Clueless Cruise Newbie

[jsmla]

I would like to take our granddaughter (5) on a Nana/DGD Disney cruise, hopefully this spring. We would sail out of NOLA on, I believe, the Disney Wonder. Unless you count a chartered music cruise over a decade ago I’m a complete novice.

DGD is super social and makes friends very easily. I’m positive she would love the kids club. She’s also VERY into princesses and dress-up.

Budget will be an issue so I’m thinking I’ll book an inside cabin. Other than that I have NO idea what I’m doing. It all seems so complicated! Can any of you experts give me any advice on where to start?

Thanks!

 

[lilsonicfan]

Cruising is actually super simple! There’s no need to pre-plan everything. It’s meant to be super relaxing. You’ll want the Disney cruise line app on your phone, but with that and/or a paper Navigator (schedule) you’ll be able to find plenty to do with your grand daughter! It’s the best vacation. Meals require no planning and food is plentiful. Shore excursions are your choice. You can use the website to scope out pricing options now. But really otherwise- super easy!!

 

[disneygeek401]

There are tons of things going on every day. Crafts, trivia, game shows, and more. DCL Navigator app has the full listing of events which you can see as soon as you are in the terminal.

Majority of food is included--pool deck has soda machines open 24/7, as well as a variety of included food, everything from pizza, burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, fries, etc. Room service is also free, however they suggest you tip a few dollars.

Speaking of food, you are assigned a dining rotation and throughout the entire duration of the cruise you rotate through the 3 MDRs. They are all great, and your serving team rotates with you for the entire sailing.

The shows in the Walt Disney Theater are great-don't miss them! Def broadway caliber/quality.

If you even think there is a small chance you will go on another DCL cruise, buy the placeholder--its $250 and you have 2 years from the day you buy it to set sail. The placeholder doesn't commit you to a certain cruise but you can choose the itinerary that you want. You get a 10 percent discount once you choose a cruise.

Have fun, cruising is a relaxing and a lot of fun!

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

I would like to take our granddaughter (5) on a Nana/DGD Disney cruise, hopefully this spring. We would sail out of NOLA on, I believe, the Disney Wonder. Unless you count a chartered music cruise over a decade ago I’m a complete novice.

DGD is super social and makes friends very easily. I’m positive she would love the kids club. She’s also VERY into princesses and dress-up.

Budget will be an issue so I’m thinking I’ll book an inside cabin. Other than that I have NO idea what I’m doing. It all seems so complicated! Can any of you experts give me any advice on where to start?

First Picking Departure Port preferences! NOLA is actually going to be the Disney Magic for the time being which is a phenomenal ship and older sister to the Wonder.

Second finding time to go. Usually the NOLA cruise season is shorter so your options are going to be more limited. On the other side of the coin, the Magic is usually the most cost effective for newer cruisers as the ship is older it is priced a bit more affordably.

Depending on your options for transportation (Flights, driving, etc) you could always look at Cruises from the Florida ports also. If you are looking for savings I would think the Dream is probably your best bet as a second option out of Miami. The Wish/Fantasy are more costly because Newer/Longer cruises.

The best part about a DCL vacation is the lack of planning needed in advance. You can go online and plan most things at your respective dates (as a new cruiser I believe its 75 days in advance if PIF) but otherwise, most things don't require reservations making for a more enjoyable trip.

 

[brentm77]

There is nothing wrong with an inside stateroom. The great part about DCL is that, even though they have a concierge level, every guest in every cabin gets the royal treatment. There is so many places to get fresh air or watch the sea on the ships, that a verandah is only a nice to have, but not a must. Some people even prefer the inside rooms because they are so good for sleeping.

The other great thing is how easy it is to budget for, since so much is included. Remember that you will need to pay for excursions (assuming you want to take some) and gratuities at the end of the cruise (based on the length of cruise and number of guests), and small tips for things like room service if you use it. But generally speaking, everything else is paid for up front so you aren't surprised about extra costs that always seem to creep up on other vacations.

Get travel insurance after booking (not through Disney). I like to compare plans on insuremytrip.com. It's up to you if you need cancelation insurance, but I highly recommend a plan that covers medical costs and evacuation in an event of an emergency. Those plans are affordable and worth every penny to protect your financial wellbeing.

Cruising gets such a bad wrap from those not in the know, but it is one of the most stress-free and enjoyable vacations possible. No worrying about where to eat, transportation between sites, packing and unpacking when moving around. The service level for a good line like Disney is almost impossible to get on land these days too.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Just a point of information, it is the Magic that is sailing out of New Orleans this spring. It doesn't make any difference planning, just that there are different themed areas on each ship.

 

[jsmla]

Thank you so much!

I’m looking at this cruise:
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...ise-from-New-Orleans/2023-04-10-Disney-Magic/

We’ll definitely sail out of NOLA, it’s an hour from our hous. She’s been to WDW several times so no need to add that on.

