Royal or Disney? Help me decide!

[RJAYL]

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

So is this constructive Criticism or constant trashing?
It might be free speech?

As long as the majority agrees?

 

[dursin]

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

Yes I was. I can also make a point without using italics or caps for emphasis.

 

[NancyIL]

Don't fear. Edd will be along soon to sing the praises of RCI over DCL.

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

Agreed....in anticipation of how this thread can go....please keep it civil everyone.....Thank You!!

MJ

I thought they were just joking in good fun

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

You didn't like the moderator's post, eh?

 

[Edd]

You know I have said plenty of good things about the DCL. More good things than I have said bad. I think I have not recommended the production shows and the entertainment very highly because I am very close to that industry. Disney has its own agenda when it comes to entertainment. They hire the young and give them a chance to get out on their own, but once the youngsters are gone they don't have much more to do with them. I believe their entertainment is very limited, especially since I have experience some great entertainers on many of the other ships.

I haven't trashed DCL, because they are a good cruise line and have very good ships. However there are three other cruise lines in Port Canaveral that have very good ships also. It is hard for me to believe some of the wild reports made by posters on the DIS about other cruise lines. I have cruised a lot on many different lines and still have to experience my first bad cruise.

 

[dursin]

You didn't like the moderator's post, eh?

Moderator's post was fine.

You are not a moderator.

Sometimes you don't seem to be aware of that.

 

[NancyIL]

Moderator's post was fine.

You are not a moderator.

Sometimes you don't seem to be aware of that.

The moderator seemed to agree with me. Time to let it go, dursin.

 

[dursin]

The moderator seemed to agree with me. Time to let it go, dursin.

Yes mom.

 

[ducky_love]

Maybe we should just shut this one since we can't play nice?

 

[denas]

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.

Hubby and I cruised a lot before kids, once with DCL with kids, and once on RCCL without kids after a DCL cruise. Personally, I wouldn't go on DCL without kids (just me). We didn't have such great experience with the service on RCCL - not the dining room or the cabin attendant, but mostly the pool-side buffet. However, we chose RCCL because of the ports/itinerary. When we travel without kids we want to do those things we can't do with kids, so for us, we chose them because we could go diving in Cozumel and Belize, sea kayaking in Key West, and did the best zip-line/ snorkeling./cultural tour I have ever done in Playa del Carmen. And it left out of Ft. Lauderdale which is a city I adore visiting so we could add on a night there. I didn't find the service to be as good as Disney, but don't need as much service/help when I don't have my kids. Can't comment on the night life because I don't drink if I am diving the next day. Did find lots of people to hang out with that were our age (late 30s) and didn't have kids with them. Travelled on the Jewel of the Seas and thought the ship was BEAUTIFUL.

I have also checked prices for August 2012. For a family of 4, we can cruise on either the Oasis or Allure for 1000 to 1200 less for the week of 16 August 2012 to the Carribean (can't really check family of 5 rates since only DCL allows you to do that online and am not committed enough to call). That is a consideration. My kids are still little (9 months, 4 and 8 for our upcoming cruise in 60 days) and right now DCL is the ONLY cruise line that offers something for the infant. However, with the new infant programs on the Oasis and Allure in 2012 and the fact that my youngest will be 2 in 2012 and NCl and Carnival offer programs for 2 year olds, we might consider something else then.

I like variety in my vacations. I can't imagine going to the same place every year, so wouldn't want to cruise the same line every year (or even cruise every year - I like Sandals, plan on trying Club Med soon, sometimes rent a beach house, and plan on a camping vacation this upcoming summer). We do Disney, but this year bought 2-year passes to Busch Gardens so that will be our destination and plan on doing Universal on the next visit to the in-laws in Orlando. That is just us!

 

[ducky_love]

denas - That is what we are finding with DCL. Not only the same ports but the exact same onboard activites over and over. I'm sure all cruise lines are the same in that respect but it would be "new to us". Thanks!!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

You know I have said plenty of good things about the DCL. More good things than I have said bad. I think I have not recommended the production shows and the entertainment very highly because I am very close to that industry. Disney has its own agenda when it comes to entertainment. They hire the young and give them a chance to get out on their own, but once the youngsters are gone they don't have much more to do with them. I believe their entertainment is very limited, especially since I have experience some great entertainers on many of the other ships.

I haven't trashed DCL, because they are a good cruise line and have very good ships. However there are three other cruise lines in Port Canaveral that have very good ships also. It is hard for me to believe some of the wild reports made by posters on the DIS about other cruise lines. I have cruised a lot on many different lines and still have to experience my first bad cruise.

