Newbieee please help

[pawn626]

Hi everyone, not new to disney ,but new to cruising, planning first cruise ever for next year. need lots of advice, when is the best time to cruise? what are the best deck floors? do we need passports? overall what to expect at sea/ thanks to all.

 

[clten]

Glad you are looking at a cruise, but to answer your questions, really depends on what you mean by best. If by best time to cruise, you mean the least expensive, it's when kids are in school and not around holiday times. September, the first half of December and January are some of the more inexpensive times. After Easter and before schools get out are also inexpensive. If you are asking, when the best weather is, then I'd skip the bahamas/caribbean in August and September and the water tend to be cool (or can be hit/miss) from November to March.

As for the best decks, again, personal preference. Best for not getting seasick, they say lower decks and mid ship. Best for being near things, that would be the upper decks, closer to the pool deck (or we like deck 2 because it is near restaurants, lobby, gangway for most ports, etc.)

If you need a passport depends on your cruise itnerary. If you are going on a closed loop (starting and ending in the same US port), then you generally don't need a passport -- a certified government issued birth certificate along with government issued photo id is usually enough.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi everyone, not new to disney ,but new to cruising, planning first cruise ever for next year. need lots of advice, when is the best time to cruise? what are the best deck floors? do we need passports? overall what to expect at sea/ thanks to all.

Wow, OK, I'll give it a shot.

First, a lot of those questions are really subjective. One person likes a higher deck, another a lower. One person really likes inside rooms, another prefers verandahs. There's really no "best" deck for your room.

Also, the best time for cruising (in most of our opinions) is when you can go. We've cruised in May, June, September, and October, thus far. All good.

Passports - it depends on the cruise. If you're doing a closed-loop cruise (one that begins and ends in the same US port, on the same ship), and are US citizens, then all you need is a CERTIFIED birth certificate and (for those 16 and older) a govenment-issued photo ID. Other cruises may require a passport.

A good starting place for learning about cruising would be the FAQ sticky near the top of the first page here. Then as specific questions come up, ask away.

Oh, and to the boards!

 

[mmouse37]

Best advice is to keep reading all the threads you can on this board and then post specific questions. There is so much info out there.

As mentioned it is a subjective thing as to "best".

MJ

 

[Zandy595]

Hi everyone, not new to disney ,but new to cruising, planning first cruise ever for next year. need lots of advice, when is the best time to cruise? what are the best deck floors? do we need passports? overall what to expect at sea/ thanks to all.

IMO, the best time of year is late October or the first week of November.

Any deck is good as long as you are not above, below or near loud areas. Try to pick a stateroom that's above, below and near other staterooms.