Disney Cruise Prices

[BWV Dreamin]

Here's a post made a couple weeks ago that had actual prices in it, https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-need-to-ask-about-concierge-prices.3903651/#post-64478894

Nice post.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I will be achieving Pearl early February with my first cruise in 2007 and MANY parkvisits all around the world... Is DCL offering less? YES FOR SURE I can name plenty of activities, character experiences and freebies that are a thing of the past. As far as charactes goes I also find the meets less personal than what they used to be in the past but on the positive side it means it is also more fair to everyone. I'm talking about private playdate invitations, or just a whole line waiting MINUTES because a character was having a magical moment with one particular kid. Fun for the person that got it, not so fun if you were always the one that had to wait.... I feel like there are more lines they have to stay within nowadays.
Overall service? Still the same as in 2007: you gotta be lucky with who your servers, stateroom host and overall working cast are. DCL is less consistent than the parks. A smaller cast and more one on one interactions means if you have a good cast you'll have the time of uour life, if you have crappy servers you are screwed cause you are stuck with them... Before when there were only two ships, the turnover of cast was not as big and they would usually stay on the same ship creating that personal level of business... Nowadays many many newbies earning their ears, harder to find particular CM you have met on previous cruises... As far as prices go, I feel like they are lower than about 5y ago... may be not opening day prices but way more offers and GTY rates...

 

[John VN]

Nice post.

When comparing Concierge Pricing between cruise lines I just go to a Basic Cabin with verandah and not a more elaborate cabin level since we are low maintenance. I do for fun compare DCL non-Concierge to the Concierge of the line we are considering. As I've alluded to previously, we will return to DCL when the cost of Concierge is lowered AND the perks/experience is improved.

 

[DCLMP]

Who would actually want to do that? That isn't healthy or normal, and shouldn't be the expectation for DCL to provide.

It’s not uncommon for people to order multiple entrees or desserts. Most people don’t worry about eating healthy on vacation.

 

[DCLMP]

And there are some people who get bent out of shape if your attitude about DCL is positive.

I haven’t seen that in this thread. People shouldn’t have to defend themselves if they don’t find value in it. Nobody wants to be told how to spend their money.

 

[Cheburashka]

It’s not uncommon for people to order multiple entrees or desserts. Most people don’t worry about eating healthy on vacation.

Two entrees AND three desserts is sickening. If there actually are lots of cruisers who regularly order two entrees per meal, especially at Palo, it would explain why Disney would have to make some explicit rules at Palo, for how much each guest can eat for $45. This is why we can't have nice things.

 

[Cheburashka]

Nobody wants to be told how to spend their money.

Except the posters who keep telling people not to spend it on DCL.

 

[RAD]

Except the posters who keep telling people not to spend it on DCL.

I’ve never said to not spend money on DCL. But I have said that unless you need that Disney fix that there are other lines out there that can provide the equal of better level of service and amenities as DCL but at a better value.

 

[Cheburashka]

I’ve never said to not spend money on DCL. But I have said that unless you need that Disney fix that there are other lines out there that can provide the equal of better level of service and amenities as DCL but at a better value.

Liking Disney vacations is a preference, not "a need for that fix". If you're really fine with everyone making their own vacation choices, you wouldn't portray their preference for Disney as an addiction.

That's what I'm talking about with some people being bent out of shape with others choosing Disney: "you just need that fix", "you're drinking the Kool-Aid", "you're wasting your money". There's nothing neutral or accepting about it.

 

[RAD]

Liking Disney vacations is a preference, not "a need for that fix". If you're really fine with everyone making their own vacation choices, you wouldn't portray their preference for Disney as an addiction.

That's what I'm talking about with some people being bent out of shape with others choosing Disney: "you just need that fix", "you're drinking the Kool-Aid", "you're wasting your money". There's nothing neutral or accepting about it.

Sorry, guess I should have said Disney touch.

Hey, I've been a DVC owner since 12/1999, I'm a DCL Platinum so I know what it's like to want to do that Disney trip. But you have to agree on the other hand that there are people that do need their Disney fix. Are there people out there that have dedicated their rooms with nothing but Six Flags merchandise to the extent that Disney folks have?

Yes, everyone has their options to spend their money they way they want to. And everyone has their option to post that if all you're looking for a a way to have a similar cruising experience while also saving money then the Disney people also need to respect that option.

 

[nancipants]

Two entrees AND three desserts is sickening. If there actually are lots of cruisers who regularly order two entrees per meal, especially at Palo, it would explain why Disney would have to make some explicit rules at Palo, for how much each guest can eat for $45. This is why we can't have nice things.

Cruise Director Jimmy says “If you see it, eat it.” *shrug* I have often ordered multiple items because I can’t decide, especially at Palo Brunch. (We chose not to do dinner specifically because of the new pricing structure.) No way do I eat them all, but I like that I can try them.

 

[gscott8075]

Who would actually want to do that? That isn't healthy or normal, and shouldn't be the expectation for DCL to provide.

Not here to critique if it’s healthy or not. It is what it was, and is not now. Another change.

Yeah, splurging on a second helping of dessert is quite different from eating two entrees and three desserts, though.

