Just got off of the Fantasy - Details for new cruisers

[Bluestars]

Hi. I just got off of the Fantasy today. It was our family's first cruise. I thought that I would share a few details that might be helpful for first time cruisers.

Before the cruise -
We decided to fly in the day before the cruise. We used ExecuCar for transportation from the Orlando airport to the hotel in Port Canaveral. The service was perfect. As soon as we got to the baggage claim area, we saw the driver holding up a sign with our last name on it. He walked us to the baggage area and then helped take our luggage to the vehicle. It was $30 per person, so $150 plus tip for our party of five.
http://www.execucar.com

We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites that night. My husband and I were traveling with three teens, so we booked a room with a queen bed that had an additional separated area with three twin beds. The hotel was fine. The free breakfast was average.

They have a shuttle service for $5 per person. We called the hotel the morning of our arrival and requested a shuttle time. When we checked in, they gave us a slip of paper with our shuttle time on it. The next morning we went into a meeting room and checked in. When they called our name, we went outside to board the shuttle.

The shuttle dropped us off at the port. They handed our bags to a cruise employee and we didn't see them again until they were delivered to our room.

 

[Turbanator]

Thanks for the report Bluestars

 

[Bluestars]

Then we stood in line and an employee checked our identification and matched the names of everyone in our party to a list. We proceeded to another area where we went through a scanner. Then we went upstairs and stood in the Disney cruise check in line.

They checked our passports and took pictures of us. We got our room keys and a card with a boarding number. Since our boarding number had already been called (it was noon by this time) we walked on to the ship. The rooms are not ready until 1:30 pm. They will have the hallways leading to the rooms roped off.

We went to Cabanas on the 11th deck and ate at the buffet. We then walked around until our rooms were ready.

 

[Bluestars]

We travelled with teens, so I don't know anything about the kids' clubs. The teen club is called the Vibe and the teens liked it.

There are adult shows in a club called the Tube. I highly recommend going to them. We usually attended the ones that started at 10:15. The first one was a game show called Match Mate. There was an adult magic show and a few other ones that were very entertaining. They have a two-for-the-price-of-one drink special every night.

 

[Bluestars]

Thanks for the report Bluestars

You're welcome. Please let me know if you have any questions. I
am just going over a few things that people who are going to be cruising for the first time might want to know.

 

[Bluestars]

Oh, when we checked in, we were traveling with our son and two other teens. Although we had the paperwork filled out for the two teens, they did not ask for it.

When you leave the ship for excursions or just to get off for shopping, everyone in your party will need their room key. However, only people 18 and over will need a picture ID.

 

[Bluestars]

At the end of our cruise, they had a sign up that recommended that anyone with a flight time of 1:00 pm or earlier use the express exit.

Normally on your last day you will go to breakfast at whatever restaurant you dined the night before. For those who have early dining, you go to breakfast at 6:45. Those with late dining will go at 8:00. These people will have to pack their bags and leave them outside of their door the night before between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Then when they go to breakfast in the morning, they will not go back to their rooms. They will leave the ship.

For those people who are in a hurry to get off of the ship, they can show up near the door on deck 3 by 7:00 a.m. You must have all of your luggage to exit the ship at this time.

They opened the doors a few minutes before 7:00. We got in a line and had our room keys scanned. Then we got to another check point where they checked our passports and took our customs form. After that, we walked outside where a Disney employee asked what type of transportation we had.

We booked Disney's transportation to get to the Orlando airport. They had us get on a particular bus. It was 7:10 when we got on the bus. We got to the airport a little after 8:00 am and our airline was the second stop. Security was crowded. We got to our gate around 8:50, which was in plenty of time for our flight.

 

[Bluestars]

The ship is very impressive. They keep it spotless. The service was excellent. Everywhere we went, we got great service.

They sell misc items at the White Caps store near the liquor section. Items like diapers, shampoo, sea sickness medicine, etc.

 

[supercrossfox21]

Oh, when we checked in, we were traveling with our son and two other teens. Although we had the paperwork filled out for the two teens, they did not ask for it.

