Jumped ship and went RCL

[mcd2745]

My son likes the club on Dream, but really likes the experience of the club on Royal's ships. They are smaller and more simple, but the counselors really get to know the kids, and interact MUCH more than the Disney counselors. That makes all the difference for my son.

That's an excellent point. While RCCL's clubs obviously lack the theming of DCL's it does seem their counselor's do get to know the kids a lot better, and all the counselors have funny/cute nicknames that the kids call them. Part of that, is I think RCCL has far less counselors (could be why they close during the day, so the counselors can have a break since there aren't enough to stay open when some go on break). Also, since RCCL, breaks the children up into smaller age groups (3-5, 6-8, 9-11), they see the same counselors all the time.

 

[Rogillio]

It I were to rank the cruise lines we've sail on it would look like this:

1. DCL
2. RCCL
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. HAL
9. CCL
10. NCL


I put the blanks in there to so how I rate them relative to DCL and RCCL.

As long as you have experienced DCL at least once, I would say you won't be disappointed with RCCL. We've been on 15 cruises and the best show I ever saw on any of those 15 cruises was on RCCL.

 

[starvenger]

That's an excellent point. While RCCL's clubs obviously lack the theming of DCL's it does seem their counselor's do get to know the kids a lot better, and all the counselors have funny/cute nicknames that the kids call them. Part of that, is I think RCCL has far less counselors (could be why they close during the day, so the counselors can have a break since there aren't enough to stay open when some go on break). Also, since RCCL, breaks the children up into smaller age groups (3-5, 6-8, 9-11), they see the same counselors all the time.

12-2 they take whichever kids are left up to the Windjammer for lunch, so that's really not a break per se. And I remember on the Allure one of the counselors doubled as a carousel operator in the evenings.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, since RCCL, breaks the children up into smaller age groups (3-5, 6-8, 9-11), they see the same counselors all the time.

Jan on Freedom, Oct on Vision....low enough numbers of kids that they combined the 9-11s with the 6-8s. And still all the kids had lots of attention, and they were able to keep things age-focused for each group.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Went RCCL, Brilliance of the Seas, last spring break. Will be back on DCL this coming spring break, then back to RCCL the following year. You will be fine. Yes, there are times of comparison - I really like the dining rotation on DCL. The food on both lines is comparable. You will have a good if not great time on RCCL. Really love DCL, but polyamory is becoming more vogue.

Really want to go back to the Mediterranean in a couple of years. We went DCL last time, but in pricing identical itineraries, DCL doesn't fare well. On RCCL I can get 2 rooms for 5 people for over $3,000 less than I can for 1 room for 4 people on DCL.

I will be cruising both if and when I get the chance, but it will depend on pricing and destination more than anything else. We are DVC members as well, so will always get a Disney fix in, but when I can have 2 RCCL cruises for the price of one DCL, I will be enjoyng RCCL more often.

 

[darkwing818]

We are booked onto the Freedom of the Seas in a Royal Suite. I can't believe I am saving 3K with this. There will be 7 of us. DH, myself, DD 25, DS 20, DD 18, DGF 18, and DD 8. I think the toughest will be for 8 yo special needs DD who would spend her entire vacation in the kids club if we let her, lol. I am hoping she likes this as much. We will be going to Labadee, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. It is really me that is nervous, DCherubs and DH think I am nuts and it will be fine, lol!

OP, Your suite must be HUGE in order to accommodate 7 people. Besides saving $3K, you get to have everyone in one place, instead of 2 cabins with DCL. Enjoy your cruise

 

[Bree]

OP, Your suite must be HUGE in order to accommodate 7 people. Besides saving $3K, you get to have everyone in one place, instead of 2 cabins with DCL. Enjoy your cruise

They are nice. Here is what a Freedom Royal Suite has:

Two bedrooms with two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long (one room with third and fourth Pullman beds), a private balcony, two bathrooms and living area with double sofa bed. Stateroom can accommodate up to 8 guests.
(587 sq. ft., balcony 270 sq. ft.)

The bigger ships have HUGE suites. I'm talking 2 floors...butler services...gorgeous bathrooms....hot tubs....

