Booked, but nervous we won't like it.

[asreitzel]

We booked the Western for Jan 2006, but I am really nervous we won't like cruising. What I am most concerned about is being turned off by the ressie rush, the overflow of people at the Mickey Pool and Family Beach at Castaway Cay, the hassles of getting off the ship at port to go to the beach. We picked a 7 night because we wanted to sail into warmer weather. We considered a beach vacation, but I wanted activities for my 3.5 year old.
Am I reading too much into the boards that talk about the hassles of check-in, getting settled, getting off the ship at port, etc?
We chose the cruise because it would give us some adult time while my daughter had her own fun. but, I want to make sure that we can relax.
Can a Disney Cruise be relaxing?

 

[crisi]

It certainly is relaxing...and a whole lot of people make a bigger deal out of the ressie rush and the ports than need be. We didn't find any of those things to be hassles - well, lugging our luggage around from 11am until 1:30 was kind of a hassle, but next time we will carry very light carry on bags.

The Mickey Pool CAN get quite crowded. Its probably best to engage in pool time management and plan your pool time when other people are doing other things.

The family beach isn't crowded if you are willing to walk to the end. Hammocks can still be hard to come by.

There are a lot of beach vacations that include activities. The Beaches resorts include kids clubs and so do a lot of the other all inclusives.

Cruising is very nice, but it isn't for everyone. Sometimes the ship misses ports (including Castaway Cay), sometimes the weather is lousy and some people get seasick. We went on a four day first for those reasons, discovered we enjoyed cruising and have booked a seven day.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We go on the Disney Cruises because it is relaxing. If it is the overflow of threads here complaining of the hassles of ressie rushes, crowded pools, etc. that have you nervous about this, let it go. The boards have a way of inflating much of this. After four Disney Cruises, even with making reservations after getting onboard, we've never felt stressed about it. You really have to go into it with the outlook of what you may go to WDW with -- you probably aren't going to do everything. If you don't get to one activity/event, you'll get to another. It's no big deal. Sit back, relax and enjoy!!!

 

[kg66]

First of all...big breath in, big breath out! You are going to love your Disney cruise! There's a ton of things for everyone to do and love. Your dd will love the club, my girls are 4 & 7 and loved it so much they didn't want to come out at bedtime. We had lots of quality adult time, family time and they had lots of kid club time(a nice balance I thought). We did the 3 day and had absolutely no hassle re-boarding from the ports, just have your KTTW(Key to the world) card and your photo ID ready when you leave and board the ship, and it's no problem! As for the ressies issue, depends on what you want to do! If you're looking for Paolos or the Spa, yes you have to get in line when you get on the ship! If you are doing any excursions and you know which ones you definitely want to do, book them before you leave to save some stress once you board, then you are guaranteed the ones you want. As for the beach at Castaway Cay, I didn't find it too crowded when we were there. And all excursions were cancelled that day due to high winds! Everyone was scattered all over the place. As for the Mickey Pool, we didn't find that too bad either, it seemed to go in "waves" (pardon the pun). It would be crowded then some families would leave , then some more would come. Either way you're going to love the cruise, you can't help but, it's a Disney Cruise!! It'll be here and gone before you know it, relax and enjoy it! Don't get too worked up by the boards, you'll get to frustrated and even more stressed, take it from someone who's been there.
Kathy

 

[two-foxes]

The only way to see if you like cruising is to try it. I guess my only suggestion would be to try a 4 night before going all out for 7 nights. That way you get the experience of what cruising is like with out the worry of "oh, my god we hate it and we are stuck on this ship for 3 more nights!"

It seems you know the "not so relaxing parts" ahead of time, so you won't be suprised with them. But the ressie rush can be quick and painless with some easy planning. And as far as the pools being crowded, well you can't get around that really, but having only one sea day on the western will help with that..perhaps you can take your child early in the AM or later in the evening. And you don't have to get off the ship when in port! You can enjoy the less crowded ship while others are out and about if you don't want the hassle of getting on and off the ship.

Keep in mind, this is coming from a couple who has no children....but I do a lot of "observing" for future planning , and you can choose to make it as relaxing or as stressful and you want.

 

[asreitzel]

Well, I do feel better already. Are there usually long lines to get off the ship at port. I read a post where someone had to wait hours. Any good stratgies for that?

