I can’t believe I forgot the MUSTER DRILL! Royal definitely has the edge over Disney with the E-Muster! Not having to gather the whole ship at once is the BEST! 5 minutes and you’re done!
Ice cream is definitely available after 5pm. There are multiple ice cream spots. Typically if you find one there is another one directly across from it on the other side of the ship. So if you go and find it closed…cross the deck and the other should be open. Also, I think the key being inserted is because Allure hasn’t been updated. I’ve been on Anthem, Oasis, Symphony and Liberty and have always tapped to get into my cabin. I totally agree with the towels. They are awful and it’s an annoying process.
One of the things that you need to remember is that Royal is a mass market budget cruise line (competitors are Carnival, NCL, and MSC). Disney is a premium cruise line (competitors are Princess, HAL, Virgin, Celebrity). Many of your gripes are unfair. Of course there's not going to be twice a day service in your room. Most hotels on land only provide once a day service. All of the mass market cruise lines have had to cut back on this (NCL, Carnival are the same). The inserted cruise card is related to the age of the ship. Royal's newer ships have the tap cards. Royal's fleet has 28 ships and they had to shut down their business completely for a year and a half during Covid. They took out huge loans to keep the company afloat (pun intended) and investing in replacing the locks is not a necessary expense at the moment. The sanitation thing was not something I have experienced on other Royal ships. Might be a situation specific to Allure or to the people on that cruise?
We just got off Utopia. Got ice cream until about 8:30pm and had the tap for room entry. We still got a towel animal in the morning cleaning. Although I have not been on Disney yet (we are booked for the Destiny in 2026), we LOVED RC! Try a short Utopia cruise or Icon! Congrats to you and Koda on your channel!
@@ThemeParkExpress Yes! Just got off Utopia yesterday and it was very clean. Ice cream was open past 6pm. I loved the tap feature for the room doors now. One thing I did learn from Utopia is to make sure you book your shows early. We didn’t and had to go in line when we boarded.
I'm so happy you posted this! We've been waiting for it since you guys went on Allure! I remember a video way back when you guys were in port somewhere with RCL's Anthem and you had heard you had to pay for everything where Disney everything was included. I knew then you would see the difference once you actually sailed. A couple of things: its pronounced CAY like the Letter K, rhymes with Day. Also, im not sure what's up w Allure as it hasn't gone theu its refitting yet, but we just got off Prima (and last Dec, the Getaway) but NCL is big on sanitizong before meals, and enetering and exiting at Ports. You dont need room numbers for towels, and they do welcome you back w refreshments and cool towels, and you can just tap your card to enter your room. To my knowledge and experience with RCL, they never had a perty like atmosphere on and off the ship like NCL and never greated you with towels and water. When I did NCL to RCCL, I missed the atmosphere, but NCL is catching up, newer ships are nice and I appreciate the safety measures. Im glad you guys are expe new cruise lines! Cant wait to see you both explore more!!!! Wepa!!!! Happy New Year! 2025 is going to be awesome for you both!!!
Adrian, thanks for the breakdown between RC and Disney. Having cruised multiple times on Disney and a few times on other lines, I feel like the RC is more of an adult cruise, however, with multiple opportunities for all families to enjoy. My teens are completely “over” Disney cruises, but I’d love to take more. It’s been several years since I took a RC cruise. Would you please make the “what you wished you knew” video? Glad you had such a good time. Thank you!
Love the content as a loyal to royal cruiser I cannot wait till you get to experience the unlimited dining package. We do it on all of our sailings and absolutely love the elevated food and venues for dining.
I agree with your disney is so structured comment. Its like they dont want you "wandering" around the ship. They lead your schedule every night, all cruise, around the ship almost like a virtual tour guide. Like you said, okay at this time you will eat here, next watch a show here, then all meet on the pool deck at this time etc.
I've only done two cruises so far, both RC. -Ice cream definitely went later than 5p. I want to say it was at least til 9p. -Internet does not let you send photos for free without their package. Unless I'm missing something, I was able to receive notifications but not send while not on the wifi and signed in. -Your SeaPass can be tapped on some RC ships. For example on Wonder it was tap on our room door but on Voyager it was insert. Some points you made: -I must be super basic because I cannot understand the need for having my room cleaned twice a day. We sailed with two kids under 3 and we were perfectly fine having it done once in the evening. -Washing hands before entering the buffet is kinda silly because someone could easily wash their hands while entering and then sneeze or cough or touch their nose or whatever and then grab the tongs at the buffet. We focus on ourselves and make sure we are washing our hands and staying clean. Everyone else will do what they will do. Good video overall!
We sail with Royal often and they usually have water stations before reboarding at most ports, maybe that is a coco cay thing. Also lots of santizing stations everywhere on the boats we have been on. Maybe Allure? Thanks for the video 😊
I'm with you in wishing that DCL had more dinner and late-night food options (and spread out on different decks)! Sometimes the main dining room is a bit much and I'd prefer to grab a bite at a buffet (that's not burgers, tendies, pizza, etc). And if I want to grab food at 11 PM, it feels like there is barely anything. I'm a night owl, so this matters! That's also neat that RCL has you pay for experiences/excursions in advance, unlike Disney where you go on the cruise, knowing you may still have $$$ to pay. Yeah, you pay it either way, but there is something freeing about boarding the ship with everything paid for! (And yes, I agree on the booking and holding onto popular experiences...that can be frustrating!)
The hand washing - people are gross. I'm amazed that adults, especially, need to be reminded to wash their hands before handling food and after going to the bathroom. But as social media has taught us, a lot of people don't believe in the power of soap and water. Great review. I look forward to you and Koda trying new cruise lines.
I agree with many of your points. Things I didn’t like about RC was on embarkation day I was asked by 5 different people to purchase specialty dining and I didn’t like how prices constantly changed for drink package/excursions/dining. I ended up creating a spreadsheet to track prices. The live music was amazing on RCL and the parties were fun. I do think a drink package is more convenient. Nice video.
Disney is amazing. What I’ve seen from several vloggers has us wanting to try Royal. You and Brian and Kerry are my teenager’s favorite cruise vloggers. He wants us to hit gold status on Disney before we try Royal but we already have a few ships and sailings in our list. I want to go back to Alaska on a quantum class ship. Disney was amazing but I can’t afford to repeat it.
Very suprised you mentioned Broadway shows. Disney has some of the best shows available they are obviously Disney themed. Not having to make reservations for shows on Disney is better. I will agree that the dining menus need replacing on tthe older ships they are extremely boring now! The new ships Wish, Treasure have improved options! Royal Caribbean nickel and dimes for many items included with DCL. Service overall with DCL is imo superior! All DCL ships get 98 -100% with CDC and that's all it takes.🙂
I haven't done RC but did do Princess and Celebrity in the past few years, both after doing 5 cruises on Disney. My big thing was the upselling. I felt like I couldn't get away from people trying to sell me on drink packages, casino stuff, etc. I never got that feeling on DCL.
