Royal Caribbean or Disney Cruise Line?

[RMichael21]

A Disney Cruise has always been on my wish list but I don't know if my family could afford it. Is it worth the extra money to book a Disney Cruise?

 

[deanaandrich]

You will have a great time no matter what cruise line you pick. The majority of the people on this forum will tell you to go with Disney as you are on a disney forum. I've been on numerous disney, carnival and royal Caribbean cruises. All have great customer service, food and activities. You won't go wrong with your choice. Have fun!

 

[RMichael21]

Thanks a lot. I didn't know for sure how similar/different they were so that helped.

 

[ChuckElias]

Thanks a lot. I didn't know for sure how similar/different they were so that helped.

While I agree that you will get a quality vacation on either Disney or Royal Caribbean (I personally wouldn't recommend Carnival unless you absolutely couldn't afford anything else, although I know there are people who disagree with me), you will definitely have a different experience on the two lines. Disney is definitely geared directly at families. There is something specifically planned for EVERY age group in the family, as well as for the whole family together. The public spaces are designed with families in mind; the staterooms are bigger (and many have split bathrooms) to accommodate your family. Royal Caribbean is getting better at the activities, but the whole ship is not designed for families. On the other hand, if you want to play the slots, you can't do that with Disney because none of the DCL ships has a casino.

Additionally, if you sail on the newest Royal Caribbean ships (Oasis and Allure), those ships feel more like small cities than ships, in my opinion. When you enter the Oasis, you walk into a mall. When you board the Disney ships, you step into the atrium of a classic ocean liner. Neither is necessarily "better", but you should be aware that they are different experiences.

 

[cbettua]

I have done the following cruises, Disney, Royal and Carnival.
I would never recommend Carnival for a family.

Good luck!

 

[belledream]

My first cruise was a Disney Cruise, and to us, it was definitely worth it to pay the extra fare and pay to fly to Orlando to leave from Port Canaveral. We don't even have kids. But if you love and appreciate everything Disney, this is just icing on the cake.

I've heard good plenty of good things about Royal Caribbean too - I guess it mainly depends on what kind of experience you're looking for. Being immersed in Disney TLC 24/7 vs. a good ol' cruising, eating, port exploring, nightlife experience.

I went on Carnival after Disney...would not do it again.

 

[mickeysshoes]

It would depend on what your family wants out of the trip. What I tell folks that ask me about Disney cruises is that the only real difference is Disney does not have a casino. Yes I know there is more that is different but I have found that some people only cruise so they can gamble. We have only been on Disney and we love it. Plenty to do no matter your age. We ever go without the kids and still have great time.

 

[BigTxEars]

I vote DCL

 

[MichWolv]

I have recently been on RCL, Carnival and DCL. Enjoyed them all. Disney was the best by a wide margin. It was also the most expensive by a wide margin. For my next cruise, I'll probably go Disney if the price difference is 50% or les, which means I probably won't go Disney.

 

[disney4life2008]

I do not understand the hatred towards carnival on disney forums. First of all - Carnival is cheap and while cheap - the food is amazing as well as the on board entertainment. I have never once seen a family with children complain - if for anything they love it. Of course, I have never been on Royal or DCL - for good reason. For the price of a 3 night disney I can do 7 nights on Carnival.

 

[MichWolv]

I do not understand the hatred towards carnival on disney forums. First of all - Carnival is cheap and while cheap - the food is amazing as well as the on board entertainment. I have never once seen a family with children complain - if for anything they love it. Of course, I have never been on Royal or DCL - for good reason. For the price of a 3 night disney I can do 7 nights on Carnival.

I have always had positive experiences on Carnival as well, both with and without kids. I know a couple of people said that they'd never take kids on Carnival, but my kids loved it. The ship we were on had a spray park, 3 waterslides, a mini-golf course, a show based on Hasbro board games, and many other kid-friendly things, not to mention supervised activities from 10 am to 1 am.

 

[ChuckElias]

I do not understand the hatred towards carnival on disney forums. First of all - Carnival is cheap and while cheap - the food is amazing as well as the on board entertainment.

