No "nickle and diming" on Disney?

[DahliaRW]

They set up a table inside Whitecaps/Treasure Ketch.....just steps inside the door, same place they'll often set up a table for when the Captain signs books....for the gold by the inch.

 

When they have a sale, they'll set merchandise on racks and tables outside the shops, in the waiting area outside the Walt Disney theater.

 

 

They don't do it every day, but there would be one day, on a longer cruise, that they'd do the gold by the inch.

 

Either way, that's my last word on it. I'm not a liar, but if others want to say so, then fine.

 

I do think that having gold by the inch inside a shop and setting up sale items in front of the shop (which I assume are from what they carry on the ship anyways) is different than having a big flea market in the atrium, which I think it more like what the PP was describing.

[PhillyRomantic]

Bingo is an option; you are not pressed to play. I have been on several Disney cruises; I have never felt pressured to purchase anything. One poster mentioned being asked by a server to buy drinks before the show; I've never see a server in the theater.

 

 

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[Shmoo here]

Bingo is an option; you are not pressed to play. I have been on several Disney cruises; I have never felt pressured to purchase anything. One poster mentioned being asked by a server to buy drinks before the show; I've never see a server in the theater.

 

 

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In the Buena Vista theater, no, there are no servers. In the Walt Disney Theater, there are bar servers. We've seen them there on every cruise. At least on the classic ships.

[MizDaisy]

I do think that having gold by the inch inside a shop and setting up sale items in front of the shop (which I assume are from what they carry on the ship anyways) is different than having a big flea market in the atrium, which I think it more like what the PP was describing.

 

On the other cruise lines, I've seen them selling items pertaining to the ports that they're stopping at....postcards, t-shirts, and other souvenir type items....if that's what is meant by "flea market". But DCL has done this also. On the Mexican Riviera cruises and the Panama Canal cruise (west to east) they had a couple of shelves and tables set up with "Mexican" themed items. So I don't see the difference, except that it wasn't in the lobby on DCL, it was in the shops.

[ducklite]

I'm talking about the atrium area being filled with table after table (at least 10 of them) of flea market quality, made in China junk. Junky jewelry, junky sunglasses, junky photo frames, junky junk that you might see in a Dollar Store. It clogged up the flow of traffic and really made the atrium area look tacky and tasteless.

[MizDaisy]

I'm talking about the atrium area being filled with table after table (at least 10 of them) of flea market quality, made in China junk. Junky jewelry, junky sunglasses, junky photo frames, junky junk that you might see in a Dollar Store. It clogged up the flow of traffic and really made the atrium area look tacky and tasteless.

 

 

According to your list of past cruises, you're basing this on your one Royal Caribbean cruise in 2005??? So that means that EVERY other ship and cruise line besides Disney does this??

 

On some of my other cruises (I've been on 23) I've seen one day where they set up tables in the lobby with what I might call junk also.....but judging by the number of people surrounding those tables, one man's junk is another man's treasure.

 

Personally, I think they sell plenty of "junk" in the shops on Disney.....just not at "junk" prices. Same stuff you're talking about, cheap picture frames, sunglasses, toys, plastic cups......and check the tags to see where they're made. ;)

Edited May 25, 2014 by MizDaisy

[PhillyRomantic]

I'm talking about the atrium area being filled with table after table (at least 10 of them) of flea market quality, made in China junk. Junky jewelry, junky sunglasses, junky photo frames, junky junk that you might see in a Dollar Store. It clogged up the flow of traffic and really made the atrium area look tacky and tasteless.

 

 

I've never experienced this on the Dream in any of our 3 trips. Nor have we experienced a server in the theater; although there was a bar outside.

 

 

 

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[MizDaisy]

I've never experienced this on the Dream in any of our 3 trips. Nor have we experienced a server in the theater; although there was a bar outside.

 

 

 

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She's talking about seeing this on her RCCL cruise.

[MizDaisy]

Just one example.....nearly all of Disney's merchandise is made in China. Which means it could be as cheap, cheap, cheap as all the junk sold on another cruise line, but because it's Disney, it's nowhere near cheap...as in dollars cheap. $$$$

 

A cup from Castaway Cay:

 

[ducklite]

I've never experienced this on the Dream in any of our 3 trips. Nor have we experienced a server in the theater; although there was a bar outside.

 

 

 

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I wasn't talking about the Dream, but rather the Mariner on RCCL. Saw no tables outside the shops on either DCL cruise we sailed on.

[ducklite]

Just one example.....nearly all of Disney's merchandise is made in China. Which means it could be as cheap, cheap, cheap as all the junk sold on another cruise line, but because it's Disney, it's nowhere near cheap...as in dollars cheap. $$$$

 

A cup from Castaway Cay:

 

 

SMH. I'm talking about junk that fills the bins and shelves in Dollar Stores.

[NancyIL]

She's talking about seeing this on her RCCL cruise.

 

The Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean's larger ships (Voyager class and larger) is where I've seen tables set up selling merchandise. RCI's smaller ships that have one main "Centrum" really don't have room for sale merchandise, so those tables are usually set up by the shops. I'll be on an older RCI ship in a few weeks (Legend of the Seas), so I'll be on the lookout for the "flea market"! :D However, after all the comments about what "junk" other cruise lines sell vs DCL - it doesn't have much to do with the topic of nickel and diming on DCL.

Edited May 25, 2014 by NancyIL

[MizDaisy]

The Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean's larger ships (Voyager class and larger) is where I've seen tables set up selling merchandise. RCI's smaller ships that have one main "Centrum" really don't have room for sale merchandise, so those tables are usually set up by the shops. I'll be on an older RCI ship in a few weeks (Legend of the Seas), so I'll be on the lookout for the "flea market"! :D However, after all the comments about what "junk" other cruise lines sell vs DCL - it doesn't have much to do with the topic of nickel and diming on DCL.

