How come DCL isn't selling out?

[DCLMP]

Nope, and I wonder if some of this is DCL's strategy... Would be fun to be a fly in the wall of the boardroom!

Also am curious what DCL's plan is after these 4 new ships come online... it doubles the fleet!

It’s always been the way they have done their pricing. They don’t run sales or promotions just GT rates and discounts to select groups. Our European cruise in 2022 I think half the guests were cast members. I met quite a few people from Burbank on the movie side of things. Disney employees a lot of people. Not just people that work in the parks. They can easily fill rooms offering cm discounts.

 

[CanucksRock]

Sales have no meaning anyways, as often the price is the same no matter how you look at it. I booked the VGT for my first DCL …given I don’t know the ship, so would not have a preferred location, and I’m Canadian, so saving $576 USD makes a difference! (Also going at almost the lowest priced time of the year…Hurricane month aka September)

 

[auntlynne]

Sales have no meaning anyways, as often the price is the same no matter how you look at it. I booked the VGT for my first DCL …given I don’t know the ship, so would not have a preferred location, and I’m Canadian, so saving $576 USD makes a difference! (Also going at almost the lowest priced time of the year…Hurricane month aka September)

That’s significant money to many of us in the US, too. Not all Disney cruise lovers are Scrooge Moneybags. I got into this addiction when the difference between $400 on DCL v $200 on Carnival didn’t seem so much for the experience. But current prices - yikes!

 

[Cfabar1]

That’s significant money to many of us in the US, too. Not all Disney cruise lovers are Scrooge Moneybags. I got into this addiction when the difference between $400 on DCL v $200 on Carnival didn’t seem so much for the experience. But current prices - yikes!

You have to wonder at what point it becomes silly... since we got into DCL a few years ago the price differential is starting to border on the absurd, even with RCCL's recent cutbacks in service.... We aren't ready to pull the trigger yet, but are getting pretty close....

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

That’s significant money to many of us in the US, too. Not all Disney cruise lovers are Scrooge Moneybags. I got into this addiction when the difference between $400 on DCL v $200 on Carnival didn’t seem so much for the experience. But current prices - yikes!

To those that chose to pay the difference, it can still be significant.. doesn't mean we are scrooge moneybags, just means we chose to prioritize different things. That's why my favorite saying is 'choice is good.'

 

[RangerPooh]

VGT rates are used to fill ships. DCL has been offering them more and more (even on the Wish) which shows they cannot sell enough cabins to fill their ships without offering a discount.

DH and I booked a weekend cruise in Sept using a VGT rate. Figured why not, it’s an adult only cruise.

We priced out DCL and RCCL for spring break 2025, two veranda rooms (family of 6). Total cost:
- 7 night on RCCL $7800
- 4 night on DCL $12000

We went with RCCL. Our kids (ages 13, 14, 17, 19) are excited about the activities. Although we’re all hesitant for lack of Disney, especially the 19 and 13yo. We just could not justify the price difference for DCL. That doesn't even factor in airfare, hotel, etc.

We may be pausing on DCL. Priced out a 2026 cruise for DH, myself, and our two school age kids (girls will both be in college, spring breaks don’t match). It was more than $6500 for a 4 night cruise. A route that’s getting boring. The 5 night that we want starts at $7500. Nope.

 

[Cfabar1]

and as long as DCL can fill the cabin, they don't care who is there... They are not a pro-repeat cruiser line...

When the next recession hits, we will see what they do...

 

[DCLMP]

and as long as DCL can fill the cabin, they don't care who is there... They are not a pro-repeat cruiser line...

When the next recession hits, we will see what they do...

As long as there is credit available it probably won't matter.

 

[LordVader]

Price for us. I was going to do a cruise with my wife and 2 young daughters but the price is $4,800.

Now we're going to attempt RC because for $1,800 I can bring both my daughters, have an extra night and sail on a new ship. I'm nervous about not doing Disney but my kids are beyond excited about all the splash pads and slides at Coco Cay and the splash pad on the ship. So we'll see how it goes lol.

 

[Kingkonig]

and as long as DCL can fill the cabin, they don't care who is there... They are not a pro-repeat cruiser line...

I'm not sure I'd agree with that - they do have the 10% certificates you buy onboard - maybe not as good as the park/hotel 35% off or enough to get them significantly closer to RCCL/NCL/Carnival, but they do encourage repeat business

 

[MonaMN]

Price for us. I was going to do a cruise with my wife and 2 young daughters but the price is $4,800.

Now we're going to attempt RC because for $1,800 I can bring both my daughters, have an extra night and sail on a new ship. I'm nervous about not doing Disney but my kids are beyond excited about all the splash pads and slides at Coco Cay and the splash pad on the ship. So we'll see how it goes lol.

I am looking at a cruise that stops at Coco Cay as well and was watching a YouTube video on it. Looks great - and also, some of it requires paying extra (like the big waterslides). So just be sure to add that into your price calculation.

 

[DCLMP]

I'm not sure I'd agree with that - they do have the 10% certificates you buy onboard - maybe not as good as the park/hotel 35% off or enough to get them significantly closer to RCCL/NCL/Carnival, but they do encourage repeat business

They used to offer 200 dollars obc along with the 10%. I think at one time is was 300 for platinum. 10% off does not get you significantly closer to RCCl, NCL or Carnival. Not by a long shot and those cruise lines also offer on board booking deals along with deals on drinks, wifi etc.

