If you were in charge of DCL, what would you change?

[FigmentSpark]

Each line has a different path. I thought it might make it interesting. But yeah, I'd probably be just as happy (okay happier, and less stressed) on a DCL ship.

 

[blondietink]

We have one adult hat uses a wheelchair and we can never get a handicapped accessible stateroom as they book up so early. There really is plenty of space in the oceanview rooms except for the fact that the bed is in the cabin first. It is nearly impossible to store a folded up wheelchair in the cabin with the bed taking up so much room first. If the bed were closer to the window and the sofa bed and pull down were closer to the entrance to the cabin, it would be so much easier to store the wheelchair and I am sure it would be easier for stroller storage.

More variety on the buffet.

Oh, and lower the prices.

 

[Jennifer777]

I would like to see Disney make one-way trips in Alaska, Northbound and Southbound. We just got back from a Royal Caribbean cruise from Seward to Vancouver and it was great. We wanted to go with Disney but it was too expensive for a trip that goes up and turns around.

This is one of the reasons we're looking at other cruise lines for Alaska. We would LOVE to take a Southbound Seward to Vancouver sailing. Since we always fly in a couple days early, that would give us a couple days in Seward, which is far more appealing to us than a couple days in Vancouver. None of their sailings even go that far north from what I've seen. It would be awesome if they changed itineraries up a bit and instead of RT from Vancouver all the time, they alternated north and south routes and added more ports. Their Alaskan cruises seem to all be filling up just fine though so they probably don't feel the need to alter what they are doing yet.

 

[geoffrey]

2 things.

Wander around the Pacific. There are so many interesting ports in the Pacific. Japan, China, Vietnam, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Easter Island, Chili, Peru. I would so love a 7 nighter out of Tokyo that circles Japan

Also, build a loop trail around CC. Make it wide enough for walkers, runners and bicycles. I would so love to take a stroll for an hour or so around the island. Would be so peaceful.

 

[Mitchell G]

Can they upgrade the horns on the smaller ships for more epic horn battles? The kids love them!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can they upgrade the horns on the smaller ships for more epic horn battles? The kids love them!

Well, "upgrade" wouldn't be the term. The issue is that the horns on the Magic class are just that horns (you can see them here between the two top white rails):


On the Dream class the "horns" are actually a digital recreation of sound product. Much easier to produce different melodies.

I suppose they could replace the horns, but I hope not.

 

[cgolf]

Well, "upgrade" wouldn't be the term. The issue is that the horns on the Magic class are just that horns (you can see them here between the two top white rails):
View attachment 185434

On the Dream class the "horns" are actually a digital recreation of sound product. Much easier to produce different melodies.

I suppose they could replace the horns, but I hope not.

Personally the horns on the magic sound way better than the dream class, perhaps add a few more true horns to the classics to give them a few more notes to play with. The dream class really sound like the recreations they are, just a touch off.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Personally the horns on the magic sound way better than the dream class, perhaps add a few more true horns to the classics to give them a few more notes to play with. The dream class really sound like the recreations they are, just a touch off.

That was my feeling, also. Just didn't sound "right". But it's close.

 

[SuperDry]

I would raise the prices of the Concierge staterooms. It seems that they almost always sell out first at the current price levels.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

I liked to see a concierge lounge/beach area only on CC. Having stayed both concierge and regular this would be a great perk for concierge and maybe free up some more availability for cabanas for everyone else.

Also, we'd love more adult entertainment options in the evenings...don't feel like there is much to do if you don't go to the theatre or play bingo.

 

[wombat_5606]

I liked to see a concierge lounge/beach area only on CC. Having stayed both concierge and regular this would be a great perk for concierge and maybe free up some more availability for cabanas for everyone else.

I would prefer that they just build one of the new ships as Concierge only and then they could have the entire day at Castaway Cay.

 

[cgolf]

I would raise the prices of the Concierge staterooms. It seems that they almost always sell out first at the current price levels.

In 2015 they did. 2014 it was about 4500 for a cat V and in 2015 for the same room, date, number of days, and intinerary it was over 7500 which was an insane price hike in one year.

