New to RCI from Disney

I have a question for all you savy RCI cruisers. I am trying to figure out the difference between the two besides all of the animates characters. Our next cruise is RCI and we are so looking forward to it. With that said, I am just noticing a few differences between the two cruise lines. What I have seen so far is that you buy a soda / juice program for every day of the cruise instead of having a free soda drink station, Rockets diner costs $3.95 each time you go there, and it appears there are two very nice nice restaurants on board instead of just Palo which Disney has. I also understand the swimming pools are salt water instead of fresh water.

Can anyone else help with our transition to RCI. If anything I listed above is not true please correct me. I did many hours of research on our first cruise and I am really looking for help from these awesome boards to just be prepared and knowledgable with our next. I can't wait to board the Mariner of the Seas and the whole family is ready to go now.

Thanks for any help!!!

The soda machines are a great feature of Disney cruises.

Disney kids rooms are open more hours.

The bathrooms aren't divided into two rooms as they are on Disney ships.

The beds are wider on RCI ships!!!

After 10+ cruises on both DCL and RCI the biggest difference to me is the early evening entermainment. Always kid friendly/appropriate on DCL, RCI may have headliners or production numbers that could be PG13 or not that interesting to children.

HTH, Sue

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe in general, corresponding staterooms on Disney are bigger. The cost of DCL is bigger in general too :D.

From what I've read here, RCCL doesn't seem to have sailaway parties in the scope of Disney. But there does seem to be a lot more activity choices on RCCL cruises (ie climbing wall, mini golf).

I loved our Disney cruises and am looking forward to our Explorer cruise next year!

I would not hesitate in booking a Disney Cruise again! DH and I went on charter cruise for our 25th Wedding anniversary - without our children. We had a great time, but must admit it was the type of cruise that is really for families and we found ourselves actually missing the kids!! It is very family oriented with lots of family reunions etc. being celebrated onboard

I especially liked the various dining rooms that you move about from night to night. The ship itself at that time (Disney Magic) was relatively new and it sparkled and I have never seen so much wood and brass as what I saw on that ship. Our stateroom was the lowest category class (inside lower deck) yet we never felt claustrophobic - we were able to get out on both sides of the bed, we had two washrooms (shower in one, toilet in another). It was a very room cabin. There was a big etched mirror on the wall that faced the door when you walked in so it also gave the feeling of spaciousness;a loveseat and coffee table; and I believe we also had a mini fridge. I loved the chocolates and little cards that were left on the bed each night and the "made up towels" as well.

Because it was our anniversary, we were presented with special desserts on two different nights and they wrapped them in foil into a disney character to take back to our room. The speciality restaurant was also great (at that time it was only $5 extra/person to dine there).

The pool areas were also beautiful and one pool was for adults only which was also really nice.

There are so many kids programs going on that the kids were well taken care of and parents seemed to enjoy downtime as well. At our table, the children never showed up because they wanted to be with all the friends they had met.

My dream is to take my 3 grown children and future grandchildren on a family cruise with Disney.

All that being said................I would also consider Royal Caribbean - Adventure, Explorer, Voyageur etc. especially for teenage kids. It is also a great line for young ones as well, but Disney has the edge (and is pricer too!!).

Just my 2 cents - I like them all!

Capt Johnny, which RCCL ship are you booked on?

Boo

CASINO! :D I am a not a gambler by any stretch of the imagination but it IS nice to have a casino onboard to feed a few machines at night and try your luck.

Shopping - MUCH better than Disney. I am a Disney fanatic but I was dissapointed in the shopping onboard the Magic. There is much more shopping choices on RCCL ships.

You already mentioned the specialty restaurants...it is $20 added pp but from what I understand, totally worth it. I'll be trying it next month.

Same wait staff everynight and same dining room. I know on Disney you are rotated around...on RCCL you aren't. I personally, PLEASE don't shoot me, ;) like the service better on RCCL. You are really treated like royalty. I wasn't thrilled with Magic for service.

