Has the price of DCL chased you away?

[cgolf]

I personally believe that the purpose of threads like this are to try and convince others to leave DCL in the hope that if enough cruisers leave, then Disney will have to drop their prices. Posters will regale their stories of how they have been priced out by Disney or how great their experience was on another cruise line. And some of them will dismiss or even attack anyone who disagrees with their opinion and their hopes of Disney lowering their pricing.

I don't need validation at all, but I do have thoughts on DCLs pricing, and am interested to see how it works out for them long term. And yes when you like a product and have to finally step away, the step while not scary, I had a lot of concerns before I stepped foot on another line. Thankfully it all worked out and DCL is just in the pool of cruise lines we will look at now, and if the price is right book it, if not oh well. It is interesting though seeing a lot of long time posters on here making similar decisions, and many of us were DCL defenders for a long time, ironically arguing with posters like myself using probably some of the same arguements. So I guess you could say I am getting a taste of my own medicine lol.

For me if we don't cruise DCL in the near future, I will drop off the boards, because my DCL info, especially GF, will be too dated to help out newbies.

 

[undertheradar]

Comparing other cruise lines to DCL, we compare concierge to concierge. What we find is that almost all pricing is within several hundred dollars of DCL. We do not stay in inside, lowest cost staterooms, we enjoy space and the smaller crowds that concierge provides.

So no, the pricing has not "chased" us away.

 

[kaseyC]

Comparing other cruise lines to DCL, we compare concierge to concierge. What we find is that almost all pricing is within several hundred dollars of DCL. We do not stay in inside, lowest cost staterooms, we enjoy space and the smaller crowds that concierge provides.

So no, the pricing has not "chased" us away.

Interesting. I would love to know where you are finding only a few hundred dollars difference in pricing. We are concierge cruisers too on DCL and other lines and we have found the price difference on other lines thousands of dollars less than DCL for the same dates and comparable suite. As I posted in another thread, we are leaving for a few days for a cruise on the Harmony of the Seas in a Crown Loft suite, a one bedroom on the Fantasy for the same week was 17k more the day we booked (it's probably more now).

 

[tink1970]

Comparing other cruise lines to DCL, we compare concierge to concierge. What we find is that almost all pricing is within several hundred dollars of DCL. We do not stay in inside, lowest cost staterooms, we enjoy space and the smaller crowds that concierge provides.

This exactly! While I might cruise another line (I have in the past and have not been happy so I do know whereof I speak) for me the money isn't the issue as much as wanting to try new itineraries. Every time I receive a survey I ask DCL to please add something new (and not just a port in the Med!). I still enjoy DCL and will be cruising May and July of this year, just would like a little more port variety.

 

[ThatCOprep]

Comparing other cruise lines to DCL, we compare concierge to concierge. What we find is that almost all pricing is within several hundred dollars of DCL. We do not stay in inside, lowest cost staterooms, we enjoy space and the smaller crowds that concierge provides.

So no, the pricing has not "chased" us away.

This is what I found when looking at other cruise lines. Each lines respective concierge class is pretty much the same price.

 

[cruiser21]

Interesting. I would love to know where you are finding only a few hundred dollars difference in pricing. We are concierge cruisers too on DCL and other lines and we have found the price difference on other lines thousands of dollars less than DCL for the same dates and comparable suite. As I posted in another thread, we are leaving for a few days for a cruise on the Harmony of the Seas in a Crown Loft suite, a one bedroom on the Fantasy for the same week was 17k more the day we booked (it's probably more now).

I would love to know this too. I priced the NCL Haven for four this Fall. It was anywhere between 6500-9000 depending on the room. Dcl started at 9500 and went up to 27k. I have seen concierge rooms on DCL as high as 50k which really blows my mind. Unless I see actual numbers I will never believe NCL or Royal are anywhere close to DCL in price.

 

[undertheradar]

This is what I found when looking at other cruise lines. Each lines respective concierge class is pretty much the same price.

 

[kaseyC]

I would love to know this too. I priced the NCL Haven for four this Fall. It was anywhere between 6500-9000 depending on the room. Dcl started at 9500 and went up to 27k. I have seen concierge rooms on DCL as high as 50k which really blows my mind. Unless I see actual numbers I will never believe NCL or Royal are anywhere close to DCL in price.

That has been our experience as well.

 

[cgolf]

Interesting. I would love to know where you are finding only a few hundred dollars difference in pricing. We are concierge cruisers too on DCL and other lines and we have found the price difference on other lines thousands of dollars less than DCL for the same dates and comparable suite. As I posted in another thread, we are leaving for a few days for a cruise on the Harmony of the Seas in a Crown Loft suite, a one bedroom on the Fantasy for the same week was 17k more the day we booked (it's probably more now).

I would love to see pictures of those suites, they looked really cool when we saw them from across the dock on the freedom.

 

[SpaceSquirrel]

We're getting two cabins on an European sailing on RCCL (brand new ship and imo better ports) for less than the price of 1 cabin w/ DCL.

 

[cruiser21]

Thankfully ZERO plans for kids. Don't mind teaching them, but do NOT want them anywhere else in my life.

But your response isn't surprising - because the thing about kids is legitimate for you, it seems to negate my opinion in your eyes. I realize that it is different cruising solo, but it is MY experience. For you to reply "oh, do this and you'll see" is to negate my experience.

I anticipated someone (TBH I figured it would probably be you based on our posting history on here) would delegitimize my response by calling out my solo-ness and headed it off at the pass - or tried to - by including that in my post.

