Disney Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean: Which family-friendly cruise line is for you?

Table Of Content

• Are Port Adventures Always Guided Tours?
• George Town, Grand Cayman — Best Port Adventures
• Bacardi Rum and Distillery Tour — Adult Exclusive (SJ or Children Welcome (SJ
• Atlantis Submarine Expedition (G
• The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries
• Cruises
• Personal Navigators: Disney Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – July 1, 2023
• Included restaurants on Disney Fantasy

For self-guided fun, check out the Midship Detective Agency scavenger hunt onboard Disney Fantasy and Dream, a Muppets-themed mystery with clues hidden in "enchanted art" -- digital artwork that comes to life when you approach. And onboard Disney Wish, the interactive mobile phone-based Disney Uncharted Adventure takes guests throughout the ship on a quest to battle a Disney villain. On the other hand, Disney offers the AquaDuck and AquaDunk “water coasters” on the Fantasy and Dream, with a new longer version called the Aqua Mouse onboard Disney Wish, but that's the extent of adrenaline-inducing activities. Royal Caribbean offers Italian, Brazilian, Mexican, Asian, sushi, teppanyaki, and a steakhouse on their ships.

Are Port Adventures Always Guided Tours?

Remy is a fancy adults-only French restaurant that costs $125 per person for dinner (more if you order drinks). This is the type of place where men need jackets and women are expected to wear dresses, pantsuits or a skirt and blouse. Enchante on Disney Wish is similar — you're dressing up for these meals. At the top of the "costs extra" list are the restaurants Palo (found on all five ships, though it's Palo Steakhouse on Disney Wish), Remy (on Dream and Fantasy) and Enchante (only on Disney Wish). A pro-level hack is to get Mickey churro waffles from the buffet in the morning (only available some mornings) and add vanilla ice cream for a vacation-worthy breakfast.

George Town, Grand Cayman — Best Port Adventures

But fares can vary greatly across the fleet, so it’s always worth comparing. Disney’s Castaway Cay provides a more laid-back beach experience where families can play together, and childless travelers can enjoy an adult-only section. There is a snorkeling lagoon, a couple of waterslides and splash parks for the little ones; the youth staff will also schedule activities, and teens have their own hideout to lounge and chill. Disney characters also make their rounds on the island, so be on the lookout for Captain Hook or perhaps even Captain Jack Sparrow.

Bacardi Rum and Distillery Tour — Adult Exclusive (SJ or Children Welcome (SJ

Disney Cruise vs. Royal Caribbean - NerdWallet

Disney Cruise vs. Royal Caribbean.

Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

With a history shaped by ancient Mayans, English pirates, and the Mexican Navy, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this enchanting area of unspoiled natural beauty. You’ll have your own dedicated agent from start to finish — no massive call centers and no waiting on hold! Not only will they book your cruise, but they’ll also handle all your Port Adventure bookings. Some offerings may be limited to certain itineraries or times of year. Your cruise won’t cost any more than if you’d booked it yourself, and they don’t charge any planning fees.

For example, 50 non-sailing guests can take part in weddings aboard Carnival Cruise Line ships before the cruise sails from the port of embarkation. Many cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, offer weddings and wedding renewals aboard the ship or at scenic tropical locations. We're lucky in Florida, home to some of the world's busiest cruise ports including PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT, and Port of Palm Beach. There is also a port in Key West, but this is mainly used for cruise ship calls rather than a homeport.

The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

The concierge lounge team is also not included in prepaid gratuities for concierge guests, and Disney recommends $8 per night per guest. Most of the entertainment on board is included in the overall cost of your sailing. Port Adventures booked through Disney are charged to your shipboard account and paid at the end of your cruise. Payment for privately-booked tours is often due in full at the time they’re reserved. Disney’s excursions are also usually fully refundable up until three days before your cruise.

Cruises

You can also order alcoholic drinks from the coffee bars, which run the typical cocktail prices. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy both have a virtual sports simulator that requires a reservation and a fee. You can play various sports, from football to golf, for either 30- or 60-minute time blocks. You will have to pay to park at the port or at a third-party parking lot.

Based on my research, Disney cruises tend to sell out, especially during popular times like when kids are out of school. When doing initial research for this trip, I did a lot of googling and looking at the options for Disney cruises. We are in South Carolina and are lucky enough to be able to drive to Port Canaveral so we focused on cruises that left from that location. After throwing around a lot of different ideas – and actually booking and then canceling a trip to Yellowstone – we settled on a Disney cruise as being the most child-friendly possible option for this age. My family of four recently got back from a seven day cruise on the Disney fantasy cruise ship.

Choose Royal Caribbean if you like big ships and cruises that appeal to all ages and interests or if you're looking for smaller ships and are fine with older ships and more traditional onboard activities. If you need a wide variety of itineraries to choose from, are looking to cruise to more far-flung destinations or need options for affordable rooms or a wide selection of suites, Royal Caribbean is the line for you. If you want a more adult environment, look for smaller or older ships, longer itineraries and off-peak travel times. If you want to find families, look for weeklong cruises sailing during school breaks.

Atlantis Aquaventure is huge and has some very neat water slides and a great rapids river called the Current, but it’s not so much better than the Orlando parks to merit the price difference. In fact, we’d say the Orlando parks are easier to navigate and better planned for practical touring. All that said, Atlantis as a whole is pretty spectacular and a unique destination. The Dig, the predator lagoons, the Aquaventure park and the art and the architecture are all unlike anything anywhere else (except maybe the other Atlantis resorts), so it’s very hard to say what it’s worth. If you have people in your party who love water parks, or love aquariums, it’s probably worth a visit.

While the ship is large and beautiful, I do think that a lot of the fits and finishes are dated. There were three different Disney ships at the time that were leaving from Port Canaveral, but I didn’t really do any planning based on the ship. We don’t really drink soda, but I drank a few cokes on the trip just because they were there. I certainly would have never bought tickets for my kids to see a Broadway style show. But it’s low risk when they’re free, and, what do you know, turns out my kids love musicals and we went 5 times.

If you just want to soak up the atmosphere, gamble, or have some lunch, you’re welcome to do so by coming in the Coral Towers entrance. You should know, though, that pretty much all of the iconic Atlantis architecture and decor is in and around the Royal Towers, which are off-limits without a pass. You can get an Aquaventure pass on-site, when available, which includes beach and Dig access. However, when the resort is very full, such as during spring break, they may not offer walk-up Aquaventure passes, or they may sell out quickly. If you know you want to visit Aquaventure, it’s a good idea to book through Disney or use the tip below to book a hotel day room. If you just want to view the Dig or the beach, there are passes that don’t include Aquaventure available at a lower price.

Then, enjoy a brief manatee encounter along with an internationally-inspired lunch. If you're looking at Disney Cruise Line versus Royal Caribbean for your next vacation at sea, you can't go wrong with either line. I'm in Charleston, South Carolina, navigating the wild world of parenting with my energetic 3-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.

As Disney’s own private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay offers an exclusive Bahamian hideaway that’s open only to one Disney cruise ship a day — and no one else! There’s plenty to do for free on the island, but also a wide array of optional paid activities. Disney Cruise Line ships mainly sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas on weeklong or shorter sailings. Three- and four-night cruises from Florida home ports, especially Port Canaveral, are ideal for tacking onto short visits to Disney World in Orlando.