RCI vs DCL

[tchoney]

I am fairly new to this board. My family has sailed Disney twice. Because of the expense and lack of interesting activities for my son (11 -- he doesn't go to the kids clubs); I am considering RCI. I'll tell you what I love about Disney:

 

Clean

Safe Feeling

Quiet Halls

Large Functional Staterooms with split baths

Hugh Port Windows

Fun Themed dinning in different restaurants (No extra charge) :)

Castaway Cay

Disney Quality

Snack Food Restaurants on Deck (No Extra Charge and we eat ALOT of ice cream and fresh fruit!! :p )

Exciting / Helful / Eager to Accommodate Staff

Lunch on the 1st day immediately upon boarding

Sailaway party

 

What I didn't care for...

Not interested in the spa or shops

Shows are ok

Pools are ok

Son didn't like kids clubs :mad:

Not enough activities for kids outside of club other than basketball, ping pong, shuffle board and the pool :mad:

Very expensive :mad:

 

 

Please share with me Why you think we should try RCI!!! I want to hear the good and bad... I really want to try RCI; but all I know is Disney and I need that EXTRA PUSH to RCI!

 

THANKS!!!!

Tina

[NJBill]

I am fairly new to this board. My family has sailed Disney twice. Because of the expense and lack of interesting activities for my son (11 -- he doesn't go to the kids clubs); I am considering RCI. I'll tell you what I love about Disney:

 

Clean

Safe Feeling

Quiet Halls

Large Functional Staterooms with split baths

Hugh Port Windows

Fun Themed dinning in different restaurants (No extra charge) :)

Castaway Cay

Disney Quality

Snack Food Restaurants on Deck (No Extra Charge and we eat ALOT of ice cream and fresh fruit!! :p )

Exciting / Helful / Eager to Accommodate Staff

Lunch on the 1st day immediately upon boarding

Sailaway party

 

What I didn't care for...

Not interested in the spa or shops

Shows are ok

Pools are ok

Son didn't like kids clubs :mad:

Not enough activities for kids outside of club other than basketball, ping pong, shuffle board and the pool :mad:

Very expensive :mad:

 

 

Please share with me Why you think we should try RCI!!! I want to hear the good and bad... I really want to try RCI; but all I know is Disney and I need that EXTRA PUSH to RCI!

 

THANKS!!!!

Tina

 

I have sailed Disney 2x and also RCCL. You will find a compareble level of service and better food on RCCL and I think you son will like more of the activities on RCCL. There is no "mouse",but you will enjoy the cruise

[ChristieNJ]

There is no "mouse"

 

 

Hallelujah!! :p

Anyways, especially on the newer, larger RCI ships, you will find PLENTY for your son to do! There's the entire sports deck with all different activities, depending on which ship you go on (rock climbing, roller blading, ice skating, etc) Then of course there's Adventure Ocean, and areas of the ships specifically geared for his age group. I think you guys will love it!!!! (Especially the price, lol!)

[RevSmith]

Cindy is right, go for the larger ships, ships from the voyager class or freedom class...those are the ones with the most for a child...and there are a lot of children on most of these types of ships...RCI encourages families...their youth program is one of the best around...your son may actually like it...I love Disney, but RCI is certainly comparable.

[crusinmama06]

Here was our experience with RCCL Freedom verses Disney Magic...

 

Service - OMG Freedom was incredible. The staff was SOOO friendly. The staff went out of their way to talk directly to our children.

 

Food - better on Freedom. 3 tiered dining room AND we could go to Sorrento's Pizza (pizza, salads, breads, desserts), Promenade Cafe (subs/sandwiches/cookies) Windjammer Buffet, Jade Buffet, Chops Steakhouse, Portofino Italian Restaurant, Ben & Jerry's, Seatles Best Coffee, Johnny Rockets...the choices are endless.

 

Cabins - our grand suite on Freedom cost as much as our Cat 6 on Magic and with the grand suite comes the concierge ammenities and concierge lounge

 

 

For your son...golf, rock climbing wall, flowrider (surfing onboard), ice skating, basketball, golf simulator

 

ADULT ONLY SOLARIUM!!!!

