Why do disney cruises cost more than other cruise lines?

[Brumbie13]

We chose Disney for our first cruise because normal cruises don't appeal to us much.


We're from Las Vegas, so a normal cruise ship isn't going to impress us.
Basically, everything that a normal cruise ship offers, Vegas can offer better and cheaper.

- They're not going to impress us with their fancy facades. We see those every day here in Vegas.
- They're not going to impress us with their on-board casinos. Those are nothing compared to what we have here, obviously.
- They aren't going to impress us with their selection of alcohols and bartenders. Again... Vegas takes the cake for variety in that department. (and we don't drink anyways.)


But you know what Vegas doesn't have? Disney!
Disney impresses us! The shows, the bright colours, the fun, the family atmosphere, the silly cast members, the bit of Magic that's part of every one of our Disney experiences... That's what we love. And THAT'S what we can get on a Disney cruise that we can't get here in Vegas.

Yeah, the Disney cruise may be more expensive than other cruises, but other cruises are more expensive than just staying home and doing all of the stuff we could do on them here at home.


That's my own opinion.

 

[Four Bears]

I have been on Carnival, Celebrity and this is my second Disney Cruise.

I will have to say, my choice of cruise lines would be different if I was a couple (DH and I) vs a family. For a couple, Celebrity or one of the other cruise lines catering to more adult clientele would be picked.

For families, especially with young children (in my case 3 and 1 1/2) I have to take in consideration the pool situation. While my 3 year old is potty trained and will be able to go swimming, my 1 1/2 year old will not, and the fact that there is a toddler splash area is a huge part of why I would pay more. The only other cruise line that has a toddler splash area are SOME Royal Caribbean ships.

The last thing is the itineraries. Quite frankly, there are just some islands that I care little about and even a small number of islands that I would actually REFUSE to set foot on. The RCI Western Caribbean itinerary was not doing it for me.

As for the food, again Disney would not be my choice if that was my top consideration, but in the last ten years that I have been cruising, I have noticed a decline in quality in ALL the cruise lines that we have been on, not just Disney.

 

[NancyIL]

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 worst dining room service I had was on 2 of my Disney cruises.

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.

Celebrity has had the most restrictive smoking policy - with smoking not allowed in cabins, balconies, or in the casino. Princess will prohibit smoking in cabins and on balconies beginning with cruises departing after Jan. 15, 2012. Seems to me that DCL needs to change their allowance of smoking on balconies!

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.

If I recall correctly, Disney gets the syrup for Coke products for free - at least in the parks. Maybe it's the same on DCL. I don't drink pop, so DCL's "free" soda makes no difference to me.

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!!

Well said!

 

[padawans]

. 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.

Not to get off topic, but I will answer you question anyway. I don't stay value or moderate that why its less expensive. We always stay at the poly and I can stay club level at Universal for less money. I could buy an annual pass to Universal 185.00 thats like a 3 day ticket to disney. You are right disney offers a lot more in the way of parks. To say the tickets are the same price would be incorrect information.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

[SNIP]

If I recall correctly, Disney gets the syrup for Coke products for free - at least in the parks. Maybe it's the same on DCL. I don't drink pop, so DCL's "free" soda makes no difference to me.

Whether Disney or DCL pay for the soda from Coca-Cola or if it were from Pepsi make's no difference to the cruiser. (tastes aside)
Apart from with DCL, the Soda Fountains and in the MDR's it is included within the price of the cruise.
Other lines charge and may receive the Soda free or really cheap as the brand is promoted.
Same as a Movie Theater chain, but you still pay for the product regardless.

If included sodas has a value to you, then all good, if not then OK.
Whether the Park's or DCL pay for the syrup really isn't relevant IMO.

Ex Techie

 

[mikerry]

We have traveled on Disney twice and Royal Caribbean once to Alaska. For us the difference was in the cleanliness, the quality and class exuded on Disney.

On the RCCL cruise, our suite was larger, and a couple of room perks were added like a dessert tray each night and a 1/2 bottle of wine the 1st night...BUT there is just something about the quality of everything on the ship on Disney that stands out. Even our early teen girls noticed this difference.

The entertainment was not as nice on RCCL - the girls enjoyed climbing the rock wall but there weren't as many family oriented shows, events, etc. The daily buffet for breakfast/lunch lacked in flavor and appeal.

AND not to sound snobbish (because we aren't) - the folks on the Disney cruise didn't seem to be as tacky, or cheap? as some we encountered on the RCCL cruise. You get what you pay for...

Disney just FEELS better and I'm not sure how to explain that.

