Cruise Newbie

[Malibustyle23]

Is there a word that is more beginner than newbie cause that is where I should be! We have done plenty of trips to WDW so I feel at home and a pro there. My DH has always dealt with seasick issues so he has never had a desire to cruise. Since I can have claustrophobic issues I never pushed the desire to cruise. Now here we are and he really wants to cruise. Umm ok!?

I found an itinerary that I am ok with for our first trip since it stays pretty close to the US. It is on the Magic and sails out of Miami, April of next year. Dreams Unlimited is having a bonus offer of a gift basket in addition to the OBC that they offer. So I sent in for a price quote. I think my only requirement would be to get a middle of the ship room since it is easier to deal with seasickness there I have read. I would like to keep the price almost as low as possible as well.

The returned quote included a stateroom in category 10C. It is room number number 1079.

Can anyone give me any advice about:
this room
this room category
using Dreams Unlimited (I figured it would be the easiest thing to do since I am so inexperienced)
cruising in general ( I have been reading all the threads and info that I can)
weather in April on a Bahamian cruise
should I buy insurance from Dreams Unlimited or elsewhere?
Do I have to buy the insurance the day I book?
anything else I should know?
could my son go to the younger club with my daughter?

Thanks for any help, tips or insight you can offer. It will be me, dh, ds14 and dd9 at the time of sailing.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is there a word that is more beginner than newbie cause that is where I should be! We have done plenty of trips to WDW so I feel at home and a pro there. My DH has always dealt with seasick issues so he has never had a desire to cruise. Since I can have claustrophobic issues I never pushed the desire to cruise. Now here we are and he really wants to cruise. Umm ok!?

I found an itinerary that I am ok with for our first trip since it stays pretty close to the US. It is on the Magic and sails out of Miami, April of next year. Dreams Unlimited is having a bonus offer of a gift basket in addition to the OBC that they offer. So I sent in for a price quote. I think my only requirement would be to get a middle of the ship room since it is easier to deal with seasickness there I have read. I would like to keep the price almost as low as possible as well.

The returned quote included a stateroom in category 10C. It is room number number 1079.

Can anyone give me any advice about:
this room
this room category
using Dreams Unlimited (I figured it would be the easiest thing to do since I am so inexperienced)
cruising in general ( I have been reading all the threads and info that I can)
weather in April on a Bahamian cruise
should I buy insurance from Dreams Unlimited or elsewhere?
Do I have to buy the insurance the day I book?
anything else I should know?
could my son go to the younger club with my daughter?

Thanks for any help, tips or insight you can offer. It will be me, dh, ds14 and dd9 at the time of sailing.

Some of these review are a little old, but it'll give you an idea:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/roomreport.cfm?Room=1079

We prefer oceanview rooms, so can't address inside rooms. But a lot of people like them.

Dream Unlimited sponsors this board, and many people use (and love) them.

It generally best to purchase 3rd party insurance. Often you'll get a better price for better coverage. I'd suggest doing a search for Travel Insurance Comparison Sites and use one of the first 2 or 3 that pop up.

You should purchase insurance sooner than later. Often there are coverages you can't get if you book outside a given window (usually in the 14-21 day range).

How old are your son & daughter? Oceaneer's Club/Lab is ages 3-12; Edge ages 11-14; and Vibe 14-17. Generally a child is not allowed to age down. On occasion a child may age up (if they are close to the correct age. A child in the "overlap" ages can participate in both clubs he/she is eligible for.

 

[Malibustyle23]

How old are your son & daughter? Oceaneer's Club/Lab is ages 3-12; Edge ages 11-14; and Vibe 14-17. Generally a child is not allowed to age down. On occasion a child may age up (if they are close to the correct age. A child in the "overlap" ages can participate in both clubs he/she is eligible for.

My daughter will be 9 and my son will be 14 at the time of cruising. I understand the issues with aging down. I only want to verify because my son has delay and social issues, an iep in school, etc. Generally he won't socialize with anyone. He has had one actual friend the same one since the second grade and is now in the seventh. Sadly my daughter has more common sense and is a more sociable child than him. I don't worry about her as much but I know they would enjoy more time in a kids club together given their unique situation. But I am sure as first time cruisers with plenty to see and do and as parents we don't mind them being with us the whole time it will be fine.

Thanks for the room link! I will check out the reviews.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My daughter will be 9 and my son will be 14 at the time of cruising. I understand the issues with aging down. I only want to verify because my son has delay and social issues, an iep in school, etc. Generally he won't socialize with anyone. He has had one actual friend the same one since the second grade and is now in the seventh. Sadly my daughter has more common sense and is a more sociable child than him. I don't worry about her as much but I know they would enjoy more time in a kids club together given their unique situation. But I am sure as first time cruisers with plenty to see and do and as parents we don't mind them being with us the whole time it will be fine.

