First time cruisers, do I do DCL or another line(gasp)

[jdads2]

First let me say that we love WDW! Second. we won't be taking the kids. Third, we won't be going until 2004 late winter, early spring.

Now the question: For a couple of first time cruisers, DW and I, do we try out the DSL or should we be looking for a more "adult" cruise line. For that matter which cruise line?

Thanks,

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

jdads2


i hope this helps, www.castawayclub.com

 

[awatt]

We don't go on our first Disney cruise until January so I cannot speak from experience there. Have read some great reviews on these boards.

However,having been on Royal Carribbean and NCL I have only great things to say about these two lines. Everything was excellent on our past cruises with them.

If I were you I would choose your cruise line based on itinerary foremost and then narrow it down further by size/age of ship.Also if cost is a factor,Disney tends to be significantly. more expensive. Check out the boards at cruisecritic.com. I've found them to be very helpful.

Whatever you choose I'm sure it will be wonderful as I believe there's no such thing as a bad cruise.

 

[ThreeCircles]

If you love Walt Disney World then you should definitely try Disney Cruise Line.

I would have never considered myself one to like cruising, and probably would have never even thought to try this type of vacation, until the emergence of DCL. Now, four DCL cruises later, I'm sold and have several planned for next year.

The line does a wonderful job of catering to all ages and this includes those couples without children. Travis and I have never felt that because we do not have children that there is nothing geared toward us and we enjoy being around individuals, couples, and families of all ages, sizes, and compositions.

Disney is the only line that can offer the Disney touch. If you enjoy WDW, you're going to enjoy DCL!

 

[two-foxes]

My DH and I did our very first cruise on DCL on the 4-night Wonder for our honeymoon. Needless to say, we are hooked....as far as our budget will allow, at least

DCL, in my opinion, can be as adult or childlike as you want it to be. We stayed mainly in the adult areas, spoiled ourselves in the spa, ate our hearts out at Palo, spent a lazy day at Serenity Bay.
But on the other hand, we loved the shows and got a huge kick out of watching the kids (and adults, too) going crazy over the characters and dancing at the pool deck parties. Come to think of it, my favorite picture from our cruise is Capt Hook lurking menacingly over my DH!

If you guys love Disney, love a good time and love to spoil yourselves, I would choose DCL. You may wish your kids were with you, but I bet that would quickly pass as you are getting a cabana massage or enjoying a glass of wine with your dinner at Palo! Plus, you can always use the excuse of "We're checking it out for our next family vacation!"

 

[goofytwo]

I would have to agree. If you like WDW then you will love DCL.
My husband and I don't have any children yet. We went on the 7 day Land/Sea for our honeymoon. The three day cruise was to short for us. We booked again for two weeks ago and took my parents and my husbands sister/ fincee. We all had a great time. In fact, my parent who were sceptical because of all the children, booked agin for next fall while they were on board.
No matter what your age, you will have a great time on DCL.

 

[kajohn]

It depends on the type vacation you want. Obviously this the a DCL board, so most would say DCL all the way, but I thought you might like a different take on the situation.

My husband and I love WDW, and we loved taking our kids on DCL, but when we cruise alone, we greatly prefer RCCL. granted there are adult only areas of the ship on DCL, but you still have all those kids in the hallways, elevators, and the shows around you. I love kids, and my own especially, but when I'm taking a romantic vacation alone with my husband I do not want to be with everyone elses kids!!

Here is my experience of the amount of kids on the week we went on the magic last year:

We travelled the first week of February, one week prior to Presidents week. Out of approx. 2600 passengers on the Magic 800 were kids (according to the show at the end of the week).

That same week on the Explorer of the Seas, there were only 200 kids out of approx 3100 passengers (assuming near full capacity). The people we spoke to on the beach that were sailing the explorer said they had hardly noticed any kids at all, but had heard that there were approx. 200 aboard.