My point is being taken out of context - in regular rotation dining, you can eat as much or as little as you choose to. You can order two entrees. You can have three desserts.

The Palo change - for a 'paid' dining experience, they are now limiting the menu dramatically when part of the experience was trying other items on the menu which were brought out by the servers.

Who am I to judge how much people eat - that's not what the discussion is about. It about things that have changed on DCL over the years. Palo has clearly changed its approach.

Thanks!

 

[DCLMP]

Sorry, guess I should have said Disney touch.

Hey, I've been a DVC owner since 12/1999, I'm a DCL Platinum so I know what it's like to want to do that Disney trip. But you have to agree on the other hand that there are people that do need their Disney fix. Are there people out there that have dedicated their rooms with nothing but Six Flags merchandise to the extent that Disney folks have?

Yes, everyone has their options to spend their money they way they want to. And everyone has their option to post that if all you're looking for a a way to have a similar cruising experience while also saving money then the Disney people also need to respect that option.

I wouldn’t be offended by that. Sometimes I do need that Disney fix and sometimes I just need to save money.

 

[DCLMP]

Two entrees AND three desserts is sickening. If there actually are lots of cruisers who regularly order two entrees per meal, especially at Palo, it would explain why Disney would have to make some explicit rules at Palo, for how much each guest can eat for $45. This is why we can't have nice things.

Sometimes people just want to try a few different entrees. I’ve had servers bring us multiple desserts no one has to finish it. It’s really not that big a deal and whose to judge how other people eat anyway.

Palo used to have half portions of the pastas so you could get an entree and pasta.

 

[auntlynne]

Thank you. I was seriously considering it but then the post after yours mention things like needing to keep track of pool towels and needing to make reservations for shows (which are very important to us) and with extra ports that would likely have us doing extra excursions- bringing the cost up. There is just not enough daylight between the two to try something new vs something we already know we love.

Glad you took it in the spirit given. The big challenge was to find a cruise that would have you on a different cruise (seemingly based on price). I think the Royal cruise met the price challenge, but there definitely details in the experience that can be big determinants.

Sounds like a birthday cruise. Hope you have a wonderful bonding trip.

 

[MrMagoo]

As a new poster here, I have a thought about why Disney cruises cost more.
I believe part of it is because they do not have a casino on any ship and they also do not sell drink packages.
I think they both bring in a lot of revenue for the cruise ships.

I could be wrong though as we have only done Disney so we do not know how many people utilize these services.
It is also one of the main reasons we prefer the Disney cruises as we do not drink or gamble and they are not prone to have a lot of partying people.
However, that said, I can see Disney going more for the drinkers/partying group after being on the Wish and seeing so
many bars! Disney has made it so easy for an adult to get a drink on the Wish.
We have done the Wish 3 times now and the last time there were more adults drinking, partying than we have seen on any Disney cruise, and we have now done 19 Disney cruises. It is also one of the MANY reasons we do not really want to sail on the Wish again!

 

[DCLMP]

As a new poster here, I have a thought about why Disney cruises cost more.
I believe part of it is because they do not have a casino on any ship and they also do not sell drink packages.
I think they both bring in a lot of revenue for the cruise ships.

I could be wrong though as we have only done Disney so we do not know how many people utilize these services.
It is also one of the main reasons we prefer the Disney cruises as we do not drink or gamble and they are not prone to have a lot of partying people.
However, that said, I can see Disney going more for the drinkers/partying group after being on the Wish and seeing so
many bars! Disney has made it so easy for an adult to get a drink on the Wish.
We have done the Wish 3 times now and the last time there were more adults drinking, partying than we have seen on any Disney cruise, and we have now done 19 Disney cruises. It is also one of the MANY reasons we do not really want to sail on the Wish again!

I've never seen a lack of alcohol consumption on a Disney cruise. I know I do my fare share. You can also bring alcohol on board Disney which you can't on other cruise lines.

 

[RAD]

I've never seen a lack of alcohol consumption on a Disney cruise. I know I do my fare share. You can also bring alcohol on board Disney which you can't on other cruise lines.

I thought it was 2 bottles of wine per person when you first get on the ship, alcohol and beer aren’t allowed, or did they change that rule?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I thought it was 2 bottles of wine per person when you first get on the ship, alcohol and beer aren’t allowed, or did they change that rule?

One six pack of beer per person or a bottle of wine.( Not a wine drinker so it could be two bottles per person. ) I’m sure someone will confirm.

 

[DCLMP]

I thought it was 2 bottles of wine per person when you first get on the ship, alcohol and beer aren’t allowed, or did they change that rule?

Disney allows 2 bottles of wine and 6 bottles of beer per person at every port. I think other cruise lines allow 2 bottles of wine per stateroom at embarkation.

My point was some people drink their own alcohol on Disney ships so maybe you don't see as many people buying? I always see plenty of people buying alcohol on Disney. It's not exactly a dry cruise. The poster said they didn't like the Wish because of all the bars.

In Europe I bought beer or wine in every port and drank it on board. It does save some money. That is one cost saving feature on Disney.