Booked first DCL cruise and have questions on various subjects.

[Moonlady]

Hello everyone.

I have booked my first DCL cruise for Jan 8, 2004. My 16 yr old daughter and I have cruised before. My mother and sister have never been on a cruise. I chose this cruise because it leaves from close to home, the ship has balcony cabins, the ship is supposed to be modern and clean and this is the most convenient date we could all make.

My questions are as follows: 1) How chilly might it be for this date and if it will be chilly will it warm up as we get further out? Bathing suit weather?

(I feel a little stupid asking this because I live in Central Florida and it can get VERY VERY COLD here. I guess I just was thinking it might be different for us because we are going to be on a cruise )

2) What is life on the ship like for a 16 yr old teenage girl? (Junior in HS) What activities are available for her? I have not been able to find anything detailed on this. What are the chances of at least 5-10 other 16 yr olds on a 3 night cruise this time of year?

3) I am the only one of my group who is a smoker. Is smoking allowed on the ship? I haven't found any info that says it is not allowed, but I haven't really seen anything that mentions it. What areas are smoke free and which are not?

4) My mother, my sister and I are not "real" drinkers but do enjoy a few cocktails now and then. On my most recent cruise I swear the liquor was watered down. (Not just my opinion by the way.) How are the drinks on DCL?

5) The food on my last cruise was pretty bad. (Except the pizza, it was wonderful.) I had heard from many sources various opinions on the food before I went on the trip and was prepared for any eventuality. I found it lacking in taste, especially the deserts. Is the quality of food like in the theme park? Not great. Typical theme park food. EXCEPT for SOME of the Disney finer restaurants. Sometimes the fare is ok. What will the food be like on the ship?

6) Are the adult areas really kept kid free?

7) Will there be sign & sail cards like on Carnival?

I'm sure I will think of other questions but this should do for now. I look forward to hearing from all you experienced Disney Cruisers!

 

[Favorite Auntie]

My questions are as follows: 1) How chilly might it be for this date and if it will be chilly will it warm up as we get further out? Bathing suit weather?

(I feel a little stupid asking this because I live in Central Florida and it can get VERY VERY COLD here. I guess I just was thinking it might be different for us because we are going to be on a cruise )

Don't feel silly.... On my last cruise in Jan of this year, people were wearing mittens at the Bon Voyage Party in Port, but by the next morning we were lounging at the pool

2) What is life on the ship like for a 16 yr old teenage girl? (Junior in HS) What activities are available for her? I have not been able to find anything detailed on this. What are the chances of at least 5-10 other 16 yr olds on a 3 night cruise this time of year?

Not sure...but other posters seem to say that their teens have a great time in Common Grounds and on CC

3) I am the only one of my group who is a smoker. Is smoking allowed on the ship? I haven't found any info that says it is not allowed, but I haven't really seen anything that mentions it. What areas are smoke free and which are not?

It is allowed, but I am not a smoker, so I don't know where exactly. Just be careful on your balcony and realize that your smoke goes right into other rooms doors....

4) My mother, my sister and I are not "real" drinkers but do enjoy a few cocktails now and then. On my most recent cruise I swear the liquor was watered down. (Not just my opinion by the way.) How are the drinks on DCL?

I am not a "real drinker" either...but their drinks are YUMMY and don't seem to be watered down at all!

5) The food on my last cruise was pretty bad. (Except the pizza, it was wonderful.) I had heard from many sources various opinions on the food before I went on the trip and was prepared for any eventuality. I found it lacking in taste, especially the deserts. Is the quality of food like in the theme park? Not great. Typical theme park food. EXCEPT for SOME of the Disney finer restaurants. Sometimes the fare is ok. What will the food be like on the ship?

Again...lots of posts on this. I personally find the food excellent. Especially Palo's chocolate souffle and the chocolate lava cake in the regular rotation (ask for it with ice cream!)

6) Are the adult areas really kept kid free?
Disney tries their best here...but there will always be people that don't think the rules apply to them and their children.


7) Will there be sign & sail cards like on Carnival?

Not sure what these are...can't help. Sorry!

 

[tkd lisa]

Welcome to DIS! I'll try to answer some of your questions, with Dave from Marietta's standard disclaimer that they are my opinions, and mine only.

1) How cold? Looking at your date, I see it's the 3 day Wonder. This goes to Nassau, Castaway Cay, and back. We were on the 4 day wonder in January last year. It wasn't warm enough for me. High temps were probably mid- to high 70s. The kids went into the pool on Nassau Day, and we briefly went in the water at Castaway Cay, but that was one of the coldest Jan's on record in the area (the day we went to AK, it was 28 degrees!!).

