Is DCL worth the price when you need to book 2 rooms? (Advise needed)

[RealRickButler]

I want to take my family on a 4 day cruise late April/ early May 2017 to the Bahamas leaving out of Port Canaveral because we are also spending 2 weeks in Orlando. I basically have boy / girl twins with one set that will be 16 when we travel and the other set 13. With a total of 6 people traveling I know I will need to purchase 2 rooms. My question is that I’m not sure if I should use DCL or RCI? I would love to take DCL, but it’s tough for me to even consider spending at least $6000 and higher on a 4 day cruise when I we could travel with RCI for about half. The other question is that I know that the even though RCI may appear to be cheaper on the surface the “hidden” costs on RCI can add up. Also will there be activities for the kids to enjoy on a DCL or RCI cruise at that age. The ships that leave out of Port Canaveral are considered midsize so there may not be any many things for them to do opposed if we cruised on a ship that departs out of Miami for example. I want to take my family on a wonderful vacation but I’m torn on what is the best cruise line to use for the best value (price), and enjoyment. Your input would be wonderful. Thanks…..

 

[dmunsil]

It's really a judgment call. I actually don't see much in the way of nickel and diming on RCI; primarily it's that you have to add the soda package to be roughly equivalent to DCL in terms of non-alcoholic drinks. If you drink a lot of soda, the package is probably worthwhile. It's a relatively trivial cost in any case.

Disney has nicer ships in terms of decor, and is better on entertainment and activities, especially in the realm of exclusive Disney experiences. If you really want the stuff Disney does well, you kind of have to go with Disney, because they're the only ones who have it. If you just want a relaxing cruise vacation, RCI is a good value.

RCI does a good, solid cruise for the money. If you book some of their newer, larger ships they have a bunch of Dreamworks stuff on it, so the kids can meet characters and there are some Dreamworks-themed shows and entertainment, but it's not nearly as much of that kind of thing than Disney. Disney kind of has a "deeper bench" so to speak of characters and media properties, and has years more experience in how to handle character interaction.

Disney's kids areas are much more extensive, but since you've got teens/tweens the differences are not as stark. The bulk of Disney's special investments are in the 3-12 year old spaces, which are incredible. The teen areas on Disney's ships are better than RCI's, but it's not (to my eye) a complete night-and-day kind of difference. In the end it's a place for teens to hang out and participate in semi-supervised group activities, with video games, board games, etc. and some counselors to help guide things. Our kids never really found the teen centers interesting on any cruise line, but they're not super outgoing.

It's kind of like WDW. You can have a great time at less cost at Six Flags, but it's mostly generic rollercoasters and rides that everyone does. WDW has themed entertainment. Is it worth 2-3 times what a trip to a "generic" amusement park costs? Some say yes, some say no.

My advice is to pick one now, and then do the other one later. Only you can answer whether Disney's exclusive stuff is worth the extra money; it's completely subjective. We had fun on our Disney cruises, we had fun on our RCI cruise. We had fun on Holland America. The kids slightly preferred Disney because of the great entertainment (including movie theater, in-room movies and shows, stage shows, fireworks, etc.), but we all enjoyed each cruise for what it was.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

I'm not sure if you know this but Some of the RCI ships that do the 4 night Bahamas cruises have ocean view rooms (not a suite) that sleep up to 8 people. It makes it even more affordable than 2 rooms. I have booked them before for our family of 7 but I have always backed out and went with Disney because we feel like we do so much more on DCL. Mine are still little so that might change once they get older. I think you will have a good time on any cruise you choose as long your not going into feeling like you paid too much or like you miss out on anything so I would say in the end go with your gut.

 

[ayz75]

Given that your kids are basically teenagers, I think they will enjoy RCI for sure, if you pick a nice ship like Oasis/Allure. We went several years ago without kids and I didn't it had "hidden cost" that added up. You don't get free pop but that was honestly about it. Specialty restaurants cost money (like on DCL), drinks cost money (like on DCL except for pop) but you can still get juice from the buffet. Other than that, I really didn't feel like I had to pay more. My child is still young (turning 3 years old this year) so we'll stick with DCL for now, but I've heard from another family who has been on DCL cruises since their kids were young, that their kids enjoy RCI ships more now that they are older. So I'd definitely look into RCI.

 

[JimmyV]

You should consider that for the price of a 4 day Disney cruise, you might be able to take a 7 day cruise on a different line. And if you shift your agenda to allocate 7 days to the cruise, you can go to more interesting ports of call than a Bahamas cruise and can book a ship that leaves from FLL or MIA. This would also allow you to consider some of the larger, newer ships instead of the older mid-sized ships that you are now looking at. Watch the Anthem of the Seas podcast and that might whet your whistle for something other than DCL. It looks to me like teens would love a ship like that way, way more than a Disney ship.

