What Is One Thing You Would Change About DCL?

[RedHead0186]

That one I'll disagree with but say that DCL isn't going to be the place to do that or any other ship that has too many passengers. It is however a feature that you find on luxury lines with smaller passengers counts but not something you can easily replicate to the same extent on any line that has too many passengers. You can't have individual preferences learned by staff with too many passengers when those passengers can float around the ship as they please. It becomes unrealistic. The passenger would then have to actively choose to go to the same venue time after time AND that staff member always be there time after time. So I guess my point is less to do with things specific to DCL and more to do with size of ship and passenger count.

I've definitely had servers on DCL learn and remember individual preferences. For example, I was just on the EBTA our assistant server had a diet coke ready to go for my mom every night (after she asked for one on night 1). I've had other similar experiences where servers got to learn a little it about what I liked and would make recommendations based on that.

I don't disagree with you that you're going to see a lot more of that type of service on smaller ships with a higher staff to passenger ratio. But it can happen on DCL.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I've definitely had servers on DCL learn and remember individual preferences. For example, I was just on the EBTA our assistant server had a diet coke ready to go for my mom every night (after she asked for one on night 1). I've had other similar experiences where servers got to learn a little it about what I liked and would make recommendations based on that.

I don't disagree with you that you're going to see a lot more of that type of service on smaller ships with a higher staff to passenger ratio. But it can happen on DCL.

I think you misunderstood, it was in the context of having open dining as in you go where ever you want when ever you want (well to the opening hours of the venues). For DCL they CAN learn individual preferences in a larger ship because they use the rotational dining where the servers stick with you.

In contrast to the PP's point you can also have freedom of dining and also have staff learn your individual preferences but is much more realistic with smaller passenger counts. Too many passengers and you can't realistically have both freedom of going where ever and the staff learn you and what you want and anticipate that.

For Seabourn for example it is corporate policy for them to learn passengers, expected to know your name (though that has lessened over time as far as being required) and know what you want like drinks and whatnot. This is irrespective of where ever you are at on the ship, where ever you go to dine which you dine where ever you want when ever you want subject to the venues operating time. We often would just pick where we wanted to go eat for dinner for example hmm say late afternoon early evening usually selecting what evening attire (which it switches at 6pm) based on the restaurant that was usually picked by menu and of the day and weather (for the outdoor venue). The wait staff all rotate around one day they may be in the main dining room the next time they are your wait staff for the bar around the pool during the day. But Seabourn's largest ship at this point is 600 passengers (which both cruises we have done have been on those two ships). DCL's smallest ship has 2,700 passengers.

ETA: This is also why a "ship within a ship" has become a big trend as it can give that more tailored experience. It worked so well that MSC decided to launch Explora Journeys which is the newest on the luxury market though it does have more passengers than Seabourn on their ships, MSC has their Yacht Club on their bigger ships.

 

[RedHead0186]

I think you misunderstood, it was in the context of having open dining as in you go where ever you want when ever you want (well to the opening hours of the venues). For DCL they CAN learn individual preferences in a larger ship because they use the rotational dining where the servers stick with you.

In contrast to the PP's point you can also have freedom of dining and also have staff learn your individual preferences but is much more realistic with smaller passenger counts. Too many passengers and you can't realistically have both freedom of going where ever and the staff learn you and what you want and anticipate that.

For Seabourn for example it is corporate policy for them to learn passengers, expected to know your name (though that has lessened over time as far as being required) and know what you want like drinks and whatnot. This is irrespective of where ever you are at on the ship, where ever you go to dine which you dine where ever you want when ever you want subject to the venues operating time. We often would just pick where we wanted to go eat for dinner for example hmm say late afternoon early evening usually selecting what evening attire (which it switches at 6pm) based on the restaurant that was usually picked by menu and of the day and weather (for the outdoor venue). The wait staff all rotate around one day they may be in the main dining room the next time they are your wait staff for the bar around the pool during the day. But Seabourn's largest ship at this point is 600 passengers (which both cruises we have done have been on those two ships). DCL's smallest ship has 2,700 passengers.

Ah okay, now I follow what you were saying. Sorry I misunderstood the first time.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Ah okay, now I follow what you were saying. Sorry I misunderstood the first time.

No worries

 

[mcd2745]

You’re talking about eliminating Disney’s entire signature rotational dining concept. It’s one of the things that sets Disney apart from other cruise lines. If you do t like it fine- sail with someone else. There are no shortage of cruise lines that offer exactly what you are asking for.

I disagree with the notion that it's impossible (or close to it) to keep their "signature" 1st/2nd seating rotational dining while also offering an anytime/your time option.

As has been stated, they can simply utilize Cabanas/ Marceline either as a sit-down option or leave open as a buffet. Very simple and doesn't require cannibalizing another space or venue on the ship.

