Throughout the previous three months, I’ve sailed on two of Royal Caribbean and Disney’s oldest ships: Imaginative and prescient of the Seas and Disney Magic. Although each ships launched in 1998 simply months aside, they couldn’t be extra completely different. From the onboard facilities to the cabin expertise, one is undeniably higher than the opposite—at the least by way of modern-day enchantment.
Royal Caribbean and Disney are two of the main family-friendly cruise traces within the trade. Whereas Royal’s fleet is bigger, there’s one thing particular about embarking on a ship with traditional Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
Each manufacturers cater to households, however Disney goes above and past in creating immersive, magic-filled experiences for company of all ages. Being in my mid-20s and childless, I used to be anxious that I would really feel misplaced and overwhelmed by the youthful youngsters onboard.
Nevertheless, I used to be instantly introduced again to my childhood inside seconds of stepping on the ship. In reality, Disney Magic was the first-ever ship I sailed on in 2005!
Nonetheless, I beloved my time onboard Imaginative and prescient of the Seas. Having primarily sailed on Royal Caribbean’s bigger ships, I puzzled if I might benefit from the extra intimate expertise that Imaginative and prescient supplied. And to my shock, I did! The Most important Eating Room’s meals was scrumptious, and I grew keen on the spacious, enclosed Solarium.
Nevertheless, Imaginative and prescient caters to company searching for a quieter, extra conventional cruising expertise. Whereas there are nonetheless actions and leisure for households, Disney Magic takes the cake relating to family-centric experiences.
I stayed in inside cabins on each cruises, the most affordable stateroom out there. These no-frill lodging had primary cruise ship cabin facilities, together with an ensuite toilet, tv, self-importance space, and closet.
The value of my 5-night crusing on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas in September 2024 was $1,396.76, whereas my fiancée and I paid $1,585.78 for our 3-night cruise aboard Disney Magic to the cruise line’s new non-public vacation spot in The Bahamas: Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level.
On Imaginative and prescient, the value felt like worth for what we obtained. Although older, the facilities, actions, eating, and repair have been stable. Nevertheless, my expertise onboard Disney Magic justified the upper worth.
Whereas the cruise was shorter, we felt like we obtained extra out of each second, whether or not ready in line to fulfill a personality or attending a Broadway-style musical within the Walt Disney Theater. Plus, visiting the comparatively new Lookout Cay was a standout.
Here is my comparability of the most affordable cabins on two of Royal Caribbean and Disney’s oldest ships.
Learn extra: 8 cruise ship cabin guidelines to comply with — Plus 1 to interrupt
Value
The distinction between the fare of each cruises, together with gratuities and port charges, was simply $189.02, or $94.51 per individual.
This wasn’t too stunning, as Disney Cruise Line is thought for a few of the highest fares within the trade, even on its oldest vessels. Moreover, with Lookout Cay welcoming its first company in June, I knew we might be paying a premium to go to the non-public vacation spot inside its first few months of operation.
Nevertheless, Disney’s base fare is barely extra inclusive than Royal Caribbean’s. For instance, soda is included with meals in the principle eating rooms, in addition to at a number of beverage stations all through the ship.
Furthermore, along with using Disney’s Wi-Fi to connect with the app without cost, you’ll be able to keep linked with family and friends again house by means of iMessage and WhatsApp for no further cost.
Cabin overview
Inside cabins are usually cozy, so I wasn’t stunned by the snugness of my stateroom on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas. Measuring simply 132 sq. ft, cabin 3543 was compact however useful. It additionally felt extra spacious than it was, in all probability as a result of we separated the beds to create a small walkway in the course of the stateroom.
Compared, my stateroom on Disney Magic, 5633, measured round 185 sq. ft. No inch of the cabin was wasted both, from the plush sofa that might be transformed into an extra mattress to the shower-tub mixture within the toilet.
Each cabins are over 25 years outdated, so it wasn’t shocking to search out indicators of damage and tear, significantly within the toilet. Nevertheless, my stateroom on Disney Magic felt newer, or at the least extra refreshed.
To start out, there have been way more shops than I anticipated. The self-importance space alone had eight shops, together with two USB ports, 5 commonplace American plugs, and one European outlet.
That wasn’t all, both! There have been three extra American shops beside the mattress, making it simple to cost our telephones at night time. Due to all of the charging choices, my European adapters went unused, not like my expertise on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas.
