Yikes! Huge price jump in 2018!!

Why would anyone go to a RCCL board and complain about DCL prices. They don't care. I'm sure they have enough complaints about there own cruise line. $15 an hour minimum wage. I guess you'll see a lot of small businesses going under. Can't wait to see what the unemployment rate in California is in a few years. If you don't like people to talk about price I wouldn't visit these boards. Disney and pricing is always going to be a hot topic. Not just over here, but on the Resorts board as well.
I don't care what you post. Just seems like people come here to talk about pricing. Maybe they need to make a stickie and say. Price complaints. Vent here. Every time they release new sail dates. We always see. I'm priced out. I'm jumping ship.

I don't see how ones financial situation would want to be posted on the open forums. Seeing value is one thing. Trying to save and budget is another. Many people just live outside of means.

Just don't understand why others want to come here and complain. How does that help the ones that can afford and want to do Disney? It doesn't.
 
For a lot of people here it's not about being able to afford it or not. It's about choosing to spend your vacation dollars in a way that you see value. For my first few years on this board it was almost completely taboo to mention you liked any line OTHER than DCL. The party line was "everyone but DCL has poor service and nickel-and-dimes you to death". That mentality has changed, in part because of these pricing threads. Pricing in the cruise industry is very competitive right now for the typical Caribbean/Bahamas cruises - and the promotions out there are including more and more by way of OBC, drink packages, specialty dining, etc. If DCL really wants to command top dollar they need to go BIG on the itineraries to attract people, IMO.

Personally, we have voted with our money. We enjoyed our two Disney cruises (spending two weeks on the Wonder was heaven on earth, truly) but I cancelled the OBB I made during our EBPC. Disney does not offer $2000 more in service & amenities than Celebrity. I can make almost anything work in our household budget, but that's real money I'm going to spend on additional time with my family. I don't think anybody here actually cares that there are people who will pay Disney prices - but these threads offer people who want a Disney caliber cruise a way to discuss other options as well.
Then if it's not DCL. Maybe the forums need to be adjusted to say. Other DCL options if DCL is. It within your budget.
 
For a lot of people here it's not about being able to afford it or not. It's about choosing to spend your vacation dollars in a way that you see value. For my first few years on this board it was almost completely taboo to mention you liked any line OTHER than DCL. The party line was "everyone but DCL has poor service and nickel-and-dimes you to death". That mentality has changed, in part because of these pricing threads. Pricing in the cruise industry is very competitive right now for the typical Caribbean/Bahamas cruises - and the promotions out there are including more and more by way of OBC, drink packages, specialty dining, etc. If DCL really wants to command top dollar they need to go BIG on the itineraries to attract people, IMO.

That's logical thinking and makes complete sense. However, when it comes to a lot of people's affinity for DCL (and all other things Disney), logic rarely, if ever, enters the equation. It'a all emotional attachment. That's how you can raise prices in the neighborhood of 10-20% every single year for what is essentially the same exact experiences since they seldom change itineraries.


Personally, we have voted with our money. We enjoyed our two Disney cruises (spending two weeks on the Wonder was heaven on earth, truly) but I cancelled the OBB I made during our EBPC. Disney does not offer $2000 more in service & amenities than Celebrity. I can make almost anything work in our household budget, but that's real money I'm going to spend on additional time with my family. I don't think anybody here actually cares that there are people who will pay Disney prices - but these threads offer people who want a Disney caliber cruise a way to discuss other options as well.

Same here. We can afford DCL's prices. It is just hard to justify it. I consider the prices to cruise on other lines - RCCL, NCL, Carnival, and soon MSC (which generally will be very closes to each other) - as the "baseline", if you will. If they are all in the $3500 range for a 7-nt cruise (and we - 2A, 2C - generally only look at the newer "mega" ships with all the bells & whistles), we may be willing to go $4500-$5000 for DCL as we do love DCL and think they are, on the whole, but not in every area, better than the others. However, we are not going to spend $7000-$8000 for a week on the Fantasy - which is where the prices are now. They are only slightly better than the others, so the price would need to be only slightly higher than the others to justify it.
 
