Disney Cruise Booking

[Whisky In A VAse]

We are looking at booking a 7 day cruise and 7 days Contempory Resort stay in May 2011.
I have looked at a packaged deal, but struggling to find.
I know that I can book this individually, but I am not sure about a couple of things.
I want to cruise first then resort after...
How long do you fly before the cruise?
Airport to cruise?
Do you stay at hotel night before cruise?
Cruise to hotel?
Hotel to airport?

How do you guys all booked? Keen to book sooner rather than later, but need to start making the enquiries now.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Neil

 

[wayneg]

We have always cruised in the middle of a holiday so never done it like this.
I would fly in at least day before. Is it a Disney cruise? possibly stay at the airport hotel and take the Disney bus to the port next morning if you don'r want to drive. If you fly in earlier then you have option of staying onsite and using their bus to port or rental car or staying offsite and using rental car.
Then book Contemp for after again either Disney bus or rental car.

Cruise packages are usually very expensive. Not difficult to do yourself.

 

[wayneg]

Doh! I just read the title again, Disney cruise.

I would book ASAP for any Disney cruise. You could have even missed the lowest prices now. Ours for August 2011 has risen $150 already since we booked, it was up $200 but dropped again $50.

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Wayne, thanks for you quick reply.
It is a Disney Cruise.
Although, I have been to Disney a few times, I am inexperienced in the cruise front, where as your an expert.
I am happy to fly in day before. When you say airport hotel, which one do you mean?
I would drive, but it seems daft having a car for a day, then having to give it back, then collect one to come back to Disney. But if you let me know your thoughts on what you do with a car it would be good.
Is the Disney bus reliable to and from Port?
Who do you book the cruise/hotel with? You always seem to get a good deal? I have looked at booking with Disney direct, but don't want to miss a trick with the costs if someone else is much cheaper.
Any tips on which cruise is the best or any tips around cruises at all will be appreciated.

Also, I was out in Disney last couple of weeks, keeping up to date wiith your travels. Glad you got home safe, and remained positive throughout the problems. We came home Saturday and luckily we were on time. I liked your idea of Craxy Golf on last day, and we did the same.. Save me a fortune, compared to the Premium Outlets.

Thanks again.

Neil

 

[wayneg]

http://orlandoairport.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

The main hotel is supposed to be nice, you would not arrive until mid/late afternoon with direct or later with indirect, have a nice meal and a few drinks and to bed ready for trip to port next morning.
Other option is rent a car and goto hotel on Idrive/LBV or in Disney but not sure I would bother if you are only flying in day before.

I would look at car rental prices compared to Disney bus transfer, if only 2 people bus is not a bad option, 3 or 4 then bus gets expensive.
Never used bus to know what its like, maybe others will post with experience but I am sure its very reliable.

Cruise I book with Dreamsunlimitedtravel.com same price as Disney but you will get extra credit to spend onboard, usually around $100 for a 7 day cruise but not looked recently at their offers.

Hotel you need to look at Disney.co.uk, Disney.com or other agents like Expedia etc, do a search on travelsupermarket.com, Contemp is not a hotel I have ever priced up.

Have to get to bed so only skimmed thru your post and answered quick as poss, up for work in 4 hours. If I missed anything ask again.
You should have said you were out there could have met up. Glad you had no delays.

 

[Laurafoster]

We did a 7 night cruise in May followed by time at WDW.

We flew in on the Friday (cruise was on the Sat), and got a taxi down to Port Canaveral. We stayed at the Radisson Resort at Port Canaveral for the night - they then do a free shuttle to the cruise terminal in the morning. The hotel is really nice, has a nice pool etc to relax the evening before and there are several eating places within walking distance of the hotel.

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

We have a price for the cruise and will probably be booking this tonight.
We have been reserved room 6077 and 6079, I was just wondering if anyone has any comments to make about these rooms, or about being on deck 6 before I commit.


Thanks

Neil

 

[wayneg]

Hi Neil,
I don't know much about Deck 6, we always go for deck 5, not many cabins and always enjoyed this deck.
Deck 6 is all cabins http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/cruise/deck-plans.htm#

 

[tigger137]

http://orlandoairport.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

The main hotel is supposed to be nice

Yes, it is, very nice. And if you take the Disney bus transfer you just leave your bags outside your hotel room door in the morning and next you see them is on the ship.

with direct or later with indirect,

Just be aware that travel insurance generally only covers the flight which leaves the UK or ends in the UK. So, for example, if you fly via Birmingham-Newark-Orlando, you're only covered Birmingham-Newark. If you're delayed in Newark and arrive in Orlando too late to board the ship, no cover. You've missed the cruise and can't claim from insurance.

Since discovering this a few years ago, if we're cruising (or catching a train) we only fly direct.

Never used bus to know what its like, maybe others will post with experience but I am sure its very reliable.

We enjoyed the bus, especially the first time. From the Hyatt you can go fairly early. Not so good from the Disney hotels because they leave much later.

Cruise I book with Dreamsunlimitedtravel.com same price as Disney but you will get extra credit to spend onboard, usually around $100 for a 7 day cruise but not looked recently at their offers.

Another vote for DUL here.

For Disney hotels I always compare the UK and US Disney sites, see which is offering the better deal. It varies. Also worth getting quotes from other WDW specialist TAs who may have special deals available. For our New Year visit we got an absolutely brilliant deal from a TA whose name I'm probably not allowed to mention (PM me if you want to know).

For our first cruise we did cruise first, WDW second, which was against most advice I'd read on the DIS. We did it this way in case we didn't like the cruise - so the holiday would end with something we knew we love. In the event, for us it was a mistake. The cruise was so relaxing and we were so pampered and spoiled that our week at WDW afterwards was a bit of a letdown.

