Priced out

[GatorMomInNC]

I agree about the lines to have photos with characters, I booked our Jan 16 cruise on opening day, first Disney cruise, I read so much information in the months leading up to the cruise and kept telling my family how magical & wonderful it was going to be.
First off they changed it to the first SWDAS, we are not Star Wars fans, but thought it would be fun, it was ok , sure you all have read reviews of the first cruise.
The worst thing was the woman pushing me out of the way when I told my kids to stand "there at the railing" to watch the evening show & fireworks, mind you this was a hour before it was to start and she was standing there by her self. I was totally over it by then, as this actually happened on the first day as well at the sail away party, we stood just behind a short lady and her daughter, but she wasn't staying, she was just holding the spot for the other 6 adults in her party..
Would have preferred the usual pirate night, but because of SWDAS this was played down a bit, it also rained so the show was inside, it was insane, so crowded and noisy, we just walked away.
Of course the biggest disappointment was missing Castaway Cay, I found the service to be nothing special in the dining rooms, twice we had to ask for more soap & shampoo, from our room steward.
Magical cruise not really, overall it was "nice".
I can at least say Been there done that!

I'm sorry your cruise was such a disappointment. While I think many DCL cruises are way overpriced, mainly the summer, spring break and Christmas cruises, I still have LOVED every single DCL cruise I have done.

As for DCL prices....I called the morning that booking was open to gold cc members and got through around 9:30, so I was probably quoted the best available rates. I asked about two June cruises for cheapest OV for 2a2k: a double dip on the Dream was 6500; one of the 11 night Fantasy Southern Carribbeans was over 11k. I actually started laughing, it was so ridiculous. I have an Obb credit I could use, but even with 10% off those prices are a joke! Especially the Dream cruise, that is 1300 per night for the room--or 325 pp/pn with 4 person occupancy!! For a Carribean cruise!

I have always cruised DCL in September or early December, and while I understand DCL is on the higher end, I never experienced that kind of pricing. Guess I will stick to offseason DCL cruising!

For the Med this summer, I also have a RCCL 12 night cruise booked. Trying to decide between that and the DCL 7 night b2b with the WBTA. I wouldn't even consider the DCL a but for the b2b with the WBTA. We aren't even sure we can do this because of issues with my husband's work...and that has me leaning towards RCCL because my PIF date with DCL is in less than a month, but with RCCL I have until June to decide. And of course, with 12 nights the RCCL cruise is more interesting itinerary than the 7 night DCL...for about $500 more. The DCL WBTA is a good deal though, about 100 pp/pn.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I actually hate this too. It doesn't bother me as much if it is one or two people but often it is large groups that do it. When this has happened to us I literally have to squeeze my husband's arm somewhat threateningly to keep him quiet. We don't do it because, like our kids, we hate lines and there is no way one of us is going to stand in line for an hour or (maybe more accurately) hours. Hopefully they will change their santa policy. It really seems like an easy thing for them to do.

I hope so too. We are doing 4 nights at WDW post cruise...so could probably see Santa at Disney Springs, but was really hoping to get the photo while on the ship.
This is making we second guess if I really want to buy the whole shutters package. Maybe I'll just purchase the 20 photo option and buy additional photos if need be. I know we won't spend our time in long lines while on a cruise. That's the main reason we do so many character meals at WDW, no lines, no fast pass use, more time for other things.

 

[KashasMom]

I couldn't find anything close to that for 2017. The one thing about RCI is they do have sales throughout the year so you never know.

We booked 16 months in advance. Like I said, it was a steal!

 

[Birdie dog]

I booked Princess 12 nights British Isles on DCL opening day.

I just couldn't stomach the prices.

I paid 6800 for two, in an extended balcony deck 10. I had totally planned to spend my money with DCL but just couldn't bite the too expensive bullet. We sailed the Norwegian 9 night 2015 and I've sailed CL multiple times (platinum level) but they lost me and my party of seven to another line for 2017.

 

[phinz]

We are doing a very merrytime cruise 11/26/16 on the Fantasy. Do you have any tips on best strategy to meet Santa? Will it be easier on my travel dates than the week of Christmas?

We are on that cruise with you. Pirate night may see me as Pirate Santa if I can get to sewing and building soon.

I've been on three Very Merrytime cruises. Twice in November and once in early December. The lines for Santa were never ludicrous.

I will say that the best thing to do would be to have Santa available for a few hours every day in a certain location. They could set up in the Tube or even Ooh La La and just have Santa and an elf or two waiting for kids to show up. Heck, put it in Outlook. It's not like anybody goes up there anyway. A dedicated photographer could even come on board just to do this so the regular photographers aren't taken away from other photo stuff.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We are on that cruise with you. Pirate night may see me as Pirate Santa if I can get to sewing and building soon.

