How would you sell your family on a Disney cruise? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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How would you sell your family on a Disney cruise?
Hello all! I've just received word from my family that they want to take a cruise in 2015. I'm the planner and researcher in the family so it's been left up to me to do the dirty work. I'm also the disney fanatic and although they make fun of me I'm hoping to convert at least some family to disney. So my question is, how would you sell a disney cruise over the other cruise lines? I'm a cruise newbie but my uncle (instigated this idea) has cruised on princess cruise line and wants to use them again. How would you lure him over? Any help, hints, tricks, or advice is greatly appreciated. I'm starting by ordering a DCL DVD and I will order a passporter for DCL after I get our trip later this yet set.
The people going on this cruise will be: me, 31 (all ages are at time of cruise) DBF 36 and DS 12, my dad 51 and his girlfriend 63, uncle 61, sister and brother in law 33 ad any future kiddos of theirs (we are really hoping they get pregnant soon!). We will probably go spring break 2015 or summer 2015 but we are flexible since DS won't be in high school yet.
Tell them that since you've been elected to plan, you've decided to make it easy on yourself, you're going with DCL Seriously, I'd look for the various reviews of DCL done by Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast etc. and share them with your family. DCL always ranks way up there. I think DCL offers a great cruise experience. Quality all the way. The ships are beautiful. We've not been disappointed with the service or food on any of our cruises. I think DCL makes it easy with rotational dining and just the right amount of choices of activities, shopping opportunities etc. I appreciate not having to sort through too many choices while on vacation. The shows are broadway quality. There's plenty for adults to do on their own, for the families to do together and for the kiddos to do. One thing that I think is a positive is DCL only has 4 ships to look after, maintain, staff etc. There's also the few little details like the magical horn, being introduced when you board, the fireworks (unless you're doing AK), the unique dinner show in Animator's Palate, the rotational dining allows you to know your servers and them to know you. One thing we appreciate is no casinos on board. We also like the fact that DCL is a more family oriented cruise so that takes any "partiers" off. Most beverages are available to you 24/7 eliminating the need to figure out will you get the most use out of a soda card, coffee card, juice/tea card. I think you'll get lots of feedback here. Good luck, hope things go your way.
Tell them that since you've been elected to plan, you've decided to make it easy on yourself, you're going with DCL Seriously, I'd look for the various reviews of DCL done by Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast etc. and share them with your family. DCL always ranks way up there. I think DCL offers a great cruise experience. Quality all the way. The ships are beautiful. We've not been disappointed with the service or food on any of our cruises. I think DCL makes it easy with rotational dining and just the right amount of choices of activities, shopping opportunities etc. I appreciate not having to sort through too many choices while on vacation. The shows are broadway quality. There's plenty for adults to do on their own, for the families to do together and for the kiddos to do. One thing that I think is a positive is DCL only has 4 ships to look after, maintain, staff etc. There's also the few little details like the magical horn, being introduced when you board, the fireworks (unless you're doing AK), the unique dinner show in Animator's Palate, the rotational dining allows you to know your servers and them to know you. One thing we appreciate is no casinos on board. We also like the fact that DCL is a more family oriented cruise so that takes any "partiers" off. Most beverages are available to you 24/7 eliminating the need to figure out will you get the most use out of a soda card, coffee card, juice/tea card. I think you'll get lots of feedback here. Good luck, hope things go your way.
We also like that that smoking areas are pretty defined and out, there really is something for everyone to do regardless of age (and you can do things together), the service is really second to none, and the food is fantastic. It really is worth the money.
How ironic - I've just been covering persuasion skills in my management course. It's all straightforward, common sense stuff, but the basic idea is to look at what they might want and play to that, as everyone wants to know "what's in it for me?" Perhaps the adults would like the idea of being able to use the adult only areas? Perhaps the kids love the idea of characters being on board? If you can try and find things that will appeal to them, you'll have much more chance of success.
Equally, if you can work out what barriers they might put up, then you can tackle those and come up with arguments to deal with them. For example, they might think Disney's expensive compared to other cruise lines (true) but if you can explain what you get on board Disney for the extra money, that might help to tackle that issue....
On our last two DCL cruises (on Wonder and, more recently, Fantasy), our group was me, DH, DS(13), DD(13), DS(4), my mother (65) and her husband (63). There truly was something for everyone!
One of the huge stand-outs on DCL is the service (as someone else said, "second to none"). Even if you have no interest in the Disney characters , the ships are beautiful, the food excellent (though we preferred the food on Fantasy), and you really feel pampered.
Your son (I think you said age 12), will have a blast. The kids' clubs are awesome, and for tweens it is a good mix of structured activities and independent stuff. But there are plenty of activities for adults too. We enjoyed the tequila and margarita tasting And I played Bingo onboard for the first time ("shake it up Betty!")
They show first run movies, which we enjoyed, and the live shows are amazing. Even if don't go for the Disney-ish stuff, they have comedians, ventriloqists, a "Stomp" - like group, etc. And who doesn't love a good Pirate Party
The four biggies for my family (although it didn't take much to convince them) was that soda was always available and free on deck (husband), you can bring booze on board (mom), it has everything a kid could want (um, kid) and constant Disney entertainment - tv, movies, live shows (me). My dad was easy since my mom didn't tell him how much it cost and he enjoyed the adult pool and comfortable verandah room they had.
I agree with the others, tell them about what is included in the price compared to other cruise lines. I really do not like the fact that other cruise lines "nickle and dime" you on things like coffee and soda and also how their "main" dining room that is included in the price has food that is not as good as DCL food and that if you want something different or better then that is yet another upcharge. Castaway Cay is another good selling point.
what everyone has said. I would also point out that Disney is really good about enforcing adult areas stay adult areas. A co-worker of mine cruised on a non Disney ship and said there were kids "everywhere", there was no where to get away from them.
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Seriously, I'd look for the various reviews of DCL done by Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast etc. and share them with your family. DCL always ranks way up there. I think DCL offers a great cruise experience. Quality all the way. The ships are beautiful. We've not been disappointed with the service or food on any of our cruises. I think DCL makes it easy with rotational dining and just the right amount of choices of activities, shopping opportunities etc. I appreciate not having to sort through too many choices while on vacation. The shows are broadway quality. There's plenty for adults to do on their own, for the families to do together and for the kiddos to do. One thing that I think is a positive is DCL only has 4 ships to look after, maintain, staff etc. There's also the few little details like the magical horn, being introduced when you board, the fireworks (unless you're doing AK), the unique dinner show in Animator's Palate, the rotational dining allows you to know your servers and them to know you. One thing we appreciate is no casinos on board. We also like the fact that DCL is a more family oriented cruise so that takes any "partiers" off. Most beverages are available to you 24/7 eliminating the need to figure out will you get the most use out of a soda card, coffee card, juice/tea card. I think you'll get lots of feedback here. Good luck, hope things go your way.
We also like that that smoking areas are pretty defined and out, there really is something for everyone to do regardless of age (and you can do things together), the service is really second to none, and the food is fantastic. It really is worth the money.
PassPorter Guide Author
It's all straightforward, common sense stuff, but the basic idea is to look at what they might want and play to that, as everyone wants to know "what's in it for me?" Perhaps the adults would like the idea of being able to use the adult only areas? Perhaps the kids love the idea of characters being on board? If you can try and find things that will appeal to them, you'll have much more chance of success. 
, the ships are beautiful, the food excellent (though we preferred the food on Fantasy), and you really feel pampered. 
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