olookasquirrel
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2016
My TA who specializes in Disney Cruises had mentioned to me on several occasions I should try RCL. After a few years of my TA telling me about RCL I decided to try especially since my friends where going to sail on RCL and I wanted to be on the same cruise. I contacted my TA and he made all the arrangements for my cruise. They also walked me through all the differences between DCL and RCL (since prior to my RCL I had sailed with DCL 8 times). I had sailed on Anthem a few weeks after it had gone through that storm and sustained some damage. My cruise was great and I had a wonderful time sailing with my friends on the Anthem but after my RCL cruise I've come to realize that I clearly prefer DCL. Yeah, RCL was more cost efficient compared to DCL and has plenty of activities for everyone that DCL doesn't even offer (virtual surfing, virtual skydiving, bumper cars, roller skating, and the rock wall). I also enjoyed all the technology around the ship and in my stateroom (I enjoyed my virtual balcony stateroom). The paid dining options where also plentiful (and I tried them all) and a few dining experiences where outstanding (chef's table and Neverland). Although all these things might be great for some people they didn't really do it for me. DCL provides the best service and friendliest staff. Disney shows are the best or maybe since growing up with Disney movies they are easier to understand because the shows on RCL seem to drag on forever and often left me thinking "what did I just watch?" I also seemed to always accidently run into the smoking areas by mistake when heading to pool area or walking around the ship which left me gagging (Yeah, DCL has it's smokers but no where near the amount of smokers on RCL). Given the difference I will most likely stick with DCL unless my friends talk me in to joining them on another cruise because as I mentioned I did have a great time with them.
We just got back from Anthem and seconding the smoking section on the pool deck. We would get turned around on which side of the ship we were on and boom! smoke! It was pretty lame, because it's literally the middle of a main walkway around the ship. Also seconding the staff on DCL being head and shoulders above RCL. I don't know what it is, but the passengers on RCL seemed worse too. Absence of pixie dust in the air? But they would cut in line, hang out at tables on their phones as people were circling the buffet area to eat, stand in the middle of elevators and not move... Most people were just fine, of course, but bad behavior leaves a bad taste, especially when the staff turns a blind eye... Can't help but think of the waiters on the Wonder last year - they literally took the tray out of my hands and found me a table on that first day. RCL waiters stared blankly at me as I tried to balance my breakfast stuff one day.
However, I *loved* the weird shows. Of course, I'm a weirdo theater nerd, and I'm sure you can tell by my use of the word "weird" that I understand they wouldn't be to most people's tastes. We left The Gift, and I said to my husband, "That's the weirdest thing I've ever seen." "Even weirder than the Halloween musical at Six Flags that one time?" "Yep, because The Gift had a budget. Somebody saw that script and said 'YES! Throw money at it as fast as you can!'"
What can I say? I'm a sucker for 6+ people in matching outfits doing choreographed dances.