Why are Disney cruises still so expensive?

[randumb0]

if you compare Disney themed characters nobody. But I have heard also very positive from other lines when it comes to attentive staff and generally activities. the last MSC sailing had a huge gym area and the kids clubs were always in there playing active games which I thought was really nice as kids also have to move and not just sit and play video games or do craft work.

Disney has one up simply because they have the IP and character world to their benefit and they create also an immersive experience to these.

Yeah I am not referring to IP. I am referring to activities, things to do inside and active engagement by the staff

 

[John VN]

If you are Castaway status they will match.. I am now platinum at MSC.. There newer ships are Amazing!!! They are fastly expanding and I feel they are giving Royal, Celebrity a run for their money.

We feel the *Voyagers Club* loyalty system provides better recognition r.e. the cruiser's LOYALTY compared to DCL. Our MSC Diamond = DCL Pearl due to sailing only Yacht Club = DCL Concierge only a much higher level of service at far fewer $$$$.

if you compare Disney themed characters nobody. But I have heard also very positive from other lines when it comes to attentive staff and generally activities. the last MSC sailing had a huge gym area and the kids clubs were always in there playing active games which I thought was really nice as kids also have to move and not just sit and play video games or do craft work.

Disney has one up simply because they have the IP and character world to their benefit and they create also an immersive experience to these.

DW feels that the gap held by DCL's level of attention to kids is lessening as other cruise lines improve their offerings.

 

[PezRuth]

We are jumping ship. We have done 3 Disney cruises and we are moving over to Norwegian next year. Just cannot justify the price anymore.

 

[mousefan73]

We feel the *Voyagers Club* loyalty system provides better recognition r.e. the cruiser's LOYALTY compared to DCL. Our MSC Diamond = DCL Pearl due to sailing only Yacht Club = DCL Concierge only a much higher level of service at far fewer $$$$.



DW feels that the gap held by DCL's level of attention to kids is lessening as other cruise lines improve their offerings.

oops, I also meant diamond. I was really spoiled because my first Cruise and Msc I had that status from the match and I got the free meal, the one hour spa experience, priority, everything bathrobes, and what not chocolate and I believe even champagne in my room. I was with my mom and we were giggling like little girls because we kept getting stuff.

 

[Pyxie]

The Casino area is small in many cases so I don't see it as a negative.

Well I didn't really say it was a positive or a negative, but it does contribute to why the cruises cost more.

For me, I could take it or leave it. I don't gamble, but I don't care if other people do. My husband does gamble and this is one reason we don't cruise Disney (although I would love to).

 

[randumb0]

We feel the *Voyagers Club* loyalty system provides better recognition r.e. the cruiser's LOYALTY compared to DCL. Our MSC Diamond = DCL Pearl due to sailing only Yacht Club = DCL Concierge only a much higher level of service at far fewer $$$$.



DW feels that the gap held by DCL's level of attention to kids is lessening as other cruise lines improve their offerings.

That's my question. Which cruise lines are improving their kids offerings?

 

[Mango7100]

Which line has a comparable kids club to Disney?

Not NCL, that kids club was awful in July. They were very short staffed with limited hours so that may have changed now, but DD asked not to go back.

 

[jimmymc]

Which line has a comparable kids club to Disney?

In terms of the actual physical space, nobody comes close. I've heard the counselors on Royal group cruiselines are getting better, but the clubs haven't really changed.

 

[DCLMP]

The price difference really depends on when you're going, where you're going, how many are going, and whether you're sailing on the Wish. For two people on a non-Wish ship in any season that isn't summer or the end of year holidays, Disney's prices are quite comparable to other lines. This isn't always true, but it's usually true. I'm paying about the same for my Caribbean NCL cruise next year as I would have paid for an equivalent Disney Fantasy cruise.

I’ve never seen anything comparable to Disney cruises with more than two in a stateroom. Don’t you get free drinks with NCL?

 

[DCLMP]

If you are Castaway status they will match.. I am now platinum at MSC.. There newer ships are Amazing!!! They are fastly expanding and I feel they are giving Royal, Celebrity a run for their money.

What would Pearl status match to? That is very good perk I want aware of.

 

[DCLDVC1]

That's my question. Which cruise lines are improving their kids offerings?

My kids enjoyed the kids clubs on MSC. Everything seemed a little more structured than DCL and since there weren't nearly as many kids, they received a lot more attention from the "CMs).

 

[DCLDVC1]

What would Pearl status match to? That is very good perk I want aware of.

We're Platinum and matched Diamond so I'm sure Pearl also would.

 

[DCLMP]

The Casino area is small in many cases so I don't see it as a negative.

