Why DCL so much $$$???

[Macnjac87]

Hi all-
I have been pricing Disney cruises for a while now and just can't believe the cost. I know that Disney is expensive compared to some vacations, but the cost of the cruise for a family of 5 is averaging $1,000 per day!! I just can't justify spending that much money on a cruise. We took the family on a Carnival (Triumph) cruise last February, a 7 night Eastern Caribbean and the whole thing was under $3,000 in an oceanview stateroom (no balcony) Is the Disney cruise just so good that they money is worth it to a lot of people? I am looking for some ideas!!
Thanks!

 

[CSX2]

I imagine it is supply and demand. With only two ships and plenty of business they charge more than other lines.

Which cruise our you going on that is pricing out at $1000 per day!

 

[markey]

Ours comes out to $614 per day for 2 adults and 2 kids (7 day), and that is during the summer with no discounts except for early booking. I figure a stay at the parks for us comes out to around $550 staying at a deluxe, and eating the quality of food you get on the cruise. And yes it worth the difference between the parks and the cruise. Have never been on any other cruise line, 3x with #4 booked 2003 on DCL so I have nothing to compare but we think it is great.

 

[Cruise]

I would imagine another reason Disney prices higher is because they don't have casino income on the ships like other lines do. I'd imagine the casinos pull in a pretty penny.

Julie

 

[thebecka]

You hit the nail on the head! It's all about supply and demand. Having cruised on 2 other cruise lines as well as DCL I also think it's money well spent. If you divide the cost of your trip by the number of days and then again per person - you will see that over all it's not that high considering it includes 3 full meals, room, entertainment and as much daycare as you can stand to be apart from your child. I find that the cost not that far off from 'just going to the beach' but with child care and a view unlike no other. Now don't get me wrong I can wait for my next RCL trip cause I love the larger ships and the casino! But DCL does have it's own value...it would be nice to get a 'larger' discount...heck I'd love a free trip...LOL....

 

[SQUIGGLE]

I would think we are paying a bit extra for the great berths too. I know on the Western Cruise we just walked off the ship and were at Mallory Square. There was a Carnival ship docked behind us; from what I could see they had to take a tram - or a good walk - just to get to Mallory Square. Was the same in Cozumel. We docked right in town; but saw quite a few ships docked south (?) of town. I think they must have had to take a taxi just to get into town.

 

[mcnuss]

Ours comes out to $614 per day for 2 adults and 2 kids (7 day), and that is during the summer with no discounts except for early booking.

Our price is just a little more than Markey's. We are on the 7 day Western over Thanksgiving in a Cat. 6, and yes, I could have found somewhat less expensive but we love the Disney "experience". Between the clubs, and the characters, and the whole aura of Disney, we are happy to pay for it. Also, I researched NCL to Hawaii for next year, and to get the equivalent square footage, it was really up there in costs.

 

[Loudbmw]

We have cruised Disney twice (a third booked) and got it down to about $120 per day per person - here's our method:

1) Go off season, if the kids are out of school, prices will be high. Our kids are still off the last 2 weeks in August when most schools down South re-open. You can get a good idea of prices by time of year if you check out travelocity.com, they list the starting price for multiple Disney sailings all one one page so you can see which weeks are the cheapest.

2) Do you really need that balcony. On our 3 day, the extra cost for a balcony was over $200 additional per day per cabin. A lot of money for a few sq ft of balcony (I can get a whole room for that on land at Disney). The cabins are not any larger in the more expensive categories until you get to the suites. Better yet, book far enough in advance and get a cat. 10, deck 5, inside cabin (it has a window but it's a secret).

3) Use a discount T/A or wait until dreams unlimited has a promotion (rebate and/or on-board credit). Dreams Unlimited is very close to any .com T/A out there if you can get one of their rebates applied. In addition they do all the work watching out for price drops.

4) Hey - it's Disney and it's worth it. Their kids program is the best, their private island can't be beat and Palo's is a bargain for the price they charge.

Good luck,

Lou

 

[alexandrew]

I agree with LoudBMW...

DCL cruise prices vary wildly depending on time of year and type of stateroom you choose...

Find a good, cruise only TA that is knowledgeable about DCL.

Check out cat 9, outside staterooms on deck 2...we've had nothing but great experiences on this deck...

Also...and I don't know how you feel about taking your kids out of school for a week...you get great values off peak season...2 particular weeks we especially like are mid October, and the cruise right before Christmas, on or about December 15

In addition, try booking your own airfare...check out the prices on Southwest.com, which has regular flights out of Islip.

DCL does cost more if you are not FL Res, or cannot sail off-peak. However, it offers the most unique family vacation experience available...you will have memories that last a lifetime!!!

Good Luck

 

[thebecka]

Last year while DD was in Kindergarden we took her out for the Dec 8th cruise - it was one of the cheapest times of the year and hurricane season was over. This year we're going mid-January and she's just missing a few half days as it's MLK's B-day-slight premium for holiday week.
We also joined the Disney Club (while it's still around) for a 39.95 investment we received a 50.00 shipboard credit plus discounts on the hotel before and after the trip as well as discounts at Disney Store for holiday gifts!!

