Royal or Disney? Help me decide!

[disfreaks]

We tried Freedom last summer after 2 cruises on DCL and 1 on Princess. We were excited to try the Freedom since we had heard good things about it. We have 2 kids, 15 and 12. We had a balcony on Freedom and it was nice. Things we missed....kids had to share a sleeper sofa, this wasn't good as there were elbows, feet, heads, hanging off the bed. Partly my fault, I thought the room had the sofa and a pullman, I was wrong. Really missed the bath and a half. It was very crowded with 4 people trying to get ready for dinner. Food right by the pool...just an inconvenience to dry off and go in and get food (I know that is really picky).
The ship was beautiful, the food was great, we enjoyed most of the shows and ice skating at sea was a lot of fun.
We were most disappointed in the teen club. My kids aren't really kids who just hang out. They would try to go and do a planned activity, and if not enough kids showed up they would cancel it. There were no computers to just play games on, no gaming systems to play or anything else to do if they didn't do the activity. My son enjoyed the hour of free games in the game room, the 2nd time they offered, it was during our dinner. We loved our family time and the kids were with us most all the time. However, I feel that I paid for teen programs that just didn't happen for our kids.
Overall, it was a great cruise on RCI, something just felt a little off. If we went again, we would do 2 cabins for the space. The cost isn't a lot more. We did enjoy some of the adult stuff when we could stay awake to go to it. This was a little better than Disney.
We would go on RCI again, but for now, just Disney. I really think they do some things a lot better, but everyone is looking for something different which is why there are so many choices!

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

You know I have got to jump in. I do have a question and maybe that will help the couple out.

What is there on the DCL for a young couple to do? OP #4 pretty well detailed what there is to do aboard one of the big RC's, and that pretty much sums up the agenda for the RC Freedom. If the couple does not like to do that and loves the agenda of the DCL than why should she and her BF not go back.

My only suggestion would be why cruise on DCL when you know everything that goes on there. Why not try a new adventure on a new ship. There is the Carnival Dream, RC Freedom and NCL Sun that sail out of Port Canaveral and maybe that would provide a clue to whether they are really DCL cruisers.

I am sailing the Freedom Dec. 5th in case anyone is going on it and want to meet.

I always try to be polite in my posts, but this attitude really gets under my skin. This is, after all, a DCL board. We all know by now you prefer other lines. Fine, take them. But to constantly post digs at DCL on a DCL board is, at best, odd. And to imply that those of us who haven't cruised other lines and have no desire or plans to try them are somehow wrong is insulting. I, for one, have absolutely no desire to spend precious money and vacation time "trying out" Carnival, RCCL, NCL, or any other line that you think is so superior to DCL. They aren't items in a buffet. They are expensive and time consuming vacation options. Enough said.

 

[RJAYL]

I always try to be polite in my posts, but this attitude really gets under my skin. This is, after all, a DCL board. We all know by now you prefer other lines. Fine, take them. But to constantly post digs at DCL on a DCL board is, at best, odd. And to imply that those of us who haven't cruised other lines and have no desire or plans to try them are somehow wrong is insulting. I, for one, have absolutely no desire to spend precious money and vacation time "trying out" Carnival, RCCL, NCL, or any other line that you think is so superior to DCL. They aren't items in a buffet. They are expensive and time consuming vacation options. Enough said.

Thats what makes it a free country you have a right to your opinion & not to cruise other line's & Ed has a right to his opinion!

Just because this is a Disney Discusion Board does not mean that we have to limit our discusion to only positive comment on DCL & no comments on the competition!

Dialogue is healthy & the basis of our country! Think of country's where free discusion is not allowed, I prefer our system to their's!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

The Oasis/Allure are also more expensive than other Royal Caribbean cruises to the same destination, not just Disney cruises, because of the newness/uniqueness of the ships. If you look way ahead, the prices of those two also come down.

DCL does have very good prices on some of their cruises. Others, like summer 2010's Baltic cruises, were a great deal more expensive than the competition. However, if Disney is the cruise line you strongly prefer, then it is no bargain to spend less on a cruise line you won't be happy with.

I agree with the bolded statement and it's even more true when the other lines are more expensive! I know that I enjoy the DCL experience and with cruises costing several thousand dollars for a family of 5 - that is a lot to spend if you're not sure you're going to enjoy it.

