Is a Disney Cruise Worth it?

[CallieS]

To give some perspective on my opinion - I have been on over 20 cruises on more than 6 different cruise lines, including Disney twice. I've been to Disney World more times than I can count over the past 37 years. I love Disney, but I don't think Disney cruises are worth the price. My first Disney cruise was just to see what it was all about. We received the same level of service, food, entertainment as other cruise lines. I didn't experience anything that justified the price. In fact, we had a mechanical problem in our cabin that they handled rather poorly. No pixie dust there. The second Disney cruise we went on was just last week, and I only went because my sister planned the vacation and it was my 7yo nephew's first cruise ever. Again, there was nothing that stood out to justify the cost. FWIW, my nephew LOVED the cruise and now wants to go on another Disney cruise. There goes my money. I think another poster mentioned the "trouble" of going on a Disney cruise as your first cruise. You become hooked.

All that being said, I do think it's worthwhile to try a Disney cruise once. Maybe a 4 day. Then you can form your own opinions, which may be completely different from all of our opinions.

 

[aprincessatlast]

Admins, can we merge this thread with the other 10,283 threads that ask the exact same thing, or a permutation thereof? Redundancy is redundant.

Please... it is the disboards. Most of the 10,283 threads here are redundant. The list is a mile long on questions that are asked again and again. In the spirit of redundancy, don't click on threads that do not interest you.

Is it worth it? Depends...as for me I love analogies! I will use my experience of shopping for suits for my kids at department stores. Both my boys needed new suits. Now I could have went to Nordstrom and had an amazing shopping experience and bought a high quality suite in the range of $250, so $500 for 2 suits for growing boys. I will say this would be likened to going on Silversea cruise line or Oceania.

I could have went to Dillards and paid $100-50 per suite for 2 growing boys. This to me is a pleasant shopping experience but I roll my chances not all Dillards are new and nice. Service here is hit or miss but mostly a hit. I will liken this to DCL. Chances are good it will be a decent quality suit with a good shopping experience.

You know though I just was not in the mood to spend any money on these suits. So I went to a discount department store. Not a tj maxx but Gabes (think big lots) I will liken this to the cheaper cruises you ares seeing for $400 a week. Now Gabes shopping experience is typically not pleasant. The crowd shopping there is rough and I typically hear screaming kids and people cussing. The store is laid out fine but is dirty and not in aesthetically pleasing shopping center. They do not always have what you want but you roll your chances. You can almost always guarantee long lines of 20-30 minutes to check out. I rolled my chances to see if they had the suits. They did! I paid $20 for the same exact suits at Dillards and the lines was only 10 minutes. Granted it was still in the same store but was relatively clean that day. So overall for me it was worth it!

So long analogy short, you get what you pay for....sometimes. Sometimes you overpay and sometimes you score on a cheap cruise but more often than not you will experience what the 1000's of people before you that help give the company the reputation they have. Granted imho there are other lines comparable to DCL but even they are not $400 a week. We are DVC gold and I honestly could not tell you if it was worth it as worth is subjective but I can tell you DCL has the reputation it has for a reason.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

The second Disney cruise we went on was just last week, and I only went because my sister planned the vacation and it was my 7yo nephew's first cruise ever. Again, there was nothing that stood out to justify the cost. FWIW, my nephew LOVED the cruise and now wants to go on another Disney cruise. There goes my money. I think another poster mentioned the "trouble" of going on a Disney cruise as your first cruise. You become hooked.

All that being said, I do think it's worthwhile to try a Disney cruise once. Maybe a 4 day. Then you can form your own opinions, which may be completely different from all of our opinions.

I think this is the point, at least it is for our family. .. it's the kids' fav pick for a vacay. Do my husband and I love it? Yes! Would we choose to go without our kids or if our kids weren't gaga over DCL? NO.