Same picture opportunities...just no characters in them. ;)

My kids rate Disney's kids club as fun, but "not the best" they've ever been in. And my kids are 7 and 3 now. They prefer WDW over the Magic, hands down. So they are more excited about other kids clubs like AO and Camp Carnival.

The rooms *might not* be as big, pending on which category you had on Disney and which one you have now.

Both ships are wonderful though.

The previous posters gave you great info- there are indeed lots of little differences, but both are great cruiselines for families. How old will your kids be when you cruise? That will help us think of ways the two lines are different.

For instance, dobelover mentioned that some shows might be PG13 (when compared to Disney shows). I agree with this; if you have a very young child, read about each show before you sit down. If you think you might need to leave (either because it seems too adult or because your child is bored), make sure you sit somewhere unobtrusive (easy to sneak out of the theater without becoming part of the show!). While all shows are designed for "family content" (except late night shows, which will be labeled adult only), it is very likely that a young child will be bored with some of them.

Also, depending on when you cruise, there may be a much smaller percentage of children on board (compared to Disney). This can be a plus- a better ratio of kids to staff in the kids' clubs). But it can also mean fewer potential playmates throughout the ship (or on excursions, etc.)

Capt Johnny, which RCCL ship are you booked on?

 

Boo

I will be sailing on the Mariner of the Seas.

The previous posters gave you great info- there are indeed lots of little differences, but both are great cruiselines for families. How old will your kids be when you cruise? That will help us think of ways the two lines are different.

 

For instance, dobelover mentioned that some shows might be PG13 (when compared to Disney shows). I agree with this; if you have a very young child, read about each show before you sit down. If you think you might need to leave (either because it seems too adult or because your child is bored), make sure you sit somewhere unobtrusive (easy to sneak out of the theater without becoming part of the show!). While all shows are designed for "family content" (except late night shows, which will be labeled adult only), it is very likely that a young child will be bored with some of them.

 

Also, depending on when you cruise, there may be a much smaller percentage of children on board (compared to Disney). This can be a plus- a better ratio of kids to staff in the kids' clubs). But it can also mean fewer potential playmates throughout the ship (or on excursions, etc.)

You have provided great info so far, My DS12 will be with us and that was one factor in choosing RCCL this time. We will have our nephews DS 12 & 9 as well so we are out of the much younger age bracket.

This is totally great info from everyone and I'm soaking it all in. Please keep this going!!:D

We loved both, but I felt constantly "gouged" for cash on Disney (Like when they walk around with bright flashy toys for the kids at $20-30 each toy.) It got old. That being said the Disney ship was very "grand" and great for younger kids. Really nice activities! And Castaway Cay cannot be beat by either RCCL island, imho. Once our kids hit 11 , we were RCCL bound with mini golf, ice skating and the wall! It really just depends on what you are looking for in a cruise and the age of your children. I thought the spa treatments were nicer on Disney, and they all hard sell at the end of the treatment (which ruins the treatment for me!)

I hope you have a great cruise. They both do a GREAT job!

Karen

I will be sailing on the Mariner of the Seas.

Oh fantastic! Mariner is a gorgeous, wonderful ship! :)

We sailed on the Disney Magic in 2000 - my first cruise. It was a GREAT cruise, a lot of fun and got us hooked on cruising... BUT it left me wanting something a bit more "grown up". Disney does cater for adults (adult only pool, bars, adult only speciality restaurant), BUT it is still predomonantly aimed at kids/families (we are a couple in our early/mid-30s, no kids yet...).

We have since cruised Princess (twice), HAL (on a B2B) and RCCL (twice). Princess was great, I wouldn't rush back to HAL in a hurry, but RCCL was awesome - especially on the Mariner (our other RCCL cruise was on the Monarch).

Mariner is our favourite ship and favourite cruise so far. After the Disney Magic, you will be BLOWN AWAY by the size, beauty, facilities and wow factor of the ship... Magic is good, but Mariner is amazing! :)

I would do DCL again, but will wait until we have kids - something special for them to enjoy (when they are old enough) :). We did the Mariner last October (2006) and are booked on the Liberty of the Seas for this October.