 

[OrcaPotter]

I can't compare to Disney (yet, hopefully) but I've been on 2 cruises, first with Norwegian and second with RCCL.

The first on NCL was on the old S/S Norway, which had been a retrofitted ocean liner. None of the staterooms were of equal size, and our "ocean view" stateroom was a 6 x 10 box that supposedly fit 3 adults. When we were escorted to our room, my mother asked the steward if he had made a mistake, because no more than one person could get dressed at one time. However, we accepted it as an "adventure" and had an awesome time. This was back in 2003.

Our second was in 2007 on RCCL's Mariner of the Seas, which was considerably newer and designed as an actual cruise ship. We paid up for a verandah room and thought it was a grand palace. Again, we had an awesome time.

Both lines had great dining room food. We're by no means "foodies" and it does not take much to "wow" us. We were, however, a little put off by the extra food options on RCCL--the hours they had for their Johnny Rocket's were odd and the upcharge did not match the quality of the food.

We made do without soda and minimized our special alcohol treats. We went once or twice into the casinos to play the slots, but mostly because it was there. Otherwise, we don't like to gamble at all, but the family we've traveled with always insist there has to be a casino. Both lines would hawk the daily "deals" in their shops and many of the seminars were just gimmicks to get you to buy things, which can get a bit old, but we did our best to avoid them. The service was always excellent on both lines.

Both were awesome vacations and my brother swears by Carnival. As much as his family loves Disney (they have AP's), he doesn't feel like the extra cost of DCL is worth it. But he'd rather cruise more often for less money for the sake of getting away, and their daughter loved the kid's club on Carnival.

I simply love Disney, and am eager to see how they do cruises since, in my opinion, Disney does vacations better than the competition. But I have an AP for Universal and find it just as enjoyable for different reasons. So, it's up to the consumer to determine whether or not the premium is worth it for the Disney name. To quote the broken record, they're expensive simply because the demand is there. Hence why park tickets increase but the benefits never do, or even decrease--but people still buy them. All of the "extras" are just rolled into the increased fare, so there's no "free soda" because you've already paid for it. And it's also true about the lost revenue from a casino that adds to it, but that's certainly not the biggest factor. Why else does the price increase the closer it gets to sailing? Demand!

 

[NancyIL]

[SNIP]


Whether Disney or DCL pay for the soda from Coca-Cola or if it were from Pepsi make's no difference to the cruiser. (tastes aside)
Apart from with DCL, the Soda Fountains and in the MDR's it is included within the price of the cruise.
Other lines charge and may receive the Soda free or really cheap as the brand is promoted.
Same as a Movie Theater chain, but you still pay for the product regardless.

If included sodas has a value to you, then all good, if not then OK.
Whether the Park's or DCL pay for the syrup really isn't relevant IMO.

Ex Techie

The comment was made that it costs DCL to provide the "free" soda. I think it doesn't.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

The comment was made that it costs DCL to provide the "free" soda. I think it doesn't.

Well it does cost to have people service the soda fountain's, keep them clean, change out the post mix, the C02, provide the cup's etc.

Other lines may have the same or similar deal as DCL, but they still charge for the product even if it is free or cheap.

That's all I was saying.

Ex Techie

 

[happytime]

My 2 cents: I LOVE Disney. It represents family, fun, a decent entertainment base, characters, and a good, happy outlook and attitude to everyone.

Their message throughout the cruise will be ... "Believe in yourself, you can do it"..."A dream can become reality". They bring 'magic' and 'pixie dust' to the children and one cannot help but get that dust, too --no matter how hard you try not getting that dust on you. I smile bigger, I love how I feel when I get off the ship (as if I lost a good friend) and long to return as soon as I can.

I feel safe on their ships because I know they work hard to keep unwanted, unsavory kinds of people from coming on board. They check our backgrounds to ensure a SAFE environment for the children. This is VERY important to me, even though my children are adults. My grandchildren are not.

I have sailed other cruise lines and WILL also sail with them again, but why I would pay a higher price for a Disney over those others is for the reasons I mentioned above.

Every cruise line has their "uniqueness" for why one would choose them. Carnival strikes me as a "youngish, party type boating experience."--think dunk tanks, balloon stuffing, belly flop and beer drinking contests,

RC is more family orientated...yet doesn't have 'smallest travelers --the infants, the toddlers and preschoolers--in mind as much. I would think RC is more focused on the teenagers and up crowd because of the amenities (Rock Walls, Flow riders, zip lines, ice skating shows, etc.),

Celebrity is one of the best (imo) for subdued elegance and quiet showmanship. They don't treat you like you're a child, or party hardy person. They treat you with dignity and respect.

and the list goes one. Disney focuses on the positives, the child within us all, the "good feeling" experience. They make you feel welcome from the moment you arrive at the Port until you're out the door at the Port. Pixie dust abounds.

