Talk me into DCL

[mjr0483]

with the summer 2018 prices out I am in sticker shock. Never sailed dcl, once each with Carnival and RC.

RC comparable 7 days Caribbean and stateroom is half. What am I going to get for my $4,500 difference?

I can also get a aqua view suite with concierge for $1,800 more than a $9,000 balcony.

From reading a Disney concierge blog it seemed like even the big diffence, Disney Characters have long waits.

I know lots of people do it so Disney knows they can charge this but really?

Help!!!! Will I be blown away?

 

[dragynally]

I don't think we can. What made me love Disney cruise was a 4 day that had me begging for more. Maybe a 3 day to test the waters would be good. My favorite thing is there is so much care and Disney Magic. But I'm already a Disney nut.

 

[OKW Lover]

RC comparable 7 days Caribbean and stateroom is half. What am I going to get for my $4,500 difference?

Having done both, and being a Disney fanatic, I'd still say no you probably won't think the difference is worth it. We sailed the Oasis 7-night Western in December. Some friends who normally sail DCL told their TA to book them in whatever category they could get for the same amount as they normally book on DCL (a veranda). They wound up in an Owner's Suite on the Oasis.

 

[NS8VN]

Why do you take a cruise? That is kind of a really important starting point. What do you enjoy about cruising and what about DCL are you interested in to begin with? Help us know what it is you want out of your vacation.

 

[mjr0483]

That is the thing, other then meeting Disney characters (we visited WDW 4 times last year so that is not a big deal for us) and Disney themed shows, what is the difference? My kids (13 & 14) aren't very adventurous and I don't think would venture out alone with the kids clubs and probably would hang with us.

I don't know. Room, ports, food, pool. What else is there. Castaway cay vs other private beaches.

 

[dragynally]

That is the thing, other then meeting Disney characters (we visited WDW 4 times last year so that is not a big deal for us) and Disney themed shows, what is the difference? My kids (13 & 14) aren't very adventurous and I don't think would venture out alone with the kids clubs and probably would hang with us.

I don't know. Room, ports, food, pool. What else is there. Castaway cay vs other private beaches.

I'll be honest. For me it's something intangible that I wish I could put into words. And saying "give it a try" sucks as the prices rise. My husband loved things like Remy and seeing characters with less crowds than the parks. The special touches of the staff. I use him as an example because he's no a Disney addict. But I think OKW lover is right. If you already like the others you may not want to change.

 

[Little c Travel]

If you feel a need to be talked into a Disney Cruise, chances are you will be focused on the spend the entire time. In which case you will never really relax and enjoy the cruise. Disney is great but if you are worried about the cost go where you are comfortable with what you are spending.

 

[mjr0483]

Thing is we are big Disney fans and DVC members. We are going to Disneyland Paris this spring break. Airfare for 4, 2 days hotel in London. Also seeing Wicked in London. 2 days in Paris and then 4 nights in Disneyland Paris with tickets and food is still less then just the cruise fare. No airfare, tips, transfers or excursions included. I spend money but I am looking for value. I guess that is my problem. Reality goes out the window.

All our friends take Disney cruises and they are like you have to go. Maybe they are thinking 2015 prices. So my wife is like they go, should we try it.

 

[MunFam]

5 years ago, I think I would have said DCL is worth the prices they demand. But...with DCL slipping a bit in their service and offerings and other cruise lines really rising up to meet or succeed DCL I cannot think of enough reasons. Heck, for the price difference, you could probably hire the characters to come to your home and hang out for an hour. LOL If seeing Disney carpets and staircases and Mickey shaped everything does something for you...it might be worth it if you can find a decent price cruise...but we are not Disney super fans...so those small details meant nothing to us.

 

[mjr0483]

Also another problem for us is we cannot take the kids out of school any longer so we are stuck in prime prices. Sucks, but the reality.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Look at it this way...

