help me decide b/w dcl and rccl!

[maps]

i've justed started researching our cruise options for next mar. it will be me, my hubby and 4 + 5 yr olds. i know the kids would love the disney theming but i've checked the prices and it seems that for comparable ships and rooms the rates are DOUBLE for dcl!
what about dcl makes it that much better/more expensive/must do experiecnce? please offer your opinions!
thanks

 

[Melrosgirl]

Both are terrific lines. Yes, Disney's prices are very high unless you book 1) far, far in advance and 2) off season.

I've been on RCCL twice, Princess once and Disney once. I'm not familiar with RCCL's kids' program, but I know the Princess program is wonderful. Disney's program is also great.

Also, check out different travel agents. You should be able to save at least 10% off of Disney's rates. If you aren't saving that much, you aren't getting a good deal. There are good deals out there (I use www.kimskruises.com) www.allseastravel.com also has good prices.

HTH

 

[Bev J]

I think you will be very happy with RCCL, we have cruised with them many times, beautiful ships, great food, great service. What more can you ask for. If you go to cruisecritic.com their boards are very busy in informative. The royal carribbean boards are full of friendly people who can tell you more about the kids programs.
We took our then 6 and 14 year old boys on DCL and they did have a great time. But for the adults and the 14 yr old we wanted more to do. So our next cruise will be back to RCCL on one of the Voyager class ships.
And yes their prices are very good, we can go on a 7 day cruise for about what we paid for 4 on dcl.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We were in the same dilema as you and we decided on DCL. Our children are 4 & 5 and figured we've always wanted to try DCL once and the kids are at the age that they would enjoy it most. I'm just hoping we don't get addicted like everyone else around here!!

 

[kajohn]

Many people think that DCL charges higher rates because their product is better, i.e. you get what you pay for. But, in my opinion, the biggest reason for the large price difference is supply and demand. The product is pretty similar from my experience, great service on both lines and good food and kids programs.

RCCL has 2 new ships approximately the size of the Magic, plus 4 ships bigger than the magic all doing 7 day carribean cruises. All of these ships are newer than the magic. With two more new ships coming out this year.

DCL only has space to carry approx. 2400 passengers per week for 7 day caribbean cruises whereas RCCL has the capacity to carry on their newer ships alone, 17,000 to 18,000 passengers (approx.). on 7 day trips. (plus they also have a few older ships doing 7 day itineraries as well)

There are enough people out there willing to pay the higher rate DCL charges to fill the 2400 passengers per week. They couldn't charge those high fees if they had space for 17000 passengers each week!

So, it is up to each person to decide if they are willing to pay the extra money for DCL. We did once, because I thought it would be a great trip, and it was, but I don't think we will ever spend the extra money again. I would rather go on two RCCL cruises instead of one DCL.

 

[maps]

thanks for all the great replies
melsrogirl--i checked allseastravel and their price was almost $1300 cheaper than what i had originally got!

i'm still doing my research and really haven't made up my mind either way--keep the replies coming!

 

[tecdavidt]

I have to agree with you, the old law of supply and demand. DCL could never charge the prices they do now if they had the same fleet size as RCCL. They also need to watch their competition. The other lines are improving the childrens programs to lure families on their ships. DCL has to be careful not to price itself out of business. In this day and age, it could happen. We may have gone on 5 DCL cruises but we too have our limits of what we will pay for a 7 day cruise. Kathy

 

[mac_tlc]

No doubt about it .. the price between DCL and RCCL is noticable. Some spring prices on the Voyager ships can be as low as $549pp. If you were going RCCL, I would definitely go on the Voyager class ships (Voyager, Explorer, Adventure, Navigator, soon to be Mariner). We have been on the Explorer and the Navigator. Definately more adult things to do, and more things in general. My son (8) enjoyed the Adventure Ocen program a lot. DCL has the shows and Castaway Cay, RCCL Voyager ships have the Royal Promenade (great promenade-view rooms), better food (especially more available with the 24-hr Cafe Promenade). They recently expanded the teen section on the Navigator and it is probably four or five times bigger than Common Grounds (so says my DD, 15)

It should be very interesting when the Mariner of the Seas debutes on November 23rd, sailing from Port Canaveral. Their Eastern itinerary is almost identical to DCL's. Western will stop at Labadee (a very close second to Castaway Cay), Ocho Rios, GC and Coz.

