HELP - DCL seems really expensive

[CarolynK]

We cruised DCL once, back in 1999 for 4 days. The kids are now 8 and 6, it is a perfect time to try DCL again, but I checked Disney's site and for a week in June or July, it will cost close to $8000 for the four of us in a cat. 4. Is this right??
We also looked into DCL for last Christmas, but we ended up on another cruise line - in two cabins - for $2500 less than cat 6 DCL. Although we'd like to cruise with DCL, we're NOT willing to pay thousands more.

I am really wondering if the Disney website prices are what everyone pays, or are there significant discounts to be had through a TA?

Thanks.
Carolyn

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

cat 4 for $8000? whan are you going? if i were you i would travel during the off season when the price is cheaper. i have priced a 7 day in cat 7 in july and nov and it was $2000 cheaper in nov if that helps. some people like to use TA but i will only use DCL to book my cruises cause i know of others that have had problems and i dont like what they have said. but its all in the timing. enjoy and look at other cruise times. i hope that helps. thanks
john

 

[AnnMorin]

I would check via a travel agent such as dreams, you may also want to look at another time frame. The rates are significantly lower in off season. Also you might want to consider a lower cabin, a cat 6 that sleeps four will still give you a veranda and will run at least $1000.00 less. Or you could skip the veranda and save a great deal of money.

One thing I will say though is in life often you get what you pay for. I personally don't mind sacrificing all year to cruise with Disney. I would rather dine out on the cruise for seven nights and forgo dining out at home. Now if I went carnival I could eat out at home too but then I would not be able to do Disney. Hmmm hamburger now for filet mignon later? That is worth it for this family.

 

[alexandrew]

my sentiments exactly AnnMorin!!!!

 

[4myguys]

Try All Seasons Travel. They quoted us a week in June on Eastern for less than $6000. in a Cat 6, which still has a verandah, for 4 (which included DS' 10 & 14).

 

[bigsky]

CarolynK-

First, let me say we'll be joining you with many other people at WDW for THanksgiving.

I checked Allseastravel.com for their prices for June and July for a 7 day cruise. What I found is there can be a lg. difference in price from one week to another. Also, you can save 2,000 just going to catagory 9!! YOu'll have a window at least. This is what I found..

June 5th,- cat. 4- 6,495.00- cat. 9- $4,435.00
June 12th- the same within a couple dollars.
June 19th- cat. 4- 7,335.00- cat. 9- 5,075.00
June 26th- 6,909.00 & 4,749.00
July 3rd- 7,285.00- 5,025.00
10th- same as the 26th of June

This will give you an idea. I'm using this travel agent and have been very happy with them. I think you will find DSL higher than some other travel agents out there.
But look at the difference in those two catagory's!! If it's a matter of going or not, I"d take catagory 9,(which we are) and go and have a Magical time!

Laura

 

[vgaskin]

www.allseastravel.com is a really good site to go look at prices. They are all up on the screen, no changing dates and going thru all the screens. That will atleast give you an idea where you can save. You might try going with a category 5 or 6 if you want a verandah. Those hold 4 and just a tad smaller than a cat 4. We havent' used all seasons but used their site to find out when specials came out, etc. They list the total per the number in your group so you don't even have to add person 1+ person 2+person3+....

 

[CarolynK]

bigsky, thanks for the comparisons. We don't have to have a cat 4, but we'd like a verandah. And thanks for not suggesting that we go in the "off season" - we are looking for something to do during my kids' summer vacation.

I was just really floored by those prices when I researched it. I still have to call DVC Member Services, because I think DVC gives a discount on the cruises.

 

[dclwdwlover]

When I booked our upcoming land/sea pkg. I wrote down a bunch of different options & then called DCL directly & got pricing on all of them. I got a terrific woman who really helped - usually that is the case I have found - & she helped me work up different scenarios as well as the price differences in dates.
As far as the scenario we ultimately picked & SHE came up with - although this is usually NOT the case - it ended up to be much cheaper listing just one person in one room & three in another. I told her point blank we would not end up staying that way, but she said it didn't matter.
Also, being somewhat flexible in the area on the ship you'd stay & types of rooms would probably help. I know it was a must for my husb. & I to have a verandah, but the other room was flexible as far as connecting, verandah, etc.
Then, after I had it all set I checked w/AAA & they couldn't get anything cheaper so I booked it permanently & eventually ended up transferring it over to them for their perks & discounts.

