Is everyone that cruises with DCL rich?

[Disneydreamer5]

Please don't take any of this the wrong way but is there anyone of modest incomes that cruises regularly with Disney?
I have been playing around with dates, lenghts of cruise, you name it and no matter what I do it comes out to like 6 grand for my famiy of 7.
Granted I realize my family is not the average size but its just so much more expensive then I could have ever guest. Espeically when you compare them to other cruiselines.
I am just curious how any of you do it.
I want to take the kids so badly but its starting to look like we will never be able too.
Any help or insight? Maybe DCL is only for people who make 6 figures.

 

[Paula13]

Not rich by no means. Middles class family. We save up for our vacations. Have sailed 2x before & we did it in 'off' season, my DD was younger. Now that she is older, not an option to take her out of school. We found a GREAT deal for June of this year. The price is about what we paid in 2004 in Dec. Just keep looking around, they have great deals that come up!

 

[kcashner]

You are right that 7 is not the average family size. However.....I have 6 people booked for an upcoming 7 day cruise for under $4000, including insurance. That does not include our transportation--we'll drive the van. We may or may not be getting a hotel at the port where we can leave the car for free. Yes, we'll have some transportation costs and some meal costs while on the road. I will pay for ONE private excursion ($30 per person). My total costs will be under $5000. That's a lot for me--I can typically book 2 of us for something in the range of $1500, but this is a lot more people. Your figures are pretty close to mine, so if you're looking at 7 days, you're probably right--$6000 is not an unreasonable figure for 7 people. I consider it a good deal if I am close to $100 per person per night of cruise.

There are a lot of specials available right now-- 7 day cruises for $599 per person cabins (3rd and 4th persons are less!), stay 4, get 3 free specials at WDW. 3 and 4 day cruises are even less. If you're ever going to be able to cruise, this would be a good time!

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Middle class here as well. First cruise was a gift from my parents. Did not have the concept of the cost. Enjoyed it so much, we decided to budget and make it happen again. Saving for big 11 night in 2010, and came across a great rate for 10/2009. We have not stayed in an inside stateroom, and i do not have one booked for either cruise coming up. But from feedback i have read on these boards I definitly would if that is what gets me on the ship!

 

[Renysmom]

Contact Dreams Unlimited with your requirements (# people, cabins, dates) and let them come up with the most inexpensive costs. They are excellent at that

 

[TiaMaria]

Please don't take any of this the wrong way but is there anyone of modest incomes that cruises regularly with Disney?
I have been playing around with dates, lenghts of cruise, you name it and no matter what I do it comes out to like 6 grand for my famiy of 7.
Granted I realize my family is not the average size but its just so much more expensive then I could have ever guest. Espeically when you compare them to other cruiselines.
I am just curious how any of you do it.
I want to take the kids so badly but its starting to look like we will never be able too.
Any help or insight? Maybe DCL is only for people who make 6 figures.

Not rich, but I do ok and I'm a saver.

You may just need to plan further out. If you can plan, say for 2 years from now and put something every month in a vacation fund - you can do it. You would just need to put down the deposit and your final payment wouldn't need to be paid until 75 days out.

Looking at your ticker. Congrats on being smoke free. If you took that amount you save each month and stick it in a vacation fund - you would have your $7000.00 in about 20 months. It's a good goal and might help you to stay smoke free.

Nothing wrong with dreaming. Book a dummy date for 2010 and then move it once the 2011 dates open. Unless you are booking suites, your deposit is always refundable.

Best of luck to you on both issues.

 

[Roveer]

Yes, yes we are.


I got a kick out of your post. I think the gov't would consider most of us rich which I think comes at around 75k or so but like the other posters many of us save for years for our cruises. I am the type of person that is willing to make sacrifices and stick to my schedule when I really want something. We are sailing in April, but my sights are already set on a Med cruise in 5 years when the kids (4 of them) would really get something out of it. So planning 5 years ahead, saving change, putting away money every month, shutting off the A/C during the summer and keeping the heat lower in the winter, driving older cars (we keep em 10 years, no car payments). Yup, we rich, just the other kind.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Ha, not rich by any means.

This is personal info, but I make less than $20 k a year, and I am taking my family of 4 adults on a Disney Cruise. Of course they are chipping in for flights and rental cars and hotels and excursions, but the base cruise price is all me. I have been saving up for quite a while, and while it is quite steep, I think it will be an investment that will pay dividends in memories that will last a lifetime.

