Anyone Getting Tired of the Same Old, Same Old?

[ilovebassets]

My husband and I have sailed 17 times since our first cruise together in 2003. 8 of those have been Disney, and 6 of those have been on the Fantasy (one-week Caribbean cruises).

While I love cruising and Disney, we are done with the Fantasy. It's a lovely, if somewhat crowded, ship. But they really need to change up the food and the shows more often. I'm still willing to go on any of their other ships, and in fact, we have a 5 day scheduled on the Dream next summer--our first time on that ship! (I realize it's almost identical to the Fantasy, but the art will be different if nothing else!)

We also have a 7-day scheduled for winter break on 2026 on the Sun Princess. It will be our first ever Princess cruise, and I look forward to seeing how a different line does things.

 

[scroogie]

I agree with the general sentiment of the OP. I got off the Wonder a week ago, it was DCL #10 and 11 for me, and the first time sailing DCL since 2019. The theatre shows are the same, the adult entertainment is the same, the sailaway party is the same, the menus and the dining entertainment is the same, Pirate Night was pretty much the same. The only "new" thing was Heroes Unite... which I didn't particularly enjoy. In saying that, DCL was suffering from "sameness fatigue" even before the pandemic. Without mentioning specific names, I had lost count of how many cruises featured the same ventriloquist performing the exact same act each time.

On the other hand, it also meant that on these latest cruises we've had more time to just relax and not feel obligated to repeat things we had done before. There was a lot more relaxing in the French Quarter or Cadillac Lounges listening to the musicians, or watching a bit of sport in Crown and Fin. We didn't line up for any character photos, and only did two backdrop photos when lines were non-existent. It's not great value for money to do this every time on DCL, but it was also a nice change of pace not feeling like we had to do everything.

 

[scroogie]

We also have a 7-day scheduled for winter break on 2026 on the Sun Princess. It will be our first ever Princess cruise, and I look forward to seeing how a different line does things.

I sailed on the Sun right after she entered service, back in April. Beautiful ship, really nice staterooms, but lots of teething issues. It sounds like Princess has been doing some fine tuning of venues and dining to get it all worked out, so I'm sure you will have a fantastic time!

 

[katyringo]

As someone about to go on our first I can tell you the fact that it's predictable and I can find info is really nice- so that's a piece of it too. They can communicate really well what you will encounter on your cruise.

 

[asgur5]

Some people get anxious with change. They prefer repetition even if it is boring because they avoid anxiety. These people tend to take the same vacations and do the same activities because they find its whats best for their mental well being and contentment.

Others who dont get anxious with change tend to want new experiences with their vacations. To see new sights and to do new experiences. They dont understand why the first group just wants to do the same cruise every year. But there is a very good reason. Everyone just needs to do what works best for them.

 

[AquaDame]

I know the argument that those who take a Disney trip each year, or to Las Vegas, Gatlinburg, the beach, etc. could be applied to cruising. The argument of it is tradition, we love it, etc. But, as I am on a cruise now I am finding it is the same experience from years ago. Same Match Your Mate questions. Same pirates night menu. Same shows. I thought trying DCL again would be a break, but it is just plain boring! I find that on a land trip, visiting the same place multiple times tends to have more variety. The only value I find in cruising now is the destinations.

Frequent sailing families - Why do you sail for the same experiences time after time?

Disney as a company seems big on repeatable experiences. Watching a movie over and over again, seeing the same characters in movie after movie (I'm looking at you, Marvel & Star Wars). The draw back to the parks time and again IS to ride the same rides, eat favorite foods, share the same experience you had as a kid with yours. They shine it up with new veneer, but the bones stay the same. So I guess it makes sense they basically do the same thing on board.

We sail again in 22 days for our 14th cruise, which I am still looking forward to. We tend to hold out for enough of something new to make the high price worth it... ports or special sailings, new ships, etc. We live on the West Coast but 10 of those cruises have been in the Caribbean since that is where the majority of their sailings are. Flights add a lot of expense and hassle... there has to be an extra draw of some kind to get us to go. 75% of cruising for us is the very act of cruising though.. being at sea is enough of a draw on its own, though I appreciate the entertainment options DCL has when I need a distraction.

My husband frankly skips the shows entirely as he has seen them. He doesn't come up on deck for pirate night. He doesn't mind the repeated menus as much as I do, and he is happy as long as it goes somewhere he hasn't been before. He just likes sailing, so for him Disney can do whatever and it won't bug him as long as I am happy and not dragging him around the ship too much.

After this many cruises the only major complaint I have is that I am completely and utterly over the dining situ onboard. In a way it's nice the menus are boring because we are going to just skip the MDRs entirely if we don't get our own table this time. I honestly don't know what we'll do if they also can't help us out when we sail the Panama in '26... five nights is one thing but I don't think I could go 14 nights with only deck food!