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by CarolynK
bigsky, thanks for the comparisons. We don't have to have a cat 4, but we'd like a verandah. And thanks for not suggesting that we go in the "off season" - we are looking for something to do during my kids' summer vacation.

I was just really floored by those prices when I researched it. I still have to call DVC Member Services, because I think DVC gives a discount on the cruises.

Sorry about the off season suggestion,, just letting you know it was cheaper then...
Anyhow, DVC will only book for you if you pay for at least one adult in points. If you are going in regular season you would have to pay out in points for one person the following:

Eastern Western

Cat.4 - 304 308
Cat 5- 253 265
Cat 6 241 252
Cat 9 190 199

 

[CarolynK]

AnnMorin, thanks for the numbers. Sorry about MY comment It's just that I realize there are cheaper times to go, but we are looking for cheaper alternatives to our desired time.

It is so much cheaper to go with another cruise line! I realize that it won't be Disney, but then again, one of my concerns about DCL is the fact that there will be SO many kids on board! Will my kids even enjoy the kids clubs if they are crowded? Will we enjoy ourselves on a ship overrun with kids (a thread recently about whether or not to let your pre-teens run around the ship unsupervised made me wonder if this will be bothersome!)?

I did check out allseastravel.com, they are cheaper than Disney's site. And there also must be others. Thanks everyone!

Carolyn

 

[AnnMorin]

well lets see if I can help you in the kid worries part. Disney, unlike other lines, has a set quota per age group of children allowed on board. This is to insure that all children can go into the kids club if they want to without overcrowding or suprassing OCCS limitations. (for instance here in MA. OCCS requires we have one licensed teacher for every ten preschoolers in a room. There is also a capacity limit for the room) So I would not be concerned about the clubs/ship being overcrowded with children. I found there to be actually less children -or at least that was the impression I had on Disney verses carnival. And we did cruise over Easter break one year so that was a very crowded time. One other advantage to the way DCL has it set up is there are areas of the ship where children are simply NOT permitted. As much as I love my DS and all kids it was heavenly to eat in palo and have no one but other adults around. The quiet cove pool is just lovely too.
I know Disney is expensive, we are not wealthy people, but I cut corners all year to make our trip work and it is so worth it to us.
That said though, you should do what is best for your family and go with what your personal priorities are. If you have any other questions I am happy to help.

 

[CarolynK]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
Disney, unlike other lines, has a set quota per age group of children allowed on board. This is to insure that all children can go into the kids club if they want to without overcrowding or suprassing OCCS limitations.

I didn't know that! That is reassuring, and I guess it makes sense now that I think about it. Thanks!

 

[AnnMorin]

In fact I had a friend that waited too long for a peak time and found that she could not book because of her eight year old. She could take the infant and the teenager but they would not allow her to book with the 8yr old. Some other lines charge for the kids club (it is free on DCL) so they can overload all they want, If the club is at capacity they just turn kids away until someone leaves, but DCL's labs/club are free so they must insure that all children booked would be able to attend if they wanted to.

 

[jeanie]

We booked our Apr 17th 2004 cruise in June 2002.....
For our family of four, we got a cat 6 for 5200, including air fare from Boston....plus a 100 shipboard credit from DU...

We have saved about 3000 (so far !!)

Also this cruise is during the kids April vacation and the prices seemed to have shot up about 6 -8 months ago..

Jeanie

 

[rundogrun]

While Disney may have set quotas on the number of kids allowed (other cruiselines have similar polices as well), I suspect it's still a high number. There were over 600 kids on the 8/23 cruise, including 90 in the 5 - 7 yo program. By comparison, on Celebrity during president's week earlier this year, there were no more than 20 kids in the 3 - 6 yo program at any given time. Programs, games, counselors, activities were all comparable.

