Is Disney starting to slack compared to other cruises?

[Pens Fan]

I'd love to say I'll write a trip report, but I never do I still haven't made the photo book for our last couple of vacations. Our cruise is 10 nights and 8 ports. So we only have the 1 sea day to make use of the ship. The balcony room on the Spirit looks really small and the Spirit is pretty old, but I'm sure it'll be fine. I think the Epic is in the Med too (maybe next year?). That ship is pretty hideous looking on the outside (my opinion) but I imagine there's a ton to do on her. I'll try to report back in 4 weeks!

Please do!! We are researching options for summer 2018 and the Med on the Spirit is on our (ever growing) list. The itinerary we are looking at is perfect, but the ship is old and pretty small. It's funny, thought, that it almost seems to have a cult following among some NCL fans. But then I've seen some reviews that complain about wear and tear, etc. I'd love to hear your opinion having sailed on DCL multiple times.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[cruiser21]

I agree that DCL shouldn't try to compete directly with the thrills and party cruise market. That being said, would a rock wall on the sports deck be so bad? I am way more interested in relaxing, shows, tastings, etc. My husband keeps asking what there is to do. He doesn't like any of those things but rock walls, zip lines and water slides are totally in his wheel house. It would be nice to have a little more for him and my son to enjoy.

I would like a ropes courses Bowling alley, and a better running track. I'm sure DCL will come up with something, and I'm sure the DCL peeps will applaud it even though they criticize the other cruise lines for having it. Hopefully bigger pools and better pool food is also on their list of improvements. The best thing about NCL and Carnival is everything faces outward towards the ocean. On DCL everything is focused inward. I would like to see more outdoor seating and ocean views on the next ship.

 

[dragynally]

I agree. I've only been on DCL but am researching options on other lines and am amazed by the number of "I've only cruised on DCL but......" type posts I've been seeing. Obviously there are a lot of other people who feel they aren't getting the same value on DCL that they had in the past. I really hope DCL adds a lot of the features found on other cruise lines to their new ships. It will be the best of both worlds. They'll still have the older ships for people who prefer fewer thrills and like things the way they've always been. I guess we'll find out in a few years.

I meant DCL doesn't have to be the best of both worlds. Could it improve ? Of course. But if you want specific bells and whistles you can cruise a ship that has those. People aren't stuck with DCL

 

[mcd2745]

I would like a ropes courses Bowling alley, and a better running track. I'm sure DCL will come up with something, and I'm sure the DCL peeps will applaud it even though they criticize the other cruise lines for having it. Hopefully bigger pools and better pool food is also on their list of improvements. The best thing about NCL and Carnival is everything faces outward towards the ocean. On DCL everything is focused inward. I would like to see more outdoor seating and ocean views on the next ship.

IMO, adding those types of things - ropes course, rock walls, bowling, flow riders, etc - to DCL ships would serve dual purposes. While giving people (especially the tween/teen/young adult crowd) some fun and exciting new experiences, what it also accomplishes is getting those people away from the pools, spreading everyone out a little more and hopefully making it less crowded and congested around the (inadequate/poorly designed) pool areas. I've been on a few RCCL cruises, and now an NCL cruise a couple of weeks ago. Each line has things they do well and things they can improve on (I'd love to combine elements from DCL, RCCL, and NCL to create - for me - the perfect ship and experience). One area those other lines do better than DCL is with crowd flow/control. On DCL, it always seems that just about every guest onboard is in the same area (whether it's at the pool, or the atrium, etc) and you regularly feel crowded. Meanwhile, the other lines seem to spread the guests out a little better. I don't worry about aesthetics. If anyone can integrate these type of extra features seamlessly into the decor and theming, without being eyesores (which I don't really think they are anyway), it's Disney.

 

[Lisa F]

if you shoot me a pm with a few lines about how it is for kids I'd appreciate it! no fancy report needed!

 

[jenf22]

if you shoot me a pm with a few lines about how it is for kids I'd appreciate it! no fancy report needed!

I will try to remember. We get back April 1, so if you don't hear from me in a couple days, shoot me a pm.

 

[cruiser21]

IMO, adding those types of things - ropes course, rock walls, bowling, flow riders, etc - to DCL ships would serve dual purposes. While giving people (especially the tween/teen/young adult crowd) some fun and exciting new experiences, what it also accomplishes is getting those people away from the pools, spreading everyone out a little more and hopefully making it less crowded and congested around the (inadequate/poorly designed) pool areas. I've been on a few RCCL cruises, and now an NCL cruise a couple of weeks ago. Each line has things they do well and things they can improve on (I'd love to combine elements from DCL, RCCL, and NCL to create - for me - the perfect ship and experience). One area those other lines do better than DCL is with crowd flow/control. On DCL, it always seems that just about every guest onboard is in the same area (whether it's at the pool, or the atrium, etc) and you regularly feel crowded. Meanwhile, the other lines seem to spread the guests out a little better. I don't worry about aesthetics. If anyone can integrate these type of extra features seamlessly into the decor and theming, without being eyesores (which I don't really think they are anyway), it's Disney.

You bring up a great point. I forgot about the crowd control. I was surprised when we went on the Carnival Breeze and the Getaway how roomy it was. There were so many places to walk around and enjoy the ocean. This is something Disney definitely needs to improve on. Have you looked at the new MSC Seaside? If you haven't check it out. It looks pretty amazing.

