Is DCL really that superior to other cruise lines?

[Mermaid02]

I have only been on DCL so I have nothing to compare it to- yet I have NO desire to cruise with anyone else. The receptionist just told me we should do Carnival as it is cheaper and "the kids clubs are just as good." Now frankly, I find that hard to believe, but I know it is cheaper. So those of you who have done others- is DCL really that much better? Or am I just being sucked in by the "Disney is ALWAYS better" mindset??

 

[BeanoC]

Well, for true Disney lovers, there is no substitute. You sure won't find Mickey Mouse on a Carnival ship!

That said, there are still good reasons to try other cruiselines. Number one? Cost!! A Carnival cruise can be done for way less than a Disney Cruise. RCL is higher than Carnival, but still cheaper than Disney in most cases.

I have been on NCL several times, and I like them very much. As good as Disney? No. I can honestly say that DCL is the best cruiseline I have ever sailed on, all things considered. I was on the "world famous" SS Norway a few years ago, and didn't find it all that impressive. I would take the Disney Magic over it anyday!

We are considering many different options in the next few years;
NCL to Hawaii, Carnival to the Mexican Riviera, etc. But until we decide on one, we will continue to sail with Disney!


'Beano

 

[Mermaid02]

"You sure won't find Mickey Mouse on a Carnival ship!"

I guess that sums it up- for me, it's ALL ABOUT the Mouse!

 

[Señor Ferrari]

I like DCL for the differences it has when compared to other cruise lines. The atmosphere is kind of like the theme parks. It's hard to describe, but there's just a kind of vibe on board.

Having said that I like cruising on other lines probably just as well. I've done Princess, HAL, RCCL and Windstar. There are things I like about all of them. I would encourage people to try different ones. Since my first cruise was on Disney, I was hesitant to try another line, thinking, "What if it's not as good?" I'm glad I've tried other lines, and will still do other cruises, while mixing in a DCL cruise every now and then.

The way the prices are going, I'm going to be cruising with other lines more often than I'd like. You can get a balcony cabin on one of RCI's Voyager-class ships for what you'd pay for an inside or oceanview on DCL. That's not something to be taken lightly.

I plan on trying NCL, probably in Hawaii. I also will try Carnival once they get one of their newer ships in LA, which I think happens this year. The Elation currently does the 7-day Mexico route out of LA (acutally out of Long Beach right now), and it's an older ship.

 

[WDWLVR]

I agree with Beano - there are other good ships out there, but to me Disney is the best.

I've been on 3 other lines (all more than 10 years ago) and no one does it like Disney!

We are looking at doing NCL in Hawaii - especially if they go to just the Hawaiin Island and drop Fanning.

We are also looking at doing Alaska someday. Hopefully by then Disney will be sailing there - if not we'll look at HAL.

The rest of the time i'll stick with Disney. From the ship to the crew to Castaway Cay - class all the way!

 

[BeanoC]

That's another great point - Castaway Cay.

NCL's private island is, in comparison, a dump!

Ok, it's not that bad, and there's some decent snorkeling, but of all the private cruise islands I've been to, nothing comes CLOSE to Castaway Cay. If you go on Disney, then go on another cruiseline and expect a day on their private island to be like CC, you'll be disappointed. Disney does things right!

Also, for whatever reason, getting off the ship and through customs with other lines is a nightmare! I remember sitting in the lobby (on the floor!) of the SS Norway for almost 4 hours waiting for the ship to be cleared. It was horrible. With Disney, we were off the ship and to our car in 20 minutes. No comparison. Again, Disney does it right.


'Beano'

 

[Mermaid02]

"4 hours waiting"

OMG! My dh's head would EXPLODE!!!!!

 

[Trekker]

Checkout the travel channel this month - they are doing cruise shows and have one highlighting the DCL. They explain many of the things you will find on DCL that are not on any other cruise line...

 

[BeanoC]

I kid you not - 4 hours. And that was no fluke, because we waited at least 3 hours on every other NCL cruise for debarkation.
You still put your luggage outside your room the last night, and you have to be out of your stateroom by 8:00 A.M., but can't leave the ship until it clears. So we, along with 2500 other passengers, sat around in the lobby for hours doing nothing.

On DCL, we put our luggage out the night before, then got out of our room in the morning, went to breakfast, got off the ship, claimed our bags in the customs area, went to our car and left!!
Absolultely painless.

That alone is no small consideration. That long wait the last morning is awful, and to think of doing it with kids? Unbearable.
Thanks Disney!!


'Beano'

 

[mrsltg]

Beano, I'm sorry your customs experience was so bad on NCL. I cruised with them in January and we were allowed in our staterooms till 9:30-10am (you could disembark starting at about 8). We left at 9:30 and had to wait in line only about 20 minutes (no sitting on the floor or we would have been trampled!). I also loved their private island... white sand, crystal blue water, nice breeze, someone bringing me pina coladas... what's not to love???

I understand your question, Mermaid. I am struggling with this issue now too. We're planning a cruise for September of '04, and I am trying to decide between Disney and some other lines. In fact, I just e-mailed my TA and asked her if DCL is really THAT good (meaning an extra $1000 kind of good!). Any help would be much appreciated!

