NYTimes Travel Writer on DCL

[alldiz]

I don't see this posted elsewhere.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/travel/disney-cruise-magic-bahamas.html

I have to admit that I don't understand why you would do DCL with the expectation that Disney isn't really your thing. But, it sounds like a pretty good trip overall and much more realistic than some of the other reviews I read. Perhaps people who read it won't go in expecting so much perfection but still excellent service and a great time for kids who ARE Disney fans.

Just read this last night.... I agree pretty good article.
My biggest takeaway like a PP said..
What kind of “travel expert” plans a princess day on a beach day.... just sayin ;-)
Kerri

 

[ProgressCity]

He's in for a rude awakening if he thinks the rooms are small on Disney. I know that with prices increasing you can often get a suite on another cruise line for the same price as a regular stateroom on Disney, but the regular Disney staterooms are among the largest in the industry for this class of ship.

The whole article seemed to look down his nose at Disney fans. I totally get that Disney is not for everyone, but just because you like Disney doesn't mean you don't like authenticity or "high brow" things too. Last time I checked, no person is just one thing. And given how much Disney makes off of adult Disney fans, we're not some weird aberration. There are worse things than being an adult who allows themselves to believe in magic...like being someone who likes to look down on people for the harmless things they like.

In general, I don't agree with reviewing something if you're going into it knowing it's not your thing. It's like being a food critic who hates seafood reviewing a seafood restaurant. It doesn't really benefit or help anyone other than the author who likes the sound of their own voice. I think his article would have been more helpful if it had been framed as "Is a Disney cruise worth it if you're just doing it for the kids?" or something along those lines.

ETA: I'm also appalled that he not only went on the cruise with a sick kid, but that he actually included it in the article. That's exactly what we need, more parents thinking their kid is more important than the health of all the other people on the ship. He should have either rescheduled or just not included that detail in the article.

 

[starvenger]

that article smells a bit of some NYT editors saying "hey, let's send Dan on a Disney cruise, he'll probably write something snarky." Looks like the wife and kid had fun at least, and he was won over a bit.

Well, he’s the travel editor, so I’m guessing that this conversation was all in his head

 

[slindamood]

He does not mention any of the shows (except for the magician), which for my 5 year old DGD have always been the highlight of a cruise and we attend as a family.

He did not think that DD might want to wear her new pirate dress to dinner, when all the characters were in pirate outfits that afternoon? Odd for even a first timer.

His photo of the verandah shows he was in a white wall veranda in the aft section with a handicap verandah next to it. He must have booked late (white walls seem to go last) and never looked at a floor plan.

The Magic is perfect for family vacations but the writer seemed to be getting away from the family at every opportunity.

 

[mmmears]

When I read this yesterday he just annoyed me because I felt like his entire mindset going in was to find lots of things to laugh at or complain about. But now I'm really, really annoyed.

First, he LIED and said nobody was sick in the last 24 hours. Nice. It doesn't matter to him if he takes a contagious kid on board, just as long as it means he can take the trip. Now this is someone whose advice I'm going to take?

Second, it's kind of obvious that you don't book a BBB (or any spa appointment) midday on a CC day unless you aren't interested in spending the day at the beach. Then he somehow blames Disney for this stuff?

I don't think DCL is perfect, and I don't like how it's become something you have to plan ahead for like WDW (really, it's possible for them to have more slots for A&E meet and greets. It's not that hard.) But I think he went in trying to pick it apart and some of his criticisms just fall flat.

 

[Dug720]

When I read this yesterday he just annoyed me because I felt like his entire mindset going in was to find lots of things to laugh at or complain about. But now I'm really, really annoyed.

First, he LIED and said nobody was sick in the last 24 hours. Nice. It doesn't matter to him if he takes a contagious kid on board, just as long as it means he can take the trip. Now this is someone whose advice I'm going to take?

Second, it's kind of obvious that you don't book a BBB (or any spa appointment) midday on a CC day unless you aren't interested in spending the day at the beach. Then he somehow blames Disney for this stuff?