I booked the Fantasy in June 2012 and did a price comparison to a nearly identical itineray leaving on the exact same date on the Oasis. The only difference is that the Oasis stops at Nassau (yuck!) vs DCL stopping at Castaway Cay. Fortunately, the St. Maarten and St. Thomas days are swapped so we're not at port the same day as the Oasis!

We booked two rooms (a verandah and an inside room across the hall). The DCL Fantasy was $1,100 less than the least expensive verandah/inside room combination on the RCCL Oasis. Why would I pay $1,100 more to try out a ship I'm not certain that I will like and will make a stop at an port that I have no desire to visit again?

And I even compared our price to a verandah/inside combo on the RCCL Freedom in June 2011 (they didn't have prices out yet for June 2012). Our Disney cruise is a little less expensive than the Freedom for a similar Eastern itinerary due to our on-board booking discount and OBC's.

DCL is more expensive at times, but not always! As you said, it depends on when and where you want to go. I don't think there is any sweeping generalization that one can use that applies in all situations for any cruiseline or individual person.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Thats what makes it a free country you have a right to your opinion & not to cruise other line's & Ed has a right to his opinion!

Just because this is a Disney Discusion Board does not mean that we have to limit our discusion to only positive comment on DCL & no comments on the competition!

Dialogue is healthy & the basis of our country! Think of country's where free discusion is not allowed, I prefer our system to their's!

In the PP's defense, I didn't see anywhere that he said that someone didn't have the right to post an opinion. He just found the posts "odd" at best and explained that because this is a DCL board that there are going to be differences in opinions as to the validity of a sweeping generalization that everyone should try out other cruiselines.

That said, I completely agree with your opinion that we should never limit conversation to only DCL or only in favor of DCL. I'm glad we can have open dialogue on this and other topics. I've posted unfavorable comments about DCL so know what it's like to be on either side. As you know, anytime anyone asks for an opinion, there will be opposites.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Your comments in anticipation of Edd's are unnecessary. If he chooses to post on this thread, then respond to him.

I thought they were just joking in good fun

 

[RJAYL]

In the PP's defense, I didn't see anywhere that he said that someone didn't have the right to post an opinion. He just found the posts "odd" at best and explained that because this is a DCL board that there are going to be differences in opinions as to the validity of a sweeping generalization that everyone should try out other cruiselines.

That said, I completely agree with your opinion that we should never limit conversation to only DCL or only in favor of DCL. I'm glad we can have open dialogue on this and other topics. I've posted unfavorable comments about DCL so know what it's like to be on either side. As you know, anytime anyone asks for an opinion, there will be opposites.

I like dialogue I like DCL as I cruise DCL are they perfect no! IMHO

I also like variety so I try new & different thing's including other cruise line's variety is the spice of life.

 

[deide71]

I, for one appreciate the different views and opinions from posters regarding DCL vs other cruiselines. We went on our first cruise on the Magic in October 2009 and loved it. We rebooked onboard but I have contemplating a Royal Caribbean cruise instead. The problem is that the prices are not really that much different, the ports of call are not any more appealing but the activities for older kids seem a bit better. Fear to the unknown keeps me on DCL I guess.

All of the insight and opinions are very helpful. Heck, I don't even mind a bit of spirited debate. Just my 2 cents.

 

[RJAYL]

I, for one appreciate the different views and opinions from posters regarding DCL vs other cruiselines. We went on our first cruise on the Magic in October 2009 and loved it. We rebooked onboard but I have contemplating a Royal Caribbean cruise instead. The problem is that the prices are not really that much different, the ports of call are not any more appealing but the activities for older kids seem a bit better. Fear to the unknown keeps me on DCL I guess.

All of the insight and opinions are very helpful. Heck, I don't even mind a bit of spirited debate. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah Royal's prices are really up lately, and these large ships all go to mainly the same ports Eastern or Western Carribean! I still love CC better than RCCI Island, though NCL is upgrading there Island & that makes it look way cool.

Also nobody's kids programming beats DCL though some of those new ships do have better active amenities for older kids & teens! DCL is not RCCI/CCL/NCL & visa versa but again variety is a good thing!

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

Thats what makes it a free country you have a right to your opinion & not to cruise other line's & Ed has a right to his opinion!

Just because this is a Disney Discusion Board does not mean that we have to limit our discusion to only positive comment on DCL & no comments on the competition!

