On September 1, 2016 an article was posted on FoxNews.com by Jason Lappert titled "Is a Disney Cruise Worth the Cost."
For the reader, I think I am in a pretty good position to judge. I currently hold Disney Platinum status which was obtained between 2012 (Fantasy inaugural) through spring 2015 where I averaged 4 DCL cruises a year. I have sailed all 4 ships where the category was 4D or better (balcony staterooms). To add, I have been a WDW passholder (for many years more) and a Florida resident. In short, I know a lot about Disney (or experienced a lot of Disney perspective). Additionally, I have sailed other cruise lines with the exception of Carnival.
I have decided to move to a different cruise line because the there was no more magic. The way I cruised on trip 13 was completely different than my first cruise on the Fantasy. With that said... That first Disney cruise and the memories created are still as vivid now as they were at debarkation.
Is DCL more expensive? Depends. In the stateroom category I prefer to cruise coupled with the duration of the cruise the short answer is no. Disney staterooms (again the staterooms I booked) are on average larger than most cruise lines. Disney is also the only cruise line that has a 5-person occupancy (suites not included)...to my knowledge. As a side note these were my 2nd favorite to book because of the added space. My goto stateroom were the aft rooms that had the oversized verandahs. When I was able to book an aft room... the way I cruised was completely different than when I had normal balcony.
It's unfair to compare older ships (Magic and Wonder incl.) when comparing the Fantasy or the Dream. So when making a general comparison of Disney to other cruise lines your better off making an apple to apple comparison. However, Fantasy and Dream are starting to show age compared to other new (2013 or newer) ships. And, newer ships from other cruise lines do have / can have elevated prices.
How one cruises is a very personal choice. As far as food, lounges, customer service, and general entertainment (not the big production shows) it's my humble opinion that RC, NCL, MSC, CCL, etc are all equally "good; maybe great." And allow me to point out specifically... The food on all the 1st rate ships is very comparable to DCL; in fact, some cruise lines do some things better with their food...and some things DCL does better. Of course, comparable is a relative term, so my point is...A person with typical "mid range" expectations would be satisfied with the general amenities between all cruise lines. With that said, the big production shows that Disney offers are top rate; and so far the best I have experienced of any cruise line. Disney owns the market with good story telling. Additionally, you cannot match the total access to Disney lore, film...and of course access to characters... Again... It's how one cruises, or what's important to the cruiser. Plus, Castaway Cay is a GREAT port of call. So great in fact, other cruise lines are taking that page from the DCL playbook....of course some cruise lines do it better than others.
As a seasoned cruiser, the way I cruised now is completely different than my first cruise. I don't need to see every show, experience every meal, do every activity... However where Disney out prices themselves completely out of the game is concierge. What I get on other cruise lines at the concierge level; well, Disney cannot compare for the price.
Point I am trying to make is... For me, after the first or second Disney cruise, it becomes more about the ports of call (when comparing other first rate cruise lines). For the readers that have never cruised DCL, take a 3 day and visit the parks while in Florida. You can get "the DCL experience" on a 3 day cruise ( certainly in 5)...and if there is room left in the budget and vacation days, go to the parks at WDW.
Since I last cruised DCL, I have heard that the no longer allow you to bring alcohol on board...And what is even more discouraging is that DCL does not offer a drink package. I cannot live on drinks-of-the-day alone. I need variety and it can be expensive to consume a more than average consumption of alcohol on DCL... (Don't judge...you cruise your way; I cruise mine).
Final point...Has Disney priced themselves out of the market. For the 299.00 per person special...probably... But I don't cruise that way. But I have always compared compatible cruises to Disney and Disney, on average, is a bit more expensive...and usually by more an a few hundred dollars.
Will I go on another DCL cruise... I might, it just depends on duration, when, where and how much...meaning... I (and I want to believe most) can get the same cruise experience (minus the Mickey magic) on any other top tier cruise line...And recently... You can usually get it less than DCL.