We sailed with MSC on an Eastern Med itinerary back in 2014 and we thought it was great value. The standard verandah stateroom was very roomy and well maintained, the service was less "American style smiley-friendly" than Disney but very polite and efficient. We actually have two more cruises booked with them, a seven day Baltic cruise this summer ($2800 for seven nights out of Copenhagen, two adults, two children, in a verandah cabin) and have a booking on the MSC Seaside for the last week of March 2018. We've booked a two bedroom, two bath suite for the week for about $5000. (The booking is converted into Cdn dollars on my form so I'm not sure the exact price I booked at in US dollars.) This is at the "Aurea" level, one step down from Yacht Club. I'd love to try Yacht Club but the suites were all booked for this week and we really wanted a suite. The Aurea package comes with an unlimited drinks package, priority embarkation, any time dining in all the restaurants and a one hour massage! All for less than we'd pay to get on the boat that week on Disney.

I went on an MSC cruise this summer, and got hooked. Have another 2 bookings with them as well. I want to try to the Yacht club one day too.
 


I don't care what you post. Just seems like people come here to talk about pricing. Maybe they need to make a stickie and say. Price complaints. Vent here. Every time they release new sail dates. We always see. I'm priced out. I'm jumping ship.

I don't see how ones financial situation would want to be posted on the open forums. Seeing value is one thing. Trying to save and budget is another. Many people just live outside of means.

Just don't understand why others want to come here and complain. How does that help the ones that can afford and want to do Disney? It doesn't.
I really don't see that much complaining going on. I see people discussing prices and sometimes other options. A lot of people have left these boards over the years. I would assume the people that are still posting plan to continue cruising DCL. I haven't really seen anyone posting their financial situations other than to say they can't afford it. There's a lot of things I can't afford. I'm not really ashamed to say it and I never considered that discussing my financial situation. This thread is about the price hikes. There are plenty of threads that aren't about price. If you don't like price being discussed then why come to this thread to post.
 
I don't think Budzooka was being snarky, I think he is expressing the sentiments of allot of us. I don't understand the threads on this board regarding "jumping ship" and "going to the dark side". OK, so if you think Disney is too expensive, then cruise on RCL or whatever cruise line you want. What is the purpose of posting on a Disney Cruise Line Forum that Disney is too expensive? It's like standing in line to pay for a product and complaining about the price.

For me, I enjoy viewing people's remarks comparing the price differences over the years. It gives many of us a perspective of what we are getting -- good or bad. Many of the people posting the pricing remarks have actually booked, but are discussing the difference to the prices they paid the previous year. And posting comparison pricing actually helps many of us decide if we want to bother or look elsewhere. It's a discussion forum -- and we are discussing.
 
Out of curiosity I just looked at this cruise and it really is a good price! It might be something I consider in the future. I also like that I can fly with Southwest to Houston and out of San Juan.

Hmmmm....might be able to swing another Disney cruise in the future after all! ;)
Galveston is always a cheaper option regardless if you book in advance or wait for a discount. That's why I brought it up, and I'm glad it helped you. I Hope you get to do your cruise. DCL only has transportation out of IAH I believe. If your flying into Hobby there are some cruise shuttles that are privately operated and our cheaper then DCL. I believe they will drop you at your hotel too. It's been a year so my memory is foggy. We ended up renting a car and got free parking at the Hilton.
 


We just cruised on the Magic and were hoping to book DCL for spring 2018. But, after seeing the pricing, I'm prety sure we'll be jumping ship. I also appreciate the threads about other options, esp. from those who who are/were DCL fans. A review/discussion of Carnival, NCL, etc. from someone who is a big fan of DCL is meaningful to me. For ex, I would definitely consider Vista now, while I would not have considered Carnival (again) prior to those disboards reviews.
I still love DCL and find is a nearly perfect cruise experience, IMHO. I'm not complaining about the pricing (it's a profit-making company), and we might shell out over $10K for DCL Alaska, but it's nice to hear from fellow DCL lovers who have decided to try other options.
 
Not specifically that. Using the word worship is a little drastic. Thanks for trying

What word would you prefer?

I think some of the people on this board have blinders on when it comes to Disney. Maybe they have never sailed with another line or maybe they did and it wasn't on a ship with the correct fit.

I do think that if someone is going to defend every single issue with Disney, including price, that there is hidden bias. The reasons for that are too numerous to mention, but I think Dis members have a right to post on ANY subject as long as it's respectful of others.

