Tell me more about the cruises...

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

It seems that more and more of the Aussies are doing the cruise thing, added onto a WDW stay. I know nothing about the cruises and before doing some research I thought it would be best to hear from the people who have done or are about to do one.

Tell me more...

 

[shushh]

We just sailed the mediterranean in April and we're going on the Panama Canal cruise come Jan 2011.

My whole (extended) family are cruise fanatics and we were over the moon when we discovered that Disney owned their own cruise line. When the mediterranean kids sail offer came up, we booked straight away. Was a bit nervous as to how my parents would like the cruise as they've cruised many, many lines. They loved it! Whether or not, it was because they had their grandkids who know. They said they enjoyed it more than their Oasis of the Seas cruise. The lucky people went on the inaugural cruise...

Can't comment on the Caribbean cruises where the menus, excursions etc are nutted down to run like clockwork. There were a few organisational glitches on our cruise as it was the first mediterranean cruise of the season with 2 new ports. But the staff were phenomenal and any problems that we encountered were dealth with quickly and with a smile.

Check in was quite chaotic. We didn't get the smooth well-documented check in process described on the DISboards for the Caribbean cruises. They were having problems with cameras for security photos, the staff didn't really know much as they were locals who were trained a few weeks before hand. It wasn't clear where we were meant to go after check-in. The hall was stuffy and the lines long. But other than that, it was fabulous!!!!

The highlight was definitely the service.
The kids club I thought were phenomenal.
The character experiences were a lot of fun. Lines were not very long and opportunities were aplenty.
I also really enjoyed the shows which I though were of a very high quality.
The ports were great although alot of the other cruisers didn't like Tunis.
The food on the whole was food. Some dishes outstanding, some average.
Palo brunch and dinner, I feel, are definitely worth doing at least once.
The pools are on the small side but this didn't really bother me.
Loved the fact that there was no casino.
Internet VERY slow!!!

Feel free to click on the link in my signature for my trip report!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Shushh, I've read your trip report up to the first evening on the cruise but haven't had a chance to get back to finish it. I will try to do so today. I have enjoyed it immensely so far.

We would probably be interested in something leaving from LA tacked onto the end of our trip I think. Since DH has agreed we could go back to the US a few more times, I am skipping Canada for the Dec 2011 trip, would prefer to go when it is a little less cold. So that leaves us with 3 options:-

Option 1 - We could just fly home after WDW, NY & Washington but we did that last time and were completely exhausted from such a "go go go" trip and then had to jump straight back into work and life with no rest.

Option 2 - Hawaii on the way home. What's not to love about this idea

Option 3 - a Disney cruise for approx. 4-6 days. DH and I have always wanted to go on a cruise. Granted I don't think a Disney cruise was on DH's list , but hey, it's worth exploring.

What is the pricing like for these kinds of cruises? Is everything included? Is alcohol extra, we'll be needing plenty of that .

 

[shushh]

Ms Shuttergirl, if you go to the Disney cruiselines website, you can "price" the cruises you're interested in. Just don't go all the way to the end.

Most things except for gratuity are included. That is, you don't "need" the things you have to pay extra for! Unfortunately, that includes alcohol!!! So all meals (inluding room service), non-alcohol drinks, entertainment, kids clubs (not including nursery) are included.

Off the top of my head, things that cost extra:
Palo (specialty dining)
Alcohol
Photos (to buy prints cost extra, but the photographers will happily snap away for free!)
Excursions
Internet
Spa treatments
Laundry
Acitivities like bingo

Someone might like to chip in here and help...

I think DCL may be cruising out of New York from 2012. We'll find out come September/October when they announce the 2012 itineraries. Maybe that's another option you can consider? A cruise is definitely relaxing. The sea days are bliss!

Oh and thanks for positive feedback on the TR!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Well if there was a cruise leaving NY in January 2012 that would totally be a sign from the Universe and we'll be going .

I totally knew alcohol would be separate, was just hoping .

Everything else looks pretty good.

I will need to investigate this more but would welcome anyone elses experiences too.

 

[BrizMarc]

I am thinking of doing a cruice my self. I have never been on one and a Disney Cruise seems like the best way to go seeing ill already be at WDW.

 

[Travel Mum]

We love cruising either and have done cruises both with and without our children. They rank as one of the most relaxing type of holidays in my opinion. Next year we are doing 2 weeks in Orlando and then a 7 night Western Caribbean cruise on Freedom of the Seas for a relaxing end to our holiday. We've done a Southern Caribbean cruise before so are keen to try the Western this time. We've done various cruise ship sizes and this time I wanted to try a Royal Caribbean mega ship as I know they will never come down our way in the world. However, I didn't feel the need for one as big as Oasis so was thrilled when I saw that the Freedom (the next size down) leaves from Port Canaveral. We don't have any ice-skating rinks here in Wellington, so I think it's so funny that my girls will try ice-skating for the first time whilst on a ship in the Caribbean

 

[queenie82]

See TR link in Signature below
3 night disney cruise on the Wonder...
feel free to ask questions.
Been crazy at work...

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Oooh Travel mum, tell me more...