 

[SuperDry]

In 2015 they did. 2014 it was about 4500 for a cat V and in 2015 for the same room, date, number of days, and intinerary it was over 7500 which was an insane price hike in one year.

Apparently not high enough. Looking at the Fantasy for the next 3 months, over half of the sailings are completely sold out of all Concierge categories, yet not a single one of those sailings is sold out in any other category. There seems to be an unbalanced demand for those rooms at the high end.

 

[cgolf]

Apparently not high enough. Looking at the Fantasy for the next 3 months, over half of the sailings are completely sold out of all Concierge categories, yet not a single one of those sailings is sold out in any other category. There seems to be an unbalanced demand for those rooms at the high end.

That may be the case, but I do know that when we were on in 2014 they said that rebookings were way down at the new price. Also remember that there are very few of these rooms so it doesn't take much for them to sell out. They either have a different group sailing in those rooms now, or people are just doing it once now and sailing in normal rooms the rest of the time.

I also just looked, if the website was wrong someone correct me, and saw that there are 19 Cat T rooms, 20 Cat V rooms and 362 cat 4 a-something rooms. Of course there are lots of other rooms too which is why they don't sell out as quick. I will say, for what you get in my opinion it was fair at 4500, but there is no way we saw the value in it at the new price. If they raise the price anymore in my opinion they would need to add more perks to make it worth it, but then again some people have money to burn.

 

[TestingH2O]

Also, with the Disney price structure, if we are going to go concierge, we are going to book on opening day when we can get the best rate possible. With other categories, people may be more likely to wait to or hope for a gt type fare.

 

[SuperDry]

That may be the case, but I do know that when we were on in 2014 they said that rebookings were way down at the new price. Also remember that there are very few of these rooms so it doesn't take much for them to sell out. They either have a different group sailing in those rooms now, or people are just doing it once now and sailing in normal rooms the rest of the time.

That's a very interesting observation. If rebookings were way down, yet the rooms are still selling out before all the others, that would indeed seem to say that it's a different set of passengers. I think that a lot of people that are able to afford that price level can't plan things 1.5+ years in advance, and were effectively excluded from Concierge before.

I also just looked, if the website was wrong someone correct me, and saw that there are 19 Cat T rooms, 20 Cat V rooms and 362 cat 4 a-something rooms. Of course there are lots of other rooms too which is why they don't sell out as quick.

Well, of course. It's a supply-and-demand thing. They can price Concierge a lot higher than other room types, because they have fewer to sell. They need to find far fewer people that are able to and willing to pay the higher prices.

I will say, for what you get in my opinion it was fair at 4500, but there is no way we saw the value in it at the new price. If they raise the price anymore in my opinion they would need to add more perks to make it worth it, but then again some people have money to burn.

I agree. For me, I think Concierge is terribly overpriced for what you get on the margin, above regular staterooms. I've sailed Concierge four times now, but always when it was off-season or an undesirable itinerary where the price was lower than it normally is. But what I'm willing to pay or what I"d like to see happen wasn't the question. The question was what would I do if I were in charge of DCL, and the answer to that question is that I'd raise Concierge prices even higher, as they are still out of balance with supply and demand based on the fact that they sell out before all of the other rooms.

 

[cgolf]

That's a very interesting observation. If rebookings were way down, yet the rooms are still selling out before all the others, that would indeed seem to say that it's a different set of passengers. I think that a lot of people that are able to afford that price level can't plan things 1.5+ years in advance, and were effectively excluded from Concierge before.



Well, of course. It's a supply-and-demand thing. They can price Concierge a lot higher than other room types, because they have fewer to sell. They need to find far fewer people that are able to and willing to pay the higher prices.



I agree. For me, I think Concierge is terribly overpriced for what you get on the margin, above regular staterooms. I've sailed Concierge four times now, but always when it was off-season or an undesirable itinerary where the price was lower than it normally is. But what I'm willing to pay or what I"d like to see happen wasn't the question. The question was what would I do if I were in charge of DCL, and the answer to that question is that I'd raise Concierge prices even higher, as they are still out of balance with supply and demand based on the fact that they sell out before all of the other rooms.

