Other Cruise Lines... not as cheap as I was expecting?

I've only sailed on another cruise line once (NCL Escape last spring), and for my family of 3, I was able to sail in a mini-suite with large balcony cabin (balcony held 3 loungers, 2 chairs and a table) for approximately half of what I would have paid for an oceanview cabin on the Dream or Fantasy (so large ship to large ship comparison). Yes, the cabin was smaller than what we were used on to DCL, but not markedly so.

In addition, all three of us had the unlimited beverage package - so even though we are not huge drinkers, it was nice to always have a drink in hand when at the pool or at dinner.

My daughter was at the age (12 at the time) where she no longer needed or wanted to spend time in the clubs, and was happy laying on deck with her book and ipod all day. Accordingly, there was little justification for us paying a premium for what I consider DCL's number one selling point, since we were not going to use them anyway.

Quality of food and service we found to be about the same. The only real difference was in evening entertainment, where DCL won hands down.

I've always said that DCL can charge so much because (I assume) for most of their cruisers, it is a once or twice in a lifetime experience, until their kids grow out of it. I contrast this with the other cruise lines, where they are looking to build loyalty and repeat business - and can charge less, because they make up some or all of the missing revenue via their casinos.
 
We are a family of 5 and we've only sailed with DCL (for lots of good reasons :earboy2:). I've tried to look at other lines to see if I could get a better deal (2 to 3k less) and I've found it difficult with RCL and NCL to find a 5 cabin room for much less than Disney... sometimes it was for different location but same # nights. Although, they were suites they didn't have A balcony (DH Must Have Balcony). I think my husband really loves DCL. He gets upset when I talk about other cruise lines.​
 
We are a family of 5 and we've only sailed with DCL (for lots of good reasons :earboy2:). I've tried to look at other lines to see if I could get a better deal (2 to 3k less) and I've found it difficult with RCL and NCL to find a 5 cabin room for much less than Disney... sometimes it was for different location but same # nights. Although, they were suites they didn't have A balcony (DH Must Have Balcony). I think my husband really loves DCL. He gets upset when I talk about other cruise lines.​

I'm pretty sure RCL suites have a balcony, so I'm not sure where you are seeing they don't!
 
I've only sailed on another cruise line once (NCL Escape last spring), and for my family of 3, I was able to sail in a mini-suite with large balcony cabin (balcony held 3 loungers, 2 chairs and a table) for approximately half of what I would have paid for an oceanview cabin on the Dream or Fantasy (so large ship to large ship comparison). Yes, the cabin was smaller than what we were used on to DCL, but not markedly so.

In addition, all three of us had the unlimited beverage package - so even though we are not huge drinkers, it was nice to always have a drink in hand when at the pool or at dinner.

My daughter was at the age (12 at the time) where she no longer needed or wanted to spend time in the clubs, and was happy laying on deck with her book and ipod all day. Accordingly, there was little justification for us paying a premium for what I consider DCL's number one selling point, since we were not going to use them anyway.

Quality of food and service we found to be about the same. The only real difference was in evening entertainment, where DCL won hands down.

I've always said that DCL can charge so much because (I assume) for most of their cruisers, it is a once or twice in a lifetime experience, until their kids grow out of it. I contrast this with the other cruise lines, where they are looking to build loyalty and repeat business - and can charge less, because they make up some or all of the missing revenue via their casinos.

We liked NLC (Breakaway/Getaway) but found - same as you - that the entertainment for kids is not good. RCI Oasis class ships have excellent entertainment for kids (we saw 2 different Ice Shows, I think 2 different Aqua Shows, a Broadway style show Cats/Mamma Mia, and another headliner show). My daughter 7/8 at the time loved the shows. Another big reason for us cruising with RCI over NCL (and DCL) are the pools - 3 of them!
 


