DCL Price for 3rd Passenger

[lbus42]

I have seen a lot of discussion on these boards about DCL prices. A lot of threads concern the price that DCL charges. I, personally do not have any problems with the prices they charge for a two person stateroom. I feel that for my wife and myself that the level of service that DCL charges is worth the difference in price. However, I do not understand their pricing for additional passengers beyond the first two in the stateroom.

For instance on the cruise I have booked, for non-concierge staterooms there is an additional charge of $1065.21 for a third person. This I see is reasonable. DCL has to provide food, entertainment, and services to this third person.

But in concierge staterooms the third person charge is much higher. I do not understand this. For a Family Verandah Concierge stateroom the difference is $1527.21, almost $500 higher. You could say this is because of the upgrade to concierge, but the upgrade was already paid for in the price of the stateroom. The third person is going to consume the same amount of food, entertainment, and services in concierge vs non-concierge, except that a concierge guest has access to the concierge lounge, food, concierge services, and sundeck. This may account for the extra $500.

But now we get to my biggest issue. If I agree that an extra $1000 or so is reasonable to provide food, services, and entertainment to a third passenger, and I agree that another $500 is reasonable to provide concierge services to the third person, then why is the third person uncharge for a 1BR Concierge suite $2402.21. This is an increase of another $900. A third person in a 1BR suite gets no more than a third person in the concierge Family Verandah. What justifies another $900.

Anyone have any thoughts or comments on this?

 

[DLM1980]

Because they can and people pay. That's all the justification needed

 

[jahber]

It's like that on all the suites on all of the lines I have checked. ALL of the passengers pay proportionally more for a suite. Because, as DLM said, cruise lines CAN.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, I agree. It's because they can and they have no issue selling concierge staterooms and the perks that go with them. In fact, it is typical across all cruise lines, that concierge/suite staterooms sell out first. We just upgraded from a family concierge to a 1-bedroom on the Fantasy and it was a $5000 increase, for the three of us, between the staterooms. Quite honestly, I didn't even look at the per person breakdown. The cost is what it is. Yes, big chunk of change that could have been put toward another trip, but we knew it would make our sailing more comfortable and enjoyable for our family, so we did it. Lo and behold, we got the last 1-bedroom on our sailing (and we are going at the end of August, not exactly peak cruise time). Honestly, if you want to sail concierge on DCL, the price is the price. There are other lines that definitely cost less than DCL for concierge/suite staterooms and service, but if you want the Disney experience, DCL is the only one that can provide that.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'm going out on a limb here, but perhaps it's not about how much the extra person will eat/use, but a percentage of the total cost of the room or at least per person cost?

 

[lbus42]

I'm going out on a limb here, but perhaps it's not about how much the extra person will eat/use, but a percentage of the total cost of the room or at least per person cost?

I think you are probably right about this being a percentage. Over 25% for non-concierge and sloping downwards till it hits right at that percentage for Deluxe Family w/Verandah. A little under 25% for concierge Family Verandah and around 28% for the 1BR. This seems to suggest that DCL is charging a premium for the 1BRs and getting it.

 

[Jennifer777]

It's not just about what the third person will cost DCL, but it's also based on what that third person will get with that upgrade. They will be getting more (more room, larger verandah, better amenities, etc.) than they would staying in the family concierge room, so they are paying more to get more regardless how much they eat or drink. It's also one more person using the concierge staff and amenities so there should be an additional charge for anyone upgrading to use those services. Another thing to consider, the 1-br suites are twice the size of the family rooms so DCL has to financially justify using space they could use and collect fare for two rooms and instead using it/collecting fare for one room. It's twice the size but not twice the cost of a concierge family room.

 

[mmouse37]

I liked the days when DCL didn't charge for the third/fourth person if the person was under 3 (or was it 2?). They just paid port charges. We are travelling with our 2 granddaughters and they are each about $700. Both are under 1.

MJ

 

[lbus42]

It's not just about what the third person will cost DCL, but it's also based on what that third person will get with that upgrade. They will be getting more (more room, larger verandah, better amenities, etc.) than they would staying in the family concierge room, so they are paying more to get more regardless how much they eat or drink. It's also one more person using the concierge staff and amenities so there should be an additional charge for anyone upgrading to use those services. Another thing to consider, the 1-br suites are twice the size of the family rooms so DCL has to financially justify using space they could use and collect fare for two rooms and instead using it/collecting fare for one room. It's twice the size but not twice the cost of a concierge family room.

But that more room, larger verandah, etc.. that you address has already been paid for in the two person price for the room. If I pay for a 1BR vs a Family Verandah, all of those things have been paid for. The third person will consume more food and will use services beyond what the two persons would so I can see the extra cost like what is reflected on adding a third person to a concierge Family Verandah room. It is about $1500 more for the third person. But adding a third person to a 1BR adds $2400 more. A third person in a 1BR does not get anything more than a third person in a concierge Family Verandah. So in my eyes, the extra $900 is because Disney is able to charge that much and get it.

 

[Jennifer777]

But that more room, larger verandah, etc.. that you address has already been paid for in the two person price for the room.

It has been paid for in the two person price for the two people. Room fare is not calculated based just on per room. It's per room, per person and per category.

A third person in a 1BR does not get anything more than a third person in a concierge Family Verandah.

Sure they do. With the upgrade to a 1-br, they get more than double the square footage, a table to eat meals at, a larger balcony, extra seating and more privacy that comes with semi-separate living areas. These are benefits they wouldn't get as a 3rd person in a family concierge room.

I understand your thought process because with most other categories, the pricing for the 3rd and 4th passenger doesn't increase with room category upgrades. I think what you're missing though is that this particular upgrade is the equivalent of going from one room to two rooms based on the square footage. In order to get this much space anywhere else on the ship you would need to book two deluxe family rooms. The 3rd passenger in that case (concierge or not) would pay more for that additional space so it makes sense (to me) that DCL would charge everyone staying in a 1-br more for the additional space too.