disney v. other cruise line

[jdkdorn]

We are looking at booking the 8/19/2006 cruise and after reading a recent review on cruisecritic.com I became worried. I have been quoted $5200 for a catagory 4 on DCL and want to make sure it is worth it.

My DD will be 11 and my DS 4 and I worry about what they will do. This review stated that her daughter refused to stay in the kids club. All they had her doing all day was sitting in front of a screen watching movies. The planning videos show lots of character interaction and she stated that the only time they saw characters was when they stood in long lines to get their picture taken with them. We are looking at the cruise as a way to get our Disney fix and cruise but if the Disney part is not doing well why choose DCL. I would expect them to have characters all over the place especially in the kids club. If I wanted to wait in line I would just go to the parks. We are DVC members so going to the parks is cheaper but we wanted the cruise experience.

We are sailing on RCCL in January for 5 days for a family wedding and a chance to see if they like cruising. Has anyone sailed in the past month or two seen the same trends as this poster did?


Thanks for any info

Judy

 

[tkd lisa]

Look at the kids navigators on Daves site www.dcltribute.com That will show you the type of activities that will likely be offered for your childs' age on your itinerary. I believe the character activities have a special mark next to them so they'll stand out. In the older kids programs (8-12) there aren't many character interactions in the clubs. But I think the younger programs offer a Goofy "pajama party" and "Tea with Wendy" in the club.

Yes there are some character meets that have long lines, but I've also seen the characters readily available. If character meets are important, they post the times and location on a board in the atrium, and there's a special character hot line available from your phone to say where and when they will be.

 

[DARWIN91]

Jdkdorn, There are alot of character interaction in the younger groups 3-4, and 5-7. At 8 and up it is not as frequent! They do alot of things with the kids but every kid is different. That poster (is a friend of mine) was commenting on her Daughter who one evening at night they put movies on for them and she was not interested in the movies. They don't do that every night for the 8 and up but that night it was a movie on the schedule. The little ones though get a movie every night around 10 pm so they can lay down if they choose on these little mats.

TheWog- I am trying different dates trying to see if it will come in less on different months. DU I know gives good rates, maybe I should try them. I am just searching the internet on various cruise sites but that 3rd passenger usually costs alot more than the kids cost on DCL which comes in around $500.00

Disneefun - I agree the Castaway Club is totally useless except for the nice towel. Unless you book onboard it means nothing that you sailed various times with them. That is nice to know that other cruiselines take that into consideration.

I love DCL but I have never sailed a different line and feel it is time in 2005, just trying to find a price break everyone always posts. Maybe I will try DU as a TA.

Thanks all!

 

[Mjasp]

I along with Darwin91 are thinking about trying Carnival or Princess in 2005. After 10 nights on the Magic, I CAN'T go back on in the Magic in a year, but we did rebook for 8/19/06.

With that said, I need to travel in the summer. Am actually thinking of doing the Legend out of NY this summer even though it is more money than a Florida based cruise. But the thought of saving money on airfare and pre night expenses and getting up on the day of the cruise and taking a limo about 45 minutes into the city sounds inviting.

 

[Mjasp]

Originally posted by DARWIN91
Jdkdorn, There are alot of character interaction in the younger groups 3-4, and 5-7. At 8 and up it is not as frequent! They do alot of things with the kids but every kid is different. That poster (is a friend of mine) was commenting on her Daughter who one evening at night they put movies on for them and she was not interested in the movies. They don't do that every night for the 8 and up but that night it was a movie on the schedule. The little ones though get a movie every night around 10 pm so they can lay down if they choose on these little mats.
Thanks all!

Sorry Darwin...But it wasn't me (now I sound like Shaggy) I did NOT post on cruisecritic.com

Also...I think DU only does Disney but I think All Seas does them all.

 

[DARWIN91]

Mjasp, I didn't realize it was cruise critic. Thought it was your comments from another thread.