 

Good point. And I did think about the fact that the atriums on the Disney ships aren't large enough to do that, anyway. Plus, they make a lot more money by having the characters out there for the photo ops.

[MizDaisy]

One last thing on that "gold by the inch" discussion.....do a search on the DIS for "gold by the inch" and see what comes up.

[Ex techie]

I've been in two DCL cruises and never saw any gold by the inch or straw bags or cheap knockoff sunglasses or any other flea market type stuff. Definitely don't exist in Paul Gauguin or Windstar.

 

One last thing on that "gold by the inch" discussion.....do a search on the DIS for "gold by the inch" and see what comes up.

Well at least these two other Guests did after a quick Google search?

 

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ex techie

Edited May 26, 2014 by Ex techie

[MizDaisy]

Ooooo.....I forgot all about the gold with the Mickey heads on it!!!:)

[tiggerlover]

One thing we love about DCL over Carnival is the fact that you can hand your camera to a cast member & they'll take a photo for you. Even with their backdrops! This would never happen on Carnival. :eek:

We love both lines but we don't feel the photo pressure on DCL like we do on CCL. :)

[tiggerlover]

Also, the food offerings on Castaway Cay is incredible. :p I love the BBQ on Half Moon Cay but the spread at Castaway Cay has so much more variety. :)

[ilovetexas]

One thing we love about DCL over Carnival is the fact that you can hand your camera to a cast member & they'll take a photo for you. Even with their backdrops! This would never happen on Carnival. :eek:

We love both lines but we don't feel the photo pressure on DCL like we do on CCL. :)

 

Perhaps you're not asking properly; they've done it for me.

[OfficerKrupke]

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

 

THAT ALCOHOL THAT DISNEY ALLOWS YOU TO BRING ONBOARD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRUISE......THEY ASK THAT YOU DRINK IT IN YOUR OWN STATEROOM ONLY.

 

So, they're letting you bring it, but when you're out and about, they still want you to pay for drinks at the bar.

 

This is the precise reason that I brought two hip flasks with me on our last DCL Fantasy cruise. I always had at least one in my pocket that was either full or on the way to being emptied.

[MizDaisy]

This is the precise reason that I brought two hip flasks with me on our last DCL Fantasy cruise. I always had at least one in my pocket that was either full or on the way to being emptied.

 

 

 

So then, this would be proof that you don't want DCL to "nickel and dime" you, right?

 

Although I don't see the option of purchasing a drink onboard as nickel and diming. It costs so much to go on a Disney cruise, I don't blame anyone for wanting to save money onboard wherever they can.

[MizDaisy]

One thing we love about DCL over Carnival is the fact that you can hand your camera to a cast member & they'll take a photo for you. Even with their backdrops! This would never happen on Carnival. :eek:

We love both lines but we don't feel the photo pressure on DCL like we do on CCL. :)

 

 

 

I've had the opposite experience. The photogs on Carnival don't seem to care one way or the other if you buy their photos....they take a few, and then they'll take some with our cameras.

 

On Disney, however.....no way.....they'll only take pictures with your camera for you if you run into a character on deck or at a Castaway Club or concierge party. Never during a backdrop shot....unless no one else is standing in line waiting perhaps.

[Linda the Book Lover]

This has been an interesting read. IMHO on all cruise lines there is always something to buy. We have declined nicely about picture taking while dining and walking off the ship and there has for us never been an issue. We have also gone "whole hog" and took pictures everywhere. When we can we take our "allowed wine" on board (though I miss the old days without the corkage fee)

 

I skip the gold by the inch but I admit to buying those shawls and sale t-shirts. ;) One thing all the ships have in common are a variety of ways to spend money should you choose to do so. The DH laughs because I always factor in on board spending as part of our vacation (spa, wine package, martini tastings, and my most popular buying something just because).

 

We are looking at Disney Cruises for a new experience so I am sure I will need to factor in a few dollars more just for the Vera Bradley Disney handbag alone! LOL

 

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

[fluffysue]

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

 

THAT ALCOHOL THAT DISNEY ALLOWS YOU TO BRING ONBOARD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRUISE......THEY ASK THAT YOU DRINK IT IN YOUR OWN STATEROOM ONLY.

 

So, they're letting you bring it, but when you're out and about, they still want you to pay for drinks at the bar.

 

I'm curious then, whether they do not let you carry around drinks as on other lines? As in, can you still get a drink at a bar and carry it in to a show, or whatever? If so, then how do they know if you bought it at a bar or brought it from your room? Not trying to start any kind of debate/argument or anything, just honestly wondering. Going on my first Disney cruise in August, and the per-person rate for this 3-day cruise, would be about what it was on my last 7-day cruise. So I'm not looking to spend any extra (except the shopping...Disney souvenirs will be my downfall!:):))

[fluffysue]

The Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean's larger ships (Voyager class and larger) is where I've seen tables set up selling merchandise. RCI's smaller ships that have one main "Centrum" really don't have room for sale merchandise, so those tables are usually set up by the shops. I'll be on an older RCI ship in a few weeks (Legend of the Seas), so I'll be on the lookout for the "flea market"! :D However, after all the comments about what "junk" other cruise lines sell vs DCL - it doesn't have much to do with the topic of nickel and diming on DCL.

 

LOL! Just sailed on Grandeur, and I noticed they sure did find plenty of space to sell the same junk they sold in the Promenade on Oasis! I feel it worth noting that almost everything I've ever bought at a $10 sale has broken, and that is only since my first cruise in December! I do wonder if I'll find the same kind of things on the Disney cruise. I am such a Disney fan though that I'll probably stick to the Disney souvenirs.

Edited May 27, 2014 by fluffysue