Within the past three months, I’ve sailed on two of Royal Caribbean and Disney’s oldest ships: Vision of the Seas and Disney Magic. Though both ships launched in 1998 just months apart, they couldn’t be more different. From the onboard amenities to the cabin experience, one is undeniably better than the other—at least in terms of modern-day appeal.
Royal Caribbean and Disney are two of the leading family-friendly cruise lines in the industry. While Royal’s fleet is larger, there’s something special about embarking on a ship with classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
Both brands cater to families, but Disney goes above and beyond in creating immersive, magic-filled experiences for guests of all ages. Being in my mid-20s and childless, I was worried that I might feel out of place and overwhelmed by the younger kids onboard.
However, I was immediately brought back to my childhood within seconds of stepping on the ship. In fact, Disney Magic was the first-ever ship I sailed on in 2005!
Still, I loved my time onboard Vision of the Seas. Having primarily sailed on Royal Caribbean’s larger ships, I wondered if I’d enjoy the more intimate experience that Vision offered. And to my surprise, I did! The Main Dining Room’s food was delicious, and I grew fond of the spacious, enclosed Solarium.
However, Vision caters to guests seeking a quieter, more traditional cruising experience. While there are still activities and entertainment for families, Disney Magic takes the cake when it comes to family-centric experiences.
I stayed in interior cabins on both cruises, the cheapest stateroom available. These no-frill accommodations had basic cruise ship cabin amenities, including an ensuite bathroom, television, vanity area, and closet.
The price of my 5-night sailing on Vision of the Seas in September 2024 was $1,396.76, while my fiancée and I paid $1,585.78 for our 3-night cruise aboard Disney Magic to the cruise line’s new private destination in The Bahamas: Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
On Vision, the price felt like a good value for what we received. Though older, the amenities, activities, dining, and service were solid. However, my experience onboard Disney Magic justified the higher price.
While the cruise was shorter, we felt like we got more out of every moment, whether waiting in line to meet a character or attending a Broadway-style musical in the Walt Disney Theater. Plus, visiting the relatively new Lookout Cay was a standout.
Here’s my comparison of the cheapest cabins on two of Royal Caribbean and Disney’s oldest ships.
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Price
The difference between the fare of both cruises, including gratuities and port fees, was just $189.02, or $94.51 per person.
This wasn’t too shocking, as Disney Cruise Line is known for some of the highest fares in the industry, even on its oldest vessels. Additionally, with Lookout Cay welcoming its first guests in June, I knew we’d be paying a premium to visit the private destination within its first few months of operation.
However, Disney’s base fare is slightly more inclusive than Royal Caribbean’s. For example, soda is included with meals in the main dining rooms, as well as at several beverage stations throughout the ship.
Moreover, in addition to utilizing Disney’s Wi-Fi to connect to the app for free, you can stay connected with friends and family back home through iMessage and WhatsApp for no extra charge.
Cabin overview
Inside cabins are typically cozy, so I wasn’t taken aback by the snugness of my stateroom on Vision of the Seas. Measuring just 132 square feet, cabin 3543 was compact but functional. It also felt more spacious than it was, probably because we separated the beds to create a small walkway in the middle of the stateroom.
In comparison, my stateroom on Disney Magic, 5633, measured around 185 square feet. No inch of the cabin was wasted either, from the plush couch that could be converted into an additional bed to the shower-tub combination in the bathroom.
Both cabins are over 25 years old, so it wasn’t surprising to find signs of wear and tear, particularly in the bathroom. However, my stateroom on Disney Magic felt newer, or at least more refreshed.
To start, there were far more outlets than I anticipated. The vanity area alone had eight outlets, including two USB ports, five standard American plugs, and one European outlet.
That wasn’t all, either! There were three additional American outlets beside the bed, making it easy to charge our phones at night. Because of all the charging options, my European adapters went unused, unlike my experience on Vision of the Seas.
