POLL -- How many cancelled out?

[bobbiwoz]

I am curious about the 38% that are continuing to cruise DCL regardless, do you have a tipping point or are you truly DCL or bust, maybe just going every other year instead of every year. Or are you first time or newer cruisers that want to experience DCL and all of their ships (I get it we have and enjoyed every last minute of the trips).

We are Platinum, and have been on at least 20 cruises on other lines as well. The EBTA next year looks good to us, intinerary and price wise! We will be going on Princess's WBTA in September next year as well.

We are retired.

 

[RedSox68]

I agree. They do offer discounts, but it's hard and frustrating to wait...and as for incentives there is no such thing. I couldn't understand the big panic to book opening day. Prices aren't going up because they are already topped out, they may go up a little, and then after PIF date they come back down to opening day price, and people think they got a bargain. If it's a cruise that didn't sell at all they may drop prices well below opening day prices just to irritate the few that booked opening day. You really can't win.

Apparently this was Disney's solution on how to avoid prices rising so quickly on opening day UGH

 

[RedSox68]

I keep looking at Dream prices since that's the only ship we've not been on. I'd love to be able to say we've been on all 4, but I can't justify the cost for a 3 or 4-night cruise to Castaway (which I do love!) and/or Nassau (which I don't ever need to visit again). I have yet to find any Dream cruise that is cheaper than a 7-night on another line. I think we're different than most in that we want to see new places. We don't cruise just to be on a ship. I think our June Caribbean may be the last "beaches" cruise we take.

That's just insanity. A 3 or 4 night cruise should not be a financial burden too!

 

[Ofinn]

Apparently this was Disney's solution on how to avoid prices rising so quickly on opening day UGH

A lot of peak season cruises never go up in price anymore. They price them at the highest tier pricing and then just leave them there.

 

[RedSox68]

THIS IS INSANITY! [I posted this on the cost pricing thread also]

I just did a cost comparison because I so wanted to take the Magic out of NYC in October. DCL prices start at $1,774 per person for an oceanview. Carnival's prices start at $379 per person. Same room type, same cruise, same time frame! So if you sailed on Disney you'd be paying more than $1,300 extra per person for a simple 5-night cruise! And we had a great time on Carnival -- their rooms are much bigger than Disney's and we loved the decor. Their ocean view windows are big enough to sit in.

 

[Ofinn]

I keep looking at Dream prices since that's the only ship we've not been on. I'd love to be able to say we've been on all 4, but I can't justify the cost for a 3 or 4-night cruise to Castaway (which I do love!) and/or Nassau (which I don't ever need to visit again). I have yet to find any Dream cruise that is cheaper than a 7-night on another line. I think we're different than most in that we want to see new places. We don't cruise just to be on a ship. I think our June Caribbean may be the last "beaches" cruise we take.

My husband will sometimes say why don't we do a 3 or 4 night cruise next month on the dream. I then start laughing hysterically. When I remind him how much the cost is his jaw usually drops to floor. A lot of his coworkers cruise on Carnival, and are going all the time on short cruise.. you know spur of the moment type things. Most people have to save for months just to do a 3 day cruise on DCL.

 

[RedSox68]

My husband will sometimes say why don't we do a 3 or 4 night cruise next month on the dream. I then start laughing hysterically. When I remind him how much the cost is his jaw usually drops to floor. A lot of his coworkers cruise on Carnival, and are going all the time on short cruise.. you know spur of the moment type things. Most people have to save for months just to do a 3 day cruise on DCL.

Carnival's seven day cruises are even less than Disney's 3-4 night cruises!

A lot of people diss Carnival as a party ship. I don't know whether it was because we sailed out of NYC going north, but we did not have that problem. That staff were wonderful and so was the food. Our oceanview room is still my favorite that we've ever had -- and we usually get verandahs. But this room had the most beautiful color scheme and was huge! Had a full couch and the bed was not under the window, which made using the window so easy. We never felt any movement or heard much noise in our room. My only complaint was that they had a DJ in the atrium a lot and it caused havoc when trying to talk to anyone at guest services or the excursion desk because you had to shout. Odd placement for such loud music. But I would sail with them again no problem -- and they gave us a free upgrade because we had sailed on their sister line Holland America.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I agree, the only way I could do those cruises is if I was adding on another one on the front or back of it.
Too depressing, too short, I don;t even think I would unpack.

I think I'd only bring a ziplock bag with toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant!! Why waste time changing clothes or taking a shower?