Whatever makes one pay more for a cruise over another is what they want to experience on the cruise. I don't drink alcohol, don't really drink sodas, don't gamble. But I would choose another cruise line than Disney for the different experiences I would get. Cruising is a vacation no matter what ship I'm on. Disney is at the top of my list as the best cruising experience out there...again see the first mention reasons at the top of this post. Celebrity would be my second.

Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts on this...

 

[darkwing818]

I agree with previous posts, regarding the fact that DCL Charges What the Market will Bear. It must be working as their ships seem to be running at a very high occupancy rate, at least at this time. Who can say what the future will hold.

We have sailed RCL, HAL & Celebrity in the past and have enjoyed our cruises on these lines. That being said we just enjoy DCL more; whether it's the service or friendly staff (love the fact that there is no casinos) who knows. Even now that our DDs are both in college, our last 2 DCL cruises have been sans children, my DW & I have had a blast.

But bottom line, based on what I'm reading in these posts; is that if price is your #1 criteria then DCL is probably not for you. It's your money & it's your vacation, spend it where You feel You will get the Best Value for your Dollar. Cruise the other lines if you enjoy them, then you'll be a lot of dollars ahead of the game. But for us DCL is where we feel get the Best Value for our Dollar. Just my 2 cents worth & that's probably what it's worth.

 

[buzzrelly]

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...

Very nicely stated.

 

[padawans]

My 2 cents: I LOVE Disney. It represents family, fun, a decent entertainment base, characters, and a good, happy outlook and attitude to everyone.

Their message throughout the cruise will be ... "Believe in yourself, you can do it"..."A dream can become reality". They bring 'magic' and 'pixie dust' to the children and one cannot help but get that dust, too --no matter how hard you try not getting that dust on you. I smile bigger, I love how I feel when I get off the ship (as if I lost a good friend) and long to return as soon as I can.

I feel safe on their ships because I know they work hard to keep unwanted, unsavory kinds of people from coming on board. They check our backgrounds to ensure a SAFE environment for the children. This is VERY important to me, even though my children are adults. My grandchildren are not.

I have sailed other cruise lines and WILL also sail with them again, but why I would pay a higher price for a Disney over those others is for the reasons I mentioned above.

Every cruise line has their "uniqueness" for why one would choose them. Carnival strikes me as a "youngish, party type boating experience."--think dunk tanks, balloon stuffing, belly flop and beer drinking contests,

RC is more family orientated...yet doesn't have 'smallest travelers --the infants, the toddlers and preschoolers--in mind as much. I would think RC is more focused on the teenagers and up crowd because of the amenities (Rock Walls, Flow riders, zip lines, ice skating shows, etc.),

Celebrity is one of the best (imo) for subdued elegance and quiet showmanship. They don't treat you like you're a child, or party hardy person. They treat you with dignity and respect.

and the list goes one. Disney focuses on the positives, the child within us all, the "good feeling" experience. They make you feel welcome from the moment you arrive at the Port until you're out the door at the Port. Pixie dust abounds.

Whatever makes one pay more for a cruise over another is what they want to experience on the cruise. I don't drink alcohol, don't really drink sodas, don't gamble. But I would choose another cruise line than Disney for the different experiences I would get. Cruising is a vacation no matter what ship I'm on. Disney is at the top of my list as the best cruising experience out there...again see the first mention reasons at the top of this post. Celebrity would be my second.

Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts on this...

Thanks for your review, but disney is not checking their guests backgrounds.Price is not my # 1 consideration. I will already of done 2 disney cruises by the time I take this cruise. I appreciate everyone responses. I understand supply and demand lol. I guess I should have phrased my question "Why are people willing to pay more for a disney cruise". At this time I think I will stick with the Fantasy(bad food and all) over the Allure because of the ages of my children. I think we are about 2 years away from trying the other cruises that have more to offer more for older children. My kids could care less about the disney charachters now. I wish the offered a little more for tweens and teens because you really can't beat the stateroom size compared to other ships I have researched.

 

[happytime]

Thanks for your review, but disney is not checking their guests backgrounds.Price is not my # 1 consideration. I will already of done 2 disney cruises by the time I take this cruise. I appreciate everyone responses. I understand supply and demand lol. I guess I should have phrased my question "Why are people willing to pay more for a disney cruise". At this time I think I will stick with the Fantasy(bad food and all) over the Allure because of the ages of my children. I think we are about 2 years away from trying the other cruises that have more to offer more for older children. My kids could care less about the disney charachters now. I wish the offered a little more for tweens and teens because you really can't beat the stateroom size compared to other ships I have researched.