We are a family of 5 and we've only sailed with DCL (for lots of good reasons :earboy2:). I've tried to look at other lines to see if I could get a better deal (2 to 3k less) and I've found it difficult with RCL and NCL to find a 5 cabin room for much less than Disney... sometimes it was for different location but same # nights. Although, they were suites they didn't have A balcony (DH Must Have Balcony). I think my husband really loves DCL. He gets upset when I talk about other cruise lines.​

What ships have suites without balconies? Think they all do....
 


I understand the difference between the different rooms on a cruise ship but because I requested a room that sleeps 5 I'm more limited because the cruise lines have limited number of these rooms. I always have to call because website won't allow me to see some of these rooms. The customer service rep quoted me different scenarios to see which was the least expensive... one room for 5 which he said was a suite but did not have a balcony but have a large window, or two connecting balcony rooms that slept 3-4 people each. There was only a $400 difference between the two but it was about the same as the DCL cruise (within $600) and once I factor what I think are DCL "extras" like soda, day at Disney, MDAS, etc we stick to DCL. I was trying to book at least a year out.
 
I got the impression from calling RCCL that the 5 person rooms were few and far between and for the ones that they did have, they didn't have balconies but I could be wrong, still in learning mode with RCCL
 
I understand the difference between the different rooms on a cruise ship but because I requested a room that sleeps 5 I'm more limited because the cruise lines have limited number of these rooms. I always have to call because website won't allow me to see some of these rooms. The customer service rep quoted me different scenarios to see which was the least expensive... one room for 5 which he said was a suite but did not have a balcony but have a large window, or two connecting balcony rooms that slept 3-4 people each. There was only a $400 difference between the two but it was about the same as the DCL cruise (within $600) and once I factor what I think are DCL "extras" like soda, day at Disney, MDAS, etc we stick to DCL. I was trying to book at least a year out.

Got it! For some reason I thought you were saying SUITES didn't have balconies but you were saying ocean view balconies didn't accommodate 5 - or there were fewer of them that did.
 
What ships have suites without balconies? Think they all do....

On the NCL Dawn and Star they have a number of family suites without balconies that sleep 5-6. They just have floor to ceiling windows. They were added after a major dry dock a few years ago. They are considered full suites with full suite perks. When the Star used to sail the Baltic, they were hard to get because of the fact they slept 5-6, full suite perks and were at a reasonable price point.
 
On the NCL Dawn and Star they have a number of family suites without balconies that sleep 5-6. They just have floor to ceiling windows. They were added after a major dry dock a few years ago. They are considered full suites with full suite perks. When the Star used to sail the Baltic, they were hard to get because of the fact they slept 5-6, full suite perks and were at a reasonable price point.

Thanks! I was sure it wasn't any of the new ships. But still I'm sure they are a deal for 6!
 
So those of us that stay in Cat T or above, are supposed to accept smaller staterooms, fewer bathrooms, and lesser service, all in order to compare pricing?

Not necessarily! Just looking up a random January 2018 Caribbean cruise:

Jan. 13, 2018...7 night eastern Caribbean on Disney Fantasy...2 adults/1 child (14) in a category T (622 sq ft including balcony)...$14,651 US. In canadian funds for us at todays exchange rate that would be $19,461.

Jan. 14,2018...7 night western Caribbean on RCL Allure...3 passengers (they don't count 14 as a child) in a Crown loft suite (659 sq ft including balcony)...$11,081 CDN

Now mind you since I'm in Canada I can't see what the US price is on that allure cruise...but for those of us who are not US residents, that dismal exchange rate means the RCL cruise is over $8300 dollars cheaper if we wanted to go big with concierge!
 
I have compared MANY cruise lines to Disney. We do drink soda, so we would need a beverage package on the other lines. We like room service, which some lines charge fees for now. Don't forget the taxes and fees, which Disney quotes up front, but the other lines make you go all the way through to the end of the checkout process to get, so make sure you do that.

When you add it all up, the MOST I have been able to save on another line is $100. But generally, the cost comes out around $50 higher for us on other lines. Either way, I would much rather do Disney for that little difference.
 
