To Disney or Not to Disney....That is the Question???

[LynnTH]

subscribing


This is an interesting thread. We are booked on our first Disney cruise for June 2012 out of NYC to Canada. I had us booked on the Fantasy same month for the 7 day Eastern Caribbean but since the prices had been out for about 4 months..the more I thought about it, the more I realized we could wait for that one when the prices come out for 2013 and get a better deal.

Our kids will be 21, 17 and 13 when we take our first cruise next summer. HOWEVER....from the beginning I have been curious as to what others think of the "other" cruises. A lot of people on the Cruise board have been on other cruises but most are very loyal to DCL. We have nothing to compare anything to.

We live close to Balitmore and we have ships out of here now. I have not really looked into it though. If anyone can steer me in the right direction of a cruise line that my age kids would like....feel free to let me know. I am willing to check it out. I am not cancelling my Disney cruise but I would be willing to take another cruise on a different line especially if I got a great deal.

THANKS

I think with the ages of your kids you should check out Royal Caribbean. They have lots to do for kids especially the larger ships. The one we have booked (The Allure) has a Zip Line, Flow Riders, Rock Climbing, Full Basketball Court, Ice Skating in addition to the ususal pools, arcade, mini - golf etc. Not sure what ships go out of Baltimore - but you should go to their website to see what ships do and what they all offer.

 

[lucigo]

We prefer Carnival, and actually have 2 planned this year. I've been cruising with my youngest for 6 years (he is 8), and he has been on 10 Carnival and one Holland America cruise.

Call me weird, but I actually like the smaller ships. To me they feel more personalized and relaxing.

As far as ports, I would have to say my favorite is Half Moon Cay, a private island that both Carnival and HAL use.

 

[edk35]

So I have heard that these other cruise lines "nickel and dime you to death". Disney is more expensive but....they don't charge you for stuff that the others do.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

subscribing


This is an interesting thread. We are booked on our first Disney cruise for June 2012 out of NYC to Canada. I had us booked on the Fantasy same month for the 7 day Eastern Caribbean but since the prices had been out for about 4 months..the more I thought about it, the more I realized we could wait for that one when the prices come out for 2013 and get a better deal.

Our kids will be 21, 17 and 13 when we take our first cruise next summer. HOWEVER....from the beginning I have been curious as to what others think of the "other" cruises. A lot of people on the Cruise board have been on other cruises but most are very loyal to DCL. We have nothing to compare anything to.

We live close to Balitmore and we have ships out of here now. I have not really looked into it though. If anyone can steer me in the right direction of a cruise line that my age kids would like....feel free to let me know. I am willing to check it out. I am not cancelling my Disney cruise but I would be willing to take another cruise on a different line especially if I got a great deal.

THANKS

Royal Caribbean Allure and Oasis! Next choice would be the Freedom or Liberty (there are some screaming deals on the Liberty.) Not sure about ships out of Baltimore- sometimes the ports not in FL get the older and smaller ships.

So I have heard that these other cruise lines "nickel and dime you to death". Disney is more expensive but....they don't charge you for stuff that the others do.

Honestly the big difference is between DCL and Royal is drinks. Soda isn't free on Royal Caribbean, they also don't allow you to bring on any alcohol.

 

[dawnn12]

We like cruising also(actually leaving next friday for another one)I second www.cruisecritic.com its get for info on the different lines and ports
We took our girls (11 and 6 at the time) on the Explorer of the seas from Bayonne NJ to Bermuda they loved it.... loved the kids club(we actually had to go get them just to have them eat dinner with us)
Look at different lines(if you know what dates... try looking on vacations to go gives you an idea of what cruises are going out/and to where at that time frame) see what one you like the ports at(we did bermuda because dh and I have been there before and we knew the girls would love it plus it was a 5 day and the price was really good) we did get the soda cards for everyone(something like $5-6 a day pp) so if you drink more then 2 sodas a day its well worth it hth remember tips are not included in the price you pay (unless you prepay them it was 11.50 pp per day for us last yr but we tipped on top of that for a few crew members because they were great)

 

[NancyIL]

So I have heard that these other cruise lines "nickel and dime you to death". Disney is more expensive but....they don't charge you for stuff that the others do.

Honestly the big difference is between DCL and Royal is drinks. Soda isn't free on Royal Caribbean, they also don't allow you to bring on any alcohol.