 

[Steania]

We are also booked on Freedom of the Seas for February 8th 2016. We only did Disney but wanted to try RCCL and ughmm compare We heard a lot of good things about it and want to give it a try. I will have my 9 and 6 yr olds with me. They loved Disney Clubs so I really hope they won't be disappointed with rccl club. I heard they only go till 10 pm is that true? We are also booked on Wonder to Alaska for next August and are super stoked about that as well!

 

[PizzieDuster]

I am sure there will be DCL comparisons when you are onboard but I would bet you find a lot of things you like too, it get's off to a great start with the saving! After our next DCL we have jumped ship to Celebrity.

So true. Not one person in my family did the comparison but me at the beginning - then it stopped - and we had the best time! My teen sons loved it more. But like FloridaBabe posted, I was comparing from the moment I exited the taxi. It was soon stopped, especially when it came to the pools, the flowriders, the clubs, we just enjoyed it so much. Still love my Disney but I'm priced out. Go with an open mind and just like on Disney, take in everything, all details.

 

[holula]

Still love my Disney but I'm priced out. Go with an open mind and just like on Disney, take in everything, all details.

So, so true. We are looking at booking Harmony of the Seas for next November on her first seven night from Ft Lauderdale. It's 2/3 the price of the Fantasy (although the Fantasy doesn't have a sailing that week, so I looked at the week before). $2200 for an inside on a brand new ship isn't horrible. The Fantasy is $3200 for the same Eastern route the previous week. (I would have liked to go two weeks later and come out with change from $2000 but our friends can't travel that week.) Since Harmony will also have waterslides, there is nothing that I feel DCL has that Harmony doesn't. (Maybe Palo...)

 

[alliecat523]

We cruise RCL all the time and have a great time. Yes, it's different than Disney, but you will definitely enjoy it. Freedom has so much to offer that you won't be bored. I've also done that itinerary and it's lots of fun. Have a great time!

 

[WIFamily]

We tried a Carnival Cruise - Carnival Dream back in 2010. We were able to get two Spa balcony connecting cabins on Deck 12 - they included unlimited free access to the ship's spa, and Deck 12 was very nice, it only has around 30 cabins. That said we spent less for 7 passengers in those two cabins than we did for 6 on the Magic in 2007 with a 5C and 11C. Both were 7 night, Magic was EC, Carnival Dream was WC.

Four things that jumped out at me and my wife -
1) No rotational dining - we were in the same room at the same table every night.
2) It seemed that everything was an extra cost
3) The kids clubs didn't have the Disney ambiance (of course), but our kids enjoyed the clubs as much as on Disney ships
4) The food on our Carnival cruise was very close but a tiny bit below Disney in our opinion. Certainly Carnival's fine dining steak house was nothing compared to Palo dinner - again, in my humble opinion

With all that said, we're all set to revisit the Magic in 7 months and looking forward to it. My wife wants to try RCCL, I wouldn't mind revisiting Carnival - we both want to find a cruise that hits the deep southern Caribbean, and I would love to do a TransAtlantic cruise!

 

[mcd2745]

We are also booked on Freedom of the Seas for February 8th 2016. We only did Disney but wanted to try RCCL and ughmm compare We heard a lot of good things about it and want to give it a try. I will have my 9 and 6 yr olds with me. They loved Disney Clubs so I really hope they won't be disappointed with rccl club. I heard they only go till 10 pm is that true? We are also booked on Wonder to Alaska for next August and are super stoked about that as well!

Not entirely true. They are open until 2am - but at a fee of $7 per hour per child after 10pm.

 

[Frozen2014]

My daughter loves the clubs on both DCL & RCCL. She wants to be in there all day, every day on both lines. Just some things to note about the kids clubs if you've never been on RCCL...

- they are not open on embarkation day except to register children. not sure why that is. we didn't realize that when we went on Oasis 2 years ago. we made reservations to see "Hairspray" the first night, but missed it because we couldn't drop DD off at the kids club.

- there is a charge of $7 per hour per child from 10pm - 2am (what they call the "late night party zone").

- they are not always open continuously all day, especially on sea days. they'll be open from 9am - noon, close for 2 hours and reopen from 2pm-5pm, close again, and then re-open at 6:45 or 7pm for the remainder of the night.

