If you couldn't afford DCL

[dthogue]

We are a family of 5 (mom, dad, 14, 12, and 5 yo DD) who really want to take a 7-night cruise, but just can't afford a DCL cruise.

What other cruise lines offer family fun, but for a lower price? Where would you suggest cruising to? What about booking a crusie and locating infor - what companies or websites should I visit.

I keep hoping for a DCL vacation, have scheduled 2 so far, but have had to cancel due to lack of money - please HELP!!

Thanks

 

[AspiringCindy]

I would recommend Royal Carribean. They are priced more reasonably and offer great food, good entertainment and a decent kids program. I have traveled on DCL, RCCL and Carnival, and definitely like RCCL over CCL, although CCL has a better children's program!

 

[kajohn]

I would also recommend RCCL! Check out cruisecritic.com they have a very active RCCL discussion board as well as boards for all the different ports of call and a family cruise board.

There are many factors in chosing a cruise, departure city (how expensive is it to get to), itinerary and ship amenities. Decide what you like and go from there!

My opinion is, cruising is wonderful, and no matter what you choose you will have a great time!

 

[my3kids]

I've looked into other lines also. I keep reading here how much cheaper other lines are, but I must be looking in the wrong place! I have found a family of 5 to be a real problem on other lines. Connecting cabins are not as plentiful as on the Magic. On a few ships there are 2(!) cabins that hold families of 5...not 2 categories, 2 cabins! The TA's say to book an outside with an interior room for the kids across the hall. They are too young to not be in an attached room. Also, many rooms hold only 2 people, so if a set of those are one of the connecting sets....out of luck again.

Has anyone sailed another line with a family of 5(no infants in cribs) I'd love recommendations.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

DTHOGUE -
We're neighbors! I live in Camp Hill. Where are you?! We're going on our first Disney cruise in January. It does seem like a lot of money, but the more I read about it, I think it will be worth every penny! I'm sure we won't be going every year, but as much as I can.

 

[mostyn17]

Hey where are you from in central PA?? I live there too! I live in Philipsburg (about 24 miles from State College)......do you know where that is?

It's a small world after all!

Travis

 

[queendarvet]

We are a family of five as well, hoping to cruise DCL. We are stuck with having to cruise during summer months and I have found that other cruise lines (comparable) are not that much less than Disney. I think if you book DCL as far out as possible the rates are just as good, or maybe slightly more. What we will do is book 2005 when it opens up and in the meantime I'm putting money away for it.

RCCL does have some 5 night cruises to the Western Carribean that look interesting and are more affordable for larger families. Try looking at Enchantment of the Seas out of Ft. Lauderdale. I know, not Disney, but it looks like a nice ship.

 

[Karista]

We're also a family of 5, DS14, DS12 and DD 10. Twice I've booked DCL and twice I've cancelled because I just can't justify the cost. The last cruise we had booked with DCL I booked 18 months in advance (for this coming October) and it was $5,700 for the 7-day Western. Everyone kept telling me that was a fantastic price (family stateroom), but after I added on airfare (separately), minimal excursions, the occasional soda or cocktail, it would have been WELL over $8k, just way too much for one week in my opinion.

Six weeks before Easter I booked two connecting rooms on RCCL Explorer of the Seas. It was the most fantastic vacation we've ever had. We were way down on Deck 2 (portholes) and I was worried that it would feel like a dungeon, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Having the connecting rooms and leaving the door open all the time made us feel like we had a suite. The kids loved everything about the cruise and can't wait to do it again. The best part...total vacation was $5,000 (airfare, cruise, excursions, etc.), less than just my cruise price with DCL.

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to sail Disney some day, but I get sticker shock every time I try to price out a trip and probably will return to RCCL next time the cruise bug bites.

 

[my3kids]

Karista: Questions Questions Questions.......

Who did you book your vacation with? Did you sail over Easter week? I have found all the cabin categories and sub categories so confusing on all ships except Disney's. Whay category did you select that gave you connecting porthole rooms?

 

[abitjaded]

According to my RCCL addict-expert friend, the trick with the other lines is to NOT book way in advance. DCL prices just go up as the cruise date arrives, but other lines go DOWN in price in order to fill the ship. Pick a fake date, or a hopeful real date, then start monitoring the prices. Pick a departure point that is the closest or cheapest historically from your city (for instance, though we are in Colorado it is cheaper for us to fly to Orlando than the West Coast due to competition). A really good cruise travel agent can help you get started. My friend always manages to book cheap cruises. It may not be the swankiest super-ship to the most chi-chi locations, but they always have a blast. They usually take 8 family members and book two cheap inside cabins. While not the most romantic way to cruise with hubby, they stick all the girls and mom in one cabin and all the boys and dad in the other.

Try cruisecritic.com They have a very active RCCL group who can answer questions.

Carla

 

[gswfan]

How about instead of a 7 night cruise at DCL, try the 4 night one? That'll probably knock off a few $$.

