Is Disney smoking crack or what???

[ldg1146]

I was very disappointed to see the price chart for the Baltic cruises.

I've checked the HAL website to compare. They only have prices for 2009, but for the same time of year (June) for an itinerary that's almost the same and oceanview cabin--our price would be about $4500 including fuel charges and transfers.

I LOVE DCL & Mickey, but doubt that we'll book. Doesn't make sense to pay close to double for the same cruise. (We've sailed with HAL 3 times and have had elegant service, food, & entertainment.)

 

[DMMarla07860]

ok, DCL prices are high, but what are other cruise line prices for 2010, I keep hearing people say the prices for 2009 for other lines but not 2010, what are the prices for 2010

 

[Rogillio]

I don't understand the shock and disbelief about the prices. These prices are almost identical to the 2007 Med Cruise prices. In fact, I think they used the same table as a place-holder for the Baltic prices.

When I talked to a DCL agent the other day, she said "Disney has not released the prices yet". When I asked about the prices listed on the website she said those were just to give you an idea 'about' what the prices will be. Now, maybe she didn't know what she was talking about but then again, the prices probably will be similar to the Disney Med prices.

~Mike

 

[Justthe8ofus]

I went on the Med Cruise last year, and it was worth every single penny. It's something you only need to do once. For me, most of it is still fresh in my memory because it was fantastic.

I'm glad you found it to be worth it but I do not. For me it's not "something I only do once". I went to Europe 3 times in 3 years not with Disney. I also had a fantastic time. Europe doesn't need Disney to be wonderful. On those port intensive cruises the ship is a means to get from place to place. It is not the destination.

 

[Justthe8ofus]

I respectfully disagree with the "most people" comment.

The prices are exactly what people in Europe can and will pay ... the US$ is weak against the pound and euro and so far Disney haven't really tapped the European market. I may be wrong but I seem to remember hearing they didn't even advertise the Med cruises last time in Europe - imagine if they did!?

When you consider how many British and Europeans have been traveling to the US and Disney for years then its probably a very reasonable cost for them and a lot closer to home.

We were at WDW in September and have never seen/heard that many English and other European language speakers there before. Just because the US economy is struggling at the moment, its not the case everywhere (or not the quite the same extent) and I think Disney have realised this and are doing what they can to ensure their balance sheet continues to look healthy.

No offense but do you follow the markets? The Euro and Pound have both been falling in value. What is happening in the US is happening world wide(minus China and India). The US is just a few steps ahead in the process.(meaning the US economy will likely bottom then begin to recover before the Europeans) Yes the airfare will not be as much for Europeans but, they will not be as willing to fork over the coin like they did in the past. Unless Disney is the only cruiseline over there in 2010 many people will go elsewhere.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I admit to being bummed about the pricing, and will do the RCCL Oasis in 2010.

I think what bothers me is that the economy is in a death spiral (not just here in the U.S.) and Disney responds by setting overly inflated prices. We are fine financially, but I think it would be irresponsible of me to commit to something overly priced now given that two years from now is a great big unknown. If too many people book right away the prices will stay high and Disney will have no incentive to go lower.

The ships are old. Service is great but there are much nicer ships out there now.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm glad you found it to be worth it but I do not. For me it's not "something I only do once". I went to Europe 3 times in 3 years not with Disney. I also had a fantastic time. Europe doesn't need Disney to be wonderful. On those port intensive cruises the ship is a means to get from place to place. It is not the destination.

I agree with you here at that is why we are doing an inside cabin instead of a balcony.

However, I'm going with DCL for the excursions. I completely trust DCL to provide children friendly tours and quality tour guides. The experienced management that puts together Adventures by Disney can be trusted to manage providing for our needs.

 

[tink too]

With regards to the economy, there are many problems here in the UK, too. I'm guessing that other European countries are in a similar situation to us.

Flight costs to Barcelona from where we are in Scotland can be almost as expensive as flights to Florida! Yes, there are budget airlines available, but so many of them have gone bust this year, we'd want to book with a more established airline - which would mean we'd be paying through the nose!

Plus, for UK travellers, we don't get that great a value of Euros to the £.

I guess we won't know the correct pricing for these cruises for sure until they go on sale next week.

 

[Donna3271]

I priced a Disney Cruise for the week in April 2009 (7 day cruise) that the kids have off for spring break. With air fare from New York, 2 adults, three children under 7, category 4 - it came to over 17,000. I was thinking the website must me malfunctioning!

 

[justhat]

I don't understand the shock and disbelief about the prices. These prices are almost identical to the 2007 Med Cruise prices. In fact, I think they used the same table as a place-holder for the Baltic prices.

When I talked to a DCL agent the other day, she said "Disney has not released the prices yet". When I asked about the prices listed on the website she said those were just to give you an idea 'about' what the prices will be. Now, maybe she didn't know what she was talking about but then again, the prices probably will be similar to the Disney Med prices.