 

[DCLMP]

DH and I booked a weekend cruise in Sept using a VGT rate. Figured why not, it’s an adult only cruise.

We priced out DCL and RCCL for spring break 2025, two veranda rooms (family of 6). Total cost:
- 7 night on RCCL $7800
- 4 night on DCL $12000

We went with RCCL. Our kids (ages 13, 14, 17, 19) are excited about the activities. Although we’re all hesitant for lack of Disney, especially the 19 and 13yo. We just could not justify the price difference for DCL. That doesn't even factor in airfare, hotel, etc.

We may be pausing on DCL. Priced out a 2026 cruise for DH, myself, and our two school age kids (girls will both be in college, spring breaks don’t match). It was more than $6500 for a 4 night cruise. A route that’s getting boring. The 5 night that we want starts at $7500. Nope.

What ship is that?

 

[simba477]

DH and I booked a weekend cruise in Sept using a VGT rate. Figured why not, it’s an adult only cruise.

We priced out DCL and RCCL for spring break 2025, two veranda rooms (family of 6). Total cost:
- 7 night on RCCL $7800
- 4 night on DCL $12000

We went with RCCL. Our kids (ages 13, 14, 17, 19) are excited about the activities. Although we’re all hesitant for lack of Disney, especially the 19 and 13yo. We just could not justify the price difference for DCL. That doesn't even factor in airfare, hotel, etc.

We may be pausing on DCL. Priced out a 2026 cruise for DH, myself, and our two school age kids (girls will both be in college, spring breaks don’t match). It was more than $6500 for a 4 night cruise. A route that’s getting boring. The 5 night that we want starts at $7500. Nope.

I was looking today at 7 nights next June and the Icon was $4000 cheaper than the Treasure for the same week for a family of 4. We aren’t booking either one right now but was shocked by the huge price difference.

 

[LordVader]

I am looking at a cruise that stops at Coco Cay as well and was watching a YouTube video on it. Looks great - and also, some of it requires paying extra (like the big waterslides). So just be sure to add that into your price calculation.

I've been doing tons of research too! Thankfully with my two girls being 3 & 5 they can't go on any of those big slides so that saves me some money lol. My wife however wants to go so I included that in my pricing because for our cruise it's $98 a person.

 

[Cfabar1]

I'm not sure I'd agree with that - they do have the 10% certificates you buy onboard - maybe not as good as the park/hotel 35% off or enough to get them significantly closer to RCCL/NCL/Carnival, but they do encourage repeat business

I think when you look holistically at the perks offered to repeat cruises - particularly frequent repeat cruisers on RCCL, Celebrity, etc. Disney does not feel the need to incentivize repeat customers.

Additionally, with the new approach that all meals are also a show, I feel they are going after cruisers who are new to the experience. We did a wish sailing last year in September and again in November. I have little interest in eating in Worlds of Marvel again on the Wish. The storyline/fun is known now. I remembered all the jokes from sailing to sailing.

1923, however, since it is “just” a restaurant, I’d be more than happy to do again since the time spent is about making memories with family at a nice meal.

 

[Halfbrit]

DCL released their itineraries for the 2025-26 Aus and NZ season in the weekend, which is when we're planning our next cruise. We did price comparisons with similar RCCL itineraries to/from Sydney and DCL are more than double the price. We can't justify that differential so will try RCCL.

 

[DCLMP]

We are going to Japan next year and I booked a cruise on NCL with the reduced deposit. The cruise is already sold out 9 months in advance. When I booked it I thought it was a great itinerary I guess I wasn't alone.

I don't know if I can afford to take that much time off work to incorporate a cruise into the trip, but I have to November to decide. I cannot compare it to Disney because Disney does not sail in Japan, but I can say the 10 day cruise in an ocean view is less than a non discounted 4 day summer cruise on the Wish in the same category.

It was 4200 for two people and that includes the drink package and Wifi on a 10- day cruise starting in Tokyo and ending in Seoul. It will be interesting to see how DCL prices the Asian cruises.

 

[mousefan73]

Not that it's earth-shattering, but DCL has lost its #1 position in Conde Nast Traveler in Large Ships.

View attachment 869529

We just sailed virgin at the beginning of the month. I can definitely see why they knocked Disney off the number one spot. my only concern is that prices on virgin are going to climb now that people are getting wind of them. And the relatively neuter in the market so I hope they don’t change their concept because whatever they put together. Sure the heck is working.

 

[mousefan73]

I think they do have some incredible innovations, it’s just that they’re all in the Kid’s Club, so people forget they’re even there. Maybe the idea was that kids would be so enamored they’d want to stay there all day, while parents could explore the restaurants and lounges? I think the thing is that kids being kids, they can get bored with the most elaborate new things really fast and then want to spend all day doing the most basic things, like playing at the pool or just running off energy somewhere.

Seriously as an adult what is there to explore on a Disney cruise line during the day when it comes to restaurants? pizza and chicken tenders?