Cancelled Our Cruise -Going To Universal

[mevelandry]

There are some of us that have been loyal to only DCL in the past and were stunned by their very sudden price hikes. For example 2014 to 2015 the Cat V room on the Fantasy almost doubled in price. Our last cruise on the Magic was the last time we saw where DCL was inline with other lines.

For us while painful at the time was a blessing in disguise because we have really enjoyed our RCCL cruises and our really looking forward to our first Celebrity cruise.

Perhaps we burned out on DCL, 12 cruises in around 9 years, where it seemed all that changed was the amount of perks received. The shows and trivia questions seemed to remain the same. We are also not big Disney people so the characters mean nothing to us.

For us it is a value thing and right now that is with other lines, and price isn’t the only consideration. We have found so far that DCL isn’t the only line that can give top notch experiences and service. This is our opinion, I know others disagree.

My 2 cents on the price, sure there is a market and people will pay it, but at some point they will have to up their game to match the price. Seeing some threads of some of the recent changes show they may still be lessening the experience not adding to it.

This is such a good point. On our last cruise on the Fantasy, we felt less than a "magical" experience. And i know why -- we had experienced several other cruise lines for half the price of Disney and realized we no longer felt like we were getting our money's worth to make it feasible to just sail on Disney. Granted, many will be able to go and pay for it because they love the family experience.

There have been exceptions with Disney, but for the most part, over the years, their pricing is way above other lines with the same itineraries. We could get a suite for 3 on Princess for the British Isles cruise for the same price Disney was charging for an inside room for two! AND, Princess gave us FREE shuttle service and free specialty dining in two of their restaurants. NCL offers a choice of 2 amenities, including free WiFi or shore excursions, with their bookings. Disney's gold and platinum "gifts" just don't cut it for us anymore. They don't even offer onboard credit for bookings like so many other lines do. The only way to get that is through a travel agent!

Disney relies on loyalty and on those who don't feel they will get a better cruise anywhere else. Once we broke away and saw what we could save, we were very happy with our decision. By doing other lines over the past four years, we have been able to take two vacations a year.

Everyone has to make their own decisions, and what they are comfortable with and what will make them and their family the most happy.

I can relate to what you are saying. Although still amazing, our third DCL cruise kinda felt like a repetition of the two first cruise so the "Disney magic" was gone, which is why we decided to branch out until they bring out the new ships (and possibly new experiences). The "wow effect" of something new can (sometimes) justify the premium... But once the wow effect of novelty is gone, the value is decreasing (in my eyes).

 

[cruiser21]

Uh, oh. I believe I have been guilty of doing this when it comes to Disney Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. I am sorry if I made anyone feel like I was telling them they have bad or plebeian taste by enjoying Royal Caribbean cruises. That was not my intention and I do not think that. Nor was I was trying to make myself feel better about paying the outrageous price of a Disney cruise (I can live with the cost at this time; we will see if I get enough bang for buck for me to live with it after). I was just trying to warn others of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' negative aspects as I wish someone had done that for me so I could have made a different choice or, at least, been better prepared for them.


As near as I can tell, it is a combination of emotional, financial and time investment.


Once someone becomes highly invested in a brand, it becomes a part of their self-identity (if I had a nickle for every time I read 'I am a Disney person' on the internet... ), criticism of the brand becomes criticism of them and most people react defensively when being criticized.

