Christie

I've been trying to come up with some witty response to this whole thing, but I've got nothing... 

Wait, wait, wait.... So I can deck hop via the rising tide? I can grab a drink in the name of convenience?

 

Yep, but you can only get off at 5 or 8.  Takes about 5 min to go up or down and then hangs out for a few minutes before starting again.

 

Also, no frozen drinks at this bar :(

There are coverage DCs! YOLO BOOK IT!!!! :P

 

How about you come cover my office and I'll take your place on the group cruise?  :D

 

Ok while I was up with the baby in the middle of the night last night, I came up with these:

 

Top 5 Ways Labadee Beats Castaway Cay

1) Things to do!  Mainly the zip line and coaster

2) The view.  I love the mountainous terrain of Labadee

3) The food.  In all fairness, I did eat the "upgraded" lunch in the suite area, but it was delicious.  The way Castaway Cay used to be

4) Barefoot Beach- loved the sectioned off area for the suite guests

5) Huge splash pad area for kids 

 

Top 5 Ways Castaway Cay Beats Labadee

1) It truly is its own island.  Although Labadee is sectioned off from Haiti, we passed by a security check point on the way up to the zipline with people camped out.  It was kinda weird 

2) Serenity Bay.. not sure if Labadee has an adult only beach

3) The cabanas are way nicer 

4) Live music- they may have this on Labadee but I never saw it

5) Lack of the artisan market.  I thought I would like this on Labadee hoping it would be good local shopping without the heckling... but several people got stuck buying their stuff because they asked their names and immediately carved it into things.  They got guilted into buying things because it had their name on it.  

Our next cruise is Sept 3- Anthem

 

Today I booked 2 junior suites side by side for the Dec 26 sailing of Liberty of the Seas. New Years, baby!

The real question Christie is when you are going to book the group cruise on Allure so you can join us! ;)

Private practice sucks in terms of taking time off! Maybe 2017 though!

Hi Christie!

 

I'm a WDW person as well, and Gold on DCL.  The Allure sailing will be our first with RCCL but we've done many other lines - and your list largely holds up comparing to other mass-market and premium lines, actually.  I will say that while DCL MDR experiences are meh (and seem to vary ship to ship for some reason) Palo and Remy have provided some of the best dining I've had at sea (outside of Oceania's offerings and Cunard's Princess and Queen's grills).

 

As adults without kids, we always felt DCL had a decent amount going on as far as activities, but we're also pretty quiet in that regard - and shopping on-board is of no consequence to us (except for my addiction to DCL logo merch, ironically).

 

All of that in mind, one big thing I'm wondering with RCCL is how the activities (especially the variety offered on the Allure) will sit with me.  I'm confident they'll be no bother, but what are some of the activities you enjoy on RCCL that aren't readily available on DCL or others?  I'm not suggesting there aren't any, I'm genuinely curious as to what I should expect.  I'm perused cruise compasses, but I'm curious your take.  For a quieter person, I've been told there are no lack of quiet spaces to enjoy a drink and a gaze at the sea.

 

Hey there!

 

You are not going to be disappointed with Allure!  I was so nervous with booking the RCL cruise.  I agree with you on Palo and Remy.  Chef's table at Oasis lived up to the food with Remy, but not quite the experience.  150 Central Park was close.  I actually like Palo more than Remy and appreciate the views and adult only atmosphere.  Hard to compare it to anything on Oasis/Allure... different experiences but still excellent.  You'll enjoy the variety of food options on RCL.  Even the Windjammer vs Cabanas was a huge difference.

 

I think I might have worded my post wrong.  There was more stuff to do in terms of organized activities on DCL.  Things you would find in the compass.  There was more to do on your own on Oasis (rock climbing wall, zip line, flow rider, carousel, etc.)  I missed the activities on DCL.  I liked watching the belly flop competition (but from my balcony).  I missed having a movie theater on Oasis.  That was always a great way to kill a few hours on Disney ships.  I missed the DVC presentations (haha, not really... but we did go to those a lot).  The shows at night seem like a bigger deal on Disney.  If you go back to my thread I posted while on board, the entertainment on Oasis was more of a revue and less of a play like you would find on Disney.  The diving shows were pretty great though.  Just be prepared for little story line minus your Broadway show (Mama Mia on Allure).  

Any word of the new benefits extending to freedom class later in the year?

Nah, just my experience and it's fresh on my mind :)

Definitely the only way to get between 8 and 5 is to ride the rising tide bar down ðŸ‘

This sounds spectacular... maybe next year! 

Welcome aboard Christie! I'm happy you introduced yourself, because (for some reason) I always thought you were the male in that photo. Now (not that it matters much) I know I'm talking to the female. I was always fairly sure I was not talking to the baby. ;)

 

Which college did you attend? The Queen (my wife, Laura) and I both attended Life University a lifetime ago.

 

What could beat Disney? As you've learned, in many ways RC does. The Queen and I had our honeymoon at Disney nearly 20 years ago. Shortly thereafter, we moved to Orlando (not just because we loved our honeymoon) from Atlanta. We've since been to Disney hundreds of times and for the last two years, she and I have both worked for the Mouse (she's a server; I'm a bartender). What all of that experience has taught me is that in some significant ways Disney beats Royal, and conversely, Royal beats Disney. They have their pluses and minuses. From my perspective, who "wins" really comes down to what the guest is looking for from their vacation.

 

I think maybe, if anyone else agrees, we should start a post: "Top 5 Ways Disney Beats Royal AND Top 5 Ways Royal Beats Disney" - you'd have to offer up both or you couldn't play. ;)

 

Anyway, welcome again! If you have any questions, many of us are pretty well versed in Royal (and Disney).

