Help me understand justifying price please..

[pearljammer]

HI all,

Okay, so I've been seeing the prices of the new itineraries that have come out. I'm seeing price ranges in the 5 to 10K range. So this is where I'm getting lost. I know peoples income range but speaking from a middle class family, how do you justify paying this for a cruise??? That's a LOT of money. I must be missing something. How are people affording this? I know you save but I don't understand even feeling good spending that kind of money for a cruise. I guess I'm interested in the mindset. Granted, I realize for a lot of people this may not seem like a lot of money. But for me.....wow! Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[Metsoskil]

HI all,

Okay, so I've been seeing the prices of the new itineraries that have come out. I'm seeing price ranges in the 5 to 10K range. So this is where I'm getting lost. I know peoples income range but speaking from a middle class family, how do you justify paying this for a cruise??? That's a LOT of money. I must be missing something. How are people affording this? I know you save but I don't understand even feeling good spending that kind of money for a cruise. I guess I'm interested in the mindset. Granted, I realize for a lot of people this may not seem like a lot of money. But for me.....wow! Any insight would be appreciated.

How can you justify having a $30,000 car, or a $300,000 house, or someone who cleans your house once a week, or going out to eat several times per week, or buying coffee every morning instead of making it yourself...

Everybody's got priorities. For some, their priority is cruising.

 

[MTmomma]

Ask ten different people, and get ten different answers. It comes down to what is personally important for your own family. My answer would be different from yours, (not that Im sailing beyond the booking I currently have!)

 

[pearljammer]

Delete

 

[NancyIL]

My priority is also traveling, especially on cruises, but I've been on only 3 DCL cruises so far because I balk at their high prices.

 

[kaytieedid]

I hear you. I've never sailed DCL b/c it's always been "too expensive" and hard for me to justify. We've been going to Disney every year for the past few (sometimes more than once per year) and I figured if our family loves it that much we have to try DCL. I think I can swallow the price of a land vacation easier b/c I get 2-3 trips out of an annual pass which I pay for separately from room, which is separate from meals, airfare etc. I pay for it piece by piece where you get the cruise balance all at once and it smacks you in the face

 

[lbuher]

I agree with the PP about priorities, but I'm also in agreement with the OP! Sometimes when I read posts about how many cruises folks have been on (and in what categories of staterooms), and how much they are paying for the current itineraries, it simply blows my mind. We make a decent living, but we are committed to living a debt-free lifestyle (our priority!) which makes it very hard to designate that much disposable income to vacations!!

We are doing good to be on a 4 night Dream in a cat 9, booked over two years in advance, paid partially with Disney reward points. And no other big vacations in the works. Oh, and we are also within driving distance to the port, so no airfare or major travel expenses to get there.

Oh, to have that much money to spend on cruising... but yet.... I'm very glad to get what I can! I have family and friends who can't fathom doing ONE Disney cruise, and this will be our second....

 

[biff423]

There are definitely cruises from DCL in all price ranges. Choosing a lower category or short cruise will be more budget friendly. The newer itineraries will definitely have higher costs associated with them. Also, check the prices on less popular times - some of those cruises are downright cheap.

Also, in justifying the cost you have to consider the quality of entertainment and food that is all included in your price. The boat is immaculate, the kids are thoroughly entertained and there is plenty for everyone to do. Plus your room is cleaned twice a day!

It is more expensive than some other cruise lines but we have found that there is just something special about DCL.

Just do a little more research and you will find there are options at all price points. You didn't mention how many are in your family or when you wanted to cruise. Give a little more info and some of us Dis board folks might be able to help you find a some options that are easier on the checkbook.

Also, there are discounts associate with using a Disney Visa card and also certain travel agents will offer on board credits to help with any on board charges such as alcohol, souveniers, spa treatments or excursions. Lastly, Disney will occasionally offer a kids sale free promotion which makes some itineraries much less expensive.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Well the answer is obvious to me - some folks have a lot more money for discretionary spending than others .

 

[lilbug13]

HI all,

Okay, so I've been seeing the prices of the new itineraries that have come out. I'm seeing price ranges in the 5 to 10K range. So this is where I'm getting lost. I know peoples income range but speaking from a middle class family, how do you justify paying this for a cruise??? That's a LOT of money. I must be missing something. How are people affording this? I know you save but I don't understand even feeling good spending that kind of money for a cruise. I guess I'm interested in the mindset. Granted, I realize for a lot of people this may not seem like a lot of money. But for me.....wow! Any insight would be appreciated.

For us we are planning 14 months out (Alaska June '12). It is the only vacation we plan to take, and the extended planning time allows for making payments as the time goes. Yes, other cruise lines would be less expensive, but the Disney part of it makes it worthwhile to my 5 & 2 year old. I also am a firm believer in life experiences for children makes them grow in ways books cannot (there's my teacher soapbox moment), and a trip to someplace like Alaska is not just a vacation, but an experience, so I look at the monetary cost in both fun & learning.

Money is a very personal thing. What is right for one may not be right for others.

