And these little critters...still hot. MSC makes all their pastries and breads on board....
...
Since you've only tried one ship beside DCL I'm not sure how your really qualified to say that about the other cruise lines. Maybe you should try some of the newer ships which have a lot more to offer than the DCL ships. As far as being a ho-hum Hampton inn... I guess that depends on where you're going. Most of older ships have the best itinerary's, but not the bells and whistles that you like. If you ever travel to Europe you'd be happy to find a hotel as nice as a Hampton Inn.I can definitely understand people not wanting to pay DCL prices. Most of the year, for most itineraries, they are outlandishly expensive. Every single one of my DCL cruises has taken place in the off season and was either a GT or FLR discount. I'm very lucky that my SO can take days off with rather short notice, that we live within driving distance of PC, and that we are eligible for the awesome discounts available to Florida residents (it's our consolation prize for having to deal with all the crazy things we deal with all year long, hahaha). We're also childfree, so no paying for extra people.
I have tried to convince myself to try another cruise line. I have been on one RC cruise before, and I had a terrible time, but the itinerary was boring and it was one of their small ships (Jewel of the Seas). My SO is adamant about not wanting to try any cruises other than Disney, considering how much he hated the RC cruise. I'm willing to consider other options. I'm just terribly afraid it will end up being a disappointment, or "just okay," when I know a DCL cruise will be fantastic. When it comes to trying a non-Disney cruise, I'm afraid the casino will smell like a giant cigarette, I'm afraid there will be nothing to do but lounge around and drink, I'm afraid the crew will be mean and sour (they were awful on the RC cruise I took), I'm afraid the ship will look like a ho-hum Hampton Inn off I-4 (most non-Disney ships have a decent-hotel-at-sea vibe to me, whereas Disney ships have a Disney-resort-at-sea vibe, for lack of better words), and on and on and on.
We always loved going to WDW together, and to be honest, we consider ourselves priced out of WDW. We love to eat, and it's just so expensive to stay on site, eat on site, and keep ourselves entertained when compared to a DCL vacation. Add to the fact that "off season" isn't really a thing at WDW anymore, it's almost always packed, and getting around is stressful at best. Even drinks are more expensive at WDW. So when I compare the price of a Disney cruise with the price of a vacation of the same length at WDW, the cruise is the obvious choice. I get my dose of pixie dust for less money and hassle. Did I mention how much I love the fact that you basically get treated like royalty on a Disney ship?
I can agree with most of what you have said however to say other cruise lines itineraries are boring is kind of calling the kettle black (to my way of thinking). DCL seems to offer the same thing over and over. If they do offer a new port than it is only for a few cruises and its priced to match. It can be hundreds, even thousands more if they just switch up one port.I have tried to convince myself to try another cruise line. I have been on one RC cruise before, and I had a terrible time, but the itinerary was boring and it was one of their small ships (Jewel of the Seas). My SO is adamant about not wanting to try any cruises other than Disney, considering how much he hated the RC cruise. I'm willing to consider other options. I'm just terribly afraid it will end up being a disappointment, or "just okay," when I know a DCL cruise will be fantastic. When it comes to trying a non-Disney cruise, I'm afraid the casino will smell like a giant cigarette, I'm afraid there will be nothing to do but lounge around and drink, I'm afraid the crew will be mean and sour (they were awful on the RC cruise I took), I'm afraid the ship will look like a ho-hum Hampton Inn off I-4 (most non-Disney ships have a decent-hotel-at-sea vibe to me, whereas Disney ships have a Disney-resort-at-sea vibe, for lack of better words), and on and on and on.
You're lucky you can sail off season and for FL rates, take advantage of it as long as you can. Don't let fear get into your head too much though, just imagine how much joy you would have missed if you had been afraid to try DCL for the first time. I'm so happy I wasn't too afraid to try the Carnival Vista, we had a fantastic time and now I'm up to try any cruise line, and I get to spend 3 weeks on ships next year for only $2000 more than 1 week on the Fantasy.I can definitely understand people not wanting to pay DCL prices. Most of the year, for most itineraries, they are outlandishly expensive. Every single one of my DCL cruises has taken place in the off season and was either a GT or FLR discount. I'm very lucky that my SO can take days off with rather short notice, that we live within driving distance of PC, and that we are eligible for the awesome discounts available to Florida residents (it's our consolation prize for having to deal with all the crazy things we deal with all year long, hahaha). We're also childfree, so no paying for extra people.
I have tried to convince myself to try another cruise line. I have been on one RC cruise before, and I had a terrible time, but the itinerary was boring and it was one of their small ships (Jewel of the Seas). My SO is adamant about not wanting to try any cruises other than Disney, considering how much he hated the RC cruise. I'm willing to consider other options. I'm just terribly afraid it will end up being a disappointment, or "just okay," when I know a DCL cruise will be fantastic. When it comes to trying a non-Disney cruise, I'm afraid the casino will smell like a giant cigarette, I'm afraid there will be nothing to do but lounge around and drink, I'm afraid the crew will be mean and sour (they were awful on the RC cruise I took), I'm afraid the ship will look like a ho-hum Hampton Inn off I-4 (most non-Disney ships have a decent-hotel-at-sea vibe to me, whereas Disney ships have a Disney-resort-at-sea vibe, for lack of better words), and on and on and on.
