Why do YOU cruise with Disney?

[DisneySunPrincess]

How did you like the WBTA? We are booked on our first next year, it's a B2B with a Med cruise first and then the WBTA!

Wow! Will you adopt my family? I want to go. LOL

 

[DisneySunPrincess]

We are very loyal Disney cruisers, and just tried our first non-Disney cruise. We had learned our lesson by the 2nd day of the cruise- you get what you pay for. I have never been excited for a cruise to end, but we definitely were looking forward to that cruise ending. For us, it was a matter of service, attention to detail, programming for the entire family, and being made to feel welcome on the ship. The Disney magic is icing on the cake for us. On our cruise last week, we felt like second class citizens, encountered very poor service the majority of the cruise, and felt stressed the entire time.

What cruise were you on, out of curiosity? My parents felt that way on the Norwegian Epic, and they have cruise many lines over the years. In fact, their first DCL was after that experience.

 

[darkpixie08]

We cruise with Disney right now primarily because of the kids clubs and character interactions for our kids. Nobody does kid related stuff better than Disney. I personally love Disney, but I also love casinos and lower prices!

On our first cruise with DCL we chose a suite. We've also done one cruise in the NCL suites and I found that the customer service to be roughly the same. It may be that customer service is remarkably better in DCL's regular stateroom categories as compared to other lines, or that we just lucked out with our last NCL cruise. So if we cruise without concierge level rooms we may eventually decide to go back to Disney, but as it stands, we'll eventually move away from Disney as the kids age out of it.

I'll enjoy the magic for as long as I can though!

 

[Flossbolna]

I was ready to try other lines and the in a re net discussion a friend of mine who is a very seasoned cruiser and has been on so many different lines, including Disney, told me to stick to cruising with Disney. He actually is quite critical of the high prices Disney has, but said from what I want DCL is the best fit for me. However, we are only two adults and can cruise in the off season. We love the roomy inside and oceanview staterooms, most lines only have balcony staterooms with a seating area. I adore the classic design of the Disney ships, a lot of other ships are really not my style. And then both of us are big Disney fans, so that adds another element. I guess it is just the all around package for me.

And I still want to try another line just to have something to compare!

 

[JimGA]

For me, my first Disney cruise was because it is Disney, and we did it for our kids, and us. After the first cruise I choose DCL for a second trip because there was just something "magical" in the air, a vibe I got from fellow passengers, a very uplifting and happy vibe day in and day out.

Plus, and I am going to say it, because it was and is a factor for me, call me snobbish or whatever, but the price point tends to keep an undesirable crowd that we tend to avoid away from DCL and they sail other cruise lines. Plus, we feel the price is worth what we get in return.

 

[Ofinn]

For me, my first Disney cruise was because it is Disney, and we did it for our kids, and us. After the first cruise I choose DCL for a second trip because there was just something "magical" in the air, a vibe I got from fellow passengers, a very uplifting and happy vibe day in and day out.

Plus, and I am going to say it, because it was and is a factor for me, call me snobbish or whatever, but the price point tends to keep an undesirable crowd that we tend to avoid away from DCL and they sail other cruise lines. Plus, we feel the price is worth what we get in return.

Yes that does sound snobbish. A lot of good people cant afford DIsney. Being wealthy doesnt exactly make you a person of integrity.

 

[redsonja76]

we'll eventually move away from Disney as the kids age out of it.

!

I thought that too, and then I realized: GRANDKIDS!!!!!

Plus, and I am going to say it, because it was and is a factor for me, call me snobbish or whatever, but the price point tends to keep an undesirable crowd that we tend to avoid away from DCL and they sail other cruise lines. Plus, we feel the price is worth what we get in return.

Then call me a snob too. I won't name the line, and I won't name the port, but after having to interact with the crowd on that particular sailing for a week, I will NEVER go that direction again EVER.

 

[85glht]

Why do you choose Disney?

I don't need convincing, we are die-hard Disney and DCL fanatics, just wondering what keeps you going back, even though other cruises are cheaper, different, some say better, better for adults, better for kids...you know you have heard it all!!


