Advice for newbie who hasn't booked yet?

[katyringo]

Hello!

We are eyeing our first Disney cruise in spring 2025.
We are looking at a couple days at WDW and then a 4 night cruise. Right now I'm looking at a 4 night on the Fantasy that goes to both Disney private locations.

I don't know what I don't know. What should I be thinking about before I even book? I have a son who will be 12 and a daughter who will be 8.

 

[CamColt]

It sounds like you know the cruise you would like to take so that is the big step. If you have a budget in mind you can look on Disney's site for pricing for all levels of rooms and then see what best fits your needs. Also when booking you will choose which dining time you want, early or late. I think those would be the big things to take care of to start the process. You can also include insurance and/or transfers or those can be added later.

From there, you can explore if there are any excursions you want to take, on board activities, etc... You will have plenty of time to look into those.

For a new cruiser the help of a Disney travel agent can be very useful as they will walk you through everything. Dreams Unlimited, who sponsors these Boards, will also offer you an On Board Credit (free money for your cruise) and send you a gift basket in advance. I highly recommend them.

 

[71 Truck]

I guess one of the best things to do is look at some of the YouTube videos that do ship tours and all the activity's aboard the ship based on the cruise you are interested in.
My wife and I just got off the Fantasy yesterday after a seven day Western Caribbean cruise. This was our tenth trip on the Fantasy so we knew what to expect.
My mom came with us and this was her first Disney cruise in over twenty years. She found watching YouTube videos very helpful in planning what she wanted to do.

Are you staying at a Disney resort?
Are you flying or driving? If flying and you do not get a rental car, Disney has transportation It's resorts to the port that make it convenient to get there however their is a charge for the service and you have to make reservations to use the service. Also, if flying do not book an early flight going home the same day as the cruise.
Book it in the afternoon or next day some times the ship does not always get back on time based on a whole host of factors. On a cruise several years ago we were still waiting to get off the ship when in the past we were already home by that time, we live about a hour and a half away from the port.

We do not have kids so I can't answer much about the kids clubs other than what we have seen is most kids love going to them.

Are you using a travel agent or booking on your own? There are benefits to both?
Have you decided on a type of room you want?
Are you or any of your family prone to motion sickness?

If you have any special needs dietary or other Disney can accommodate just about anything but you have to let them know in advance and can do it as part of your booking.

Your question is pretty open ended, so if you have specific concerns or questions we can all help you better knowing what they are. sounds like a great trip.

 

[katyringo]

I guess one of the best things to do is look at some of the YouTube videos that do ship tours and all the activity's aboard the ship based on the cruise you are interested in.
My wife and I just got off the Fantasy yesterday after a seven day Western Caribbean cruise. This was our tenth trip on the Fantasy so we knew what to expect.
My mom came with us and this was her first Disney cruise in over twenty years. She found watching YouTube videos very helpful in planning what she wanted to do.

Are you staying at a Disney resort?
Are you flying or driving? If flying and you do not get a rental car, Disney has transportation It's resorts to the port that make it convenient to get there however their is a charge for the service and you have to make reservations to use the service. Also, if flying do not book an early flight going home the same day as the cruise.
Book it in the afternoon or next day some times the ship does not always get back on time based on a whole host of factors. On a cruise several years ago we were still waiting to get off the ship when in the past we were already home by that time, we live about a hour and a half away from the port.

We do not have kids so I can't answer much about the kids clubs other than what we have seen is most kids love going to them.

Are you using a travel agent or booking on your own? There are benefits to both?
Have you decided on a type of room you want?
Are you or any of your family prone to motion sickness?

If you have any special needs dietary or other Disney can accommodate just about anything but you have to let them know in advance and can do it as part of your booking.

Your question is pretty open ended, so if you have specific concerns or questions we can all help you better knowing what they are. sounds like a great trip.

We will fly. We will most likely stay at pop century before the cruise. Good to know there is transportation from the resorts that we can book (and pay for!). We will probably fly in, then do 2 full days at the parks and then the cruise. We like the late flights out of MCO back home to Omaha. We just got home from a week at WDW and took a 730pm flight home from MCO.. so sounds like we could still do that. We might also head back to WDW for the evening.. who knows!

Excursions- needed if we just plan to enjoy Disney's private islands? We've cruised with carnival once before and paid ridiculous amounts of money for excursions.. needed for this?

Travel agent- I'm conflicted! I tried using one once for a Disney trip and I did not like giving up the control and having to go through them for any changes I wanted to make. After 10 or so trips to the parks on both coasts, I like just doing it all myself. If I use one for the cruise is it the same deal where they have to be the one to do things and book things or make changes?

