Is Disney starting to slack compared to other cruises?

[cgolf]

My question is that my husband and I are expecting to go on a cruise on the Disney Fantasy (maybe?) January 2019... are there things to keep childless adults as entertained on say a Carnival cruise? I'm actually really excited for Star Wars Day- we're big Star Wars fans, but other than that is there activities? Preferrably that don't cost extra? And would we be creepers if we went to things geared children? I've been on RCC and CCL multiple times and this will be our very first trip aboard a Disney Cruise.

We have cruised DCL a few times minus DD and were always pretty busy between the entertainment and just the ship in general. The comedy on DCL is of course clean even for the adults which is fine, and of course the entertainers are hit or miss depending on your tastes. We did do the rainforest room on the Fantasy and used it quite a bit, it was a nice way to relax. The one surprising thing though was how quite the piano bars are at night even with a really good performer, maybe only one or two people show up. I can't fairly compare it to RCCL, because on our trip there were very few kids so the late night activities were very well attended. Had there been more kids on the cruise, not sure if as many adults would have been out at the late night activities.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

We were SO much more crowded on the Magic (twice) than on either the Allure or the Oasis. The atrium is ridiculously small for the activities they have there and the pool...yuck - it's people soup!

I guess it's up to personal taste. We are extremely happy on the Classics. We just don't live in the atrium so that isn't an issue.....to us. We've even cruised on smaller ships in Europe and much prefer fewer passengers and smaller ships.

 

[MissMet]

DCL puts their money into the kids clubs. No other line comes close to offering kids clubs like DCL's. If you want to see a bunch of what other lines are offering, then you can expect the kids clubs to be dumbed down... as well as the nightly shows to also be dumbed down... and you can forget fireworks...or free soda...free room service...being allowed to carry on alcohol...or the option of a nursery- which only one other line even offers and it's on an extremely limited basis, at that. The majority of DCL's clientele are not thrill seekers, they're families with younger children, and if you are a thrill seeker on a DCL cruise, I think DCL leans on the fact that nearly all of the caribbean ports offer some sort of excursion for thrill seekers. (parasailing, zip lining, bobsled rides, ATVs, wave runners...)

For DCL to have "it all" you'd have to lose a lot of the touches that makes DCL stand out, or literally have "it all" but in turn you'd be priced right out of their line.

I've been on the ships like NCL's Breakaway & Epic with my thrill-seaking husband and we've been on DCL, he preferred DCL and that was before we had kids! Even without the rock wall, extreme waterslides, mediocre chain restaurants that all come with an extra charge...he missed DCL. Notice, the ships that come with "the extras" also come with a younger adult, at times rougher crowd, and they nickel & dime you to death. I hope DCL's two new ships follow with their previous ships brand, where they have new and exciting technology but don't lose their charm in the process, because then they'll just be one of "those lines".

 

[KashasMom]

I guess it's up to personal taste. We are extremely happy on the Classics. We just don't live in the atrium so that isn't an issue.....to us. We've even cruised on smaller ships in Europe and much prefer fewer passengers and smaller ships.

If you travel with small children you'll spend a lot of time in the atrium whether it's for photo opps or dance parties or other activities. Children were literally being stepped on this past November.

 

[KashasMom]

DCL puts their money into the kids clubs. No other line comes close to offering kids clubs like DCL's. If you want to see a bunch of what other lines are offering, then you can expect the kids clubs to be dumbed down... as well as the nightly shows to also be dumbed down... and you can forget fireworks...or free soda...free room service...being allowed to carry on alcohol...or the option of a nursery- which only one other line even offers and it's on an extremely limited basis, at that. The majority of DCL's clientele are not thrill seekers, they're families with younger children, and if you are a thrill seeker on a DCL cruise, I think DCL leans on the fact that nearly all of the caribbean ports offer some sort of excursion for thrill seekers. (parasailing, zip lining, bobsled rides, ATVs, wave runners...)