It has been discussed here before that hard core Disney people are often some of the most frugal, middle class people you'll ever meet, and our family is a prime example of that. We have a huge hole in our barn roof. We have a 20 year old refrigerator (we use appliances till they die, even though it would probably be cheaper in the long run, with energy costs and all that to replace it with a newer, more energy efficient fridge, but I digress). I went to a private college, and have thousands of dollars in student loans racked up. Yet, we will find a way to make it on that boat.

Many of us (Disney people) drive 10 year old cars. (Mine is 18 years old) Many of us do not get regular manicures and pedicures and massages and facials. Many of us clip coupons and go to Goodwill and go to rummage sales. It just slays me when people I know ask how we can afford a Disney Cruise, and here they are driving a brand new car, paying a huge mortgage, having salon appointments weekly, and only buying brand name, top of the line items. Hey, if you can afford it, and that is what you want to spend your money on, more power to you, but don't question what I spend mine on.

Granted, I can understand where you are coming from, as a family of 6 or 7 can be very hard to do, with having to get two cabins. But, as a previous poster said, if you go at an off time, and you get 2 Category 12's, you might be surprised.

 

[jajomo0118]

OP....Middle Class is a wide range of incomes so that info probably doesn't help you much even tho you asked. JMHO

The best way to do any thing is plan early..save...plan...and save some more. We use income tax refunds for deposits and breakdown the rest in to weekly amount. Say the grand total for the whole trip is $6000 then minus the deposit gives me $5000 divided by 104 weeks...gives me a much more reasonable amount of $48 dollars a week to put back.

Just wanted give you what we do so maybe it can help you....

 

[Disneydreamer5]

Thank you all for your honesty and fast feedback. I wasn't meaning to insult anyone and I hope I didn't. I was really just looking for a way to fulfull my familys dream and I have been having a hard time on my own figuring a way to make it come true.
So from what I have read so far your best advice would be to book way in advance.
So I can book right now for a cruise at the end of 2010 and save right now with the half off deposit and then I have 18 months to pay it off. Assuming I book for sometime in December as I have also always wanted to see Disney at Christmas, may as well kill two birds with one stone, right?!
So my last quote for land and sea, doing it myself and booking value instead of mods, it came to $5,600.00. Then I put down the $700 so substract that amount would bring us down too $4,900.00 and then divid that by 18 months, April 09 until September 2010 = $272.00 per mouth.
I can totally do that.
can't I? I mean, can I book that far out?
Its a long time to wait but if it something you really want then it's totally worth the wait and it so gives us something to work for and it will be that much better when it's actually here. I would imagine also that once it's actually book the time flys by.
Thanks you guys, I think this may be the answer I was looking for.
Oh and just an FYI, I would need a cat 11 or 12 cause there is no way I am having my kids somewhere on the ship that isn't right next to me. I am way to pariniod for that! lol

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Thank you all for your honesty and fast feedback. I wasn't meaning to insult anyone and I hope I didn't. I was really just looking for a way to fulfull my familys dream and I have been having a hard time on my own figuring a way to make it come true.
So from what I have read so far your best advice would be to book way in advance.
So I can book right now for a cruise at the end of 2010 and save right now with the half off deposit and then I have 18 months to pay it off. Assuming I book for sometime in December as I have also always wanted to see Disney at Christmas, may as well kill two birds with one stone, right?!
So my last quote for land and sea, doing it myself and booking value instead of mods, it came to $5,600.00. Then I put down the $700 so substract that amount would bring us down too $4,900.00 and then divid that by 18 months, April 09 until September 2010 = $272.00 per mouth.
I can totally do that.
can't I? I mean, can I book that far out?
Its a long time to wait but if it something you really want then it's totally worth the wait and it so gives us something to work for and it will be that much better when it's actually here. I would imagine also that once it's actually book the time flys by.
Thanks you guys, I think this may be the answer I was looking for.
Oh and just an FYI, I would need a cat 11 or 12 cause there is no way I am having my kids somewhere on the ship that isn't right next to me. I am way to pariniod for that! lol

I have booked for December 2010 so you can go ahead and book. Your plan sounds good!
Put some more aside for excursions, tips, and goodies you might want to get and you are good to go!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Thank you all for your honesty and fast feedback. I wasn't meaning to insult anyone and I hope I didn't. I was really just looking for a way to fulfull my familys dream and I have been having a hard time on my own figuring a way to make it come true.
So from what I have read so far your best advice would be to book way in advance.
So I can book right now for a cruise at the end of 2010 and save right now with the half off deposit and then I have 18 months to pay it off. Assuming I book for sometime in December as I have also always wanted to see Disney at Christmas, may as well kill two birds with one stone, right?!
So my last quote for land and sea, doing it myself and booking value instead of mods, it came to $5,600.00. Then I put down the $700 so substract that amount would bring us down too $4,900.00 and then divid that by 18 months, April 09 until September 2010 = $272.00 per mouth.
I can totally do that.
can't I? I mean, can I book that far out?
Its a long time to wait but if it something you really want then it's totally worth the wait and it so gives us something to work for and it will be that much better when it's actually here. I would imagine also that once it's actually book the time flys by.
Thanks you guys, I think this may be the answer I was looking for.
Oh and just an FYI, I would need a cat 11 or 12 cause there is no way I am having my kids somewhere on the ship that isn't right next to me. I am way to pariniod for that! lol