 

[cmph]

From the perspective of someone who hasn't done it a dozen times or more (hence different perspective on "worth"), isn't old enough to have sailed many years ago when it was so much cheaper, and has elementary/middle school aged kids - we think it's worth it. We love the characters, the family-friendly shows, rotational dining, laying out on deck with a favorite Disney movie playing, hearing Disney tunes throughout the ship. If you are a Disney fan, you're likely to feel the same. If you're not, then I'm not sure I'd necessarily advise you to pay more to sail DCL. But I will also add that my typically fairly thrifty parents, who are fine with Disney but not big fans and were slightly skeptical to join us on the Wonder... are now taking us all on DCL next year and refused to even consider another line. DCL was the 6th cruiseline they've been on. You never know until you try it.

 

[phinz]

Please... it is the disboards. Most of the 10,283 threads here are redundant. The list is a mile long on questions that are asked again and again. In the spirit of redundancy, don't click on threads that do not interest you.

And in the spirit of not perpetuating the redundancy, don't quote a post that talks about redundancy, but instead quote a post that you're actually replying to.

 

[mevelandry]

You know though I just was not in the mood to spend any money on these suits. So I went to a discount department store. Not a tj maxx but Gabes (think big lots) I will liken this to the cheaper cruises you ares seeing for $400 a week. Now Gabes shopping experience is typically not pleasant. The crowd shopping there is rough and I typically hear screaming kids and people cussing. The store is laid out fine but is dirty and not in aesthetically pleasing shopping center. They do not always have what you want but you roll your chances. You can almost always guarantee long lines of 20-30 minutes to check out. (...)

My two cents... with that comparison, you make it sound like the cheaper cruises are typically not pleasant, dirty and not aesthetically pleasing... (And I would strongly disagree).

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

For my wife and I yes, DCL is worth the extra cost! Our first and only cruise not DCL (not counting the Big Red Boat 1987) was just last year, we were on the Celebrity Millennium; Seward, AK to Vancouver Canada. We did have DCL booked but we went with two other couples and they did not want to pay the price of DCL so we cancelled and went with Celebrity. Plus the one way cruise sounded much more interesting to us compared to DCL round trip. And just a note, neither couple have sailed on DCL.

We both thought that all of the workers on Celebrity were just as good/friendly as the Cast Members on DCL and the food on both comparable, stateroom always clean. Where Celebrity lacked for us; while the entertainment was okay on Celebrity, we believe DCL excels in this category. We love the attention to detail on DCL; not at all impressed with the overall appearance of the Millennium and the decorations. We don't gamble so no casino on DCL is a bonus. Our son (now 24 yo), when he was younger LOVED the kids club. We could not get him out, but we have never cruised another line when he was younger so we can't to compare Celebrity to DCL. Maybe someone else can. Love the split bath stateroom on DCL. While my wife is in one room getting ready for the day or Palo or Remy; I am in the other.

Obviously from the many responses so far, there are many that do not find DCL worth it. We have our next cruise booked for next year. It will be our eighth cruise with DCL, we are going to Europe to sail on the Magic.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The experiences on different lines are different. Don't overly snort pixie dust when looking at Disney, but what I would call differentiators:

• The best programming for ~ages 3-10 of the major lines
• The inclusion of non-specialty non-alcoholic vs. buying a soda package is nice
• No casino
• Somewhat larger rooms than many ships, even in the "cheap" seats
• Disney entertainment (in which include things like M&Gs, the Day at Sea programming, and the stage shows)

The ports of call and excursions are pretty much exactly the same as everyone else, provided by the same shore providers at similar pricing. So don't delude yourself about the curation there, or "use of higher quality providers!" than other lines, because that's hooey.

For some, the above may be worth "it," for whatever value is assigned to "it." For others, and really most people, can have outstanding experiences on RCCL or NCL or Carnival.

For me, right now, the programming level for the kids is a high priority. I am not shorting my retirement or college funds for said kids to choose Disney. So for my value of "it," the worth is there.

