At some point, DCL will have to realize that they aren't getting the people they used to get consistently. They'll start getting a lot of new 'one and done' cruisers. It will be interesting to see what happens with the on board booking with the new rules and the new prices.
I totally agree. Although we moved our dummy date to 2015, after discussing it, it doesn't look like we will end up cruising. Once you add in all the extras, that one vacation would equal two years of WDW vacations for us. It's hard to justify that price. Hoping fall 2015 cruises will be more reasonable or we'll be sticking with WDW!Maybe it will happen sooner than later. I told DH that the new dates came out and I didn't move either of our dummy dates. They are both set in early 2015 for now. I seriously doubt that we will do either of them for the prices they were opening day. Most of what I have seen over the past couple days is just insane. Many are more than what a year of college will be for one of the kids. We just can't justify it anymore. Use to be able to book 7-night cruises consistently for under $4000 for the four of us. I'm thankful that we have been able to do as many as we have. Priorities have changed for us and these prices just don't fit our plans.
Maybe it will happen sooner than later. I told DH that the new dates came out and I didn't move either of our dummy dates. They are both set in early 2015 for now. I seriously doubt that we will do either of them for the prices they were opening day. Most of what I have seen over the past couple days is just insane. Many are more than what a year of college will be for one of the kids. We just can't justify it anymore. Use to be able to book 7-night cruises consistently for under $4000 for the four of us. I'm thankful that we have been able to do as many as we have. Priorities have changed for us and these prices just don't fit our plans.
The question is when will this make a dent in Disney's plan?
Well, in November many long-time DCL faithful said that DCL's prices went over the line. This time around that is happening again. Eventually it is going to add up. Maybe DCL doesn't want the repeat guest anymore. People know that we have cruised DCL many times and have always asked us for advice. I no longer can tell them that it is worth the money and less expensive than going to the parks -- though the park prices have doubled over the past few years and between that and the FP+ nonsense is off our list now as well. I never thought that I would be in a place where I wasn't planning a Disney trip of some kind. This made me sad in November. I've gotten use to it since then.
I agree with this (especially the part about FP+ ruining the park experience - I'm still sad) BUT we did book a summer 2015 DCL cruise on opening day - the July 10 Northern Europe cruise. I don't doubt what you all are saying about the cost of most of the cruises increasing a lot, except that this one cruise - the 12 day NE cruise - does not seem as ridiculously overpriced as what you all are saying about the others....Am I missing something about this cruise? IS it really way overpriced (compared to other cruise lines) and I am just in denial?
Our experience is with the two cruises we have taken on the Fantasy the week before Easter. Though the date changes, that week is still prime spring break pricing.
2012 $5700 cat 8D [also Maiden Voyage so expected higher price]
2013 $6100 cat 5C [actually paid $3100 & after 2 hours this was the going price for the 5C on the website]
2014 $5800 cat 5C
2015 $8800 cat 5C
Well, in November many long-time DCL faithful said that DCL's prices went over the line. This time around that is happening again. Eventually it is going to add up. Maybe DCL doesn't want the repeat guest anymore. People know that we have cruised DCL many times and have always asked us for advice. I no longer can tell them that it is worth the money and less expensive than going to the parks -- though the park prices have doubled over the past few years and between that and the FP+ nonsense is off our list now as well. I never thought that I would be in a place where I wasn't planning a Disney trip of some kind. This made me sad in November. I've gotten use to it since then.
I agree with this (especially the part about FP+ ruining the park experience - I'm still sad) BUT we did book a summer 2015 DCL cruise on opening day - the July 10 Northern Europe cruise. I don't doubt what you all are saying about the cost of most of the cruises increasing a lot, except that this one cruise - the 12 day NE cruise - does not seem as ridiculously overpriced as what you all are saying about the others. In fact, we have passed on the prior years' DCL NE cruises because they *were* so much more than other cruise lines. But for some reason, DCL seems to have brought the price of this cruise in line with the others - and I'm almost certain the price is less that DCL has charged for similar cruises in past years.
Am I missing something about this cruise? IS it really way overpriced (compared to other cruise lines) and I am just in denial?
14 night WESTBOUND PANAMA CANAL - 1st May 2015
cat 11b for 2 adults $2970.96 with no ins/no transfers/ no OBB
booked yeh...
11 night NORTHERN NORWEGIAN FJORDS AND ICELAND - 29th June 2015
cat 11b for 2 adults $5155.78 with no ins/no transfers/ no OBB
7 night DOVER TO BARCELONA - 3rd August 2015
cat 11b for 2 adults $3307.20 with no ins/no transfers/ no OBB
GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY - we were on hold for 2.5 hours
I was looking into RCCL's new Quantam of the Seas. This ship really looks amazing with impressive activities and restaurants, and a new dining "system" (including a 24-hr station at the buffet - with all day breakfast!!!), and going out of NJ full-time, would be real convenient for us (plus save us the airfare). Unfortunately, they haven't released the schedule for that ship yet beyond April 2015. Curious to see where they will compare to DCL with this ship.