I can’t see any of that as being healthy. Companies want your money other then that they don’t care about you. A brand being part of your identity seems extreme.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Ever since pricing skyrocketed somewhere around 2015, we have been doing a lot of booking with dcl... and a lot of canceling. I am sure at this point our reservations in dcl's system have a flag attached that says, "tenative." lol. We want to go on dcl, but as cruise dates draw closer and the price becomes a reality, we start to rethink. It is not a question of can you afford it, but do you want to afford it. We could drive BMWs, but Honda Accords just fit our fiscal conservative nature better. We would not be happy driving BMWs. Many people are, and that difference is what makes the world go round. We would rather put the extra money in stocks, or take extra trips. DCL is in a weird position because there are many, many other awesome cruise lines out there that charge much less and in many ways provide a higher level experience. This is not as true of their parks. They are very unique. As this thread points out, there is Universal and we cannot wait to try them in a couple of years once our youngest is slightly older. One thing I noticed... we just returned from wdw, and we saw several people with Carnival backpacks from their kids club walking around the parks. We have never noticed this before. I am sure the OP will have an awesome time in Universal- and to me saving money is always a smart move.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Another interesting thing to me about dcl since around 2015 is their shift away from classic disney. My kids absolutely love wdw and DL-- ask to go all the time (went to both in the last 4 months), but they have complained about Marvel and Star Wars. They do not like marvel AT ALL. Star Wars- they are tepid. They really do not like how Marvel and Star Wars have have pushed into the kids clubs on dcl in particular. So that and the price pushes us away. We still love dcl, just maybe not as much as we did a few years ago. And well, we have also tried other cruise lines.

 

[cadien]

Another interesting thing to me about dcl since around 2015 is their shift away from classic disney. My kids absolutely love wdw and DL-- ask to go all the time (went to both in the last 4 months), but they have complained about Marvel and Star Wars. They do not like marvel AT ALL. Star Wars- they are tepid. They really do not like how Marvel and Star Wars have have pushed into the kids clubs on dcl in particular. So that and the price pushes us away. We still love dcl, just maybe not as much as we did a few years ago. And well, we have also tried other cruise lines.

That gave me a chuckle because Marvel and Star Wars is what brought us onto DCL. Classic Disney does little for us or for our son. But with the prices, it won't keep us around for long. We've also tried other cruise lines, so we know what we can get for much less.

 

[zebsterama]

Enjoy Universal - you'll have a fantastic time! Be sure to try and stay at one of the 3 premium onsite hotels (try Royal Pacific it's traditionally the least expensive of the three - Polynesian themed) for the "front of the line benefit." Also check out the Universal forum on this board - there's lots of great advice from some great people and info on there as well.

Here's the link just in case:
https://www.disboards.com/#universal-studios-sea-world.8


I too am Canadian, and I too feel for your CDN/USD exchange pain.

 

[All about me]

I can’t see any of that as being healthy. Companies want your money other then that they don’t care about you. A brand being part of your identity seems extreme.

While certainly if it reaches pathological levels it is unhealthy, in most cases the declaration is about establishing status.

 

[cruiser21]

While certainly if it reaches pathological levels it is unhealthy, in most cases the declaration is about establishing status.

What do you mean by status? Do you mean identifying with a brand means you've reached a certain status in life?

 

[mevelandry]

What do you mean by status? Do you mean identifying with a brand means you've reached a certain status in life?

This is what I understood. And if I got it right and it is someone's case, I agree with you that it can't be healthy.

Job losses can happen at any time. Revenues can fluctuate and you'll never see it coming (ex: In 2016, my husband and I have both been hit by a car while we walking across the street. I mean, what were the odds?) If you base your "status" on the luxuries you can afford, you're going to have a hard time when bad luck happens.

 

[tlprice]

We LOVE Universal. I am sad that my daughter chose WDW for our next land trip. I just find Universal, at this point, to be more exciting and relaxing than WDW. I have been to WDW so many times and it has become such a planning chore, that I'm kind of over it. We have stayed at Cabana Bay, Portofino Bay, and Royal Pacific. Cabana Bay was super fun, but doesn't have the express passes. Portofino Bay wasn't really worth the premium price (IMHO). Royal Pacific was perfect. It had express passes, the staff was amazing, and it was an easy walk or boat ride to the parks. At Universal we didn't have to plan out every moment of every day and could just kind of decide what we wanted to do when we wanted and with the express pass, we didn't have to worry about any long lines. They also don't stay open as late, so I got more sleep and was less grumpy!

