See I found drink prices to be very reasonable compared to say Royal Caribbean. If you don't want to buy a drink package some of those cruise lines get pricey, but DCL has drink of the day and a glass of wine was well priced. Plus you can bring a decent amount of alcohol on board and pick some more up at stops.
We all know a Disney cruise is over priced.
I don’t mind if they are overcrowded but if I’m paying that premium price to sail with Disney, I just want it to be worth it.
Crowds aside, in my mind, if you just want to go on a cruise, there are many, many better for less money, but if you are a Disney fan and be in the Disney bubble, a Disney cruise is for you.
Honestly, this comment feels a little snarky and unnecessarily dismissive. I've been on a lot of cruise lines. And in fact, there are NOT many many better for less money. There are many for less money. And there are many that are better, with an even higher price tag.
This is undoubtedly true. And I don't think anyone has tried to say otherwise.
I was under the impression that the crowds were only ever a problem on the Dream and Fantasy. Are the Magic and Wonder unable to hold their crowds as well?
Have done both Magic and Dream and found crowds were not too bad on either. Obviously when visiting the private disney island there will be less people on island with the smaller ships, and walking around the ship is easier on Magic vs Dream but neither felt too crowded. Dream has bigger theaters so it really doesn't matter. I found I liked both ships for different reasons. Dream's scavenger hunt and aqua duck is great and the adult bar areas are more robust, but Magic is easier to move around and their kids club was better set up and more interesting(at least to my kids) and the Dining might have been a touch better too, but I would sail on either in a heartbeat, going with whatever had at the better price.
I received a very favorable rate, so for me it was a no brainer 10. If I were paying full price I'd wait until COVID nonsense was 100% over.
, the Beyond looks like a beautiful ship with dining that appeals to us. And I think we are the right demographic - couple, late 40s.
We are the same demographic and sailed the Edge (same class as Beyond) and had a great time. Food was better and a lot more options, rooms are very nice and the shower alone makes it better than DCL's bathrooms. The ship was beautiful and and a completely different experience than DCL. DCL's entertainment is better. Otherwise, we'd sail Celebrity over DCL any day and we love DCL.We are thinking of skipping our WDW trip in Spring 2023 and cruising instead.
Looking at Celebrity Beyond for their Eastern Caribbean sailing. While the Disney cruise is tempting because...it's Disney
I won't even get into how much less expensive cruising on Celebrity's newest ship is compared to the WDW trip we were planning. I'll have to compare prices to Disney cruise-line though.
Sailed on the Magic twice and never found crowding or children to be an issue. It may have been down to a slightly different demographic as they were both European cruises.
I am new to this forum. I have been looking for additional forums besides the one that I usually am on. I wanted to say that I agree with everything that ChuckElias says. I have been on 14 Disney Cruises with a May Cruise on the Dream and a November cruise on the Wish scheduled for 2022. I constantly hear from my BIL how wonderful the cruise line he goes on is but we cannot bring ourselves to try them. I feel that most of the other cruises can't compete with some of the amenities on the Disney Cruise (my opinion only). I enjoy not having to make a reservation to see a show or the fact that there is very limited specialty dining with an up-charge. Like has been said previously the up-charges may not be enough to compensate for the difference in price but I think what needs to be remembered and I don't think has been mentioned is the fact that Disney Cruise Line does not have gambling on board other than Bingo. Gambling one the other lines is like liquor in that it is a way to subsidize the cruise and keep the price lower. I don't gamble so I do not miss it but I do think it is one of the reasons that other cruise lines are less expensive.
I am not going to get into a tit for tat regarding what is or is not on another cruise. If that is what happens I am done! You do not need to go on the other cruises to know what they are about. I am primarily speaking from my own research on these other cruise lines and talking to others who have been on these cruise lines to know what they are about. You are very presumptuous to know what I know or don't know. I have researched enough to know what is different without going open those cruises. You don't have to believe that. That is your opinion as I previously mentioned what I wrote is my opinion. I know on at least one cruise line you need tickets to see each show. Does that mean that if it is not crowded you can't walk in? No but I have never needed a ticket to reserve a seat to watch. show on a Disney Cruise. On at least one cruise if you select a certain type of main dining that allows you to be flexible you may not get to eat at the time you want unless you make a reservation in advance. When you walk up to the dining room you may have to wait in a long line. There is a much larger list of specialty dining and eating places that have uncharges, nominal uncharges included than on a Disney Cruise. How do you know that having a casino on board is not a huge profit center for the cruise line that helps keep their costs down? Are you in finance? Did you work in a casino? I am in finance and I did work in a casino and I know how they operate. If you want to reply to this again go right ahead. I will not be replying again or replying on this board. I am done. I expressed my opinion which is based on facts and I get flamed. No thanks. Not needed.
Dave has consistently stated his opinion that Celebrity is the better choice for folks who don't need the Disney touches to impress kids. I've never been on Celebrity. (I should probably consider this a professional failing!) But I'm willing to take his word for this, as he's done both cruise lines multiple times.
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