Disney a threat to RCL?

[orville99]

I mean no disrespect, but this seems odd to me. If you love Disney, and love cruising, I would think that a Disney cruise would be a natural fit for you. Why is the lack of a casino such a big deal? After all, Disneyland doesn't have a casino either, but apparently that's not stopping you from going there.

 

 

Probably because you can go to Disneyland and go to numerous casinos on the same vacation:)

[temple1]

I mean no disrespect, but this seems odd to me. If you love Disney, and love cruising, I would think that a Disney cruise would be a natural fit for you. Why is the lack of a casino such a big deal? After all, Disneyland doesn't have a casino either, but apparently that's not stopping you from going there.

 

For me I look at a trip to Disney as a child centered vacation, although there are plenty of adults who like going there without children. If you have kids - it is their vacation.

 

A cruise, however, is an adult centered vacation with plenty to keep the children entertained. As an adult vacation you look for adult activities on the ship. I don't spend that much time in the casino - perhaps 1 - 2 hours the entire cruise, but it is an adult diversion.

 

Just my opinion, which will differ from others.

 

On the side - even with children I don't know that I want to go to Disney World in the future. I was in Orlando over the weekend for a meeting and we went to Downtown Disney for dinner. It has been about 14 years since I'd been to Disney. Boy was I in for a shock! The place in the middle of January was wall to wall people. I cannot imagine going there anywhere near summer, Christmas or spring break. :eek:

[mo&fran]

 

For me I look at a trip to Disney as a child centered vacation, although there are plenty of adults who like going there without children. If you have kids - it is their vacation.

 

A cruise, however, is an adult centered vacation with plenty to keep the children entertained. As an adult vacation you look for adult activities on the ship. I don't spend that much time in the casino - perhaps 1 - 2 hours the entire cruise, but it is an adult diversion.

 

Just my opinion, which will differ from others.

 

On the side - even with children I don't know that I want to go to Disney World in the future. I was in Orlando over the weekend for a meeting and we went to Downtown Disney for dinner. It has been about 14 years since I'd been to Disney. Boy was I in for a shock! The place in the middle of January was wall to wall people. I cannot imagine going there anywhere near summer, Christmas or spring break. :eek:

 

I lived in South Florida for 23 years. The first thing I learned about WDW was to only visit on Saturday if it is not a holiday weekend, since the crowd is primarily locals. For tourists, it is a travel day. Weekdays, it is a zoo, as are holiday weekends.

[temple1]

I lived in South Florida for 23 years. The first thing I learned about WDW was to only visit on Saturday if it is not a holiday weekend, since the crowd is primarily locals. For tourists, it is a travel day. Weekdays, it is a zoo, as are holiday weekends.

 

Oh yeah, I know about the Saturday change over day, I live at the beach. ;)

 

It was Saturday night when we went to Downtown Disney.

[Friend100]

 

For me I look at a trip to Disney as a child centered vacation, although there are plenty of adults who like going there without children. If you have kids - it is their vacation.

 

A cruise, however, is an adult centered vacation with plenty to keep the children entertained. As an adult vacation you look for adult activities on the ship. I don't spend that much time in the casino - perhaps 1 - 2 hours the entire cruise, but it is an adult diversion.

 

 

I guess this is where we differ, which is totally fine:). A cruise is a family-centered vacation for us.

[konakate]

I suppose it is part of Disney's strategy to build a brand that's marketed to be premium and price it accordingly. Based on the response I read here I guess they are successful in that regard.

 

So to answer OP's question is No, there's no threat to RCL. Different product, different taste, different customer, different price, different interest.

 

Different customer...not exactly true. I think there is a lot of overlap. We just enjoyed our cruise on Voyager very much, but would have sailed Disney instead (since we had just been on The Disney Dream and loved it)if the price for a holiday cruise was not a full $2000.00 more. While I love Disney, we loved the Voyager as well and are happy we sailed her.

 

However...on Disney you can carry on alcohol!!!!! That might sway a few people to DCL!!!:D

[Friend100]

Different customer...not exactly true. I think there is a lot of overlap. We just enjoyed our cruise on Voyager very much, but would have sailed Disney instead (since we had just been on The Disney Dream and loved it)if the price for a holiday cruise was not a full $2000.00 more. While I love Disney, we loved the Voyager as well and are happy we sailed her.

 

However...on Disney you can carry on alcohol!!!!! That might sway a few people to DCL!!!:D

 

Thanks. I guess you and I are one of the minorities in this thread. :D I read a lot of comments either "never consider a boat with mouse, with lots of kids, or without a casino", or "i want to do but it is too $$$$$ so no" .... Some people are very determined in what they want/need and very loyal to a brand or to a way of cruising, which is fine. But I am not .... yet. Maybe one day I will but I just haven't cruised that many times so I am still not bored for even a 3-days Bahamas cruise, if that's what I can do, and bonus if it is Allure on Valetine's Day:). I want to try other lines/ships and check out what else is out there. I will look at the price, the itinerary, the ship, etc., and then make the decision ... which can be changing all the time :p

 

Hey, I just moved my dummy ressie on DCL again, and my dream no-kid cruise on the Summit to Southern Caribbean will have to be postponed for a few more years.

