Thank God For Trip Insurance; Our Merry Land/Sea! (Two new updates October 3)

[Stasieki]

I would love to hear a comparison. Me and DH were just talking the other night about doing our first cruise in 2011 and are trying to decide b/w a Disney cruise or Royal Caribbean

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I can't wait to hear the comparison too! I would love to take a cruise but the Disney cruises are so much more expensive than other cruise lines. I really want to take the Disney cruise, but I'm wondering why it costs so much more. You can take a cruise with some of the other companies SUPER cheap! So I would love to hear your opinion.

 

[miprender]

Welcome back home!!!

Can't wait to read more.

 

[pooh'smate]

Yeah, you are home again. Glad to hear you had a good trip. Can't wait to hear about it.

 

[hlrababy]

Glad your back!! I can't wait to hear the comparison!!


I love, love, love the picture of your sweet girls with Princess Tiana!!! Its beautiful!!

 

[smithpack]

Can't wait to hear about how the cruises compared. Looking forward to seeing more pictures!!

 

[mermaid764]

Glad to hear you guys had a good time on your cruise. I can't wait to hear the rest of your trip report and read your comparisons. You have such beautiful daughters and their sure photogenic. Can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[Kewz1]

Glad you're back! I can't wait to hear about both crusies!

Kristen

 

[pmama]

I would love to hear a comparison. Me and DH were just talking the other night about doing our first cruise in 2011 and are trying to decide b/w a Disney cruise or Royal Caribbean

You will win with either line.

I can't wait to hear the comparison too! I would love to take a cruise but the Disney cruises are so much more expensive than other cruise lines. I really want to take the Disney cruise, but I'm wondering why it costs so much more. You can take a cruise with some of the other companies SUPER cheap! So I would love to hear your opinion.

Okay then, comparison coming up.

Welcome back home!!!

Can't wait to read more.

Thanks

Yeah, you are home again. Glad to hear you had a good trip. Can't wait to hear about it.

Thanks

Glad your back!! I can't wait to hear the comparison!!


I love, love, love the picture of your sweet girls with Princess Tiana!!! Its beautiful!!

Thanks, it's a keeper.

Can't wait to hear about how the cruises compared. Looking forward to seeing more pictures!!

Thanks for being patient. More pictures coming soon.

Glad to hear you guys had a good time on your cruise. I can't wait to hear the rest of your trip report and read your comparisons. You have such beautiful daughters and their sure photogenic. Can't wait to hear the rest!

Glad you're back! I can't wait to hear about both crusies!

Kristen

Thanks for sticking around.

 

[pmama]

Well I won't go into my normal never ending detail for our Spring Break last minute get away but rest assured it was fabulous. In fact if DH was with us it may have qualified as best ever. But I can never have a best ever vacation without him. These of course are my opinions and not intended to be taken as facts.

My first lesson on cruising is that everyone is right when they say a cruise should be AT LEAST 7 days. After experiencing just how magical 7 day cruises are I will never sail for a shorter time. In fact by day 3 our servers were finally getting to know our preferences and we were finally getting to know our way around the ship. If we were on a 3 day cruise we would have had to get off then.

Second lesson on cruising is avoid winter months. December weather was crumy and not as hot as one would desire on a cruise. March weather was perfect. In fact, a little too sunny as we all burnt even though we applied sunblock constantly. (Sidenote: don't forget your feet when applying sunblock. The sun will find them.)

We sailed the Liberty of the Seas. It has a capacity of 4300 people.

It has everything you can think of. Ice skating rink,

rock climbing wall,

put-put, more hot tubs than I can count,

huge children's splash park,

promenade with shopping and parades. Truly amazing.

We took a Western cruise. 2 of the ports are the same as the current Disney western. Grand Cayman Islands and Cozumel. In Grand Cayman we booked a private tour aboard a catamaran to Stingray City. It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed. (Don't have the pics with stingrays yet as those were taken with the water camera). I really recommend this to those stopping in Grand Cayman. It is even better to book through a private company as you're not cattle herded like the cruise tours. The girls loved laying on this tarp gazing at the water as we sailed.

Hope became quite the snorkler and we saw many beautiful fish on the snorkle stop.

