my last DCL cruise...

[disneyholic family]

am i the only one who thinks they're too expensive?

i'm sorry i booked with DCL for this coming October.
But too late to back out now...

 

[NHdisneylover]

Sometimes, yes, DCL is terribly expensive for what you get. At other times you can get good deals. We are not loyal to only DCL (they are not consistently well priced and they do not sail enough places), but we do always price them when they sail where we want and often they are competitive, in which case we sail them and very much enjoy it

I would never NOT even consider a line again due to price--that fluctuates too much. Now, if I did not enjoy the onboard experience that would be different.

 

[tajz90]

Very loyal to DCL. Not a huge fan of other lines, but will sail another if they are long somewhere Disney is not. Wanting to take a Bermuda cruise and will sail RCCL.

I personally think you get what you pay for. We have only sailed Carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean though so I can't comment on the other lines.

 

[disneyholic family]

i've been getting some fabulous last minute email offers from just about every other cruise line....

i told DH that next time we'll wait to the last minute and then hop on whatever cruise line has the best last minute deal..

some of the big alaska cruise lines are offering suites for the price of an inside room for august (actually it started at the end of july, so july was also included).....

i wasn't familiar with the market when i booked this DCL cruise...
had i been more savvy at the time, i would have waited to book something, anything at the last minute.....

and the other cruise lines seem to offer far more activities and a lot more round the clock food (not just room service)..

i wasn't thinking about that when i booked...

 

[anc876]

They are expensive compared to other cruise lines, but they are running quite a few specials now and have had deals like Kids Sail Free in the past. I will book DCL only if they have great rates for a particular cruise (I got VGT on top of discounted rates for my upcoming one). Plus I get military discount, so that's helpful as well.

 

[disneybeachprincess]

I am sailing on the Fantasy w/family in June 2013 so we will all have sailed on all 4 ships...I love DCL but you are right...I have checked other lines for Alaska w/better itineraries & prices...I can sail, fly & stay a couple days w/other cruiselines for less than the cruise only w/DCL.

I love to cruise w/my DS12 when he is off school & can do that several times a year on other lines, but only one cruise per year w/DCL. SO I am torn Kids sail free might sway me!

 

[Brumbie13]

I do think DCL is expensive, but I think Disney is just expensive in general.
It's a name brand, and a name brand that you tend to pay a premium for.

If we're going to cruise, we're going to cruise with Disney. That may limit how much we cruise, but it will also ensure that we get what we like out of cruising (which is the Disney experience.)

 

[tammybrownie]

When my husbands family decided to go on a Disney cruise in September, we couldn't afford to go. Everyone told me that Disney didn't do discounts but I kept watching the prices and was able to book a week ago for only $1880 for myself, my husband and my daughter. That is a lot less than the originally advertised price. I think that isn't a bad price for 3 people for a 7 day cruise. Plus Costco gave us a $120 gift card for using their travel services.

I think it all depends on how flexible you are and if you are willing to go at non peak times.

 

[tajz90]

I do think DCL is expensive, but I think Disney is just expensive in general.
It's a name brand, and a name brand that you tend to pay a premium for.

If we're going to cruise, we're going to cruise with Disney. That may limit how much we cruise, but it will also ensure that we get what we like out of cruising (which is the Disney experience.)

And I appreciate the limited smoking on board Disney. That really gets me. I can hardly breath on the other ships. The casinos are another big blah for me. I hate that they are always in the center of the ships and just take up so much room.... Not to mention the smoking again.

 

[spgoad]

Judging from the number of posts you have in this forum, I'm going to guess you are a big fan of the Disney parks. I wouldn't discount what the Disney experience is worth until you experience a cruise with DCL. I was hesitant to go on our first DCL cruise, even though we love the parks, and the reason was the price. After we went, I'm definitely glad we paid the premium. We love Disney parks, and now we love DCL. DCL is definitely different than the parks, but the same "magical feel" we like at the parks is on board these ships. Other lines can compete better price wise, but then again Six Flags can do the same with Walt Disney World, and I'd rather go to WDW any day. There is only one Disney.

 

[NHdisneylover]

And I appreciate the limited smoking on board Disney. That really gets me. I can hardly breath on the other ships. The casinos are another big blah for me. I hate that they are always in the center of the ships and just take up so much room.... Not to mention the smoking again.

Too funny given that we feel the MORE limited smoking policies on other lines can be a MAJOR plus. So funny how different experiences can give two people totally opposite thoughts on the same topic

We broke our own rule and booked balconies on the Fantasy--we were able to get only two in front of us and are HOPING we will not have wasted our money on balconies we cannot use--but if heavy smokers are next to us we will have wasted it. Celebrity does not allow smoking on balconies and we LOVE that and always book balconies on Celebrity
Princess now also does not allow smoking on the balconies so they are at the top of our list of lines to check when pricing cruises.