I think when it comes to cruising, it comes down to what you’re looking for and what you want to spend money on. Thank you Adrian for the points between both cruise lines. Your points didn’t persuade me to try RC.
thanks for the comparison between Disney Cruises and Royal Caribbean! Did you notice if the crew on RC cleaned public spaces daily (e.g. pools in early morning - checking pH levels before opening / after midnight washing decks / wiping railings, elevator buttons, vacuum, etc.)? I observed Disney (Dream ship) was constantly cleaning and following cleaning procedures (I used to be a health inspector) which made me feel safe. A stark contrast was where I mainly cruised via Princess (I'm elite - top status) was lack of cleaning across everywhere! Like your observation, there was a staff at the buffet's entry reminding ppl to wash their hands but disappeared on the second day. There's also few areas to wash hands as I observed only 2 spots per hallway entrance were available. I would use the paper towel to handle the tongs at the buffet to avoid contact and wash my hands again after finding a table to eat. My major hesitation on trying RC is the cabin cost and blandness of the "free" food. I find there's a huge up charge between interior balcony and ocean balcony and personally can't justify the additional charge. Also, the gratuity is a lot more than Disney and not transparent of where the fees go. Love how Disney has breakdown and gives us envelopes to encourage additional tipping for outstanding service. I heard the included food can be bland / under seasoned while you'd have to pay an up charge to get better tasting food. The food on Princess tastes overall good but can be repetitive. On an 8-night cruise, they repeated the MDR menu by the 5th night and buffet was always the same just a small area had themed lunch/dinner food (e.g. Italian, Asian-fusion, Mexican, etc.).
Royal Caribbean’s newer ships have the RFID proximity readers so you don’t have to insert your key card. I have also 100% had cold towels and water available on the pier with Royal. I think it depends on the weather in port.
The lack of dinner options on DCL has always been my biggest nitpick about Disney. If literally every major cruise line in the US offers a buffet option for dinner (Princess & Celebrity included), how hard would it be to offer it on DCL? Some of us don't like having to be in a dining room for hours every evening! Seriously DCL, for what you're charging for a cruise, you can keep Cabanas/Marceline Market open for a dinner option!
So glad for this comparison. Our experience with Disney Cruise line was should I say less than stellar. We were highly disappointed and thought this time around we're going to try Royal so in March we're going on wonder of the seas. Can't wait. Oh by the way don't forget about the muster drill
We have been on both and love both. I would say the main dining room food on Disney is better and the service is a bit better on Disney if you are in a regular room. However my family of 5 can stay in a suite on Royal Caribbean for less than what it costs for a regular room on Disney cruise line so for us it’s Royal all the way!
Thanks for this comparison. I have been on 13 DCL cruises and loved them all, but starting to get super bored with their food and entertainment options. Looking forward to our cruise on Utopia in February!
Disney high cost is all about the over the top theming and character’s. IE… animators pallet cost big money! If you aren’t “all in” on the character experience, it’s not worth the $$$. I won’t go on another Disney cruise because all that Disney offered isn’t important to me with my kids grown. I can do a 7 day Cruse on an oasis ship for the cost of a 3 day on Disney.
I agree with most of what you said. Muster drill Royal >DCL Food options RCL>DCL Ship activities for all ages RCL>DCL (hint hint DCL get a ice rink and do shows!). What you don't know (yet 😉) are the kids club. I've done 7 DCL & 3 RCL cruises. I LOVE how the kc ages are broken up more on RCL than on DCL. They do closer to 2- 3 yrs increments than DCL 3-11. Ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Makes a BIG difference. I also wish DCL had Jr suites like RCL. DCL has them beat like you said with sanitation. Love the personal entrance announcements. Love the FREE movies in the rooms! Free rm service. Rainforest pass offerings. But hands down the service and it's quality are top notch!
Totally agree with you on the ice cream and YES Sanitization is a HUGE thing!!! Oh you also forgot they (Royal Caribbean) charge you for room service (not including tip) where as DCL does not.
@cruisepryor Oh yea but Disney IP is never cheap. Which I do fortunately and unfortunately give my $$ almost without thought 😆 🤣 😂. Gotta love the mouse °○°
Water stations when you get back on the ship is dependent on the ship. I have been on many RC cruises where there is a water station before getting on. Also RC has many wash stations and sanitizer stations at all the food venues.
We love Royal Caribbean and after trying other lines we go back to Royal and that’s where we will stay now. Royal Caribbean is much less expensive than Disney too. Seeing Micky and the rest once is ok but constantly and most things are kids oriented is a nightmare. Disney closes food early because kids go to bed and regardless of what anyone tells you Disney is kid oriented. There are kids on Royal Caribbean also and plenty for them to do but it’s not in the main area and basically if you want shows it’s Micky shows or something similar. Royal offers a large variety of options. If anyone wants to sail Disney that’s their choice and their pocket book but we will stay with Royal and sail more often due to the price difference and our preference. That’s why there are different cruise lines because they do lean more to a certain cruiser according to their likes. We never had problems getting ice cream later. The room key is because the ship is older and probably will be updated. I liked when they did a twice a day room cleaning but most cruise lines have gone to only once a day. We have been on Coco Cay with large ships in and never felt crowded like you make it out to be. Royal has no laundry to use on any ships. The price you pay for Disney they shouldn’t care about their towels and most adults find it normal to return their towels. We have always had complementary water before getting back on so not sure why they didn’t for your ship. I agree about sanitation, they have washing stations and I have made comments about this before and Royal needs to step this up. I don’t think there is a no chance of getting ill anywhere and anyplace you have lots of kids you have lots of germs so even with hand washing if you worry about catching something I would also worry about being around loads of kids. Kids always have runny noses and such, just saying if it’s a big concern keep that in mind since Disney has loads of kids.
One thing i do think you experince was unusual was the hand washing. Ive cruised RC several times and it is very rare there is not 1-2 crew members posted to give us hand sanitizer, and there should be hand sanitizer stations at the entrances. Perhaps the allure was short staffed on your sailing and they couldn't staff those positions? Typically at breakfast in the windjammer, there are people singing and forcing everyone to wash your hands. When we went on Disney recently for the last time we commented that Disney's cast members were not as good as RC with sanitation. So it must have been your sailing, im fairly confident on other sailings you will see a difference with this. Perhaps we experienced the same on Disney?
Thank you so much for your comparison video! I would love to see a video showing the things you wished you knew before sailing with Royal. I can not wait to see all of your 2025 videos!!!
You had me so interested that I started to look into booking. And I found a rather big something you missed if I want to choose my room it's going to cost me about $300 extra and if I want to be midship which I always do it will be another $80. $380 is a bit of an extra an amount to tack on to the cruise and then say it's cheaper than disney. Just saying you might want to mention that
Not sure about Allure, but Wonder and Odyssey OTS both have sinks and sanitizer stations when you enter the buffet, and crew members are chanting "washy washy" your hands when you walk in. We just left Celebrity and there was sanitizer all over the place there, too.
RC you get people twerking on the pool deck. I'll gladly pay any amount of money to be far away from those types of people. If you don't like Disney theming, then obviously the Disney experience is not worth the money. If you do, it's well worth the money. It's like Disneyland. Some people go there everyday and love it. Others wouldn't go even if it was free.
