Why Disney for the price?

[MC-AZ-07]

Yeah, it's funny how if you post something negative your own credibility tends to get challenged here. I posted some negatives on my Dec. cruise on the Princess forum and it turned into a bit of a debate, which is really odd because I was only defending my own experience and my own impressions, so it's hardly debatable.

[DrD]

Don't worry, Carnival is not on my short list, or my long list, or any list at all. No offense to Carnival fans, but it's not for me. I'm a Princess and RCCL fan.

[MC-AZ-07]

Carnival owns Princess now.

[Muushka]

I am telling you, our Owners Suite on RCCL was the same price we paid for the Navigators Verandah. You have a travel agent here also telling you that on other cruiselines you get more for the same price.

 

We enjoyed DCL, no complaints about that at all. And I'm not taking shots at Disney, as we are Vacation Club members and shareholders. Just that there are lots of other products out there, and when you do take the higher categories on other cruiselines, the overall package does compete favorably with DCL. For the experience we got, the RCCL cruise was still the best of all. We'll see what NCL does for us this summer - Penthouse Suite - again, same price as what the Navigators Verandah would cost.

 

As long as you get your money's worth in your own view, that is all that matters.

 

Howard

 

Howard! You sound a little more reasonable now, thank you. I believe that you did, in fact, get an owners suite for the same price as a navigator's veranda. But at the same time, I hope that you will also believe what I said about the price of our cruise for this Sept.

 

Now with that being said, I wonder what the chances of canceling our DCL and grabbing an owners suite for the same price??:) I have gotten notifications of suites on NCL for $897, very tempting. But honestly, I really like cruising out of PC, so that eliminates a lot of cruises. We just did one out of FLL and I hated that place. Loved the cruise, hated the place it berths at.

 

If this thread drives you nuts, you should visit the DVC boards over on wdw info.com. They will pay even more than a normal cruise during hurricane season just to be able to sail with other DVC members and get the goodies!

 

No, I don't had my hard money over to the mouse without a fight!

[Brad98]

We are from the UK and have just booked our 3rd Disney cruise. We have also cruised HAL. I loved the cabanas at Half moon cay, but all in all, Disney is a unique experience. Even down to the ships horn as we pull out of Port Canaveral...... it still makes me tingley all over, just thinking about it.

 

The food is out of this world. My husband commented to the waiter one night how good the fillet steak was....next minute he had another one handed to him. The whole dining experience is fantastic.

 

But one of the things that draws me, as an adult, back to Disney is the fact that the Adult Only Areas are strictly adhered to. Whereas on HAL there were kids in the adults pool every time I went in, and there was no adult only restaurant.

 

Don't get me wrong...I love kids (couldn't eat a whole one though ;) ) but sometimes (even on a family vacation) you just want to get away for an hour and have some ME time.....I was able to do that on Disney but not on HAL. Hope that helps, but do shop around as I have just landed an absolute bargain, there are good deals out there! xx

[LadyShiva]

Cat 5 (step up from Navigator's Veranda), booked last May, for the May 3, 2008 7 Day, for 2 adults and a child: $4432.29 (gone up $2K)

 

Cat 5, 2 Adults, on the Sept. 28th 7 day sailing, booked last year: $2,733.88 (gone up roughly $2K)

 

Can you really get an Owner's Suite for that price? I've always priced it out as more. Maybe I'm missing something! :)

 

It's not an option right now to go with another line, because there are no programs appropriate for my 3 year old on the other lines, and no one handles serious food allergies as well as Disney. But I can dream! :D

[CaliforniaMama]

I would shop, but I am a travel agency - and MY prices are outrageous. Again, maybe you think a 7 day cruise for 4 with a porthole is worth 3300 dollars, but I could get a bigger stateroom with a balcony for under 2000 from anyone else.

 

 

Really? 4 people, 3 beds, greater than 214 sq feet and a balcony, 7 days, for less than $2000? Including taxes and port charges? Because I am talking the whole enchilada price here, not the brochure price or internet price without the extras. I'm talking every last penny I will pay. Is it possible your TA price is better than what we in the general population are getting? I would hope so, anyway.

 

Actually, my cost pp/per day on the 7 day on DCL is $115 (because my actual cruise price is 3218). With 214 sq feet, and separate beds for my 2 kids.