Oh--I forgot to add that we really ended up loving Volcano Bay too. We hadn't planned on going there as it was December and I didn't think the weather would be good, but it ended up being great, so we decided last minute one day to go.

 

[cruiser21]

I don't think the pricing is too bad -- it is a deluxe vacation with a nice stateroom compared to other lines, included child care, entertainment, and fine dining 24/7. If I price out a disney world trip for 5 days at a deluxe resort with table service meals, park tickets, and a couple of trips to the paid kids' clubs, I would easily spend more than the cruise. Yes they are not exactly the same thing--but it just depends on what you like on vacation and what you are willing to pay for, and the cruise ticks off a lot of boxes for me.

All cruise lines offer those things. You could get a suite on another cruiseline for less. Then you’re comparing the cost of dcl to a deluxe resort at WDW which is equally expensive.
OP- I think you made a great choice. I love Universal. I prefer the deluxe resorts with the unlimited express passes, but those hotels are getting pricey. Universal has some great annual pass rates. You should check those out as things get closer . You may save money upgrading one of your tickets to an annual pass.

 

[All about me]

What do you mean by status? Do you mean identifying with a brand means you've reached a certain status in life?

Status as being a part of a specific 'tribe'. This can indicate socioeconomic status but it does not have to. (It certainly doesn't in the case of Disney.)

 

[mevelandry]

Enjoy Universal - you'll have a fantastic time! Be sure to try and stay at one of the 3 premium onsite hotels (try Royal Pacific it's traditionally the least expensive of the three - Polynesian themed) for the "front of the line benefit." Also check out the Universal forum on this board - there's lots of great advice from some great people and info on there as well.

Here's the link just in case:
https://www.disboards.com/#universal-studios-sea-world.8


I too am Canadian, and I too feel for your CDN/USD exchange pain.

+1... Royal Pacific is fantastic!

 

[cadien]

Status as being a part of a specific 'tribe'. This can indicate socioeconomic status but it does not have to. (It certainly doesn't in the case of Disney.)

Disney does more than people realize.

But there are definitely other divisions.

 

[cruiser21]

Status as being a part of a specific 'tribe'. This can indicate socioeconomic status but it does not have to. (It certainly doesn't in the case of Disney.)

Interesting analysis. I’m actually loyal to a lot of brands because I like the product. I’ve never considered them a part of my identity nor do I care if other people don’t like what I like. I have noticed some posters get very offended by any critism of Disney. Your analysis may be spot on at least where Disney’s concerned.

 

[cgolf]

Interesting analysis. I’m actually loyal to a lot of brands because I like the product. I’ve never considered them a part of my identity nor do I care if other people don’t like what I like. I have noticed some posters get very offended by any critism of Disney. Your analysis may be spot on at least where Disney’s concerned.

I actually gave some thought to how Disney builds the loyalty after hearing an anti smoking add.

Disney essentially uses there movies and characters to get the kids into Disney, which they then get mom and dad (if not already fans) to take them to a park or on a cruise. Then they essentially have a Disney fan and defender for life. Disney is very good at getting people to be pasionate about the product sometimes forgetting to think about their wallet.

This hit us on some level, while we aren’t Disney movie or character fans, man we loved those ships and I have a closet full of DCL hoodies to show for it that I still wear all the time. Towards the end though we did slow down our spending habits.

On RCCL, great cruises, but other than the shirt I got super cheap I don’t feel the need to buy RCCL gear.

Wanted to add that since DCL was our first cruise line that may be part of why we splurged on all the gear. It is possible if we had started with RCCL or Carnival we would have bought a lot of gear too. A kid in college and getting older makes you think differently when you spend money.

 

[KashasMom]

We are in a different boat so to speak. We CAN afford to cruise Disney but choose not to because simply we find a better product for our family elsewhere. All things important to US on OUR cruise - from pools to itineraries to activities to shows to dining options - are not happening on Disney. That doesn't mean we don't like Disney. There are things that are good (not necessarily better) and it does make me a little sad that we don't get more out of our Disney cruises. We will continue to cruise with Disney if/when it makes sense (we have an extended family cruise in Nov 2019 and may consider one of the new ships if there is a knockout itinerary). Right now, we aren't finding the value with Disney cruises. (I do love WDW world though!)

