Why is DCL worth the extra cost?

[mreasier]

We have 7 day Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy in January followed immediately by a 6 day Western Caribbean cruise on the Coral Princess. They both stop at 3 ports, one of which is the same. We have a balcony cabin on both cruises and we have cruised on both cruise lines previously. The cost per person on the Fantasy is $1,676 including taxes, fees, etc. which comes to $239 per day per person. The cost on the Coral Princess is $839 per person which comes to $140 per day. We are also getting $175 on board credit per person which comes to $29 per day with a net cost per person day of $111. This is less than half the cost of the Disney Fantasy. Other than the excellent cabin and the fireworks on Disney, we prefer the on board experience on Princess. In our minds there is not enough on Disney to justify the additional cost other than the name. This is especially true now with the change in the Disney alcohol policy. The only (but very important) reason we are sailing on the Fantasy is to be with the grandsons who love Disney. Please tell me why sailing on DCL is worth twice the cost.

 

[KingRichard]

Are you sure the OBC is per person and not per room?


Are the rooms the same size?

For us it comes down to the kids club and knowing they will take great care of our DD.

 

[mreasier]

We have a total of $350 OBC between the 2 of us. As I stated, the cabin on Disney is nicer. It has a couch and the dual bathrooms. It is just not nice enough to justify double the cost. We could get a mini suite on the Coral Princess, a better cabin than the Disney, for about $155 per day. We have never used it, but I understand that the kids program on Princess is very good.

 

[Ofinn]

Like you said you're cruising on the fantasy for your grandsons. I think that's why many people choose dcl "for the kids". I know its why we do. They have a great programming for tweens and teens. My kids are busy from 10a to 1am. They have so much fun.

 

[Sanchez]

First, understand that this is a Disney board and the answers will be skewed. Value is measured by the individual and many on this board feel that despite the cost Disney has value that other lines do not have. Some have only cruised Disney and others feel personally insulted if DCL is criticized in any way. Some will promote the DCL propaganda (I am reasonably certain that someone will soon be along to cite "pixie dust, classic ships and art deco design" as the primary reasons for paying DCL prices.) The bottom line is that there are an endless supply of people who are willing to pay rapidly increasing prices for DCL.

DCL is not a luxury cruise line and should be compared with the other mass cruise lines. In my opinion the food is much better on Princess and slightly better on RCL. DCL is best for young children. RCL (specifically Oasis and Allure) are best for teens. Princess is best for adults.

All offer very good cruises and, in my opinion, the best depends on specific circumstances. With that said, DCL prices far exceed comparable cruises and I do not believe there is enough difference in quality to justify that massive price difference.

We generally search fares 3-4 months out. We are cruising the week of January 16, 2016 and searched for similar cabins. The following are for 7 day Caribbean cruises, ocean-view balcony (as of end of September/early October):

Regal Princess: $950 pp (Western)
RCL Oasis: $1,000 pp (Western)
DCL Fantasy: $2,150pp (Eastern)

 

[dclpluto]

Only cruise line that will guarantee you that you will see a mouse.

 

[bumbershoot]

Please tell me why sailing on DCL is worth twice the cost.

I can't. Just can't.

We prefer Royal.

For us it comes down to the kids club and knowing they will take great care of our DD.

FWIW Royal has a great kid's program. DS actually prefers it because the counselors get to know the kids, even by name. There have been exactly two counselors who sort of got to know him over 4 cruises on Dream. Whereas ALL the counselors on our Royal cruises knew him by name, outside of the kid's club, inside a day of him going to the club. This makes a HUGE difference to him. Also, the counselors really play with the kids, they are truly club counselors, on Royal, vs just standing around interacting with some kids sometimes like he's experienced on Dream.

 

[shelbell77]

The definition of "worth it" is different to every person. If you are going purely by the numbers it already appears you don't think it is worth it to you. Why would someone else need to convince you otherwise?

 

[mreasier]

I have only cruised Disney once previously - on the Fantasy. I was curious that perhaps I was missing something.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts....

• are you travelling with kids? Do they appreciate snorting that pricy pixie dust?
• how much would you save going on a cruise line without pixie dust?
• does the other cruise line offer picture packages? It's my weakness.
• does the other cruise line offer fast affordable internet? My 2nd weakness.
• do you demand first run movies?
• does the other offer funnel vision?
• how important is the aquaduct?
• some drinks and bevvies are included.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

The short answer is that it isn't worth twice the price Back when DCL was a 10-15% premium over Princess and RCL, my answer would have been different, but a 80-100% premium is ludicrous.

We still slot in a Disney cruise now and then, but only when the price is back at that 10-15% differential.

 

[ldo]

went on a 5 day Princess the week prior to Easter (peak time). Got 2 cabins for under $3K for 7 persons! Princess even showed G movies in the AM by the smaller pool for kids and added a lip synch at the main pool for kids/teens/young adults during a sea day due to Easter sailing and lots of families on board. Teens liked Princess and its our fav after DCL, but they were somewhat bored and would have had more fun (IMHO) on DCL.
We will pay up to a 20% premium for DCL for: overall atmosphere, teen clubs staffed all day, great Broadway shows, rotational dining, movie theater, movies by the pool, larger room with split baths--but not double.
DCL does not have a casino--so they have to charge more to make up for that--but double the price is supply/demand.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

Thoughts....

