Question for those who cruise - Disney and Non-Disney

[sunlover13]

We are debating between taking a cruise in December OR going all-inclusive.

We only took one cruise about 8 years ago and it was short and a very small Carnival cruise. We hit terrible weather and felt it on that small ship. Needless to say, I consider myself a newbie and won't use that cruise as a comparison.

We could take a 5 night cruise on the Royal Caribbean for 1/2 the price of a 5 night Disney cruise b/c kids sail free on the RC cruise I"m looking at.

However, I've been reading reviews about the pools being ice cold and not heated on most cruise lines, other than Disney.

Honestly, if we can't use the pool, that is a deal breaker for me. My kids love to swim and an ice cold pool doesn't sound fun.

Question - is it worth twice as much $ to do a Disney cruise knowing the pools will be heated and usable?

Can anyone comment on the freezing pools on cruise ships?

Again, this is early December for the cruise.

Otherwise, we may end doing a 7 night all inclusive for probably the same price, but we have done several of those so thinking of cruising to see some different places other than Mexico and Jamaica.

 

[lauti]

We are debating between taking a cruise in December OR going all-inclusive.

We only took one cruise about 8 years ago and it was short and a very small Carnival cruise. We hit terrible weather and felt it on that small ship. Needless to say, I consider myself a newbie and won't use that cruise as a comparison.

We could take a 5 night cruise on the Royal Caribbean for 1/2 the price of a 5 night Disney cruise b/c kids sail free on the RC cruise I"m looking at.

However, I've been reading reviews about the pools being ice cold and not heated on most cruise lines, other than Disney.

Honestly, if we can't use the pool, that is a deal breaker for me. My kids love to swim and an ice cold pool doesn't sound fun.

Question - is it worth twice as much $ to do a Disney cruise knowing the pools will be heated and usable?

Can anyone comment on the freezing pools on cruise ships?

Again, this is early December for the cruise.

Otherwise, we may end doing a 7 night all inclusive for probably the same price, but we have done several of those so thinking of cruising to see some different places other than Mexico and Jamaica.

If they are big swimmers, they will likely be disappointed by the pool scene on cruise ships. The pools are tiny compared to the number of people/kids that want to use them. There's also no guarantee of nice weather and if the seas get rough, they often drain the pools to prevent the water from flooding the pool decks and other ship areas.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

If they are big swimmers, they will likely be disappointed by the pool scene on cruise ships. The pools are tiny compared to the number of people/kids that want to use them. There's also no guarantee of nice weather and if the seas get rough, they often drain the pools to prevent the water from flooding the pool decks and other ship areas.

Agreed. My kids are fish and the pools are tiny. Very small. I love swimming and I never even got in a pool. We swam at castaway cay and had a beach day planned for Nassau (cancelled due to weather).

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[havaneselover]

I agree with the PP. We've cruised three times (all on Disney). Last year my children were 8 and 9. The family pool is packed (we had a near drowning before we even left port canaveral). Other than that there are slides. The Mickey pool is for the potty trained preschool crowd.

That being said, DCL is amazing but I too am starting to struggle with its value. Next spring break may be our last Disney cruise since we can cruise rcl for 7 days for the cost of 4 on Disney.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

We are debating between taking a cruise in December OR going all-inclusive.

We only took one cruise about 8 years ago and it was short and a very small Carnival cruise. We hit terrible weather and felt it on that small ship. Needless to say, I consider myself a newbie and won't use that cruise as a comparison.

We could take a 5 night cruise on the Royal Caribbean for 1/2 the price of a 5 night Disney cruise b/c kids sail free on the RC cruise I"m looking at.

However, I've been reading reviews about the pools being ice cold and not heated on most cruise lines, other than Disney.

Honestly, if we can't use the pool, that is a deal breaker for me. My kids love to swim and an ice cold pool doesn't sound fun.

Question - is it worth twice as much $ to do a Disney cruise knowing the pools will be heated and usable?

Can anyone comment on the freezing pools on cruise ships?

Again, this is early December for the cruise.

Otherwise, we may end doing a 7 night all inclusive for probably the same price, but we have done several of those so thinking of cruising to see some different places other than Mexico and Jamaica.

I wouldn't be going on a cruise for just use of the pools because it doesn't matter the ship the pools are crowded and packed in like sardines.

 

[tvguy]

10 cruises on 8 different ships, all had heated pools, one had an indoor pool too

As far as I am concerned, there is no such thing as a bad cruise. Weather is going to be beyond anyone's control on any cruise line.

Temperature is sooooooooooooooo subjective. Is 73 cold? It's the record low temperature of the water in the area of Disney's Castaway Cay. It's what most people here heat their pools to although diehard pool owners are swimming when the water hits 68.

Disney does everything at least as well as every other cruise line, and kids programs better. But you ARE paying for the Disney name. Up to you if it is worth it. You pay a premium for a Cadillac Escalade, and it is nothing but a Chevy Tahoe, but clearly that Cadillac name is worth the money to many.