Thanks for the room link! I will check out the reviews.

No, he won't be able to go to Oceaneer's Club with her, during the secured programming. BUT, there are Open House times that the whole family can participate together in whatever club level they wish. This typically is 1 or 2 hours a couple of times a day.

 

[Malibustyle23]

No, he won't be able to go to Oceaneer's Club with her, during the secured programming. BUT, there are Open House times that the whole family can participate together in whatever club level they wish. This typically is 1 or 2 hours a couple of times a day.

Great, thanks for the answers!

 

[Malibustyle23]

One more question to add,
I assume so but can I pay my Dreams Unlimited bill with Disney gift cards
and actually two
will that effect how the travel insurance pays out or works if necessary?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

One more question to add,
I assume so but can I pay my Dreams Unlimited bill with Disney gift cards
and actually two
will that effect how the travel insurance pays out or works if necessary?

Yes, you can use Disney Gift cards. You give the numbers off the cards to your TA (whoever it may be), and they, in turn, give them to DCL to apply toward your reservation.

I don't see that it would affect any insurance claims how the money was paid. As long as you paid money for it, and lose it for whatever reason (covered reason), whatever the policy covers, it covers.

 

[over50visits]

One more question to add,
I assume so but can I pay my Dreams Unlimited bill with Disney gift cards
and actually two
will that effect how the travel insurance pays out or works if necessary?

You question is how the insurance "pays out," and how you pay doesn't affect that. They may offer you a check, or a direct deposit to a bank account, but how they pay any claim does not depend on how you paid.

 

[cloudnut220]

You mention that you have issues with enclosed spaces and your husband has issues with seasickness. Having dealt with both of these things myself, I would encourage you to think about an oceanview room, or even a verandah. I know you want to keep costs down, but if you feel closed in easily, I think an inside room could be a recipe for disaster. You typically can't get outside quickly from a deck with staterooms, so an escape may be further than you think--think of those lower decks from the movie Titanic, endless white doors, that's what the hallways look like. I can feel closed in very quickly in those!

As for seasickness, I've been much better once I started using the transderm scope patch (don't know how bad your husband's seasickness is, but mine can be bad and these patches have made boating activities fun for me after I largely avoided them my first 30 years! they are a prescription, but it's worth it for me to not worry about being sick). That being said, the number one thing that helps me with seasickness is getting some fresh air and often walking around on the promenade deck.

All that being said, I LOVE CRUISING! I am about to go on my fourth cruise--third with Disney--for my birthday next week.

 

[Malibustyle23]

I started comparing prices last night and I see that it is only about $100 more total for us to get an oceanview room with two small portholes so we are looking at that option instead. I thought it would be alot more expensive than that.

We really don't know how bad his seasickness is yet. We know on small boats around here, we live near the bay in Maryland, he is over the side sick. We have been on a larger ferry boat that goes from DE to NJ and he feels queasy but isn't vomiting sick as long as he sits down. So perhaps on the even larger cruise ship he will be fine? I was wondering if the medicine is over the counter or prescription. Thanks.

 

[cloudnut220]

I started comparing prices last night and I see that it is only about $100 more total for us to get an oceanview room with two small portholes so we are looking at that option instead. I thought it would be alot more expensive than that.

We really don't know how bad his seasickness is yet. We know on small boats around here, we live near the bay in Maryland, he is over the side sick. We have been on a larger ferry boat that goes from DE to NJ and he feels queasy but isn't vomiting sick as long as he sits down. So perhaps on the even larger cruise ship he will be fine? I was wondering if the medicine is over the counter or prescription. Thanks.

Funny enough, I live in Baltimore about a mile from the Bay and we have a house in DE on the Bay there I have been SUPER sick on the Cape May/Lewes Ferry before, and I've also been fine--it just depends on the weather. It is typically a little rough coming in and out of Florida because of the currents, similar to what you feel on the Ferry. The cruise ship is big and has stabilizers, but you do still feel the motion.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Funny enough, I live in Baltimore about a mile from the Bay and we have a house in DE on the Bay there I have been SUPER sick on the Cape May/Lewes Ferry before, and I've also been fine--it just depends on the weather. It is typically a little rough coming in and out of Florida because of the currents, similar to what you feel on the Ferry. The cruise ship is big and has stabilizers, but you do still feel the motion.

Small world! We are actually right across the bay on the Eastern Shore. It is ironic he gets so seasick since his grandfather and most of his relatives were all watermen in the Chesapeake. Thankfully he found another great land based trade instead.