 

[cgolf]

To the OP, I will give you some things to think about, because I really can't answer would it be worth it for your family.

Having done RCCL once now, we were very impressed with the service on the Freedom and many things on the ship including how well kept it was. In my opinion and being careful because I am comparing 1 RCCL to 12 DCL cruises, I feel that you are going to get very similar service on the two lines, DCL will not be that much better for the price you are paying.

What you get with DCL is the whole Disney experience. If your family is crazy about Disney I would recommend giving DCL a go. If you are like us and can take or leave the whole Disney thing then I would look for a cruise during a non peak time or book last minute if you can to try DCL at a lower price point.

The only thing I have no comparison for between the two lines is the kids clubs, our only child was between 10 and 18 when she cruised DCL and loved them, she has not cruised RCCL with us.

The biggest concern/question I would have for you is could you go on a DCL trip and if everything was comparable to RCCL could you still enjoy yourself without thinking wow we spent x amount less last year for a different but overall similar experience? We tried to go on RCCL with an open mind, but still found ourselves comparing it to DCL while we were onboard even though we had promised ourselves we wouldn't, but on that trip we always had the ace in the hole that we were paying much less to be on the freedom than we would have any DCL ship.

I did a comparison of RCCL vs DCL minus kids on here after we got back this year link is below.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...cl-minus-kiddo-will-answer-questions.3575510/

 

[ChicosWife]

Is a Disney cruise worth the extra expense? What makes it better/different than a typical cruise?

YES!!! What makes it better is the same thing you go to Disneyland and WDW for... the magic! Not only that, DCL goes above and beyond in all things. From the food and service to the cleanliness and appearance of the ship itself. They actually do touch-up painting at the end of every cruise. You will not find such care anywhere else. Not to mention, Castaway Cay is paradise and also includes all the amenities that you would find on board (i.e. food, magic, etc.).

 

[KashasMom]

Most of the people here are very Disney-centric! Some are even Disney-snooty. Some will give you opinions that are not applicable to your family (They may sail as a couple or a single person. Their experiences WILL be different and most likely "easier".) Some have never even sailed another cruiseline yet many will put down other lines. I like to form my own opinions based on my own experiences.

I don't necesssarily believe that Disney is the best. We've had great cruises on other lines/ships. I would only recommend the Fantasy or Dream. Overall: Food is okay. Pool for kids aged 7-8 - packed - people soup. A few of the shows are good (your boys may find a few cheesy). While Disney kid's clubs get kudos from many parents/kids they are usually very crowded so less attention than kids would get on another line. For us, service has varied. Your sons might enjoy Pirate Night/Fireworks and the Aquaduck. All that being said, I think you should absolutely give DCL a try. Your sons are at a good age.

I highly recommend one of the Very Merrytime cruises, which start first/second week of November, depending on the ship. The ship will be decorated for Christmas with a large gingerbread house in the atrium. The characters are dressed in their holiday best. There is a Christmas party with Santa and Mrs. Claus and plenty of Christmas activities - make ornaments, make a gingerbread house, etc.

 

[darnheather]

I'll go out on a limb here, and tell the truth. ....

No. .... Don't book DCL.

Not for the first time. It becomes addictive and an obsession.
It's like a fine wine, you will struggle to find again. lol.

Stay as far away as possible from DCL.

You will just want more. And DCL will still just suck your $$$. .....

They are a professional vacuum. Is DCL in vacuum sales?

If you don't love the sea, stay away.

Unless you have a large bank account. , lol.

If you understand the foreword, than book away. And buy vacuum bags.

JMTs

Oh how I wish I hadn't taken my kids on DCL for our first cruise. I thought it would be a once in a lifetime trip. I thought if we wanted to cruise again we'd try other lines. Now they are total cruise snobs and refuse to even consider other lines after looking at pictures of the ships online! They love the classic steamship look of DCL and were totally spoiled by the personalized service.

