Disney Cruises....

[cjnix29]

Ok, so how much do they REALLY cost? I really want to go on one, but it seems like EVERY OTHER cruise line is so much cheaper?? What am I missing?!!

 

[Baloosgirl23]

it really depends on which cruise you decide to take, time of year, deck category, etc...they are amazing and we even took our honeymoon on one!! just remember it's Disney so you get all of the Disney magic that goes along with cruising too. they have the best theatre shows and your waiters travel with you from dining place to dining place. also the characters are there all the time which is sooooooooo much fun!!!! good luck -- hope you get to experience it!

 

[mrsklamc]

Ok, so how much do they REALLY cost? I really want to go on one, but it seems like EVERY OTHER cruise line is so much cheaper?? What am I missing?!!

Have you cruised before? If so, what did you like?

I have done Disney and HAL and I do not know that we will pay the extra to do DIS again. We might if we were in really excellent financial position and if our kids were younger than teens.

 

[DisneyMama409]

I saw the disney cruise special on the travel channel. To be honest I wasnt that impressed. It's just a floating hotel . I started thinking well maybe it IS all what its cracked up to be so i started checking the prices and for my family of 3 it came up to about $1300 for the short 3 day cruise to the bahamas NOT including transportation...and they add the gratuity at the end of your stay ....At one point i was thinking of booking it but than decided not to. It's only 3 days ! The really nice stuff you have to pay extra for . For that price I could stay in a deluxe resort for a week with park tickets and DDP ! I also found several other cruises that were really kid friendly but costed a heck of a lot less. At the end its up to you...I just dont see the appeal.

 

[Pakey]

We have only done DCL and RCCL. Ignoring the fact that we don't think cruising is for us, I have mixed opinions on whether DCL is worth the extra cost. The DCL cabins are very nice. On the other side, the pools on DCL were way too crowded. I did not think the Disney touches were worth the extra money but I thought the service from crew members was far better on DCL.

Choosing a cruise line is no different than deciding if you want to pay the difference between a value and a deluxe resort. It's more a perceived value rather than a concrete value.

 

[MickeyMom:)]

We just went on DCL on the 7 day western. We loved it...We are a family of 5 and we booked 6 weeks out with a Florida resident rate. We booked a cat 4 Family Suite with Verandah and we only paid $3,700.00 with insurance.....We absolutely can't wait to do another one....we loved it as much as the kids did....We ate at Palo's for the Tea and Brunch and really enjoyed it and it was worth the extra money....The kids did also love the kids club and when we were stranded at Cast Away Cay an extra day cause of bad weather, believe me they didn't mind one bit....Keep your eyes open, they sometimes post good Florida Resident rates, you just have to be ready to travel soon.

 

[apnep]

Ok, so how much do they REALLY cost? I really want to go on one, but it seems like EVERY OTHER cruise line is so much cheaper?? What am I missing?!!

Nothing! Save yourself a ton of money and just go on a differnent cruise line!

 

[TifffanyD]

For 2 adults we have cruised twice on the 3-day cruise for under $700 (that included $125 in shipboard credit each time).

We have 2 7-night cruises booked at a cost of around $1600-1700 (including $300 shipboard credit)

We book either category 11 or 12 and travel in the off season. Works for us and we get all the disney magic!

We've also booked the 2011 westbound transatlantic (14 night cruise) for right around $2000 (including $300 shipboard credit)

 

[flakypuff]

We just went on DCL on the 7 day western. We loved it...We are a family of 5 and we booked 6 weeks out with a Florida resident rate. We booked a cat 4 Family Suite with Verandah and we only paid $3,700.00 with insurance.....We absolutely can't wait to do another one....we loved it as much as the kids did....We ate at Palo's for the Tea and Brunch and really enjoyed it and it was worth the extra money....The kids did also love the kids club and when we were stranded at Cast Away Cay an extra day cause of bad weather, believe me they didn't mind one bit....Keep your eyes open, they sometimes post good Florida Resident rates, you just have to be ready to travel soon. [/QUOTE

If you dont mind...how old were your kids? I am also very interested since we have 3 and have never crused before. I also found it to be $$. It was pennies under 3000. for the 3 day

 

[DVCBELLE]

Personally we love Disney cruises the best and notice the difference in service but there are times when the budget cruise just makes more sense.

