RCI v. Disney

[disney_mommy]

Hey,all. First post here! I have cruised before on the Disney Cruise Line and have an RCI booked next August on the Grandeur of the Seas. Has anyone ever sailed on both? How would you compare them?

[samben]

I have sailed on both...........IMOP I like RCCL better........NOW I have to say Disney has the BEST send off party and I love the fireworks they have one night. I have not been on The Grandeur. I prefer the Voyage Class Ships.

[IamAlyce]

I think there are pros and cons to both, I thought Disney was great for small children, my older ones were quite bored. They really enjoyed RCCL both times, although we have not been on the Grandeur.

[libertybelle41]

Yes I believe there are pros and cons for both...I feel Disney's shows are better, but my kids now that they're older prefer RC...Casino is a big pull for many....Luv em' both though:)

[crusinmama06]

I've sailed both lines...

 

Service - Personally I like RCCL better...wasn't impressed with Disney

 

Food Quality - equal

 

Kid's Camps - They both have great programs

 

Casino - of course none on Disney and it's nice to feed a few slots at night while the kids are at AO

 

Shopping - MUCH better on RCCL

 

Cabins - for the price of a Cat 6 Verandah on Disney I got a Grand Suite on RCCL Freedom with ALL of the added perks like concierge service.

 

I now add on days at WDW before our cruises because the kids ARE Disney fanatics but not Disney CRUISE fanatics. ;)

[BPWJR]

Agree with comments above; looking ahead to next summer already and for Disney 1 cabin for 4, can get two on RCCL so kids get their own cabin & bathroom

[Andy99]

In my opinion there is not much difference between the two lines...

 

THEY ARE BOTH GREAT!

[Safetyal]

I have sailed both the Magic and the Grandeur. I think it depends on who is all going. If it is just adults I would say the Grandeur. If it was family including kids, I would lean more towards Disney.

[RhondaC]

In my opinion there is not much difference between the two lines...

 

THEY ARE BOTH GREAT!

 

I agree! However, for smaller kids, I think DCL's kids programs are better. For older kids, RCCL has more to do.

 

Castaway Cay (DCL's island) is, IMO, the BEST private island! Beautiful!

 

Disney's restaurant rotation is fun too. Animator's Palette is my favorite!

 

RCCL's food is better. Especially the buffet

 

We like Palo (DCL's specialty restaurant) better than Portofino or Chops. But, Portofino and Chops are wonderful too! Palo just has the edge. :D

 

Service is good on both.

 

Disney's rooms are a little larger. But more expensive. ;)

 

Both are fantastic, and we'll happily go on either one at anytime!!

[PrettyLA]

To me the lines are very comparable. The service and food is about equal. I also think that the maintience of the ships is comparable. If you have kids that are still at the age that they would enjoy Disney, then definitely do Disney. If not then go on Royal Caribbean. Either way you will enjoy yourselves!

[CruznIllini]

We do all things Disney (DVC, Cruise, etc) and we are Diamond RCI. The one big difference we have found is that adult areas on Disney are truly adult, no kids. RCI seems to allow kids to run free everywhere. Ironic, eh? We look forward to cruising Disney in the future without our little one.

[CKZ]

Our family has sailed on both the Wonder and the Magic. DW and I sailed on the SOS, and we have The Mariner coming in Nov.

You can't compare that "Disney Feeling" to anything in the world, and the shows are spectacular! You are allowed to bring on all the extra "drinks" you need, Disney dosen't bat an eye, and yes that's official. You don't pay for soda anywhere, it free all the time. Hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, onionrings etc. are also allways free. The rotating dinner "themed rooms" are great, your waitestaff travels with you.The rooms are large. We found the staff to be Disney friendly, and walking down the hall with Snow White tittering away beside you only brings giant smiles to your face.

The experience is different on both ships, we love them both. You have to love Disney though to go on Disney, otherwise , the sound of "It's a small world after all" in the hallways might drive you bonkers !!:p

[masonpips]

We've done both and you will like both. I'm glad we did DCL early when the kids were smaller because we've btdt and are now into the "more activities" age and have loved our Voyager class cruises.