Edd,

I don't always agree with your posts, but you often make some great points on here for us to consider. I also agree that you have made some very positive comments about DCL. In pointing out the differences among the different lines I could see how some interpret certain posts as being anti-DCL, especially as they apply to food and entertainment for teens, young adults and couples travelling without kids. Not everyone will agree with trying different lines simply because we cannot cruise that often and want to stick with what we know. For those who can cruise more often, I think they should consider taking your advice and try different lines. I could see myself getting bored with DCL if I cruised on it once or twice a year. For now, we are an every-other-year cruise family and DCL still offers us quite a bit of variety in ports and now ships. With DCL's consistency and pricing that is close or better than the two RCCL alternatives we'd consider, we'll stick with DCL.

I just wanted you to know that I believe that you should keep up your posts as it's nice to have a differing opinion now and then. To me, you have always been quite courteous in your posts but I can see how expressing a differing opinion can be interpreted as confrontational. I've had it happen to me as well.

Now back to topic.....

 

[denas]

denas - That is what we are finding with DCL. Not only the same ports but the exact same onboard activites over and over. I'm sure all cruise lines are the same in that respect but it would be "new to us". Thanks!!

I would say - regarding DCL entertainment that this is more true of them than any other ship. Which some see as a plus and some see as a disadvantage. Since most of their shows/deck parties/etc are very coreographed and lip-synced, there is no change. Some love this. I know after seeing the Lion King in the park just about every year it seems for the past 10 years, I find this a little dull. My in-laws are season pass holders and go to the lion king show several times a year and still love it!! Other cruise lines sail-away parties will not be as elaborate, but will be live which by itself lends to more variety. I don't think I would enjoy seeing Disney Dreams even yearly and will probably have enough of the Villians after I see it this year. However, on RCI when my in-laws sail next week they are seeing Hairspray which I would think is great. They change their shows a lot more frequently than Disney.

Although some LOVE the fact that they know exactly what will happen! To me it is like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". (showing my age a little!) There are those that went every single Friday and Saturday, dressed up, and acted out every part knowing the words by heart. And those of us that went once or twice, thought it was fun, but wouldn't do it every weekend. I don't even watch movies I like twice unless it has been years since I last saw it!

Anyway, if you are on vacation, regardless of where it is at, it should be better than work so enjoy! I just like to try new things because you never know when you are going to stumble across something that will be great.

 

[RJAYL]

Hubby and I cruised a lot before kids, once with DCL with kids, and once on RCCL without kids after a DCL cruise. Personally, I wouldn't go on DCL without kids (just me). We didn't have such great experience with the service on RCCL - not the dining room or the cabin attendant, but mostly the pool-side buffet. However, we chose RCCL because of the ports/itinerary. When we travel without kids we want to do those things we can't do with kids, so for us, we chose them because we could go diving in Cozumel and Belize, sea kayaking in Key West, and did the best zip-line/ snorkeling./cultural tour I have ever done in Playa del Carmen. And it left out of Ft. Lauderdale which is a city I adore visiting so we could add on a night there. I didn't find the service to be as good as Disney, but don't need as much service/help when I don't have my kids. Can't comment on the night life because I don't drink if I am diving the next day. Did find lots of people to hang out with that were our age (late 30s) and didn't have kids with them. Travelled on the Jewel of the Seas and thought the ship was BEAUTIFUL.

I have also checked prices for August 2012. For a family of 4, we can cruise on either the Oasis or Allure for 1000 to 1200 less for the week of 16 August 2012 to the Carribean (can't really check family of 5 rates since only DCL allows you to do that online and am not committed enough to call). That is a consideration. My kids are still little (9 months, 4 and 8 for our upcoming cruise in 60 days) and right now DCL is the ONLY cruise line that offers something for the infant. However, with the new infant programs on the Oasis and Allure in 2012 and the fact that my youngest will be 2 in 2012 and NCl and Carnival offer programs for 2 year olds, we might consider something else then.

I like variety in my vacations. I can't imagine going to the same place every year, so wouldn't want to cruise the same line every year (or even cruise every year - I like Sandals, plan on trying Club Med soon, sometimes rent a beach house, and plan on a camping vacation this upcoming summer). We do Disney, but this year bought 2-year passes to Busch Gardens so that will be our destination and plan on doing Universal on the next visit to the in-laws in Orlando. That is just us!

I agree RCCI has the worst I repeat worst poolside for snacking, there are no quickservice food areas at the pool plenty of places to get a drink but no quick service food areas by the pools!

Carnival has a good amount of quick service food area's by their pools but at the bar's I could not get a stiff drink even when I asked for & paid for a double!

DCL is better at both! Now I am trying the NCL Epic in April so that will be my next test. Price of the cruise was very reasonable as well!

Oh & as far as kids clubs DCL is the best followed by Carnival with RCCI in the rear (Freedom Class Cruise).

