Disney Prices Sky high?

[SunnyDhappy]

Looking at summer 7 nights cruises the prices are 2,000-5,000 more than 2 years ago.

We booked another cruise line for our annual summer trip because of the dramatic cost difference.

I wonder how many other DCL faithful fans are jumping ship due to DCL continued price increases.

 

[mevelandry]

Looking at summer 7 nights cruises the prices are 2,000-5,000 more than 2 years ago.

We booked another cruise line for our annual summer trip because of the dramatic cost difference.

I wonder how many other DCL faithful fans are jumping ship due to DCL continued price increases.

Although we were kinda new to cruising (only 2 DCL cruises but 6 or 7 stays in WDW since 2011) and the fact that we were die-hard DCL/WDW fans... We did. I would say that up until our first Carnival cruise (on the Victory in October 2016) we had a hard time believing we would be happy with any other cruise lines. But now that we have tried it, we are believers. (To the point that the price DCL charges doesn't seem worth it to us anymore).

I think that the fact that other cruise lines have stepped up their game makes the difference much easier to swallow. A cruise is a cruise and they all have their own/different kind of magic.

This upcoming DCL cruise will most likely be our last (with DCL). And I can't even say I'm sad about it because we are super excited for what the others have to offer.

If we miss the mouse, we'll go back to WDW at some point.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Looking at summer 7 nights cruises the prices are 2,000-5,000 more than 2 years ago.

We booked another cruise line for our annual summer trip because of the dramatic cost difference.

I wonder how many other DCL faithful fans are jumping ship due to DCL continued price increases.

If posts here are to believed in their entirety - there are a number of people who've "jumped ship" so to speak.

But, I think, even among the people who feel the prices have risen too much, some of them will still continue to cruise DCL. Others will try other lines and find they are good experiences, also. And some will go to other lines, but still do DCL on occasion.

 

[quickcat]

Yes during peak seasons for Disney their prices are very high. We are traveling around Easter this next year and are paying almost as much for a balcony room as we could get a concierge room in September. I do think Royal has high prices for peak season as well. I don't look at their older ships but in looking at their newer ships, it's actually within a few hundred dollars of the Fantasy for us. I did find NCL and Carnival are definitely cheaper than Disney during all times of the year. We haven't made the switch yet though

 

[AngelDisney]

As a teacher, I cannot travel off seasons. Peak summer prices are insanely high, especially the European and Alaskan cruises. I would pay about $4000 for a 7-night cruise max. for two passengers in a verandah room with OBB. The choices have become less and less over the years. I think I would go on more land vacations to Asia for the coming years until I retire in 2027, and then I will reunite with the "Mouse".

 

[Trera]

For everyone one that opts for another cruise line, there is another trying DCL for the first time. Cruising is a supply and demand business and as long as Disney has nice ships, great customer service, characters, and the boats are nearly full.....................then there is no place for the prices to go but up.

They get a lot of our travel income for sure and as soon as we feel like it is not longer worth it, we may try some other things as well.

 

[cruiser21]

If posts here are to believed in their entirety - there are a number of people who've "jumped ship" so to speak.

But, I think, even among the people who feel the prices have risen too much, some of them will still continue to cruise DCL. Others will try other lines and find they are good experiences, also. And some will go to other lines, but still do DCL on occasion.

We started cruising other lines mostly out of boredom. We found we liked them as much as DCL. and we saved money. Well continue to sail DCL when it's a cruise I feel is a good value. I'm going to book the British Isles cruise next sept. I can't say we've jumped ship, but you won't find me sailing on the Fantasy during the Summer season.

 

[truck1]

If you compare apples to apples, in some cases their prices are in line. (Not all. Some)Looking at the Oasis of the Seas, vs the Disney Fantasy, granted the Oasis is almost twice the size of the Fantasy, the pricing is fairly close.

Using Sept 2018 as an example, For a 7 night Eastern on the Oasis, with a balcony, deck 8 midship, is 5700 and change. For the Fantasy, leaving the same port, also doing an Eastern, deck 8 also with a comparable room, is 5600 and change. The only real difference, besides ports, is the date. (Oasis goes to Nassau on her eastern) And the Fantasy would leave a week later for her eastern. The Oasis apparently does easterns opposite of the Fantasy.
Realistically, DCL is on par with at least the Oasis class ships.

