Summarizing why DCL

[darnheather]

I got a survey in my email today about my upcoming cruise. One of the questions was to write about why DCL and to be as detailed as possible. These were my thoughts off the top of my head.

So excited to have alone time without worrying about my kids and what they are doing. I know they will be having a fantastic time in the clubs while I relax and have a second cup of coffee, swim in the adult pool, or relax on a deck chair. Seeing my kids so happy and satisfied while I'm not in charge every minute makes it worth every penny!

Anyone else love not having to be in charge for a change? Not feeling like you are spending your entire vacation directing traffic? Don't get me wrong I loved our trips to Disney but between the months of planning and the daily "we have to be on that bus by 915!" it wasn't at all relaxing.

 

[lorimay]

I received that email today too.
This is the first time I have received something like that before the cruise.

I love your answer and get it. Our first DCL cruise our kids were 14 & 10, it was amazing for us, having them enjoy the clubs the way they did, I didn't expect that at all. My husband and I had alone time, something we hadn't had on vacation since our honeymoon, it was joyful.
Now my daughter sails DCL with her kids and gets a break too.

We are leaving for Universal tomorrow for our grandsons birthday, I know I will need a vacation from this vacation when we get home. OMG and the heat?!?
I never feel that way when we sail DCL.

 

[darnheather]

I received that email today too.
This is the first time I have received something like that before the cruise.

I love your answer and get it. Our first DCL cruise our kids were 14 & 10, it was amazing for us, having them enjoy the clubs the way they did, I didn't expect that at all. My husband and I had alone time, something we hadn't had on vacation since our honeymoon, it was joyful.
Now my daughter sails DCL with her kids and gets a break too.

We are leaving for Universal tomorrow for our grandsons birthday, I know I will need a vacation from this vacation when we get home. OMG and the heat?!?
I never feel that way when we sail DCL.

My girls were 15 and 10. It was heaven for me. I homeschool so we're together 24-7 and poor youngest child was always having to spend hours at her sister's extra curricular things. On the cruise though she could do a lot of things on her own. We made a 5 day trip to Universal this February (two days of it just driving!) and while I had a great time I can't say I had "fun". It was so stressful!

 

[cadien]

I just spent a week in my husband's hometown. His parents were both born and raised there. I grew up many states away. Yet somehow every activity and every restaurant was up to me. It wasn't the effort that got to me so much as the "How should I know?" So yes, I relate. I'm even looking forward to having our restaurant chosen for us each night of the cruise, which I'd have never considered possible before getting married.

 

[Pandafamily]

I got a survey in my email today about my upcoming cruise.

Recieved this email today. Being able to just relax and enjoy the amenities! And yes, do a few port adventures and enjoy the beach.

 

[SteveMP]

We go with extended family, and its so much easier not having to plan on where to eat, and arguing about what time to go, and why so and so can't eat at that place cause of an allergy, etc etc. You eat at your dinner time, watch the show at showtime, choose to meet at breakfast and or lunch if you want. But you are right, not having to be in charge or even think/worry is such a weight lifted off other types of vacations. Its kind of the differnce between "vacation" and "travel"

 

[Msmit002]

For me, as someone with Celiac disease, being able to go on a vacation where I don't have to cook my own meals AND I do not have to worry about whether or not I am going to get served something that will make me severely ill is truly relaxing. That, to me, is absolutely priceless and I only get that on DCL.

 

[bumbershoot]

Anyone else love not having to be in charge for a change? Not feeling like you are spending your entire vacation directing traffic? Don't get me wrong I loved our trips to Disney but between the months of planning and the daily "we have to be on that bus by 915!" it wasn't at all relaxing.

Well, that's why we cruise.

Disney or Royal (the two lines we've done) it doesn't matter. That's what cruising is like.

We are leaving for Universal tomorrow for our grandsons birthday, I know I will need a vacation from this vacation when we get home.

Are you staying onsite? Onsite (especially deluxe) at universal is an incredible vacation. With early entrance and express pass it's just a treat. Then you can pool hop as you wish (they give you sunscreen and infused water!) and it's so relaxing (even if you don't hop).

If you aren't onsite, consider it for future trips!

 

[NewsMom]

That's it, exactly.

My husband died the 4th of July 2015. We had been planning to do a Disney cruise over spring break in 2016, so I made sure that I did that with our son. I was doing it for that, but I didn't realize until I was on the ship how amazing it was for me. I could actually not be ON DUTY for a while. I could have time to myself and know that not only was my son okay, he was having the time of his life.

