Riddle me that; cruise sales everywhere...

[ChicosWife]

Non stop cruise sales abound, half off, free gratuities, free everything, cheap fares, free WiFi, Why? Fill the ship for the casinos?

I find it intriguing, as other cruise lines seem to have "going out of business" sales year round, DCL prices go up.

Our family has our reasons on why we just booked our third Disney cruise, I was pleased with the price I got, actuallly a little surprised it was not higher, so happy.

"Riddle me that".. DCL is in high demand, 4 to 6 hour wait tines on the first 3 days for return cruisers on opening day for sailing only the first 5 months of the year, why the demand? I know my reason for our families demand, but why in the wake of other cruise lines selling for half the price of DCL can DCL keep raising theirs?

Surely, not the majority of cruisers are one cruise and done with DCL?

We as a family have no desire to sail another line, I find it fascinating DCL smiles in the wake of other lines basically giving away their product.

I think it boils down to you get what you pay for! IMO, Disney has unmatched quality that everyone comes to expect from Disney. You can't get that experience from any other cruise line. Yes, they may have some bells and whistles, but the added, unnecessary touches aren't there. For example, after each cruise, DCL performs touch-up paint jobs on the deck. Do they need to do that EVERY cruise. Nope, but it keeps the boat from looking worn and rusty. When we docked in the Bahamas, next to a Carnival and Royal Caribbean ship, the difference in the looks of the ships was astounding! Disney out-shown their ships by a large margin!

There is a hype for DCL when new prices are released because it is usually when you can get the lowest price for a cruise.

Actually, I found this to be not true. I have booked on opening day and the price is the exactly the same now as it was last week. In fact, I even asked the CM about opening day "discounts" and she said it doesn't exist. And, I don't believe there is a "hype" as the only reason I knew the dates of opening day and to call is because of this board. The only reason I waited on hold for so long was to have the most cabin options to choose from.

 

[JimGA]

To the OP, you obviously are in a situation where you can afford it, or are newer to DCL and see the value in the price. We are in the category of we can afford it, but don't see the value anymore, product is not as good as it used to be in our opinion. As I have said other places, DCL has a great product that they can market to families, and just being Disney will draw in many people that will be willing to pay for the brand.

Part of my original point was if you had read the other numerous posts about "DCL is pricing me out..." you would think DCL had no customer base, so the original point was, why does DCL constantly increase prices when other lines constantly discount, it was basically a rhetorical question on my part.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Some folks may know this from other threads, but due to an unexpected operation in September, we had to cancel DCL’s EBPC cruise plus NYC to San Juan this fall. Because I expect to need more recovery time for another operation in January or February, I had to cancel a 7 night EC with girl friends in the Fantasy in April. So, I find myself with 4 4 night Dream cruises over the next 14 months!!! This is not my favorite itinerary, but it works, 2 of them are double dips, the DVC Member Cruise and NYE in 2018 to 2019!

I smile more on DCL. I enjoy meeting fellow Disers, I organize local Candy/Snack exchanges, the decorated doors on DCL, seeing the characters around the ship and the music in the halls are things that bring me back. I love to snorkel at CC. I like watching movies. We especially like longer cruises, we did EBTA this year, but life issues are standing in the way of other longer ones. Our 2 Med Cruises next year ate B2B.

My doctor says I could get 20 more years from my feet after these surgeries, and that will put me past 90!

Bobbi

 

[wombat_5606]

Part of my original point was if you had read the other numerous posts about "DCL is pricing me out..." you would think DCL had no customer base, so the original point was, why does DCL constantly increase prices when other lines constantly discount, it was basically a rhetorical question on my part.

But this kind of post does nothing but inflame. It isn't offering any information or help.

There wouldn't be a DISboards if there wasn't a customer base.

I will never understand why people can't let the people who no longer see the value or can no longer afford the cruises, vent their displeasure. The group of diehards come out and seem to want to beat these people down for their opinion. Good grief! The people that are venting are sad already. They're mad. The're disappointed. Don't you think they want to take their family on another Disney cruise?

I can personally understand their frustration and can appreciate that they need a forum where they can say how they feel and hopefully find some support. I don't know if they could expect any kind of sympathy if they posted any where else, so this is a logical place for them to come.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

Yes you have made many cruises very special for me and my husband! We first sailed with you in 2011 when the Wonder came to the " Best Coast" and we were on the May EBTA this year! Please take good care and we will see you on another Disney cruise!!

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

Yes you have made many cruises very special for me and my husband! We first sailed with you in 2011 when the Wonder came to the " Best Coast" and we were on the May EBTA this year! Please take good care and we will see you on another Disney cruise!!

This is for Bobiwoz!!

 

[cruiser21]

Part of my original point was if you had read the other numerous posts about "DCL is pricing me out..." you would think DCL had no customer base, so the original point was, why does DCL constantly increase prices when other lines constantly discount, it was basically a rhetorical question on my part.

Except the other lines don't discount. It just appears they do. Where as dcl gives 25- 50% off to select customers.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

As a fall out from the hurricane's this fall, many cruise lines are discounting the cruises in November, December and January - they had a lot of cancellations due to changes in itineraries. I have a cruise booked for May 2018, 2 for December 2018 and 1 for January 2019 (on a variety of cruise lines) and they haven't moved at all in price.

And sometimes "sales" aren't really sales - Carnival's "sale" is often a reduced deposit (but no discount), Royal always has a "sale" but funny the price doesn't usually change that much; Celebrity has had their "go big, go better, go best" (free perks) for at least 3 years now (it's their normal pricing), and same with NCL - those 2 cruise lines have learned that bundling their products (drinks, OBC, dining, etc) provides them with a higher return than not.

 

[mevelandry]

I think it boils down to you get what you pay for! IMO, Disney has unmatched quality that everyone comes to expect from Disney. You can't get that experience from any other cruise line. Yes, they may have some bells and whistles, but the added, unnecessary touches aren't there. For example, after each cruise, DCL performs touch-up paint jobs on the deck. Do they need to do that EVERY cruise. Nope, but it keeps the boat from looking worn and rusty. When we docked in the Bahamas, next to a Carnival and Royal Caribbean ship, the difference in the looks of the ships was astounding! Disney out-shown their ships by a large margin!

Regarding touch-ups: Can't talk about RC because I did not sail with them yet but I can say that while we were on the Carnival Vista three weeks ago, while we were on port, they where painting and doing all kinds of repair on many places on the ship, just like they do on the Disney Dream (and just as much).

In my opinion, old wooden decks make ships look older (and a lot of older non-disney ship still have those) but they are slowly replacing those with another wood imitation type of floor --it was the case on the Vista and on 50% of the Carnival Victory-- and I find that I like it better that way.

 

[JWG]

There are many trips that I want to take on river cruises and the like that I can get elsewhere. But I'm not going to come back here and scream about it.

Adventures by Disney now has a river cruise option!

 

[bobbiwoz]

This is for Bobiwoz!!

By the way, we are again hosting Coast Guard recruits for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. It is part of operation Fireside through the Red Cross!!

 

[darnheather]

Adventures by Disney now has a river cruise option!

I know and if I were taking the kids it'd be my first choice. It will be a few years before I get there though and then I'm happy to check various lines.

 

[cgolf]

Part of my original point was if you had read the other numerous posts about "DCL is pricing me out..." you would think DCL had no customer base, so the original point was, why does DCL constantly increase prices when other lines constantly discount, it was basically a rhetorical question on my part.

I am guessing about 1% of the cruising public uses a forum such as this or CC to get information, so that leaves a pretty big group of people for them to get on their ships. There are also a lot of customers that want to just sail on the Disney boat and they really aren't cruisers, although they may turn into them. They will never do a price comparison with say RCCL or NCL because they just want to see Mickey.

 

[JWG]

I know and if I were taking the kids it'd be my first choice. It will be a few years before I get there though and then I'm happy to check various lines.

To be fair, if people think direct Disney trips are expensive (parks / cruises), they're better off not looking at Adventures by Disney at all and just going straight to other touring companies.

 

[cgolf]

But this kind of post does nothing but inflame. It isn't offering any information or help.

There wouldn't be a DISboards if there wasn't a customer base.

I will never understand why people can't let the people who no longer see the value or can no longer afford the cruises, vent their displeasure. The group of diehards come out and seem to want to beat these people down for their opinion. Good grief! The people that are venting are sad already. They're mad. The're disappointed. Don't you think they want to take their family on another Disney cruise?

I can personally understand their frustration and can appreciate that they need a forum where they can say how they feel and hopefully find some support. I don't know if they could expect any kind of sympathy if they posted any where else, so this is a logical place for them to come.

