Honest opinions.Is DCL worth the $?

[lsmac]

We have sailed on RCCL, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, the now-defunct Big Red Boat (ick), and of course Disney.
What I like best about Disney:
*Great service-mostly above and beyond the norm.

*No casino...(gasp) yes, I said it...I really don't have a desire to blow hard earned money this way, and the original reason for picking Disney was because it had no smoke filled casino.

*Castaway Cay..this island has NO comparison!

Do we ever feel "disneyed out"? Yep...by about day 5 I am tired of hearing Disney music, seeing Disney shows, and running into Disney characters (sometimes literally). But I still get goose bumps when I hear that horn!

I have a 14 year old that has sailed Disney at 10, 11,12 and 13 years old and has loved the Lab and the Stack. Still emails people that he met on the ship.

Out of all the other lines we have sailed, only Princess has come close to providing us with the experience we had on Disney. Disney just makes you feel more special somehow. (boy, do I sound like an infomercial on that one!)

Now the ultimate question: Is it worth the extra cash? Honestly, I think it is overpriced.....but...it also (oh how do I say this pc?) keeps the clientele more um....upscale....not so "Carnival-ish"...as in the 3-4 day Carnival cruises of the past. I mean let's face it, if you offer $99 cruises, you get ALL kinds of people...mainly those who couldn't care less about keeping things nice for others.

I guess it all comes down to: you get what you pay for...but you can also get a great experience on Celebrity, Princess etc., for much less. Personally, with older kids, I would choose one of the latter...just for the amount of activities available.

Ok, now I am ducking out of the way before someone throws something at me for my Carnival comments....



Lisa

 

[eeyoresmom]

Logan,we're on the same cruise!I decided to go with DCL because I have never regreted spending the extra $ at the Disney parks,I'm sure I'll feel the same way about the cruise.How old is your DS? Mines barely 8,can't wait to see his face when we board that ship!Is there any way to view a navigator anywhere?Even an old one, i just would like some idea of past goings on.

 

[disneymom3]

WEll, I have to step out of the box and say that no, I do not in any way think that DCL is worth the extra money. Okay, the larger cabins are very nice, but I am not thrilled with the split bathroom thing. Loved the horn. Switching dining rooms--I just don't see the appeal. The menu changes every night anyway....Our servers were fine, but that is about it. We had a server several years ago on RCCL who topped these two by miles--he was so incredibly great with our then two year old that dinner time was the highlight of her cruise--and she had mac and cheese every night. Also didn't compare to the service we have received on NCL. Loved Castaway Cay, but again, Princesses private island was just as nice and lunch was better. Food on NCL and RCCL was better with way more interesting choices.

Don't get me wrong--we had a very nice time on the cruise we were on. But was it worth so much more than any other cruise line? No. We found ourselves thinking that DCL must manage to get a lot of first time cruisers who then thinnk that the level of service etc is due to it being Disney when really it's just that it is a cruise and the whole point of the industry is service.

 

[minmom]

I agree with the last post. We have been on 14 cruises with Carnival, NCL, RCCL, Princess, Celebrity, and DCL. We were on the Magic 10/09/2004 and I was so disapointed. We had a cat 3 which was wonderful and the shows were great. But everything else was the same or less than any other line. The food was just OK. The service was nice but nothing special. It was very crowded on the ship and although the kids programs are wonderful there were 50-70 kids in the 8-9 age group at all times. The lines for the characters were way to long and if the 20 minutes were up you missed out. I keep wondering if people who rave about Disney have ever been on any other cruise. Our friends who went with us thought it was the best but they've never cruised before.
Best family - Royal Caribbean (newer ships)
Best kids program for personal attention- Royal caribbean ( newer Ships)
Best shows - Disney
Best Kids pool- Royal Caribbean
Best Adult Pool- Celebrity (thalaso Therapy Pool)
Best Food -Celebrity
Best Service - Celebrity
Most Romantic - Celebrity
Best Specialty Restaurant- Celebrity
Best coffee place - Disney
Best movie theater- Disney
Our favorite cruise lines-
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity

 

[tvguy]

Do you prefer:
A Chevrolet or a Cadillac?
A Ford or a Lincoln?
A Chrysler or a Mercedes? (now that Mercedes owns Chrysler)
A Toyota or a Lexus?
A Nissan or an Infiniti?
A Honda or an Acura?

