What makes disney cruises better

A cruise is often a great choice for large family vacations and a perfect choice for those really wanting to relax. Fast forward to last month and my tune has changed a bit. I went as part of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration a payed conference where we get some fun and exclusive opportunities to learn more about Disney which made it a great excuse to try out cruising again.

The biggest suggestion I have for any cruise is get a balcony room if you can. I LOVE being able to sit on a balcony at a hotel and even more so on a cruise ship. Being able to breathe fresh air in my room just makes the experience that much better no matter what.

Well planned rooms — Our room had tons of great storage and the Queen bed was lifted off the ground so we could slide our luggage underneath. This made relaxing or working in the room that much more enjoyable. In addition, the shower room and toilet room were separate with separate sinks. Each dining room is themed but not overly so and on longer cruises the entertainment is different along with your menu each night.

Entertainment created for everyone — One thing my older boys REALLY appreciated was that the entertainment at dinner, in the clubs etc was really created to entertain everyone. This differed quite a bit from the last cruise we went on. They loved the movie theater playing current movies, the family friendly entertainment in the clubs or lounges when the timing allowed for families in addition to the tween and teen clubs made specifically for their age group.

Relaxation — because my kids felt included and were having fun I was able to relax and have more fun. Adventures by Disney also conducts shortened tours of major port cities like Barcelona and Copenhagen prior to setting sail.

Yes, the perennial park favorite is available at mealtimes and through room service, but the best mouse-shaped treat is at Cove Cafe. There are plenty of perks that come with booking a concierge-level room — namely early access to onboard bookings, personalized service, and in-room amenities — but the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, and Disney Wonder offer an entire VIP section that regular cruisers never know exists.

This onboard oasis, which is in addition to a private lounge, is outfitted with upscale lounge chairs, complimentary sunscreen, chilled face towels, as well as a pool deck host to fulfill any requests for full relaxation. Even better? Note: it only applies to bills, not coins, and there is no ATM on board.

Keep track of your location on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy as well by looking at cabin doors; Starboard right rooms have starfish clips, while port left rooms have fish clips. There are no water fountains, disposable bottles are pricey, and the best place to fill up is at the complimentary soda machines on Deck 9 or 11, which can be far away.

The tap water in each room is drinkable, but sinks are often too small to accommodate big bottles. Many new Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars films have 3D showings, allowing guests to experience eye-popping effects on the high seas.

After a short heartwarming performance, loads of Disney characters, princesses, and theatre performers will disperse throughout the crowd, posing for photos on a first-come, first-serve basis.

By Carlye Wisel January 14, Save Pin FB More. Disney ship at port. Credit: Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line. Goofy character. Credit: Courtesy of Carlye Wisel.

Pin Trading Bonanza. Each ship typically runs three different shows per cruise. All ships have license to screen Walt Disney Studios flicks, including popular movies in land-based theaters now. If your kids want to see the latest Pixar movie, while you want to take in a Star Wars or Avengers film, you can see the latest onboard -- for free. Ships will also run classic Disney movies in the theater or on the poolside jumbotron.

You can't have a family-friendly cruise line without having plenty of outdoor fun. All Disney and Royal Caribbean ships have multiple pools many with poolside movie screens , including adults-only sun deck areas with pools and hot tubs. Both lines offer sports areas with attractions like basketball courts and mini-golf courses.

Royal Caribbean is the king of crazy top-deck attractions. All ships have rock climbing walls, 14 offer the FlowRider surf simulator , the Quantum-class ships have indoor skydiving and a London Eye-esque ride, and the Oasis-class ships have ziplines. As if that weren't enough, the line will add water slides to nearly every ship over the next few years. Disney does offer the AquaDuck and AquaDunk water rides on three of its four ships, but that's the extent of adrenaline-inducing activities.

While Freedom- and Oasis-class ships do have small splash areas for the swim diaper set and water play areas for kids, most Royal Caribbean ships just have standard pools and hot tubs.

Disney, on the other hand, goes out of its way to offer all-ages water fun on all four ships. It's got splash zones for toddlers, shallow pools and junior water slides for kids, and regular pools for family fun. Select ships have the AquaLab water play area with water dump buckets and geysers and the aforementioned water rides. Both lines have lifeguards stationed at pools.

