Is Disney starting to slack compared to other cruises?

[RedSox68]

Love to hear this! I have been very happy with NCL so far. I called them a few weeks ago because I had preordered (and paid for) some bottled water. They had reduced the price since then and I called them to see if we could get a refund for difference. No problem! They had to do a full cancellation and they reorder it, but the result was the same. It's funny, I see people on CC complaining all of the time about the phone reps for NCL, but I've had nothing but positive experiences. Now, we are very new to NCL and have only called a few times, but I still can't help but think that sometimes people just like to complain.

Just curious - what are they charging for water now? When we went in October it was the outrageous price of $48/per 12-bottle case. Granted, they are one liter bottles, but still. In comparison, when we sail on Carnival in September they are only charging $4.99 for the same thing! Luckily we had built up rewards from their CC so we used that toward the water, but it's still an ouch moment. Found out though that while Carnival has the same policy now about bottled items, you CAN bring on a 12-pack of canned soda for each passenger and, if you can find canned water, you could also bring that. Their problem is only with bottled items that can be easily opened and tampered with.

 

[Pens Fan]

Just curious - what are they charging for water now? When we went in October it was the outrageous price of $48/per 12-bottle case. Granted, they are one liter bottles, but still. In comparison, when we sail on Carnival in September they are only charging $4.99 for the same thing! Luckily we had built up rewards from their CC so we used that toward the water, but it's still an ouch moment. Found out though that while Carnival has the same policy now about bottled items, you CAN bring on a 12-pack of canned soda for each passenger and, if you can find canned water, you could also bring that. Their problem is only with bottled items that can be easily opened and tampered with.

It's still ridiculous but now slightly less so . We paid $32.98 (that included the 18% service charge) for a 12 pack of one liter bottles. It's one of those things that I chalk up to, "yes this is nuts, but I'm saving so much money everywhere else that it's still all good!"

 

[RedSox68]

It's still ridiculous but now slightly less so . We paid $32.98 (that included the 18% service charge) for a 12 pack of one liter bottles. It's one of those things that I chalk up to, "yes this is nuts, but I'm saving so much money everywhere else that it's still all good!"

That price is a "little" easier to accept than what we paid -- and the price I quoted was without the gratuity. So you got a much better deal.

Unless they have changed it, the absolute ridiculous rule they have that even if you leave the ship with one of their bottles, if you have any water left you cannot come back onboard with it!

 

[Pens Fan]

That price is a "little" easier to accept than what we paid -- and the price I quoted was without the gratuity. So you got a much better deal.

Unless they have changed it, the absolute ridiculous rule they have that even if you leave the ship with one of their bottles, if you have any water left you cannot come back onboard with it!

As far as I know that is still the rule. The only reason I can imagine they implemented that is because so many people were smuggling on booze. It's kind of funny, though. You can bring as much wine on as your heart desires (and your bag can hold), but you have to pay a corkage fee so that's ok. Oh well. It's annoying, for sure, but then I think about the ultimate beverage package that was included in our fare and I get seriously less annoyed.

 

[cruiser21]

Carnival is 3.99 for 12 pack of water. I believe they allow 1 bottle of wine per adult to be brought in on the first day. DCL is 30.00 something for water if I remember correctly. I know they let you bring in on, but not everyone has a car to pick up water.

 

[RedSox68]

As far as I know that is still the rule. The only reason I can imagine they implemented that is because so many people were smuggling on booze. It's kind of funny, though. You can bring as much wine on as your heart desires (and your bag can hold), but you have to pay a corkage fee so that's ok. Oh well. It's annoying, for sure, but then I think about the ultimate beverage package that was included in our fare and I get seriously less annoyed.

I checked with Carnival and they did say that if you are bringing an unfinished bottle of water onboard that you bought onboard, that is allowed. NCL made us throw whatever we didn't drink away -- and at their prices that was over $4/bottle.

 

[fae fig]

I would say that DCL while a different experience I feel it isn't the same line we first cruised back in 2008. I think the service was much better back then and it seemed like the crew was more engaged. I noticed a difference when they first expanded with the Dream and started shuffling crew around, and it only got worse as they added the Fantasy. Back when we did the Magic post re imagining in 2013, the crew was a blast and very interactive with us and others. The same crew followed us to the Fantasy 2 months later and they didn't interact with the guests as much to not at all and were always worried about getting to their next activity. Even Fitz wasn't the same as he was on the Magic, looked really worn out. Not to mention that while the price has gone up, we are actually getting less for that price.

Looking at what our current DCL status would get us on RCCL, it is crazy what the difference is. DCL looks to be aiming for few time cruisers to do the Disney family trip vs lifetime cruisers. Once we accepted that we were happy to take our money elsewhere. We will probably try the new ships, but did get our money back on our placeholder cruise for the first time ever.

