April 13, 2013 - Western Caribbean Fantasy Cruise

[DisneyWhirled]

Yes this is true and good for my family because now we're in!

I tried to book this cruise a few weeks ago but the only thing available was concierge. We booked a Christmas 2012 cruise for the Fantasy while we were on the Dream back in March 2011. Decided that we wanted to transfer the reservation to a Spring Break 2013 cruise on the Fantasy instead. I was crushed when nothing was available but "settled" for another 4-night on the Dream leaving April 14, 2013. I just happened to look at DCL's website today and was thrilled to find LOTS of availability on the April 13th Fantasy! So after spending HOURS agonizing over room selection and category--I just called and transferred our reservation. We've done the other DCL three ships and really want to try the Fantasy next.

I (DW 46) will be cruising with my DH-46, DS-16, and DD-10. DS can't wait. Loves VIBE and cruising on Disney because he can be on his own. DD likes to stick close to us--but that's fine too!

I'll look for the Facebook page. For now I am so happy to be booked!!!

Wonderful! And welcome to the cruise!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Wonderful! And welcome to the cruise!

Ditto from me!

 

[travisx4]

Hello,
We will be on this sailing too,
We just got back from the Dream on the Podcast 3.0 sailing
This trip will be me, my DH and our DS 16 (time of sailing.)
waiting for flight info hopefully it wont be to crazy,a few years ago we went vacation week and flights were crazy so we drove to philly and flew from there it saved a good amount of money..just a thought..

 

[pershing]

Hello,
We will be on this sailing too,
We just got back from the Dream on the Podcast 3.0 sailing
This trip will be me, my DH and our DS 16 (time of sailing.)
waiting for flight info hopefully it wont be to crazy,a few years ago we went vacation week and flights were crazy so we drove to philly and flew from there it saved a good amount of money..just a thought..

I was on Podcast Cruise 1.0! How was this one? I really enjoyed ours, but wished it was longer. So much running around.

I still listen to the podcast at work. It makes the time fly.

Yes, I was contemplating driving to Newark 2 years ago to get a flight from Jetblue and then flights at Hartford dropped for Southwest, so I get traveling for airfare deals but haven't ventured out that far yet.

Right now Boston seems lower than Hartford for Jetblue. Only on the 6 am or 9:50 pm flights however. We wouldn't might either and have done both kinds of flights in the past.

For those of us who buy trip insurance, (I have to as my son is a diabetic and I have medovacing nightmares!) don't forget to buy it within 14 day of buying your airfare! Otherwise it doesn't cover your airfare!

 

[pershing]

Jetblue will be opening their schedule up to April 30, 2013 this Sunday at Noon.

Jetblue also is flying 2 flights out of Providence now to Orlando. Hope the rates are good!

I hope my computer works well on Sunday and not like last time when it was more me than the computer who worked well!!!

 

[mdurette]

I have many friends who commute to Boston each day also! I did it in my 20's but was living in Wakefield at the time. Big difference!

Williamsburg is like half-way, isn't it? Was it an easy drive? My car seemed much healthier a couple months ago when I was contemplating driving.

Jetblue will be opening up April soon. I'm just gonna check out the prices and see if I can swing it. I've been working non-stop lately as we are having a banner summer, it seems.

Overtime is a great thing!

Hey all....sorry, I don't get notifications of new email to the thread - I need to check on that.

Pershing...yes, Williamsburg is halfway - but we fly there. (remember I self proclaimed Southwest point junkie and end up not paying for flights)

I actually came looking for this thread to let you know (in case you didn't already) the Jet Blue just announced very limited flights out of Providence. Orlando is one of the options....so keep an eye on that also!!
EDIT: Hummm, I supose I should have read the entire thread first....I see you did know about them coming to PVD!!!

 

[mdurette]

Well Pershing.....I just took a peek at Jet Blue for kicks and giggles. Well it wasn't all that funny!!!

Out of PVD was more than $850 per person!!!
Out of BOS you could find some a bit cheaper, but with connections.

YUK!

I'm not expecting anything better our of SW after what I saw last year.

 

[pershing]

I got $133 each way out of Boston with Jetblue. Something must have happened 'cause people were complaining at 12:05 they couldn't still get in.

I had starting booking a Feb date before 12 noon and then edited the date right at noon and got in right away.

We are coming in the Tuesday (arriving at midnight) before and flying out Saturday after the cruise.

 

[travisx4]

I was on Podcast Cruise 1.0! How was this one? I really enjoyed ours, but wished it was longer. So much running around.

I still listen to the podcast at work. It makes the time fly.

Yes, I was contemplating driving to Newark 2 years ago to get a flight from Jetblue and then flights at Hartford dropped for Southwest, so I get traveling for airfare deals but haven't ventured out that far yet.

Right now Boston seems lower than Hartford for Jetblue. Only on the 6 am or 9:50 pm flights however. We wouldn't might either and have done both kinds of flights in the past.

For those of us who buy trip insurance, (I have to as my son is a diabetic and I have medovacing nightmares!) don't forget to buy it within 14 day of buying your airfare! Otherwise it doesn't cover your airfare!

The Cruise was great..it was nice putting voices to faces, we have met Kathy,Pete and Walter at the New England meet last year. Meeting people on the boards was nice, We did all the planned events they had except one we had Palo. , We only got off the ship the second cast away day, well the first one we did the 5k, but got back on. it was nice just to exploring the ship this was our 6th cruise and we usally are busy busy busy so it was nice to relax ..

