DCL ships -- how crowded are they?

[mom in 2005]

Thinking of taking DCL next year. If I go at an off time, say the first week in May or the week after Thanksgiving (usual slow times for regular Disney) are the ships crowded, alot of school aged kids or mostly babies and toddlers? What is the best time of year to go if I don't want it to be like WDW at Xmas time? Thanks much.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thinking of taking DCL next year. If I go at an off time, say the first week in May or the week after Thanksgiving (usual slow times for regular Disney) are the ships crowded, alot of school aged kids or mostly babies and toddlers? What is the best time of year to go if I don't want it to be like WDW at Xmas time? Thanks much.

The Disney ships nearly always sail full, DCL are good at getting every bit full, the ships are crowded, but like the Disney parks well managed and you shouldnt ever have an issue.

Out of school holidays there are more younger families or older familiys to save on cost.

Basically avoid school holidays, national holidays Christmas Easter etc, low season is late August and September.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We went the 2nd week of March (Spring Break) and while the ship was at capacity, we never felt crowded at all.

There are ways to avoid crowds, like avoiding the swimming pools on sea days, but otherwise, everyone is dispersed quite nicely and it never felt like the parks.

 

[barryk]

we went in DEcember and it was a full cruise but I was surprised how much space there was
baz

 

[lillygator]

honestly I have never felt overly crowded on the ships....sure the Mickey pool will be full, but there seems to be so much space and so many different venues.....it has never really been an issue for us.

 

[JNorris]

Regarding when there are lots of kids on board...there's always lots of kids on board. I've cruise first week of June, second weekend of March, and several times in September (when kids are in school). I never noticed any difference in the amount of kids, always lots of them. I guess alot of people take their kids out of school, like I do.

 

[nokidz]

never felt crowded on the ship. Other than the elevators (sometimes) and the deck 9 parties, there is tons of room. in regards to the elevators, you should take the stairs anyways. with all the food available, you will want to burn some off....