 

[cgolf]

Oh how I wish I hadn't taken my kids on DCL for our first cruise. I thought it would be a once in a lifetime trip. I thought if we wanted to cruise again we'd try other lines. Now they are total cruise snobs and refuse to even consider other lines after looking at pictures of the ships online! They love the classic steamship look of DCL and were totally spoiled by the personalized service.

Our now college age very stubborn daughter is the same way. Trust me I was very nervous before our RCCL cruise (you can guess where here stubborness comes from), but was very glad we did it. Unfortunately we still have not convinced her. If I had advice I would share it with you, but unfortunately I got nothing.

 

[aprincessatlast]

My two cents... with that comparison, you make it sound like the cheaper cruises are typically not pleasant, dirty and not aesthetically pleasing... (And I would strongly disagree).

Hmm.. with respect, yeah I guess I am. I mean they have that reputation by and large. Granted I have done a cheap cruise and had a great time. Moreso the itinerary and the people we were with than the ship. The ship though was not aesthetically pleasing and while I won't say dirty as it was RCCL it did not shine! Lots of mold and rust. Service was good though.

That was kind of my analogy. You can roll the dice and it might be great as every experience is not always the same. The day I shopped for suits was a great day as I got it for a fraction but a typical shopping experience there is not great. Some people can shop there and think nothing of it. The same as they could shop at Nordstrom and not notice the difference as those things are not important to them or stand out. However certain ships, lines, itineraries (3 day vs 7) have reputations for a reason. Even 3 day dcl trips have a reputation of being hurried and not as nice as a 7 day. I have done both and enjoy them but noticed the difference. Point being we each have to weigh what is important but in the back of our mind we know that reputations are built for a reason.

Fwiw I enjoy these discussions as to me it is all for fun! Where else can we talk about such frivolous things with people not thinking we are crazy! lol So i like hearing different viewpoints

 

[mevelandry]

I forgot to talk about the food! With the exception of Palo and Remy... I really don't think the food on DCL is THAT good (I would say "acceptable to good") The food we've had on the Carnival Victory was much better in our opinion. So I wouldn't sail with DCL expecting the best quality.

 

[cruiser21]

This thread is hilarious. The op has cruised several times with Royal and Carnival, and appears to have enjoyed them. Why do people feel the need to convince her that cruise lines other than DCL are floating heaps of garbage and only Disney touches up the paint after every cruise. Some of the statements made on here have me laughing.
I still think OP should try a DCL cruise at least once.

 

[cgolf]

YES!!! What makes it better is the same thing you go to Disneyland and WDW for... the magic! Not only that, DCL goes above and beyond in all things. From the food and service to the cleanliness and appearance of the ship itself. They actually do touch-up painting at the end of every cruise. You will not find such care anywhere else. Not to mention, Castaway Cay is paradise and also includes all the amenities that you would find on board (i.e. food, magic, etc.).

Please go read the Classcs vs Dream class thread near the top of the boards and see if you still hold that opinion. A lot of people are not impressed wth the shape of the classcs, and this isn't new criticism either. Also note one of the defenders of the classics, me a family jumping ship for now. The Magic is home for me, lumps bumps and smells included

 

[lbus42]

This thread is hilarious. The op has cruised several times with Royal and Carnival, and appears to have enjoyed them. Why do people feel the need to convince her that cruise lines other than DCL are floating heaps of garbage and only Disney touches up the paint after every cruise. Some of the statements made on here have me laughing.
I still think OP should try a DCL cruise at least once.

Because some of us really like DCL and we are expressing our opinions on why we like it. If you do not really care for it, that is fine, but do not downgrade our opinions with comments like "some of the statements made on her have me laughing".

 

[PrincessTrisha]

My husband and I are planning to take our 8 and 7 year old boys on a cruise this fall. We have done several Royal Caribbean/Carnival cruises. We have taken them to Disney World. Is a Disney cruise worth the extra expense? What makes it better/different than a typical cruise?