I don't drink soda or alcohol, and I haven't felt "nickeled and dimed" on other cruise lines. DCL gets more of your money up front, and occasionally I'm willing to pay a little more to be on a Disney ship.

I'll be on a Princess cruise next week with my 20-year-old son.

 

[chris31997]

Didn't like the Freestyle dining nor having to pay for the "special" restraunts. The included restraunt were okay. But for a family of 4 paying additional money on a week long cruise to eat dinner, that adds up. To make it worse you walk by those restraunts all the time

 

[mjkacmom]

To save money do not book excursions through them unless you feel like you will be pressed for time. If you book through the cruise and your not back on time, the cruise has to wait for you. If you book on your own and not back in time, the cruise will leave you.
When we went, we only spent $150 for excursions (stopped on 4 islands), and the tab at the end with some alcoholic drinks was $200. If your kids or you drink sodas, then do the soda cards. We did one soda card and shared it because I drink a lot of sodas and my mom only drank 3 the whole time. And I am pretty sure that many other people do this as well!

So I don't think you need to double the cost of the cruise for tips and excursions. But you should definately check out cruisecritic.com!

Actually, the ship doesn't have to wait - many times they can't. However, they are responsible for getting you back to the ship (even if it means a flight). I've never paid for an excursion, the kids get soda cards, and we alcoholic drinks are the same on any cruise line, as well as at WDW. So I agree, I don't spend double because of these items.

 

[mjkacmom]

So I have heard that these other cruise lines "nickel and dime you to death". Disney is more expensive but....they don't charge you for stuff that the others do.

The only difference I've found is that other lines will offer up more restaurants that charge a fee, where Disney offers just one. So you have WAY more dining choices on other lines, averaging $15 per person. You also get free soda on DCL, where others either charge, or you buy a soda card ($50?). DCL charges for internet, photos, excursions, alcohol, fancy coffee, specialty dining - just like the other lines. The other lines will usually have a daily service fee, which adds up to about the same as the recommended tipping on DCL. But, you don't have to try to figure it out, and fill the envelopes.

The way I look at it, I'd rather save thousands of dollars, sail on other lines, and either spend a little extra money on smaller, better, specialty restaurants, or just eat at the same number of free venues that they have like DCL. BTW, my kids prefer NCL over DCL, and my 2 oldest hated DCL's kids clubs. I believe all of the lines have private islands.

 

[gracie1]

Correct me if Im wrong, but my travel agent said we didnt need them. They would be good only if in an emergency we needed to fly home.
We plan on getting them anyway.

You will need passports. We did labadee haiti and it was nice. It's a private island and royal caribbean has a bbq on it during the day for everyone as well. There is shopping set up where the locals work and we went there but couldn't wait to get out. They hassle you and will pull on you to buy stuff!! They will also tell you the story how their trying to support their families, etc., and then pull out their cell phones
Where the bbq area is, there were local children hiding in the bushes waiting for leftovers

 

[mdsoccermom]

Correct me if Im wrong, but my travel agent said we didnt need them. They would be good only if in an emergency we needed to fly home.
We plan on getting them anyway.

Technically, you do not need a passport since you are on a closed loop cruise (cruise which begins and ends in the same port in the U.S.). HOWEVER, if for any reason you have to fly to meet your ship, or fly home, you would need a passport. Yes, the probability of every having to do that is almost nil, but it does exist.

Personally, I think a passport is the best type of ID around and that it's exceptionally dumb to leave the country without one. Whenever any of my clients intend to cruise without a passport, I have them sign a waiver saying they understand the risks.

As far as cruising with other lines - well, I will not pay Disney prices. I find you can get much better value for your money on other cruise lines. Last summer, we sailed a 7 night Western Caribbean on the Carnival Dream, Carnival's newest ship. Our 7 night cruise in a balcony was $2,000 less than the Disney 4 night in an oceanview at the very same time. The Dream has 18 hole mini-golf, waterpark, sports court and more. My then 8 and 11 year olds loved the ship. We had a blast.

 

[edk35]

It seems the these other cruise lines have much smaller staterooms? I have never been on a cruise so I can't compare other than the square footage listed.

 

[NancyIL]

It seems the these other cruise lines have much smaller staterooms? I have never been on a cruise so I can't compare other than the square footage listed.