For DCL to have "it all" you'd have to lose a lot of the touches that makes DCL stand out, or literally have "it all" but in turn you'd be priced right out of their line.

I've been on the ships like NCL's Breakaway & Epic with my thrill-seaking husband and we've been on DCL, he preferred DCL and that was before we had kids! Even without the rock wall, extreme waterslides, mediocre chain restaurants that all come with an extra charge...he missed DCL. Notice, the ships that come with "the extras" also come with a younger adult, at times rougher crowd, and they nickel & dime you to death. I hope DCL's two new ships follow with their previous ships brand, where they have new and exciting technology but don't lose their charm in the process, because then they'll just be one of "those lines".

Dumbed down? A kids club? Do they only allow geniuses in Disney's clubs? Not every child likes the kids' clubs regardless of the cruise line - even Disney. And some families prefer to vacation together instead of dropping their child off in a club. Disney's 3-12 year old group in the kids' club just doesn't work for me even if my daughter would go in. As far as the shows - the Oasis class ships have 1 excellent musical as well as excellent aqua/diving and ice skating shows. Only 1 or 2 of the Disney shows are really good. The rest are a bit cheesy (IMO). The free soda thing is ridiculous as is the nickel and dime thing. There was a great thread somewhere here that actually listed all of the things Disney charges for...and they're the same on any other line...oh except for soda. Disney is definitely not the be all, end all. It has its pros and cons just like any other line. We're lucky enough that there are enough options for all of us!

 

[cruiser21]

You will find a number of people that don't like the kids clubs at DCL....or shall I say their kids don't like them. My kids loved the DCL clubs, but I can see where it would be very overwhelming for a lot of kids. It's pretty much a free for all with 100+ kids. Like I said my kids loved them, but not all kids are alike. I'm not sure what pp meant about other clubs being dumbed down. There's not a lot of organized activities in the DCL clubs from what I've seen.

 

[keaster]

DCL puts their money into the kids clubs. No other line comes close to offering kids clubs like DCL's. If you want to see a bunch of what other lines are offering, then you can expect the kids clubs to be dumbed down... as well as the nightly shows to also be dumbed down... and you can forget fireworks...or free soda...free room service...being allowed to carry on alcohol...or the option of a nursery- which only one other line even offers and it's on an extremely limited basis, at that. The majority of DCL's clientele are not thrill seekers, they're families with younger children, and if you are a thrill seeker on a DCL cruise, I think DCL leans on the fact that nearly all of the caribbean ports offer some sort of excursion for thrill seekers. (parasailing, zip lining, bobsled rides, ATVs, wave runners...)

For DCL to have "it all" you'd have to lose a lot of the touches that makes DCL stand out, or literally have "it all" but in turn you'd be priced right out of their line.

I've been on the ships like NCL's Breakaway & Epic with my thrill-seaking husband and we've been on DCL, he preferred DCL and that was before we had kids! Even without the rock wall, extreme waterslides, mediocre chain restaurants that all come with an extra charge...he missed DCL. Notice, the ships that come with "the extras" also come with a younger adult, at times rougher crowd, and they nickel & dime you to death. I hope DCL's two new ships follow with their previous ships brand, where they have new and exciting technology but don't lose their charm in the process, because then they'll just be one of "those lines".

Bolding is mine...one of our DCL cruises we had late dining and apparently missed a big fist fight during early dining. Another one we came across a couple having a bit of a domestic argument (and I quote "oh so NOW you are going to act like a good father?"). And on yet another one in the stateroom corridor, a man was yelling at his spouse that he always hated her mother, the spouse was in tears.

So basically ignorant hot headed people pretty much can be found on any cruise line.

 

[cruiser21]

Bolding is mine...one of our DCL cruises we had late dining and apparently missed a big fist fight during early dining. Another one we came across a couple having a bit of a domestic argument (and I quote "oh so NOW you are going to act like a good father?"). And on yet another one in the stateroom corridor, a man was yelling at his spouse that he always hated her mother, the spouse was in tears.

