Priced out

[Belle2667]

DCL does go to other destinations. Alaska, California coast, Canadian coast, northern Europe, Norwegians fjords, British Isles, Mediterranean, Mexico Panama Canal, Transatlantic, sometimes Hawaii.

My wife and I have so far only cruised on DCL, but recently have started talking about exploring other lines. She does have one condition. She does not want to be in any port at the same time as one of the Disney ships, so she won't see it and be disappointed that we are not traveling with the Mouse . Also has no interest in going on one of the mega ship floating cities. We prefer the original, snaller ships on Disney.

THIS IS ME! We're jumping ship and trying the NCL Escape in October (we're considering it to be our "training wheels" cruise to see if we can enjoy ourselves without constantly comparing it to DCL) and I don't want to see DCL anywhere! I'd be too sad (but still hoping the our new experience is great!).

Our kids grew up on DCL (and we've done several adult only cruises on it as well) but we're priced out and ready to try other lines. The "babies" in our groups are turning 21 and wanted to celebrate on DCL, but it's not going to happen.

 

[Ofinn]

DCL does go to other destinations. Alaska, California coast, Canadian coast, northern Europe, Norwegians fjords, British Isles, Mediterranean, Mexico Panama Canal, Transatlantic, sometimes Hawaii.

My wife and I have so far only cruised on DCL, but recently have started talking about exploring other lines. She does have one condition. She does not want to be in any port at the same time as one of the Disney ships, so she won't see it and be disappointed that we are not traveling with the Mouse . Also has no interest in going on one of the mega ship floating cities. We prefer the original, snaller ships on Disney.

If was responding to a poster that said she would rather do three day cruises on dcl than try another cruisline. If you look at my signature you would see I have cruised many places on dcl.

 

[jahber]

I feel like it's all about perspective. I know that I could be going on the Oasis the same week as my Fantasy cruise for roughly $700 less in a similar stateroom. To me, the difference between 2k and 2.7k is comparable. It's essentially an additional $100 a day ($50 pp) "Disney" surcharge, which I think is quite reasonable. I can totally see how that would be unreasonable for other people though, especially people with larger families.

If you look at it like it's only $100 more a day, I can see how you could be ok with it (and it's your money, so you get to decide, obviously). But I think the problem I'm having is with calling them comparable. That's a 35% Disney tax. I can't call that comparable. But that's semantics.

For perspective on my side, the best FLR deal I ever got was for a Dream cruise for 4 in 2 connecting 4Bs for $100 per person per night. Not $100 *more* per person, but $400 total per person for the cruise. In two 4Bs. After deals like that, just $50 more per person per night doesn't sound like a good deal. Know what I mean? Those are the kinds of deals we used to be able to get. Anything over $100 per person per night on any cruise is just too much for me. And it's DCL's fault. They created this monster (me)!
Edited to add, that was only 4 years ago--it's not like it was in the distant past.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

DCL does go to other destinations. Alaska, California coast, Canadian coast, northern Europe, Norwegians fjords, British Isles, Mediterranean, Mexico Panama Canal, Transatlantic, sometimes Hawaii.

My wife and I have so far only cruised on DCL, but recently have started talking about exploring other lines. She does have one condition. She does not want to be in any port at the same time as one of the Disney ships, so she won't see it and be disappointed that we are not traveling with the Mouse . Also has no interest in going on one of the mega ship floating cities. We prefer the original, snaller ships on Disney.

We have the same thought process when booking other lines.

Have you looked into Celebrity? Their prices are actually quite reasonable and their ships are beautiful. They are definitely on our radar for when we start sailing without our kids. We're looking into Princess as well. I recently received an email from them for an upcoming Hawaii cruise, 15 nights Round trip from LA, was in the low $1300/person. I can take the time off but unfortunately, my wife is a teacher so we can't do it.

As a former CM, I love the Disney brand, but there really is a whole new world out there that other ships can take me too, (you see what I did there), and I'm going to explore them.

 

[Pens Fan]

She does not want to be in any port at the same time as one of the Disney ships, so she won't see it and be disappointed that we are not traveling with the Mouse

This made me smile. We are sailing NCL to Alaska next summer and will be departing Vancouver on the same day as the Wonder. We have already discussed how this will be a bummer and that the Mickey horn is going to be rough to hear. Fortunately after that our paths will diverge and we won't see her again.

That being said, Disney doesn't offer us the Alaska experience we are looking for. We sailed the Wonder to Alaska several years ago and it was amazing, but this time we wanted a one-way trip so that we can explore the interior of AK and we also wanted Glacier Bay. DCL doesn't offer that, so we had no choice but to jump ship. I'm actually kind of glad, though, especially after reading this thread and others like it. We needed something to nudge us away from Disney and try something new. Who knows? We may love it just as much. Even if we don't, being in Alaska the ship really doesn't matter to us much anyway. It's the perfect way for us to explore other options.