 

[momofmeg]

Judy-Our tablemates had a 7 year old son and they were disapointed in the Disney club. Their son did not want to go there much although he did go the night they went to Palos. Another night he went during dinner as they had something going on he was interested in doing but over all they wee disapointed. The characters are only out at certain times ( I think the characters do more then one job- for EX. I am pretty sure they also act in the shows and also head up the excursion meet ups-so they have to have some time off) -they thought the ship would be covered with the characters. They realy hated that they just happened on Mickey Mouse and their son was not dressed up for the picture with Mickey.

They had been on Carnival and RCCL and expected more from Disney as Disney cost more. They also had booked a navigator's veranda thinking it was a real veranda and their TA did not bother to tell them the difference. I felt this too affected their look out on the cruise.

Our experience was entirely different but our "child" is 20 years old. We loved the adult only areas that were ENFORCED. The other lines have supposed "adult only" areas but they are not enforced. We too almost booked a navigator's veranda because it was less but our TA explained to us what it was so we booked a catagory 6 veranda. The ship itself was so much better quality etc. for EX. we did not hear near the noise from other veranda rooms that we heard on our veranda on Carnival Miracle (including a couple fighting at 2 a.m.)

To the orginal post-So I guess it is what you are looking for as to whether you will be happy with another line or not. I will say this Princess is a cut above Carnival and RCCL so you may be happier with Princess if you try another line.

 

[TheWog]

Originally posted by DARWIN91


TheWog- I am trying different dates trying to see if it will come in less on different months. DU I know gives good rates, maybe I should try them. I am just searching the internet on various cruise sites but that 3rd passenger usually costs alot more than the kids cost on DCL which comes in around $500.00

Hi Darwin -

I just pulled this off Royal Caribbean's website. For my son it would be $499.00 in our room.


Guest 1 Cruise Fare*: $1,069.00 USD

Guest 2 Cruise Fare*: $1,069.00 USD

Guest 3 Cruise Fare*: $499.00 USD

Taxes/Fees*: $67.05 USD

Package Total *: $2,704.05 USD

Outstanding Balance*: $2,704.05 USD



This is for the Mariner of the Seas January 15, 2006 out of Port Canaveral. Thought it might help.

royalcaribbean.com

 

[marie2004]

We have cruised with Disney 2 x in 2001, and 2002; in 2003 we tried RC. Nav. This ship was very classy, more things to do, and late night eating. The issues I had were: they were cheeper for the cruise, but there is the casino, yep we lost, more than the difference in price betwen the two cruise lines! The rooms were very small, and the fact that my son slept over our head (they do not have seperate sleeping areas unless you are in a high cat, which was very expensive) I did not like the salt water pools, the kids club was lame, per my 10yrs old (latch key is more fun), and they are not open during lunch or dinner, plus it's $5 an hr after 10pm ,the personal attention was not the same. We are set to sail on the Magic Oct 30 with another family, glad to be back with Disney. Marie

 

[invaderzim]

Do all the cruise lines have salt water pools? We are considering HAL or Princess.

 

[marie2004]

I haven't found one cruiseline besides Disney who has fresh water pools, we have check with just about all of them.

 

[Mjasp]

Originally posted by TheWog
Hi Darwin -

I just pulled this off Royal Caribbean's website. For my son it would be $499.00 in our room.


Guest 1 Cruise Fare*: $1,069.00 USD

Guest 2 Cruise Fare*: $1,069.00 USD

Guest 3 Cruise Fare*: $499.00 USD

Taxes/Fees*: $67.05 USD

Package Total *: $2,704.05 USD

Outstanding Balance*: $2,704.05 USD



This is for the Mariner of the Seas January 15, 2006 out of Port Canaveral. Thought it might help.

royalcaribbean.com

I don't find those prices inexpensive, especially since it is off season. I can pay the same price for a cat 9 on DCL for the 8/19/06 sailing. But Thanks for the comparison.
Darwin, how much is your 8/19/06 cruise coming in at.
But I do think that the Mariner is one of the priciest ships.

