Considering European cruise as first Disney cruise trip...

[OffToDWD]

We've heard so many great things about Disney cruises and are considering one of the European ones (the Northern Europe one seems really interesting) for our first trip. Has anyone done one of those? Would you recommend them? We'll have 2 kids - 4 and 9 year olds. Also is it better to book cruises directly with Disney or use a travel agent? Any thoughts/tips greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

 

[dclpluto]

On your first cruise you won't get any on board credit going through with Disney as your travel agent. Some travel agents you can get like a 200 dollar on board credit. If you go with another travel agent you cannot talk to Disney what I heard. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. If you have a question or change you have to go through your travel agent than your travel agent will talk to Disney.

If I had the $$$$ the Europe will probably be my choice for a cruise. The longer the better.

 

[linetbo]

My second cruise was the Mediterranean cruise on the Magic, we were amazed since day one. And it was cheaper than the Fantasy, only the airfare. My daughter was 14yo and Europe ports are very intense. We did Alaska after that one, and LOVE it too. This summer we are doing the Baltic cruise.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We've heard so many great things about Disney cruises and are considering one of the European ones (the Northern Europe one seems really interesting) for our first trip. Has anyone done one of those? Would you recommend them? We'll have 2 kids - 4 and 9 year olds. Also is it better to book cruises directly with Disney or use a travel agent? Any thoughts/tips greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

Yes great age for them highly educational look at my trip reports for details photos and navigators.http://mickeymed.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 And. http://torussiawithmickeybars.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

 

[Garyjames220]

Do u think they will do Russia and that next year ?

Surely they will do it more than once sense it sold out

Or will prices be crazy now it sold out

 

[Danni75]

If Europe is appealing to you then go for it !
We started with a small Bahamas cruise, followed by a longer western Caribbean cruise and finally the Med.
We loved all our cruises but the quality of ports you get in Europe is incomparable. There is so much to see and do you could pretty much do the same itinerary 4 or 5 time and still have not exhausted the possibilities.
We are booked this year for a week Fjords cruise and a week Med one.

 

[Danni75]

I do think they will go to Russia since there was a hint they would go to Amsterdam, which is a known port for the Baltic.

It will probably be very expensive but you never know ! They might adjust prices down - that would definitely be an argument for me not to switch

 

[Garyjames220]

Do u get the place holder discounts with the baltics cruise

 

[Danni75]

It will depends if that's a blackout date or not. Right now there is no way to tell.

 

[linetbo]

Do u get the place holder discounts with the baltics cruise

I booked the Baltic cruise while I was on the Magic the same week they posted the itineraries, so, I had the best prices plus 10% discount and the credit.

 

[krisinparis]

We did the N. European cruise last summer when our kids were 7 and 11. It was an amazing trip!!!!! That being said, there are some very long days and I think you have to know what your kids will tolerate. Your 9 year old will probably be good to go, but the 4 year old might be a little young for some of the full days of touring. By the second day in St. Petersburg, my kids were just looking for a bench to sit down as soon as we walked into a church. It was funny because they kept seeing some other kids from our cruise from another tour. There are lots of family friendly activities though: Tivoli in Copenhagen, Skansen Museum in Stockholm, lots of canal cruises, etc.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Just my 2 cents worth. With the 4 year old I would think about doing Alaska for your first cruise. The wildlife is amazing and any kid would love to watch for whales!

 

[OffToDWD]

Thanks, everyone! Super helpful! So... after your first Disney cruise, you can get on board credit on future cruises, book your next cruise at a better price and also a 10% discount?

 

[Garyjames220]

Thanks, everyone! Super helpful! So... after your first Disney cruise, you can get on board credit on future cruises, book your next cruise at a better price and also a 10% discount?

Yeah u get 10% off your next cruise as long as it's taken within 2 years (a few black out dates) and u also get 200 dollors on board credit

 

[AquaDame]

I do think they will go to Russia since there was a hint they would go to Amsterdam, which is a known port for the Baltic.

Is that as a stop or as an embarkation port..? My brother lives there so I am really interested in this one though I was harboring hopes it had more to do with the Fjords than the Baltic. Amsterdam is the only nonstop flight out of my home airport to Europe, getting to Copenhagen is a little more complicated (and expensive).

 

[sabrecmc]

Coincidentally, I've done the Disney Med cruise when my DD was 4, and the Baltic/Norway cruises last year when my daughter was 9. We had wonderful experiences! Yes, the ports are intensive, but you can choose half-day tours, which is what we did when she was 4 and got tired out. It was a great way to travel with a young child, without having to worry with long train rides or in and out of airports. I think it is a wonderful way to introduce children to Europe without overwhelming them with museums and churches. There are so many options, and, of course, the ship is fantastic, so they are always entertained.

 

[linetbo]

Thanks, everyone! Super helpful! So... after your first Disney cruise, you can get on board credit on future cruises, book your next cruise at a better price and also a 10% discount?[/QUOTE

To get the 10% discount you have to book while on the cruise, or you can do a placeholder. There is a future cruise reservation desk and you do it there.

 

[Garyjames220]

I am only 60 minutes from amsterdamand about 80 dollors return on a flight so hope they do

 

[Garyjames220]

Coincidentally, I've done the Disney Med cruise when my DD was 4, and the Baltic/Norway cruises last year when my daughter was 9. We had wonderful experiences! Yes, the ports are intensive, but you can choose half-day tours, which is what we did when she was 4 and got tired out. It was a great way to travel with a young child, without having to worry with long train rides or in and out of airports. I think it is a wonderful way to introduce children to Europe without overwhelming them with museums and churches. There are so many options, and, of course, the ship is fantastic, so they are always entertained.

We are two adults and we like the half ads just so we are on the ship longer

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you book your next cruise while you are onboard, you get onboard credit, 10% discount (as long as the cruise isn't during a blackout date and a reduced deposit. You can put a deposit down for a "placeholder" if you haven't decided which cruise you want to take. Again, you have to do this ONBOARD while you are cruising. You can't call after your cruise has ended and get these perks applied to a new booking.

We did the Northern Europe B2B on the Magic with our DS, who was then 7, last summer (9 nights Norway, 11 nights Norway, Iceland, Scotland). It was AMAZING! We kept most of our excursions as half days, with the rest of the day poking around the ports, eating lunch, etc. Iceland was really the most intensive (the Golden Circle tour, which cannot be missed, was 8 hours long).

Is it doable with kids? Absolutely! My DS loved coming back from our tours and unwinding in the kids club!! That being said, I don't know if I would have done this as our first cruise. We had done a few Bahamas cruises, Bermuda and Alaska, prior to this one and I think it really prepared us for the cruise portion of the Europe cruise. We had also flown internationally the year before (for an ABD) and, I think, it was just last summer that I felt comfortable putting all of those components together - knowing how to pack efficiently, how to deal with the jet lag, knowing which excursions would work for us (I booked a lot of things privately), etc.

That being said, if you decide to do it, you will get a lot of your questions answered right here!! I would suggest looking on cruisecritic.com as well for really useful advice particularly regarding port activities.

If you are going to do your first family cruise, to Europe no less, IMHO, DCL is definitely the way to go.