Are the Summer 2017 prices reasonable?

[muse7mom]

We've only been on 2 Disney cruises (2014 and 2015) and booked a holder on the last one with the intention to book summer of 2017.

DH and I are both teachers so summer is the only time we can cruise.

Anyone have any hints or tips on which cruise might be the most bang for the buck? We are leaning Alaska but I loved the 2015 double dip. Something new? Something known?

 

[soniam]

It depends what you consider reasonable. I think the Alaska ones are pretty expensive. The double dip, a regular Western/Eastern Caribbean, or Bahamas are probably their best deals. There may be some eclectic ones that are good deals, but DCL is almost always higher than everyone else.

 

[Amw1064]

I say wayyyyyy more expensive. Not anything I am willing to pay and we have been on 25 Disney cruises.

 

[Royal Consort]

I believe the prices this year have reached the 'stupid' price point where they make little sense. I was initially dumbfounded how much Disney have been asking. I could drive/fly/find decent accommodation in Europe, visiting the same destinations, for at least half of what Disney is offering on their 10 night med and northern Europe. I can afford to sail on these itineraries but I see little value in doing so.

 

[apathetic]

Honestly, none are "good" prices. They jacked up the summer prices for the same reason you are looking at them; that's when people can go with the family. Disney is a family-oriented cruise experience and you have to pay premium to enjoy it when the family isn't in school. My advice is if you want the Disney experience, save up and pay. If you just want a cruise, seriously consider the other lines. Only you can decide what you want out of the cruise experience.

 

[KristiMc]

I feel they are high. We sailed to Alaska in 2015 for $6500 with a OBB discount. Booked a similar category/similar date on the Fantasy Western and with the discount it is $8100.

 

[Hundredacre]

Not reasonable.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

It depends what you consider reasonable. I think the Alaska ones are pretty expensive. The double dip, a regular Western/Eastern Caribbean, or Bahamas are probably their best deals.

It all depends. We had been thinking about the five-day double dip or a seven-day Eastern Caribbean, but the dates that work for us for those are actually more expensive than the Alaskan date that works for us. We were quite surprised by that! So we booked Alaska. Not sure if we will definitely go or not yet, but we wanted to lock in opening day pricing.

 

[keaster]

I find them pretty high this year. Especially for us Canadians who have to spend an extra 25-30 percent on with the current exchange rate.

 

[tink1970]

I think it's really based on what you want and when you go. Before I booked I researched cruises on other lines. We were planning on only 7 days, somewhere in Europe and have the flexibility to sail in late May.

To compare I looked at RC mini suite (293 ft2) and Princess mini suites (323ft2) and bottom line was there was no appreciable cost differential between a mini suite and our 7A (yes I realize the 7A is smaller than the mini suite at 268ft2 but it has the amenities we need). The difference between the mini suites and our 4B that we eventually booked was $1300, which is about $62/pp/day, which I'm okay with paying to stay on a ship with which my DD, DM and I am comfortable. I recognize everyone has their definition of what is "too much." For me, $62/day/person isn't there yet. $200?300? Probably...

My girlfriend is a diamond club level on carnival and thinks I'm crazy. I think she's crazy because I've been able to sail just as cheaply on Disney (not often but yes I have) as the posted prices on her cruise line.

Bottom line: time, place, research, research. And yes, prices have gone up.

 

[soniam]

I think it's really based on what you want and when you go. Before I booked I researched cruises on other lines. We were planning on only 7 days, somewhere in Europe and have the flexibility to sail in late May.

To compare I looked at RC mini suite (293 ft2) and Princess mini suites (323ft2) and bottom line was there was no appreciable cost differential between a mini suite and our 7A (yes I realize the 7A is smaller than the mini suite at 268ft2 but it has the amenities we need). The difference between the mini suites and our 4B that we eventually booked was $1300, which is about $62/pp/day, which I'm okay with paying to stay on a ship with which my DD, DM and I am comfortable. I recognize everyone has their definition of what is "too much." For me, $62/day/person isn't there yet. $200?300? Probably...

My girlfriend is a diamond club level on carnival and thinks I'm crazy. I think she's crazy because I've been able to said just as cheaply on Disney (not often but yes I have) as the posted prices on her cruise line.

Bottom line: time, place, research, research. And yes, prices have gone up.

$1300 difference on DCL is great! When I have looked at stuff for Western Caribbean, the RCCL room was about $3000 cheaper. The room would be a little bit smaller, ~20sqft, but the balcony is twice as big. That's without any discounts we get for previous RCCL cruises or current RCCL deals. We still went with DCL, but I felt the difference was worth it for the amenities we get on DCL, including Castaway Cay. Alaska is whole other story. The price difference there is easily twice amount or more for DCL. I think DCL has to be more competitive in Europe. However, their transatlantic is pretty pricey and doesn't have great itineraries compared to RCCL. I agree about researching.

 

[Ofinn]

No they are not reasonable. I would never book a Summer cruise at full price.

 

[xlxo]

I agree Alaska prices are high.... especially when compared to other cruise lines sailing on the same days.

However.... the DCL Wonder appears always to be a sellout compared to the competition who lowers their prices to keep the ships filled.

Voting with my wallet... and looking at the competition for me. Don't need to snort that much pixie dust.

 

[MUN]

For our 7-day Norway cruise out of Copenhagen, I think the price I am paying is reasonable. The 11-day Norway/Iceland/Scotland cruise out of Dover seemed very expensive. Those are the two I priced, so I can't comment on the others.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We had intended to book a July 7-night Eastern (ocean view), and were prepared to pay about $10k (first cruise ever for our family). The quote actually came to about $13k. Instead, we booked for September and saved roughly $5k - we'll just do WDW in July.

 

[LAX]

What are the differences between DCL & other cruise lines that make people willing to pay a premium for? Is it the available amenity, the food, the service, or something else? I know DCL has the characters that no one else have, so that's gotta worth something, I supposed.

LAX

 

[Ware Bears]

We had no intention of cruising next year but after idly browsing the 2017 itineraries once they were online we decided the first of the 7 night Northern Europe out of Copenhagen cruises was just too good to miss out on - especially since we'll be able to celebrate both our wedding anniversary and my birthday onboard and it's dates that I can do! Can't believe that I'm going to Russia - so excited!

 

[steves100]

Booked New 10 night trip that goes to Aruba onboard 1st day. W all the credits $13000 for 4 Car 4a!!!!!!!!

 

[keaster]

We have an OBB we put on an August 2017 eastern Caribbean cruise but we are going to cancel. While the price of our cruise wasn't too bad (around $5400 for 3 of us in a 5E or $6900 Canadian) friends who wanted join us (first time DCL cruisers) would be spending $6800 for 4 in an oceanview. In Canadian funds right now thats over $8700!

For a Caribbean cruise I think that's way too much money.

Plus I've seen the price of DCL cruises escalate extremely fast since our first cruise in 2009. And the discounts they used to offer have all disappeared.

 

[chglass]

We just did our 6th DCL cruise and I think the summer 2017 rates are expensive. I think we are done going during prime season on DCL for quite a while. We have started to look at RCCL ships and itineraries. We want to go back to Alaska and do a nice cruise for Spring Break (week before easter).