[gelo7]

Not with those crazy Disney prices.

[hubofhockey]

Not with those crazy Disney prices.

 

Agree on that one. For yucks, I looked at their cruises out of Miami for our sale dates next year. There were either 4 or 5 day cruises. That's a bit too short. My guess is that Disney is really hoping that people want to combine Disney Park vacations with cruises. I would pass on both. We are taking a week this spring split between Orlando and Cocoa Beach. We'll be in Orlando for three days and our kids want Universal, Sea World, and a water park (that may be our only Disney stop). I don't consider Disney to be a big player and a threat to any of the major cruise lines.

[The Big Booper]

True, and if the Fantasy/Dream sailed with 500-1000 fewer pax at capacity, the public ameneties and grt/pax ratio would be sized more appropriately. You've been on the Magic, which is our all-time favorite ship. The pool deck on Dream has the same number of pools (two are the same same size) as Magic, and the Cove pool is actually smaller than the one on Magic. Same number of pools + 1500 additional pax is not a good design, IMO.

 

Were going on the Fantasy early December, with the same other couple that we sailed on the Magic. In early December, the kids are still in school, so you have mostly pre-schoolers. Not as bad as the summer or a holiday week.

 

The other couple hides from the sun, husband had skin cancer, so sitting and bronzing is not an issue (well, maybe some sun time for us). They live in Florida and we are in NY.

[orville99]

Were going on the Fantasy early December, with the same other couple that we sailed on the Magic. In early December, the kids are still in school, so you have mostly pre-schoolers. Not as bad as the summer or a holiday week.

 

The other couple hides from the sun, husband had skin cancer, so sitting and bronzing is not an issue (well, maybe some sun time for us). They live in Florida and we are in NY.

 

 

The good news is that Disney did a redesign of the top decks on the Fantasy in response to all of the complaints from pax about the pools and layout of the Dream, so you will have a better variety of choices.

[orville99]

Agree on that one. For yucks, I looked at their cruises out of Miami for our sale dates next year. There were either 4 or 5 day cruises. That's a bit too short. My guess is that Disney is really hoping that people want to combine Disney Park vacations with cruises. I would pass on both. We are taking a week this spring split between Orlando and Cocoa Beach. We'll be in Orlando for three days and our kids want Universal, Sea World, and a water park (that may be our only Disney stop). I don't consider Disney to be a big player and a threat to any of the major cruise lines.

 

 

We're booked on a 5-night caribbean on Jewel in a JS for March 2013 (out of Tampa), so like you just for yucks I did a phantom booking on the Magic 5-night that leaves Miami on the same day (we'll actually be in Cozumel at the same time). The differences are that Jewel does Key West, and Magic does Castaway Cay - both have two sea days. The price for the JS on Jewel is $160 lower than the price for a Navigator Veranda on the Magic.

[debates2]

Just saw the Disney Wonder will be homeported in Miami, Fl for December 2012 through May 2013. With Allure, Oasis, Vision, Independence, Liberty, & Majesty (not to mention those under the Celebrity Brand - Reflection, Constellation, Equinox & Eclipse) I can forsee some issues with the high pricing RCL currently has on their sailings.

 

The very clients that have been gravitating towards the Dreameworks Experience may very well be "allured" more towards Disney because.... Well... It's Disney!!

 

Are lower prices and more competition to come? What do you all think?

 

Personally, I think I would go bonkers if heard "Now I Wish Upon A Star" every time prior an overhead announcement. I'll stick with RCCL!

[hubofhockey]

We're booked on a 5-night caribbean on Jewel in a JS for March 2013 (out of Tampa), so like you just for yucks I did a phantom booking on the Magic 5-night that leaves Miami on the same day (we'll actually be in Cozumel at the same time). The differences are that Jewel does Key West, and Magic does Castaway Cay - both have two sea days. The price for the JS on Jewel is $160 lower than the price for a Navigator Veranda on the Magic.

 

If you like a good character breakfast . . . . :D

 

You're paying less for junior suite on the Jewel than you would for a balcony cabin on Disney. Disney has its hard core fans and they certainly drive up the price. They can do that when they only have a couple of ships to fill. But there is only so much demand for a Disney cruise. That's why I don't believe that they are a threat to any of the mass market lines and that relates to demand for their product as well as pricing structure.

[lillian001]

We are cruising for the 1st time with rci on the frredom in march and we have a 5 yr old and compared disney and rci and disney was more expensive and rci seemed to have just as many great activities!

