OK. I been on 3 DCL cruises. 2 Magic and 1 Wonder. Loved them ,absolutely loved them!

I have also been on one Royal Caribbean Cruise on Mariner of the Seas.

Recently, while drooling over the idea of a DCL vacation. I did some price shopping for Sept 2006 in a Cat 5 & 6. 2 adults one baby. About $3,500.
7 nights eastern carib.

Did the same pricing on RCL's Freedom of the Seas, this is the new one, the Largest Cruiseliner in the World, still has not had her maiden voyage yet! This puppy has a surf pool for actual body surfing on the top of it and a H2O park on the upper deck! Almost 2 times the size of a DCL.

Now, I really love Disney and Mickey, but its been almost 4 years since my last DCL cruise, ok 3.5 years.

And I'm seriously wanting honest opinion: What makes it worth an extra $1,500, thats a lot of excursions, shopping, drinks etc. :p

Denny J
"Look how curious the puppy is" - Lilo, "Lilo & Stitch"

I ask myself the same thing...
It is a matter of supply vs. demand. Since there are only 2 DCL ships ... and RCCL has a huge fleet, DCL can charge whatever they want. That being said -- the service, food, entertainment and activities I've experienced on DCL match no other (and I am a Platinum at RCCL). You lose the casino, you gain the Disney name and all it represents. It also depends what you want out of your cruise. Since you've done DCL before, you know what a vacation on it means. When you said you were drooling... what made you feel that way? Answer that and you'll answer the price question...

I ask myself the same thing...
It is a matter of supply vs. demand. Since there are only 2 DCL ships ... and RCCL has a huge fleet, DCL can charge whatever they want. That being said -- the service, food, entertainment and activities I've experienced on DCL match no other (and I am a Platinum at RCCL). You lose the casino, you gain the Disney name and all it represents. It also depends what you want out of your cruise. Since you've done DCL before, you know what a vacation on it means. When you said you were drooling... what made you feel that way? Answer that and you'll answer the price question...

Touche!

Any others want to take this on???

Denny J
Today my company went live, long live the company!

I agree with Niwel. You need to ask yourself what draws you to DCL, and if you feel you can get that same experience on the RC. One of my main concerns, when traveling with a baby, would be to check out the child care options and compare them to Disney's. You've now got a baby in the equation, whereas before you didn't. That's going to put a powerful curve in your cruising experience.

Also, I hate to say it, but don't compare cruises on price, until you get to the final decision and you can't make up your mind. Cruising is such an emotional decision that if you let pricing sway you, you might look back and say 'should have.'

I will tell you more when we return from our trip on the wonder. but I am curious for those who have been on cruises on diffent ships. are the size of the rooms, reported to be much larger on the DCL really enough to help justify the extra cost?

I love having the second bathroom! I don't spend much time in the cabn, but it makes a huge difference when you are getting ready before dinner to have the extra space (and storage).

I love the extra space - my teenager is a shower hog, and being able to have some space away from the steam for the rest of the family is great. I know it might sound stupid, but until there's three of you waiting to use the bathroom that one is hogging for 45 minutes... :p

Also, the windows in the non-verandahed rooms seem much larger. That makes a huge difference in my book. I don't do inside very well. :rolleyes:

I will tell you more when we return from our trip on the wonder. but I am curious for those who have been on cruises on diffent ships. are the size of the rooms, reported to be much larger on the DCL really enough to help justify the extra cost?

The rooms are larger than older cruise ships, they are equal or comparable to newer ships now. Disney's ships are still pretty young.

The verandah rooms on the RCL ships we sailed on were acually just a bit larger, but did not have the split bathroom.

Denny J
Future Cruise Addict