Why so against Casinos on DCL? With Poll

[cdoc29]

I think this argument is just flat out wrong. Having sailed 2 RCCL ships and Celebrity, we have always had to hit the shops at the end to use our onboard credit. We never felt nickel and dimed or pressured to spend more money. There are more options to spend money, but it isn’t forced on you.

You may have a different experiences than us. My experience has been the constant pressure and upsell on other lines that I haven't experienced on Disney. I attribute it to the fact that Disney gets their money upfront where as the other lines discount in hopes of getting you to spend more money. I believe I have seen TV specials on this very concept of cruise lines getting you in the door with low fares......

If Disney went the the route of cheapening their fares with more opportunities (such as a casino) to help make the bottom line they would be no different than RCCL or other cruise line. For me that is the value of the Disney Cruise, many people complain of how expensive a Disney Cruise is but you get what you pay for. If you don't feel that way about Disney their are other options (and ones with casinos) out there.

 

[Karin1984]

Gambling is probably against their own brand policy. I work in marketing for an airline and also have guidelines against any form of gambling. If we have any type of contest we have to be very careful how to phrase everything, T&Cs, tagline, etc. to avoid the association with gambling, because many people perceive it as something negative.

I don't care if they do or if they don't. It is not my thing.

 

[cdoc29]

Having been on RCCL a month ago, we absolutely were pressured to spend additional money. At almost every single meal we were asked about to purchase the specialty dinning. Same for the alcohol package which we already had. We had a great time but yes there was constant pressure to spend more.

We have never been asked to try specialty dining, sorry you were, but a firm no should send them away.

The real tell is that in the main dining room you can uncharge your meal with one from a specialty restaurant on RCCL. that is an example of the constant upsell

 

[cgolf]

I understood how to send them away which we did. While we were in the dinning room eating dinner we would be approached by multiple different people. This is definitely the norm.

Maybe on the ship you were on, but on the Brilliance and Freedom, it never happened. On the Edge the wine person stopped the first night, but that was it for us. Weird that experiences are so different. We will be on the Adventure of the Seas in 2020, we will see what happens then.

 

[cgolf]

You may have a different experiences than us. My experience has been the constant pressure and upsell on other lines that I haven't experienced on Disney. I attribute it to the fact that Disney gets their money upfront where as the other lines discount in hopes of getting you to spend more money. I believe I have seen TV specials on this very concept of cruise lines getting you in the door with low fares......

If Disney went the the route of cheapening their fares with more opportunities (such as a casino) to help make the bottom line they would be no different than RCCL or other cruise line. For me that is the value of the Disney Cruise, many people complain of how expensive a Disney Cruise is but you get what you pay for. If you don't feel that way about Disney their are other options (and ones with casinos) out there.

I have stated many times on these boards of my opinion of DCLs prices having sailed them when they were cheaper. We personally cruise for itinerary, ship, value, and service, not necessarily in that order because all are important. This was simply a question about Casino yes or no, not a comparison between lines.

I guess I confirmed my answer of what the board thinks, but a little surprised there weren't more that were indifferent like we are to it being there or not. Should have not started this when I was at work lol.

 

[pezgirlroy]

Maybe on the ship you were on, but on the Brilliance and Freedom, it never happened. On the Edge the wine person stopped the first night, but that was it for us. Weird that experiences are so different. We will be on the Adventure of the Seas in 2020, we will see what happens then.

I was on the Freedom.

 

[DCSWO]

We walked past without any issues. Are there people there trying to sell you stuff, sure, but we always sailed right past we never felt they were pushy about it.

My problem is, they are there trying to sell you stuff. It’s like hawkers in Hong Kong / Kowloon asking me if I want to buy a suit or copy watch every 20 steps. I blow past them without a word but after you hear it a hundred times, it gets annoying. I’m more than happy to pay the Disney premium just to avoid the constant upsell questions. DCL adding casinos wouldn’t do anything to lower the premium they charge. They charge it because people are willing to pay it.

 

[Rabiman]

I am not a puritan when it comes to gambling. I live in Florida (lottery tix and Seminole Tribe Casinos) and as long as the taxes go to support necessary programs (ie education/healthcare) I'm all for it. We've talked to our kids about gambling and how its goal is to separate you from your income and there are better/funner ways to spend your allowance. So, I am not worried a casino on the Fantasy would "corrupt" them in any way whatsoever.

But looking at trip report vlogs (our first DCL cruise is set for next year) there seems to be a lot more activities for the whole family due to the space on a DCL boat as compared to other lines. I would be concerned a casino could (maybe?) take that space away.

However, if DCL does decide to include a casino on one of the ships and can guarantee the same experience then without one, I would not reject the line altogther.

PS: doesn't DCL have BINGO gaming (with $$$ stakes) on their cruises for people who want to get their risk on?

 

[DCLDVC1]

PS: doesn't DCL have BINGO gaming (with $$$ stakes) on their cruises for people who want to get their risk on?

They do and the packages aren't cheap.