Big fan of YouTube! It's one reasons I was looking at the fantasy over Wish- seemed there was more in the kids clubs for my oldest on the fantasy.

 

[71 Truck]

We will fly. We will most likely stay at pop century before the cruise. Good to know there is transportation from the resorts that we can book (and pay for!). We will probably fly in, then do 2 full days at the parks and then the cruise. We like the late flights out of MCO back home to Omaha. We just got home from a week at WDW and took a 730pm flight home from MCO.. so sounds like we could still do that. We might also head back to WDW for the evening.. who knows!

Excursions- needed if we just plan to enjoy Disney's private islands? We've cruised with carnival once before and paid ridiculous amounts of money for excursions.. needed for this?

Travel agent- I'm conflicted! I tried using one once for a Disney trip and I did not like giving up the control and having to go through them for any changes I wanted to make. After 10 or so trips to the parks on both coasts, I like just doing it all myself. If I use one for the cruise is it the same deal where they have to be the one to do things and book things or make changes?

Big fan of YouTube! It's one reasons I was looking at the fantasy over Wish- seemed there was more in the kids clubs for my oldest on the fantasy.

One thing you need to check on, I am not sure if the transportation to the cruise port leave from every Disney hotel. At one point it was only certain Disney hotels you were staying at on property could get the busses to the port.
I am not sure if you can stay at one hotel, then get a ride to the hotel the cruise busses leave from.
You may also be able to check if the Minnie Van service on property goes to the port.

 

[lklgoodman]

Choose a cabin that isn't below public spaces because it will be noisy. We had a cabin below a restaurant once. It sounded like bowling balls were being dropped above us until 2am. Deck plans are on the DCL site. Get travel insurance that covers the cruise, and hotels/flights. You'll get a ton of useful info from this site. If you use a travel agent they will be the ones who will have to make any changes. We've done 8 cruises and only used a TA for our first cruise.

 

[CamColt]

...
Excursions- needed if we just plan to enjoy Disney's private islands? We've cruised with carnival once before and paid ridiculous amounts of money for excursions.. needed for this?

Travel agent- I'm conflicted! I tried using one once for a Disney trip and I did not like giving up the control and having to go through them for any changes I wanted to make. After 10 or so trips to the parks on both coasts, I like just doing it all myself. If I use one for the cruise is it the same deal where they have to be the one to do things and book things or make changes?
...

For the most part I do not do excursions at CC. After 27 visits there I think I've only done 3 excursions (parasailing twice and stingrays). I like to just relax and enjoy the island but some people like to keep busy and do it all. That's the beauty of cruising, do as much or as little as you like!

If you book with a TA you do need to go through them for anything that affects the actual reservation. Some examples would be changing the cruise date, your room, or category, changing or adding guests, or adding on transfers or insurance.

As for the planning part, booking excursions and on board activities you have the freedom to do all that. You can also call to make any requests (we request our favorite server if we are on her ship).

 

[_auroraborealis_]

One thing you need to check on, I am not sure if the transportation to the cruise port leave from every Disney hotel. At one point it was only certain Disney hotels you were staying at on property could get the busses to the port.
I am not sure if you can stay at one hotel, then get a ride to the hotel the cruise busses leave from.
You may also be able to check if the Minnie Van service on property goes to the port.

Yes, the DCL bus stops at every Disney resort.

 

[71 Truck]

Yes, the DCL bus stops at every Disney resort.

Thank you for the information. My wife and I live about an hour and a half from the port so we drive over in our own car, all tho we have been tempted to get a room for one night and use the bus service instead of driving.

I remember years ago the busses only going to what they called at the time "cruise resorts" and they were just certain resorts like the moderates resorts, DVC and places like the Yacht club.

 

[Husker Mike]

I would highly recommend discussing your plans with a Disney travel agent. It won't cost you anything, and many will offer credits back on both your park and cruise...and a good agent will walk you through the process and handle many of the details...some of which you may not have even considered yet.

Since you are spending a week or so in the Orlando area, do not be quick to just assume "take the DCL bus from the parks to the port" is the best option...it may be convenient, but it may lock you into things. Renting a car at the airport for a week, driving it to the parks, then to the port, even paying to park at the port, then using it to either go back to the airport or to another activity before you fly home may be cheaper and give you more flexibility on your trip. The DCL bus does get you to the port for the earliest boarding, but if you want to sleep in, enjoy a character breakfast, or do some shopping before the cruise, the bus won't allow you to do that. The DCL bus is relatively expensive for families of 4 or more since it's on a per-person basis, and weekly rentals can be remarkably economical - even if you have to pay to park it.