So basically ignorant hot headed people pretty much can be found on any cruise line.

A few years go we were in the sports bar on the Fantasy during a Seahawks/ Cardinals game. We live in AZ, but my Dh is from Chicago and is more of a Bears fan. The Cardinals were killing the Seahawks. This was a year the Cardinals made it to the playoffs. My husband was talking about how great some new player on the Cardinals was and this drunk Seahawk fan got so mad his friends had to hold him back. We hightailed it out of there. I always joke with my dh how he's probably the only one to almost start a fight on a Disney cruise. My husband doesn't drink either he's diabetic.

I've also witnessed a big fight between families where security had to be called. The marital stuff I get if you don't get along at home it's not going to improve on vacation.

 

[Pens Fan]

DCL puts their money into the kids clubs. No other line comes close to offering kids clubs like DCL's. If you want to see a bunch of what other lines are offering, then you can expect the kids clubs to be dumbed down... as well as the nightly shows to also be dumbed down... and you can forget fireworks...or free soda...free room service...being allowed to carry on alcohol...or the option of a nursery- which only one other line even offers and it's on an extremely limited basis, at that. The majority of DCL's clientele are not thrill seekers, they're families with younger children, and if you are a thrill seeker on a DCL cruise, I think DCL leans on the fact that nearly all of the caribbean ports offer some sort of excursion for thrill seekers. (parasailing, zip lining, bobsled rides, ATVs, wave runners...)

For DCL to have "it all" you'd have to lose a lot of the touches that makes DCL stand out, or literally have "it all" but in turn you'd be priced right out of their line.

I've been on the ships like NCL's Breakaway & Epic with my thrill-seaking husband and we've been on DCL, he preferred DCL and that was before we had kids! Even without the rock wall, extreme waterslides, mediocre chain restaurants that all come with an extra charge...he missed DCL. Notice, the ships that come with "the extras" also come with a younger adult, at times rougher crowd, and they nickel & dime you to death. I hope DCL's two new ships follow with their previous ships brand, where they have new and exciting technology but don't lose their charm in the process, because then they'll just be one of "those lines".

I was hesitant to even comment on this post as the whole "dumbing down" thing is just so off putting. But I can't help but comment on two things:

Can we please stop the whole "nickel and dime" narrative??? It's just nonsense. Yes, different cruise lines price things in various ways. Some charge extra for things that others don't. All that means is that some cruise lines include things in the basic fare so that you pay for them whether or not you even want them. Don't drink soda? Tough - you're paying for it on Disney as it is included in the cruise fare. Don't care for room service? Too bad. Disney builds the cost of room service into the cruise fare. Don't want lobster at dinner? (That's me, don't care for it). Too bad. Disney factors that in when pricing out their cruises. Nothing is free. Nothing. Not on Disney, nor on any other cruise line. To think otherwise is just naive. Disney charges extra for so many things (just look at our end of the cruise bills!! ). They are far from all inclusive. At the end of the day the onus is on the consumer to research what is and isn't included in the cruise fare and what they actually will even use and price things out accordingly.

As for fellow passengers - as previous posters have noted I have personally witnessed my fair share of drunken, boorish behavior by fellow Disney passengers - including a drunken brawl in the atrium on the Fantasy. And don't get me started on how I've witnessed some passengers treating the hard working CM's.

 

[mevelandry]

DCL puts their money into the kids clubs. No other line comes close to offering kids clubs like DCL's. If you want to see a bunch of what other lines are offering, then you can expect the kids clubs to be dumbed down... as well as the nightly shows to also be dumbed down... and you can forget fireworks...or free soda...free room service...being allowed to carry on alcohol...or the option of a nursery- which only one other line even offers and it's on an extremely limited basis, at that. The majority of DCL's clientele are not thrill seekers, they're families with younger children, and if you are a thrill seeker on a DCL cruise, I think DCL leans on the fact that nearly all of the caribbean ports offer some sort of excursion for thrill seekers. (parasailing, zip lining, bobsled rides, ATVs, wave runners...)

