Priced out

[River Country]

I just priced a 7 night Fantasy for 2 adults and 1 child in a balcony mid-ship for 2 adults and 1 child the first week of August 2017. $7,557.00 and that is with out airfare. Sorry but I will buy more DVC points for that kind of money. I am all for paying a premium for Disney but that is outlandish. IMHO

 

[LSUfan4444]

Agreed...If I spend that kind of money on a trip and it doesn't involve a flight over 8+ hours that I need to pass through customs on the way there and back...it's not happening.

Well, except for the summer Olympics in LA in 2024.

Obviously, a different room, another week, a shorter cruise or a different itinerary/departure port could offer cheaper prices but if those standards are pretty inflexible, can't say I blame you.

 

[LSUfan4444]

As a reference point we are sailing late May, 4 night on the Dream deluxe interior stateroom (my daughter had a nightmare one time about falling overboard and never wants a balcony again) and it was about $3k...we could have sailed in October out of Galveston for a week for about the same money but decided to make our May trip a land a sea adventure.

2 park days (boardwalk resort), 4 night cruise, 2 more park days (Animal Kingdom Lodge) and we're about $4k before tickets.

 

[BigredNole]

I am right there with you. The cost of a DCL cruise is almost unattainable.

 

[bobbiwoz]

As a reference point we are sailing late May, 4 night on the Dream deluxe interior stateroom (my daughter had a nightmare one time about falling overboard and never wants a balcony again) and it was about $3k...we could have sailed in October out of Galveston for a week for about the same money but decided to make our May trip a land a sea adventure.

2 park days (boardwalk resort), 4 night cruise, 2 more park days (Animal Kingdom Lodge) and we're about $4k before tickets.

That sounds like a very nice vacation!

We like balconies, but our last 3 DCL cruises were either interior or ocean view due to price, and so is our next one. There's just something about DCL cruises that make us just happy to be there. We would never consider not having a balcony on other cruise lines. We are senior citizens. Go figure!

 

[darnheather]

When is the trip? Did you compare the price on opening day? With three people do you have to have a veranda?

 

[RRB]

I just priced a 7 night Fantasy for 2 adults and 1 child in a balcony mid-ship for 2 adults and 1 child the first week of August 2017. $7,557.00 and that is with out airfare. Sorry but I will buy more DVC points for that kind of money. I am all for paying a premium for Disney but that is outlandish. IMHO

I know everyone would like a veranda room but I just priced an inside stateroom on the DCL web site (cat 11) on the 7 night western cruise in September 2017 (Fantasy) for $3,997.53 which includes all 3 guests

 

[BigredNole]

I know everyone would like a veranda room but I just priced an inside stateroom on the DCL web site (cat 11) on the 7 night western cruise in September 2017 (Fantasy) for $3,997.53 which includes all 3 guests

Last time I looked at a calendar, September is not the same month as August unless something has recently changed. Yes, cruises outside of school breaks will be cheaper, but almost 50% less is crazy (or crazier that the August cruise is 2x of Sept).

 

[RRB]

Last time I looked at a calendar, September is not the same month as August unless something has recently changed. Yes, cruises outside of school breaks will be cheaper, but almost 50% less is crazy (or crazier that the August cruise is 2x of Sept).

Yep, August is more expensive. The 8/19 Fantasy 7 day cruise is $5,337 for inside and and $5,729 for a Veranda room. I listed the September cruise as a possible cost savings alternative.

 

[Ofinn]

I just priced a 7 night Fantasy for 2 adults and 1 child in a balcony mid-ship for 2 adults and 1 child the first week of August 2017. $7,557.00 and that is with out airfare. Sorry but I will buy more DVC points for that kind of money. I am all for paying a premium for Disney but that is outlandish. IMHO

Don't feel bad a lot of people have priced out over the last few years. On the positive side it might push you to try something new. I've heard there is life after Disney.

