Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you - Page 70 - The DIS Discussion Forums

amosthefamous · 09-06-2012, 06:41 AM

[QUOTE="tigger_ttfn"]If you are just booking a "placeholder" cruise to chance later then don't bother with lines at the desk. We filled out the quote request form for a cruise in late 2013. Then got the quote back the next day. Pick what you want and thy will apply a deposit to you account and give you a confirmation. Just use the drop-off boxnon the desk We got a GTY room but then my TA went in and assigned us a room.[/
Hi,
If I book a placeholder, how long before I actually have to use it? Not that I want to wait at all, but you know, life sometimes gets in the way.....
Thanks,
Amy

tigger_ttfn · 09-06-2012, 07:16 PM

I would book the latest cruise available and then you can move it to a sooner cruise if necessary. We book ours for Nov 2013 but then decided to move it to Dec 2012 and then onboard we will rebook that November cruise.

Phantomzkb · 09-23-2012, 02:00 AM

Wow this has been an all nite ready, thanks to everyone that has submitted ideas.

Phantomzkb · 09-23-2012, 02:41 AM

Ohh I was just wondering, can you go up int the Observation Tower on Castaway Cay ?

annichan · 09-23-2012, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantomzkb

Ohh I was just wondering, can you go up int the Observation Tower on Castaway Cay ?

You sure can! It is a bit far to walk along the airstrip, but you can rent a bike to get there - which I highly suggest, as the bike ride is good fun. Not very long, not strenuous, but you see a bit more of the island and it is a really nice way to pass an hour (as long as it is not in the midday heat).

NHBaerz · 09-23-2012, 10:22 AM

Can anybody fill me in on two things...when looking to book a cruise inboard, how far out can you book one? We are going Christmas week this year and paid approx. 7700 for 4 in a 4a and booked it in May of 2011. I know dcl raises the prices as they go (that 4a is no longer avail and over 8k now for 2 people for the next lower category). We can only travel Christmas week due to our jobs and am just wondering if the prices would be that much lower if we tried to book Dec 2014 onboard this year (2012). Anybody have a bead on that type of thing?

Also we are DVC owners and are staying at Wdw after the cruise and using the bus to go back. We have late seating on our cruise and are wondering if the buses leave really early? Just trying to plan for our last day breakfast.

Thanks for the great info!

zealandsmom · 09-23-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHBaerz

Can anybody fill me in on two things...when looking to book a cruise inboard, how far out can you book one? We are going Christmas week this year and paid approx. 7700 for 4 in a 4a and booked it in May of 2011. I know dcl raises the prices as they go (that 4a is no longer avail and over 8k now for 2 people for the next lower category). We can only travel Christmas week due to our jobs and am just wondering if the prices would be that much lower if we tried to book Dec 2014 onboard this year (2012). Anybody have a bead on that type of thing?

Also we are DVC owners and are staying at Wdw after the cruise and using the bus to go back. We have late seating on our cruise and are wondering if the buses leave really early? Just trying to plan for our last day breakfast.

Thanks for the great info!

A lot of people use the last month available to book, to use dummy dates and often then will pick a shorter 3 or 4 night so that the deposit is smaller.
Yes you can book a Christmas 2014 if it is available to book!! 10% down 10% off price and then a big DCL OBC.

I don't know what time the buses pick you up, however late seating is later breakfast time but we opted to just do the buffet and eat at our own speed and our own time

so you have that option as well.

mickeyfan1 · 09-23-2012, 10:57 AM

You can omly book as far out as the published schedule. Last week all of 2013 was available. But you can move the cruise once the dates open and keep the OBC, you may have to pay additional deposit depending on the fare.

mickeyfan1 · 09-23-2012, 11:05 AM

The buses start leaving when they are filled. The ship is usually cleared by 7:30, and people can be out of the terminal by 7:45 on a good day. Now that doesn't mean the bus to WDW will leave at 8 am, but it is possible, if it is full. If you want to eat early, the buffet is open. Guests are called off the ship by luggage tags, too. In reality, most people can be off the ship by 8:30, all guests must be off by 9.