You will have a fantastic time on the Mariner :)

Boo

Wow! What more can I really add here? I have sailed with Disney 4x and I must say thoroughly enjoyed each one. Most recently we've sailed with RCCL on the Explorer and just myself and a girlfriend on the Freedom. The kids programs on the Disney ships just can't begin to compare with any ship out there, esp. for young children. But, that being said- Adventure Ocean on RCCL is just as nice. They have many fun and highly original activities as well and they do a very nice job entertaining the kids. My kids are getting older now- ages 17 and 10 and we just wanted to try another line. Our cruise on the Explorer was fantastic and my youngest had an awesome time. We are planning our 3rd cruise in June and really looking forward to it. The adult restaurant- Portofino's is NOT to be missed! It was the most fantastic experience I have ever had and the food just great!!!!! We have been in an inside, promenade room- which I can highly recommend, and an owners suite-very very nice! For this upcoming trip we have (2) D1's booked, 1 for us and 1 for the kids which I am sure will be nice too. I think the rooms on RCCL are very comparable with the exception of the bathroom- Disney did have the right idea of giving a bath and a half. It does make a difference. I think both ships have plenty to offer and I really feel that you picked a great ship. Any ship in the Voyager class is just fantastic. You will love the Royal Promenade which has lots of neat shops and eateries and a great place to get coffee and sandwiches. Also, Ben and Jerry's is there with their delicious ice-cream. I hope you have a great time and don't forget to come back here and let us know how you liked it....write us a great review! Have a great time!!! :D

 

For instance, dobelover mentioned that some shows might be PG13 (when compared to Disney shows). I agree with this; if you have a very young child, read about each show before you sit down. If you think you might need to leave (either because it seems too adult or because your child is bored), make sure you sit somewhere unobtrusive (easy to sneak out of the theater without becoming part of the show!). While all shows are designed for "family content" (except late night shows, which will be labeled adult only), it is very likely that a young child will be bored with some of them.

So, what do you do with the kids (age 12 & 9) after dinner? My family has been on Disney 4 times and are trying the Radiance next summer. I can say my FAVORITE time on the Disney ship was being able to spend fun, show time with my kids. If the shows on Radiance are not family friendly, what do you do between dinner and bed? I'd rather have the kids with me then to send them to the club. They enjoy the time, too.

The casino is never a draw for me and DH. I hate the smoke -- it was killing me last summer on the Grandeur.

Our one and only cruise has been a 4-night Disney Wonder cruise. We had a great time. The ship was great, the service was fabulous, and the entertainment was good family fare. I can't compare food because it was our only cruise. All that said, it was very expensive. It cost us $5,000 for the four of us in a Cat. 5 stateroom. We are going to take our first RCI cruise on the Mariner in June 2008. We can get a JS for the 7-night Western for about $1,000 more than we paid for 4 nights on DCL. Even a 7-night Western on the Magic at that time of year, in a Cat.5, would cost close to $9,000. DCL has priced us out. I hope we can find a new and future home with RCI.

Your kids will enjoy 'some' of the shows especially the ice show. There is mini golf and adventure ocean clubs for the kids in the evenings if they are not interested in the evenings entertainment. Usually the PG13 shows are later in the evening so you can still spend time with your kids in the evening.

Shopping and all the action going on in the Promonade, parades. Our kids always were busy!

Your family will have a great time on the Mariner!

Bev

I will mention this because it seems to be a HUGE, VACATION RUINING issue for families with very small kids - not you, I know, but others reading this thread should be made aware:

I have heard on these boards that Disney ships have a "kiddie" splash pool for the toddler set where swim diapers are allowed for non-potty-trained kids.

RCCL does not allow children in swim diapers in ANY of the pools, even the kiddie pools. Since the pools are salt water, and not cholorinated, allowing swim diapers in would pose a grave health risk to other swimmers young and old.

If you have a child who is not potty trained, and your vacation will be ruined if that child can't go into the pool, please stick with Disney until potty training is complete!

