Dec. 2, 2007-4 night Wonder and MouseFest Cruise

[Inkmahm]

Last year in Nassau we did the Dolphin Encounter. It was a lot of fun but it is NOT a dolphin "swm." You are on a platform and the dolphins come up to you for the hugs, kisses, belly rubs. etc. If you've never done it before, I highly recommend it. It's at the Blue Lagoon. Later in the afternoon back in Nassau we walked around to the straw market (okay, not too exciting) and the shops near the ship. I think we got Tshirts but not a lot else.

This year, we'll probably do a walking tour of some kind. Maybe Mousefest (and yes, you do just meet and go. No sign up in advance.) There is also a pirate museum that we may go to. There are always lots of things to do on the ship, too. Never enough time to do them all.

For anyone who wants to do the water park at Atlantis, I think you can do it much cheaper than Disney's excursion. If you rent a room at Atlantis or the cheaper hotel next to it (have to google, I think it's a comfort suites?) you get access to the water park with your room. That's generally cheaper than paying the high cost of the water park through Disney but you have to arrange your own taxi to get there. A friend of mine has been there and really liked it, but I'm not sure I want to spend a day at a waterpark. I live near enough to the Water Park capital of the world (WI Dells) that I could go there anytime I have a water park craving.

 

[DznyDreams]

I know my crew has no interest in the water park as well. However, I would like to know more about the aquarium. Is it worth seeing? If I'm not mistaken, I think I've "heard" others say that you can take a taxi and see only the aquarium if you wish. Anyone know much about this? Would it be easier/faster to sign up for the bus tour that takes you to this location vs. trying to get there on your own?

 

[mvlimmex]

Hi all,

Has anyone ever been on the narrative aquarium tour that DCL does? Marty and a couple of the kids are signed up to do it? Is it worth the narrative tour or better to take a "on your own" tour?

Vicki

 

[OJoyfulOne]

Hi all,

Has anyone ever been on the narrative aquarium tour that DCL does? Marty and a couple of the kids are signed up to do it? Is it worth the narrative tour or better to take a "on your own" tour?

Vicki

Vicki,

I think I read somewhere on the crusie board that the narrative can take a bit longer to do as opposed to going and doing the The Dig on your own. I think that is what I remember, but not sure. I know there were a few posts about doing the dig on your own as opposed to going through DCL.

Sorry, I can't be of more help.

Maybe someone else knows???

Joy

 

[Inkmahm]

The PassPorter's DCL guide says admission to the aquarium is $25 for adults and $19 for kids, including a guided tour.

The Discover Atlantis DCL tour is $39 and $26 for adults and kids, respectively. The rating is a 6 out of 10. It includes a walking tour of the resort as well as the guided aquarium tour. Some people love it and others thought it was boring because there was nothing to see at the resort, they only wanted to see the aquarium.

It sounds like if you only want to see the aquarium you could get your own transportation there and save $ compared to the DCL tour.

 

[mom+3girls]

Hey Everybody it is 7 weeks or 42 more days.

 

[DznyDreams]

The PassPorter's DCL guide says admission to the aquarium is $25 for adults and $19 for kids, including a guided tour.

The Discover Atlantis DCL tour is $39 and $26 for adults and kids, respectively. The rating is a 6 out of 10. It includes a walking tour of the resort as well as the guided aquarium tour. Some people love it and others thought it was boring because there was nothing to see at the resort, they only wanted to see the aquarium.

It sounds like if you only want to see the aquarium you could get your own transportation there and save $ compared to the DCL tour.

This would work! (That is, getting our own transportation.) I think it would be nice to do the Mousefest walking tour, and then, IF we aren't too tired, we may get our own transportation to the aquarium for a looksee.

Our snorkel gear arrived yesterday, and my fins fit! Yippee!! (I was worried because I have wide feet.)

Now, if only I knew what to pack for the rest of the cruise. I am losing weight, and most of the clothes in my closet are getting too big for me. I still have a long way to go before I reach my weightloss goal, and I plan to keep on losing. (I know, I know....there's too much food on a cruise to worry about weight loss, but that is really a none-issue for me at this time.) My real concern is shopping for cruise-appropriate clothes before we set sail. The fall/winter clothes in the stores now may not be appropriate for the Bahamas. This is a good "problem" to have, but it is still a little frustrating. I have no idea what to wear on a fall/winter cruise to the Bahamas. What might the weather be like?