Do you go to WDW? A trip there costs like twice as much as a trip to say 6 Flags or Cedar Point, or such. Is it worth twice the price? No. And Yes. If you are just comparing nuts and bolts, "what do I get for my extra money?" chances are you won't be happy with it. But if you really enjoy the Disney experience, then it can be worth it.

Part of it also has to do with how much the money will hurt you financially. If it is a big hurt, then chances are you will be better off on a less expensive line. But it really comes down to the intangibles and if they are worth it to you.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Disney service, Kids Clubs, Cast Members, shows, ships, etc. But are they along worth the extra money? Maybe not in a practical sense. But only in a "experience" sense.

 

[darnheather]

How old are your kids? Do you smoke? Are you allergic to smoke? How do you feel about gambling? What kind of service are you looking for?

 

[SummerMagic]

I was asking myself the same question last year. For the identical itinerary that sailed only a couple of weeks apart, it was almost half for RCCL vs DCL. We don't cruise all that often and had never been on DCL before. I booked on both sailings for a bit to think it over (like two months of thinking). As time went by I convinced myself into the DCL because I really wanted to sail them (even if it is just once).

So the question I would ask you is, if you go with the other line will you be thinking that you wished you would have bit the bullet and gone with Disney?

 

[kiford]

If cabin size is relevant to you, are you comparing apples to apples? Is the cabin size on both ships the same? Not all categories between different cruise lines are the same. If it's not relevant to you as others have pointed out, you need to look at the offerings between ships: food (availability and quality and whether you'll do upcharge restaurants and how much and how often), how much is an additional charge (that you will actually use), how busy/crowded, time in ports (how long and during what hours), shows/movies, lounges, pool size, adult-only areas (if relevant), children's programs (if relevant), tours, etc. Whatever is most important to you, what you will actually use (and have to pay additional for if necessary in order to properly calculate apples to apples). The rest are intangibles that are hard to quantify and are valued differently by different people.

We are able to choose when we cruise (not bound to high season sailing times - no kids) so we are able to avoid the highest cost sailings, thus, we've rarely seen prices that extreme between cruise lines when we want to cruise. Having said that - we also hate cruise lines that charge for every little thing like room service, in-room movies, many upcharge restaurants, etc. It's possible that we might be able to get something similar for slightly less cost but it's annoying to me that some cruise lines try to make up the cost difference by pushing bingo, casino, purchases, drinks and the like. We like Disney's service; maybe it's just as good on other cruise lines but do I want to pay that much and find out that it's not what I expect.

We like adults-only areas and the DCL tour experiences that we've had and trust, we like the characters. We like that there are limited areas for smoking and none that are inside like those ships with casinos (this is a BIG one for me). We like that the shows, even the adult ones, are not too raunchy or full of obscenities. We like the first run movies, the 3D movies, and the various other activities that serve our interests.

I'm not interested in dine-anytime cruising. That usually just requires you to book something in advance that day at least or stand in line to wait for a table so DCL's set dining times aren't an issue for me. I like having the same servers every night and I like eating at the same time every night. Unless I have a time conflict, I don't particularly care about having a buffet restaurant for dinner.

There are things I like about each of the DCL ships but I have definitely come to the conclusion that I like the smaller ones. I have zero interest in a ship even larger than the Fantasy/Dream and, given the option, would prefer to sail the Magic/Wonder over those two even though there were definitely some things I liked about the former better than the latter.

Are any of these things relevant to your situation? Every ship/cruise line is different and the experience different.

We've looked at other cruise lines but once I've eliminated those that don't meet those criteria above (bar the character thing), we're left with higher end cruise lines but those tend to require more of a dress-up atmosphere. I'm fine to dress up for dinner either semi-formal or cruise casual (no shorts for me - at least a nice pair of linen or silky knit pants) but when I have to dress like that nearly all day or after 5-6 pm (yes, some cruise lines require that you dress like that not just at dinner but all over the ship in the evening - not to my taste).