In Cozumel we went to the infamous Paradise Beach. It is just as much of a paradise as they say though we roasted.

The girls each got to climb a palm tree.

Labadee and Jamaica were also great stops. Labadee had such perfect, warm, safe ocean for children to play in.

Mom and I hiked Dunns River in Jamaica while the girls played in the kids club on the ship. I was glad we didn't take them as it was pretty difficult at times and the patrons do really hastle you to buy their products. We took them to Margaritaville for lunch when we got back. They have a beautiful shaded area on the beach away from all the partiers that was perfect for us.
(St. Patrick's Day)

They also have a pool with a water slide.

I can't wait to see how the new Disney ships compare. And to think RCI even has one ship bigger and grander in The Oasis. (I can't imagine.)

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

 

[pmama]

I asked the girls which ship they prefered they can't decide. They love all the characters and fireworks on the Disney ship but loved all the options and entertainment on the Liberty as well. They prefered the kids club on the Liberty but I'm sure the fact that it was a 7 day had some influence on that. Hope even participated in the Talent Show on the last sea day. She danced to Hannah Montana with a new friend she had met on the ship.

Oh and look at RCI's version of Build-a-Bear, it's called Pets at Sea.

We had such an amazing time that we've decided to change our 2011 family cruise to Royal Caribbean.

We really wanted to sail on the new Disney Dream but have decided to wait until 2012 when the new Disney ship joins the fleet and one of the bigger ships do 7 days. Even a B2B like we considered just would not be the same. Also, a 7 night Eastern on the Freedom of the Seas during our Spring break is $1500 less than the same cruise on the Disney Magic.

I'm just kicking myself for not booking onboard and taking advantage of their onboard promotions. I didn't want to do it without discussing it with DH but after hearing our reports and seeing our pictures he is all for it.

I am not at all saying goodbye to DCL but for now we will wait until they start providing 7 day sailings on their new ships.

I will probably not ever be brave enough to try Carnival because of it's extreme partier reputation. There are for sure partiers aboard RCI but they were not usually around the areas we frequented and I never once felt my children were unsafe.

The service from our stateroom host and dining staff were superb and equaled if not exceeded the service we received on DCL.

 

[yinyanggirls]

I've been lurking for a while now. Just have to say great job reporting on the cruises. We are hoping to take one in the next couple of years. I just keep waiting for airfare to go down since we live in the west but would want to cruise in the Caribbean. Your girls are adorable and your TR is great! We are going with our two girls to WDW for the first time in 3 weeks!

 

[DisneyCP08]

Glad you guys are back and had a good time. I am really enjoying the comparison since we are trying to choose between a second disney cruise and a royal caribbean cruise. . Can't wait to here more.

 

[Princess_K]

It looks like you guys had a great time! I'm glad your DH will be able to join you on the next one. My parents took their first RCI cruise this week and absolutely loved it! Thanks for the review

 

[jenseib]

I love the new pictures. It looks like it was really fun.
I would love it if you did a TR on it after you are done with the disney one...just add it on here...if you want. But I'm sure all of us would love to hear all about it!

 

[Stasieki]

Thank you so much for the review. Looks like such a great experience. I am leaning toward RC instead of Disney. I know I want to do a 7 day cruise and for some reason, when I think of a Disney cruise, I automatically want to combine it with a few days at Disney. Due to our work schedules, we have never been able to take off more than 7/8 days max.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Your cruise looks fantastic!!! You really have the wheels turning in my head now! RC actually sails out of Norfolk, VA which is close enough to us that we could drive and wouldn't have to fly. That would save big bucks and my sanity. I am going to give it some serious consideration. Thank you for posting your pics and your opinions on it. It was very helpful. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your Disney cruise and any upcoming cruises that you are planning!

 

[Cheryl726]

Great report and pics-love 'em! I would love to try a new RCI ship, we sailed the Majesty in 2000, and have not done a 7-day yet.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Wow! It sounds like you guys had a fabulous cruise! That ship looks amazing!

 

[praisehisname]

What a great review! We sailed on one of RCI's smaller, older ships and were not thrilled. But I would love to try one of the newer ships, because it sounds great!