Disney Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean? How We Help Families Decide
- Shannon Rodden
- 8 hours ago
- 9 min read
One of the cruise questions I get most often from families is some version of, “We’re looking at Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Which one should we book?”
I wish there were a simple answer, but there really isn’t — and that’s actually a good thing. I sail both cruise lines, I book both regularly, and there are families I would send to Disney Cruise Line without hesitation and others for whom I’d recommend Royal Caribbean every single time. The better cruise has much less to do with which cruise line is “best” and much more to do with your family, the specific ship you’re considering, your budget, your kids’ ages and what you want your days onboard to look like.
If you’re comparing the two for your next family vacation, these are the differences I think actually matter.
Let's Start With Price, Because Disney Is Usually More Expensive Up Front
Disney Cruise Line is generally going to cost more than Royal Caribbean when you're looking at similar dates, sailing lengths and stateroom categories. Sometimes the difference is relatively small, and sometimes it is significant enough that a family immediately decides Royal Caribbean makes more sense.
What I don't recommend doing is comparing only the number at the bottom of the initial quote.
Disney includes quite a bit in its cruise fare. Soft drinks at meals and from the self-service beverage stations are included, as are the main dining rooms, most youth clubs, Broadway-style entertainment and most of the activities you'll want to do onboard. Royal Caribbean also includes plenty, but there are more opportunities to spend additional money on things like beverage packages, specialty dining and certain activities.
That doesn't mean the two cruises suddenly cost the same once you add everything up. Royal Caribbean can still be considerably less expensive. I just want my clients comparing the realistic cost of their vacations, rather than assuming the lower starting fare automatically means the better value.
The Ship Matters More Than the Cruise Line Name
This is probably the biggest thing I wish families understood before comparing cruises.
Royal Caribbean has some of the largest and most activity-packed cruise ships in the world. On its newer ships, you can have water slides, surf simulators, rock climbing, zip lines, ice skating, enormous pool decks, multiple neighborhoods, live entertainment and more restaurants than you'll realistically have time to try during one vacation.
For a family that wants to wake up every morning with a huge list of things to do without ever leaving the ship, that's a major advantage.
Disney Cruise Line isn't trying to compete by putting the greatest number of attractions possible on a ship. There are certainly fun onboard attractions — AquaDuck, AquaMouse and AquaDunk depending on which ship you're sailing — but the overall experience is much more centered around Disney storytelling, entertainment, service and theming.
This is also why I would never tell someone simply, “Disney is better,” or “Royal Caribbean is better.” Comparing Disney Treasure with Icon of the Seas is one conversation. Comparing Disney Magic with a smaller, older Royal Caribbean ship is an entirely different one! You really need to compare ship to ship, not just cruise line to cruise line.
For Families With Younger Disney Fans, Disney Is Hard to Beat
There is something very different about taking kids who are in their Disney era on a Disney cruise.
The characters and storytelling aren't confined to one show or one meet-and-greet. They're woven throughout the vacation, and you'll find character appearances, deck parties, themed restaurants and entertainment happening throughout the ship.
The kids clubs are also one of Disney Cruise Line's biggest strengths. Disney's Oceaneer Club spaces are incredibly immersive, particularly on the newer ships, with areas inspired by Marvel, Star Wars, princesses, Imagineering and other Disney stories.
I've seen parents worry before their first Disney cruise that their children won't want to go into the kids club without them. Then they sail and have the opposite problem: the kids don't want to leave! And suddenly Mom and Dad have time for Palo, an adults-only pool afternoon or an actual uninterrupted cocktail while the kids are happily doing their own thing.
Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean is a very good youth program, and I certainly wouldn't steer a family away from Royal Caribbean because they have young children. But if immersive kids clubs and Disney experiences are high on your priority list, Disney Cruise Line has a very real advantage.
Older Kids and Teens Can Change the Conversation
This is where I start asking very different questions.
If you have a 14- or 16-year-old who couldn't care less about meeting Mickey but would spend six straight hours bouncing between water slides, sports, a surf simulator and the teen spaces, I'm going to take a very close look at Royal Caribbean's newer ships.
There's simply an enormous amount for active older kids to do, and the size of the ships can actually be part of the appeal. They can have some independence, meet other teens and find activities that don't require the entire family to participate together.
That doesn't mean teenagers outgrow Disney Cruise Line. I've seen plenty of teens love Disney cruises, particularly families that have grown up sailing Disney together. This is where knowing your kids matters much more than their birth dates!
The Dining Experiences Are Very Different
Disney's rotational dining is one of those things that sounds a little strange until you've actually experienced it.
Instead of choosing a different restaurant every night, your family rotates through the ship's main dining rooms while your serving team comes with you. They learn what everyone drinks, what the kids like, who has dietary needs and, sometimes most importantly, what your picky eater is willing to put on a plate. Depending on the ship, the restaurants themselves may also incorporate characters, entertainment or interactive Disney storytelling.
Royal Caribbean gives families more flexibility in a different way. Its larger ships can have a huge selection of restaurants, and I love that for families who want variety and enjoy trying different places throughout the week. Just remember that many of the specialty restaurants carry an additional charge, so dining packages are something we may want to factor into the overall vacation price.
I don't think this category has a universal winner. If you love the idea of your serving team knowing your family and rotating through Disney's themed dining experiences, Disney does that incredibly well. If restaurant variety and having lots of choices appeals to you more, Royal Caribbean may be the better fit.
Entertainment: Disney Storytelling vs. Royal Caribbean's Variety
Disney's entertainment is one of the reasons I think the cruise line can be worth the premium, especially for a Disney-loving family. The Broadway-style productions are genuinely impressive, and when you add in character appearances, deck parties and fireworks at sea on select sailings, entertainment becomes a major part of the Disney Cruise Line experience!