This is what I loved about Disney vs. other lines
1. Castaway Cay - AMAZING - and in addition to what I love about the kids club - they were on shore here too - which gave me a chance to snorkel for a bit while my kids were playing!
2. Kids club - this is really why Disney is the best - their kids club is open from 9 am to 1am with no fees and does not close. On our recent Carnival - I felt like they were trying to sell our kids the fee based parties that started at 10, the build a bear and other fee based activities and my kids didn't always want to go. I also found that the club often closed in the middle of the show at night or when we would have liked to stay out a little later and to do that we had to pay. They also closed twice during the day. There were adult afternoon activities I couldn't do b/c the kids club was closed. On Disney - there is no fee and I never worried about if the club was open. Finally - the kids club moved around a lot on Carnival - and a couple of times I forgot they had moved and went to the wrong place to get my kids.
3. Rotating dining rooms - we loved that we could eat in a different restaurant and have our waiters move with us - on Disney - the dining was a show as well as a great dinner.
4. Shows - Disney shows are what you would expect from Disney and we loved them - as well as the kids. On Carnival - there were nights we left in the middle. There was also some off-color humor that I did not appreciate with my kids in the theater.

We had a great time on our Carnival Cruise but in the future I would not hesitate to spend the money on a Disney Cruise if it was within my budget

 

[jessica52877]

I have never cruised anyone but Disney. I have priced out Carnival and RC and they were both the same price (this was for a few weeks after spring break last year).

I think where disney goes the extra mile is in how they handle issues. In Grand Caymen it was hot the day we were there. Disney was on shore with free COLD water all day so if you were waiting for a tender you were not hot. The disney line had only one ship in port (of course) and two tenders running at all times.

Another cruise line, I believe Carnival, had 2 ships in port and I think 2 tenders running (honestly might have been 1). Their line was so long to try and get back to the ship. I am sure it took atleast an hour where we were on in 15 minutes with a short line (theirs was atleast 4x as long).

A few cruises back GC was choppy. A few tenders had already run and then they decided we had to stop. Disney went to the other side of the island and arranged for buses to take us into town. They went the extra mile to make sure we got to stop.

Now, having said all that. I am not that impressed with cruising I don't think. Disney is nice and I did it for the kids club this past February. DS7 hated it and I didn't get the warm fuzzy feeling from them either.

We were stuck in CC an extra night and they did all they could but really the communication was weak and getting off totally chaotic! A nightmare honestly! Although I cannot imagine how bad it would have been if it was a different cruise line!!

 

[lsjones]

To me, the price is definitely worth every penny! I loved the Disney magic that was apparent everywhere! I felt safe, for me and my children. The atmosphere is so family orientated, the children are catered to on all levels. I was so impressed by the cast members that called me by name on a ship of a thousand people after meeting me once! There are activities for everyone, relaxing adults only space. You can do as much as you want, or as little as you want.

As you can tell we're hooked!! And if you get involved in the Disney Cruise Meets board, you could meet some of the other Dis'ers! We met an amazing family when we sailed on our first cruise!! Their girls are the same age as ours, we have kept in touch since our first cruise and are so thrilled to be able to cruise with them again on our upcoming cruise in October. The Dis groups also have fun activities during the cruise. Go on over to the cruise thread and check it out!!

 

[DMRick]

Ok, so how much do they REALLY cost? I really want to go on one, but it seems like EVERY OTHER cruise line is so much cheaper?? What am I missing?!!

