Broke College kids try the Wonder

[SarahKathleen2006]

Cast:
Me 20 year old nursing student, extreme disney fan , plan my life around disney trips!
Dustin 24 year old recent colllege graduate, working in the computer field, applying to the peace corps

Dustin and I set sail on January 8 on a 3 day cruise. It is the first cruise for both of us and needless to say we are very nervous and very excited. We plan on having a great time without spending a whole lot of exta money. Just being able to go on the trip itself is gift enough. I plan on reporting back with all the details and lot of pictures and hopefully you all will enjoy!

 

[MagicMe]

Have a great cruise!!! And as long as you don't plan on drinking a lot of alcohol, you can do the trip for nothing (except of course for the tips)! I know, I did it on my first 4-day.

 

[SarahKathleen2006]

15 days!!!

A little more information:

We booked last Tuesday using Expedia and got a category 12 for $348 a person. We are flying out the day of and got our tickets for a descent price 69 to Orlando and $92 back home. Overall, a pretty good deal. Our flight leaves the day of, Jan 8, at 7 am and is scheduled to land at MCO around 9:14. Now, we just are praying for good weather and no dealys!!! From there we plan on heading to port. I have no idea on the correct time in which we should be arriving at the port but traveling to MCO several times area for Disney trips and to visit family so my estimate is we will be arriving to port between 11:15 and 12. SOOOOOOoooooo exciting!!!!! . We are planning on doing one excursion and renting bikes on cc. I would like to spend less than $200 on the boat (if my financial aid from school is in by then) or less than $100 on the entire trip if my financial aid has not yet came in. This amount includes, tips, excursions, and souveniers. If I was to do an excursion I would be interested in Discover Atlantis, Nassau City Tour or Ardastra Garden and City Tour. Those are the only excursions I am interested in and they are all below $40 so would be great, any feedback about these excursion would be great. I would love to see the "real Nassau" and culture but I am afraid I will be disappointed by Nassau and the tours in general. Like I have mentioned, I do not want to waste money! Dustin wants to go snorkling but I am not interested in it . Once we board the boat we are planning on going straight to the buffet. We are refusing to eat until we get on board, no breakfast, no lunch, and no snacks in the airport!! Of course, from there we will participate int he safety drill, like we have a choice, and I am ready to take pictures in those bright orange life jackets!!!!! Overall, we are looking the most forward to the food, stage shows, and R&R. I hope it is a great first trip for the both of us!

 

[we3disneygo]

have fun!!! were going in march for the first time and don't plan on spending alot of extra money either !! I just hope for good weather !!!!

 

[DMMarla07860]

you should have agreat time. I'm around your age. I'm 20 and I have went every year since I was 17 and had a blast. I'll be going again in march for a early 21st birthday trip back-to-back 7 day cruises though

 

[jenseib]

Sounds wonderful. Did your expedia include port charges, etc? I had heard once that they didn't, but it's been awhile.
I'm with you. I really don't want to spend alot on board. I don't drink much, but I may have 1 or two.
I've lloked at a stingray encounter for Nassua, and it's only like 40 as well, I beleive, so I think thats the only one we weil ldo. Not that we couldn't afford it. But I don;t want to over do it either, since DD 4 will be with us. Plus my theory is, iof you can get stuff that is included, why pay more for others. I know lots of people love Palo, but to me, I just think why would I spend more mone yfor food, when food is included. I guess the word for me is cheap. LOL!
Have fun!

 

[jfs9900]

I will be on the same 1/8 Wonder cruise with you.... We booked the same rate it was about $700 after all the taxes and fees for two - and like you we are college age so we don't have a ton of money to spend! Airfare was 120pp round trip and we arrive the day of departure around 9:30....

I am guessing that you had a category 12 cabin - did your room get assigned?

After being on the Magic a few years ago I can tell you that $30 (for two people) is a great if you want to spend a night at Palo. The food is excellent and its not a lot of money. Maybe you could do that instead of an excursion in Nassau?

