Will I enjoy a DLC?

[Dreams&wishes]

Ok I can't decide it's worth for us to invest the money or not. Being a family of 6 a 3 days cruise will cost us as much a 14 nights at a WD moderate resort, as we will need to book two staterooms.
But the thing that troubles me the most, beyond the amount of money spent, is the fact that when I look at past navigators I don't seem to find activities that we would actually enjoy doing.
Things that trouble me.
Pools:
The pools were really what initially attracted me to a DCL as my kids love water slides. But after I read some negative reviews on the pools this has changed my prospective on things.
We have 4 children 9,7,3 and 1 one of which will obviously only be allowed to use the splash area and given that her siblings will be in the other areas this may cause alot of cry and us to separate and my husband having to look after 3 young kids in the water...

Kids clubs:
Initially I loved the idea of the kids clubs, even though one of them won't be old enough for them . But after I looked more into it it seems like they are very tablet/videogames based! I dislike the idea of spending so much money and then have my children locked in a room playing videogames. Is this even the case? I have seen that on the navigator they list some activities, but nothing super exciting?!

Adult activities:
I'm an always on the go kinda person, we live in Australia and there is plenty of nothingness, solitude and relaxation kinda opportunities here so when I'm on holiday we like it busy. I really enjoy the shows the DCL have on, but we re not really into activities such as tastings, towel folding, cooking, trivia, drawing or Bingo and I'm not spending so much money on watching movies I have watched a million times before!
I like the idea of Castaway Key as I have seen that they have kids water slides, bike riding etc.
But other than that what else there is to do on the ship? When I look at Royal C or Carnival they seem to have more activities and stuff going on, but obviously they don't have the magic...
The worse holiday I had in my life was my honeymoon!! We were at the Shagri La Resort in Borneo and there was just nothing to do!

I love DW because you can have a relaxing stay at your resort, fun at the parks and heaps of entertainment at Disney Springs.
So moral of the story I'm not sure if it's worthwhile for me to invest so much money on something I might not enjoy!

 

[Budzooka]

It’s not for everyone. You have to do what you think your family will enjoy. We love cruises because they are so relaxing, but still find plenty of activities that we enjoy to keep us busy.

 

[SamFaniam]

Just based on your post, I would recommend that you look at Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. I would think their ships have more of the bells and whistles that you might be looking for.

 

[MrFish]

My kids are the same age as yours. Obviously all kids are different but mine really did not like the kids clubs and they normally would be quite happy to sit on a tablet all day if I let them. All 3 were in tears and I had to pick them up as soon as I got back to the room!

They loved the aquaduck and rode it a million times. The pools are pretty useless and this is a big downside as they love to swim. They were quite happy to eat ice cream and get "free" food whilst relaxing around the pool deck.

We are a pretty lazy family though when on vacation i have to admit. I don't want to be doing a single thing when on board, no port adventures, no sessions of anything, nothing at all! So for me Disney was great for relaxing. You might want to look elsewhere for more adventure.

 

[AnnaS]

We have cruised DCL 8 times with our "kids" young and married, with fiancé, and hubby and I adults only.

It might/might not be for you but only you can decide. It is great for families, if you love Disney and I think they have great food and service. Love the split baths too and no casino.

It is definitely $$$. Have you cruised before? I am actually going to suggest perhaps a short Royal Caribbean cruise also out of Port Canaveral with a stay at WDW. 3 nights is pretty short - a lot of work for a family of 6 but can be done. If you love it, perhaps the next one can be Disney and before your oldest is a teenager. If it's a once in a lifetime experience, I might have to say go for it if you can swing it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Being a family of 6 a 3 days cruise will cost us as much a 14 nights at a WD moderate resort

I would easily choose two weeks at WDW over 3 days on a cruise ship!

 

[Jess_S]

I love DCL, but it sounds like it may not be for you. The pools are definitely small and packed, so I would not sail with the expectation that it will be like a pool at a land resort. But you can get your swim time in at the various ports, so you are not limited to just the ship.

The trip reports here will give you a good sense of what types of activities are available on the ships.

What I like about cruising is the mix of family activities and the ability for my son to go to the kids club so I can get a break. But I enjoy things like trivia, the spa and grabbing a drink with my husband. I also like how we can mix active port days and more relaxing sea days.

 

[Marc D]

There are multiple types of cruises. What you describe is a Caribbean cruise, where the ship is the destination and the ports an afterthought. For most DCL cruisers, the principal goal of those cruises is relaxation. In that sense, DCL does not seem to fit your vacation style. The big RCCL ship are more what you are looking for.

But some cruises are very port intensive, and the sea days are welcomed relaxation days. On a Western cruise, you can experience very active excursions in Jamaica, Cayman and Mexico. In Europe, port days are long and opportunities to visit are plentiful. In Alaska, between dog-sledding, glacier walking, helicopter rides and the rest, the size of the pools do not matter.