 

[elvispursley]

Totally feel your pain! It amazes me how the same cruise costs 2x the amount when school is out just because they can do it and know the ships will be at capacity. Fortunately for our family, our kids school (private) is lenient with us taking school work along when we go on vacation (due to working in a trauma center, summer is "trauma season" and it's next to impossible for me to get time off in the summer for family vacations). But when my oldest gets to high school, we will likely not be able to do this so easily and then we will likely be priced out as well and then may be looking at other cruise lines

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I just priced a 7 night Fantasy for 2 adults and 1 child in a balcony mid-ship for 2 adults and 1 child the first week of August 2017. $7,557.00 and that is with out airfare. Sorry but I will buy more DVC points for that kind of money. I am all for paying a premium for Disney but that is outlandish. IMHO

I feel your pain, we feel the same way but love cruising so it pushed us to try something different and I'm so happy we did. This past June we spent 8 amazing nights on the new Carnival Vista and loved it! We had a great time and a ton of fun, here's a link to my review:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/thoughts-on-the-new-carnival-vista.3521334/

 

[NC State]

My husband went out yesterday and "priced" cruises on the Princess Cruise Line. Late afternoon he got a call and since he didn't know the number didn't answer it. It was someone from the Princess Cruise Line wanting to know if they could help us with questions and left a number. It's a lot cheaper and it's something we are thinking about.

 

[mevelandry]

I hear you.

Right now, DH and I will be going to the Bahamas twice within the next year (once with Carnival, next with DCL)... After that, we want to cruise elsewhere but for 1 cruise with DCL, we can get 2 cruises with the competitors!

When you hear other cruiselines also have nice cabins, good food, good entertainment and port of calls, the only thing DCL really stands out for is the mouse...

But when it comes to 7 nights cruises, you can get a whole separate WDW vacation for the premium DCL asks for.

 

[Shamrock927]

I completely understand. It is a bit absurd in the pricing. For us, the extra cost was justified with our 2 year old last year. It just seemed that DCL offered enough benefits for her age level that we decided it was worth it. She is now 3 and we are leaving on Fantasy on our 2nd cruise today. My parents are also coming and I am almost feel guilty pitching such an expensive cruise to them... but I know they will love the experience with their granddaughter. Next time we will probably look at RCL or maybe Norwegian since we loved both in the past. As we move out of the toddler ages (and as other lines add more perks for this age group) I don't think we will spend the extra cost on DCL. From what we can see, there is just this short window where the high cost is worth it... maybe... we still debate it.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Is there any possible other time you can cruise? I work in a school so I understand school schedules. I'm fortunate that our "spring break" does not fall when most of the country's does. We cruised DCL this past April for what we considered to be an incredible value fare. That being said, we are getting married next summer and while we'd love our honeymoon to be on DCL, it'll be a non-cruise trip (we were so impressed with how DCL handled the norovirus outbreak (on our cruise) that my fiance is not willing to cruise any other line) because the summer price is just too steep. We will use our placeholder for another April vacation in 2018.

 

[Ofinn]

My 10 day Med cruise on the Carnival Vista is 9,300 dollars less then then 10 day Med cruise on Dcl. Im looking at a Baltic cruise next year on the Getaway which is 11,000 less then dcl and it includes free drinks. Take that all you free soda people.Yes I did say 11,000
Both new ships. I cant in good conscience pay that kind of price difference to cruise dcl.Not when the purpose of the trip is to see European countries.

 

[TestingH2O]

Not when the purpose of the trip is to see European countries.

This is my thing when it comes to port driven cruises. Bahamas, I am going to spend most of my time on the ship. Europe, I assume is be off the ship most of the time. Why pay so much extra for a slightly better ship experience when your main focus is land?

 

[arlopop]

The first cruise we took was 4 years ago, Mexico, 7 nights, 2 adults 3 kids. We splurged and got the 2br suite. Our cost was ~$8k. I priced the same cruise same suite for 2017 and it was like $19k. In just 4.5 years. Kind of crazy.

 

[Ofinn]

This is my thing when it comes to port driven cruises. Bahamas, I am going to spend most of my time on the ship. Europe, I assume is be off the ship most of the time. Why pay so much extra for a slightly better ship experience when your main focus is land?

At this point I'm not even sure it's a better ship experience. The Magic is getting old. I guess I'll find out over the next year are so when we try some new ships.