 

[cruiser21]

I meant DCL doesn't have to be the best of both worlds. Could it improve ? Of course. But if you want specific bells and whistles you can cruise a ship that has those. People aren't stuck with DCL

I see no reason why they can't be the best of both worlds. If they want to continue to charge double over the other cruise lines they should be the best of everything. I'm sure the people at Disney would agree with this.

 

[dragynally]

I see no reason why they can't be the best of both worlds. If they want to continue to charge double over the other cruise lines they should be the best of everything. I'm sure the people at Disney would agree with this.

I don't see why they have to be. There are so many options.

 

[cruiser21]

I don't see why they have to be. There are so many options.

So you want to pay DCL prices, and not have them be the best? They shouldn't improve on anything?

 

[Dug720]

So you want to pay DCL prices, and not have them be the best? They shouldn't improve on anything?

Being "the best" doesn't necessarily mean having all the shiny toys.

 

[dragynally]

So you want to pay DCL prices, and not have them be the best? They shouldn't improve on anything?

I just want to be on the Mickey ship. Everything else is extra. If you don't like it there are tons of other ships. Why do you care what I like?

 

[cruiser21]

Being "the best" doesn't necessarily mean having all the shiny toys.

Did I say that? No I don't think I did. I hope they come out with something fresh, innovative and take some of the best qualities from other new ships. I'm sure they have some great plans. Instead of being critical of other people ideas why don't you tell us what you would like to see in a new ship.

 

[cruiser21]

I just want to be on the Mickey ship. Everything else is extra. If you don't like it there are tons of other ships. Why do you care what I like?

I don't care. I thought it was an interesting discussion on what Disney could do with their new builds. If your happy with the way the Disney ships are and don't want changes that's fine too.

 

[chaseg03]

IMO, adding those types of things - ropes course, rock walls, bowling, flow riders, etc - to DCL ships would serve dual purposes. While giving people (especially the tween/teen/young adult crowd) some fun and exciting new experiences, what it also accomplishes is getting those people away from the pools, spreading everyone out a little more and hopefully making it less crowded and congested around the (inadequate/poorly designed) pool areas. I've been on a few RCCL cruises, and now an NCL cruise a couple of weeks ago. Each line has things they do well and things they can improve on (I'd love to combine elements from DCL, RCCL, and NCL to create - for me - the perfect ship and experience). One area those other lines do better than DCL is with crowd flow/control. On DCL, it always seems that just about every guest onboard is in the same area (whether it's at the pool, or the atrium, etc) and you regularly feel crowded. Meanwhile, the other lines seem to spread the guests out a little better. I don't worry about aesthetics. If anyone can integrate these type of extra features seamlessly into the decor and theming, without being eyesores (which I don't really think they are anyway), it's Disney.

You have some same thimking if what I am. I think with the new ships they need to be 100 feet longer. Give a space for fun actives (ropes course, water slides, rock climbing wall, etc.) Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Disney cruises. Just saying there could be things added. Your definitely right, it will make the ship feel less crowded.

 

[cgolf]

Question: people keep saying DCL is getting boring or too pricey like it's the only option. Shouldn't we be stoked that there are so many cruises to choose? Think DCL is boring? Go to rccl. Don't like rccl? GO to HAL. We aren't stuck on any one ship. That's the beauty of it. I guess what I'm saying is DCL isn't behind. It just is what it is.

This is us, we had planned on being a lifetime DCL cruiser and had planned to earn loyalty with them, hoping they would eventually add another tier. We left because of essentially price.

Fast forward to now, we are starting over loyalty wise with another line that so far we like and we have an option to try Celebrity as well. I don't see us being free agents per say, we may stick to RCCL, Celebrity, and DCL depending on price. We aren't too picky on what ships have to offer, the Magic is our favorite and that is pretty basic by today's standards.

 

[dragynally]

This is us, we had planned on being a lifetime DCL cruiser and had planned to earn loyalty with them, hoping they would eventually add another tier. We left because of essentially price.

Fast forward to now, we are starting over loyalty wise with another line that so far we like and we have an option to try Celebrity as well. I don't see us being free agents per say, we may stick to RCCL, Celebrity, and DCL depending on price. We aren't too picky on what ships have to offer, the Magic is our favorite and that is pretty basic by today's standards.

I think that's great. I'm not a cruiser. I'm a Disney cruiser. That's all I want. But if you want more totally do that.

 

[dragynally]

I don't care. I thought it was an interesting discussion on what Disney could do with their new builds. If your happy with the way the Disney ships are and don't want changes that's fine too.

As I said... of course Disney could be better. But what people are describing isn't better to me. I don't like any of that stuff. They can do that but it wouldn't make the cruise better to me.

 

[Shanti]

I like the ships the way they are: a fine balance between elegance and fun.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

The purpose of alot of those "stupid" things aren't exactly aesthetics. Regardless of how they look, some of them are quite fun (which is the main objective).

I'll try and put it another way then instead of dumb that may be more amiable - it's gimmicky. Just not appealing on an ocean going vessel but perfectly fine at a landside carnival. Now, if you like that stuff, then have it. Fortunately for you a cruise line has catered to your desires.