Royal Caribbean
Outgrew Disney Cruise? Need a change?
Try Royal Caribbean next
(You're probably gonna want a suite)
You love Disney Cruise, but the kids are bigger now, and you're ready for new experiences.
By A’Dell Stevens · Founder of Travel Obsessed TX
Why Royal Caribbean is the move after Disney Cruise
Almost every one of my Disney Cruise families eventually asks me, “What’s next for us?”
These families enjoy cruising, but they've run out of ways to get new experiences with Disney.
Royal Caribbean offers bigger ships, more waterslides, more places to eat (can I get a high five for a dinner buffet?), way more ports to visit.
And a LOT of new room options for literal SQUARE FOOTAGE in the room that families with older kids need.
(Anyone else have a giant teenage boy who no longer fits in the kid bunk? We can fix that!)
This is a much more complex brand than Disney Cruise Line, and I can help you parse what's worth buying.
Royal Caribbean has 30+ ships to choose from, versus Disney Cruise's seven US-based ships.
Up to 34 stateroom types on a single ship, versus Disney Cruise's four main tiers.
Another catch: the rooms run smaller than what you had on Disney Cruise. It's not a dig, just something to be aware of.
If you're used to spending Disney Cruise money, you'll be pleasantly impressed with what it buys you on Royal Caribbean, but only if you choose wisely, which is why you should talk to me first.
What my Royal Caribbean clients can expect from me, for free
$50 onboard credit on every Royal
Caribbean sail I book, even transfers
Booking Royal Caribbean yourself is easy, I get it. But book through me and you get $50 in onboard credit, any category, and it stacks right on top of whatever sale Royal is already running. Same price, you just walk away with an extra $50 to spend on the ship.
Already booked it yourself? Transfer your reservation to me while it’s still in Royal Caribbean’s window and the $50 is yours too. Same price, nothing changes.
Find the transfer form here →
You need to find a Travel Agent for all the different trips your family will want to take
My clients stick with me for years, and I help them level up as their kids grow. Once I get to know you, it becomes EASY and FAST for me to recommend what I know you will like.
Disney Cruise Line
Characters, Broadway-style shows, pools, and that famous magic and Disney service level you love.
Royal Caribbean Suites
Big-ship thrills on Icon-Class Ships, waterslides, surf simulators, and teen clubs. Book the Suite for the space.
Adventures by Disney
Families that love Disney service but want to tour places that aren't on a ship or a theme park, with a trusted tour operator for families.
AmaWaterways River Cruise
Europe by river. Easy, elevated, and just right for teens before they leave the nest. I book a lot of these for grad trips.
Not sure which trip to go for next? We can figure it out together.
Start planning with me →Royal Caribbean vs Disney Cruise, side by side
| Disney Cruise | Royal Caribbean, with me | |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Night Balcony/Verandah, family of 4 | $8,900 to $13,500+ | About half that, roughly $7,500 and up |
| Standard room size | ~176 sq ft | 154 sq ft, which is why I think you want a suite |
| Onboard credit | Not available | Every single sail, even transfers |
| Built for | Younger kids and Disney Adults, those who love storytelling | Families who don't need the magic, but want lots of options |
| Thrill stuff (slides, surf, zip) | Not really a focus | Multiple options: rock climbing, ziplines, waterslides, the works |
Ballpark for a 7 night Caribbean sailing, family of four. Real prices swing by ship, season, and cabin. Tell me your dates and I will quote the real number.
Why you'll want a suite,
not a standard room
Disney Cruise Interior rooms average about 176 square feet. Royal Caribbean's Inside rooms average around 154, and plenty are smaller.
The mistake I see families make all the time: "We booked a Balcony on Disney Cruise, let's do the same on Royal Caribbean."
No. Please don't do that.
The bed configurations are different. The room sizes are different. This is not an apples-to-apples situation.
| Disney Cruise Verandah | Royal Caribbean Balcony | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical inside space | ~195 sq ft | ~180 sq ft |
| Verandah / Balcony | ~50 sq ft | ~50 sq ft, varies by ship |
| Bathroom | Split bath, two rooms | One bathroom |
| Sleeps | 3 to 4 | Up to 4, varies by ship |
Disney Cruise Verandah rooms run a little bigger and famously include a split bathroom. Royal Caribbean Balcony sizes vary by ship. The point: they are not the same room, so don't book on autopilot.
The catch? Suite benefits are not the same on every ship
Book a suite on the right one and it's incredible. Book the same suite category on an older ship and it can be little more than a bigger room. Same suite money, completely different trip.
So the real question isn't "should we book a suite." It's "on which ship."
Full Royal Suite Class, with Coastal Kitchen, Suite Lounge, sun deck, and Star Class with a Royal Genie.
Oasis Class: Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder, Utopia
Quantum Class: Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Odyssey, Spectrum
Older Suites Program. More room than a Balcony, but no Coastal Kitchen, no Suite Lounge, no Genie. Often not worth the jump.
Radiance Class: Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade, Jewel
Vision Class, and the older Freedom Class ships
Here's how families get burned: they see a "suite" price, assume it comes with all the perks, and book the wrong ship. Then they're paying suite money for what's really just a bigger Balcony room. It's the exact mistake I keep you from making.
Before you put a nonrefundable deposit down, tell me the ship you're eyeing. I'll tell you straight up whether the suite is worth it there.
Ask me if your suite is worth it →An Inside room is a great trip too!
Sometimes you just need a cheaper trip!
This is totally legit.
I push suites because the space and perks are the best comparison to Disney Cruise. But not every trip is full glam. If you just need an Inside/Oceanview/Balcony room?
I book Inside rooms for my own family all the time, sometimes it's the right call!