A cruise or a Disney cruise?

Like the cars, you're getting the same basic package, but you have the option of getting the premium verision, you pay more and you get more. For each additional dollar you spend do you get a dollars extra value on Disney? Probably not.

We loved our Disney cruise, but our kids also loved the HAL cruise we took. Before kids DW and I also sailed RCCL and NCL.

So if you can afford a Disney cruise, do it. But if the choice is between taking a cruise, and not taking a cruise, take the cruise, any cruise.

 

[lookingforward]

We sailed on the Wonder and enjoyed ourselves. However, we have also sailed on Celebrity, RCCL, NCL, Costa. My opinion is that if you can get a good deal on DCL (book way early and book a lower cat) then you will be getting your money's worth.

Food: The food on the Wonder was good, but not great. We did have amazing waiter and asst. on this cruise that made it a great experience, but I found the menu's were not that inventive. Celebrity win's the great food award in my opinion. Their menu and presentation were amazing.

We had originally booked a suite on the Wonder and then changed to two cat 5 rooms because of the Florida resident rates. I am glad we did! I am not sure it would have been worth $4800 for four nights or the 11,000 we were quoted for the seven night. On Celebrity you could have the penthouse suite (top accomodations) for the same price as a cat 3 suite on DCL. The level of service on Celebrity is intense. We had a jacuzzi on our deck, a butler who served meals on the balcony, helped with parties in the stateroom, brought tea and coffee every day at 4 p.m. with cakes and snacks, waited in the hall with fresh, large beach towels to give us on beach days and other special treats. He doted on our kids and brought games and set up a video game for our son (on the 48 inch flat screen in the living room).

The kids programs on Celebrity are smaller and more personal, although they do not have the bells and whistles that DCL has. Both are great. RCCL wins this catagory in my opinion. The Voyager was amazing and the kids truly enjoyed the ice skating and the show, the inline skating, mini golf, rock climbing, Johnny Rockets, a kid's club pool with slide for the little ones, etc. It was a very active ship!

I can truly understand why people love DCL so much though. I am a disney fan who is always planning the next disney adventure. We will sail again on DCL, but I will make sure it is as low a price as I can get.

 

[TheWog]

Originally posted by eeyoresmom
Logan,we're on the same cruise!I decided to go with DCL because I have never regreted spending the extra $ at the Disney parks,I'm sure I'll feel the same way about the cruise.How old is your DS? Mines barely 8,can't wait to see his face when we board that ship!Is there any way to view a navigator anywhere?Even an old one, i just would like some idea of past goings on.

dcltribute.com should have copies of navigators and they should be fairly recent. Barb's site also will have some.

Make sure your son is listening when you take those first steps onboard (They will ask you for your name as you approach) and they announce your family's name and home state over the loudspeaker and the CMs applaud. Its great to see your son's face light up. Mickey will also be a deck or two above you clapping. Go up there and shake hands and maybe even take a picture with him all alone.

 

[castlegazer]

I am not qualified to respond to this thread as we haven't yet sailed with DCL, but we have sailed with Princess on the Grand Princess and on Celebrity.

We loved every minute of our Princess cruise and found the Grand to be one of the most spectacular ships we have ever seen and their mini-suite service (which is cheaper than a balcony on DCL) to be extraordinary.

I wanted to add a reason why we chose to go on DCL this time even though we loved Pincess and have heard nothing but rave reviews about RCCL.

Its about my children. My son is a huge Mickey Mouse and Cinderella fan. To be able to be in a club that specializes in Disney 'esque type activities is worth it to me. He has been asking me to go on Mouse Boat for a long time now. He is in day care and gets great club like activities all the time - what is dofferent about this vacation is that it will now be Disney activities with Captain Hook and Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Goofy.

I also will not stress as much about dinners as he and my daughter will be among so many other children andthe CMs are adept at handling the, throughout long dinners.

In addition, I don't think as adults we will be disapointed in the Magic at all as I am excited to get into that Disney magic too. We booked out quite far to get a rate I could stomache for a balcony. I have my expectations set low for food quality in comparison to other lines (we could get hot breakfasts meals brought by a butler to us out on our verandah on Princess - a big deal for us). I also have my expectations set appropriately for crowds on board and that's another reason we got a balcony so we had our own space.