Suply and demand certainly works in DCL's favor .. but "tecdavidt" is right ... watch the competition...

mac_tlc

 

[sitchu2]

I was going to ask the exact same question. I would love nothing more than to remain loyal to DCL, but I cannot ignore that they are not being fair in their priceing, and for my next 7 day cruise I have booked RCCL Mariner , in a superior oceanview balcony stateroom for my family of 5 for under $4000.

My family is a bit leary because we have only sailed Disney, but the price difference is too great not to give RCCL a try.

We are going on a 3 day DCL this summer, (for a quick fix attached to our DVC trip) and I cannot believe that I can actually sail on the Carnival Glory brand new mega liner out of port canaveral on a seven day eastern or western for the same price as my 3 day wonder cruise. The only reason we are not doing this is because we want to visit WDW and summer vacation time is limited to one week for us.

I have 2 other families booked with us on the Mariner for next Feb. so theres no backing out now.

Another issue we had with the Magic was the funny smell in the bathrooms/staterooms. We were in 7030 and 7028 and the rooms really had a funny smell noticable from the moment we walked in. DCL said the sesspool backs up when the seas are rough. yuck!! Cant all the extra money everybody pays for DCL fix this???

 

[disneydawn]

I was also thinking about RCCL instead of DCL but my kids are 9,7 and 5. I want to know how good the kids programs are. I understand you don't get a beeper. Anyone?

 

[tecdavidt]

Bad smelling baths are a problem on all the cruise ships I have been on. The largest ship I have been on was in Jan. the Celebrity Milli. I brought the gel room deoderizers and lysol spray. That helped a lot this last cruise. Kathy

 

[snwwht]

After MUCH deliberation I also booked on RCCL Mariner for next Jan.It was a very hard decision as I have been really wanting to try DCL.What made it a little easier was the difference in cost-We also have the Superior Balcony room for a little over 1200 per person.We have cruised RCCL 5 times previously so I know it will be great.I really feel this Voyager class ship at Port Canaveral may take away some business from Disney.

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

My thoughts are to stay with DCL until the kids are out of the 'princess' stage. In fact, I don't think my DS cared that we were on "Disney". To me, Disney is very much oriented toward the girls. That said, my DD is now 4 and we will be sailing in October (she will be 4 1/2 at the time). She is all over the princess stuff and will have a BALL on the Disney ship. We went when she was only 2 1/2 and she *Still* talks of seeing Minnie Mouse.

With all that, I'd probably move to RCCL when my kids are around 9 or 10 years old.

 

[actuarian]

You did not mention in the original post whether you were planning a 7-day cruise or a shorter one. However, this is important when you compare Disney to RCCL. Disney uses its newest ship (the Wonder) for short (3 and 4 day) cruises. RCCL only uses older ships for these short cruises. The short RCCL cruises out of Port Canaveral are on the Sovereign of the Seas, a 15-year old ship. There are several reports at Cruise Critic suggesting that the Sovereign is really showing its age with rust spots, lousy plumbing, etc. Some even report foul odors. On the other hand, RCCL uses their best ships for their longer cruises, including the immense Voyager class ships. DW and I are taking two cruises next January to celebrate our 30th anniversary. We would not consider RCCL for our 4-day cruise but we did consider them for our 7-day (but we ended up sticking with Disney for both).

 

[kajohn]

Hopefully DCL will come around in their pricing with the Mariner sailing out of Port Canaveral next year.

I booked my Feb 8, 02 DCL Magic cruise in Feb 01

I tried to book the same week in for 04 at the same time this year, one year out and the price was 20%more!

When all other cruise lines are lowering their prices or at least staying about the same, I can't see how they can justify gouging their loyal fans so much, and how are they going to attract new customers.

