Just priced out some cruises for 2019

[Canadian Girl]

i really wanted to do a cruise with both my youngest daughters before the older one aged out of the teen club. Sadly, I don’t think that is going to happen. I am going on this year’s Western TA with my youngest in Sept. but the older one cannot take time off from school so we are restricted to summers. I looked at all the European dates and prices and with our low dollar, realistically, Disney is just so much more expensive, I can’t justify it. By 2020, the older one will be 18 and no longer eligible. Really wish the dollar would go up but currently seems to be dropping.

 

[isabellea]

They are soooo expensive with the exchange! We went on the Wonder in March 2016 and I wanted to go back on DCL ever since but I cannot justify the cost. For our 20th in 2020, I am debating if we should go to Japan just DH and I or a DCL cruise to Alaska with the kids... Right now I collect as many AM as possible to pay for flights for either options.

Hopefully DCL pricing will stabilize and more in line with the cruising market when they will have the ships in function.

 

[Canadian Girl]

We have been cruising for five and a half years and my Western TA will be my seventh with my youngest. Prices have really climbed as our CAD has fallen. An adult daughter shared the cost of the other adult on the longer cruises which made it more affordable but she is priced out as she still has student loans to pay off. I am hoping the new ships will bring more competitive prices but my now 16 year old will be out of the clubs.

 

[riot23]

We changed Stateroom categories from Oceanview to Deluxe Inside, over $2000 savings, in order to try and offset some of the exchange cost. We love the Disney product so much that we are willing to pay the premium even with the absurd exchange rate and travel a little less often.

 

[tgropp]

Disney cruise prices have shot up in price in the past few years but I was pricing a Hawaiian NCL cruise on their 4 star ship and the cheapest balcony is $3,000 Cdn. With the US economy booming we should prepare to pay top dollar

 

[Canadian Girl]

I also changed to an inside cabin as it is just my youngest and I this time and the cost was about the same as for my verandah on last year’s TA. Was only about $400.00 difference from the ocean view I had originally booked but on the seventh deck which we prefer. I didn’t book right at the opening date so inside prices had gone up a lot

I have tentatively booked a Northern Europe one for my two daughters and myself but think I will let it go this time. Older one really doesn’t care about the teen club and if she ages out, might not be a huge disappointment. Youngest has more than four years for her. She is hoping to go on the new ship and still be in the teen club at that point. I guess we will start saving and hope the dollar improves. We have DVC so might be doing our Disney at the parks.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Why don't you try another cruise line? DCL is very expensive compared to some other mainstream lines.

 

[starvenger]

Hopefully DCL pricing will stabilize and more in line with the cruising market when they will have the ships in function.

That will be the interesting thing to watch. Right now supply and demand is at the point where they can charge Crystal prices and get away with it. With more ships in play, there will be a period where they look for that "sweet spot" in pricing, and I think that is when there deals can be found for Magic and Wonder.

I have tentatively booked a Northern Europe one for my two daughters and myself but think I will let it go this time. Older one really doesn’t care about the teen club and if she ages out, might not be a huge disappointment. Youngest has more than four years for her. She is hoping to go on the new ship and still be in the teen club at that point. I guess we will start saving and hope the dollar improves. We have DVC so might be doing our Disney at the parks.

I would definitely consider trying some other cruise lines so you can get your cruising fix.

 

[isabellea]

Why don't you try another cruise line? DCL is very expensive compared to some other mainstream lines.

That is what we did last year. First week of March 2016 we went on a 4-night Bahamian cruise with DCL (Wonder). Same week in 2017 we did the 4-night Bahamian cruise with NCL (Epic), both with an equivalent itinerary. Comparing experience and service, DCL was a clear winner! In fact, DH wasn't convinced at all DCL was worth the premium but after the cruise on NCL he was the one longing DCL when we would see one of their ship at port. My main issues with NCL were service, they were not accommodating at all for my lactose intolerance and everything was geared toward gambling and drinking. We felt like we were in the middle of a frat party most of the time. Luckily it was only me and DH that time.

We are still opened to try Royal Caribbean or Celebrity (won't return on NCL and not interested in Carnival) but for an expensive cruise like Alaska we are saving for DCL where we will be sure to have a great time.

 

[starvenger]

Take a look at Princess as well. We were planning on doing this year's cruise with them but my brother has a 2yo and they seem to be lacking in the toddler/infant care department, so back to Royal we went.

 

[FLVacationGirl]

I'm trying Royal Caribbean this Jan after 2 Disney cruises. DCL is crazy expensive for Canadians.

 

[Happy2BGoofy]

As some pp have said, downgrading on the stateroom and even cruising in off summer season sometimes helps on offsetting the higher costs and the lower loonie. I have found that if you do on board booking and book when the cruises first comes on sale you save some money as well. As per the DCL stabilizing their prices remains to be seen. There's is so much demand for them and they always do things right for you when you're travelling with them that makes it harder to go to another line. Some people are predicting that the cost would probably just continue to rise with the new ships but at this point it is all a guessing game.

 

[Canadian Girl]

The European cruises are priced really high even for insides right at release. I do the TAs for that reason but after this fall, my youngest won’t be able to go because of high school and my 16 year old can only go during the summer or at March Break. Sept. will be my seventh Disney cruise but unless the dollar goes back up, we might be doing land only trips for the next while. At least WJ has cheap flights over.