 

On Princess in November, my pp cost was $107. With 168 sq feet (and a balcony room!!!), absolutely NO way you could fit 4 people. That was a room for 2 only, minisuite + were the only ones fitting 4, and that would easily top $2000 just for 2 people- not adding in third and fourth person rates.

 

So for me, adding in an additional $8 per day per person to go on Disney is a no brainer.

 

My point is, there are bargains *relatively speaking* out there. DCL doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. After our Princess cruise, we decided that balconies would be a waste of money- rather cruise more often, in a lower cat room. Personal choice.

[cruiserbryce]

we had a great trip on Disney...we went on a 4 night cruise on the Wonder...wouldnt have a changed a thing...that being said, I will never go on Disney again if their prices dont change significantly. Its just not worth it for the characters, or a cabin thats a little larger. The most recent argument is that hey..."Disney doesnt charge a fuel surcharge"...I'll pay the $70 surcharge for 2 ppl on a 7 day RC cruise in exchange for the savings of nearly $1000....

 

You can have all the free ice cream, sodas, characters and everything else Disney offers for their balooned cruise prices...I will stick to Princess and RC

[viciouslysh]

 

Sorry about the book. I just wanted to share my thoughts on why you might consider breaking open that piggy bank and booking this wonderful, unique vacation experience to share with your little ones.

 

To save some money, you might consider going during a slower season. Fall rates are usually the lowest or if you can go in January, I often see some excellent values then. Do book far in advance if at all possible (you will NOT get main dining otherwise).

 

THANK YOU!!! Totally justified!

[JsMom2]

I'm also a big RCCL fan, they were my favorite hands down before I started cruising DCL. After my first DCL cruise, I said "Disney is my favorite when traveling with DD." After my 4th Disney cruise, I say "Disney is my favorite over all." Disney offers the personal touch that I fondly remember on RCCL 20 years ago...back when they had the Song of Norway, and Nordic Prince. Perhaps as Disney grows bigger they will lose some of their magic too. But for now, it's an awesome family experience!

 

My DD loved the kids program on RCCL, however the programming doesn't run non-stop as Disney's does. They are open for a few hours at a time, so you are always stopping your adult activities to go pickup, and feed your kids. Disney's program goes straight through from 9am to midnight, and they will feed the kids lunch and dinner if they are there during that time. When my DD was younger (4-7), we'd spend a week at the parks together, then go on the cruise for a week, and each do our own thing. Now that she's older (9), we spend more time together in the family nightclub or doing other activities together. But she still loves the kids activities too.

 

I agree that the main reason Disney charges more is simply because they can. But also remember that they don't have casinos aboard, and they also don't sell nearly as much alcohol as some other lines. They also spend more on the kids programs as far as salaries etc. Between that and the larger cabins - you are automatically looking at a premium price.

 

Having said that, there's no way I'd pay what they are asking for a 7-day Mexico cruise! My guess is that they are trying to recoup the money they'll have to pay to Port Canaveral for not making the required number of port calls this year. But I firmly believe that they'll have to offer some last minute deals to fill the ship. (Look for cat 12 gtys at $799 before the season is over.)

 

The key to getting a reasonable price on Disney is to travel off-season, and book early. We were on the Magic the first week of December, and the prices were awesome. Plus the ship was decorated for Christmas. Also if you rebook onboard for a future cruise (the date can be changed later), you receive a 10% discount on your next cruise, plus an onboard credit. And if you transfer your reservation to a travel agency that specializes in Disney, you can usually get an additional onboard credit.

[tricializ]

I am telling you, our Owners Suite on RCCL was the same price we paid for the Navigators Verandah. You have a travel agent here also telling you that on other cruiselines you get more for the same price.

 

We enjoyed DCL, no complaints about that at all. And I'm not taking shots at Disney, as we are Vacation Club members and shareholders. Just that there are lots of other products out there, and when you do take the higher categories on other cruiselines, the overall package does compete favorably with DCL. For the experience we got, the RCCL cruise was still the best of all. We'll see what NCL does for us this summer - Penthouse Suite - again, same price as what the Navigators Verandah would cost.