I booked the ECO Tour on CC (a tour of CC on a waverunner). Last time on the Magic I had this booked but we had some funky weather and they canceled most excursions that day. Hopefully this time it won't be canceled. This was $90 per person.

How are you getting to and from the port when you go down? Thats one of the details that I still haven't worked out.

 

[SarahKathleen2006]

I will be on the same 1/8 Wonder cruise with you.... We booked the same rate it was about $700 after all the taxes and fees for two - and like you we are college age so we don't have a ton of money to spend! Airfare was 120pp round trip and we arrive the day of departure around 9:30....

I am guessing that you had a category 12 cabin - did your room get assigned?

After being on the Magic a few years ago I can tell you that $30 (for two people) is a great if you want to spend a night at Palo. The food is excellent and its not a lot of money. Maybe you could do that instead of an excursion in Nassau?

I booked the ECO Tour on CC (a tour of CC on a waverunner). Last time on the Magic I had this booked but we had some funky weather and they canceled most excursions that day. Hopefully this time it won't be canceled. This was $90 per person.

How are you getting to and from the port when you go down? Thats one of the details that I still haven't worked out.

Yea, we have our room assigned!!! WE GOT AN UPGRADE TO CATEGORY 9!!!! I found out on Christmas Eve and what a great gift that was! We are taking Disney Ground transportation. I was going to have some relatives staying in the area take us to and from the port but we decided to add ground transportation. We tried to book Palo the other night but it wasnt letting us. I do not know if the website was messing up or they are full for the cruise!?!?!?!?!?

 

[BaxFam]

I had previously posted this and it disappeared!

Best of Luck to you on your first cruise, I am sure you will have a blast!
We just booked our first DCL and are so excited!

Have a great time!

 

[jfs9900]

Yea, we have our room assigned!!! WE GOT AN UPGRADE TO CATEGORY 9!!!! I found out on Christmas Eve and what a great gift that was! We are taking Disney Ground transportation. I was going to have some relatives staying in the area take us to and from the port but we decided to add ground transportation. We tried to book Palo the other night but it wasnt letting us. I do not know if the website was messing up or they are full for the cruise!?!?!?!?!?

Wow you are really lucky. We booked our room two weeks ago and the cabin was assigned immediately - a cat 12 on deck 2. Was your cabin ever assigned or did you get a cat 12 then move to a cat 9 on xmas eve?

Im sooo excited!

 

[Laneychris]

Have a great time!

 

[FIREFIGHTERMICKEY]

Wow great price for the trip! Problem for us is that we have to fly in from Virginia!

 

[jenseib]

How did the trip go? I wouldlove to hear a trip report and see pictures!

 

[Cusefan44]

I've been to Nassau three times, think that it can be fun, and have always enjoyed myself....however DON'T TAKE THE CITY TOUR!

This tour will show you a large cross-section of the city, a long ways past the point where you will feel comfortable. Nassau has several impoverished sections, and when you see these you will know that everyone is not there on vacation. I brought my wife on this tour while visiting Sandals in 2007, and saw parts of the city that are definitely not safe. Take it from a police officer with prior military experience...avoid this tour.

As for the Ardasta Gardens..they have an impressive trained bird (peacock?) show, and also feature an area where the bird trainer will have a parrot sit on you and nibble on your hat. But the whole thing can be seen in less than 45 minutes, and does not compare to any metropolitan U.S. Zoo.

My advice is very simple.....walk along The main shopping street. Sample the rum from the liquor stores, where free samples of rum is tasted the way wine would be in the U.S.. Walk through the straw market and barter for a trinket, where the good spirited haggling will be worth as much as the trinkets. Window shop at the jewelry stores and show your boyfriend the style of diamond you want when he's ready to buy it. Laugh at the taxi drivers who offer to get you "real Cuban cigars". These will suffice for your day in Nassau.::cop:

 

[jenseib]

They should be back from the trip already. I think they were leaving Jan 9th or around there.