I don't think DCL is perfect, and I don't like how it's become something you have to plan ahead for like WDW (really, it's possible for them to have more slots for A&E meet and greets. It's not that hard.) But I think he went in trying to pick it apart and some of his criticisms just fall flat.

Sadly, I do not believe he is the only one who has ever lied on that form. I'm pretty sure there are people every single cruise who do.

 

[Shanti]

Sadly, I do not believe he is the only one who has ever lied on that form. I'm pretty sure there are people every single cruise who do.

Yes, but they aren't putting it in their travel advice columns. I think the brazenness of that, while simultaneously being so critical of others, is what is so upsetting about that point.

 

[mmmears]

Yes, but they aren't putting it in their travel advice columns. I think the brazenness of that, while simultaneously being so critical of others, is what is so upsetting about that point.

Yep. Not only is he flouting it, but in being some self proclaimed "travel guru" of sorts, he's pretty much telling other people that's it's perfectly ok to do it.

 

[starvenger]

Second, it's kind of obvious that you don't book a BBB (or any spa appointment) midday on a CC day unless you aren't interested in spending the day at the beach. Then he somehow blames Disney for this stuff?

Not certain where you see that he blames Disney for this. His comments are more laughing at himself for booking BBB on a beach day. And he clearly wasn’t unhappy with how his daughter looked after the makeover.

And is it truly obvious? Remember that he hadn’t seemed to put a whole lot of thought into what the cruise entailed, and it seems like he made more than a few first timer mistakes.

Yes, but they aren't putting it in their travel advice columns. I think the brazenness of that, while simultaneously being so critical of others, is what is so upsetting about that point.

This article was filed under “personal journeys” so the fact that it comes off more like a trip recap makes sense.

 

[Shanti]

The whole article seemed to look down his nose at Disney fans...In general, I don't agree with reviewing something if you're going into it knowing it's not your thing. It's like being a food critic who hates seafood reviewing a seafood restaurant. It doesn't really benefit or help anyone other than the author who likes the sound of their own voice.

Nailed it.

It's like having a person who hates sports cover the Super Bowl. "Well, this is an overpriced, overcrowded celebration of stupidity. I'm surrounded by people screaming maniacally about whether a little brown ball makes it to the end of a field..." Might be slightly amusing for haters, but it's not worth anyone else's time.

 

[mmmears]

I forgot to say that the PP who mentioned that you don't "have" to buy the costumes in the store is spot on. That's more of a parenting issue than a Disney issue.

Nailed it.

It's like having a person who hates sports cover the Super Bowl. "Well, this is an overpriced, overcrowded celebration of stupidity. I'm surrounded by people screaming maniacally about whether a little brown ball makes it to the end of a field..." Might be slightly amusing for haters, but it's not worth anyone else's time.

Yep. That's pretty much what my review would be if I went to the Super Bowl.

And is it truly obvious? Remember that he hadn’t seemed to put a whole lot of thought into what the cruise entailed, and it seems like he made more than a few first timer mistakes.

I do think it's pretty obvious. Lately I think there are too many things that need to be booked in advance, considered, etc. when planning a cruise. But yeah, most people wouldn't book a hair and nail appointment for themselves in the middle of their beach day, let alone a very expensive kiddie makeover. My guess is that very little thought went into this trip.

 

[Shanti]

Yep. That's pretty much what my review would be if I went to the Super Bowl.

Mine too, actually. But I still wouldn't publish it in the sports section.

And is it truly obvious?

Getting a little girl an expensive makeover in the middle of a beach day is beyond obvious. It's idiotic.

My guess is that very little thought went into this trip.

Well, except for thinking up things to bash in the article he was planning to write...

 

[starvenger]

I do think it's pretty obvious. Lately I think there are too many things that need to be booked in advance, considered, etc. when planning a cruise. But yeah, most people wouldn't book a hair and nail appointment for themselves in the middle of their beach day, let alone a very expensive kiddie makeover. My guess is that very little thought went into this trip.

Well see that’s what I would think - that it’s obvious. But I’m not a first timer, and we have to look at it from the perspective of a first timer.

