First Time Cruiser NEEDS HELP!!!!

[mickeyoverload]

We are a family of 4 (DH, DS5 and DD 2) and I have never been on a cruise of any kind!

After looking into prices for three years, we have decided that April 2014 is our year! We are going to book the Magic out Cape for a 3 day and go to the parks for a few days before.

But the question I have is what is included in the price of the trip of the cruise? what food is covered? recreational options? I know alcoholic drinks aren't.

So what should we budget extra for?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[mbrocker]

Budget for tips, excursions, shopping, spa.

 

[bats]

Budget for trying to stretch it to a 4 night cruise instead of a 3!!!

You can take your own alcohol onboard to save a little bit of money there, depending if you're a drinker or not. Just make sure it's in your hand luggage and not in your main cases.

 

[mickeyoverload]

so ALL food is included? anytime of the day? room service? My husband doesn't believe me...LOL! I guess I have worked other information in past trips to work to my advantage

 

[tweis]

Tips $12 pp per day Pretty much everything else is optional. You can indulge in Adult dining, shop, buy photos, go on excursions, drink alcohol/specialty coffees/smoothies, visit the spa, try tastings, etc. but it's optional. Dining in the main dining rooms, room service (with exceptions), quick service on the pool deck, is all included in the cruise price. Soda is "free" if you order in the dining room or get if from the beverage station. Have a great cruise.

 

[mickeyoverload]

Tips $12 pp per day Pretty much everything else is optional. You can indulge in Adult dining, shop, buy photos, go on excursions, drink alcohol/specialty coffees/smoothies, visit the spa, try tastings, etc. but it's optional. Dining in the main dining rooms, room service (with exceptions), quick service on the pool deck, is all included in the cruise price. Soda is "free" if you order in the dining room or get if from the beverage station. Have a great cruise.

AWESOME! ok so is the $12 a day pp is automatically added to your room charge? We are not drinkers especially with kids being so little... what about nursery services for my DD2? the oceaneers club is free for my DS right?

 

[erinsmom03]

There is a fee for nursery services, but all kids' club activities are included, no extra fee.

We will be on the Magic in April 2014 for the 4 night, over Easter week. Can't wait!

 

[erinsmom03]

The tip is per person, same for kids as adults. It will be automatically applied to your account at the end of the cruise. You can add extra if you have really good service, of course!

 

[nzdisneymom]

AWESOME! ok so is the $12 a day pp is automatically added to your room charge? We are not drinkers especially with kids being so little... what about nursery services for my DD2? the oceaneers club is free for my DS right?

They add it to your bill after you're onboard, or you can choose to pre-pay your gratuities. And that's per person per day regardless of the ages of your children

Nursery services are an extra charge, but oceaneers club is free for your older child.

The ship serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they have some counter-service-like food stations open throughout the day. Most room service is free - just tip the CM who delivers - there are some room service items that have a charge but they are listed on the room service menu found in your stateroom guidebook. Also you can always ask when you call room service to confirm. Some of the lounges have late afternoon / evening snacks like chips/salsa, wings, hot dogs, etc.

Snacks at the theaters cost more, and frozen drinks (alcohol or no) cost money, too. But there are enough options for food and free beverage that you can sail and not have any additional charges for food and beverage.

Pretty much the things new cruisers need to budget extra for are excursions, photos, and souvenirs. Plus the tips. It's weird at first to get up from the dinner table and not leave a tip / pay a bill But that's covered in the gratuities you pay at the end of the cruise.

 

[MagicFan75]

AWESOME! ok so is the $12 a day pp is automatically added to your room charge? We are not drinkers especially with kids being so little... what about nursery services for my DD2? the oceaneers club is free for my DS right?

The nursery is typically $6/hour and you need to make reservations in advance. The nursery times do fill up, so if you want to go to Palo for a "date night" (which would also be an extra charge, but well worth it), make sure you get a nursery reservation for the same time in advance.

 

[tweis]

AWESOME! ok so is the $12 a day pp is automatically added to your room charge? We are not drinkers especially with kids being so little... what about nursery services for my DD2? the oceaneers club is free for my DS right?

Yes, the $12 pp per day is automatically charged to your account. You can prepay the gratuities or pay them at the end of your cruise. I think you have to reserve hours for the nursery and I believe it is $6 per hour, but I'm not certain because I have never used the nursery. The Oceaneers club is free with all activities included.

