What makes DCL worth more money than other lines?

[MizDaisy]

Well I appreciate that they don't have desperate sales techniques. I agree that the buying is optional but it degrades the relaxed sailing experience by a lot when you have high pressure photographers heckling you "let me take your photo!" when you are late for dinner. And bar servers asking constantly "what can I get you" and don't even get me started on the "get there early for a seat at the theater and lookie, a bingo game while you wait." Those are classic CCL experiences. Other lines up charge for cupcakes, hamburgers, and theme dinner parties. Disney is more, but they include much more. Besides, you can get deals if you look and you can have the more inclusive experience AND less desperate buy this or that... That's how I personally feel though.

 

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ALL of that happens on Disney, too. They may not have Bingo in the theater right before a show, but the only time I've arrived early to the theater on another line and they still had bingo or another game going was because that's where the HAVE them.

 

Disney has CM's pushing wine packages, they have servers trying to sell the drink of the day, they have bartenders asking if you want something.....what the heck??

Some lines have Johnny Rocket's, Carlo's Bakery, Guy's Burgers....I see that as a HUGE PLUS. You don't HAVE to go to them....it's another choice that Disney doesn't have.

 

Right along with all the other things they don't have....

Bowling alley

Rock climbing wall

Sports deck with trampoline, soccer, rope course, batting cages

Hot tubs along the walking deck

INDOOR adult only pools

Lap pools

 

And the list goes on....... Disney has upsell restaurants.....

They also have photographers crawling all over the ship. Maybe if they set up more backgrounds at dinner time, like the other lines do, they wouldn't have lines wrapped around the lobby....and if you happen to walk past one that isn't busy, the photog WILL ask if you'd like a picture. Is it so hard to smile, say "no thanks" and keep walking???

 

Disney has ONE soda station, not in a convenient location. If I'm in a club and want a soda, am I really going to leave the club, lose my chair, and schelp myself all the way to the top deck to get a "free" soda, rather than shell out a measly three bucks?????

 

Unbelievable. So much more to say, but I won't.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

FYI, Guys isn't an up charge, so that's one thing CCL did right (but isn't on any of the four ships I've been on.)

 

Paying for a bowling alley etc at sea is strange to me given the fares you pay are aren't that far off. Oasis and Fantasy balconies for a week I looked at were about $200 pp different and then you would have to buy drinks on top of it.

 

I know you are shaking your head at some of us but frankly we are entitled to our vacation experience. There is a reason the other lines take a captive theater audience, tell them to get seats early, and then go up and down the aisles selling bingo cards. I know Disney has it but it never was where I was, meaning you could go to it and not the other way around. Also CCL would place trivia and games right next to the casino too intentionally to bring people to the casino. I love that Disney doesn't have one.

 

I have never had high pressure sales, wine package or anything sold to me on DC. The only stuff we bought (vs unlimited carry on) were buy one get one free anyway. Never seen that on a CCL.

 

So this is where you and I disagree. I'm sure DC sees us all as dollar signs, I'm not naive. But when they put my song in the computer and pull it up on screen vs flipping thru an old karaoke book where its scratched and my words don't even show up, at least I know where my money is going... (Edit, the CCL superstar karaoke is very cool tho.)

 

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Edited December 10, 2013 by TwinPrincessMermaids

[MizDaisy]

Paying for a bowling alley etc at sea is strange to me given the fares you pay are aren't that far off. Oasis and Fantasy balconies for a week I looked at were about $200 pp different and then you would have to buy drinks on top of it.

 

This actually made me think of something.....I've looked at the Oasis and would love to cruise on her someday, or one of their similar ships. But for my budget, they're too expensive. I realize that they're more expensive because they have a lot of really cool things to do, and a lot of entertainment and food venues, etc....and as much as I would love to have a chance to enjoy those, *to me* they are just not worth the price.

I would rather take two other vacations, less expensive, but enjoyable *to me*, than to pay that much for one trip.

 

So I guess the same could be said for Disney, or anything. What it's worth is going to be different for everyone.

 

 

 

The only thing I still don't get, is the whole "drink" thing.....what drinks? Alcoholic drinks are not free on any cruise line, soda isn't free on any cruise line....except for DCL's drink station. And even for a difference of only $200....that is way more than I would spend for drinks of any kind on a one week cruise. Even for a family of four. If everyone is drinking that much soda, then they're not getting hydrated and are quite likely ruining their teeth. (Okay, that was a public service announcement, and in jest)

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

 

The only thing I still don't get, is the whole "drink" thing.....what drinks? Alcoholic drinks are not free on any cruise line, soda isn't free on any cruise line....except for DCL's drink station. And even for a difference of only $200....that is way more than I would spend for drinks of any kind on a one week cruise. Even for a family of four. If everyone is drinking that much soda, then they're not getting hydrated and are quite likely ruining their teeth. (Okay, that was a public service announcement, and in jest)

 

When you can bring your own drinks on board, and have a regular fountain (and going to the deck doesn't bother me at all personally), then you can save quite a bit, particularly with alcohol sales. The other lines let you bring 2 bottles of wine per room, DCL we know has no limit. That saved us easily on OBC. That's the 'drinks' thing.