We choose it, because it truly feels *magical* there seems to just be a different feel on a Disney cruise, just like when you enter WDW, it's as though you have entered a bubble and nothing but good things can come of it!!

If you were to ask my husband though, he would say the food! LOL!

We have been on a few different cruise lines and Disney is the best. A close second would be Princess in my opinion.

Your husband is correct, the food is the best on Disney Cruise Lines.

 

[CamColt]

That is a good question, and after 18 Disney cruises I'm finding it hard to put into words. I guess we know what to expect and know that we will enjoy it.

After our most recent cruise I can say the service was top notch! As a previous poster noted, the crew who we have gotten to know, really add to the experience. The server we had on our recent cruise we have had 4 times now. 2 different bartenders recognized us after 2 and 3 years since we sailed with them and a couple of head servers recognized us too. I felt like we were visiting old friends. The ships have always been spotless, which again, reflects on the hard work of the amazing crew.
In fairness this could probably apply to any cruise line if we sailed them regularly, but it is what we know, and we know we will get this on DCL.

For something that definitely sets DCL apart from the others, I would say the complimentary soda, which is huge for this diet coke addict, and the larger staterooms with split bath. Plus after sailing NCL when youngest DS was 11, he is sold on the clubs (now the vibe) on DCL. And of course, Castaway Cay is Heaven. It's really the only port I care about.

As our kids approach the late teens and early 20 and DCL prices continue to soar we have talked about possibly trying RCCL in 2018, but when it comes down to it, I can't say for sure that I will be ready to jump ship.

 

[squirk]

Why do you choose Disney?

Two reasons:

1.) I have small children who dig the brand; and

2.) the reputation and quality of that brand.

Cruises are expensive in general, and I am willing to pay extra to ensure that I get exactly what I am expecting.

It's the same reason people drop $2.50 for a regular large coffee at Starbucks when the gas station next door will sell you the same thing for $1.19.

• The coffee tastes better;
• The quality is consistent at a given store, as well as across all stores;
• The baristas appear to take more time and care in preparing/brewing the coffee and not letting it get stale;
• They offer real milk and cream vs. gross powdered Coffee-Mate;
• The premises, both out front and behind the counter, are cleaner and nicer;
• The staff are (generally) more pleasant.

That's not to say that Caribou Coffee or Dunkin' Donuts can't make great coffee, hire nice people, or offer appealing retail spaces. But if SB has consistently given you an all-around great product/experience, and you personally feel like you got great value for your money, why switch?

And even if I found myself going to a Caribou to give it a shot, that's only a couple of bucks down the drain if the coffee and/or service don't measure up, and I'll just go back to SB tomorrow.

I am not willing to take the same risk with my $10k of vacation money and half of my vacation time for the entire year.

 

[mmouse37]

I could have said it was because we had small children when we started cruising DCL but now they are all adults with their own families now so we never stopped cruising DCL but now I can say it is for the grandkids...but that would be a lie. We cruise DCL because I LOVE IT!!! LOL!!!

I really have an emotional attachment to the line. I get teary eyed when I get onboard and feel like I am home. I just feel at ease and happy onboard.

MJ

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

For us it's just a better all around experience- especially if we want to go to WDW or DLR afterward. Everything about the DCL is a part of an experience, that in our opinion, can't be beat! On our last cruise we were sitting next to several other boats at different times and even from far away it was easy to see that the quality of the ships couldn't compare to Disney. Heck- we love DCL so much we chose them for our wedding!

 

[oufpat]

Being I just booked our first Disney Cruise, reading this makes me very happy!

 

[Anna Chassereau]

We are very loyal Disney cruisers, and just tried our first non-Disney cruise. We had learned our lesson by the 2nd day of the cruise- you get what you pay for. I have never been excited for a cruise to end, but we definitely were looking forward to that cruise ending. For us, it was a matter of service, attention to detail, programming for the entire family, and being made to feel welcome on the ship. The Disney magic is icing on the cake for us. On our cruise last week, we felt like second class citizens, encountered very poor service the majority of the cruise, and felt stressed the entire time.

I'm just curious what line did you sail with?

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Being I just booked our first Disney Cruise, reading this makes me very happy!