I too think that Castaway Cay looks remarkably similar to Princess Cay, but again, no Disney magic on Princess Cay and that basic Disney touch to everything.

I don't know if I am describing this appropriately, but booking far out and getting their rock bottom rate has convinced this deal seeker that I want to go DCL for this next cruise for the simple pleasure of being immersed in Disney magic for a week straight while doing one of our favorite things to do - cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

ugh! I've read so much about DCL being great for little ones good for teens not so great for the 7-12 set.What has been your experience?

I beleive what you've read in the past has been about the 12yo's with attitude. A lot of 12yo's with older siblings want to be "all grown up" and be teen agers (because they are SO Cool!). Sometime the 13yo's don't like the teen activities - they're the shy ones and the ones that are a lot smaller than most of the youth in the teen club.Those kids don't like the Lab.

The other group that didn't especially care for the lab are those kids that have been there every year - because up until this year the activities didn't change to much - same old same old stuff.

Generally speaking the kids love the club and the lab.
---------------------

Hey, those of you with buttlers - can I get a buttler on Princess at a DCL cat 9 price?

 

[lsmac]

Hey, those of you with buttlers - can I get a buttler on Princess at a DCL cat 9 price?

Just a note here: Princess no longer offers butlers in the mini suite category. You would need a Vista suite or higher I believe.
Price compared to DCL: probably about the same as a Cat 4 or 5. Accomodations compared to DCL: vastly different

Lisa

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by lsmac
Accomodations compared to DCL: vastly different

Please elaborate.

Sam

 

[dclwdwlover]

Originally posted by lsmac
Now the ultimate question: Is it worth the extra cash? Honestly, I think it is overpriced.....but...it also (oh how do I say this pc?) keeps the clientele more um....upscale....not so "Carnival-ish"...as in the 3-4 day Carnival cruises of the past. I mean let's face it, if you offer $99 cruises, you get ALL kinds of people...mainly those who couldn't care less about keeping things nice for others.Lisa

Very well said, Lisa, & the exact reason my DH doesn't care to try another line.
Also, for some reason, I guess because it's "Disney" I tend to feel safer than I have on other cruiselines.

 

[lsmac]

Please elaborate

Let me see if I can just post some similarities/differences that I remember:

Comparing a mini suite on Princess vs. a Cat 6 on Disney:

Princess: more storage space, full bath tub with jacuzzi, bigger closet (as in walkin), larger balcony with loungers and table.

Disney: better configuration for sleeping three...we could still get out on the veranda when ds's sleeping area set up, split bath was vastly more useful for three trying to get ready, more private balcony.

Things I liked about Princess rooms over Disney:
We were able to order from the full menu all the time for room service.
The balcony was so much bigger and it had lounge chairs so it was more comfortable...that said...it wasn't as private.
The bathtub was awesome.
The closet had so much more space
the bed was way more comfortable
It was easier to shut off the area where the third person slept...however, this made it difficult, if not impossible, to get on the veranda.

Things I liked about Disney rooms over Princess:
Split bath...made getting the three of us ready in a timely fashion vastly more efficient.
The sound proofing seemed better...as in, I couldn't hear as much hall noise on DCL as we did on Princess.

Hope this helps!
Lisa

 

[lsmac]

I guess because it's "Disney" I tend to feel safer than I have on other cruiselines.

I agree completely, except for I felt very comfortable on Princess as well.

Lisa

 

[castlegazer]

My mini suite on the Grand Princess didn't have a full tub or jacuzzi in the bath - in fact I hated the bathroom. I am looking forward to the bathrooms on DCL.

The balcony was awesome, though. We look at our pictures and we could eat a full meal out there on a rasied table with chairs and there were loungers out there too - plus I like the full glass of the railing.

That being said, I think the two lines have about the best verandah's out there and Princess does not have the kids programming of the level that DCL does. I would be very nervous also having my kids in the dining rooms of Princess ships.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Originally posted by castlegazer
I am not qualified to respond to this thread as we haven't yet sailed with DCL, but we have sailed with Princess on the Grand Princess and on Celebrity.