 

[travisx4]

FYI....Southwest has a deal if you apply for a Chase CC you can get 2 free flights after you charge $1000.00 might be worth looking into..My DH and I are going to both apply ..who cant use 4 free flights..

 

[mdurette]

FYI....Southwest has a deal if you apply for a Chase CC you can get 2 free flights after you charge $1000.00 might be worth looking into..My DH and I are going to both apply ..who cant use 4 free flights..

Southwest is an awesome card to have. Just so you know...they give you enough points to pay for the cost 4 average flights. Traveling this week - well you may only get enough for 2. But, still a deal. If you really work this card....you can earn enough points by the time needed. If you shop online -make sure you do everthing via their shopping portal to rack up the points.

 

[pershing]

Is anyone planning to upgrade at the port?

I've noticed that our cruise is wide open with all cat's available right now and wondering what kind of port upgrades will be available if it stays that way.

I've been reading threads about upgrading to concierge but I think we would just like to upgrade back to a cat 4 which we had last time.

It would mean giving up an excursion.

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

Looking forward to the cruise. DD asked that I cancel BC : ( she begged for WL we have flights booked on American rt $1400 4 people yuck we have never paid that much and the times stink. Did not have choice to wait for cheaper as we would then be priced out of the trip. Return flight sun am at 7. Anyone ever fly that early home? What a bummer.

 

[pershing]

We are flying home 6 AM on Tuesday April 23.

It can actually be a blessing as you are not trying to fill the day AND still make a flight on time.

We will try to book a night at Hyatt Orlando Airport the night before in order to make it easier. Apparently, Hotwire's not having many deals with Hyatt Orlando anymore and now you have to search lastminutetravel.com and do the search they describe in this thread:

Has Anyone Gotten the MCO Hyatt on Hotwire Lately?

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

I saw there were rooms at the hyatt. $180 I think. Is it better to stay at the hyatt or WL? I know the shuttle from the hotels to port was not great to say the least. Are there bennies to getting to port early? The dream shuttle was so late to port, arrived at hotels late and stopped at every hotel. I figured if going in I know the speed of the bus it should not bother me so much this time. The dream being so short time mattered. This trip is longer so maybe not so much.

I wish we could leave on tue. No luck here we can only miss one day of school for this and we are planning on missing friday to get the day before flight. I miss when my kids could be pulled more than a day. It would be too hard for DS to make up the work.

 

[gfolchick]

I saw there were rooms at the hyatt. $180 I think. Is it better to stay at the hyatt or WL? I know the shuttle from the hotels to port was not great to say the least. Are there bennies to getting to port early? The dream shuttle was so late to port, arrived at hotels late and stopped at every hotel. I figured if going in I know the speed of the bus it should not bother me so much this time. The dream being so short time mattered. This trip is longer so maybe not so much.

I wish we could leave on tue. No luck here we can only miss one day of school for this and we are planning on missing friday to get the day before flight. I miss when my kids could be pulled more than a day. It would be too hard for DS to make up the work.

Personally, if you are only using WL for a place to sleep and don't plan on going into the parks, especially MK, I would just stay at Hyatt and get on earliest shuttle to port. Benefit to arriving early to port is to get onboard sooner and start enjoying the ship! We were able to do the Aqua Duck with a lower wait time, have lunch and book Palo all by 1:30 pm.

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

wow. We had an early boarding time but with the busses never made it. By the time we got on the ship the buffet was almost over. What is there to do at the MCO hyatt as we land at 230

 

[pershing]

wow. We had an early boarding time but with the busses never made it. By the time we got on the ship the buffet was almost over. What is there to do at the MCO hyatt as we land at 230

Oh, I misunderstood! I thought you were getting in late Friday night. It didn't seem worth the effort to travel to WDW to sleep!

You could book and enjoy one night at WL then. It's such a beautiful resort and the swimming area is so much fun for the kids. We were there in 2005 and the kids loved to feed the ducks from the balconies.

Or you could rent a car one way (pretty much equal or less than Disney Transfers to port) and stay at a port hotel and go swimming there! I would recommend swimming with the Radisson together.

 

[pershing]

I just posted this on facebook but I know some of you don't follow on facebook, so I reposted it here:

I just got La Quinta Inn and Suites for $65 base on Hotwire for the 11th-13th! It's a Super Hot deal. Make sure to clear all the other towns on Hotwire and re-click just Cocoa Beach Cape Canaveral amenities:

Oceanfront Property
Pool(s)
Free Parking
Free Breakfast
Free Internet
Accessible bathroom
Handicapped parking

This hotel is ranked #2 on Tripadvisor! Woohoo!


Oh forgot to say this is a hotel for staying at Port Canaveral not WDW area. We are gonna do Kennedy Space Center before the cruise.
Hotel
Rate per night:

$65.00
Nights: 2
Rooms: 1
Tax recovery charges & fees:

$22.55
Subtotal: $152.55
Trip total: $152.55

Pardon my excitement. I think this is a great deal!

 

[blakenjack]

We are so excited! my mom, dad, myself, hubby, 2 sons: 9 & 13, and my sis & her hubby! We would love to participate in a Fish Extender...we did it before and it was so much fun! I just logged on today...haven't read the thread...is anyone planning a meet & greet?
Looking forward to meeting everyone, Heidi