Rccl compared to disney?

[kristen821]

I know everyone is disney lovers here, but I have a quick question. We cruised for the first time Dec. 5th (4 night wonder) and loved it. We want to go around the same time again next year, but we are closing on a house next month and the money from our income tax is spent already. I know it isn't even in our hands yet! Here is my question. Rccl 4 night cruise is about $1400 cheaper then disney. That $1400 is the difference of being able to cruise next year or waiting one more year! Rccl also has an extra stop at key west instead of the at sea day, which sounds good to me since the ship will be half empty since people will be visiting key west! I have two children at the time of cruising they will be ds7 and dd3. Has anyone ever cruised rccl with small children? Are we better off waiting another year or is any cruise better than no cruise?

 

[alexandrew]

you should wait and take another DCL cruise....The RCCL ships that sail on 4-day itineraries pale in comparison to the Wonder....The only ships RCCL offers that are comparable are the Voyager class (Voyager, Navigator, Explorer et al)....

 

[Rhonda]

We just sailed on a 4-day RCCL ship (Majesty of the Seas) last month. The stops were ok (Nassau, CocoCay, and Key West) but the ship left us very disappointed. It is much smaller than the Voyager ships and Disney ships, and there is not much to do. I never thought we would ever say this about a cruise - but there were times when we were actually bored! (Can you believe it??)

We rented a scooter in Nassau and buzzed around for a little while, then went back to the ship. Nassau is not one of our favorite stops.

CocoCay was nice - we snorkeled there and enjoyed the BBQ lunch.

Key West is always a nice place, but keep in mind that when the ships gets there, US Customs agents have to check everybody on board for passports, etc. before anybody can get off the ship!! So, it took forever!! There were people who were not planning on getting off the ship, so they didn't think they had to check with Customs. Wrong!! They held up the whole ship! We didn't get off the ship until about 11:30 am. We had to be back to the ship by 4:00. So, there wasn't much time to enjoy Key West.

But, that said, a day on a cruise is much better than a day at home/work, no matter what ship you're on, right??

So, if I had a choice of going now on a small RCCL ship, or waiting a year...I would definitely still go now! Then, maybe in a year, I will be able to afford to go on a better ship or longer itinerary!

 

[dclwdwlover]

The only thing that has prevented us from trying RCCL is that we're afraid of getting "stuck" on a ship for 7-days that we're not having as good a time on as DCL. I've done other lines than DCL (not in existence now) & had a good time, but the best has been DCL.

I want to do RCCL, but a four day - just in case - but don't want to have an older ship & that's all that sails less than 7-days. Yet, I'm apprehensive about going on the new ships & being there for that much longer - also, just in case.

When I hear people rave about RCCL, it's primarily only with their newer ships. The majority - definitely not all - people don't care for the size, condition & activities of their older fleet as much.

 

[kristen821]

Thank you both for your help. Our plan right now is to do a cruise every year. We plan to use our income tax money, but this year since we are buying a house. We plan to use that money for redecorating. I can come up with enough money for rccl, but not disney. We love disney and plan to go again in two years, unless of course we fall in love with rccl. I can't picture anything taking the place in our hearts that disney has, but I think maybe I will try it. Like Rhonda said anything is better than staying at home. Has anyone had a horrible experience on rccl?

 

[kristen821]

dclwdwlover - I must have been posting at the same time as you. That is my fear. At least until my daughter is a little older, I don't think I would want to be on a seven day cruise on any ship. We were on the 4 night wonder and thaught that was wonderful. Five nights would have been better, but I think seven might have been a little long with a 2 year old, although she did love it and was perfect the whole cruise. I didn't realize rccl only used older ships for the 4 night cruises. My main concern is my kids. If they are having fun, I can always find something for myself and dh to do. We don't mind sitting around and watching the ocean for 4 nights!

 

[my3kids]

A friend took her 2 young boys on one of the older, 4 night ships and they loved it. I was impressed with the quality of the things they did in the children's program. Before you think the difference in price is "just" $1600, price your Royal Caribean trip with www.cruisequick.com. Oh my goodness, they beat everyone's prices by A LOT. The only way travel agents can discount that line now is with giving something else of value and RCI won't allow them to sell it as less than the standard price. But, cruisequick send prepaid MasterCard's as their incentive, the hundred's of dollars on your card is based on the price of the trip.

 

[kristen821]

Thank you my3kids. That is good to know!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

We've sailed on RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 3 different times. It is considerably less expensive than DCL. BUT, you need to keep a few things in mind.
-It is an older ship, but still in good shape
-The rooms (inside) are closet sized. Much smaller than the Wonder

IMHO, the food was good and so was the service. We probably had our best server ever on the Sov of Seas.

When we went last year we had 27 people. Several children. My DNiece had an absolute blast. She truly enjoyed the kids programs. She was 7 at the time.

The Sov of Seas goes to Nassau and to the RCCL private island Coco Cay. So the itinerary is very similiar to DCL. Coco cay is a very beautiful place too. I'd sail just to go there.

If I had to choose between, no cruise for 2 years or RCCL, I'd take RCCL in a minute.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I have cruised on Monarch of the Seas, Sovereign of the seas & the Nordic Empress! All these ships pale in size and comparison to Voyager etc,...but we loved them anyway! They have a classic elegance! We did use the kids clubs on Sovereign, and the kids really enjoyed themselves! They were approximately 5 and 6 at the time! I wouldn't compare it to Disney because it wouldn't be fair, but the ships were really nice, the food was delicious and the shows were wonderful! Plus the price is alot cheaper!

 

[kristen821]

Thanks for you help! I really would hate to be disappointed after being on a disney cruise. I think we will try it!