Is The Price Of A Disney Cruise Worth Its Weight In Gold?

[jrjac]

Disney Cruiseline is costly in comparison to other "family" cruiselines. It sounds fabulous..but...is it worth the extra money? Is there a good variety of family activities? And how is the food?? (Family fun & food-what can be better?!) Thanks for any info!:o

[Ella2]

DCL is an excellent cruise line, with decent food and the best children's programming on the seas in terms of the availability of programming (basically continuous each day, with no breaks, and no extra charges for late night activities). The ships are very clean, the crew is generally excellent, staterooms are large by industry standards, and you will see TONS of families onboard.

 

That said, are they WORTH the extra money? That is a subjective question and one that will get many different answers. If you are diehard Disney fans, love all things Mouse, and want the Disney touches, then yes, it probably is worth it for you.

 

If NOT, then honestly, you will find equally as wonderful cruise experiences on other lines, for MUCH less money. Plus on some of the larger ships on other lines you will find MANY MANY more options for family entertainment and late night entertainment for adults. That's an area where DCL is lacking a bit, in my opinion. They do have an adults-only nightlife area (three clubs only) but after sailing this line many times, the whole experience gets a little redundant...nothing seems to change. And the larger ships on other lines (such as RCCL) have LOTS more to do with families all together, especially with the older kids.

 

I would never discourage you from a Disney cruise. If it fits in your budget, I think you should see for yourself. Only you can decide if it is worth its weight in gold. :)

[gizfish]

Every member of your party must absolutly LOVE the mouse, for a DCL vacation to be worth the money you pay. While DCL is tops with service and attention to detail, in some ways it does fall short of other cruise lines. A biggy is the food. The times food is available, variety of foods and the quality of the food is only so so compared with every other cruiseline I have been on (that basically includes all the cruiselines in the DCL price range and lower.) The price one pays for a Disney cruise definitely is at a premium due to the pixie dust. If Disney magic is important to you, than a Disney cruise is worth it's weight in pixie dust.

[jeast]

which line has the best programs/variety without being too raucous?

[bigsky]

We've been on Disney, CArnival and just went on the Mariner with RCCL. We won't do Disney again. Just wasn't impressed. We have teens though. But like the one poster said, you have to LOVE Disney!! Too many little kids running around for us. Entertainment shows at night, Disney.

I think for the overall family, I'd go with the Voyager class with RCCL or the newer ships of Carnival.

I think you get much for your money on Carnival and Royal than Disney. This is jmo though.

[gizfish]

I second the last poster on the newer Carnival ships. Legend class and above have lost much of the glitzy (some think tacky) decor and have something for everyone to do. The activity schedules are great with all types of activities happening at times other lines don't do them. For instance, most ships have yoga or pilates in the AM, Carnival Legend also schedules those things in the afternoon and evening. The food on Legend was really really good (better than Disney but not as great when it came to artistic merit), and you could find something to eat basically at all times.

[Casshew]

You get what you pay for.

[deborahjo]

We went last year on a trip my DH won. Would I have gone if we had to pay for it. No. Disney is to expensive for to short of time. It is neat but I would not pay the price.

[alinnj]

You get what you pay for.

At least thats what di$ney wants you to think so they can charge extra!

I am a Disney fan as you will see by the pictures below.

My first two cruises were with Di$ney ( Wonder & Magic) and I was very happy when I had nothing else to compare to. Now that I have gone on 4 other cruises, I look back and can say as a Di$ney fan that during peak times of travel they are wayyyyyy over priced........ So my answer to the above question IMO is a big

NO!

 

 

 

 

 

[mickey_mate]

What a load of bull****, probably paid to write that crap. DCL is just another cruise line, nothing to remember for. The food is often served cold, poor crew is overworked with 100 hours per week, chineese loundry guys do not speak english at all, crew is unsatisfied, rooms are smelly, what else do you want to hear? Take it from the person who lived on that ship since opening (maiden voyage). I would choose other cruise line every time.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Maybe we have simplier tastes in food and entertainment, but we think our Disney cruise was FANTASTIC!!!! Worth every penny.

We have gone as a couple, with kids and with grandkids from age 2 to 14.

Everyone had the time of their lives, even a couple who are not Disney fanatics like us. We thought the food was great, excellant service, extremely clean rooms, with such friendly employees everywhere. They were always greeting us, smiling, teasing the grandkids. The talent of their performers matches any show on broadway as far as we are concerned.

We have talked many times that we could aford to cruise more often if we went back to another cruise line, but Disney was such a "HOOT" that we just never seem to do any other line. We have 3 more 7 day cruises booked over the next 2 years. You just have to try it for yourself to see if it's worth it for you. But you must go with an open mind, if you go trying to find the bad points, of any cruise, that is all you'll find. Participate in everything you can and you'll have a "magical" time.

mom x4,grandma x4:D

[KKB]

First cruise Star Princesss last Oct. Had fantastic time, now hooked on cruising. Some people complained about the cruise, but we had little to complain about.

MIL is taking all children/grandchildren on Disney over Xmas...so we shall see. Princess was perfect for DH & I, but Disney may be perfect for travelling w/ the kids. Would I personally spring for it--doubt it. Not when I can get a 7 day easily for $499-699 pp on any of the major lines. But I think it will be nice to be on the ship w/ the best kids program around, and especially w/ the longest hours!!! (luckily we have kids that always want to be the last ones to leave such things!) It might end up seeming like the kids took a separate vacation from us! I suspect we will have to drag them to activities that we would like to do together!