Expect standard cruise ship entertainment like bingo, wine tastings and trivia. Disney's daytime events revolve primarily around character meet-and-greets photo ops, autograph sessions, etc.

The main difference is that Royal Caribbean's ships, many of which are much larger than Disney's quartet, house some impressive indoor attractions, while Disney is focused more on events and activities in well-designed -- rather than out-of-the-box -- spaces, though the line does have some pretty specatcular Frozen-, Star Wars- and Marvel-themed kids club spaces. For self-guided fun, check out the Midship Detective Agency scavenger hunt, a Muppets-themed mystery with clues hidden in "enchanted art" -- digital artwork that comes to life when you approach.

Royal Caribbean's biggest ships have some pretty impressive onboard attractions. Twelve ships have indoor ice rinks, with open hours for skating. Quantum-class ships offer the SeaPlex, an indoor amusement park with bumper cars, roller skating, trapeze classes, games and an arcade, while Oasis-, Quantum-, Voyager- and Freedom-class ships feature the Royal Promenade, an indoor mall with restaurants, bars and shops.

Disney goes all-out when it comes to the holidays. It has the most robust Halloween offerings, running from September through October with a transforming pumpkin tree, onboard decorations and costume parties. These two cruise lines have enormous kids clubs, including nurseries for little ones ages 6 to 36 months on all Disney and select Royal Caribbean ships , age-appropriate youth activities and cool hangouts for tweens and teens.

You might find a science lab or animation studio, as well as areas for crafts, games and videos. Play areas for the youngest cruisers will be filled with toys, while tweens and teens will have dance floors, gaming stations and space to socialize.

Both lines provide day and evening options for when families need to go their separate ways. Both Disney and Royal Caribbean offer group babysitting in their respective kids clubs at nights, so parents can enjoy a late meal or some time in the bars and clubs. However, after 10 p. Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean divides children into specific age groups: Aquanauts ages 3 to 5 , Explorers ages 6 to 8 , Voyagers ages 9 to 11 , tweens ages 12 to 14 and teens ages 15 to They have separate play spaces and programming, and parents cannot lobby for their "advanced" child to participate in programming for older kids.

The separation allows kids to get to know the youth staff for their group, and parents to know who is looking after their kids or where they might be at any time.

Disney is unlike any other cruise line in that it offers an array of activities in its Oceaneer Club and Lab for kids ages 3 to 12, without divisions. Games, crafts and programming target certain age groups, but no one who might be deemed too old or too young is turned away. The benefit of this is that young siblings, cousins and friends can always be together, regardless of age. The drawback for some is that the system gives kids a lot of freedom and can be overwhelming for preschoolers -- or scary for parents who don't know exactly where their kid might be in the large play area.

Note that the youngest kids cannot sign themselves into or out of the club to prevent anyone from wandering away. Each Disney ship offers at least one themed play area centered on the Star Wars or Marvel franchises. On Disney Dream, kids can climb into the Millennium Falcon and practice their space flying. Disney Wonder also has a "Frozen"-themed play space with a setting taken straight from the movie. Like with any cruise line, prices on Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line vary by ship, itinerary and season.

In general, Disney cruises command premium pricing because the brand is very well known and beloved and the line only has four ships. Plus, it includes slightly more amenities in its fares, such as soft drinks and late-night group babysitting, and offers fewer extra-fee attractions no casino, limited extra-fee dining, etc.

Royal Caribbean's newest ships are priced much higher than its older ships, but fares can vary greatly and are generally competitive with cruise lines like Princess and Norwegian. Prices include nearly half of the line's alternative restaurants, but passengers are tempted by a variety of extra-fee amenities -- though big-name theater performances and cool activities like onboard surfing and bumper cars are free of charge.

While last-minute discounts are only offered on short sailings of four nights or less, Royal Caribbean offers so many itineraries, often with multiple ships in the same destination that flexible travelers can often find reasonable deals.

Look for limited-time promotions offering discounts, onboard credit or reduced deposits. The line very rarely offers any kind of discount or promotional offer. A three-night cruise on Disney could cost the same as a seven-night cruise on Royal Caribbean.

But you can only get the true Disney experience on a Disney ship, and many fans believe the quality of vacation warrants the high price tag. Find a Cruise.