 

[Love2Cruz]

I booked for a couple reasons. First, the price I got for a 3 night on the Dream was actually lower than the same cruise in a mirror stateroom than I paid in 2014. Secondly, I have limited Paid Leave days, so my other week-long cruises will be on the Carnival Vista and Magic (2 booked cruises for 2017). (I'm also booked on an MSC cruise to the Eastern Med this June and the Vista for a Christmas cruise....when they opened bookings for the Vista, they had a 20% off early saver rate..so I got an ocean view in their family harbor section-a new thing they are trying that has special access to a family Lounge for guests staying in these rooms, concierge, unique decor..etc) Sort of like their Havana rooms, but those are adults only with their own set of specialties.

This booking on the Dream was a Labor Day weekend short cruise just so My DD who will be 8 at cruising time can only appreciate the Princess Meet n Greet and the Disney product for so long before she moves on to other things. She actually really enjoys Carnival cruises and their kids club so this may be my last Disney cruise unless the Fantasy comes down in price...because I sure as hell will not be paying those prices during peak times. 5K for two during the summer just burns too much...especially when I can get a Spa Balcony on a new Carnival ship for half the price.

 

[Ofinn]

Carnival's seven day cruises are even less than Disney's 3-4 night cruises!

A lot of people diss Carnival as a party ship. I don't know whether it was because we sailed out of NYC going north, but we did not have that problem. That staff were wonderful and so was the food. Our oceanview room is still my favorite that we've ever had -- and we usually get verandahs. But this room had the most beautiful color scheme and was huge! Had a full couch and the bed was not under the window, which made using the window so easy. We never felt any movement or heard much noise in our room. My only complaint was that they had a DJ in the atrium a lot and it caused havoc when trying to talk to anyone at guest services or the excursion desk because you had to shout. Odd placement for such loud music. But I would sail with them again no problem -- and they gave us a free upgrade because we had sailed on their sister line Holland America.

I'm planning on cruising on Carnival this Fall. I can't really book anything until I come back from our Iceland cruise, and evaluate my budget. I had my heart set on the Vista. The prices out of Europe are great, but the cruises out of Miami are close to being sold out and the prices are pretty high. When I say high I mean high for Carnival, but still way under DCL. I'm also looking at the Breeze out of Galveston. I'm now going to check out the New York cruises. My kids have never been to New York so that could be something different. I did have a European cruise booked for Oct, but I decided to hold off and think about it some more. I will say I've never seen a company return money so quickly. I have cancelled two cruises with them both on a Sunday night the money was back on my credit card Tuesday morning.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Ofinn, if you can cruise the Breeze, do it...She's a beautiful ship...the first without the Joe Farcus design so very different from the older ships. I'm glad Joe Farcus is out...I enjoyed my cruises regardless...but the Breeze is just so refined thanks the new design team. As I stated, if you can swing it, get their spa balcony with full access to the Spa...it's quite pampering.

 

[Ofinn]

Ofinn, if you can cruise the Breeze, do it...She's a beautiful ship...the first without the Joe Farcus design so very different from the older ships. I'm glad Joe Farcus is out...I enjoyed my cruises regardless...but the Breeze is just so refined thanks the new design team. As I stated, if you can swing it, get their spa balcony with full access to the Spa...it's quite pampering.

The Sept cruise out Galveston on the Breeze is currently about 2100 for the four of us in a Balcony. The 8 night Vista in Dec is 3500 for an Ocean view. The 5 night Vista in Dec is 2100 for an Ocean View. The European cruises are about 2,500 for an Ocean view. I'm not expecting any of these to rise in price. The PIF date on some of these is a week after we get back from Iceland. That's why I decided to cancel and wait. I want to be completely sure I pick the best cruise I can afford. Carnival seems to have sales after the PIF date so I think I have some time.

 

[jenf22]

A lot of people diss Carnival as a party ship. I don't know whether it was because we sailed out of NYC going north, but we did not have that problem. That staff were wonderful and so was the food. Our oceanview room is still my favorite that we've ever had -- and we usually get verandahs. But this room had the most beautiful color scheme and was huge! Had a full couch and the bed was not under the window, which made using the window so easy. We never felt any movement or heard much noise in our room. My only complaint was that they had a DJ in the atrium a lot and it caused havoc when trying to talk to anyone at guest services or the excursion desk because you had to shout. Odd placement for such loud music. But I would sail with them again no problem -- and they gave us a free upgrade because we had sailed on their sister line Holland America.

We've been wanting to do a cruise out of New York (the kiddo wants to see the Statue of Liberty). I never even considered Carnival until reading all the comments here. WHOA!! Are their prices great! A 5 night out of New York in a balcony room is $1800 for the 3 of us! That's insane! There are so many possibilities now. Thanks guys!