I could save $1000 on RCL for my Mediterranean cruise next summer in a similar sized room with a similar itinerary with almost the exact same dates. The problem is, it is NOT the same itinerary. RCL does not have a cruise that begins in Barcelona and ends in Rome. That is specifically what I want, because I want to spend extra time in both cities before and after the cruise. Therefore, DCL is worth the extra $1000 to me. Also, my daughter is still at the age that she likes the characters and when I read about some of the shows on other cruise lines, they are not things I am ready to expose her to yet. RCL also does not have the pull down berth in the similar rooms which is a total deal breaker for my child!
 
I have compared MANY cruise lines to Disney. We do drink soda, so we would need a beverage package on the other lines. We like room service, which some lines charge fees for now. Don't forget the taxes and fees, which Disney quotes up front, but the other lines make you go all the way through to the end of the checkout process to get, so make sure you do that.

When you add it all up, the MOST I have been able to save on another line is $100. But generally, the cost comes out around $50 higher for us on other lines. Either way, I would much rather do Disney for that little difference.


I sure wish I could find something for less then say $500 difference- I've never found DCL for less than double :(
 
We are a family of 5 and frequently bring my daughter's friend with us. We have cruised DCL 20+ times so clearly enjoy it but we have also tried several other lines and the savings has always been significant.

For example, we cruised MSC last month in two balcony cabins for a 7 night cruise for less than the 3 night Fantasy cruise in a balcony and inside that we booked the day it was released. The MSC cruise included a coupon book for 12 free drinks (which could be used for alcohol, soda, mocktails, smoothies, milkshakes, gelato) for each person (kids coupon books did not include alcohol). MSC also has a status match program where they will match your loyalty level from another line, so our DCL platinum status matched to their highest loyalty level. Their loyalty program gives perks per person, rather than just one per cabin. So for us this included 5 bottles of Prosecco, 5 trays of chocolate covered strawberries, 5 coupons for complimentary dinner for 2 in their specialty restaurants, 5 free photos from the Captain's reception, 5 string backpacks, 5 one hour passes to the thermal spa, and more. Also on MSC, kids 11 and under sail free (though that doesn't help us as my youngest is 12).

We have traveled on NCL Getaway in the Haven 2 bedroom suite and a penthouse balcony for a few thousand less than a balcony and inside on the Fantasy.

Even now, I was just pricing out Oasis of the Seas out of Port Canaveral for next mid June. It is 6461.30 for 2 boardwalk balcony cabins - each cabin includes a complimentary meal at Johnny Rockets for each person and soda package for 2. The Fantasy cruise for the same date is 12,829.23 for a balcony and an inside (lowest category of each).

If I could find the small price difference you guys are finding, I could justify DCL but at the price differences I am seeing for our dates, I just can't do it - I'd rather sail twice on the other lines.
 
On the NCL Dawn and Star they have a number of family suites without balconies that sleep 5-6. They just have floor to ceiling windows. They were added after a major dry dock a few years ago. They are considered full suites with full suite perks. When the Star used to sail the Baltic, they were hard to get because of the fact they slept 5-6, full suite perks and were at a reasonable price point.

And big windows like that are so cool. We have loved our royal panoramic rooms!

So those of us that stay in Cat T or above, are supposed to accept smaller staterooms, fewer bathrooms, and lesser service, all in order to compare pricing?

There has always seemed to be a lot of wasted space in Category T rooms.

Maybe, if pricing is important to you, you could look beyond the square footage and see what else is out there. I've never heard cruisers on royal or celebrity complain about suite service (I feeel that just everyday service on royal is better than even concierge service on disney, but then we're allergic to cloying service and that's especially what we got our last concierge dcl), many have said (in any class) that it's hard to really notice a difference in size, especially how it functions, on other ships.

Don't forget the taxes and fees, which Disney quotes up front, but the other lines make you go all the way through to the end of the checkout process to get, so make sure you do that.

So it's not Royal that makes you go to the end. I established that the other day in response to such a post. What line are you seeing it go all the way to the end?

And what about the tips being higher (at least than royal) and NEVER being mentioned a time all on Disney, even after holding a cruise and getting the email?
 

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