Disney a threat to RCL?

Just saw the Disney Wonder will be homeported in Miami, Fl for December 2012 through May 2013. With Allure, Oasis, Vision, Independence, Liberty, & Majesty (not to mention those under the Celebrity Brand - Reflection, Constellation, Equinox & Eclipse) I can forsee some issues with the high pricing RCL currently has on their sailings.

The very clients that have been gravitating towards the Dreameworks Experience may very well be "allured" more towards Disney because.... Well... It's Disney!!

Are lower prices and more competition to come? What do you all think?

Just saw the Disney Wonder will be homeported in Miami, Fl for December 2012 through May 2013. With Allure, Oasis, Vision, Independence, Liberty, & Majesty (not to mention those under the Celebrity Brand - Reflection, Constellation, Equinox & Eclipse) I can forsee some issues with the high pricing RCL currently has on their sailings.

 

The very clients that have been gravitating towards the Dreameworks Experience may very well be "allures" more towards Disney because.... Well... It's Disney!!

 

Are lower prices and more competition to come? What do you all think?

I have to say that the idea of being locked into a floating theme park filled to the gills with kids has zero appeal to me. I'd rather have a pap smear by captain hook then go on a Disney cruise.

There are people who try to convince me that Disney is more than the mouse, but I can't ever see myself on a Disney ship. I see it as a very niche brand.

Possibly, but I can also see the Wonder sailing will be competing against those who have got plans now for the other Disney ships. More supply "should" imply lower price, everything else being equal. That's good news from customers' point of view, isn't it?

All I keep hearing is Disney is much more expensive. Is that true?

A cruise on Royal Caribbean is much less in cost than a cruise on Disney Cruise Line.

I think the two brands are very different - Disney only has 4 ships in its fleet (well, just three right now). They book so quickly because there aren't a lot of ships to cruise on. People going to Disney, for the most part, are looking for the Disney experience. I think that Disney and Royal Caribbean draw in different crowds. I don't think that Disney will pose any more of a threat than it already did departing from Port Canaveral. If anything, Disney and Norwegian are stepping in Disney's territory, now, offering characters on their cruise ships. (Though if I were going to choose a ship for its characters, it would be Disney hands down - Disney's characters are classic... I don't really connect with the Nickelodeon/Dreamworks characters.)

But no, I don't think this will cause Royal to drop their prices. If anything, Disney should drop their prices - but with their high popularity (the Dream has been booked solid since it began sailing last year), I don't see that happening anytime soon.

All I keep hearing is Disney is much more expensive. Is that true?

Yes! Disney is about the same price range as Celebrity/Princess.

Disney is really expensive.

I don't think DCL will pose a problem for RCI, CCL or even NCL. Disney is a relatively expensive niche cruise line, that appeals to specific demographic. Try as they might to attract singles and older folks, middle and upper-middle class families with small kids are their bread and butter. Many people like my wife and I WILL NOT cruise with them for that exact reason. They are also pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of cruising. They have four ships and control a mere 3% of the market.

And this is coming from a long time Disney fan (mainly EPCOT Center, but that's just semantics). I like their parks, but I don't feel the need to spend a week with Mickey on a cruise ship. Now if Figment and Dreamfinder were aboard..........

All I keep hearing is Disney is much more expensive. Is that true?

It depends on months of sailing. I found DCL price during summer sailing (for all itineraries ... Bahamas, Carribean or Alaska) are way more expensive than many mass market competitors. A summer cruise on the Disney Fantasy per diem for a verandah cabin for 2 adults and 2 kids can start at $300 per person, per day.

But during low season their prices are relatively more reasonable. I have a dummy reservation on the Disney Fantasy Eastern Caribbean Jan 2013 and it is about $1000 less than the same Oasis/Allure (sorry, can't remember which).

Another incentive for DCL is their onboard booking: 10% off the cruisefare, plus OBC, plus reduced deposits. I recently also found that we can get Disney gift cards at Target and paying it with Target credit card will get 5% off. Then pay off the cruise using the Disney giftcard essentially that another 5% off. So I got 15% off. Some TAs give additional OBC.

Sorry this might be too much pro DCL in the Royal Caribbean board.

My point just want to say it really depends on the time of sailing. Oh forgot ... and also the type of cabin.

Disney will not be a threat to RCL. RCL has only one ship out of Miami (Majesty). Min. price for Disney is 400+ per person. We have sailed on Majesty for $129 per person. Majesty does 3 and 4 night cruises. Disney is doing 6 and 7 day cruises. There is really no competition. Disney is a premium line. RCL is a mainstream line.

Just saw the Disney Wonder will be homeported in Miami, Fl for December 2012 through May 2013. With Allure, Oasis, Vision, Independence, Liberty, & Majesty (not to mention those under the Celebrity Brand - Reflection, Constellation, Equinox & Eclipse) I can forsee some issues with the high pricing RCL currently has on their sailings.

 

The very clients that have been gravitating towards the Dreameworks Experience may very well be "allured" more towards Disney because.... Well... It's Disney!!

