Disney Fantasy or NCL?

[Icecoldcranberry]

Hi everyone,

 

My dh and I are planning our next cruise. Our boys will be 3 and 5 at time of sailing. We are thinking Disney Fantasy, NCL Epic or Breakaway. Which has the best kids programs and activities? Any other ship or line we should consider? Thanks!

[moki'smommy]

DCL has won all sorts of awards for its kid programming.

 

That said, when we were on Celebrity and spoke with parents there, they had nothing but good to say about the kid programming there. Big difference--DCL offers programming essentially all day and half the night. Celebrity had limited hours.

 

Every cruiser has his/her own favorite. You can't go wrong with DCL. However, it is likely to cost almost twice as much as some other lines.

[dinkydee718]

So I haven't been on the Fantasy (going this month), but have been on the Dream, Wonder and NCL Breakaway. NCL and Disney are so different! Here's some things to consider:

 

1. Price - as others have noted many times before, DCL is more expensive than NCL. If cost is a concern, then you should look at NCL.

 

2. Itineraries - The itineraries differ. You may like the ports of one better than the other. We took the Breakaway to Bermuda and loved the experience.

 

3. Entertainment - Without a doubt, DCL's shows are more child-appropriate than those onboard the Breakaway, and assume NCL's other ships. We saw Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor on NCL. Great shows but, most definitely NOT for kids! Also, NCL has a casino. DCL does not.

 

4. Kids' Camps - I did not follow the camp programs on NCL since we didn't have our kids with us, but for sure, DCL's kids' clubs keep later hours. That said, there is definitely less for adults to do on DCL during those later hours.

 

5. Sea Days - Based on the cruises I've taken, I would say that NCL has more to do onboard during the sea days. Breakaway has several water slides so the lines are not as long, and there is also a rock-climbing wall and rope course, for all to enjoy. I know the Breakaway has mini golf. I think Fantasy has mini golf too.

 

6. Dining- Breakaway is freestyle, so you can go to dinner in the main dining rooms at any time. You can also make reservations for specialty restaurants. Disney assigns you one of two dinner seatings and schedules a specific dining rotation for you. Adults can make reservations at a French or Italian restuarant, but kids aren't allowed in.

 

7. Extras -DCL includes soft drinks, NCL does not. I think I am correct that DCL does not charge you for just bringing alcohol onboard. NCL charges you for each bottle, prior to your boarding.

 

Kids will love either ship. One's Disney, one's Nickelodeon. Let's face it though...Disney is Disney.

 

In my opinion for 3 and 5...DCL wins. Nothing comes close to it. Save NCL for a time when you and dh are traveling without the kiddies, or they are older.

[DreamingBig1]

Hi everyone,

 

My dh and I are planning our next cruise. Our boys will be 3 and 5 at time of sailing. We are thinking Disney Fantasy, NCL Epic or Breakaway. Which has the best kids programs and activities? Any other ship or line we should consider? Thanks!

 

My kids have done a sailing on the DCL Wonder and Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas.

 

They liked Royal by far the best.

 

Here's my two cents. Go with Disney when your kids are under 10 and go to Royal when they are over 10.

 

I know on a DCL board people are going to disagree with me.

 

I have sailed on Disney, Royal and Celebrity (without kids). They all have their own thing. Whatever you do don't take your kids on Celebrity. I can't think of a cruise line that could be worse than Celebrity. There's nothing on the ship for the kids.

 

NCL seems to have many kids activities.

 

For value Carnival is even a good choice. They seem to have good programs.

 

As far as the kids clubs they are pretty much the same on every line. Change the atmosphere.

 

My vote for overall something for everybody is Royal. Based on experience.

 

Disney is special without a doubt for young kids.

 

My kids like the flow riders, rock climbing walls, promenade, ice skating, large pools, late night experience etc etc. That's my kids. Royal offers that.

[Irene7]

Ultimately the decision is yours, but I would go with DCL, and the Fantasy is a great choice. Although NCL has a lot to do, they also nickle and dime you to bits. The Fantasy has plenty to do for adults and well as kids and has much more to offer then the Disney Wonder IMO. Royal Caribbean is also a fun ship but what can I say, Disney will always be my and my families favorite.

[bear3412]

Tough board for this question. :D

 

As I said, Kids are young once, it's only $$$. Why not sail the best line for kids, while you have young kids. lol. Later, you can sail the other lines. Then realize why you sailed DCL initially. ;) Fwiw, DCL is G rated, that was another huge factor for us. No other line is G rated. :)

 

Good Luck with your decision. Fantasy is way more appropriate for a 3 and 5 year old, IMO, than any NCL ship. Trust me. ;)

[moki'smommy]

A couple comments in response to the above posts.

Yes, Fantasy has mini golf. It is aft, a deck or two above the pool deck.

 

Dining on Fantasy--in addition to the assigned dining, Cabanas (pool deck restaurant) becomes a sit down restaurant at dinner. It is "cruise casual" on all nights, and you can come in at any time during the hours it is open. You order off a menu; they also have a salad bar and "carved item" available. It is not open on the first or last night. It is for families--no reservations needed, no upcharge.

 

DCL does not charge for bringing alcohol or other beverages on board. If you take a bottle of wine into the dining room, you'll be charged a corkage fee. You can pour a glass while in you cabin and carry it into the dining room--no charge.

[AUDirt]

If price isn't an issue, it's hard for me to imagine a ship better than the Disney Fantasy.

 

We went last year when our son was 4 and we had an impossible time keeping him -out- of the oceaneer club. We'd try to ask him questions about it, but getting an answer out of him was next to impossible. ("We played a game and there was lights... and then Captain Hook came and Peter Pan had a battle with him and...")

 

I finally asked my wife, "what do you think goes on in there?" Her answer was classic: "I guess it's the 4-year old version of 's*x, drugs, and rock & roll.'"

[GatorMomInNC]

If price isn't an issue, it's hard for me to imagine a ship better than the Disney Fantasy.

 

We went last year when our son was 4 and we had an impossible time keeping him -out- of the oceaneer club. We'd try to ask him questions about it, but getting an answer out of him was next to impossible. ("We played a game and there was lights... and then Captain Hook came and Peter Pan had a battle with him and...")

 

I finally asked my wife, "what do you think goes on in there?" Her answer was classic: "I guess it's the 4-year old version of 's*x, drugs, and rock & roll.'"

:D:eek: