A couple of questions from the clueless...

[NHDisneyKid]

Ok, I've read and read and read...And it just makes me anxious to go ahead and book a cruise for our honeymoon...but I have a couple of questions that might be obvious to some, but leave me plain oblivious!! I know you guys can help though!!

First, would it be a totally bad idea to arrive in FL on the day OF the cruise? Our wedding is on 10/23 and there's a 4-night sailing on 10/24, we're not going to fly out on our wedding night, but probably the next morning, arriving around noon. Is that an awful idea? Should we wait and do the 3-night that sails on the 28th?

Is a birth certificate enough identification for the cruise or do we need passports? I believe Nassau just needs proof of citizenship and a photo ID if I remember correctly...

I know lots of you guys go without kids on these cruises...I'm 24 and my fiance is 31, we're young, kid-less...we'll LOVE it, right? He's been on tons of cruises, but it will be my first. Friends of ours RAVE about their DCL experience, so I'm dying to try it...and it is a bit of a splurge! (BUT we'll only get one honeymoon, right? That's what I keep telling myself about booking at Wilderness Lodge too!)

Thanks for any info you can send my way!
sarah

 

[webray]

You can fly in on the day of the cruise..but, if you are late, or something happens, you could chance missing the ship. The only way to avoid this is let disney book your cruise and air..then if the flight is late..they will wait for you..or fix the problem.

We have been on all our disney cruises, childless. We have two more planned, and are thinking of a third, before the two we have planned. We have been on the 3 day..we had a blast, but, we had never been to the Bahamas before, or on the wonder. We usually go on the Magic 7nighters.

Birth Certs and photo id are fine. It has to be a certified copy with the raised seal.

 

[TheWog]

Not crazy to arrive day of... thousands do it all the time. You will hear a lot of different points on this, but look at your own situation. If you book through DCL they will hold the ship if you are late (to a point). I recommend coming in a day early, you just don't know what delays can pop up, but that's a different thread and you have very good reasons to wait til day of.

BC's are fine with photo ID. You will be meeting the requirements. I feel that passports are the way to go, but I digress again.

Your ages are fine, you will love the ship and the cruise experience. One word of caution, you will become addicted. I had my first cruise with DCL in January and have already booked another and waiting for DCL to release 06 dates to go on the Western. So enjoy your day, fly down in the morning and have a great time. Congratulations.

By the way we're from NH too. Southwest has great rates out of Manchester.

 

[PatriciaH]

I was wondering if you were planning on this year. From your countdown it looks like yes. Congratulations! Our 8th anniversary is 10.20. They say October is the new June as far as weddings! I think the 3 day sailing on the 28th was booked up by a huge group. That means the other October sailings have been booking up too from DCL having to switch people around. You may want to check some pricing soon!

 

[Greysword]

I would say you will be fine by arriving the day of. Of course, the earlier your flight, the more of a cushion you have. You should be able to get a direct flight to MCO from the Northeast.

If you book your air through DCL, they will probably put you on a red-eye flight or something that leaves real early.

Good Luck!!

 

[Belle's Castle]

NHDisneyKid,

I can't answer any of your questions because this will also be my first cruise. But I wanted to post because I am so excited. My DF and I will be sailing on the Wonder 10/24 for our honeymoon. It is exciting to finally find someone who may be on-board when we are.

As for the flight to flordia, we decided we book our own through southwest. It was much cheaper than what Disney was going to charge, we have a direct flight, and it arrives bu 10:00 a.m.....We are getting married onn the 16th and decided not to leave until the 18th for 6 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are also decided that to spend the money on the honeymoon becuase you only get one....A number of people have told us there are a zillion things to do if you don't have children. It was also recommended to us that the later dinner seating my have less children...

Sorry I am not more helpful...I was just very excited about your dates...Congrats on your upcoming marriage

 

[avgeek]

Sarah, you're gonna have a blast. Wife and I honeymooned there in June 2001 and are doing it again in two weeks. Planning the thing is half the fun. Wife already has agendas picked out and restaurants we're gonna visit while we're there. We did the Land/Sea, so flying in was not a problem for us. Wife loved the spa on the boat and I liked the boat itself. I recall sitting in Port Canaveral and looking at the other boats there with us (Princess, Carnival, etc. . .) and we had the coolest boat by far.

If you need additional info, holler. Oh, and Congratulations.
-D

 

[Mickeyhugger]

You might have thought of this before, but is it possible to postpone your honeymoon a couple of weeks? I'm just saying that from my own newlywed experience. LOL! DH and I had to catch an early a.m. flight the morning after our wedding (fun honeymoon), and if I had it to do over, I wish I'd allowed ourselves a week or two in between, so I could take in our lovely wedding, and enjoy a new beginning on our honeymoon.


Just a suggestion. That way you could be rested for your wonderful Disney cruise. I know it's not an option for many w/work schedules, vacation time, etc. I also don't know if you've already paid deposits, etc.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and honeymoon!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We went on a 7-day (non-dcl) cruise the day after our wedding--it was tough to enjoy the first night of our cruise as we were so exhausted--to exhausted to go to dinner or enjoy the first day of our honeymoon.

I like Mickeyhuggers idea--hey if you have the vacation--have a two week honeymoon--the first week at home setting up house with the gifts you have received--then the 2nd week head on down for you disney cruise--spend a few extra nights at disney if you can afford it.

 

[goofytwo]

I have to agree. We went on a 7 day land/sea vacation the day after our wedding in August 2001. Both my husband and I felt like we wasted a day of our honeymoon because we were so tired. We spent the first day sleeping. If we had it to do again, we would have left even 24-hours later. It would have made all the difference.

 

[NHDisneyKid]

Thanks for all of the replies guys!!
I'm waiting for the planning DVD to arrive and hopefully we'll be booking soon after...
I'm going to sit down and really read all of your suggestions, since I haven't had time in the last few days to honeymoon-plan much.

Belle's Castle, if we decide to do the 10/24 cruise, we'll have to meet up for a drink!! Congrats to you too!!!

 

[invaderzim]

If you fly out on the morning of, try to get a flight that gets you there before Noon. The last DCL bus leaves for the ship at 1:00. Of course, you could just take a limo or towncar since it is your honeymoon. However, the later you get on the harder it is to get Palo or Spa reservations -- unless you are purchasing the Romantic or Honeymoon package add on -- then you can do things ahead of time.

The ship does not actually leave the port until 5 p.m. -- last boarding is at 4 p.m. So you do have time.