 

[dvcdisney]

That is strange. When I called opening day as well, the booking agent was hesitant for me to place a hold as well. It made more sense after she explained that since I was transferring a placeholder OBB reservation if the hold expired we would LOSE the placeholder. She did give me the 3 day hold but she had a point-I almost forgot and paid the deposit at the 11th hour. Whew!! If we want to move cruises around now we can, but can't revert back to that original placeholder. Sounds like you were in the same situation but your booking agent was less informative. I called at like 9pm CST and she said she had been on the phone since 8am est.

Thanks for posting. I suppose that makes sense. But a warning that if I let it expire, I would lose the benefits would be better than telling me that they don't allow holds. I know in the past, I could book and put a hold on a cruise. But I figured that perhaps since it was opening day, it was not permitted.

I still kept the reservation and had every intention of keeping it. But I don't like the fact that I was told no to something that was obviously permitted.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I am curious about the 38% that are continuing to cruise DCL regardless, do you have a tipping point or are you truly DCL or bust, maybe just going every other year instead of every year. Or are you first time or newer cruisers that want to experience DCL and all of their ships (I get it we have and enjoyed every last minute of the trips).

I think it depends on exactly how people normally vacation. For us, party of 2, it isn't unusual for us to spend $1500 for a couple nights away in a good hotel with eating out and entertainment. If we can get the same price for a cruise for 2/3 nights, it's just easier all around and more convenient.

We took a 5 night vacation in Hawaii, party of 5, for $10K a few years ago. Everyone relied on me to do all the meal planning and I had to do dishes, take out trash, etc. It's easier, more convenient and much more relaxing for me to take a cruise instead. I still mostly do land vacations, but sometimes I don't want to spend hours driving, cleaning up after people and being the go to person for all sources of activity planning.

I could save money by taking a different cruise, but since I don't want to take a different cruise, that becomes a waste of time and money. Vacations are very subjective. I won't have a tipping point with DCL. I'll just cruise less often.

 

[RedSox68]

We've been wanting to do a cruise out of New York (the kiddo wants to see the Statue of Liberty). I never even considered Carnival until reading all the comments here. WHOA!! Are their prices great! A 5 night out of New York in a balcony room is $1800 for the 3 of us! That's insane! There are so many possibilities now. Thanks guys!

That's a pretty awesome sight to cruise past her! We found cruising out of Manhattan Terminal incredibly easy -- we drove there and paid to park at the terminal (super convenient). [with my husband's bag and my leg, dragging luggage around train stations and cabs was not an option.] We were docked right next to the Intrepid.

 

[Love2Cruz]

The Sept cruise out Galveston on the Breeze is currently about 2100 for the four of us in a Balcony. The 8 night Vista in Dec is 3500 for an Ocean view. The 5 night Vista in Dec is 2100 for an Ocean View. The European cruises are about 2,500 for an Ocean view. I'm not expecting any of these to rise in price. The PIF date on some of these is a week after we get back from Iceland. That's why I decided to cancel and wait. I want to be completely sure I pick the best cruise I can afford. Carnival seems to have sales after the PIF date so I think I have some time.

Well, it won't go up to the rates of Disney, that is for sure...but popular boats like the Breeze and the new Vista may go up a little. As I said, I booked during a release discount so I paid $1800 for two for an oceanview in Family Harbour..the regular OV's were cheaper. I have seen the Cove Balcony's, which they might have some left, but I just didn't like them...If I'm going to get a balcony, I'll get one on a higher deck with unobstructed views....but I really wanted to stay in the Family Harbour section so OV worked best for us.

I checked a few days ago and they are now going for 2200 for the same week. So I did save $400 by booking early. This is the week before Christmas departure on 12/17, 7 day Eastern. The following week is much higher.

 

[tinkerone]

Most people have to save for months just to do a 3 day cruise on DCL.

That really wouldn't be so bad but I have read of people saving for years to do a 3 or 4 day. All because they perceive DCL to be the best. Its good but is it THAT good?
To each our own I guess.

 

[Naomi Collison]

We are cruising on Disney only because my mom loves Disney that much and we have heard great things about the cruise with little ones. I think DH and I will be doing a short trip on a Carnival or Princess cruise to check it out and that is the way we will go next time. We have been saving for 5ish years to plan this trip, but the price tag was still outrageous compared to what was planned.

 

[bcwife76]

I'm keeping our 5 night to Alaska because we had to cancel our Alaskan for this year - but we're only doing the 5 night as we already have a 7 night on the Wonder in January 2017. Once dh figured out how much Alaska was costing per night he just about flipped his wig Although I did upgrade us to an oceanview last night from our inside as it was only $150+taxes more. Not sure why I didn't book that originally last week - think I was too concerned about being midship/higher deck.