Is one area of the Magic preferable? I think I’d rather not be over the engine room or under a night club.

We probably won’t go ashore at all. Will there be activities on board while the ship is docked?

How do the kids clubs work? I’m guessing these will be a huge hit with DGD. She is beyond social and loves making friends. She was chosen for a preschool class that focuses on mainstreaming kids that aren’t quite ready (socially/emotionally, not academically) for a regular classroom situation by placing them in a smaller class with specialist teachers and the more social, friendly students. It’s been great for her because they have two teachers and an aide for 8 kids. Anywho, this kid adores making friends.

Are there any dress up occasions? (We had a pirate night on the one and only Cruise I’ve been on.) She has practically every Disney princess dress and loves dress up. When we were at WDW last August character meets were her #1 favorite thing.

How hard is it to book BBB? Can you bring your own dress?

I’m assuming DCL can deal with a picky eater, right? She’s pretty much a pizza/burgers/chicken nuggets kind of girl.

I reall, really appreciate the help!

 

[lilsonicfan]

I think all the DCL cruises have a pirate night! Longer cruises have a "formal" night, not sure what they call it now, but honestly, she should dress up whenever she wants!

We have sailed on the Magic, we were on deck 2 as we had oceanview rooms. Didn't hear much noise at all but I recommend looking at deck plans and choosing a room on a deck that is in between cabin decks rather than having anything above or below that might be noisy.

I've never had a kid attend BBB but my kids have really enjoyed kids club. It is a bit of a free for all; there are activities done inside kids club but the counsellors don't necessarily encourage them to do the activities, so when my kids were little, i found it best to drop them off just before an activity they wanted to do, and to mention to the counsellors that they were interested in that activity. The age range is wide, 3-12 although the older kids often move up to Edge (11-14) and there aren't always too many over 10 in kids clubs. Typically one side of the club will be locked (kids only) while another side runs an open house, which adults can go to with their kids. It's a good idea to check out the clubs on embarkation day so she can get familiar with the space. She'll get a magic band that is used to check in and out of the clubs. You'll also pre-register her for the clubs.

She will be just fine as a picky eater. There is a kids menu in the dining rooms and if she is feeling adventurous she can always try something from the adult menu but if she wants the same thing every day they will absolutely bring it to her. There is always something she'll like on the pool deck/buffet too!

 

[Flossbolna]

I would recommend using a travel agent. There are several specialized Disney TAs around who will be very knowledgeable about DCL. These boards are sponsored by one agency: Dreams Unlimited Travel. Using a TA does not cost you money, they get a commission from Disney. Some TAs like Dreams Unlimited will even give you an onboard credit. If you are feeling unsure about things cruising, a travel agent whom you can ask questions will be very helpful.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think all the DCL cruises have a pirate night!

Alaksa cruises don'thave a pirate night.

I recommend looking at deck plans and choosing a room on a deck that is in between cabin decks rather than having anything above or below that might be noisy.

While this theory seems good, it's not always true. The noisiest room we've EVER had on a cruise was between 2 decks with rooms. The group in the 3 connecting rooms to our left had kids who would run laps through the room connecting doors and veranda divider opening. And the 2 connecting rooms on the right had kids who loved to jump off the bunk bed screaming. Not to mention the group who would run races on the deck above down the passageway day and night.

There is a kids menu in the dining rooms and if she is feeling adventurous she can always try something from the adult menu

And, of course, adults can order off the kids menus.

 

[cmph]

Thank you so much!

I’m looking at this cruise:
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...ise-from-New-Orleans/2023-04-10-Disney-Magic/

We’ll definitely sail out of NOLA, it’s an hour from our hous. She’s been to WDW several times so no need to add that on.

Is one area of the Magic preferable? I think I’d rather not be over the engine room or under a night club.

We probably won’t go ashore at all. Will there be activities on board while the ship is docked?

How do the kids clubs work? I’m guessing these will be a huge hit with DGD. She is beyond social and loves making friends. She was chosen for a preschool class that focuses on mainstreaming kids that aren’t quite ready (socially/emotionally, not academically) for a regular classroom situation by placing them in a smaller class with specialist teachers and the more social, friendly students. It’s been great for her because they have two teachers and an aide for 8 kids. Anywho, this kid adores making friends.

Are there any dress up occasions? (We had a pirate night on the one and only Cruise I’ve been on.) She has practically every Disney princess dress and loves dress up. When we were at WDW last August character meets were her #1 favorite thing.

How hard is it to book BBB? Can you bring your own dress?

I’m assuming DCL can deal with a picky eater, right? She’s pretty much a pizza/burgers/chicken nuggets kind of girl.

I reall, really appreciate the help!

There isn't really a going to be a big night club type of issue, but I personally always like to read reviews of the rooms listed as currently available for a cruise I'm looking at. I go here first: https://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/roomlist.cfm. Sometimes issues are due to proximity to staff closets, for example, which is less obvious if you're just looking at deck plans.

