1st time with RC. Disney Cruise fan...

[l4dk]

Hi,

 

We will be cruising for the first time with Royal in July(Allure)and we always cruse with Disney before so I feel lost.

Any comparisons with Disney Cruise Line? How are the kids club, is there a charge, activities for the kids?

Any restaurant recommendation?

Thank you so much, we appreciate all tips, totally new to Royal:p

[Clarea]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

No charge for Adventure Ocean (kids club), except for after hours.

 

Soda is not included on Royal. You can buy cans for $2.88 each, or buy a soda package for $6.50 per day (adults) or $4.50 per day (children 17 and under), plus 15% gratuity.

 

Royal production shows have a live orchestra.

Edited April 3, 2014 by clarea

[l4dk]

Thank you, Clarea for the info.

I can't wait!

Any shows recommendation for the kids 17 anf 8 years old?

Do you really need to book in advbance?

Any recommendation for specialty restaurants?

Edited April 3, 2014 by l4dk

[hansolosmom]

Biggest differences you'll find are

Rooms are smaller

No split bathrooms

Service is good, but no where near the level of DCL (but I don't think any other cruiseline compares in that area)

The kids clubs close at times during the day & there is a charge for late night (I think after 10pm)

Activities are pretty standard in the clubs across lines

The shows in general are not geared toward the family like Disney

 

RC has more activities in general with the wall, flowrider etc.

The pool area is bigger

There is a casino on board

You can sign up for activities ahead of time online

 

You can't bring your own alcohol on except 2 bottles of wine,so if you drink you might want to look into the drink packages.

 

If the search function is working you can try searching DCL there have been a few reviews of people who have tried both. Personally we find both fun and great for travel.

[neptune18]

You should definitely book shows in advance.

[hansolosmom]

Go see the ice show. You can get tickets in advance, but if you don't, you can wait at the entrance & they let the SRO people in after the ticketed passengers. There's usually plenty of seats.

The big production shows you need to reserve in advance & I think you need to reserve the character breakfast too. (There's also reports that there is now a charge for the breakfast)

 

Something else that might help is someone has an Oasis review going on now, called something like Oasis & pretty girls, with that being the sister ship of Allure, you might be able to get a feel for the ship, which might help.

[l4dk]

Thank you Hansolosmon,

 

Is that wine package a good idea? Is there a good saving, we do like wine?

and totally agree after cruising with Disney 10 times we do not have one negative comment. Their service is incredibly out of this world.

Is there an adult only restaurant like with DCL?

Thank you

[l4dk]

You should definitely book shows in advance.

Thank you!

[CaribbeanH2OLover]

Biggest differences you'll find are

 

Rooms are smaller

 

No split bathrooms

 

Service is good, but no where near the level of DCL (but I don't think any other cruiseline compares in that area)

 

The kids clubs close at times during the day & there is a charge for late night (I think after 10pm)

 

Activities are pretty standard in the clubs across lines

 

The shows in general are not geared toward the family like Disney

 

 

 

RC has more activities in general with the wall, flowrider etc.

 

The pool area is bigger

 

There is a casino on board

 

You can sign up for activities ahead of time online

 

 

 

You can't bring your own alcohol on except 2 bottles of wine,so if you drink you might want to look into the drink packages.

 

 

 

If the search function is working you can try searching DCL there have been a few reviews of people who have tried both. Personally we find both fun and great for travel.

 

 

We agree with all of this except for the service. We think the service in the MDR on RCI is a step above DCL. We have not had good luck with our waiters on DCL. Both are great lines!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[hansolosmom]

Thank you Hansolosmon,

 

Is that wine package a good idea? Is there a good saving, we do like wine?

and totally agree after cruising with Disney 10 times we do not have one negative comment. Their service is incredibly out of this world.

Is there an adult only restaurant like with DCL?

Thank you

 

You might want to check & see if you can search on wine package, I'm not extremely familiar with it. I think Someone had made a spreadsheet & included the different types of wine available. That way you could see the kinds they have & figure out if it's worth it for you.