Royal Caribbean takes entertainment in a completely different direction, and this is another area where the ship you choose really matters. On some ships, you can watch professional ice-skating productions in Studio B, while Oasis and Icon Class ships are known for their AquaTheater or AquaDome shows with divers, aerialists and acrobatics. Depending on the ship, you may also find full-scale theater productions, live music, comedy, game shows, parades and other performances happening throughout the week.
There is also simply more going on outside of scheduled shows on many Royal Caribbean ships. Between live music venues, karaoke, trivia, parties, the casino and nightlife, it's easy for different members of the family to head in completely different directions after dinner and all find something they enjoy.
For a family that loves Disney, there really isn't another cruise line that can replicate seeing Disney stories and characters brought to life at sea. But if your family cares more about having a huge variety of entertainment — particularly when you're traveling with older kids, teens or multiple generations — Royal Caribbean can be phenomenal.
And that's another reason I wouldn't compare these two cruise lines without looking at the actual ships. The entertainment on a newer Icon or Oasis Class ship is a completely different conversation than what you'll find on some of Royal Caribbean's smaller or older ships.
Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay or Perfect Day at CocoCay?
For a lot of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries, the cruise line’s private destination ends up being one of the best days of the entire trip, and Disney and Royal Caribbean approach that experience very differently.
Disney Cruise Line has Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and I love how easy these days can feel for families. You can step off the ship and have a beautiful beach day without feeling like you need to purchase an excursion or plan an elaborate itinerary. There are family beaches, activities, included lunch and spaces designed specifically for kids, while adults can escape to an adults-only beach area. If your idea of a perfect port day is gorgeous water, plenty for the kids to do and very little planning required, Disney does this exceptionally well.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is one of Royal Caribbean’s biggest selling points, but it offers a very different kind of day because there are so many ways to experience the island. You can spend absolutely nothing extra and still have a fantastic day using the beaches, complimentary loungers, dining and the enormous Oasis Lagoon pool, or you can turn CocoCay into one of the most activity-packed days of your cruise. Thrill Waterpark has waterslides and a wave pool, while other options include ziplining, the Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Coco Beach Club and the adults-only Hideaway Beach. Some of those experiences come at an additional cost, so this is another place where I look beyond the cruise fare when comparing the overall price of two vacations.
What I especially like about CocoCay is that different generations can have completely different versions of the same day. Teenagers can be looking for waterslides and activities while grandparents head for a beach chair and parents spend the afternoon by the pool. Nobody necessarily has to compromise.
Disney’s private destinations feel more like an extension of the Disney Cruise Line experience — thoughtfully designed, easy to navigate and very family-focused. CocoCay feels more like a destination with a menu of ways to spend the day, ranging from a completely relaxed beach day to an all-out waterpark experience.
This is one category where I wouldn't declare a winner. If your family wants an easy, beautiful beach day where much of the experience is already included, I give Disney a serious look. If having a huge range of activities and the ability to customize the day matters more, CocoCay is very hard to beat.
Royal Caribbean Gives Us a Lot More Ship Options
Royal Caribbean's larger fleet gives us significantly more flexibility when we're searching for the right vacation. We have more departure ports, sailing dates, itinerary lengths, destinations, ship sizes and price points to work with.
This becomes especially important when airfare enters the conversation.
If I can find a great Royal Caribbean sailing within driving distance of a family, eliminating four or five plane tickets can completely change the economics of the vacation. On the other hand, if Disney has the itinerary and experience that family really wants, airfare may be worth adding.
This is why I don't start cruise planning by deciding on a cruise line - I start with the guests sailing!
What About a Multi-Generational Cruise?
I book a lot of multi-generational travel, and cruises are one of my favorite options because everyone can have a completely different vacation while still traveling together.
Disney works beautifully when you have grandparents, parents and younger children who genuinely enjoy Disney together. There are experiences everyone can share, while the adults and kids still have their own spaces onboard.
Royal Caribbean can have an advantage when the ages and interests are all over the place. One person can be at the pool, another can be watching a show, the teens can be off doing their thing and someone else can be enjoying a quiet dinner — and everyone can meet back up later.
For a large family group, having enough options to keep everyone happy can matter much more than having everyone participate in the same activities.
So, Which One Would I Choose for Your Family?
As a general starting point, I tend to lean toward Disney Cruise Line for families with younger children, big Disney fans, families who put a lot of value on kids clubs and entertainment, and travelers who want the Disney experience to be part of the vacation itself.
I tend to look more closely at Royal Caribbean for active families with older kids and teens, travelers who want a huge amount to do onboard, families looking for more itinerary and departure-port choices, and anyone trying to maximize what they can get within a particular budget.
But those aren't rules. I've recommended Disney cruises to families with teenagers and Royal Caribbean to families with preschoolers, because once we start talking about the actual people traveling, the answer can change very quickly!
The Right Cruise Is About More Than the Cruise Line
When a client asks us to compare Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, we're looking at much more than two prices on the same week. We're comparing the actual ships, itineraries, stateroom options, what's included, what the family will probably spend onboard, the kids' ages and interests, airfare or driving costs, and the overall experience they're hoping to have.
Sometimes we go through all of that and Disney Cruise Line is absolutely worth the premium. Other times, Royal Caribbean gives that family exactly what they want for considerably less money. There are also plenty of times when the ship I end up recommending isn't the one they expected when we started.
That's one of the reasons working with a travel advisor who actually knows the ships and sails these cruise lines can make such a difference. You don't need the cruise everyone on Facebook says is the best. You need the one that's best for the people traveling with you!
Tell us who's traveling, when you'd like to go and what matters most to your family, and we'll help you find it!
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