Disney vs. RCCL

[tchrmom]

Hi , Im also looking to book with Royal Caribbean nex year but have so many questions since we have only cruised with Disney.
1-What is the earliest time to board?We were on the Liberty last June and the Freedom this June by 11:30.
2-Where do we make reservations for Portofino and Chops, and also are the open only for dinner? reservations can be made online, using your credit card. It is listed where you book your excursions. They are only open for dinner.
3-Do we need to reserve for the shows or they have specific times like Dcl?It is just like Disney. There is show for main and 2nd seating dinner guest....except the ice show. You will need tickets for that, but they are free and there are several shows to choose from. We had NO trouble getting tickets.
4-Can we bring our own Sodas?Yes!
5-Do they have any Special Nights like Pirates of the Caribbean that we need to be prepared for?They have 70's night but I never saw anyone dressed for it. Of course, there are 2 formal nights.
6-Are we able to change dinning assigments and request a table for 3 ?Not sure what you mean here......If you mean, can we have a table of 3 to ourselves.....I did see families sitting at tables alone. On both cruises we have sat together as a party without other families.
7-Do they show movies?Yes............in yur stateroom and movie theater......but we never went. Too much to do!
Is there anything I need to book walong with my reservation.At any time, if you want to book excursions through the cruiseline, you can do that online. They are charged to your credit card as soon as you book them. But, if memory serves me correctly....you can book them, the same day you book your cruise.
Thank you all so much .

Good Luck....let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Thanks to tchrmom and The Wog for your honest answers regarding Jamaica. I have an aunt and uncle who visit almost every year and they never had a bad experience. They have made friends among the locals and feel right at home. But when I go to cruise critic, I read so many bad reviews on the port that it does worry me. I think we would definitely stick to cruise excursions then. Thanks.

 

[amyup]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread. We have always wanted to try a Disney Cruise but I always cheap out since its so expensive for our family of 5. We have one booked for Nov 2010 but am debating between keeping it or saving $1200 and doing the Liberty of the Seas.

How is the kids club for 3 year olds? I know the 8 and 10 year old will have fun regardless of the ship but am worried about the 3 year old. It seems like that is the prime age to do Disney.

 

[tchrmom]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread. We have always wanted to try a Disney Cruise but I always cheap out since its so expensive for our family of 5. We have one booked for Nov 2010 but am debating between keeping it or saving $1200 and doing the Liberty of the Seas.

How is the kids club for 3 year olds? I know the 8 and 10 year old will have fun regardless of the ship but am worried about the 3 year old. It seems like that is the prime age to do Disney.

Sorry, I can't help you with the kids club....as I have teenagers. With children that young.......I would TRY to do Disney. They are still at an age that you can take them out of school during a "value" time. Search around..... Watch carefully......I bet you could get a good deal in September or October. 3,8,10 and perfect ages for Disney! That is not to say that Freedom or Liberty wouldn't be good too.....but since you have always had your heart set on a Disney cruise, I think you should try it if at all possible.

 

[Scrapbook Stacy]

Hi Will5mom, well, my hubby was talking to a co-worker today and he told my hubby that a cruise is very expensive, he was telling him some horror stories, so now we may not be going on a cruise anytime soon....
He has been wanting to go back to Vegas, we have not been back there is 13 years, so, I am thinking that maybe, just him and I can go to Vegas and then we can go back to Disney next summer....

Stacy

 

[woody73]

. . . so now we may not be going on a cruise anytime soon....

Stacy, that's too bad.

Woody

 

[alyssasmommy]

Thank you for answering each of my questions. What if I pay for my excursions and decide to change my mind at the end , will I be able to get reinbursed?
Im sure I will have more questions but you helped a lot Fran Thanks.

 

[Scrapbook Stacy]

Woody, I know...it is a bummer.

 

[woody73]

Stacy, I think your DH is hanging around with the wrong co-worker.

There are some excellent cruise deals out there, and one could easily stay within his or her budget onboard.

Woody

 

[Scrapbook Stacy]

His concern is how much everything costs...the excursions, sodas, etc...we read where it was about $60 for the sodas aboard a cruise, we were thinking that the food and drinks, not alcoholic ones of course, were included. We were only planning on a 3 day cruise since this would be our first one. DD wanted to go to Atlantis while we were in the Bahamas, it looks like it costs a lot too to go to their water park. Have you ever been there and if so, do you recall how much it is?

Thank you, Stacy

 

[OhMari]

Can anyone explain the category numbers? on RC? We are on the 7th level. and it says Category D2?

 

[tchrmom]

Thank you for answering each of my questions. What if I pay for my excursions and decide to change my mind at the end , will I be able to get reinbursed?
Im sure I will have more questions but you helped a lot Fran Thanks.

I don't know how they work reinbursments.....I THINK that they can be changed up until sailing.......call and ask, 'cause I never changed and excursion with them. Ususally, I book through the excursion company myself.

His concern is how much everything costs...the excursions, sodas, etc...we read where it was about $60 for the sodas aboard a cruise, we were thinking that the food and drinks, not alcoholic ones of course, were included. We were only planning on a 3 day cruise since this would be our first one. DD wanted to go to Atlantis while we were in the Bahamas, it looks like it costs a lot too to go to their water park. Have you ever been there and if so, do you recall how much it is?

