Is Disney Cruise Line Getting Too Expensive?

Disney Cruise Line is a premium vacation and has been since its inception but is the pricing for cruises getting out of hand as demand is ridiculously strong and how does it compare to a Walt Disney World vacation?
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[@nickm1587]

The parks are Wayyyy more entertainment and options than a cruise. Not fair to compare the price of cruise vs full Disney parks trip

[@bascho1490]

Yea I’ve never understood the comparison, I go to parks because of the rides the cruise doesn’t have rides m. It’s not the same

[@bobgargiulo802]

@@bascho1490 came here to say the exact same thing! I do to Disney World and Disneyland because of the rides and park environment. A cruise just does not the provide anything close to that in my eyes!

[@kellykristine1238]

My issue is, I’m bored with the same itineraries for the high price. I don’t want to go to Nassau. Also, I would prefer to see a breakdown comparison to other cruise lines instead of WDW.

[@OmegaBahn]

Yes. We tried Celebrity cruises last December and it opened up our minds to a much stress-free and possibly higher quality food offerings. DCL is a great deal if you ARE a Disney addict. We are not.

[@carol_draper]

We have our first cruise booked on celebrity for the fall. We have always done DCL. I’ve heard great things about Celebrity. Did you love it?

[@debolson1571]

Consider a placeholder purchase while on a cruise for a discount on your next cruise.

[@seanmceneaney2485]

Nickel and dimming?? As if Disney doesn’t do that at all lol lol

[@masblas3379]

I love that Elaine did her best to make the WDW package equal to the DCL package, but to me, the biggest discrepancy is the entertainment. You're talking about tickets to 4 theme parks, compared to 3, maybe 4 shows on the cruise. The entertainment value of WDW far outweighs the entertainment value of the cruise, especially with a $17 dollar difference. I love DCL, but it is definitely on the top end of expense. We took a 7 night cruise to Alaska out of Seattle on NCL Encore and it was phenomenal. I do agree that Disney could be considered a "deluxe" cruise line, but a luxury cruise line, I have to disagree. Maybe with the price, but services, though great, are not luxury.

[@SlackerWannaB]

DCL seems to be at the premium price level, but actually in-between the mainstream lines and the more premium brands. If you aren’t a big Disney fan, even more so.

[@DR.Detroit11]

yes, we are moving vacations away from Disney.

[@gloriadorau4585]

we are too

[@joeschmoe5231]

That's sad.

[@ZooropaPinball]

I've been on DCL a couple times and will not go back. Royal caribbean is almost as good at about 1/3 the price.

[@Aisha.The.Traveler]

I actually liked the Royal Caribbean food better than DCL. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@Excalibur_86]

Our 6 nights WDW vacation for a family of three was about $6000. This was in mid august of 2022. Thats 6 nights at AKL, all the dinning, merch, airfare, transfers everything included. Three of us are booked on the fantasy for august 2024 sailing and the cruise alone is $6200, airfare is about another $1000. I am expecting the whole vacation to be a lot more than our WDW vacation.

[@arthistoryalli2]

Clearly biased toward DCL but that’s ok. I don’t love the nickel and dime on the Big 3 (RCCL, NCL, and Carnival) but as someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, soda, or coffee then I know I’m not paying for stuff I’m not using.

[@seanmceneaney2485]

We are going on Symphony literally same week in May and its 1/2 the price.

[@charlenebevilacqua8059]

7000 way too much for a week at Disney world or cruise is way too much for us

[@trudisabaj2741]

Love you Jackie! Always good to see you. ❤🎉

[@lovinlorne]

“Getting”? LOL. They have ALWAYS been far too expensive.

[@JS-be8ll]

Proper comparison: PoR 6 nights in may, pool view - $1740. Dining, pick a number, $300/day (way more than we'd spend) Total cost, $3540 vs over $7000 for the cruise ...

[@TheMsjenna]

Yes. It’s costing a lot more. We opted for NCL this time around.

[@chantelcain3297]

I think what’s hard is that previously you were paying a premium for a premium cruise with kids- however Royal and Carnival have both stepped up their games as far as families go and the new ships are just as or more entertaining for kids ages 5 and up… and the characters are the only thing that keeps Disney the best for 6m-5yrs

[@chantelcain3297]

IMO Disney cruise line needs to run better sales kids under 10 sail free or 50% off under 2 should always be free

[@patrickmartin7611]

Comparing DCL to the parks is a bit of a stretch. DCL should be compared to other cruise lines. Yeah, I'd love to cruise on DCL all things being equal. When I can got on one of the other big cruise lines for less that half of the cost of DCL (Including add-ons), then DCL can shove it. Sure I love Disney, but the last few years are starting to grind my gears with the nickel and diming and price gouging. 7-10 night cruises in June 2024 on other lines (Norwegian, Celebrity, etc) on Costco Travel right now for under $500pp. The same exact itinerary/time for DCL STARTS at $2044pp and goes up to even higher. Is DCL worth more? Yes. Is it worth $4500-6000 (For a family of 3-4) more for 7 nights? Hell no.