 

[PoohJen]

Originally posted by momofmeg
Judy-Our tablemates had a 7 year old son and they were disapointed in the Disney club. Their son did not want to go there much although he did go the night they went to Palos. Another night he went during dinner as they had something going on he was interested in doing but over all they wee disapointed. The characters are only out at certain times -they thought the ship would be covered with the characters. They realy hated that they just happened on Mickey Mouse and their son was not dressed up for the picture with Mickey.

Just as a follow-up - the character greetings are posted in the daily navigators, so they could have planned their shots. Also, the DCL site, and navigators posted on the internet, should give families an idea of what the club activities are, and whether it would likely suit their child's need/interests. I hate to see people disappointed!

 

[mamalle]

dh and I went on a cruise for our honeymoon and love it. we went on the celebrity western carribbean cruise. cant remember the ship's name though. That was back in 1999 and we have dreamed about cruising again. I finally talked him into the disney cruise after our trip to disney this past July when I kept the cruise channel on all the time and ordered the vacation planner he likes the idea of the private island and the one day out at sea- so I booked a 4 day to start with the kids. He requested a verandah and I got him that. we are not big gamblers so that wasnt a loss. I think we will have a wonderful time with the kids on this cruise. Im keeping my fingers crossed he will love it and I can make it a yearly family vacation. I do think when they get older we will probably try RCCL. looks like they have alot to offer also.

 

[DARWIN91]

My 2006 with DCL is about that price before my onboard credit of $200.00.

Thanks for the info TheWog but it still comes in around the same as Disney so what I was basically trying to say is that I can't see how that is cheaper than DCL. What that a unless that is a suite or veranda as my price was for an outside cabin cat 9.

 

[DARWIN91]

oops - I was drinking - just kidding! Unless that is a veranda or suite room!

 

[momofmeg]

Originally posted by invaderzim
Do all the cruise lines have salt water pools? We are considering HAL or Princess.

I understand the newer grand class Princess ships have fresh water pools. I preferred Princess to HAL. HAL was much too sedate although the ship was beautiful.

 

[momofmeg]

Originally posted by Mjasp
I don't find those prices inexpensive, especially since it is off season. I can pay the same price for a cat 9 on DCL for the 8/19/06 sailing. But Thanks for the comparison.
Darwin, how much is your 8/19/06 cruise coming in at.
But I do think that the Mariner is one of the priciest ships.

cruise.com is more affordable then RCCL's site. Look there and you don't have to book on line. Use their toll free # and they assign you a TA who has their own toll free #.

There is one thing about Mariner. she is very popular so if you want to get a good price you need to book a year ahead. The difference in us booking her this fall and next fall was like $200 a person for the same catagory so we decided to book next fall and save $600.

That is the way cruise pricing goes. They set a price and then it goes up if the cruise is selling well or down if it does not sell too well. Mariner is very popular so her price does not go down but up so book a year ahead of time and you save.

 

[momofmeg]

Originally posted by PoohJen
Just as a follow-up - the character greetings are posted in the daily navigators, so they could have planned their shots. Also, the DCL site, and navigators posted on the internet, should give families an idea of what the club activities are, and whether it would likely suit their child's need/interests. I hate to see people disappointed!

You are correct that the paper listed times for the characters but it did not specify what characters except once when it said all the Disney princesses would be out (ex. Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine were out but no Sleeping Beauty)

There was never any posting about Mickey. I think they only had him out once or twice. Although we saw Donald Duck, Goofy, Chip and Dale and others plenty.

The couple specificially wanted Mickey. They just felt disapointed as they had spent much more for Wonder then they had done for Carnival Estasy and RCCL Nordic Empress and their son had enjoyed both those cruises more.

As I already said though we felt a lot different. We loved the adult only areas and the fact the ship was so much nicer quality built then even Carnival Miracle which is a brand new ship.