After all, their ships are smaller, and older than much of their competition in the 7 day market.

I have heard many people say that their kids loved the adventure Ocean on RCCL. Some have even reported their kids liked that program better than DCL. Of course that is all subjective. There are people here that have reported their kids hate the DCL kids clubs and some report they can't get their kids out, so there are so many factors it is imposible to know for sure unless you try it.

I have heard they don't have pagers, but my kids are old enough for two way radios, so I will have them call me if they need me.

We are sailing next february without the kids (long story) on the Adventure of the Seas out of San Juan. It goes to Aruba, which DCL could never get to from Port Canaveral, so I will get to see some new ports, and the price was right! We booked an inside Atrium stateroom (actually has a window that looks out over the inside Promenade) for $750 per person.

If anyone is considering trying another line, please be aware that DU books that too now. I shopped around all over the internet, and DU had the best price for my RCCL cruise! I was very happy since I had such wonderful service on my DCL cruise, that I hated to switch travel agencies! I'm still getting the wonderful service from Michelle, but for an RCCL cruise! Here is their link if you want to shop for other cruise lines other than DCL
http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/dcruise/reservations1.html

 

[maps]

thanks for all your great tips.
i'm now leaning towards a 7 day western carribean cruise with rccl leaving port canaveral sometime late feb or early mar on the new mariner--it sounds wonderful!
i can get a great room with a balcony for a lot less money than dcl so that is really what is swaying me.
i might add on some extra days before the cruise to visit wdw so we won't feel as though we're missing out on disney.
thanks again for all your help.

 

[wovenwonder]

After sailing DCL 3 times - -and LOVING IT we are trying RCCL next year.

With the ages of your children I would cruise DCL hands down! It is just something about the MAGIC of a Disney cruise that your kids would surely love.

We will likely return to the Magic next time OR try Mariner of the Seas (RCCL Mega ship out of Port Canaveral beginning later this year) so we can pair up our trip with a visit to the parks.

 

[mac_tlc]

To anyone who is interested, I have the Compass activity sheets for the August '02 Explorer and the Feb '03 Navigator cruises. Soon they will be scanned and available on my web site .. for now just paper... send a PM if interested..

We have done DCL twice (3rd coming 11/8/03) and the Voyager class ships twice (3rd coming ???) . My wife likes RCCL much better (much more to do for adults), my DD seems split, but leaning towrds DCL (and she is 15), my DS could care less -- so long as he is on a ship !!! Me, tough call, but the price difference and fact that there are soon to be 5 Voyager-class ships, and one goes to the Southern Caribbean, makes me lean a little towrds RCCL ... Now if DCL could add more adult activities, lke maybe an art auction or two......


mac_tlc

 

[tecdavidt]

Last night DH and I were playing with the RCCL web site getting price quotes, they is a huge price difference between the two lines! Now if I could only get my daughter to go on another line, she loves Disney. We did do Carnival a couple years back and she hated it. She is now 10 and just feels comfortable with the ship. She remembered more about where everything was located than I did on this last cruise 3/15.

We have a 3 day land/ 4 day cruise on the Wonder booked for her as her Christmas gift. It would be over New Years. Now I am thinking we should do a 7 day and go where it will really be warm. Well, most the ships are booked! Oh well. The price was so different on RCCL. We could do a 7 day for the price of our 3 day/4 day and you know it is so expensive at the parks! Just nothing is available. Kathy

 

[kajohn]

tecdavidt,

Another difference with RCCL is that you will usually get a lower quote from a TA than you will from their site. There usually isn't much of a difference other than a rebate or something with DCL, so the savings would probably be even greater!

To check pricing try the DU site I posted above. I love that site because you can get price quotes without having to talk to anyone, and it lets you check different combinations of dates etc. without bugging a TA.

The only problem is that they don't have the Mariner listed yet. I had found on the RCCL web site that the pricing for the Navigator and the Mariner are comprable for the most part, so I check for that ship for the sailing I'm looking for, and then if I want a firm quote for the Mariner I email Dreams.