 

[ashley0139]

As an adult who enjoys spending a few dollars in a casino, I wouldn't mind it. I don't think it's any less family-friendly than having alcohol or adult-oriented shows.

As a kid, I was always disappointed they didn't have a casino, because my parents refused to take a cruise on a ship without a casino. That's their form of entertainment on a cruise ship in the evening. So as a kid I always wished they did have casinos.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Some may love them, but they aren't what Disney is going for with their ships, plain and simple. It goes along the same lines of why there are no drink packages like RCCL/Celebrity/Norwegian.

I was on the Norwegian Epic a few years ago. Everything in the ship directs you back through the Casino. You cannot get around the lower part of the ship without going through the casino. Cigarette smoke and drunks were everywhere. It was a terrible experience.

Disney ships pack a lot of activities but imagine the space that a casino would take up on board? That could easily be used for an additional restaurant, theatre, or expanded kids club. I would expect to never see that on board but hey, what do I know. My guess is that if they really thought they could have made money off of it after 20+ years, then they would have already tried it.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

DW and I are not gamblers by any means so it's hardly likely DCL would make any money from us. If there were a casino I might toss 20 dollars into slots but that's about it. I agree with earlier post that I can't think of what I'd want to give up to make room for it.

 

[quickcat]

Let’s take that to an absurd extreme just to make a point - DCL could put a strip club in that space to make it more profitable.

Okay that would bring a whole new meaning when they announce “Chip and Dale” dancers

 

[clten]

The reason I wouldn't want DCL to add a casino has nothing to do with gambling being on brand or not (that's DCLs reason for adding it or not). Right now, I find that there are not enough organized Adult activities (Shopping talks and Spa sales sessions don't really count as adult activities to me). I just see having a casino on board as a reason for the Cruise Director/Staff not to have to put any additional effort into developing/conducting adult activities. I know there are family activities adults can participate in but I think this is an underserved demographic now, which would only be more underserved with a casino on board.

I have sailed on ships with casinos and am not opposed to spending a little time in them. I'd prefer DCL not have casinos but if they did have them, it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. In fact may make it easier to convince some family members to sail DCL with us.

 

[DuskKodesh]

I've been checking out Disney cruises for the possible future and a casino would put me off booking for sure. Heck, honest to gods I'd pay even more for one without alcohol. In my searches I checked out RCL and a few others, we don't drink, we don't smoke, we don't gamble, there was nothing for either me or my spouse to do besides maybe lounge in a deck chair but I could do that from a beachfront hotel and have more dining options. If I'm looking for a DCL cruise it's because I like Disney, so add more Disney, not a casino... unless maybe it had a villains theme and the blackjack is being dealt out by Hades. Then I'd be tempted...

 

[DCL Repeaters]

Disney goes through great lengths to keep casinos far away from their parks in FL. Very doubtful that casinos on DCL would ever happen. Thank goodness.

 

[smiths02]

We went on a Norwegian ship in 2004 (as a couple in our 20s). The ship name escapes me now, but we looked it up before we sailed the Dream in 2018 and it was MUCH smaller than the Dream. It had a casino. We went in and played $20 on the slot machines.
On our 7 night cruise, we still found plenty to do between that small ship and shore excursions. I didn't feel like the cruise was some drunken orgy of gambling and sin. It would have been perfectly suitable for a family vacation.

I don't care if Disney Cruise has them or not.

 

[Corwin]

We've been on seven Disney cruises so far, with #8 and #9 already booked. Bottom line -- if they put a casino on board, we'd stop sailing on DCL.

For the record, I despise casinos. It's not about morality or anything; I just can't stand the vibe. Watching people literally flush their money away to the sound of ringing bells and flashing lights is not the kind of thing I want to be around on vacation. If you throw in cigarette smoking (I'm asthmatic), you've now described my personal vision of hell.

If I wanted to go to a casino for vacation (which I don't), I'd go to Vegas instead of WDW. Or I'd go to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun, both of which are less than 30 minutes from my house. (We tried a hot new restaurant that opened a couple of years ago at Mohegan Sun, and have no intention of ever going back because you had to walk through the gauntlet of casino noise and cigarette smoke to get to the restaurant.)

 

[MrsDuck]

Hate the casinos. I think they're an eye sore; they're loud. They're usually smoky and they certainly don't convey a family feel. It's a big no for Disney. We'd still sail with Disney but I'd avoid the casinos.

 

[sleepydog25]

Justly or not, casinos have a bad rap--there's no dodging that aspect. Regardless of whether they're smoke free, they still have an image of hard living: hard drinkers, heavy-lidded octogenarians, zombie-like slot machine patrons, beady-eyed blackjack players. I know that's not a totally accurate picture anymore, but it's still the first thing many people think. I don't think Disney wants to open that can of worms. Sure, it might attract a different crowd, but then they'd run the risk of alienating the core base. I don't see it happening on any current ships. That being said, I can at least imagine where they build a ship in the future that is more along the lines of a typical casino-based cruise ship with a different slant of their demographics.