DCL vs. Princess

[nicurnc]

I would love to hear from anyone who has sailed on both of these lines and could compare for me.
My only other cruise experience is with DCL. We were on this ship briefly last October... our trip was cut short when my husband's mom passed away
We are planning to try DCL again next year for our 30th wedding anniversary.
But this time we got a great deal on The grand Princess...too good to pass up! So we will give it a try and wonder if anyone would care to share their experience
I have been to the boards on Cruise Critic and have noticed the difference, Dis cruise people are so much more enthusiastic!!
You can feel how excited folks are through the whole process and I miss that.

Loretta

 

[kshabare]

We haven't sailed the princess but I hope you don't mind my comment. I always get raised eyebrows when I explain I've decided to keep sailing DCL. They always express how much $$ it is. So many other lines are cheaper. Well, I think it's money well spent. I will only have one lifetime with my family. I'm not taking it with me. My life insurance policy will take care of my kids. But, I love that they will have AWESOME memories of a happy childhood.

We always take advantage of Early Booking. We have taken the advice of others and booked our own air and buy the transfers.

Whichever you sail, don't make a decision you will regret and never expect too much! Trust your own opinion and gut first.

Kim ºOº

 

[Señor Ferrari]

We plan on sailing on the Star Princess (a Grand-class ship) out of LA this fall. The Grand-class ships are huge, over 100,000 GRT as opposed to 83,000 for the Magic and Wonder. We were in port with the Golden Princess, the third of the Grand class, this December while on the Magic. It looks like a great ship, I can wait to be on it.

I'm sure we'd love to hear a comparison to DCL when you get back. I for one would certainly like to hear it.

 

[Mjasp]

As far as price goes, I use to think Disney was way overpriced compared to the other lines. IMHO the only time the other lines come in less expensive than Disney is when you get a quote during the breaks that the kids are out of school or if you price an inside cabin. Otherwise if you want a verandah the price always seems to be either the same or a few bucks more on the other lines. JMO.

Joanna

 

[MFan]

We have sailed on both DCL and Princess. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. Depending on individual preferences, either one could be more desirable than the other. Since it's been a while since our trip with Princess, some of what I say below may be outdated.

In general, Princess passengers tended to be more mature (either couples with grown-up kids or couples before having kids.) The onboard entertainment options are more geared toward this older audience and less family oriented. When compared with DCL, the kids program felt more like an after thought tacked onto an adult oriented ship. Here is a very obvious differentiator and a clear indication of their target audience, the floor space dedicated to the casino is probably 10X - 20X the size of their kid's club. Anyone know this ratio for DCL ships??

With that said, if you fit into their target audience, then you'll have a blast for a lower price (subsidized by the casino profits). However, if your goal of a family vacation is to indulge in your children and share in their happiness, DCL wins hands down.

 

[nicurnc]

Thanks for all the input... I welcome all opinions
I am not trying to ask if anyone thinks DCL is better than Princess (or vice versa), Just how they compare in terms of quality and enjoyment.
We love Disney...but this time around Princess is getting a try. I think ( or at least, hope) that Princess will be up there with DCL in terms of quality, just a different style.
We are also cruising without children. If I were going with young kids (ours are grown) DCL would win hands down. At least five people I work with have booked Disney cruises since we told them how great it was
I'd love to let everyone know my opinion after we're back!

Thanks,
Loretta

 

[Denine]

We have sailed Princess twice and DCL several times (see below).
They are both very good lines, but very different experiences. We have been on the Grand, it is an amazing ship. Princess is more of a traditional cruise experinece than DCL since DCL is geared toward families. There are more adult experiences on Princess, first and foremost is gambling. We don't gamble, so that is not an issue for us.
If you have any specific quesions, feel free to PM me.

 

[BuzzRocks]

We saw a Princess ship in St. Maarten on our 7-day Magic cruise last December and a team of wild horses couldn't drag me onto that ship. It was old and ugly, Yuck! The Magic was obviously the class of all the ships we saw both there and St. Thomas.

I live in the Tampa area, so I also see a lot of Carnival ships leaving from here and, once again, no thanks. Carnival has a reputation as a party ship, full of young drunks, and who could ever forget the Tropicale, stuck right offshore here with all sorts of disgusting problems?

Disney's reputation is one of a family atmosphere and great quality, which I think they absolutely lived up to. I can't wait to try out the Magic on the western itinerary next December.

No cruise except Disney for me!

 

[erikthewise]

kshabare,

Though I haven't sailed Princess, I agree with you. There is no prize for taking the cheapest cruise. If you want to save money, stay home. Otherwise choosing something you know you will enjoy is the best bargain!

MFan,

The ratio of casino space to kid program space on DCL is 0. You knew that, you were just testing us!

 

[MCazer]

Without kids, I would definitely go for the Princess. The balconie are very big and deep, Princess gives you robes in the rooms too. I happen to like a casino (although not the smoke). We have sailed on 3 RCCL, 1 Princess, 1 DCL and are leaving next week on our 2nd DCL, this time on the Western.

This is our second cruise with our kids, and the rooms are the largest we have ever had. However, I must say, I do like the huge open centrums on the RCCL and Princess ships. I like to stroll through the big shopping areas.

But, with kids, it is just hands down Disney for us! Did you know that on other cruise lines, the kids clubs close around 10pm, and then you must pay for child care at a per child rate of about $6/hour. With 2 kids for 7 days, this adds up to the difference in cost in our situation. The extra room space is also worth every penny for Disney. We don't care that much when we sail without the kids. However, we of our 6 cruises, only one was without a balcony. Once you have one, you never want to go back!

 

[MFan]

erikthewise,

Yes, you passed the test...

Although you should read the thread on casino. Apparently, someone received a survey/questionnaire from DCL asking for opinions on what people think of having a casino onboard. I guess the corporate greed and margin pressure is getting to Disney as well...