Thinking About Taking the Plunge from DCL to RC - HELP!

[kbotr]

We started cruising with DCL for 3 cruises and then decided to try Oasis of the seas mainly because our family of 6 could do 2 of RCL for nearly the price of 1 Disney. We all loved RCL! We all liked the Windjammer buffet better than Cabanas and really like the speciality restaurant options that the whole family can go to. If you go on Anthem and have adventurous eaters, Wonderland is amazing!

Disney was slightly better at timing food coming out in the MDR with my husbands gluten/dairy feee restrictions and overall had better dessert options for him vs only having sorbet.

The private islands between the two are comparable with same amenities included.

RCL’s night time entertianment, like someone else posted, tends to be impressive towards the 10 and older crowdwith exception of the ice shows and the aqua theater which are really good for all ages and impressive! RCL had more trivia and scavenger hunts which are always a win with our kids.

Overall, both have their pluses and minuses and a vacation is what you make of it! Our next few cruises booked are on RCL, but going back to DCL for our grand slam with traveling on all 4 ships next summer. Have fun!

 

[waltlife]

We have been on 2 DCL and 1 RCL. DCL we love overall but pricing has become way out of our budget. We are going on the Oasis in October for the first time. We are looking forward to it! We got an outside balcony for the 3 of us for almost what it would cost 1 person on DCL in an inside stateroom. We cruised on the Freedom the first time and we enjoyed the Windjammer. So much we only ate in the dining room once. They have lots of activities. Entertainment was really good. Value for money is definitely with RCL.

 

[BensDaddy]

We’ve done 4 Disney cruises, three on Dream and one on Wonder. The whole family are Disney addicts. The timing didn’t work out for a Disney Cruise over my vacation from work this year, so we are trying the newly refurbished Independence of the Seas. We got a Grand Suite for about $1000 less than our usual verandah cabin on Dream. Our son is 12 so I think he will enjoy the activities on RCL, but I’m a little nervous about him seeing more drinking, smoking, gambling, and other behavior we haven’t been exposed to on Disney. Also nervous that Labadee isn’t going to hold a candle to Castaway Cay.

 

[starvenger]

Yeah not certain how you avoid the casino if you're going from the MDR to the theatre. Seems like the only options are going outside or going to another deck and then coming back to deck 4.

 

[msjprincess]

We’ve done 4 Disney cruises, three on Dream and one on Wonder. The whole family are Disney addicts. The timing didn’t work out for a Disney Cruise over my vacation from work this year, so we are trying the newly refurbished Independence of the Seas. We got a Grand Suite for about $1000 less than our usual verandah cabin on Dream. Our son is 12 so I think he will enjoy the activities on RCL, but I’m a little nervous about him seeing more drinking, smoking, gambling, and other behavior we haven’t been exposed to on Disney. Also nervous that Labadee isn’t going to hold a candle to Castaway Cay.

Smoking is only outdoors on one side of the ship or in the casino. Gambling is easy to avoid because he won't be in the casino. I sailed on IOS twice and never went in the casino because it was too smoky for me. If I needed to go from one end of the ship to the other on that deck I would go outside and then back in or I would walk up to deck 5 and walk across the Royal Promenade and go down one floor. As far as drinking I've never been on a DCL cruise but I saw about as much drinking on our RCCL cruises that I've seen at WDW parks and resorts.

 

["Ginger"]

I was worried about that also but we gave RCCL a chance and now have cruised with them 4 times. It's not so much the cruise line as what you make of it. There are things I love about Disney and now things I love about RCCL. BTW RCCL has a great kids program also.

 

[hdrolfe]

We've never been to Castaway but my son Loved Labadee. We rode the roller coaster twice, spent an hour on the inflatables in the water, swam in the sandy beach and then snorkeled in the rocky beach area. I did not do the zip line. I am Terrified of heights and kiddo was too small to go... We paid a bit for the roller coaster and water inflatables, but brought our own snorkeling gear. We had a lot of fun, were there the whole day, and one of the last to return to the ship. Kiddo wants to go back so badly.

