Changed my booking! Have to share!

[Azza1987]

So this morning I received a lovely telephone call to confirm I'd been successful at a job interview I went for! As it comes with a bit more money I decide to change my holiday booking after a little research!

So now me and my OH (who won't find out until he turns 30 in march) will be flying to New York on the 27th for 4 nights, then taking a domestic flight to Orlando on the 1st May and spending 8 nights at SSR in a studio villa, then we will be transfer for 3 nights aboard the Disney dream cruise liner in a veranda stateroom!

I really am so pleased and excited! The Disney lady was so helpful (and very happy!) with me when I called to enquiry I literally had to book there and then!

My bucket list is truly being ticked off! WDW and a mini cruise! I just hope the OH will love it too!

Has anyone any Disney cruise experience to share??!! Cxxxxx

 

[wen-tom]

great news congratulations on the new job
we did a 3 night cruise on the dream last month. you will love it i'm sure

 

[Azza1987]

Thank you!


Any advice for the cruise?! I've never been on one ever! So I'm very excited can't wait to get all my information in the post! Xxxx

 

[jen_uk]

Congrats on the job and the holiday!!

 

[wayneg]

A few pics from our cruises. Ask if there is anything you want to know.

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/wayneg1/Disney Cruise/

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/wayneg1/Disney Cruise Spring 08/

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/wayneg1/Disney Cruise Aug 09/?start=all

Last year we went on the Disney Dream, you are probably better looking at my live trip report, easier than trying to look at them on Photobucket as they are all mixed up.

Starts here post #321 thru to post #396, just look on each page between, lots of pics.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2771370&page=22

 

[wen-tom]

I would say for the 3 night cruise, just enjoy the ship. the time passes so quickly. There isn't a lot to tell really but if you have any q's at all just fire away

I imagine that you will stop at Nassau & Castaway cay?

Do you have any excursions in mind for Nassau?

The Disney Dream is a pretty big ship and so you will want time to explore.. You get to eat at all 3 of the main restaurants and they will tell you when you board which you eat at first.

We had a pirate night and 2 cruise casual nights so no need to dress for a formal dinner at all so you can just relax

 

[Azza1987]

Thanks guys!

No idea about what excursions to book/look in to?! Any suggestions!

I'm really lucky as now we will be away for my birthday which is may 10th! I think we dock in Nassau on that day!
I've booked us on to the 2nd dining service as we don't like eating early! Was this a good idea or will we miss the shows?! What time is the main and second dining service?!

I know our reservation includes all our dining so I presume drinks are charged separately? Or is just to our room?

Sorry for the million questions! I just want to be as prepared as I can

 

[wayneg]

Thanks guys!

No idea about what excursions to book/look in to?! Any suggestions!

I'm really lucky as now we will be away for my birthday which is may 10th! I think we dock in Nassau on that day!
I've booked us on to the 2nd dining service as we don't like eating early! Was this a good idea or will we miss the shows?! What time is the main and second dining service?!

I know our reservation includes all our dining so I presume drinks are charged separately? Or is just to our room?

Sorry for the million questions! I just want to be as prepared as I can

We have done 6 Disney cruises, only 1 fishing trip, when in places like the Bahamas we like to get off for an hour or 2 then back on to enjoy the quieter ship. Lots to do onboard so we have never felt the need to pay extra for trips.
We prefer 1st dining around 6pm, similar to what time we eat at home then we can have a drink or 2 after our meal. If I didn't eat til later I would be too stuffed to have a drink. But others prefer the later dining, you can see the shows on either dining, they perform twice (3 times some days)
Any drinks are put on your room, they automaticlly add 15% tip. Disney are the only cruiseline which allow you to take your own alcohol onboard so we take a bottle of vodka and get the free coke to mix. Just buy the cocktail of day thats on offer each day.

 

[luke]

I agree with Wayne. Have done late and early seating and much preferred early. Late is too late for us and I like doing things after eating rather than rushing things to get to dinner

 

[Azza1987]

Can you me what time the later dinner service is please? Not sure if I want to swap or not!

Are dinner tips included in the price I've paid or shall I still budget for tips at dinner and in the bars?

Is there any specific excursions worth doing? I don't like diving and he doesn't like fishing!

Many thanks again guys! I'm forever in debt to your knowledge!

 

[wayneg]

Not sure but I think the late dining is about 8pm, if I did that I would come out and goto bed

I prefer early dining then order room service around midnight

Tips are payable for dining room staff & cabin staff. This calculator shows you what is recommended http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
But adjust to what you feel the service is worth, last cruise I halfed the assistant server but then gave it to the main server, he was outstanding, she was poor. I never tip head server others do. Do whatever you feel is right.