 

The adult only restaurants aren't exactly adult only. They allow under 18 it's supposed to be only before a certain time, but there are varying reports of kids being there all night. The only truly over 21 is the Chefs Table & I think Central Park on Oasis & Allure. I really can't comment on those I either since we usually only do the MDR. Although I'm hoping since we're doing an adult only crusie in a few weeks, we'll get to 1 or 2 :)

[ehfl]

Thank you, Clarea for the info.

I can't wait!

Any shows recommendation for the kids 17 anf 8 years old?

Do you really need to book in advbance?

Any recommendation for specialty restaurants?

 

While you don't need to book in advance, doing so will allow you to enjoy your vacation more. If you don't mind waiting in line and/or doing things at the last minute, they usually keep a few seats for those that prefer to book aboard. It just takes a few clicks to book online, so that's your best bet.

[Bluedharma]

Been on the Wonder and the Magic...

 

Service is good on the Allure, but no where near the level of DCL.

 

Example: When dining, on DCL, the staff will offer to cut the steak for your children. On the Allure, ours didn't even bother to offer.

It is the small things that you notice.

 

I have been on the Allure twice, and I loved it both times. But you spoil yourself when you go on a DCL cruise, and some things will stand out in regards to service.

 

I did love the activities that the Allure offers... and nothing can match her size.

If "DCL" had a ship the size of the Allure... it would be a gold mine.

 

My opinion...

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/sets/72157625730874674/

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/sets/72157629756242257/

[jerseygirlinsi]

Our family of four have sailed both cruise lines, and this is my personal opinion on both.

For us, nothing will ever top Disney. Disney World or Disney Cruise line. We are diehard Disney fans, so we may enjoy it more then most. In fact, we do Disney in some fashion every year.

We sailed Royal (Explorer of the Seas), when our boys were 2 and 5 years. We enjoyed every aspect of the Eastern sailing. The junior suite, the dining, the entertainment, and the kids program. This was 4 years ago, and our 5 year old enjoyed the kids program in spurts. He attended only at times that there was an activity that he was into, but spent the better part of his day with us enjoying family activities. We went on one of the first sailings of Disney Fantasy in May of 2012. My boys were 5 and 8. To say we enjoyed every aspect of the Western sailing, would be a very big understatement. We freaking LOVED that cruise! The 4C suite that we had was phenomenal! The dining, the entertainment, and characters were all top notch. My kids literally did not want to ever come out of the kids club. My oldest has ADD, and this was a first for him. He was so engaged with everything that was structured, as well as the free time. The cost is what it is, but so worth the mini fortune you have to shell out. While I am "Loyal to Royal", I am just "In Love with The Mouse".

[tyry]

We were on the Oasis last year as our second cruise. Our first was the Disney Dream. We thought the Oasis had a lot more activities and for the adults, there was always something going on into the wee hours of the morning. Disney seemed to shut down not long after midnight.

 

I forced DH to get a suite as I thought the balcony cabins on Oasis were tiny compared to our regular balcony cabin on the Dream.

 

Service was close, but not sure if that was because we were in a suite or not. Our cabin attendant on the Dream was adequate, but barely even met him. Definitely did not live up to our expectations. LOVED our ones on the Oasis. Waiters were great in both, but overall service with other parts (guest services, photos, etc) I give the edge to Disney.

 

The food - Disney won hands down. On the Oasis there was even one night in the MDR where the food was just unedible and unrecognizable. The pay restaurants were good, and 150 CP was amazing, but the MDR was not even close to what we ate on the Dream (even for breakfast or lunch.) The one thing that kept us going food wise was the roast beef sandwiches in the Park Cafe...those were great!! I really really hope the food was a fluke, and is much better on our upcoming Rhapsody cruise or DH has already said he may be done with Royal.

 

Both cruises were without kids, so I can't address that. I think you will enjoy the Allure, I know I did enjoy the Oasis and would like to even try the Allure. I'll just stick to the pay restaurants and the Park Cafe for food! :D

[matj2000]

You will get a break from all that Mickey Mouse nonsense..