The 26-year-old Royal Caribbean ship had just four outlets in the entire stateroom, all near the vanity. Plus, only two were American, so if you didn’t bring European adapters, you’d be limited to just two outlets for the voyage.
When I sailed on Vision, I used my portable charger at night to keep my phone near the bed. Otherwise, I would have had to leave my phone on the vanity. While minor, having bedside outlets made Disney Magic seem newer, even though she’s the same age as Vision of the Seas.
Storage
The nightstands in my interior cabin on Vision had more storage, whereas the nightstands in my Disney stateroom had just one drawer each.
Still, neither cabin skimped on providing enough space for clothing, shoes, toiletries, and other miscellaneous items. The closet space on both ships was comparable, and plenty of cabinets were located throughout helping to keep our belongings concealed.
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Royal Caribbean definitely provided more bathroom storage, but I appreciated the size of Disney’s shower-tub combo, though it still had a clingy shower curtain.
With just one hook on the bathroom door, I was glad I brought my hanging toiletries organizer, which helped keep all my products within reach while getting ready.
Bathroom
Speaking of the bathroom, both had their strengths and weaknesses. As mentioned, Disney Magic’s lacked storage, whereas my bathroom on Vision had built-in shelving next to the sink.
However, the tub-shower combo on Disney was far superior to the tiny capsule shower on Vision of the Seas which was more functional than comfortable. And while cruise ship bathrooms aren’t known for being luxurious (unless in a top-tier suite), the bathroom on Disney Magic felt more spacious and well-designed.
In addition to the tub-shower situation, Disney provided better toiletries, including liquid (yes, liquid!) hand soap. There was also body lotion and separate body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. It felt so nice to have actual body wash instead of the shampoo-body wash hybrid that’s standard on Royal ships.
Though the upgrades on Disney Magic, including the liquid hand soap and tub-shower combination, were a nice touch, my bathroom on Vision of the Seas wasn’t far behind in terms of cleanliness and functionality. It was evident Disney and Royal Caribbean put a lot of thought into the practicalities of their bathrooms.
Location
I loved my location on Disney Magic and Vision of the Seas! While sailing to Bermuda with Royal Caribbean, my inside stateroom was in the front of the ship on Deck 4, making it easy to access many popular amenities like Cafe Latte-tudes, the Main Dining Room, Masquerade Theater, and Casino on Decks 4, 5, and 6.
Though my interior cabin on Disney Magic was located towards the back of the vessel on Deck 5, it was also in a prime location. Families with younger children would especially love it since it was on the same deck as the youth clubs, including Disney’s Oceaneer Club, Oceaneer Lab, and “it’s a small world” nursery.
Not only that, but it was a short walk to the atrium, Buena Vista Theater, Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, and D Lounge. With only three nights onboard, I appreciated how fast I learned my way around the ship. I was feeling like a Disney pro on night one!
Final thoughts
Inside staterooms aren’t for everyone. Growing up, my family only sailed in balconies; however, as I’ve begun to fund my cruising addition, I’ve learned that inside cabins have their own advantages, despite lacking natural light and ocean views.
Cruisers who love to stretch their vacation budget as far as possible will love the value of interior rooms. They come with the same standard amenities as ocean-view and balcony cabins. Plus, you can enjoy the same onboard amenities, from multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room to production shows, youth programming, and more.
While I had pleasant experiences in my staterooms on Vision of the Seas and Disney Magic, the upgraded features, from the multitude of outlets to the spacious shower, made the cabin on my Disney cruise stand out the most.
However, because of Disney’s price point, I’d argue Vision offers better overall value. Combined with my Diamond Crown & Anchor benefits, sailing with Royal, even on an older ship, is a great way to travel without breaking the bank.
For cruisers seeking a no-frills vacation with good dining, quality entertainment, and friendly crew, you can’t go wrong with an interior stateroom on Vision of the Seas. At the end of the day, though, I prefered Disney Magic’s inside cabin over Vision’s.
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