Cruise Newbie needing advice for 3 night Bahamas on Disney Dream

[Lee Matthews]

Hey guys

Trying to fill up my 3 week trip to WDW next September and while for ages i have had Bush Gardens, penciled in for a 2 day 1 night trip, im thinking of scrapping that, adding my other free days and doing the Disney Dream 3 night Bahamas Cruise.

I've NEVER done a cruise before, so please bear with me with my ignorant questions.

1. Is this cruise a good one and worth doing? especially for someone new to cruising?

2. Am i right in that it's as relaxing as you make it? Im after a Disney but relaxing get away from the parks at WDW

3. Am i right that Alcohol isn't included at all?

4. What time do you get off the ship on the 4th day? Wondering if it would leave me enough time to do Mickeys not so scary Halloween party in the evening

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hey guys

Trying to fill up my 3 week trip to WDW next September and while for ages i have had Bush Gardens, penciled in for a 2 day 1 night trip, im thinking of scrapping that, adding my other free days and doing the Disney Dream 3 night Bahamas Cruise.

I've NEVER done a cruise before, so please bear with me with my ignorant questions.

1. Is this cruise a good one and worth doing? especially for someone new to cruising?

2. Am i right in that it's as relaxing as you make it? Im after a Disney but relaxing get away from the parks at WDW

3. Am i right that Alcohol isn't included at all?

4. What time do you get off the ship on the 4th day? Wondering if it would leave me enough time to do Mickeys not so scary Halloween party in the evening

1. Shorter cruises are a good way to see if cruising is for you. However, IMO, 3 nights is really too short. As the embarkation day is only from lunch onwards and debarkation day is immediately after breakfast, you really only have 2 days onboard. And there will be lots of people running around (with attitude) trying to do "everything".

2. Yes, if you make peace with the fact that just sitting on the deck, reading or watching the sea go by, is a good thing, you'll be much more relaxed. I'll just point out that that same 3 night cruise has no sea days, only port stops.

3. Alcohol isn't included.

4. As noted, you must be off the ship right after breakfast (by 9:00 at the latest).

 

[Lee Matthews]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm definitely interested in going. I don't mind the 4 days consisting of an after lunch boarding and breakfast disembarkation when i'm in the knowledge that a few hours later i'll be back in Magic Kingdom.

I'm interested to hearing other peoples views because when i look at costs, to me it seems 'reasonable' for an inside stateroom for 2 as long as im not then lumped with a ton of other things i'll have to pay for.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm definitely interested in going. I don't mind the 4 days consisting of an after lunch boarding and breakfast disembarkation when i'm in the knowledge that a few hours later i'll be back in Magic Kingdom.

I'm interested to hearing other peoples views because when i look at costs, to me it seems 'reasonable' for an inside stateroom for 2 as long as im not then lumped with a ton of other things i'll have to pay for.

Well, the only extras that you'd most likely be paying for (not included in the cruise fare) would be photos (if you want them), gratuities, alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees/teas, soda from room service/bar servers, excursions (if you take them).

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm definitely interested in going. I don't mind the 4 days consisting of an after lunch boarding and breakfast disembarkation when i'm in the knowledge that a few hours later i'll be back in Magic Kingdom.

I'm interested to hearing other peoples views because when i look at costs, to me it seems 'reasonable' for an inside stateroom for 2 as long as im not then lumped with a ton of other things i'll have to pay for.

We started our cruise experience with the same Dream cruise and enjoyed it, didn't live it but did enjoy it. It did give us a good bite of the cruise bug to book a second cruise, (7 nights on Fantasy) where we fell in love with cruising.

At this point I'm not a huge fan of less than 7 night cruises but I think it's a great way to test the water. DCL has now taken the number 1 spot of favorite Disney vacations.

Also, 3 of our 4 cruises have been inside staterooms and we love them!

If you want relaxing just plan on not trying to do all that is offered but make sure you spend some time at Satellite Falls, it's awesome.

I say go for it!

 

[Lee Matthews]

Interesting. I thought there would be more of a 'you should definitely do it' but i can see where your both coming from.

May rethink it and save the money to do more awesome things at WDW

 

[rwjx2kahaj]

I think any length DCL experience is the perfect way to experience Disney magic without a press of people and waiting in line. Inside cabins are beautiful. The magic portholes are a lovely treat. Go and enjoy the best of both Disney experiences.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm definitely interested in going. I don't mind the 4 days consisting of an after lunch boarding and breakfast disembarkation when i'm in the knowledge that a few hours later i'll be back in Magic Kingdom.

I'm interested to hearing other peoples views because when i look at costs, to me it seems 'reasonable' for an inside stateroom for 2 as long as im not then lumped with a ton of other things i'll have to pay for.

I didn't think I would be a cruise person. As a DVC member, I looked forward to parks, parks, and more parks. I have taken some cruises when I was a kid, but few as an adult.

Then we took a 7 day on the fantasy because my DW really wanted to go. Booked our second one before we ever got off the ship. Our 3rd is next month and our 4th is Jan (but in fairness, that's a Star Wars Day at Sea).