They are small and you’re not forced to take part in it. I avoid the Bingo on DCL too

 

[DCLMP]

We're Platinum and match Diamond so I'm sure Pearl also would.

So Diamond is the highest? I’ll check it out.

 

[anjuan]

I’ve never seen anything comparable to Disney cruises with more than two in a stateroom. Don’t you get free drinks with NCL?

NCL's free at sea isn't really "free" because they tack on a 20% gratuity on the drink package price. So you really have to drink more than two drinks a day for it to be worth the gratuity. Also, it is only drinks that are under $15. Since I booked them they have moved several drinks off of the free list and moved them to their premium plus list which is an additional cost if you choose to get it.

 

[DCLMP]

NCL's free at sea isn't really "free" because they tack on a 20% gratuity on the drink package price. So you really have to drink more than two drinks a day for it to be worth the gratuity. Also, it is only drinks that are under $15. Since I booked them they have moved several drinks off of the free list and moved them to their premium plus list which is an additional cost if you choose to get it.

Disney tacks on 18% gratuity on drinks too? Yes I agree you have to drink a certain amount to make the drink package worth it. 2 drinks a day would not cut it, but assume it also includes specialty coffees, bottled water, smoothies, and any non alcoholics beverages…so not a bad deal.

 

[Carohs]

I don't mind the Casino, but I do mind the smoking. IMHO that's the worst part of sailing another line.

The kids' club on CCL on the ship we sailed on: the kids said they had just as much fun as Disney and club was open all day. What I didn't like: you had walk all the way forward from an alternate deck, then take the elevator, if you wanted to avoid the smoke section. There was also no open-house and you couldn't see into the club since it was in a room past a closed door.

The kids' club on NCL was in an open room with wide window views of the ocean. It was a really bright space and the staff was amazing. However, the planned activities weren't as engaging and while the kids loved it, they said Disney is definitely better. The only thing is they don't open until 9am, close from 12-2 and again from 5-7. They do have after hours starting at 11pm and close at 1am. They are also closed while in port. While I figured we could plan meals around the closures, it did take away from the experience that the kids couldn't freely sign in and out throughout the day.

On CCL we went off-season and there were only 20-30 kids on the ship. On NCL we went during Spring Break and they had 100x more kids than capacity in the club. This too impacted our overall experiences and neither would have been an issue on DCL.

 

[mousefan73]

What would Pearl status match to? That is very good perk I want aware of.

They would also be diamond I would assume. Platinum ate equal to diamond. Those somehow they mess up with me because I am gold technically and I think just by booking an excursion on an upcoming sailing, put me over the threshold and made me platinum. I would do the match before you book because you get 10% or 5% off sailings with that status. I’ve only sailed them in Europe , so I don’t know if they have different benefits for US based sailings. Just offhand these are the following benefits of platinum. Five or 10% off of your booking priority lines to disembark ports, if available we can have a later disembarkation/ check-out, one hour Aurelia spa, which is great for me as one hours enough. Bath robe and slippers, bottle of champagne with macaroons and chocolates, and the best benefit was one free specialty meal and that included also my mother who was in the room with me and she didn’t have platinum yet.
No, some of these benefits are probably included if you book yacht club, or one of the higher categories. But we just booked the cheapest inside or ocean view.

 

[DCLDVC1]

I don't mind the Casino, but I do mind the smoking. IMHO that's the worst part of sailing another line.

The MSC casino was smoke free on our cruise.

 

[Kwami]

I’ve never seen anything comparable to Disney cruises with more than two in a stateroom. Don’t you get free drinks with NCL?

I've never priced a cruise for more than two because I have no reason to. For two people, the price of a Caribbean cruise in April is pretty close. The drinks are very much not free. For my cruise, the "free" drinks were about $436 in "pre-paid gratuities" for all of the drinks that I might order. That's a lot of drinks! I actually don't drink alcohol and, unfortunately, NCL doesn't allow adults to downgrade to the free soda/tea/coffee package. It's alcohol or nothing. If I want a package for other drinks, then I have to pay for it at full package price. And those packages are also very overpriced.

So, ultimately, my room is slightly cheaper, but it's also smaller. There's no self-serve laundry, so I'll end up paying more for that. The soft drinks aren't free. The "free" WiFi is only two hours of time, which isn't much. After that, it's similar in price to Disney's new WiFi system. They charge extra for some food in the main restaurants. The "free" specialty dining did require that I pre-pay the gratuities before receiving service, which is absurd, but it does get me out of the main restaurant for two nights. I guess that's something.

But, again, I'm only evaluating the cost for two people. When you add free kids to NCL, sure, the price difference is significant.