areas on DCL are enforced, not like on RCCL.

I am sure there are other things, but for us, we've been completely spoiled by DCL and have no intention on going on other lines after our experience.

 

[valeriekc]

We went on a RCCL ship last spring break and had a wonderful time!!
However we are taking our first Disney cruise this March and are hoping that we will be completely blown away by the difference?
After that cruise I will be able to give an opinion.

 

[inkkognito]

NCRedding,
You brought back awful flashbacks of our Radiance trip! Although we had a good experience with Guest Services (they reimbursed us for a shore excursion we had booked on our own, which we missed due to being nearly two hours late on an RCCL excursion), I remember the other problems well.
Kids all over in the supposedly adults-only areas and the absolutely hideous embarkation experience were problems on our trip, just like yours. And disembarkation was just as bad...you sit around waiting for hours (yes, sometimes literally) until your color is called. Not like DCL, where you can just mosey off anytime you want.
We've done 4 on RCCL, and they have had their good points, but compare that to the 36 we've done on Disney, with 5 more booked (and several more to come...I'm just waiting for the 2005 announcement), and I'm sure you can guess our preference.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Mickeyhugger]

It must be a husband thing. My DH too, wanted to try another cruise after doing our two DCL. (He love it so much both times, he said, 'now I'm curious to try other lines.)

However, what stopped him (at least now, while DD is only 9), are our neighbors who've done RCCL and many other cruises. They told us, 'no, you would be disappointed after doing Disney, this is the BEST!'

It might be different, though, since your children are adults.

 

[inkkognito]

It is definitely a husband thing. That trip to Alaska on Radiance was hubby's "dream trip." Of course, it cured him, and he now swears he'll never sail anywhere cold again!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[ksmom]

Thanks for all your help, I'll be sure to let my husband read these.

 

[glindamood]

We did the Island Princess last August to Alaska and while the ship was gorgeous and the scenery breathtaking what I really have to say is - Give me back the Magic!!!

To me there is just something very special about DCL - magical would pretty much cover it.

 

[Jules1]

We've had great experiences on Princess. Their food is great (better than what we had on Disney and Celebrity)....ahh, those pasta courses. Their entertainment is great, but different than Disney. There were newer movies, but not first run. The production shows were wonderful, but not Disney and their is much to choose from for onboard activities. We've only been on their newer ships, but they were all very nice. They treated us very well. In fact, we took a 12-day Mediterranean cruise and had a great waiter, Antonio. The next summer we took back to back caribbean cruises and the second night of personal choice dining (which we LOVE) there was Antonio. We quickly put in a standing reservation for his table and never looked at another menu. Antonio just brought us whatever was good that day and fit our preferences, plus some items he thought we should try. Personal choice dining is great - you pick what time you want to go to dinner each evening, and either just go, or you can also make specific time reservations to be sure you don't have to wait. We're going on another Disney cruise in March (mostly because of the entertainment), we'll see how they measure up to our favorite line, Princess.

 

[awatt]

Having cruised RCCL,NCL and Disney I will not be disappointed cruising RCCL again after Disney. We in fact loved the Radiance,beautiful ship and best service we've experienced thusfar. I think all the lines have great attributes. They're just slightly different from each other.

 

[chrisn]

The only thing I could even say would be SLIGHTLY lacking on our Voyager of the Seas cruise compared to Disney's Magic was that "Magical" atmosphere. Other than that, absolutely nothing. In fact, food at dinner was better IMHO.

 

[TraSee]

My hubbie and I didn't even complete our cruise on the Radiance. We had a horrible experience and were treated like dirt. They moved our dinner table three times in one evening. When we received news of a family emergency they were not sympathetic and charged us a $600 fine to leave the ship. I will NEVER cruise with RCI again. I came home and started planning our next vacation...our 6th on DCL!

 

[awatt]

Does anyone know what the DCL policy if you have to leave your cruise emergently?

BTW there's a detailed,and i think objective comparison of RCCL and DCL a few posts above this one by kajohn discussing the strengths of each.

 

[TraSee]

RCI told us it is due to a law which requires $300 per person if you depart early. I don't think it is a RCI issue but a Maritime one. Either way, it stunk, AND they had to have our money in cash before departing.