On a side note, I don’t get why people always compare DCL to WDW. Those are two different things all together. The only similarities are the characters and the company name.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

Ahah I was hoping for you to say that there were many more activities, other than those mentioned, that I would have enjoyed instead!! Things I should add are that we have never been on a cruise before, but being a disney fan I thought maybe I would like a cruise as well, food is not a factor I grew up in Italy and my parents are chefs. I know that there are the excursions, but those for a 3 or 4 days cruise don't seem that great, Nassau and the like, as I said I think Castaway will be more our style. This past summer my kids rode 42 km from Italy to Austria through the Dolomites so they would enjoy pedaling around Castaway.
For me it's more the value for money it seems so much for 3 days compared to a stay at DW if it was an AMAZING experience, like for us is DW, I would definitely spend the money, but if it's just sitting around no.

 

[Karin1984]

Based on your first sentence alone, no, it's not. 14 days of vacation or 3 days of vacation. Even if there was such thing as the perfect cruise, it still wouldn't be worth it to me.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

You say your family could afford 14 days in a moderate at WDW for the price of a 3-night cruise. I find that hard to believe, even given 2 staterooms. Are you including the cost of WDW food and park tickets for everyone in your family, or just the resort itself? The family will have to eat at WDW, and there is not much point in going if you don't buy tickets. On the cruise, the cost of food and entertainment is included.

Not trying to sway you one way or another, but I think a more accurate price comparison is needed between the two options.

As for the pools and waterslides, I am going to assume you're talking about a cruise on the Dream. (There is a big difference between the Dream & the Magic or Wonder, in terms on onboard amenities, so keep that in mind,) The Dream has a cool Aqua Duck water coaster that your two older kids will love (the 3 year-old probably won't be tall enough.) The key to enjoying it is to ride it at non-peak times, like when it first opens in the morning, or during first seating dinner, or early in the afternoon on Castaway Cay day. The lines range from short to nonexistent at those times. At 12pm on a sea day, you're looking at a 45-minute wait, so it pays to be strategic as to when you go on it. The same is true for the family pools, they're small to begin with, but they're quite crowded midday (except for Castaway Cay day). If you can go at the times I listed for the Aqua Duck, the family pools will be pleasant and not overcrowded.

Castaway Cay has really nice waterslides and a wonderful bike path. Onboard, the Dream has three versions of an interactive Midship Detective Agency game, which is sort of a self-guided scavenger hunt involving talking artwork throughout the ship. It's fun. There is miniature golf on the sports deck (again, go at a non-peak time). There is virtual golf and virtual sports that you have to sign up to play, as well. There is also a basketball court, and shuffleboard on the promenade deck, etc. Family game shows are offered onboard, craft activities, bingo (for the whole family- this one costs money), lots of daily character meets, and of course the theatre shows in the evening.

The kids clubs have video type games available, but also have art activities and interactive activities available. They're very open-feeling, pleasant spaces, so it's not like being locked in a room with a video game at all. The kids have to choose to participate in the interactive activities in the clubs- no one is going to force or cajole them to do so.

A big attraction of cruising, to most people, is the opportunity to relax, chill out, and be taken care of. If that is not the case for you, and if low-key activities and downtime will only bore you, then cruising might not be a good match for you. Your two younger kids also seem a bit young to appreciate the experience. Personally, I'd wait until they were older, but I do see parents with babies and toddlers on DCL all the time.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

Based on your first sentence alone, no, it's not. 14 days of vacation or 3 days of vacation. Even if there was such thing as the perfect cruise, it still wouldn't be worth it to me.

One wouldn't substitute the other I would still do the 14 days at DW the cruise was an add on. I just put the comparison there to show how much it would cost. Because that's what I keep comparing it to!! even thought I know it's not the same.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

It sounds like you might enjoy a sailing on one of the newer Royal Caribbean ships, like Oasis of the Seas, which also sails from Port Canaveral along with the Dream and the Fantasy. Or, a DCL sailing to a destination where there are a lot of activities in port, such as Alaska.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

You say your family could afford 14 days in a moderate at WDW for the price of a 3-night cruise. I find that hard to believe, even given 2 staterooms. Are you including the cost of WDW food and park tickets for everyone in your family, or just the resort itself? The family will have to eat at WDW, and there is not much point in going if you don't buy tickets. On the cruise, the cost of food and entertainment is included.

Not trying to sway you one way or another, but I think a more accurate price comparison is needed between the two options.

As for the pools and waterslides, I am going to assume you're talking about a cruise on the Dream. (There is a big difference between the Dream & the Magic or Wonder, in terms on onboard amenities, so keep that in mind,) The Dream has a cool Aqua Duck water coaster that your kids will love. The key to enjoying it is to ride it at non-peak times, like when it first opens in the morning, or during first seating dinner, or early in the afternoon on Castaway Cay day. The lines range from short to nonexistent at those times. At 12pm on a sea day, you're looking at a 45-minute wait, so it pays to be strategic as to when you go on it. The same is true for the family pools, they're small to begin with, but they're quite crowded midday (except for Castaway Cay day). If you can go at the times I listed for the Aqua Duck, the family pools will be pleasant and not overcrowded.