 

[garyss7]

We just came off the Nov 2nd eastern cruise and I was figuring out last night how
much it cost (cat 5 room) including airfair, excursions, tipping, taxi's and came out
with a price of $7300 for the week. Not cheap. I'm sure you can cruise cheaper
by getting different catagory room but its still expensive. Think thats our last cruise
for awhile. I like Disney but mouse has enough of my money!... Gary

 

[mivvers]

Converting $7300 to Canadian comes out to over $11,000! (This is why DH keeps telling me this is the last Disney trip in a lonnggg time )

It's worth it to me though, we work hard all year, and the experience can't be beat. Especially if you have kids. The fact that Disney puts so much into their children's activities means that most kids have the time of their life, leaving you and DH or DW time to relax on your own without worrying. That's worth almost any price!

 

[Annie12345]

Ours comes out to about $375 per day for a family of three on the 7-day Eastern cruise (I don't even want to do the conversion to Canadian $$). When you factor in that your accommodations, all meals, entertainment, kids program, (and not needing a rental car) are included, I don't think the cost is out of line at all. I'm sure we spend at least that much each day when we go to Disneyworld.
- Annie

 

[Macnjac87]

Thanks for all your inputs. Unfortunately, Disney caters to families of 4, not 5. There is only 1 category that fits 5 people; ( I think its cat. 4??)the family stateroom, they all have balconies. The price of 2 adjoining cabins is more than the cat. 4 cabin, and I am uncomfortable with putting my 3 kids across the hall by themselves in a cat. 11 inside cabin. Anyway, the cost is the same. I priced out different times of year, and it still comes out very expensive. Just like at Disney World, a family of 5 must stay at a deluxe resort (or Port Orleans/Riverside w/trundle). This was one of the main reasons we bought into the DVC 3 years ago. We have saved thousands on room prices and stayed at much larger accomodations thru DVC. You can use your DVC points for the cruise but its very high. So, I'll keep looking for the bargains but can't see how their cruise can be worth 3 times as much as RCCL or Carnival.

 

[floridaminnie]

Did you price with the first person using points and the rest paying cash. That is what we do and we seem to come out ahead on both ends (points and cash that is).

 

[Macnjac87]

Yes, I have looked into the points/cash thing. Call me crazy but I think my points are better used spending a week at HH and then another week at OKW with a long weekend at VB, all in one year. (by banking and using 2 yrs. worth) I have 200 points and getting 3 vacations out of 200 points is great. I just can't see using the points for the cruise. But I really want to go because Disney just does it right, imho, and the cruise must be awesome. Oh well, back to the drawing board. I'll figure out how to do it somehow, someday!!! lol

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

We have only been on one cruise to date: the 7-night Magic Western and it was quite expensive in terms of dollar$ and cents. However, I prefer an alternate method of calculating expense relative to return - my family. My son was smiling for an entire week while on the cruise and talked of little else for almost a month afterwards. He learned some interesting facts about the Mayan culture, experienced horseback riding on a Grand Cayman beach, sailed on The Western Union Schooner out of Key West and because he expressed an interest one of the crew members taught him about knots and ropes and stories of the sea, he marveled along with dad and grandma at the nightly family shows, swam and kayaked on Castaway Cay to his heart's delight, found out his dad was pretty adept on an ATV in Cozumel, learned about the ship itself from a tour given by Ian as well as a talk from the Captain, stared along with everyone at our dinner table in amazement as Animator's Palate changed colors and... yes, I could go on and on. My mom, 65++, finally forgot about her age for a week and even displayed a youthful spring to her step. When mom learned that I booked the identical cruise for the following year, she did not give me the usual lecture about overspending. Instead, she said, "Wonderful." Followed by a "Thank you." Perhaps someday I will experience a different cruise line, however, not in the forseeable future.

 

[4nana]

Where there's a will, there's a way! Our group is proof it can be done for $100 day pp. We got the cat 9 w/porthole (connecting side by side rooms w/door in between that can stay open) for an excellent price. Did the early booking off season Dec 14, checked around with several TA for the best discount, also got $50 per cabin for first time cruiser. The first 2 in cabin count as adults, ours worked out to appx @$725 or $1450 x 2 rooms is $2900 plus $250 child (under 12) totals $3150 (less first time cruiser credit). This does not include port/tax. I don't think you can beat it for a wonderful week w/Disney - all the food you can eat, kids clubs, unlimited entertainment, 3 islands, not to mention the great service and other amenities

 

[my3kids]

I just figured out the per person cost per day. It was $125 a day per person. Makes me rethink the whole rebooking thing. That's a lot.

But, 2 connecting category 10 rooms are less than 1 category 4 for a group of 5. Last cruise it was very close, but we really wanted the extra space and the 2 bathrooms. This time the category 4 was a lot more.

Disney, as well as the travel industry in general, really does cater to 2 adults and 2 kid families.

 

[Melrosgirl]

$139 a day. That's "all" we're spending per person on a 2004 7 day cruise. Category 6, too. January - off season.

Book early and shop around for the best price. (does not include airfare, but it does include taxes, port fees, etc.)