Our Honest Take After Sailing Both
After four Disney cruises, we finally decided to try something different and sailed aboard Star of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. Going in, we fully expected to compare everything to Disney — and honestly, we still did. But we walked away pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed the experience.
While Disney still holds a special place for us, Royal Caribbean offered a very different style of vacation that worked well for our family in many ways. If you are trying to decide between the two cruise lines, you can’t go wrong either way.
Want the quick breakdown? Scroll to the bottom for a side-by-side comparison chart of the highlights.
First Impressions & Overall Atmosphere
The biggest difference for us was the overall atmosphere onboard.
Disney truly excels at creating a warm, welcoming environment. Crew members seem to be everywhere, and no matter what they’re doing, they acknowledge guests. From being welcomed onboard by name to the little interactions throughout the sailing, Disney creates a level of personal connection that feels hard to replicate.
On Royal Caribbean, we noticed fewer of those personal touches. The service was efficient and professional, but it didn’t have quite the same “magical” feel that Disney is known for.
Entertainment & Activities
This is where Royal Caribbean really shines.
There was an incredible amount included onboard:
- Rock climbing
- Ice skating
- Laser tag
- Aqua shows
- Comedy shows
- Broadway-style entertainment
Disney is known for their entrainment and immersive experiences throughout the ship:
- Pirate Night deck parties and fireworks at sea (depends on the sailings)
- Themed sail away parties
- Character meet-and-greets
- Family game shows and trivia
- Rotational dining entertainment and themed restaurants
- Broadway-style entertainment
One thing we noticed, though, is that Disney’s overall entertainment feels more consistently polished and immersive across the board. From the Broadway-style productions to the smaller performances happening throughout the ship, there’s a noticeable emphasis on theatrical training, storytelling, and character immersion that carries through nearly every aspect of the entertainment experience. Disney’s nightly shows tend to feel more cohesive and emotionally driven, often combining original music, elaborate costumes, advanced stage effects, and familiar characters in a way that appeals to both kids and adults. Even outside the main theater productions, Disney continues the entertainment throughout the evening with themed deck parties, live music, character appearances, movie screenings, trivia, and smaller lounge performances that help the ship feel constantly active without becoming overwhelming.
While Royal Caribbean absolutely delivers impressive production value and high-energy performances, Disney tends to feel more refined and consistent in its execution, particularly when it comes to creating that fully immersive “Disney” atmosphere from morning through late evening.
Food & Dining Experience
Surprisingly, I preferred the food and service on Royal Caribbean compared to our recent Disney cruises. On our last couple of Disney sailings, the dining teams seemed a bit stretched thin. On Royal Caribbean, service felt incredibly efficient — we were never waiting for drinks, courses, or assistance. Meals also moved more quickly since there isn’t entertainment happening during dinner service. While I did miss Disney’s dinner shows and rotational dining themes, the faster pace made evenings feel more relaxed overall. We skipped specialty dining entirely and still found the included food options more than sufficient for a seven-night cruise.
Ship Design & Layout
The layout of Star of the Seas deserves its own section because it’s truly impressive.
Areas like Surfside and Central Park were beautifully designed and felt immersive in completely different ways. Walking through Central Park almost made you forget you were on a ship at all. Royal Caribbean also offers beverage tastings and similar onboard experiences that Disney fans would likely enjoy as well.
The only downside for us was the pool setup. The main pool felt somewhat small considering the size of the ship, and while there were additional smaller pools available, we didn’t spend time at the adult-only areas so we can’t fully compare those. We did miss having the funnel vision, a large LED screen located on the main pool deck of Disney ships allowing swimmers and loungers to have a “dive-in” theater experience.
Staterooms
Another thing Disney really gets right is the stateroom layout. Disney’s rooms feel much more thoughtfully designed for families, with options like sofa beds, Murphy beds, and even pull-down beds from the ceiling that allow everyone to have their own sleeping space without constantly converting furniture back and forth. On Royal Caribbean, the setup felt less flexible, as the additional sleeping space was mainly just a convertible couch. Disney’s approach made the room feel more functional during both the daytime and nighttime, especially for families trying to maximize space and comfort.
CocoCay vs. Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay
Both Perfect Day at CocoCay and Disney’s private island destinations—Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point—really rival each other in terms of overall experience, and each offers more than enough to fill an entire day. The biggest difference comes down to the style of vacation you prefer rather than one being clearly “better” than the other.
CocoCay leans heavily into thrills and variety. From the massive waterpark and towering slides to the huge freshwater pool, ziplining, beach clubs, and plenty of activities for families and adults alike, there is always something happening. It feels energetic, modern, and packed with entertainment options at every turn.
Disney’s islands, on the other hand, focus more on immersive theming, relaxation, and that signature Disney atmosphere. Castaway Cay offers beautiful beaches, biking trails, snorkeling lagoons, family areas, and the adults-only Serenity Bay, while Lookout Cay brings a more natural island feel with cultural touches, vibrant design, and gorgeous beachfront spaces. Disney also excels at creating seamless family experiences, with dedicated kids’ clubs right on the island and character interactions woven throughout the day.
What makes the comparison interesting is that both cruise lines have created destinations that genuinely feel like extensions of their ships rather than just a beach stop. Whether you want nonstop activities or a more laid-back tropical escape, both CocoCay and Disney’s private islands provide plenty to do, excellent food, beautiful beaches, and memorable experiences for all ages.
Pricing
One thing to know about Royal Caribbean, though, is the pricing structure.
Unlike Disney’s more straightforward “price is the price” model, Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing for many add-ons:
- Drink packages
- Excursions
- Waterpark admission
- Cabanas
Prices fluctuate frequently. During our trip planning, Thrill Waterpark ranged anywhere from $50 to over $119 per person, while the drink package varied between $65 and $89.99 per day. The upside is that you can score excellent deals if you monitor pricing carefully. The downside is that you have to pay upfront and rebook if prices drop. I actually rebooked a cabana four separate times because the price kept decreasing — and naturally, the refunds took longer to process than the charges themselves.
Kids Clubs
For our family, Disney still wins here.
The kids definitely preferred Disney’s youth clubs. Royal Caribbean’s version felt less structured and more free-form, while Disney tends to offer more guided programming and immersive activities.
For kids who love independence and flexibility, Royal Caribbean may actually be preferable. But for our family, Disney’s clubs still felt more engaging overall.
Photography
A final point of comparison is the photography experience. Disney tends to stand out with a more polished and proactive approach to onboard photographers—they’re consistently present in key moments, more attentive to candid opportunities, and generally skilled at capturing flattering, well-composed shots in a variety of lighting and settings. The overall experience feels more curated and seamless, especially for families who want those milestone vacation photos without having to think about staging them. In addition, Disney’s photography packages are often viewed as more flexible and value-oriented, with clearer bundling options and easy access to a wide selection of images. On Royal Caribbean, the photography offerings felt more limited in both coverage and package structure, with fewer candid-style opportunities and less consistency in the overall quality and experience.
Disney vs Royal Caribbean: Quick Overview
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