 

[tinkerone]

i'm still waiting for someone to explain what these 'hidden costs' are. as yet, no one has come up with anything that would answer the question other than paying for a pop package. when i'm saving 50% of the cruise costs that seems like a deal to me.
have a great cruise whatever you decide. don't worry about the nickel and diming.

 

[dmunsil]

i'm still waiting for someone to explain what these 'hidden costs' are. as yet, no one has come up with anything that would answer the question other than paying for a pop package. when i'm saving 50% of the cruise costs that seems like a deal to me.
have a great cruise whatever you decide. don't worry about the nickel and diming.

There are a few other things, but they're all very small potatoes. RCI has a small charge for room service in the wee hours. RCI's private island has a charge to borrow a snorkel float vest, while Disney it's free for the asking. RCI charges to use their "water playground" on their island; on Disney it's included. I have never seen a comprehensive list, but it's all stuff like that.

Of course on the flip side, on Holland America and Princess popcorn is free at the movies.

 

[tinkerone]

There are a few other things, but they're all very small potatoes. RCI has a small charge for room service in the wee hours. RCI's private island has a charge to borrow a snorkel float vest, while Disney it's free for the asking. RCI charges to use their "water playground" on their island; on Disney it's included. I have never seen a comprehensive list, but it's all stuff like that.

Of course on the flip side, on Holland America and Princess popcorn is free at the movies.

thanks for the information, I had not heard about these. I never order room service after midnight. the rci water playground, if I understand correctly, is much different than just the pelican plunge that dcl has. there is climbing iceburg and trampolines, several other things as well so i'm not totally surprised there would be a fee. several of the Caribbean islands have these for use at a fee. again, not something I would use so I had no idea. do you know what the cost of that would be? as to snorkel float vests, I thought you had to rent them at castaway cay. unless we are talking about the childrens swim vests and if that's the case, shame on rcl!
again, thanks for the info.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I want to take my family on a 4 day cruise late April/ early May 2017 to the Bahamas leaving out of Port Canaveral because we are also spending 2 weeks in Orlando. I basically have boy / girl twins with one set that will be 16 when we travel and the other set 13. With a total of 6 people traveling I know I will need to purchase 2 rooms. My question is that I’m not sure if I should use DCL or RCI? I would love to take DCL, but it’s tough for me to even consider spending at least $6000 and higher on a 4 day cruise when I we could travel with RCI for about half. The other question is that I know that the even though RCI may appear to be cheaper on the surface the “hidden” costs on RCI can add up. Also will there be activities for the kids to enjoy on a DCL or RCI cruise at that age. The ships that leave out of Port Canaveral are considered midsize so there may not be any many things for them to do opposed if we cruised on a ship that departs out of Miami for example. I want to take my family on a wonderful vacation but I’m torn on what is the best cruise line to use for the best value (price), and enjoyment. Your input would be wonderful. Thanks…..

In case you weren't aware of it, either Allure or Oasis of the Seas is going to be cruising out of Port Canaveral. From what I've read and researched, those ships are outstanding for teens and you'll probably be able to do a 7 night eastern or western Caribbean for the same price as a 4 night Bahamian on the Dream.

Not to throw you into a total tale spin but you may want to check the new NCL ships out of Miami and the new Carnival Vista out of Miami they look like pretty amazing ships that have tons fur teens to do. My teens can hardly wait to step on the Vista in 118 days.

 

[dclpluto]

what is the date and what category you are looking at that is at least 6k dollars for a 4 night cruise for 6 people? Seems outrageous.

Update I just looked At some dates. Damn very pricey for only a 4 night cruise.

In going on a 14 night DCL repo cruise in May for 2 people for only 3105. You got to love them prices on repo cruises. Them short cruises outrageous.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

I'll add that reading ship reviews on cruise critic are helpful. Look up the line and the ship and then look for reviews from people that have kids around the ages of yours. I often find well written reviews there- in addition to entertaining rants. Anyway, you'll start to find that what bothered someone else would/would not bother your family.
Also, Disboards has an RCI section you can read/ask questions on, if I'm remembering correctly.
Good luck and have fun!

 

[JimmyV]

There are a few other things, but they're all very small potatoes.

Exactly. And remember that if you are looking at a $2,000 difference, it will take 40,000 nickels to make up that gap. No one has ever reported that extra fees on other cruise lines add up to the higher fares that DCL is now charging.