[Bluedharma]

You will get a break from all that Mickey Mouse nonsense..

 

When I was on the DCL... it was very surprising how little Mickey Mouse nonsense there was...

 

The DCL ships are pure elegance. The "Mickey Mouse" logo is everywhere, but you really need to look for it.

It is not like you get into the elevator and hear the "it is a small world" soundtrack every time. It really is quite a great experience.

 

People who have taken a DCL cruise will understand how much it shines above other lines. (with that said, I still loved the Allure cruise and have done it twice... so it is not bad at all)

[Irene7]

DCL and RCCL are my two favorite cruise lines with the edge going to DCL because we love everything disney, and my kids are grown. They both offer a different cruising experience which is great. Although I like something more about one line and something more about the other, I feel you can't go wrong either way.

 

Have a great cruise!:)

Edited April 4, 2014 by Irene7

[kitt82078]

We did DCL twice, and I am so grateful to return to RCL! For an entire week we eould go to our seating and then WAIT for a highchair and booster seat. That would never happen on RCL. My complaints can go on, although there were certainly great things too. But I am vertainly ready for a relaxing RCL trip after the Disney Chaos.

[l4dk]

You might want to check & see if you can search on wine package, I'm not extremely familiar with it. I think Someone had made a spreadsheet & included the different types of wine available. That way you could see the kinds they have & figure out if it's worth it for you.

 

The adult only restaurants aren't exactly adult only. They allow under 18 it's supposed to be only before a certain time, but there are varying reports of kids being there all night. The only truly over 21 is the Chefs Table & I think Central Park on Oasis & Allure. I really can't comment on those I either since we usually only do the MDR. Although I'm hoping since we're doing an adult only crusie in a few weeks, we'll get to 1 or 2 :)

 

 

 

Great, thanks

[l4dk]

Our family of four have sailed both cruise lines, and this is my personal opinion on both.

For us, nothing will ever top Disney. Disney World or Disney Cruise line. We are diehard Disney fans, so we may enjoy it more then most. In fact, we do Disney in some fashion every year.

We sailed Royal (Explorer of the Seas), when our boys were 2 and 5 years. We enjoyed every aspect of the Eastern sailing. The junior suite, the dining, the entertainment, and the kids program. This was 4 years ago, and our 5 year old enjoyed the kids program in spurts. He attended only at times that there was an activity that he was into, but spent the better part of his day with us enjoying family activities. We went on one of the first sailings of Disney Fantasy in May of 2012. My boys were 5 and 8. To say we enjoyed every aspect of the Western sailing, would be a very big understatement. We freaking LOVED that cruise! The 4C suite that we had was phenomenal! The dining, the entertainment, and characters were all top notch. My kids literally did not want to ever come out of the kids club. My oldest has ADD, and this was a first for him. He was so engaged with everything that was structured, as well as the free time. The cost is what it is, but so worth the mini fortune you have to shell out. While I am "Loyal to Royal", I am just "In Love with The Mouse".

 

 

 

Thank you, I second all you mentioned...

[ilovetexas]

 

People who have taken a DCL cruise will understand how much it shines above other lines.

 

Umm....no. I've cruised on the Wonder and the Fantasy and don't think DCL shines above other lines.

 

Contrary to what others here have said, I haven't found the service on DCL any better than other lines, it's just different. I finally heard it described accurately by a poster on DISboards...DCL service is more "in your face." That may be great for some but I don't like it and neither do a lot of others.

[BillOh]

Thank you, Clarea for the info.

I can't wait!

Any shows recommendation for the kids 17 anf 8 years old?

Do you really need to book in advbance?

Any recommendation for specialty restaurants?

 

As far as shows for the kids. Blue Planet and Ocenaria - Absolutely yes. Chicago - Somewhat adult themed, but opinions vary, I haven't had a child to raise in 15 years. If you know anything about the musical, judge for yourself.

 

The comedy show NO - Its usually late at night. I've heard of rumors of special family times, but never actually saw that myself. Any other production show, no problem. Oh, the ice skating shows a definite yes for the kids.