I’ll give you 3 out of 10! I’ve been on Regent Cruise Line and there are so many different rooms and stuff that have evening activities compared to Disney. I would prefer more food options for sure on Disney. And I would love Broadway shows. But other than that, eh.
The hours for the kids club is a lot less on Royal. Also they will charge you if you pick up the kids late. My tween spent a lot of time roaming the ship because it was closed lunch to almost dinner. It wasn’t that it was closed for open house , it was just closed. The hours were very limited especially on a sea day. Idk if it was just the Mexico sailing. Also the youngest kid club they said we had to pick them up every 2 hours and recheck them in. Kids sign up was on the ship and very disorganized. You had to wait for a tablet to fill out your information, but there was no line just parents crowded around the table and grabbing it even if there was others there before them.
Oh Wow. That was not my experience with the RC kids club. The kids club was closed for 2 hours for lunch and 2 hours for dinner on sea days and on port days the kids club is only closed for 2 hours for dinner. The kids club charged extra from 10 pm to 1 am. I choose the option to not allow my child to sign themselves out, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference. I hope your next experience with RC kids club is better than your last experience.
You doing an amazing job and you’re partially responsible for introducing my wife and me to cruising and our first one was the Disney wonder out of Alaska in 2022 I guess I want you just to say this again for a moment. Think about it and say oh OK that makes sense. Why hasn’t Disney done full? Broadway plays on any of their ships ? Again, I’m as far from Florida as you can be and I’ve been to a handful of Broadway plays that have been to like Seattle, but I believe they’re a lot longer and duration than the shows Disney puts on And the duration is shorter on the Disney ships because people in the audience are going to be under 12 even under 16 who could get bored lol I’m halfway watching through your video and I don’t know yet yet you haven’t talked about casinos and that’s the main difference why we go on Disney cruises and not other ones casinos I almost got my wife to go on a virgin cruise line cause Virgin cruise line 30% of the higher-ups are ex Disney Cruise line higher-ups so they do plan virgin to be Disney for adult adult adults and it’s got all the entertainment stuff spread out like you talked about on this ship But for us that is a big difference in big dealbreaker that we love you could say no casinos like if we had a list of the eight things they do bad and eight things they do good the number one thing they do good for us is no casinos . Keep up the good work and I’ll try to check your other channel next week
I guess you’ll know where I am in the video by talking about this. I can agree to disagree for me. It makes no difference. A perfect example is I’m going right now to Australia and I booked a room and paid $xxx for it but I can cancel it and get a refund. What is it 48 hours before right now I’m currently looking for other places. That might be better cheaper closer to stuff a better hotel. I can tell you the trip before that when we ended up our Disney cruise in Barcelona, we didn’t have to pay. We didn’t have to pay any other reservations until we got to the hotel so I did the same thing. I did reserve one hotel found a better hotel canceled that reservations got the other one and then I found a third hotel canceled the reservations and got the third one and it wouldn’t have made a difference if I had to put on my credit card or not cause I know it’s coming back. One thing I didn’t hear you say does tear levels affect the stuff you get on the non-Disney ship because as you said on the Alaskan cruise, it’s hard to get the glacier one because everybody snapped it up…… but I can add on our very first cruise when we are not anything other than a first time cruiser. I was able to grab it when our time opened up to book excursions so you can get lucky. Keep up the amazing work
The financial hit aspect people that are loaded to the gills with money then paying for your excursions ahead of time makes no difference people like you and me screaming by during that credit card month on a nine day cruise. I would book an excursion but during a week or two week window, I would look for stuff and I might flip around during that initial window And then come at the end of the window. I would make a final choice which is kind of what I do now with the Disney one it just like you said you’re not getting hit so I see where you’re coming from from some aspects but for me Disney’s is 100 times worse because again it’s based on your tear level and you don’t get tier levels fairly. We have sailed over 60 days on Disney and because they were only for cruises there you go if they did them in groups of three days we would be a lot higher.
Did mention that for a moment, my wife was considering Virgin cruise lines because it’s an adult Disney version and their casino is off to the side But she reviewed a lot of videos and she deemed it ‘ to adult’ and I’m at that part of the video where you’re talking about body parts and adults lol Sofa, my wife personally she’s like there’s a time and a place for that but when I guess she’s cruising, she does not want that so it’s very interesting how everybody has their own uniquenesses. I would have no problem with it but then I’m totally opposite of you guys, you say you sleep in till 10 or 11 I wake up at 4 AM Because that’s kind of my normal schedule since age 6 don’t ask. lol and come 9 o’clock I’m sleepy and come 10 o’clock. I’m gone, but yes I stay up later for some stuff that happened later but I have to really really really fight it. I hope after watching more of your videos my wife will wanna go on different cruise lines so I’ll get her to help keep your numbers up by getting her to watch all your videos again.
Ok. I was very critical of you during the first couple of the Royal Caribbean vlogs. However I think you were very fair with these points. I love Royal Caribbean so I was being protective of it. Well done sir.
Adrian, I did like the amount of food options on RC but didn't care for alot of it. Especially the desert options anywhere but the uncharged restaurants. Also, we kept our room keys in the plastic pouch when opening our cabin doors. It would have been a pain to take them out each time.
i hate the towel thing too. i hated having to guard and remember my towels. i turned them in and still got charged (and eventually reinbursed). we got cold towels and water in nassau when we were getting back on the ship. maybe they only do it sometimes? does disney’s private island have a pool?
They've basically been eliminated from all new Royal and Carnival ships because they aren't used that much in comparison to the amount of space and resources they use. And yes as the ship scales up so too must the laundry space.
When we were on Disney fantasy there were lots of people just walking past the hand washing station and going into the buffet so I think it's something that's pretty standard with people who just don't care
Yes! 1000% accurate! We are going to say goodbye to Disney this March. We have three kids ages 15, 10 & 7. Royal just does a better job with entertaining the Whole family! My kids also enjoyed adventure ocean more than the Disney kids clubs because they said it was more interactive than Disney. My children said the Disney kids club felt too crazy no order or purpose to them.
I think the free texting/photo messaging you mentioned is a glitch with iOS that royal is working on blocking. I don't think it's a real advertised perk. At least assuming you meant without purchasing a wifi package
Royal actually does have water set up as you get back on the ships. A lot of your negatives about Royal come down to you comparing a premium cruise line (Disney) to a regular cruise line (Royal). When it comes down to it, Royal offers way more bang for the buck. A better comparison would be Disney compared to Celebrity.
RC I believe fleet wide does not have self service laundry. If I can recall Carnival does have self service laundry and ironing. But don’t waste your money on carnival, I am sorry it’s too trashy.
I'm an avid watcher but most of your negatives where food related. You never mentioned rotational dining, keeping your service team as negatives. I've never sailed with Royal and was interested but the food comparisons would never be a deal breaker. I want to know about customer service, cleanliness, etc.
I think most of your points lend themselves to the fact RC both caters move for adults rather than families and sheer volume of passengers. DCL is all about that Disney experience through themeing and family fun. DCL is not going to neccessarily appeal to the same group of people as RC.