 

Btw, I've always felt bad about your accident. :( I'm sure if I was dealt with the same way, I'd be really unhappy with them too.

[MizDaisy]

When you can bring your own drinks on board, and have a regular fountain (and going to the deck doesn't bother me at all personally), then you can save quite a bit, particularly with alcohol sales. The other lines let you bring 2 bottles of wine per room, DCL we know has no limit. That saved us easily on OBC. That's the 'drinks' thing.

 

Btw, I've always felt bad about your accident. :( I'm sure if I was dealt with the same way, I'd be really unhappy with them too.

 

I honestly don't think about my accident when I respond to the questions of "what makes Disney better". The only time I mention it is if it relates to the matter being discussed. But thank you, for your concern....it really was a pretty bad situation. I'll inject a little humor here....not one week after my ribs had healed, I got shingles in the exact same spot...along the ribcage where I'd had the broken ribs. I don't think one had anything to do with the other, but I also have to wonder. But it was like adding insult to injury, and at least now I can laugh about it. :D I wouldn't wish shingles on my worst enemy....it really IS that bad.

 

Sometimes, a Disney cruise can cost upwards of $1000 more than what the same trip (same ports) would cost on another line. I personally can't drink that much alcohol in one week....and even adding in my husband, the two of us can't drink that much. Even, like I said, a $200 difference. That's a lot of booze.

I'm a Pepsi drinker, so I carry that onboard on every line except NCL....they have Pepsi, and I'd rather pay for my one Pepsi a day than schelp it onboard and drag it around until my room is ready.

[Tonka's Skipper]

Actually, you are right. Disney does have something special that people are willing to pay extra for. They have "Disney"....Mickey Mouse and all the rest of it. No one else has that. There is no debating that.

 

But do I think it's worth paying extra for? No. I think it's worth it to take your kids, if that's what they want. I think it's worth it for anyone, I suppose, if that's what you truly believe is better.

I just don't happen to believe that it's really any better, from a service, food, entertainment (except for the kiddies) standpoint.

 

But if someone is going to ask the question, I'm going to answer in what I think is a fair assessment.

 

 

As far as what you've said before about Carnival's safety record.....they have more ships, the odds are great that they might have more issues. God help us all if Disney ever has an accident or incident where people are hurt. Well, hurt more than the time the Captain decided to go straight through a hurricane, when all the other cruise lines stayed out to sea, away from it.

 

 

 

Ba Humbug.......your not baiting me anymore!. :)

[Loonbeam]

Not sure why there is so much discussion over this. Disney charges higher prices because they can get it in the current market. The reasons don't matter, those will vary from person to person.

 

Cruise ship fares are set by supply and demand. Disney has a lower supply, which is a factor, and a higher demand (name recognition and fandom). But when it comes down to it, if people won't pay higher prices, the prices will drop, because cabins are perishable.

 

Every single person on this board has different priorities when it comes to choosing a cruise. Different lines may meet those criteria at different times. Whats a plus for one is a negative for another. It's a myth of the loyalty program that you have to have a 'favorite' cruise line (yes, there are benefits to sticking with one line, all else equal, but that should not be the deciding factor).

 

There is no one reason why Disney is 'worth' more money. Its a bogus question. The question is 'What does Disney provide for the higher price point that others do not and how relevant is that to the person asking.'

[Sitzmark]

To the original question of what makes Disney worth the extra price. For us it's the larger rooms, the closer to "all inclusive" nature of the experience, The lack of a Casino for us is a big selling point. And the new tighter smoking restrictions.

 

We also enjoy the reputation of quality that Disney has with us from many years of experiencing what they have to offer.

[SuperDad82]

I agree with everything Sitzmark says. Disney Cruise Lines offer larger rooms and a family filled atmosphere. I am a single dad with two kids, so I need that family vibe on a cruise line or else it's not going to happen for us. You can always find great deals and contest to win free cruise line tickets with Disney Cruise Line as well. I've received probably 3 free tickets in the past year from these contest and special promotion. I haven't done it recently, but you can find it if you know how to do your research well. Maybe I'll post it on my blog one day. I'll let everybody know. Anyways, Disney Cruise Line Rules!!!

[sippican]

I agree with everything Sitzmark says. Disney Cruise Lines offer larger rooms and a family filled atmosphere. I am a single dad with two kids, so I need that family vibe on a cruise line or else it's not going to happen for us. You can always find great deals and contest to win free cruise line tickets with Disney Cruise Line as well. I've received probably 3 free tickets in the past year from these contest and special promotion. I haven't done it recently, but you can find it if you know how to do your research well. Maybe I'll post it on my blog one day. I'll let everybody know. Anyways, Disney Cruise Line Rules!!!

 

So, you're going to tell us all about your three free tickets and NOT share the info about these "contests and promotions"? Being this is your second post on CC, I, for one, am very skeptical.