Why DCL is worth the price, to me

[PrincessShmoo]

It is still the same rules, my daughter is on the Magic at the moment

Yes, in Oceaneers Club/Lab the CMs are not allowed to assist in any way in the bathroom. Children in the Club/Lab must be fully potty trained (able to recognize that they need to use the toilet, undress, use toilet, clean themselves, redress, and wash hands, all without assistance).

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I have been looking for a cruise in the future and unfortunately we wont be able to afford DCL. I have been looking at RCL with the DreamWorks. Has anyone done this? Or what are some suggestions for a kid friendly cruise?

It's all relative. If you wanted to try a DCL, you could probably pick a less expensive non peak season for a few less days and still have it be the same price as another cruise line. You may not be able to afford a 7 day right away, but we paid as much on our Carnival 7 day as we did on our Disney Dream 3 day and you wouldn't think it would be that much worth it, but it really was to me! Castaway Cay was amazing, and it costs money to leave work and to board the dogs for a long trip. Sometimes less time and really good trip is worth it. But yes, it was $1200 per couple for us either way (not including tips or incidentals) and at least one the Dream, we got an incredible room with veranda and split bath and storage and got to bring some drinks on board with us and enjoyed the technology such as Turtle Talk. Carnival is still using Karaoke CDs!!! What? Is this 1992?

So that's my point. They ALL cost $$$. If you want to do a Disney cruise, you just need to be choosy about the timing and how many days. A friend of mine is looking at a 4 day spring break next year on the Dream out of PC. A 4 day for the 3 of them (parents and young son) would be about $1800 not including incidentals. They have to go when school is off, but that is much better than she thought it was going to cost.

It's all relative. To me, I'd rather save my money up, go for less days and thoroughly enjoy every minute of it and spend less for dog sitters and take less time off work then do what I did in the spring, spend the same amount of money on a cruise (that didn't include Castaway) and all I could do was be happy to get off the cruise...

 

[Spwhoney]

It's all relative. If you wanted to try a DCL, you could probably pick a less expensive non peak season for a few less days and still have it be the same price as another cruise line. You may not be able to afford a 7 day right away, but we paid as much on our Carnival 7 day as we did on our Disney Dream 3 day and you wouldn't think it would be that much worth it, but it really was to me! Castaway Cay was amazing, and it costs money to leave work and to board the dogs for a long trip. Sometimes less time and really good trip is worth it. But yes, it was $1200 per couple for us either way (not including tips or incidentals) and at least one the Dream, we got an incredible room with veranda and split bath and storage and got to bring some drinks on board with us and enjoyed the technology such as Turtle Talk. Carnival is still using Karaoke CDs!!! What? Is this 1992?

So that's my point. They ALL cost $$$. If you want to do a Disney cruise, you just need to be choosy about the timing and how many days. A friend of mine is looking at a 4 day spring break next year on the Dream out of PC. A 4 day for the 3 of them (parents and young son) would be about $1800 not including incidentals. They have to go when school is off, but that is much better than she thought it was going to cost.

It's all relative. To me, I'd rather save my money up, go for less days and thoroughly enjoy every minute of it and spend less for dog sitters and take less time off work then do what I did in the spring, spend the same amount of money on a cruise (that didn't include Castaway) and all I could do was be happy to get off the cruise...

Still looking at options. DCL not 100% eliminated. By the time we spend the $ for airfare and travel time I would want to do a 7 day, maybe 5 day cruise. 3 is just not long enough. Been looking at RCL but not impressed with itinerary. Would be way cool if we lived on Florida cost and not travel 1/2 across country.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Still looking at options. DCL not 100% eliminated. By the time we spend the $ for airfare and travel time I would want to do a 7 day, maybe 5 day cruise. 3 is just not long enough. Been looking at RCL but not impressed with itinerary. Would be way cool if we lived on Florida cost and not travel 1/2 across country.

I hear ya. We are Western Ky. We drove to Port Canaveral in last week Feb, back Mar 3, and again on Apr 9 and back Apr 14. So I know what you mean about half way across the country! PC is 13-14 hrs for us. Airfare would be nice but it's not necessary if it makes or breaks the trip.

I think you can cruise out of Miami or Glvston if you are going before Dec pretty economically. However, I LOVE PC because we always add a Disney day to it. It would be perfect to do a 4 day with 2 Disney days for instance. As it was, being our second trip in a month, we were squeezing time off as it was, so 1 park day and a 3 day was perfect for us.

If you can do a 4-5 day and a few orlando park days (whether it be WDW, Universal, SeaWorld, Wet n Wild, you name it there is so much to do), it actually makes for a stunning trip.

I did grow up on Royal Caribbean though, my first cruise with them when I was 11. Again at 17. Renaissance Cruise line from Barcelona - Lisbon Portugal for graduation at 18. RCCL at 20 (Hawaii was great!) Got married, Sandals Jamaica Honeymoon. Then at least 4 Carnivals. 07, 11, 12, 13, and finally 2013 Disney Cruise. I remember having good experiences on RCCL growing up, but never, never going to clubs or anything like that. We stayed together as a family, on everyone up to when I got engaged on the Hawaiin cruise at 20. I see a lot of kids on Carnival but I also see lots of gambling, lots of partying, and lots of drunks too. I have heard several people comment that RCCL shows were more adult than they would like. My first 2 cruises on Carnival were as exceptional as all of them. My last 2 were pretty well bottom rate service so I will skip it. Its all too cliche and predictable.

Some people would rather eat out less but have a really nice dinner now and then. Other people go to cheap establishments often. Its the same with DCL. It ain't no 'eatin good in the neighborhood' hohum chain...