Part of the issue I can see is that for the first 10 years or so, DCL never changed their pricing. When DCL first launched the Magic class, the selling point was cabins were bigger then industry average, characters etc. And the price never really changed between 1998 and about 2010. Then someone came up with the brite idea (insert sarcasm here) of reverting to industry average. And I think that's what we are seeing. The Dream class cabins are industry average. RCCL has multiple ships with DreamWorks characters. The Dream class introduced the Aquaduck. Just about every ship now has some type of slide or adventure ride, and virtual porthole.

So on the surface it seems that DCL is expensive, but when you compare to other lines, there just keeping up with the Jonses.

Granted, there are itins that are better then DCLs, and less expensive. DCL I think will fall in line with what everyone else is doing. Itll take some time. Don't be surprised if you see them in the next year or so start charging for room service.

 

[Trera]

you won't find me sailing on the Fantasy during the Summer season.

Us either!

 

[RedSox68]

Yes, after 8 Disney cruises we "jumped ship" in 2008. Since then we have tried Princess, HAL, Carnival and back to NCL and gone to Alaska, Bermuda and British Isles -- all at prices more than half of what Disney wanted and we had a great time on each and every one. This September we are going back to New England/Canada on Carnival because the Magic prices out of NYC were insane! I am platinum and look forward to using my benefits, but I don't see doing too many more Disney cruises since even when they added the two ships the prices did not level off.

 

[ckelly14]

I have two 7 night cruises, one for the new RCCL Symphony and another for the Disney Magic booked for June 2018. 2 Adults and 2 Kids. Disney Magic is 9,800 for a cat 5B and RCCL Symphony is $6300 for two adjoining oceanview balcony staterooms. The Disney cruise itinerary is substantially better (one way Rome to Barcelona vs RT Barcelona, plus Genoa and Nice) so I'll probably stick with Disney, although it's tough to swallow that price difference.

 

[mevelandry]

If you compare apples to apples, in some cases their prices are in line. (Not all. Some)Looking at the Oasis of the Seas, vs the Disney Fantasy, granted the Oasis is almost twice the size of the Fantasy, the pricing is fairly close.

Using Sept 2018 as an example, For a 7 night Eastern on the Oasis, with a balcony, deck 8 midship, is 5700 and change. For the Fantasy, leaving the same port, also doing an Eastern, deck 8 also with a comparable room, is 5600 and change. The only real difference, besides ports, is the date. (Oasis goes to Nassau on her eastern) And the Fantasy would leave a week later for her eastern. The Oasis apparently does easterns opposite of the Fantasy.
Realistically, DCL is on par with at least the Oasis class ships.

Part of the issue I can see is that for the first 10 years or so, DCL never changed their pricing. When DCL first launched the Magic class, the selling point was cabins were bigger then industry average, characters etc. And the price never really changed between 1998 and about 2010. Then someone came up with the brite idea (insert sarcasm here) of reverting to industry average. And I think that's what we are seeing. The Dream class cabins are industry average. RCCL has multiple ships with DreamWorks characters. The Dream class introduced the Aquaduck. Just about every ship now has some type of slide or adventure ride, and virtual porthole.

So on the surface it seems that DCL is expensive, but when you compare to other lines, there just keeping up with the Jonses.

Granted, there are itins that are better then DCLs, and less expensive. DCL I think will fall in line with what everyone else is doing. Itll take some time. Don't be surprised if you see them in the next year or so start charging for room service.

But, as you said, Oasis of the seas has twice the size (a capacity of about 2500 more passengers)...

... about four times the specialty dining options (most likely the same for bars), and much more activities and entertainment options.

I would not compare the Fantasy to the Oasis Class ships... Freedom Class, maybe?

What would be the price comparison with the best ship from RCCL's Freedom Class?

 

[Pens Fan]

We are jumping ship to NCL this summer because of the itinerary. We've cruised DCL in Alaska before (loved it!!!) and wanted a different experience for this trip (Glacier Bay and a one way itinerary allowing for touring the mainland afterwards). So while pricing didn't cause the switch we fully plan on enjoying what the money we would normally spend on a DCL cruise will get us on NCL. For basically the same money (actually a couple hundred dollars less) that it would cost for a 5A verandah, which is our norm, we are getting an aft penthouse suite with separate bedroom and living room and the biggest balcony I've ever seen on NCL. Not only does this include all of the wonderful NCL suite perks, our fare includes the ultimate beverage package (for 2), 3 nights of specialty dining (for 2), free internet (250 minutes), $50 per port shore excursion credit and a $300 OBC. Yes, DCL has free soda, so I had to buy the soda package for our son. It cost so little that I can't even remember what that was, but I think it was around $7 per day. We also had to buy him a specialty dining package to match the 2 that were included in our fare. Even so, what we are getting for basically the same money is startling.