[@ajmayowskijr]

We are platinum and have 2 cruises planned this year. 2025 looks like the prices have really gone up. We will probably take a break from Disney after this year.

[@groot3737]

Yeah, now I’m reconsidering our cruise (booked with a ton of DVC points just for 2 people) and instead doing a regular wdw trip (but staying at a bucket list type room like the wilderness lodge cabins).

[@ScottEndsley]

A DCL travel agent saying no, shocking! Come on….they have always been more than others but worth it but now they’re insanely expensive.

[@seanmceneaney2485]

MDR and Windjammer are good food. We typically go to a specialty restaurant once or twice on a 7 night.

[@jillwachbrit6630]

We booked the Treasure for a Feb 2025 cruise out of Port Canaveral. We were able to use our 10% discount and another 20% we got from sailing on The Wish when it missed a port so at 30% off definitely the best deal possible for cruising. Sounds like Royal Caribbean has additional charges so may have to compare that for cruises in the future. My open complaint about Disney is that our children are grown and the ship essentially closes down around 9pm at night. We also had the chance to opt for a guaranteed varandah cabin.

[@lesliereynolds4492]

I’m going to use whoever is cheapest with itinerary and out of west coast. I’m also single and have heard about some cruise lines charging more than double cuz they feel they are losing out on second person buying stuff. That right there stinks big time.

[@wandab9586]

Going on a Royal Carribean on an Oasis class ship for 8 nights in Aprill in a suite snd am paying 4900 total for two people. We don't drink and got a water package. . DCL is too expensive. Limited amount of included restauranrs and foid. and not as much food available at all times. Sge compared it to WDW instead of other cruise lines. Elaine was very agressively pushing Disney Cruise lines. She is agressively pushjng DCL and is very biased. Not a great choice to put her on this show. I agree that Icon of the Seas is expensive and will not go on it but Perfect Day at Coco Cay blows DCL private island out of the watter. This is coming from a #1 Disney Fan.

[@carol_draper]

Let me preface my opinion by saying we are Platinum Disney cruisers and have only cruised on Disney. However, we feel the price is getting to be too high for most people. We are starting to look at other lines and we are doing that with an open mind.

[@monicadavis246]

I love DCL (9 cruises) but man, I’m having a hard time finding the value proposition anymore. For instance, my husband and I were looking for a cruise for our 25th anniversary for March 2025. Priced out 6 night Western Caribbean out of Galveston in verandah stateroom on Disney, category 5B - $6433! We ended up booking a 6 night Western Caribbean on Virgin Voyages for $3,914. We really would have liked to do DCL but I can’t justify the premium. Minnie and Mickey are awesome but not worth $2500 extra dollars. I would rather take another cruise with that money.

[@erickbeehive]

Is the magic Disney dust overpriced? YES. We (wife plus two children) could get the same room (one bedroom suite with veranda on concierge), same itineraries, same offshore excursions on any other cruise line for a fraction of what we paid for a five night cruise on the Magic.

[@jeffking6011]

As platinum we have always enjoyed DCL over several other cruise lines. Prices are always expensive but we've found for your money and the extra says, transatlantic cruises are the best value by far. Going on our 4th in May.

[@debbietummel5732]

Going to switch to Royal. Just didn't find that Disney could justify the price they charged for what we received on our last cruise

[@sade66119]

That's not a fair comparison at all. A 10 year old is considered an adult at Disney, which means that dining plan is more expensive. The child wouldn't be able to drink alchol.

[@dee_mcgee11]

I am booked on the Magic sailing to San Juan out of Ft. Lauderdale. It was the least expensive domestic Disney sailing I could find. They have just about priced me out considering that, as Craig said, Disney has offered cheaper sailings in the past.

[@keith9482]

Living out west , you can have Disney cruise line and the parks quite honestly! I’m a medical doctor and can afford this, but choose not to support a company who has priced out the common family! Point 2… the lady is going to push a cruise , she is a travel agent. I’ll go to National Parks or the UK… no thanks , Disney!