That alone would personally keep me from the Magic without my kids, but add on the much fancier dining rooms, better food (based on my personal experience), fancier dress, casino, more bars and nightlife, the royal promenade, the rock wall, the ice rink and Johnny Rockets and there is no question, I would recommend RCCL.

 

[NCRedding]

We tried a RCCL cruise in July to Alaska: If I were cruising with my husband and no kids, I would definitely still go with DCL. OUr ship only had 210 kids under 12 on it, but I felt more surrounded by kids on that ship that on the 3 prior Disney trips which had far more children on board. RCCL does a terrible job of keeping kids out of the adult areas--there was no enforecement by RCCL personnel. The central area of the Radiance is open for about 7-8 stories with balconies on 3 sides. The library area is in one of these balcony areas. I attempted to use the library on the 5 or 6th night--it was completely filled with teens (not reading, ) but yelling obscenities across the open area to each other. The entertainment on RCCL was vastly inferior to that on DCL (although I can understand getting a little bored with the same shows on Disney). I felt that programming for adults was much less on RCCL than on DCL--there were days when I only circled 2 things I wanted to do on RCCL. On DCL I sometimes have 2 things in the same hour. I wanted to like RCCL, but can honestly say I will only sail them again for business related trips, not of my own choosing. I'm sticking with DCL.

 

[WDWLVR]

I've been on a number of different lines over the years and to me Disney does it best. DH and I are a childless couple and have enjoyed 5 Disney cruises with a 6th planned for next year.

If you love the magic and wonder of Disney - than you will love both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

 

[rundogrun]

I'm a former castmember and big Disney fan. We've sailed DCL 3 times, Celebrity 3 times, and have cruises on NCL and RCCL booked for 2005. Heck...I've even done a Windjammer, which is a far different experience.

Unless you're willing to pay more to be surrounded by Disney and the Characters, I would definitely with some of the other posters and suggest you consider other lines as well.

As I have said on a number of these "comparison" threads, there's nothing wrong with a Disney cruise. You'll have lovely service, a beautiful ship and decent meals. But that is not unique to Disney...there are lots of other cruises out there that have lovely service, beautiful ships, and decent meals.

In our own experience, we found the service on Celebrity even better (instead of announcing your name when you board, they escort you to your room, more of an elegant dining experience - complete with assigned sommeliers, and just try to carry your own tray at the buffets...you won't get far before someone helps you). The food was much better on all three Celebrity ships as well.

Can't compare NCL or RCCL as we haven't taken those cruises yet. We have suites booked for about the same price as a standard balcony on DCL.

Need a Disney fix? Go on DCL...you'll have a great time. Don't care about the Disney trimmings? Then shop around. Talk to a cruise agent...tell them what you like and they'll match you up with some cruises you can use to compare to DCL.

 

[poopie]

I agree with the above poster, On RCCL I felt like I was SURROUNDED by kids while as on my 2 prior trips on DCL I didn't see many kids at all, they were there but Disney does a better job of keeping the monsters contained.

 

[lsmac]

If you definately don't want ANY kids around, then I would suggest Crystal cruises or one of the more upscale cruiselines. Any of the mass market (Disney included) will have a handful or more of children.
What it comes down to is this then:

Itinerary Where would you like to cruise to?

Departure Port Where do want to sail from? Figure in costs of airfare etc.

Size of ship Yes, it does matter! Do you want to cruise with 3000, or 30? Think lines, show seating etc.

Finally, just to add my .02 cents in on different lines: We have sailed most of the mass market cruise lines so I can compare for you:

Princess: classy, more formal, restricted # of kids per sailing, great service, average food, decent shows. LOVE personal choice dining.

RCCL: great service, TONS of kids...constantly under foot, LOTS to do...not relaxing at all, pretty decent food, other than ice show...hated shows, smokers everywhere!

Carnival: YUK! nuf said.

