Yikes! Huge price jump in 2018!!

[RedSox68]

Oh yeah, the fireworks. Right, Norwegian stopped them last year.

Not gonna lie, it doesn't add value for me. In Montreal each year during summer we have a firework contest and many countries are participating. In comparison, Wishes in Magic Kingdom is ... Meh. (Still fun, though.)

I was not aware that DCL was the only cruise line with dining rotation. I have to admit that it feels like eating in a new restaurant every night. But just like you it has no impact on my cruising choices.

All the other cruise lines we have been on you are assigned to the one main dining room (if you don't select anytime dining that is). You will have the same wait staff, but you are not visiting different themed restaurants each night -- unless you book their other specialty restaurants.

 

[Dug720]

All the other cruise lines we have been on you are assigned to the one main dining room (if you don't select anytime dining that is). You will have the same wait staff, but you are not visiting different themed restaurants each night -- unless you book their other specialty restaurants.

Right. It is the rotation thing that is different with Disney.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

Here is a comparison for an MSC European itinerary vs Fantasy, Spring Break also 2018. Standard balcony cabin 1599 for 2.

.....

A European cruise vs a Fantasy cruise in Caribbean is not really comparable. Most people on these boards are Americans and the flight to Europe (for the 4 people in the OP's family) would more than make up for the price difference.

 

[ldo]

actually, it can still be less at spring break to fly to Europe and sail. For ex, airfare from NYC to Rome, Paris, etc. is about $750 (or less if you are willing to connect) and MSC leaving 4/7/17 (week prior to Easter is $2300 for family of 4 in OV). DCL Fantasy 4/8 is sold out for 4, but an inside would be about $8500, and was quite high, even on opening day (I recall checking b/c this is our break).
Summer travel is higher to Europe b/c airfare and cruisefares are higher, but spring break can save $. Now, whether a family with only 1 week wants to fly to Europe is another issue--I know I wouldn't. I think booking another CL would be what most do.
BTW, other CL are also not always the cheapest in Europe for summer. Our DCL to Norway was about the same as other CL. OTHO, our Med. cruise was 1/2 the price of DCL.

 

[hanscarlet]

I was pricing the fantasy for 2018 and I too was like whoa... it's the only ship we haven't been on and would really like to try but just seems so high... I wish the southern caribbean was offered in other months besides January... that's a tough month for me with work

 

[chaysmom]

We are doing a 5 night cruise on Magic out of Miami over President's Day weekend in 2017. The same cruise would cost our family of 4 $1,000 more if we went in 2018.

 

[ilovebassets]

Don't give up on using your gold benefits. We became platinum in 2014 and I thought that was it. I thought we'd never get those platinum benefits because I wasn't willing to pay the future price hikes. Then along came the WBTA 2017 and the pricing came in cheaper than we paid in 2007! I thought there had to be a mistake -- but there wasn't. We got the same stateroom and all and it was $2,000 cheaper. Granted, it's four less nights, but still. So there may be future cruises that appeal to you that maybe aren't as popular that you can get a good price on. If not though -- enjoy all the monies you will save by branching out. To me, that's more important than dedication to one line.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does WBTA stand for?

Yes, branching out is a good thing. Before children, we took two Celebrity, 1 Carnival, 1 Holland America, and 1 Norwegian cruise (then one Norwegian with a one year old...don't recommend that). We LOVED Celebrity, but I can't see taking a five and seven year old on that line. For all the cruises we've done, (nine to date with three planned), it's funny we haven't done Royal Caribbean yet. I consider them the prototypical non-luxury cruise line based on what I've read, but haven't actually sailed with them.

Here's to hoping we use those gold benefits one day!

 

[mcd2745]

We are doing a 5 night cruise on Magic out of Miami over President's Day weekend in 2017. The same cruise would cost our family of 4 $1,000 more if we went in 2018.

And if the 2017 cruise was approx $5,000-$6,000 that would be about a 17-20% increase year over year. Who else - in any business or industry - increases prices that steeply?

 

[Love2Cruz]

And if the 2017 cruise was approx $5,000-$6,000 that would be about a 17-20% increase year over year. Who else - in any business or industry - increases prices that steeply?

WDW....

 

[RedSox68]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does WBTA stand for?

Yes, branching out is a good thing. Before children, we took two Celebrity, 1 Carnival, 1 Holland America, and 1 Norwegian cruise (then one Norwegian with a one year old...don't recommend that). We LOVED Celebrity, but I can't see taking a five and seven year old on that line. For all the cruises we've done, (nine to date with three planned), it's funny we haven't done Royal Caribbean yet. I consider them the prototypical non-luxury cruise line based on what I've read, but haven't actually sailed with them.

Here's to hoping we use those gold benefits one day!

Not ignorance -- it takes a while to catch up to the abbreviations around here It stands for Westbound Transatlantic. You might see WBPC or EBPC, etc., which is westbound (or eastbound) Panama Canal.