I would say - regarding DCL entertainment that this is more true of them than any other ship. Which some see as a plus and some see as a disadvantage. Since most of their shows/deck parties/etc are very coreographed and lip-synced, there is no change. Some love this. I know after seeing the Lion King in the park just about every year it seems for the past 10 years, I find this a little dull. My in-laws are season pass holders and go to the lion king show several times a year and still love it!! Other cruise lines sail-away parties will not be as elaborate, but will be live which by itself lends to more variety. I don't think I would enjoy seeing Disney Dreams even yearly and will probably have enough of the Villians after I see it this year. However, on RCI when my in-laws sail next week they are seeing Hairspray which I would think is great. They change their shows a lot more frequently than Disney.

Although some LOVE the fact that they know exactly what will happen! To me it is like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". (showing my age a little!) There are those that went every single Friday and Saturday, dressed up, and acted out every part knowing the words by heart. And those of us that went once or twice, thought it was fun, but wouldn't do it every weekend. I don't even watch movies I like twice unless it has been years since I last saw it!

Anyway, if you are on vacation, regardless of where it is at, it should be better than work so enjoy! I just like to try new things because you never know when you are going to stumble across something that will be great.

I liked the Rocky Horror too, saw it in the 70's at the Exeter Street Theatre on Newbury Street Boston was a blast!

 

[mmouse37]

Come one guys....I go out for my Thanksgiving shopping adventure and I come back to all this.....let's all agree to disagree and call it a day!!! I don't want to close this thread but will if it continues to go downhill.

MJ

MJ

 

[RJAYL]

Come one guys....I go out for my Thanksgiving shopping adventure and I come back to all this.....let's all agree to disagree and call it a day!!! I don't want to close this thread but will if it continues to go downhill.

MJ

MJ

& tomorrow should be Cooking the Turkey & football & Friday will be shopping so this means we are safe untill Saturday!

Where is Barb when I need her?

 

[mmouse37]

& tomorrow should be Cooking the Turkey & football & Friday will be shopping so this means we are safe untill Saturday!

Where is Barb when I need her?

I was thinking the same thing!!!

Tomorrow is a work day and tomorrow night is pre cooking....but...I always have time for a little Dis...so watch out!!! LOL!!

MJ

 

[justmestace]

& tomorrow should be Cooking the Turkey & football & Friday will be shopping so this means we are safe untill Saturday!

Where is Barb when I need her?

If I told you, you'd be just as jealous as I am!

 

[NancyIL]

I agree RCCI has the worst I repeat worst poolside for snacking, there are no quickservice food areas at the pool plenty of places to get a drink but no quick service food areas by the pools!

I guess I hadn't noticed RCI's lack of pool food because I don't hang out there! I love the sandwiches and cookies/desserts at the Cafe Promenade on the Voyager-class ships, and I know at least one Radiance-class ship (Jewel) had a yummy crepe stand next to the solarium pool. I haven't starved on a cruise ship yet!

 

[toontoy]

I have been on both Disney Ships and on RCI once on the Radiance of the seas. I am a bit biased towards Disney, but we are trying carnival in January.

From what we observed there are many good things about both, and many differences.

For starters, I prefer the Disney staterooms, I like the nautical feel to them, RCI's seemed to Hotel like for me, they were nice but didn't remind me I was on a ship.

The live bands and orchestra on the radiance was great, I am sad that Disney has piped music with no real live options anymore. The shows are very different, RCI had a great Tango show with dancers and live orchestra playing and some different shows, but disney were more production shows and they were great. Both had varied comedy shows and magic shows. I did prefer Disney's more though as nightly it seemed they were overall better.

Food is where my main complaint to RCI is, it just wasnt as good. They had pressed chicken instead of chicken breasts, the meat was lower quality cuts. But all that is subjective as some prefer it over disney. Food is a hard thing to please everyone.

overall the staff on Disney had more of the wow factor and overall better service for us.

I think Oasis and aullure look interesting as ships, they have so many people onboard and so much space and different things. The flow rider and zipline look great. I don't think crowding would be much different than disney as they both have about the same deck space per passenger. I would say that if you want more of a ship trip choose the one with the features you want. with sea days what you want to do matters. we have spend whole days at sea inside the spa and the adult pool on disney, love the freshwater pools.

It all comes down to what you want in my opinion. I would look at the deck plans and choose the ship and where you want to go, both look fun

 

[denas]

I guess I hadn't noticed RCI's lack of pool food because I don't hang out there! I love the sandwiches and cookies/desserts at the Cafe Promenade on the Voyager-class ships, and I know at least one Radiance-class ship (Jewel) had a yummy crepe stand next to the solarium pool. I haven't starved on a cruise ship yet!

The crepe stand was AWESOME. I know you and I have exchanged info on the Jewel before. I don't really remember food on cruise ships - I don't find most of it to be super memorable with just a few exceptions (chocolate suffle on Princess), but I LOVED that pool and the crepe stand. Our assistant waiter was making crepes one afternoon and did such a wonderful job, I upped his tip! I love crepes and found it such a treat.