BYOBeverages

[nezy]

Has anyone ever brought there own beverages onto a cruise?
I was thinking of bringing a bottle or 2 of champaigne to toast our send off w/ friends. i know it is sold on ship, but alot more affordable to bring my own-I would think.

Does anyone have any experience w/this?

 

[mmouse37]

You can definately bring your own onboard. We have done on several of our DCL cruises. I usually bring it onboard in a tote bag as DCL does not want hard sided cooler with ice to be brought onboard.

DCL does not mind if you bring your own. they are one of the few cruise lines that do let you consume liquor purchased other than from them. We always make rum and coke in the room and then bring it to the pool in a plastic cup. Glass would not be a good idea near the pool.

I always stay the night before at the Radisson at the Port and stop and buy our own booze and bring it onboard. If we need more we buy it in one of the ports.

MJ

 

[nezy]

Can I bring a soft-pack cooler?

The problem for us is we will not be able to make any pit stops btwn the airport and cruise. It is a packaged vacation-that we won from WABC radio. In port in the Bahamas is feasible.

My next question is, can I bring a bottle or 2 on the flight from JFK to MCO?

MMOUSE#&-I see you are in Tappan-I live in Blauvelt. Do you have kids in S. Orangetown schools?

 

[badgerboy]

Softsided coolers are just fine. We brought one and filled it with two twelve packs before we got on board. We checked it at the port and had it delivered to our stateroom.

Yes you can carry a couple of bottles on board your flight. I would only do it in your carryon however. Have a great cruise.

 

[mmouse37]

Nezy....I certainly do!!!! I have three kids who all went through S. Orangetown school system....my DD14 is a freshman at TZHS and my DS17 is a senior there.

MY DD18 graduated from TZ in June and is now attending college at SUNY Oneonta.

My hubby and I both grew up in Orangeburg on Chestnut Oval. We also are products of the S. Orangetown school district!!!!

What are the ages of your kids?

And yes, I have brought soft-sided coolers onboard (packed in my suitcase, though). I am sure you can bring the soda on the flight with you, but in case they broke, it could be messy. I am wondering if there was anywere in MCO airport to pick up a bottle or two?

Just another thought....recently DCL has added Lemonade and Ice Tea to the beverage station up on Deck 9. Unless you really need soda, this might be a better alternative and do away the need to lug soda on the flight. Soda is complimentary during all the sit down meals onboard.

MJ

 

[jlmcantwait]

Lemonade and vodka......we drink it in the summer...its not too bad!!!!

 

[pigelet]

I guess my question about BYOB has been answered. I am curious about the Radisson. We currently have reservations to stay at the Hyatt. We arrive Friday night at 6:30. What is the cost of the Radisson? Do you rent a car to get there? Take a car service? We were planning to take the bus. I have noticed a lot of people stay at the Radisson. Thanks!!!

 

[nezy]

jlm-now you're talking!!

MMouse37-my guys are just starting out-one in WOS and one in TZE. My 4 yr. old is in Good Shepeherd-starts WOS next year. I thought I was the only nutty DISer around here!! Great to meet another one.

Anyway, we will have to take all of this great advice with us. This trip is a girls only though, so any suggestions for "adult" fun?

Also, is anyone aware of a wine opener that can pass the security muster/ No corkscrews allowed.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I decided to go with coconut rum and pineapple juice. Buying either 1/5th or quart of rum (hopefully flavored) before we get to the Radisson ($59). We rented a car from Avis both to the port & back again. We'll also stop at the store so I can buy 3 6-packs of cans of Dole pineapple juice.
I wasnt sure at first what to bring to drink but figure when I buy a mixed drink onboard it most likely will have rum. Dont want to mix my alcohols so Im sticking with rum.
Planning on bringing enough for 2drinks per day and I budgeted buying 2 drinks per day.

 

[mmouse37]

nezy....I reember WOS and TZE very well!!!!

Anyway, just ask your room steward for a wine opener. That's what we did and he brought us one with a DCL logo on it.

You MUST go to adult activities at night in the club. They are a riot. I know on the Magic they have 50, 70's 80's theme nights, but I am not sure about the Wonder. I know they have 70's but not sure about the others.

Definitely do Palos if you can, and take advantage of the Adult Pool. Also try to get into spa, even if it is just for the rainforest part of it. It's heavenly!!!!


piglet.....we have stayed at the Radisson twice already before our cruises. It is a very nice hotel and if you can get a good rate with a code (I think the current one is VISIT FLORIDA) it is worth it to stay there. It is NOT on the beach, but we don't care, we just like to hang around the pool the day before cruising.

