I just returned yesterday from the parents' Golden Ann'y cruise. Just a few thoughts (and to tie it into credit cards...I used a LOT LOT LOT of disney gc obtained at grocery stores -4X MRs, with amex offers on discounts, and with Discover/Chase 5% promotions, stacking at Sam's) on the cruise itself.
1) I think
DCL and
ABD are wonderful experiences for multigenerational travel. ABD is more expensive and a smaller experience whereas DCL is obviously anything but intimate! If I won the lottery I'd definitely take our extended family on an ABD...then a DCL in concierge level.
2) I really don't enjoy the larger ships as much any more. Granted, we sailed during a holiday so the ship was full but there are just too many people for me to find it a pleasant experience. I know other lines are mentioned here wrt budget but I cannot imagine myself doing another "large" ship cruise (and those lines) willingly. Guess I'm just a grumpy old person, lol. Viking here I come (in about 6 weeks)! That said, I likely won't rush to cruise the 3 new DCL ships-that will NOT be a priority.
3) Concierge Lounge and whether it's "worth it." Still yes, for me on the Dream/Fantasy-fewer people, canned diet cokes, snacks, DH's beloved fancy coffee machine and did I mention fewer people? That said, there are annoying, entitled people everywhere but often in (
much) greater proportion on Concierge Level. Also, now the diet cokes are small cans since littles were wasting so much, sigh.
4) I have 2 more DCL cruises scheduled-one is a Baltic in August on the Magic and for now, a Very Merry Halloween in October on the Dream. I'm going to reschedule the Dream cruise to a Magic/Wonder for sometime. I think my Viking cruise Feb/March will help me decide whether they will be receiving my cruise $$ in the future.
It is often said that there is no wrong way to churn or vacation. I think it's also true that you can outgrow a previous favorite way to vacation and that's okay too. I'm not quite there but close with DCL.