When we did spring break this year, we went to a resort. It was not the same at all. No relaxation for me. I was still full time responsible for everything. Cue me immediately setting up another cruise.

 

[cruiser21]

You can get freedom from your kids on any cruiseline. It doesn't have to be Disney. I don't think OP's response was really appropriate. I'm sure DCL wanted to know "why DCL" not "why you like cruising".

 

[WestFamily]

Yup! My long response filled with a ton of examples ended with: I love not worrying or thinking about any of it. By the end of the survey I was looking to book yet another. Brilliant sales campaign on their part.

 

[NewsMom]

You can get freedom from your kids on any cruiseline. It doesn't have to be Disney. I don't think OP's response was really appropriate. I'm sure DCL wanted to know "why DCL" not "why you like cruising".

It's not your answer, so it's not up to you to decide if it's appropriate or not. And I would not feel as free to let my son go on his own somewhere else, so please don't presume. It isn't that I want to be free from my kids. I could get that at home with a babysitter if I wanted. I want my son to be completely content to be without me because his interests are so addressed. I don't see that on any other boats, and I looked. I'm not into cruising and have no interest in other lines after investigating them. I'm into Disney and Disney cruising.

 

[SteveMP]

It's not your answer, so it's not up to you to decide if it's appropriate or not. And I would not feel as free to let my son go on his own somewhere else, so please don't presume. It isn't that I want to be free from my kids. I could get that at home with a babysitter if I wanted. I want my son to be completely content to be without me because his interests are so addressed. I don't see that on any other boats, and I looked. I'm not into cruising and have no interest in other lines after investigating them. I'm into Disney and Disney cruising.

Especially given some of the recent news stories

 

[NewsMom]

Especially given some of the recent news stories

I spend all day every day up to my gills in criminal complaints that would bleach your hair. Believe me, I've pulled crime stats and civil complaint records on all the ships. We'll stay with Disney, all the way.

 

[darnheather]

It's not your answer, so it's not up to you to decide if it's appropriate or not. And I would not feel as free to let my son go on his own somewhere else, so please don't presume. It isn't that I want to be free from my kids. I could get that at home with a babysitter if I wanted. I want my son to be completely content to be without me because his interests are so addressed. I don't see that on any other boats, and I looked. I'm not into cruising and have no interest in other lines after investigating them. I'm into Disney and Disney cruising.

I seem to be missing some context here. Maybe I have someone blocked? Anyway, as a parent I make the risk decisions for my children. I want them to have some freedom in their lives because I believe that makes them good decision makers. On our first cruise my youngest was 10. She went to the clubs (which have cameras and mics everywhere) and nowhere else without me. My oldest was 15. She checked in with me at certain times of day and ate dinner with us every night but otherwise had free reign of the ship. I knew she would never truly be alone with anyone due to the shear number of friends she made day one.

 

[cruiser21]

It's not your answer, so it's not up to you to decide if it's appropriate or not. And I would not feel as free to let my son go on his own somewhere else, so please don't presume. It isn't that I want to be free from my kids. I could get that at home with a babysitter if I wanted. I want my son to be completely content to be without me because his interests are so addressed. I don't see that on any other boats, and I looked. I'm not into cruising and have no interest in other lines after investigating them. I'm into Disney and Disney cruising.

If I was a surveyor I would want to know specifically why you choose DCL .At least that's how I understood the question. Not why you like cruising. That's all I meant. I guess you just answered why you choose DCL. You feel you child's needs are better met on DCL then on another cruiseline. I think some of the answers weren't really that specific to DCL. Maybe I miss understood the question.

 

[lorimay]

we are here now. I'm sitting in Diagon Ally waiting.
We are at Sapphire Falls. No express with this hotel only early entry. Didn't know about the pool hopping, thanks for that info.
Not too relaxing with the grandkids. But we are planning our own couples getaway back here soon. Will be booking Hard Rock for the express privileges for sure!!



Are you staying onsite? Onsite (especially deluxe) at universal is an incredible vacation. With early entrance and express pass it's just a treat. Then you can pool hop as you wish (they give you sunscreen and infused water!) and it's so relaxing (even if you don't hop).

If you aren't onsite, consider it for future trips![/QUOTE]