Cost of Cruise is crazy

BigRedDad

BigRedDad

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We are a long way off on a dream trip. We have a lot of things that need to fall in place, especially recovery from a car accident. I had hoped to be able to take a trip in Summer 2017. I wanted to do a 1-week cruise and 1-week at WDW. The cost of the cruise alone for 2 adults and an 11 year is over $6,000. This trip overall would be at least $10,000. That is a hard pill to swallow. Because of timing, we couldn't join. Our friends took a cruise over Christmas on another ship. It was $500 per person.
 
jme

jme

Well-Known Member
Time of year can vastly impact the cost of your cruise (and WDW stay)

Also depending on what kind of vacation you want...a 'cruise' vacation (where the ship and the ocean is the feature) vs a 'port' vacation (where the different islands you visit are the feature) you might find savings in doing 2 shorter bahamas cruises over a week-long caribbean.
Along with that, the type of room. If you dont plan on spending much time in your room, and dont expect to stay on your balcony watching the ocean... may opt for an inside room.

There is no doubt however that DCL is one of the pricier lines out there. But as with anything, you get what you pay for. Cheaper cruises tend to feature less quality in staffing, food offerings, room amenities, etc. However there are some comparable lines that can come in costing less.
 
R

Ralphlaw

Well-Known Member
I agree. Disney cruises are not considered bargain vacationing. Inside staterooms and timing can play into it, but other cruise lines are indeed substantially cheaper. There's a major debate on these boards as to whether Disney is worth it compared to Carnival, etc . . . For families, I don't think there's a comparison. Other cruise lines cut corners in staffing, cleanliness, updates, entertainment, and other amenities compared to Disney. And Castaway Cay is generally considered to be the best private island experience. Also, other lines make money in their casinos (which Disney doesn't have), which at times may be substantial.

My suggestion is to do your research. For most Disney cruisers, the premium price is worth it. But for a basic vacation, any vacation, get me outta here now, there are plenty of cheaper options.

Good luck.
 
PhilharMagician

PhilharMagician

Well-Known Member
The biggest point is what @Ralphlaw said about casinos. Gambling helps cruise lines make extra green and they can charge less for the room. Thankfully there are no casinos on DCL ships and hopefully it stays that way.
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
DCL is a LOT more expenseive. Are they better than others - yes. It is worth it - maybe. There is no denying that DCLdoes a top notch job. However, when comparing it to certain other cruise lines, to me at least, it is not worh the extra price.

Something like a Carnival cruise, which I suspect is what the $500 per person cruise was, is not a good cruise to take, especially with an 11 year old. Those cruises are like a floating night club. Now, something like Celebrity is 99% as nice a Disney (in some ways they are better, in some ways worse, but they are just about as good however they are a lot cheaper. To me, DCL does not supply anyting above and beyond Celebrity to make it worth the extra money. Now that may be different for you- there is no denying that DCL knocks it out of the park as far as kids actrivities are concerned, so you may want to consider that.

If you do decide on DCL, flexibility is your key to getting a lower price. Prices can differ wildly by date. Booking early also helps, DCL cruises tend to go up in price as you get closer to the sailig date (unlike a lot of other cruises). As others have said, look into the various staterooms as well.

-dave
 
King Racoon 77

King Racoon 77

Thank you sir. You were an inspiration.
Premium Member
Just my 2 Pence worth but we were very suprised how cheap our upcoming Norwegian cruise with DCL was. Yes we could have paid a lot more and got a bigger better stateroom but for just outside of steerage it was pretty reasonable.
 
DarthVader

DarthVader

Sith Lord
BigRedDad said:
Our friends took a cruise over Christmas on another ship. It was $500 per person.
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Disney is expensive, whether you're talking about staying at the Polynesian or taking a cruise. I'm paying a kings ransom to stay at the contemporary for a week. I've been kicking around the idea of taking a cruise in 2017 and I agree the Disney cruise is not cheap.
 
Nossit

Nossit

New Member
My wife and I have been on multiple cruises with Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Every year we check the prices on DCL and almost laugh it off. I understand that you get a little more with DCL but the value is just not there for us. I have not felt that there was anything wrong with the two companies we take and most the time they are less than half the price or even less than that. I'll never go on a DCL unless they significantly drop their prices.
 
Tonka's Skipper

Tonka's Skipper

Well-Known Member
There is alot DCL has the others cannot match

Actually Disney Magic and Pixie Dust is the whole product, the superior designed, and built vessels with the classic lines and feel, the art deco and Nuevo deco feel and just enough Disney touches to bring a smile to peoples faces.

A ship crew that is excellent and the best trained and I know that for a fact, because I know all the special training they get on American Maritime schools. Add to that how they have rescued many at sea, including being able to get the rescue boat in the water and save a person who fell off another cruise ship when the other cruise ship could not even get their boat in the water.

Their own special designed terminal and Bus service where the magic begins with videos on what's coming and Disney cartoons.

The excellent service,, yes other lines may have great service, but twisting that into saying its Disney Pixie Dust, doesn't work, Add great food and good family entertainment. The DISNEY characters that bring joy to the kids, young and old. Mickey and Minnie. Things like Animators Pallet MDR, food and mixers events and that is just starters.