As for smoking and gambling, we didn't go through the casino except the last day to get from one end to the other of the ship, but that was on Freedom (I think it's the same layout as Independence). We didn't encounter any smoking from what I remember. At 12 I think your son will love the rock climbing (my 8-year old was obsessed), the skating (unless he's a hockey player? then it might seem small), and the flow rider (kiddo was just barely tall enough but too scared to try it out). I believe you get some water slides, and a fancy trampoline thing on that ship now... I think it has virtual reality or something? Looks cool, plus there is laser tag at some point? Sounds like a lot of fun to me!

 

[Denise W]

We’ve done 4 Disney cruises, three on Dream and one on Wonder. The whole family are Disney addicts. The timing didn’t work out for a Disney Cruise over my vacation from work this year, so we are trying the newly refurbished Independence of the Seas. We got a Grand Suite for about $1000 less than our usual verandah cabin on Dream. Our son is 12 so I think he will enjoy the activities on RCL, but I’m a little nervous about him seeing more drinking, smoking, gambling, and other behavior we haven’t been exposed to on Disney. Also nervous that Labadee isn’t going to hold a candle to Castaway Cay.

I have been on both DCL and RCCL and did not find more smokers or drinkers on RCCL. In fact, I saw more drunk people on DCL. As far as gambling, kids don't generally go in the casino. Labadee is just as beautiful as Castaway Cay. I am not sure what the "other behavior" is that you are concerned about, but I had issues with a teenaged boy stalking my teenaged daughter on DCL, so certain things can happen on any cruise line.
Enjoy your cruise.
Denise

 

[AlohaNow]

Hdrolfe – Thanks so much for the great info on Labadee! Your post made me look into what exactly is offered there. Now I think I’m more excited about going to Labadee than if we were going back to Castaway Cay! DS11 will definitely not want to get back on the ship at the end of our day there! I checked the cabana prices and briefly entertained the thought of treating the family to one, but then I realized that we are all such aquatic creatures that there won’t be much time for lounging around on land.

RCL assigned our GTY cabin yesterday! We deposited six weeks ago and sail in six months, so I did not expect to be assigned so soon. A balcony on Deck 10 forward. A little closer to stairs/elevators than I would have chosen, but since I did not pay extra to choose, beggars can’t be choosers! We always bring earplugs when we travel anyway, so no problem with noise levels…..hopefully! We got KSF last month so I feel like we robbed RCL for what we’re getting. First time sailing them and first time with a balcony. We will always have our seriously great memories of the ‘Mickey Boat’ but it feels like we are definitely moving on due to kids growing up and, of course, the cost factor involved!

Thanks to everyone for all this great info! It really helps out us first timers!

 

[hdrolfe]

Hdrolfe – Thanks so much for the great info on Labadee! Your post made me look into what exactly is offered there. Now I think I’m more excited about going to Labadee than if we were going back to Castaway Cay! DS11 will definitely not want to get back on the ship at the end of our day there! I checked the cabana prices and briefly entertained the thought of treating the family to one, but then I realized that we are all such aquatic creatures that there won’t be much time for lounging around on land.

RCL assigned our GTY cabin yesterday! We deposited six weeks ago and sail in six months, so I did not expect to be assigned so soon. A balcony on Deck 10 forward. A little closer to stairs/elevators than I would have chosen, but since I did not pay extra to choose, beggars can’t be choosers! We always bring earplugs when we travel anyway, so no problem with noise levels…..hopefully! We got KSF last month so I feel like we robbed RCL for what we’re getting. First time sailing them and first time with a balcony. We will always have our seriously great memories of the ‘Mickey Boat’ but it feels like we are definitely moving on due to kids growing up and, of course, the cost factor involved!

Thanks to everyone for all this great info! It really helps out us first timers!

Keep in mind with your GTY, if there is an open cabin in the same category, you can call and ask to switch to that instead. I booked that way my last cruise with them and was assigned far forward, I called and got one closer to the back and up a deck. You can check online (do a mock booking) and see what may be still available and then give them a call.