Why do disney cruises cost more than other cruise lines?

[padawans]

Don't get me wrong. I loved our disney cruise so much so that I booked two more. I have been pricing out some other carribbean cruises for the same time frame such as ALLURE OF THE SEAS and a few others. I have found them to be over 1200 dollars cheaper for a ocean view room with a balcony. The ships look incredible and seem to have more to offer than the Disney ships. I will most likely stick with Disney for the next couple of years while my kids are still young 7 and 9. Am I missing something? Is there a reason Disney ships are worth more or is it just the Disney name that attracts people. I have only been on one cruise and that was the Dream.

 

[krispykreme97]

Don't get me wrong. I loved our disney cruise so much so that I booked two more. I have been pricing out some other carribbean cruises for the same time frame such as ALLURE OF THE SEAS and a few others. I have found them to be over 1200 dollars cheaper for a ocean view room with a balcony. The ships look incredible and seem to have more to offer than the Disney ships. I will most likely stick with Disney for the next couple of years while my kids are still young 7 and 9. Am I missing something? Is there a reason Disney ships are worth more or is it just the Disney name that attracts people. I have only been on one cruise and that was the Dream.

The level of service on Disney is far superior to the others. Second you are allowed to bring in your own alcohol. Third they aren't making money off of you because there is no casino. Lastly maybe they have to pay more crew members than other cruise lines i.e characters. Other cruise ships charge for drinks which are free on Disney and basic amenities which are free on Disney. I plan on trying out the Allure of Seas but heard you will end up spending the same with all the extra cost the other lines charge. The photo CD is unheard of on other cruise lines so you will spend $20 per photo. Disney let's you take pictures with your own camera others do not. I can go on and on lol.

 

[over50visits]

You get what you pay for; a simplistic answer, but basically true. The quality of the ship (maintenance level), the training/attitude of the crew, the quality shows, extra staff (kids programs, characters), and the world-class island (Castaway Cay) are all significant expenses for Disney.

As the PP noted, DCL also does not have a huge profit center (gambling) and to some extent they lose money on people who bring on alcohol to drink in their rooms. (They still have that hugely overpriced, profitable, and popular photo service, though).

We enjoy cruising on other lines, such as Carnival/RC. Since we drink little, gamble none, and don't pay for photos, we appreciate (really) that the other cruisers who seem to really enjoy spending their money on those things are underwriting our cruises, which are truly much less expensive than DCL. Just look at Vacations to Go today for an example of a $329 Norwegian 7-day Carribean cruise versus $899 for a 7-Day DCL cruise (both plus taxes, etc).

But we always end up coming back to DCL and enjoy it more. We feel better about cruising with them; it feels like home, rather than being a visitor on the other lines. In the non-luxury market, we feel DCL has the best product. And that comes at a cost, one which many (including us) are happy to pay.

You get what you pay for. Decide what you are looking for in a cruise experience; for many DCL is not overpriced since they have a higher quality product.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Disney's experience is superior to others. BUT, Disney charges more because they know we'll pay it. Their prices in the Parks and on the Ships are getting ridiculous. My love for Disney will not cloud my judgement. They are beginning to price themselves out of a lot of people's comfort zone. That's why you have Free Dining so much and why I am sailing with a Kid's Sail Free offer. People will pay it for the new ships because they're new, but at some point, the consumer will take their business elsewhere. I live in New Orleans on the Mississippi River and see a Carnival ship, a Norwegian ship, and starting yesterday, a Royal Caribbean ship cruise right past my backyard every week. They're so close, I wave at the people on deck. That's very tempting. And they're going places that Disney doesn't, and for a much lower price point. I will be cruising on one of of them for my next cruise. The Carnival Magic that will be sailing out of Galveston is in my sights also. These ships have better itineraries, are less costly, and I don't have to travel as far to get to them.

 

[HowdyHeidi]

I think it is supply and demand. If Disney couldn't get people to go on the boat at those prices, they would lower the price.


It seems that many people feel the level of service is great on DCL. I have no other line to compare it to, but it was great. The food was great, but not excellent imo and I appreciated the drink station and low level of hidden costs.

