Disney or other Cruise Line

[caseymaureen]

Sorry to start this, but we have sailed on all three disney cruises, 3,4 and 7 day. We love it, but want to try something different less expensive. We have two families with 2 teenagers each, with disney 7-day western the price is $5800. We checked with RC discounters we can go on a 7-day western for under 4000.00 with a balcony. Have found an excelent price on the Princess newest Ship too. I know Ill miss disney's wonderful ship but the price is so good? More for College kids to do, I need some advice from others that have cruised others and/or disney. Thanks

 

[GenieDana]

I have read on CruiseCritic extensively about RCCI. I even have a Word .DOC file someone linked comparing DCL to RCCL. Again any opinion is subjective and biased (we're biased toward Disney). I think based on what I've read the larger/newer ships like the Mariner would be comparable for kids in their teens, the exception being the obvious - Disney themed.

Lots to factor though including:

o Smoking in cabins is permitted on RCCL, so if your not a smoker...
o You pay for all drinks (soda, juice milk), even at dinner
o Their specialy restaraunts (Portofino's and Chops) is $25 pp
o Ice cream costs $ (Ben and Jerry's), Ice milk is "free"
o They have a casino, where DCL uses that space for Kids areas
o The don't have Castaway Cay
o I've read the food is not as good as Disney's (read about the "Ranch steak" that is served)
o DCL enforces adult areas of the ship, and I've read RCCL doesn't
o Their shows are more Vegas/Showgirl style
o They have rock climbing, ice skating, putt-putt golf, and roller blading - but you can do that at home for far less $$$ than on a cruise
o etcetera. (Does my bias show???)

I personally have not sailed another line with older kids, but you are right about prices being compelling (are you reading this DCL?) and we get FL resident discounts (which helps equalize the prices).

Despite this, we are considering booking the Mariner for 2005 ($$ money talking $$)

edit:

from CruiseCritic:

Regarding soda sitcker prices on RCCI are now:

$6.00/day, 18 and over
$4.00/day, 17 and under

plus an automatic 15% gratuity.

Therefore for a 7 day cruise, adult is $42(with gratuity $48.30) and under 18 is $28(with gratuity $32.20)

But you will now get a RC logo mug and it also entitles you to juices. They said no free juice included, even with meals.

From RCCL web site:
ADULT FOUNTAIN SODA/JUICE PACKAGE
This package entitles guests 18 years of age and older to unlimited consumption of fountain sodas (no cans) and juices at all bars and lounges, Windjammer, Dining Room and Private Destinations (CocoCay and Labadee). This package is available for purchase on the day of embarkation at all bars and lounges and may be charged to your SeaPass account. After this package has been purchased, a sticker will be placed on your boarding card allowing you to consume fountain sodas (no cans) and juices throughout your cruise. A complimentary Coca Cola souvenir cup is included as part of the package.

Juices that are included in this package are orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice and cranberry juice.

The cost of the package is $6.00 per person, per day, and is applicable to the total days of the cruise vacation. A 15% gratuity charge will be added.

Please note: The fountain soda / juice package is only available for the total amount of days of the cruise and prices are subject to change without notice.


KIDS FOUNTAIN SODA/JUICE PACKAGE
This package entitles our younger cruisers (guests 17 years of age and younger) to unlimited consumption of fountain sodas (no cans) and juices at all bars and lounges, Windjammer, Dining Room and Private Destinations (CocoCay and Labadee). This package is available for purchase on the day of embarkation at all bars and lounges and Adventure Ocean and may be charged to your SeaPass account. After this package has been purchased, a sticker will be placed on your boarding card allowing you to consume fountain sodas (no cans) and juices throughout your cruise. A complimentary Coca Cola souvenir cup is included as part of the package.

Juices that are included in this package are orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice and cranberry juice.

The cost of the package is $4.00 per person, per day, and is applicable to the total days of the cruise vacation. A 15% gratuity charge will be added.