Another consideration...some say the lack of casino increases the price (I agree somewhat--but Disney knows its name demands a premium price). We do enjoy the casino...the $ we would spend there, does that offset the price ? Maybe. But I don't see Disney as having activities so much more/ better to replace my entertainment $ in the casino...

I'll let you know my informed opinion after the first of the year!

Happy cruising!

Kristin

10/24/04 Star Princess

12/24/05 Disney Magic

[Crwfshlady]

We have only been on 2 cruises so far, and going on another in about a month. All have been Disney. I can't imagine anyone topping the service, food or entertainment. As far as I'm concerned, when you say DISNEY, you've said it all. They make you feel like royalty.

[alinnj]

We have only been on 2 cruises so far, and going on another in about a month. All have been Disney. I can't imagine anyone topping the service, food or entertainment. As far as I'm concerned, when you say DISNEY, you've said it all. They make you feel like royalty.

 

I felt the same way as you, and my first two cruises were with Di$ney. My view changed when I tried other cruise lines! I could only go during the summer when prices were highest. October would have been more realistic (lower rates).My answer is too much $$$$$ :eek:

NO!

[lilbon]

What a load of bull****, probably paid to write that crap. DCL is just another cruise line, nothing to remember for. The food is often served cold, poor crew is overworked with 100 hours per week, chineese loundry guys do not speak english at all, crew is unsatisfied, rooms are smelly, what else do you want to hear? Take it from the person who lived on that ship since opening (maiden voyage). I would choose other cruise line every time.

 

If you work for Disney and are that upset with them.. why dont you quit?

[SolitaryPhoenix]

If you work for Disney and are that upset with them.. why dont you quit?

 

I was somewhat interested in that myself, given the posts made by 'mickey mate' in the last day or so... I thought perhaps he was an ex-employee.

[alinnj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilbon

If you work for Disney and are that upset with them.. why dont you quit?

 

 

 

Disney is very strict with their help! My server 5 years ago told me that if he received any negative comments or complaints that he would lose his break for the day. I asked how could that be and was told that there are no unions or protections on a job as such. He was a psychologist from Croatia and had a wife and child back home. He indicated that he was lucky to have this cruis job as back home times were hard. Maybe some workers just can't quit even though they aren't treated fairly!

[wtevrfltsurbt]

I have done 2 Disney cruises with my kids and they were great! :D

 

Would I choose them again? Not with all the other ships offering the amenities they are these days and the differences in price. I asked the kids too and they said yes, they enjoyed them, but they have enjoyed themselves just as much on many other lines as well. I even asked them if they could go on the big D again, for X dollars , or go on 2 other cruises for the same amount of money, what would they choose, and they both said they would rather do the 2 cruises!:eek:

[Chucksta63]

Personaly I like Carnival for the price!!! I always get a balcony and out there I can't tell the diffrence!!!! Only in the weight of my wallet!!!

[NJfamily]

I sailed the Disney Magic twice, Oct 2002 & Oct 2004. Got off the Sapphire Princess less then a week ago.

 

One of my children loves structure and liked the Disney programs. The other child loves video games and liked the Princess club better because he spent most of his time in the club using the Playstations. For young children, between the ages of 3 to 7, I would give DCL the edge. I would also give Disney the edge on the cabins design, purely because of the split bathrooms. Both my husband and I preferred the food on Disney. The dinning room food was about equal, but the DCL buffet area was much better then Princess. For family entertainment, once again I would give DCL the edge.

 

Itinerary is where DCL falls short, only having 2 ships is a major downfall.

 

Is it worth the money to sail DCL? For us, when the kids were younger and we hadn't been to most of the islands in the Caribbean it was worth the price difference to us. Currently we have no plans to sail them again because our children are older and we want to go to different ports. Even though I gave DCL the edge to Princess in many categories, our Princess trip was awesome because of the destination, Alaska.

 

Princess has some excellent itineraries that I hope to be able to book in the future. Also would like to try RCCL and Carnival.

[MrPete]

It's worth trying once, just for the experience. The food could be a little better, and they could use more room in the Lido buffet.

[SolitaryPhoenix]

I've basically decided to go with Disney for my first cruise, a 4-day Bahamas in 2007, but for the next one, which will be a 7-day W Carib, I'm going to have to look at other lines, simply because Disney prices me out on anything more than the 4-day. :(

 

 

I have to say though, I am really looking forward to my first ocean-going cruise, especially since it's gonna be a Disney! :rolleyes:

[mrsfuzzmo]

I have to agree with the majority...No. DCL Magic is a nice ship, but worth almost twice the price?.....definitely not. Really the only thing that DCL has over any other lines is that it is a kids playground. Other than that, so many other ships have so much more to offer in the way of entertainment, variety of options for sea days, ports, etc, and the price can be quite a bit lower.

 

I have sailed Carnival(2), NCL(4), Windjammer(1), RCI (2), Aloha Pacific (1),

DCL(1), Dolphin(1), and maybe a few more that I've forgotten...we won't do DCL again, as we just can't justify the price and the vacation that we got for that price...was just no better, maybe a little worse than some others.

 

Unless you are an absolute Disney nut, NOT worth it.