Complete Newbie Question

[Claire4dpins]

Hi All

I really know nothing about cruises, Disney or otherwise, I LOVE all things Diney but had not looked into DCL because I assumed it was something that would be far too expensive for us. I find that it is not as much as I assumed, looking for example at this September for two adults with the cat 11 stateroom - $864.

Now I am finally getting to my questions - I almost feel ashamed to be askng this question but need to know and can't seem to find it on any websites - maybe I haven't looked hard enough!! The cost above is without the port taxes and so on - roughly how much do these add to the cost? In saving for a four day cruise what kind of budget would we need for excursions, drinks, tips and other things that I probably haven't thought of?

The idea of a Disney cruise is wonderful - just need some help to see if it is something that is within our reach at the moment.
Thanks for any help,
Claire

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Are you sure that quote does not include taxes and port charges? I just took a look at the Sept. 14, 2003 Wonder cruise on Travelocity, and it quoted me $863.70 for two adults in a category 11 stateroom. I think I once read that prices are quoted differently in the UK, and that most did not include port charges. In the US, they generally include port charges, but not taxes. At any rate, the cost breakdown was:

$399 per person cruise fare (including port charges)
$32.85 per person taxes
(note that insurance was not included)

Travelocity's rates usually mirror what you can get from the DCL website. You may be able to do a bit better with Dreams Unlimited (this site's sponsor). Hopefully, this will give you an idea of what the taxes would be. On a 4-night cruise, I don't know that the port charges would be very much. I would think that there are none for Castaway Cay, and if your cruise doesn't stop at Freeport, then that would leave only Nassau levelling port charges.

Hope this was somewhat helpful....

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I just now noticed that you also asked about the other ancillary costs involved. The recommended tipping amount (for wait staff and stateroom host/hostess) is about $11 per person, per day. Drinks cost generally what they would cost at a more expensive bar, i.e. $4 for a beer, a bit more for a mixed drink. The alternative restaurant, Palo, charges a $5pp surcharge, which is ostensibly the tip for the waiter, since they do not get the standard tips from the dining rooms. You'll probably want to add a bit more to this, as the service here is top notch. Shore excursions vary, but probably average about $40pp. These are not mandatory, however. We usually just find our own way while in port.

Other things that cost extra include spa treatments (I don't do these, but they tend to be pricey), phots from the ship's photographers, sodas outside the dining rooms, rentals for things such as snorkeling equipment, bicycles, floats, boats, etc. on Castaway Cay. Most of these you can avoid without it affecting your enjoyment of the cruise. For example, you can purchase your own snorkeling equipment for about as much as it costs to rent it at Castaway Cay. For most of the "photo oppurtunities" with the ship's photographers, you can get a member of the cruise staff or a fellow passenger to snap a photo of you. You can drink water, iced tea, hot coffee or tea for free from the beverage station on deck 9 rather than paying for a soda at the bar.