Rc is hands down way better how about Disney actually having the nerve to let passengers be subjected to mass Flys and bugs everywhere when they went to there new Island Disgraceful
Royal was a superior experience. I've been on Utopia, Serenade, and Allure. Allure was outstanding... Plus, I can go on Allure 3x for the price of one Disney cruise when factoring in thing like drinks packages, etc. Don't get me wrong. DCL is fine, but Royal provides exponentially more value for the $$. If Disney drops its prices by 35% - 50%, maybe it can compete with Royal.
I am hesitant to sail on Royal or anything like it simply because when I’m on the ocean I like my ship to look and feel like a ship not a giant tacky mall. If the ship has a courtyard it’s too damn big. Also, it sounds like you are sleeping on Disney Room Service. Think it’s 24/7. My wife and I skipped enchanted garden and got wings instead.
I agree with you! I am a person who does not want a giant ship with a party atmosphere, amusement park, etc. I like that Disney is PG and I do not have noise seeping into my cabin late at night. I like the rotational dining of Disney, though I do with the buffet was open longer hours and for dinner. I also like the personal touches Disney gives. My servers and stateroom host knows my name and preferences. Even the little things like included soft drinks and cold towels make a difference for me. I totally get that not everyone is into the Dianey themeing (which makes Disney not for you) but I will always go Disney!
@@ThemeParkExpressthanks for taking the time to reply! Love the channel! Totally agree, I just wanted to highlight the awesome room service experience I had. I feel like a lot of people don’t know about or use that service outside of breakfast!
A la cart... pre covid, cabanas would open for dinner as an a la cart option. We did this on Formal night. None of wanted to dress up and didn’t want to be in the dining room with us being too casual. So we went to cabanas. It was great, quiet and service was fast! Hope it comes back.
Perfect timing! I am really struggling whether to book another dis cruise or try RC. I’ve only been on Disney. Loved it but have a few things I don’t like. I have a wheat allergy and as much as everyone talks up Disney food , the gluten free food selection is horrible. I hear RC has so many options. That and Disney’s in person safety drill absolutely irritates me. My mom and I missed the sail away because it was a cluster F.. I love the Disney theme though. The Struggle to decide is real
No matter how late breakfast is you can’t get a Mickey waffle🤣 RC dumps 10k+ passengers on private island and bigger ships + more people means more options🤷🏻♀️ Disney has music in other lounges and in atrium. Plus deck shows, fireworks, and atrium shows. I do not need to see other people’s body parts and swearing🤦🏻♀️ 👍🏼Disney split bathrooms and 👍🏼very comfortable beds, towels👍🏼👍🏼 True adult areas👍🏼 one ship on private island👍🏼 Agree Disney needs to keep buffet and all deck choices open for dinner and later. Also keep lounges open earlier and pub food for lunch. Disney has to change muster!! I do want to try RC
You’ll never have what Royal has on Disney period. Royal is hands down 10,000% the better cruise line. More worth your money. You forgot about the muster drills and how much better Royal is. I would also take Royal over Castaway in a heartbeat, castaway has nothing to do.
I don’t know about 10,000% better. I love Royal but not entirely too. Castaway is one of my favorite places. Also the food is better on Castaway than CoCo Cay. More things to do on Coco Cay absolutely, but Castaway just like DCL is just Nostalgic. If you’re referring to just Oasis class and Icon Class then yes it’s hard to compete, Disney is way behind. However once you move past those ships Oasis & Icon then Disney gives Royal a run for their money. Example Disney Fantasy vs Freedom of the Seas. I would take Fantasy over Freedom every time. Nothing beats an Oasis or Icon Class ship. But there is just something Nostalgic about a Disney cruise. Also I do think the Treasure will definitely help but the price is even more ridiculous than Icon. The Haunted Mansion parlor appears to be a Home Run for Disney as well as the theming on the Treasure everything seems to just be so cohesive. I believe ships like Treasure and soon Destiny, Disney is slowly and I mean slowly learning how to make their cruise experience better and worth the money. If you know then you know. Try them all as I assure you you’ll find things that are better and worse on all of them.
I can’t believe I forgot the MUSTER DRILL! Royal definitely has the edge over Disney with the E-Muster! Not having to gather the whole ship at once is the BEST! 5 minutes and you’re done!
I was about to rewind because I thought I missed something.
I hated the DCL muster drill... 3 people held up the entire ship for 45 minutes when I was on the Fantasy... Ugh.
I literally just came on here to say how could you forget the muster drill! Disneys is a nightmare!
Yes, DCL needs to get with the times! Jamming everyone into a theater or lounge all at one time is a pain!
I came to the comments to mention the muster drill!
We're so happy it's not just us that cries a bit at the 10:30 cut off for the buffet! It's vacation, let us sleep in Disney! 😭
You forgot to mention the split bathrooms Disney has with full sized tubs. Royal Caribbean bathrooms look so tiny and uncomfortable compared to DCL!
Thank you for your videos! They are so fun and informative!!! ❤ They are really entertaining too!
Ice cream is definitely available after 5pm. There are multiple ice cream spots. Typically if you find one there is another one directly across from it on the other side of the ship. So if you go and find it closed…cross the deck and the other should be open.
Also, I think the key being inserted is because Allure hasn’t been updated. I’ve been on Anthem, Oasis, Symphony and Liberty and have always tapped to get into my cabin.
I totally agree with the towels. They are awful and it’s an annoying process.
One of the things that you need to remember is that Royal is a mass market budget cruise line (competitors are Carnival, NCL, and MSC). Disney is a premium cruise line (competitors are Princess, HAL, Virgin, Celebrity). Many of your gripes are unfair. Of course there's not going to be twice a day service in your room. Most hotels on land only provide once a day service. All of the mass market cruise lines have had to cut back on this (NCL, Carnival are the same).
The inserted cruise card is related to the age of the ship. Royal's newer ships have the tap cards. Royal's fleet has 28 ships and they had to shut down their business completely for a year and a half during Covid. They took out huge loans to keep the company afloat (pun intended) and investing in replacing the locks is not a necessary expense at the moment.
The sanitation thing was not something I have experienced on other Royal ships. Might be a situation specific to Allure or to the people on that cruise?
Just got back from Oasis Of The Seas and they definitely had water in port as you got back on the ship
Thanks for the video! I’m a Carnival cruiser and I will be going on my first Royal cruise this Spring. Your video was helpful!
We just got off Utopia. Got ice cream until about 8:30pm and had the tap for room entry. We still got a towel animal in the morning cleaning. Although I have not been on Disney yet (we are booked for the Destiny in 2026), we LOVED RC! Try a short Utopia cruise or Icon! Congrats to you and Koda on your channel!
We’re hoping to try Utopia soon!
@@ThemeParkExpress Yes! Just got off Utopia yesterday and it was very clean. Ice cream was open past 6pm. I loved the tap feature for the room doors now. One thing I did learn from Utopia is to make sure you book your shows early. We didn’t and had to go in line when we boarded.
Thanks Adrian, great vlog! Very good info about Royal. We have been on 12 Disney cruises all have been great, I am afraid to try another cruise line!