 

As long as you get your money's worth in your own view, that is all that matters.

 

Howard

I sail on DCL in 2 days. :) I am worried though about the shell shock of going from my last cruise on RCCL in the Royal suite to a verandah room. And, it was only 2 of us in that room going to 4. I think though once I get "Disney-cized", I won't care. :) I'll report back my thoughts in a week or so. :)

Tricia

[whip_cream]

I sail on DCL in 2 days. :) I am worried though about the shell shock of going from my last cruise on RCCL in the Royal suite to a verandah room. And, it was only 2 of us in that room going to 4. I think though once I get "Disney-cized", I won't care. :) I'll report back my thoughts in a week or so. :)

Tricia

 

Enjoy your trip - I think you will love the cruise!!!! :p

[GTO-Girl]

We have our first Disney cruise booked for this coming November. "Pop" and "Nana" (that's us) will be taking our 6 yr old granddaughter on her very first cruise.

 

We could not afford a 7 night cruise, but we are very excited about our 4 day on the Wonder coming up.

 

Could we have paid less and to go on another line?....Yes......But we wanted to be VERY sure her first cruise was going to be VERY special. For me just to be able to be there and watch her face as she experiences this is going to be worth every cent we paid.

 

We cannot wait!!!!

 

Dianne

[dathy]

i have cruised with five major cruise lines: disney, rccl, carnival, princess and ncl. i have taken a lot of cruises.

 

for years i asked myself the same question: why in the world do they charge so much money? i also told myself that for the price of a balcony on disney, i could take two other ship line cruises, etc., etc.

 

here's my take on disney: for the mexican riviera i wouldn't pay what they charge. for florida, castaway cay is well beyond worth what they charge. castaway cay is hands down the best private island of any cruise line that i've been on. i cannot explain it in words. you have to go to see it and experience it. in fact, castaway cay is so popular that there are now some disney cruises that actually make two stops there.

 

the ship experience onboard is terrific. their finale show is one of the best at sea. it is truly entertaining for kids and adults.

 

hope this answers anyone's question.

[LadyShiva]

So I got all excited and jumped on a cruise consolidator and priced out a cruise like my May 2008 cruise on RCCL, on Enchantment of the Seas: $3,655.14 (a LOT less, for an Owner's Suite!)

 

Then I went and examined the children's program and saw they're more than happy to feed your children their favorite foods... blah blah blah... peanut butter... crud. Can't do that.

 

So as a consolation prize to myself, I priced out Freedom of the Seas... For a Junior Suite: 5,416.82

 

Well, that makes me feel a bit better. *sigh*

[Benzbuddy87]

I have been a DVC member since 1994 ... but hadn't sailed Disney till 1998. We've been on Carnival (never again), Princess, Holland America and Celebrity. Our favorite cruise-lines are broken down as follows:

1) Food - Disney

2) Quality / Style / Design / Layout of ship - Disney

3) Entertainment - Disney

4) Comfort (bedding, lounges, theatres, etc) - Disney

5) Restaurant theme - Disney

6) Rotational Dining - Disney

7) NO CHARGE FOR SOFT DRINKS - DISNEY

8) NO LOLLY COLUMNS OR BLIND SPOTS IN THEATRE - Disney

9) Separate MOVIE THEATRE with first run movies - Disney

10) Enforced adult only area - Disney

11) NO SMOKE FILLED CASINO - Disney

12) Best private island - Disney

13) Production quality lighting, sound & video for entertainment - Disney

14) Onboard Pyrotechniques - Disney

15) Travel to Bermuda - Celebrity (only because Disney does not go there)

 

When we search for a non-Disney cruise, we look at *****.com ... and usually book a 7 day Caribbean cruise at about 70% off rack rate. Generally, you will not see Disney publicly discount beyond about 10-15%. Typically - you get what you pay for.

 

Our son is 20 years old, no kids, unmarried ... and will not cruise on any other cruise line. We try to go on special itinerary cruises whenver possible. For 2008, we are doing a regular 4 day to Bahamas, plus a 15 day Eastern REPO ... Mexican Riv, Full Panama, Columbia, Aruba, etc in August. He is choosing the latter Disney cruise over a cruise to Hawaii for his 21st birthday present.