Dialogue is healthy & the basis of our country! Think of country's where free discusion is not allowed, I prefer our system to their's!

Please go back and read my post. I have no issue with free and open, honest discussion of the issues. But I do have a big problem with a DCL hater who lurks on a DCL board for the sole purpose of putting down DCL in favor of other cruise lines.

 

[RJAYL]

I always try to be polite in my posts, but this attitude really gets under my skin. This is, after all, a DCL board. We all know by now you prefer other lines. Fine, take them. But to constantly post digs at DCL on a DCL board is, at best, odd. And to imply that those of us who haven't cruised other lines and have no desire or plans to try them are somehow wrong is insulting. I, for one, have absolutely no desire to spend precious money and vacation time "trying out" Carnival, RCCL, NCL, or any other line that you think is so superior to DCL. They aren't items in a buffet. They are expensive and time consuming vacation options. Enough said.

Please go back and read my post. I have no issue with free and open, honest discussion of the issues. But I do have a big problem with a DCL hater who lurks on a DCL board for the sole purpose of putting down DCL in favor of other cruise lines.

"This is, after all, a DCL board. We all know by now you prefer other lines. Fine, take them. But to constantly post digs at DCL on a DCL board is, at best, odd."

The way I read this it implies that you would like someone to stop posting, or limit their posts to positive PC posts!

Just having an opinion that is not positively in favor of Disney does not make that person a Disney Hater!

I own stock in Disney and I am a DVC member and a Gold CC member with another cruise booked on the Fantasy & I have plenty of issues with Disney. I also have cruised on RCCI Liberty, Carnival Glory & have several more Non-Disney cruises planned & can say that although those cruise lines are not Disney they all have their +-, as does Disney!

If you are insulted by this then I am sorry!

 

[ducky_love]

We have cruised once on Carnival (not our cup of tea), 5 DCL cruises, and now we are trying to decide between NCL or RCCL for our next adventure. We love the service and attention to detail on DCL but I think other cruise lines offer more for adults and we are interested in seeing what else is out there.

Does anyone have experience without kids on RCCL? It seems like we have gotten a little off track here I am really interested in the OPs question.

(Big hug for Edd. )

Edit: the reason I ask here is because I have come to trust these boards after all your help with planning my last 5 cruises.

 

[VisionPilot]

"This is, after all, a DCL board. We all know by now you prefer other lines. Fine, take them. But to constantly post digs at DCL on a DCL board is, at best, odd."

The way I read this it implies that you would like someone to stop posting, or limit their posts to positive PC posts!

I think the issue Buzz (and others, myself included) is having with Edd is the "constant" criticism. I would not go into a Harley motorcycle board and say nothing but negative things about that brand and not expect people to question my motives. The occasional negative criticism? fine. But a lot of the posts by the person in question have just been bashing DCL often with no supporting argument as well as posts making other people out to be liars because our experiences on other cruise lines did not match up with his. Most people have likes and dislikes. When it comes to DCL, one person only has dislikes, so it causes people to question why that person is here at all.

back on topic:
As for the OP's post, DW and I looked into the Oasis and Allure, but the prices are/were too high (compared to DCL) for us and based on the promotional material and videos we saw on the allure's site some time ago, we didn't like the idea of the mall at sea and the feeling that so many little things cost money as though we would be nickel and dimed to death. It may not be true, but it felt like it watching the videos. That might be ok if the cruise itself was much cheaper, but until it is, we will go on other ships.

We have done Carnival which is accused of being a party boat, but our sailing was nothing of the sort with the exception of one night in the karaoke lounge where there was a family that was not monitoring their alcohol intake and performed a somewhat memorable rendition of "family tradition" and we saw one unrelated guy get "cut off" by the manager..."Mustang Sally" will never sound the same to me again. That being said, I've been on one 4-night cruise on the Wonder that was pretty much a party boat with some rather interesting stories that I'm sure are not the norm for Disney's sailings. At least it wasn't the same on my other DCL sailings...

I think if you avoid Spring Break times and some possible themed cruises that might be more party oriented, you would be fine on most lines without having worry that it'll turn into Mardi Gras at sea. If you do end up on the Oasis, I expect a full report with pictures here

 

[dursin]

I thought they were just joking in good fun

They were...what was unnecessary was that response to my post!

