Why do disney cruises cost more than other cruise lines?

[EPCOTatNight]

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.

For most families ALL soda is included, because most people drink soda at meals and while on deck. We had "big gulp" type cups that we kept in the room with soda in them, so we never needed to pay for any.

 

[justmestace]

For most families ALL soda is included, because most people drink soda at meals and while on deck. We had "big gulp" type cups that we kept in the room with soda in them, so we never needed to pay for any.

Do you take your Big Gulp to the dining room?

 

[justmestace]

Having cruised on several different cruise lines more than once, on different "caategories" of ships....old, new, mega, small......I've had good/great experiences on all of them, and bad/not so great experiences on all of them....including Disney.

You can go over all the plusses and minuses of sailing on the "other" lines until eternity....like the "nickel and dime" theory....you'll only get nickeled and dimed if you let yourself be nickeled and dimed. I've seen people say that they save money on DCL because they can bring their own liquor (and that policy WILL change, trust me) and they've even gone so far as to say that it saved them THOUSANDS....to which I'd say someone drinks too much!! Or, more politely, if you're going to spend thousands of dollars for a bar bill on another cruise line, then that's your own problem...that doesn't make one cruise line better than another.

What it really comes down to is what has already been said.

DISNEY CAN CHARGE MORE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL PAY IT.

People have honestly been brainwashed that they will have a better experience with anything Disney...so they'll pay. Heaven help anyone who tries to post a negative trip report on a Disney discussion board!!

 

[KingRichard]

Food on the Dream was bad?

I think many would disagree!

Please post dates and ages going on the Allure that a veranda is $1200 cheaper!

Many times it has been proven the Allure cost more!

 

[justmestace]

Food on the Dream was bad?

I think many would disagree!

Please post dates and ages going on the Allure that a veranda is $1200 cheaper!

Many times it has been proven the Allure cost more!

I hated the food in the main dining rooms on the Dream...just sayin'.


December 2012, Christmas cruise for a family of four, going to the Caribbean for one week....comparable size staterooms:
Allure.....$7400
Fantasy..$9400

So it isn't just $1200 difference...it's $2000!!

 

[padawans]

Food on the Dream was bad?

I think many would disagree!

Please post dates and ages going on the Allure that a veranda is $1200 cheaper!

Many times it has been proven the Allure cost more!

October 20 2012 and Oct 21 2012 for the allure. Disney a little over 5200 for category 5a 2 adults and 2 kids no insurance. The allure 3800 for a ocean view with balcony. I am not sure the caterory, but I know it is deck 8. Thats over a 1400 dollar difference.

Yes I thought the food in the dining room was bad. Instant mashed potaoes should not be served in any restaurant. This was my first cruise so maybe all cruise ships have bad food. In my opinion it was bad. Palo on the other had was excellent.

No need to get defensive. I am not asking questions about your first born child, but a multibillion dollar corporation.

I am just trying to get opinions from people that have cruised the Royal carribean cruise line so I can compare it to disney.

No one loves a good disney vacation more than me. Last year we visited Universal for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised that there resorts and customer service was on par or better than disneys, and for a lot less money. As much as I love disney. I don't wan't to pay more if there are better options out there.

 

[floydfamily4]

I found a 5/18/13 eastern 7night on the oasis of seas/disney fantasy for $5194.64 lowest balcony price//$4426.12 difference of $768 for an inside the difference for the 4/6/13 was $1187. I agree its not $1200 but I'm not gonna spend that in soda and wine. The costs aren't going to matter to everyone but for me its a really important consideration.

 

[mjy]

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.

That argument won't work much in the near future. I read that a few of the other lines have announced that, beginning January 2012, they will either become smoke-free or greatly restrict the areas where one can smoke.

I have been on several Disney cruises and could not enjoy my balcony because of the smokers upwind from me. I guess it is the luck of the draw on who your neighbors will be when you have a balcony...

 

[mjy]

I found a 5/18/13 eastern 7night on the oasis of seas/disney fantasy for $5194.64 lowest balcony price//$4426.12 difference of $768 for an inside the difference for the 4/6/13 was $1187. I agree its not $1200 but I'm not gonna spend that in soda and wine. The costs aren't going to matter to everyone but for me its a really important consideration.