[@Tsumami__]

IMO the only thing luxury about DCL is the pricing. There is zero comparison to actual luxury cruising, the staterooms are unbelievably outdated and basic, they might be moderately larger but that’s only because the ship is full of families with kids, the experiences on board are lacking, excursions like the little private island aren’t even up to par in comparison to a moderate priced cruise line like RC or NCL. I honestly have no idea why anyone would choose Disney cruise line unless they had very young children and wanted to make the trip focused around them. Even a parent with older kids I would think would be more interested in Royal Caribbean, with the larger ships that feature crazy amounts of activities for families. I would much rather book a Haven room with NCL and spend close to the same amount, and actually get a stateroom that feels like luxury. I have no qualms about spending money at the parks, because the amount of fun stuff you can see and do is honestly overwhelming, you can’t even do everything you’d like to in one trip. But the cruise line offers little to attract single adults or couples, other than some themed bars and dining.

[@bsr6823]

I actually think Disney cruise line is a better deal than going to the theme park. The private aisle is absolute huge selling point, it just makes it worth the money.

[@Dizfan]

I think the reason why it's probably getting too expensive is because The Average Guest doesn't want to pay Extra for something like a Genie/LL system. Instead we miss the good old days of FP+,Park hop whenever you want,etc-And there's a Demand for that. I'd much rather have a less stressful Disney Trip then having to worry about If I'm going to make it to popular rides like 7 Dwarfs or Tron for example & having to pay extra.

[@lesliereynolds4492]

Yes, I lived in the UK, stationed there in the mid 70s and I’ll spend the money and visit again. Disney isn’t worth it anymore and I hate price gouging too.

[@chantelcain3297]

Can Elaine explain the categories?

[@TammyBStone]

The parks are getting very expensive to me and my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter 150 to get in $94 a day for food. $22 genie plus what are you up to about $300 a day per person and that’s not even staying at AOA.

[@libertysdaddy1514]

Disney cruise I just took my first/first cruise ever just doesn’t seem like there is enough to do… I will opt for the parks anyday albeit a totally different experience … we did already book another dcl cruise for September and it’s Been Tooo expensive.

[@ck2d]

What about tips and taxes?

[@bonitak8483]

I’m sorry but yes it is very expensive now. I have cruised on Disney using points so it’s been good for me, but now I choose to pay cash and one Caribbean cruise came out to $8000 for a solo traveler. I love Disney and I know it’s quality and I feel safe in the ships especially when I travel solo but I can’t justify paying that amount. Planning one or two years out is not feasible for me since I’m a senior and can’t plan that far out so cruising may be out for awhile.

[@gillianessien7417]

All cruise lines have gone up and the DCL prices are stratospheric.

[@250hincks7]

There are price differences between DCL and WDW dining plan doesn't include breakfast, if you include table service dining there are more expensive gratuities at WDW, you are limited to how many meals you can eat! DCL is more expensive than other lines when comparing upfront pricing, however if you consider what is already included in the DCL price, then add on up charge expenses from other lines they are not that far apart!

[@ck2d]

I just booked a cruise with you guys - but not DCL.

[@CampbellzS0up]

This will be my eighth Disney cruise that I have completed and I’m gonna go out there and say that I believe it’s too expensive as well. it’s not that we can’t afford it. It’s just at the value and other ships what they have to offer from Broadway shows to other onboard amenities is enough to look at other cruise lines especially when you could pay a fraction of the price as compared to Disney Cruise line. Elaine’s comparison to other charges or other cruise lines only really include soda that Disney gives you, and to be honest you pay for that .

[@naimbideiwy5266]

The soda and regular coffee that’s included are not worth the exorbitant cost.

[@juliedennis8578]

It’s only by being DVC members and selling points that we can afford to cruise now.

[@paulashley4837]

Disney Cruiselines are extortionate. I have a 15 night trip on NCL with a full drinks package in Europe. 10night cruise and 2 nights in Athens 2 nights in Rome at each end including flights each way for around $6300. That’s less than a 7 nighter with Disney. This makes Disney out of my range as much as I would like to try it. I live in UK.

[@brath265]

Don't say things are "free" when comparing DCL and RCCL...things are included in the price of a DCL cruise, whereas they may be an additional cost on RCCL. Its not free, by any means.

[@marilynkozlow8400]

I think it all depends on your disposable income and the age of your children. My husband and I always went camping with our kids with a few Disneyland trips sprinkled in there. We never had the money to go on a family cruise.