We always loved going to WDW together, and to be honest, we consider ourselves priced out of WDW. We love to eat, and it's just so expensive to stay on site, eat on site, and keep ourselves entertained when compared to a DCL vacation. Add to the fact that "off season" isn't really a thing at WDW anymore, it's almost always packed, and getting around is stressful at best. Even drinks are more expensive at WDW. So when I compare the price of a Disney cruise with the price of a vacation of the same length at WDW, the cruise is the obvious choice. I get my dose of pixie dust for less money and hassle. Did I mention how much I love the fact that you basically get treated like royalty on a Disney ship?
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.
No, people in Europe do not travel with kids. Most people there do not have kids.
I can agree with most of what you have said however to say other cruise lines itineraries are boring is kind of calling the kettle black (to my way of thinking). DCL seems to offer the same thing over and over. If they do offer a new port than it is only for a few cruises and its priced to match. It can be hundreds, even thousands more if they just switch up one port.
But other than the few expensive changes they occasionally do its the same boring itinerary for DCL as well. Now if you sail for the ship, which we often did, than that is a mote point.
Should give another line a try, you could be pleasantly surprised, however if your getting decent prices with Fl Res rates then do what you like to do and enjoy.
Happy Sailings.
But most European countries are not replacing themselves except for France and England which have a lot of immigrants. And Europeans who have kids cannot afford to travel like Americans unless they are in the elite (which is generally entrenched). England is a bit of an exception-- but a bit. Americans think of Europe as paradise but they do not realise that the average European is not as well off and does not have as much opportunity as the average american for all kinds of reasons. The american standard of living has gone down (for the average person) over the last decade but it is still far superior to the average European. It is very difficult to have children in Europe and travel unless you are very well off and those people do not stay in Hampton inn style hotels. That's why the hotel situation is generally not as good as in the USA-- there is no "local" market for it.
I can definitely understand people not wanting to pay DCL prices. Most of the year, for most itineraries, they are outlandishly expensive. Every single one of my DCL cruises has taken place in the off season and was either a GT or FLR discount. I'm very lucky that my SO can take days off with rather short notice, that we live within driving distance of PC, and that we are eligible for the awesome discounts available to Florida residents (it's our consolation prize for having to deal with all the crazy things we deal with all year long, hahaha). We're also childfree, so no paying for extra people.
I have tried to convince myself to try another cruise line. I have been on one RC cruise before, and I had a terrible time, but the itinerary was boring and it was one of their small ships (Jewel of the Seas). My SO is adamant about not wanting to try any cruises other than Disney, considering how much he hated the RC cruise. I'm willing to consider other options. I'm just terribly afraid it will end up being a disappointment, or "just okay," when I know a DCL cruise will be fantastic. When it comes to trying a non-Disney cruise, I'm afraid the casino will smell like a giant cigarette, I'm afraid there will be nothing to do but lounge around and drink, I'm afraid the crew will be mean and sour (they were awful on the RC cruise I took), I'm afraid the ship will look like a ho-hum Hampton Inn off I-4 (most non-Disney ships have a decent-hotel-at-sea vibe to me, whereas Disney ships have a Disney-resort-at-sea vibe, for lack of better words), and on and on and on.
We always loved going to WDW together, and to be honest, we consider ourselves priced out of WDW. We love to eat, and it's just so expensive to stay on site, eat on site, and keep ourselves entertained when compared to a DCL vacation. Add to the fact that "off season" isn't really a thing at WDW anymore, it's almost always packed, and getting around is stressful at best. Even drinks are more expensive at WDW. So when I compare the price of a Disney cruise with the price of a vacation of the same length at WDW, the cruise is the obvious choice. I get my dose of pixie dust for less money and hassle. Did I mention how much I love the fact that you basically get treated like royalty on a Disney ship?
Don't get me wrong. I am a total Disney Freak...and since my kids are still under 18, I am squeezing in a couple more DCL cruises, but I won't be afraid to examine other options once they have grown. My teen fell in love with Vibe and so he is getting one last visit before he turns 18 next year. On the same trip, my DD will be 11 and will have graduated to Edge, but still have access to Oceaneers. The next DCL cruise after that will be 4 years later in April for DH and my 20th wedding anniversary. That cruise will have DD at age 14. She will be on the threshold for both Edge and Vibe then. DS will be an adult. Will there be one more DCL after that? Only time will tell. But pricing out other cruise lines has shown me what I could have for the same money or in most cases...a whole lot less.