2) 16 year olds activities. DCL has a special area for teens called Common Grounds (13-17 year olds). Several people who post here have quite a bit of info on this area. I don't, because my kids are younger. I don't think she'll be bored.

3) Smoking: All verandahs are available for smoking, but I think all staterooms are non-smoking. Not positive about that. All outdoor areas are available for smoking I think, and I know that the bars allow smoking. You won't be cooped up in a tiny out of the way area of the ship.

4) I didn't drink a lot on the ship, but the drinks seemed normal strength to me. I certainly have never heard any complaints about the strength of the drinks.

5) Food is a very individual subject. In my opinion, the food was definitely not theme park average. It was the equivalent of a very nice restaurant. Now we are not big time gourmets, and have never been to a true 5 star type restaurant, but I felt like the food was very good to excellent. The fast food type things by the pool are fast food, what would you expect. Even there, they offer wraps, chicken breast sandwiches and fresh fruit to counter the typical hot dog hamburger thing. If you ever don't like something, they will gladly bring you something else. You don't even have to mention it. I wasn't eating one of the entrees I ordered, and the waiter was almost insistent that I eat something else since I didn't like it.

6) Adult areas are REALLY adult areas. My daughter just wanted to refill her soda at the bar by the adult pool and they sent her to the family area. If you are in doubt, visit Barb & Tony's site at www.castawayclub.com They always cruise as adults on DCL and are very clear that this is strictly enforced on DCL.

7) Never heard of sign and sail, but I think you're asking if it's a "cashless" ship. Yes, your Key To The World is how you pay for everything.

Hope this helps, and enjoy!

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I'll try to pitch in:

1) The weather is kind of hard to predict, but I've cruised the eastern route in both December and February and found it to be plenty warm. Also, I'm curious as to what passes for "VERY VERY COLD" in central Florida....

3) Smoking is allowed on the open decks, except near the Mickey (kids) pool, on private verandahs, and in parts of the Rockin' Bar D/Wavebands, Sessions/Cadillac Lounge, and ESPN Sky Box clubs. It is not allowed in the staterooms, dining rooms, Off Beat/Barrel of Laughs club, Promenade Lounge, Studio Sea (family night club), and other indoor public areas.

4) I drink mostly beer, with the occasional mixed drink, and do not feel the drinks were watered down. I certainly have not had problems becoming intoxicated on board, however, I'm not sure if that's a quality or a quantity issue....

5) While food quality is a very subjective thing, I find it to be good to very good, with Palo being outstanding. The meals in the main dining rooms are certainly better than at the parks. At least as good, and probably better than the high-end resort restaurants. The service is excellent.

6) In my experience, DCL does a better job than other lines (I've also sailed on RCCL, NCL, Princess, and HAL) at keeping the adults-only areas kid-free. Yes, there are people who feel that the rules don't apply to them, but the crew members are very good at politely reminding people about the adults-only areas.

7) Like Auntie, I'm not familiar with "Sign and Sail" cards, having never sailed with Carnival.

 

[Moonlady]

Thank you very much for the very informative replies. I appreciate the time.

As to how cold it can get here: A few years ago my hot water pipes froze and burst! This past year we had one day when it snowed. The snow didn't stick but there sure were some excited southern kids.

I am originially from NYC but have lived in Central Florida since 1979. The cold weather isn't anything like up north but after having lived here for so long the blood thins out.

If you are going to visit Disney during the winter just be prepared for some chilly weather. Not all days in a row are so cold. You might get a run of 50 degrees and a day of upper 60 with a following day of 30.

 

[lsmac]

The sail and sign card is the same thing as the "Key to the World" card on Disney. Both are used for shipboard expenses and as your room key.

As for teens: I have a 14 yo and he had a blast in December. I will let you know what he thinks about it this year as we sail in November. The Common Grounds area (which will be reworked during dry dock and moved) is a great place for the kids to just "hang". They do not schedule as much for the teens as they do for say, the 8 and under crowd, but they do have plenty for them to do and most like to just get in a group and "hang". Make sure your 16 yo goes to the 411 meeting held the first night on board and they will be able to meet others then.

Lisa

 

[Moonlady]

When is this ship scheduled for dry dock?

 

[lsmac]

drydock: Sept 27th- Oct 10th.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Originally posted by lsmac
drydock: Sept 27th- Oct 10th.

Note that this is the drydock schedule for the Magic. The Wonder will likely go to drydock sometime in the fall of 2004, but I don't believe a firm date is scheduled yet. I believe the original poster will be on a 3-night cruise, so the drydock changes won't be applicable for her.

 

[lsmac]

Whoops! You are right Lloyd...thanks for pointing that out!

The drydock is for the MAGIC...not the Wonder..sorry for the confusion...I need more caffeine or something!
Lisa