• are you travelling with kids? Do they appreciate snorting that pricy pixie dust?
• how much would you save going on a cruise line without pixie dust?
• does the other cruise line offer picture packages? It's my weakness.
• does the other cruise line offer fast affordable internet? My 2nd weakness.
• do you demand first run movies?
• does the other offer funnel vision?
• how important is the aquaduct?
• some drinks and bevvies are included.

When we took our grandsons on their first cruise, it was on Disney. When we took them on their second cruise it was on RCL's Freedom. When we asked them which ship they wanted to sail on for their third cruise, they both chose RCL.

When we cruised Disney exclusively, we were able to do two cruises a year. Since we started cruising other lines, we are able to cruise 5-6 times a year.

Every cruise line on the planet offers picture packages, and NONE of them are worth the price.

RCL's internet is both faster, and a heck of a lot cheaper.

Both lines offer first run movies

RCL has mega screens on all of their pool decks as does Princess

Our Grandsons prefer the ice skating rink and the surf simulator

Beverage packages start at~$6/day on other lines. So unless DCL is priced within $42 of RCL, the drinks question is specious.

 

[willowsnn3]

Interesting thread! We have just started contemplating a "first" cruise and of course most of us thought of DCL, lol. This thread is making me think of checking out other cruise lines.
Disney obviously because if everyone we plan on goes there will be 4 kids aged 10 thru 12, one 14 year old girl and one 15 year old boy. The 14 yr old girl is the only one who thinks she is too old for Disney, lol.
Then there is my son who I think would much prefer the adult/alcohol action on one of the other cruise lines.....

 

[KingRichard]

So just looked and that is the one and only cruise that ship offers from Florida for the next year?

Yes I know most other lines are much cheaper the DCL and I am keeping our option open for 2107. Norwegian is offering free drinks and $2k saving over DCL on a 7 day, but DW is not sure she wants to give up service, cleanliness and atmosphere that DCL offers.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

So just looked and that is the one and only cruise that ship offers from Florida for the next year?

Yes I know most other lines are much cheaper the DCL and I am keeping our option open for 2107. Norwegian is offering free drinks and $2k saving over DCL on a 7 day, but DW is not sure she wants to give up service, cleanliness and atmosphere that DCL offers.

Not sure where you are looking, so I'm confused about your first statement about cruises out of Florida. Can you clarify.

Also, based on your signature, you've only sailed on Disney, so you can't be expected to know this, but the service, cleanliness, and atmosphere (sans mouse) are comparable across all the mainstream cruise lines. Having sailed numerous times on HAL, Princess, RCL, Disney and Carnival, I would rank those three criteria with Princess first, RCL, HAL, and Disney tied, and Carnival last.

 

[mreasier]

Not sure where you are looking, so I'm confused about your first statement about cruises out of Florida. Can you clarify.

Also, based on your signature, you've only sailed on Disney, so you can't be expected to know this, but the service, cleanliness, and atmosphere (sans mouse) are comparable across all the mainstream cruise lines. Having sailed numerous times on HAL, Princess, RCL, Disney and Carnival, I would rank those three criteria with Princess first, RCL, HAL, and Disney tied, and Carnival last.

I also was confused by the 1st statement.

On the one cruise we did on Disney we found service to be comparable to that on Princess except in the dining room(s). The service on the Disney Fantasy was inferior. It was slow, the servers got orders wrong and we even saw them arguing. They tried (unsuccessfully) to charge me a corkage fee for a bottle of champagne bought on board. My son, who had done several prior Disney cruises did say it was much worse than his previous cruises so it my not have been typical.

 

[KingRichard]

According to the Princess web site there is only one 6 day cruise on this ship for the whole year from Florida. Sure we can cherry pick cheap cruises to bash DCL cost. The rest are all 10 day Panama canal cruises and cost 2-3 times as much as what you quoted.

We did a Magic For about $100 per day last minute and it was a balcony.

Yes we so far have only cruised DCL, but I can tell you every year we research lots of info about the other lines and if people looked other then here you will see lots of unhappy people.

One of our cruises I was on the the shuttle from Budget and others were on the bus going to Carnival ship that just got back with Virus outbreak. None of them wanted to get on that ship. They had no choice or lose all their money! Really felt sorry for them.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

According to the Princess web site there is only one 6 day cruise on this ship for the whole year from Florida. Sure we can cherry pick cheap cruises to bash DCL cost. The rest are all 10 day Panama canal cruises and cost 2-3 times as much as what you quoted.

We did a Magic For about $100 per day last minute and it was a balcony.

Yes we so far have only cruised DCL, but I can tell you every year we research lots of info about the other lines and if people looked other then here you will see lots of unhappy people.

One of our cruises I was on the the shuttle from Budget and others were on the bus going to Carnival ship that just got back with Virus outbreak. None of them wanted to get on that ship. They had no choice or lose all their money! Really felt sorry for them.

The only reason the OP referenced that Princess ship was that they are doing a B2B staring on Disney and ending on Princess. The reality is that Princess sails several ships out of Florida every week in the fall, winter, and spring.

As for unhappy people, my dad once told me that when I get to the gates of Heaven, I will surely find people complaining about the accommodations. I take all of those reviews with a grain of salt. I can only speak from personal experience, and the worst cruise (cleanliness, service, and atmosphere) we have ever been on (in 50+ cruises so far) was the Disney Magic we took this May, and the best cruise was on the same ship back in May 2009. (same itinerary, same ship, same cabin, diametrically different experiences).

 

[JimGA]

Please tell me why sailing on DCL is worth twice the cost.

It's not worth twice the cost. It's twice the cost due to the demand to sail with them for the Disney experience, in my opinion.