[@dawnstearns4672]

As a family of five disney is getting too high for us . We are to the point we need two rooms and can do that for less on other lines. And we still eat main dining not specialty and have come to like the flexibility of buffet and my time dining.

[@Amy-yh8kf]

I always take the first flight out of NYC(to take into account any flight delays/cancellations) & have had no issues….I honestly prefer to stay at Disney World for a few days after the cruise before flying back.

[@bobdistel1360]

Yes, we are almost done. Refuse to pay the REDICULOUS price for the new ships. They are gouging just like the parks. Come on, call it what it is

[@caitlynskiff2001]

I am a Disney snob. If I can ever go on a cruise, I want it to be Disney. The thing is if you are a middle class family you don't just say, oh I want to go on a cruise this year. You save for it, you look at deals, you plan your budget. Also one thing Disney has that other cruise lines don't is that a lot of the food and drinks is included. The only things not included is alcohol and dining like Paolo or Remy. I have been watching videos of the new Royal Carribean ship and everything seams to be an upcharge. Plus those ships just feel like giant cities on water to me and that ain't the vibe I want.

[@xqueenfrostine]

There are literally no major cruise lines that don’t include food as a part of their fare. Nor are there any that don’t have free beverage options (it’ll differ by line, but brewed coffee, tea, lemonade, milk and some juices are usually free. You may also find flavored waters offered for free). It’s true that most lines don’t have free soda like Disney does, but they all offer some sort of soda package that is afforable enough that buying one for every person in your cabin will barely make a dent in the amount you’re saving by sailing another cruise line. Other than soda, there’s not much that’s included on Disney that’s not on the other lines. Disney tends to have fewer for-fee restaurants than other lines, but there’s no shortage of free dining options, even beyond the buffet and the ADR, on any other cruiseline.

[@farli]

Disney *everything* - from parks to cruises to events - feels more expensive and pricing out the average family, never mind the average single person! as a solo traveler in the EU with an income I can just about get by on, I briefly considered saving up for one of these cruises. But after some research, it’s just not worth my time or money for what I’d be getting. I’d get a far better deal for a 7+ day trip to Japan including flights for the same amount of money.

[@joykinser3444]

I love Elaine and she is so knolegable. I don't wish she spoke less. I was glad to hear everything she had to say. I wish we heard more from Jackie. I feel like she had a lot to say. I wish the show was a little longer so we could have heard more of Jackie's thoughts. Yes, DCL and the parks have always been prohibitivly priced for many people. The target demographic was always middle class to upper middle class. There are fewer people now fit into that and the target has shifted to wealthy people with more expendable funds. They have discovered by pricing more people out they can offer a more exlusive, less crowded experience and make the same or more $. As long as that model works they will use it. DCL has always been outrageously priced compared to others, but for me, I would rather save up and sail once every other year with my place holder, booking on my first available day, for a Winter sailing, than book 2 a years on MSN. That is just a personal preference. It really depends on the experience you want and the activities you enjoy.

[@makeupmel99]

All the “experiment” demonstrates is that ALL of Disney is too expensive.

[@marcussaintly-ox8ue]

Yes. Would 1000% say that DCL is (a) too expensive and (b) competitors like Celebrity or even luxury cruise lines are better service.

[@ekimnosettam]

I have been on over 20 cruises and I don't even look at Disney cruises because they have always been nearly double, frequently more, than every other cruise line for the same itineraries. Are they getting too expensive? No, they have always been too expensive.

[@unfuzzy]

yes. there, i saved you 30 minutes.

[@tinaramos7239]

Think about us poor Aussies, paying 40% more because of the poor exchange rate, plus all prices on the ship in US $$, no private island, most of our cruises went out into the ocean and back again lol. It was a hit with most families though because Aussies are starved for Disney content and merch over here and most will never be able to attend the Parks, but this is going to be a one and done for many over here. We did do one, Sydney to Melbourne and I loved it, we’re huge Disney fans, but we won’t do it again. Rather spend the money going to the parks.

[@JS-be8ll]

This is a terrible comparison... the comparison should be to a resort only stay. No theme park tickets. Resort only to cruise is much more comparable...

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Personally we don’t think they’re getting too expensive. They’ve always been pretty expensive but better value than WDW (IMO). We’ve got 5 booked currently, us Brits just love a Disney holiday °o° Cool video cheers.

[@randolphwilliams2365]

They will charge whatever they can get and stay in business I do think the Disney ships are beautiful.

[@LarryBandstra]

They are not cheap but for us the value is still there.

[@Redvelvetkay]

Omg I missed Jacky

[@debrajones4840]

My two favorite girls!!!