 

[nicurnc]

I have to add my $0.02 worth

Just made the final payment on our cruise in Oct. today, whew!
DCL is wonderful and we are huge Disney fans, and this is what we chose to do for our 30th anniversary...
But I gotta tell ya, it is pricey!LOL!
Last year, same time frame, we cruised on the Grand Princess (western) in a mini-suite. $1600.
This year eastern, Nav. verandah $2700

My travel agent told me cabins on the inside (same as our kids cat.11) are going for $399 p/p on Princess. $799 is what the cat 11 cost. He said there are similar prices for all the other lines.

We are doing this trip because it's what we wanted to do this time, this is a special occasion.
But I really can understand why a lot of families opt for other cruise lines.
Will there be pixie dust and Disney shows? No, but it can still be a fun time

Loretta

 

[Karista]

I played around a bit on Travelocity until I found 3 or 4 cruises that we would like. Then, I looked in the phonebook and found a local travel agent that specializes in cruises.

We sailed the week before Easter (returning to Miami the Saturday before) but that was our (and many other's) spring break. Every other vacation that we looked into had jacked their prices up considerably because it was around the holiday (including DCL) but this one, as I said, was much more affordable.

We were Category I, which is the cheapest oceanview category. We were on the bottom level, but we absolutely loved it because it was quiet and we were close to the water. I read from another poster that was on the same cruise that up on the higher floors there was a problem with kids running up and down the hall and ringing doorbells, but we didn't experience that at all.

 

[goofyfordisney]

We are having a hard time trying to justify the money that we would spend on a DCL cruise as well. I have been playing around with different dates--it still ends up costing a fortune (when you add in the airfare, etc.)

Is it true that it is "cheaper" to wait to book on RCCL until closer to the departure? We are only able to do school holiday times (the most expensive times for DCL).

What are some of the MAJOR differences between the two cruise lines? Is DCL really worth the extra $2000-$3000???

I would really like to make a decision soon and feel like I've made the right choice!

 

[nicurnc]

I think the problem with waing till closer to the time you want to sail is availability. You might find yourself settling for a cabin.

Whether DCL is "worth it" over other cruise lines is one of those intangibles

The Magic and the Wonder are beautiful, classy ships. The dining rooms are unique and the shows and movies are pure Disney fun! Then there is Castaway Cay
I don't think one other line offers a terminal like Disney either! You will feel as if your vacation has truly begun just stepping into that beautiful building.
I thought by sailing on Princess I would be giving up the comraderie of planning to meet other cruisers (like at a DIS meet). Not so, I chatted with fellow cruisers on the cruise critic board beforehand and met up with a really great bunch of people. We ended up on excursions together, met several times during the cruise and felt it was great to "know" others on board.

But, many of the itineraries are the same for all cruise lines. So you'll find yourself in ports with lots of other cruisers. I usually book my own tours outside the cruie lines offerings, so I have talked with people on other ships, and they seemed to be having as much fun as we were!

We did find ourselves making a lot of comparisons throughout the cruise. Dining rooms gorgeous, but the same every night. Sailaway party fun, but not as fun as having Mickey & Co. join you. Sabatini's was awesome, but Palo a tad more so.

All in all, they were both memorable vacations. Remember your vacation should not break the bank
Your family will have a great time as well as a new experince!

Loretta

 

[KimDisFan]

We sailed RCCL, Naviagator of the Seas in June, previously we have done 2- 4day and one 7-day on DCL. The NOS is a beautiful ship with many activities. We booked late (within 60 days). RCCL has happy hours in Tues and Thurs from 1-5 pm tp book the ship. We got a great rate. We used All Season Travel and they were awesome to work with. The key is that you need to pay when you book it (they gave us 24 hours). You may loose the options to get cabins close to each other. My DD8 and BIL22 both enjoyed the NOS and would chose it over the Magic. It had more to do for the kids, outside of the club. My BIL spent most of his cruise on the full court basketball court playing games, and had a blast. My DD8, swam, inline skated, rock climbed, and ice skated all on the first sea day. Personnally, I would prefer DCL, but could do either. If you been on DCL and sail others you miss the "magic" DCL gives, but you are paying alot for that magic.

Good luck in your quest to find a cruise.

 

[NADTWINS]

This is the first Disney cruse that I am taking. As a youngster my family went on alot cruses on meany difrent cruse lines(The Itallian line, Holland American line are just two lines that I remember). We livied in the NY area and at that time cruses left from NYC for the Carribean ten - fourteen day cruses. We would invite sevral freinds and have a part onboard untill the ship left(a vonvoyauge party) very classy as the Boat left the peir we would be streamers confetti a real selabration. I could go on about all my child hood memories but to make a long story short I am looking to provide my kids some of the same memories that I have. Cruses offer you the opprotunity to sample diffrent types of food sit down for a formale dinner and have down time with your kids. I picked the dcl becouse I wanted a family expereance I didnt want to go on a shipp with a casino or have a lot of pepole doing "alot" of drinking. I hope I will not be disapointed, I have some strong Ideas of what I want out off this vacation.