Please note: The fountain soda / juice package is only available for the total amount of days of the cruise and prices are subject to change without notice.

 

[goingbacksoon]

I don't know about RCCL, but I can tell some semi-personal info about Princess.

My grandparents are retired and love cruising on Princess. The last cruise they went on, they told me the were the "youngens" at their table. They are 69 and 73 respectively.

While I'm sure they were seated with people of similar vintage, this probably tells you something about the average Princess cruiser. Out of 3 pictures on their home page, two of the couples appear to be of retirement age.

Just something to think about, I know if my gf and I did any other cruise line aside from DCL, we'd do RCCL.

goingbacksoon

 

[DopeysGal]

We just returned from a trip on RCCLs Explorer of the Seas. We actually went on this ship instead of the Magic at my DS13 suggestion (the power of advertising LOL). He wanted to try all of the activities as he was bored with the Lab on the Magic the last time we sailed and was concerned with the 13-17 age range (RCCL breaks the teens into 12-14 and 15-17).

While smoking IS permitted in the cabins, you have to ask for an ashtray and our balcony cabin did not smell of smoke (and I know guests smoke on Disney too, as the burn marks on desks and carpets will attest and our stateroom host confirmed). I have a problem with smoke and since RCCL requests smokers to only use the starboard side of the ship (and I only saw one woman who didn't) I just always walked on the port side to avoid the smell.

We did not pay for milk, coffee, or tea at dinner and because my son had a soda card (only $24 for a week including a cool insulated cup), he never paid for soda at dinner or Johnny Rockets (a fun place to eat on the ship). Never paid for milk, juice or lemonade at lunch or breakfast. We enjoyed the food on Explorer and our waitstaff was outstanding. Never tried the 'ranch steak' as it is an alternative selection and we always found something we liked on the regular menu. The requested dress code also seemed to be adheared to more on RCCL...lots and lots of tuxes/dark suits and long gowns on formal nigh (which we enjoy).

Never saw the casino..you can walk through the whole ship and never have to pass through it. RCCLs arcade is much bigger than Disney's, much to DS's delight and it's right next to the kids club so he was always in 'the neighborhood' if I was looking for him.

The soft serve ice cream was the same as Disney, as far as I could tell. You could purchase Ben and Jerry's if you wanted but we had no need. Also loved the 24hr Cafe Promenade with pizza, sandwiches, 6 kinds of cookies and two kinds of cake available for the asking.

I found the adult pool area was strictly enforced, in fact, they have glass doors which separates the adult Solarium from the regular pool and my son wouldn't even walk through them. They do allow 16 yr olds in the Solarium but the ones I saw in there were always well behaved.

Not sure why the shows are considered Vegas/showgirls type. They are more of the Cirque du Soleil type, if anything. No Disney characters but that hardly makes it adult entertainment. The Ice Show was the best show I've ever seen on a cruise ship.

I think the Disney ships are wonderful and we would sail on one again if they were less expensive. But since we can only cruise once every two years or so, I have to put my money on the RCCL Voyager class ships. For teens and young adults (under 21) I think they offer more in the way of entertainment and it was definitely not a 'party ship'. I have also sailed on Princess to Alaska and it was an older crowd but still a great time (without kids). This is just my experience...hope your cruise on any ship is all that you desire.

 

[MarkLem]

Met a nice family on the cruise last week that have cruised Disney and RCCL. Their thougts:

Food is comparable
Disney geared to 12 & under
RCCL better if you have teens
RCCL less $$, rooms were just as nice
RCCL service and staff just as nice and friendly as Disney's

You could also look into Norwegian Cruise Lines. While in South Africa on business, I met a family from Hawaii that was doing a 4 week cruise with NCL , from the Mediterranean and down the East coast of Africa. They were multi-cruisers and after trying the rest, swore by NCL

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

DopeysGal

Thanks for the very honest and informative post. It looks like RCCL(Explorer of the Sea) looks like a very good value. I will check it out in the future.