It varies by ship - even within the same cruise line. For that matter, cabins on the Disney Dream and Fantasy are smaller than the same cabin categories on the Magic and Wonder.

 

[shan136]

So I am confused....

I am pricing out a cruise for my family for 2012. The other cruise lines are much less than Disney but they do seem to require paying for a lot of extras: drinks, excursions, special dining experiences etc.

I think that on the DCL ships some beverages are included (except alcohol) as well as dining. However, are there excursion charges for Nassau and Castaway Cay?

I guess what I am asking for a general idea of what is included in the base prices and what is not.

 

[lucigo]

So I have heard that these other cruise lines "nickel and dime you to death". Disney is more expensive but....they don't charge you for stuff that the others do.

This is not true. I have actually been on cruises and NOT had a bill at the end. Things I would consider mandatory are the tips (you pay on any cruise line), and transportation to and from the ship, so either air fare and a taxi, or parking at the pier.

The only thing I know of that you will pay for on another line and not Disney is a soda card. We bring our own so thats not an issue.

A cruise does not have to break the bank. The group cruise I am in charge of this October is right at $1000 for 4 people in a cabin. Thats 5 nights from Mobile to Cozumel and Calica. A family should add their transportation to that, and $200 for tips. Anything above that is optional.

 

[mdsoccermom]

So I am confused....

I am pricing out a cruise for my family for 2012. The other cruise lines are much less than Disney but they do seem to require paying for a lot of extras: drinks, excursions, special dining experiences etc.

I think that on the DCL ships some beverages are included (except alcohol) as well as dining. However, are there excursion charges for Nassau and Castaway Cay?

I guess what I am asking for a general idea of what is included in the base prices and what is not.

You still have to pay for excursions with Disney on both Castaway Cay and Nassau (assuming you want to take those excursions). Not sure why you think all of that is built into the cruise. There is also a surcharge at DCL speciality restaurants like Palo and Remy, just like there is a surcharge on othe cruise lines.

The thing that separates DCL from other cruise lines is that soda is free up on deck 9 of the Wonder and Magic, and Deck 11 on the Dream (that is the key thing - up on deck - it's not free all over the ship).

 

[lucigo]

So I am confused....

I am pricing out a cruise for my family for 2012. The other cruise lines are much less than Disney but they do seem to require paying for a lot of extras: drinks, excursions, special dining experiences etc.

I think that on the DCL ships some beverages are included (except alcohol) as well as dining. However, are there excursion charges for Nassau and Castaway Cay?

I guess what I am asking for a general idea of what is included in the base prices and what is not.

The only thing Disney has free that the other lines pay for is the soda. A soda card for unlimited soda on a Carnival cruise is going to run approximately $30. Personally, we bring our own soda since we prefer Dt Dr Pepper and its not served on the ships.

Excursions in port are extra on any cruise line. At private islands like Half Moon Cay, Castaway Cay and Labadee you can just go to the beach and hang out for no charge.

There are alternative dining rooms on some ships, Disney included, and all have extra charges. These are optional, you don't have to eat there. I can tell you that on HAL's Eurodam we ate at their asian restaurant for lunch at no charge, and it was excellent. We didn't go for dinner, when they have a charge.

I hope I was able to answer your questions.

 

[gillenkl]

Correct me if Im wrong, but my travel agent said we didnt need them. They would be good only if in an emergency we needed to fly home.
We plan on getting them anyway.

Your agent is correct, you don't NEED them - but what if there is an emergency? You still would need at the very least a passport card. I priced passports yesterday for our family of 4 - close to $500 - yikes!

 

[Gina]

Another extra to factor in is the kids' clubs after a certain hour. On DCL, they're open from early morning until after midnight. On other lines, the kids' clubs are open a few hours before lunch, then closed for a couple of hours, then open until usually 10pm -- after that, you'll have to pay for "group babysitting" for your 11-and-under's (generally; that varies from line to line, I'm sure.)

 

[lucigo]

Your agent is correct, you don't NEED them - but what if there is an emergency? You still would need at the very least a passport card. I priced passports yesterday for our family of 4 - close to $500 - yikes!

You don't NEED at least a passport card, you NEED at least a birth certificate with raised seal. If there is an emergency and you need to fly back there will be hoops to jump through, but they will let you cruise with a birth certificate as long as its a closed loop cruise (meaning you begin and end the cruise at the same port).