I'm so happy you posted this! We've been waiting for it since you guys went on Allure! I remember a video way back when you guys were in port somewhere with RCL's Anthem and you had heard you had to pay for everything where Disney everything was included. I knew then you would see the difference once you actually sailed. A couple of things: its pronounced CAY like the Letter K, rhymes with Day. Also, im not sure what's up w Allure as it hasn't gone theu its refitting yet, but we just got off Prima (and last Dec, the Getaway) but NCL is big on sanitizong before meals, and enetering and exiting at Ports. You dont need room numbers for towels, and they do welcome you back w refreshments and cool towels, and you can just tap your card to enter your room. To my knowledge and experience with RCL, they never had a perty like atmosphere on and off the ship like NCL and never greated you with towels and water. When I did NCL to RCCL, I missed the atmosphere, but NCL is catching up, newer ships are nice and I appreciate the safety measures. Im glad you guys are expe new cruise lines! Cant wait to see you both explore more!!!! Wepa!!!! Happy New Year! 2025 is going to be awesome for you both!!!
❣❣❣Allure will go into dry dock this month or Feb 2025.❣❣❣
Adrian, thanks for the breakdown between RC and Disney. Having cruised multiple times on Disney and a few times on other lines, I feel like the RC is more of an adult cruise, however, with multiple opportunities for all families to enjoy. My teens are completely “over” Disney cruises, but I’d love to take more.
It’s been several years since I took a RC cruise. Would you please make the “what you wished you knew” video? Glad you had such a good time. Thank you!
Love the content as a loyal to royal cruiser I cannot wait till you get to experience the unlimited dining package. We do it on all of our sailings and absolutely love the elevated food and venues for dining.
Unlimited package is on our list for Star!
I agree with your disney is so structured comment. Its like they dont want you "wandering" around the ship. They lead your schedule every night, all cruise, around the ship almost like a virtual tour guide. Like you said, okay at this time you will eat here, next watch a show here, then all meet on the pool deck at this time etc.
I've only done two cruises so far, both RC.
-Ice cream definitely went later than 5p. I want to say it was at least til 9p.
-Internet does not let you send photos for free without their package. Unless I'm missing something, I was able to receive notifications but not send while not on the wifi and signed in.
-Your SeaPass can be tapped on some RC ships. For example on Wonder it was tap on our room door but on Voyager it was insert.
Some points you made:
-I must be super basic because I cannot understand the need for having my room cleaned twice a day. We sailed with two kids under 3 and we were perfectly fine having it done once in the evening.
-Washing hands before entering the buffet is kinda silly because someone could easily wash their hands while entering and then sneeze or cough or touch their nose or whatever and then grab the tongs at the buffet. We focus on ourselves and make sure we are washing our hands and staying clean. Everyone else will do what they will do.
Good video overall!
We sail with Royal often and they usually have water stations before reboarding at most ports, maybe that is a coco cay thing. Also lots of santizing stations everywhere on the boats we have been on. Maybe Allure? Thanks for the video 😊
Great video! We went on an RC back in 2004, i honestly can't remember much about it. Haha.
I'm with you in wishing that DCL had more dinner and late-night food options (and spread out on different decks)! Sometimes the main dining room is a bit much and I'd prefer to grab a bite at a buffet (that's not burgers, tendies, pizza, etc). And if I want to grab food at 11 PM, it feels like there is barely anything. I'm a night owl, so this matters! That's also neat that RCL has you pay for experiences/excursions in advance, unlike Disney where you go on the cruise, knowing you may still have $$$ to pay. Yeah, you pay it either way, but there is something freeing about boarding the ship with everything paid for! (And yes, I agree on the booking and holding onto popular experiences...that can be frustrating!)
The hand washing - people are gross. I'm amazed that adults, especially, need to be reminded to wash their hands before handling food and after going to the bathroom. But as social media has taught us, a lot of people don't believe in the power of soap and water.
Great review. I look forward to you and Koda trying new cruise lines.
I agree with many of your points. Things I didn’t like about RC was on embarkation day I was asked by 5 different people to purchase specialty dining and I didn’t like how prices constantly changed for drink package/excursions/dining. I ended up creating a spreadsheet to track prices. The live music was amazing on RCL and the parties were fun. I do think a drink package is more convenient. Nice video.
After having done multiple Disney cruises then doing a Royal cruise, we agree with everything you said
Disney is amazing. What I’ve seen from several vloggers has us wanting to try Royal. You and Brian and Kerry are my teenager’s favorite cruise vloggers. He wants us to hit gold status on Disney before we try Royal but we already have a few ships and sailings in our list. I want to go back to Alaska on a quantum class ship. Disney was amazing but I can’t afford to repeat it.
Great video 🎉 I’m seeing Back to the future the musical here in Denver next month ! Can’t wait.
Very suprised you mentioned Broadway shows. Disney has some of the best shows available they are obviously Disney themed.
Not having to make reservations for shows on Disney is better.
I will agree that the dining menus need replacing on tthe older ships they are extremely boring now!
The new ships Wish, Treasure have improved options!
Royal Caribbean nickel and dimes for many items included with DCL.
Service overall with DCL is imo superior!
All DCL ships get 98 -100% with CDC and that's all it takes.🙂
Yes! I was disappointed in the ice cream situation. Because the hours were tight also it was long lines to get the ice cream! We were on oasis ship.
Doing this very soon! Thanks for the review!
Aye I appreciate you guys watching!
I agree with the washing and ironing area in royal, I wish they'll provide one every cabin floor.
I think the adventure is going to be game changer for Disney dining. Can’t wait to check it out
I haven't done RC but did do Princess and Celebrity in the past few years, both after doing 5 cruises on Disney. My big thing was the upselling. I felt like I couldn't get away from people trying to sell me on drink packages, casino stuff, etc. I never got that feeling on DCL.
I think when it comes to cruising, it comes down to what you’re looking for and what you want to spend money on. Thank you Adrian for the points between both cruise lines. Your points didn’t persuade me to try RC.
thanks for the comparison between Disney Cruises and Royal Caribbean!
Did you notice if the crew on RC cleaned public spaces daily (e.g. pools in early morning - checking pH levels before opening / after midnight washing decks / wiping railings, elevator buttons, vacuum, etc.)?
I observed Disney (Dream ship) was constantly cleaning and following cleaning procedures (I used to be a health inspector) which made me feel safe.
A stark contrast was where I mainly cruised via Princess (I'm elite - top status) was lack of cleaning across everywhere! Like your observation, there was a staff at the buffet's entry reminding ppl to wash their hands but disappeared on the second day. There's also few areas to wash hands as I observed only 2 spots per hallway entrance were available. I would use the paper towel to handle the tongs at the buffet to avoid contact and wash my hands again after finding a table to eat.
My major hesitation on trying RC is the cabin cost and blandness of the "free" food. I find there's a huge up charge between interior balcony and ocean balcony and personally can't justify the additional charge. Also, the gratuity is a lot more than Disney and not transparent of where the fees go. Love how Disney has breakdown and gives us envelopes to encourage additional tipping for outstanding service.