It is kind of funny that right now I am doing 6 sigma training at work, and it touches on a lot of this stuff. We also are concerned about price points with our products and the value being given to the customers. I think there is a price where even the people that print money won't see the value in cruising in those cabins, but I could be wrong the draw of the mouse could be that strong, coupled with them owning the force now they have another way to draw us in

It will be curious what happens in the next 2-3 years with DCL if they continue with their pricing trend, they will either get the prices they are asking, or there will be a lot of GTY rooms availabe soon.

One common theme though that I have seen on the pricing threads, is that those that are leaving aren't seeing the value anymore in DCL. It is usually from those of us that have sailed many times in a relatively short time span that aren't seeing enough of a change from year to year to make it worthwhile for us, I have a long post on this thread outlining my wish list. There is definitely value for first to x timers, it just seems like DCL is setup for people that aren't going to choose to sail with them for life.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Another vote for Cabanas buffet in the evening. A cruise around the Hawaiian islands that starts at Hawaii and ends at Hawaii. Like NCL Pride of America do.

 

[Dug720]

It is kind of funny that right now I am doing 6 sigma training at work, and it touches on a lot of this stuff. We also are concerned about price points with our products and the value being given to the customers. I think there is a price where even the people that print money won't see the value in cruising in those cabins, but I could be wrong the draw of the mouse could be that strong, coupled with them owning the force now they have another way to draw us in

It will be curious what happens in the next 2-3 years with DCL if they continue with their pricing trend, they will either get the prices they are asking, or there will be a lot of GTY rooms availabe soon.

One common theme though that I have seen on the pricing threads, is that those that are leaving aren't seeing the value anymore in DCL. It is usually from those of us that have sailed many times in a relatively short time span that aren't seeing enough of a change from year to year to make it worthwhile for us, I have a long post on this thread outlining my wish list. There is definitely value for first to x timers, it just seems like DCL is setup for people that aren't going to choose to sail with them for life.

FWIW, based on what I've seen on another forum discussing cruises, the "I'm tired of the menu/shows/itineraries" complaint among those who cruise frequently is pretty universal across the board. I've definitely seen it on forums discussing Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Things like menus and shows in the cruise industry as a whole across the board do NOT change often, or as often as multiple times a year or even once a year cruisers would like. I think it's part of the nature of the industry. (People have even fussed that "The menus in the Main Dining Room are the SAME" about RCCL's brand new Harmony - which they are because the MDR menus are standard across their fleet.)

(Then again, I don't know of many restaurants - at least not exclusive specialty-type restaurants - that change their menu all the time either. Or theme parks that change up rides and shows... I think it all comes down to figuring out what you want and realizing that there may be some repetitive elements in it.)

Just an observation...

 

[cgolf]

FWIW, based on what I've seen on another forum discussing cruises, the "I'm tired of the menu/shows/itineraries" complaint among those who cruise frequently is pretty universal across the board. I've definitely seen it on forums discussing Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Things like menus and shows in the cruise industry as a whole across the board do NOT change often, or as often as multiple times a year or even once a year cruisers would like. I think it's part of the nature of the industry. (People have even fussed that "The menus in the Main Dining Room are the SAME" about RCCL's brand new Harmony - which they are because the MDR menus are standard across their fleet.)

(Then again, I don't know of many restaurants - at least not exclusive specialty-type restaurants - that change their menu all the time either. Or theme parks that change up rides and shows... I think it all comes down to figuring out what you want and realizing that there may be some repetitive elements in it.)

Just an observation...

I believe you, but at least with some of the lines you can bounce back and forth between different lines and accumulate perks, like Celebrity and RCCL. We aren't sure if we what are plans are in the future. We have an RCCL booked in 2017, will probably do DCL in 2018 and then who knows from there. We may bounce around lines to do different things depending on itineraries and price, but it is too early to tell at this point.