Thank you, Stacy

I think I posted that for my 2 kids it was $63.00 for soda packages....but that is for 2 kids on a 7 day cruise. (On RCCL cruise...free on Disney) I'm pretty sure the price slides for the length of the cruise. Also, you can take on soda, if you wish. Just stop by a grocery store before boarding. You can cruise and NOT pay for food. You don't really need to book a specialty rest. and you don't have to eat at Johnny Rockets.....or Ben and Jerry's. (But, they are just a small fee....$3.95-$4.95) You could very easily take a 7 day cruise and not pay for any special food.

Can anyone explain the category numbers? on RC? We are on the 7th level. and it says Category D2?

RCCL puts their rooms on an alphabetical system. The closer to the beginning of the alphabet, the better your room selection. DH and I have inside rooms (N)......yours is a D2....that is the best kind of room, without being a suite. It will be 214 sq. feet with a balcony of 68 sq. feet. Your room is on deck 7......a good level in my opinion for The Liberty and The Freedom. Have FUN!!!!

 

[TheWog]

Hi Will5mom, well, my hubby was talking to a co-worker today and he told my hubby that a cruise is very expensive, he was telling him some horror stories, so now we may not be going on a cruise anytime soon....
He has been wanting to go back to Vegas, we have not been back there is 13 years, so, I am thinking that maybe, just him and I can go to Vegas and then we can go back to Disney next summer....

Stacy

Cruises canbe expensive, but they don't have to be. Especially a 3 nighter. Those can be done real cheap. Food, and beverages such as water, ice tea, lemonade, milk, juice, etc is included. Sodas can be extra and alcohol is extra, but you don't need to have those if you don't want to. Sodas being $60 is probably the soda package for a longer trip. You can buy an unlimited package which the cost is determined by the length of your trip. You can do your own thing for excursions - don't have to pay or go on something organized by the ship. I'm thinking Vegas is not a cheap vacation ... plus he can gamble on board the ship if he chooses. We found cruises to actually pretty inexpensive when compared to other trips particularly a land based Disney trip we just took in April. Good luck, but don't base it based on one person's stories.

 

[TheWog]

Can anyone explain the category numbers? on RC? We are on the 7th level. and it says Category D2?

I agree with tchrmom - this is a nice verandah room category. Great deck too as you are relatively close to everything up or down.

 

[Scrapbook Stacy]

Thanks for all of the GREAT info, I appreciate it all! Does anyone recall how much it is to do the Atlantis waterpark? DD and DH really like water parks...

Stacy

 

[Nik's Mom]

His concern is how much everything costs...the excursions, sodas, etc...we read where it was about $60 for the sodas aboard a cruise, we were thinking that the food and drinks, not alcoholic ones of course, were included. We were only planning on a 3 day cruise since this would be our first one. DD wanted to go to Atlantis while we were in the Bahamas, it looks like it costs a lot too to go to their water park. Have you ever been there and if so, do you recall how much it is?

Thank you, Stacy

Atlantis is pretty expensive. Some dis'rs will rent a day room from Comfort Inn across the street and that will allow you free use of the Pools at Atlantis. You may want to research that. I think it was less than $200 to do it that way.

I kind of disagree with the co-worker though. When you compare the cruise to a land-only vacation, you get way more for your money on the cruise. For example, once we compared airfare to one of the islands, hotel, food and expenses while there, it came out more than the price of the cruise and excursions. Plus, you see more islands on the cruise. So a cruise is more bang for your buck.

 

[OhMari]

RCCL puts their rooms on an alphabetical system. The closer to the beginning of the alphabet, the better your room selection. DH and I have inside rooms (N)......yours is a D2....that is the best kind of room, without being a suite. It will be 214 sq. feet with a balcony of 68 sq. feet. Your room is on deck 7......a good level in my opinion for The Liberty and The Freedom. Have FUN!!!!

I agree with tchrmom - this is a nice verandah room category. Great deck too as you are relatively close to everything up or down.

Thanks, I know when I walk out the door, the elevator is right there, and that is a slight concern of mine. But Rhonda from Dreams picked out the room for me and she told me it is slightly larger with a balcony. My dd and her friend have a stateroom with a window, just up and around the corner. Their room is actually looking out the front of the ship.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Thanks for all of the GREAT info, I appreciate it all! Does anyone recall how much it is to do the Atlantis waterpark? DD and DH really like water parks...

Stacy

Here's a recent thread about renting a room at Comfort Inn to get access the Atlantis. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2210907

 

[woody73]

What if I pay for my excursions and decide to change my mind at the end , will I be able to get reinbursed?

When we cruised on RCI earlier this year, if we canceled an excursion so many days before the cruise, the refund would go back on our credit card. After that, the refund would be a shipboard credit. YMMV.

Woody

 

[woody73]

His concern is how much everything costs...the excursions, sodas, etc...we read where it was about $60 for the sodas aboard a cruise, we were thinking that the food and drinks, not alcoholic ones of course, were included.

When we were on the Mariner of the Seas, at lunchtime they offered ice tea and lemonade at no charge.

Woody