It is interesting to me the lengths people go to in order to obtain validation for their decisions. I have no vested interest in what cruises people choose, how much they pay, whether they believe in pixie dust or magic, or what is important to them when selecting a cruise line. Decide what is important to you, make a decision, and own it. There is no need to rationalize.
However, I do think it is important (since this is an information based site) to dispel myths that are continuously repeated by those who have not sailed on comparable ships or by those who have never sailed on anything but
DCL. The myths usually are:
The cruise fares aren't that much different
Other lines have "raunchy" entertainment choices and drunk smokers are everywhere
Other ships are like shopping malls
Other cruise lines "nickel and dime" you
DCL has better service
DCL is a luxury cruise line
DCL has a higher quality of passengers
There are many options out there from weekend booze cruises to luxury lines. DCL is a mass market cruise line with a unique product. If you like that product (characters and Disney theming) then DCL may be for you - assuming you agree to pay the significant price difference.
I regularly find DCL to be 50-100% more than similar ships with similar itineraries. There are more sedate cruises (Regal/Royal Princess) and those geared towards family activities (
RCCL Oasis class.) The only thing that DCL includes in the price that others don't is soda from a select few dispensers on the ship. DCL, in contrast, is the leader in separating you from your money. From water packages, popcorn, photos, child boutique experiences, tours, tastings, light-up toys, and pirate costumes to time shares, DCL heavily markets their various extras.
I find that service is dependent on the individual but that Princess is more to my taste - understated. If you define good service as entertaining the children with jokes and magic tricks you probably would not agree that understated is better.
Perhaps I am missing something, but in addition to DCL I have sailed on RCCL and Princess and have yet to see "raunchy" entertainment or hordes of drunk people. In fact, I would say that on Princess the the passengers seem to be more of a professional crowd. I also find the food to be significantly better and the buffet to be overwhelmingly better than DCL. The up-charge restaurants are also better on Princess. Perhaps because I have only sailed on relatively newer ships, I have never been forced to walk through a casino to get anywhere. The only time I enter a casino is if I want to be there and that is a choice that DCL does not offer.
I guess the point is that the Toyota/Cadillac comparison is ridiculous if you bother to actually research and make reasonable comparisons. I know this: I was smugly satisfied Christmas week 2016 on Regal Princess when we pulled into St. Thomas on the Regal Princess and docked near the DCL Fantasy. We were three days into an 11 day southern Caribbean itinerary and they were four days into a ho-hum seven day eastern itinerary. I was getting better food and great service on an equivalent ship. Our cost for four adults (1 balcony room and 1 interior for our adult aged children) was less than $5,000. The DCL price for equivalent rooms? Around $10,000. Alas, I had to go without the magic tricks and soda.