Cruise help needed.

[janeyb]

Hi there,

I'm trying to cost out a holiday to Disney for next year. As it is for a 'special' birthday, I'd love to be able to add onto the holiday a 3 day cruise. For those of you that have cruised, what are the additional extras that you have to pay for? Do you have to pay for kids clubs and activities (5 & 7 yrs)? Also if you want to go ashore but not do any of the additional excursions, do you still have to pay? Are you able to board the ship at anytime when docked or does it mean waiting until later in the day?

How much would you budget for tips for a three night cruise?

I hope that's not too many questions and that someone is able to help me out. Thank you.

 

[babystar]

Can recommend a Disney cruise 100%. We have just returned from the 14 night transatlantic and it was the most amazing holiday.

The kids clubs are all included in the price. Any alcoholic drink is extra, cocktails and drinks ordered from the bar or room service is extra (with the exception of tea/coffee and hot choc from the room service)

You dont have to do excursions at the ports, we just jumped off and explored on our own, they will let you know when you can get off the ship and also the all aboard time.

Our biggest onboard expense was the purchases we made in the shop (I couldnt resist my daughters big blue eyes every time she said pretty pretty please ! LOL)

You can pre pay your tips when you book if that makes it easier to budget, I cant remember the exact amounts that is recommended but I am sure someone will be along shortly and advise.

 

[Celestine]

Another recommendation for DCL. The onboard expenses are booze (soda etc.is free at the drinks stations), spa treatments, retail therapy & the photos. Tips are per person per night and the suggested guideline for a 3 night cruise is
dining room server $12
assistant server $9
head server $3
stateroom host $3
We have often tipped more than this where we have had exceptional service. Whilst not a tipped position we usually take a big tin of quality street or something for the kids club counsellors

Celestine

 

[janeyb]

Thank you so much for the replies, that's good news, I should now be able to convince my husband that we can also stay in a deluxe! Now to decide between the WL or BC! We always stay at AKL so it'll be difficult to move away from our favourite resort but I like the idea of being somewhere new.

I am really excited at the prospect of cruising on the DD. We're going to surprise my daughters with it - tell them that we're going to wave it off and hop on board instead!

Thanks again.

 

[wayneg]

Cruise tip calc here. http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
For a 3 night DCL cruise for 4 people the recommended tips would be $144.
I don't prepay, I like to wait til the end of the cruise and see how the service is, sometimes tip more, sometimes I have halved the tip.

Personally I would do the 4 night cruise instead of 3 night, your 1st day is taken up boarding and unpacking, you get 2 days on the ship and leave the last day by 9am so it is really a 2 day cruise.
4 is least we have done and that is too short.

A cruise budget is as much or as little as you want. The first one we did we just paid for tips and soda package (now included) I think DS bought a couple of pins and that was it. We take our own vodka on board although we do now buy the odd drink of the day we spend very little on a cruise.

 

[janeyb]

Thanks Wayne, that's really helpful - I'll take a look at the 4 day cruise so we get a little longer on board.

When you don't pre pay the tips do you then pay the individuals on board?

Also, do you book with Disney direct or have you found it to be cheaper anywhere else?

 

[disneyholic family]

we did the 3 day and the 4 day on disney and enjoyed both...
so if you only have 3 days to spare, don't feel badly about doing just a 3 day...
it's a nice way to get a taste of cruising...

as for resorts - i LOVE WL.....
BC is nice for the pool and location near epcot, but i prefer WL's theming...(and taking the boat to the MK is so relaxing!!)

 

[Chilly]

You won't find a Disney cruise cheaper anywhere else but you might get onboard credit through another company such as Dreams Unlimited the DIS sponser.

 

[wayneg]

When you don't pre pay the tips do you then pay the individuals on board?

Also, do you book with Disney direct or have you found it to be cheaper anywhere else?

They leave envelopes in your stateroom on your last night, one for each member of staff your are expected to tip. Personally I have never tipped the head server, I am sure they have a purpose for those with special dietary needs but apart from the odd "good evening" we have had no dealings with them.

If you drink at the bars you automatically get 15% grat added so no need to tip any extra but tipping the extra $ or two can get you little extras, the odd drink missed off the bill(possibly accidentally, I don't know but seems to happen after a few nights of tipping extra) drinks can definitely be stronger if you tip extra and get to know the bar person. We had great service from one lad last cruise so tipped extra each round and gave him another $10 on our last evening.

If you have room service(you have to late at night) most of the food is included(a few bits are chargeable) tip the person that brings it $2-3

As Claire says nowhere should be cheaper than Disney, they have a fixed price policy but if you use DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com you should get $25-50 onboard credit to spend.

 

[disneyholic family]

They leave envelopes in your stateroom on your last night, one for each member of staff your are expected to tip. Personally I have never tipped the head server, I am sure they have a purpose for those with special dietary needs but apart from the odd "good evening" we have had no dealings with them.

If you drink at the bars you automatically get 15% grat added so no need to tip any extra but tipping the extra $ or two can get you little extras, the odd drink missed off the bill(possibly accidentally, I don't know but seems to happen after a few nights of tipping extra) drinks can definitely be stronger if you tip extra and get to know the bar person. We had great service from one lad last cruise so tipped extra each round and gave him another $10 on our last evening.

If you have room service(you have to late at night) most of the food is included(a few bits are chargeable) tip the person that brings it $2-3

As Claire says nowhere should be cheaper than Disney, they have a fixed price policy but if you use DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com you should get $25-50 onboard credit to spend.

yes, the head servers on both of our cruises were outstanding - and exactly for that reason - special dietary needs...
both of them went so far out of their way for us it was totally incredible..
in fact, the head servers made both of our cruises for us....
we tipped them both heavily....

 

[Chilly]

I believe the idea with the Head Server is that they keep everything running behind the scenes so even though you might not realise that they've served you perhaps they have in averting a problem.

 

[wayneg]

I believe the idea with the Head Server is that they keep everything running behind the scenes so even though you might not realise that they've served you perhaps they have in averting a problem.

Wouldn't that be the roll of a Dining Manager who is not in a tipped position?

 

[Chilly]

Wouldn't that be the roll of a Dining Manager who is not in a tipped position?

Don't know that was just what someone else said on one of the cruise boards.

 

[wilma-bride]

Wouldn't that be the roll of a Dining Manager who is not in a tipped position?

No, I believe it is the Head Server, who is in charge of your 'section' of the dining room, who deals with any special dietary requirements and solves problems.

I was in agreement with you, Wayne, after our first cruise. I couldn't understand how we were expected to tip someone who hadn't appeared to assist us in any way and was actually extremely unhelpful when we requested to change tables due to very unsociable table mates.

However, on our last cruise, the Head Server couldn't have been more helpful. He visited the table every night and was able, on the last night, to arrange for the kids (and adults) to have cheese sticks that weren't on any of the menus (they are Daniel's favourite and he was really disappointed that they weren't on the menu). They were so popular that all of the tables around us asked for them too and he sorted all the other tables out with them aswell

 

[wayneg]

I would be more than happy to tip someone who had assisted me, tipping is exactly for that, the better their service the more tips they earn.
I don't agree with tipping someone just because its recommended you do so.
I am not saying I am right or wrong, everyone should tip how they feel is appropriate.

 

[janeyb]

Thank you so much to everyone for answering my questions so thoroughly and so quickly, I appreciate all the help.
Jane.