Is Disney Cruise worth increased cost?

[Geomom]

That’s great to know deck 2 has one large porthole. That is def what I would prefer vs two small ones. So avoid deck 1?

Correct, avoid deck 1.
View from Room 2116, my youngest, then age 12.

 

[auntlynne]

That’s great to know deck 2 has one large porthole. That is def what I would prefer vs two small ones. So avoid deck 1?

Yes. You could just as well be inside.

We sailed DCL to AK in 2011. And have since sailed AK 3 times on Princess. I’m going solo to AK in Sep - on a huge Norwegian Cruise Line ship. And anticipate trying Celebrity in the future (we were booked in a balcony last year for 3K for 2 adults - vs the now $10K on Disney)

But… for what could possibly be the trip of a lifetime … if feasible, I’d do Disney. I love the Magic and Wonder, especially the size (food is practically the same all four Disney ships). It is so much easier to navigate for old people and little people.

And if you hope to ever sail Disney, the price increases from year to year seem to outstrip inflation, so no need to put it off. Book as early as you can.

We pick the sideways cabins on Decks 5 or 6 forward, lowest price, single bathroom, but sideways layout gives more clear floor space. And on the same floor as the Kids’ clubs and the movie theatre. They are listed as Standard Inside, Category 11A. Got 2 of them booked on the Magic for January.

Have a great cruise.

 

[sazzle12]

Yes. You could just as well be inside.

We sailed DCL to AK in 2011. And have since sailed AK 3 times on Princess. I’m going solo to AK in Sep - on a huge Norwegian Cruise Line ship. And anticipate trying Celebrity in the future (we were booked in a balcony last year for 3K for 2 adults - vs the now $10K on Disney)

But… for what could possibly be the trip of a lifetime … if feasible, I’d do Disney. I love the Magic and Wonder, especially the size (food is practically the same all four Disney ships). It is so much easier to navigate for old people and little people.

And if you hope to ever sail Disney, the price increases from year to year seem to outstrip inflation, so no need to put it off. Book as early as you can.

We pick the sideways cabins on Decks 5 or 6 forward, lowest price, single bathroom, but sideways layout gives more clear floor space. And on the same floor as the Kids’ clubs and the movie theatre. They are listed as Standard Inside, Category 11A. Got 2 of them booked on the Magic for January.

Have a great cruise.

Thanks for the tip about deck 5 rooms. Do they have oceanview rooms that are "sideways" or only inside?

 

[Joe Brig]

Seems like everything is more expensive now. However, with the current protocols I would say it isn't worth it.

 

[sazzle12]

Seems like everything is more expensive now. However, with the current protocols I would say it isn't worth it.

What are the current protocols? I suppose if things are still bad approaching summer 2022 we can cancel.

 

[Cheburashka]

What are the current protocols?

Disney Cruise Experience Updates

 

[Cheburashka]

Thanks for the tip about deck 5 rooms. Do they have oceanview rooms that are "sideways" or only inside?

Inside only.

 

[mullysisters]

Yes. You could just as well be inside.

We sailed DCL to AK in 2011. And have since sailed AK 3 times on Princess. I’m going solo to AK in Sep - on a huge Norwegian Cruise Line ship. And anticipate trying Celebrity in the future (we were booked in a balcony last year for 3K for 2 adults - vs the now $10K on Disney)

But… for what could possibly be the trip of a lifetime … if feasible, I’d do Disney. I love the Magic and Wonder, especially the size (food is practically the same all four Disney ships). It is so much easier to navigate for old people and little people.

And if you hope to ever sail Disney, the price increases from year to year seem to outstrip inflation, so no need to put it off. Book as early as you can.

We pick the sideways cabins on Decks 5 or 6 forward, lowest price, single bathroom, but sideways layout gives more clear floor space. And on the same floor as the Kids’ clubs and the movie theatre. They are listed as Standard Inside, Category 11A. Got 2 of them booked on the Magic for January.

Have a great cruise.

Hi, we are booked on the reposition cruise from SD to Vancouver April 2022. We really wanted to visit DL. I'm following this thread because there are none for our cruise it seems. We are booked I'm an inside stateroom Cat 11B on deck 6. Its our first ever cruise! I hope we chose well! We cant afford a verandah, dont expect to spend much time in our room and DSis gets seasick so a porthole is out. I'm liking that the Wonder is older and smaller. I was curious to know if there would be fewer children on an itinerary like this. Mot that I dont enjoy kids- love my nieces and nephews, and great n & n's!

 

[hrhdhd]

Hi, we are booked on the reposition cruise from SD to Vancouver April 2022. We really wanted to visit DL. I'm following this thread because there are none for our cruise it seems. We are booked I'm an inside stateroom Cat 11B on deck 6. Its our first ever cruise! I hope we chose well! We cant afford a verandah, dont expect to spend much time in our room and DSis gets seasick so a porthole is out. <snip>

If one has a tendency toward being seasick, it's better to be able to see the horizon. Being in a windowless room is a bad idea. Bring children's strength Bonine or Dramamine.

