We set sail on our first cruise in 2022, and quickly booked a second cruise just shortly after. We love all-inclusive resorts so knew a cruise would make perfect sense for us. I was always hesitant about setting a sail on a cruise since I am so prone to motion sickness, but we bit the bullet anyway for our first family cruise.
After my first cruise was a success, I realized the only remedy I needed when out on sea was some Dramamine and that I would be as good as new. Looking back now, I can’t believe it took us so long to experience one and found that cruises really are the perfect family vacation because there is so much to do for everyone.
Disney Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean?
Cruises are a great option for a family vacation because there is just so much to do for the entire family and there are two cruise lines that cater to the ultimate family vacation. Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are both top contenders in the cruise space and offer a ton of activities for the whole family.
So which is the best cruise line? Well, it really depends on what your family is looking for in a family vacation and there are various factors at play when deciding which is the best cruise.
Disney Cruise Line
When it comes to a Disney Cruise, we already know it is going to be catered towards kids, because well, it’s Disney. Every single one of Disney’s ships is catered towards a family vacation and geared towards kids, and especially great for little ones.
Disney’s fleet of ships includes:
- Disney Wish: the newest and largest of the group
- Disney Fantasy
- Disney Dream
- Disney Wonder
- Disney Magic
Disney also offers themed cruises which make for a whole lot of fun for the entire family. Every single Disney Cruise will come with a pirate night, where the whole ship comes together for a fun party up on the deck. You’ll see everyone of all ages dressed up as pirates and it’s a lot of fun. Disney also puts on quite the show with fireworks out at sea. If you are traveling with young kids, they are sure to enjoy all of the activities that are included with Disney.
Read our full review of Disney Cruise Line with Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas here.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s fleet consists of 26 ships which is split up into six classes. With so many different classes and ships, you are sure to get an entirely different kind of experience depending on which ship you plan to set sail for your family vacation.
For a family-centered vacation, here are the ships you will want to consider:
- Wonder of the Seas
- Navigator of the Seas
- Voyager of the Seas
- Explorer of the Seas
We set sail on Navigator of the Seas in 2022 and really enjoyed everything the ship had to offer. While I feel Disney Cruise Line does a great job at catering to younger kids, Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas provided entertainment for older kids too.
The ship is also much larger than the Disney ships so if you are worried about movement, you will certainly feel less movement on a larger ship.
Navigator of the Seas was a great join for a family vacation as it offered a ton of activities and entertainment for the whole family. The larger ship size also felt less crowded as people were always spread out in various activities. There is also a lot to do for kids of all ages, and great for those traveling with teenagers on a family vacation.
You can read our full review of Navigator of the Seas here.
Let’s break things down a bit further so you know exactly what to expect before booking your next family vacation.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas and Disney Cruise Line’s Wonder.
I’m sharing what we love about each ship to help you decide when choosing which ship is best for your next family vacation. I personally think that with either of these options you are guaranteed a great trip packed with a ton of memories and fun for the whole family.
Food & Drink
One of the best things about taking a cruise is all the delicious food that is included with your sail! We’ve always been a big fan of all-inclusive resorts, (another great option for a family vacation and you can get more info here) and taking a cruise is a lot like an all-inclusive resort with all of the food you can eat!
Disney Cruise Line
We loved the food on the Disney Cruise and in addition to having great food options, some of the restaurants also come with built-in entertainment. Your wait staff on a Disney Cruise moves with you as they offer rotational dining. This means your waiters get to know you throughout the cruise as they join you at the different themed restaurants on your ship. It’s a really cool concept and something that really sets Disney apart.
When it comes to meals on the Disney ship, it is all included. This also includes the various grab and go options that are served by the food.
Disney Cruise does not have any packs available for alcohol so it is important to note that all coffee and alcohol is not included on the ship.
Royal Caribbean
With the Royal Caribbean, you can purchase upgraded dining and beverage packages on the ship. We took advantage with both of these offerings when sailing with the Royal Caribbean.
The upgraded dining package allowed you to dine at specialty restaurants at dinner. The restaurants were all very nice and also quiet compared to the main dining room. If you are looking for a high-end dining experience, this is for you. We also dined in the main dining room on one of the nights and was also impressed by their dinner offerings.
Royal Caribbean beverage packages also need to purchase separately. Soft drinks are not included (they are on Disney) but you can upgrade from a few different package options for soft drinks, and have the option to add alcohol as a part of that as well.
Activities
Both ships have various activities for family fun that is catered towards all ages, here’s a breakdown about what we love about each.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise has activities that cater to everyone, especially young kids. Younger children will enjoy the character meet and greats and the entire family will enjoy the Broadway style shows that you can watch on the ship every night. The nightly shows are what made the Disney Cruise so special for us, and find the cost of the cruise to be so worth it with these high-end productions included with the sail. You can also get a first look at Disney movies and watch classics in the theatre on ship.
For adults- the Disney Cruise does have a couple of bars on site that are uniquely themed. One thing you will not find on a Disney Cruise is a casino.
Royal Caribbean
If you are traveling with older kids, Royal Caribbean has a lot more offerings catered to older kids. You will find various outdoor games- such as a basketball court, ping pong tables and a rock climbing wall to entertain older kids and teenager out at sea.
Royal Caribbean also offers various entertainment options throughout the day and night- and the ship certainly stays up a lot later. You will find various bars playing music throughout the night, you can experience a unique themed show or gamble at the casino.
Kids’ Clubs
Disney Cruise Line
When it comes to a kid’s club- no one does it like Disney. Disney really does a great job at providing an incredible club where kids actually want to hang out. Disney’s Wish transports kids into the kid’s club through a slide, and every ship has a unique Disney themed club to ensure kids have plenty of entertainment while adults enjoy some alone time. Disney also has a nursery for extra little ones who need to be watched for.
Royal Caribbean
The Royal Caribbean also offers a very cool kid’s club, and this one is separated by age brackets. The kid’s club on the cruise seemed to get a lot busier than the Disney one as it is about half of the size. Kids are able to play video games, do arts and crafts, participate in games and so much more. The Roya
Overall- I think Disney takes the cake in this category for little ones. If you are traveling with teens, you’ll want to take a further look at the Royal Caribbean, as that is likely your better option.
Pools
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise is known for their pool deck. You will find a family pool, an adult pool and a splash area and water slide. This is a fun place to hang out for the entire family. Note that the pool areas get crowded, especially with days out at sea, so it is best to plan accordingly and get a seat early if you plan on basking in the sun for the day.
Royal Caribbean
Like Disney, Royal Caribbean also has a family pool, adult pool and multiple water slides on the pool deck. It also tends to get crowded on sail days but since the ships are bigger, finding a seat is a bit easier to manage. Older kids will love the water slides and younger kids will enjoy the splash pad and family pool. Truly- there is something for everyone in the family.
Overall Thoughts
Making a decision on which cruise line to choose for your upcoming vacation can be a tricky one but there are many factors that can help you with that decision.
Here are other questions you’ll want to think about:
- What destination do you plan to head to?
- What port do you want to sail out of?
- What ship are you looking at?
- How old are your kids at the time of sail?
You can read more about our experience on Disney Cruise Line here and our experience with Royal Caribbean here.
If you have any questions about an upcoming cruise, feel free to message me on Instagram here.
