Cruise Experts Help Me!

[Amy&Dan]

Calling all experts! I had posted yesterday that I had finally talked DH into cruising. Now he's all excited and acts like its his idea! Anyway, I sent in a request to Dreams Unlimited for a quote and they already got back to me. Our dates were April or June, 2006. It would seem as if April is the better choice, it's $1100 cheaper. Now my questions are as follows:

Is there some reason April is so much cheaper? It is late April so that is after most spring breaks but before summer (our kids school year round) so mayb it is just off season. Anybody have thoughts or experiences on April?

Is $3,192 a good deal for a category 8 stateroom with an ocean view? This is for 2 adults/2 kids (11, 9). This includes travel insurance and transfers.

Is category 8 okay? Should I go a little higher? Should I pay more for a verandah? Seems silly since we will be in there only to sleep, would rather spend more getting massages and drinks in coconuts personally!

Thanks, this is a big step and sooooo confusing!

 

[alwayslisad]

My first cruise was April vacation ( here in NH ) the weather down in the Islands was FANTASTIC - We swam daily! got tons of sun. I am not sure of any reasons - but April Rocked. I can only hope December 2006 is as GREAT!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

April is cheaper because of supply and demand.

Fewwer people sail in April because school is still in. More people cruise in June because school is out.

As for what is a good price... get a quote from Disney Cruise Line directly. You should be getting about that rate or something a little under or some sort of insentive from the TA.

 

[GenieDana]

Sounds like a very good deal for a CAT-8 with 2 adults and 2 kids and it includes insurance and transfers.

 

[DrCavin]

The pricing is all based on supply/demand... You can compare your quote to www.allseastravel.com to see how it stacks up. Some people will never spend the money on a verandah, others must have one (we are in the latter group). It is really nice to wake up & have coffee in the morning or having a relaxing evening watching the water go by....

 

[depomas]

It does seem like a fair price.. Congratulations to you guys!!!!

Just wanted to add my two cents about transfers.. You should look into other ways, since their are four of you.. There are town car options, as well as rental cars... We are four, and we use a town car pickup..

WE always take the cheapest cabin available... I would rather take that money and spend it onboard, or somewhere else (i never have a problem spending)

The last time we had a great special with a verandah, and we enjoyed it, just could never justify the cost of it at a regular price....We usually spend very little time in our rooms...I also would go with April (sooner), and warm, but not too humid like in the summer months...

Enjoy the planning..

 

[Lil1062]

Amy & Dan
We are going early April 2006 (Week before Easter), which is my children's Spring Break and for a Cat 10 or 11? , Deluxe Inside we are paying over $2K more, not even counting transfers.
I knew we were going in peak rate season so I took Cat 11 - but was able to get a Secret Porthole Room - which has a porthole with an obstructed view - so it is priced as a Cat 10 or 11 whatever the Deluxe inside is -

I would take the advice and go directly to DCL's web site, and compare prices - there are many TAs out there, so you should be able to get a price below the rack rate that DCL offers - If you do a search in the forus with key words Travel Agent you should be able to get refernces for each of them - check around

Lil

 

[mketting]

I would ditto the earlier post on transfers. You can rent a car from Budget on your own drive to the port and return it there and then repick one up when you get back. It will cost less than half what you are probably paying for transfers.

Plus the nice thing is it leaves you a little flexibility. We flew in the day before and we were able to get to the port at 10:30, ( I dropped everyone off returned the car and was back in 20 min.) checked in with no crowds and we onboard enjoying lunch before the Disney busses or many others had even arrived!!! My DD had the pool almost all to herself.

Also we had a little extra time after we got off the ship and so we stopped by Ron Jon's and Cape Canaveral to just look around before we headed to the airport. ( Even without disney transfer we were still able to check our bags for the airline at the port so when we got to the airport we dropped off the car and easily boarded the plane.)

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you for all the replies. I looked at DCL's website and they were having problems so I couldn't tell. I did get quotes from two other TA's who couldn't match the first quote I got. I ended up speaking with the TA and upgraded to a category 6 verandah for $300 more. Since DH is worried about seasickness, thought the fresh air might help. I also love the idea of getting up in the morning and sitting out there looking at the ocean. My TA did tell me to not do the transfers, especially since we will be staying at WDW first for a few days. Thanks for all the advice and help! I put the deposit down a few minutes ago so I guess its official!

 

[mmouse37]

Sorry if I missed it, but was that quote you got for a 7 day or 4 day cruise??

 

[smilingmouse]

You might want to consider buying ins. on yoour own---you can prob. get better coverage for a lower cosy....