A Note to Our Readers:
This year has been exciting for the Joyful Travels team (my family and I). We decided to share some of our vacation experiences, favorite destinations, and a staple restaurant in our household. Whether you’re planning your next family getaway or love a good travel face-off, you’re in the right place.
This year, we’re putting the spotlight on:
- Disney Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean:
One of the questions I get asked the most is, “Should we choose Disney Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean?” My answer is always the same. It depends on the type of vacation you’re looking for. We experienced both as a family, and I honestly don’t think you can make a wrong choice. They simply offer two very different experiences.
We cruise Disney Dream in February when our kids were 10 and 8 years old. We visited Nassau, Grand Cayman, and Disney’s original private island, Castaway Cay. We also happened to sail during the Marvel Day at Sea itinerary, which was a huge hit with the kids. Seeing the Marvel characters throughout the ship and all of the themed entertainment made the cruise feel like more than just a vacation. It truly felt like an experience.
What stood out to me most on Disney was the attention to detail. Everything felt polished, organized, and intentional. The service was incredible, the Broadway style shows were outstanding, and I loved the rotational dining. Having the same serving team each night made dinner feel personal because they quickly learned our family’s preferences. Disney has a way of making everyone, both kids and adults, feel special.
Last year we sailed on Wonder of the Seas over Labor Day when our kids were 12 and 10. Our itinerary included Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island. Walking onto Wonder of the Seas was honestly impressive. The ship is enormous, and there was always something happening. Between the pools, water slides, sports court, entertainment, and all of the different neighborhoods onboard, there was never a moment when someone said they were bored.
For our family, Royal Caribbean felt much more focused on activities. Disney focused on creating magical moments, while Royal Caribbean focused on giving everyone endless options. Neither approach is better. They are simply different.
One thing I appreciated about Royal Caribbean was the variety. There were more dining choices, more entertainment options, and more activities for older kids and adults. As our children have gotten older, I can definitely see why so many families with tweens and teenagers enjoy Royal Caribbean. There is just so much to do from morning until night.
Disney, on the other hand, still has some of the best customer service I have experienced while traveling. Even if your family is not made up of huge Disney fans, it is hard not to appreciate the quality of the entertainment, the level of service, and the little details that make the vacation feel special.
People often ask which private island we preferred. They are honestly very different. Castaway Cay has a relaxed tropical island feel that makes it easy to slow down and enjoy the day. CocoCay is much more of a destination in itself, with a huge water park, multiple beaches, pools, activities, and something for every age group. We enjoyed both, just for different reasons.
If you ask me which cruise line I would recommend, I would first ask about your family. If you have younger children, love Disney, or are celebrating a special family vacation, Disney Cruise Line is hard to beat. If your family enjoys staying active, your kids are getting older, or you are looking for more value and more activities, Royal Caribbean is an excellent choice.
While this comparison focuses on Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and many others each offer their own unique vacation experience depending on your travel style, budget, and priorities.
- Disney World vs. Universal Orlando
Our family spent eight days in Orlando with one goal in mind. We wanted to experience as much as possible at both Disney World and Universal Orlando. During our trip, we visited all four Disney theme parks and both Universal theme parks using Park Hopper and Park to Park tickets, giving us the flexibility to experience multiple parks in the same day. We also purchased Lightning Lanes at Disney and Universal Express Passes at Universal to maximize our time. We split our stay between two hotels, beginning at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel while visiting Universal and then moving to the Grand Hyatt for the Disney portion of our vacation.
Disney is all about the details. Every park feels like its own world. Whether we were walking down Main Street, U.S.A., exploring the countries at EPCOT, stepping into Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, or visiting Pandora, everything felt intentional. Disney has a way of making you slow down and appreciate the little things that make each park unique.
Universal has a different energy. From the moment we walked through the gates, it felt more adventurous and faster paced. The attractions are bigger, faster, and geared toward guests looking for more thrills. Since my kids love adventure, Universal was a perfect fit for them.
If I had to choose the two rides that stood above everything else, they would be Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and TRON Lightcycle Run. Those two attractions were absolutely worth the wait. We still talk about them today, and honestly, nothing else we experienced compared to those rides.