I love cruising as much as I love the parks now. it's a very different experience. the parks are generally rush, rush, rush. the ships are move Lie back and soak it in. If you don't have kids or drop them off in the oceanears, you can hang out in the adult areas for a bit. I love satellite falls.

You should definitely at least give it a try. I agree 3 days is too short though. Do a 4 day.

I also generally tell people that the thing I love most about the ships is it's a different side of Disney. I was nervous that it would be all cartoony and cute and over the top. I was pleasantly surprised (and most people who have never sailed Disney don't believe me when I tell them), but there is very little 'cartoony' other than some occasional meets and greets. It's generally the more elegant side of Disney - princesses and princes, broadway shows, even the statues are more bronze and beautiful than cartoony (there is some artwork, but again it's generally in good taste).

The food is marvelous, and it's really a much more relaxing way to go then the parks. Both are fun, both are VERY different, and I have found I love them both equally and now rotate between them.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Appricate your feedback.

Cost and time allowance would not allow for a 4 night cruise sadly so I'm thinking it should be something I book to do separately from a trip to WDW.

I think that from a quick look online and being in florida already next year, I got excited about the idea of doing one on the cheap. At the same time a, I can relax on the resorts at WDW and b, I don't want to add a cruise for the sake of it.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I think it is worth doing. We did a 3 night cruise as our first cruise. I'm different from the other posters in that I like shorter cruises. You are essentially getting a hotel room and all your food and entertainment for the cost of the cruise. I usually spend more than the cost of the cruise when staying in a hotel over a weekend. Castaway Cay is very nice and I'd be willing to do a 3 nighter just to get my one day over there.

 

[DisneyPups]

I agree that I think it is worth doing, if it doesn't break the bank and you'd be spending a similar amount wherever you'd be in Florida. It's a lot of fun and worth trying and as you know, it jumps up in price quite a bit for 4 and 7 nights, so if you just want to "test the waters"... go for it! Is it short? Yes, but that doesn't mean you don't still have time to experience a lot of magic!

 

[over50visits]

Hey guys

Trying to fill up my 3 week trip to WDW next September and while for ages i have had Bush Gardens, penciled in for a 2 day 1 night trip, im thinking of scrapping that, adding my other free days and doing the Disney Dream 3 night Bahamas Cruise.

I've NEVER done a cruise before, so please bear with me with my ignorant questions.

1. Is this cruise a good one and worth doing? especially for someone new to cruising?

2. Am i right in that it's as relaxing as you make it? Im after a Disney but relaxing get away from the parks at WDW

3. Am i right that Alcohol isn't included at all?

4. What time do you get off the ship on the 4th day? Wondering if it would leave me enough time to do Mickeys not so scary Halloween party in the evening

Like the old saying "a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work." any cruise on Disney is better than none!! The 3 night cruise will be over before you can blink. Just as long as you don't try to do everything you will love it. I predict it will whet your appetite to come back. You can relax from the moment you get on…just realize that like the parks, you can't begin to do it all, so don't stress one bit. Pick a show, a presentation, a pool, a shore excursion, whatever.

Just to add a bit to your consideration, my advice is to do a 4 night. That extra day at sea is truly romantic, easy going, and a real pleasure. I know it does cost more, though, and that can be a real consideration. Consider the least expensive room you can find, because you are likely to spend all of your time out of the room and around the ship, so the extra expense of a view/veranda for the first cruise might be better put toward the 4th day.

Alcohol (and many, many other expenses) are not included. We once chose to do a cruise with zero spending other than tips, just for fun. It was a blast. A 4 night cruise, we just walked around Nassau, had a ball at Castaway Cay, and didn't buy any alcohol or specialty coffees (the coffee is my weakness, so that was hard!).

You will have plenty of time to do the Halloween party. Remember the day you get on, when boarding starts noonish, that same morning the returning cruisers got off a lot earlier. So you see they have plenty of time to spend a satisfying day at a park.

Wow. First time cruisers are the best. Enjoy!

 

[hardis5]

A 3-day can be enjoyable and relaxing as long as you don't try and do everything (research and prioritize what is important and interests you the most). Have done 3/4 and 7-day cruises and enjoy the 7-day most when time and $ allow (as can do more while still relaxing though the last 7-day, we did not do all we had planned) but the 3-day was just as special.

A 3-day first cruise is like planning a WDW first visit over 3-days, possible but you will do a lot and it will just whip by but it will still be enjoyable.

 

[Otimon]

By all means, take the 3-night cruise and just enjoy the wonderful experience ahead of you. Although the shortest cruise you can take, it'll still be well
worth the money spent. If you can snag a verandah you should consider it.
You pass this way but once!

You must pay for any alcohol drinks you wish to consume.

You may disembark the ship after it's cleared by customs, usually around 7:30AM give or take a little. Orlando is approx. 1 hour from the port although you didn't
say how you would be traveling there which certainly would make a difference time wise.