Family Cruise Face-Off: Disney Magic or Royal Caribbean Thrills?
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Okay- if you have been reading any of our blog posts you know that we love to travel. And one of our favorite ways to vacation as a family is cruising! We have cruised both Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean- but which hits all of the boxes? Which cruise line will keep us coming back cruise after cruise?
We are going to give you an overview of what each cruise line offers and hopefully it will help you decide which to book for your epic family cruise!
| Category | Disney Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean |
|---|---|---|
| Number and Size of Ship | Smaller (7 ships, 1,700–4,000 passengers); more ships planned in the next few years | Larger (25+ ships, up to 7,000 passengers); vast size differences, resorts at sea |
| Kids’ Clubs | Oceaneer Club/Lab (ages 3–12, themed to Marvel/Star Wars); teen clubs | Adventure Ocean (ages 3–12, themed play spaces); teen lounges, drop in play and family activities |
| Onboard Activities | Character meets, pools, splash zones, fireworks; family deck parties, Aqua Duck | Waterslides, FlowRiders, zip lines, ice rinks, laser tag, rock climbing (varies by ship size) |
| Dining | Rotational family dining, character meals, adult-only options | Main dining rooms, buffets, specialty dining at ad on; room service options vary by ship |
| Private Islands | Castaway Cay: beaches, slides, characters; Lighthouse Cay | Perfect Day at CocoCay: complimentary and paid activities |
| Price Range | Higher | Lower (depending on ship class) |
Kid and Family Activities
If you are looking for a magical adventure at sea then Disney Really hits the target on this one. The Disney Cruise is truly a magical adventure for the Disney Lovers. But it is important to keep in mind- that yes it
comes with magic and character greets- that these come at a wait similar to the parks. When our family took our first Disney Cruise this was one thing I did not plan for or even think about- there was a lot of waiting.
Royal really hits the ball on thrill activities for all ages especially on their larger ships. From laser tag to ziplining across the ship there is not a dull moment.
Both offer great pool decks with plenty of opportunity to relax in the sun. Royal Caribbean offers more family focused activities on their pool deck. Disney offers delicious and healthy dining options on their pool deck- full plates of melon, yes please!
Entertainment
Night life on these cruise lines will vary. Disney does offer adult only experiences and bars for the night life-while Royal just has these all over the ship. Disney wins in my opinion on the show quality- which is probably not a surprise- its Disney! But Royal is a really close second they have some really great Broadway style shows.
Royal offers thrilling Diving shows on their Oasis and above ship classes and these are truly amazing shows. You cannot take your eyes away the entire time!
Both offer plenty of entertainment, Disney has pool deck parties and dances while Royal uses their Royal Promenade as a parade and dance area.
Dining
This is going to eventually be its own post because lets be honest, there is so much to say here! But both offer incredible dining options. The rotational character dining that Disney offers is really unique and exciting for the kids. We have never gone hungry on a cruise and have never paid for the add on dining and have been fully satisfied in the food offered.
Both ships offer plenty for every type of diet and our picky eaters have always found something to eat. There are so many options for in between meal dining that you truly could spend your entire cruise eating!
Disney is famous for its rotational dining option where you try a different restaurant each night but your server stays the same. We did love this option that Disney offered. And of course there is plenty of entertainment while you eat.
Recommendation
If your family loves Disney- you have to try the Disney cruise at least once. The Disney Magic is truly amazing. If your family is looking for non stop thrills then maybe go with Royal Caribbean. No matter which you choose we know your family will love their cruise. To price out and book your family cruise check out this link https://expedia.tpk.ro/VdE1fmB6.
For more family travel ideas in tips with lots of Disney and Royal ideas be sure to check out our other posts at Blog – Together We Can Travel.
