Dealbreakers: what would make you STOP cruising DCL?

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

1) Poor customer service: The cast members are fantastic and I can't see this ever becoming a problem.
2) Casino: I also like it that there is no casino.
3) Drop in quality of the shows. Nobody does it better than Disney. They're continuously rated at the top in polls for a reason.

 

[TDC Nala]

If they got rid of the adult areas and events. That would be it.

Not so much the alcohol policy. Nice to be able to bring your own but it wouldn't kill me if I couldn't. (Hopefully they won't change it before the 15 night Hawaii cruise)

 

[redheadtove]

Price would be the first factor for me.. Yes DCL is higher end but I love how they are geared towards families and that is why we are going on our second cruise within 10 months. I like that there is no Casino and that you never see drunks running around the ship. Though when I was on a RCCL cruise a few years ago, I never seen people drunk running around either.
Not to sure if we will be taking another Disney Cruise after this one at New Years. I paid LOTS of money for this cruise but I wanted to be away for New Years for personal reasons so I booked it. I would like to take my DD's to WDW because we have never been for.

 

[Presentation]

A shift in our children’s interest as they get older.

The oldest already prefers other stuff. The middle one is close. The youngest is still all about princesses and such.

I’m sorry if this is not what the original poster was hoping for.

 

[chiamarie]

Two things:

1) A major drop in Customer Service. Disney is the best at it, everywhere they go. Simple. I don't think any other cruise line will ever top DCL there.

2) A change in the Adults only areas. I just got off the Dream with myself and 11 other adults. If those areas were gone, for now, I'd have no reason to go. I throughly enjoyed all of it.

As for price, I think I get what I pay for when cruising DCL; even w/o kids. Everything is just so much nicer and well taken care of. And at sight of the Carnival Sensation next to us at PC and Nassau; I just can't even the stand the thought of going on that cruise line. RCCL is probably the only other one I would dare to consider. NCL is out of the question for me; my parents have been on it a few times and come back with horror stories about the ship being on fire, and only going to 1 of the 5 ports because the engines were broke and they couldn't get that far; as well as changing two of the other ports. I have no desire to ever be in that position.

I have only cruise with DCL; and I really have zero desire to go elsewhere. MAYBE one day RCCL but that doesn't seem too likely anytime soon.

 

[KSandbergFL]

price... this is the first time in 5 years that we don't have our next Disney cruise planned/booked. the prices for September 2012 on the Dream are almost TWICE what we paid for our cruise this year.

 

[PirateTigger]

2 things would be deal breakers for us,

1- Loss of the adults only areas

2- Addition of a casino

 

[Wadekind]

Decrease in Service

 

[mouseclick1]

The deal breaker for me would be if I couldn't use my DVC points to cover our cruise. If I'm ever told that they are not accepting reservations on points, or if they charge such a high number of points that I don't have enough, I'll cruise with another cruiseline. I know I can rent out my points and book the cruise on cash, but I would book with a different cruiseline if it ever came to that. My kids are now young adults, and while we love Disney, none of us would be opposed to trying something new at this point. We LOVED our DCL cruise to Alaska last summer, but I'm sure we would have also had a fantastic time on Princess, RCCL, etc.

 

[lmhall2000]

1. crappy food, slow service..I want to relax but not wait 2 hours for main course!

2. Casino...nuff said

3. rude service staff....that really makes a lot of our time enjoyable...seeing the genuineness and friendliness...just don't hound me to keep putting 5's on your card...I'd rather them not ask at all...it diminishes the experience.


Now why don't you ask what Disney could do to KEEP us coming?
1. Assign a certain section the ability to smoke on the verandah...I would love to try a verandah but our kids' sensitivity to smoke (asthma) does not give us the luxury of trying...even if there was a way they could ask the guests if anyone was smoking so that room could be marked as ?? Just put me 5 rooms away from anyone up/down/side/...I know, impossible, but I can dream.

2. Offer special cruising codes like they do for the resorts...appreciate those returning cruisers with a deal just for them....I love that I get a special pin code for the resorts/parks...but we really prefer to cruise now.

3. Build a Disney themed hotel right outside Port Canaveral! We'd love to spend a night like in Aulani at the shoreside before cruising..get us in that Disney mode...just too expensive to buy one day tickets and stay onsite in ORlando....or...do that, offer a special day before cruise deal so families can take advantage of one day before or after their cruise to enjoy the parks...

There!

 

[Tngrl78]

1) Poor customer service: The cast members are fantastic and I can't see this ever becoming a problem.
2) Casino: I also like it that there is no casino.
3) Drop in quality of the shows. Nobody does it better than Disney. They're continuously rated at the top in polls for a reason.

Thats our sentiments exactly!
We have only sailed DCL and will continue so long the above remains true. We are however taking another cruiseline next year (Only becasue we are going with another family who cannot afford DCL) so we are anxious to see how that goes. The DCL service is what keeps us here so far, and we budget each year to enjoy it. However, if it keeps going up--it may be very hard to justify the cost. We'll see........

 

[AlexandNessa]

For those not in the "know" here is the thread about the fleeting alcohol policy change:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2789412

We would be disappointed if DCL went more lax on the adults-only sections of the ship. Never a problem for us at Palo or in the clubs at night. Mainly a problem for us at the sheer number of parents who allow their children to check in with them at the adult pool. Some cruises were a constant stream of kids who were "checking in" which turned into a sit down "tell me about your day" and in some cases, even a temper tantrum. Sorry, but your kids should be checking in with you elsewhere.

Price is getting to be a factor with us. Not sure we will continue to pay such a premium when we have been happy on other lines as well.

Have to admit that it was almost a dealbreaker for us when on the WBTA some people on the ship paid a fuel surcharge while others did not. Totally thought that was a crummy thing to do... either charge everyone a fuel supplement or don't charge anyone at all. Ridiculous and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth to today.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Casino
charge for soda (diet coke for me)
not being allowed to bring on pepsi for DH)

I feel they need to step up the retail end of the special cruises. They've had plenty of time to figure out how to do it right. If they continue to mess it up I might consider blowing off those cruises as well and we do pay dearly for those.

 

[NancyIL]

Now why don't you ask what Disney could do to KEEP us coming?
1. Assign a certain section the ability to smoke on the verandah...I would love to try a verandah but our kids' sensitivity to smoke (asthma) does not give us the luxury of trying...even if there was a way they could ask the guests if anyone was smoking so that room could be marked as ?? Just put me 5 rooms away from anyone up/down/side/...I know, impossible, but I can dream.

All DCL has to do is prohibit smoking on all verandahs - as Celebrity has done and as Princess will do beginning in mid-January.

 

[magic458]

You get what you pay for so often in life.

Disney usually gives you a ton of bang for the buck.

I would be looking for the cheapest cruise out there if they added a casino.

 

[bbrnca]

We just finished a 5 day land and 4 night Dream cruise and between the land and cruise I cannot say enough about the Cm's... they are the best in the industry..... we were a party of 7 oldest 55 to youngest 20 and every single one of us had the same thought.... you get excellent service.... from the stateroom host to the bartender to the maintance personel... everyone is so pleasant and polite I could not see changing cruise lines but if you look at RCCL they might be a little cheaper but who wants to cruise on a oversize shopping mall..

"that is what i think and is only the opinion of me and not the opinion of the this network...."

Have a magical day !!!!

 

[lmhall2000]

All DCL has to do is prohibit smoking on all verandahs - as Celebrity has done and as Princess will do beginning in mid-January.

Wow! Great to hear! Hope Disney follows suit!

 

[shaycamp21]

For us it's price. Though I love DCL, being a teacher I have had to cruise at the most expensive times of the year. The only reason we are able to go on the Fantasy this May is because I am on Maternity Leave!!

 

[NancyIL]

We just finished a 5 day land and 4 night Dream cruise and between the land and cruise I cannot say enough about the Cm's... they are the best in the industry..... we were a party of 7 oldest 55 to youngest 20 and every single one of us had the same thought.... you get excellent service.... from the stateroom host to the bartender to the maintance personel... everyone is so pleasant and polite I could not see changing cruise lines but if you look at RCCL they might be a little cheaper but who wants to cruise on a oversize shopping mall..

"that is what i think and is only the opinion of me and not the opinion of the this network...."

Have a magical day !!!!

For the record, DCL's Dream and Fantasy are as large as or larger than most Royal Caribbean ships.

 

[bbrnca]

For the record, DCL's Dream and Fantasy are as large as or larger than most Royal Caribbean ships.

You may be right on the size but Dream only has a small shopping area opposed to look at the Allure/Oasis/Freedom u must admit they are like a mall on the water....but getting back on topic it is about customer service I don't think I have heard of any other cruise lines that can beat Disney customer service not saying they are perfect all the time but that would be the breaker for me... customer service ... we are the customer and we should be treated properly....

have a magical day