Does anyone NOT want to sail another cruise line?

[WIcruizer]

Hubby and I (although young) are not partiers/drinkers. So nightlife and partying are not attractive to us. Neither is gambling.

Common misconception. Think of it like this. DCL has kitchens yet you don't notice lettuce flting everywhere around you. Same is true of casinos on other cruise lines. Simply, if you don't like gambling, don't go to casino. Like the Magic, I've spent zero time on the children's activity deck. I know it's there, but I have no clue what goes on there and I don't care.

Very simple rule. If it's a 7 night or longer cruise, it is not a "booze cruise." Those reputations come from the 3 and 4 night cruises, and that's pretty accurate for those itineraries. (Not to mention the fact that the ships aren't as nice.) But any 7 night cruise on a major cruise line is a wonderful experience. Personally, I like RCCL and Princess a lot.

 

[goingbacksoon]

What other cruise line has almost a religious following? None that I can think of!

GF and I are young, and maybe when we reach the time when we are centaurians combining our age, we'll try a princess cruise. We love Disney, and it's the natural choice. Personally, I'm crossing my fingers for a west coast port. I agree with a prior post: I don't know if I'm willing to wait to go to Alaska on DCL. I'd probably shell out for RCCL for the chance to go.

In the meantime however, I dream about DCL sometimes. No school, no worries... ahhhh....

goingbacksoon

 

[WIcruizer]

What other cruise line has almost a religious following? None that I can think of!

Actually they all do. Remember that the other cruise lines are older and more established, and all have larger fleets. Each cruise line has far more "raving fans" than Disney. Don't get me wrong, DCL is my favorite, just pointing out RCCL, Princess, Celbrity, Holland...all have many customers who wouldn't consider another line.

 

[schrei]

The first time we cruised on our honeymoon in 87 the the BRB (aka Disney), it really didn't mean much as of recent years we have become the disney fanatics! 2 years ago we cruised for the first time on the Magic. WOW! I cryed like a baby and thought, we'll never go back. I even told customs I was an illegal immigrant and they couldn't make me leave! Needless to say, last year we went, again and in 16 days we'll go for cruise number 3 on the Magic, same itinary, same time frame. I don't know if the folks at Disney really understand how much we love their ship and the happiness that comes to us when we experience "the mouse". I have often thought about CHEATING as well as others, but I know we would constantly be comparing the standard of Disney to the other cruise line. SO to make a long story short, "we are hooked". We Love the DCL and everything that "the mouse" does! !

 

[Jennigator3]

I absolutely love DCL, I actually just booked my third cruise with them yesterday for a 3-day May cruise. As much as I love the cruise line, I don't think it is a good idea to limit yourself to one vacation. The cruise line only offers limited itineraries and I don't want to get jaded with the same cruise every time, I would hate to get sick of DCL. Disney customers are asking(begging) for new ships with newer itineraries. Until then, Disney will just be a once in a while thing.

Jenni

 

[WIcruizer]

but I know we would constantly be comparing the standard of Disney to the other cruise line.

I understand all too well! Maybe it's a matter of prospective. Our first cruise was a 4 night Carnival. We were young and thought it was the best vacation ever. Later in life we went ona 7 night Princess and it blew the Carnival cruise away. Since then I compare Disney to Princess, not the other way around. The food is better on Princess, the service equal- actually maybe a bit better on Princess. And frankly, our kids aren't real young anymore so it's nice to have entertainment options, shows, etc. that don't include Disney characters and themes constantly. Finally, the Magic shuts down at 10PM. Even our kids aren't ready to shut it down that early- especially on vacation. Other lines tend to have more going on until Midnight or 1:00AM. There's a whole other world out there folks.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by WIcruizer
Common misconception. Think of it like this. DCL has kitchens yet you don't notice lettuce flting everywhere around you. Same is true of casinos on other cruise lines.

Good way of looking at it.