One of the best decisions we made was staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. Universal Express Unlimited was included with our stay, which saved us hours of waiting in line. It allowed us to experience so much more during our time at Universal and made the vacation much more relaxing.
The Disney parks felt immersive from beginning to end. Every attraction, show, restaurant, and themed area fit together so well that you almost forgot you were in a theme park. Universal, on the other hand, was all about excitement. We found ourselves moving from one attraction to the next, and there was always something new to experience.
We are headed back to the full Universal experience soon to experience Epic Universe. We also plan to experience Discovery Cove, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens for our upcoming adventure.
I think the kids want to visit Universal again because they treasure the big, fast paced, adevnture offered by Universal.
- Beaches Turks & Caicos vs. Hyatt Ziva Punta Cana
Last year, we visited Hyatt Ziva Punta Cana in August and Beaches Turks and Caicos in October. We stayed the same number of nights at each resort, which made it easy to compare the two experiences.
If you ask me which one I would choose, my answer is honestly both. They were different vacations, and I loved different things about each one.
At Hyatt Ziva Punta Cana, we enjoyed the resort, but we also made time to leave the property for excursions. We wanted to experience more of the Dominican Republic, and I’m glad we did. It gave us a chance to enjoy the resort while also seeing more of the destination.
Beaches Turks and Caicos was the complete opposite. This was our second visit, and once we arrived, we never left the resort. There was no reason to. Between the beach, the pools, the water park, the restaurants, the shows, and all of the daily activities, we always had something to do. Every day felt full without ever feeling rushed.
One thing that really stood out to me was the food. We had excellent meals at both resorts. There was plenty of variety, and everyone in our family found restaurants they wanted to visit more than once. I honestly couldn’t tell you that one was better than the other.
The biggest difference was the price. Beaches Turks and Caicos cost more for the same length of stay. On the other hand, we also spent money on excursions in Punta Cana because we wanted to get out and explore. At Beaches, everything we wanted was already right there, so we never felt like we were missing anything by staying on the property.
The kids had an amazing time at both resorts. They still talk about both vacations, and if you asked them which one they would go back to, I think they would say either one. They loved the beaches, the pools, the activities, and just being together as a family.
What I took away from both trips is that they offer two different vacation styles. Hyatt Ziva Punta Cana was a great choice for mixing relaxation with adventure. Beaches Turks and Caicos was perfect for a vacation where we could unpack once, stay at the resort the entire time, and never run out of things to do.
- And a taste test like no other: Louisiana Lagniappe in Gulf Shores, Destin, and Baton Rouge
Over the years, our family has become big fans of Louisiana Lagniappe. We’ve eaten at the Destin, Gulf Shores, and Baton Rouge locations. I love to order the same exact meal: the Pontchartrain and the crab cakes.
We first started eating at Louisiana Lagniappe at the Destin location, over 12 years ago. This was also the time when our family tradition of visting Destin was birthed. Back then, the restaurant had a dressier feel than it does today but the food is still amazing!
Louisiana Lagniappe in Baton Rouge is not owned by the same owners as the Destin and Gulf Shores locations. Even with the different ownership, the Baton Rouge location has become our favorite. Every time I’ve ordered the Pontchartrain and crab cakes, they’ve been consistently delicious. The crab cakes are probably my favorite part of the meal, and they’re one of the reasons we keep going back. We actually order two entree crab cakes, because they are that good.
We’ve also eaten at the Gulf Shores location about three times. The view is beautiful, and it’s a great place to sit and enjoy the water. Unfortunately, the food just hasn’t been as good as what we’ve experienced in Destin or Baton Rouge.
Another reason we visit Baton Rouge throughout the year is because of their Christmas gift card promotion. Every Christmas, we purchase gift cards while they’re offering bonus cards with qualifying purchases. It’s something we’ve done for years, and it’s a great way to save a little money on meals we already know we’ll enjoy.
If I’m visiting Destin, I’m still stopping at Louisiana Lagniappe because that’s where our tradition began. If I’m in Gulf Shores, I’d probably go back for the beautiful view. But if we’re talking strictly about the food, Baton Rouge is my favorite.
We hope you enjoyed our Comparison Guide for some of our latest adventures! Our goal was to give you the real scoop so you can plan unforgettable trips with confidence. The opinions shared in this comparison are based solely on our family’s personal experiences.