 

Guess I should have clarified that, sorry!!  I went to Palmer in Daytona Beach (couldn't handle the snow in Davenport).  That's awesome that you went to Life!  Great school!

 

I'm with you on Disney.  We've been to the World over 50 times, my parents are DVC members with over 1200 points, we got married there (and honeymooned on DCL), etc.  Obviously going to WDW and a cruise are two different experiences, and right now my vote is cruising over a land based vacation.  I know that will change as my daughter gets older.  

 

I can play this game really easily, as my family and I have had many discussions about it over the past few weeks.  In no particular order...

 

Top 5 Ways RCL beats DCL

1) Food- Variety, quality, and temperature.  DCL's food gets a bit repetitive quickly.  And they have always seemed to have a problem serving luke warm food.  We found the food to be piping hot every time we ate on RCL

2) Variety- Ships, itineraries, restaurants, things to do on board, room categories, etc.  If you've cruised DCL for a while, you kind of hit a point where you say "what now?" 

3) Nursery- I can't believe I'm saying the kid's program on RCL beats DCL (I haven't experienced RCL's older children's program), but RCL was far less chaotic and I felt like my daughter got a lot of personal attention.  I loved the open play area on Oasis for 5 and under as well.  

4) Shopping- DCL is pathetic to RCL in this category (especially on Oasis)

5) Price 

 

Top 5 Ways DCL beats RCL

1) Staff is more polished and trained on DCL

2) Outside of the ship is way prettier.  Constantly see people painting on DCL.  Never saw it on RCL

3) Family activities- on DCL I felt like my cruise compass was full of highlights.  Never saw much I wanted to do with organized activities on RCL

4) Spa- Not as big, but the treatment rooms were much much nicer.  So was the rain forest room vs thermal suite

5) Concierge Service- this may change with the new suite benefits program being released in May.  We felt like the concierge staff on RCL was a bit off putting.  On Disney, they practically move in with you and are extremely helpful.  

 

And a bonus one... 5.5... Disney's website/mobile app is way better.  Royal Caribbean really needs to invest some $$ in the website.  Pre booking things was a nightmare.  Disney has the mobile app that can be used on board for free with their wifi.  You can communicate with other guests with it.  The cruise compass is on it and you can set up notifications for things you wanted to do.  

 

I guess it becomes a point of what's more important to you.  The few things that I felt Disney does better, I'm willing to overlook for the cost difference- especially with a Caribbean/Bahamian cruise.  We've cruised Disney in Europe 3 times, and those were spectacular experiences that I'm not sure can be beat. 

I've somehow missed the community board down here.  So, I've been bumming around the message boards for a few months and never formally introduced myself. 

 

My name is Christie, and my husband and 1 year old daughter and I live in College Station, TX.  I'm a chiropractor and my husband works in information security for Texas A&M.  We are huge Disney fans and used to cruise exclusively with DCL. We were looking for something different for Christmas this year, so we booked a week on Oasis of the Seas.  I learned about RCB podcast from listening to WDW Today, and went back and listened to all the old episodes while preparing for the Christmas cruise.  i honestly went into our cruise with very little expectations... I mean, what could beat Disney, right? I found that I actually thought RC beat Disney with many things.  Now, I'm not sure when we are going back.

 

Currently we have planned an anniversary cruise on Anthem with just my husband and I in Sept 2016.  We are pricing out Allure for Thanksgiving week next year.  And last night my friend in Florida suggested we do a joint cruise in March 2017.  My husband is wondering when we get to go back to Disney World with all the cruises we have planned haha.

We had a hilltop cabana last week. Wasn't really impressed. It was hot (can't imagine what it's like in August) and lacking amenities we have had at other cabanas (even sea world in San Antonio was better). We will probably try to do something else next time on Labadee

Until you get home and step on the scale (7 pounds here..eek!)

The only problem with deck 8 is that you might eat 400 roast beef sandwiches from park cafe during the course of the week

I've been on a lot of cruises and found the motion on oasis was pretty minimal so that's good!

8 is easier to get around because you can walk through Central Park to get forward/aft. 9 is all rooms

These days, it's a pina colada.

 

You're so adventurous 

Looking at Allure with Eastern Caribbean itinerary.  Hopefully by Jan 4 they will still have some aqua suites left.  I guess I could book one today and then rebook on the 4th.  Is that a major pain in the butt to do?  

That sounds delicious!

I know Matt does this with his guests on the show, but I thought it would be fun on here.

 

So, what's your favorite drink while on a RCI cruise?

 

Mine would be the cucumber martini from 150 Central Park

We spent at least a grand on specialty dining (never ate in MDR and there were 4-6 of us at each meal). We purchased thermal suite passes for 4 of us, and those are included. We paid for 6 devices of voom. Not sure how many would be included in the new suite benefits, but it would have made a huge difference. Not sure on the drink packages, but I'll just assume that what we drank would have been included (we did a la carter except one member bought the soft drink package). It adds up quick.

So looking at the new suite classes being released in May... We would have saved close to $3,000 with the things included. Time to book another? Maybe Thanksgiving next year?

Just got off today. This is going to be an AWESOME room for you guys. You will have the master suite and then the kids can take the interior room which has 2 twins and 2 bunks. Or the 3rd one can sleep in the living room. That bed folds out into at least a full, maybe even a queen. My 20 year old sister slept on it all week. Deck 8 is great because you can get forward by walking through Central Park. Those aft elevators take you right up to the wind jammer and suite lounge/coastal kitchen.

 

The one thing I will say is the living room is loud when there are things going on in the aqua theater.

Ps it's 7:25 and I'm walking down the hall and half the rooms are already flipped for the next cruise. The efficiency blows me away