 

[phinz]

we also wanted Glacier Bay.

This, alone, will be reason enough not to regret your choice. Glacier Bay is absolutely incredible.

 

[wombat_5606]

I vote for Glacier Bay, too!

 

[Dug720]

This, alone, will be reason enough not to regret your choice. Glacier Bay is absolutely incredible.

So THAT's what we should have seen! It was foggy the entire morning we were there. It cleared enough that we saw the glaciers, but none of the surrounding scenery.

 

[phinz]

So THAT's what we should have seen! It was foggy the entire morning we were there. It cleared enough that we saw the glaciers, but none of the surrounding scenery.

That's the Ranger shuttle boat as we were leaving Glacier Bay. We had *perfect* weather all day.

 

[Dug720]

That's the Ranger shuttle boat as we were leaving Glacier Bay. We had *perfect* weather all day.

Awesome! Like I said, we saw the glaciers, but the mountains were pretty well obscured almost all day.

The next year that group (Great Alaskan Running Cruise) changed to RCCL with a Southbound route from Seward - and because of a wreck that shut down the road between Seward and Anchorage for a few hours, we had to miss Hubbard Glacier.

We joked that the group was cursed - but apparently they got to see it this year. So maybe I'm the curse since I wasn't there. Haha!

 

[phinz]

I'm just going to call you Jonah from now on. None of this Dug stuff.

 

[Dug720]

I'm just going to call you Jonah from now on. None of this Dug stuff.

Probably accurate. Whales seem to like me. We're doing a family trip to Boston tomorrow and going whale watching one morning. I've joked that since I'm the only one of the four of us who has actually seen them (first cruise to Alaska we saw whales every single day; my parents did a northern Pacific whale watching cruise and "maybe" saw a Minke whale in the far distance (very hard to tell it's more than a wave in their picture) and when my sister went on DCL to Alaska everyone in her group saw whales EXCEPT her) we'll see whose power is stronger - mine to apparently draw them out or theirs to keep them hidden.

 

[RACHEL_GB]

I understand your anxiety. Like I said I would try a new ship. If your going to try a new cruise line start with the best they have to offer. Thats what Im doing.
So agree with on European hotels...wait to have a family it only gets worse. Dont people in Europe travel with kids? I just got back from a convention in Anaheim we stayed at the Springhill Suites next to to dowtown disney. What a wonferful hotel at a decent price. I truly appreciate the hotel options we have here in the US.

No, people in Europe do not travel with kids. Most people there do not have kids.

I wasn't going to reply as this is off topic but since a couple of posters raised it and it got my goat despite me trying hard not to rise to it - yes Europeans do travel with kids but I guess not in your narrow definition. I would say beaches, camping, boating and holiday parks are more popular than city breaks, although I have done the latter once with my daughter and the hotels in Germany were great quality. My kids are 9 & 5 and have been to 6 European countries plus Egypt. I wouldn't say we were particularly unusual, maybe not so many countries but going on a foreign holiday is within most holiday budgets these days (in fact sometimes its cheaper than staying in the UK especially if you book late).

There are some good European chains that deliver what I think you are looking for on a reasonable budget but you have to do your research as you probably won't have heard of them, and at peak times will get booked way in advance, particularly family rooms. Also there is more of a focus on boutique and independent hotels which again take a little more research. Junior suites are often better value than two interconnecting rooms if your children are under 10 and can share a sofa bed. It can be done in reasonable style/comfort and not just by the "elite".

In terms of the original thread topic - we went on DCL for the first time this year and it was roughly £1.5k more than our holiday 2 years ago to a nice all inclusive resort on a Greek island (alcohol included). This is still worth it for me and that is my benchmark because these are the alternative holidays I would take, and DCL offers so much more than those types of holidays. It may be more expensive than other cruise lines but that isn't why I booked a DL cruise. I booked it because it was Disney and I knew my children would have a fantastic experience. I saw it as a once in a lifetime rather than a regular occurrence, although we have booked for next year because we like the itinerary but I think it will be us done after that.

 

[Ofinn]

I wasn't going to reply as this is off topic but since a couple of posters raised it and it got my goat despite me trying hard not to rise to it - yes Europeans do travel with kids but I guess not in your narrow definition. I would say beaches, camping, boating and holiday parks are more popular than city breaks, although I have done the latter once with my daughter and the hotels in Germany were great quality. My kids are 9 & 5 and have been to 6 European countries plus Egypt. I wouldn't say we were particularly unusual, maybe not so many countries but going on a foreign holiday is within most holiday budgets these days (in fact sometimes its cheaper than staying in the UK especially if you book late).

