CMF Posted January 27, 2008 #1 Share Posted January 27, 2008 I am in the very early stages of planning a Caribbean cruise for early April 2009. The first choice is a Disney cruise but I'm afraid it is not the best value. So, can someone give me a rough idea of how much more I'll be paying for a Disney cruise than for another quality [non-Disney] cruise experience? Thanks, Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy99 Posted January 27, 2008 #2 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Its hard to say. Depends on alot of factors but Its worth every penny. Best Family cruise I have been on so far. Im going on the liberty of the seas with the kids in april so I might change my mind but as of Now I feel Disney is worth every penny. The kids 5 and 7 had a great time and so did my wife and I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMF Posted January 27, 2008 Author #3 Share Posted January 27, 2008 I believe that Disney has a great cruise. I want dollar estimates so I can decide if it's worth it to me. Thanks, Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted January 27, 2008 #4 Share Posted January 27, 2008 I don't think it's "worth every penny" at all. The servers weren't as good as RCCL. My kids (who are Princess obsessed) didn't like the kids club as much as Carnival or RCCL. Here are the price comaparisons. For our fam of 4 we did the Disney Magic - Cat 6 Verandah for the SAME price as a Grand Suite on the RCCL Freedom of the Seas. In the RCCL Grand Suite we got a whole bunch of perks (priority embarkation, concierge lounge with free drinks, concierge service for prebooking reservations, bigger cabin, surround sound, robes, pillow menu, ice skating tickets, complimentary bottle of champagne, bottle of water and complimentary food sent to our room, plus a whole bunch of things I am not thinking of right now). We didn't get an perks on Disney. The RCCL Freedom ships have many more ammenities than the Disney ships. You could easily get a balcony cabin on a newer Carnival ship verses an inside cabin on Disney. When I worked out the land/sea package (in SEPTEMBER, the LOWEST price of the year) it came to $4,900 and I would have to upgrade to the deluxe Disney resort we always stay at. And that didn't include the food package at WDW. You can easily compare them yourself. Go to a booking site like expedia and click on cruises...then the time of the year (generally) that you want to go. Then click "list by price" I JUST did it for June and there are 21 3-7 day cruises in the month of June on RCCL and Carnival that are cheaper in price than a 3 day Disney cruise. You are paying for the name. You are paying for the fact that they only have 2 ships in the water. And you are paying for their lack of a casino (big money makers on other cruiselines). We had to move our April cruise so I booked 8 days in Walt Disney World at a deluxe resort, with an upgraded room, hopper passes for 4 AND food package. It was STILL cheaper than a Disney cruise. When you want Disney go to the park. When you want a cruise, go to a cruiseline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljknecht570 Posted January 27, 2008 #5 Share Posted January 27, 2008 We went on a Disney cruise. There were 5 of us. It cost about $800 per person for an inside room. (4 day) The cruise was wonderful but it was a present from my Mom. I would never pay that much. I would rather go on 3 different cruises than do a Disney cruise again. The service was not any better than on Carnival and the food was not any better. The kids programs were perfect. But there were a lot of kids! So if you are doing it for the kids--pick Disney. The shows are geared toward families. My opinion is that I probably would not do Disney again but rather Carnival were my kids will still have an unbelievable time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebeccalouise Posted January 28, 2008 #6 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Ok- I am a big fan of Celebrity and love their kids program. This would be my first choice for an overall family good time. Having said that... I did think Disney was a good value. I did a three night with a veranda and the room was the largest standard balcony stateroom I have stayed in (Ive sailed on Princess, Royal, Celebrity, Oceania and Cunard in veranda suites also and Disney's was the roomiest.). I think the split bathroom with the little bath tub was great for families with young children. My son (age 5 at the time) LOVED Disney. He especially liked the kids program, the Mickey water slide- and free soft drinks- including Rootbeer! As for me- three days was plenty. Disney is definitely a kiddie cruise. I love my son but I need a more adult environment. I also felt that Royal Caribbean was very child friendly and he probably liked that cruise as much a Disney. So I think kids would be happy with either line. As for me- I prefer ships that are low octane and sedate- so I'll stick with Celebrity and Cunard. But if you are looking for lots of kid friendly amenities- I think Royal Caribbean offers more bang for the buck than Disney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne74 Posted January 28, 2008 #7 Share Posted January 28, 2008 your best bet is to go to Expedia and look at the cost differences of the times you want to sail. It is the only way to figure it out. I haven't been on disney yet but we plan to do the 4 night cruise next - well after our rccl spring break cruise. My dd is 6 and she loves everything disney. i know we will pay for more but i love the fact that the shows are geared towards the kids and the sailaway party and the pirates party. I am sure I will like them better then RCCL shows. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMF Posted January 28, 2008 Author #8 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Please rank your preferences to help me decide. There will be six of us: mom, dad, grandma, two seven year old boys and an almost 4 year old girl. Thanks, Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted January 28, 2008 #9 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Please rank your preferences to help me decide. There will be six of us: mom, dad, grandma, two seven year old boys and an almost 4 year old girl. Thanks, Charles Honestly you aren't going to see a consensus on this board. We all like the lines we like for our own individual reasons. Rebecca likes Celebrity/Cunard (as she said) because of the "sedate" atmosphere. We like Royal Carribean Freedom ships because it's not a huge party ship but more of a family ship with things like the H20 zone water park area for the kids AND the adult only solarium for times when I need to take some time and be with adults. And also some extra ammenities like ice skating rinks and the flowrider (onboard surfing) Some prefer Carnival for the value. (Their standard cabins are bigger than most) Also, some prefer Carnival for the nightlife and food. Those who like NCL like it for the Freestyle Cruising (you don't have set meal times) Disney - they have the best family shows on the seas, no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hencoll Posted January 28, 2008 #10 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Well we have sailed DCL a number of times and really enjoy all they have to offer. We are trying the Liberty of the Seas in Dec. 2008 because we are fascinated by those "Freedom" class ships. We only sail in suites so my price comparison may be skewed. The 2bdrm Royal Family Suite on the Liberty will cost us $3000 less than the Cat. 3 -1 bdrm suite we sailed in on The Disney Magic in Dec. 2007. :eek: Both of these cruises are in "off season" early Dec. I am hoping my family falls in love with RCI because that is a major price difference. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebeccalouise Posted January 29, 2008 #11 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Please rank your preferences to help me decide. There will be six of us: mom, dad, grandma, two seven year old boys and an almost 4 year old girl. Thanks, Charles Given the ages- do a Disney cruise- even a short one like I did. Three nights were plenty and the my son LOVED it. I think that 4 and 7 are just the right ages for Disney. It was fun to see the wonder and magic in my son's eyes. I wouldn't do it again- I prefer other lines but I am glad I did it while he was little (5). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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