 

Are lower prices and more competition to come? What do you all think?

If it really came down to pricing, Disney would be in alot of trouble. Everytime I compare the prices, Disney had been at least double what Royal Caribbean want. Also if pricing is the most important factor in a cruise vacation for the whole family, Carnival and NCL would be winning them over since they are almost always cheaper and they do also offer things for the whole family.

In the end, I doubt anyone is in real trouble. There is just more selection out of South Florida.

There is only one thing that keeps me from Disney Cruises, no casino. I just need a little gambling when cruising. The kids begged, but I they are quite happy on RCL. They like the look of the water roller coaster. Oh well, I don't think we will ever go on it. RCI for us.

Kelly

Just saw the Disney Wonder will be homeported in Miami, Fl for December 2012 through May 2013. With Allure, Oasis, Vision, Independence, Liberty, & Majesty (not to mention those under the Celebrity Brand - Reflection, Constellation, Equinox & Eclipse) I can forsee some issues with the high pricing RCL currently has on their sailings.

 

The very clients that have been gravitating towards the Dreameworks Experience may very well be "allured" more towards Disney because.... Well... It's Disney!!

 

Are lower prices and more competition to come? What do you all think?

Well, out of all the ships you listed the only one sailing from Miami is the Majesty. Out of the ships you listed only the Oasis/Allure and the Liberty have the Dreamworks Experience. On Disney ships it is Disney all the time, on Royal Caribbean ships that have the Dreamworks Experience you only see the characters at certain times. The Dreamworks Experience is a novelty that is there if you want to participate but not so intrusive as to bother those less interested in it.

Disney on average is always more expensive than other lines because it is a smaller line with a very specific product aimed at a smaller market. Royal Caribbean is a much bigger line with many more choices of ships and itineraries therefore offering more lower priced alternatives than Disney. I do not foresee Disney taking passengers away from Royal Caribbean just because Disney is well "just Disney". Each line will continue to attract their customers because that is what their customers want. If anything Royal Caribbean may attract more Disney customers with lower prices and more ships with the newest innovations in the cruise industry.

It will be interesting this winter in Galveston. How Disney does with no land based Disney facility close by .

Hopefully with Disney and Princess in town, prices on Mariner will come down some

It will be interesting this winter in Galveston. How Disney does with no land based Disney facility close by .

Hopefully with Disney and Princess in town, prices on Mariner will come down some

What's that supposed to mean? The past two summers, Disney sailed the Mediterranean/Europe, and last summer, Disney began sailing Alaska - successful in both, I believe.

What's that supposed to mean? The past two summers, Disney sailed the Mediterranean/Europe, and last summer, Disney began sailing Alaska - successful in both, I believe.

There is currently 3 large ships already in Galveston When Princess and Disney sail from there it might dilute the market and with the prices Disney charges Im wondering if they will have to drop prices. When cruising from Orlando or Anaheim Disney has the parks to prebook for the cruisers.

Galveston is hard to get 2 and while it has a few things to do I think kids would have a better time pre cruise @ those other ports.

The Med is Europe and all cruise companies make money there. Thats why they all go over there every summer. Alaska is a profit maker as well

I have zero interest in anything Disney but I know quite a few adults who love it. I know multiple adults without kids who went to Disneyland for their honeymoon and take most of their vacations there... Not my preference.

Yes! Disney is about the same price range as Celebrity/Princess.

Not sure what sailings you are looking at but Disney I have found to usually be 2x or more than any of the the CL's you list.

Not sure what sailings you are looking at but Disney I have found to usually be 2x or more than any of the the CL's you list.

Ah, well I guess that's the difference - there's usually some sort of a deal for Princess or Celebrity, but Disney never discounts! (Well, besides Kids Sail Free) You're right - it's usually a bit more expensive, I just didn't think it was quite comparable to Holland America.

I would love to try a Disney cruise, but as many times as I've psyched myself up to do so, I've never been able to personally justify the Disney price. I've done a 7-day cruise on another line plus 3 days at the park for cheaper than a 4-day Disney cruise in peak season.

I suppose it is part of Disney's strategy to build a brand that's marketed to be premium and price it accordingly. Based on the response I read here I guess they are successful in that regard.

So to answer OP's question is No, there's no threat to RCL. Different product, different taste, different customer, different price, different interest.

With all of this talk about Disney, RCCL wont have to worry. There are plenty of people that I know that dont want to cruise Disney. I have no desire to cruise Disney because when I cruise I like to get away from the Disney theme. For Solo cruisers like myself RCCL has got some of the better prices.

This announcement will probably have the opposite effect and increase business on every line BUT Disney. Over on the DIS boards (where everyone is thoroughly hopped up on pixie dust) there's a 4 page thread on their new itineraries out of Miami, and not a single post that likes them. IMO, once Disney people even look at cruising out of south Florida, they'll find a half-dozen lines that actually go where they wished Disney would have gone, and they'll jump ship.

It seems to me Disney is the most Expensive ship in port. We wanted to do a Disney cruise but it was way too expensive. Opted for the Freedom instead.