NHBaerz · 09-23-2012, 02:22 PM

Thanks for the info. It sounds like the buses just do their own thing and it doesn't necessarily tie to your breakfast schedule. We'll do the buffet!!

As for the schedule, we'll just book it out as far as we can and just go from there.

Thanks!

Travel G · 09-24-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sthissell

I am still reading through this thread, so it may be answered in a post that I haven't read, but is there a maximum number of items that can be signed per cabin? We will have two cabins, but there are 3 kids. Also, I would love to do the pillowcase, but we are having special autograph books made. We tend to go to Disneyworld a lot and I have found that I enjoy not having the autograph books (because you get much better pictures without trying to juggle autograph books). Would be able to get 6 items signed between the two rooms?

On the Wonder, we had three adults (all related) in 1 cabin,

but live 3,000 miles apart. we gave them 3 photo mats and 3 scrapbook pages and they returned all 6 items "completed" on last night

SteamboatWillie1021 · 09-24-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherekhan

The more sharpies you put in, the prettier it will be. I gave them about 7 or 8 from a big pack with colors like aqua, orange, etc. They will even personalize it with your child's name if you request it. (Not that it's a big deal, but I didn't get the pens back)

This is who signed:
Mickey, Minnie,, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Genie, Aladdin, Chip/Dale,Max,Lilo/Stitch,Pinocchio,Snow White, Cinderella, Fairy godmother, Dopey, Mulan, Pochahontas, Wendy Darling, belle, Princess Aurora, Captain Hook, Smee, Peter Pan, Terk, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Alice, White Rabbit
Suzy and Perla

So you see, you get a lot more characters than you actually see on the ship. I imagine the White Rabbit, et al are behind the scenes doing laundry or something

By the way, I haven't washed the pillowcases yet. Has anyone done so. Should I rinse it in something special to set the ink? I was worried about it running.

That would be a big deal to me! They should have returned the markers as well. Sharpie sets aren't cheap!

mickeyfan1 · 09-24-2012, 06:35 PM

Perhaps you need to tell the CM at GS you want your markers returned? Seems like the best solution.

As to the WHite Rabbit, it is possible that some of the Alice characters appear at Tea with Alice, thus unless you were there, you would not have seen him.

leighi123 · 11-16-2012, 06:02 PM

Few questions:

1. on castaway cay, are there any very small bikes with no training wheels? are helmets provided?

2. If you show up before your assigned time to board, will you actually have to wait, or not? I've seen conflicting info here. We are traveling the sunday after thanksgiving, so not AS busy of a time. We want to get on board as soon as possible, but don't want to wait either.

3. Do people have lanyards for their room keys on DCL? On our cruise on royal Caribbean, everyone had them, and we had to buy some.

mickeyfan1 · 11-16-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leighi123

Few questions:

1. on castaway cay, are there any very small bikes with no training wheels? are helmets provided?

2. If you show up before your assigned time to board, will you actually have to wait, or not? I've seen conflicting info here. We are traveling the sunday after thanksgiving, so not AS busy of a time. We want to get on board as soon as possible, but don't want to wait either.

3. Do people have lanyards for their room keys on DCL? On our cruise on royal Caribbean, everyone had them, and we had to buy some.

1.. don't know but I think the answer is yes to both
2. you will get a port arrival time, and they do stick to it pretty much.
3. If you arfe a first time DCL cruiser, you will have to supply your own lanyard. You can buy them on the ship if you want a DCL one. Or you can buy them at Staples, BB&B, Michaels, etc.

