Disappointed with the direction DCL is heading.

[insureman]

With the changes that DCL has implemented with charging extra for bar food, increase in Palo cost, the new alcohol policy and charging for ice cream on the Dream, it seems they are doing what every other cruise line is doing. That wouldn't be so bad except we pay a premium to sail on DCL. After sailing 17 times I feel Castaway Club memebrs get shortchanged on the benefits for being repeat cruisers. I really didn't mind paying the extra cost of the cruise on DCL because it was generally "all inclusive" with the exception of alcohol but now not so much. We have b2b booked for March but after that we might have to look elsewhere. Guess I'm just bummed about the whole situation with them.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Free ice cream and late night snacks in the bar are still available, they didn't take them away. The pay for goods are added extras giving more choice.

 

[Otimon]

Glad to hear the free ice-cream and snacks are still there but just remember they are not free! You have already well paid for them
with the cost of the cruise!

 

[NCConch]

Their new business practices will not drive many of the preferable customers away but will help others to find another cruise line to complain about.

 

[keaster]

It's just the overall cost that is getting to me right now. We are die hard DCL cruisers (almost Platinum!) We are waiting for summer 2017 itineraries to come out, but if the pricing is completely out of hand we are probably going to give RCCL a try. Being in Canada we have to tack on another 30% to the cost of the cruise when booking DCL in US dollars. I like that RCCL offers Canadian pricing.

 

[keaster]

Their new business practices will not drive many of the preferable customers away but will help others to find another cruise line to complain about.

I'm curious to know who you believe the "preferable" customers are?

 

[professorandmom]

I think my disappointment is related to the observation that DCL doesn't want me anymore...clearly, plenty of people are filling the ships, paying what is charged...DCL doesn't need or want my business....$20k for a cabin? not a problem - doesn't raise an eyebrow...clearly $8 chips and dip won't either...

Mickey's wake up call says something about being glad we are here...somewhere, down deep, we believed that....it was an act and now we are sure...

Oprah used to say something like when people show you who they are, believe them....don't keep wishing for something different

I'll work to realign my expectations

 

[NCConch]

I'm curious to know who you believe the "preferable" customers are?

Customers with deep pockets who are not looking for things to gripe about are preferable. I have reason to believe that any new ships will have more Concierge cabins.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I'm curious to know who you believe the "preferable" customers are?

I was going to ask the same thing. I'm assuming someone who drinks the DCL kool-aid without questioning what's in it?

 

[KristiMc]

I love DCL but I'm seriously also looking to switch lines. If only I could get my husband to want to switch also. It's not that I don't enjoy cruising DCL anymore but with the continued hike in pricing without any additional perks to go along with the hike it's not worth it.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I love DCL but I'm seriously also looking to switch lines. If only I could get my husband to want to switch also. It's not that I don't enjoy cruising DCL anymore but with the continued hike in pricing without any additional perks to go along with the hike it's not worth it.

Just choose a destination where the Mouse doesn't sail -- that will give your DH incentive to try another line.

 

[cgolf]

Customers with deep pockets who are not looking for things to gripe about are preferable. I have reason to believe that any new ships will have more Concierge cabins.

Personally in life, I have witnessed that those with the deep pockets tend to complain more (they have higher expectations), some middle lower class people are just happy to be on the ship and experience service above what we have experienced in a public setting, and we usually give great reviews on our comment cards. Just saying DCL is not a luxury line.

They just want people with deep pockets at this point, I really don't think they care if they complain or not.

 

[keaster]

I love DCL but I'm seriously also looking to switch lines. If only I could get my husband to want to switch also. It's not that I don't enjoy cruising DCL anymore but with the continued hike in pricing without any additional perks to go along with the hike it's not worth it.

We also LOVE DCL but even my DH is getting gun shy about the pricing and with the extra we tack on for the exchange rate, it's crazy.

On another thread I posted how for March 2017...for the week our daughter has March break we could sale RCCL Allure of the Seas 7-night eastern Caribbean for $4478 Canadian in a superior ocean balcony stateroom (232 sq ft)

The same week cruise on the Fantasy in a 5A balcony (246 sq ft) is $5777 US...then tack on another 30% with the exchange...then you're close to $7700 Canadian! Even with the "nickel and diming" I hear about on RCCL, I don't think it would add up to the over $3200 difference.

Customers with deep pockets who are not looking for things to gripe about are preferable. I have reason to believe that any new ships will have more Concierge cabins.

Funny, the people I know with deep pockets are the ones who always look for the extra angle to hold on to a dollar

 

[insureman]

Free ice cream and late night snacks in the bar are still available, they didn't take them away. The pay for goods are added extras giving more choice.

The question is, how long will it be until they take that away?

 

[JW9DVC]

I'm curious to know who you believe the "preferable" customers are?

Customers that aren't going to complain like many on here over an extra $10. I get that it all adds up. I'm just tired of the bashing on the cruise line. JW

 

[keaster]

Customers that aren't going to complain like many on here over an extra $10. I get that it all adds up. I'm just tired of the bashing on the cruise line. JW

I agree that complaining over an extra $10 here and there is a little extreme. I am a DCL cheerleader, we have had nothing but great service and great experiences on every ship we've been on, we've raved to family and friends, and some of them have also cruised DCL after we turned them on to them. However for us the overall price is getting out of hand and with no relief in sight for our Canadian exchange, we have to look at other options that offer more friendly pricing.

 

[Flossbolna]

Customers that aren't going to complain like many on here over an extra $10. I get that it all adds up. I'm just tired of the bashing on the cruise line. JW

The interesting development however is that over the last 5 years since I started to read here on the Cruise Line Forum on the DIS, the bashing on the cruise line has gotten so much more. I used to think that this was the area of the DIS with the most happy people. Not anymore.

 

[ksucats]

The question is, how long will it be until they take that away?

Agreed. At some point, they will see that offering free bar snacks (if they still do when they are charging at the bar) and free ice cream is causing them to not sell as much as they had hoped. Given their recent history, which do you think they will do? Remove the items that are for sale or take away the free options.

The alcohol policy and the overall price increases were the reason I dropped my placeholder and booked Royal Caribbean for March. If we like it as much as I think we will, then I probably won't look back. I used to proudly wear my Disney Cruise line and Castaway Cay shirts and hope people would ask me about them so I could brag about how much we loved DCL. Two weeks ago, I pulled one out of the closet and didn't have that same feeling, so put it back.

 

[cgolf]

Customers that aren't going to complain like many on here over an extra $10. I get that it all adds up. I'm just tired of the bashing on the cruise line. JW

If it were only 10$ not a big deal, we are talking thousand+ dollars here over the last few years, DCL has distanced themselves from the pack price wise over the last couple of years. While we have always sailed DCL, we had always researched other lines too during the time we sailed. Up until the 2017 prices DCL was in the pack enough that we would stick with them. 2017 though seemed like a big jump and was enough for us to switch 2017 bookings to another line. This was an apples to apples comparison and some lines we could cruise twice for 1 trip on the fantasy.

Personally I haven't seen this as bashing, nobody is saying DCL sucks, we are just pointing out the changes and increasing costs.

 

[Quellman]

Customers with deep pockets who are not looking for things to gripe about are preferable. I have reason to believe that any new ships will have more Concierge cabins.

Maybe some DVC cabins? Why not, it's what they plan to do with all the deluxe resorts it seems.