 

[luke]

Dinner times are about 6pm and 8pm (our Med cruise last year was actually 5:45).

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/onboard-dining/dinner-times/

Dinner tips aren't included, you pay them all at the end of the cruise (along with the other tips) or at any time you choose to at guest services

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/onboard-services/gratuities/

 

[Azza1987]

Thanks guys! I think 8pm would suit us, we eat quite late anyway and would prefer to lounge about early evening!

This may be another daft question but what luggage can you take on board? Is there a limit? Xxx

 

[wayneg]

No limit as far as I know. For 5 of our cruises (and 2 on Royal Caribbean) we have had a car in the carpark so left stuff in the trunk what we didn't need. Just once we dropped the car off and collected another after the cruise so we had to take 25 nights worth of luggage onboard.

 

[Azza1987]

We'll have three suitcases and 2 'hand luggage types' im paying for a third suitcase on our way back to the UK for all our shopping hoping this will be ok!

Sorry I'm such a Disney/Cruise newbie! I literally know nothing! Wayne any must knows for a cruise?!

I'm even thinking now I booked the wrong room! 7188, which is port side but I've read starboard is better! Hmmmm! I can see I'll be making a few changes as it get nearer I'm so in decisive!

 

[wayneg]

Been on both sides of cruiseships, front and back. No difference at all.

I prefer to get to the port for opening (we were 15 mins too early last year, oops) by the time we get on have lunch and unpack its time for lifeboat drill, leaving party, and dinner. Its all a bit rushed on boarding day but if you are getting Disney transport you are tied.
Try read some of the navigators before you leave, they will be on the cruise forum, you might be able to spot a few things you want to do.
On the Cruise forum there will probably be a meet organised for your cruise (I usually organise one on any we do) this was a page I set up for all DISboard members onboard ours last year. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/asters/Dismeet Aug 11.htm
We also had Fish Extenders (you will see FE at the side of everyone that participated) swapped gifts with each other but I wouldn't do it on my first cruise, especially a 4 nighter, you won't have much time.
Just keep asking questions, either on here on on the crusie section.

 

[Wills Mom]

Fantastic news!! It sounds like a lovely trip, and congrats on your new job

 

[wen-tom]

we prefer late dining too. 6pm is too early for us. we eat later at home and late dining seems to be a little less chaotic

We did a dolphin experience in Nassau at the Blue Lagoon. We only really did it for my sister. if it had been just me and DH we would not have bothered and would have just gone for a quick stroll around the port area and then back on board to take advantage of the ship

Castaway Cay we went to the beach for a few hours and then back to the ship.

Like Wayne said, we don't often go for a lot of excursions, we're happy to get off and explore and then get back on board and with 3 nights your time flies by!

 

[Azza1987]

Thanks again guys for your help.

I don't think I'll book any extra excursions then, and see if OH wants too nearer the time. It's already cost enough for all this, luckily we're on the dining plan at Disney, our park tickets are included and am I right in thinking all our food and 'soft drinks' are catered for on the cruise?

So really I only need money for tips, Beer money and our gifts whilst in Florida. I've sort of made a mental budget of $2500 to cover the trip which includes our 4 days in NYC. We'll have the credit card with us anyway just in case, and I suppose we'll need the credit card to pre-pay our tips on board for the servers!

Do we still tip the housekeeping staff, well steward as I read there called, every day by way of a little envelope or is that pre-paid as well? What is the average tip for a steward?

Our flight back from Orlando to Manchester is at 4pm (ish!) on the Sunday when we return (we have a stop in Washington for 4 hours) I presume we have enough time to get off the ship and there for that time?

Also I've booked the Disney transfer for us from SSR to the Port, will I get times for pick up when I receive all my travel documents?

My OH was guessing last night, he thinks we're off somewhere in Europe for a couple of weeks So hopefully I can still keep it secret until we actually go!

Thanks again guys!

 

[wayneg]

They are called stateroom hosts, if you look at the tip calc http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/ click on 4 night Disney cruise for 2 people and it shows the recommended amounts, double check but I believe your Stateroom host amount comes to $32 (£20) This is left in your cabin when you leave, not daily, you can leave as cash or charge to your cabin account. The envelopes will be left for you on your last day with instructions.

You will have plenty of time, you leave the ship 8-9am

Never used the transport but I am sure you will get info.