Will you get value for the $4,500 difference? Only you can judge that based on actual apples to apples cost comparison but also what is and isn't important for you. In the end, for us, DCL wins out. Perhaps we'll try another cruise line one day, but not for now.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

Like others have said, if your main focus is pricing, DCL is probably not going to feel worth the extra money. Other lines have equal service, itineraries, and dining. For me, it really is the Disney of it that makes the difference. I'm very much in touch with my inner child and love Disney. And you can feel that magic on the ship. You can feel it in other DCL passengers. The excitement of the actual children is tangible while onboard. Being around hundreds of people consistently excited to see their favorite characters gives the whole cruise and all the entertainment an extra something.

 

[mjr0483]

I do like DLC includes soft drinks. That is an up charge elsewhere. But I really did like voom unlimited fast internet on RC. I know it's vacation and I should unplug. I guess if it wasn't double it would be easier to swallow. I am sure it is a lovely cruise.

 

[Soontobegoodsell]

I've always been a Disney fan, so when my husband agreed to do a Disney Cruise - it was a great opportunity. It was a way to still get the Disney magic, but with areas that had adults only spaces, but places for kids only. Great food that was included, instead of extra cost. and then also a spa? Wake up in a new place every day? Don't have to walk a ton?

Win win!

 

[Soontobegoodsell]

I do like DLC includes soft drinks. That is an up charge elsewhere. But I really did like voom unlimited fast internet on RC. I know it's vacation and I should unplug. I guess if it wasn't double it would be easier to swallow. I am sure it is a lovely cruise.

So true. A lot of cruises you have to pay for a soda plan, etc.

 

[jrabbit]

Sorry, I am unable or willing to talk you into taking a DCL cruise. There are a whole lot of positives about these cruises, but if you are comparing prices between DCL and just about anyone else, you shake your head and wonder - "how can they charge those prices". We cruise DCL a lot, but we look for value, compared with other DCL cruises and to new locations. We don't sail with a veranda (unless DCL upgrades us) nor in Concierge - those prices are CRAZY

I have seen the problem and it is US!!!

All things Disney (well except ABC/ESPN) are "must do" items for families - and then they hook you in! And you usually want to come back again and again. These Once In A Lifetime trips become an annual or every two year routine. 30 years ago these trips by families were not as frequent as they are now.

With all of the current demand, and newly minted families are created all of the time, the demand stays high. And the supply is limited - CA and FL in the USA for the parks, and only 4 ships. So pretty limited supply.

And in the Parks and on the Ships Disney has NOT found the high-point for pricing yet (unfortunately). Disney (as a FOR Profit enterprise) needs to keep raising prices (unfortunately) until the higher prices start impacting attendance / demand. They are not there yet. Yes, people complain and drop out / away. Especially those that have "participated" over a longer period of time - Disney has been "declining by degrees" meaning that the service provided today is a little (hardly noticeable) than last year, and the year before and the one before that, etc. So that over time you really notice that you are paying a lot more and receiving a reduced experience. That's why "they don't care" that the long time people drop away, because of all of the new people taking their "places" are very happy about their first (or second) trip to the parks or on the ships.

The good thing about the High Prices Disney charges (or will charge) is that at some point - especially for the parks, is when the price is "too high" for most people, the people that can afford the price will have a better experience because of fewer crowds.

Fortunately, cruise lines "need" to sail close to full all of the time. So DCL will not be able to raise their prices to reduce the number of people sailing - or else they will have to increase the use of discounts (FL, MIL, *GT, KSF, etc).

But the issue as I see it is that DCL continues to Raise Prices and Provide a declining experience. They are heading to the Reverse Priceline Effect in that they will be charging for a 4-Star experience but providing a 2-Star cruise. (my Priceline Effect definition is: 2 star people staying at a 4 star hotel - which I assume really annoys the 4-Star people. )

 

[The Hunchback]

We find the movie theater a big plus. Also the bathtub as my husband prefers a tub. I like the smoke free environment and a greater willness to work with diet restrictions a plus. But again it is the magic of Disney that makes the difference.