You pay more for Disney for the characters and Castaway Cay. Assume as well, that limits or no limits, your DCL cruise will always have more kids.

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by rundogrun
While Disney may have set quotas on the number of kids allowed (other cruiselines have similar polices as well), I suspect it's still a high number. There were over 600 kids on the 8/23 cruise, including 90 in the 5 - 7 yo program. By comparison, on Celebrity during president's week earlier this year, there were no more than 20 kids in the 3 - 6 yo program at any given time. Programs, games, counselors, activities were all comparable.

You pay more for Disney for the characters and Castaway Cay. Assume as well, that limits or no limits, your DCL cruise will always have more kids.

But some of the cruise lines DO NOT have quotas, yes you will find less children on celebrity as they are a cruiseline geared more for adults, I honestly do not think you could call celebrity's children's program comparable to Disney's. RCCL maybe but celebrity is not set up with children in mind. I would argue that on carnival you will easilly have more children than on DCL just for the economic differences. I also disagree that you pay more for Disney just for the characters and castaway cay but everyone has different views of things.

 

[CRB#33]

We are using DU and are paying a little over 5 for three people in a category 6. We also have a shipboard credit (promotion when I booked) and an instant rebate. We are going on the June 26, 2004 Eastern.

The price was the same as DCL's until the rebate and shipboard credit.

 

[rundogrun]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
But some of the cruise lines DO NOT have quotas, yes you will find less children on celebrity as they are a cruiseline geared more for adults, I honestly do not think you could call celebrity's children's program comparable to Disney's. RCCL maybe but celebrity is not set up with children in mind. I would argue that on carnival you will easilly have more children than on DCL just for the economic differences. I also disagree that you pay more for Disney just for the characters and castaway cay but everyone has different views of things.

As a result of it's mass market move, Celebrity actually has a wonderful children's program on the newer ships (Millie, Connie, Summit). The facilities may not be as large but the programming is the same fare offered by Disney. My kids (4, 6) actually preferred the Celebrity program...I suspect because it was less crowded...ymmv. We didn't have our kids with us when we sailed on Mercury and Galaxy, but I don't recall the facilities as being quite as elaborate as the newer Celebrity ships.

Can't speak about Carnival...don't think I'll ever be on a Carnival cruise based on what I've read and heard. But I can see as a low priced line it can be swamped with kids.

I will stand by my original statement about paying more for characters and Castaway and expand that to paying more for the "Disney Experience". Heck, I'll even throw in superior entertainment. There is nothing wrong with a Disney Cruise. However we've found that you can get comparable, if not better, service, food, kids programs and accomodations for less money on other cruiselines. At that point, you have to stop and wonder how much more is the "Disney Experience" worth to you? It's worth something, but I would guess that something varies widely from passenger to passenger.

Happy cruising!

 

[AnnMorin]

It hardly seems on par with Disney's to me! Low staff ratio,( a minimum of THREE) and charges for services at times. ($6.00 per hour) Except for certain busy weeks age groups are combined. sorry it does not do it for me...But as I said once before to each their own...



From Celebrity's website..quote:

youth activities/family activities
What activities will be available for my child(ren) onboard?


Staffing:

Youth Activities are directed and organized by a special staff of youth counselors. Youth Counselors have a formal education in Recreation, Education, Child Development or related fields. In addition Youth Counselors have experience working with large groups of children, 3-17 years of age, in school/community sponsored youth programs or summer camps. Youth Counselors hold certifications in CPR and some speak Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.

All Celebrity ships carry a minimum of 3 Youth Counselors year round. During holiday season sailings (President's Week, Easter, Summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas) Celebrity ships carry 8-12 Youth Counselors.