I want to add, that everyone that hasn't tried another cruise line, should do their research and try another line some time. We went through the DCL is the best and only good line, but have learned differently. Before we jumped though we did lots of research on other forums to determine which line would suit our needs. Worst case you hate the other line and you go back to DCL, best case you like the line and you have a second option if DCL doesn't work.

We found that while RCCL has all the crazy activity stuff, we could still go sit down on deck 4 of the Freedom and watch the ocean go by and love life just like we did on DCL

Fitz!! He came over to our house (we live in Miami) for some Cuban coffee a few years ago. (Sorry, total aside...)

 

[RedSox68]

I would say that DCL while a different experience I feel it isn't the same line we first cruised back in 2008. I think the service was much better back then and it seemed like the crew was more engaged. I noticed a difference when they first expanded with the Dream and started shuffling crew around, and it only got worse as they added the Fantasy. Back when we did the Magic post re imagining in 2013, the crew was a blast and very interactive with us and others. The same crew followed us to the Fantasy 2 months later and they didn't interact with the guests as much to not at all and were always worried about getting to their next activity. Even Fitz wasn't the same as he was on the Magic, looked really worn out. Not to mention that while the price has gone up, we are actually getting less for that price.

Looking at what our current DCL status would get us on RCCL, it is crazy what the difference is. DCL looks to be aiming for few time cruisers to do the Disney family trip vs lifetime cruisers. Once we accepted that we were happy to take our money elsewhere. We will probably try the new ships, but did get our money back on our placeholder cruise for the first time ever.

I want to add, that everyone that hasn't tried another cruise line, should do their research and try another line some time. We went through the DCL is the best and only good line, but have learned differently. Before we jumped though we did lots of research on other forums to determine which line would suit our needs. Worst case you hate the other line and you go back to DCL, best case you like the line and you have a second option if DCL doesn't work.

We found that while RCCL has all the crazy activity stuff, we could still go sit down on deck 4 of the Freedom and watch the ocean go by and love life just like we did on DCL

This is a sad but true statement of late. We took our first cruise ever on the Wonder in 2000. We were back as soon as possible on the Magic two years later, and have taken a total of 10 Disney cruises. When we ventured away from Disney in 2008 for financial reasons, our first non-Disney cruise was (unfortunately) the NCL Pride of America.

We took a couple more Disney cruises but realized we could not justify the costs if we wanted more than one vacation every two years. Once we ventured out to the other cruise lines, we were very pleasantly surprised with the decor, the staterooms, the crew and the food. Now granted, we do not have any young children now so cannot comment on children's activities, but for us adults we felt we really got a lot of bang for our buck -- and spent a lot less bucks for that! It has enabled us to do more vacations and see more things.

Disney has a lot to offer and has things that no other cruise lines (that we've sailed) has -- like the split bathrooms and their entertainment, but we have found just as good a quality of food, better buffet set-ups and just as wonderful staff on other lines. Disney (for us) is not the only high quality cruise out there and as mentioned by the PP, many other lines have much better "reward" programs for sailing with them.

For us, it does come down to money and what we can get for our dollar that would benefit us more than just the name brand.

 

[cgolf]

Fitz!! He came over to our house (we live in Miami) for some Cuban coffee a few years ago. (Sorry, total aside...)

He was the best, so thoughtful and kind Was sad for DCL when he left, but happy for him that he got to spend more time at home

 

[EuropeanLiam]

This. I am an adult who cruises solo and I do not need "thrilling water slides" or rock climbing walls or stupid things that extend up into the air and just look dumb.

I don't go on cruises to eat burgers (and TBH having eaten at Fieri's place in NYC...meh, it is a burger just like I can get anywhere but more expensive - I got a MUCH better burger at Hard Rock Cafe NYC (a friend wanted to go) for LESS than Guy's place around the corner). I have always been perfectly happy with the food (paid or included) on DCL.

If you feel like you NEED the other things to have a good vacation, go right ahead and cruise other lines. But there IS a market - that is NOT just families with little kids - that Disney is hitting.

Isn't it great we all have choices?

LOL you sound angry. Many of the time those "dumb things up in the air" are meant to add balance to the ship.

 

[jujubiee4]

edit*wrong thread

 

[jujubiee4]

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.

No way..and this is coming from someone who likes casinos. However when I
cruise I want cruise only. I don't want to smell smoke or hear slot machines.
The smoke is a huge factor because even in non smoking sections of casinos
it filters through.

Disney puts in a casino (which I very much doubt) I'm out.

 

[RedSox68]

No way..and this is coming from someone who likes casinos. However when I
cruise I want cruise only. I don't want to smell smoke or hear slot machines.
The smoke is a huge factor because even in non smoking sections of casinos
it filters through.