 

[dreamer17555]

I disagree with the notion that it's impossible (or close to it) to keep their "signature" 1st/2nd seating rotational dining while also offering an anytime/your time option.

As has been stated, they can simply utilize Cabanas/ Marceline either as a sit-down option or leave open as a buffet. Very simple and doesn't require cannibalizing another space or venue on the ship.

I mean food waste and staffing is a concern but a VERY limited hours (5:30-7:30), very limited menu (Lighter notes), and I think it could work... but it does mean pulling staff from the other dining rooms or paying more for DCL to have more dining staff. There are trade offs with everything and I can see guests not wanting to pay more for guests who choose not to eat in the main featured dining rooms...

Maybe a paid my time dining option for families would be a good middle ground? Just spitballing here.

 

[mcd2745]

I mean food waste and staffing is a concern but a VERY limited hours (5:30-7:30), very limited menu (Lighter notes), and I think it could work... but it does mean pulling staff from the other dining rooms or paying more for DCL to have more dining staff. There are trade offs with everything and I can see guests not wanting to pay more for guests who choose not to eat in the main featured dining rooms...

Maybe a paid my time dining option for families would be a good middle ground? Just spitballing here.

I don't think it should be or needs to be an option that you sign up for or choose for the duration of your cruise and you are married to it. Just needs to be an option, in case someone doesn't want to go to their assigned time that particular day. Could be for a variety of reasons. Maybe you're enjoying your time in port and don't want to rush back to the ship to make your dinner time (obviously, this would apply most to those with 1st seating). Or perhaps your kids are napping and you don't want to wake them yet, or you feel because you had a busy day they may not make it through 2nd seating (if that's what you have) so you'd like an option to eat earlier. There are infinite potential scenarios where, for a given night, your assigned seating for dinner just doesn't work or is really inconvenient. Give those people another option for a "normal" dinner.

 

[John VN]

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ETA: This is also why a "ship within a ship" has become a big trend as it can give that more tailored experience. It worked so well that MSC decided to launch Explora Journeys which is the newest on the luxury market though it does have more passengers than Seabourn on their ships, MSC has their Yacht Club on their bigger ships.

Just released that MSC Magnifica (smaller-older) is getting Yacht Club added in dry dock. The YC is becoming VERY POPULAR. I just priced an August 4 night and a YC Verandah Seashore was le$$ than WISH Verandah.

We are YC only and not sure that Explora Journeys would satisfy us.

 

[dreamer17555]

I don't think it should be or needs to be an option that you sign up for or choose for the duration of your cruise and you are married to it. Just needs to be an option, in case someone doesn't want to go to their assigned time that particular day. Could be for a variety of reasons. Maybe you're enjoying your time in port and don't want to rush back to the ship to make your dinner time (obviously, this would apply most to those with 1st seating). Or perhaps your kids are napping and you don't want to wake them yet, or you feel because you had a busy day they may not make it through 2nd seating (if that's what you have) so you'd like an option to eat earlier. There are infinite potential scenarios where, for a given night, your assigned seating for dinner just doesn't work or is really inconvenient. Give those people another option for a "normal" dinner.

I’m not suggesting it be something you are committed to but the reality is it would cost DCL more to have this option. So prices rise for everyone OR this could be an add on option for a charge where you are only charged when you go (thinking a small flat fee per adult and per kid, maybe $10 or $15 per adult, $5 per kid) and you just go and pay for it as you want (no reservations needed). Gives cruisers options without driving up prices for everyone.

 

[DCLMP]

I disagree with the notion that it's impossible (or close to it) to keep their "signature" 1st/2nd seating rotational dining while also offering an anytime/your time option.

As has been stated, they can simply utilize Cabanas/ Marceline either as a sit-down option or leave open as a buffet. Very simple and doesn't require cannibalizing another space or venue on the ship.

I would not want to eat in cabanas. They could rotate the my time dining restaurant each night and rotate the set dining rooms. Have two restaurants with set dining times and one for my time. People would just have to choose between my time or set dining when they book. People that choose a set time have the option to do my time some nights, but not the other way around.

Early bookers get whatever they prefer Late bookers get whatever is available. In my experience on Royal and Carnival the set dining times book out before the my time. I know this because we booked late and got My time. It was fine.

 

[DCLMP]

I’m not suggesting it be something you are committed to but the reality is it would cost DCL more to have this option. So prices rise for everyone OR this could be an add on option for a charge where you are only charged when you go (thinking a small flat fee per adult and per kid, maybe $10 or $15 per adult, $5 per kid) and you just go and pay for it as you want (no reservations needed). Gives cruisers options without driving up prices for everyone.

Disney cruise line already costs three times more than other cruise lines. I'm not sure why something every other cruise line is capable of doing would require DCL to charge extra for it.