You get the same me, the same planning, and the same onboard credit on every Royal Caribbean sail. No trip is too small!
Royal Caribbean questions
from Disney Cruise families
Do I really get $50 onboard credit on every Royal Caribbean sail?
Yes. Every Royal sailing I book comes with $50 onboard credit, any category, and it stacks on top of whatever sale Royal is running. Book direct and you simply don't get it. It's free money. (Royal Caribbean only; I can't do this on other brands.)
I already booked Royal Caribbean myself. Can I still get the $50?
Usually yes, you'll need to transfer the reservation to me. As long as you're inside Royal's transfer window, typically within 30 days of booking and before final payment. Miss it and the credit's gone for good, so if you just booked, don't sit on it. Nothing else about your reservation changes.
Royal Caribbean vs. Disney Cruise: which is better for families?
Neither is “better,” they're simply different experiences, and that's the trap. Disney is unbeatable for little kids and character magic; Royal wins for tweens and teens who want waterslides, surf simulators, and their own space, usually at a noticeably lower price. Booking the wrong one for your kids' ages is the expensive mistake. Tell me their ages and what they loved about Disney, and I'll tell you straight whether Royal is actually the upgrade for your family, or not.
We loved Disney Cruise but the kids are bigger. What cruise line is next?
Royal Caribbean, nine times out of ten: bigger ships, more to do. The trap is that “more to do” swings wildly by ship, and the wrong one has your teens bored by day two. Tell me their ages and I'll match the ship. You may also be ready for Adventures By Disney, or a European River Cruise.
Is Royal Caribbean's kids club as good as Disney's?
Honest answer: no. The families who come home disappointed booked the wrong ship or had mismatched expectations for their kids ages. That's why you need to talk to me before you book.
Which Royal Caribbean ship is best for older kids and teens?
Depends. Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas grab the headlines with the biggest waterpark at sea and the best teen spaces, but the right ship shifts with your kids' ages, your dates, and your budget. Pick wrong and you're in a “suite” with barely any perks, or on a sailing that totally skips what your teens care about. Tell me who's coming and when, and I'll point you to the one that fits.
Star of the Seas vs. Icon of the Seas: which should we pick?
They're near-identical sister ships, which is exactly why families guess wrong. Icon sails from Miami; Star sails from Port Canaveral, so you can tack on Walt Disney World. Star has more dining and different shows; Icon has its own. Same waterpark, same Perfect Day at CocoCay. The right one comes down to your homeport, your dates, and which shows and rooms your kids care about, and the good suites sell out first. Send me your dates and I'll tell you which one to book before the suite you want is gone.
Does a Royal Caribbean “suite” include the Suite Lounge, Coastal Kitchen, and Genie?
This is where families overpay. Full Royal Suite Class only exists on the Oasis, Icon, and Quantum class ships. Book a “suite” on the wrong ship and it can be little more than a bigger room: no lounge, no Genie, and Sea Class doesn't even include gratuities. Quick version: Sea is extra room plus Coastal Kitchen at dinner; Sky adds a concierge, the Suite Lounge, all-day Coastal Kitchen, and a sun deck; Star is the top, with a Royal Genie, specialty dining, drinks and tips included. Same suite money, completely different trip, so I make sure you're on the ship where it's real.
How much does a Royal Caribbean suite cost for a family?
It depends on ship, season, and suite class, but a 7-night Caribbean sailing for a family of four often runs roughly half of a comparable Disney Cruise. The catch: the cheapest “suite” is usually the one without the perks, so the sticker price alone will mislead you. Send me your dates and I'll quote the real number, credit included.
What's included, and are drinks and gratuities extra?
Your fare covers the room, main dining, entertainment, and the activities, but not alcohol, specialty dining, or gratuities, and drink packages add an automatic 18%. This is why the cheapest “suite” can cost more than it looks: Sea Class suites don't include gratuities, while Star Class rolls in drinks, tips, and specialty dining. I map out what's actually included at each tier so the sticker price doesn't fool you, and you still get $50 onboard credit either way.
What comes after a Disney Cruise for families?
Think of it as a ladder. Little kids: Disney Cruise Line. As they grow: Royal Caribbean suites. Tweens and young teens: Adventures by Disney. Older teens: an AmaWaterways river cruise in Europe. I book every rung, so you're not starting over with a new agent each time.
Who is a good travel agent for Royal Caribbean suites in Texas?
That's my lane. I'm a Texas-based agent who specializes in Disney Cruise and Royal Caribbean family cruises. I match you to the right ship and suite so you don't overpay, and every Royal sail I book includes $50 onboard credit.
Should I use a travel agent for Royal Caribbean, and does it cost more?
It costs you nothing. The price is identical to booking direct, Royal pays me instead of you, and I add $50 onboard credit on top. Same fare, plus someone who steers you to the right ship and suite, plus free money to spend onboard. Book direct and you get the same price with none of that. Give me the booking, I'll give you the fifty bucks and make sure you don't overpay for the wrong ship.
Why families trust me to plan the next trip
I've sailed all seven U.S.-based Disney Cruise Line ships and I spend about 30 days a year on a Disney Cruise ship, so I know exactly when a family is ready to graduate to something bigger. I book Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Adventures by Disney, AmaWaterways, and Virgin Voyages.
I book more than 500 families a year. I'm North Texas-based, but I book clients from every state. I also book more brands, including Aulani and Disney Parks, just ask me.
When it comes to Royal Caribbean suites, I know the difference between Sea, Sky, and Star Class cold, which ships have the family suites worth chasing, and how to get you the most for your money. And every Royal Caribbean sailing I book comes with $50 onboard credit, any category.
Ready to plan your Royal Caribbean sail?
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