People compare other cruise lines here because some people are so blindly loyal that they can't believe there are other cruise options that may be just as good, even better. They say they can't afford Disney but refuse to try another cruise line. Those of us who speak up are here to assure people that there is life after Disney. We also can contribute with answers to questions about excursions, FEs, etc. Just because we cruise - and enjoy - other lines doesn't mean we can't provide useful information here. In the end I really don't care whether you eat steak or salmon. There are plenty of cruise options for all of us to find something that we enjoy.

 

[tlprice]

I always tell my students that if we all liked the same thing there would only be one song on the radio, one show on TV, everyone would drive the exact same car, we'd all eat the same food, etc. I tell them you don't have to like what other people like, but you should respect their choices as you would want them to respect yours.

 

[cruiser21]

I actually gave some thought to how Disney builds the loyalty after hearing an anti smoking add.

Disney essentially uses there movies and characters to get the kids into Disney, which they then get mom and dad (if not already fans) to take them to a park or on a cruise. Then they essentially have a Disney fan and defender for life. Disney is very good at getting people to be pasionate about the product sometimes forgetting to think about their wallet.

This hit us on some level, while we aren’t Disney movie or character fans, man we loved those ships and I have a closet full of DCL hoodies to show for it that I still wear all the time. Towards the end though we did slow down our spending habits.

On RCCL, great cruises, but other than the shirt I got super cheap I don’t feel the need to buy RCCL gear.

Wanted to add that since DCL was our first cruise line that may be part of why we splurged on all the gear. It is possible if we had started with RCCL or Carnival we would have bought a lot of gear too. A kid in college and getting older makes you think differently when you spend money.

I totally get the love of all things Disney. What I don't get it is when people get nasty, lash out or bash other cruise lines just because somebody else doesn't think Disney is the magical utopia that they do. I'm obviously a big DCL fan, but I could care less what other people think about Disney. It doesn't ruin my self esteem or give me an identity crisis.

I had table mates on our previous two cruises. One family was on their first cruise and were totally underwhelmed by DCL. I honestly think they regretted the money. The dad kept talking about cruising one of the Royal mega ships that had all the cool stuff to do. It didn't bother me one bit. On the other cruise we were seated with a extremely Disney obsessed family. It was frightening and weird. I was afraid to say anything that wasn't pro Disney. I kept wondering what it would be like if the two families I sat with sat with each other on a cruise....that would be kind of funny.

 

[cgolf]

I totally get the love of all things Disney. What I don't get it is when people get nasty, lash out or bash other cruise lines just because somebody else doesn't think Disney is the magical utopia that they do. I'm obviously a big DCL fan, but I could care less what other people think about Disney. It doesn't ruin my self esteem or give me an identity crisis.

I had table mates on our previous two cruises. One family was on their first cruise and were totally underwhelmed by DCL. I honestly think they regretted the money. The dad kept talking about cruising one of the Royal mega ships that had all the cool stuff to do. It didn't bother me one bit. On the other cruise we were seated with a extremely Disney obsessed family. It was frightening and weird. I was afraid to say anything that wasn't pro Disney. I kept wondering what it would be like if the two families I sat with sat with each other on a cruise....that would be kind of funny.

That is why I backed away from here for awhile. I still keep tabs on here because we are likely not done with DCL long term and like to keep up with the changes. I just got sick of people bashing other lines that had never sailed other lines.

Our first RCCL cruise I thought was going to be terrible based on what I had read on here, despite the good I had read on CC. Thankfully all my worries lasted all of an hour or two once we got on board. Disney has a great product, but so do other lines. The two we have sailed have their strengths and weaknesses (DCL and RCCL).

I am just glad we sailed DCL when we did because my daughter got to experience some things on DCL that it sounds like they have stopped doing now.