Why are Alaskan Cruises so much more expensive?

[for my family]

If you compare prices of balconies there is a huge difference between Alaska and the Caribbean. Balconies go for a huge premium on all Alaska cruises, not just Disney, because it is a sightseeing cruise. If you are willing to do an inside stateroom then the cost may be similar.

I think JLS got it right. We sail with Oceanview rooms, and our Alaska rate was reasonable compared to EC & WC cruises on DCL. However, I just checked DCL for June 2015 Alaska vs. EC & WC with a verandah. The verandahs are much more expensive for Alaska vs the Carribean. I understand why people are willing to pay more for verandahs on the Alaska cruises.

So, it's not the extra cost of food, port fees, sailing through national parks, etc. It comes down to what the market will bear. Verandahs are higher because people really want them. Inside and Oceanviews are cheaper because those rooms are not in demand.

 

[Ofinn]

LOL!!! Another cruise line?????!! Ummm.........not in this lifetime! We only do Disney. There is a reason the others are cheaper than Disney......

Not according to people that have cruised other lines. If you have only cruised Disney. I don't see how you are qualified to make that statement.

 

[fairytalelover]

Not according to people that have cruised other lines. If you have only cruised Disney. I don't see how you are qualified to make that statement.

How am I qualified to make that statement?? Let me see..........oh yeah well my family and I like Disney cruises and we dont want anything else. why ? Because we love all things Disney. Do I need to get a qualification to feel this way? NO. Now, we have tons and I mean tons of family and close friends who have sailed both disney and other cruises and we get the trip reviews from them and from what we have heard.....we wont sail other than disney.

 

[Dug720]

I will happily compare my DCL experiences with my upcoming HAL cruise. Granted DCL has been Bahamas and HAL will be Alaska, but ship-to-ship I can definitely compare to when I get back.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I will happily compare my DCL experiences with my upcoming HAL cruise. Granted DCL has been Bahamas and HAL will be Alaska, but ship-to-ship I can definitely compare to when I get back.

We've cruised both HAL and DCL.

If the ship is the destination for the trip, then, IMO, DCL would most likely win. If Alaska is the destination, then HAL does.

HAL has, generally, darker décor and less activities available onboard than DCL. But HAL has better itineraries (longer port times and better ports, including Glacier Bay). Of course, HAL has been doing Alaska for a lot longer than DCL. HAL also still allows smoking on their verandahs. And they have a casino, if that's something you're interested in.

DCL is more modern in their décor, with lots of things to do onboard. As the "new kid on the block" in the Alaska market, they are at the bottom of the totem pole (so to speak) picking their itineraries there.

 

[Dug720]

We've cruised both HAL and DCL.

If the ship is the destination for the trip, then, IMO, DCL would most likely win. If Alaska is the destination, then HAL does.

HAL has, generally, darker décor and less activities available onboard than DCL. But HAL has better itineraries (longer port times and better ports, including Glacier Bay). Of course, HAL has been doing Alaska for a lot longer than DCL. HAL also still allows smoking on their verandahs. And they have a casino, if that's something you're interested in.

DCL is more modern in their décor, with lots of things to do onboard. As the "new kid on the block" in the Alaska market, they are at the bottom of the totem pole (so to speak) picking their itineraries there.

Thanks! I don't have to bother now.

 

[Ofinn]

How am I qualified to make that statement?? Let me see..........oh yeah well my family and I like Disney cruises and we dont want anything else. why ? Because we love all things Disney. Do I need to get a qualification to feel this way? NO. Now, we have tons and I mean tons of family and close friends who have sailed both disney and other cruises and we get the trip reviews from them and from what we have heard.....we wont sail other than disney.

I have never cruised anything besides Disney. I would never be so bold or ignorant to say it's better than other lines. I mean how would I know. I think it's being very closed minded to say you wont try anything else. Disney doesn't go to very many destinations so I would hate to limit myself to a handful of destinations because of my prejudice. No I don't think you need a qualification to feel how you want, but I don't think your qualified to give someone else advice on what the best cruise line is.

 

[woody73]

. . . But HAL has better itineraries (longer port times and better ports, including Glacier Bay).