Just a few thoughts:

1) It's not just on Disney forums.
2) For better or worse, Carnival has a reputation for its poor maintenance and/or safety records.
3) For better or worse, Carnival has a reputation for being a drunken barge. I realize that Carnival has gone to great lengths to change this reputation, but it persists.
4) The one ship I was on (the Liberty) was not very appealing to me and certainly no match for any of the Disney ships in design/decor/appeal.
5) Carnival doesn't have a great relationship with travel professionals.
6) I thought my steak onboard the Liberty was fantastic, but I could really have done without the servers dancing on top of the serving stations.

 

[5thGenTexan]

I do not understand the hatred towards carnival on disney forums. First of all - Carnival is cheap and while cheap - the food is amazing as well as the on board entertainment. I have never once seen a family with children complain - if for anything they love it. Of course, I have never been on Royal or DCL - for good reason. For the price of a 3 night disney I can do 7 nights on Carnival.

My mother is a Carnival fan and when she relies to a Facebook post a Carnival cruise director pages she likes, I get a notification. Seems to be a bit of that "hatred" directed toward DCL folk as well.

 

[disney4life2008]

Just a few thoughts:

1) It's not just on Disney forums.
2) For better or worse, Carnival has a reputation for its poor maintenance and/or safety records.
3) For better or worse, Carnival has a reputation for being a drunken barge. I realize that Carnival has gone to great lengths to change this reputation, but it persists.
4) The one ship I was on (the Liberty) was not very appealing to me and certainly no match for any of the Disney ships in design/decor/appeal.
5) Carnival doesn't have a great relationship with travel professionals.
6) I thought my steak onboard the Liberty was fantastic, but I could really have done without the servers dancing on top of the serving stations.

Carnival does get a bad rep but to me it is absolutely unfounded. I have been on 7 carnival cruises and I have had nothing but outstanding service.

 

[disney4life2008]

I have always had positive experiences on Carnival as well, both with and without kids. I know a couple of people said that they'd never take kids on Carnival, but my kids loved it. The ship we were on had a spray park, 3 waterslides, a mini-golf course, a show based on Hasbro board games, and many other kid-friendly things, not to mention supervised activities from 10 am to 1 am.

Exactly The only difference between carnival and disney (for me) is that pop is included but that comes with a 200% price difference for a 3 day sailing. For some reason a DCL does not fascinate me in anyway - mainly because of the price. Even their specials are twice more expensive than carnival.

 

[Anthony Alsup]

Exactly The only difference between carnival and disney (for me) is that pop is included but that comes with a 200% price difference for a 3 day sailing. For some reason a DCL does not fascinate me in anyway - mainly because of the price. Even their specials are twice more expensive than carnival.

Until you have been on both, how can you possibly have any opinion on this? You don't know the difference!!!

 

[disney4life2008]

Until you have been on both, how can you possibly have any opinion on this? You don't know the difference!!!

I can make an estimated guess and have the academic credentials to do so!!!

 

[Anthony Alsup]

I can make an estimated guess and have the academic credentials to do so!!!

Uh....okay

 

[MichWolv]

Exactly The only difference between carnival and disney (for me) is that pop is included but that comes with a 200% price difference for a 3 day sailing. For some reason a DCL does not fascinate me in anyway - mainly because of the price. Even their specials are twice more expensive than carnival.

While I do indeed enjoy Carnival, DCL is significantly better in many ways. The child care activities, production shows, stateroom layout, dining rooms (although not the food), waitstaff, and a bunch of other things, big and little, were all clearly better. There were also more varied activities on DCL and castaway Cay is superb. There is no question to me that DCL is worth a significant premium. However, I don't think it's with he 80-100% premium that often exists.

 

[disney4life2008]

While I do indeed enjoy Carnival, DCL is significantly better in many ways. The child care activities, production shows, stateroom layout, dining rooms (although not the food), waitstaff, and a bunch of other things, big and little, were all clearly better. There were also more varied activities on DCL and castaway Cay is superb. There is no question to me that DCL is worth a significant premium. However, I don't think it's with he 80-100% premium that often exists.

I would agree with Castaway Cay being one of the stronger focal points of DCL. Out of curiosity - is everything on the island included with the cruise fare (i.e. food, snorkling, etc.)