Disney getting too expensive for families
in Disney Cruise Line
Posted
On September 1, 2016 an article was posted on FoxNews.com by Jason Lappert titled "Is a Disney Cruise Worth the Cost."
For the reader, I think I am in a pretty good position to judge. I currently hold Disney Platinum status which was obtained between 2012 (Fantasy inaugural) through spring 2015 where I averaged 4 DCL cruises a year. I have sailed all 4 ships where the category was 4D or better (balcony staterooms). To add, I have been a WDW passholder (for many years more) and a Florida resident. In short, I know a lot about Disney (or experienced a lot of Disney perspective). Additionally, I have sailed other cruise lines with the exception of Carnival.
I have decided to move to a different cruise line because the there was no more magic. The way I cruised on trip 13 was completely different than my first cruise on the Fantasy. With that said... That first Disney cruise and the memories created are still as vivid now as they were at debarkation.
Is DCL more expensive? Depends. In the stateroom category I prefer to cruise coupled with the duration of the cruise the short answer is no. Disney staterooms (again the staterooms I booked) are on average larger than most cruise lines. Disney is also the only cruise line that has a 5-person occupancy (suites not included)...to my knowledge. As a side note these were my 2nd favorite to book because of the added space. My goto stateroom were the aft rooms that had the oversized verandahs. When I was able to book an aft room... the way I cruised was completely different than when I had normal balcony.
It's unfair to compare older ships (Magic and Wonder incl.) when comparing the Fantasy or the Dream. So when making a general comparison of Disney to other cruise lines your better off making an apple to apple comparison. However, Fantasy and Dream are starting to show age compared to other new (2013 or newer) ships. And, newer ships from other cruise lines do have / can have elevated prices.
How one cruises is a very personal choice. As far as food, lounges, customer service, and general entertainment (not the big production shows) it's my humble opinion that RC, NCL, MSC, CCL, etc are all equally "good; maybe great." And allow me to point out specifically... The food on all the 1st rate ships is very comparable to DCL; in fact, some cruise lines do some things better with their food...and some things DCL does better. Of course, comparable is a relative term, so my point is...A person with typical "mid range" expectations would be satisfied with the general amenities between all cruise lines. With that said, the big production shows that Disney offers are top rate; and so far the best I have experienced of any cruise line. Disney owns the market with good story telling. Additionally, you cannot match the total access to Disney lore, film...and of course access to characters... Again... It's how one cruises, or what's important to the cruiser. Plus, Castaway Cay is a GREAT port of call. So great in fact, other cruise lines are taking that page from the DCL playbook....of course some cruise lines do it better than others.
As a seasoned cruiser, the way I cruised now is completely different than my first cruise. I don't need to see every show, experience every meal, do every activity... However where Disney out prices themselves completely out of the game is concierge. What I get on other cruise lines at the concierge level; well, Disney cannot compare for the price.
Point I am trying to make is... For me, after the first or second Disney cruise, it becomes more about the ports of call (when comparing other first rate cruise lines). For the readers that have never cruised DCL, take a 3 day and visit the parks while in Florida. You can get "the DCL experience" on a 3 day cruise ( certainly in 5)...and if there is room left in the budget and vacation days, go to the parks at WDW.
Since I last cruised DCL, I have heard that the no longer allow you to bring alcohol on board...And what is even more discouraging is that DCL does not offer a drink package. I cannot live on drinks-of-the-day alone. I need variety and it can be expensive to consume a more than average consumption of alcohol on DCL... (Don't judge...you cruise your way; I cruise mine).
Final point...Has Disney priced themselves out of the market. For the 299.00 per person special...probably... But I don't cruise that way. But I have always compared compatible cruises to Disney and Disney, on average, is a bit more expensive...and usually by more an a few hundred dollars.
Will I go on another DCL cruise... I might, it just depends on duration, when, where and how much...meaning... I (and I want to believe most) can get the same cruise experience (minus the Mickey magic) on any other top tier cruise line...And recently... You can usually get it less than DCL.
Just my humble opinion.