 

[John VN]

Disney as a company seems big on repeatable experiences. Watching a movie over and over again, seeing the same characters in movie after movie (I'm looking at you, Marvel & Star Wars). The draw back to the parks time and again IS to ride the same rides, eat favorite foods, share the same experience you had as a kid with yours. They shine it up with new veneer, but the bones stay the same. So I guess it makes sense they basically do the same thing on board.

We sail again in 22 days for our 14th cruise, which I am still looking forward to. We tend to hold out for enough of something new to make the high price worth it... ports or special sailings, new ships, etc. We live on the West Coast but 10 of those cruises have been in the Caribbean since that is where the majority of their sailings are. Flights add a lot of expense and hassle... there has to be an extra draw of some kind to get us to go. 75% of cruising for us is the very act of cruising though.. being at sea is enough of a draw on its own, though I appreciate the entertainment options DCL has when I need a distraction.

My husband frankly skips the shows entirely as he has seen them. He doesn't come up on deck for pirate night. He doesn't mind the repeated menus as much as I do, and he is happy as long as it goes somewhere he hasn't been before. He just likes sailing, so for him Disney can do whatever and it won't bug him as long as I am happy and not dragging him around the ship too much.

After this many cruises the only major complaint I have is that I am completely and utterly over the dining situ onboard. In a way it's nice the menus are boring because we are going to just skip the MDRs entirely if we don't get our own table this time. I honestly don't know what we'll do if they also can't help us out when we sail the Panama in '26... five nights is one thing but I don't think I could go 14 nights with only deck food!

Visiting WDW over and over and over for DW and myself brought back our lives in the 50's FEELING and so we PAID the PRICE and enjoyed. At first the cruising was the same BUT THEN the PRICE really escalated and we felt it was not worth it.

We abandoned DCL and now do our 4 Night SAME OLD SAME OLD over and over and over just to get away from home to be cruising plus since it's far le$$ than DCL's pricing it allows numerous cruises at a Concierge level that DCL can not match.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We've completed 14 cruises on Disney with another booked for 2025. As others have stated, we love Disney because we know the ships, routines, menus, and entertainment. It's like the family cabin up north that you've been to for decades but love the comfort and relaxation. We also want to explore new destinations and wish Disney would sail to other parts of the globe (Adventure out of Singapore maybe). For now, we also cruise with HAL for something different, not exciting, just different.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Everyone just needs to do what works best for them.

I think this goes without saying.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

At first the cruising was the same BUT THEN the PRICE really escalated and we felt it was not worth it.

I think that influences how people feel too, there is a high dollar attached to the brand of DCL and even those who crave that familiarity can also crave adjustments over time that commensurate with the pricing (especially in recent years where it appears DCL has really started to get up there). It's pretty normal for people to feel that the more they pay the type of food for example levels up or changes a bit more. I do see that DCL is really focusing on themed spots within their ships which is at least some added nuance to them.

 

[vakamalua]

After 15 DCL cruises (1 each on Dream, Fantasy & Wish; 12 on the Magic & Wonder), we're done with Disney cruising. Now as adults traveling without kids, the three larger ships feel crowded & disjointed; the adult areas are small afterthoughts. We have also noticed a lot more bars & drinking on those ships. We have always enjoyed & much prefer the two classic ships, but across the fleet, the itineraries are boring, the shows are a repetitive snooze, the food subpar, the dinner shows annoying.

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. Glad to know I am not the only one and also that there are many that enjoy as is as well!

 

[Elisaj71]

I know the argument that those who take a Disney trip each year, or to Las Vegas, Gatlinburg, the beach, etc. could be applied to cruising. The argument of it is tradition, we love it, etc. But, as I am on a cruise now I am finding it is the same experience from years ago. Same Match Your Mate questions. Same pirates night menu. Same shows. I thought trying DCL again would be a break, but it is just plain boring! I find that on a land trip, visiting the same place multiple times tends to have more variety. The only value I find in cruising now is the destinations.

Frequent sailing families - Why do you sail for the same experiences time after time?

One says boring and repetitive, another says familiar and consistent. It is perspective. I am happy not to have a crisis at work, dishes or laundry to do. My bed is made, my food is cooked, the sun is shining and throw in an island to explore. Maybe you need to go on a Mediterranean cruise for a change of scenery and order vegetarian for a change ?! Happy travels,

 

[Dug720]

If you look over on Cruise Critic at almost every cruise line board you'll see the same kinds of complaints about menus, shows, activities on those lines. Anyone who cruises the same line over and over is going to find the "same old same old" by and large. Heck, the E-Class on Celebrity is about the only class of ship I'm aware of where pretty much each and every one of the shows is unique to that ship.

And heaven forbid they make menu changes - because it always cuts someone's favorite and there is an uproar. Sometimes (I think it was on Celebrity) resulting in changes back to things they had cut.

Bottom line is that with cruising there are choices out there. If one line has become too boring for you, you could try another and see if that's exciting...for a while until those menus and shows start to bore you. Then lather, rinse, repeat with changing.