It really opened up our eyes. We haven't sailed yet, so I can't comment on the experience, but we are so sure that we will enjoy it that we have already booked another NCL cruise for fall of 2018 - 10 nights for 2 adults out of NYC all the way to Quebec City for a little over $6K in an aft mini suite. Our summer cruise is going to have really, really stink for us to switch the 2018 cruise back to Disney. I'm sure we will sail DCL in the future. We love the product and don't plan on ever giving it up completely. But it is no longer the only place we look when we are considering cruises.

 

[Lesverts]

If you compare apples to apples, in some cases their prices are in line. (Not all. Some)Looking at the Oasis of the Seas, vs the Disney Fantasy, granted the Oasis is almost twice the size of the Fantasy, the pricing is fairly close.

Using Sept 2018 as an example, For a 7 night Eastern on the Oasis, with a balcony, deck 8 midship, is 5700 and change. For the Fantasy, leaving the same port, also doing an Eastern, deck 8 also with a comparable room, is 5600 and change. The only real difference, besides ports, is the date. (Oasis goes to Nassau on her eastern) And the Fantasy would leave a week later for her eastern. The Oasis apparently does easterns opposite of the Fantasy.
Realistically, DCL is on par with at least the Oasis class ships.

Part of the issue I can see is that for the first 10 years or so, DCL never changed their pricing. When DCL first launched the Magic class, the selling point was cabins were bigger then industry average, characters etc. And the price never really changed between 1998 and about 2010. Then someone came up with the brite idea (insert sarcasm here) of reverting to industry average. And I think that's what we are seeing. The Dream class cabins are industry average. RCCL has multiple ships with DreamWorks characters. The Dream class introduced the Aquaduck. Just about every ship now has some type of slide or adventure ride, and virtual porthole.

So on the surface it seems that DCL is expensive, but when you compare to other lines, there just keeping up with the Jonses.

Granted, there are itins that are better then DCLs, and less expensive. DCL I think will fall in line with what everyone else is doing. Itll take some time. Don't be surprised if you see them in the next year or so start charging for room service.

I am wondering where you got the pricing for September 2018 for Royal Caribbean? I just checked your dates;

Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas; Category 2C 2960 CAD
Disney Cruise Line Fanasty; Category 4C 5200 CAD
* prices for 2.

I booked the Symphony of the Seas from Barcelona in May 2018; Disney is about 3000 CAD more than what I am paying. The Magic compared to RCL's newest ship with one more port.

 

[truck1]

I am wondering where you got the pricing for September 2018 for Royal Caribbean? I just checked your dates;

Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas; Category 2C 2960 CAD
Disney Cruise Line Fanasty; Category 4C 5200 CAD
* prices for 2.

I booked the Symphony of the Seas from Barcelona in May 2018; Disney is about 3000 CAD more than what I am paying. The Magic compared to RCL's newest ship with one more port.

Thru there site. At the moment there doing a 30% off sale. I took that discount out, and used 2 adults and 2 children. I'm not as familiar with RCL cabin classes as Disneys which is why I just said balcony.

 

[SunnyDhappy]

Yes, after 8 Disney cruises we "jumped ship" in 2008. Since then we have tried Princess, HAL, Carnival and back to NCL and gone to Alaska, Bermuda and British Isles -- all at prices more than half of what Disney wanted and we had a great time on each and every one. This September we are going back to New England/Canada on Carnival because the Magic prices out of NYC were insane! I am platinum and look forward to using my benefits, but I don't see doing too many more Disney cruises since even when they added the two ships the prices did not level off.

Similar as you, we are platinum on Disney. We decided to try NCL the week of Christmas and it was like almost $5,000 less Disney for that week. We had a terrific time on NCL. We definitely missed some Disney magic but not $5,000 worth of it. We are trying Princess at spring break and MSC for summer. All half of what DCL charged for similar week/stateroom class.

 

[SunnyDhappy]

If you compare apples to apples, in some cases their prices are in line. (Not all. Some)Looking at the Oasis of the Seas, vs the Disney Fantasy, granted the Oasis is almost twice the size of the Fantasy, the pricing is fairly close.

Using Sept 2018 as an example, For a 7 night Eastern on the Oasis, with a balcony, deck 8 midship, is 5700 and change. For the Fantasy, leaving the same port, also doing an Eastern, deck 8 also with a comparable room, is 5600 and change. The only real difference, besides ports, is the date. (Oasis goes to Nassau on her eastern) And the Fantasy would leave a week later for her eastern. The Oasis apparently does easterns opposite of the Fantasy.
Realistically, DCL is on par with at least the Oasis class ships.

