Is DCL Mainstream yet?

[jimmymc]

That's what I thought. Price just changed today to 1600 with 175 OBC. I booked 3 days ago. I might do a B2B if they have any last minute price drops. Prices may be going down because there is a new kid on the block the Star. I hope to try the Icon class sometime in the next year.

That's what I'm seeing now. When Icon first came out, I saw some verandah staterooms going for $10k over spring break. But now it's almost in line with the rest of Royal large ships.

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

I was looking at Star of the seas on Jan 4 and balconies started at 1900 pp. The Treasure starts at 3600pp for that same week. I can't imagine what the price difference would be for 4 people. I ended up booking Utopia a GTY verandah for 1300. The Wish is 3200 for a GTY verandah. So the Wish is close to 2.5X the cost for the exact dates and itinerary.

I looked at S O S vs Treasure for same week next September S O S was $950 more for the same category and that didn’t include adding the soda package

 

[DCLMP]

I looked at S O S vs Treasure for same week next September S O S was $950 more for the same category and that didn’t include adding the soda package

Every week is different. That’s why I shop for the best weeks and deals.

 

[DCLMP]

That's what I'm seeing now. When Icon first came out, I saw some verandah staterooms going for $10k over spring break. But now it's almost in line with the rest of Royal large ships.

I think the biggest difference between Royal and DCL is school holidays. Disney really jacks up the prices during school breaks. We homeschooled and cruised Disney during the slow months and prices weren’t too bad. Im not surprised that Star and Treasure are similar in Sept. Treasure is also an older ship.
Now with kids in college and being on a school calendar. Royal is a much better price range for us.. I can actually take a cruise during a Winter holiday school break. Something I could never do on Disney. I did a 12 night med cruise in 2023 on Royal. Something else I could never afford to do on Disney. Royal was a good 8k less than DCl for that trip. DCl has since lowered their European cruise prices a little bit. That’s a good thing.

I’m glad people can afford DCL and find it reasonably priced but that ship has sailed for us. It’s hard to pay triple for the same cruise you did 10 years with the same menus and same shows.

We’re in a different place in our lives now.

 

[Cfabar1]

They generally are, but at the same time, some of the Icon and Star of the Seas cruises on RCL are the same or more than equivalent Disney cruises. I've also found princess and celebrity cruises for a lower price than their Royal or NCL equivalents.

The new RCL ships are definitely charging premium prices. You are paying for that family entertainment (which in many instances you then get to pay more to actually experience).

Every week is different. That’s why I shop for the best weeks and deals.

That's another reason why I hate sailing RCL...

I’m glad people can afford DCL and find it reasonably priced but that ship has sailed for us. It’s hard to pay triple for the same cruise you did 10 years with the same menus and same shows.

We’re in a different place in our lives now.

We are going to switch to HAL, Princess, and Cunard as soon as humanly possible... We love Disney, but as soon as the nursery care, Disney shows, etc. aren't needed, we are skipping out.

 

[DCLMP]

The new RCL ships are definitely charging premium prices. You are paying for that family entertainment (which in many instances you then get to pay more to actually experience).

That's another reason why I hate sailing RCL...

We are going to switch to HAL, Princess, and Cunard as soon as humanly possible... We love Disney, but as soon as the nursery care, Disney shows, etc. aren't needed, we are skipping out.

You hate deals and different priced weeks? That is pretty standard as far as I can see even on DCL.

New ships always garner premium prices that's also another standard in the industry. Not sure what you mean by I'm paying for that family entertainment. Entertainment is provided on every ship, every ship and every line.

There is a lot more to do on Royal and some of it does cost extra. Disney doesn't have laser tag, escape rooms, flow riders, Zip lining etc, but everything you would find on a Disney ship such as ping pong, basketball. mini golf and entertainment is all included and no charge on Royal. So no difference there.

I don't know if Disney still has the sports stimulator, but that was an up charge.

HAL, Princess and Cunard have older demographics. Something to consider if you are still traveling with kids. Sorry that your experience on RCCL left you hating them. What went wrong?

 

[Cfabar1]

You hate deals and different priced weeks? That is pretty standard as far as I can see even on DCL.

I hate having to make tracking a vacation price a part time job… It is much easier to do so with DCL - book first, book last when there are FL Res rates, Military Rates, etc. or just book and pay what it costs…

I don’t need a degree in RCL Marketing/Pricing to book a vacation.

 

[DCLMP]

I hate having to make tracking a vacation price a part time job… It is much easier to do so with DCL - book first, book last when there are FL Res rates, Military Rates, etc. or just book and pay what it costs…

I don’t need a degree in RCL Marketing/Pricing to book a vacation.

What was so bad about your RCL cruise that you hate them so much? Prices don't actually change just the promotions.