Let’s talk vacations – cause well, that’s kind of my thing. If you know my family personally, we are devoted Disney Cruise Line fans. We love the customer service, programming for families, food, Castaway Cay, the Broadway style shows, and the Magic a Disney Cruise offers. For us, like many of you, 2020 had a way of changing plans. No doubt about it, things are different, and I believe experiences will continue to be different as we all navigate a new normal and do our best to enjoy life while keeping one another safe.
This summer, in light of the Coronavirus restrictions and cruising limitations, we traded our floating vacation plans in for an all-inclusive land vacation at Beaches Negril. We had an amazing time ,and I found myself comparing the two at times when thinking about what our next trip should be.
Here’s what I came up with:
If you love a good pool and actually swimming in pools, Beaches is the clear winner. You have space to float, play volleyball, and actually even swim. The swim-up bars are a bonus for kids and adults alike. You won’t be able to drink your beverages or smoothies in a pool on any Disney ship. It’s no secret onboard pools on most cruise lines are small and often packed, but there are unique perks as well. It’s kind of fun to watch an array of Disney classics on the big screen Funnel Vision located on the pool decks while cooling off in the pool. If you want to be less crowded, try it on a port day.
If your Disney Cruise includes a stop at Castaway Cay, you’ll enjoy this private Bahamian Island with exclusive access for cruise passengers. One bonus on DCL is it is an actual dock, and you can walk off vs. waiting for a tender. If you happen to be on the Magic or Wonder, the smaller ships, it means the beaches are even less crowded. After sailing to Castaway Cay more than a dozen times, I can tell you we’ve only ever had a hard time finding beach chairs once, and that was a larger ship and spring break week at least 7-8 years ago. They’ve expanded the beach areas and since then we have never had a problem finding lounge chairs and even an umbrella. Castaway Cay is truly my happy place.
Finding a chair on the beach, especially with shade, can prove challenging at Beaches at times. The early bird gets the worm on this one. Like Castaway Cay, there are options for cabanas for an extra fee. The vibe of Castaway Cay and the Disney touch makes Castaway for families take the lead in atmosphere for me. For the actual beach though, the 7-Mile Beach at Negril has powder-soft sand and crystal-clear water. If I could plant the feel of Disney’s Castaway Cay onto a beach like 7-Mile Beach, it would be even better. What I don’t like about the beaches in Jamaica is the constant solicitation from the locals walking up and down the beach. It certainly takes away from the tranquil, tropical beach experience. Castaway Cay also has Serenity Bay, an adult-only beach. Beaches Negril doesn’t have adult-only beaches or even adult-only pools like you’ll find onboard a ship, so if you are looking for a balance of kid-free areas and time, a Disney Cruise may be the better option.
Both vacations offer unlimited soft-serve ice cream (because let’s be honest, this is an important component), but if you like frozen yogurt in assorted flavors with LOTS of toppings, Beaches is the winner here. DCL does have different flavor options and combos for some great twist cones, but not quite up to the assortment at Yo-Yos at Beaches.
As stated in my intro, DCL offers incredible Broadway-style shows on each ship with talent and cast members with extensive training. Beaches can’t match that, but they do offer some fun, family friendly entertainment and shows, and they have Sesame Street characters which is a good option for littles.
Guests aboard Disney Cruise Line may bring onboard a 6-pack of beer or two bottles of wine or champagne per adult. This can help the budget if you plan to consume alcoholic beverages. Beer packages are available and they have some great drinks of the day at a great price. And, if you’ve never tried it, they offer several options for mixology or specialty drink classes for a small fee that typically include 4-5 drinks. These are a lot of fun. You can also purchase a refillable beer mug and save on refills and the beer selection on the cruise is a good one – different bars offer different beer on tap. That said what Disney doesn’t offer is an unlimited drink package like you may see on other cruise lines. Beaches and Sandals offer an unlimited selection of drinks with top-brand liquor names and Robert Mondovi Wines included in the price of your vacation package. The beer selection is limited to primarily local beer, so if you are a beer snob, this might not work for you.
Another advantage to Beaches is tips are included as well unless you are in a Butler category room. In that case, it is appropriate to tip your butler. Disney does offer pre-paid gratuities as an option, but if you don’t prepay it will be billed to your onboard account and you will have that end of trip balance. Gratuities on DCL are currently $13.50 per day, per person. A 7-night cruise for a family of four would bring the total for gratuities to $378. I do like to prepay them, so I don’t feel like I have a big bill after my vacation.
So which is better? Because that’s the real question here, isn’t it? The answer? Whichever you think is the best fit for your vacation style and family. I tried to share some of the pros and cons from my perspective having experienced both, but when you think about it – we don’t all like the same flavor ice cream, right? That’s why the travel industry gives you options. That’s also why booking with a travel planner has its advantages. We use our experience and resources to help find the best fit for your family. There are many more comparisons like programs for children, tweens and teens, fitness options, excursions, cost and more. If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out and I can help find the best fit for your next family vacation.
Guest Blogger: Christin Michaud
Christin Michaud is an avid cruiser and loves making memories with her family. In light of the 2020 cancellations in cruise travel, she and her family opted to try an all-inclusive family resort for their last summer vacation adventure. You can contact Christin or your Wishdrawalsagent to assist you with booking your next adult-only or family all-inclusive or a cruise for your family.
Christin is a mom of two and former military member. She has extensive experience with cruising, Disney vacations, and now adding all-inclusives!
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