Disney cruises

[Neoshoegal]

So I had this wonderful dream last night of being on a Disney cruise (never done one before and I doubt that all the features I dreamt of would actually be there, but anyway), it has left me with a strong desire to go on one. surprise surprise. Having had a quick look on the disney cruise website, I quickly realised those cruises are very expensive compared to Royal Caribbean (who we normally cruise with).
So I'm wondering, are Disney cruises only bookable direct through Disney or can normal cruise travel agents book them too? Any way of getting cheaper prices or prices in UK£?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

So I had this wonderful dream last night of being on a Disney cruise (never done one before and I doubt that all the feature I dreamt would actually be there, but anyway), it has left me with a strong desire to go on one. surprise surprise. Having had a quick look on the disney cruise website, I quickly realised those cruises are very expensive compared to Royal Caribbean (who we normally cruise with).
So I'm wondering, are Disney cruises only bookable direct through Disney or can normal cruise travel agents book them too? Any way of getting cheaper prices or prices in UK£?

Your options are to book on the DCL website, or with a USA Travel agent like Dreams unlimited, due to the fall of the £ against the $, an expensive cruise has become very expensive, there are a few operators who will book them in the UK, but most do not have them in the brocher now, Thomas cook signature and Virgin cruises are two.

Now they will have a ship in the UK, in summer 2010 there s a cruise to the UK, from the Med four Baltic cruises, and one back to the Med, without flights they might be cheaper.

 

[Neoshoegal]

Thanks. I was looking at the transatlantic one for September 2010, love a transatlantic cruise

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks. I was looking at the transatlantic one for September 2010, love a transatlantic cruise

Well per day those will be good value but you will have to get a one way flight ticket that is often just shy of a return USA ticket, plus these have 6 sea days in a row, so if you get bad weather you cant go anywhere.

To book I suggest you ask DREAMS UNLIMITED for a quote sponsor here and on the DCL Forum. This cruise will not be on offer through UK TA's

Have you conisded the 10/11 night Med cruises
Or the 7 and 8 day ones to/from Dover

 

[Neoshoegal]

The problem with the European cruises is time of year. Summer is my busiest time at work and really can't afford to take a week out. September is the earliest we can travel.
Also, I'm aware that a single flight is pretty much the same as a return, but I'm ok with that part. And after having had a quick look at the prices for their Northern Europe cruises, well, they are about $2000 more expensive then the transatlantic one, so that might go some way to make up for expensive flights.

As for bad weather, well, I'm of the opinion that a bad day on a cruise is still better than a good day at work Also, being on a cruise ship, they are flexible and can reroute to some extend if the weather gets really bad (they often do this for hurricanes), beats being stuck on land in a hotel if that happens.
We love the sea days on cruises, it gives us a chance to really really relax and we love the feeling of being away from it all.

Will check out Dreams Unlimited

 

[wayneg]

Sometimes the cost of Disney cruising is crazy, other times its not much difference to other cruiselines.
Just done a quick check on RCCL from Port Canaveral, 7 nights, 23rd Aug 3 adults $2,758 similar cabin to what we have booked on DCL 22nd August. Full price is $3,358 but we have 10% discount for rebooking and $300 onboard credit so price is very similar to RCCL, DCL probably a few $ cheaper.

A few reasons DCL is a little more expensive. One is they are not subsidised by a casino onboard. Another is you have to buy RCCL drinks, DCL allow you to take your own and another DCL include sodas, if I remember rightly RCCL wanted $80 from us last year for 4 nights soda.

To me entertainment on RCCL is not a patch on DCL but food on RCCL beats Disney.

For the transatlantic cruise if you have any Virgin miles to use look at a one way using miles, always a chance in Sept or look at Orbitz.com, we got a one way with BMI last year indirect for £235 in August.

 

[Neoshoegal]

To me entertainment on RCCL is not a patch on DCL but food on RCCL beats Disney.

thanks Wayne!
The food comment... We've been cruising with RCCL since 2001 and the food has really gone downhill in our opinion, we're starting to look at Celebrity as their food is supposed to me so much better than RCCL. With the agent I normally use and being fairly high in the loyalty scheme, we can get some serious discounts, that why we've kept going back to them. However, they've recently made some changes to that loyalty scheme that makes me wonder why the heck I should stay loyal Hence looking at other cruise lines now too!
But the thought that food may not be as good as RCCL, doesn't inspire much confidence in Disney cruises

 

[CarolynU]

Did a cruise once (non Disney) way back, and didn't enjoy it at all, largely because I felt sea sick. Mind you that was in 1981, so the boats were smaller then I think. Anyway it put me off going on any other cruise, but I've bitten the bullet and booked a 5 night cruise on The Magic next August 2010.
It will be interesting to see if this changes my opinion at all.

 

[Neoshoegal]

Carolyn, if you start feeling seasick, eat a green apple. I've learned that trick from a crew member when I wasn't feeling too great one morning. Half an hour later I felt fine! I've heard that it works for a lot of people.

 

[CarolynU]

Thanks for the tip. I would never ever have thought of eating a green apple. I will give it a try for sure.

 

[wayneg]

But the thought that food may not be as good as RCCL, doesn't inspire much confidence in Disney cruises

Sorry, my statement about food was not comparing table service, I was comparing the buffet food.
Done 2 RCCL cruises food was so good on the evening buffets we have not tried TS. If we find a good buffet TS does not interest us.
So the buffet on Disney is nowhere near as good as RCCL but can't compare TS which is good on Disney but never tried on RCCL. We have to have TS meals on Disney as buffet is not good.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have travelled on many cruise lines and the food on DCL is second to none.

 

[Melcatfish]

I haven't done RCCL so can't compare but I enjoyed the food on our DCL cruise. Not the pinnacle of haute cuisine but still a very nice dining experience.

Mel
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