What am I doing wrong?

[teacher31]

i keep hearing how people get a similar cruise to DCL on either NCL or RCCL for half the price. I can never find those cruises! We are currently booked for 7/18/16 for. 4 nighters and have looked around for these elusive cruises, but no luck. Are those incredible deals primarily during off peak times? Just trying to see why I can't find what others are speaking about. Thanks!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Some of them are last-minute deals, or for Florida residents only, or in the off-season.

 

[perditax]

i keep hearing how people get a similar cruise to DCL on either NCL or RCCL for half the price. I can never find those cruises! We are currently booked for 7/18/16 for. 4 nighters and have looked around for these elusive cruises, but no luck. Are those incredible deals primarily during off peak times? Just trying to see why I can't find what others are speaking about. Thanks!

Not quite sure sure what you're asking. RCCL has a four-nighter out of PC on the Enchantment that's about the equivalent of the Dream's itinerary (Nassau, private island, etc), and it's still running in July 2016 and yes it does look to be about half the price. However, that's an older ship. If you're looking for a four-nighter on RCCL/NCL on a brand new MEGASHIP, they don't use their newest ships for four-nighters/'starter cruises'.

 

[teacher31]

I looked at that cruise. To have the same size stateroom, it would be about $250 less than DCL for a grand suite and about $800 for a Jr. suite. I'm trying to compare apples to apples and thought the square footage was a reasonable way. It's still not the 'less than half of DCL' that I'm so curious about.

I do think it's time of the year that makes the difference. Being a teacher, I'm limited to peak times it appears.

 

[perditax]

I looked at that cruise. To have the same size stateroom, it would be about $250 less than DCL for a grand suite and about $800 for a Jr. suite. I'm trying to compare apples to apples and thought the square footage was a reasonable way. It's still not the 'less than half of DCL' that I'm so curious about.

I do think it's time of the year that makes the difference. Being a teacher, I'm limited to peak times it appears.

Oh yeah, you can't do square footage the way you would compare resort rooms at WDW. I mean, you *can* but you're almost always going to be disappointed--DCL's rooms are huge compared to cruise line standards. I understand, I started out thinking that way, but it's not very apples to apples because of DCL's oversized staterooms. (I mean, if that extra 10 sq ft is very important to you/ one of your primary criteria, then yes. But generally when people compare prices they are comparing inside to inside, ocean view to ocean view, balcony to balcony. In that reckoning, a real 'suite' on another line would be concierge level on DCL.)

Note: I have only sailed on NCL.

 

[teacher31]

Huh. Didn't think about that. Thank you for pointing that out! Will definitely rethink my plan.

I just expected to find similar sizes for half, but guess not. Understanding things a bit more!

 

[perditax]

Huh. Didn't think about that. Thank you for pointing that out! Will definitely rethink my plan.

I just expected to find similar sizes for half, but guess not. Understanding things a bit more!

Sure thing. I went through the same process when I started learning about cruising and trying to figure out how real the price disparity is.

Just to make things more confusing, a 'suite' on other cruise lines almost never means the same thing it does in hotel parlance (a space with more than one room). DCL, I think, only uses the word when it really means a suite (e.g., the 1 or 2 bdrm concierge suites), but RCCL and other lines will call almost anything a suite or junior suite or mini suite, even if it's one 200sf cabin with a bathroom. It seems 'suite' in cruising mostly confers perks like a butler, access to private areas, priority embark, etc, as opposed to a space with multiple doors/rooms.

 

[AngelDisney]

This is the reason I will stick with Disney or no cruising. If I compare the same footage of the room, the difference in price is not worth missing the Disney magic I love!

 

[LemonNeko]

I think it's during non peak times. I think all cruise lines are more expensive when school is out. I booked in April with RCL. I'm going on a 7-Day in October on the Freedom (it's not the newest ship but it is one of the larger ones) and it was the same price (within a $100) as a 3-Day on the Fantasy. This was taking the extra money for tips into consideration too. I am in Canada and RCL does give a break on the exchange which helped too. The room is 30 sq ft smaller and doesn't have the tub but there was no way I could justify the cost for Disney.

