Is Disney Cruise always at least 1.5x more than other similar cruise lines

Starting to research cruises. Family of 4 with 2 kids. I have found Disney to be at least 1.5-2x more than similar family cruise lines such as Carnival and RCCL.

I know it's Disney but is there ever a time where Disney is same price as the other cruiselines or should I always expect to pay at least 50% more.

Thanks, would help with my planning so I know what to expect when looking for prices and deals.

Yes, always higher.:cool:

The Disney name is a big draw, so they can get a premium price for their cruises

Prices for Disney cruises are higher than some of the other mass market.

They typically are always higher. But the product is better than your other choices. It's not the right kind of cruise for everyone, of course, but if the style of cruise that Disney provides is what you want, you won't find a better product elsewhere.

Our one Disney cruise still ranks as our best cruise ever. Hard to say specifically why - everything seemed to be perfect. Service was top notch. Decor and ambiance was superior. Food was very good to excellent in all dining venues. And the entertainment was the best I have ever enjoyed on a cruise.

"You get what you pay for" certainly applies with a Disney cruise.

Disney has a great product and they charge for it!

The cabins are better, food is better, service is top notch and, of course, you get to see Minnie in her swim suit!

One of the reasons DCL is more expensive than other cruise lines is because the ships don't have a casino. A cruise ship makes 100s of thousands on a one week cruise. The number I read was $800,000, double that if in Asia. I'm sure that loss of revenue is in our cruise fare.

Also, the cabins on the DCL ships are larger than what you'll find on other lines.

Our DCL cruises have had 800-900 children on board. I have no doubt that there are more staff in the children's areas than what there are when we cruise on HAL. Their salaries are paid from cruise fares.

DCL has excellent entertainment. Again, many more entertainers than we see on other cruise lines. They need to be paid.

We've never walked off a Disney ship feeling that we overpaid for our cruise.

I am claustrophobic but on the Disney Dream we were able to book an inside cabin because it has the virtual porthole. This makes you feel as though you are looking through a big porthole to the outside because of the camera hookup. It was great!!!

We were able to save a little bit of money since we could get away booking an inside cabin rate....:)

Disney does it right.....but yes they are very expensive....

We enjoyed our Disney cruise, but not enough to go back at the premium price they charge. In our experience, MDR and buffet food and service were really no better than other mass market lines. We did notice that families with young kids received more attention from the wait staff to the detriment of other pax . . .

Offseason cruises is the only way I could afford DCL. Last Oct. Wonder was $799 per first two passengers for a week out of Galveston.

If your kids are young enough to not be in school or to miss without negative consequences then I would look at cruises September,October,November for Caribbean or May and September Alaska.

In our experience, MDR and buffet food and service were really no better than other mass market lines. We did notice that families with young kids received more attention from the wait staff to the detriment of other pax . . .

We did not notice that at all. Food was noticeable better than on some of the major lines. And as adults without children, we always felt like honored guests by the crew. Sure, the kids get a lot of attention. That is Disney's strength. But, the adults were certainly not shorted when it came to service. In my experience, the only cruise line that compares in service levels is Celebrity.

Adults were well taken care of on our Disney cruise. Nothing detrimental at all about how were were treated in the MDR, or anywhere on the ship. Plus, Disney has very nice adults only areas and entertainment. Adults should not fear being on a Disney cruise.

 

Also, the cabins on the DCL ships are larger than what you'll find on other lines.

 

Our DCL cruises have had 800-900 children on board. I have no doubt that there are more staff in the children's areas than what there are when we cruise on HAL. Their salaries are paid from cruise fares.

 

The cabins on DCL at one time, were larger than those on other ships. While other lines have increased their cabin size, DCL has shrunk theirs. Fantasy and Dream's cabins are on average about 15 sq ft smaller than Magic or Wonder's cabins and are smaller than the average Royal Caribbean cabin. In addition, the two room bathroom on DCL ships takes up a lot of cabin space, making it difficult to move around the cabins.

There no more staff in the DCL kids clubs than on other cruise lines. Lots more kids, yes, but the staffing levels remain the same, at least on my DCL cruise. The DCL kids club was chaotic. Other kids clubs are run much better.

Offseason cruises is the only way I could afford DCL. Last Oct. Wonder was $799 per first two passengers for a week out of Galveston.

