Other Options...

[EllinK]

Would you recommend a DCL cruise for four adults? Our kids are no longer little and we just don't know if a DCL would be right for us.

We love DCL but I have to admit it is the only line we've been on. What we love: everyone isn't old (which is important even if your kids are teens or young adults), the ships are elegant, the staff is very service oriented and the overall atmosphere created by your fellow cruisers is happy, fun and wholesome. What you don't get that you might on a more adult-focused ship is: better prices, more varied itineraries, wine etc included, and casinos.

We love DCL but I keep thinking we will try another cruise line but when push comes to shove, I value my vacation time as much as the price paid and I'm afraid that on another line I will pay less but maybe not enjoy it as much. Only you will know if it's right for you. Try one!

 

[tgeorge]

These are my favorite of the Disboards as well! We have been to almost all the Disney parks, just bought a DVC and now are going to be trying our first ABD. The only thing left is DCL. Would you recommend a DCL cruise for four adults? Our kids are no longer little and we just don't know if a DCL would be right for us.

We don't have kids and I've been on DCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. While I'm not a big fan of Carnival, the other two, to me, are both great. I like them for different reasons. I think it depends on what is important to you while on vacation. I've had fantastic service on DCL and also the Oasis class Royal ships. The shows are great on them as well. However, I will say that shows are lacking on the other Royal class ships, IMHO. Both have a younger crowd, so I think either one would be a good option.

The one thing were I feel DCL excels is in the adult only areas,which may sound counterintuitive. However, they truly do ensure that their adult only areas are truly adult only. I've been on other cruises where this isn't always the case. Not that it would make or break a cruise,but I feel like DCL does such a great job of entertaining kids that they really do want to stay in the kids area.

It sounds like you really enjoy Disney products, and if your travel companions do as well, I think DCL is definitely worth looking into. Plus Castaway Cay is the absolute best cruise line island! If not, definitely look into the Oasis or Quantum class Royal ships. I think you would be happy with either.

 

[calypso726]

These are my favorite of the Disboards as well! We have been to almost all the Disney parks, just bought a DVC and now are going to be trying our first ABD. The only thing left is DCL. Would you recommend a DCL cruise for four adults? Our kids are no longer little and we just don't know if a DCL would be right for us.

We are in our 40's and have no kids. We have been on 1 Carnival cruise and didn't care for it. We did 1 Royal Caribbean, Freedom of the Seas and liked it better than Carnival but not enough to want to cruise again. Then a few years later we bought into DVC and did our first Disney cruise which was the member cruise. That did it. Last month we went on our 16th Disney cruise! We have met what have become lifelong friends on our Disney cruises, the service is outstanding and the adult areas are kept adult. I'd be willing to try Celebrity since they do the Antarctic but am hoping ABD or DCL will decide to do that before I get to it on the bucket list.

 

[CaliKris]

We are in our 40's and have no kids. We have been on 1 Carnival cruise and didn't care for it. We did 1 Royal Caribbean, Freedom of the Seas and liked it better than Carnival but not enough to want to cruise again. Then a few years later we bought into DVC and did our first Disney cruise which was the member cruise. That did it. Last month we went on our 16th Disney cruise! We have met what have become lifelong friends on our Disney cruises, the service is outstanding and the adult areas are kept adult. I'd be willing to try Celebrity since they do the Antarctic but am hoping ABD or DCL will decide to do that before I get to it on the bucket list.

Wow! Sixteen Disney cruises. That is quite an endorsement. We have been on Carnival (I think we have grown out of this one), Royal Caribbean, Princess and UnCruise. I will have to add a DCL to my list. We have Antarctica on our bucket list. We have looked into the Lindblad cruise but are not ready to book yet.

 

[tgeorge]

On the last DCL cruise I took (April 2015),I met a woman who was on her 42nd DCL trip. I told her that I wanted to be like her when I grew up

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I so regretted not doing Tauck for Ireland...we went with Ireland's official company (CIE) and I was less than thrilled with our experience (the only reason I did this was Tauck and Tauck Bridges were sold out and ABD had so many young children my travel agent talked me out of it...). I had very specific dates due to being in the UK to drop off DD so I didn't have many options to work with, and mom wanted to be with a tour group (10 days together, just us, might be a little much!).

While the accommodations and food were fine (sometimes good sometimes meh so averaging out to be fine), the experiences were plentiful (one would say one received one's money's worth...however I sometimes do not need to see the second largest ball of twine), and I enjoyed the company of 6 of the 30 other travelers, I was underwhelmed overall. The bus driver was wonderful (and I think I amused him when I told him one day "I'd rather be where people are not...") and the guide was very knowledgeable. The last night we spent at Dromolond Castle, and to my surprise our guide left us and said his time was done, good luck, passed out surveys, waited for tips and reminded us that there was a bus ride to the airport the next day...and went home. Everyone around us (yes I noticed) marked the best scores possible on the survey whereas my mother and I were all over the place in our impressions.

I learned a couple of valuable lessons: (1) not everyone wants or likes the same thing from a tour company and (2)I'm going with Tauck/Tauck Bridges to Ireland if I return.

We also did an itinerary with CIE. The other people on the tour were amazing! The tour itself was - well - nowhere near what you typically experience with ABD. I feel I got my money's worth, given that it's a less expensive tour. I also feel that I'd rather pay a little more and travel with someone else next time. I'd love to do the ABD Ireland trip one of these days!

 

[calypso726]

This is my favorite Disboard! I read it obsessively every day. We've been on 6 cruises with DCL but I still haven't made the leap to ABD. I'm hoping to do the southwest trip this year.