Thanks for the note about the kids club. I can see this being an issue for some. We're ok wtih it though, as we don't get away often, so our kids will go if they want, but I'd rather us do most things together. I'm pretty good with them going to bed by 10pm (they're still young) and we'll books shows accordingly (i.e. the earlier shows).
For the Broadway prodution...DS and DH have no interest in Mamma Mia, but DD and I love it, so we'll split up then. But I'm glad that the Allure changed from Chicago as I don't think I would have taken her to Chicago.

 

[holula]

Thanks for the note about the kids club. I can see this being an issue for some. We're ok wtih it though, as we don't get away often, so our kids will go if they want, but I'd rather us do most things together. I'm pretty good with them going to bed by 10pm (they're still young) and we'll books shows accordingly (i.e. the earlier shows).
For the Broadway prodution...DS and DH have no interest in Mamma Mia, but DD and I love it, so we'll split up then. But I'm glad that the Allure changed from Chicago as I don't think I would have taken her to Chicago.

At least you're not on Oasis. Cats was two hours of my life I'm not getting back. I'd seen it before when I was VERY young and I see why I had forgotten the whole thing.

 

[Steania]

Not entirely true. They are open until 2am - but at a fee of $7 per hour per child after 10pm.

A lot of great information. Sorry thats what I meant. That RCCL is only FREE till 10pm. Glad to hear that at least they stay open later even for a fee if we want to go to the shows. Do they give you wave phones to stay connected with the kids on board? Or anything similar to that.

How age appropriate is are the shows. My kids are 9 and 6. And where can I find out what shows they are playing on the Freedom. Didn't see anything on the website.

 

[Frozen2014]

At least you're not on Oasis. Cats was two hours of my life I'm not getting back. I'd seen it before when I was VERY young and I see why I had forgotten the whole thing.

Yeah, I'd pick Allure over Oasis for that reason. Mamma Mia is so much fun. Cats is neat for the first 10 minutes (cool costumes and the way they move), but then it's kind of boring.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We tried a Carnival Cruise - Carnival Dream back in 2010. We were able to get two Spa balcony connecting cabins on Deck 12 - they included unlimited free access to the ship's spa, and Deck 12 was very nice, it only has around 30 cabins. That said we spent less for 7 passengers in those two cabins than we did for 6 on the Magic in 2007 with a 5C and 11C. Both were 7 night, Magic was EC, Carnival Dream was WC.

Four things that jumped out at me and my wife -
1) No rotational dining - we were in the same room at the same table every night.
2) It seemed that everything was an extra cost
3) The kids clubs didn't have the Disney ambiance (of course), but our kids enjoyed the clubs as much as on Disney ships
4) The food on our Carnival cruise was very close but a tiny bit below Disney in our opinion. Certainly Carnival's fine dining steak house was nothing compared to Palo dinner - again, in my humble opinion

With all that said, we're all set to revisit the Magic in 7 months and looking forward to it. My wife wants to try RCCL, I wouldn't mind revisiting Carnival - we both want to find a cruise that hits the deep southern Caribbean, and I would love to do a TransAtlantic cruise!

Thanks for the info on CCL, you should check their website for info on the new Vista ship, it's very cool. She sets sail in Europe next June then is doing a TA to the US and will make home in Miami doing Southern Caribbean.

 

[Amw1064]

We just did a RC cruise on the Freedom last November after being on over 20 Disney cruises. The customer service is just not there. We had no issues but if there would have been, I do not feel they are there to accomodate you. The food wasn't nearly as good either and sometimes questioned what I was eating at dinner. Other than that, we had a great time. Loved the ports and my daughter who is 12 loved the rock climbing and ice skating. Also did the flo rider a few times. The shows were pretty good although at the moment I can not remember a thing about them. I think you will have a great time and after you get over the fact you are NOT on Disney, you will have an even better time. Oh yes, how can I forget. Right outside the ice skating rink there are kareoke booths that I spent hours in with my daughter. She loved those and my husband sat across the way and watched tv.

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/09/18/5-ways-royal-caribbean-different-disney-cruise-line