We are paying $99 a night for the 2 room jacuzzi suite using the above mentioned code for the night of 1/3/04.

Yes, you would have to do a one-way rental thru Avis from MCO to the Radisson (Avis has a location there). A mid-size car should run about $40 or dollars one way. Then we rent another car at the Radisson and drop it off at their airport on the way home. I booked the Radisson at www.radisson.com and booked the Avis car online at www.avis.com. Look at the mousesavers site for some codes to use on Avis online at www.mousesavers.com Due a search for rental cars and some codes will come up that you can use.

MJ

 

[jlmcantwait]

Hi Piglet,
We are staying at the Radisson 2 nights. We got a STE rate
$99.00 for a 1 bedroom whirlpool suite. The room looks great. They also had a $59 rate but that might have been a fall promo....before I changed to the 1 bedroom I think it was $79.
If you stay there make sure you sign up for the rewards program It is called gold points rewards ( I think )
If you want to check rates online do not put in a rate code just click view all rates. WHEW!!!! Thank goodness for coffee. I am typing away like a maniac!
We rented a car from avis because you can return it right there for no extra charge. Laurie

 

[nezy]

A '70's night sounds great!! I recall seeing a website w/ the ships activities. Does anyone know where I might find this/
Also, how often do they vary the activities of a cruise-every few months, month to month?

 

[nezy]

mmouse37-
Are you charged a corking fee? When I called DCL they said it was $10 to open a bottle. I would assume a good cabin steward would "loan" you one.

 

[mmouse37]

nezy...

They only charge you a corking fee if you have them open the bottle up in the dining room. No fee if you want to drink it in your room. Our room steward gave us the DCL wine opener to keep.

MJ

 

[pigelet]

What town is the Radisson in? The idea sounds good since it will save money and we will be able to get to a store if we have our own car. I guess we should just rent for the day and then re-rent on the retun. Our flight is out of MCO at 12:20. Will there be time to rent and return?

 

[mmouse37]

Radisson is in either Cocoa Bech or Cape Canaveral....I am not sure which, but it is called the Radisson at the Port.

The drop off code location code for the Avis site is P3F. The pick-up code would be MCO (Orlando airport) and drop off code P3F (Radisson at the Port.

On the Radisson website put in Cocoa Beach and the state of Florida and it should be one of the first on the list that the search produces.

Yes, you should have time to rent and return. I usually rent the one way back to airport when I have a very late flight out of MCO back to New York because then we spend the day at Downtown Disney or one of the parks.

The easiest way is to send one member of the family on the shuttle to the Radisson and pick up the car and then return to the port to pick up the rest of your party and the luggage. The shuttles fill up pretty fast on the return and might take longer to get you all on the shuttle with the luggage.

MJ

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

The Radisson is in Cape Canaveral. Here's an easy link to their web page:

www.radisson.com/capecanaveralfl

 

[jlmcantwait]

Hey Piglet,
We rented going down beacuse we have 2 days there but on the return we have a car service. The car service thru Tiffany Town Car is $70 plus tip. It is so much more convienient having someone throw the bags in the car and drop you off at the terminal. No lugging on the bus to get the car, then get to the airport, lugging them from Avis to the terminal. It is about $40 more but it seems like such a small amount when you add up the whole cost of the trip! Just a thought! Laurie

 

[badgerboy]

We stayed at the Raddison the night before our 9/28 cruise and would highly recommend it. There is a good italian restaurant across the parking lot which is family friendly. In the morning there is a McDonalds across the street with a playland which was good for blowing off some steam before heading to the port. THere is also a convience store about a block away where you can buy your beer etc.

For transportation we used Happy Limo. They were great. From the minute we made reservations till the time they dropped us off at the airport on the return everyone was very friendly and easy to work with. One cool thing is that they will make a stop along the way at a grocery or liquor store so you can stock up. They actully ask you where you want to stop when you make your reservations. I can't think of a move convient way to get to and from the port.

 

[pigelet]

Thanks for all the info. Looks like we can save some money since the bus transfer is kinda pricey and so is the Hyatt. I like nice hotels and have stayed in that Hyatt but we won't even have enough time to use the pools or the facilities so its knda a waste.
Thanks again!!!!