6 grand for a one week cruise?

[Ofinn]

I think it is during "Spring Break" season. That is an expensive time of year for Disney.
I got a Concierge Family Deluxe room for us for $5505 in December 2016.
IMHO timing during the year plays a big part on the pricing.

Look at the first week of Dec this year the cheapest verandah for a family of four is 5500. We sailed in that week in 2014 with a discount for under 3k. Even with a discount it's going to be much more than 3k this year.

 

[xlxo]

It's worse if your home currency is falling against the USD.

 

[BigredNole]

Look at the first week of Dec this year the cheapest verandah for a family of four is 5500. We sailed in that week in 2014 with a discount for under 3k. Even with a discount it's going to be much more than 3k this year.

I just did a search under all 7-day cruises for a party of 3 (2 adults 1 child 11). The lowest price was $4,000. It would be $100 less for an inside stateroom. The $4,000 was for GTY oceanview.

 

[jodifla]

I'm assuming that's for a family of four? I hope it's not three. We are a family of four, and I would never pay that much for a Caribbean cruise. Our first cruise on the Fantasy was 5,300 in June. That is the most I have paid for a Caribbean cruise and honestly I would never pay that much again. We have been able to cruise a couple more times on the Fantasy with discounts. We have gotten some decent rates on the Magic and Wonder. At this point I'm not sure we'll ever set foot on the Fantasy again. If you want to the DCL experience I think you have to look at other cruises even European cruises are cheaper. We have sailed on the Wonder out of Galveston for a nice price and enjoyed it just as much as our Fantasy cruises.

It's for 3 people.

 

[quickcat]

We are sailing Easter week....family of 4. I wish it was $6000
Yes, I think we have lost our minds!

 

[Ofinn]

It's for 3 people.

Yikes that's high. Some people seem to think it's worth it. Maybe if I hadn't already cruised on DCL so many times I could find some value in it. I have a certain amount of money to spend each year on vacations, and I don't think I would want to blow a big chunk of it on the Caribbean.

 

[lbus42]

OMG! I just looked at a cruise for the first week of April 2017, and it's over $6,000. Navigator's verandah.

I can get the same week on RCCL's Allure of the Seas for $2,800 in an oceanview room. And no, all I can drink soda is not going to make up the difference.

Is it the April 8th Star Wars cruise? First off, the itineraries have been released for many weeks now. The prices of a DCL cruise rise as the ship fills up. The opening price of the cruise was likely much lower. Also since this is a SWDAS cruise, there is a premium applied to the booking. Lastly as others have stated, fares on the Fantasy are also higher.

DCL charges what they do because they can get away with it. There ships almost always sail full. The other cruise lines are rarely full. The other cruise lines also have to price compete with each other. If RCCL always filled their ships and could get away with raising their rates and not loosing customers to Carnival, they would. Then we would see posts like "Why is RCCL forcing me to sell my house" too.

 

[tink1970]

I was convinced after reading these boards that Disney was the most expensive cruise line around, so I started to look at Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, etc.

Those are some scary prices for sure...RSS for a 7 day Med during my DH's vacation next year begins at almost $6,000/pp for the lowest cabin. Granted this included air and for the experience one could argue it's comparing apples to oranges. Still made me think (and gasp!).

I do agree that as long as people pay (I do!) then DCL will charge. But it was eye opening to realize there are even pricier options.

 

[Ofinn]

Is it the April 8th Star Wars cruise? First off, the itineraries have been released for many weeks now. The prices of a DCL cruise rise as the ship fills up. The opening price of the cruise was likely much lower. Also since this is a SWDAS cruise, there is a premium applied to the booking. Lastly as others have stated, fares on the Fantasy are also higher.

DCL charges what they do because they can get away with it. There ships almost always sail full. The other cruise lines are rarely full. The other cruise lines also have to price compete with each other. If RCCL always filled their ships and could get away with raising their rates and not loosing customers to Carnival, they would. Then we would see posts like "Why is RCCL forcing me to sell my house" too.

Dcl discounts a lot of cruises just like other cruiselines. They just get away with higher prices, and they dont always discount to the general public. Dcl loses customers to carnival and Royal all the time. I See it on these boards everyday. Thousands of people cruise every year and laugh at dcl prices even though they can afford it. I'm not sure why you would think dcl has no competition. Dcl is a very tiny part of the cruise market.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I have always said if you dont feel DCl specail cruises and vessels are not worth it, it is time to sail somewhere else.

DCL like all the other lines charge what the guests will pay.

However as noted it is schools out time and you have to compare the same type of cabins.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I was convinced after reading these boards that Disney was the most expensive cruise line around, so I started to look at Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, etc.

Those are some scary prices for sure...RSS for a 7 day Med during my DH's vacation next year begins at almost $6,000/pp for the lowest cabin. Granted this included air and for the experience one could argue it's comparing apples to oranges. Still made me think (and gasp!).

I do agree that as long as people pay (I do!) then DCL will charge. But it was eye opening to realize there are even pricier options.

