Current Cruise Pricing

[Kimberly9701]

They have four ships at DCL. Princess runs 17 ships with one new one on the way. Royal Caribbean runs 25 ships with two new ones coming. Harmony of the Seas will be the world's largest cruise ship with capacity for more than 6,000 passengers. Yep, that is six thousand passengers on one ship. I hope they have enough deck chairs. DCL is a niche market. Its niche prefers summer bookings and is still willing to pay more for them. And yes there are some people outside the niche who are willing to pay for DCL in some circumstances. Want a better deal on DCL, cruise in the off-season.

Want to see high prices, check some other niche markets, like ultra small ships with all balcony staterooms, the totally all inclusives, the around the world sailings, etc. These may not be the niche markets that families with children prefer; indeed they seem to mostly market to my parents, who are 80.

No, it's not price gouging.

I'll be on Royal Caribbean in Europe this summer but I'll be on the Fantasy next summer (yes in summer). I'm considering adding a drink package on RCL. It's about $500 for the full cruise (long cruise). Will I like that better than paying as I go with Disney? I don't know yet. As far as I can tell I won't be doing any excursions through RCL but they are comparable to Disney's. I'll be at a lot more specialty upcharge restaurants though.

I guess my biggest problem, and again- I haven't been on DCL yet, is that the cruises you mentioned above are luxury lines. I've also never been on a Viking ship, but plan on it some day after I am retired, but I can see the value in their prices. A cruise ship with a ton of kids and crying babies/toddlers? Not so much.

I really am looking forward to our sailing on the Fantasy. And I totally agree that DCL is going after a niche market, I just can't imagine how they could price themselves higher than Crystal, for an example.

I fully admit that I'm bitter at their price releases.lol

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I guess my biggest problem, and again- I haven't been on DCL yet, is that the cruises you mentioned above are luxury lines. I've also never been on a Viking ship, but plan on it some day after I am retired, but I can see the value in their prices. A cruise ship with a ton of kids and crying babies/toddlers? Not so much.

I really am looking forward to our sailing on the Fantasy. And I totally agree that DCL is going after a niche market, I just can't imagine how they could price themselves higher than Crystal, for an example.

I fully admit that I'm bitter at their price releases.lol

All this is just another eample of charging what the market will pay, short and simple.

Example , say you had a specail skill to make wigets very different and special from the ones made by all the other companies down the road, who charge less and you were payed $50.00 a hour.

The boss comes in and say gee, the company is making more money with you working here so we are willing to pay you $60.00.

Now would you say gee no thanks, I'll stay at $50.00.

Disney provides a specail enchanting cruise and they charge what the market will pay.

Seems you may have hit the nail on the head when you said bitter. Maybe that is the whole point in these threads.

Someday DCL will hit that point where people will say, No higher , then the prices will come down.

AKK

 

[Kimberly9701]

All this is just another eample of charging what the market will pay, short and simple.

Example , say you had a specail skill to make wigets very different and special from the ones made by all the other companies down the road, who charge less and you were payed $50.00 a hour.

The boss comes in and say gee, the company is making more money with you working here so we are willing to pay you $60.00.

Now would you say gee no thanks, I'll stay at $50.00.

Disney provides a specail enchanting cruise and they charge what the market will pay.

Seems you may have hit the nail on the head when you said bitter. Maybe that is the whole point in these threads.

Someday DCL will hit that point where people will say, No higher , then the prices will come down.

AKK

Do you honestly think they will fill a longer Northern Europe cruise at the kind of price point they are asking? I know this doesn't apply to everyone, but I would think most people going on these type of itineraries are relatively well traveled, and know what they can do with that same amount of money.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Do you honestly think they will fill a longer Northern Europe cruise at the kind of price point they are asking? I know this doesn't apply to everyone, but I would think most people going on these type of itineraries are relatively well traveled, and know what they can do with that same amount of money.

Hi there,

I really cannot say ....I am not a cruise marketing expert, neither is anyone here as far as I know.

The point is DCL thinks so.