We just took our first disney cruises (3 & 4 day back to back) in Feb. We wanted to see just why so many pay so much. I saw no reason why I would be willing to pay so much more again. Now, if I had kids and wanted them to spend a lot of time in the kids programs, it might be different (I think a good part of the higher cost goes towards the free babysitting in the kids programs). But when we vacationed with our kids and now our grands, we enjoy having them with us.
It would have to be a great deal to book on a Disney cruise again, because we have no interest in paying their rates. We've been very happy on NCL and Carnival as well as the other's we have taken. One of the interesting things we found on the Dis cruise, was how many told us on the cruise, that they loved Disney, and would never sail with any other company. To a person, when we asked who else they had sailed with, they answered, no one..we'll only do Disney. Well, if they never did any other cruise line, how do they know Disney is the best LOL?

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I am a huge fan of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class ships (Freedom, Liberty, Independence). We did an 8 night on the Independence, our 4 night on the Dream is almost the same price (comparable rooms). The only reason we are doing it is DH was able to convert Marriott points to cruise certificates and I have a timeshare week to use for after we get off the ship.

We took DD on the Indy when she was 3, it is over a year later and she still talks about it. I haven't been on a Disney ship yet, but I would book another Freedom class cruise in a heartbeat.

 

[pyrxtc]

I have been looking at cruise lines too but it seems like Disney is the only one that has stuff for teens to do as well. All the other ships stop their offers at 12 and two of my kids are under that but two will be teens and will want stuff to do too. What happens for them between the ages of 12 and 18 ? (It seems to be the age between kids clubs and being able to do the grown-up stuff on most cruise lines)

 

[mrsmom]

I have been looking at cruise lines too but it seems like Disney is the only one that has stuff for teens to do as well. All the other ships stop their offers at 12 and two of my kids are under that but two will be teens and will want stuff to do too. What happens for them between the ages of 12 and 18 ? (It seems to be the age between kids clubs and being able to do the grown-up stuff on most cruise lines)

I have been on two carnival cruise and i have taken my 4 kids 12yrs -22yrs.
There is alot for the kids to do 12 -14 they have circle C club, i hardly seen my daughter they had all a blast and kept the kids busy, the 15-17 had H2O club , They met friend and hung out there. they even have excursions for the teen group 12yrs-17 yrs.
We are getting ready to go on another one in June.my kids can't wait.
Kim

 

[pyrxtc]

Thank you. None of the ones I've seen have advertised for the teens
Maybe it was just the article in Parents magazine ?

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I have been looking at cruise lines too but it seems like Disney is the only one that has stuff for teens to do as well. All the other ships stop their offers at 12 and two of my kids are under that but two will be teens and will want stuff to do too. What happens for them between the ages of 12 and 18 ? (It seems to be the age between kids clubs and being able to do the grown-up stuff on most cruise lines)

Royal caribbean has activites up to 17.

Check out this blog- I have never met her but she is very active on Cruise Critic. Her girls are still in grade school, but when you click on the activites/menus part of the blog she does have scans of the RCCL Compass (daily activity schedule) for the 15-17 year olds. When I was on the ship I remember seeing scavenger hunts late after dinner!

http://cruisingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Also go to cruise critic, there is board just on Crusing with Famililes. People will have a ton of info on activities for the ages of your kids.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

 

[crisi]

Cruises are a little like hotels. Sometimes you pay a lot and stay in a nice hotel, sometimes you go for the bargain and get a bed. How much you pay is going to influence whether there is a really nice pool, a great restaurant, and a spa onsite, or whether there is a Denny's nextdoor and a pool that doesn't have any water in it. But they are also like hotels in that sometimes you can get great deals on very nice hotels.

Disney seldom has deals on their cruises (or frankly, GOOD deals on their hotels). They aren't a brand that discounts. They have a very small number of ships, a very loyal following, and no need to discount.

Not only are you likely to pay what it "really" costs and won't get much of a discount (some travel agents will offer you a stateroom credit), you are also going to very likely have a stateroom bill when you leave and need to shell out a few hundred dollars in tips.

Personally, I'd rather do all inclusives in Mexico than Disney cruises. Better pools, more space, cheaper, and the margaritas are included.

 

[Green Tea]

but it seems like EVERY OTHER cruise line is so much cheaper?? What am I missing?!!

You are not missing anything. Every other line IS cheaper, and by a lot! I have been on several lines. Take one of the others. Disney is nice, but so are they. DCL is way overpriced for what it is.