I do not have first hand experience with the Disney's policies, but a very reliable source (from someone who works at DCL)...they DO check guests backgrounds, mostly trying to secure a SAFE environment for the children so there will be no pedophiles onboard.

From my source, there have been arrests made and people prevented from coming onboard, which I'm thankful for. I've also read and sadly heard that one or two employees have mistreated a cruiser, either by stalking or misrepresenting themselves, but Disney does try to keep the Safety of its youngest cruisers at heart and will strive to continue to offer a great place for ALL to enjoy their vacations on their ships.

 

[IrenicMom]

At this time I think I will stick with the Fantasy(bad food and all) over the Allure because of the ages of my children.

I wish the offered a little more for tweens and teens because you really can't beat the stateroom size compared to other ships I have researched.

I find it rather interesting that you have taken the opportunity to explain away other posters' reasons, and yet, here you offer two of your own.

So maybe, you've really already realized the answer for yourself.

 

[mickey2000]

I have been on DCL 3 times soon to be 4.
From my past experience of over 20 cruises, Disney is way too expensive for what you get! NO thier service is NOT always better than other cruise lines. I like Princess & Celebrity where you are treated as good as Disney if not better!
Here is my next cruise on a NEW SHIP !

I have sailed 6 times from Cape Liberty NJ and have always gone at least 12 nights because of the distance (sea days) in order to arrive at the Carribbean stops.
As an example my upcoming cruise in March was $3000 for a 12 night veranda.
Here is where the Celebrity Silhouette ( new ship) goes ( 6 ports) :
Date Port/ City Activity Arrival Departure
Day 1 Cape Liberty, Bayonne, N.J. 5:00 PM
Day 2 At Sea
Day 3 At Sea
Day 4 At Sea
Day 5 Philipsburg, St. Maarten Docked 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
Day 6 St. Johns, Antigua Docked 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
Day 7 Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Docked 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
Day 8 St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Docked 7:00 AM 5:00 PM
Day 9 San Juan, Puerto Rico Docked 7:00 AM 2:00 PM
Day 10 Labadee, Haiti Docked 9:00 AM 4:00 PM
Day 11 At Sea
Day 12 At Sea
Day 13 Cape Liberty, Bayonne, N.J.

I feel bad for the family that can't afford the DCL cruise .......
Why am I going again if its overpriced ? Its called a grand daughter !
Thats her on the toy box. Do a search on Toys are Us for a Barbie vanity LOL !

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Thanks for your review, but disney is not checking their guests backgrounds.Price is not my # 1 consideration. I will already of done 2 disney cruises by the time I take this cruise. I appreciate everyone responses. I understand supply and demand lol. I guess I should have phrased my question "Why are people willing to pay more for a disney cruise". At this time I think I will stick with the Fantasy(bad food and all) over the Allure because of the ages of my children. I think we are about 2 years away from trying the other cruises that have more to offer more for older children. My kids could care less about the disney charachters now. I wish the offered a little more for tweens and teens because you really can't beat the stateroom size compared to other ships I have researched.

Personally, If I were you, I would book the Allure Cruse.
They have a great kid's program and so much more to do for kid's and the food is better. They have so many other places to get food with kid's allowed other than the MDR, unlike DCL.
Character wise, they have the Dreamwork's Character's so Donkey and Shrek take care if that!

Ex Techie

 

[padawans]

I find it rather interesting that you have taken the opportunity to explain away other posters' reasons, and yet, here you offer two of your own.

So maybe, you've really already realized the answer for yourself.

When have I explaned away other posters reasons, and I am actually still probably as undecided as ever. I guess I should find another board to get unbiased opinions on cruises.

 

[MTmomma]

I wouldn't call it a background check per se. The department of homeland security runs your name looking for you to be on any "watch list" or have a conviction that prohibits travel, or an active warrant that you could be arrested on. Some countries would deny entrance to individuals with certain arrest/convictions. This is similar to the NCIC records check that an officer can do during a traffic stop.

 

[padawans]

Personally, If I were you, I would book the Allure Cruse.
They have a great kid's program and so much more to do for kid's and the food is better. They have so many other places to get food with kid's allowed other than the MDR, unlike DCL.
Character wise, they have the Dreamwork's Character's so Donkey and Shrek take care if that!

Ex Techie

Thanks. I just read the trip report shrek vs mickey, and I am leaning towards allure for our 3rd cruise.