 

[padawans]

The level of service on Disney is far superior to the others. Second you are allowed to bring in your own alcohol. Third they aren't making money off of you because there is no casino. Lastly maybe they have to pay more crew members than other cruise lines i.e characters. Other cruise ships charge for drinks which are free on Disney and basic amenities which are free on Disney. I plan on trying out the Allure of Seas but heard you will end up spending the same with all the extra cost the other lines charge. The photo CD is unheard of on other cruise lines so you will spend $20 per photo. Disney let's you take pictures with your own camera others do not. I can go on and on lol.

I have a hard time believing you can't take pictures on other cruise lines. I have seen many pictures on cruise critic. Not sure what you mean by that. What drinks are free on Disney? I can buy a lot of drinks for 1500 dollars. Bringing your own alcohol is a plus I will agree with you there.

 

[padawans]

You get what you pay for; a simplistic answer, but basically true. The quality of the ship (maintenance level), the training/attitude of the crew, the quality shows, extra staff (kids programs, characters), and the world-class island (Castaway Cay) are all significant expenses for Disney.

As the PP noted, DCL also does not have a huge profit center (gambling) and to some extent they lose money on people who bring on alcohol to drink in their rooms. (They still have that hugely overpriced, profitable, and popular photo service, though).

We enjoy cruising on other lines, such as Carnival/RC. Since we drink little, gamble none, and don't pay for photos, we appreciate (really) that the other cruisers who seem to really enjoy spending their money on those things are underwriting our cruises, which are truly much less expensive than DCL. Just look at Vacations to Go today for an example of a $329 Norwegian 7-day Carribean cruise versus $899 for a 7-Day DCL cruise (both plus taxes, etc).

But we always end up coming back to DCL and enjoy it more. We feel better about cruising with them; it feels like home, rather than being a visitor on the other lines. In the non-luxury market, we feel DCL has the best product. And that comes at a cost, one which many (including us) are happy to pay.

You get what you pay for. Decide what you are looking for in a cruise experience; for many DCL is not overpriced since they have a higher quality product.

Since your somebody that has cruised other lines. You said that disney has a higher quality product. Are you talking about the staterooms. I was very impressed with the staterooms on the Dream. Are these better than what you would find on other ships? I hope your not talking about the food in the rotational dining rooms because that was really bad. I think we will be skipping the dining rooms on our next Dream cruise. Just trying to get to the bottom of cost difference between Allure and the Fantasy.

 

[bceagle76]

supply and demand
simple econimics
disney has not over build its fleet like ncl, ccl and rc
i think with 2 new ships in a few years the price in prime time will still be high but you may see more promos to fill rooms after novelty of the new ships wear off

 

[hrhdhd]

The level of service on Disney is far superior to the others.

I don't agree with this, having also been on HAL and Princess. The service level is the same. I enjoyed my Disney cruise, but the service was not noticeably better (never mind "far superior") to the other lines with which I have experience.

I think some Disney cruisers (not necessarily you, krispykreme97) convince themselves that the service is so wonderful they have to pay much more to get it. Not true.

 

[davidls]

My DW and I have only cruised with Disney, we have not tried any other cruise line as yet. (We did have a cruise planned for the Oasis but had to cancel due to a family matter.) But we do have good friends who have cruised on both Disney and on other cruise lines. They said the same thing what another poster has already mentioned. You get nickled and dimed for each and everything on other cruise lines. The dining service was not as good as with Disney, the servers all had attitudes, and the food was the same in their opinion. Staterooms are smaller on other cruise lines - and no split bathrooms. Our friends made a decision to stay with Disney after trying other cruise lines. So, it boils down to, you need to make up your own mind as to which cruise line you want to sail with. Try other cruise lines and see if you like them better / the same / or you like Disney better. It's all up to you.

 

[davidls]

I have a hard time believing you can't take pictures on other cruise lines. I have seen many pictures on cruise critic. Not sure what you mean by that. What drinks are free on Disney? I can buy a lot of drinks for 1500 dollars. Bringing your own alcohol is a plus I will agree with you there.

Disney has the free soda drink fountains on all of their ships. On other cruise lines you have to pay for your soda drinks.

 

[LKFan]

I have a hard time believing you can't take pictures on other cruise lines. I have seen many pictures on cruise critic. Not sure what you mean by that. What drinks are free on Disney? I can buy a lot of drinks for 1500 dollars. Bringing your own alcohol is a plus I will agree with you there.

I think, when referring to drinks, they were talking about soda. And, as far as pictures are concerned, Disney photogaphers will take photos (with characters, with formal backgrounds, etc) with your camera. I'm not sure if other cruise lines will do this.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I don't agree with this, having also been on HAL and Princess. The service level is the same. I enjoyed my Disney cruise, but the service was not noticeably better (never mind "far superior") to the other lines with which I have experience.

