Will DCL Raise drink prices and what is next perk to go?

[cgolf]

Wanted to break this question out into its own thread I have seen some ask.

With the stricter alcohol policy wil DCL raise the drink of the day prices, beer prices, mixed and drink and Straight pour prices, and/or no longer offer two for ones? With the rise in the corkage fee I have a guess.

Secondly what is the next perk to go, free soda, added charges for the kids clubs (already limiting the hours with the open houses), .....

Curious on others thoughts.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

They shouldn't raise drink prices whilst the new booze policy comes in.

The next policy to go will be the one cruisers abuse next.

I have found DCL drink prices " reasonable" if compared to a fine restaurant or tourist attraction, I see no reason why they would inflame a position of a change of policy to rise a price, or stop desks, in fact may have more offers. The drink if the day us always a good price.

Let's dance it people can still bring on limited booze per person in wine or beer at each port, sensible drinkers shouldn't be affected.

Cruisers have abused the unlimited internet package in the last, it was taken off sale, and they abused the REAs programme ( romantic escape at sea) a wedding package to take advantage of early booking of palo and shore trips then cancel and not pay when their booking window opened. It went.

I feel sorry for the D Lounge cleaners who went in on my cruise and had to clean up the ness left by cruisers who brought on their own booze.

 

[FloridaBabe]

Once the smuggling becomes prolific maybe the will ban water from being carried on, then soda and then start charging for soda and so it goes on, who knows until it happens?

 

[teroot]

There are other cruise lines. it's everyone's choice who to cruise with based on what's important to them. I'm sure Disney will keep and eye on things and if there sailings start to decline they will change things again.
We really don't know why they changed this policy to begin with.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Once the smuggling becomes prolific maybe the will ban water from being carried on, then soda and then start charging for soda and so it goes on, who knows until it happens?

Just ban the limited few who smuggle.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

My opinion, I think the next increase will be the cruise gratuities.

I think/hope all-inclusive adult beverage packages come out. Prices of drinks might adjust to set the parameters, what is/is not included in packages.

I think soda is safe for now. If they get around to Freestyle machines that could change.

Look at what's standard in the industry. Apparently that's where Disney wants to navigate.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Just ban the limited few who smuggle.

That's not industry standard.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

My opinion, I think the next increase will be the cruise gratuities.

I think/hope all-inclusive adult beverage packages come out. Prices of drinks might adjust to set the parameters, what is/is not included in packages.

I think soda is safe for now. If they get around to Freestyle machines that could change.

Look at what's standard in the industry. Apparently that's where Disney wants to navigate.

Yes Tips will be going up. Concierge rooms further IMHO.

That's not industry standard.

No but worth it, then they will think twice.

 

[cgolf]

Now that we are going to be cruising Platinum, I am worried about those benifits being diminished, we already saw the obc cut, and we were looking forward to it.

I am, hoping for the sake of those with kids, mine is now 18, that the trend in the hours for the clubs reverses or isn't leading towards a charge structure. My daughter loved the clubs and she is really bummed that she is an adult now. It made her cruise special for her.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yes Tips will be going up. Concierge rooms further IMHO.
No but worth it, then they will think twice.

I think concierge should also do an additional premium on gratuities. Takes the guessing out of the equation. I know we really stressed over what was appropriate the first go-round. Those folks earn that. I think cabana rentals should also inform guests of gratuity guidelines.

You see so many rules blatantly ignored all over the ship. When do they pick & choose? Not saying that makes these things excusable but banning guests is a pretty slippery slope.

 

[cgolf]

Yes Tips will be going up. Concierge rooms further IMHO.
No but worth it, then they will think twice.

Not sure how much more they can milk out of concierge. When we were last on the Fantasy, to rebook the same room and time the next year was over 3000 more. The concierge hosts were ticked and complained a lot about it and said that the repeat bookings were way down from previous years. This was after limiting some of the happy hour drink options because rumor was some of the bar staff had pulled some high jinks.

To your other post I agree their drink prices are pretty reasonable, especially the drink of the day, I hope it stays that way. Martinis like my fav the Eco Tini are a bit pricey though.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Not sure how much more they can milk out of concierge. When we were last on the Fantasy, to rebook the same room and time the next year was over 3000 more. The concierge hosts were ticked and complained a lot about it and said that the repeat bookings were way down from previous years. This was after limiting some of the happy hour drink options because rumor was some of the bar staff had pulled some high jinks.

To your other post I agree their drink prices are pretty reasonable, especially the drink of the day, I hope it stays that way. Martinis like my fav the Eco Tini are a bit pricey though.