Erin

 

[kajohn]

I agree DCL does do debarkation the best!

One reason, besides cost to consider sailing other lines, is the fact you can go to different places. We are sailing the Adventure of the Seas out of San Juan and going to Aruba and Caracao. DCL will never be able to go there if they will only sail out of Port Canaveral. Just too far away.

Also, we are sailing without the kids this time, and I feel that the other lines have more to offer adults, i.e. casinos etc, and a much more elegant dining room (at least the RCCL ships I've sailed).

I do understand though the reluctance to sail other lines. My husband had only sailed RCCL and I had to force him to try DCL with the kids. We had a great time, but he was ready to go back to RCCL.

 

[kramer_clan]

The 5 DCL cruises that I have been on have been way better than sailing with Carnival or Norwegian.

The dining cannot be beat. I have had better food on other ships, but the dining experience is the best.

Embarkation is quite painless compared to the other cruise lines. At least there is a comfortable place to wait.

When you disembark with Disney, there is no waiting in a long line or waiting at a certain place to leave the ship. You just leave once you have completed breakfast and the ship is cleared.

Also, I have noticed that Disney has gotten the better spots at the ports in which to dock. I don't know if I was just lucky with Disney or if it is always that way. With Carnival, you never know where at a port you are going to dock. Same with NCL. I just returned from a short 4 night Norwegian Majesty cruise and we anchored in Cozumel when the itinerary said that we would dock there. I was truly disappointed because it was a bad day in Cozumel, raining and stormy all afternoon. I think that I would have gotten off the ship if we were docked, if only to shop a little. But I was not going to tender just to see Cozumel again.

I will cruise other lines, but I will definitely keep DCL high on my list even at the cost.

Vicki

 

[dclwdwlover]

Because, as my sn denotes, I am a HUGE Disney fan I am partial to DCL, but I always talk w/people who have cruised all of the lines & most common response is that Carnival is junky. The only people that seem to like it is people who haven't cruised another line. I hear fantastic things about RCL & good & bad about NCL. I have cruised two other lines, but we stick with DCL because we feel that their reputation is on the line & they pay much more attention to detail, i.e. choice of cast members, safety issues, upkeep, etc. I feel safer myself cruising DCL & I don't worry about the kids (now 12 & 17 - but my 12 yr. old first sailed @ 2). My husband, although he has never sailed another line, is diehard Disney. He is in awe everytime we sail DCL. Also, while I am typing this the Travel Channel special about the Voyager is on and, although it looks like a gorgeous ship, it seems more like a floating Las Vegas. Disney has class!!!!!

 

[KenP]

RE the long waits to get off the ship. On carnival, they took the opportunity to sell passengers scratch off lottery cards while they waited! People were so bored and tired they stood in line to buy the things. All cruise lines try to get you to spend money on board, but Carnival takes it to a new level - you feel like you are being nickel and dimed.

Another example, try to take a sealed bottle of liquor on board Carnival at a port of call - they confiscate it and yell out "contraband! please check at desk ahead". I wasn't planning on drinking it on board, but was somewhat offended cause I knew they were just trying to eek out some more revenue.

In the photo store ("Shutters" equivalent), all the pictures had antishoplifting stickers applied and "Inventory Control" scanners at the exits - this gives you an idea of the "class" of carnival cruisers...

On the flip side, I do hope to try out Royal Carribean's Mariner of the Sea. when it starts sailing from Port Canaveral soon. I've heard much better things about RCCL.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Disembarkation on other cruise lines IS a nightmare!

I've been on 3 other cruises (Princess and RCCL) and the shortest I had to wait was 3 hours. It's awful. Disney - I was off the ship at 7:45 a.m.

I don't know what Disney does differently, but it's amazing!

I would sail RCCL and Princess again.

 

[TnRobin]

We too would love to cruise Hawaii and have check out other lines. One thing that has come up in out investigation of other cruiselines is the stateroom size. I have been spoiled by DCL in that DS has the sofa bed.

Most of the other lines have the third and fourth bed fold out of the wall above the two twin beds. In order to get the stateroom where my DS will not have to sleep above me and DH in a bunk I will have to get one of the premium veranda cabins - not just a veranda cabin. This will definitely put any cruiselines price above what I would pay in a Cat 10 on DCL.

 

[rae519]

I have absolutely no complaints about DCL. I know I would be very upset if I took another cruise and found it lacking in what I've come to expect with DCL.

It's all the "you get what you pay for" attitude and I'd rather spend my money on DCL than experiment to find out if there is something "better" out there.

Rae

 

[Flyrfan]

I have sailed on three cruise lines; USN, RCCL, and DCL. For the money I would choose RCCL. More bang for the buck. For the life experience I chose USN. For priceless Disney memories with my children.............

Ship colors exterior, 1 DCL with the classic black gets my number one vote. RCCL would be number 2 because I can't the haze grey of USN

Best ports goes to USN hands down. Fort Lauderdale spring break in 82'.........im glad I was not yet married

 

[kasar]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=357611

Here's my comparison of a recent RCCL cruise. It was great but, in my opinion, DCL is the nicer of the two. But given the choice of RCCL or no cruise, it's a no brainer - go!! Anytime you're waited on hand and foot is okay with me....