The 26-year-old Royal Caribbean ship had simply 4 shops in your complete stateroom, all close to the self-importance. Plus, solely two have been American, so in the event you did not convey European adapters, you would be restricted to simply two shops for the voyage.
Once I sailed on Imaginative and prescient, I used my moveable charger at night time to maintain my telephone close to the mattress. In any other case, I’d have needed to depart my telephone on the self-importance. Whereas minor, having bedside shops made Disney Magic appear newer, although she’s the identical age as Imaginative and prescient of the Seas.
Storage
The nightstands in my inside cabin on Imaginative and prescient had extra storage, whereas the nightstands in my Disney stateroom had only one drawer every.
Nonetheless, neither cabin skimped on offering sufficient house for clothes, sneakers, toiletries, and different miscellaneous objects. The closet house on each ships was comparable, and loads of cupboards have been situated all through serving to to maintain our belongings hid.
Learn extra: The 1-item improve for a greater cruise ship cabin expertise
Royal Caribbean undoubtedly offered extra toilet storage, however I appreciated the dimensions of Disney’s shower-tub combo, although it nonetheless had a clingy bathe curtain.
With only one hook on the lavatory door, I used to be glad I introduced my hanging toiletries organizer, which helped maintain all my merchandise inside attain whereas preparing.
Rest room
Talking of the toilet, each had their strengths and weaknesses. As talked about, Disney Magic’s lacked storage, whereas my toilet on Imaginative and prescient had built-in shelving subsequent to the sink.
Nevertheless, the tub-shower combo on Disney was far superior to the tiny capsule bathe on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas which was extra useful than snug. And whereas cruise ship bogs aren’t identified for being luxurious (except in a top-tier suite), the lavatory on Disney Magic felt extra spacious and well-designed.
Along with the tub-shower state of affairs, Disney offered higher toiletries, together with liquid (sure, liquid!) hand cleaning soap. There was additionally physique lotion and separate physique wash, shampoo, and conditioner. It felt so good to have precise physique wash as an alternative of the shampoo-body wash hybrid that is commonplace on Royal ships.
Although the upgrades on Disney Magic, together with the liquid hand cleaning soap and tub-shower mixture, have been a pleasant contact, my toilet on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas wasn’t far behind by way of cleanliness and performance. It was evident Disney and Royal Caribbean put numerous thought into the practicalities of their bogs.
Location
I beloved my location on Disney Magic and Imaginative and prescient of the Seas! Whereas crusing to Bermuda with Royal Caribbean, my inside stateroom was within the entrance of the ship on Deck 4, making it simple to entry many in style facilities like Cafe Latte-tudes, the Most important Eating Room, Masquerade Theater, and On line casino on Decks 4, 5, and 6.
Although my inside cabin on Disney Magic was situated in the direction of the again of the vessel on Deck 5, it was additionally in a major location. Households with youthful youngsters would particularly like it because it was on the identical deck because the youth golf equipment, together with Disney’s Oceaneer Membership, Oceaneer Lab, and “it is a small world” nursery.
Not solely that, but it surely was a brief stroll to the atrium, Buena Vista Theater, Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, and D Lounge. With solely three nights onboard, I appreciated how briskly I discovered my approach across the ship. I used to be feeling like a Disney professional on night time one!
Remaining ideas
Inside staterooms aren’t for everybody. Rising up, my household solely sailed in balconies; nevertheless, as I’ve begun to fund my cruising addition, I’ve discovered that inside cabins have their very own benefits, regardless of missing pure gentle and ocean views.
Cruisers who like to stretch their trip finances so far as attainable will love the worth of inside rooms. They arrive with the identical commonplace facilities as ocean-view and balcony cabins. Plus, you’ll be able to get pleasure from the identical onboard facilities, from multi-course meals within the Most important Eating Room to manufacturing exhibits, youth programming, and extra.
Whereas I had nice experiences in my staterooms on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas and Disney Magic, the upgraded options, from the multitude of shops to the spacious bathe, made the cabin on my Disney cruise stand out probably the most.
Nevertheless, due to Disney’s worth level, I might argue Imaginative and prescient presents higher total worth. Mixed with my Diamond Crown & Anchor advantages, crusing with Royal, even on an older ship, is an effective way to journey with out breaking the financial institution.
For cruisers searching for a no-frills trip with good eating, high quality leisure, and pleasant crew, you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with an inside stateroom on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas. On the finish of the day, although, I prefered Disney Magic’s inside cabin over Imaginative and prescient’s.