For DCL to have "it all" you'd have to lose a lot of the touches that makes DCL stand out, or literally have "it all" but in turn you'd be priced right out of their line.

I've been on the ships like NCL's Breakaway & Epic with my thrill-seaking husband and we've been on DCL, he preferred DCL and that was before we had kids! Even without the rock wall, extreme waterslides, mediocre chain restaurants that all come with an extra charge...he missed DCL. Notice, the ships that come with "the extras" also come with a younger adult, at times rougher crowd, and they nickel & dime you to death. I hope DCL's two new ships follow with their previous ships brand, where they have new and exciting technology but don't lose their charm in the process, because then they'll just be one of "those lines".

I have not cruised NCL but many of my friends did and they loved everything about it.

Can't talk about the kids club because I don't have kids. But I can about everything else...

I cruised with Carnival in October - Carnival Victory, 4 nights in the Bahamas... Maybe we go to bed too early but we have never encountered a "rough crowd". And overall, the food was better than what we've had on the Dream. We could bring our own alcohol if we wanted to. The staff was awesome.

And I haven't felt any more "nickel and dimed" on Carnival than I was with DCL. With DCL we still pay for sodas and room service... We just pay them with the premium ! And unfortunately, we have no way to opt out.

As I previously mentionned. A 3 nights cruise in an inside room with DCL cost us at least 800$ for two people... A soda package is 6$/day per person... We would have to order a lot of room service in order to spend the extra 750$.

 

[RedSox68]

Haven't read through this whole thread -- so it may have been mentioned -- but my only hope is that Disney never adds casinos. While we love cruising on other lines, the casinos and the smoking allowed and having to walk through it is always a turn off.

 

[mevelandry]

Bolding is mine...one of our DCL cruises we had late dining and apparently missed a big fist fight during early dining. Another one we came across a couple having a bit of a domestic argument (and I quote "oh so NOW you are going to act like a good father?"). And on yet another one in the stateroom corridor, a man was yelling at his spouse that he always hated her mother, the spouse was in tears.

So basically ignorant hot headed people pretty much can be found on any cruise line.

I've had a drunk guy making a scene (going on a 15 minutes rant, yelling at the waiter and making sure everybody could hear him) on embarkation day on the Disney Dream complaining about the fact that DCL was a horrible cruise line since he couldn't light his cigar before the cruise was started (I think the lighter wasn't working or something). "I paid thousands of dollars to be here and I can't even smoke my cigar when I want to???" ... Sigh.

 

[RedSox68]

THIS.

Exactly my thoughts as I was doing the research through other cruise lines for a Bermuda Cruise that we want to do next year. Especially when looking at Anthem of the seas (which apparently is not even their best one)... I couldn't help but comparing "on paper" with what the Dream (which we have sailed on twice) currently offers and found the other cruise lines --especially RCCL and Norwegian-- more interesting.

And the rates are so much better on those cruise lines.

Having sailed on the Carnival Victory (where we received stellar service) I no longer believe the hype of the "better service on DCL", so...

Unless the new DCL ships have more to offer (on paper) than the other cruise lines, we know what to do next.

NCL Breakaway to Bermuda had some amazing shows that were free (Burn the Floor, Rock of Ages and Comedy shows), and some that costs with a dinner show (Cirque de Soliel) -- we loved them all! Nice variety and venues.

 

[bbel]

There's not a lot of organized activities in the DCL clubs from what I've seen.

Well that kinda hurts as someone who used to do them. If you look at your navigator you'll see that while spaces ate open there's a constant flow (15 hours a day) of programmes. Usually as one finishes another starts. Maybe with a break in between, but they'll most likely be a big group game being played on between. Not to mention the side rooms full of craft, animation, games, computers, ipads...

Now, if a child chooses not to participate in said activities...

