Cruise questions!

[Azza1987]

Starting to get excited (only 240 days to go...!) but as I've never cruised before, could those who have help me out? Sorry they might sound silly but I like to be prepared!

1) we're using disney transfer to port Canaveral, what time do you get picked up (approx)?

2) on board tips, do you pay these in advance? At the end? I've heard they add the standard amount to your onboard account, but how do you settle it? Do you just go to guest services on your last day? Would it not be super busy?

3) room service, is this an extra charge or is all food even room service included?

4) Drinking water, do they provide bottled water to the rooms? Can't imagine the bathroom water is suitable drinking water!

5) Palo? Is it worth it for one night?

6) any excursions you'd recommend for first time cruisers stopping at Nassau & Castaway Cay? Or would you just explore the islands instead of booking things?

Thanks as always guys

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Starting to get excited (only 240 days to go...!) but as I've never cruised before, could those who have help me out? Sorry they might sound silly but I like to be prepared!

1) we're using disney transfer to port Canaveral, what time do you get picked up (approx)?

2) on board tips, do you pay these in advance? At the end? I've heard they add the standard amount to your onboard account, but how do you settle it? Do you just go to guest services on your last day? Would it not be super busy?
You can pay tips in advance, if you don't they will add them to your account, early the last morning there will be a bill waiting for you. If you leave it u ntil the last morning there will be a line waiting to pay, we paid up the day before and made sure we didn't add anything else onto the account.

3) room service, is this an extra charge or is all food even room service included?
Room service is free but it's recommended to tip whomever delivers it a few dollars. Many suggest approx $1 per plate.

4) Drinking water, do they provide bottled water to the rooms? Can't imagine the bathroom water is suitable drinking water!
No, we took water onboard with us and kept it in the stateroom fridge. They also sell water packs onboard.

5) Palo? Is it worth it for one night?
Haven't done dinner but did brunch and it most certainly was worth it, I hadn't made a reservation as I didn't think I'd be interested as it was our first cruise but friends added us onto theirs and I'm so glad they did.

6) any excursions you'd recommend for first time cruisers stopping at Nassau & Castaway Cay? Or would you just explore the islands instead of booking things?

Thanks as always guys

Can't answer all as we've only sailed once so far in the med but we loved it and are off again in a few months

Have a wonderful cruise

 

[wayneg]

1, Can't help with that, transfers are too expensive for me, always take a car.

2, I would never pay in advance for a service I havn't recieved, after 6 DCL cruises I have found service to be on the whole very good but sometimes not as good as it should be, last cruise we did the server was excellent so gave him more than recommended but the assistant server was far too slow, drinks often arriving when the food had arrived, its not difficult to have 3 diet cokes on the table for when we arrive, so I reduced her tip. You are given a guide, tip what you feel the service was worth. Calc here will work it out for you. http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

3, We tip $2-3 each time they bring anything but all food is included, No idea how much weight I will gain after our 14 nt cruise

4, As above you can buy water onboard or take your own, we use the drinks station for all our drinks.

5, Palo's, don't know what it costs now, I think we paid $10 or $15pp last time, it might have risen again, as above we have only done Brunch in there. we enjoy it but cost is getting a bit high for me, we will no doubt do it again this year as its the first time our Son is old enough to go in. If you like Seafood its excellent, DW & DS don't so even though there is enough for them its more limited than for someone that likes it.

6, In all the cruises we have done we have only done a fishing trip at Castway Cay which was excellent, we tried booking Parasailing on the last cruise but it was cancelled due to weather(even though we felt it was perfect)

 

[Azza1987]

Thanks both of you!

I know what you mean Wayneg about pricey transfers, £42 each! £84! I'm sure I could have spent that better, but I'm not that confident about driving on the other side at all, I'm barely confident on UK roads! Serious Grandma driver me

Would you not bother getting bottled water to the room then, just use the drink. Stations and bring it back to the room? I assume you can take more then one drink at a time?

Do the staterooms have fridges at all?

 

[wayneg]

Thanks both of you!

I know what you mean Wayneg about pricey transfers, £42 each! £84! I'm sure I could have spent that better, but I'm not that confident about driving on the other side at all, I'm barely confident on UK roads! Serious Grandma driver me

Would you not bother getting bottled water to the room then, just use the drink. Stations and bring it back to the room? I assume you can take more then one drink at a time?

Do the staterooms have fridges at all?

Even worse for us being 3 of us. Luckily I prefer driving in the US, hate it at home.

Take all the drinks you can carry, all self serve.

They have small fridges but unless they have changed they don't get things really cold.

 

[Mr Stoat]

Hi, iirc the pickup is around 11:30 12:00. Journey time a bit over an hour. It takes a while to de-buss and sort your luggage then get through check in.
Do not bother with any of the extra welcome aboard fruit or cheese packages, you will be too well fed anyway!
The room fridges are smallish, hotel mini bar sized. Last time we went they were offering water and beer packages. If you register a C/C to your room they will automaticaly debit it for the tips.
I take it you are on the 3 day cruise, when we did that we went swimming with dolphins in Nassau which was well done and fun. On Castaway, I would really just explore and snorkle in the lagoon, we did a boat trip but it was not worth the money.
The bad news is you will be rousted out of your room very early to get you to the airport, we were there about 09:00 for a 16:00 flight! If you can bear renting a car it makes sense to go to Canaveral for the day which is what we did second time around, you also get a longer lie in.

 

[Azza1987]

Hi, iirc the pickup is around 11:30 12:00. Journey time a bit over an hour. It takes a while to de-buss and sort your luggage then get through check in. Do not bother with any of the extra welcome aboard fruit or cheese packages, you will be too well fed anyway! The room fridges are smallish, hotel mini bar sized. Last time we went they were offering water and beer packages. If you register a C/C to your room they will automaticaly debit it for the tips. I take it you are on the 3 day cruise, when we did that we went swimming with dolphins in Nassau which was well done and fun. On Castaway, I would really just explore and snorkle in the lagoon, we did a boat trip but it was not worth the money. The bad news is you will be rousted out of your room very early to get you to the airport, we were there about 09:00 for a 16:00 flight! If you can bear renting a car it makes sense to go to Canaveral for the day which is what we did second time around, you also get a longer lie in.

Hi thanks for the above

We're on the 4 night cruise so one day is also spent at sea, then we've got a night at AKL before we fly back so hopefully we'll just get transferred straight to AKL in the morning from the port and then we can leave our luggage with bell services until our room is ready

Our flight home is at 6pm (ish!) so we should get picked around 2 I think by ME so hopefully no long wait at airport!

 

[zippy99]

I actually cancelled our transfers when I saw the price - £184 for the 4 of us!!

I decided to hire a car as we like to nip to supermarkets etc.. I actually used my BA Avios from our last holiday and a couple of work flights - covered two weeks hire in a full size car with - Avis

Last year was the first time I drove (6th visit) it was fine. Obviously I was a bit scared at first and a torrential downpour did not help on leaving the airport, however, it really was very easy. Roads are very logical and despite having full use of the Disney buses, I did like being able to drive to certain parks.

I never considered myself a confident driver - I learnt to drive during two pregnancies, did not drive on a motorway for 9 years after passing my test and had only ever driven two cars.... until our August 13 holiday. I plucked up the courage - despite feeling sick with worry about driving and it was fine. I am a much more confident driver for my experience in the states and have since purchased a brand new car back home and now drive over 300 miles a week for work.

For the freedom it affords and relatively low cost I would recommend considering a car.