 

[tigger137]

We have a price for the cruise and will probably be booking this tonight.
We have been reserved room 6077 and 6079, I was just wondering if anyone has any comments to make about these rooms, or about being on deck 6 before I commit.
Thanks
Neil

It's probably me (it hasn't been a good day!) but I can't spot those 2 rooms on the deck 6 plan.

We've been on decks 6 and 7 which were both fine.
But, like Wayne, our favourite is deck 5. Not as many cabins and seems much quieter, despite it being where all the children's clubs are.
Decks 6 and 7 are all cabins so there's more people coming and going along the corridors.
But I'd happily take any cabin, any deck, just to be on DCL ...

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

It's probably me (it hasn't been a good day!) but I can't spot those 2 rooms on the deck 6 plan.

The rooms were 6067 and 6069, sorry about that. All booked now and we an start to plan. Oh we need to sort flights, car hire, villa for 2nd week, travel to from Port...Lots of advice required to make a great trip so any help as always appreciated.

Especially on the dress codes for the evenings, tipping excursions etc

Thanks

Neil

 

[wayneg]

For the evening meals I tend to wear polo shirts and long trousers. There is also a Semi formal night and Formal night, for these I wear a shirt & tie, some wear a jacket, some a suit, tux or uniform, others just stick with a polo shirt. Disney are not strict with dress code, wear what you are comfortable with.

Tipping, see this calculator http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/ but tip what you feel the service is worth, last trip I tipped our server more than full amount, assistant server a little less than recommended, didn't tip head server and Stateroom Host about half as he was not as good as previous crusies, never actually saw him much, others have made us feel very welcome.
Also gave dining room staff some goodie bags left from DIStag including Yorkshire mixtures, as our server came from UK she appreciated them.

Excursions, only thing we have ever done is Ocean bottom fishing at Castaway Cay, considering it again for next August, Matt loved catching 3 fish when I caught nothing. Others on the boat with experience(and bigger rods) caught Shark, Barracuda & snapper.

 

[torsie24]

Have a great cruise!!

 

[natalielongstaff]

glad you have booked, i hope you enjoy your cruise

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Time just moves on and waits for no one....
We are all booked, we are travelling to Orlando on Virgin (when you see the prices now, I think we got a good price) on the 27th April staying at at a villa on Hampton Lakes, we then catch the cruise on the 7th May and now Christmas is out of the way and work has calmed down slightly (famous last words) we really need to start some planning.

I need to sort car hire for 7 - Orlando Airport- Port Canaveral 27th April - 7th May
Then I think I will hire a car for way back airport on the 7th.

As for tickets, we are planning on Busch Gardens, Universal, IOA, MK, Epcot, DS.
Probably 5 days with Disney.
In the past we have always had the 14 day pass, but not sure this year on what to do.

Also any cruise tips would be appreciated, even the most obvious tip would be appreciated.

Any help or guidance would be appreciated. I will now start hitting these boards again to make sure we get the most out of vacations...

Happy New Year all, have a great 2011.

Neil

 

[Elise79]

Try Disney US for booking the Contemporary as they have 30% Room Only offer on at the moment. Even with the exchange rate makes it cheaper than booking through the UK site.

 

[disney_princess_85]

For our first cruise we did cruise first, WDW second, which was against most advice I'd read on the DIS. We did it this way in case we didn't like the cruise - so the holiday would end with something we knew we love. In the event, for us it was a mistake. The cruise was so relaxing and we were so pampered and spoiled that our week at WDW afterwards was a bit of a letdown.

We're going on our first cruise in September and this was my logic too. Hopefully it will work out well for us.

Tipping, see this calculator http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

Thanks for this Wayne, very helpful!

 

[OrlandoMagic]

For our first cruise we did cruise first, WDW second, which was against most advice I'd read on the DIS. We did it this way in case we didn't like the cruise - so the holiday would end with something we knew we love. In the event, for us it was a mistake. The cruise was so relaxing and we were so pampered and spoiled that our week at WDW afterwards was a bit of a letdown.

We have booked our first Disney cruise after our stay at WDW, I thought that made most sense as I will hopefully be a relaxing way to end the holiday. Never even entered my mind that we wouldn't like it.

I have cruised once before but it will be my GF's first, along with my brother and his GF. Hope everyone loves it now or they will all blame me!!!

 

[disney_princess_85]

We have booked our first Disney cruise after our stay at WDW, I thought that made most sense as I will hopefully be a relaxing way to end the holiday. Never even entered my mind that we wouldn't like it.

I think it depends on what sort of cruise you want to have. DBF and I aren't really into 'relaxation'- we prefer the hustle and bustle. In fact, I was anxious about booking the cruise, as I was worried that it'd be too much like a beach holiday (which we both dislike). However, it seems that there are plenty of activities and facilities to keep us busy with and we're willing to keep an open mind on the relaxation front.

I have cruised once before but it will be my GF's first, along with my brother and his GF. Hope everyone loves it now or they will all blame me!!!

I'm sure everyone will love it!

 

[OrlandoMagic]

I think it depends on what sort of cruise you want to have. DBF and I aren't really into 'relaxation'- we prefer the hustle and bustle. In fact, I was anxious about booking the cruise, as I was worried that it'd be too much like a beach holiday (which we both dislike). However, it seems that there are plenty of activities and facilities to keep us busy with and we're willing to keep an open mind on the relaxation front.

I am very much like you too, I have to be doing things all the time and don't like laying on the beach or by a pool for hours, but... the cruise part was a compromise with my GF who does like the relaxing, so no cruise meant no WDW!

As you say though there will be plenty of stuff to do (probably too much) to keep us busy as well.

Have you been keeping yourselves updated with how the dream has been getting on? Someone over on the DCL board posted loads of photos of their preview cruise and the ship is looking AMAZING!