Queenie, I was wondering where you were. Off to look through your link.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

See TR link in Signature below
3 night disney cruise on the Wonder...
feel free to ask questions.
Been crazy at work...

If I ready rightly you were on the cruise in December. What was the weather like? Obviously we would be cruising in early Jan if we went ahead so am wondering if the weather is warm enough to swim.

 

[PrincessInOz]

....oh look, I'm seasick already.

Sorry, couldn't resist . I'd love to do a cruise but it's the only form of transportation that I get motion sickness with .

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

....oh look, I'm seasick already.

Sorry, couldn't resist . I'd love to do a cruise but it's the only form of transportation that I get motion sickness with .

You are too funny...

 

[queenie82]

Oooh Travel mum, tell me more...

Queenie, I was wondering where you were. Off to look through your link.

Balancing 3 projects at once
If I'm away too long I'm the person under a pile of A1 and B1 sheets of paper

If I read rightly you were on the cruise in December. What was the weather like? Obviously we would be cruising in early Jan if we went ahead so am wondering if the weather is warm enough to swim.

Yes it was December 09. First week.
We didn't have time to swim on the ship as we were always busy doing other things. And the slide isn't for people over 12
The weather was beautiful. I was in t-shirt and shorts or light linen pants the whole time.
Castaway Cay when we got there was quite windy. So catamarans and a few other activities were cancelled. But the sun was shining and the water was lovely (to me). I don't know the temperature but I don't recall it being especially cold. There were certainly plenty of people in the water.
People were clearing out by 3:30-4ish as the wind was picking up (and we got a hot chocolate as we reboarded but it was a lovely day.

As said above the Character experiences are a real highlight. Great interaction. Yes there are queues but there are more controlled environments and more opportunities.
And that gingerbread house.....man....walking past that was sooooo good. Smelt divine

 

[shushh]

Ms Shuttergirl, over on the cruise forum, there is discussion of DCL going to Hawaii and Asia. This would mean you get to cruise AND go to Hawaii! Not sure if this is just speculation though. No dates were mentioned.

 

[Jade+3]

The kids and I loved our cruise. DH, who is not a Disney fan, found it boring, especially the sea day. We are going on a Mexican Riviera cruise next year, but with Carnival. I am sure the service will not compare to Disney, but it is half the price and I get to add on a visit to DL at the end.

 

[Travel Mum]

The kids and I loved our cruise. DH, who is not a Disney fan, found it boring, especially the sea day. We are going on a Mexican Riviera cruise next year, but with Carnival. I am sure the service will not compare to Disney, but it is half the price and I get to add on a visit to DL at the end.

How funny because on our last trip to Disneyland we did a Carnival Mexican Riviera cruise with our children before we moved over to Anaheim. It only a 3 night one because it was our first cruise with all 3 of our children and we wanted to see how it would go! It turned out to be great and we enjoyed it. However, from what I've read about Disney cruises, they are quite different from Carnival cruises so just don't go comparing and you'll hopefully have a great time

 

[austraveler]

We have booked the transatlantic (Europe to Florida) in 2011. We were originally going to book the Med cruise but the port days just look too frantic. Since flight prices are about the same for Europe return vs around the world, we are doing a week in Italy, then cruising to Florida, having a quick hit of WDW and Harry Potter world and then home via San Francisco. I wish it was not so far away!

 

[arje]

My 2 bobs worth. We did a 7 night Western Caribbean on the Disney Magic in January, and are champing at the bit to do another. The service is awesome, food is just incredible and entertainment is something else. Yes you pay for alcohol and palos and excursions, and proper coffee (espresso kind), but thats OK. We stayed in a balcony cabin and wouldn't do anything else. I also feel that anything less than 7 nights will be disappointing , we were down when we had to get off after 7, I can't imagine how sad we would have been after 4 or 5. The teenage kids club was fantastic and we hardly saw our kids for the 7 days. Plenty of characters and interactions.

We'd love to do the Panama, and will definitely do an Alaskan and one day a European and many others I'm sure in out twilight years - all with Disney cruises. It won't matter if we have the kids or not, they will be our first choice.

 

[TheTexasKid]

Ms Shuttergirl, over on the cruise forum, there is discussion of DCL going to Hawaii and Asia. This would mean you get to cruise AND go to Hawaii! Not sure if this is just speculation though. No dates were mentioned.

Yes, at the moment it is just speculation. But, with a new ship coming out in 2011, and a 4th new ship coming out in 2012, thus giving DCL four cruise ships, the ships have to go someplace.

And with a new Disney resort being built in Hawaii, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and a new theme park, apparently being built in the future in Shanghai, China, you do have the possibility of a number of tie-ins, if a ship or ships do cruise Hawaii and/or Asia.

 

[australiankaren]

hey

we loved our 7 night disney cruise so much last year we a now doing another this year, but only 4 nights, as well as a royal carribbean cruise 7 nights... they both cost the same....so disney is a lot more expensive, but it was worth it. my DH loved it, we had room service breakfast every morning, layed around the pool, had afternoon naps, drank cocktails at the adult pool, and just had a ball. I;m not too keen on the excursions and would have been quite happy to stay on board and have the pool all to myself
our bar bill was $1000 for 7 nights, but hey you only live once

cant wait to do it all again......