I heard the included food can be bland / under seasoned while you'd have to pay an up charge to get better tasting food. The food on Princess tastes overall good but can be repetitive. On an 8-night cruise, they repeated the MDR menu by the 5th night and buffet was always the same just a small area had themed lunch/dinner food (e.g. Italian, Asian-fusion, Mexican, etc.).
Muster stations. I never want to go in person again. Haha!
We were on Celebrity in October and they offer cold towels/water when getting back on the ship !!
Royal Caribbean’s newer ships have the RFID proximity readers so you don’t have to insert your key card. I have also 100% had cold towels and water available on the pier with Royal. I think it depends on the weather in port.
Good job putting this together.
The lack of dinner options on DCL has always been my biggest nitpick about Disney. If literally every major cruise line in the US offers a buffet option for dinner (Princess & Celebrity included), how hard would it be to offer it on DCL? Some of us don't like having to be in a dining room for hours every evening! Seriously DCL, for what you're charging for a cruise, you can keep Cabanas/Marceline Market open for a dinner option!
Just a FYI, if you cancel a excursion on RC more then 24hrs prior to it starting while on the ship you get the money back as a onboard credit
So glad for this comparison. Our experience with Disney Cruise line was should I say less than stellar. We were highly disappointed and thought this time around we're going to try Royal so in March we're going on wonder of the seas. Can't wait. Oh by the way don't forget about the muster drill
I’ve heard some mixed reviews on Disney recently. Hopefully it’s not a trend but I’m so happy you love Royal!
We have been on both and love both. I would say the main dining room food on Disney is better and the service is a bit better on Disney if you are in a regular room. However my family of 5 can stay in a suite on Royal Caribbean for less than what it costs for a regular room on Disney cruise line so for us it’s Royal all the way!
Yes would like to see a video on what you wish you knew before you got on a Royal Cruise. Nice video
The MUSTER DRILLLL. 😂 DCL is stuck in the Stone Age with their traditional muster and it’s just gotta go lol
Bad internet is my favorite. I hate getting alerts for stuff while on a cruise.
Agree with all of these points! You’re going to love Star of the Seas!
Thanks for watching my friends! I can’t wait to sail more Royal!
Thanks for this comparison. I have been on 13 DCL cruises and loved them all, but starting to get super bored with their food and entertainment options. Looking forward to our cruise on Utopia in February!
You'll love Utopia. It was incredible! Plus, if you like fancy bourbon (fully covered by the drinks package), the Mason Jar has it all.
Disney high cost is all about the over the top theming and character’s. IE… animators pallet cost big money! If you aren’t “all in” on the character experience, it’s not worth the $$$. I won’t go on another Disney cruise because all that Disney offered isn’t important to me with my kids grown. I can do a 7 day Cruse on an oasis ship for the cost of a 3 day on Disney.
That is a fair point. I totally get that
Fantastic video comparing the two
I agree with most of what you said.
Muster drill Royal >DCL
Food options RCL>DCL
Ship activities for all ages RCL>DCL (hint hint DCL get a ice rink and do shows!).
What you don't know (yet 😉) are the kids club. I've done 7 DCL & 3 RCL cruises. I LOVE how the kc ages are broken up more on RCL than on DCL. They do closer to 2- 3 yrs increments than DCL 3-11. Ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Makes a BIG difference.
I also wish DCL had Jr suites like RCL.
DCL has them beat like you said with sanitation. Love the personal entrance announcements.
Love the FREE movies in the rooms!
Free rm service.
Rainforest pass offerings.
But hands down the service and it's quality are top notch!
I can confirm that Carnival has water at ports.
Royal Caribbean right now is 10 years ahead of everyone with their newest ships perfect day Mexico royal beach club coming soon
Agreed!
Yes MSC is the only other line with a 200,000+GT ship. With another launching in April.
Totally agree with you on the ice cream and YES Sanitization is a HUGE thing!!! Oh you also forgot they (Royal Caribbean) charge you for room service (not including tip) where as DCL does not.
Sadly there were MANY things I forgot to mention 🫠 I’m making another list for later after my next cruise with Royal haha
@ThemeParkExpress no worries it is easy to forget but am glad you both had a amazing time blessing to you both
I would hope they don’t charge you for room service on Disney when they are charging you twice as much to get on the ship 😂
@cruisepryor Oh yea but Disney IP is never cheap. Which I do fortunately and unfortunately give my $$ almost without thought 😆 🤣 😂. Gotta love the mouse °○°
Water stations when you get back on the ship is dependent on the ship. I have been on many RC cruises where there is a water station before getting on. Also RC has many wash stations and sanitizer stations at all the food venues.
Try Holland 28day Alaskan cruise. That just looks amazing.
I have always seen a water station in front of point of entry on to Royal ships.
We love Royal Caribbean and after trying other lines we go back to Royal and that’s where we will stay now.
Royal Caribbean is much less expensive than Disney too.
Seeing Micky and the rest once is ok but constantly and most things are kids oriented is a nightmare.
Disney closes food early because kids go to bed and regardless of what anyone tells you Disney is kid oriented.
There are kids on Royal Caribbean also and plenty for them to do but it’s not in the main area and basically if you want shows it’s Micky shows or something similar. Royal offers a large variety of options.
If anyone wants to sail Disney that’s their choice and their pocket book but we will stay with Royal and sail more often due to the price difference and our preference.
That’s why there are different cruise lines because they do lean more to a certain cruiser according to their likes.
We never had problems getting ice cream later.
The room key is because the ship is older and probably will be updated.
I liked when they did a twice a day room cleaning but most cruise lines have gone to only once a day.
We have been on Coco Cay with large ships in and never felt crowded like you make it out to be.
Royal has no laundry to use on any ships.
The price you pay for Disney they shouldn’t care about their towels and most adults find it normal to return their towels.
We have always had complementary water before getting back on so not sure why they didn’t for your ship.
I agree about sanitation, they have washing stations and I have made comments about this before and Royal needs to step this up.
I don’t think there is a no chance of getting ill anywhere and anyplace you have lots of kids you have lots of germs so even with hand washing if you worry about catching something I would also worry about being around loads of kids. Kids always have runny noses and such, just saying if it’s a big concern keep that in mind since Disney has loads of kids.
Thanks for sharing your views on it! Each line will appeal to different people and that’s okay! We are obsessed with both now!
One thing i do think you experince was unusual was the hand washing. Ive cruised RC several times and it is very rare there is not 1-2 crew members posted to give us hand sanitizer, and there should be hand sanitizer stations at the entrances. Perhaps the allure was short staffed on your sailing and they couldn't staff those positions? Typically at breakfast in the windjammer, there are people singing and forcing everyone to wash your hands. When we went on Disney recently for the last time we commented that Disney's cast members were not as good as RC with sanitation. So it must have been your sailing, im fairly confident on other sailings you will see a difference with this. Perhaps we experienced the same on Disney?
Thank you so much for your comparison video! I would love to see a video showing the things you wished you knew before sailing with Royal. I can not wait to see all of your 2025 videos!!!
Thumbs up for “ I wish I knew video”
I appreciate you!