And if I could interject, you just said the magic words: "For me its a really important consideration."

Many of us have sailed with different lines and we all have our favorites. Sometimes we have a favorite line for one thing and a different line for another. When it comes down to it, it is all about personal preference. Are we looking for on board shows? Meals? Characters? Waiters? Are we focusing on itineraries? All those questions may be answered by different lines.

When it comes down to it, we should each sail what we want, enjoy it, share our experiences with others, and remember that everybody has a different idea of what a great cruise is.

Just my two cents...

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Do you take your Big Gulp to the dining room?

Why would I need to?

 

[justmestace]

Why would I need to?

Don't they charge for sodas in the dining rooms?

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Don't they charge for sodas in the dining rooms?

No

 

[justmestace]

No

You're right...I looked on the website. I could have sworn they did charge for soda, at one time. I drink iced tea or milk with my meals, so I really didn't know. I'm sorry!

 

[EPCOTatNight]

No one loves a good disney vacation more than me. Last year we visited Universal for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised that there resorts and customer service was on par or better than disneys, and for a lot less money. As much as I love disney. I don't wan't to pay more if there are better options out there.

. One of the reasons I have NOT stayed at a Universal resort is because they have no value or moderate options, they offer less than Disney, and the tickets are the same price. So, I just don't see how it is a lot less money.

 

[Namsupak]

When we have looked before we have seen prices that are approximately 10%-15 different on average. Obviously depending on itineraries or season some of these things can change. We have been interested in an Allure of the Seas or Oasis of the Seas cruise due to the Dreamworks shows and characters. One thing that may explain the smaller price differential is that we are comparing a 4a vs a junior suite as this appears to be the most comparable room on the RCCL ships to the deluxe family verandah on DCL.

 

[luv2sleep]

I have been on other cruises and the things that appeal to me about Disney the most are the shows and the family activities. Shows on other lines that I've been on were boring and unappealing. The Disney shows look like they will be very good. I'm also glad there's no casino. I don't know if there are any other lines that lack casinos though. If there was another family friendly cruiseline with great shows, great family activities and no casino I'd check that out too.

 

[hrhdhd]

For most families ALL soda is included, because most people drink soda at meals and while on deck. We had "big gulp" type cups that we kept in the room with soda in them, so we never needed to pay for any.

My point was that you have paid for it--in a higher fare.

 

[peachygreen]

Short answer - because people will pay for it.

Honestly though I have a cruise booked on the Fantasy for spring break in 2012. Yes I know this is not comparing apples to apples but the same week much less appealing itenary on the Carnival Magic from Galveston is $2000 more for an equivalent room category. I'm still waiting on the Disney Magic from Galveston that week to finalize my plans but as it stands now I'll keep my Fantasy before I take the Carnival Magic for that price that week. Now there are other weeks that the Disney Magic is more expensive than the Carnival Magic on the same itenary from the same port. They also are selling fairly well.

Everything has a price point. If it is not a price point that you are willing to pay then its not for you. The Disney ships sell well in general so they can get away with charging more for them. They don't have to offer huge discounts to sell them.

From what I have seen over the past couple of years the opening prices of the Disney cruises are fairly comprable to the opening prices on Carnival and Royal Carribean of similar ship ammenties. The Disney Ships sell well so the prices increase as it gets closer to the sail date.

You can discuss all you want about soda packages and no casino etc. But it really is a supply and demand issue. As long as people are willing to pay the price point they will charge the price point.

 

[aafdmom]

ahhhh can't please everyone!! In my opinion you get what you PAY FOR!! you chose carnival or rccl that is great for you! I chose Disney great for me! no one is better or worse for it ! Just what we like and what we want to spend our money on!

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

It's quite simple....

You can bring your own booze, soda's are included in the MDR's and at the self service stations
Disney service cost's money, their crew tend to work less day's per contract than some other lines.
Less ship's so less choice.
It's Disney, and the brand demands a price increase over other brands
Because they can. They don't have many problems filling the ship's, and any cruises that are not profitable are not repeated.

As other's have said, it's supply and demand. And the demand is high, so therefore the price is high.

Ex Techie