One of my thing was we were taken the design of the Magic tour, (which by itself is a great tour) when Belle came around the corner and a young girl on the tour with her MOM, just cried out in joy. Belle spun around, flopped down onto the deck, lifted the girl into lap and calmed her down. She finally told the child that if she was at a door down the passageway at 1830, she could walk with Belle to a greeting session. Mom nodded ok, Belle got up waved good bye and I would bet a week pay that child was at the door at 1830 and had a memory that would last a lifetime.

I will repeat if DCL is not for you, please find a line your happy with. If you feel DCL cruise are not worth the money or your not willing to pay for it........please don't pay it, find another line your happy with and enjoy their product.

However the bottom line is the Disney cruises are special with real Disney Magic and Pixie dust only found on their ships.


AKK
 
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Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
WildernessLodge said:
You pay a lot for branding, which Disney obviously does amazingly well. If you want to feel immersed in the company/brand, another cruise line won't feel the same. If you're going primarily for the vacation itself (aka the destinations and just being on a cruise in general) then you could def save money with other companies.

Thanks for the info you posted! I've never cruised and dream to do a Disney cruise one day. For me there are 3 factors I need to consider when cruising: the destinations, the money, and the ship itself. For me, the ship itself is the most important part bc I want to be immersed in the Disney brand. The destinations are a bonus so I would have to pay more for the Disney ship.
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If you want the Dinsey brand, then of course you are only going to get it on Dinsey ships. But lets be clear what part of the brand you can and cannot get on other lines.

You are not going to get the red, white, and yellow mickey mouse color scheme. You are not going to get Disney characters. You are not going to get a split bath stateroom.

You may not get the 100% level of maintence that you see on a DCL ship - I could not find any rust, chipped varnish, or dirt on those ship. You may not get 100% family entertainment, you may not get the excellent kids clubs that are on DCL ships

Here is what you can get on other lines. Food that is just as good (or better). Staff that is just as service oriented. Maintenence that is %99 percent as good as Dinsey. I'm not talking dirt, or big patches of rust. I'm talking some scuffs on the deck or a little crazing in the varnished surfaces. Entertainment that is just as good, but not as family oriented as DCL. You can get a stateroom that is just as nice, but with a single bath. You can get a ship that is just as clean, decorated, and enjoyable as a DCL ship

So, you get can a lot of what you get on DCL. If paint colors, Disney characters, more family orientation, and a split bath justify the large upcharge, then yes, go with DCL.

-dave
 
BigRedDad

BigRedDad

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We are limited to the times we could travel. That means we do pay a bit more. I have limited knowledge of cruising, only words from my parents on their 50+ cruises. The ships have so much to offer, my concern would be that a 3 or 4 day Bahama cruise would not offer enough "ship" time. The Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises offer some full days on ship between ports which allows plenty of time to explore, experience, and enjoy the ship. If things work out the way I hope, this will be a once in a lifetime trip for us. It would be a 1 week cruise and 1 week at Disney. We would still probably stay at Pop Century simply because we love it there. For 3 people, it would push $12-$14k for the 2 weeks.
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
BigRedDad said:
We are limited to the times we could travel. That means we do pay a bit more. I have limited knowledge of cruising, only words from my parents on their 50+ cruises. The ships have so much to offer, my concern would be that a 3 or 4 day Bahama cruise would not offer enough "ship" time. The Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises offer some full days on ship between ports which allows plenty of time to explore, experience, and enjoy the ship. If things work out the way I hope, this will be a once in a lifetime trip for us. It would be a 1 week cruise and 1 week at Disney. We would still probably stay at Pop Century simply because we love it there. For 3 people, it would push $12-$14k for the 2 weeks.
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My advice to worrying about not enough ship time is the same as going to WDW and trying to see everything on one vacation. You can't.

If you were to try and do all of WDW in one vacation, you would be very diappointed. If you try to erperience everthing on a DCL cruise on one cruise, you will be just as disappointed. Just as when somone goes to WDW, the advice is to do some planning, look over what is offered, and pick out the things you want to do and do those, the same goes for a DCL cruise. Do you want to see shows? movies? towel animal classes? Ride the Aquaduck? Attend a mixology class? Attend the DVC meeting? Eat in Remy? See the show in Animators Pallett? Get a spa treatment? Go to the family beach? The adult beach? the crab races? Snorkle? it goes on and on and on. You are not going to be able to do it all. Book the length of cruise you can afford, and then go in with a plan around what your must do's are and your would like to do's. Keep in mind that stuff pops up on the Navigator all of the time.

-dave
 
ChuckElias

ChuckElias

Well-Known Member
DisneyJoe said:
FYI, I usually recommend that if you are going to do both, to do WDW first and then DCL. Why? For most, WDW is a more hurried, rushing and busy vacation, while DCL can be much more relaxing.
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The only downside to this approach is that you step off the ship and then get on an airplane to go home. My wife likes to ease her way from fun in complete luxury. . . to fun without luxury. . . to home (no fun, no luxury).

Neither way is "right". It just depends on what you like.
 
EOD K9

EOD K9

Well-Known Member
A good idea would be just to stay on site to keep some of the magic after the cruise without hitting the parks.
 
R

Ralphlaw

Well-Known Member
A better idea is to never go home. Sure, there's that small detail of money, but . . . yeah, . . okay, . . I suppose being realistic has its place too.
 

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