Part of the issue I can see is that for the first 10 years or so, DCL never changed their pricing. When DCL first launched the Magic class, the selling point was cabins were bigger then industry average, characters etc. And the price never really changed between 1998 and about 2010. Then someone came up with the brite idea (insert sarcasm here) of reverting to industry average. And I think that's what we are seeing. The Dream class cabins are industry average. RCCL has multiple ships with DreamWorks characters. The Dream class introduced the Aquaduck. Just about every ship now has some type of slide or adventure ride, and virtual porthole.

So on the surface it seems that DCL is expensive, but when you compare to other lines, there just keeping up with the Jonses.

Granted, there are itins that are better then DCLs, and less expensive. DCL I think will fall in line with what everyone else is doing. Itll take some time. Don't be surprised if you see them in the next year or so start charging for room service.

I have never priced or considered RCCL /Carnival ships. Although I know Carnival's new ship Vista is almost the same price as Disney Fantasy.

Just looked at MSC, Princess, Celebrity and NCL and there is definitely huge differences in price. We are paying $6,000 less for a family of 4 on Princess 10 southern Caribbean at spring break as compared to Disney 10 day Caribbean in June. In addition we have a drink package on Princess so our bar bill will not be a big deal.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Similar as you, we are platinum on Disney. We decided to try NCL the week of Christmas and it was like almost $5,000 less Disney for that week. We had a terrific time on NCL. We definitely missed some Disney magic but not $5,000 worth of it. We are trying Princess at spring break and MSC for summer. All half of what DCL charged for similar week/stateroom class.

Definitely do at least one "Movie Under The Stars" while on Princess. They nail movies on deck. They put padded covers on the loungers and have blankets, pop popcorn, serve warm cookies, coffee and tea-all complimentary. It was such a great way to spend an evening.

 

[owensamo]

After 11 DCL cruises, we thought we were done. This past summer we cruised Celebrity to Alaska, and this summer have a Italy/Greece cruise out of Rome booked on Celebrity. Due to cost, I didn't think we'd be cruising DCL again at least until the next round of ships were sailing - but DH found a decent price on a fall sailing (the week before Thanksgiving) out of NYC to Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral - my ideal 7n DCL itinerary! (barring a double-dip - which would have been even better!) So for the first time in years, we have 2 cruises booked this year, and will be sailing on our favorite DCL ship - the Magic! I doubt we'll ever sail standard PC Eastern/Western Caribbean or Bahamas itineraries again - but if we can find an itinerary that meets our needs, in a price we are willing to pay - we will sail. Celebrity is great - service was very similar to DCL, as was food - but it wasn't the same. We'll enjoy sailing Celebrity again - but I think DCL will always be "home".

 

[truck1]

But, as you said, Oasis of the seas has twice the size (a capacity of about 2500 more passengers)...

... about four times the specialty dining options (most likely the same for bars), and much more activities and entertainment options.

I would not compare the Fantasy to the Oasis Class ships... Freedom Class, maybe?

What would be the price comparison with the best ship from RCCL's Freedom Class?

Ship to ship, theres no comparison. However room to room, the rooms are almost the same. The sq footage with balcony was off by like 2 or 4 square feet. The locations I used are almost the same. Same deck. Same size. Both balcony. Both same side. The location might be off a little bit as the Oasis Elevator shafts are different then Fantasy. Oasis room that I used was a little bit further aft midships then the Fantasy room. When I looked at RCLs site, trying to find a 7 day to do a side by side, Oasis is the only RCL ship in PC that showed up. There was 8 6-8 day cruises for the month of Sept in 2018. 5 in Ft Lauderdale and 3 in PC. The 3 in PC are all Oasis. Harmony and Allure are the other 5 in Ftl.

Basically what I tried to do was to find a similar RCL ship, out of the same port, with a similar itinerary, with a similar sized room. Unfortunately, Oasis is it.

Looking at the ship specs for the different RCCL classes, the closest that RCCL has to the Dream class is the Voyager class. There slightly smaller. About 6000 tons lighter, 100 feet smaller,Freedom class is 20000 tons heavier and they are longer and bigger. Plus trying to find a comparable itin on the Voyager is problematic at best. There is no Voyager 7 days in the carib at that time. Med, yes.Pacific Yes. Not the carib.

Using Liberty, which is Freedom class, out of Galveston doing a 7 night western, same time frame, 4200. But its a different itin and a different port. Room size is off by 10 sq feet, Libertys is smaller, the next size balcony on Liberty would be over by 20 or so sq feet.