 

[bumbershoot]

The pool on freedom in January was not heated. I cared. My son did NOT.


And I'm never letting him swim (or stand and splash and be kicked by others) in one of the tiny overcrowded unsafe pools on dcl anyway, so IMO RCCL wins the pool wars even if unheated.

And it might well have been heated. The issue is when the water is colder than the air. It can feel freezing even when it's actually quite a nice temperature.

 

[wiigirl]

I wouldn't be going on a cruise for just use of the pools because it doesn't matter the ship the pools are crowded and packed in like sardines.

Exactly!

 

[sunlover13]

Thanks everyone. Your comments were definitely helpful. Maybe we should just lean towards an all-inclusive if my kids will want to spend most of their time in the pool.

 

[Jimsig]

Be sure to check out Cruise Critic. Lot's of info there and they even have a specific Royal Caribbean Board

 

[princess barbara]

My sister just got back 4 days ago from an RC cruise. She said kids were free and it was very crowded and over run with children. The pool she put her foot in was heated but she said she was out before breakfast like at 7:30am to put her towel and belongings on a chair near pool as it was just so crowded. She also complained of the food being lousy. I guess she got what she paid for as I know it was less than half the price of a Disney cruise.

 

[havaneselover]

My sister just got back 4 days ago from an RC cruise. She said kids were free and it was very crowded and over run with children. The pool she put her foot in was heated but she said she was out before breakfast like at 7:30am to put her towel and belongings on a chair near pool as it was just so crowded. She also complained of the food being lousy. I guess she got what she paid for as I know it was less than half the price of a Disney cruise.

Not sure about the food. DCL is not known for the quality of it's food. It's okay, but far from spectacular.

 

[kymom99]

We took a RC cruise in Feb. of 96 for our honeymoon and it was really a nice time to go. We went again this past June and it was so crowded. My teen son LOVED it but I wasn't thrilled about all the small kids running around. I know school was out and so each of the rooms which would typically have 2 people in them might have had 4. You sure could tell the difference. If it is a kids free time, I would expect the same during your time frame.

Also, we took a 3 day cruise this last time and we shared Coco Cay with the Majesty of the Seas. WAY too many people on that island for it to be remotely relaxing.

 

[beffiegirl]

I've been on alot of cruises and I can tell you that the pools are small but if your going in the beginning of Dec. you'll be ok. It's not busy then with kids. Also I think the pools on RCCL are cold for me, not to bad for the kids. This is were Disney overpowers the others. Dec. is cold unless you cruise or fly further down past the Bahamas.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.......

As far as I am concerned, there is no such thing as a bad cruise.....

I have to disagree:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/travel/carnival-cruise-triumph-problems/

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/02/14/the-eight-worst-cruise-ship-disasters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia_disaster

 

[tvguy]

I have to disagree:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/travel/carnival-cruise-triumph-problems/

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/02/14/the-eight-worst-cruise-ship-disasters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia_disaster

DW and I actually talked about that the Triumph problem might have been an interesting cruise to be on.

Let's see, 60 million passengers in the time you mention, and 8,000 had a problem. Far better record that Hilton hotels.

 

[dpswift]

Our best family vacation was on RCI Independance of the Seas 4 years ago over Presidents week. There were so many kids and teens on board that the counselors were searching for extra activities. It was too cold to swim or use the flowrider most days but there was so much more to offer that those things were not missed.

The food and MDR service was better than on Disney(with the exception of the burgers do not eat those)

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks everyone. Your comments were definitely helpful. Maybe we should just lean towards an all-inclusive if my kids will want to spend most of their time in the pool.

If your kids are going to spend most of their vacation in a pool, a cruise is NOT the vacation for them. Especially if they actually want to swim, not just splash.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Four cruises, the pools were very warm, maybe felt cool the first toe stick, but really warm after you get in. Hot tubs around on the Norwegian. We only free style, I love relaxing!

But the. Beaches at the ports amaze me. We've had some great interaction with Dolphin swims, the private island was the best. Thing ever at Great stirrup Cay, wear beach shoes.

I wouldn't like to go some where it was iffy about safety to leave a compound. The ship we didn't know we were moving unless a storm was brewing. We had to out run one hitting Bermuda two years ago.

The. Norwegian we were on last year was Nickelodeon theme. Sponge bob package for child! breakfast! meet and greats. Great kids program fun.

 

[kymom99]

I will also add that both our cruises took us to Nassau. It is not the most impressive place, but another passenger said he googled Nassau excursions or something like that and found a deal to use the facilities at the Hilton (I think it was Hilton) for the day. The kids got to use the pools and there was also the beach. It wasn't affiliated with the ship, but booked through the resort. That sounds like something that might work for you, where ever you end up cruising.