[@stunnerj73]

Yup. Simple answer. Especially for a 7 night cruise out of MCO compared to the competition

[@TheLingerers]

The compition sucks

[@ohboy2592]

@@TheLingerersthe only thing Disney has going for it is characters. Entertainment and onboard activities are equal to other ships we’ve been on and the newer RCCl ships are better activities wise.

[@lesliereynolds4492]

I know your set up for families but do you do anything for singles???

[@cgessner11]

Is it more expensive than a few years ago? Yes, but so is everything. In regards to Disney, their cost is higher, but when you start to look at each line item (speciality dining, drinks, etc..) it’s not that much more. Hell - compare the new Icon of the Seas from RC - that cost is high. As these new ships continue to get released from all of the cruise lines, you’re going to see these costs continue to go up. PS - asking a travel agent if it’s too expensive is kind of funny? What do you think she’s going to say?? Why not pick a Disney 7 night cruise and a RC cruise and compare the costs line by line from the same port? That would be a fair argument.

[@katcalico9142]

Just look at the prices for Icon and Star of the seas!

[@bbkangs]

I actually just booked a Disney cruise with dreams unlimited yesterday! It’s expensive but I think it is worth it. The shows and the included soda makes it worth it as well as the level of service. & I think you get more bang for your buck than going to Disney world for the same length of time in a deluxe resort.

[@TheLingerers]

Not imo. Not for the service and what's included.

[@JessyJess04]

For what you get? Absolutely not. Look at the cost of the new Royal Caribbean ships that are nearly twice the price but they nickel and dime you for everything; not all of the food is included, not all of the entertainment is included, even with the very expensive beverage packages not all of the drinks are included. All cruise lines are expensive right now because the demand has tripled over the last few years but for most of us who’ve sailed multiple lines, Disney is still the best bang for the buck.

[@ohboy2592]

We just got off a Disney cruise recently and it’s not the best bang for your buck. They are still too expensive. You get much more for your money on the other cruise lines. We sailed in The Wonder last year for a total of $1645 for everything including gratuities and 3 shore excursions for two people inside room. Disney alone cost us $2400 not including excursions. All entertainment and food was included with RCCl minus specialty dining which is not worth it on any ship. Disney you have to pay for those as well. The only thing that’s included with dis is the pop and other beverages. And we are Disney fans but not their cruise line. It is way overpriced for what you get. We are doing a cruise on Symphony of the Seas for $1400 8 nights for inside room.

[@JessyJess04]

@@ohboy2592 We sailed a 7-night Mexican riviera cruise in December, which was more expensive due to the holidays so we paid $6300 for a Verandah room that included insurance and prepaid tips. We were able to bring 5 bottles of alcohol on the ship, so we didn’t have to worry about alcohol and other drinks were included. Most of the restaurants were included with the exception of a couple of premium restaurants. I sailed NCL just a couple of weeks ago and paid over $600 per person for the premium beverage package, $1000 on excursions, and we splurged for a suite paying $10200 that included the insurance and prepaid tips. The premium restaurants were included but we had to pay extra to upgrade the internet. Top shelf liquor that my boyfriend likes also wasn’t included so he still ended up paying more for drinks. I don’t know if our ship was short-staffed but our stateroom was only cleaned once per day, while on the Wonder our room was cleaned at least twice per day. The food quality was higher on the Wonder for what was included and we spent $500 on excursions on our Mexican cruise. I definitely preferred my cruise on the Wonder. It’s all subjective at the end of the day but I’ve never left a Disney cruise feeling like I didn’t get my money’s worth.

[@steviecarlucci5630]

comparing RCCL and Disney, you really must compare the quality of the kids' clubs. Even assuming your kid loves them equally, the flexible schedule on Disney ships blows other lines out of the water. We loved that our DCL vacation did not revolve around club hours. It was about what we wanted to do, not the club staffing schedule.

[@ginaw8975]

I might be OK to do Disney land and sea vacation out of Fl, visit the parks then relax on the cruise part. The unique part of DCL is the carry over of the character experience, the pirates night and fireworks at the sea, the private island, I could find a way to justify the hight price. However, for the cruise to Alaska, and Europe, the almost double or even triple price compare to identical itinerary, just not worth it. I would rather spend my time on board enjoy the fantastic Alaska scenery or European culture, I will totally ignore the characters.

[@ginaw8975]

And one complaint from my kids about DCL Wish to be exact, why wasn’t there a pool that kids can swim in? 3 ft deep water is NOT a swimming pool!