 

RCCL Pro's:

• Activities (golf, rock wall, ice-skating)
  
• Room size/cost (as compared to DCL - we've done the same as another poster in getting a GS as compared to a Cat 6, the room is MASSIVE in comparison on RCCL and concierge service to boot)
  
• Work-out facilities
  
• Size of ship (more to do, less crowded, more bars, casino, etc., more shops)
  
• Ice-show, Quest, Love & Marriage
  
• Loyalty program (Crown & Anchor)
  
• Variety of cruise choices (much larger line, therefore more options)
   
  

 

DCL pro's

• Food (especially desserts)
  
• Palo (although we love Chops/Portofino, Palo *is* the best)
  
• "Magic" (seeing Mickey within the first 5 minutes of our first cruise, DS running to get a hug, one of my best cruise memories ever)
  
• All other shows (entertainment)
  
• Free soda!
  

 

Kid's programs are equal for entertainment. DCL is better in terms of hours and no fees at night. RCCL has "gaga" ball which my kids love.

[firefly333]

Palo at $10 is less extra and people rave over it as a $100 experience, not just as upscale dining.

 

Yes, on RCI you dont feel like you can take on booze, but you can on Disney. My Disney reservation is somewhat comparable to a inside cabin $ on a voyager ship. Its those upper categories on Disney that are so pricey. Yes, free soda on deck 9 of Disney is a plus. I know others that like the fruit cart which is even on their private beach.

 

Disney has a adults only section of their private beach where you can get a steak made to order and I believe you dont tender in like you do on RCI.

 

Im just doing RCI's beach this fall, will have more comparisons after then.

 

Disney's special treats from room service are free like the Mickey frozen treat and cheese trays are supposed to be extra good. Iv heard you can get chocolate covered stawberries free upstairs at night on a dessert place somewhere on Disney tips.

[kevdds]

I would agree with most of the above comments. One additional thing is the disembarkation. RCI was utter chaos, while DCL had a much more organized system.

[The Big Booper]

Disney's disembark was the best. Go to your regular table with your regular waiters, eat breakfast and get off the ship.

[firefly333]

Im glad I can book both and don't have to make a choice, the best of both worlds.

[crusinmama06]

Im glad I can book both and don't have to make a choice, the best of both worlds.

 

Same with the OP...they DID sail on Disney and now they want to know what Grandeur is like. :)

[Ivanova]

I've done the Magic and the Wonder ... 3 nights, 4 nights, 10 nights, and 14 nights.

 

With RCI I've done the Monarch (twice, 3 nights each) and the Radiance (7 nights, Alaska) and the Liberty (2 night pre-inaugural). I've never been on the Grandeur, so I cannot do an exact comparison for you.

 

My daughter (17yo) prefers the DCL teen clubs over RCI, but she also admits that it probably had a LOT more to do with the specific group of teens on the Radiance.

 

Husband prefers RCI's food over DCL's. But we still enjoy the dining room rotation on DCL (Animator's Palette is still our fav) and Palo is hard to beat (pricewise, and the souffle is to die for).

 

Debarkation ... Radiance was the best yet (in Seward), Monarch was the worst (in Los Angeles), and DCL (Port Canaveral) falls inbetween ... a lot of times debarkation has more to do with the port than the cruise line.

[Iwannavacation]

I did a post on general comparison between the two lines, but haven't sailed Grandeur. The post can be viewed on the Disney board here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=582206[/url

[firefly333]

Same with the OP...they DID sail on Disney and now they want to know what Grandeur is like. :)

 

yes, I saw their post, thanks though??!! huh?

 

Many were just comparing the choices and I said Im going back and forth so I dont have to choose.

 

Iv seen your posts and I know you are RCI big time, didnt mean to step on your toes. I know how much more you like RCI.

 

I do perhaps cruise more than most, thats all I meant so I can have them both booked at the same time.

[Shebbieal]

I have done DCL 4 times (Magic & Wonder), I am also almost a diamond+ on RCI. We did the Granduer last year. Grandeur is about the same size as Disney. The Grandeur cabins are a lot smaller, but way less money.

 

Disney shows in WDW theatre are better BUT they run the same show. Grandeur does not have a movie theatre or a basketball course. Granduer's buffet is way better laid out. On Disney it reminded me of a cafeteria.

 

Food is comparable. Grandeur does not have a speciality restaurant.

 

Disney is way more a stickler for rules, adult only areas had 0 kids.

 

IMHO Disney is geared to a 3-12 year old kid range, RCI is older kids,BUT olderr kids (12-17) may get bored in the evenings on Grandeur.

 

We have done both lines with and without kids.

 

Castaway Cay is the nicest private island, and the ONLY one you dock at.

 

Apples to apples both are a good product, just be aware there are differencies.

 

Sherry