Royal Caribbean?

[Cinderalex]

We were planning a cruise for January on the Magic . We want my BIN and SIL to come with us but they don't have kids and would rather not do "Disney" . We are thinking of going on Royal Caribbeans Voyager of the Seas instead. Have any of you been on the Voyager Class ships on Royal Caribbean? I have a DS 14 and a DD 6 at the time of travel. I am worried about the kids clubs on RC but I do like the ports this ship goes to. Ocho Rios and Labadee (RC private island). Any insight would be great! Thanks

 

[amyup]

I have not been on DCL yet, but we went on the Voyager series, Navigator of the Seas(I think) in Nov 2003. The ship was nice, the weather not so much. My boys were too young for the kids club, my 3 year old did not want to stay in there at all. But he still remembers the ball pitt in the club and staying on the big ship. I think your 14 year old would enjoy the ship more than the 6 year old. The ship was beautiful and the food was great but I didn't think it was geared to people with young children.


HTH
Amy

 

[ivanova]

I've read reviews that say RCCL is the "next best thing to DCL" when it comes to kid-related activities.

 

[KimDisFan]

My DD10 would prefer the voyager class ships over DCL. With the inline skating, rock climbing wall, putt putt and the ice skating, she loved it (we sailed on the NOS when she was 8 & on DCL when she was 4, 6 & 7). And the pools are much nicer (though salt water) on those class of ships. She doesn't spend alot of time in the clubs (on either line), but of the time she did, DCL definately has the upper hand there.

 

[nato]

My husband and I went on the Voyager of the Seas in March 2005 without our children. We went on a Disney Cruise last year with the kids. Maybe we were just spoiled with Disney, but we were very dissappointed. The ship itself was much bigger and had more activities such as the rock climb, inline skating, etc., but the food was not good at all. Maybe we just had a bad week, but I was actually hungry on the cruise and I'm not a real picky eater. It just wasn't very good. We aren't gamblers, so the casino is not a factor for us. I also missed the "Disney touch." Disney just knows how to do cater to you, like no one else. We did ask several of the teenagers on board how they liked it, since we were considering another cruise next year with our children, DD 5, DD 11, DD 11. Most of them said they were having fun. We ran into one group of boys who asked us if we'd ever taken our girls on Disney. We said yes and they said well we think Disney is MUCH better. We asked them why and they said, "The Disney clubs were much more organized." I thought it was kind of funny to hear teenage boys talk about organization! Anyway, we have now booked another Disney Cruise for June 2006 and if my husband and I do another cruise by ourself, it will be Disney. Hope this helps a little with your decision.

 

[ljql_5969]

I have cruised RCCL twice and like it both times. We did not have our kids with us though. We loved the food. The adult activities were great but I am not sure about the kids activities.

 

[jeast]

UOG says RCCL's kids programs are great, second only to Disney. They also rate the entire line very highly. I don't think you will have a problem.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We have cruised RCCL twice, both times on the Explorer of the Seas, also a voyager class ship. We've done both the Eastern and Western itinieraries. Labadee is very nice, lots of great activities. I will never shop there again, because I'm not comfortable with the bargaining system, and the locals were very, very pushy. It made Nassau look like Macy's by comparison.

Ocho Rios is the only port I've ever been in where I was afraid. They literally have armed guards stationed every 20 feet or so as you get off, from the point of exit to the entry to the recommended shopping area. That said, we did a river float excursion, and enjoyed that very much.

The entertainment on RCCL is great, the ice rinks are a unique factor. There are kid activities, but I wouldn't take a younger child, because I don't think there is enough to captivate a wee one. Our son is 7, and going on his first cruise w/Disney for that reason. We love RCCL, and we hope to graduate him to that line on his next cruise.

That said, you will see lots of European families on RCCL with very very young members included. You would not be at all out of place with children. The larger ships/longer itineraries do have more for kids to do.

Whatever you choose, have a wonderful cruise!

 

[jkfreeman33]

We are going on our 16th cruise in 3 weeks (Carnival Glory) and have a family cruise planned in September with RCCL Mariner of the Seas. When planning a family cruise with 17 people, the only choice ws RCCL. I think they do it just a little bit better than most other lines. You can never go wrong with RCCL if there are adults going. The line knows how to generate fun with an adult tone. The kids I've seen on them don't look like their hving a bad time.

 

[getoutthere]

We were on the Voyager in September 2003 and so far it has been our best cruise yet! We did not have our boys with us so I am not sure about the kids clubs but I did see them always doing some kind of activity. We have not sailed on DCL yet so I cannot compare the two. It is a great ship with lots of things to do. We were never bored. As far as I am concerned, you can't go wrong with RCL. Happy sailing!

 

[pacercolt]

I just wanted to tell you that we went on the Eastern DCL in April with my DD13 and DD6. My sister and husband who don't have kids went with us. We had the best vacation of our lives and all of us rebooked for next year. Just thought I might tell you that and you may give Disney some more thought.

 

[ksjayhawks]

DS12 and I were on the Mariner of the Seas over spring break this year and we loved it. DS had a great time in the clubs--they were geared for the tween/teen set. He liked the setup of the clubs and their location so much better than on disney. He really liked going to the 24 hour cafe with his friends late at night for pizza, pop, treats, etc. They had plenty of activities all the time. Friends of ours had younger kids in the other clubs and they had indoor and outdoor activities, went to the buffet for afternoon snacks, etc.

