Looking for comparisons with NCL...

[KashasMom]

The soda is the big thing people like to mention. I've heard that certain hours are at a fee for the children's programming, but as I haven't sailed NCL with kids I couldn't tell you for sure. Pizza delivery is $5 for a large pie delivered anywhere you'd like on the ship. After hours room service has a nominal surcharge, but then again there is a 24-hour eatery onboard so you always have a dining option open and don't need to rely on room service. On the bigger ships the high ticket shows (Blue Man Group, etc) are an additional charge. Those are the only things I can think of. Certainly nothing to substantiate doubling the cruise fare.

I never paid any fee for the kids club on NCL. Didn't care to order a pizza delivered so don't know about that. And you have incorrect information about the shows - there is no charge for Blue Man Group, etc. The only show there is a charge for is the Cirque show because it includes dinner.

 

[KashasMom]

Soda
It is always the 'free soda'.

I am sure there are differences but this one always comes up .

OMG, the soda!! You would think this is the biggest deal in the world for as much as this is mentioned. This is just not a big deal for us - we can live without it - and I wouldn't let my 3 yr. drink soda. Even if we were big soda drinkers - the week soda card on NCL is like $42!! Seriously, that's less than tips for a week!!

 

[FJS961]

On the POA, the adults had to check in for the Chefs Table experience at 5:45 so the dads brought the kids to the club a little after 5pm. We had to pay $6 per kid to have them in there between 5-6 pm. I don't know about other times, late hours as that was the only time the kids used the club at all.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am looking at an NCL 14 day in Europe next summer. They want almost half of what DCL wants.,,,I can't drink that much in either soda or booze .

 

[woody73]

I am looking at an NCL 14 day in Europe next summer. They want almost half of what DCL wants.,,,I can't drink that much in either soda or booze .

I hear you. When DCL went to the Baltics, I went on RCI for 1/3 the price.

Woody

 

[Floridagram]

I think a big thing to consider is that if you can get a 7 night cruise for that price or a little more for the extras is a great deal. I have been on 14 cruises on multiple lines and have never had a bad time. Some are better than others but I had a good time on them all.

Bermuda would be awesome but expensive.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

It is included in the price of the cruise, but you're paying for it. I have a WDW annual pass and wouldn't need a ticket, but there is no option to save it for a future trip.

Yes well the question was brought up as to what is included vs NCLs surcharges. So that's why I brought it up. Whether or not you are lucky enough to have an annual pass is nice for you but doesn't help us. You have the luxury of going whenever you want so of course a DCL isn't that big a deal.

On the topic of castaway, I enjoyed my whole day and hit the buffet twice.

I guess people take whatever vacation you want..I still enjoyed my three Disney days better than my (admittedly not NCL) seven days on CCL for the same price. I had the best stateroom I have had, the best service in years, and the best entertainment and food I've had in years.

 

[calmpets]

I sailed on the Epic last year, and there was no charge for the main shows Blue Man Group or Legends in Concert. Maybe the charge is new.

Woody, You are correct. There are no charges for those shows. The only show with a surcharge is the Cirque Dreams Dinner show.

My bad! I haven't sailed the larger ships, and I mis-remembered what I read. I must have been thinking of Circque Dreams.

 

[jgive]

Disclaimer-I have never sailed on DCL but looking forward to it one day.

I have been on NCL once (Pride of America-Hawaii) and will be getting back on NCL this weekend to Alaska! The one thing we really like is the dining at any time. We are traveling with a toddler and with the time difference between there and EST we can't wait for an assigned time. I think this is relevant to your kids' ages though (and what time zone you are traveling in vs. living in). If they are older, they can adapt better than a little one on a schedule.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[Rogillio]

Disclaimer-I have never sailed on DCL but looking forward to it one day.

I have been on NCL once (Pride of America-Hawaii) and will be getting back on NCL this weekend to Alaska! The one thing we really like is the dining at any time. We are traveling with a toddler and with the time difference between there and EST we can't wait for an assigned time. I think this is relevant to your kids' ages though (and what time zone you are traveling in vs. living in). If they are older, they can adapt better than a little one on a schedule.

Good luck with your choice!

The one thing we really hated on NCL was the 'dining at any time' - "Freestyle Dinning" as NCL calls it.

The problem for us was, the majority of people tend to like to eat about the same time! So when you show up, you may or may not get seated. NCL gives you a pager and then you hang out by the dinning room or go sit on deck or in a loungh until the pager goes off. We waited like 20 minutes on NCL just to get a table to eat. We also didn't like having a different waiter staff every night. Or I guess a better way of saying that is, we really like on DCL having a wait staff that gets to know our drink preferences and knows our names and such.

But this is why it is good to have choices! Depending on your situation and your preferences, you may or may not like the "free style dinning" on NCL.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Of course the advantage to a different wait staff is that you won't be stuck with my horrid Dream servers whom I refer to as clueless and his sidekick. So, it might be an advantage (and yes I complained to the head waiter, his response was a shrug. His tip reflected his do nothing attitude )

 

[jdb in AZ]

Of course the advantage to a different wait staff is that you won't be stuck with my horrid Dream servers whom I refer to as clueless and his sidekick. So, it might be an advantage (and yes I complained to the head waiter, his response was a shrug. His tip reflected his do nothing attitude )

If the head waiter won't do anything, who is his supervisor? I would take it up the food chain.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

That's such a shame. Mihay and Anak and Simone (HW) were the best cruise service I have had in years.