I have sailed Disney 3x, going again in October. Just got off Mariner 3/18. For families I think that Disney is hands down the better line. For adults I feel RCI is a lot better....and they have late night activities for adults, where Disney wraps up by 1am. So its up to you really. Priorities and wants/needs.

One thing is for sure, both ships (Mariner and 2 Disney ships) offer an unforgettable experience!!!!

I thought Mariner was best of the 3 RCI ships I have sailed by far...so you chose a good first one to try out!

We did not find as many family type activities on RC. We found nothing, other than the ice show, to be kid friendly. the comedians all told ***** jokes, and the shows did not interest the younger kids--age 8 and 10 in our group.

Limited hours for the kids club.

the pool area is much nicer on the Voyager type ships.

You even had to pay for soda at dinner if you did not have a soda card.

Also missed having a place to do laundry part way through the cruise. I think RC tenders at their private islands--which is a pain.

The other thing I didn't care for was the lack of towels by the pool--you have towels in your room that are assigned to you--you pay if you don't turn them in---1 per person. I also missed the food option at pool side.

The casino was a nice option to have on RC.

I enjoy changing dining rooms on DCL---and the music in AOS in the dining room was classical--so not for everyone.

Johnny Rockets is a nice option to have, along with Ben and Jerry's on RC.

Things we miss on RCI:

The Cove Cafe (gourmet coffee shop at the adult pool).

The "When You Wish Upon A Star" ship's horn (but I have the .wav file :D)

Otherwise, it's pretty much a value proposition for DW & I. We've got a D2 on the Mariner in September for almost exactly HALF what a Cat 11 would cost us on the Magic (same itinerary, same week). That's a huge difference.

We've got a D2 on the Mariner in September for almost exactly HALF what a Cat 11 would cost us on the Magic (same itinerary, same week). That's a huge difference.

That's a good point too...lol.

My Disney Cruise - $5,800 for fam of 4, Cat 7

My RCCL Freedom Cruise - $5,800 for fam of 4, Grand Suite :D

We chose this year to go on FOS because there are just soooo many family friendly things to do my kids will no doubt love it. :)

Michelle,

Four people can't fit in a cat 7 on the Disney ships.

Hi again,

Just your humble thread starter. This has really turned into a great thread of info and idea sharing. My main reasons for switching from Disney to RCCL was my son will be 12 and the activities appeared more age appropriate and saving several thousand dollars on the cruise. We actually had booked our next cruise onboard our last but they still managed to really jack up the cruise prices in 2008.:rolleyes:

A few things that I'm still very curious about are Johnny Rockets, Portofino dining, and the eateries in the shopping promenade. Do you have to buy all of the food in the pub or is it included. I guess the nagging question is what do you have to pay for extra on the Mariner of the Seas that isn't included in your booking. That is besides the excursions and photos and such.

Oh and for the parents information, how does the arcade work, is set to using the SeaPass card?

Michelle,

Four people can't fit in a cat 7 on the Disney ships.

Oops sorry it must have been a Cat 6 then. It was still $5,800 lol....just don't tell my husband. He has NO idea how much these things cost. :p

Hi again,

 

Just your humble thread starter. This has really turned into a great thread of info and idea sharing. My main reasons for switching from Disney to RCCL was my son will be 12 and the activities appeared more age appropriate and saving several thousand dollars on the cruise. We actually had booked our next cruise onboard our last but they still managed to really jack up the cruise prices in 2008.:rolleyes:

 

A few things that I'm still very curious about are Johnny Rockets, Portofino dining, and the eateries in the shopping promenade. Do you have to buy all of the food in the pub or is it included. I guess the nagging question is what do you have to pay for extra on the Mariner of the Seas that isn't included in your booking. That is besides the excursions and photos and such.

 

Oh and for the parents information, how does the arcade work, is set to using the SeaPass card?

Portofino's - $20 per person

Johnny Rockets $3.95 per person cause I guess it's right next to the teen club and some teens were constantly hanging out there so RCCL put a nominal fee on it to keep some room for the other guests

Eateries in the promenade - free..except for the specialty coffees.

And like you mentioned before - sodas, not free