 

[RedSox68]

And if the 2017 cruise was approx $5,000-$6,000 that would be about a 17-20% increase year over year. Who else - in any business or industry - increases prices that steeply?

Exactly. And Disney is the only cruiseline that does not offer "sales" (other than last minute price cuts to fill the ship) throughout the year or incentives (like free wine packages, alcohol packages, specialty dining, OBC for booking -- other than onboard -- etc.)

 

[jenf22]

Also if I am researching my first cruise, I may be only looking at DCL, and if I saw a thread that said hey they are super pricey, but this line is similar, I might look into that other line especially if DCL would be a budget buster for us. This will open up people's eyes, we were DCL only for 12 cruises, but now that we are looking there are some great deals out there on great itineraries we haven't seen before.

This. We took our first cruise in 2012 when our son was 5. I had been on these boards for planning WDW trips and saw the cruise line section. For some reason I figured we *HAD* to cruise Disney because we had a kid. I never even looked at the other lines. I still credit DCL with getting us hooked on cruising, but now we sail other lines. Should DCL offer up some great deal that put them inline with the other lines for an itinerary we want, we'd be all over it. Oh and I think it was a similar thread to this one that got us to switch our Magic Southern to an RCCL Southern back in 2014. We sailed the same itinerary, in concierge, for $1500 less. I felt like it really opened our eyes. There are so many awesome itineraries out there! And DCL doesn't sail most of them.

 

[disboardlover]

Check out this price jump for the Fantasy 3/18/2017 vs. 3/17/2018. They are both Western itineraries for the same week in March. Pricing is for 2 adults and 2 children (13yo & 11yo). We paid less than $6K for the 2017 cruise in a category 5B with opening day prices. The 2017 cruise has jumped in price due to SWDAS, but the 2018 rates are even higher than the 2017 current rates!!!!

View attachment 203433

While the March 17, 2018 rates are higher than for March 18, 2017, I am not that surprised. While the inside stateroom is up about 10%, the other staterooms are up around 4-5%. While you do mention that the 2017 rates are for SWDAS, I wouldn't be surprised if there is eventually an announcement for 2018 SWDAS dates that match closely with these sailings with the higher rates... especially when also combined with the spring break dates.

 

[wombat_5606]

While the March 17, 2018 rates are higher than for March 18, 2017, I am not that surprised. While the inside stateroom is up about 10%, the other staterooms are up around 4-5%. While you do mention that the 2017 rates are for SWDAS, I wouldn't be surprised if there is eventually an announcement for 2018 SWDAS dates that match closely with these sailings with the higher rates... especially when also combined with the spring break dates.

When the SWDAS dates are announced, those high rates will just go higher.

 

[Kontos]

I don't remember what thread it was posted in, but someone posted a site that keeps track of price changes for cruises and I was wondering if someone could link that?

Thanks

 

[Pens Fan]

I don't remember what thread it was posted in, but someone posted a site that keeps track of price changes for cruises and I was wondering if someone could link that?

Thanks

For multiple cruise lines, including DCL

https://www.cruisefish.net (Click on Finder)

or for DCL specifically

https://touringplans.com/disney-cruise-line/tools/fare-tracker

 

[disboardlover]

When the SWDAS dates are announced, those high rates will just go higher.

Perhaps, but I can see that the demand uptick DCL saw from the 2017 SWDAS cruises once they were announced led them to price the 2018 cruises so that they don't leave money on the table. They can always drop pricing on specific cruises if they do not see enough demand. Not saying this is consumer friendly, but I can see the business analysis that might have led them to do this. Also, the next Star Wars episode is supposed to come out just before these cruises and the Star Wars lands should be opening at the parks by 2018 too.

 

[Madame]

Perhaps, but I can see that the demand uptick DCL saw from the 2017 SWDAS cruises once they were announced led them to price the 2018 cruises so that they don't leave money on the table. They can always drop pricing on specific cruises if they do not see enough demand. Not saying this is consumer friendly, but I can see the business analysis that might have led them to do this. Also, the next Star Wars episode is supposed to come out just before these cruises and the Star Wars lands should be opening at the parks by 2018 too.

I will be shocked if WDW has anything at DHS ready by Mar 2018. They can't even get RoL functional after how many months?

 

[steves100]

Nobody is arguing that DCL should be giving their cruises away at rock bottom prices. The problem is that they are raising their prices faster than the competition. They did this to the WDW parks & resorts and now they are crashing and burning. Resort bookings are down and park attendance is down. The extras they are throwing at AP holders right now is awesome, but that's because they are hurting for attendance and want us spending money at their restaurants and stores. I adore DCL, but I did not book anything for this release. I'll go back to RCCL which I enjoy just as much.

Crash and burning PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Its all supply and demand. When the boats stop being filled they will be forced to price adjust....

 

[steves100]

They have pretty much all the same stuff DCL has, with the exception of the mouse and characters.

Yeah that's why Disney wins all the major awards, they are all the same!!!!