Celebrity's Four-Tier Family Program:

Ship Mates (ages 3-6)
Activities Include:

Theme Parties
Treasure Hunt
T-shirt Decorating
Talent Show
Arts & Crafts
Dancing and Musical Games
Play Stations
Cartoon Trivia
Ball Pit (not available on Horizon or Zenith)
Ship Tours
Movies
Ice Cream & Pizza Parties

Celebrity Cadets (ages 7-9)
Activities Include:

Theme Parties
Relay Races
Team Trivia
Arts & Crafts
Play Stations
Movies
T-shirt Decorating
Fitness Activities
Ship Tours
Talent Show
Outdoor Games
Ice Cream & Pizza Parties

Ensigns (ages 10-12)
Activities Include:

Pool Olympics
Scavenger Hunts
Karaoke
Talent Show
Theme Parties
T-shirt Decorating
Sports Activities
Team Challenges
Initiative Games
Movies
Play Stations
Late Night Pizza Parties

Admiral T's (ages 13-15 & 16-17)
Activities Include:

Theme Parties
Scavenger Hunts
Teen Late Night Dancing
Pool Olympics
Sports Tournaments
Team Trivia
Karaoke
Talent Show
Play Stations
Fitness Activities
Age Restrictions:

The Celebrity Youth Program provides activities for children and teens 3 to 17. Children must be a minimum age of 3 years old. Proof of age may be requested. Children participating in the Celebrity Youth Program must be completely toilet trained and diaper/pull-up free.

Regretfully, due to United States Public Health regulations effective November 1, 2001, any child who is not toilet trained (wearing pull-ups or diapers) is not permitted to enter or participate in any youth program facilities or activities whether accompanied by a parent/guardian or not.

Availability:
The Celebrity Youth Program is available year round with a full, four-tier age group program during President's Week, Easter, Summer, Thanksgiving, and Christmas sailings. On all other sailings, a combined age group program is offered.

Program Hours:
The Children's Playroom / Fun Factory is open daily from 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M., and 7:30 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. For a nominal fee of $6.00 per hour per child, children ages 3-12 years old can participate in the Afternoon Party from 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. on port days and/or the evening Slumber Party from 10:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M. daily.

On formal evenings, the Celebrity Youth Program hosts a, "Parent's Night Out" in which children participate in a Pizza Party, evening activities, and complimentary Slumber Party, while their parents enjoy a romantic evening of fine dining and world class entertainment.

Ensign (10-12 years) and Teen (13-17 years) activities are hosted by the Youth Staff. Ensigns and Teens are free to enter and leave activities as they please.

Parent Responsibility:
Children ages 3-9 must be signed-in and signed-out of the Celebrity Youth Program by their parents, who must present their Celebrity Signature Card for identification. Children and teens ages 10-17 are free to come and go as they please from activities hosted by the Celebrity Youth Program, but are required to follow the basic rules of the ship for those under 18 years old. When outside of the Celebrity Youth Program, parents are responsible for the supervision of their children.

Babysitting (Youth Program):
For a nominal fee of $6.00 per hour per child, children participating in the Celebrity Youth Program, ages 3-12 years old, can participate in the Afternoon Party from 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. on port days and/or the evening Slumber Party from 10:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M. daily. Children participating in the Celebrity Youth Program Afternoon and Slumber Parties must be a minimum age of 3 years old and completely toilet trained (diaper/pull-up free). Celebrity Youth Program Afternoon and Slumber Parties are available on all Celebrity vessels year round.

Babysitting (Cabin Services):
For a nominal fee of $8.00 per hour, for up to two children within the same family, parents can arrange for a private, in-cabin Baby Sitter. Babysitting services are available through the Cabin Services Desk onboard all Celebrity vessels. Parents are asked to make all private, in-cabin babysitting requests 24 hours in advance. Children must be a minimum age of six months or older and there are to be no more than two children per Baby Sitter. Private, in-cabin babysitting is subject to personnel availability.

Celebrity Youth Program Behavioral Policy:
Inappropriate behavior will not be permitted during Celebrity Youth Program activities. Youth demonstrating inappropriate behavior will first receive a verbal warning, second receive an age appropriate time out for continued inappropriate behavior and third, parent notification and dismissal from the Celebrity Youth Program activities.





Revised: Apr 23 2002 1:35PM