steamboat will
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2008
- Messages
- 485
Just returned of my 7 night Fantasy sailing... Had a great time, but couldn't help thinking some things were not quite what they once were.
I'm gold CC but have taken a few years break since my last sailing, before COVID, I general prefer longer sailings and have done the transatlantic 3 or 4 times so knew exactly what to expect.. but it didn't quite reach the standards of what I was used to.
Firstly no show in the Walt Disney theatre on the first night of the cruise, that's a first for me, I've been on several DCL 14 night sailings where there was a show every night. So I really don't think there's any excuse to not put a performance on embarkation day. Also I think showing a movie in the WDT (inside out 2) is a total disappointment it was showing all week long in the onboard movie theatre and it's 3 months old, so everyone had numerous chances to see it.
Next, the same characters every day! We all love the classic Mickey and friends but I don't need to see them every day... Often in the same outfits.. I'll admit they did have a couple of costume changes but I lost track of how many times they were in their sailors costumes... So boring.
The food was fine... On the first night our food was cold... Not warm. Cold. So I returned it. From then our servers placed everything under a heat lamp before serving it which meant everything was hot, including garnishes (hot lemon slice) and the plates. But you can tell when something has sat under a heat lamp. Especially when it has a sauce or other dressing which has been under the heat lamp ... But this was the compromise I was willing to take to eat hot food. How I wish there was another option than the rotationals in the evening that wasn't Pool food or basic room service. I can't believe Disney thinks that's acceptable for the price.
Paulo evening was also a miss. Food was good. But our booth seating faced the area where apparently all the dirty dishes where stacked before they headed to the kitchen, as were the bottles of wine after being poured. I understand this is a design issue but it's hardly a premium experience. I preferred the set up on the classic ships.
The deck parties were just a jumbled mess. Im not the target market I understand, but looking at all the kids they didn't really seem to be getting them either. Remixes of Disney tunes that were barely recognisable and group dances noone could follow. I feel sorry for the cast who were really giving it everything but the audience just seemed disconnected and bemused.
I know it sounds like I had a terrible time but that really isn't true. I just think at the prices Disney is charging I think we can expect a live show every night, better, hotter food and more dining choices. Varied characters wouldn't cost more and would likely sell more photos, ect. And with more ships on the way they need to be ahead of the competition in every detail to maintain high priced and occupancy.
I'm gold CC but have taken a few years break since my last sailing, before COVID, I general prefer longer sailings and have done the transatlantic 3 or 4 times so knew exactly what to expect.. but it didn't quite reach the standards of what I was used to.
Firstly no show in the Walt Disney theatre on the first night of the cruise, that's a first for me, I've been on several DCL 14 night sailings where there was a show every night. So I really don't think there's any excuse to not put a performance on embarkation day. Also I think showing a movie in the WDT (inside out 2) is a total disappointment it was showing all week long in the onboard movie theatre and it's 3 months old, so everyone had numerous chances to see it.
Next, the same characters every day! We all love the classic Mickey and friends but I don't need to see them every day... Often in the same outfits.. I'll admit they did have a couple of costume changes but I lost track of how many times they were in their sailors costumes... So boring.
The food was fine... On the first night our food was cold... Not warm. Cold. So I returned it. From then our servers placed everything under a heat lamp before serving it which meant everything was hot, including garnishes (hot lemon slice) and the plates. But you can tell when something has sat under a heat lamp. Especially when it has a sauce or other dressing which has been under the heat lamp ... But this was the compromise I was willing to take to eat hot food. How I wish there was another option than the rotationals in the evening that wasn't Pool food or basic room service. I can't believe Disney thinks that's acceptable for the price.
Paulo evening was also a miss. Food was good. But our booth seating faced the area where apparently all the dirty dishes where stacked before they headed to the kitchen, as were the bottles of wine after being poured. I understand this is a design issue but it's hardly a premium experience. I preferred the set up on the classic ships.
The deck parties were just a jumbled mess. Im not the target market I understand, but looking at all the kids they didn't really seem to be getting them either. Remixes of Disney tunes that were barely recognisable and group dances noone could follow. I feel sorry for the cast who were really giving it everything but the audience just seemed disconnected and bemused.
I know it sounds like I had a terrible time but that really isn't true. I just think at the prices Disney is charging I think we can expect a live show every night, better, hotter food and more dining choices. Varied characters wouldn't cost more and would likely sell more photos, ect. And with more ships on the way they need to be ahead of the competition in every detail to maintain high priced and occupancy.