I think this thread is valuable to new cruisers and past passengers. They need to know that the insane price increases are abhorrent to loyal Disney cruisers. They can then think about what they are really paying for if and when they decide to sail with DCL and therefore make a more informed vacation decision.
 
What word would you prefer?

I think some of the people on this board have blinders on when it comes to Disney. Maybe they have never sailed with another line or maybe they did and it wasn't on a ship with the correct fit.

I do think that if someone is going to defend every single issue with Disney, including price, that there is hidden bias. The reasons for that are too numerous to mention, but I think Dis members have a right to post on ANY subject as long as it's respectful of others.

I think this thread is valuable to new cruisers and past passengers. They need to know that the insane price increases are abhorrent to loyal Disney cruisers. They can then think about what they are really paying for if and when they decide to sail with DCL and therefore make a more informed vacation decision.
I feel this forum is for DCL. Talking about how others are x amount lower. Well that doesn't seem to fit here.

I feel this was designed for the person that wants to drink the kool aid and don't see a reason for people to post about the personal finances of not wanting to afford or can't afford. One reason I feel for this is that the DIs is mainly focused on Disney.

If you don't think Disney cruises are worthy. Cruise somewhere else and enjoy.
 
You would think that's what one would do if a topic bothered them. I'm starting to think trolling this thread is pure entertainment for some posters.

Also, I find it quite amusing that it's assumed you can't afford Disney if you complain about the price. lol, you know what they say about those who assume. :rolleyes:

When you assume,you make an "***" out of "u" and "me" , that's how my my mom taught me:)
 
I'm honestly afraid to try some of the other cruise lines as we have become accustomed to DCL. I though am a deplorable. So...

They have pretty much all the same stuff DCL has, with the exception of the mouse and characters.
 
I think another poster summed it up for me--DCL is about the experience and other cruiselines are just cruises. Sometimes, I am fine with "just" a good cruise, esp. in a place like Europe, where I am using the ship as a floating hotel. Other times, it's worth the premium for me to have the DCL experience. We have cruised enough to know our vacation style (DCL is our #1, after than a newer ship on certain cruiselines and paying for upgraded dining--or we just don't cruise at all). We are on the fence for when Alaska comes out as to whether DCL is worth the premium.
 
I don't think Budzooka was being snarky, I think he is expressing the sentiments of allot of us. I don't understand the threads on this board regarding "jumping ship" and "going to the dark side". OK, so if you think Disney is too expensive, then cruise on RCL or whatever cruise line you want. What is the purpose of posting on a Disney Cruise Line Forum that Disney is too expensive? It's like standing in line to pay for a product and complaining about the price.

I'm the author of the "dark side" thread. I've made that thread because I'm a DCL fan and I was curious to try another cruiseline and compare.

I also created a Victory VS Dream review because they offer a similar itinerary and though it would be nice to compare both ships and cruiselines and see if it the experience would be just as good for people who are not able (or willing!) to pay the DCL rates.

I believe that people who have been outpriced have a right to express their disappointment and should not be shamed.
 
I think another poster summed it up for me--DCL is about the experience and other cruiselines are just cruises. Sometimes, I am fine with "just" a good cruise, esp. in a place like Europe, where I am using the ship as a floating hotel. Other times, it's worth the premium for me to have the DCL experience. We have cruised enough to know our vacation style (DCL is our #1, after than a newer ship on certain cruiselines and paying for upgraded dining--or we just don't cruise at all). We are on the fence for when Alaska comes out as to whether DCL is worth the premium.

It is an experience. I will agree with you on that. But, realistically, it's just a cruise that has a different way of entertaining you while you are on it. If it was really all about Disney, why do people spend their time and money for excursions?

Do you really need Mickey, etc to be available multiple times during the cruise? Of course you do, because you've paid an arm and a leg for it.

Do you really want the same experience each and every time and pay an ever increasing amount for it? There's where my disconnect and discontent comes from. And I don't think I'm alone.

If you really want to see Alaska, my opinion is you shouldn't sail DCL. Glacier Bay is a must and they don't go there. Also the one way cruise is another important factor. No one that goes to Alaska should miss Denali National Park. Disney doesn't go there.
 
It is an experience. I will agree with you on that. But, realistically, it's just a cruise that has a different way of entertaining you while you are on it. If it was really all about Disney, why do people spend their time and money for excursions?