 

[banderson]

We took our first ever cruise with our two kids aged 7 and 9 in February (Western) and while we now know that cruising is not for us, I have no regrets. First and foremost, Disney does an excellent job at "client experience" and the overall quality of service indeed deserves credit. We did the Disney cruise because it just seemed like another rite of passage that deserved doing at least once before the kids got too old.

We have travelled considerably in other parts of the world and so we have a tendency to expect more from travelling (culturally we expect more, we tend to go for more exclusive-type experiences/activities and even our kids tend to enjoy more exotic/fine dining...OK, so we've spoiled ourselves and I acknowledge that). Cruising doesn't give me the culturally-rich experiences that I want, the secluded venues or things like the time to truly enjoy your wine over dinner. I felt surrounded by people, rushed at dinner and with the exception of our excursion to Chichen Itza and maybe the stingrays, my family and I didn't come away from the trip having "grown". But do I regret it? Absolutely not. The shows are well done, the service is very good and the immensity of the ship is something to be seen.

Go for it. It may be just what you want from a vacation. You'll never know until you try it.

 

[poohssmum]

I've been on 2 Disney Cruises and both 7-day. I can honestly tell you that this is the BEST vacation for my family (me, DH and 2 DS's 5 and 8). It offers the best of all options, imho, family time, couple time and ME time

Please take what is said here with a grain of salt. We all have different personalities and certain things bug some of us, while others of us just roll with it. Not good, not bad ... just different.

Yes, the Mickey pool can and does get crowded, but I learned a trick ... if you have late seating dinner, take the kids to the Mickey pool around 5pm. Most families with early seating are clearing out and getting everyone spiffed up for dinner. Also, the pool is much less crowded on port days.

I've never stressed about the Ressie Rush, personally. The Spa, although it would be nice, isn't something that I'm going to stress about missing. Now Palo on the other hand ... Keep in mind, that you don't need the whole family there standing in line to make these reservations. Send one member of your party, and take the little one to the pool, or get some lunch

I hope that you decide to keep your vacation as planned. And have a Magically Wonderful time

 

[wonderfan]

We just returned from our first-ever cruise experience and we chose the Disney Wonder -- and it was just that, WONDEFUL. However, we chose the 3-day so we could "get our feet wet" about cruising -- our experience with the things you mention as concerns were not a problem in the least -- Yes, Castaway Cay was a bit crowded, but, then again, there is plenty of room to roam. Reservations lines, port lines, etc. -- run very well and never a hassle for us!!!

THe one thing that you didn't mention that I would be more worried about is the weather in January -- we went in late February and the weather was very nice, but, I know the cruises before us and after us did not have great weather and that can really impact the trip. As a matter of fact, I told my husband that I probably wouldn't cruise again in Feb -- we all love the sun and surf and the absence of that would really be miserable for us. I know you can never depend on the weather, but, to me, it seems like Jan and Feb are really "iffy"

Just me thoughts .

 

[banderson]

THe one thing that you didn't mention that I would be more worried about is the weather in January -- we went in late February and the weather was very nice, but, I know the cruises before us and after us did not have great weather and that can really impact the trip. As a matter of fact, I told my husband that I probably wouldn't cruise again in Feb -- we all love the sun and surf and the absence of that would really be miserable for us. I know you can never depend on the weather, but, to me, it seems like Jan and Feb are really "iffy"

I agree about the weather. We were on the Feb. 26 Magic and with the exception of two days, you needed a light sweater both day and evening. I love to sunbathe but didn't because it was a little too chilly (and I'm from the Great White North). I wore capris almost the entire type. I too would recommend April or later if great weather is high on your list of priorities.

 

[depomas]

Hi, and congratulations on booking...You will love it..

There are certain places that can, and do get very crowded. I agree with the previous posters on all of this... We try and take the kids swimming right after breakfast, and then they go to the clubs a bit, and again around 4ish or so for an hour or two...These are fantastic times to go, and the pools are usually empty...

As for Castaway Cay: when you see the first beach with everyone on it, keep going going going..The more you walk, the less there are..You can even find places almost empty, as people tend to drop their stuff right away.....

Whenever we stop in ports, we do not book anything early, and wait until the people who need to get off do, and then it is EMPTY....


