RC Monarch of the Seas or Disney Dream for Honeymoon?

[KRFK5]

Hi all,

My fiancee and I are looking into taking a cruise to the Bahamas as part of our honeymoon in early July 2012. We're looking at the Disney Dream 4 night cruise, and also the Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas, which is also 4 nights and does a similar route. Just wanted to see if anyone had experience with either. The main reason I ask is that the RC cruise is less expensive, so I wanted to see if anyone could offer some insights on the main differences, if the extra money for the Disney cruise is worth it versus the Royal Caribbean cruise.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[mkmommy]

You are comparing DCl's brand new huge ship to RCL oldest smallest ship, so it is really hard to compare.


I did a 4 day on the RCL Majesty which is the same class as the Monarch and it was a great weekend, but I only paid about $200 for the 4 days so my expectations were not high, and for the price I paid I was happy. Food was good, and I enjoyed the port stops but the cabin was tiny and I did not feel there was much to do on the ship besides the pool.

I would not take my kids on the Monarch, but for an adult get away at the right price it is a nice weekend.

 

[kcashner]

Keep in mind that you are asking on a Disney board. I would take this as a "you get what you pay for." As above, you are comparing Disney's newest ship with an old Royal Caribbean. RCCL tends to have many "extras" that cost--soda, specialty restaurants, etc. With DCL, almost everything is included (yes, there's plenty you can choose to purchase, but that's another story).

I'd suggest DCL, but...it is a Disney board, after all!

 

[Buckeye218]

The experience aboard the Monarch will leave you disappointed unless you've never cruised before. My wife and I took a short 3-day cruise in October 2010 for our 20th anniversary and it was not good. As the poster above noted, it is not a fair comparison as the Monarch is an ancient ship and should probably be retired. Any of RCCL's other classes would certainly be an improvement, but I'm not sure which other sail out of Port Canaveral.

The Monarch clearly shows her age, from the ripped and stained carpeting to the laughably tiny cabins. Surprisingly, the food was awful. We had heard that this was one area where RCCL outdid DCL, but we did not find that to be the case. There were some entrees and even desserts that we did not care to finish.

The blue astroturf on the pool deck was garish. The shopping on board was uninspiring. We do not gamble, but we did walk through the casino once or twice and there was nothing in there that even closely resembled state-of-the-art equipment. The service on-board was neither superior or poor, just average, which you will never get on DCL. Coco Cay was nice enough, but did not compare to Castaway Cay.

This is not meant to bash RCCL as I'm sure their newer ships are much nicer, but this is truly a "you-get-what-you-pay-for" cruise. The only two things that stood out were our room steward was great and the mixed drinks were fantastic.

 

[Namsupak]

As the PP said, this is comparing apples to oranges. Plus this is a Disney board while we love the disney cruises, make sure to check out cruise critic also. You will probably find a lot of answers there, not just from the forum but also ship reviews of both the DCL and RCCL cruise ships.

We went on a Disney cruise for our honeymoon as well. We found it to be very fun even without kids. Then after we had one it was still fun. If you are a Disney fan then the best choice would be the Disney Dream, so to me the extra money is worth it. The RCCL cruise may be cheaper upfront, and you will find tons of threads about this topic here, but you will be paying for little extras during the cruise such as soda. Most people will argue that even after being nickeled and dimed on the RCCL cruise you will still come out saving money versus a disney cruise. We kind of like just paying for things upfront, because we do drink soda and we like having our name announced when we walk on the ship, etc. Just little Disney touches that made us feel special after our wedding.

 

[iloverags2]

I have been on both ships, with my last Monarch sailing just this past January. We have had good experiences on both cruiselines, but that was going on the Monarch knowing she is RCI's oldest ship in their fleet.

Since you will probably get more focus on the Dream from these boards (as this is a Disney board!), I will focus on the Monarch and her pros and cons.

Pros
You just cannot beat the price RCI sets for the Monarch. If you time your booking right, you can really get a steal on the cruise cost itself.

The rock climbing wall is an absolute blast! As long as you see good weather during your cruise, the rock climbing wall can be a fun way to kill a few hours in the day.

Less crowded pools. A smaller ship means less passengers, which in turn means fewer folks loading the pools. Plus, the Monarch has fewer children on it; this means the pools aren't as crazy. Yes, the pool does get crowded at times, but I find it better than on the Dream.