I totally agree with your points on expreinced travelers over there. DCL must have projections to expect the the bookings.



AKK

 

[Kimberly9701]

Hi there,

I really cannot say ....I am not a cruise marketing expert, neither is anyone here as far as I know.

The point is DCL thinks so.

I totally agree with your points on expreinced travelers over there. DCL must have projections to expect the the bookings.



AKK

That is what is so perplexing to me...on an itinerary that is not sold out this year, and offering reduced prices now... I have no idea who's idea it was to decide to price a cruise like that at an even HIGHER price point than the one which is currently not selling.lol

 

[KashasMom]

They have four ships at DCL. Princess runs 17 ships with one new one on the way. Royal Caribbean runs 25 ships with two new ones coming. Harmony of the Seas will be the world's largest cruise ship with capacity for more than 6,000 passengers. Yep, that is six thousand passengers on one ship. I hope they have enough deck chairs. DCL is a niche market. Its niche prefers summer bookings and is still willing to pay more for them. And yes there are some people outside the niche who are willing to pay for DCL in some circumstances. Want a better deal on DCL, cruise in the off-season.

Want to see high prices, check some other niche markets, like ultra small ships with all balcony staterooms, the totally all inclusives, the around the world sailings, etc. These may not be the niche markets that families with children prefer; indeed they seem to mostly market to my parents, who are 80.

No, it's not price gouging. Nobody's paying the price for a Disney cruise because they NEED a Disney cruise. They want one. They will pay what it takes to get one.

I'll be on Royal Caribbean in Europe this summer but I'll be on the Fantasy next summer (yes in summer). I'm considering adding a drink package on RCL. It's about $500 for the full cruise (long cruise). Will I like that better than paying as I go with Disney? I don't know yet. As far as I can tell I won't be doing any excursions through RCL but they are comparable to Disney's. I'll be at a lot more specialty upcharge restaurants though.

Doesn't DCL have two new ships on the way? Maybe their prices will come down then.

 

[darnheather]

The Magic for April 10th sailing was not sold out. Well then again I don't know what the exact definition is of "sold out" but I do know that there were at least three large tables empty in the MDR every night. I only felt crowded on Pirate Night and got to swim in the adult pool several times either alone or with only one or two other people in the pool. Despite this the same cruise for the same time next year is $2000 more. I think that is far too much of a price difference in one year so obviously I'm waiting and watching. My 15 year old has caught the bug and refuses to try other lines for now. We'll save our money until we can afford another DCL.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Doesn't DCL have two new ships on the way? Maybe their prices will come down then.

That was the thought when the Dream & Fantasy were being built. Yeah, like that happened.

 

[4newtocruise]

We too have bailed from Disney. We have done 4 Disney cruises and we bit the bullet and booked the Fantasy for next summer with a hefty $8,000+ price tag for a balcony. After a couple days I just could rationalize paying that price. We had done the Fantacy in the past and it was at least $2,000 less then it is today. It's too bad they are loosing the middle class passengers. We love Disney and so do my 16 and 14 year old. In fact when I said I was canceling it, they were heartbroken and refused to try another cruise line. They have made so many friends. I finally convinced them and we are going to try RCL Harmony next summer. I saved over $2,000. There is so much more you spend your money on then the cruise itself (excursions, shopping, etc). Sorry Disney, I just can't!

 

[FJS961]

I no longer see the value in DCL concierge except maybe a short cruise off peak season. We have moved to NCL Haven for a far better value.

 

[Kimberly9701]

The Magic for April 10th sailing was not sold out. Well then again I don't know what the exact definition is of "sold out" but I do know that there were at least three large tables empty in the MDR every night. I only felt crowded on Pirate Night and got to swim in the adult pool several times either alone or with only one or two other people in the pool. Despite this the same cruise for the same time next year is $2000 more. I think that is far too much of a price difference in one year so obviously I'm waiting and watching. My 15 year old has caught the bug and refuses to try other lines for now. We'll save our money until we can afford another DCL.