We loved every minute of our Princess cruise and found the Grand to be one of the most spectacular ships we have ever seen and their mini-suite service (which is cheaper than a balcony on DCL) to be extraordinary.

I wanted to add a reason why we chose to go on DCL this time even though we loved Pincess and have heard nothing but rave reviews about RCCL.

Its about my children. My son is a huge Mickey Mouse and Cinderella fan. To be able to be in a club that specializes in Disney 'esque type activities is worth it to me. He has been asking me to go on Mouse Boat for a long time now. He is in day care and gets great club like activities all the time - what is dofferent about this vacation is that it will now be Disney activities with Captain Hook and Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Goofy.

I also will not stress as much about dinners as he and my daughter will be among so many other children andthe CMs are adept at handling the, throughout long dinners.

In addition, I don't think as adults we will be disapointed in the Magic at all as I am excited to get into that Disney magic too. We booked out quite far to get a rate I could stomache for a balcony. I have my expectations set low for food quality in comparison to other lines (we could get hot breakfasts meals brought by a butler to us out on our verandah on Princess - a big deal for us). I also have my expectations set appropriately for crowds on board and that's another reason we got a balcony so we had our own space.

I too think that Castaway Cay looks remarkably similar to Princess Cay, but again, no Disney magic on Princess Cay and that basic Disney touch to everything.

I don't know if I am describing this appropriately, but booking far out and getting their rock bottom rate has convinced this deal seeker that I want to go DCL for this next cruise for the simple pleasure of being immersed in Disney magic for a week straight while doing one of our favorite things to do - cruise.

Can't wait to read your trip report!

 

[mickeymom923]

I have been on about 9 Carnival Cruises, 1 RCCL, 3 Disney Cruises and just rebooked Disney for 8/19/06. My 86 year old mother said Disney was the most fun and nicest cruise line she has been on. My DS who is 18 said he would rather do a 3 day Disney cruise than 7 days on Carnival (about the same price) since there was so much to do on Disney. My DD who is 17 doesn't like the so-called teen club on Carnival because there really isn't any. I'm a 51 year young kid at heart who is obsessed by Disney. I am a single parent who really can't financially afford Disney but who can't mentally afford not to go and create great memories with my family and enjoy the food, service, entertainment and feeling like a "princess" that only Disney can do. It is truly "magical" and "wonder"ful. You only live once and I say "go for it"

Bev

 

[kcashner]

I'm with mmouse....in fact, we're almost "cruise twins." We, too, have done 11 cruises on DCL and have number 12 booked. We did 2 other cruise ships, one time each......

My DD is 13. She wanted to turn 13 on the Magic, fully realizing that it would mean no party at home, etc. She sailed again in September when I celebrated a birthday on the Magic. It is the only vacation she wants, and the only ship she will consider.

After many times in the Lab, she sort of wore it out....but The Stack is a big hit.

We won't consider another cruise line for a long time.......she wants to honeymoon on the Magic! Don't think she's informed the young man yet.

 

[WldWcnWmn]

I am a single parent of a seven year old. I saved for nine months to go on the Magic. We live in Oregon so we spent a week at WDW and a week on the Magic.... My daughter had the time of her life. I cried coming over the bridge to Port Canaveral when I saw the ship in port...she cried when we disembarked at the end of the trip. She said she liked the ship better than the parks...ALL four of them, plus the Not So Scary Halloween Party (which she loved). Needless to say, we are saving now for a "back to back" where we'll do two weeks in a row. It was worth every single penny I had to scrimp and scrape together. My only advice would be to bring enough money to make your deposit for your next cruise while onboard! I have cruised other lines, and I can honestly say, I don't think I will do anything but DCL for a very long time. We had a blast on the 10/16/04 trip.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by dclwdwlover
Very well said, Lisa, & the exact reason my DH doesn't care to try another line.
Also, for some reason, I guess because it's "Disney" I tend to feel safer than I have on other cruiselines.

I think it's very unfair to group Carinval's cruises all in one category. They have all levels of ships. There are the *cheap* ships with the party atmosphere but the newer ships are expensive, luxurious and comfortable to be on.
I think most people that comment on how great Disney is haven't been on very many cruises, especially the newer ships on the larger cruislines. Disney is a very different kind of ship, it's something a family should experience at least once. But I certainly don't see it as the best out there overall., especially for the money.