Time to try RCCL

[sigafoos]

Just back from our 2nd Magic cruise and had a great time, love cruising! I just priced a western Magic for April 2004 and RCCL for the same time and the price difference is unbelievable! For a cat 9 for 4 it is 6231 no air. The RCCL cabin is smaller(170 sq ft vs. 214 sq ft) but the price is 4274! We could upgrade to a balcony with 204 sq ft and it is still only 4721. I love Disney but with teens who don't really need the interaction with Mickey and pals it is hard to justify the price difference. Also hubby has the been there done that attitude and would like to see different shows and try new things so our next cruise will most likely be on RCCL.
Kim

 

[wovenwonder]

Go with us in 2004 on the Navigator! We are currently booked in an AFT cabin on deck#10 -- and this is one of the 'secret' rooms on the RCCL mega ships (kind of like the secret portholes on Disney). We also have an inside across the hall booked for the kids. Email me if you would like some more particulars --- like pricing and who we booked with, etc.

We are traveling with another DISer that was on the Magic with us in 2001 and 2002 --- medotmom! (your Son may remember medotmom's son, Eric from Common Grounds)

Email me Kim --- at lgeckert@ptd.net
Jody

 

[Euphscott]

Having sailed on Disney and RCI's Radiance of the Seas, I can vouch that while the cabins ARE smaller, you don't really feel any closed in feeling.

The cabin was nicely laid out and we did not feel like we were missing out on anything.

FWIW, we sailed recently on the Carnival Conquest. That was a big cabin where we did notice the extra space. We had a porthole room on deck 1, so it was not a suite. We did have some stretching room where I could get some push ups and crunches done in the morning without any wholesale redecorating.

 

[westjones]

We may consider this when our kids are older too. I love the Disney Cruise, and my twins are only 9 and will still love the 'kids' stuff for a couple more years. but when they are teens, we might also consider trying RCCL. I thought the one with the ice skating rink looked neat!

Is there a 'board' like this one for RCCL? I would love to learn more about them over the next few years.
Thanks,
DJ

 

[digitalmom]

DJ,
Yomight want to look at www.cruisecritic.com. They have separate message boards for pretty much all of the cruiselines. I haven't looked at the one for Royal Caribbean but have used the one for Carnival and looked at the one for Disney. They also have separate boards for ports of call.

 

[Bev J]

You will be very happy with your choice of RCCL,we have sailed with them many times and enjoyed every one. We sailed with DCL also and had a great time also. That being said we will cruise next with RCCL, better food, public rooms are huge and open. We felt the Wonder was rather closed in.
And the big factor-price. I just priced a cruise on the Explorer of the Seas, balcony cabin for $2516. that for 4 people! We paid around that for a 4 day with DCL
Now our family loves disney and cruiseing but what we save on RCL can get us a trip to WDW for another trip.
Cruisecritic is a very informative board, especially the RCCL one. I have had alot of questions answered about the kids programs and I have no doubt my kids, 8 and 16 will enjoy this cruise as much as they did on the Wonder. And my hubby will be happy that he can have some casino time!

 

[mac_tlc]

We too have really enjoyed the Voyager class ships of RCCL. Been on the Explorer and the Navigator and would highly recommend them to anyone, no kids, teens, kids .... The cabin sizes on those ships are much better than the older RCCL ships, and the food is better. The Royal Promenade really is unique. Many more things for the adults too..

mac_tlc

 

[jjgarv]

Hey wovenwonder, could you please elaborate more on RCCl's "secret porthole" rooms that are AFT? Are they porthole or veranda? What makes them secret, the category? Thanks for info.

 

[tenna45]

We are going on a Disney Cruise in November. After that we are going to try the Souther Caribbean on RCCL. You can't beat their off season prices.

 

[minnie56]

and absolutely loved it!!!

In fact...we have booked their new ship 'Mariner of the Seas' (inaugaral in Nov) for December 21st..Eastern Caribbean

Cannot recommend it enough..

 

[Buschfan]

We are seriously considering RCCL. I know I have gotten quotes as low as $2250 for 4 of us in a balcony cabin on the Voyager or Explorer this September. IT is pretty tempting. May just do the 5 night on the Enchantment though and get an outside to save money. Celebrity has some deals on the Century for September that are good also. Celebrity really impressed us last year. Decisions...decisions....

