DCL VS OTHER CRUISE LINES

[IrishEye]

It is always so hard to answer a how to compare question. You read lots of responses from people comparing a luxury line to a bargain line, concierge to the inside cabin the had elsewhere, or the cold weather versus warm weather. If I start with the cruise lines in the same class category I can look at ships and weigh the pluses and minuses. While most every DCL will assure you of great crew members, we have found some enjoyable on other lines as well, just not as much.

We have cruised Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian (never again), Holland, Princess, Louis and DCL (18 times). We sail on itinerary and always look to see there is a close match with DCL. We enjoy the family atmosphere, entertainment and crew. We are regularly greated by crew who recognize us from a previous cruise and enjoy chatting about what has been going on. Our kids are now adults, love DCL and come with us about 1/2 the time. For us it's not all price, more what matches our personalities.

 

[KalamityJane]

I have found that when I am paying less, I am okay with less, if that makes sense, and am pleasantly surprised if service is amazing. Whereas with Disney, I tend to want to expect that amazing service simply due to the cost.

We cruised NCL and RCL before kids, and booked an RCL Harmony cruise for Dec with an amazing huge balcony room for a fraction of the price of DCL. I'm hoping it will be a good fit, if not, we will keep trying new lines with different ports and ships and see what fits us.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

When we first started thinking about cruising, it was the classic look and feel of the DCL ships that drew us in that direction. The round portholes, classic outline and colors, and overall nautical feel is a big plus to me. I've never been on other lines, but I have watched YouTube videos from inside the ships, and many just seem to have a Vegas or even a shopping mall feel to me.

 

[mevelandry]

Here is how I sum up my feelings about DCL.

My middle daughter is 18 and told us she wants to do a cruise this summer with her friends.....................I told her that she could as long as it was a Disney cruise.

Just think the friendliness of the staff, cleanliness, family environment is what is really great. I have been on many cruises where the cruise staff is hitting on cruisers.................this is not acceptable.

I don't really see how this is any different than in real life where waiters and barmen/barmaids flirt a lot?

 

[mevelandry]

I'm still scheduled for the Celebrity Edge in February...but I'm about 95% sure I am going to cancel that one. Too much unknown combining a new-to-me cruiseline AND a new-to-market ship for me to really feel comfortable with it. I have until the end of September to make my decision 100% one way or another.

Just a suggestion: when I try to get to know a new cruise line/cruise ship, I watch a lot of videos on youtube and pin a lot of articles on Pinterest about it in the months before the cruise. That way, when I get on the ship, I'm already familiar with how things work. I'm a bit of an overplanner, I like to know as much as possible about the vacation I'm going to have and I find that comforting.

 

[Dug720]

Just a suggestion: when I try to get to know a new cruise line/cruise ship, I watch a lot of videos on youtube and pin a lot of articles on Pinterest about it in the months before the cruise. That way, when I get on the ship, I'm already familiar with how things work. I'm a bit of an overplanner, I like to know as much as possible about the vacation I'm going to have and I find that comforting.

The problem is the Edge is brand new with a lot of new stuff and she does not sail her inaugural until mid-December. By then it will be too late to cancel anything for February. Even Celebrity pros are - pardon the pun - edgy about a lot of stuff that is still unknown.

 

[mevelandry]

The problem is the Edge is brand new with a lot of new stuff and she does not sail her inaugural until mid-December. By then it will be too late to cancel anything for February. Even Celebrity pros are - pardon the pun - edgy about a lot of stuff that is still unknown.

I have a thing for new ships. You are not on the first sailing so it gives them time to fix everything that could be wrong in the first weeks. I don't know... I really dig the models I've seen online regarding the Edge. If it was me, I would definitely take the chance... So if you do and make a review about it, I will definitely stalk your thread.

 

[Dug720]

I have a thing for new ships. You are not on the first sailing so it gives them time to fix everything that could be wrong in the first weeks. I don't know... I really dig the models I've seen online regarding the Edge. If it was me, I would definitely take the chance... So if you do and make a review about it, I will definitely stalk your thread.

It is also twice the amount of what I could do a Dream or Wonder cruise for. And I am in one of the solo cabins!

 

[RAD]

We've done 8 DCL cruise, at least once on each ship, one on Carnival (Sensation) and one on RCL (Oasis).

The memory of Carnival was the condition of the ship. One of the atrium elevators was out of service, being held up with block and tackle. I looked on the internet when we got off and it looked like it had been this way for at least four months. Also all the windows on the main deck were so covered with sea spray you could hardly see out them. Food was OK, nothing special to talk about. This as 8 years ago so maybe things have changed but we won't be trying them again.

On the Oasis our memory was this ship was BIG, it would have been nice to have a Segway to get around. We had a junior suite so we got to eat in the concierge dining room, which had much better food then the main dining room. Had to call for ship maintenance a couple times to fix issues in the room. My biggest take away was their customer service. The wife had purchased unlimited drink package but we saw a few bar charges show on the account. I went to guest services expecting a DCL level of service which was sorry we'll fix it, but instead got we have a receipt saying she bought this drink, you owe the money. I asked to see the receipt and all they could provide was a copy of an unsigned receipt. After asking to speak to a manager they finally reversed the charge.

