Comparing prices between Disney and Royal Caribbean cruises

Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are widely considered the best cruise lines for families. Both offer family-friendly cabins and a variety of on-board activities and entertainment aimed at families and young cruisers, from toddlers to teenagers.

In either case, most family activities are included in the cruise fare when you sail with any of these family cruise lines.

Related: 3 Popular Amenities You Won’t Find on a Disney Cruise Lines Ship

Water slides, pools and kid-friendly water play areas are common across both cruise lines’ fleets. Many Royal Caribbean ships also include a FlowRider surfing simulator and an ice rink. Live Disney shows, deck parties with Disney characters and fireworks at sea add to the magic for families sailing on Disney cruise ships.

At each of their private destinations, Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have family-friendly beach activities and water play areas where kids can splash around. For an additional fee, families sailing to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay can also enjoy a thrilling water park, zip line and helium balloon ride.

Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or first) cruise.

Perfect Day at CocoCay has many free attractions and some with an additional fee.

Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWithMe

Disney Cruise Line ships are designed especially for families

While adults sailing without children are welcome on Disney cruises, Disney Cruise Line is all about families, and its ships are designed specifically for families. Cabins on Disney cruise ships are notable for being more spacious and more thoughtfully equipped for families than other cruise lines.

Dining on Disney Cruise Line ranks high among families for the quality of the food and magically themed dining rooms with family entertainment and interactive touches. Families also love Disney cruises for the quality of Broadway-style live shows featuring fan-favorite Disney stories, as well as its character experiences, and theaters showing first-run and classic Disney films.

Disney Cruise Line’s kids’ club, the Oceaneer Club, is popular for its immersive and interactive play spaces, such as the Marvel Super Hero Academy and Andy’s Room from the “Toy Story” movies. The kids club is included with the cruise fare and is usually open until midnight.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club includes character experiences, storytelling sessions and a variety of activities for children ages three to 10. Dedicated spaces for tweens and tweens to hang out in their own lounges are also available on Disney cruise ships.

Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Royal Caribbean has a very popular kids club

Royal Caribbean’s Kids’ Club, Adventure Ocean, is highly regarded for its adventure-themed activities and educational programs for children between the ages of three and 17. Teens have their own teen-only lounges where they are free to come and go as they please.

Children aged three to 11 can dine at their dedicated early family meal time before leaving their parents behind for an evening at Adventure Ocean. Royal Caribbean’s My Family Time Dining is offered for the first time in the main dining room.

Related: First cruise with kids? Here are 4 things to bring

Adventure Ocean and the cruise line’s teen-only spaces are open late into the evening so adults can enjoy a night out while the kids hang out with new cruise buddies. While Royal Caribbean’s children’s programs and teen clubs are included in your cruise fare, please note that an hourly rate applies after 10pm for late-night group babysitting for children ages three to 11 , available in the Adventure Ocean Center.

Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Prices among the best family cruise lines vary significantly

Beyond family-friendly amenities, how do the prices of these top family-friendly cruise lines compare? Let’s look at a four-night Bahamas cruise from Fort Lauderdale for a family of four on both cruise lines sailing in November 2024.

For a four-night Disney cruise for a family of four sailing from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas, with stops in Nassau and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay, prices start at $3,504.16.

For a four-night Royal Caribbean cruise for a family of four sailing from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas, with stops in Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, prices start at $915.68 for an inside cabin. This price reflects a savings of $871.00 available through a discount on bookings made in September, which includes a kids free offer.

READ ALSO: The best travel agents tell you how to get the best price on your cruise

Royal Caribbean often runs Kids Sail Free promotions that allow children 12 and under to receive a free cruise fare. This can provide significant savings and add to the value this cruise line offers families.

Prices for Royal Caribbean cruises on Icon of the Seas, the cruise line’s largest ship, sailing 7-day itineraries from Miami, can be higher than many Disney cruises. In a broad sense, however, Royal Caribbean offers much lower prices.

Taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to get all your questions answered.