When you leave the ship for excursions or just to get off for shopping, everyone in your party will need their room key. However, only people 18 and over will need a picture ID.

When you say a picture id, this in addition to your room key that has your picture in it when its scanned? This is our 1st diney cruise but on our other cruise we just needed our card when we got iff the ship and when they scanned it our picture would pop up on the screen.

 

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

When you say a picture id, this in addition to your room key that has your picture in it when its scanned? This is our 1st diney cruise but on our other cruise we just needed our card when we got iff the ship and when they scanned it our picture would pop up on the screen.

You will need photo ID at each port not for DCL, but local customs in order to get back into the port area

 

[darrenf67]

Great advice thanks! We sail in November. You considering a trip report? I would love to see what you got up to on the cruise.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

We just got off as well. On our drive home now. Hoping to make it there sometime early tomorrow.

Sent from iPhone

 

[wifey1220]

We also just got off the boat. It was sold out but didn't feel over crowded. The pools would get busy and cabanas but only at lunch time. It was a great trip. The characters are wonderful. They knewy boys names and played games with them. Wish I could tip the characters and kids club staff. I did write a nice letter.

 

[JimGA]

To our surprise, we stayed at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Titusville, 25 minutes from the port, nice hot breakfast and they now offer a 40% discount for parking at the Port.

 

[Bluestars]

When you say a picture id, this in addition to your room key that has your picture in it when its scanned? This is our 1st diney cruise but on our other cruise we just needed our card when we got iff the ship and when they scanned it our picture would pop up on the screen.

Disney requested that every person on the cruise take their room key with them off of the ship. It will be scanned as you leave the ship and when you return. They requested that anyone over 18 also take a photo ID (such as passport or driver's license) in addition to the room key. They never asked for our photo ID, but we took it each time we got off of the ship. When they scanned the room keys, our pictures came up.

 

[Bluestars]

Great advice thanks! We sail in November. You considering a trip report? I would love to see what you got up to on the cruise.

I don't plan on doing a trip report, but I will be happy to answer any questions. We took two excursions. We went to the deluxe stingray snorkel excursion in Grand Caymen and the Playa Mia excursion in Cozumel.

We booked our excursions through Disney. When we got to our rooms the first day, our excursion tickets were waiting for us. They listed the name of the excursion, the time to meet, and the place on the ship to meet.

For both excursions, we met in the Buena Vista Theatre. The first meeting was at 10:15 and the second was at 10:45. We got to the room and they checked that the adults had photo ID, everyone had a room key, and everyone had an excursion ticket.

Then we were given a colored wristband and a Disney sticker to wear on our shirt. Each excursion had a different character. Then we were told to sit in a certain row. Once everyone was checked in, we proceeded off of the ship. We were given towels.

When we got to the pier, we lined up behind the person holding the Disney character. Then we boarded buses and were driven to the location. When we finished the excursion, the buses drove back to the pier.

After the snorkel excursion when we got back to the pier, Disney had drinks waiting for us, along with wet washcloths. That was very nice.

The excursions were stress free and Disney did a wonderful job in making sure everyone knew where to go and what to do.

 

[Bluestars]

We just got off as well. On our drive home now. Hoping to make it there sometime early tomorrow.

Sent from iPhone

I hope you had a great time! We were disappointed that it rained on our Castaway Cay day, but we got in a great bicycle ride and lunch. The weather on the rest of the cruise wasn't bad at all.

 

[Jenntx]

Thank you for sharing the things you learned on your first DCL cruise. Very helpful! My DH & I are going on our first (ever!) cruise (Disney Dream) in December for our anniversary. We want to learn all we can prior to our trip. If you think I more tips please share them. Thanks!!

 

[supercrossfox21]

You will need photo ID at each port not for DCL, but local customs in order to get back into the port area

Thank you. Its been abt 4 yrs since we've been to a port in the caribbean and never had to take photo id to show to ports. Good to know. Of couse we will be traveling with passports and drivers liciense but try to leave passports on ship

 

[kapoof]

Thanks blue star for all the info! If you buy items at cast away or on the ship do you have to declare them at customs also?