You had me so interested that I started to look into booking. And I found a rather big something you missed if I want to choose my room it's going to cost me about $300 extra and if I want to be midship which I always do it will be another $80. $380 is a bit of an extra an amount to tack on to the cruise and then say it's cheaper than disney. Just saying you might want to mention that
Not sure about Allure, but Wonder and Odyssey OTS both have sinks and sanitizer stations when you enter the buffet, and crew members are chanting "washy washy" your hands when you walk in. We just left Celebrity and there was sanitizer all over the place there, too.
Allure does have the sinks for Buffet, and they do sing Washy Washy
RC you get people twerking on the pool deck. I'll gladly pay any amount of money to be far away from those types of people. If you don't like Disney theming, then obviously the Disney experience is not worth the money. If you do, it's well worth the money. It's like Disneyland. Some people go there everyday and love it. Others wouldn't go even if it was free.
I believe there is a soft serve in the Windjammer if I remember correctly.
I’ll give you 3 out of 10! I’ve been on Regent Cruise Line and there are so many different rooms and stuff that have evening activities compared to Disney. I would prefer more food options for sure on Disney. And I would love Broadway shows. But other than that, eh.
Royal needs to switch to self serve ice cream like Carnival and leave it open until midnight.
How do i become a patron member?
Link is in the description below the video 😁 you can also google theme park express patreon!
The hours for the kids club is a lot less on Royal. Also they will charge you if you pick up the kids late. My tween spent a lot of time roaming the ship because it was closed lunch to almost dinner. It wasn’t that it was closed for open house , it was just closed. The hours were very limited especially on a sea day. Idk if it was just the Mexico sailing. Also the youngest kid club they said we had to pick them up every 2 hours and recheck them in.
Kids sign up was on the ship and very disorganized. You had to wait for a tablet to fill out your information, but there was no line just parents crowded around the table and grabbing it even if there was others there before them.
I never paid attention to the kids club hours because we don’t have kids so thank you for bringing this up! We had no idea that’s how it worked!
Oh Wow. That was not my experience with the RC kids club. The kids club was closed for 2 hours for lunch and 2 hours for dinner on sea days and on port days the kids club is only closed for 2 hours for dinner. The kids club charged extra from 10 pm to 1 am. I choose the option to not allow my child to sign themselves out, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference. I hope your next experience with RC kids club is better than your last experience.
You doing an amazing job and you’re partially responsible for introducing my wife and me to cruising and our first one was the Disney wonder out of Alaska in 2022
I guess I want you just to say this again for a moment. Think about it and say oh OK that makes sense.
Why hasn’t Disney done full? Broadway plays on any of their ships ?
Again, I’m as far from Florida as you can be and I’ve been to a handful of Broadway plays that have been to like Seattle, but I believe they’re a lot longer and duration than the shows Disney puts on
And the duration is shorter on the Disney ships because people in the audience are going to be under 12 even under 16 who could get bored lol
I’m halfway watching through your video and I don’t know yet yet you haven’t talked about casinos and that’s the main difference why we go on Disney cruises and not other ones casinos I almost got my wife to go on a virgin cruise line cause Virgin cruise line 30% of the higher-ups are ex Disney Cruise line higher-ups so they do plan virgin to be Disney for adult adult adults and it’s got all the entertainment stuff spread out like you talked about on this ship
But for us that is a big difference in big dealbreaker that we love you could say no casinos like if we had a list of the eight things they do bad and eight things they do good the number one thing they do good for us is no casinos .
Keep up the good work and I’ll try to check your other channel next week
I guess you’ll know where I am in the video by talking about this. I can agree to disagree for me. It makes no difference. A perfect example is I’m going right now to Australia and I booked a room and paid $xxx for it but I can cancel it and get a refund. What is it 48 hours before right now I’m currently looking for other places. That might be better cheaper closer to stuff a better hotel. I can tell you the trip before that when we ended up our Disney cruise in Barcelona, we didn’t have to pay. We didn’t have to pay any other reservations until we got to the hotel so I did the same thing. I did reserve one hotel found a better hotel canceled that reservations got the other one and then I found a third hotel canceled the reservations and got the third one and it wouldn’t have made a difference if I had to put on my credit card or not cause I know it’s coming back. One thing I didn’t hear you say does tear levels affect the stuff you get on the non-Disney ship because as you said on the Alaskan cruise, it’s hard to get the glacier one because everybody snapped it up…… but I can add on our very first cruise when we are not anything other than a first time cruiser. I was able to grab it when our time opened up to book excursions so you can get lucky.
Keep up the amazing work
The financial hit aspect people that are loaded to the gills with money then paying for your excursions ahead of time makes no difference people like you and me screaming by during that credit card month on a nine day cruise. I would book an excursion but during a week or two week window, I would look for stuff and I might flip around during that initial window And then come at the end of the window. I would make a final choice which is kind of what I do now with the Disney one it just like you said you’re not getting hit so I see where you’re coming from from some aspects but for me Disney’s is 100 times worse because again it’s based on your tear level and you don’t get tier levels fairly. We have sailed over 60 days on Disney and because they were only for cruises there you go if they did them in groups of three days we would be a lot higher.
Did mention that for a moment, my wife was considering Virgin cruise lines because it’s an adult Disney version and their casino is off to the side
But she reviewed a lot of videos and she deemed it ‘ to adult’ and I’m at that part of the video where you’re talking about body parts and adults lol
Sofa, my wife personally she’s like there’s a time and a place for that but when I guess she’s cruising, she does not want that so it’s very interesting how everybody has their own uniquenesses. I would have no problem with it but then I’m totally opposite of you guys, you say you sleep in till 10 or 11 I wake up at 4 AM Because that’s kind of my normal schedule since age 6 don’t ask. lol and come 9 o’clock I’m sleepy and come 10 o’clock. I’m gone, but yes I stay up later for some stuff that happened later but I have to really really really fight it. I hope after watching more of your videos my wife will wanna go on different cruise lines so I’ll get her to help keep your numbers up by getting her to watch all your videos again.
Ok. I was very critical of you during the first couple of the Royal Caribbean vlogs. However I think you were very fair with these points. I love Royal Caribbean so I was being protective of it. Well done sir.
Thanks for the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Adrian, I did like the amount of food options on RC but didn't care for alot of it. Especially the desert options anywhere but the uncharged restaurants. Also, we kept our room keys in the plastic pouch when opening our cabin doors. It would have been a pain to take them out each time.
In my opinion almost all food options were really good! I know it’s not gonna be great for everyone but we enjoyed all the included options!
i hate the towel thing too. i hated having to guard and remember my towels. i turned them in and still got charged (and eventually reinbursed).
we got cold towels and water in nassau when we were getting back on the ship. maybe they only do it sometimes?
does disney’s private island have a pool?
Yes make a video of what you wish you knew. I've never been on memorial I've been on carnival in Disney but would be interested in doing a royal.
We will see if there’s enough interest!
The laundry facility is probably a no go as the oasis ships carry over 6000 passengers... Just a thought
Plus, DCL has tons of kids with diaper blowouts...
