What Is One Thing You Would Change About DCL?

[DCLMP]

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.

Scheduled dining times early and late with the same server is actually an option on Royal, Carnival and Princess and many others. This is not exclusive to DCL. My time dining is a relatively new concept. NCL I believe is straight My Time. NCL may have been the first to try it, but don't quote me on that...it's a guess.

 

[Dug720]

Scheduled dining times early and late with the same server is actually an option on Royal, Carnival and Princess and many others. This is not exclusive to DCL. My time dining is a relatively new concept. NCL I believe is straight My Time. NCL may have been the first to try it, but don't quote me on that...it's a guess.

But they don't have rotational dining.

Royal tried it and it was a big miss for them. Now the ships that had the 4 have 1 or 2 that are fixed, the others for any time - and they all have the same menu. For ships with one dining room, they have 2 levels, one is for fixed dining and any leftover space on that level is anytime, the other is exclusively any time. Celebrity has 4 different MDRs on the Edge-Class, but they have done away with fixed dining because even though you can order any of the special items for each MDR in any (the remainder of the menu is the same), people didn't want to be confined to one dining room without having to request eating in a different one each night. The Edge-class ships no longer offer a fixed time (though the booking system still says is) - they are all select (any time).

Disney's way of rotational dining is one of the cornerstones of their cruise experience. Their rooms are one level. There is no way to incorporate an any time into this system. The ONLY way would be to occasionally offer Cabanas or Marceline as a sit-down with servers in training the way they used to do.

And for the "what if i want to stay in port late?" camp... If I'm choosing to stay in port late and I knew I had early dining, I'd elect to eat in port. Hey - you get to experience more local culture that way...which is the whole point of staying later off the ship in port, right?

 

[holula]

And for the "what if i want to stay in port late?" camp... If I'm choosing to stay in port late and I knew I had early dining, I'd elect to eat in port. Hey - you get to experience more local culture that way...which is the whole point of staying later off the ship in port, right?

And this really is only an issue on the Europe and Alaska cruises. I do think they need other options on those cruises even if that option is having more QS open later.

 

[jwalk03]

Making one of the 3 restaurants an anytime dining is a terrible idea. I like the Disney dining rotations as they are. It is a signature part of the Disney Cruise Experience and should not be changed. If anytime dining is important to you than cruise one of the multiple other lines that meets your needs.

If they started doing a Cabanas diner again or keep open the pool deck food later to appease some then ok fine. But leave the rotational dining alone!!

 

[DCLMP]

And for the "what if i want to stay in port late?" camp... If I'm choosing to stay in port late and I knew I had early dining, I'd elect to eat in port. Hey - you get to experience more local culture that way...which is the whole point of staying later off the ship in port, right?

I'm not quite sure what you are asking.

 

[DCLMP]

Making one of the 3 restaurants an anytime dining is a terrible idea. I like the Disney dining rotations as they are. It is a signature part of the Disney Cruise Experience and should not be changed. If anytime dining is important to you than cruise one of the multiple other lines that meets your needs.

If they started doing a Cabanas diner again or keep open the pool deck food later to appease some then ok fine. But leave the rotational dining alone!!

I don't think I'd ever pick a cruise based on any type of dining arrangement. I'm going on NCL next Summer they have a sports bar that serves food{included in ship fare} and open at night. Something like that could easily be done on DCL or maybe a decent Pizza restaurant like other cruise lines have. There are some things they could do without disrupting the rotational dining.

 

[Pens Fan]

I just wish NCL had options beyond the coffin-looking solos they have. The Solo Infinite Verandas on Celebrity's Edge Class ships are nice - slightly larger than NCL's AND you get a view of the ocean rather than being confined inside.

They actually do - they offer many solo options beyond the standard studios including balcony cabins on many sailings. And yes, that is at solo pricing.

 

[Dug720]

They actually do - they offer many solo options beyond the standard studios including balcony cabins on many sailings. And yes, that is at solo pricing.

I've looked at multiple NCL cruises and have never seen anything at solo pricing but the solo studios. Maybe it's just during times that most teachers can't cruise because they're trying to fill their ships?