 

[Rallard21]

1. Absolutely stay on grounds before. Good idea coming for a few days.
2. DCL Transportation will get you mid AM and take you right to port. The convience is totally worth it. They also bring you to MCO or to any WDW resort after.
3. The Fantasy is a great ship with lots for both adults and kids. The Wish which also does the 4 night is amazing for kids. That ship was built for kids.
4. Look at the excursion but you might want to just enjoy the ship and ports the first time. You get the towel umbrella and food at cast away. I’m sure it will be the same at lighthouse. You can get snorkeling gear, bikes, and tubes without a problem on the island.
5. We’ve been on different decks but we will always do midship!
6. If you like total control that is understandable but some TAs have onboard credit on the boat.

 

[Skippyboo]

If you’re doing the Fantasy, book a stateroom on the upper decks. The restaurants are on 2 and 3, 4 has the adult nightclub areas in the back. Movie theater is 4,5. Walt Disney Theater which is the bigger one with the Broadway shows is on 3, 4 . Deck 11 is the first deck with pools, it also has the 2 24 hr drink stations where there is soda, coffee, water. The food court with soft serve machines, pizza, sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, chicken nuggets. There’s a coffee shop and in the back is Cabanas where the breakfast and lunch buffet is. There are three main elevator banks-one forward, one midship, 1 aft (back). Front of ship deck 11-13 is 18 + only section. The kids club is on 5.

Fantasy has 3 dining rooms where you rotate though along with your waiters.

 

[Travel60]

Planning for a cruise is nothing like the planning required for a park visit. Book your room, decide what dinner seating, and you can be done and have a great time.

There are a number of things on board you can book in advance (liquor tastings, spa treatments, adult dining) but for a short first cruise, I would not recommend. Most activities/movies/shows are free and first/come/first serve.

We usually do not do anything on Castaway Cay except rent bikes. I think we snorkeled once or twice when kids were younger. Don't know what will be available on new island.

One recommendation is to make sure your kids go to kids clubs the first night. That's when introductions are made and friendships start.

For 13 cruises, we've never used a travel agent. I know they give freebies sometimes but I'd rather have control.

 

[ddonner]

From my experience, your travel agent will only book your stateroom and handle any payments. You can do everything on your own, like booking any specialty restaurants, excursions, etc. It is quite convenient, and it won't take much of your control away.

 

[Carohs]

Lots of things to consider once you book. Excursions, on board activities, etc. Before booking...hmmm. Deciding on the date is big, and you've got that. You've got plenty of time to look into transportation and passports, which I highly recommend. Sales and guarantee rates aren't common for DCL. Using a TA for the perks can offset some costs. Also some people choose to buy discount Disney GC or get the credit card to help with costs. Need to know if you get motion sick. First cruise or just Disney? Know that there's always the possibility on a cruise that weather won't permit a port stop and Disney isn't obligated to compensate, although they sometimes will. Castaway has lots of activities but cabanas are limited. Bing sunscreen!! Can't speak to LP yet. Most rooms have the split bath; the standard insides do not. Knowing the ship layout can help with choosing a stateroom. We like to be sorta in the middle sorta aft on the ship., preferably with staterooms above and below. A middle deck allows us to take stairs without too much exertion if elevators are too full. Aft elevators are the least busy and have the closest access for dining. Although on the Fantasy we prefer taking the mid elevators to the pool deck otherwise you're going thru Cabanas in your swimsuit. Most character interactions are in the atrium and clubs are on 5. Watch videos of ship layout for sure. Also you can find threads on things like, "first time cruiser, what to pack?" Lots of the suggestions can be very helpful or quite superfluous depending on your travel personality. Oh you can request early or late dining when you book. Most people like early but personally we've found late just works better (even though my stomach tends to second guess it about 7pm). It's almost surprising how quickly the day goes too. You can research and prepare but be ready to accept you can't do it all.

 

[Erica1016]

For 13 cruises, we've never used a travel agent. I know they give freebies sometimes but I'd rather have control.

From my experience, your travel agent will only book your stateroom and handle any payments. You can do everything on your own, like booking any specialty restaurants, excursions, etc. It is quite convenient, and it won't take much of your control away.

Agree with ddonner, we've had a TA for all of our cruises and all we have her do is book the staterooms and handle payments. It's very helpful to have her available to call if we need to change anything and to book with placeholders (which you can't do online). We have control of everything and she's available if we need help with anything additionally.

It's particuilarly helfpul if something goes awry. I had a billing problem post-cruise on a non-DCL cruise recenetly and it was very helpful to be able to have her call and deal with it! She's fantastic!