09-06-2012, 06:41 AM	#1036
amosthefamous Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kings Park, NY USA Posts: 28	[QUOTE="tigger_ttfn"]If you are just booking a "placeholder" cruise to chance later then don't bother with lines at the desk. We filled out the quote request form for a cruise in late 2013. Then got the quote back the next day. Pick what you want and thy will apply a deposit to you account and give you a confirmation. Just use the drop-off boxnon the desk We got a GTY room but then my TA went in and assigned us a room.[/ Hi, If I book a placeholder, how long before I actually have to use it? Not that I want to wait at all, but you know, life sometimes gets in the way..... Thanks, Amy __________________ Off property visits to: Magic Kingdom and Epcot 1983 Epcot 1994 MK, HS and Epcot January 2008 Carvival Sensation August 1999 Joined DVC 2008 Home BWV BWV October 2008 BWV October 2009 AKL October 2010 Disney Magic September 2012 NYC-Canada

09-06-2012, 07:16 PM	#1037
tigger_ttfn Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: TX Posts: 209	I would book the latest cruise available and then you can move it to a sooner cruise if necessary. We book ours for Nov 2013 but then decided to move it to Dec 2012 and then onboard we will rebook that November cruise. __________________ . Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.

09-23-2012, 02:00 AM	#1038
Phantomzkb Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 39	Wow this has been an all nite ready, thanks to everyone that has submitted ideas. __________________ B2B with

09-23-2012, 02:41 AM	#1039
Phantomzkb Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 39	Castaway Cay Observation Tower Ohh I was just wondering, can you go up int the Observation Tower on Castaway Cay ? __________________ B2B with

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09-23-2012, 10:22 AM	#1041
NHBaerz SSR since 2008 Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 22	Can anybody fill me in on two things...when looking to book a cruise inboard, how far out can you book one? We are going Christmas week this year and paid approx. 7700 for 4 in a 4a and booked it in May of 2011. I know dcl raises the prices as they go (that 4a is no longer avail and over 8k now for 2 people for the next lower category). We can only travel Christmas week due to our jobs and am just wondering if the prices would be that much lower if we tried to book Dec 2014 onboard this year (2012). Anybody have a bead on that type of thing? Also we are DVC owners and are staying at Wdw after the cruise and using the bus to go back. We have late seating on our cruise and are wondering if the buses leave really early? Just trying to plan for our last day breakfast. Thanks for the great info!

09-23-2012, 10:57 AM	#1043
mickeyfan1 Come and let me show you my tatoo Let me drive you crazy..... Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 11,811	You can omly book as far out as the published schedule. Last week all of 2013 was available. But you can move the cruise once the dates open and keep the OBC, you may have to pay additional deposit depending on the fare.

09-23-2012, 11:05 AM	#1044
mickeyfan1 Come and let me show you my tatoo Let me drive you crazy..... Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 11,811	The buses start leaving when they are filled. The ship is usually cleared by 7:30, and people can be out of the terminal by 7:45 on a good day. Now that doesn't mean the bus to WDW will leave at 8 am, but it is possible, if it is full. If you want to eat early, the buffet is open. Guests are called off the ship by luggage tags, too. In reality, most people can be off the ship by 8:30, all guests must be off by 9.

09-23-2012, 02:22 PM	#1045
NHBaerz SSR since 2008 Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 22	Thanks for the info. It sounds like the buses just do their own thing and it doesn't necessarily tie to your breakfast schedule. We'll do the buffet!! As for the schedule, we'll just book it out as far as we can and just go from there. Thanks!

09-24-2012, 06:35 PM	#1048
mickeyfan1 Come and let me show you my tatoo Let me drive you crazy..... Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 11,811	Perhaps you need to tell the CM at GS you want your markers returned? Seems like the best solution. As to the WHite Rabbit, it is possible that some of the Alice characters appear at Tea with Alice, thus unless you were there, you would not have seen him.

11-16-2012, 06:02 PM	#1049
leighi123 Earning My Ears Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 59	Few questions: 1. on castaway cay, are there any very small bikes with no training wheels? are helmets provided? 2. If you show up before your assigned time to board, will you actually have to wait, or not? I've seen conflicting info here. We are traveling the sunday after thanksgiving, so not AS busy of a time. We want to get on board as soon as possible, but don't want to wait either. 3. Do people have lanyards for their room keys on DCL? On our cruise on royal Caribbean, everyone had them, and we had to buy some.