 

[DCLMP]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. Glad to know I am not the only one and also that there are many that enjoy as is as well!

It seems like an easy fix for Disney, but they are going to do what's profitable.

 

[DCLMP]

I think some of the boredom might also be the itineraries they are doing. It's hard to be bored in the grand scheme if you're going all over the world but DCL's focus is heavy on the Caribbean area going to their now two islands, etc. It happens to other cruise lines especially RCL and Carnival who also are heavy on the Caribbean area.

I'm fine with everything but the itineraries.

 

[kiford]

If you do the exact same things on a cruise that you always do, then it will be the same experience. Notwithstanding the same menus and shows, we constantly change up the specific things that we do. Sometimes, we sail with friends, which inevitably changes the experience. We just did our third Wish cruise, and we still haven't hit the Hyperspace Lounge even though we fully intended to. First time at Palo on that ship. We made nearly all of the trivia (and miserably failed at each one) and sat on our verandah more than we've done before (our friends had the connecting cabin, so we opened up the verandah divider, which is why we spent more time there). We watched a movie we'd wanted to see. We cruise for relaxation, to watch the water, to just enjoy it, but we don't follow a set routine, so it's never quite the same twice in a row, even if it's the same ship or itinerary.

We've seen the shows before but DH was convinced that the first night show was new or different (wasn't). We missed the Little Mermaid but watched Aladdin which he really enjoyed (me too) but he wasn't convinced he'd seen it before (he has). Different actors can make the experience different and it was 18 months ago we last saw them. On our last cruise on the Wish we didn't go to the shows - we spent time in the pool.

Would I like different itineraries - absolutely. But I'm able to go to the same place and make it a new experience each time.

 

[DCLMP]

My husband and I have sailed 17 times since our first cruise together in 2003. 8 of those have been Disney, and 6 of those have been on the Fantasy (one-week Caribbean cruises).

While I love cruising and Disney, we are done with the Fantasy. It's a lovely, if somewhat crowded, ship. But they really need to change up the food and the shows more often. I'm still willing to go on any of their other ships, and in fact, we have a 5 day scheduled on the Dream next summer--our first time on that ship! (I realize it's almost identical to the Fantasy, but the art will be different if nothing else!)

We also have a 7-day scheduled for winter break on 2026 on the Sun Princess. It will be our first ever Princess cruise, and I look forward to seeing how a different line does things.

I've never cruised princess either, but looking at Sapphire Princess 12 night Baltics cruise July 2026. It's got everything you'd want in that itinerary except St Petersburg. Good Baltic cruises are few and far between since the war started. I'm not holding my breath that DCL will have a Baltic cruise in 2026.

It's an older ship, but the you tube videos look decent. I like that they have laundry rooms that's always a plus in my book.

 

[byanks7]

I know the argument that those who take a Disney trip each year, or to Las Vegas, Gatlinburg, the beach, etc. could be applied to cruising. The argument of it is tradition, we love it, etc. But, as I am on a cruise now I am finding it is the same experience from years ago. Same Match Your Mate questions. Same pirates night menu. Same shows. I thought trying DCL again would be a break, but it is just plain boring! I find that on a land trip, visiting the same place multiple times tends to have more variety. The only value I find in cruising now is the destinations.

Frequent sailing families - Why do you sail for the same experiences time after time?

Natural ebb and flow of business. Old customers drop out and new customers take their place.

 

[DCLMP]

Disney as a company seems big on repeatable experiences. Watching a movie over and over again, seeing the same characters in movie after movie (I'm looking at you, Marvel & Star Wars). The draw back to the parks time and again IS to ride the same rides, eat favorite foods, share the same experience you had as a kid with yours. They shine it up with new veneer, but the bones stay the same. So I guess it makes sense they basically do the same thing on board.

We sail again in 22 days for our 14th cruise, which I am still looking forward to. We tend to hold out for enough of something new to make the high price worth it... ports or special sailings, new ships, etc. We live on the West Coast but 10 of those cruises have been in the Caribbean since that is where the majority of their sailings are. Flights add a lot of expense and hassle... there has to be an extra draw of some kind to get us to go. 75% of cruising for us is the very act of cruising though.. being at sea is enough of a draw on its own, though I appreciate the entertainment options DCL has when I need a distraction.

My husband frankly skips the shows entirely as he has seen them. He doesn't come up on deck for pirate night. He doesn't mind the repeated menus as much as I do, and he is happy as long as it goes somewhere he hasn't been before. He just likes sailing, so for him Disney can do whatever and it won't bug him as long as I am happy and not dragging him around the ship too much.

After this many cruises the only major complaint I have is that I am completely and utterly over the dining situ onboard. In a way it's nice the menus are boring because we are going to just skip the MDRs entirely if we don't get our own table this time. I honestly don't know what we'll do if they also can't help us out when we sail the Panama in '26... five nights is one thing but I don't think I could go 14 nights with only deck food!

Are you early or late seating? I’ve never had a problem getting a private table.