 

 

The H2O Zone for kids (plus there is a Sports Pool)

 

 

Clean! So clean!

 

CASINO! Hello! I am not a gambler by any stretch of the imagination but it's nice to be able to have the option

 

I loved Freedom so much more than Magic. No doubt!

[tchoney]

Does RCI have wireless internet in staterooms?

 

What restaurants on RCI are free (:rolleyes: ) with no additional charge? Also, are you assigned a table each night or is it first come/first serve?

 

I believe I read that Johnny Rockets and Ben & Jerry's charge an additional fee; is there free (:rolleyes: ) ice cream and hamburgers somewhere?

 

Does the smoke from the casino linger into the halls/restaurants?

 

Is there an additional charge for the onboard activities (golf, skating, rock climbing, etc...)

 

 

Thank you all for your help!!

[ChristieNJ]

Does RCI have wireless internet in staterooms?

 

What restaurants on RCI are free (:rolleyes: ) with no additional charge? Also, are you assigned a table each night or is it first come/first serve?

 

I believe I read that Johnny Rockets and Ben & Jerry's charge an additional fee; is there free (:rolleyes: ) ice cream and hamburgers somewhere?

 

Does the smoke from the casino linger into the halls/restaurants?

 

Is there an additional charge for the onboard activities (golf, skating, rock climbing, etc...)

 

 

Thank you all for your help!!

 

Some ships do, some don't. The newer ones do. The additional no-charge places to eat besides the dining room are the Windjammer Buffet, Sorrento's (on Freedom class ships), Cafe Promenade, and room service.

We don't really ever have a reason to go near the casino, so the smoke from there never bothered me, and I hate smoke! :)

No charge for golf, skating, rock climbing, or any other sports activities! :D

[Candleonwater]

We are huge Disney fans, and have cruise DCL one time. I agree with much you said... except for the spa part - I absolutely love the rainforest room on the Disney ships.

 

IMHO, Labadee rivals Castaway Cay, rivals, not beats, but I'll take it, along with all the other pluses I feel RCL offers over Disney.

 

Things I absolutely LOVE on RCL:

Shows

Casino

Activities

Adventure Ocean (DD usually loves it)

Windjammer Buffett

Price (hands down the absolute winner here)

 

The lack of a split bathroom didn't bother us.

 

What I did miss:

Disney Customer Service

Rainforest Room

DD missed the slide

Fresh water pools, although I always thought the Goofy pool was bathtub warm (YUCK)

 

Clean

Safe Feeling

Quiet Halls

Large Functional Staterooms with split baths

Hugh Port Windows

Fun Themed dinning in different restaurants (No extra charge) :)

Castaway Cay

Disney Quality

Snack Food Restaurants on Deck (No Extra Charge and we eat ALOT of ice cream and fresh fruit!! :p )

Exciting / Helful / Eager to Accommodate Staff

Lunch on the 1st day immediately upon boarding

Sailaway party

 

What I didn't care for...

Not interested in the spa or shops

Shows are ok

Pools are ok

Son didn't like kids clubs :mad:

Not enough activities for kids outside of club other than basketball, ping pong, shuffle board and the pool :mad:

Very expensive :mad:

 

 

Please share with me Why you think we should try RCI!!! I want to hear the good and bad... I really want to try RCI; but all I know is Disney and I need that EXTRA PUSH to RCI!

 

THANKS!!!!

Tina

[Nliedel]

RCI gets higher marks for AO, than the Disney ships. Not as high for food, much higher in the casino, since Disney does not have one.

 

Honestly, most moderate priced cruise lines are pretty comparable.

[crusinmama06]

Fresh water pools, although I always thought the Goofy pool was bathtub warm (YUCK)

 

The RCCL Freedom Class does have fresh water pools.

 

And I have to say that I like Coco Cay more than Labadee....which would make a better comparison to Castaway Cay because they are both in the same part of the world. :D

[Tjukka]

Have sailed both Rci has a larger space fr kids. They also have mor forr for adults.

so having sailied both would choose RcI