Maybe they want to book BBB, see an empty block of time and book it without regard for if it is a sea day or a port day or private island day. And when they figure out the mistake, it’s too far into the cruise to rebook so they eat it, because it’s for their daughter. I guess I would’ve appreciated some context in that regard, but we don’t get that in the article.

At the end of the day, I think you and I are in agreement that there wasn’t a lot of thought or research that went into the planning. And maybe that works for his usual travels. It really doesn’t for a cruise, and it’s an expensive lesson to learn.

 

[Dug720]

Yes, but they aren't putting it in their travel advice columns. I think the brazenness of that, while simultaneously being so critical of others, is what is so upsetting about that point.

Oh agreed. Though I'm sure somewhere someone is putting it on their blogs. And forums - I've seen it here before with people asking about it or even saying they/their kid had gotten sick that morning but "we're sure it's just travel excitement, so we're checking no".

 

[MomOTwins]

Well see that’s what I would think - that it’s obvious. But I’m not a first timer, and we have to look at it from the perspective of a first timer.

I'm a first timer. It's obvious.

 

[mevelandry]

I don't see this posted elsewhere.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/travel/disney-cruise-magic-bahamas.html

I have to admit that I don't understand why you would do DCL with the expectation that Disney isn't really your thing. But, it sounds like a pretty good trip overall and much more realistic than some of the other reviews I read. Perhaps people who read it won't go in expecting so much perfection but still excellent service and a great time for kids who ARE Disney fans.

+1

And I think it's a good thing. When you have too much expectations regarding a vacation, there's more room for disappointment. Low expectations = more room for good surprises.

I liked that review. I think it was very unbiased.

 

[mevelandry]

(...)
In general, I don't agree with reviewing something if you're going into it knowing it's not your thing. It's like being a food critic who hates seafood reviewing a seafood restaurant. It doesn't really benefit or help anyone other than the author who likes the sound of their own voice. I think his article would have been more helpful if it had been framed as "Is a Disney cruise worth it if you're just doing it for the kids?" or something along those lines.

ETA: I'm also appalled that he not only went on the cruise with a sick kid, but that he actually included it in the article. That's exactly what we need, more parents thinking their kid is more important than the health of all the other people on the ship. He should have either rescheduled or just not included that detail in the article.

He's an Editor of the Travel section. Cruise travel is still travel.

Re ETA: They filled the medical papers. The cruise line knew. They let them in.

 

[mevelandry]

Yep. Not only is he flouting it, but in being some self proclaimed "travel guru" of sorts, he's pretty much telling other people that's it's perfectly ok to do it.

He's not "Self Proclaimed", though. Look him up on LinkedIn.

P.s.: For some reason, the multi-quote option doesn't work on my computer today. Sorry for flooding the thread.

 

[starvenger]

I'm a first timer. It's obvious.

I dunno, maybe. The thing is that I look back on my first cruise as an adult (Old Regal Princess, Panama Canal) - like the writer I didn't do a lot of research and probably made similar rookie mistakes (although not the kid related ones, since I didn't have kids at the time), so perhaps I'm a bit more sympathetic as a result.

 

[ProgressCity]

He's an Editor of the Travel section. Cruise travel is still travel.

Re ETA: They filled the medical papers. The cruise line knew. They let them in.

I get that cruise travel is still travel, but that doesn't mean that he has to review it. I'd expect an editor to assign reviews to the most appropriate people to do them. I thought he was just a reviewer, not an editor. I actually think less of his article now since I thought it was more an issue of the editor letting it run than the fact that it was written in the first place.

Also, he says in the article:
"After a night in Miami, we headed to board the ship — though before we could, we had to sign a paper indicating that no one in our party had a fever and a cough (or a handful of other symptoms). Her cough had held on, but her fever had abated, so I nervously signed the paper,"

So the cruise line didn't know she'd had a fever. He decided that since she didn't have a fever at that very moment, it was okay to get her on the ship where she got her mom sick and who knows how many other passengers. And he knew what he was doing was wrong or at least questionable otherwise he wouldn't have "nervously signed the paper."