Another place that has been on my must-do list is Australia/NZ. I keep hoping that ABD will do a combo trip but no joy so far. This morning's LA Times had a very interesting piece in the "tours and cruises" section -- a 14 day family-friendly trip to Aus/NZ for $5000! It's a great itinerary. I think the way this company (Zicasso) works is that they plan the trip, book the accommodations and arrange for guides but you travel on your own (they arrange the details but don't accompany you). Anyone have any experience traveling with this company?

Zicasso actually pairs you with tour companies that can make your dream trip possibly come true. This was how I discovered Go Irish Tours. I wanted to do an Ireland ABD right before our ABD river cruise this past summer but the dates didn't work out to do both. I contacted some companies I found on my own and one Zicasso matched me up with. I was trying to copy ABD's itinerary with a few extras and a private guide/driver. Out of 8 - 10 companies I communicated with, it ultimately came down to one I found on my own and the one Zicasso led me to. I had a great experience. We do plan to go to Northern Ireland in a few years and see some of the highlights, then travel back to Ireland and stay in Ashford Castle for a week. I will contact Go Irish Tours again and request the same guide/driver we had over the summer. If all of the travel operators Zicasso has competing for your business can deliver the same wonderful experience we had then you can't go wrong.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

For those of you following along, the next instalment of my blog is up.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

I'd like to have a look at your blog, Cinderella's Slipper 2015, if you don't mind sending one more link! I've been following this part of DISboards for a long time now and several ABD trips are on my bucket list but I'm always looking for other good options too I'm really sorry you were disappointed in ABD's service. I hope you manage to find another way to make your holidays magical, whether with DIY trips or by using another company.

I've left you a message on your profile page but you may not be able to see it yet. Don't worry. We made sure we had the trip we wanted and we still had a wonderful time on our trip despite the issues with ABD. We are travelling to South East Asia with Nat Geo in February and I'll be posting a blog about that trip as well.

 

[kaseyC]

@Cinderella's Slipper 2015 , I would like a link to your blog.

 

[carpenta]

@Cinderella's Slipper 2015 , I would like a link to your blog.

...me too......Thanks

 

[calypso726]

Hello SafariGuy and welcome to the DISboards. Wow! I kind of expected someone new to show up here and review your tour company. Now, I wish I would have played the lottery today. Well, I must say you do have one advantage over Adventures by Disney and that is that you can post here and answer questions directly or defend your product etc. I am left to wonder though if there is an app that alerts you to every time the Go Touch Down Tours are mentioned on the internet. I am impressed at the speed of response when someone mentions the name of the company on Rip Off Report, BBB, TripAdvisor, Yelp and even the DISboards. Thank you for taking the time to explain what you offer a little better than what the website details.

*** edited to add*** Looks like SafariGuy's posts were deleted. Knew that was going to happen too. Really should have played lotto today LOL

 

[EllinK]

If all of the travel operators Zicasso has competing for your business can deliver the same wonderful experience we had then you can't go wrong.

I'm so happy to hear about your experience! I am excited. I've received emails from 2 operators and they both sound promising. This trip is a ways off but I will keep everyone posted on my experience.

 

[acndis]

Calypso,

I was so excited to hear Zicasso helped you. I pinged them about New Zealand. It's a bit too far out but it's a great option if they can help me pull something together.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Hello SafariGuy and welcome to the DISboards. Wow! I kind of expected someone new to show up here and review your tour company. Now, I wish I would have played the lottery today. Well, I must say you do have one advantage over Adventures by Disney and that is that you can post here and answer questions directly or defend your product etc. I am left to wonder though if there is an app that alerts you to every time the Go Touch Down Tours are mentioned on the internet. I am impressed at the speed of response when someone mentions the name of the company on Rip Off Report, BBB, TripAdvisor, Yelp and even the DISboards. Thank you for taking the time to explain what you offer a little better than what the website details.

*** edited to add*** Looks like SafariGuy's posts were deleted. Knew that was going to happen too. Really should have played lotto today LOL

How did I miss his posts? And how on earth did he know we were talking about GTD over here? Yep, you definitely should've played the lottery!

How long before he comes here under another username and starts to discreetly talk about his company?

 

[sayhello]

How did I miss his posts? And how on earth did he know we were talking about GTD over here? Yep, you definitely should've played the lottery!

How long before he comes here under another username and starts to discreetly talk about his company?

He wasn't very discreet the first time, which is why the posts were deleted, I'm sure. It was fun talking to him before he went away. I liked some of his answers, but the rest were still kind of double-talky.

Sayhello

 

[tgeorge]

He wasn't very discreet the first time, which is why the posts were deleted, I'm sure. It was fun talking to him before he went away. I liked some of his answers, but the rest were still kind of double-talky.

Sayhello

It was fun to read what you guys were asking him to explain. I still wonder exactly how he knew it was being talked about. That was a bit perplexing

 

[sayhello]

It was fun to read what you guys were asking him to explain. I still wonder exactly how he knew it was being talked about. That was a bit perplexing

Some folks make it a point to google their company on a regular basis, just for this purpose. The DISBoards frequently shows up when I google stuff. Also, the link to their website was posted, tons of folks from this Forum followed that link to their website, I'm sure. They could have been monitoring that traffic & where it originated. Lots of possibilities.

Sayhello

 

[carpenta]

..........maybe he/ she moonlites for the NSA......LOL....

 

[tgeorge]

Some folks make it a point to google their company on a regular basis, just for this purpose. The DISBoards frequently shows up when I google stuff. Also, the link to their website was posted, tons of folks from this Forum followed that link to their website, I'm sure. They could have been monitoring that traffic & where it originated. Lots of possibilities.

Sayhello

All good points Sayhello!

..........maybe he/ she moonlites for the NSA......LOL....

Hahaha, I like that option