What Is One Thing You Would Change About DCL?

[tink1970]

There are many small touches with DCL that wouldn’t independently sway someone to choose them, but together, they have a cumulative effect. So the standard for evaluating any policy, benefit, or decision shouldn’t be, “Would this alone make people choose DCL?” If that were the measure, hundreds of small things could be eliminated in isolation. In fact, I think this kind of executive thinking has eroded DCL’s quality over the last twenty years, making it less of an automatic choice for us when booking a cruise. The result is a series of seemingly minor changes that, collectively, have skewed the cost-to-value ratio in a negative direction.

I don’t see how customers would be any more frustrated under this system than they are now with computer crashes and poor tech causing the same issues. If anything, a structured approach would be less infuriating. It wouldn’t be difficult to implement a ranking system similar to airline upgrade lists—prioritizing status, then cabin class, and then time of booking—ensuring a fair and predictable process.

If I’m being honest, the midnight scramble hasn’t really been a factor in our decision to sail other lines. But that doesn’t mean addressing pain points for customers is a bad idea. Improving the experience—even in small ways—helps foster goodwill and strengthens the brand, especially in an increasingly competitive market.

I agree...basically death by a thousand cuts is how I categorize my attitude resulting in my last* cruise with DCL (which was amazing, cannot lie).

To stay on topic, as someone with 21 (I think?) cruises under my Ears, I think what I'd ask DCL to change (since I cannot change permissive parenting, sigh...long and deep sign...nor entitled and obnoxious attitudes from other passengers...also sigh)...would be the stale itineraries. There is a great big beautiful world out there and as delightful as I found LHP adult beach, well, that just isn't going to cut it when my other cruising love, Viking, is taking me out of NYC to Canada and Iceland next month. So...please step up DCL-you can do it!

*last most probably but I try to say never because well, things change, don't they?