They've basically been eliminated from all new Royal and Carnival ships because they aren't used that much in comparison to the amount of space and resources they use. And yes as the ship scales up so too must the laundry space.
Considering what are you paying for RC compare to DCL. You have to compromise a little
When we were on Disney fantasy there were lots of people just walking past the hand washing station and going into the buffet so I think it's something that's pretty standard with people who just don't care
I guess people can slip through anywhere. Sorry you had that experience!
I prefer a mesh chair than plastic. The plastic strips are uncomfotable. And if im at a pool and the chairs are plastic, i cannot relax.
You don’t have keep track of your towels if you are in a suite room.
Just wait until you go to oasis, symphony, wonder, Icon and the quantum class ships
Yes! 1000% accurate! We are going to say goodbye to Disney this March. We have three kids ages 15, 10 & 7. Royal just does a better job with entertaining the Whole family! My kids also enjoyed adventure ocean more than the Disney kids clubs because they said it was more interactive than Disney. My children said the Disney kids club felt too crazy no order or purpose to them.
I'm on Treasure on Jan 18! Which sailing are you on?
You also forgot the flies! You said disney needed to get chickens! Yaaah, chickens!
Wait....there is a Back to the Future musical??
I think the free texting/photo messaging you mentioned is a glitch with iOS that royal is working on blocking. I don't think it's a real advertised perk. At least assuming you meant without purchasing a wifi package
Royal actually does have water set up as you get back on the ships.
A lot of your negatives about Royal come down to you comparing a premium cruise line (Disney) to a regular cruise line (Royal). When it comes down to it, Royal offers way more bang for the buck.
A better comparison would be Disney compared to Celebrity.
I am also disappointed to hear that I'm going on the Wonder of the Seas and there is no Broadway musical.
RC I believe fleet wide does not have self service laundry. If I can recall Carnival does have self service laundry and ironing. But don’t waste your money on carnival, I am sorry it’s too trashy.
Yes... "wish I knew" video, please 😊
I'm an avid watcher but most of your negatives where food related. You never mentioned rotational dining, keeping your service team as negatives. I've never sailed with Royal and was interested but the food comparisons would never be a deal breaker. I want to know about customer service, cleanliness, etc.
I’m shocked about your buffet experience and think it’s an outlier. I’ve seen people get denied entry for not washy washy.
Hopefully this was not the norm. It’s only my first so hopefully the others will be better!
I think most of your points lend themselves to the fact RC both caters move for adults rather than families and sheer volume of passengers. DCL is all about that Disney experience through themeing and family fun. DCL is not going to neccessarily appeal to the same group of people as RC.
Interested in all your non Disney experiences. I've never been on a cruise and would be going solo as a senior
Rc is hands down way better how about Disney actually having the nerve to let passengers be subjected to mass Flys and bugs everywhere when they went to there new Island Disgraceful
Royal was a superior experience. I've been on Utopia, Serenade, and Allure. Allure was outstanding... Plus, I can go on Allure 3x for the price of one Disney cruise when factoring in thing like drinks packages, etc.
Don't get me wrong. DCL is fine, but Royal provides exponentially more value for the $$. If Disney drops its prices by 35% - 50%, maybe it can compete with Royal.
I am hesitant to sail on Royal or anything like it simply because when I’m on the ocean I like my ship to look and feel like a ship not a giant tacky mall. If the ship has a courtyard it’s too damn big.
Also, it sounds like you are sleeping on Disney Room Service. Think it’s 24/7. My wife and I skipped enchanted garden and got wings instead.
I agree with you! I am a person who does not want a giant ship with a party atmosphere, amusement park, etc. I like that Disney is PG and I do not have noise seeping into my cabin late at night. I like the rotational dining of Disney, though I do with the buffet was open longer hours and for dinner. I also like the personal touches Disney gives. My servers and stateroom host knows my name and preferences. Even the little things like included soft drinks and cold towels make a difference for me. I totally get that not everyone is into the Dianey themeing (which makes Disney not for you) but I will always go Disney!
I get it and understand your point. Royal will never reach the level of service and care as dis yea but I still think in other areas Royal is superior
@@ThemeParkExpressthanks for taking the time to reply! Love the channel! Totally agree, I just wanted to highlight the awesome room service experience I had. I feel like a lot of people don’t know about or use that service outside of breakfast!
A la cart... pre covid, cabanas would open for dinner as an a la cart option. We did this on Formal night. None of wanted to dress up and didn’t want to be in the dining room with us being too casual. So we went to cabanas. It was great, quiet and service was fast! Hope it comes back.
Perfect timing! I am really struggling whether to book another dis cruise or try RC. I’ve only been on Disney. Loved it but have a few things I don’t like. I have a wheat allergy and as much as everyone talks up Disney food , the gluten free food selection is horrible. I hear RC has so many options. That and Disney’s in person safety drill absolutely irritates me. My mom and I missed the sail away because it was a cluster F.. I love the Disney theme though. The Struggle to decide is real
I hope this helped you decide!
There’s soft serve ice cream in the buffet
Careful, you are about to be converted! We're platinum on Disney and Emerald on Royal and are seriously considering letting our platinum status lapse.
It’s all about FOOD?
No matter how late breakfast is you can’t get a Mickey waffle🤣
RC dumps 10k+ passengers on private island and bigger ships + more people means more options🤷🏻♀️
Disney has music in other lounges and in atrium. Plus deck shows, fireworks, and atrium shows.
I do not need to see other people’s body parts and swearing🤦🏻♀️
👍🏼Disney split bathrooms and 👍🏼very comfortable beds, towels👍🏼👍🏼
True adult areas👍🏼 one ship on private island👍🏼
Agree Disney needs to keep buffet and all deck choices open for dinner and later. Also keep lounges open earlier and pub food for lunch.
Disney has to change muster!!
I do want to try RC
No flies on the island ?
You’ll never have what Royal has on Disney period. Royal is hands down 10,000% the better cruise line. More worth your money. You forgot about the muster drills and how much better Royal is. I would also take Royal over Castaway in a heartbeat, castaway has nothing to do.
I can’t believe I forgot the muster drills!!!
I don’t know about 10,000% better. I love Royal but not entirely too. Castaway is one of my favorite places. Also the food is better on Castaway than CoCo Cay. More things to do on Coco Cay absolutely, but Castaway just like DCL is just Nostalgic. If you’re referring to just Oasis class and Icon Class then yes it’s hard to compete, Disney is way behind. However once you move past those ships Oasis & Icon then Disney gives Royal a run for their money. Example Disney Fantasy vs Freedom of the Seas. I would take Fantasy over Freedom every time. Nothing beats an Oasis or Icon Class ship. But there is just something Nostalgic about a Disney cruise. Also I do think the Treasure will definitely help but the price is even more ridiculous than Icon. The Haunted Mansion parlor appears to be a Home Run for Disney as well as the theming on the Treasure everything seems to just be so cohesive. I believe ships like Treasure and soon Destiny, Disney is slowly and I mean slowly learning how to make their cruise experience better and worth the money. If you know then you know. Try them all as I assure you you’ll find things that are better and worse on all of them.