 

[Rogillio]

Of course the advantage to a different wait staff is that you won't be stuck with my horrid Dream servers whom I refer to as clueless and his sidekick. So, it might be an advantage (and yes I complained to the head waiter, his response was a shrug. His tip reflected his do nothing attitude )

That's kinda like someone on the Costa Cordia saying, "So glad the ship sank, the dinning room service was abismal!" ;-)

 

[NancyIL]

Yes well the question was brought up as to what is included vs NCLs surcharges. So that's why I brought it up. Whether or not you are lucky enough to have an annual pass is nice for you but doesn't help us. You have the luxury of going whenever you want so of course a DCL isn't that big a deal.

On the topic of castaway, I enjoyed my whole day and hit the buffet twice.

I guess people take whatever vacation you want..I still enjoyed my three Disney days better than my (admittedly not NCL) seven days on CCL for the same price. I had the best stateroom I have had, the best service in years, and the best entertainment and food I've had in years.

With my annual pass, I have the luxury of going into a WDW theme park whenever I want - when I am in the Orlando area. I live in Illinois, and have to drive for several days or fly to get there, just as you do. I was at WDW for 8 days last month, and will probably return for a week in December. My annual pass costs less than two multi-day park hoppers. It also burns a hole in my pocket, and makes me more likely to justify an extra triip!

I haven't sailed with NCL, but I have pretty good sales resistance when it comes to paying for extra charge items on other cruise lines. I don't drink alcohol or soda, don't go to the spa, and rarely eat at the specialty restaurants. However, I have spent more money at Palo and on DCL merchandise than on any other cruise line.

When it comes to dining - I like both traditional and freestyle (anytime) dining, but usually choose anytime when it is offered. Even though I tend to eat dinner at about the same time most nights, I like being meeting new people at dinner. I also like not having to show up or notify servers/table mates if I choose to skip the dining room meal and eat elsewhere.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We got an amazing deal on a rolling DCL dufflebag. It was insanely cheap. We don't like freestyle dining and usually go with friends and family so we always always look forward to dinner and our specific servers (when they are good like ours were.) I think for me, the value was there in the great CMs and entertainment. On our CCLs, almost no one would show up for the deck dance parties. DCL really has fun CMs getting people to have a good time and not feel like they are the only ones out there. I also didn't have time but would love to do a 3D movie. Not sure how many other lines have that. I like that they don't push the bingo, extra drink sales, and casino in our face like the other lines. I really enjoyed my DCL and I think my honey and I are both in agreement that we will do what we can with our points and our savings to go again next year. The MidShip detective agency activities kept him busy, even he loved the shows (and he NEVER watches shows, he has too much ADD). He loved the Aquaduck, he had as good a time as I do. I liked the family karaoke, but normally kids aren't invited to karoake on other cruises because it's a lounge area.

In reality, for most people going longer for less is better. I have learned that going less days and having a better time is worth it. I have two dogs at home, for one. I had to pay house sitters on our last 7 day plus 3 disney days and they were paid well, but they aren't going to be offering their services again. (Due to gracie's getting up in the middle of the night schedule.) So for me to board them is pretty pricey. I spent just over $100 to board them from Tues night to Mon morn. Which I'm not complaining about at all. But the longer I cruise, the more expensive it is besides the cruise fare. In addition, we live in different states from my family, and I like to be able to visit them, so if I spend all my time off on a trip, it makes it harder to visit them later in the year. So there again, a briefer higher quality trip makes more sense.

I have learned that paying lots for extra days of mediocrity isn't worth it. I think a 5 day out of PC would be perfect for me...

It is obvious that there are many different opinions. I HATE HATE freestyle dining, but we have never cruised by ourselves. I love the princesses and disney music that can only be featured at the shows. No other lines can offer what it is specifically I like about Disney. It's not their fault.

I'm the kinda girl that had a blast cleaning my house yesterday and singing every disney song that came up on pandora. Obviously not everyone is like me! (but I think a few of you are!)

With those comments said, I am resting *my* case.

 

[dato63]

We have two children, to use the childcare on NCL after hours is $10 an hour for us ($6 for the first child, $4 for the 2nd).

All in all, it is still a value to us - as the price difference between NCL and DCL is big enough that no matter how many fees we pay for dining, drinking or child care - we still come out ahead over DCL. And those fees are optional - so how far ahead we come is really up to us.

However, most people work so many hours to earn the $ to get away. So, they should spend it on vacations that make them happy. One size does not fit all. We have made relationships with crew members on other cruise lines - still chat/keep up with them while at home. And Freestyle & no formal night fits our vacation mode perfectly. Drives my DH nuts when we go to WDW and have to have ADRs.

 

[GWS]

No free soda on other cruise liners!!!?

That’s a deal breaker for me.

DCL all the way!!!

 

[Rogillio]

No free soda on other cruise liners!!!?

That’s a deal breaker for me.

DCL all the way!!!

I don't even drink soda but I think it is way cool that DCL offers free soda. It sends a message that "we are not trying to milk you of every penny we can". Financially, I'm sure they do not lose money as they simply add it onto the price of the cruise but from an public relations perspective, it is pure genious! Look at how many times it is cited on this board as having made an impression on someone! It's one of those things that people are no expecting and when they find out about it they are like "Wow, this is cool! Now I don't have to find $2.50 every time the kids want a drink."

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I don't even drink soda but I think it is way cool that DCL offers free soda. It sends a message that "we are not trying to milk you of every penny we can". Financially, I'm sure they do not lose money as they simply add it onto the price of the cruise but from an public relations perspective, it is pure genious! Look at how many times it is cited on this board as having made an impression on someone! It's one of those things that people are no expecting and when they find out about it they are like "Wow, this is cool! Now I don't have to find $2.50 every time the kids want a drink."

Unless you order that soda from a bar on DCL - then it's the same $2.50. At least on other lines once I pay for my soda card, I can get a "free" soda anywhere - everywhere - on the ship.