 

[avgsuperheroine]

I reserved an RCL cruise 5 in a Jr Suite with balcony 7 night out of San Juan for $1600 during a kids sail free sale. I cancelled it and found a southern on DCL next January. With our OBBC we will pay $4800 for 2 connecting interior rooms (secret porthole). There are deals, but I've noticed when you search on DCL they include taxes and fees, RCL you have to get all the way to the final booking page to have those costs added. Unless you're comparing a disney christmas cruise or an RCL kids sail free sale, the difference isn't really THAT huge usually.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

My wife and I were just coming up with a game plan for June 2017 vacation and obviously dates aren't released yet so I was looking at June 2016 prices. We could do a 4 night on DCL Dream all 4 of us in 1 inside (185 square feet) stateroom for a little over $5000. Or we could do RCCL Freedom of the Seas for 7 nights in 2 insides (120 square feet each) for just under $4600. I'll take 2 smaller cabins and 3 extra nights.

Unfortunately, we also resigned to the fact that our Wonder cruise in 55 days will more than likely be our last on DCL. It's been a fantastic run on DCL, but for us it just doesn't pencil out anymore. At least I can always come back here and cruise vicariously through you all!

 

[bumbershoot]

See, I have no idea how big rooms are. It's not noticeable to me. So I go by category, and I go with what gets me on the sea.

 

[teacher31]

Thanks everyone. This makes me feel like I'm not being totally frivolous by sticking with DCL. For such a small difference, I'm very comfortable with my decision.

Now, just have to wait 351 days!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I looked at that cruise. To have the same size stateroom, it would be about $250 less than DCL for a grand suite and about $800 for a Jr. suite. I'm trying to compare apples to apples and thought the square footage was a reasonable way. It's still not the 'less than half of DCL' that I'm so curious about.

I do think it's time of the year that makes the difference. Being a teacher, I'm limited to peak times it appears.

The Grande Suite on RCL Enchantment is like a concierge cabin on Disney. In addition to the cabin itself, you also get:

Priority check-in

Personalized attention throughout the cruise with complimentary Concierge Club service on select ships

Reserved prime seating in the main theater for entertainment shows, where available

Priority tender tickets on select cruises. (Tender service is provided when smaller vessels are necessary to reach shore in locations without docking ports large enough for cruise ships.)

VIP pool deck seating, where available

Full breakfast, lunch and dinner dining room menus available for in-room dining

Complimentary luggage valet service

Luxury spa bathrobes for use onboard

Complimentary pressing service on formal night

Priority departure with exclusive suite* departure lounge featuring continental breakfast

If you're trying to compare apples to apples, you need to consider everything - not just the square footage.

Also, the Deluxe family oceanview on the Dream is 299 ft including the balcony whereas the grand suite on the enchantment is 353 square feet plus 107 for the balcony.

 

[emilymad]

I also think DCL low season is different than other cruise lines low seasons. DCL's low season is almost any non-holiday when school is in session. Other cruise lines have the winter months as a high season. We sail in January and February. This is "low" season for DCL but not on other cruise lines. Celebrity, for example, only sails the Caribbean in the winter months.

 

[bumbershoot]

The Grande Suite on RCL Enchantment is like a concierge cabin on Disney. In addition to the cabin itself, you also get:

Priority check-in

Personalized attention throughout the cruise with complimentary Concierge Club service on select ships

Reserved prime seating in the main theater for entertainment shows, where available

Priority tender tickets on select cruises. (Tender service is provided when smaller vessels are necessary to reach shore in locations without docking ports large enough for cruise ships.)

VIP pool deck seating, where available

Full breakfast, lunch and dinner dining room menus available for in-room dining

Complimentary luggage valet service

Luxury spa bathrobes for use onboard

Complimentary pressing service on formal night

Priority departure with exclusive suite* departure lounge featuring continental breakfast

If you're trying to compare apples to apples, you need to consider everything - not just the square footage.

Also, the Deluxe family oceanview on the Dream is 299 ft including the balcony whereas the grand suite on the enchantment is 353 square feet plus 107 for the balcony.

In other words the op would get a ton more than the plain room on Disney, and for less money.

We love Royal. Two future cruises booked with them and zero Disney cruises booked for the future. Dubious "magic" just isn't enough for us. Good service and good food (the former is on both, the latter is on Royal for us) and a nice room for a decent price are our idea of "magic". No Mickey needed.