There are some good European chains that deliver what I think you are looking for on a reasonable budget but you have to do your research as you probably won't have heard of them, and at peak times will get booked way in advance, particularly family rooms. Also there is more of a focus on boutique and independent hotels which again take a little more research. Junior suites are often better value than two interconnecting rooms if your children are under 10 and can share a sofa bed. It can be done in reasonable style/comfort and not just by the "elite".

In terms of the original thread topic - we went on DCL for the first time this year and it was roughly £1.5k more than our holiday 2 years ago to a nice all inclusive resort on a Greek island (alcohol included). This is still worth it for me and that is my benchmark because these are the alternative holidays I would take, and DCL offers so much more than those types of holidays. It may be more expensive than other cruise lines but that isn't why I booked a DL cruise. I booked it because it was Disney and I knew my children would have a fantastic experience. I saw it as a once in a lifetime rather than a regular occurrence, although we have booked for next year because we like the itinerary but I think it will be us done after that.

You know I was joking when I said "Don't Europeans have kids". I've traveled in Europe. Yes you can find some nice hotels in Europe, but it comes at high cost. We stayed at the Premier Inn it was ok, but nothing like what we have here, and they are not cheap. My point was you don't have to search for family friendly hotels here because all hotels will accommodate families. I didn't mean to get your goat, but it is what it is. Europe is old the US is still growing that's why we have so many nice new hotels. Americans travel a lot within the US, but only about 35% of Americans own passports. I'm not sure what the PP was talking about because Europeans travel outside their own country more than we do.

Your kids are the perfect ages for DCL so enjoy. I thought it was going to be once in lifetime experience, but we got hooked not just on DCL, but cruising in general.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

If you look at it like it's only $100 more a day, I can see how you could be ok with it (and it's your money, so you get to decide, obviously). But I think the problem I'm having is with calling them comparable. That's a 35% Disney tax. I can't call that comparable. But that's semantics.

For perspective on my side, the best FLR deal I ever got was for a Dream cruise for 4 in 2 connecting 4Bs for $100 per person per night. Not $100 *more* per person, but $400 total per person for the cruise. In two 4Bs. After deals like that, just $50 more per person per night doesn't sound like a good deal. Know what I mean? Those are the kinds of deals we used to be able to get. Anything over $100 per person per night on any cruise is just too much for me. And it's DCL's fault. They created this monster (me)!
Edited to add, that was only 4 years ago--it's not like it was in the distant past.

In 2009 we sailed a 7 night for $799 each (person 1 and 2) on the Magic with a special stop at Tortola. Those were the days!

 

[DCLDVC1]

If you look at it like it's only $100 more a day, I can see how you could be ok with it (and it's your money, so you get to decide, obviously). But I think the problem I'm having is with calling them comparable. That's a 35% Disney tax. I can't call that comparable. But that's semantics.

For perspective on my side, the best FLR deal I ever got was for a Dream cruise for 4 in 2 connecting 4Bs for $100 per person per night. Not $100 *more* per person, but $400 total per person for the cruise. In two 4Bs. After deals like that, just $50 more per person per night doesn't sound like a good deal. Know what I mean? Those are the kinds of deals we used to be able to get. Anything over $100 per person per night on any cruise is just too much for me. And it's DCL's fault. They created this monster (me)!

Edited to add, that was only 4 years ago--it's not like it was in the distant past.

Four years ago seems like a lifetime ago for DCL. A lot of stuff has changed in the 3 years since we booked our first.

 

[Ofinn]

Four years ago seems like a lifetime ago for DCL. A lot of stuff has changed in the 3 years since we booked our first.

Doesnt it. We took our first almost five years ago. I remember booking a 7 day western on board for the following October. I remember the 7 day costing around 3500 for a cat 4b.

 

[RedSox68]

I can totally see that if you are getting 20 days out of it, although that is still $$. Like you said, years of saving.

It was actually more than 20 days when you count the pre-stay in Seattle and the pre-stay in Vancouver. We were actually on the trip for 30 days total from leaving to return. And that price also included airfare. Paying that for just a stateroom on a cruise with no airfare, hotels, excursions, etc. is high.

 

[bfamily5]

We're with ya....we were just introduced to cruising and have done 3 DCL's but our kids are now teenagers and I am doing the NCL escape for roughly $4000 less than DCL eastern for the same week. That includes alcohol and beverages. I love DCL but we have to try something new or we will never travel again. I also love how NCL will lock in the price in Canadian funds. I am depending on the alcohol package to wash away my DCL blues! lol!

 

[Bella29]

2a/2c on the NYE Eastern Carib cruise on the Fantasy in a cat 5 went from $7,863 in 2016, which I already thought was insane, to $9,156 in 2017. 16% increase in one year after previous huge increases as well! Inflation is about 1% in the US right now, so what are we getting for the other 15%?

We've been loyal DCL cruisers but we're going to try RCCL this year and see how it is.