~Mike

I agree with this. We looked at the pricing for a 12 night Baltic and a Cat 3 will cost us just about $2K more than the Cat 3 cost us for the 10 night 2007 Med. So 3 years of inflation to consider, 2 extra nights on the ship, only 4 sailings, and 1 of our 4 people was 11 months old back then, and he'll be 3yo on the 2010 sailing (so more money for his fare). Not a huge surprise when you think of it that way.

ETA: We booked the moment the phone lines opened on the first day, so we had the lowest possible price for that room.

 

[Disney Fool]

I agree. I was booked on the med cruise (and had to cancel) but I was on the first tier pricing. For two adults in a cat. 6, it STARTED AT $6,000. And it continued to climb, and people were still booking at $9,000. With inflation, fuel costs, and everything else going up, I don't think those prices are "way off". I also remember everyone complaing two years ago about the prices then, and was Disney crazy, blah, blah, blah....

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I also remember everyone complaing two years ago about the prices then, and was Disney crazy, blah, blah, blah....

The economy was much rosier 2 years ago.

 

[justhat]

The economy was much rosier 2 years ago.

True, but there has still been inflation.

 

[Fizzgig]

I admit to being bummed about the pricing, and will do the RCCL Oasis in 2010.

The ships are old. Service is great but there are much nicer ships out there now.

I have the same thoughts as you. I cancelled my 2009 cruise on the Magic because I am so disappointed in how nothing was done for passengers during the dry dock. Even the menus weren't replaced, so they were tattered! We had talked with our TA about booking the Magic for a Trans-atlantic or Northern Europe, but after getting off the cruise on October 4th, I went ahead and cancelled the 2009 DCL bookings. (I need to go update my signature...)

I am also looking at the Oasis.

 

[cruisinmama06]

Hey for those that can afford it, God bless ya.

My "most can't" statement is based on a few observations. We are a fam of 4, if the cruise is close to $12,000, then that translates into $1,000.00/night. Put in simplest terms.

How many people are doing the WDW resorts and paying $1,000.00/night? With the exception of the Concierge level rooms (which usually aren't as high as that/night).

Flights to England are $1,221 per person. So for us that is an additional $4,880.

Yep, I wish I had that money tree in the back yard, but sadly it doesn't exist. And thinking logically, I could 2 Med cruises for the price of 1 Disney. And we could do 5 Caribbean cruises for the price of 1 Disney Med.

So for those that can (and I know some can) have a wonderful cruise.

 

[Fizzgig]

Hey for those that can afford it, God bless ya.

My "most can't" statement is based on a few observations. We are a fam of 4, if the cruise is close to $12,000, then that translates into $1,000.00/night. Put in simplest terms.

How many people are doing the WDW resorts and paying $1,000.00/night? With the exception of the Concierge level rooms (which usually aren't as high as that/night).

Flights to England are $1,221 per person. So for us that is an additional $4,880.

Yep, I wish I had that money tree in the back yard, but sadly it doesn't exist. And thinking logically, I could 2 Med cruises for the price of 1 Disney. And we could do 5 Caribbean cruises for the price of 1 Disney Med.

So for those that can (and I know some can) have a wonderful cruise.

Hey, but you forgot food, entertainment, and transportation... Wouldn't that make the hotel $995/night, if we use Budget Board WDW strategies?
I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!!

 

[es45]

We are taking our first cruise on the Wonder in November. My mother, who doesn't travel much, doesn't like casinos, and doesn't get around well, wants to take a short cruise with us in May of 2010. My MIL wants to go also; she has cruised more times than I can count, but not on DCL. My husband and I will also be taking our DD7 and DD5. Seeing the changes in itinerary and the prices, I'm wondering if I should look at another line. I'm worried about the condition of the ships after reading some threads here but we like the what we hear about the DCL kid programs. Can anyone suggest an alternative cruise line with similar kids programs, small size ships, etc? Or is DCL still the way to go in 2010?

 

[Happy99]

ok, DCL prices are high, but what are other cruise line prices for 2010, I keep hearing people say the prices for 2009 for other lines but not 2010, what are the prices for 2010

The other cruise lines do not have their 2010 prices out yet but the 2009 prices are already out of the first tier pricing for most so it is a good comparison

 

[cruisinmama06]

The other cruise lines do not have their 2010 prices out yet but the 2009 prices are already out of the first tier pricing for most so it is a good comparison

Some do, I am already booked on RCCL Oasis of the Seas for 2010...have been for a couple of months now.

And I thought Carnival was out too for 2010...I have friends booked on the new Carnival Dream for 2010.

 

[dennismcneely]

Hey, but you forgot food, entertainment, and transportation... Wouldn't that make the hotel $995/night, if we use Budget Board WDW strategies?
I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!!

Don't forget well deserved tips for servers, stateroom host, etc. About $600 for a family of 4.