 

[Metsoskil]

Ummm, I never said I had a $30K car nor did I mention a $300K house, house cleaner once a week, eating out several times a week and I don't even drink coffee. Did I touch a nerve here? Perhaps my idea of middle class differs from yours. Sheesh.

No nerve touched. I didn't take offense to your post, and I'm sorry you took offense to my reply. I've never even been on a Cruise.

I just think it's a silly question that comes up often on many of the boards - How can a middle class family afford __________

The answer is rarely that they won the lottery, were born into a European royal family, or have a magical money tree in their back yard. It usually goes back to what they prioritize and how they spend their income. What you and I value may be very different than other people. Some people value coffee, some fancy cars, some cigarettes, some eating out, etc.

If people prioritize taking $5000-$10000 cruises, more power to them. Who am I to judge? They probably think I'm nuts for something I buy - maybe even my Grande Non-Fat No-Whip Half-Caf Peppermint Mocha that I get every time I'm within buying distance of a Starbucks.

 

[Max Webster]

HI all,

Okay, so I've been seeing the prices of the new itineraries that have come out. I'm seeing price ranges in the 5 to 10K range. So this is where I'm getting lost. I know peoples income range but speaking from a middle class family, how do you justify paying this for a cruise??? That's a LOT of money. I must be missing something. How are people affording this? I know you save but I don't understand even feeling good spending that kind of money for a cruise. I guess I'm interested in the mindset. Granted, I realize for a lot of people this may not seem like a lot of money. But for me.....wow! Any insight would be appreciated.

Excellent question! Disney cruises are expensive, so is visiting WDW or DL. However, the way I look at it, you want it to be expensive; it helps keep the riff-raff out.

In addition, I think Disney cruises and visting the parks and staying at the resorts is worth it, becuase you know you are receiving a quality product. People keep returing for a reason, not because Disney is inexpensive, but because they feel they are getting a good value for their money.

Cheers!

Max

 

[BlackFrank]

HI all,

Okay, so I've been seeing the prices of the new itineraries that have come out. I'm seeing price ranges in the 5 to 10K range. So this is where I'm getting lost. I know peoples income range but speaking from a middle class family, how do you justify paying this for a cruise??? That's a LOT of money. I must be missing something. How are people affording this? I know you save but I don't understand even feeling good spending that kind of money for a cruise. I guess I'm interested in the mindset. Granted, I realize for a lot of people this may not seem like a lot of money. But for me.....wow! Any insight would be appreciated.

It's fairly simple:
- some people are wealthy (or have wealthy families) and can easily afford to go on multiple cruises a year
- some people set priorities and budget accordingly
- some people are astronomically immature and think that "I deserve this" justifies them going deeply into debt that they will never be able to pay off (these are usually the same people that ignore the dress code at dinner and think rules are for "other people")

 

[pearljammer]

How can you justify having a $30,000 car, or a $300,000 house, or someone who cleans your house once a week, or going out to eat several times per week, or buying coffee every morning instead of making it yourself...

Everybody's got priorities. For some, their priority is cruising.

Well the answer is obvious to me - some folks have a lot more money for discretionary spending than others .

I agree with this to a point but also keep in mind some people just go in debt. We have two cruises scheduled with DCL but personally, I can't justify spending that much. I like to keep costs at a more reasonable price point while enjoying the same others do on the boat and not getting myself in debt. I know I'd be perfectly fine in an inside stateroom but for others, they'd never consider it. I also know I could do a lot with $10K. I could get a couple of DCL cruises (and other things) out of that. Anywho......good for those of you who can do this with no guilt. I'm just not one of them. But at the end of the day, it comes down to....Happy Cruising!

 

[NancyIL]

Excellent question! Disney cruises are expensive, so is visiting WDW or DL. However, the way I look at it, you want it to be expensive; it helps keep the riff-raff out.

In that case, prices still aren't high enough!

 

[BlackFrank]

In that case, prices still aren't high enough!

Maybe we should start a petition to get Disney to raise their prices.

 

[AKMOUSE]

I ask myself the same thing but I know that we planned and saved for our cruise for over a year.
When we went to WDW we did that too.

For us just to get to Florida is an expense. When we went to our cruise our airfare was over $3,000. But we do live on the other side of hte country.

 

[pearljammer]

They probably think I'm nuts for something I buy - maybe even my Grande Non-Fat No-Whip Half-Caf Peppermint Mocha that I get every time I'm within buying distance of a Starbucks.

You're right. I think your TOTALLY nuts.

Oh and you mean someones got a money tree?! Well, perhaps I should go look in my yard a bit harder and see I can find mine................

 

[sayhello]

I agree that it's all in the priorities. (Although it's also true that some people just have more discretionary money to spend than others, end of story). Some people would rather have a really nice home, some people want nice cars, some people send their kids to private schools. Some people want 6 kids. And some people cruise a lot. Everybody prioritizes how they spend what money they have. If you don't have the money to cruise, it means that something else is a higher priority to you than cruising.

Sayhello

 

[NancyIL]

Maybe we should start a petition to get Disney to raise their prices.

After a day of frenzied bookings by Platinum and Gold CC members, the price of the Hawaii cruise will already be out of reach for many.