Cruising in OCT

[CHEK]

Looking at booking our 1st Cruise , can anyone tell me what the weather can be like at the end of OCT?, and I've love some top tips of all you DIS Cruisers

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Looking at booking our 1st Cruise , can anyone tell me what the weather can be like at the end of OCT?, and I've love some top tips of all you DIS Cruisers

I went in October once on the Magic it was very good indeed, hot and sunny each day I enjoyed it.

Key west, my son fell asleep on the trolly tour as it was soooo hot, Caymen and Cozumel were also sunny and fine.

My August cruise wasnt so good.

Halloween on the Magic was good as well.

Enjoy it.

 

[CHEK]

I went in October once on the Magic it was very good indeed, hot and sunny each day I enjoyed it.

Key west, my son fell asleep on the trolly tour as it was soooo hot, Caymen and Cozumel were also sunny and fine.

My August cruise wasnt so good.

Halloween on the Magic was good as well.

Enjoy it.

Many thanks , how much should I be looking at spending, we are a family with 2 DD's who will be 10 & 8, and what cat cabin should we look at?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Many thanks , how much should I be looking at spending, we are a family with 2 DD's who will be 10 & 8, and what cat cabin should we look at?

Well the budget is down to you, my kids are the same age and we have a CAT 4, but its up to you if you want to spend less or more, inside or outside cabin.

For cruises less than 6 days I say inside cabin, for longer cruises 7 and more a verandah is great for sea days.

Shore trips, drinks and tips add to the cost, but it depends on what you wish to do,

I will spend $2k at least on an on board account, but thats shore trips, photos, tips, kids buying in the shops, pins etc.

You can get away with far less, if you do it yourself at the ports, for example.

I will suggest a 7 day cruise is best, a 3/4 goes to quickly, so then for your family of 4, price up the cost on different CAT's and go with your budget, Whatever Cat you get, (below Cat 3) you get the same service, food, Entertainment, the cruise is the primary vacation, the cabin are all nice, to have a verandah, is great, but not essential.

Also if you book with Dreams unlimited they will answer your questions nad give you a shipboard credit.

 

[CHEK]

Well the budget is down to you, my kids are the same age and we have a CAT 4, but its up to you if you want to psend less or more, inside or outside cabin.

For cruises less than 6 days I say inside cabin, for longer cruises 7 and more a verandah is great for sea days.

Shore trips, drinks and tips add to the cost, but it depends on what you wish to do,

I will spend $2k at least on an on board account, but thats shore trips, photos, tips, kids buying in the shops, pins etc.

Thanks for that info , looking at a 4day cruise as it's our 1st!, quote is for a cat 6. I suppose at their age we won't really be in the cabin for much of the day really. Need to re-evaluate I think

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks for that info , looking at a 4day cruise as it's our 1st!, quote is for a cat 6. I suppose at their age we won't really be in the cabin for much of the day really. Need to re-evaluate I think

A Cat 6 is great, but as you say, on a 4 night you will not be in it long, for a 7 night I would go with the Cat 6, unless you do not like feeling 'enclosed' you could save a little on a lower CAT room, and increase spending money, its up to you, you will only have one sea day, to really enjoy the verandah, you will be off ship the other days.

Spending money will be far less on a 4 night, fewer shore trips, Castaway can be free.

I hope you and DD's realy enjoy your cruise

 

[kcashner]

We find that we spend very little time in our stateroom. THerefore, we book a 12 gty. Since there are 4 of you, you will automatically get a gratis upgrade to at least an 11 (12 do not sleep 4, but you are allowed to book a family of 4 into one). DD fusses about the lack of a window, but I point out that she can have 2 cruises without a window or one cruise with one!

As to onboard spending--as much or as little as you want. You need to budget your tips. Beyond that...do you drink alcohol? Do you want to bring some of your own wine or whatever onboard or buy it there. If you bring a bottle into the dining room there is a $15 corking fee. However, bring your own corkscrew. Your room steward will be happy to provide an ice bucket with ice and glasses. YOu can pour a glass in your room and carry it into the dining rooms or nightclubs--no problem.

Most of the time when the ship's photographer is taking pictures with characters or whatever, there is a character handler who will take a picture with your camera. That can save you a bundle over buying lots of photos in Shutters (at $10 each, they add up quickly).

Sodas are free in the dining rooms and on deck 9 at the drink station. If you order them from a bar or room service, you are charged. Explain that to the kids and make them hike to deck 9. When DD was little, I limited smoothies to one per day (they can add up fast too.

Many of the excursions that are available thru DCL can be done on your own cheaper with very little effort. However, booking thru DCL is a convenience.

You can bring your own snorkel gear to Castaway. The mandatory flotation vest is free.

You can have a really great cruise and spend relatively little money. On the other hand, you can do a LOT of damage in the Spa, the gift shops, excursions, etc. The choice is really up to you.

 

[CHEK]

Neither DH or I drink, I don't like it and after DH was very ill a couple of years ago he's never touched the stuff , but my mum sure likes a little tipple . Still not sure about which cat room to book really as there seems little difference between the price we've been quoted

 

[Karen Mouse]

We went on our first cruise in October (7 nights) - we were in a cat 11 - I was concerned about not having a window, but we barely spent any time in the room anyway - we showered, changed and slept - thats it! A cat 11 was fine for us and gave us $$$ to spend on other things.

The weather ws a little changeable, but overall it was great.

Just a word of warning! - it wont be your last cruise - you'll get hooked - we did - we rebooked onboard

 

[CHEK]

Well we're still debating cat rooms at the moment!, I'm doing all the hardwork whilst everyone else ummms and ahhhhhs , you know this booking a holiday is such a doddle isn't it

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Well we're still debating cat rooms at the moment!, I'm doing all the hardwork whilst everyone else ummms and ahhhhhs , you know this booking a holiday is such a doddle isn't it

Go on book it, you will enjoy anything you have,!

 

[CHEK]

Go on book it, you will enjoy anything you have,!

You sound just like my DH , that's exactly what he'd be saying if he was sat next to me right now, but he's at work!!, he's the reason I'm going to book this, it's going to be for his 40th birthday, I'm just waiting on another couple of quotes for cat 11 and cat 9 And the say so from my parents which I think will be a definate