Castaway Cay has really nice waterslides and a wonderful bike path. Onboard, the Dream has three versions of an interactive Midship Detective Agency game, which is sort of a self-guided scavenger hunt involving talking artwork throughout the ship. It's fun. There is miniature golf on the sports deck (again, go at a non-peak time). There is virtual golf and virtual sports that you have to sign up to play, as well. There is also a basketball court, and shuffleboard on the promenade deck, etc. Family game shows are offered onboard, craft activities, bingo (for the whole family- this one costs money), lots of daily character meets, and of course the theatre shows in the evening.

The kids clubs have video type games available, but also have art activities and interactive activities available. They're very open-feeling, pleasant spaces, so it's not like being locked in a room with a video game at all. The kids have to choose to participate in the interactive activities in the clubs- no one is going to force or cajole them to do so.

A big attraction of cruising, to most people, is the opportunity to relax, chill out, and be taken care of. If that is not the case for you, and if low-key activities and downtime will only bore you, then cruising might not be a good match for you.

Thanks, yes I was not including food UK gets a good deal on tickets.

Yes we would be sailing on the Dream and would opt for second seating.
So in that case, would the Dream be a better option for what we look for in a vacation? Or we better skip it?
I would not do a European cruise as I'm originally from Italy and have lived in Norway for a bit and currently living in the UK, so I know Europe pretty well. Alaska could be an option, but I rather do the West Coast once we are back in Australia as it's somewhat "closer" . And given that we are going to DW in May the Caribbean cruises seems like the best option.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Thanks, yes I was not including food UK gets a good deal on tickets.

Yes we would be sailing on the Dream and would opt for second seating.
So in that case, would the Dream be a better option for what we look for in a vacation? Or we better skip it?
I would not do a European cruise as I'm originally from Italy and have lived in Norway for a bit and currently living in the UK, so I know Europe pretty well. Alaska could be an option, but I rather do the West Coast once we are back in Australia as it's somewhat "closer" . And given that we are going to DW in May the Caribbean cruises seems like the best option.

I think the Dream is definitely the best option for your family because it offers more to do. If you're doing 2 weeks at WDW anyway, I recommend doing the 3-night on the Dream afterwards. You ought to appreciate a little r&r and pampering at that point. And of course, there is still plenty to do onboard, just at a lower key than at the parks. Yes, I personally think it's worthwhile and that you'd probably enjoy it after your WDW adventures.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I wouldn't book any DCL cruise for the pools. They get super crowded and are not like pools you will find on land. On DCL, we call the pools "people soup". If you are interested in water slides or water activities, I would consider "plussing" your WDW trip with a visit to one of the water parks or even going offsite and going to Volcano Bay at Universal. If a 3-night cruise includes Nassau, consider doing a shore excursion to Atlantis for their water slides, though, that excursion is quite pricey.

 

[belle032]

Based on your post, I would recommend pairing a cruise on a Royal Caribbean Oasis class ship or newer Carnival ship with a stay at WDW. I think you'll get more activities and bells & whistles on those ships as well as the excitement and "go-go-go" of the parks.

In terms of private islands, Castaway Cay is great, but I've heard RCCL's Coco Cay is amazing and I've also heard great things about Carnival's Half Moon Cay as well.

If you're set on DCL, I'd definitely choose the Dream over the Magic or Wonder. Magic was great for our British Isles cruise, but in our opinion, it might be a little lacking for a Caribbean/Bahamas sailing. And if you're still planning on pairing a cruise with the parks, try out a 3 or 4 night Dream sailing to get a feel for it before you decide to go all in.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I would do WDW, if I were you. Maybe when the kids are older, you can look at DCL again. Right now, it doesn't sound like it's for you. Keep in mind, however, that if you're on a Western Caribbean, you'd have 3 days for excursions and another at Castaway Cay. That's really only a day 2 full days at sea, so it's not as much of nothing to do as you think.

Why don't you look at a Royal cruise out of Australia and see how you like it? It'll give you an idea if you're even cruise people. But for this vacation, 14 days in WDW sounds like it would be the thing for you.

 

[figmentfinesse]

My vote is also 14 days at WDW including their waterparks.

 

[Missus_Aitch]

Three days on a cruise really isn't worth it, IMO. If I were you I would leave your youngest with Grandma and only take the three oldest -- then you could fit in one stateroom and maybe stretch the budget to five or seven days. But FWIW, my daughter spent a lot of time in the DCL kids' club and it was never video game playing. Not sure where you're getting that impression.