We loved sailing to Glacier Bay on HAL.

Glacier Bay is a U.S. National Park, which restricts access to just two cruise ships per day.

After having sailed 45 cruises to 6 continents (the 7th continent is booked), Glacier Bay is among my top two scenic cruise experiences.

Yes, I cruise on more than just DCL.

Woody

 

[TXDCLfan]

How am I qualified to make that statement?? Let me see..........oh yeah well my family and I like Disney cruises and we dont want anything else. why ? Because we love all things Disney. Do I need to get a qualification to feel this way? NO. Now, we have tons and I mean tons of family and close friends who have sailed both disney and other cruises and we get the trip reviews from them and from what we have heard.....we wont sail other than disney.

REALLY

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I find it interesting those who have been to Alaska solely on another cruise line can say it's better than DCL, Our Disney Wonder cruise to Alaska was fantastic. The port times long, only Juneau had a departure before six pm. I flew on a charter to and over Glacier bay, to be honest Tracy Arm was far far better.


Back to the thread as mentioned before Port fees and taxes are added on after the cruise fare so comments that's the reason are incorrect as the cruise fare excludes them.

DCL has been cruising Alaska since 2011 not the new kid on the block and has built up a very good reputation for going the extra mile. I can't see how anyone who has only cruised HAL to Alaska and not been on the Wonder to Alaska can post outright critisum of DCL.

 

[MaxiMax]

Not according to people that have cruised other lines. If you have only cruised Disney. I don't see how you are qualified to make that statement.

I'll back fairytale over on this!! We've cruised with DCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. We would never go on any other cruise line but DCL from now on! The others were dark, dingy ships with old looking, tacky decor! The rooms (balcony room) are MUCH smaller then DCL. The bathrooms were a joke! Your knees are in the shower when you sit on the toilet.

IMO, DCL is beyond compare!!

 

[NancyIL]

I would definitely agree that balconies are more expensive in Alaska - not just on Disney. I'm going on a Holland America cruise with a running group leaving Seattle on Saturday. There was about a $500-ish difference between an inside cabin and an ocean view cabin (which based on the layout is pretty much a joke on the Westerdam - either the bed is separated into 2 twins so you can lean over the nightstands to look out the window or you get to kneel on the head of the put-together beds to look out the window ), but about a $1000 difference between the ocean view and the lowest-level balcony.

That's the same room layout as my OV cabins on the Coral Princess, HAL Veendam and Amsterdam and RCI Adventure of the Seas. I prefer the beds to be by the window rather than in the middle of the room - as they are on DCL. However, I agree that it makes looking out the smaller windows more difficult than on DCL.

 

[NancyIL]

We've cruised both HAL and DCL.

If the ship is the destination for the trip, then, IMO, DCL would most likely win. If Alaska is the destination, then HAL does.

HAL has, generally, darker décor and less activities available onboard than DCL. But HAL has better itineraries (longer port times and better ports, including Glacier Bay). Of course, HAL has been doing Alaska for a lot longer than DCL. HAL also still allows smoking on their verandahs. And they have a casino, if that's something you're interested in.

DCL is more modern in their décor, with lots of things to do onboard. As the "new kid on the block" in the Alaska market, they are at the bottom of the totem pole (so to speak) picking their itineraries there.

Princess has also been sailing to Alaska for a long time. In 2015 - both Princess and HAL will have 7 ships each sailing there.

We loved sailing to Glacier Bay on HAL.

Glacier Bay is a U.S. National Park, which restricts access to just two cruise ships per day.

After having sailed 45 cruises to 6 continents (the 7th continent is booked), Glacier Bay is among my top two scenic cruise experiences.

Yes, I cruise on more than just DCL.

Woody

I have cruised to Alaska twice each on Princess and HAL, but been to Glacier Bay only once. I have also been to Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glacier twice, and to College Fjord once. I would love to return to Glacier Bay.

I find it interesting those who have been to Alaska solely on another cruise line can say it's better than DCL, Our Disney Wonder cruise to Alaska was fantastic. The port times long, only Juneau had a departure before six pm. I flew on a charter to and over Glacier bay, to be honest Tracy Arm was far far better.