I've been on three Very Merrytime cruises. Twice in November and once in early December. The lines for Santa were never ludicrous.

I will say that the best thing to do would be to have Santa available for a few hours every day in a certain location. They could set up in the Tube or even Ooh La La and just have Santa and an elf or two waiting for kids to show up. Heck, put it in Outlook. It's not like anybody goes up there anyway. A dedicated photographer could even come on board just to do this so the regular photographers aren't taken away from other photo stuff.

Thanks! Pirate Santa sounds fun!!! I can't even sew a button. So, we'll be in store bought costumes on pirate night.lol My son will be doing BBB beforehand which I'm excited about.

 

[LivingforDisney]

Is there any way to check on how full your cruise was? We were on the Dream for 3 nights in March, and my DD saw just about every character (Mickey 4 times!) and only one line was more than 5 minutes. Maybe this was the exception to the rule?

I think my cruise was full. It was the first SWDAS cruise, it wasn't this when I booked and I thought the ship would not be full as it was January, but SWDAS changed all that.

 

[Danni75]

I answered a survey on DCL website today asking me if I would book on the future. I answered "probably not" and as a comment mentioned prices were too high for my family.

 

[MunFam]

Yeah, I also have a hard time believing the AK trip is only $3,000 for a cruise AND a week on land, including flights.

I'm from AK, grew up in a family that owned a motor home and boat, and the costs just for servicing an RV, gas, etc, are not cheap. If you're staying in hotels during the week on land, that's a couple hundred a night (and if you're paying less, I can pretty much guarantee they're flea bags that any Alaskan would steer you clear of). If you're renting an RV, there's also the cost of rental, servicing, parking,... There's also food for the week, and food in AK (even fast food), also isn't cheap (there are no "dollar menus").

If you want to go fishing, especially for halibut, that'll be a couple hundred dollars per person, just for the afternoon (plus freezing and shipping of any fish). Any flight seeing tours can be in the thousands. Tour buses into Denali NP range from $66.50 to $194.00 per adult. Etc etc etc...

I'm a travel agent. My partner is military. We get discounts

 

[Ofinn]

I'm a travel agent. My partner is military. We get discounts

Don't you get discounts on DCL too?

 

[MunFam]

Don't you get discounts on DCL too?

I can...but the MTO deals are usually better

 

[Ofinn]

I can...but the MTO deals are usually better

We occasionally get interline rates which are better than the MTO rates. It's the only thing keeping me from being "priced out" on DCL.

 

[jahber]

Whelp, just priced out a cruise on Royal for this Sept. We have 6 people, so we need two rooms. It's less than half the price on the Freedom of the Seas than on the Fantasy. $3100 for two insides for 6 people. $7520 for the Fantasy. Hahahahahaha. No. We booked with Royal.

 

[DnA2010]

Whelp, just priced out a cruise on Royal for this Sept. We have 6 people, so we need two rooms. It's less than half the price on the Freedom of the Seas than on the Fantasy. $3100 for two insides for 6 people. $7520 for the Fantasy. Hahahahahaha. No. We booked with Royal.

Freedom class are great ships- similar to the Fantasy- we've been on Fantasy, Freedom and Oasis.

 

[jahber]

Freedom class are great ships- similar to the Fantasy- we've been on Fantasy, Freedom and Oasis.

We've sailed on the Fantasy, as well, and she's a beautiful ship. But not THAT beautiful . The freedom is my brother-in-law's family's favorite. They are sailing her again in June, so we have high hopes for a great cruise.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I just paid $555 for a beverage package on RCL. 12 night cruise. Prepaid bar bill...

 

[mcd2745]

I just paid $555 for a beverage package on RCL. 12 night cruise. Prepaid bar bill...

Yeah....but for $6k more you could get "free" soda on DCL!

 

[hubbard53]

yeah, we're not 'priced out' but the price certainly opens up new options and destinations. We had a blast at Atlantis which is frankly more bang for the buck. My son says he likes Atlantis Kids Club more than DCL. My kid is easy though, he likes jsut about any "kids club" so we are definitely shopping other cruise lines.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Well, that's not what I'm paying DCL for anyhow. This is for the booze, not the soda.

I'm wondering how it will compare to the usual DCL pay as I go bar bill.

 

[tinkerone]

Yeah....but for $6k more you could get "free" soda on DCL!

You made me laugh, thank you.

To add to the drinks package, I just booked the VOOM internet package on RCCL, which I believe is high speed. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong about that but people use it for facetime, netflex, and periscope all the time. It was $97 Canadian, which at todays rate is about $73 U.S., for 8 nights and tis unlimited. Whats DCL? Something like $87 U.S for 1000 mb's? When your done with that you can buy more though.....
No comparison.