Do you really need Mickey, etc to be available multiple times during the cruise? Of course you do, because you've paid an arm and a leg for it.

Do you really want the same experience each and every time and pay an ever increasing amount for it? There's where my disconnect and discontent comes from. And I don't think I'm alone.

If you really want to see Alaska, my opinion is you shouldn't sail DCL. Glacier Bay is a must and they don't go there. Also the one way cruise is another important factor. No one that goes to Alaska should miss Denali National Park. Disney doesn't go there.
The three times we sailed on the Fantasy we got VGT rates that put the cruise at about 3,500 in the Fall and closer to 4,500 in the Spring for the four of us. That was in 2014. We sailed three times on her that year because I thought those were good rates. The GT rates I saw this Fall were closer to 5k for an inside or oceanview. Not horrible, but considering I've done those itinerary's I didn't want to pay more for something I've done. No I don't think your alone. I love the DCL experience, but I'll go for the cheapest cruises I can find on DCL if I want that experience, and no that doesn't mean I think people that have the will and means to pay the higher prices are stupid. Good grief. That is just how I plan to cruise on DCL in the future.
 
The three times we sailed on the Fantasy we got VGT rates that put the cruise at about 3,500 in the Fall and closer to 4,500 in the Spring for the four of us. That was in 2014. We sailed three times on her that year because I thought those were good rates. The GT rates I saw this Fall were closer to 5k for an inside or oceanview. Not horrible, but considering I've done those itinerary's I didn't want to pay more for something I've done. No I don't think your alone. I love the DCL experience, but I'll go for the cheapest cruises I can find on DCL if I want that experience, and no that doesn't mean I think people that have the will and means to pay the higher prices are stupid. Good grief. That is just how I plan to cruise on DCL in the future.

Exactly! I agree with you.

My beef is that, for those of us who don't think DCL prices are appropriate, the DCL zealots come back with, get off these boards or, sorry, you can't afford them any more.

I can afford them today, just as I did 10 years ago when I took my first.

My opinion and the reason that I think their pricing is excessive is that there have been an ever increasing number of changes where the hard value is no longer there.

I'm amazed people think their food is so great. It's good. It's not great, IMO

They diluted(lol) the alcohol policy.

Their cleanliness isn't up to their standards when I first started.

Then, don't get me started on the same old shows, activities and ports of call that are repeated every cruise. Sure, there have been some updates and new things. Just not enough, IMO.

I've thought that I was going to start a thread with snippets of posts from DCL cruisers that have complaints. I would say these things were found on another cruise line. The Disney-ites would be overjoyed. Then I would reveal that these things really happened on DCL. The level that people defend this cruise line is mind boggling.

Yes. I will cruise when I find the value in it. I already have a booking for 2017.

But, I'm also going to make my opinion known and I'm going to commiserate when they can't justify the cost.

Bottom line, their pricing is out of line. Bottom line, they fill their ships with discounted prices and the average joe isn't invited to take advantage of that perk.

My last cruise- I only met one other person that paid full price.
 
Exactly! I agree with you.

My beef is that, for those of us who don't think DCL prices are appropriate, the DCL zealots come back with, get off these boards or, sorry, you can't afford them any more.

I can afford them today, just as I did 10 years ago when I took my first.

My opinion and the reason that I think their pricing is excessive is that there have been an ever increasing number of changes where the hard value is no longer there.

I'm amazed people think their food is so great. It's good. It's not great, IMO

They diluted(lol) the alcohol policy.

Their cleanliness isn't up to their standards when I first started.

Then, don't get me started on the same old shows, activities and ports of call that are repeated every cruise. Sure, there have been some updates and new things. Just not enough, IMO.

I've thought that I was going to start a thread with snippets of posts from DCL cruisers that have complaints. I would say these things were found on another cruise line. The Disney-ites would be overjoyed. Then I would reveal that these things really happened on DCL. The level that people defend this cruise line is mind boggling.

Yes. I will cruise when I find the value in it. I already have a booking for 2017.

But, I'm also going to make my opinion known and I'm going to commiserate when they can't justify the cost.

Bottom line, their pricing is out of line. Bottom line, they fill their ships with discounted prices and the average joe isn't invited to take advantage of that perk.

My last cruise- I only met one other person that paid full price.
I agree with all that. Hopefully you won't be acussed of hurting peoples feelings by posting that.
 

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