Best time to buy DCL merch on the ship?

[Dug720]

Yup.. makes sense. As I stated in my original post, it seemed unlikely to me that Disney would do this because they are a premium brand. Brands like Apple and Disney basically never participate in "sales."

Oh the Disney Store has plenty of sales.

They just don’t have to on the ships.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Huh, that's odd! I assume it has to do with weird maritime laws or something?

The shops being closed? I believe it has to do with not competing with shoreside shops while in port. Or sales taxes necessary, if purchases are made while docked.

 

[Doofenshmirtz513]

Huh, that's odd! I assume it has to do with weird maritime laws or something?

It's about taxes. When the ship is in port, Disney would have to collect any applicable sales tax or VAT, then remit it to the country. Rather than keep track of it (and have prices fluctuate during the voyage), the stores stay closed while in port. Plus, the countries aren't going to give Disney a break on the taxes because they are competing with the local stores. It probably also slightly reduces the staff who have to be on duty, which lets people have time off while in port.

 

[JoeFromSeoul]

Huh, that's odd! I assume it has to do with weird maritime laws or something?

Yes, it is an obscure, but widely practiced maritime law that spiced rum will improve just about any tropical beverage...also the taxes thing others have already mentioned...

Happy sailing!

 

[lklgoodman]

Yes, it is an obscure, but widely practiced maritime law that spiced rum will improve just about any tropical beverage...also the taxes thing others have already mentioned...

Happy sailing!

Good one!

 

[drcoulsey]

Do any of the shops onboard offer a discount like DVC, AP or Disney Visa?

 

[lanejudy]

DVC - I don’t know
AP - no
Disney Visa - yes, if you have set-up your onboard account to be paid with the Disney Visa

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[islandsnoopy]

Do any of the shops onboard offer a discount like DVC, AP or Disney Visa?

The DVC discount is 10% on purchases of $50 or more.

 

[ivanp91]

I’ve never seen deals on anything because the cruise is coming to an end.

I have never seen DCL do the “yard sale” type things (2 logo shirts for $20, etc.) that I have seen other lines do.

The closest I've experience was on my NYC cruise on the Magic in Oct/Nov 2016. It was the final return trip before she repositioned to San Juan. All the NYC-branded merchandise was 50% off. In contrast, my Alaska cruise the year after (also the last of the season), had no specials. That one cruise certainly seems like an aberration.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

There were sales on the last Alaska cruise for Sept 2018. All the merchandise was placed in Sea Treasures. Dated clothing and Alaska themed food products. Other than that one opportunity, if you see something, GRAB IT. Missed out on a hooded light weight jacket for the May 2019 Members Cruise because the size was sold out by day 2.

 

[pearljammer]

So one thing we did do, is this past Jan we saw Castaway Cay run Disney 2019 Challenge magnets marked down and because all 3 of us did the CC 5K for the first time, we bought that magnet even though I realized it was for a specific event. We didn’t care. It was special to us and I loved the magnet. Not to mention, couldn’t beat the price!!

 

[mmouse37]

I'm preparing to go on my first cruise ever next week! I can't wait, and I've set aside a budget to spend on board on Dole Whip and merchandise. I'd like to buy a DCL hat and maybe a shirt. I've heard from many generic cruise tip blogs that you should wait to buy anything onboard until the last day because cruise lines often have quotas they want to hit, and if they don't hit them they will offer steep discounts on items.

This just doesn't seem like something Disney would do as they are a premium brand, but I want to ask here if I should wait until a certain day or time to get my DCL items?

Thanks for any tips!

Did not read the whole thread but I can tell you from 43 DCL cruises experience that if you want something when you see it...BUY IT THEN. If it is a popular item it may sell out and I have rarely ever seen them discount things on the last day...maybe if it was specialized dated merchandise or something. I have heard of more people sorry they did not buy when they saw it than people getting any kind of discounts.

MJ

 

[Dug720]

Yes, dated merch (or for a specialty cruise) will likely get marked down at the very end, but sizes/quantities would likely be very limited.

On a standard cruise, no yard sales (pool deck sales).

 

[Minnie222]

I would just buy it, not wait. For usual repeating itin, things won’t go on sale.

Shops have such limited hours: if the ship is parked, the shops are only open from 5-10pm, after the ship has started sailing.
Those hours are the time of shows and dinner, leaving you very little time to shop.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

On our West Bound Transatlantic Cruise items that had "Disney in the Med" and the year on it were marked down. We were on the last Marvel Day at Sea this year and everything that said "Marvel Day at Sea" was discounted - I think 25%. That was great, we bought so much stuff though I don't think I really saved anything

Many times I have wanted to buy something and it sold out before the end of the cruise and I missed my chance. Although a couple times I asked the merchandise team and they told me to check back after we stopped in a port - I guess they stock up in some ports.

When we did our Alaska cruise (on a different line) it was one of the last cruises of the season and on shore there was a lot of things on sale.

On other cruise lines, I have seen "sales" before the end of the cruise, but it seems to me from the pre-made signs that they do the sales on every cruise. And it is all junk I don't want or can get on land. But I shop a lot on Disney --- I like to get things that have the DCL logo- purses, jewelry, etc.

As for discounts, besides Disney Visa 10% over $50, (and apparently DVC), Platinum and Gold get 10%. And if you pre-purchase Disney gift cards at a discount from someplace like Sam's or BJ's, then add them to your account, that is a form of a discount.

 

[Karin1984]

Don't worry about the limited opening hours (besides some congestion at certain times), there are basically only 3 stores and they are relatively small, compared to the parks. Shopping isn't a big thing on DCL.

 

[ivanp91]

On other cruise lines, I have seen "sales" before the end of the cruise, but it seems to me from the pre-made signs that they do the sales on every cruise. And it is all junk I don't want or can get on land.

When I sailed Princess, they opened up one of the restaurants on the last day and had a huge "sale"... the prices were good, but the merchandise was rubbish and you could tell why no one wanted them. Even things like the shirts with itineraries/dates on them were awful, gaudy designs and not worth even the few dollars. Similar deal when I sailed RCCL last year, the Royal Promenade was always clogged around the shops because there were constant "sales", but none of the items were really worth it. Bought a generic RCCL shirt with the names of their ships on the back to simply wear as a bedshirt.

Simply put, as you said, it's all junk.

 

[brownmajik]

Nooooo!! I haven't been to a Disney park in years and I've been missing my long lost Dole Whip! What a let down.

If you have time before your cruise, you can get one from the Polynesian

 

[Starwind]

You mentioned Dole Whip. What they sell on the ships is nothing like those in the parks. They only share a name. Onboard, it is a pineapple slushy while on land it is a non-dairy soft serve.

What they sell on board IS Dole Whip. Same product, at least on the Dream and Fantasy. I have seen the actual package of the mix used and it is the same powder mix.

The difference is the machine they use to make it is not the same as in the parks, so the consistency is not the same. I would hazard a guess the temperature of it may be a bit different as well, which could affect taste. If they get the water ratio off that will also affect consistency.

SW

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

If you see something you like, buy it. This is especially true of sized items as when they run out of a certain size, there is a good chance there are no more. I've also heard they allocate a certain number of each size/item per cruise, so once that number are sold, they are gone.

One thing to remember is that you can return items purchased on board so long as you do so before the end of the cruise. We always shop on the first evening for these reasons.

Agree. When we went to Alaska, I waited a few days to buy and they only had very large sizes left. I was out of luck.