Back to the thread as mentioned before Port fees and taxes are added on after the cruise fare so comments that's the reason are incorrect as the cruise fare excludes them.

DCL has been cruising Alaska since 2011 not the new kid on the block and has built up a very good reputation for going the extra mile. I can't see how anyone who has only cruised HAL to Alaska and not been on the Wonder to Alaska can post outright critisum of DCL.

You're comparing several hours cruising Tracy Arm vs. a ~ 1-hour fly-over of Glacier Bay. I suspect that if you had flown over Tracy Arm, you'd have a different opinion.

 

[Dug720]

I find it interesting those who have been to Alaska solely on another cruise line can say it's better than DCL, Our Disney Wonder cruise to Alaska was fantastic. The port times long, only Juneau had a departure before six pm. I flew on a charter to and over Glacier bay, to be honest Tracy Arm was far far better.


Back to the thread as mentioned before Port fees and taxes are added on after the cruise fare so comments that's the reason are incorrect as the cruise fare excludes them.

DCL has been cruising Alaska since 2011 not the new kid on the block and has built up a very good reputation for going the extra mile. I can't see how anyone who has only cruised HAL to Alaska and not been on the Wonder to Alaska can post outright critisum of DCL.

I wasn't criticizing DCL. I WISH this cruise was on DCL (it's with a running group, and theve been using HAL for a few years, so I'm stuck) and I am doing everything I can to Disney-fy my cabin! I was saying I can do a HAL ship to DCL ship comparison when I get back. I can already compare first impressions from pictures, and I can definitely say that I definitely would pick DCL based on pictures alone.

And I will agree with Nancy that there is a big difference between a 1-hour fly over of something and spending 6-8 hours exploring that same place up close.

 

[holula]

Our base cost of Alaska was similar to our Caribbean cruises. However, we booked an inside to save money. The balconies do sell for a premium because of the scenery.

The excursions are much more $$$ though.

 

[Dug720]

Our base cost of Alaska was similar to our Caribbean cruises. However, we booked an inside to save money. The balconies do sell for a premium because of the scenery.

The excursions are much more $$$ though.

And that goes across the cruise lines. This trip will literally be the most expensive trip I have ever taken and likely will ever take. Most of my souvenirs will be photographs that I take!!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

How am I qualified to make that statement?? Let me see..........oh yeah well my family and I like Disney cruises and we dont want anything else. why ? Because we love all things Disney. Do I need to get a qualification to feel this way? NO. Now, we have tons and I mean tons of family and close friends who have sailed both disney and other cruises and we get the trip reviews from them and from what we have heard.....we wont sail other than disney.

Seems totally qualified to make that statement!

Lots on correct information online and in discussions with other people to allow a person to make a fair comparison judgment.


I find it kinda odd anyone else would feel they have the right to tell anyone else what their opinion should be or judge what they know.



AKK

 

[NancyIL]

LOL!!! Another cruise line?????!! Ummm.........not in this lifetime! We only do Disney. There is a reason the others are cheaper than Disney......

Never say "never"! Other cruise lines are cheaper because they have a lot more ships and cabins to fill.

 

[tup1830]

two things...the OP's question is about COST...not cruise line preference

second, comparing ships should be in equal categories. some of RCL's older ships aren't even in the same class as DCL...BUT if you're going to compare, then you have to compare DCL to RCL's oasis, allure, freedom, quantum. Thats the only way you'll make a fair comparison.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

That is indeed a big part of the cheaper rates.........they are trying to keep running by cheaper prices, especially carnival is giving away cruises on some routes.

I believe your going to see many older vessels on Carnival Inc. lines, RCCL and a few on NCL be sold off in the next 1 to 4 years to try and reduce the number of cabins to permit higher rates.

You can bet if the cruise Market recovers they will charge as high a rate as they can.

I am guessing here, but I have heard a few faint *RUMORS* that dcl will build 2 more vessels to add in 2017/2018. The classics will go to Europe/ far east. or one of the dream class to the Europe and the Wonder continue Alaska.



AKK