And I did not say that anyone else has to cruise solo. I was answering the question "Has the price of DCL scared you away?" which is a personal experience question from my personal experience. The topic wasn't for us to answer for everyone, but for us to answer for ourselves and OUR experience. And that's what I did.

It doesn't negate my opinion of your opinion... or whatever you said. I'm not trying to delegitimize your responses. My response was meant to be taken lightly like...."Oh wait to you have kids". You may look at DCL prices differently. Nothing really more nefarious then that.

 

[Dug720]

It doesn't negate my opinion of your opinion... or whatever you said. I'm not trying to delegitimize your responses. My response was meant to be taken lightly like...."Oh wait to you have kids". You may look at DCL prices differently. Nothing really more nefarious then that.

And I clearly stated in my post that I cruise solo and so for me no, the prices have not run me off. There was no need to come back with a "it is different with kids" because I never pretended I had them.

So yes, it did come off as negating my thoughts and experience since I had clearly stated my experience was as a solo. But thank you for explaining your intention since the internet makes it hard to know something is meant to be taken lightly.

 

[squirk]

Shoot, I just got caught! Behind that cat avatar I'm a Disney villain, in a mission to keep DCL for myself...

You are playing the really long con.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Has DCL priced me out? Yes and no.

I've mentioned in several threads lately that DCL was not my first and never really my default line so in that way I'm different than a lot of posters here.

I sail for the itinerary first and foremost. This means DCL is often out of the running. But for any of their "exotic" itineraries the price on the concierge rooms is insane! I've consistently found prices in the 13-20k/pp range. I am always astounded that Disney can compete with those prices!

They don't offer near the experience or amenities of a Reagent, Silversea, or Crystal etc. which are in the same price range. So for me when looking at anything but a quick Caribbean cruise DCL quickly falls out of the running. It's either pay for the luxury experience and pay DCL prices or pay a fraction (I consistently sail Suites on other lines in the 4-7k/pp range) of the cost for a similar experience.

So not exactly priced out by the dollar amount-just can't justify the prices I see on the itineraries I like.

 

[mevelandry]

For me if we don't cruise DCL in the near future, I will drop off the boards, because my DCL info, especially GF, will be too dated to help out newbies.

Same here, I will probably spend more time in the RCCL section...

One of the reasons why I might stay here, in the DCL section, is to feed the "other cruise lines that are not RCCL" threads for one specific reason:

I want to cheer up those who can't afford to cruise DCL anymore, and are very sad about it (I noticed that DCL is an emotional choice for most of the DISers), and reassure them that if they really enjoy cruising, there are great options outhere, more affordable, that could make them just as happy or at least almost just as happy.

This is why I created the Carnival Victory VS Disney Dream thread. And there is a strong chance that I might do the same exercise with the Carnival Vista... So they could compare and maybe get a little consolation from losing DCL.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Comparing other cruise lines to DCL, we compare concierge to concierge. What we find is that almost all pricing is within several hundred dollars of DCL. We do not stay in inside, lowest cost staterooms, we enjoy space and the smaller crowds that concierge provides.

So no, the pricing has not "chased" us away.

When/what itineraries are you finding this? I've consistently found DCL concierge to be 2-3x concierge rates on other lines.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I would love to know this too. I priced the NCL Haven for four this Fall. It was anywhere between 6500-9000 depending on the room. Dcl started at 9500 and went up to 27k. I have seen concierge rooms on DCL as high as 50k which really blows my mind. Unless I see actual numbers I will never believe NCL or Royal are anywhere close to DCL in price.

This has been my experience too. Though, I have seen some of the highest tiered suites on Celebrity and Royal up in the 13-15k/pp range occasionally.

Once rooms cross the 10k(ish) per person threshold, I start looking into the luxury lines since the cost/value has passed the tipping point. So maybe I just don't pay close enough attention to the other lines.

 

[mevelandry]

You are playing the really long con.

I wish I could answer to you but... English is not my first language. So... In total honesty, I don't understand what you mean.

 

[thumpie's mom]

No, we don't travel during peak times so we can choose when we want to cruise. DCL is still where we want to spend our vacation dollars.

 

[Pens Fan]

As I posted on a similar thread, we initially jumped ship to get the itinerary we wanted. But what we found, pricing wise, was eye opening. We have two NCL cruises booked. On the first one we opted to spend what we normally would on DCL (usually in a 5A or 5B) and see what we could get - turns out that was an aft penthouse suite with alcohol, specialty dining, internet, OBC, shore excursion credits included. Our son will be with us for that cruise so having a separate bedroom will be nice (he's 19). On the second one, as it will just be my husband and I we opted to go with a mini suite which is just a little bit larger than a DCL balcony cabin and doesn't have any suite perks but does include the alcohol and specialty dining, and is much cheaper than anything DCL would offer.

I think for us, it's a combination of things. We love DCL and will most likely continue to sail with them occasionally. However, because they only have four ships, there really is only so much variety they can offer - itinerary, food wise, shows, entertainment, etc. I think we are just getting a little bit bored and want to expand our options when it comes to taking cruises. Knowing now that with other lines we can choose from taking the (often dramatic) savings or upping the luxury factor (we have never even considered paying for concierge on Disney) gives us lots of options.

Personally, I enjoy these threads. I love reading about the experiences people have on other lines after sailing on Disney. I also read Cruise Critic but I find it helpful to hear the perspective of someone who has sailed and loved DCL and then tried something else.