Wonderful staff! Yes, Disney really has almost cornered the market on customer service, but the Monarch has a top-notch staff also. They are often ranked among the highest in RCI's fleet, and with good reason. Everyone is pleasant and helpful, and the crew does go out of their way to see you are taken care of.

Some of the daily activities were a blast! Obviously the Belly-flop contest and the Sexiest Man contest were fun. My favorite though was the video scavenger hunt! If they have this on a Monarch sailing, I highly recommend it! An absolute blast!

Embarkation...RCI has this down to a science. It's painless and orderly. Basically, if you are at the port early, once you check-in they seat you...in order...until embarkation. Not a free-for-all.

I must say here, this is a personal huge pro for me. The English Toffee cookies! You can get these up at Sorrento's (pizza counter on the second level of the Windjammer Cafe) or at the Latte-tudes Coffee counter (although at Latte-tudes you will have to purchase a specialty coffee to get one...kind of lame if you ask me...I always just went to Sorrento's).

Cons
The staterooms are small! I mean, really small! If you are looking at an inside stateroom, we are talking about 119 square feet. Unless you decide to look into a junior suite or suite, you will not have a couch in the stateroom. Compare that to Disney, where all staterooms have a seating area. The stateroom size carries over to the bathroom size too. Very small bathrooms.

Obviously the age of the ship is noticeable, but I have to admit RCI does a decent job of keeping the Monarch up. She does show her age, yet it's not like the ship is gross and disgusting! Things just look dated in some areas, and in many areas you will not see the most up-to-date decor and technology.

With the Monarch, you will eat in one set dining room. While that's the norm in the cruise industry, one of the things I love about Disney is the rotational dining, and eating in a different dining room every night! Also, there was something about the lighting in the main dining room that just seemed off. I can't put my finger on it, but it seemed a bit more low-key and crowded (or something!)

The nightly shows will be more Vegas-style revues since this is what Monarch's theatre is built for. You will not see the Broadway style shows as on Disney.

We found the bars to be lacking a bit. Can't put my finger on that one either. The only one we really enjoyed was Boleros. We might have enjoyed the Schooner Lounge more had the casino, where smoking is allowed, not been right next door.

If you are soda drinkers, you will need to purchase sodas or invest in a unlimited soda card. I'm no longer a soda drinker, but when I was this was a big turn-off for me. (To be fair, DCL used to charge for this also at one time.)

So, embarkation is smooth-sailing, right? Disembarkation can be a nightmare on RCI! Depending on what group for disembarkation you are in, you could be waiting an hour or so just sitting around...in a theatre possibly...dying to get off the ship. Our last cruise we ended up in the second to last disembarkation group, and oy! I thought we would never get off!



Ok, that's it for my pros and cons, but I think it's only fair I cover CocoCay, RCI's private island. I wouldn't consider it a con, but I have to be honest...it doesn't compare to DCL's Castaway Cay. If you have never been to either, then you most likely will not be disappointed with CocoCay. If you want to do something other than hang out at the beach or walk around the island, you will have to pay for it (except lunch, of course!). But we typically make a day of it doing just those things...sitting on the beach and wandering around.

Hope this helps give you an idea of the Monarch! Which would I pick? Disney in a heartbeat! That doesn't mean I would snub Monarch either. Just know if you choose Monarch, it is a completely different experience than Disney.

 

[Janmom]

I have cruised on almost every line out there, and while not on the Monarch specifically, I did just complete a cruise on the Dream.
I think you gotta ask yourself what you want and what you expect from the vacation.
Whether or not you have cruised before will make a huge impact. Because if you have been on a better ship than the Monarch (easy to have done), then your honeymoon will not be remembered as that awe-filled, jaw-dropping, best-vacation ever type thing.
With the Dream, it is one of the best ships afloat right now, so obviously you can't go wrong, unless you have an aversion to Disney or something.

If you have NEVER cruised before, a first cruise will almost certainly be a wonderful vacation, regardless of the ship.

It all boils down to what you want to spend and whether you want to experience the top of the line, latest and newest ship - or whether you will be OK with an older, not-so-many-bells-and-whistles ship.