 

My wife and I have been on about 5 Disney cruises with NO CHILDREN. Quite honestly, we see MORE KIDS (in public areas) on Carnival than anywhere else on Disney. One day, Carnival brought a class full of kids into the Buffet Restaurant for arts and crafts. Unruly, LOUD, and not appropriate. When they were done, they marched to the top deck, past the adult sunbathing area, and down a flight of elevators. On Holland America Noordham, the restricted kids area encompasses most of the top deck (prime area). HAL also permits screaming kids in the upscale dining rooms ... you know ... where you pay $25+/- extra, per person. It was supposed to be a quite dinner for two, for our 20th anniversary ... but we left the restaurant DEAF!

 

Disney hoards millions of people through their parks on a regular basis. They know how to move people ... and give them what they are looking for. When you think of Disney - you don't really think of DISCOUNT ANYTHING. Most are reminded of quality SOMETHING - ANYTHING!

 

We'd love for Disney to have a wider array in their itinerary. For the past few years ... they have been providing varying itineraries. Soon, their fleet will double. In addition, they will be opening a DVC resort in Hawaii as well. With all of this, I seriously doubt Disney will start discounting cruises. Rather, I think there will be more people who will be able to experience a truly FIRST CLASS cruise. We were considering a 13 day CUNARD cruise this year ... but opted for Disney.

[JsMom2]

Also remember that RCCL uses the word "suite" quite loosely. I just looked at their website and most of their Junior Suites are smaller than 300 sq ft, and are just one room. If you use the RCCL definition of a suite, then Cats 10 and above on Disney are all suites.

 

We had a 1BR suite on the Magic, which was over 600 sq feet. We had a living /dining room with wet bar, a separate bedroom with small sitting area, 2 closets - 1 walkin, and 2 full baths, one with whirlpool tub, separate shower, and double vanity.

[Muushka]

I just thought of something else that DCL has that another cruise line that we sail does not have. Great movies.

[DrD]

I find myself being talked into a Disney cruise.

[DisneyJosh]

A Disney cruise offers something that no other cruise offers - Disney. For those of us who are die hard fans or just those looking for a "magical" time, the Disney Cruise Line is wonderful.

[abolanowski]

I'm not a die-hard Disney-er, although I do a lot of Disney stuff. We have cruised with DCL, CCL, RCCL, and now will be doing Disney again this year (4th cruise year in a row). IMHO, the reason to pay more for Disney over CCL is that there is no quality comparison. The pools on CCL were small and dirty. We were in a cat 12 (the only, highest level suite on the ship) and there was no concierge, no special in-room dining, etc. The decor was dated and tacky. I loved the itinerary (S. Carib) but that was it. The kids club was pitiful and overall the "you get what you pay for" adage applied in rooms, service and decor. Not to offend - I know I will, but an earlier poster mentioned "keeping the trash out" and with CCL this seemed to be a side effect of being super cheap. Lots of foul mouthed, poorly dressed (not just casual, but dirty) that I didn't really see on the other two lines.

 

On RCCL, the pools were fantastic (FOS) and the ship and cabin were great. We used the in room babysitting and were seriously underwhelmed - she didn't speak to us or our daughter the whole time as far as I can tell, fed her an entire bag of gummy bears without our permission, and we found her sitting on the bed watching TV 2 hours after bedtime, right where we'd left her. So, while their kids club is highly lauded, the in-room care is just hit or miss (not kid-club workers) Also, it was a pain to have to bring and use a blow up tub (balcony cabins only have showers). But for the price, I'd agree it was a generally comperable quality of cruise to DCL. I would have done it again this year if the price was right but we decided last minute and there was no availability.

 

Castaway Cay is way better than Labadee (but not enough for me to pay more) and I think the overall client base has a better kid-frienly attitude. and of course, there are the characters. And Flounders reef for the littlest cruisers which I don't think any other line offers.

[rsinj]

I just thought of something else that DCL has that another cruise line that we sail does not have. Great movies.

 

Well, that one is true.

 

When we were on our 7 day cruise, Finding Nemo was being released that week. We had the first official showing at midnight the day of the release.

 

Howard

[Muushka]

Oh good. I said something that is true!

 

Howard, I saw you over on the DVC boards.:)