You don't have to get angry about that (your reaction to my post). It's my experience. They're clearly not missing my business.

 

[Flossbolna]

And this really is only an issue on the Europe and Alaska cruises. I do think they need other options on those cruises even if that option is having more QS open later.

On our EBTA on the Fantasy all the quick serve was open until 10 pm. Filmore closed at 10, burgers at 11 and pizza at midnight. Was very nice to have and usually somewhat busy in the evenings. Not sure if they kept this schedule for the European cruises.

 

[Pens Fan]

I've looked at multiple NCL cruises and have never seen anything at solo pricing but the solo studios. Maybe it's just during times that most teachers can't cruise because they're trying to fill their ships?

You don't have to get angry about that (your reaction to my post). It's my experience. They're clearly not missing my business.

They started offering them a couple of years ago. I see them pop up fairly often when checking fares. Just attempting to let folks know it can be available, lest they think the traditional solo cabins are the only options.

As for the “coffins” I was quite surprised when I actually experienced one. I’m borderline claustrophobic and thought they looked awful in pictures. Then awhile ago we were on an NCL cruise and were located on a deck that had a group of cabins where the toilets went out for a couple of days. We were lucky as the concierge offered us a key to an unoccupied studio to use if need be. I was so surprised at how bright and spacious it felt. As someone with an IE background I was impressed with the clever layout and use of space. Would I book one? No. Again, borderline claustrophobic. But I get the appeal now. Some people love them and they often book up quickly. They are a great option for people whose budgets don’t allow them to book a larger room.

As for your comment on my reaction: I wasn’t looking for your permission to have a reaction. And for the record it wasn’t even on this thread. It was on an unrelated thread where you were making snarky comments about a large group of people on these boards based on your limited interaction with a few of them. Not sure why you’d bring it up here? OK that last sentence is a lie. I’m pretty sure I know why.

 

[holula]

On our EBTA on the Fantasy all the quick serve was open until 10 pm. Filmore closed at 10, burgers at 11 and pizza at midnight. Was very nice to have and usually somewhat busy in the evenings. Not sure if they kept this schedule for the European cruises.

I was on that cruise and I don’t think I went to the QS once so didn’t look at the times, but if they continue this that’s a good change for the Europe cruises. It would be better if they had the taco or the shawarma place though like all the other ships do.

 

[Pens Fan]

On our EBTA on the Fantasy all the quick serve was open until 10 pm. Filmore closed at 10, burgers at 11 and pizza at midnight. Was very nice to have and usually somewhat busy in the evenings. Not sure if they kept this schedule for the European cruises.

That's encouraging. While I'd still prefer they go back to having Cabanas open for either a table service or buffet at dinner as they did pre-Covid, this is at least an improvement. I hope it continues. It would be especially nice for the newer ships with their expanded quick serve offerings.

 

[CamColt]

Lets remember to avoid personal, off topic conversations on this thread. Arguing is not allowed on the DIS.
Thanks!

 

[dreamer17555]

I was on that cruise and I don’t think I went to the QS once so didn’t look at the times, but if they continue this that’s a good change for the Europe cruises. It would be better if they had the taco or the shawarma place though like all the other ships do.

The Fantasy is getting a Cantina during its dry dock at the end of this European season.

 

[DCLMP]

On our EBTA on the Fantasy all the quick serve was open until 10 pm. Filmore closed at 10, burgers at 11 and pizza at midnight. Was very nice to have and usually somewhat busy in the evenings. Not sure if they kept this schedule for the European cruises.

Did they close at 6 and reopen or did they stay open?

 

[Flossbolna]

I was on that cruise and I don’t think I went to the QS once so didn’t look at the times, but if they continue this that’s a good change for the Europe cruises. It would be better if they had the taco or the shawarma place though like all the other ships do.

I saw it in the Navigator (we pick up the printed version). I was also very pleasantly surprised that the adult pool was open until 11 pm. That had never been the case on any of our previous cruises on the Fantasy. We loved having a dip in the hot tub after dinner.