You will LOVE IT! We just took our first one last month and literally booked our next cruise with DCL two days after we got home!

 

[AngelDisney]

My first cruise was not with Disney. A friend booked a cruise for us and we sailed as a big group during Christmas time to Bahamas for 3 nights. DD was 6 months old. We were in a lower deck room with a tiny pothole and a tv up at a corner of the room. There were two single beds, on two separate but adjacent walls of the room (not being put together). The shower room was so small that it barely fit me and DD in the same space. I had to line a towel on the shower floor to shower DD. On a rocky night, I put DD on the bed and briefly left the bedside to get something and DD was rocked out of the bed. I was sick from motion sickness in that small room. I thought I would never cruise again.

Then 6 years later, out of curiosity I was checking out cruises online and found Disney. What? A bathroom with a tub! A nice double bed! A balcony!!! Disney came to my rescue and I experienced "cruise heaven"! Our first cruise with DCL was also a 3-Night Bahamas cruise but it's a completely opposite experience.

I really wouldn't want to take the risk of sailing with another cruise line when I know how much fun it would be cruising on a Disney ship. A thousand dollars or two less is still a lot of money to cruise. I would rather pay more to guarantee a magical vacation. And so far, DCL has not disappointed me.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I really enjoyed the WBTA that I've done two of them (2010 & 2014). I just love the longer cruises and sea days are my favorite. On the longer cruises like the WBTA they host special events that they don't normally do on shorter cruises (like special tours around the ship). Doing a B2B Med and WBTA you'll definitely get to experience it all. Enjoy your cruise.

Excellent, we are all so excited! Thank you for this!! I always feel like we need MORE time on the cruises, so it was time to book a longer one

One in particular comes to mind because it was just so incredible that this CM took the time to seek us out and talk to us in Cabanas a year after we first met him at the ice cream station on Fantasy.
He was keeping the ice cream station clean and cared for while I was sitting and reading a book one evening. The kids were off having fun and my husband was at a Cognac tasting. We started talking and I asked him about his backround and what he wanted to do going forward with Disney. He told me he was working toward the serving team in the MDRs but had just started...I think it was his second cruise.
Anyway, we ran into him a couple more times (okay, a LOT more times...we like ice cream) and he met Dan and the kids too.
A year goes by and we are having breakfast in Cabanas and he walks up to our table and greets us BY NAME! He asked about how the business was going...remembered the type of business and everything. Noted the kids had grown taller and remembered small details of our conversations. It blew my mind.
There were other instances as well, but that one just sticks out in my mind. He actually paid attention and remembered us.
Thank you for this thread...it is really a positive one.

What an AWESOME experience!! I love it!

Wow! Will you adopt my family? I want to go. LOL

Hahaha, it's our trip that we have been waiting for 3 kids to get 'old enough' to be able to go all day, walk a lot and not have to haul strollers and other junk! We are touring Europe for 3 weeks before the cruises and will be traveling by rail, so I did NOT want to have to bring a lot of extras! LOL!!!

Being I just booked our first Disney Cruise, reading this makes me very happy!

You will absolutely LOVE it and become HOOKED! Let us know when you've booked your second and your third! LOL

 

[Ofinn]

I thought that too, and then I realized: GRANDKIDS!!!!!



Then call me a snob too. I won't name the line, and I won't name the port, but after having to interact with the crowd on that particular sailing for a week, I will NEVER go that direction again EVER.

This thread should be renamed why the DCl snobs love DCL??? Good grief.ive done my share of DCl cruises, but Im not going to degrade people that cant afford or choose not to pay their prices.

 

[NZMUM]

We love the service, the ships, the overall 'Disney Magic'. We have always had great servers & all the CM's we have contact with have been so friendly. Yes it is expensive and we could cruise much, much closer to home, for much cheaper. But every time we get off at a port & see the other ships next to our beautiful ship, it confirms the Disney difference. And I don't think we'd want to risk another line. even with our kids now in their late teens (who have no interest in cruising with anyone else).

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Every time we get off at a port & see the other ships next to our beautiful ship, it confirms the Disney difference.

THIS is so very true!!