If your kids are young enough to not be in school or to miss without negative consequences then I would look at cruises September,October,November for Caribbean or May and September Alaska.

Off season's prices on DCL are lower, but they are also lower on the other cruise lines so DCL still comes in higher than the competition.

One of the reasons DCL is more expensive than other cruise lines is because the ships don't have a casino.

I don't know for sure, but I don't think this is correct. I agree with you casinos are very profitable, but Disney charges what they can get. We cruise Disney when they first started and the rates were much lower. As they got into the swing of it and their quality became more popular, they raise their rates to fit the demand.

Disney has always been our favorite, but we haven't sailed them in a long time because of the price.

Burt

Disney has 4 ships, with no casino on board to generate income. they also include soda in the cost.

everybody else has more ships to handle the demand, casinos and soda to generate income

supply versus demand coupled with the Brand name.

while they do a wonderful job in most respects, and I don't mind paying for it( hell I leave tomorrow for ten days at WDW at a deluxe resort, costing more than a cruise of the same length in a suite on Royal) the food on my Disney cruise sucked so badly I went hungry a few times and NONE of the desserts were remotely edible outside of the specialty restaurant( only place on board with decent food)

I did it once to say I did, but will spend my cruise dollars elsewhere. if tyou want good kids club programming, Royal and Carnival will be more than adequate

Depending on the itinerary DCL tends to run 2x - 3x the other cruise lines. In the Bahamas and the Caribbean it tends to be about 2x and in Europe and Alaska it tends to be about 3x.

I like DCL but they are not my cruise line of choice.

Depending on the itinerary DCL tends to run 2x - 3x the other cruise lines. In the Bahamas and the Caribbean it tends to be about 2x and in Europe and Alaska it tends to be about 3x.

 

I like DCL but they are not my cruise line of choice.

If you are comparing Disney to the budget lines like Carnival or NCL, you might be correct about 2x, but certainly not 3x. But, a more fair comparison would be to compare Disney to another premium line, which Disney is considered to be, and then the prices are only about 50% more.

One of the reasons DCL is more expensive than other cruise lines is because the ships don't have a casino. A cruise ship makes 100s of thousands on a one week cruise. The number I read was $800,000, double that if in Asia. I'm sure that loss of revenue is in our cruise fare.

This is the primary reason for their higher prices. Other cruise line brands offer very good products that complete well with Disney but also offer casinos which are huge revenue supplements to their operating costs.

This is the primary reason for their higher prices. Other cruise line brands offer very good products that complete well with Disney but also offer casinos which are huge revenue supplements to their operating costs.

I doubt the lack of a casino has anything to do with the higher prices. Disney charges higher prices because people who know Disney products will pay those prices knowing the product is high quality. The same can be said for their resorts and amusement parks, which are also more expensive than the competition. Everything Disney does is high quality.

If you are comparing Disney to the budget lines like Carnival or NCL, you might be correct about 2x, but certainly not 3x. But, a more fair comparison would be to compare Disney to another premium line, which Disney is considered to be, and then the prices are only about 50% more.

I priced DCL vs RCCI for an Alaska cruise and DCL was 3x the cost for comparable room and itinerary. They also tend to run in the same range for European itineraries.

I also don't consider Disney to be a premium line. It's high end of the contemporary market, but certainly not premium IMO. The facilities, activities, food and ship amenities are not drastically better than RCCI.

Cruise lines are differentiated according to the market niche that they fill. The cruise industry is divided into three parts: the luxury, premium, and contemporary segments. The luxury segment caters to the wealthy and is priced at more than $500 a day for each day of the cruise. The premium segment is designed for the businessperson who wants upscale quality for a lower price, ranging from $250-$299 a day. The contemporary segment is marketed toward families and couples, offering activities at an even lower cost of up to $249 a day. (See http://www.cruisemarketwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/allied-academics-international-conference.pdf)

Contemporary Cruise Lines provide something for everyone; larger, resort-style ships supply a value-packed product with extensive amenities, shipboard activities and even family friendly onboard programs for children. Contemporary Cruise Lines in Alaska include Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line. (can't provide link since it's a TA)

I doubt the lack of a casino has anything to do with the higher prices. Disney charges higher prices because people who know Disney products will pay those prices knowing the product is high quality. The same can be said for their resorts and amusement parks, which are also more expensive than the competition. Everything Disney does is high quality.