You'll definitely have plenty to do on board if you don't get off at a port.

She can definitely dress up for other occasions! Plenty of kids will dress up just for character meet and greets. Re: BBB - yes, you can definitely bring your own dress.

DCL can handle picky kids AND adults. They won't necessarily have burgers, specifically, offered every night in every restaurant, but they will definitely the kind of food she wants each night. (I know this b/c my son would have eaten a burger for dinner every night if it was on the menu. We caught him ordering it one night when it wasn't listed. He didn't even look at the menu, just assumed it would always be on it. We jumped in quickly - "wait wait, you can't have that tonight." Our server very kindly said it was fine and got him one from the other kitchen, but we discussed his order ahead of time after that to avoid extra work for the servers.)

 

[Bethislucy]

I just went on my first cruise this past October the one thing that no one told me was to know your table number. We had no clue we needed that. Lol other than that it was as everyone has said its very easy and enjoyable, we booked another one for this coming December to check out the Christmas stuff since Halloween was so fun. The cast was wonderful, and it really was worth the money we spent.

 

[jsmla]

Thank so much to all of you! I’m feeling a little less overwhelmed.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I just went on my first cruise this past October the one thing that no one told me was to know your table number. We had no clue we needed that. Lol other than that it was as everyone has said its very easy and enjoyable, we booked another one for this coming December to check out the Christmas stuff since Halloween was so fun. The cast was wonderful, and it really was worth the money we spent.

Yeah, they used to put your dining rotation and your table number on your KTTW card. Now you have to find it on the Navigator app.

 

[Van@Disney]

Not sure if it’s available on your cruise or if you can swing the extra expense, but if your granddaughter love princess dress up then bippity boppity ( not spelled correctly) boutique might be worth being the one extra expense. It is truly magical for little princesses.

 

[o&smom]

Thank so much to all of you! I’m feeling a little less overwhelmed.

You will both have a wonderful time and make amazing memories! Enjoy!

 

[auntlynne]

Sounds fun. Have you traveled together (just the two of you) for such a long time?

Make sure you have a state-issued Birth Certificate for her (unless she has a passport). The same for you. If your family names don’t match, you may want to bring court papers or a notarized letter showing permission from her parents to take her out of the country.

Not getting off the ship is not that uncommon. While the activities offered onboard may be limited while in port, there should be something organized to do. This is a nice time to do water/ pool fun.

Interior cabin - They get dark at night. You may want to bring a little night light.

The bed in the cabin is queen-size and does not separate in two. If not sharing, she can have a twin (the back of the sofa folds down to reveal a mattress (no bar in the middle or thin mattress, like in food-out sofa beds.

Some cabins have an upper berth (think bunk bed height) with a ladder. The room steward will set up either of these as you request.

 

[auntlynne]

My choice of cabin would be #6015 (Forward). Above and below are cabins. This is a standard interior, having one bathroom (tub, sink, toilet all in one room). The layout is “sideways.” Enter the room and it is laid out left to right v. Front to back in other cabins. I like the sideways cabins, as the floor space seems more open.

You are near to the elevators/ stairs. One deck below is the movie theater and kids’ clubs. It‘s an easy walk.

 

[auntlynne]

Some info from the Disney Cruise Website. I remember seeing the salon area next to the spa, up on Deck 10 Forward. There was a clothing store on Deck 3 Aft, next to the Irish pub.

Definitely bring her princess dresses - they are great dinner attire, especially for a 5 yo.

 

[auntlynne]

Unlike your previous cruise, or even WDW, this is a fairly tame experience. There will not be adult dance parties around the pool or lots of loud music - nor the crowds of the theme parks.

You do not have to line up for dinner or to get in shows.

There are life jackets by the pools is she needs one.

Your dining schedule is assigned. You will visit each of the 3 dining rooms once, where you will have a standard menu for that venue. The other night will repeat one of the venues, but will offer a Pirate’s Menu.

Rapunzel’s Table is based on “Enchanted” and has a live show. Animator’s Palate focuses on the art of animated Disney movies. Lumiere’s is a Beauty and the Beast theme, a little more elegant. None of them are quiet - lots of chatter and noise. Think “lively.” The experienced servers are very good about working with the kids.

Milk, soda, juice, coffee and tea are included in the dining rooms and breakfast, lunch buffet. There is a complimentary drink station on the pool deck, near the ”Cabanas” buffet, offering an assortment of fountain Coke products, water, coffee, hot water + tea bags.

I have heard the coffee is poor in the dining rooms; if you prefer, Illy coffee is sold in Cove Cafe on the Pool Deck.

Speaking of the Pool Deck, there is a large movie screen above the pool. Disney movies are shown throughout the day.

Towels are located by the pool, as are hampers for used ones.

There is a Sail Away Party just after the Lifeboat/ Muster Drill.