Every line has their older and their newest and best ships. The newest ships will always come at a premium, but you will have the latest technologies, innoventions, features. conveniences etc. Older ships will have good value but just not be as "nice". Kind of think of it like staying at a 3 star hotel vs a 5 star hotel.

If the cost difference is not a huge issue, I vote for the Dream! Not because I'm a Disney fanatic at all (like I said, I have cruised almost all the lines out there), but simply because obviously in this scenario, the Dream will be the 5 star hotel experience (in comparison to Monarch). And if it is your honeymoon, it seems to warrant going for the best!

Now, if you were trying to figure out to go on the Dream, or to go on the Oasis of the Seas (RCCL), or Alure of the Seas, that would be a different discussion - as those are Royal Caribbean's newest ships that could probably compete with Disney Dream in a more of the apples to apples way.

Good luck and congratulations, whatever you decide!

 

[Meghatron]

We honeymooned on DCL (Wonder) and it was fabulous. Our cabin was at the "adult" end of the ship so we were one elevator ride from the bars, adult pool, Cove Cafe, and spa. Staff showered us with attention and the dining management seated us at an all-adult table. My only complaint was that I hadn't splurged on the room category!

 

[NancyIL]

I like Royal Caribbean, and I have sailed twice on Monarch of the Seas - out of LA and Port Canaveral. I also sailed on the Dream in February. As much as I'd rather pay RCI's prices than DCL's - I would choose the Disney Dream for a Bahamas cruise...especially for a honeymoon.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

You are comparing DCl's brand new huge ship to RCL oldest smallest ship, so it is really hard to compare.


I did a 4 day on the RCL Majesty which is the same class as the Monarch and it was a great weekend, but I only paid about $200 for the 4 days so my expectations were not high, and for the price I paid I was happy. Food was good, and I enjoyed the port stops but the cabin was tiny and I did not feel there was much to do on the ship besides the pool.

I would not take my kids on the Monarch, but for an adult get away at the right price it is a nice weekend.

I couldnt agree with you more, especially if this is the OP's first cruise. OP have you considered the Freedom of the Seas that would even be better and I am sure it is around the same price as the Disney Dream, you will get some much better ports and a much newer, and nicer ship than the Monarch also the ship is HUGE!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I have done Monarch and Disney Magic.
No comparison. I only did Monarch for a quick girls getaway with my BFF. We paid $179/pp for an oceanview.
That's why we picked it. Cheap! It was fun for a quick trip like that, but not something I'd want to do with DH and I would CERTAINLY not bring my kids on there.
Lots of bachelor and bachelorette parties onboard.
Casino was fun, though. We mostly did nickle slots b/c we are cheap.
It was more of a party type atmosphere for sure.
The food was fine. We LOVED the anytime dining thing they do!!! The staff was all very nice.
We had sailed together on DCL but BFF is not a big Disney fan like myself. Withing 15 mins of boarding the ship she stated that this was nothing compared to our DCL cruise. That should say something.
Would I do Monarch again? Sure, for a 3 night girls trip.
Would I do Disney again...anytime!

 

[KRFK5]

Wow, thanks everyone for the great information! With the difference in price between RC and DCL, we were wondering if you are mostly paying for "kids stuff" (like all the activities and facilities for them) or if you are really getting a much nicer experience, just going as adults. Again, it's our honeymoon so we'd like to do something where we feel special!

 

[NancyIL]

Wow, thanks everyone for the great information! With the difference in price between RC and DCL, we were wondering if you are mostly paying for "kids stuff" (like all the activities and facilities for them) or if you are really getting a much nicer experience, just going as adults. Again, it's our honeymoon so we'd like to do something where we feel special!

The Dream's much higher price is due to the newness/popularity of the ship, and the fact that DCL has only 3 ships vs. RCI's 22 ships.

 

[Webmiester]

Whew! Lots of opinions and tidbits of info here!

We did a cruise for our honeymoon. We have been on most of the crusielines (except the dumpy ones, lol...think Carnival/Norwegian).