Show her videos of an Oasis or Quantum class ship!! Perfect for a 15 year old. I have 2 cruises in 2016 or I would be sailing to Bermuda on the latter.. They look wonderful!

 

[RedSox68]

That was the thought when the Dream & Fantasy were being built. Yeah, like that happened.

THAT!

 

[RedSox68]

THIS IS INSANITY! I just did a cost comparison because I so wanted to take the Magic out of NYC in October. DCL prices start at $1,774 per person for an oceanview. Carnival's prices start at $379 per person. Same room type, same cruise, same time frame! So if you sailed on Disney you'd be paying more than $1,300 extra per person for a simple 5-night cruise! And we had a great time on Carnival -- their rooms are much bigger than Disney's and we loved the decor. Their ocean view windows are big enough to sit in.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Cruise Critic did the cruiser's choice and the top two ships were the Dream and the Fantasy. (Most of the rest of the ships that were ranked in the top ten were Celebrity). And Cruise Critic is not a Disney-centric site.

This could all go down as Disney apologia, but a lot of posters don't understand why the Disney ships aren't just empty. Someone's paying for those cruises, and a lot of them are paying full fare. the ships are not entirely full of cast members and Florida residents.

 

[daisyx3]

Yes, I'm comparing now too:
my 4 night Dream in March next year: $2500

a 6 night Royal $2200 (Cayman, Cozumel, Puerto Costa Maya on Freedom of the Seas
so that one is $300 less for two more nights
a 7 night Carnival Glory
$2034 for a midship deck 8 balcony cabin
$2104 for an aft extended balcony
$2774 for ocean suite 7233
this one is between $3-400 less for 3 extra nights, roughly $300 more for a suite
a 7 night on Celebrity Reflection (Cayman, Cozumel, Falmouth, Labadee)
$2684 for a 1B room on deck 9
$3084 for a concierge room (1046)
so that one is $200-500 more but for 3 extra nights

Any of these would add 2-3 days to my cruise, most for less money. Celebrity is more money but for three more days. I am keeping my July of 2017 CC double dip, but am really moving toward moving this one! Don't need to do two Bahamas cruises in a matter of months.

 

[MUN]

THIS IS INSANITY! I just did a cost comparison because I so wanted to take the Magic out of NYC in October. DCL prices start at $1,774 per person for an oceanview. Carnival's prices start at $379 per person. Same room type, same cruise, same time frame! So if you sailed on Disney you'd be paying more than $1,300 extra per person for a simple 5-night cruise! And we had a great time on Carnival -- their rooms are much bigger than Disney's and we loved the decor. Their ocean view windows are big enough to sit in.

You should cruise on Carnival then.

 

[RedSox68]

You should cruise on Carnival then.

Oh, we have -- and will continue to cruise them and other cruise lines cause they fit our budget. There are so many great itineraries on other lines out there......it's fun to explore

 

[MUN]

Oh, we have -- and will continue to cruise them and other cruise lines cause they fit our budget. There are so many great itineraries on other lines out there......it's fun to explore

You do realize why DCL charges a lot more for their NYC cruises (compared to other lines) don't you?

 

[RedSox68]

You do realize why DCL charges a lot more for their NYC cruises (compared to other lines) don't you?

Disney charges a lot more for every cruise. That was one comparison out of NYC -- other people have posted comparison for European cruises, Caribbean, etc. Disney ranks highest in most of the market. It's just facts -- I'm not dissing Disney, just posting comparisons as others have done for info.

 

[MUN]

Disney charges a lot more for every cruise. That was one comparison out of NYC -- other people have posted comparison for European cruises, Caribbean, etc. Disney ranks highest in most of the market. It's just facts -- I'm not dissing Disney, just posting comparisons as others have done for info.

Correct, but with NYC they have very limited sailings compared to other lines. DCL is rarely cruising out of NYC. Obviously, all cruise lines (all companies) charge what they can to maximize profits; however, specifically, if one has their heart set on sailing DCL out of NYC you only have a few opportunities. I suspect with Carnival and other lines, you have many.

MUN