[Ocean Boy]

RCI's Mariner and Disney lived to gether quite well in Port Canaveral for years. I don't see a Disney ship in Miami having much effect of RCI's ships. People who want to sail Disney will whether it be from Miami or Port Canaveral. Those who have not the slightest interest in sailing Disney still won't.

[Friend100]

We are cruising for the 1st time with rci on the frredom in march and we have a 5 yr old and compared disney and rci and disney was more expensive and rci seemed to have just as many great activities!

 

No question. Basically if you look at Disney Dream/Fantasy price, it starts going up from late February and stay very high through the end of August (for Caribbean and Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral).

 

RCI ships are known for their variety of activities, which to us is one of several factors we see as important in our cruise vacation, but not the only one.

[Friend100]

RCI's Mariner and Disney lived to gether quite well in Port Canaveral for years. I don't see a Disney ship in Miami having much effect of RCI's ships. People who want to sail Disney will whether it be from Miami or Port Canaveral. Those who have not the slightest interest in sailing Disney still won't.

 

Agreed. But I think there are also some people who like both products and will enjoy either one when price/itinerary/timing is right. And even within RCI there are so many to choose from. It doesn't have to be "either, or" right?

[Ocean Boy]

Agreed. But I think there are also some people who like both products and will enjoy either one when price/itinerary/timing is right. And even within RCI there are so many to choose from. It doesn't have to be "either, or" right?

 

Absolutely. I agree with you. But for those who want to try Disney I am not sure whether the ship being in Port Canaveral or Miami is going to be that much of an influence on the choice to sail Disney or RCI. But, of course, I am seeing it from someone who has to get into a plane to get to either departure port. For those who can drive maybe it will influence their decision.

[Friend100]

Absolutely. I agree with you. But for those who want to try Disney I am not sure whether the ship being in Port Canaveral or Miami is going to be that much of an influence on the choice to sail Disney or RCI. But, of course, I am seeing it from someone who has to get into a plane to get to either departure port. For those who can drive maybe it will influence their decision.

 

Yes. I actually stated in the DCL board that, by putting Wonder in Miami doing those 4-5 nights cruise, I can see this will trigger some people who've booked Disney Dream already to re-consider. I checked their starting prices this morning. Basically a 3-days cruise on the Dream will be about the same price as a 4-days cruise on Wonder; a 4-days on Dream about the same as 5-days on Wonder. So either 1 day less but a newer ship, or 1 more day but an older ship.

 

It has much lesser of an impact to a cruiser who has already booked Oasis for the same period.

[DonnaK]

Yes! Disney is about the same price range as Celebrity/Princess.

 

 

Celebrity and Princess aren't highly priced...in many cases, they are considerably less than RCI. Eaxh of our Caribbean Princess cruises saved us over $2000 (for a family of 4) over the comparable cruise on RCI Explorer. And, they European cruise I am eyeing is over $1000 per person less expensive on Celebrity Equinox than the comparable cruise on RCI's Serenade.

[mac_tlc]

I think both will coexist quite well -- and Disney's prices won't come down. We have sailed DCL three times -- but not for a few years, their pricing just isn't attractive enough. But, they do have some innovative features -- rotational dining, inside staterooms with a "window" (on Dream and Fantasy),and their best feature ---- the split bathroom.

 

DW needs a casino to donate to, do that makes DCL an issue. As others have said, the Mariner and Magic/Wonder lived well together for years. With only 4 ships, the demand is still much greater then the supply.

 

At this point in our lives DW and I would prefer CEL's "S" ships.

 

mac_tlc

[woody73]

 

. . . The price for the JS on Jewel is $160 lower than the price for a Navigator Veranda on the Magic.

I've sailed on both the Jewel OTS and Disney Magic.

 

The balcony on a Navigator Veranda stateroom on the Magic has a solid steel wall with a large round cutout. It's not nearly as nice as a junior suite's balcony on the Jewel.

 

Woody

[Ocean Boy]

I think both will coexist quite well -- and Disney's prices won't come down. We have sailed DCL three times -- but not for a few years, their pricing just isn't attractive enough. But, they do have some innovative features -- rotational dining, inside staterooms with a "window" (on Dream and Fantasy),and their best feature ---- the split bathroom.

 

DW needs a casino to donate to, do that makes DCL an issue. As others have said, the Mariner and Magic/Wonder lived well together for years. With only 4 ships, the demand is still much greater then the supply.

 

At this point in our lives DW and I would prefer CEL's "S" ships.

 

mac_tlc

I am a little confused on how that is an innovation. RCI came up with inside rooms that have windows when they designed the Voyager class ships. They are called Promenade cabins and overlook the Royal Promenade.

[mp466]

We sailed Disney twice when our kids were in elementary school. Not only were they more expensive at the time, but they gave us the "Magic" of Norovirus both times!!

 

As the kids became pre-teens and teens, any interest in Disney disappeared.