It might be cheaper to do the land and sea differently instead of one package price from Disney.

 

[Olga]

How about enlisting the kids to help with making contributions to a vacation fund. Maybe some can get a paper route or do chores for neighbors. The older ones might be able to work a few hours on the weekends at the local pizza place and can bank their tips in a family vacation fund. Make it a family affair!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I have to locum to pay for my disney cruises!!!!
I work any extra, anywhere to pay for it.

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

Yes, you can absolutely book for 12/2010, we have our Christmas cruise booked already for that year. Something you may want to look into, is September. I think it is the lowest month in terms of cost. Though you would have to take your kids out of school and the ship would not be decorated, but if cost is a bigger issue, I would look into that.
My husband and I are surly not rich, but we live simply and plan well in advance. Luckily, we have always made our final payment. We cut back on some things day to day because to us, the cruise is worth it (not the case for all of course).
Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

 

[TiaMaria]

Now you're talking OP! You CAN do that. You can choose to either pay a bit monthly so you would not be tempted to spend it on something else, or put it in a savings or vacation account to use at 75 days out.

I too encourage you to book the cruise and land portions separately - at least see how it plays out when costing it. Many times it can be much more inexpensive and give you more options.

As another poster said, make sure you budget a bit for tips, excursions, arcade games, alcoholic or specialty beverages, souveniers, etc. Put a little away each month for that also.

I'm glad you are feeling better. Some things ARE worth waiting for and you will see - the time will fly by. Gosh, now I'm excited for you.

 

[mousetravel]

Many of us (Disney people) drive 10 year old cars. (Mine is 18 years old) Many of us do not get regular manicures and pedicures and massages and facials. Many of us clip coupons and go to Goodwill and go to rummage sales. It just slays me when people I know ask how we can afford a Disney Cruise, and here they are driving a brand new car, paying a huge mortgage, having salon appointments weekly, and only buying brand name, top of the line items. Hey, if you can afford it, and that is what you want to spend your money on, more power to you, but don't question what I spend mine on.

I totally agree with you! I have a 14 year old car, I clip coupons, I rarely buy NEW clothes, I only get haircuts, not "styles" (I can style my own hair when I get home), I am a single parent, get no child support, and we still manage to take a trip at least once a year. I also ebay from time to time, and have yard sales. I stay away from the Mall and don't spend unnecessary money. I don't go out to eat often and I "brown bag" my lunch for work.

Even when all the "luxuries" are cut out of my budget, it doesn't hurt me at all.

I have to also agree with booking the cruise separate from WDW. You really don't "need" park hoppers or the dining plan.

As far as your room on the cruise, I book the inside stateroom and would never spend the extra money for a balcony. We are really only in the room long enough to get ready or sleep!

 

[lbgraves]

Have you looked into a 7 day in the first two weeks of December? The ships are decorated for the holidays and the price has been lower like September rates when we have cruised then the past few years.

 

[mindy327]

OP. I just wanted to say, It's not how much money you make, Its how much you spend/save. I make 6 figures (own a financial services office) and I have saved the majority of what we make. BUT I work with people that make over 700k a year and they are BROKE! So by no means does taking a Disney Cruise constitute you as Rich, but just a way of life. I LOVE Disney, and we always find ways to go. Perhaps I am a big saver but spending 6k on Disney is when I get the bill. But like you said, book out as far as you can, and save. Get a huge water jug and put all of your loose change in it. You will save an extra 800 before then. YOU CAN DO IT. Getting into debt for it, is not worth it though. Hope this helps. Have fun on your cruise.

 

[Pluto 2]

i wish i was rich. dvc helps out a lot, especially with this economy. last year i took a 27 thousand dollar pay cut. this year it looks like i will be taking about a 40 thousand dollar paycut from my 07 pay. but next year i will still be going on the 24 night dcl cruise a med than the transatlantic. in 50 years from now or whenever it may be you do not want to be on your death bed wishing you would of took your family on the dcl cruise and didnt. but of course bills comes first.