 

[westjones]

Is there a RCCL with an ice skating rink that has a 5 day or less cruise? It is hard for us do to 7 day cruises because of DH's work schedule. I know the girls would love having an ice skating rink.
Thanks!
DJ

 

[westjones]

Is there a RCCL with an ice skating rink that has a 5 day or less cruise? It is hard for us do to 7 day cruises because of DH's work schedule. I know the girls would love having an ice skating rink.
Thanks!
DJ

 

[kajohn]

westjones,

No, all of the Voyager Class ships, which are the ones with the ice skating rinks do 7 day itineraries. Only the older ships, do the shorter itineraries. But on RCCL most of the "older" ships were still built in the late 1980's or 1990's, so they really aren't old!

 

[Buschfan]

No scating rink on the 5 nighter. Only the the 7 night Voyager class ships have the rink. Enchantment is the only RCCL ship sailing for 5 nights. She also does alternating 4 night cruises. Enchantment will be getting a rock climbing wall in August though. She is still young to me having been sailing only since 1997.

 

[currycook]

Some points I considered in picking DCL over RCCL on our first and now for our second cruise. I also, living in Florida, know many people who go on cruises which has also helped me pick DCL>

1) RCCL has two premiere ships designed with special children programs including a skating rink and a rock climbing wall. They sure seem very attractive and awesome ships, however, those ships only go on 7 day cruises. We like a 4 day cruise, RCCL did not have a ship with all the children’s activities for a 4 day cruise. Also, the two premiere ships are also roughly the same price as DCL. At least they were a year ago when I priced them.

2) DCL has a very good Florida resident special. RCCL has some specials like this but I have never seen it offered on their premiere ships.

3) DCL children’s programs are the best. That is what I have researched and found out from those that went on RCCL. The food, cabins, service and many other things are equal or better on RCCL. But the children’s programs on DCL is top rated.

4) Castaway Cay is an exclusive Disney experience. I don’t see anything like this on RCCL or another cruise line.

5) Gambling. For some having a Casino is an attractive part of a cruise and it attracts them to RCCL. For us we do not gamble and would rather not have it on the ship.

6) Families. We like the family atmosphere on the DCL. It is filled up with families. That is not always true on many other cruise lines. A good friend of mine recently came back from one of RCCL smaller ships. She said they were only around 80 kids on the entire ship including teenagers. Our children like children to play with and we like the family atmosphere that DCL has.

7) We realize that DCL is a bit more expensive than the other cruise lines. However, we also think that we get what we pay for. I’m just very thankful that we live in Florida and can use the Florida resident specials that help us take our, now annual, Disney cruise each year.

 

[bscs]

Which is better?Navigator?Voyager?Exploer? We are planning for our 10th Anniversary(2005) (not bringing the kids) We've Never been on any cruise. Any tips for us.

 

[wovenwonder]

Originally posted by jjgarv
Hey wovenwonder, could you please elaborate more on RCCl's "secret porthole" rooms that are AFT? Are they porthole or veranda? What makes them secret, the category? Thanks for info.

Since I've been getting so many emails asking about these rooms -- I'll post a brief note. Rooms 1388 and 1688 are on the AFT corners of deck#10. They are balcony staterooms -- priced as category D1. BUT they are HUGE compared to the other D's --- and are more the size of a C. And the balcony is even larger than most category C's. The pictures I've seen of the balcony shows it with two chairs, a table, and two lounge chairs. Do a search on cruisecritic.com for either of these rooms (on the RCCL board) and you will find lots of information with pictures. This would be on Voyager, Explorer, Adventurer, Navigator, and Mariner of the Seas.


remember that Dreams Unlimited now books cruises other than DCL --- be sure to give them a chance to price your cruise even if you are not going on DCL.

 

[wovenwonder]

Originally posted by bscs
Which is better?Navigator?Voyager?Exploer? We are planning for our 10th Anniversary(2005) (not bringing the kids) We've Never been on any cruise. Any tips for us.

I would suggest that you visit the cruisecritic.com message boards and read the different posts for each ship. Right now the older of ships -- Voyager and Explorer does the eastern/western out of Miami- Adventurer does the Southern out of SanJuan. Navigator is currently the newest of the mega ship line and is currently doing the eastern/western out of Miami. Mariner is now taking reservations beginning for Nov of this year when it will be sailing the eastern/western out of port canaveral. You will find cheaper prices (slightly) with Voyager and Explorer compared to Navigator and Mariner.

 

[justcruisin]

Those 3 ships are essentially all sister ships, with the same layout and the same size. Small differences --- like the "theme" of the ship and a slide in the little kids pool. The Mariner, Adventurer and Navigator are the newest.

Enjoy!