Yes, as you found, DCl is far from the most expensive. There are times DCl is equal or less then Rccl and some of the others. Not often but it does happen. It has a lot to do with time of year, etc.There was a long thread about it a while ago.

AKK

 

[Ofinn]

Yes, as you found, DCl is far from the most expensive. There are times DCl is equal or less then Rccl and some of the others. Not often but it does happen. It has a lot to do with time of year, etc.There was a long thread about it a while ago.

AKK

You keep posting this, but I would love to see an example of any of RCCLs newer ships costing more than the Fantasy.

 

[Ofinn]

I was convinced after reading these boards that Disney was the most expensive cruise line around, so I started to look at Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, etc.

Those are some scary prices for sure...RSS for a 7 day Med during my DH's vacation next year begins at almost $6,000/pp for the lowest cabin. Granted this included air and for the experience one could argue it's comparing apples to oranges. Still made me think (and gasp!).

I do agree that as long as people pay (I do!) then DCL will charge. But it was eye opening to realize there are even pricier options.

These are luxury lines. Dcl is not a luxury line nor does it advertise itself as such. Its more in line with RCCL, carnival and NCl.

 

[jahber]

These are luxury lines. Dcl is not a luxury line nor does it advertise itself as such. Its more in line with RCCL, carnival and NCl.

Exactly. Luxury cruises include features like all excursions paid for, air travel paid for, a butler (a BUTLER, for goodness' sake), and all alcohol included (take that, "free soda"!). DCL is not a luxury line. Not by far. So, comparing them to a luxury line is like comparing a Hilton to a 5-star hotel. I think most people have no idea what a true luxury line is like. It's like when people think Disney's deluxe resorts are equivalent to a Waldorf or Four Seasons. The prices may be pretty similar, but you're paying for the Disney name. And that's ok, if that makes you happy. If I were going to drop $10000 on a cruise for me and my husband, though, I'd want a butler and alcohol included.

 

[tinkerone]

You keep posting this, but I would love to see an example of any of RCCLs newer ships costing more than the Fantasy.

I have seen this posted a bunch of times but have never seen anything to back it up. I file it away with "other cruise lines nickel and dime you". Haven't found anything to back that up either.
JMO

 

[tinkerone]

Exactly. Luxury cruises include features like all excursions paid for, air travel paid for, a butler (a BUTLER, for goodness' sake), and all alcohol included (take that, "free soda"!).

Now that made me laugh!!
Best line EVER!

 

[lbus42]

Dcl is a very tiny part of the cruise market.

And yet they can charge a premium for their cruises and get it. In merchandising if you can a get a customer to consistently buy your product even when there are cheaper alternatives, you in effect have no competition for the product you are offering. The stuff about losing customers to other cruise lines does not fly either. For every customer that leaves DCL, there are others waiting to take their place. As long as the ships fill, DCL will continue to offer bookings at higher prices.

 

[jodifla]

We've been on 5 Disney cruises -- we love them. We were always able to find times that would work and be fiscally in the realm of reality. When the competition is offering the same -- or better -- for half the price, then we have to start considering other cruise lines. A PP is right, -- $4,000 is the cheapest for 3 I see as well all year.

It IS possible for Disney to Jump the Shark with prices -- just look at Disney's After Hours.

 

[Ofinn]

And yet they can charge a premium for their cruises and get it. In merchandising if you can a get a customer to consistently buy your product even when there are cheaper alternatives, you in effect have no competition for the product you are offering. The stuff about losing customers to other cruise lines does not fly either. For every customer that leaves DCL, there are others waiting to take their place. As long as the ships fill, DCL will continue to offer bookings at higher prices.

If platinum cruisers are fed up with prices and booking other cruise lines then yes they are essentially losing customers. Yes there will be other families that want to experience Dcl cruises, but how many of these families are going to make it to platinum level? Our last two cruises there was only a handful of gold and one or two platinums. If they were able to fill the ships they wouldnt be offering so many discounts this Summer. Other cruise lines are coming out with bigger and better ships and are marketing them to families. Im a dcl customer that is looking at other cruiselines for our Fall vacation so dont tell me they dont lose customers. The same could be said for any cruise line "for every customer that leaves RCCL a new takes there place". Blah..blah Like I said previously DCL is a pretty insignificant part of the cruise industry.

The only reason were cruising dcl this Summer is because DCL could not sell their Iceland cruise and we got it for half off. The ship still has lots of rooms left. Even at half off its double the carnival med cruise I was going to take.

 

[Ofinn]

We've been on 5 Disney cruises -- we love them. We were always able to find times that would work and be fiscally in the realm of reality. When the competition is offering the same -- or better -- for half the price, then we have to start considering other cruise lines. A PP is right, -- $4,000 is the cheapest for 3 I see as well all year.

It IS possible for Disney to Jump the Shark with prices -- just look at Disney's After Hours.

According to IBus you will not be a customer that dcl loses if you change cruise lines.