I was never hungry on the cruise--there was food available all the time! Ice cream by the pool, room service, when one buffet would stop, the next would start!

To me the casino was not a big deal. I read about it alot on threads, but it is not pushed as much as people think. Bingo is pushed more than the casino! There were so many other activities to do, you couldn't do them all. We enjoyed all the shows. It was great to have the mini golf, ice rink, rock climbing. There were plenty of hot tubs as well.

We had a great time and will go again. When my granddaughter is a little older I want to take her on DCL, but until then we will do RCCL unless DCL has such a great deal that we can't pass it up.

 

[Melrosgirl]

RCCL is a great line. We've been on it twice. Haven't been to their kids' clubs though (always just the two of us back then). I can say that Princess cruiseline has a great kids' club. (Smaller, more personal attention - limited hours though.)

We priced DCL and RCCL and RCCL actually came out a few hundred more than DCL for our upcoming trip. (only b/c RCCL charges for infants - same price as my 7 year old is.)

I would not hesitate on going on RCCL or Princess again.

 

[StuartMI]

We were planning a cruise for January on the Magic . We want my BIN and SIL to come with us but they don't have kids and would rather not do "Disney"

What's their hangup about it? I mean, DW and I don't have kids and we love DCL.

 

[my3kids]

We're going on RCI this summer. I'm not worried about the kid's programs. People I know that have been on any of the RCI ships had a great experience with the children's areas. Seemed they made a lot of high quality craft items which make nice take home rememberances. They have quite a few better options for families in terms of room configurations. If you only have 4, DCL can handle you fine. But with a party of 5, RCI wins hands down. They have family staterooms that hold 5 or 6, connecting inside rooms, 2 bedroom suites with 2 full baths & verandah that were going for less than a DCL Cat. 12 the week I looked!! Large single room suites(huge) that will hold 5. From looking at the RCI menus vs. remembering DCL menus, there are more courses for dining. Towel animals seem to be a daily event on RCI and I think I only had 1 on DCL and that was because I asked for one.

We loved Disney and will likely go again at some time, but there are so many fabulous places to visit that DCL doesn't go to. There are lots of things on other ship's that kids enjoy but Disney doesn't offer. Don't rule out a cruise just because it isn't Disney. There are lots of fun trips to be had from lots of lines.

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

IMHO DCL is very good !!!

DH and I cruised several times in past years on RCCL and ALWAYS had a great time !!!!!!
I think they have BETTER food than DCL - and LOTS of adult activities !!!

THAT said ...
We then tried DCL, Wonder, and from that very first time ... we'll never go on another cruise line but Disney !!!!!
The food is rich - though not so well "presented" as it is on RCCL
AND DCL PAMPERS YOU IN ANY POSSIBLE WAY !!!!!!!!!!

We think it's very good for families with young kids - but also teens we know HAD THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE on Magic and WONDER !!!!!!!!
Plus staterooms on DCL are MUCH BIGGER (same cat./price) and IMO much better equipped !!!!
The Disney ships crew - Cast members - are AWESOME, they always go further in making you feel VERY SPECIAL ... in many wonderful ways !!!!
( Never found someone "rude" as we met on RCCL !)

AND there is that DISNEY TOUCH ... you can't find anywhere else.

We'll be doing our 5th cruise on the Wonder this August (had the Magic last Summer)... we can't think of another cruise TO HAVE A PERFECT VACATION !!!!!!!!

Though they go "always" to the same ports ... we never can do ALL WHAT we would like to experience aboard !!!! and on shore ; always have some "must does" for our next Disney cruise !!!!!



DCL is our first choice, RCCL being a "close" second !!!!!

laura

 

[TexasGirl]

We've been on Royal Carrib 3 times and Disney 2 times...one more upcoming. If there are no kids or older kids I would think RCL is a great option and maybe even a better option. A very good value. I never had a complaint. The disembarking on Disney is much better though.

 

[Melrosgirl]

We've been on Royal Carrib 3 times and Disney 2 times...one more upcoming. If there are no kids or older kids I would think RCL is a great option and maybe even a better option. A very good value. I never had a complaint. The disembarking on Disney is much better though.

True! Disembarking on Disney is sooo easy! Princess and RCCL (the other two lines I've been on) it is a horrible process to disembark. Princess I didn't leave until 11:00 a.m. (after waiting 3 hours in a designated room waiting for my color to be called). RCCL was around 10 a.m. each time. Horrible process.

I will be interested to see if Disney has long disembarkation times now that it's in CA - in a different port.

 

[ivanova]

True! Disembarking on Disney is sooo easy! Princess and RCCL (the other two lines I've been on) it is a horrible process to disembark. Princess I didn't leave until 11:00 a.m. (after waiting 3 hours in a designated room waiting for my color to be called). RCCL was around 10 a.m. each time. Horrible process.

I will be interested to see if Disney has long disembarkation times now that it's in CA - in a different port.

A lot of the diembarkation woes are based on the port, not the cruise like (Galveston is horrid, Port Canaveral is easy, don't know about Los Angeles yet).

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I was at San Pedro disembarking from the Norwegian Star in November. Turns out they only have a few customs agents, and typically have 2 or 3 ships disembarking at the same time. You may be in for a wait...