Disney puts in a casino (which I very much doubt) I'm out.

Yes -- on every non-Disney ship we have done, that cigarette smoke is a clinger and harbors in every nook and cranny. We have actually gone up two decks and over and then down to avoid the smoking areas. I hate that smell getting all over my clothes for the rest of the day (and I used to be a smoker!)

 

[LovesTimone]

Each cruise line, offers something its up you to decide which one has the best options for you and your family. What works now more than likely will not work in the future for you and your family, life keeps changing and we change with it new things to try, places to see, things to enjoy.

 

[cgolf]

Seeing another thread picking on the cleanliness and general state of the classics again, I am wondering if the classics are starting to slack compared to the DCL standards that everyone is expecting. I want to say I very passionately disagree with this, but seeing some of the comments, makes me wonder if I am in the minority on in my opinion that the classics are their two best ships.

Perhaps to keep up and not slack on the everything Disney is squeaky clean image, maybe they should sell off the classics when they introduce the new ships. While them raising their prices has me scratching my head in some cases, the day the Magic is retired from the line will be a very sad day for me.

 

[RedSox68]

Seeing another thread picking on the cleanliness and general state of the classics again, I am wondering if the classics are starting to slack compared to the DCL standards that everyone is expecting. I want to say I very passionately disagree with this, but seeing some of the comments, makes me wonder if I am in the minority on in my opinion that the classics are their two best ships.

Perhaps to keep up and not slack on the everything Disney is squeaky clean image, maybe they should sell off the classics when they introduce the new ships. While them raising their prices has me scratching my head in some cases, the day the Magic is retired from the line will be a very sad day for me.

I agree -- the Magic is our "flag ship" for our first cruises. Every time we get on her we feel at home. I would hope that instead of selling them off or scrapping them, they would consider making (at least the Magic) them a stationary hotel/restaurant in either Florida, California or even up the east coast.

 

[mcd2745]

No way..and this is coming from someone who likes casinos. However when I
cruise I want cruise only. I don't want to smell smoke or hear slot machines.
The smoke is a huge factor because even in non smoking sections of casinos
it filters through.

Disney puts in a casino (which I very much doubt) I'm out.

The only way I see that happening is if once the 2 new ships are built, they decide to permanently keep a ship in Asia. I don't believe even DCL can operate in that market without a casino.

 

[Pens Fan]

Seeing another thread picking on the cleanliness and general state of the classics again, I am wondering if the classics are starting to slack compared to the DCL standards that everyone is expecting. I want to say I very passionately disagree with this, but seeing some of the comments, makes me wonder if I am in the minority on in my opinion that the classics are their two best ships.

Perhaps to keep up and not slack on the everything Disney is squeaky clean image, maybe they should sell off the classics when they introduce the new ships. While them raising their prices has me scratching my head in some cases, the day the Magic is retired from the line will be a very sad day for me.

I don't know if you are in the minority or not, but if you are, I'm right there with you!! We were on the Magic last October. I had also been reading similar posts about the wear and tear she was showing. The only thing we noticed was a plug was broken in our stateroom. We left a note for our steward and by that evening it was repaired. We though the magic was as beautiful as ever. But then it wasn't long after we got home that I read more posts about how worn the Magic was. Now, granted, my husband always makes fun of me, saying I'd be the worst crime scene witness in the world as I'm usually not paying too close attention to everything around me, but I just don't get it. We love the Magic and think she is just as beautiful as any of the other ships.

Like you, I will be very sad when the Magic retires.

 

[cruiser21]

I don't know if you are in the minority or not, but if you are, I'm right there with you!! We were on the Magic last October. I had also been reading similar posts about the wear and tear she was showing. The only thing we noticed was a plug was broken in our stateroom. We left a note for our steward and by that evening it was repaired. We though the magic was as beautiful as ever. But then it wasn't long after we got home that I read more posts about how worn the Magic was. Now, granted, my husband always makes fun of me, saying I'd be the worst crime scene witness in the world as I'm usually not paying too close attention to everything around me, but I just don't get it. We love the Magic and think she is just as beautiful as any of the other ships.

Like you, I will be very sad when the Magic retires.

You can tell it's old, but it's well maintained. A 19 year old ship, like a 19 year old house isn't going to look new, but if you maintain it can still look beautiful.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Kids are easy to please. You just have to expose them to alternatives It's the adults that have a hard time trying something new.

I have to say my oldest didn't enjoy our first cruise as he had just turned 18. Couldn't go in the teen club (bad planning on my part sadly I didn't realize) and couldn't really enjoy adult stuff (even though 18 is adult in Manitoba) so he couldn't drink. He just went to movies. I think if we had been on another ship with the rope stuff and walls and waterslides he would have really loved that. He declined going on a second cruise with us as he didn't have fun.