Passporter: To Buy or Not To Buy

[GBBTomorrow]

I have been on three DCL cruises, but not on the Dream or the Fantasy. I read the Passporter books before those cruises and liked them. Would people recommend getting the book again, or is it likely that somebody who has already cruised DCL would already know enough?

Question #2: If I get the book, should I just order the 2012 edition so I can have it now, or wait for the 2013 in March? We plan to cruise in early June from Port Canaveral.

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

 

[bumbershoot]

According to passporter, they only released the recent one in October.

The new WDW 2013 book is being released in Feb, but I see nothing indicating a new cruise line book so early.



If you're going to new places or leaving from a new terminal, I would consider a new book. For me, in your shoes, a new purchase would be for fun and the passpockets, but you can order the passpockets on their own from the passporter store. But...I have the "deluxe" ring binder, so I just order the refill kits anyway, with the past-reader discount, so buying a new book isn't costing me as much as if I were buying the full spiral-bound book.

 

[tinkerone]

what do you need a book for when you have the DIS? everything you could possibly want to know right??
seriously, I was in the same situation as you. I had cruised the magic several times with the passporter as a reference and loved it. then we sailed the fantasy without it and didn't feel we missed out on anything. between keeping up on the DIS and already having an idea of what DCL was all about, it would have been a waste. i'd rather spend it in the shops.
now that's just my opinion. others may have different thoughts.

 

[lanejudy]

I don't believe the cruise book is updated every year like the WDW book is. There likely will not be anything different available in March 2013 that you can't get now. I believe PassPorters was working on possibly doing something online about different ports of call, but I don't know for certain.

 

[beachin]

Where can you buy these books?

 

[Dogsambam]

The pass porter book and the Birnbaum books are fantastic. We checked them out at library.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Where can you buy these books?

I got it on Amazon. I have had the WDW book before but this is the first DCL one I have read. There are a lot of comparisons between the classics and the Dream class. While I am halfway through and haven't really read anything i didn't know (we have sailed on the Dream and will be on the Fantasy in July) I am really enjoying reading the tips and opinions. It helps get me excited for our trip!! Plus, it was only about $13.00 or so... Pretty reasonable.

 

[Gilland18]

They are very helpful, informative books for new cruisers. I highly recommend them to get a good look at what cruising DCL will look like. They have struggled since the larger ships came out, however. These kinds of books are always outdated by the time they are printed and Passporter is struggling with getting info out about newer ports in a timely manner. If you are new, highly recommend it; if you've cruised DCL before, only if you want it.

 

[lanejudy]

Where can you buy these books?

You can also order them directly from the passporter website: www.passporter.com

They have many different books available, in different formats including ebooks.

 

[bumbershoot]

Where can you buy these books?

I buy them at passporter.com.



Oh, hey, look at that, I see on their boards that there IS a Feb edition coming out. They say it will include the new ports and 2013 special itineraries.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I will probably get one just for the fun of reading it and having the pockets. We are doing an itinerary that has been around for a long time, so I think I will go ahead and get the one that's out now, since I don't imagine much will have changed. I saw it on Amazon, but will look at their site to compare.

Thanks again!

 

[Juney]

After sailing classics with the PP, I really didn't learn anything new from the 2012 when I sailed the Fantasy last year. Honestly, I read here so much that I felt I knew just about every possible thing before embarkation day.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[DisneyDream2B]

We think the PassPorter books are the very best Disney guide books available. We like having them for planning purposes, and keep them (notebook version with PassPockets) as memoirs afterward. We cruise often, and will order each new version as it becomes available.

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

When we first started cruising, in 2005, we bought the Passporter from Amazon. We enjoyed it so much, we kept buying the new one each year, even if we weren't cruising. The past few years, they've had issues meeting their deadlines. We cancelled our 2012 edition after it got pushed back again and again. As a Gilland18 posted, they seem to have trouble now that the new ships are out. I'd get one now, as I really doubt they'll meet their currently projected 2013 release date, whenever it currently is stated to be.

 

[Tiger926]

Stopped buying them years ago. Deadline issues and constant rehash of info, wasn't appealing. Not interested in having to pay for updates, subscriptions or ebooks with updated info either.

Actually thinking of cancelling email newsletter too.

If necessary, I can learn new info on here.

Tiger

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Luv2Diz]

We've been on 2 DCL cruises and I just bought the PassPorter to have on hand for reference for future cruises.

I like the format and easy to find information. It is a good supplement to what I read here on the Disboards.

I can't imagine they are coming out with a new book in Feb 2013. It took them almost all year to get the 2012 -Tenth edition out after a number of publishing delays!

Bought it on Amazon for around $13. The DCL PassPorter does NOT have the yellow pocket folder pages like the WDW book does. (Or at least the bound book that I bought doesn't. Not sure if PassPorter sells a binder that has them.)

 

[dwonderz]

PassPorter is our favorite guidebook - and it has been very helpful in planning our first cruise!

We like it to just have a reference when we're on the ship and won't have easy access to the internet !

 

[hbg4]

The DCL deluxe version has pockets similar to that of the WDW book.
The last time I purchased, the passporter website allow you to download the ebook version in advance while waiting for the printed version.
As mentioned this book is great especially when you don't have access to the internet. I love my kindle fire version, since it is a lot more portable and always accessible. I trim the deluxe folder down to the essentials and pockets only while travelling.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

I buy them at passporter.com.

Oh, hey, look at that, I see on their boards that there IS a Feb edition coming out. They say it will include the new ports and 2013 special itineraries.

This is frustrating. I ordered the most recent edition from Amazon as soon as it came out and was disappointed that there was no specific information about San Juan excursions. I don't see ordering another so soon -- assuming it comes out on time.

To answer the OP's question, I think it would be worthwhile to order one of the most recent editions since they include lots of info specific to the Dream and Fantasy. We were on the Dream last February and I'm on the Disboard all the time, but I still find the book very useful.

 

[bumbershoot]

We've been on 2 DCL cruises and I just bought the PassPorter to have on hand for reference for future cruises.

I like the format and easy to find information. It is a good supplement to what I read here on the Disboards.

I can't imagine they are coming out with a new book in Feb 2013. It took them almost all year to get the 2012 -Tenth edition out after a number of publishing delays!

Bought it on Amazon for around $13. The DCL PassPorter does NOT have the yellow pocket folder pages like the WDW book does. (Or at least the bound book that I bought doesn't. Not sure if PassPorter sells a binder that has them.)

I bought the deluxe edition with the ring binder, and that one does come with the passpockets. And I bought extra passpockets.

The post, just replied to by the co-owner/author on 12/29, says they are coming out with another edition soon.

I was shocked, too!