My advice:
Unless you are disney nuts, don't do either.
Take a more muted, quiet, more upscale line.
Celebrity, Princess and Holland America are what I'd consider "Honeymoon" style ships.
RCCL is a decent line, but you have to consider a cruiseline's target audience.
Disney and RCCL are Family focussed.
Carn/Norwegian 's target is "the vegas crowd" and/or people who don't have much money but want to cruise.
Princess and Celebrity are more upscale, muted cruiselines. I've heard mixed reviews lately, but they still 'tout' better food and higher quality service.
Holland is like Princess/Celebrity, except they also target the older crowd.
The last time we sailed Holland was to Alaska in a family of 13. Pretty much felt like we had the run of the ship. It was very nice, the food was great. The staff loved having young folks onboard and we received literally personalized attention. They created activities just for us, it was really cool!

Anyway, for what it is worth... if you a looking what most folks consider a typical honeymoon and its associated activities and alone time, stay away from the lines that focus on busy busy stuff. Go quiet this time.

For the record we did Celebrity for our honeymoon (looong time ago) and loved it.

 

[cyclenut]

We recently attended a presentation about Celebrity cruise lines. They are going through a complete fleet upgrade and I have to say, it really does look nice. I cannot consider myself an expert but we have sailed Carnival, RCL and Disney (each once) and I would say that for the price you should plan to save the Disney cruises for when you have kids. It can be a very fun cruise for adults at the right price but I don't think you should expect to pay a premium.

If you really do want to look further at RCL, check out the Freedom of the Seas. That will be our next cruise and it is less expensive than the Fantasy 2012 rates. But I have to agree with a PP, you may find Celebrity to be more inviting for a honeymoon, and you can get some pretty good deals on them as well. It is just an overall different experience, from what I could see from the road show. Things like real grass lawn areas and cabana rentals, hammocks available, several different premium dining options as well as a very nice main dining area. Shows and entertainment are more like Vegas and some reminded me a bit of a stuffy piano bar, but still good.

You'll really enjoy the Disney Dream I'm sure if you choose to go that way, just be prepared for crowds on some of the more popular decks.

 

[Webmiester]

...I would say that for the price you should plan to save the Disney cruises for when you have kids.

Great point! I must say I'm glad we did!
(of course now we're ruined! We can't go back to any other!)

 

[jlemieu1]

Great point! I must say I'm glad we did!
(of course now we're ruined! We can't go back to any other!)

x 2

 

[Illidan]

Wow, thanks everyone for the great information! With the difference in price between RC and DCL, we were wondering if you are mostly paying for "kids stuff" (like all the activities and facilities for them) or if you are really getting a much nicer experience, just going as adults. Again, it's our honeymoon so we'd like to do something where we feel special!

When comparing the Dream to the Monarch, the price difference isn't just "kids stuff". As others have said, you're comparing the latest and greatest ship from Disney to one of Royal Caribbean's ships that is probably overdue for retirement. Royal Caribbean already sold off the Sovereign of the Seas which was of the same class as the Monarch.

 

[sunshine1259]

Hi all,

My fiancee and I are looking into taking a cruise to the Bahamas as part of our honeymoon in early July 2012. We're looking at the Disney Dream 4 night cruise, and also the Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas, which is also 4 nights and does a similar route. Just wanted to see if anyone had experience with either. The main reason I ask is that the RC cruise is less expensive, so I wanted to see if anyone could offer some insights on the main differences, if the extra money for the Disney cruise is worth it versus the Royal Caribbean cruise.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

This is quite funny to me. I became engaged on the Monarch (didn't know that was going to happen when I booked it) in 2006 when she was still in Los Angeles. Then, when we were trying to decide on honeymoon, I mentioned the Disney Cruise Line. Well, he didn't think that anything could really beat his experience on the Monarch. However, after our three-day cruise on the Wonder, he said never wants to sail Royal Caribbean again.

I have been on both the Wonder and the Magic, (the Dream and the Fantasy will be next year), and I really think that they were experiences that can not be easily duplicated on any other line.

In the end, you will have to do what you feel comfortable with. Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming nupitals.

 

[AnnMarie3]

We have sailed on Disney twice and just sailed on Monarch of the Seas this past July. There is no comparison. We thought Monarch was AWFUL. Terrible food, lousy pool , Lackluster service- we never even saw our cabin steward.
The only things we did like was Boleros lounge- Sy the bartender was great, a couple of the shows were funny, and surprisingly we liked our tiny indoor stateroom.
Overall, we would not go on Monarch again even if it were free.