 

[MarkLem]

We enjoyed our first cruise ever a few weeks ago and it was on the Magic. It was stupendous and we would like to cruise again for sure. However, there are 5 of us, which adds up a bit (actually alot!) for a 7 day cruise. I would definitely consider a different line if there was a substantial difference in price that could be the difference between cruising and not cruising at all, but I would be very picky and particular about the ship and the line. Disney is great but c'mon the Magic is not the only great ship around.

 

[figment52]

Originally posted by goingbacksoon
What other cruise line has almost a religious following? None that I can think of!

GF and I are young, and maybe when we reach the time when we are centaurians combining our age, we'll try a princess cruise.
goingbacksoon

I thought Holland America was the "old folks" line and Princess was the Love Boat .....


I have a friend that is trying to get me on the HAL D-Day cruise out of England (goes to France, Belgium and Amsterdam and we would be in Normandy on June 6) and I keep thinking I could take the same amount of time off and do two Disney cruises. Be on a cruise ship and NOT get to go to CC - not see my crew friends on the Magic.... I'll be honest, I am fighting it and I was a History major in college.

There is just something about the ambiance of the Disney ship that keeps pulling me back.

 

[goingbacksoon]

Originally posted by figment52
I thought Holland America was the "old folks" line and Princess was the Love Boat .....

My grandparents are the ones who suggested we cruise in the first place, and they shared a story about them being the "youngens" at their table on Princess. They have a nice new digital camcorder and they said their tablemates gawked at it as they toted their 80s style VHS camcorders. Perhaps some exaggeration on their part. They are 69 and 73.

Maybe at only certain times of year?

goingbacksoon

 

[WIcruizer]

How long ago was that? Part of it is times are changing. Holland and Celebrity still have somewhat older crowds, but plenty of families as well. Princess has plenty of families these days. RCCL and Carnival definitely have just as many families and kids as DCL.

I would definitely consider a different line if there was a substantial difference in price that could be the difference between cruising and not cruising at all, but I would be very picky and particular about the ship and the line. Disney is great but c'mon the Magic is not the only great ship around.

Exactly. For 5 people there's a HUGE difference in price these days between DCL and other cruise lines. If it was the same or close, we would do DCL 80% of the time. For some of you where money is no object, I can understand. But for those of us where $2,000 makes a difference, I'll choose RCCL, Princess, or NCL. MOST of the ships that sail for 7 nights or longer are all very nice, with a few exceptions.

 

[wltdsnyfan]

I like the way you are treated. You are treated in Disney style. I am afraid the other cruse ships will not be as good. Also, at least with a Disney cruise I am with Mickey a little longer. I just love any thing that has to do with Disney and Mickey.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I'm happy to see there are so many who feel the same way as my family and me who are hopeless DCL followers. I DO look forward to one day trying RCCL and/or Princess, but I'd have to sail out of a nonDisney port so I wouldn't have to see the Magic or Wonder

I think another reason I like DCL is I've more in common w/the other cruisers agewise. DH and I are mid40's. I know our golden years are coming, and that we'll one day (hopefully) be in our 60's and then 70's. From what I hear, there are more retired people on the other lines. (Lucky retirees! What great vacations.) However, it just occured to me, my fellow DCL'rs will be the golden age too, and what do you want to bet we're STILL cruising DCL, on one of their many ships, with our grandchildren

 

[mousebrat]

My husband and I (both in mid to late 20s without kids) had actually booked (and were about to put the deposit) on a RCCL 5 night Canada/New England trip. The price was about the same as the 7 night land/sea trip with DCL (for the same type of stateroom). We were not sure if we would even enjoy cruising or doing the types of activities that RCCL offers. And then, we could never seem to get a straight answer from anyone with RCCL regarding the smoking policy and since we are both very allergic to smoke we just couldn't risk staying 5 nights in a stateroom that someone had been smoking in. Of course, they offered to bring air purifiers...but who wants to live that way for 5 nights. We love Disney and had always pondered a Disney Cruise so we booked for August 29. We can't wait to experience our first Disney Cruise!