 

[tidefan]

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…

This is just a straw man argument. There is no justification that Disney would have to increase anything to bring back nightly dining in Cabanas/MM. I mean, they did it for over 20 years prior to the pandemic, so I'm not sure that it's breaking new ground. Let's just call it for what it is, it was a cutback pure and simple. They also used to have the post-Pirate party buffet as well that got axed.

I would also say that for many upper platinum and pearl cruisers, they may be tired of the menus (looking at you, Pirate night) and not want to eat in the MDR every single night. Options are a good thing.

Heck, we just got off our first HAL cruise (too much to go into here, but wouldn't necessarily be my first choice), and we did not go to the MDR a single night. Just ate at the buffet (or Pinnacle Grill - which WAS excellent) and it was nice to go when you wanted and not have to worry about set times, etc...

I really do enjoy Disney cruising, but really don't like the lack of nighttime options.

 

[dreamer17555]

This is just a straw man argument. There is no justification that Disney would have to increase anything to bring back nightly dining in Cabanas/MM. I mean, they did it for over 20 years prior to the pandemic, so I'm not sure that it's breaking new ground. Let's just call it for what it is, it was a cutback pure and simple. They also used to have the post-Pirate party buffet as well that got axed.

I would also say that for many upper platinum and pearl cruisers, they may be tired of the menus (looking at you, Pirate night) and not want to eat in the MDR every single night. Options are a good thing.

Heck, we just got off our first HAL cruise (too much to go into here, but wouldn't necessarily be my first choice), and we did not go to the MDR a single night. Just ate at the buffet (or Pinnacle Grill - which WAS excellent) and it was nice to go when you wanted and not have to worry about set times, etc...

I really do enjoy Disney cruising, but really don't like the lack of nighttime options.

I don’t disagree that options are good thing. But businesses do focus on their bottom line for shareholders. It’s like when fast pass went away during Covid. All of us knew that when it came back, if it came back, it would likely be a paid option. And now that Disney is making money from it, it will likely never be free again.

DCL is used to operating without those additional costs of Pirate Buffet and Cabanas dinner. They do not want to bring in less profit because they have increased their costs and not passed it on to consumers.

Do I wish that corporations didn’t behave like that? Yes. Do I understand the reality of the situation? Also, yes.

 

[DCLMP]

I don’t disagree that options are good thing. But businesses do focus on their bottom line for shareholders. It’s like when fast pass went away during Covid. All of us knew that when it came back, if it came back, it would likely be a paid option. And now that Disney is making money from it, it will likely never be free again.

DCL is used to operating without those additional costs of Pirate Buffet and Cabanas dinner. They do not want to bring in less profit because they have increased their costs and not passed it on to consumers.

Do I wish that corporations didn’t behave like that? Yes. Do I understand the reality of the situation? Also, yes.

LOL. DCl is an additional cost because I pay significantly more to cruise on them then when I choose someone else. I don't know what you mean by DCL is used to operating without the additional costs of a Pirate buffet and Cabanas? Please explain.

 

[tidefan]

LOL. DCl is an additional cost because I pay significantly more to cruise on them then when I choose someone else. I don't know what you mean by I'm used to operating without the additional costs of a Pirate buffet and Cabanas? Please explain.

Yeah, that's sort of where I am as well. Look, it's capitalism, so I can vote with my wallet. We've cancelled 2 DCL cruises this year, and instead the schedule was 3 Virgin Voyages cruises and a HAL cruise, and this is from a family that used to cruise DCL at least once or twice a year. Disney, I believe, as a corporation is depending on its reputation a bit and thinks things can't change. Personally, to me, that's a risky strategy.

Also, while always pricey, they are now getting into the territory where they are competing with options that they just didn't before. For instance, next year, we are doing a 7-night Viking River Cruise on the Rhone with reduced international airfare, an included excursion in each port, and an included spirits package that was cheaper (by more than $1,000) than a summer 7 night cruise in a verandah on the Treasure. I mean, those things just weren't compatible a few years ago. Heck, it's getting to where going to Europe is cheaper than even going to the parks...