DCL vs Celebrity (not your usual comparison) . . .

[DCLMP]

Our first cruise was on Princess but we never sailed on them again. That was before kids! No reason we will not in the future, just have not gotten around to it.

DWF

I know they are trying to get the family market, but I’m not sure they are they yet. Im more of a Disney and Carnival type person.

 

[John VN]

I love reading these comparison threads. I've sailed in Concierge on DCL for roughly a third of my cruises with them. The escalation of prices and decreased offerings caused me to stick with aft verandah staterooms on the Dream, and Navigator's verandah on the Magic/Wonder. Looking to try Celebrity, Norwegian and Princess. Loved the RCCL Oasis (rock climbing, zip lining, ice skating - fun!) Thanks for all the comments. Definitely helps to hear other points of view!

I wish I had the problem of deciding whether I wanted to do a 26k cruise or a 35k. That's a really nice problem to have. I can't decide if I want to do a 5k premium balcony room on carnival, a 6k obstructed on princess or a 9k inside on Disney. I obviously made the wrong career choice in my younger life. I need a do-over.

We are a different crowd: DH and I are childfree (kids are not part of our plans). When I refer to « my family », I‘m always talk about MIL and FIL (in their 70s).

Outside of my MIL and I obsession with characters, we tend to be drawn to more adult entertainment. 18+ comedy shows? Count us in! 60-70-80s musical revue? Yes, please!

We've gone elsewhere preferring to cruise for 7 nights instead of 3 or 4 at equal $$$ or less than $$$ with Butler/restaurant/lounge/pool/bars/Concierge/wifi/priority etc. and frankly never missing what DCL might offer that the other lines can't.

VPC >>> Value Pricing Cruising is our mantra

 

[DCLMP]

We've gone elsewhere preferring to cruise for 7 nights instead of 3 or 4 at equal $$$ or less than $$$ with Butler/restaurant/lounge/pool/bars/Concierge/wifi/priority etc. and frankly never missing what DCL might offer that the other lines can't.

VPC >>> Value Pricing Cruising is our mantra

We’re booked on carnivals new ship the Mardi Gras out of PC. 7 nights in a verandah for less than 3 nights in an inside on the Wish. In fairness the Mardi Gras pricing was higher when they were selling it in 2019. The ship has yet to make its first sailing, but it feel like it’s been around for a long time.

 

[KashasMom]

Not the way Celebrity has started to do it - I should note. The room costs reflect sometimes unnecessary expenses for families (particularly those spread over multiple rooms due to kids), and It's starting to redirect some of them elsewhere. Maybe purposefully. Partly why you have to be careful which sailing dates you bring your kids on, or you will not find the family experience your kids are used to on DCL.

For our family, it's hardly ever Celebrity vs DCL. A cruise with the same itinerary and dates - DCL wins every time. Where DCL fails though is providing opportunities to sail to new destinations. Magic in Europe and Wonder to/from Hawaii are great, but there isn't much else in the way of new experiences. While we still need our dose of Caribbean getaways in the cold of the winter, brands like Celebrity step up to fill a real gap in our travels. They provide a great complement to any family looking to explore the world beyond what DCL can take them to.

Disney seriously has the WORST itineraries. Other lines go to South America, Asia, Australia, NZ, etc. Everyone says it's because they only have 4 ships but doesn't look like a 5th ship made a difference. It's a shame because they can do an awesome tie-in with the parks in Asia.

 

[KashasMom]

This has been my thought too. The ship doesn't even look that much different than the Fantasy or Dream. We're hoping to cruise three times next year. The price, length, and itinerary for the Wish just doesn't seem like a good investment for us.

Have you ever cruised on Princess?

Yes, we've been on Princess but it was a long time ago - 2010. It was an awesome Southern Carib B2B - all new ports for us.

 

[KashasMom]

I love reading these comparison threads. I've sailed in Concierge on DCL for roughly a third of my cruises with them. The escalation of prices and decreased offerings caused me to stick with aft verandah staterooms on the Dream, and Navigator's verandah on the Magic/Wonder. Looking to try Celebrity, Norwegian and Princess. Loved the RCCL Oasis (rock climbing, zip lining, ice skating - fun!) Thanks for all the comments. Definitely helps to hear other points of view!

Oasis class are our favorite ships! So much to do for my daughter and most importantly, several pools!

 

[DCLMP]

Disney seriously has the WORST itineraries. Other lines go to South America, Asia, Australia, NZ, etc. Everyone says it's because they only have 4 ships but doesn't look like a 5th ship made a difference. It's a shame because they can do an awesome tie-in with the parks in Asia.

They may someday when this Covid thing is behind us.

 

[Intr3pid]

Disney seriously has the WORST itineraries. Other lines go to South America, Asia, Australia, NZ, etc. Everyone says it's because they only have 4 ships but doesn't look like a 5th ship made a difference. It's a shame because they can do an awesome tie-in with the parks in Asia.

I'm hoping once the 7th ship is in, they can spare one - such as the Wonder - to spend six months from fall to spring in a different part of the world every year. One year in Asia/Australia, another in South America, in the Mediterranean - rinse and repeat. I don't need them to keep a ship in Asia (or down under) full time - just visit once every 2-3 years, and take us along!

 

[KashasMom]

I'm hoping once the 7th ship is in, they can spare one - such as the Wonder - to spend six months from fall to spring in a different part of the world every year. One year in Asia/Australia, another in South America, in the Mediterranean - rinse and repeat. I don't need them to keep a ship in Asia (or down under) full time - just visit once every 2-3 years, and take us along!