Disney: great service, passable food, nice rooms, love the shows (yes, even after three times!), don't notice kids too much except at pools, and in elevators, love the rotation dining.

That said, if you like WDW, I agree with the others, you will like DCL. They do a far superior job at keeping the adult only areas...just that! NOW, if they would only enforce the ADULT ONLY issue and the Adult entertainment series!!

HTH
Lisa

 

[jrabbit]

I will only sail them again for business related trips

WHere do you sign up for a job that requires you to go on cruises for buisness trips? The only buisness trips I take I'm stuck in some hotels ballroom with 1000 other people sitting on hard uncomfortable chairs, nothing like the loungers on deck 4

 

[ruvidu]

We are a mid 50s couple with only a grown child. We have only sailed on the Magic. My wife would not consider a cruise vacation until DCL came along. That was their inaugral year. We have since sailed on one other 3 day, an Eastern and a Western.
Now Why you may ask?

#1 - My wife loves it and has two votes to my one on anything we do.
#2 - The vote always comes out to 3 to 0. It seems I love it as much as she does.
#3 - I am an EX smoker and DCL does a great job of keeping you smoke free. Try to book a non-smoking room on any other cruise line. All of DCLs cabins are No Smoking. Yeah
#4 - We have never tried another cruise line because of what the people we meet on board tell us. Every person we have met on board who have cruised with any other line says they will only do DCL from now on.
#5 - We love Serenity Bay - It is the greatest.
#6 - We have never had a bad experiance.
#7 - We have never been bothered by children. We travel in May, Sept. or Oct. so usually the little one are in school.
#8 - If you want to see the sunset in Key West DCL is the only one I have found that is there until after sunset.

Can you tell we love it. We are booked for an Alaskan tour next year on the Coral Princess (Mickey couldn't take us) and we will have a better comparison after that but we are planning another DCL Western cruise next Fall.

Just our 2 cents worth. Have a great time wherever you go.

Russ and Miss Vivian

 

[jdads2]

Great replies folks, thanks so much!

I should have put in a couple of things about me and Mrs. jdads2. We don't mind kids espeicially when we can get away. We don't really care to gamble. We already took a couple of kid free vacations one to the Keys and one to WDW February 2002. We loved them both.

I think that we are leaning toward DCL. We might choose another if we get a really, really great deal.

ruvidu, You get a vote? Maybe I'll get one soon, we've only been married 15 yrs. As far as "your" two cents...I have learned whatever is mine, is ours, whatever is hers, is hers.

 

[ruvidu]

ruvidu, You get a vote? Maybe I'll get one soon, we've only been married 15 yrs. As far as "your" two cents...I have learned whatever is mine, is ours, whatever is hers, is hers.

Yep, I can a vote unless she doesn't like the way I vote then it is cast out as not worthy.

Your quoted rule works the same in SC as it does in NY. I think they taught them this in Home Economics 101.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

For a couple of first time cruisers, DW and I, do we try out the DSL or should we be looking for a more "adult" cruise line.

Forgive me if another reply has pointed this out, but DCL is great for adults.

The late night shows have family hour and adult hour (such as the dueling pianos).

The pools are divided up into children only, family, and adults only (and even an employee only pool).

Castaway Cay is similary divided.

If you don't mind kids being around (and since you love WDW, that's not a problem), then DCL is terrific for adults.

We have been on three cruises with DCL as a couple and loved it. Next week is our first trip with baby. Hope its as much fun.

I will suggest that you request 2nd seating for dinner as things are generally more geared towards adults being at 2nd seating. For example, "family shows" usually take place during 2nd seating such that the "adults only shows" tend to start about the time 2nd seating should be finished for dinner. Then there is the simple fact that more people with family (i.e. children) will want 1st seating. As a couple, we have tried both 1st and 2nd seating and prefered 2nd seating for a couple of reasons (including the fact that as dinner time comes to an end, they are not trying to rush you out to get ready for the next seating).