 

[RedSox68]

I've had a drunk guy making a scene (going on a 15 minutes rant, yelling at the waiter and making sure everybody could hear him) on embarkation day on the Disney Dream complaining about the fact that DCL was a horrible cruise line since he couldn't light his cigar before the cruise was started (I think the lighter wasn't working or something). "I paid thousands of dollars to be here and I can't even smoke my cigar when I want to???" ... Sigh.

UGH -- great way to start a cruise. Having sailed on 5 different cruise lines, including Disney 10 times, I can honestly say that the only one (so far) where we have experienced unpleasant passenger attitudes, family fights, kids being loudly reprimanded in public and major drunkenness is (unfortunately) on DCL. Now maybe it is because we have cruised on them more than any other line, but we have been in the presense of some major drunken cursing and shouting on DCL that we have not experienced in any of the clubs, passageways or public areas on other ships, and have seen some very uncomfortable family dramas playing out in very public areas on DCL.

 

[keaster]

NCL Breakaway to Bermuda had some amazing shows that were free (Burn the Floor, Rock of Ages and Comedy shows), and some that costs with a dinner show (Cirque de Soliel) -- we loved them all! Nice variety and venues.

we have decided to do the NCL breakway's 9-night Northern Eurpean cruise August 2018 instead of the magic. It's going into dry dock May of that year, so can't wait to see how it looks!

 

[mevelandry]

UGH -- great way to start a cruise. Having sailed on 5 different cruise lines, including Disney 10 times, I can honestly say that the only one (so far) where we have experienced unpleasant passenger attitudes, family fights, kids being loudly reprimanded in public and major drunkenness is (unfortunately) on DCL. Now maybe it is because we have cruised on them more than any other line, but we have been in the presense of some major drunken cursing and shouting on DCL that we have not experienced in any of the clubs, passageways or public areas on other ships, and have seen some very uncomfortable family dramas playing out in very public areas on DCL.

Yep. It has nothing to do with the cruise lines, unfortunately.

In WDW, I saw a man who was pretty violent, at Port Orleans French Quarter once. He was yelling at his wife and throwing suitcases... And the worst tantrum I witnessed was from a little girl (she was probably about 9 years old) at the Polynesian resort, she was hysterical and actually punching her parents in the stomach. Same resort, we had to switch guestrooms because our neighbours' kids were screaming like they were being murdered (we were worried until we heard the mom asking the children to quiet down without any success).

Disney does not guarantee a good passengers/guests behavior.

 

[mevelandry]

we have decided to do the NCL breakway's 9-night Northern Eurpean cruise August 2018 instead of the magic. It's going into dry dock May of that year, so can't wait to see how it looks!

The Breakaway is going into dry dock? She's currently the runner up for our Bermuda Cruise plan! (We have our eyes on the Anthem right now).

 

[RedSox68]

We were surprised how much we liked the Breakaway -- especially considering it was the biggest ship we had sailed on to date. The buffet lines were interesting as they can enter from both ends, but the food was great. Our only "complaint" was the way the casino was laid out -- there was no way to walk that deck without walking through it on either side. We started going on the deck above to get to guest services so we wouldn't have to walk through the smoke. Try the Irish Pub -- free specialty restaurant and the food was great!

 

[RedSox68]

Yep. It has nothing to do with the cruise lines, unfortunately.

In WDW, I saw a man who was pretty violent, at Port Orleans French Quarter once. He was yelling at his wife and throwing suitcases... And the worst tantrum I witnessed was from a little girl (she was probably about 9 years old) at the Polynesian resort, she was hysterical and actually punching her parents in the stomach. Same resort, we had to switch guestrooms because our neighbours' kids were screaming like they were being murdered (we were worried until we heard the mom asking the children to quiet down without any success).

Disney does not guarantee a good passengers/guests behavior.

HA Ha -- that scenario with the child sounds like an episode of Supernanny. We saw a child at a Rensaissance Faire throwing stones at her mother because she didn't want to leave. It was quite the scene.