Is a DCL cruise worthwhile if the kids aren't big Disney fans?

We’re planning a family cruise in 2026 with two kids and multiple adults. While the kids aren’t big Disney fans, they do enjoy Spider-Man :spider:, and the adults like Marvel :boom:. We’ve heard great things about Disney cruises but also that the characters are the main difference. One child has cruised before and loved it :ship:, while the other will be a first-timer :ocean:.

As our purchase date gets closer, I’m second-guessing the decision :thinking:. I’m wondering if the cost of a Disney cruise might be better spent on a higher-quality cabin with another cruise line, especially since we would need to fly to Florida :airplane: for Disney, while other lines are available locally.

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If I were on a different line, I would choose an improved stateroom. With a line other than DCL, which probably has more to offer across multiple generations, you can use the cost difference for trips and other benefits.

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Together with our entire family and other relatives, we went on an Alaskan cruise. It was a seven-day Princess cruise. Our granddaughter was five years old and her cousin was six years old at the time. The kid-led activities delighted them. When we would send them off, the staff would entertain them and assist with arts and crafts projects. Additionally, I think that teens should have a separate place for pleasure. The primary consideration: will there be a large number of children on the cruise? We went sailing in June, and there were enough kids for the trip to be enjoyable overall.

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@Mitchelle Top-notch service and immaculate ships, but there are more affordable options. Go for it if you can locate a good sale, but it would also be nice to have one of the larger, more recent RC ships.

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How old are the kids? Disney definitely has IP sprinkled throughout the ship, and the characters are a big part of the experience (deck parties with character dances, meet and greets, the stage entertainment is either an adapted retelling of a Disney movie or heavily influenced by the stories, etc), but there’s plenty in the multiple age-bound kids clubs that is for people who don’t want to play with Mickey Mouse or Cinderella dolls the whole trip.

If the family likes to gamble or drink heavily, I would avoid a DCL ship since there is no drink package (and from what I’ve seen, bartenders will cut you off a lot sooner than most), and the casino is replaced by said kids clubs. If they don’t enjoy these parts of cruising though, it could be a fun experience, though pricey. The food at Disney’s main dining room is fantastic, the service is the best I’ve seen on sea (though I have only done the value and moderate lines such as Carnival/NCL/Royal, and Disney/Celebrity/Princess). Castaway Cay is also an awesome private island and truly feels like an expansion of the ship

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@Mboks Intellectual Property.

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@Jordan Intellectual property: consider Mickey Mouse, the Avengers, Donald and Goofy, Star Wars, Belle, Cinderella, Genie, and other Disney characters.

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Change your line, get a better cabin. Get them mouse ears and Disney clothing.

Young children won’t be able to distinguish or give a damn about it.

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Disney anything has gotten so ridiculous overpriced, I refuse.

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Royal Caribbean is likely a better option. I have been on dozens of family cruises and unless you’re a “Disney adult” it is not worth it. Royal is the best all around cruise for families.

Some Disney pros:

  1. Ships are beautiful and well maintained.
  2. Staff are slightly better at customer service.
  3. Fellow passengers tend to be more polite and conscientious of others.
  4. Soda is always included.
  5. Rooms are larger than other cruise lines and have split bathrooms with tubs. They also have dividing curtains to separate sleeping areas.
  6. Theater shows are excellent.

Cons:

  1. Main dining is slow, dinner service is always a show with characters and drags. Expect 2 hour dinners which can be tiresome. Buffet closes during dinner hours. You’re also seated shoulder to shoulder with other passengers.
  2. Many of the character meet and greets require an up charge and have massive lines.
  3. Pools are pretty small even for cruise ship standards.
  4. Cost can be significantly more than other lines.
  5. Ships don’t not really have a lot going on in terms of amenities when compared to some of the other lines.
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@Hudson They are more than happy to oblige when we ask for a speedier dinner on occasion. Although we enjoy the tempo of dinner, others who have little children or have other places they’d rather be would feel otherwise.
It’s just not true. Of course, there are no additional fees, although there may be lineups.

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Most cruise lines offer fantastic vacation experiences. Both their parents and my children always had a terrific time during Carnival.

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@Grande I ought to have made it clear. Certain of the more well-known characters, like Pluto, need a fee to take pictures of you, but others are free.

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@Hudson They will gladly accept your phone and snap the photo.

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@Grande When I was on the Wish a few years ago, it wasn’t the case.

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@Hudson On every DCL trip I’ve taken, they’ve been gracious enough to let me snap a photo with my phone. I don’t know why you didn’t succeed.

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@Grande It’s possible that I just didn’t thought to let them use my phone and I’m mistaken. Since you seem very certain of your response, I don’t feel confident enough in mine to disagree with you.

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@Hudson They are delighted to take a picture with your phone if you ask, even if they don’t advertise doing so.

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@Grande That is helpful to know. Next year, we might be taking the Destiny.

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A Disney cruise is absurdly pricey and never worth the exorbitant cost.

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