Can't decide between Disney and RCL Cruise..help please!

[blessedwithfour]

I wasn't sure of the best place to ask this question. We are going to do our first family cruise - me, husband, and fours kids ages 6-13, and I can't decide between a 7 night RCL to Southern Caribbean OR a 5 night Caribbean (Cozumel and Castaway Cay) on the Disney Wonder.

 

Has anyone done both and can you offer any advice? A LOT of my friends swear that Disney is better, and I don't doubt that, but honestly the itinerary on RCL sounds more appealing. The Disney cruise is about $1,000 saving over the RCL one...which is appealing too. And we have to fly out of San Juan for RCL, which is expensive. I also know that the Wonder is an older ship. The RCL ship is Adventure of the Seas. I'm not sure if they are comparable?

 

Any help appreciated!!

[Sandy Sails]

Usually Disney is more costly so you're lucky it's not this time. I was on the Magic once in an inside room because the normal balcony room I would get was too expensive on Disney.

But we had a fantastic time on Disney - the entertainment is absolutely first-rate. And late night, there's an adult caberet section that's really fun.

I would imagine your kids would love both ships. But sounds like Disney is less expensive and easier. My vote would be for Disney.

The Southern Caribbean itinerary is amazing but getting there isn't. Maybe save that idea for the future.

[Keith1010]

If you want to do something very special do Disney recognizing that as the kids get older that they might not want it.

 

It will be very special.

 

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

I would go with Disney.

Our family doctor has taken their daughter on several Disney cruises (even to Alaska) and she loved every cruise.

[dorisis]

Disney would be my choice.

[leaveitallbehind]

I will be the lone dissenter here I guess but the Disney cruise is likely less costly as it is a 5 day v 7 day itinerary. On par day for day Disney typically is measurably more expensive. If the itinerary is more appealing to you, as long as your budget would support it, I would opt for the RCI 7 day over the Disney 5 day as it is longer as well.

 

RCI also does a very nice job with children in our experience with very good programs and activities as well as adult entertainment. Additionally, Disney does not offer casinos on board should that be of interest to you.

 

Either way I'm sure you will have a wonderful cruise.

[SuiteTraveler]

Your kids are still young enough to enjoy Disney - later on they won't be. Also you will have a larger cabin and bathroom on the Disney ship as they are designed for families.

 

The RCCL ships, Adventure OTS and Jewel OTS sailing from Puerto Rico are older RCCL ships. We would not sail on these much less with kids because they will not offer all the new innovations that really make RCCL a great cruise line. You would be better off with your kids on either RCCL Freedom class, Oasis class or Quantum class ships as there is much more for everyone to do on these RCCL ships and the entertainment is fantastic - especially on Oasis and Quantum class ships!

[boulders]

Adventure of the Seas is two years younger than Disney's Wonder. Normally I would choose a RCCL ship over a Disney ship, but my cruise several years ago on Adventure of the Seas was my least favorite of all the cruises I've taken. Mostly due to rude fellow passengers, but also due to poor customer service.

[mzloolue]

I have always wanted to sail DCL.

 

Disney is one of those companies that does what they do well.

[donaldsc]

I must be in the minority but I would say anything but Disney - even a cruise on the Staten Island Ferry. LOL!!

 

Did I mention that I hate everything and anything to do with Disney. I have never been to anything Disney in my life since I was forced to take the kids there when they were young.

 

Never again.

 

DON

[leaveitallbehind]

Adventure of the Seas is two years younger than Disney's Wonder. Normally I would choose a RCCL ship over a Disney ship, but my cruise several years ago on Adventure of the Seas was my least favorite of all the cruises I've taken. Mostly due to rude fellow passengers, but also due to poor customer service.

 

...and Jewel is 5 years younger. Both RCI ships have been fully refurbished since launch as well. While Jewel would be less kid focused in term of the Disney Wonder, Adventure would have plenty to do for the kids.

 

Sorry you had a bad experience with AOS as our time on her was very good. Each each experience is different I guess.

Edited July 19, 2015 by leaveitallbehind

[A2Mich]

I must be in the minority but I would say anything but Disney - even a cruise on the Staten Island Ferry. LOL!!

 

Did I mention that I hate everything and anything to do with Disney. I have never been to anything Disney in my life since I was forced to take the kids there when they were young.

 

Never again.

 

DON

 

Where is the "LIKE" button? I also have a hard time giving any of my money to those crooks. Disney has a long history of poor vendor relations as well as questionable treatment of workers. I don't support their business ethics and their business model. There is a huge difference between doing the "right" thing and doing something simply because you can get away with it.

[BullDawg91]

Don't worry about the Wonder's age. Disney also maintains their ships like no one else. We loved the Wonder. We found a lot of crew we talked to have been with Disney a long time and choose to stay on the Wonder.

 

With your kids' ages, choose Disney while they hopefully appreciate the magic and do something else later.

 

I love Disney but I'm not a die hard. We found the CCL Breeze to be more fun overall, BUT I would be much less comfortable with my kids as young as yours on the Breeze doing things without me compared to the Wonder - because of ship size and clientele (not bad, just WAY more adults).

[Aquahound]

7 days on RCI to the Southern Caribbean vs 5 days on Disney to the Bahamas and Cozumel? Disney is a great product and all, but no way would I choose Disney in this scenario.