 

[dursin]

Please go back and read my post. I have no issue with free and open, honest discussion of the issues. But I do have a big problem with a DCL hater who lurks on a DCL board for the sole purpose of putting down DCL in favor of other cruise lines.

True...all one has to do is click his name and view other posts to see that that particular poster contributes very little in the way of positive DCL discussion, yet cannot resist a single thread that provides an opening to sing the praises of RCCL and Carnival over DCL.

 

[jestracker]

We have cruised with Disney 7 times and have loved it. It is just my husband and I, no kids. We tried a RCCL last February and did not like it. Everyone said to try a different cruise line to see the difference in cruise lines, is why we chose RCCL. Our room was in disarray, the food was not as good as what we have had on DCL, smoking everywhere on the ship, could not get out of it (DH is allergic to smoke), and 3/4's of the passengers and crew got sick the last night out. No more cruising on other cruise lines for us. Disney all the way!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I, for one appreciate the different views and opinions from posters regarding DCL vs other cruiselines. We went on our first cruise on the Magic in October 2009 and loved it. We rebooked onboard but I have contemplating a Royal Caribbean cruise instead. The problem is that the prices are not really that much different, the ports of call are not any more appealing but the activities for older kids seem a bit better. Fear to the unknown keeps me on DCL I guess.

All of the insight and opinions are very helpful. Heck, I don't even mind a bit of spirited debate. Just my 2 cents.

back on topic:
As for the OP's post, DW and I looked into the Oasis and Allure, but the prices are/were too high (compared to DCL) for us and based on the promotional material and videos we saw on the allure's site some time ago, we didn't like the idea of the mall at sea and the feeling that so many little things cost money as though we would be nickel and dimed to death. It may not be true, but it felt like it watching the videos. That might be ok if the cruise itself was much cheaper, but until it is, we will go on other ships.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who found that RCCL's prices were about the same or even higher than DCL.

 

[Luvstocruise]

I came to this board, because I was sure there would be excellent tips and feedback on my concerns. Since I am a first time DCL cruiser, I knew there would be wealth of info as I had found in the past for questions on trips to WDW and DL.

I too wanted to keep an open mind, and realize that there are a ton of people that cruise other lines for various reasons. The misconceptions and preferences that could exist on other lines about DCL and vice versa make it realistic. I love lively debate, and even though some posters might appear to have an agenda I just sit back and...

I'm the only one on both sides of our family that would cruise DCL. I have inlaws that I swear are "allerginc" to children, and think that a DCL ship would be overrun by kids, but the positive attributes about the "adult areas" on DCL the kid programs and such would address that probably for them-they just would refuse to believe it. On the other hand, a relative that was concerned about "too many kids" wasn't exactly on a "child free" cruise on RCL. Nothing wrong there for me, I like kids. I would think DCL, RCL, NCL and Carnival would have families cruising at popular holiday times.

While some posters might have some "agenda" it may be more a case of just wanting a very strong opinion heard. I wouldn't let individual posters on here ruin anyone's experience. My view on the board is there are a very large group of posters that seem very dedicated about Disney, more so than what shows through on Cruise Critic. But I think that is part of the Disney phenomenon, since Carnival and RCL are not in the Parks and mainstream Movie businesses with the huge following they have. Maybe DCL appears more "wholesome" to many, especially people that are complete Disney nuts but for me it more in tune with our holiday plans this time (i.e. relaxing, good service and decent food). But I certainly would be willing to try RCL or Carnival.

Luvstocruise

 

[mca]

I always try to be polite in my posts, but this attitude really gets under my skin. This is, after all, a DCL board. We all know by now you prefer other lines. Fine, take them. But to constantly post digs at DCL on a DCL board is, at best, odd. And to imply that those of us who haven't cruised other lines and have no desire or plans to try them are somehow wrong is insulting. I, for one, have absolutely no desire to spend precious money and vacation time "trying out" Carnival, RCCL, NCL, or any other line that you think is so superior to DCL. They aren't items in a buffet. They are expensive and time consuming vacation options. Enough said.

I agree totally, constructive critism is one thing but constant trashing is annoying. It has nothing to do with free speech.

 

[NancyIL]

They were...what was unnecessary was that response to my post!

True...all one has to do is click his name and view other posts to see that that particular poster contributes very little in the way of positive DCL discussion, yet cannot resist a single thread that provides an opening to sing the praises of RCCL and Carnival over DCL.

Your second post shows that you were NOT "just joking in good fun."