A Comparison of Royal Caribbean Vs Sea Dream Yacht Club

Last summer, my husband Bill and I took our very first cruise on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas. We had a great time on that cruise, mainly because of the excellent itinerary in the Baltic Sea. However, one thing my husband said to me during that cruise really resonated when it came time to plan for our second cruise, which takes place next week. He looked me in the eye and said, "You know, this experience has made me want to cruise again, only next time, I think we should try a luxury line."

If you knew Bill, you might be surprised that he'd want to upgrade our next cruise, especially considering how much cruises cost. But when it comes down to it, there are a lot of reasons why a luxury line is not a bad deal. Here are six reasons why we're trying Sea Dream Yacht Club next week over a mainstream line like Royal Caribbean or Carnival.

Reason #1- It's truly all inclusive!

When you purchase a ticket for a cruise, you're purchasing your lodging for however long the cruise lasts, meals in the main dining room, and some beverages. However, aside from the lodging and meals, you're also going to have to set aside money for extras like pictures, alcoholic beverages, surcharges for certain restaurants, and of course, tips. All of those extra costs can add a substantial amount to your onboard bill. On our last cruise, for instance, we paid about $900 per person for four days in a junior suite. Adding in taxes and insurance, the price for the two of us was well over $2000 before we stepped onboard. At the end of the cruise, we'd racked up another $700 on extra stuff like beverages, pictures, and tips.

For our five day Sea Dream cruise, we spent about $4100 for two fares, taxes, and insurance for the lowest cabin category. For that, we get five days onboard, luxury Belgian linens and toiletries, a free minibar, personalized pajamas, and all meals. Tips are included and so are beverages, including alcohol. We don't have to worry about signing any slips when we order a drink, unless we want something really premium. All meals are made to order and there are no surcharges for special restaurants because there are no special restaurants onboard. However, Sea Dream has a reputation for having some of the best cuisine on the sea.

Reason #2- Fewer people onboard means more chances to make friends

On the Vision of the Seas, there were well over 2000 passengers onboard. On Sea Dream, there are rarely more than 100 guests. While that may mean fewer people to meet and greet, it may also mean you'll have a better chance of making some new friends. I regularly hang out on Cruise Critic and the folks who regularly sail with Sea Dream seem to be a very friendly group. A lot of them have met onboard and are friends on land. Last month, a couple who are regular Sea Dreamers even hosted a party for board members at their house. These kinds of friendships can be personally or even professionally rewarding.

On Vision of the Seas, Bill and I did meet a couple of people, but we haven't kept in touch with them. And I've never heard of a Royal Caribbean fan opening up their house to other Royal Caribbean fans... there are just way too many of them to do something like that!

Reason #3- More toys, less sharing

On Sea Dream, there's a marina that includes toys like a banana boat, a water trampoline, jet skis, and snorkeling gear. Sea Dream even has bikes that passengers can borrow on land. The pool area is not overrun with chair hogs; there's plenty of space for everyone. What's more, while kids can be found onboard either of the Sea Dream yachts, they are much less likely to be there because the fares cost more and there aren't any programs for kids.

While Sea Dream doesn't have a FlowRider, a rock climbing wall, or Broadway shows, it also doesn't have the lines, the crowds, or the mandatory 15% drink tips that come with a mass cruise line like Royal Caribbean or Carnival. What's more, we get to decide when or if we want to eat our meals with other people as well as what time we want to dine.

Reason #4- Personal attention

Having fewer people onboard means much more personal and professional attention from crew members. On Sea Dream, staff members know their passengers' names within hours of embarkation. They quickly learn what your likes and dislikes are and that means they go the extra mile to make you happy.

On Sea Dream, there are no wine dispensers, as there are on Royal Caribbean's larger ships. All glasses of wine and any other beverages are poured by an excellent bartender, who might even create a drink just for you.

Reason #5- More interesting ports and flexible itineraries

Sea Dream Yacht Club only has two vessels, but they're small enough to be able to fit in smaller ports that huge cruise ships can't access. Sea Dream also stays in port longer, so that passengers can hang out longer in port and experience the night life if they want to. If there's stormy weather, the Sea Dream captain can re-route to another port rather than skip stopping at a port altogether.

Reason #6- No formal nights

Don't get me wrong. Bill and I enjoy dressing up as much as the next person does. But taking formal clothes in our suitcases when there's only so much room can be a drag. Besides, when I'm on vacation, the last thing I want is to be told what I have to wear. On Sea Dream, guests are free to dress up if they want to, but they can also be more casual, too.

Yes, Sea Dream costs a bit more...

But they do sometimes offer fares at very competitive prices. We managed to get our fares for $1599 a person, which is only a few hundred dollars more per person than the cost of our Royal Caribbean. For that, we expect to be able to find a chair by the pool, eat delicious food, get to know some of our fellow passengers, and drink all we want without getting sticker shock at the end of the cruise.

Bill and I are really looking forward to this trip and I promise there will be a review forthcoming at the end so you can all find out if the extra money for the fare was as worth it as I think it will be.

If you're interested in learning more about Sea Dream, I recommend visiting their Web site at www.seadreamyachtclub.com or reading the Lazy Sea Dreamer blog at http://www.lazyseadreamer.com/. I also recommend going on the Cruise Critic boards and reading the posts for Sea Dream Yacht Club there.