I think the biggest thing is the maintenance of the ships to me. I remember seeing DCL, RCL and CCL all with ships in St. Maarten, DCL had cheery pickers out power washing the ship, RCL and CCL, nothing.

 

[Trera]

I don't really see how this is any different than in real life where waiters and barmen/barmaids flirt a lot?

I just want to limit her exposure to men with bad intentions as much as possible. If the cruise line is not going to take a strong position on fraternization with guests on board, then what else are they not doing to protect passengers.

I dont need her rufied by a crew member while she is trying to take a cruise vacation.

 

[cgolf]

The problem is the Edge is brand new with a lot of new stuff and she does not sail her inaugural until mid-December. By then it will be too late to cancel anything for February. Even Celebrity pros are - pardon the pun - edgy about a lot of stuff that is still unknown.

It is very frustrating how slowly they are rolling out the reveals. What kept us onboard though, bought our trip insurance, was the dining options. Having 4 main dining room options to choose from that have a different regional menu, plus the basics offered in all 4, sealed it for us. Sounds pretty cool, kind of like a specialty restaurant feel for free That said, we got in early, I don't expect to sail on the Edge in the future as the prices will be outside our budget, so this is likely a one and done for us even if we love it.

Curious what level the solo cabins are and why they are so expensive? The insides are still around 2k for 2 people for a 7 night cruise which is cheaper than we could find on DCL by a good chunk.

 

[Dug720]

It is very frustrating how slowly they are rolling out the reveals. What kept us onboard though, bought our trip insurance, was the dining options. Having 4 main dining room options to choose from that have a different regional menu, plus the basics offered in all 4, sealed it for us. Sounds pretty cool, kind of like a specialty restaurant feel for free That said, we got in early, I don't expect to sail on the Edge in the future as the prices will be outside our budget, so this is likely a one and done for us even if we love it.

Curious what level the solo cabins are and why they are so expensive? The insides are still around 2k for 2 people for a 7 night cruise which is cheaper than we could find on DCL by a good chunk.

The problem with that is I actually like having the same serving team each night because I am gluten-free. I have been on a ship where it was seating as you enter (fathom) and it was not a great experience even if I ordered ahead.

And my guess is the limited number of them is why so much. They sell it as "you're not being charged double occupancy for it!" but the reality is you are paying at least 150% of a double cabin rate per person.

 

[cgolf]

The problem with that is I actually like having the same serving team each night because I am gluten-free. I have been on a ship where it was seating as you enter (fathom) and it was not a great experience even if I ordered ahead.

And my guess is the limited number of them is why so much. They sell it as "you're not being charged double occupancy for it!" but the reality is you are paying at least 150% of a double cabin rate per person.

Like you I am gluten free, and when we previewed the menus online, they have a lot of gluten free options. We were very surprised by this. Could they change it by next year, sure, but we rolled the dice on this one. I also heard Celebrities casinos are smoke free, not sure how true that is though. I am not trying to sell you on it, I just had a similar concern about the GF options.

 

[starvenger]

Aside: Ontario casinos are smoke free, and it's great! Well, except when you lose money.

 

[mevelandry]

I just want to limit her exposure to men with bad intentions as much as possible. If the cruise line is not going to take a strong position on fraternization with guests on board, then what else are they not doing to protect passengers.

I dont need her rufied by a crew member while she is trying to take a cruise vacation.

There's a margin between flirting and roofying drinks.

FYI, there is history of harassment (and worst!) on Disney cruise ships as well.

It can happen anywhere... This is never 100% preventable. The only thing you can do is encouraging her to never lose an eye on her drinks.

It's a sad sad world, I know.

 

[mevelandry]

It is also twice the amount of what I could do a Dream or Wonder cruise for. And I am in one of the solo cabins!

Celebrity has solo cabins? I did not know! I will tell my friend that.

 

[Dug720]

Celebrity has solo cabins? I did not know! I will tell my friend that.

Solo balcony. But they are not cheap. Like I said, I can do the Dream or Wonder for about half of the Edge reservation for the same week. Fantasy is about equal - but that is Star Wars so...gross.

 

[cadien]

Sure it's almost all Disney movies, but if I paid $4 billion for Lucasfilm I'd be running Star Wars marathons non-stop. Mind you, I'd retcon the prequels out of existence and make the Thrawn trilogy episodes 7-9 (I did like TFA and TLJ though), but I digress.

I like how you think!

 

[cadien]

I don't really see how this is any different than in real life where waiters and barmen/barmaids flirt a lot?

Because they can be (and are) invited back to the crew cabins too.

 

[mevelandry]

We've done 8 DCL cruise, at least once on each ship, one on Carnival (Sensation) and one on RCL (Oasis).

The memory of Carnival was the condition of the ship. One of the atrium elevators was out of service, being held up with block and tackle. I looked on the internet when we got off and it looked like it had been this way for at least four months. Also all the windows on the main deck were so covered with sea spray you could hardly see out them. Food was OK, nothing special to talk about. This as 8 years ago so maybe things have changed but we won't be trying them again.

You said you wouldn't sail with Carnival again but just FYI: The Carnival Vista is in excellent condition. I would recommend it. They were giving it a lot of love, it reminded me of the care they were giving to the Disney Dream... and the food was fantastic!

The Sensation has been dry docked last year. I will sail on her in October. I'm expecting an old lady...