 

[clten]

The $12 pp/pd is automatically charged to your shipboard account but you can adjust it any way you see fit (if you want to remove it and tip in cash, that's fine. If you want to raise the tips but still charge them to your account, also fine).

The only food that would not be included with your cruise fare is dining in the adult only restaurants (Palo on the Magic) and pre-packaged snack foods from room service or outside the theaters (popcorn, chips, candy). Other than that, all three meals (or more if you want to do one of the meals more than once/day), room service (except for the aforementioned prepackaged snacks and some beverages - canned soda, bottled water, alcoholic beverages) and snacks (pizza, burgers, pirate night buffet, chips/salsa in the lounges) are all included.

One other thing about room service, while it is included and there's no charge for most of what is available, tips are appreciated and not covered under your $12pppd recommended tips. We usually bring some cash in small bills to tip our room service attendants.

 

[mickeyoverload]

WOW!!! So much help guys, thank you!

What about Castaway Key? anything on the island that I need to be prepared for?

 

[tweis]

WOW!!! So much help guys, thank you!

What about Castaway Key? anything on the island that I need to be prepared for?

Well you can have tons of fun on CC without spending a dime OR you can pay for an excursion. You can rent bikes, floats, feed the stingray, parasail, snorkel (or bring your own equipment for free) etc. all for a fee. There is Scuttles Cove for your club aged children, pelican plunge (water slide) chairs with umbrellas, swimming, relaxing, watching crab races, taking photos with characters, lunch, etc. all included in your cruise fare.

 

[LVaughn]

Sunburn maybe? They serve lunch on CC and have a huge amount of fresh tropical fruits for you to snack on. You can rent floats or bikes if you want, or you can just find a chair (get off the ship early if you want a hammock) and enjoy the scenery. There are shops on the island, but you use your KTTW card to pay for everything and it goes on your shipboard account.

One thing I would do is bring some cash and send yourself a postcard from CC. It sometimes takes a while to arrive, but it will have a unique postmark when you get it.

There are a couple of links in my signature with information about CC you might want to see.

Oh, and howdy neighbor!

 

[Weedy]

Show him this from the Disney Cruise web site:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/cruises-itineraries/whats-included-in-basic-price/

Room service is also included (but you should tip a few dollars)

All the food in included on Castaway Cay. Plenty to do without spending any $$.
You can rent floats, bikes and snorkel equipment.

You can carry your own booze on board.

If you are driving it cost to park at the port.

Guests are charged for every day their vehicle is in the lot/garage, which includes the day of arrival and the day of departure from the cruise.

Parking costs are based on cruise itinerary. See below:

$60.00 per parking space for the 3-night cruise

There are places to park off site that don't cost as much

 

[mickeyoverload]

Sunburn maybe? They serve lunch on CC and have a huge amount of fresh tropical fruits for you to snack on. You can rent floats or bikes if you want, or you can just find a chair (get off the ship early if you want a hammock) and enjoy the scenery. There are shops on the island, but you use your KTTW card to pay for everything and it goes on your shipboard account.

One thing I would do is bring some cash and send yourself a postcard from CC. It sometimes takes a while to arrive, but it will have a unique postmark when you get it.

There are a couple of links in my signature with information about CC you might want to see.

Oh, and howdy neighbor!

HIYA!!!

I was really hoping they were going to send us a ship to NOLA soon!!!

Thanks for the information!

 

[mickeyoverload]

Show him this from the Disney Cruise web site:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/cruises-itineraries/whats-included-in-basic-price/

Room service is also included (but you should tip a few dollars)

All the food in included on Castaway Cay. Plenty to do without spending any $$.
You can rent floats, bikes and snorkel equipment.

You can carry your own booze on board.

If you are driving it cost to park at the port.

Guests are charged for every day their vehicle is in the lot/garage, which includes the day of arrival and the day of departure from the cruise.

Parking costs are based on cruise itinerary. See below:

$60.00 per parking space for the 3-night cruise

There are places to park off site that don't cost as much

Thanks _ no one has mentioned the parking... Good suggestion!

 

[mickeyoverload]

Budget for trying to stretch it to a 4 night cruise instead of a 3!!!

LOL!!!! I wish!!!

 

[TempusFugit]

Budget for trying to stretch it to a 4 night cruise instead of a 3!!!

You can take your own alcohol onboard to save a little bit of money there, depending if you're a drinker or not. Just make sure it's in your hand luggage and not in your main cases.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner.

All food other than pre-packaged snacks at the theaters and Palo dining are covered.

Most activities other than tasting seminars and shore excursions are included as well.