 

[mullysisters]

If one has a tendency toward being seasick, it's better to be able to see the horizon. Being in a windowless room is a bad idea. Bring children's strength Bonine or Dramamine.

I wasnt sure if you could see the horizon or the sight of rolling waves going up and down? I dont suffer from motion sickness and I hope my DSis will be okay.

 

[Geomom]

Hi, we are booked on the reposition cruise from SD to Vancouver April 2022. We really wanted to visit DL. I'm following this thread because there are none for our cruise it seems. We are booked I'm an inside stateroom Cat 11B on deck 6. Its our first ever cruise! I hope we chose well! We cant afford a verandah, dont expect to spend much time in our room and DSis gets seasick so a porthole is out. I'm liking that the Wonder is older and smaller. I was curious to know if there would be fewer children on an itinerary like this. Mot that I dont enjoy kids- love my nieces and nephews, and great n & n's!

If it's not during a school vacation week, there will likely be fewer school age kids, especially as it is a one way cruise. Personally I need an Oceanview to see the outside, but more due to claustrophobia. We love deck 2 Oceanview rooms. My oldest (DD21) gets queasy on cruise ships, 1 Bonine a day works for her and is non drowsy. Generally you are not low enough to see rolling waves, even on deck 2. Cruise ships have stabilizers, so you're less likely to get seasick on them vs smaller boats that move more. Generally seeing the horizon is supposed to help with seasickness--your eyes can tell your brain what direction the ship is going, so your sister may want an Oceanview. Fresh air helps, we walked around the promenade on deck 4. Green apples also help. I like ginger products for myself, I just need a day to get my sea legs. I've used Dramamine naturals which is just ginger powder, ginger hard candy, and ginger ale or lemon ginger tea.

 

[mostlytraveling4food]

It’s not worth it.

You’re gonna see Mickey and Minnie for 2 seconds from 25 feet away

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

It’s not worth it.

You’re gonna see Mickey and Minnie for 2 seconds from 25 feet away

You will actually run into the characters all over the ship! I literally tripped over Goofys big feet on my way into Animators Palette for dinner! This is the restaurant where the paintings on the wall, and your servers vests, turn from black and white to color as your dinner progresses!! and we were in an elevator with Stitch on our way down to dinner! Chip and Dale tend to hang out on the pool deck . Dinner with Tiana has a live jazz band complete with an alligator playing a saxophone and they leave their band stand to perform in a conga line next to your table!! and by the way, we have sailed on the Wonder to Alaska 4 times!! You will never forget it!!

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

And yes all 4 were on the Disney Wonder!!

 

[sethschroeder]

It’s not worth it.

You’re gonna see Mickey and Minnie for 2 seconds from 25 feet away

I haven't been on other cruise lines but I have to think they draw a different type of passenger and for me I like the Disney theme around the ship not just the characters.

Alaska would be the only one though where I might be open to doing something other than Disney.

 

[tvguy]

IMHO it is worth it once in a lifetime. Took my kids when they were 16 and 12 and they loved it. But they also loved the NCL and HAL cruises they have been on. But full disclosure, they found the DCL Kids clubs lame. As I have posted before, cruises when our kids were kids (they are 34 and 30 now), a cruise was a week to be together 24/7, as we saw them so little during the school year with school and sports. And a word of warning, if you take your kids on any cruise after they turn 21.......watch out for the BAR TAB!

 

[ktate82]

We haven't cruised to Alaska yet, but we are 30 people booked across 10 rooms next July for Alaska. Our group decided to go with Disney as this is a once in a lifetime trip for several in our group. We knew what we were getting with Disney (disclosure, we have never cruised another line and are platinum with Disney) and knew that for our group, the service was important. It was more expensive, but everyone wanted Disney due to the service level. We have been on the Wonder before and loved it. We also enjoy the food, but we aren't big foodies. I will say the sooner you book, the cheaper it is.

 

[2China2009]

Not in my opinion. We were on the Dream the first year it sailed. It was an amazing cruise as my girls were younger. Glad we did it but not again for the insane price. I have done many Carnival Cruises and have had an amazing time. But a lot of people on the boards here have a ton of money.

 

[DCLMP]

I think DCL is worth it most of the time, but there is a red line I won't cross when it comes to pricing. In other words, DCL is always my first choice, but I'm not going to bankrupt myself to sail on DCL. We've tried other cruise lines and enjoyed them. As far as the Wonder goes it is old, but very well maintained. The food is fine. It's the Disney touches, service, shows, and family atmosphere that set Disney apart from other cruise lines.

 

[erik3dis]

At some point when you look at money, IMO you have to also consider other vacation options. You can have a luxury vacation experience, if that is what you would like\, for probably less money than a Disney cruise. This is really something we have been thinking about with things like indoor mask restrictions and fewer entertainment options on the ship.

This summer we booked a private beachfront Caribbean villa over two weeks for less than cost of previous cruises. Some of that is Covid pricing but made us appreciate that while we have loved our cruises, there are other experiences out there. Especially when you start thinking about doing the same cruise over again.

But IMO when it comes to cruises, you will never regret the Disney experience.