It is true that there tends to be heavy smoking in casinos--but we do not gamble so we never go in them. From that standpoint we might as well be on DCL and not have one at all

 

[CruznLexi]

I used to be a big fan of RCI even got married on them. Then in 07 went to Hawaii too many negative changes. The cruise was fantastic ! We then tried to Disney. Wow! But we love in Florida and like to cruise several times a year so we tried Carnival and they were really nice but last year they were horrible! So now we strickly do Disney. If we want to do an extra Disney we just go to the parks. We do prefer the classic ships.

 

[ratt1345]

Judging from the number of posts you have in this forum, I'm going to guess you are a big fan of the Disney parks. I wouldn't discount what the Disney experience is worth until you experience a cruise with DCL. I was hesitant to go on our first DCL cruise, even though we love the parks, and the reason was the price. After we went, I'm definitely glad we paid the premium. We love Disney parks, and now we love DCL. DCL is definitely different than the parks, but the same "magical feel" we like at the parks is on board these ships. Other lines can compete better price wise, but then again Six Flags can do the same with Walt Disney World, and I'd rather go to WDW any day. There is only one Disney.

Thank you for saying what was on my mind, but I couldn't put it into the right words!!! I understand those of you who like other lines for various reasons, like those of us who like DCL for what we like. Your passion runs as deep as our's.

I love going to casinos, but I don't care for them on cruise ships. Strange huh?

 

[miztigg]

I love disney but with thier prices i have been sailing carnival. I just got off the Carnival Pride last week it cost me 4000 for 4 peeps extended balcony room. I priced Disney over 8000 for a Balcony room . Im gojna bite the bullet and book I have a dummy date out there Ill be going off season to avoid sticker shock

 

[NancyIL]

am i the only one who thinks they're too expensive?

i'm sorry i booked with DCL for this coming October.
But too late to back out now...

I almost posted about this on your thread about WDW being so expensive! Yes, I think prices for many Disney cruises are very high - especially for anything above the least expensive inside cabin. I have been on three 4-night Disney Bahamas cruises so far, and I'm booked on the Dec. 7-night Podcast cruise on the Fantasy. I think the prices I have paid have been "reasonable" - as Disney cruise prices go, but they were higher than for a similar-length cruise and itinerary on other cruise lines. Now that DCL is offering quite a few IGT/OGT/VGT rates after the final payment date, I think future DCL cruises will be last-minute bookings.

 

[NancyIL]

And I appreciate the limited smoking on board Disney. That really gets me. I can hardly breath on the other ships. The casinos are another big blah for me. I hate that they are always in the center of the ships and just take up so much room.... Not to mention the smoking again.

Too funny given that we feel the MORE limited smoking policies on other lines can be a MAJOR plus. So funny how different experiences can give two people totally opposite thoughts on the same topic

We broke our own rule and booked balconies on the Fantasy--we were able to get only two in front of us and are HOPING we will not have wasted our money on balconies we cannot use--but if heavy smokers are next to us we will have wasted it. Celebrity does not allow smoking on balconies and we LOVE that and always book balconies on Celebrity
Princess now also does not allow smoking on the balconies so they are at the top of our list of lines to check when pricing cruises.

It is true that there tends to be heavy smoking in casinos--but we do not gamble so we never go in them. From that standpoint we might as well be on DCL and not have one at all

Not only is there no smoking on Celebrity's balconies, but their casinos are also non-smoking!

 

[Zandy595]

I much prefer the family atmosphere on DCL and that's what I pay extra for. Not a fan of gambling and booze cruises.

 

[tajz90]

Another reason we LOVE DCL... We've never seen ONE hairy chest contest on the swimming deck! Haha.... Carnival put on a good show with that one, but I really didn't enjoy seeing old hairy men parade around while very drunk, middle aged women whooped and hollered.... Personal preference.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Sometimes, yes, DCL is terribly expensive for what you get. At other times you can get good deals. We are not loyal to only DCL (they are not consistently well priced and they do not sail enough places), but we do always price them when they sail where we want and often they are competitive, in which case we sail them and very much enjoy it

I would never NOT even consider a line again due to price--that fluctuates too much. Now, if I did not enjoy the onboard experience that would be different.

Hi! As usual, what you say makes a lot of sense.

 

[DisneyTrek]

am i the only one who thinks they're too expensive?

i'm sorry i booked with DCL for this coming October.
But too late to back out now...

Don't forget that Disney only has 4 ships. Here is a list of other major cruise lines. They can spread costs across their fleets. They need to fill all of those ships somehow.

Carnival: 24 ships by end of 2012
Royal Caribbean: 22 ships
Princess: 15 ships by end of 2013
Holland America: 14 ships
Celebrity: 11 ships
Norwegian: 11 ships