GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Talk to me about the differences between Royal Caribbean and DCL. I'm not even sure we can afford DCL, but I think I've narrowed it down to those two. Jason's only demand is that we have a balcony. We've only been on one cruise in the past. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Big difference in our experience. To be fair, we've only sailed each once, quite a while ago. We did a 7 day land/sea package on DCL (so 4 days on the ship) and an 11 day on RC that went to Key West, Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Aruba and Curacao. Both of us felt the ship, room, service, food... pretty much everything on DCL was several notches above RC. We didn't have any bad experiences on RC, and if we'd never been on DCL we probably wouldn't have known the difference. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I don't know all the differences as I've never sailed RC. But I can point out one difference that at least one member of your family will care about. Z can hang with all his girlfriends on a DCL cruise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Are the characters at meals? Around the boat? I've never really been clear on that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nicki aka Rebelstand 272 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Are the characters at meals? Around the boat? I've never really been clear on that.Around the boat but usually in the Atrium and often in the kid's club Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Are the characters at meals? Around the boat? I've never really been clear on that. The princesses hold meet and greets in the main atrium. On our day in Nassau, there was one at 9am I think, and then one in the early afternoon. The early one was packed as people wanted to see them and then leave the ship. We did not disembark that day, so we had few crowds for the afternoon greet. Lots of good princess time....including some hugs from Ms White for me. :) There are also ample opportunities to meet Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the main characters at scheduled greets around the ship. You don't typically see them just roaming. But there were plenty of opportunities. All schedules greets are announced in the daily Navigator, the newsletter that is delivered to your cabin each evening for the next day. The characters do not come to meals, unless I am forgetting any. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 What about Captain Hook? Our Costco has a huge DCL sign with him on it, and Z always begs to go when he sees it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 What about Captain Hook? Our Costco has a huge DCL sign with him on it, and Z always begs to go when he sees it. I know he's onboard, as he is part of the Pirate Night show. I don't think we met him, but that could just be because none of my girls was interested. Now Jack Sparrow....they were interested in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Not knowing what you're time frame is, DCL announced yesterday that they'll be adding a bunch of new holiday entertainment activities for fall and winter sailings. They sound like lots of fun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 We're looking Spring Break, end of March/beginning of April. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Pirate Night, girlfriends, Mickey bars, kids clubs, and the Aquaduck......sounds like Z paradise to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I've never sailed DCL but am a diamond cruiser (10+) on RCCL and have been very pleased with them. Try for an aft balcony. They are the greatest! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 What about Captain Hook? Our Costco has a huge DCL sign with him on it, and Z always begs to go when he sees it. BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 If you are going to go, go the best way! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 If you are going to go, go the best way!I'm not sure we can afford the best. Ha haIt might mean a 4 night Disney vs a 5-7 night RC. I'm just wondering what the differences are (besides characters). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I'm not sure we can afford the best. Ha haIt might mean a 4 night Disney vs a 5-7 night RC. I'm just wondering what the differences are (besides characters).Best rated customer service in the industry. Free soft drinks 24/7 (other ships you have to buy individual or a mug/sticker). Bring your own liquor (if you drink). Zak will have so much to do he will not be able to do it all (and the CM's wil take care of him while mom and dad enjoy the ship) The list goes on and on.Our son, DIL and 3 children were on the Oasis of the Seas last year and DCL the year before and they said there was absolutely no comparison. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 What about Captain Hook? Our Costco has a huge DCL sign with him on it, and Z always begs to go when he sees it. Brilliant! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Dave, you rock. You took Pirate Night to a whole nutha level. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Dave, you rock. You took Pirate Night to a whole nutha level.I was figuring a whole new "low". :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 It might mean a 4 night Disney vs a 5-7 night RC. I'm just wondering what the differences are (besides characters). Disney cabins have a split bath - shower separate - which can be helpful getting multiple people ready in the morning. They also tend to be somewhat larger than RC cabins. Service on DCL was top notch. In our case I had a bad back at the time and needed a cold pack at night. There was no freezer in the room fridge but our steward said we could leave the pack in the sink and he'd keep it on ice. Every single time we came back to the room the sink was full of ice - and yet we almost never saw him. Dining servers were super friendly and if you made even a hint a something you liked, it was there. RC service was fine, but just not as good. They'd get you what you wanted, but you had to track someone down to ask. On DCL it seemed like there were just there and waiting to be able to do something for you. We also ran across more than a few groups of crew on RC (at the bar, in the halls, etc) standing around kvetching. Had we never been on DCL we would have thought RC was just fine, but by comparison it was definitely a few notches below. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 So, 4 days of great and awesome memories or 5-7 days of mediocre memories. I'm thinking I would chose great over just so-so. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 We're going streaking! Come on everybody! We're going streaking!Oh whoops you said cruising. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I've sailed on Royal Caribbean a bunch of times. Other lines too. But our last six cruises have all been on DCL. I wouldn't even think of taking my kids on one of the other lines. If you're trying to be economical, scratch the verandah. It's wonderful to have one, but for the cost, it isn't worth it in my opinion. Especially on a shorter cruise. Everyone will tell you that you spend little time in your cabin, and it's true. I've only sprung for the verandah once. I liked having it, but it cost me $1000 just to have the verandah over what it would have cost for just an oceanview cabin. Not worth it. Disney ships allow you to carry on as much alcohol as you like. And, they have free room service. None of the other cruise lines I've sailed offered this. Your family loves Disney. I promise you, you'll love the Disney Cruise. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I would also scratch the verandah, but not only for cost. When we did our DCL cruise, I actually could have gotten verandah cabins cheaper than I paid for oceanview, but decided against it. Anna is a climber and has NO fear. The thought of it freaked me out, and I wouldn't have fully relaxed in our cabins. I don't know if you would have those concerns with Z, but just wanted to give another perspective based on my experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I'm with TCD, skip the verandah, unless Z is going to nap every day and go to bed early and you see you and Jason spending a lot of timeOut there. We haven't done a cruise with Adam yet, but we had a balcony once and have gone with interior rooms ever since. You are never in your room. For us, Adam is normally so tired once he is asleep, we can watch tv and talk and it never bothers him in a normal hotel room.I'd honestly start with a shorter cruise, I always feel its better to leave vacation wanting more and not wishing it was over. Plus, lord help you if someone gets seasick. I like 7 nighters but Brian is done by 5 nights and wants off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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