 

[dreamer17555]

Disney cruise line already costs three times more than other cruise lines. I'm not sure why something every other cruise line is capable of doing would require DCL to charge extra for it.

DCL does things other cruise lines don’t, and their rotational dining is a big part of what makes them stand out. But there’s no way they could keep the current dining rooms running and add a new dining option without bringing on more dining crew. I’m not sure how much extra crew space is even available on the ships, or if adding dining staff would mean cutting crew somewhere else.

They also offer free room service and have at least one “experience” restaurant in the rotation. If DCL wants to keep the quality of their current dining and still offer something like "My Time Dining," it’s going to cost them—and let’s be real, they’re probably not going to just eat that cost.

So they’ve got a choice: either raise prices for everyone to cover a feature that many people might never use, or charge a small fee so only the people who want it pay for it. Honestly, that second option makes more sense to me.

 

[DCLMP]

DCL does things other cruise lines don’t, and their rotational dining is a big part of what makes them stand out. But there’s no way they could keep the current dining rooms running and add a new dining option without bringing on more dining crew. I’m not sure how much extra crew space is even available on the ships, or if adding dining staff would mean cutting crew somewhere else.

They also offer free room service and have at least one “experience” restaurant in the rotation. If DCL wants to keep the quality of their current dining and still offer something like "My Time Dining," it’s going to cost them—and let’s be real, they’re probably not going to just eat that cost.

So they’ve got a choice: either raise prices for everyone to cover a feature that many people might never use, or charge a small fee so only the people who want it pay for it. Honestly, that second option makes more sense to me.

I think DCL has a lot of wiggle room when it comes to price. I can book a cruise on any cruise line and get drinks wifi and excursions and gratuities and still come out at half the cost of just the cruise fare on DCL. Honestly my European cruises on Royal and Carnival were just as good or better when it came to dining and service. The rotational dining is cute, but I'm not sure it makes the cruise experience better. Most people just want good food. Not everyone wants a loud dinner show at dinner.

I don't understand why you think DCL would need to raise prices to do something other cruiselines do and are 1\3 the cost of DCL.

 

[Mommb]

I would not want to eat in cabanas. They could rotate the my time dining restaurant each night and rotate the set dining rooms. Have two restaurants with set dining times and one for my time. People would just have to choose between my time or set dining when they book. People that choose a set time have the option to do my time some nights, but not the other way around.

Early bookers get whatever they prefer Late bookers get whatever is available. In my experience on Royal and Carnival the set dining times book out before the my time. I know this because we booked late and got My time. It was fine.

Adding an option for drop-in dining, as Cabanas used to have, would benefit cruisers and would not significantly affect the way the other dining rooms operate (other than possibly reducing the number of staff) or the way most guests dine.

Making guests choose between rotating between 2 dining rooms or dropping by one dining room each night would be a significant change for all guests. One of the main reasons I continue cruising with Disney is that I don’t have to schedule dinner times — I can book dinner in the adult restaurants but if I don’t, my seat in the dining room is still guaranteed. I am aware that’s how Disney cruises work, and book DCL because that’s what I want. If I wanted to select a dining room each night, I would not choose to cruise on DCL and would book a different cruise line.

When I cruised with kids, I especially appreciated that I could plan around a fixed dinner time when I knew we’d be seated immediately (unlike in the Disney parks, where I needed to either decide months in advance where we wanted to be at dinner time or risk long waits). I never got dinner at Cabanas when it was available, but I understand why that would be appealing occasionally, especially on longer cruises and itineraries with long port times. I do not think most families would book a Disney cruise and then skip the main dining rooms and shows most night, because the ability to get dinner the adults don’t have to prepare or think about in advance and take kids to shows is a main draw of Disney cruises.

 

[DCLMP]

Adding an option for drop-in dining, as Cabanas used to have, would benefit cruisers and would not significantly affect the way the other dining rooms operate (other than possibly reducing the number of staff) or the way most guests dine.

Making guests choose between rotating between 2 dining rooms or dropping by one dining room each night would be a significant change for all guests. One of the main reasons I continue cruising with Disney is that I don’t have to schedule dinner times — I can book dinner in the adult restaurants but if I don’t, my seat in the dining room is still guaranteed. I am aware that’s how Disney cruises work, and book DCL because that’s what I want. If I wanted to select a dining room each night, I would not choose to cruise on DCL and would book a different cruise line.

When I cruised with kids, I especially appreciated that I could plan around a fixed dinner time when I knew we’d be seated immediately (unlike in the Disney parks, where I needed to either decide months in advance where we wanted to be at dinner time or risk long waits). I never got dinner at Cabanas when it was available, but I understand why that would be appealing occasionally, especially on longer cruises and itineraries with long port times. I do not think most families would book a Disney cruise and then skip the main dining rooms and shows most night, because the ability to get dinner the adults don’t have to prepare or think about in advance and take kids to shows is a main draw of Disney cruises.