I think some Disney cruisers (not necessarily you, krispykreme97) convince themselves that the service is so wonderful they have to pay much more to get it. Not true.

I agree the HAL and Princess criuse line service is very good like DCL..........but then again there prices are right up there with DCL.....certiantly a lot more then carinval/RCCL.


I have had friend tell my wife and I that the prices on the RCCL Allure and Osais are right up there too!

Just IMO

AKK

 

[conchflats]

The lack of a casino deprives disney cruise of revenue. Up to 40% of a cruise lines Net profit can be made by the casino . When disney decides not to have a casino it must make up the "lost revenue"

 

[moochpuppy]

We just finished researching other cruise lines and sure Disney costs more but our #1 thing as non-smokers is Disney has the strickest smoking policy of any other cruise line. On none of the Disney ships have they ever allowed smoking in the cabins. Other lines either no longer allow (which means they were allowed at some point and that the rooms may still have an odor) or they still allow smoking in the cabins.

With my wife having asthma it's worth more knowing that there are very few places she cannot go on the Disney ships compared to other cruise lines which allow it in all lounges but ONE. The casinos are also smoking areas except for ONE night. Not that that would help.

 

[floydfamily4]

Am I missing something? Is there a reason Disney ships are worth more or is it just the Disney name that attracts people.

I am by no means an economics expert but I think the short answer is "because they can and people will still pay" . I have been reading lots of comparisons to the RCI line and Disney and if you go over to other discussion boards you will find people who will argue that Disney is not that much better to justify the price difference. Particularly on the large ships with the Dreamworks experience. There is a great trip report about this very comparison "Shrek vs. Mickey". I am not a heavy drinker, don't gamble and I would never drink more than 1 soda a day. With that said, I would have to do a lot of other things to be nickel and dimed to the tune of $1200. But ultimately its just what people are willing to spend

 

[krispykreme97]

Yes anyone can take pictures on any cruise with their own camera what I'm referring to is taking pictures with characters and props. I can even hand my camera to a CM to take a picture for us. You try this on another cruise and you will get some strange looks if not told off.
So the point I was trying to make is on Disney a photo package isn't necessary because Disney allows you to take pictures with characters and other props with your own camera whereas on other cruise lines you must have your picture taken by their professional photographer and pay if you want that picture.

I have a hard time believing you can't take pictures on other cruise lines. I have seen many pictures on cruise critic. Not sure what you mean by that. What drinks are free on Disney? I can buy a lot of drinks for 1500 dollars. Bringing your own alcohol is a plus I will agree with you there.

 

[krispykreme97]

Could be the case in your experience, I only have Carnival and RCL to compare too! Maybe I would think differently I had the opportunity to experience HAL or princess. Then I guess it would come down to kid activities and shows. I'm no Disney expert only going on my second 3-day in 30 more days which is probably due to the price and since this will be my first time cruising alone with a 3 and 9 year old I felt a 3-day would be best.

I don't agree with this, having also been on HAL and Princess. The service level is the same. I enjoyed my Disney cruise, but the service was not noticeably better (never mind "far superior") to the other lines with which I have experience.

I think some Disney cruisers (not necessarily you, krispykreme97) convince themselves that the service is so wonderful they have to pay much more to get it. Not true.

 

[shelleyr25]

We have done 3 cruises with Disney and one with RCCL. The condition of the RCCL ship compared to the Disney ships was totally different. RCCL Explorer of the Seas is an older ship and certainly looked it..peeling paint, ceiling tiles missing and leaks in the stateroom hallways, dirty faded carpet...I could go on and on. The only reason we did RCCL was because a group of friends were going and with it leaving from Bayonne (20 minutes from our home) so we did not have to pay for airfare.
I spent the entire RCCL cruise comparing it to Disney. It will be a long time until you can get me on anything other than a Disney ship again!!!.

 

[hrhdhd]

Disney has the free soda drink fountains on all of their ships. On other cruise lines you have to pay for your soda drinks.

To clarify, on Disney, some soda is included in the higher fare. It's not free. On HAL and Princess, I bring two 12-packs (total: $5) in a rollaboard and am good to go. That's a lot less than the cost of a soda sticker on any line or the upcharge for a Disney cruise.