We are looking at November. Does anyone know if any promotions typically come available? I know with Disney the free dining comes out in May for the fall months, and wasn't sure if the cruise promotions followed suit.

Let me ask you this - how would you rate your other cruises on a scale of 1-10? If you rate your other cruises at an 8 or higher, I wouldn't pay the premium for DCL. You'll be left wondering - what is the extra I'm paying for?

The kids clubs have longer hours than other lines and so much of the ship is definitely kid centric/friendly on DCL so your kids will probably have a blast. For your boys ages, there are no extra fees for the kids clubs (no late night charges or extra pay events). And soda is included in the dining rooms and on the pool deck. There's no family friendly extra fee restaurants (though both the Dream and Fantasy will have the for fee ice cream shop). There is rotational dining where you cycle through 3 different dining rooms but keep your servers (not pay restaurants - just 3 different MDRs). There is a movie theatre (no extra charge for movies) on board that shows first run movies and in your cabin, there will be either free on demand movies (Dream and Fantasy) or channels that show movies continually throughout the day (Wonder and Magic). On DCL the bed does not split apart so you and your husband would have an actual queen, not two twins pushed together for a king bed. On DCL, you can bring aboard either a bottle of wine or 6 beer - it's one of the few that gives that choice (instead of the default bottle of wine).

That being said, promotions for DCL are a different beast than either WDW or other cruise lines. At this point, your only real hope is a GT rate (basically a very restrictive guarantee rate where you pay in full, don't select your room and get your room assignment very close to the cruise date). These are a gamble because they aren't always offered. If you need one specific cruise and have your heart set on it, you might find yourself needing to pay full price (which by now, many of the November 2017 cruises have already increased to what I would consider crazy levels).

My one recommendation if you do decide to do a Disney cruise - focus on what makes the Disney cruise different. Encourage your kids to go to the kids club, participate in the Mickey 200 (a family race where you build a car out of vegetables), try to play some of the game shows in the evening as a family, see the Disney shows, visit the characters. You can sunbathe or dip in the hot tub on other cruise lines for a lot less than you'll pay on DCL. And honestly - the same with port adventures. If you've already been to a port - consider skipping it to explore the ship and see the pictures and décor, spend time in the kids club (during open house, the whole family can go), or catch that first run movie in the theatre while it's almost empty or order a Mickey ice cream bar from room service and savour it.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

The experiences on different lines are different. Don't overly snort pixie dust when looking at Disney, but what I would call differentiators:

• The best programming for ~ages 3-10 of the major lines
• The inclusion of non-specialty non-alcoholic vs. buying a soda package is nice
• No casino
• Somewhat larger rooms than many ships, even in the "cheap" seats
• Disney entertainment (in which include things like M&Gs, the Day at Sea programming, and the stage shows)

The ports of call and excursions are pretty much exactly the same as everyone else, provided by the same shore providers at similar pricing. So don't delude yourself about the curation there, or "use of higher quality providers!" than other lines, because that's hooey.

For some, the above may be worth "it," for whatever value is assigned to "it." For others, and really most people, can have outstanding experiences on RCCL or NCL or Carnival.

For me, right now, the programming level for the kids is a high priority. I am not shorting my retirement or college funds for said kids to choose Disney. So for my value of "it," the worth is there.

I have to disagree with you on the bolded point. DCL only offers soda (and carbonated beverages) in the dining room and on the pool deck. If you want a soda in the theatre or at a club or bar, you'll be paying for it. Bottled water is also not included. Nor is juice available outside of the buffet in the morning, the MDRs at meals and through room service (i.e. no place to just walk up and get juice). I'd rather than DCL dropped the included soda and had a package that your could choose to purchase (or not) that was more inclusive than what they offer now.

Other lines include bottled water, specialty coffee drinks, canned soda anywhere on the ship and a variety of juices (even fresh squeezed) in their non-alcoholic drink packages.