We always do second seating and there are always a lot of No shows. Families do skip dinner. Yes it would be a significant change, but Disney{ parks mostly} has done a lot of significant changes over the last decade and most of them bad in my opinion.

I've seen many threads on here and read many reviews on other websites about the lack of dinner options on DCL. It may become more of issue as Disney's competition for the family market keeps getting stronger. I'm not sure rotational dining is worth the big ticket price.

I don't own a business, but just looking at things as a consumer....businesses have to be willing to change with the times.

 

[imbelle]

Maybe instead of opening up an entire alternate dining venue they could just expand the room service options to include select items from the current night's rotational dining menus (ie, things they wouldn't have to keep warm). They would need more "runners" obviously, but would probably cost less than staffing a full restaurant.

 

[dreamer17555]

I think DCL has a lot of wiggle room when it comes to price. I can book a cruise on any cruise line and get drinks wifi and excursions and gratuities and still come out at half the cost of just the cruise fare on DCL. Honestly my European cruises on Royal and Carnival were just as good or better when it came to dining and service. The rotational dining is cute, but I'm not sure it makes the cruise experience better. Most people just want good food. Not everyone wants a loud dinner show at dinner.

I don't understand why you think DCL would need to raise prices to do something other cruiselines do and are 1\3 the cost of DCL.

A lot of people who book Disney cruises are really looking for that full Disney experience. They want the shows, the service , and especially the rotational dining — which is something that sets DCL apart. If they start cutting back on that in any way, it’s going to upset a lot of guests.

Disney is a business with shareholders, so if they’re investing in something that might boost guest satisfaction but doesn’t clearly add to their bottom line, they’re probably going to pass that cost on to customers. That’s just how it works

Same goes for something like if ME ever came back. The cost would either be built into higher hotel prices for everyone, or they’d charge extra for people who want to use it.

DCL and Royal are very different products. Even though they may be targeting a similar audience more and more, they offer totally different experiences. I actually think Disney trying to become more like Royal would backfire. DCL is known for top-notch service — things like turn-down service and rotational dining really matter to their guests. They’re not going to win the battle being like Royal when Royal then features like rock walls or zip lines that DCL doesn’t, so they should double down on what they do best like high-quality entertainment and those unique Disney touches.

If you prefer Royal’s style of dining, then Royal is probably the better choice for you. But changing Disney’s rotational dining in a big way doesn’t make sense. I could see something like limited sit-down hours at Cabana working, but even that would likely mean either higher cruise fares across the board or an added charge — and from what you’re saying, it doesn’t sound like either of those options would be work for you…

 

[Dug720]

One of the main reasons I continue cruising with Disney is that I don’t have to schedule dinner times — I can book dinner in the adult restaurants but if I don’t, my seat in the dining room is still guaranteed. I am aware that’s how Disney cruises work, and book DCL because that’s what I want. If I wanted to select a dining room each night, I would not choose to cruise on DCL and would book a different cruise line.

BINGO!!!

DCL and Royal are very different products. Even though they may be targeting a similar audience more and more, they offer totally different experiences. I actually think Disney trying to become more like Royal would backfire. DCL is known for top-notch service — things like turn-down service and rotational dining really matter to their guests. They’re not going to win the battle being like Royal when Royal then features like rock walls or zip lines that DCL doesn’t, so they should double down on what they do best like high-quality entertainment and those unique Disney touches.

If you prefer Royal’s style of dining, then Royal is probably the better choice for you. But changing Disney’s rotational dining in a big way doesn’t make sense. I could see something like limited sit-down hours at Cabana working, but even that would likely mean either higher cruise fares across the board or an added charge — and from what you’re saying, it doesn’t sound like either of those options would be work for you…

Thank you!!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Maybe instead of opening up an entire alternate dining venue they could just expand the room service options to include select items from the current night's rotational dining menus (ie, things they wouldn't have to keep warm). They would need more "runners" obviously, but would probably cost less than staffing a full restaurant.

That's an option. Seabourn for example their main dining room (called The Restaurant) offers the full menu as also room service for dinner. With a larger ship and aimed at children your comment about select items is more appropriate though I think they'd still need to make it wide variety enough that people don't feel like they are sacrificing too much by staying in.

 

[DCLMP]

If you prefer Royal’s style of dining, then Royal is probably the better choice for you. But changing Disney’s rotational dining in a big way doesn’t make sense. I could see something like limited sit-down hours at Cabana working, but even that would likely mean either higher cruise fares across the board or an added charge — and from what you’re saying, it doesn’t sound like either of those options would be work for you…

I wasn't looking for recommendations. I cruise for price and itinerary and whatever.I am an the mood for. After 45 cruises I know the pros and cons on all of them. I was merely making a suggestion on how DCL could do My Time. Businesses always evolve I would never say never to any change in the future.