Especially since some of us venting are platinum ex diehards that in many cases have more DCL cruises under are belts than those telling us to sail off My goal is to let others know that there is light at the end of the tunnel that other lines aren't the end of the world.

I also pay attention to the boards because I am less than 2 years out from my last DCL cruise and would like to sail their new ships when they come out or catch a deal on the Magic

 

[wombat_5606]

My goal is to let others know that there is light at the end of the tunnel that other lines aren't the end of the world.

Exactly!

I cruised on many other cruise lines before I started cruising with Disney. I have cruised insides, oceanviews, verandahs and Concierge.

I sailed the first time on DCL (2005) as a solo woman and felt a level of safety in doing so because my travel agent asked me to join her group of Disney specialists. I stayed because of the level of service and the Liqour policy. But those things have changed and the price has increased for most itineraries. I have been disappointed with the quality of food and the customer service more than a few times. Thus, my conclusion is that they are no better than other cruise lines out there.

Why I feel that way and others don't see it, is a source of interest to me. Do they have blinders on? Have they never cruised another cruise line? Are they Disney fanatics where Disney can do no wrong. I find this board fascinating and frustrating at the same time.

I'm Platinum and I have 2 more cruises booked. The next one is with my young granddaughter. I'm going on that one even after being disappointed with the impact the hurricanes have had (which includes Disney's decisions relative to this). The cruise after that, with my husband, may be cancelled. Very confident that there will be another cruise with another line between these two.

I, too, will stick around long enough to see what the new ships bring.

 

[JimGA]

But this kind of post does nothing but inflame. It isn't offering any information or help.

There wouldn't be a DISboards if there wasn't a customer base.

I will never understand why people can't let the people who no longer see the value or can no longer afford the cruises, vent their displeasure. The group of diehards come out and seem to want to beat these people down for their opinion. Good grief! The people that are venting are sad already. They're mad. The're disappointed. Don't you think they want to take their family on another Disney cruise?

I can personally understand their frustration and can appreciate that they need a forum where they can say how they feel and hopefully find some support. I don't know if they could expect any kind of sympathy if they posted any where else, so this is a logical place for them to come.

So they can vent their displeasure here and it is welcomed, but my post that "vents" my displeasure at their posts is viewed as inflammatory and no value. Interesting, so I will turn your quote around on you "I will never understand why people can't let the people who get annoyed by the people who come here to vent their displeasure of DCL pricing , vent their displeasure at those posts". Good Grief !

 

[wombat_5606]

So they can vent their displeasure here and it is welcomed, but my post that "vents" my displeasure at their posts is viewed as inflammatory and no value. Interesting, so I will turn your quote around on you "I will never understand why people can't let the people who get annoyed by the people who come here to vent their displeasure of DCL pricing , vent their displeasure at those posts". Good Grief !

But your "DCL has to be the best because they don't have sales" post doesn't do anything but kick a person who is already down. I don't see the value in that.

By, all means, post what you want. I'm not telling you that you can't, just that I don't see why people feel the need to rah rah Disney when someone says they are done.

What's the point of saying "I still love Disney" to someone who is mad, sad, etc.? This is a Disney thread, isn't it a given that you like the cruise line, UNLESS, you tell us you don't?

 

[JimGA]

But your "DCL has to be the best because they don't have sales" post doesn't do anything but kick a person who is already down. I don't see the value in that.

By, all means, post what you want. I'm not telling you that you can't, just that I don't see why people feel the need to rah rah Disney when someone says they are done.

What's the point of saying "I still love Disney" to someone who is mad, sad, etc.? This is a Disney thread, isn't it a given that you like the cruise line, UNLESS, you tell us you don't?

All I can do is smh in disbelief (shake my head). mind blowing... (Done)

 

[cgolf]

So they can vent their displeasure here and it is welcomed, but my post that "vents" my displeasure at their posts is viewed as inflammatory and no value. Interesting, so I will turn your quote around on you "I will never understand why people can't let the people who get annoyed by the people who come here to vent their displeasure of DCL pricing , vent their displeasure at those posts". Good Grief !

It is fine to have that opinion, but there are threads where it seemed that some wanted us off this site. I will admit that it has gotten better of late. The other problem is people challenge (not sure if I should use a stronger word here) anyone saying that DCL is anything other than Excellent (see what I did there ). It just seems like many want to defend DCL, not sure why unless you work for them or own stock. A forum is not just for the positives of DCL, it is also to discuss the not so positives. This forum is so much tamer than some of the CC cruise line specific forums.