 

[prymsu]

We have cruised nine times now, and not all have been DCL. All have their good points, and all have things that they could improve on. We just did an RCCL at Christmas and my 11 year old actually liked the kids club on this line better than any of the others.

All give the same wonderful level of service for the most part, and the food quality is also about the same. We like DCL, but are willing to go on other lines if the price is right.

 

[mac_tlc]

We have done DCL three times , and the Voyager-class ships twice, with a third and forth scheduled this year. Given the usual $$ difference and the fact that the Voyager-class ships have more adult activities, I would strongly urge you to consider them.

I have a comparison of DCL and RCCL-Voyager on my web site .. Just e-mail me and I can give you the link. It's unbiased and fairly complete, and is updated every time we sail on either one.

mac_tlc

 

[awatt]

Try cruisecritic.com for more info. They have boards for each line.This particular biard is biased obviously toward DCL and it would be good for you to hear the flip side.

We have cruised RCCL and NCL multiple times. All of these cruises were wonderful- the ships,service,food were excellent. On Radiance we were treated like royaty! I would recommend either line without reservation. Keep in mind that each line is a little different and each has its strong points. There is no reason not to have a fantastic cruise with either RCCL or NCL. And the cost would be significantly less.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

caseymaureen, with teenagers I would say to give RCCL a try. Did you know that RCCL is going to be sailing out of Baltimore starting in May I believe. Good news for us!! When my two get a little older we plan on trying Grandeur of the Seas since we heard such great things about her. Here's a link to the cruises going out of Baltimore...

http://www.mpa.state.md.us/cruises/2004Schedule.htm

Just something to think about. Hope it helps! Good luck!!

 

[zalansky]

We booked the 02/08/04 sailing for the Mariner of the Seas due to some of the same reasons listed in prior posts. We will have 4 teens with us and Disney just didn't cut it. I agree that Disney may be better for the under 10 age group.
Since the Mariner is brand new you might want to look into that ship, we got a really good deal on it.
Our only drawback is we are sailing with a 1 year old and RCCL does not have a nursery. WORSE than that, they charged us FULL PRICED child's fare for him to go! I only did it because it is a family reunion cruise and for no other reason. I get peeved every time I think about it.
Anyway, I have read great reviews on several sites about this ship. Try it.

 

[chrisn]

We have two children ages 15 and 6. We cruised both DCL 7 Day Eastern Magic and RCCI's Voyager of the Seas back to back in 2002. We loved them both but I will give you our input on the basic stuff. For atmosphere Disney all the way! Food was WAY better on Voyager. Ice Cream better on Voyager. Portofino to die for! Kids Club (little kids) Voyager's Adventure Ocean WAY better than Disney (more personalized, more activities, funner, better organized WAY less kids), Teen club better on Disney. Loved our balcony on Voyager, we had Secret Porthole on Disney #5020. Shows-I preferred Disney but that's because I have Disneyitis. Ice Show on Voyager spectacular! Parades FUN! Castaway Cay cannot be beat. Labadee was nice (had a blast on the waverunner tour of the haitian coast) but NO comparison. There is no extra charge for Rock Climbing, Miniature Golf or In-line skating. Daughter loved this. Everything more expensive on Disney. I don't know what the cost is now but I believe we paid $35 unlimited soda for kids on Disney compared to $20 on RCCL. Service very nice on both ships. Disney does go the little extra mile. We were in no way disappointed with either cruise. They both met and exceeded all of our expectations. We will definitely cruise on both lines again especially since I have both a small child and a teenager but my advice would be if you have cruised Disney try RCCL. Our next cruise will be Disney. I'd like to try one of those special itinerary cruises but I can't see how anyone would be disappointed with either cruise.

 

[zalansky]

ChrisN,
You have me very excited for our upcoming RCCL cruise with your post! I am happy we conceded and are trying something other than Disney. My husband was leary, he really enjoys Disney but I know he is going to be very pleasantly surprised with RCCL.
Thanks for the post!