Enjoy..

We come home so relaxed it is hard to get back into the swing of things...

 

[druiser]

Also, compared to other cruise lines I've been on, DCL has BY FAR the smoothest and easiest disembarking day I've ever seen. Instead of being herded like cattle into a CROWDED public lounge, waiting for the ship to be cleared, you get to go eat a nice breakfast, and file off to find your luggage - sorted by section (and sometimes by numeric room number). Very smooth and simple.

 

[jrabbit]

Getting off in the ports usually isnt a problem. Even the places where you have to tender in (step off of the ship onto a boat that takes you to shore). You will always tender at Grand Cayman (western), sometimes you have to tender at St. Thomas (eastern).

When tendering AND booking a non DCL shore excursion be sure to give youself enough time to get off of the ship. DCL tenders it's own early morning excursions first. When the ship docks, it's usually pretty easy to get off and doesn't take too long.

I think when people are complaining about the amount of time it takes to get off of the ship - it's usually in relation to clearing immigration in St. Thomas. Everyone has to go through it and it usually starts at 6:30 (for US citizens). Then you can usually start going ashore around 8am (I think - it might be 9am?)

As far as the "ressie" rush - don't sweat it. If your child is potty trained then there will be a spot for him in the Club. You don't have to "sign them up" the first day or even the first thing. I've never had a spa treatment - so I don't have to worry about that. Never been to Palo for dinner - but we do get in the ressie line because we love their brunch!! The spa and Palo ressies are really the only ones you have to worry about making if they are things you want to do. Maybe hairbraiding is a tough one to get appointments for too - but my entire family has pretty short hair

Dinners you have a reserved seat for and yea, there will be about 425 people in the restaurant with you - can't help that one, and the rotational dinning is a lot of fun and not to be missed in my way of thinking.

The Mickey pool is another matter. Usually lots of people in a realivily small space. Like others said - go early or late (after 4pm the crowds up at the pool usually disappear).

One of the great things about cruising is you unpack once and visit 3 or 4 different places and someone else is doing the cleaning, cooking and driving! And you get to enjoy the benefits of their hard work to make you a very happy camper!!

 

[kg66]

We did our 7 day land & sea, from Jan30-Feb.6, and the weather wasn't the greatest, cool most days but only rain once. The closer my cruise got the more nervous I was about the weather. For our cruise next year I booked March after March break, figured I was guaranteed for the weather to be hot!! When I book our next DCL cruise in 2007, I'll book March, and pay more money, but not have to worry about the weather. But don't stress, cause like my husband told me time and again, you can't control the weather.

 

[ivanova]

Can a Disney Cruise be relaxing?

In one word: ABSOLUTELY.

The ressie rush is probably overrated. I do it because I'm very particular about the times that I want to do Palo and have spa appointments. If you don't want to schedule either, or are flexible on the times, you don't need to do the "ressie rush." If you do the rush it'll be all of about 1-2 hours total out of your whole week (and at the beginning too).

We've never had any issues with getting off the ship, or with overcrowding at the CC beach. The pools could be a different story simply because it's a much much much smaller area than CC is ... but I'll admit we rarely even walk by the pools during the day (and have never swimmed in them) so I cannot tell you what the pools will be like....

 

[makaira]

I went through the exact thing as you. I booked a 7 day western on the Magic without ever having been on a cruise before (Nov, 2004). I thought, as you, that the first day would be overwhelming. However, I read these boards and got myself a Passporter Guide and when that day arrived , I was completely prepared for it. Upon boarding I went and switched from late to early seating, got Palo ressies, enrolled the kids (DS9, DD7, DS4) in the clubs and got Spa ressies. All of this was accomplished in a short period of time and we even had time for lunch and a dip in the pool before the drill. I never felt like I was rushing around either. Again, I owe that to the knowledge found on this board and the guide. If you go in with the know-how ahead of time you will have a great trip. Also, we never had any hassles getting on/off the ship and while there were lots of people on Castaway Cay, we did not feel crowded. (they have lots of chairs and umbrellas, too). Sorry to be so long-winded, but since we shared a lot of similar circumstances I wanted to reassure you that it was definitely one of our best family vacations, as I'm sure it will be for you. Bon Voyage.