I'm sure there are plenty of people in Asia and Australia that would love to cruise on Disney!

 

[DCLMP]

I'm looking at Baltic cruises. I started looking at what I could get on other cruise lines compared to an inside on the Magic. I found I can get at suite for less on any cruise line and even the Haven on NCL for the same price. I have a weird emotional tie to DCL because it's where it all started when our kids were little. I currently only have one kid that's still eligible for the Vibe, but he doesn't really care that much he just wants to cruise. So it's just me that struggles with the decision.

 

[Sykes]

DCL’s Europe season pricing is pretty absurdly high at the moment. There’s just so much FCC out there that everything is super full. I’d expect that other lines would be similarly situated, but I’m not seeing the absurd prices elsewhere. Maybe more of their customers took refunds?

Anyway, I decided to book Celebrity Edge’s June 26th departure to see what the first US cruise departure will be like. It’s my first Celebrity cruise so it’ll be new experiences all around.

 

[Dug720]

DCL’s Europe season pricing is pretty absurdly high at the moment. There’s just so much FCC out there that everything is super full. I’d expect that other lines would be similarly situated, but I’m not seeing the absurd prices elsewhere. Maybe more of their customers took refunds?

Anyway, I decided to book Celebrity Edge’s June 26th departure to see what the first US cruise departure will be like. It’s my first Celebrity cruise so it’ll be new experiences all around.

The Edge is a fabulous ship!! And Captain Kate (who will be in charge) is fabulous!! Definitely attend her Q&A if you get a chance!!

 

[imahistorygeek]

The Edge is a fabulous ship!! And Captain Kate (who will be in charge) is fabulous!! Definitely attend her Q&A if you get a chance!!

I'd really love to attend this event. She's (and Bug Naked) one of the main reasons I want to sail on the Edge. Looks like a fabulous ship!

 

[Dug720]

I'd really love to attend this event. She's (and Bug Naked) one of the main reasons I want to sail on the Edge. Looks like a fabulous ship!

When I was on, she did it on the last sea day. And yes, Bug made an appearance!

Eden was probably my favorite area - so many places to sit and chill!! And if you get a chance to eat in the restaurant, it is amazing. One of the top 5 meals I've ever had!! I'm actually toying with cancelling my MDAS and changing to Edge for Feb break - if for no other reason than we know Edge is sailing. I'd hope the Magic will be sailing from the US by then, but who knows.

 

[belle032]

DCL’s Europe season pricing is pretty absurdly high at the moment. There’s just so much FCC out there that everything is super full. I’d expect that other lines would be similarly situated, but I’m not seeing the absurd prices elsewhere. Maybe more of their customers took refunds?

Anyway, I decided to book Celebrity Edge’s June 26th departure to see what the first US cruise departure will be like. It’s my first Celebrity cruise so it’ll be new experiences all around.

Just a loose comparison here - our original NCL Alaskan sailing for this September was cancelled a few months ago. But now that it's looking like a viable option again, I priced it out for the same dates. I was pretty shocked that it's almost $2K LESS than what we originally were going to pay. Almost the same itinerary, the sister ship to the one we had booked, and the extra perks are the same. I priced out Carnival as well and it was also much cheaper than I expected. It's usually our go to, but I didn't like the ship or itinerary as much, so we'll give NCL a try for the first time if we book again. I thought for sure it was going to be the same or more, but since I was happily wrong, even more justification to book!

Do you think DCL has priced their itineraries higher and all the FCC is bringing it back to "normal?" So the perception of a discount when there really isn't? And unlike other cruise companies who rely solely on getting guests onboard to stay afloat (no pun intended), DCL is just a piece of a much larger corporation and can direct its energy elsewhere. Plus, it can charge higher prices and die-hard Disney cruise fans will continue to book...so why shouldn't they charge? They haven't seemed to hit a ceiling yet.

 

[alltwelve]

The Edge is a fabulous ship!! And Captain Kate (who will be in charge) is fabulous!! Definitely attend her Q&A if you get a chance!!

We've only done Disney cruises- have one scheduled for November, but I've been following Captain Kate on TikTok and seeing all her videos of the Edge makes me want to sail on that ship! It looks beautiful!

 

[RAC74]

We have sailed on the Edge and loved it! We have the new Apex scheduled for April 2022.

 

[Dug720]

I'm actually toying with cancelling my MDAS and changing to Edge for Feb break - if for no other reason than we know Edge is sailing. I'd hope the Magic will be sailing from the US by then, but who knows.

I made the call and pulled the trigger. I'll be on Edge in Feb 2022 and will plan on the Wish being my first DCL back and plan a MDAS cruise later.

 

[imahistorygeek]

I made the call and pulled the trigger. I'll be on Edge in Feb 2022 and will plan on the Wish being my first DCL back and plan a MDAS cruise later.

We're going probably put a deposit on the Edge for October. We have a DCL Bermuda in October, but I'm not confident it will sail given they have to test cruise the Magic out of NYC. At least that's my understanding.

 

[Dug720]

We're going probably put a deposit on the Edge for October. We have a DCL Bermuda in October, but I'm not confident it will sail given they have to test cruise the Magic out of NYC. At least that's my understanding.

Yeah, as I understand it, since they are going the test cruise route, that has to be every ship out of every port that ship sails. Even with the MDAS in February I was not totally confident - the Edge IS sailing as of the end of the month, so I am confident in her. As I put it to my TA - this way I *know* I have a trip for Feb break 2022 and am not scrambling at the last minute.