Martinis will always be more because of alcohol content. I'm generally delighted to find them for less than $10. I agree, DCL drink prices are reasonable. We probably shouldn't be saying this out loud. LOL!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I think concierge should also do an additional premium on gratuities. Takes the guessing out of the equation. I know we really stressed over what was appropriate the first go-round. Those folks earn that. I think cabana rentals should also inform guests of gratuity guidelines.

You see so many rules blatantly ignored all over the ship. When do they pick & choose? Not saying that makes these things excusable but banning guests is a pretty slippery slope.

For the concierge hosts I would like a guideline, but not a strict rule, now the last three cruises we tipped well, but we never booked any shore trips, spa, the only thing booked was a second brunch, and Palo in room dinner. So it would be unfair to have a rigid scale like servers but a range if you do or do not use them, including shoreside. I think stateroom hosts in concierge should gave a higher scale. More to clean.

Not sure how much more they can milk out of concierge. When we were last on the Fantasy, to rebook the same room and time the next year was over 3000 more. The concierge hosts were ticked and complained a lot about it and said that the repeat bookings were way down from previous years. This was after limiting some of the happy hour drink options because rumor was some of the bar staff had pulled some high jinks.

To your other post I agree their drink prices are pretty reasonable, especially the drink of the day, I hope it stays that way. Martinis like my fav the Eco Tini are a bit pricey though.

I agree they have over milked the cruise fare prices on concierge and you see more suites open for longer now but some people are paying up.

 

[TestingH2O]

Agree about drink prices being reasonable. After gratuity, I'm not even paying $1 more per drink than at home.

Wine prices seem too high for what they are selling though. I would love to see that improve but, if drink packages arrive, I would actually expect selection to decline.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

@DISNEY FANTASY, agreed. Higher grats for larger rooms for sure. Some guidelines for the hosts would be so helpful. I was thinking about the spread on NCL: $13.50/$15. That's only $1.50pp/night. That would be $6 additional per day for my family of 4, $42 length of cruise. I haven't tipped concierge that low even when I only had to cover myself on 4-night. I leave more than that additional for the stateroom host in 00Ts. That's really not much for either position. Some explanation of the additional care given in suites by each crew member that is above/beyond standard staterooms would really be a good thing.

Ps. Pardon the hijack. My apologies.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Agree about drink prices being reasonable. After gratuity, I'm not even paying $1 more per drink than at home.

Wine prices seem too high for what they are selling though. I would love to see that improve but, if drink packages arrive, I would actually expect selection to decline.

I do not think they will bring in booze packages they get a used RCCI had an all inclusive then what would happen was that one person in the stateroom would buy it the others didn't but the person who had it hot drinks for the others. So they limited it per time if bar but still didn't work.

Then they said all adults must buy it in the room. The next issue people were drunk as they got their monies worth, like goof at buffets some thought they needed to have far too much to get fake for the cruise fare.

Remember at the heart of Disney The Magic Kingdom doesn't sell booze.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

@DISNEY FANTASY, agreed. Higher grats for larger rooms for sure. Some guidelines for the hosts would be so helpful. I was thinking about the spread on NCL: $13.50/$15. That's only $1.50pp/night. That would be $6 additional per day for my family of 4, $42 length of cruise. I haven't tipped concierge that low even when I only had to cover myself on 4-night. I leave more than that additional for the stateroom host in 00Ts. That's really not much for either position. Some explanation of the additional care given in suites by each crew member that is above/beyond standard staterooms would really be a good thing.

Ps. Pardon the hijack. My apologies.

Agree!

 

[TheLanes]

Wanted to break this question out into its own thread I have seen some ask.

With the stricter alcohol policy wil DCL raise the drink of the day prices, beer prices, mixed and drink and Straight pour prices, and/or no longer offer two for ones? With the rise in the corkage fee I have a guess.

Secondly what is the next perk to go, free soda, added charges for the kids clubs (already limiting the hours with the open houses), .....

Curious on others thoughts.

Charge for holding pool and theater seats.

 

[TestingH2O]

Not sure how much more they can milk out of concierge. When we were last on the Fantasy, to rebook the same room and time the next year was over 3000 more. The concierge hosts were ticked and complained a lot about it and said that the repeat bookings were way down from previous years. This was after limiting some of the happy hour drink options because rumor was some of the bar staff had pulled some high jinks.

And yet, concierge is still sailing sold out. On our May 2016 cruise, there is only 1 Cat T left! There has to be a ceiling, but apparently we are there yet.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Agree about drink prices being reasonable. After gratuity, I'm not even paying $1 more per drink than at home.

Wine prices seem too high for what they are selling though. I would love to see that improve but, if drink packages arrive, I would actually expect selection to decline.

Yep

Charge for holding pool and theater seats.

You jest but industry standard is to make theater reservations.