Then we can agree to disagree regarding the casinos. :)

My opinion:

Disney created the 'family cruise'

Look at Royal back in the 80's and you see ships catering to 'retired folks' and NO kids clubs ... Princess same. NCL was 'low cost' and Carnival was the Party Ships .. and kids clubs????? (we started cruising in the early 80's, but were young and cash poor)

Disney tested the waters with their partnership with "Big Red Boat" in the 80's and seeing profit created Disney Cruise Lines ... the family friendly cruise. Two bathrooms, no casino ... that space turned over to "huge" kids only spaces. Adult only space was stuck in a corner . . . FAMILY was king.

Were they successful? Silly question .... any lower price cruise line today tries to flash their kids program ..... 'they can do Disney for less' .... to wit, Disney saw an opportunity and nailed it.

Today, Disney fills a niche - the quality family cruise. YES you can sail family for less, RCL does a nice job with their character theme, and many others provide more attention to kids then b4 ... but it is NOT the MOUSE. And there are plenty of QUALITY cruises that cost more and provide more .... WINDSTAR, REGENT are two ... but they are not 'kid friendly'

Disney is quality family ..... and unique in that position.

 

I priced DCL vs RCCI for an Alaska cruise and DCL was 3x the cost for comparable room and itinerary. They also tend to run in the same range for European itineraries.

 

I also don't consider Disney to be a premium line. It's high end of the contemporary market, but certainly not premium IMO. The facilities, activities, food and ship amenities are not drastically better than RCCI.

 

Cruise lines are differentiated according to the market niche that they fill. The cruise industry is divided into three parts: the luxury, premium, and contemporary segments. The luxury segment caters to the wealthy and is priced at more than $500 a day for each day of the cruise. The premium segment is designed for the businessperson who wants upscale quality for a lower price, ranging from $250-$299 a day. The contemporary segment is marketed toward families and couples, offering activities at an even lower cost of up to $249 a day. (See http://www.cruisemarketwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/allied-academics-international-conference.pdf)

 

Contemporary Cruise Lines provide something for everyone; larger, resort-style ships supply a value-packed product with extensive amenities, shipboard activities and even family friendly onboard programs for children. Contemporary Cruise Lines in Alaska include Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line. (can't provide link since it's a TA)

Your post had me wondering about Disney not being a premium line. Well, you are right - some of the time. Depending on the organization ranking the lines, some place Disney in the premium category, and some place Disney in the contemporary category. However, none have placed RCI in the premium. Most have placed them in contemporary. One even placed RCI in budget category!! :confused:

Apparently, there are many different opinions on who is in what category. :D

I still think that Disney provides such a refined product that I would place them in the premium category along with Celebrity and HAL. If I was travelling with friends and their kids (we are childless), I would suggest Disney as an excellent choice to please everyone equally. I certainly was impressed with the product even though we were adults with no kids when we cruised with them.

Your post had me wondering about Disney not being a premium line. Well, you are right - some of the time. Depending on the organization ranking the lines, some place Disney in the premium category, and some place Disney in the contemporary category. However, none have placed RCI in the premium. Most have placed them in contemporary. One even placed RCI in budget category!! :confused:

 

Apparently, there are many different opinions on who is in what category. :D

 

I still think that Disney provides such a refined product that I would place them in the premium category along with Celebrity and HAL. If I was travelling with friends and their kids (we are childless), I would suggest Disney as an excellent choice to please everyone equally. I certainly was impressed with the product even though we were adults with no kids when we cruised with them.

All those lines are "mass market." From where I sit, they really are more alike in terms of food and services than they are different. The premium is for the mouse and associated characters.

All those lines are "mass market." From where I sit, they really are more alike in terms of food and services than they are different. The premium is for the mouse and associated characters.

Of course they are all mass market. So are the luxury lines, if you want to mince words. Anything that is sold to the general public is considered "mass market", even if it may be high priced.

Most online sites rate Celebrity, Princess and HAL as premium. Some even include RCI or Disney as premium, but most do not. Most place RCI in the same category as Carnival and NCL, unless they also include a category for "budget" lines. Those that do include Carnival and NCL in the budget category, while RCI will be rated one level higher.

Each site seems to have it's own set of qualifiers for these categories. No two seem to agree. These rankings probably have too much to do with the editor's favorites and preferences. ;)