 

[Inkmahm]

I can tell you the weather on last year's cruise. It was nice, mostly sunny and warm. The one day that wasn't so great was Castaway Cay. It was maybe high 60's or low 70's but very windy and some rain. Although, we did get a bit sunburned from the parasailing first thing in the morning when it was still sunny. Many people went back to the boat later in the morning or right after lunch. Nassau was nice and the day at sea was nice, too. Shorts and tshirts were comfy. It was warm enough to swim, easily.

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

I can tell you the weather on last year's cruise. It was nice, mostly sunny and warm. The one day that wasn't so great was Castaway Cay. It was maybe high 60's or low 70's but very windy and some rain. Although, we did get a bit sunburned from the parasailing first thing in the morning when it was still sunny. Many people went back to the boat later in the morning or right after lunch. Nassau was nice and the day at sea was nice, too. Shorts and tshirts were comfy. It was warm enough to swim, easily.

Thanks for the info

 

[lcfga]

I just booked my family on this cruise, and I'm so excited to be joining you all! This will be our first cruise ever, so I'm going to be asking lots of questions of you veteran cruisers. I'm travelling with my DH, DD 7 and DS 5. Since we are booking at practically the last minute, we have late seating and I haven't even looked into Palos or excursions. I'm just excited to be going and my kids are Disney fanatics, so they are going to be over the moon when we tell them.

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

I just booked my family on this cruise, and I'm so excited to be joining you all! This will be our first cruise ever, so I'm going to be asking lots of questions of you veteran cruisers. I'm travelling with my DH, DD 7 and DS 5. Since we are booking at practically the last minute, we have late seating and I haven't even looked into Palos or excursions. I'm just excited to be going and my kids are Disney fanatics, so they are going to be over the moon when we tell them.

Hi and welcome! Glad to have you.
Everyone here is super helpful, ask away. This is my first cruise too

 

[DragonSlyr]

Hey Everybody it is 7 weeks or 42 more days.

Thanks mom, for cheering us up. We won't have to wait too much longer.
We've been thinking all morning about friends of ours that are having a Dis meet today at BCV getting ready to leave on the members cruise tomorrow, wishing we were there.

Tom

 

[M4travels]

Thanks mom, for cheering us up. We won't have to wait too much longer.
We've been thinking all morning about friends of ours that are having a Dis meet today at BCV getting ready to leave on the members cruise tomorrow, wishing we were there.

Tom

I was thinking of the member cruise as well, Tom. Hard to believe that it was one year ago that we all met in the terminal!

Just a few short weeks for our cruise, y'all!!!

Michael

 

[M4travels]

I just booked my family on this cruise, and I'm so excited to be joining you all! This will be our first cruise ever, so I'm going to be asking lots of questions of you veteran cruisers. I'm traveling with my DH, DD 7 and DS 5. Since we are booking at practically the last minute, we have late seating and I haven't even looked into Palo or excursions. I'm just excited to be going and my kids are Disney fanatics, so they are going to be over the moon when we tell them.

Welcome to the meet!!! Congrats on making the booking. Ask those questions and folks will jump in with answers!

Michael

 

[OJoyfulOne]

I just booked my family on this cruise, and I'm so excited to be joining you all! This will be our first cruise ever, so I'm going to be asking lots of questions of you veteran cruisers. I'm travelling with my DH, DD 7 and DS 5. Since we are booking at practically the last minute, we have late seating and I haven't even looked into Palos or excursions. I'm just excited to be going and my kids are Disney fanatics, so they are going to be over the moon when we tell them.

Welcome! I'm fairly new to the thread and also a first-time cruiser as well!

Joy

 

[DznyDreams]

I can tell you the weather on last year's cruise. ....

I just booked my family on this cruise, and I'm so excited to be joining you all! ....

This will be our first cruise too. We're very excited.... .....and just a tiny bit nervous..... ..... but mostly excited.

 

[granmaz]

I just booked my family on this cruise, and I'm so excited to be joining you all! This will be our first cruise ever, so I'm going to be asking lots of questions of you veteran cruisers. I'm travelling with my DH, DD 7 and DS 5. Since we are booking at practically the last minute, we have late seating and I haven't even looked into Palos or excursions. I'm just excited to be going and my kids are Disney fanatics, so they are going to be over the moon when we tell them.

Hi and welcome. It is our first cruise too - looks like there are a few of us!!

 

[Inkmahm]

All you first time cruisers are going to be REALLY spoiled after being on a Disney cruise as your first cruise experience!

Our first cruise was in 2005, a Princess land/cruise tour. We said Princess was SO organized that they should give lessons to the airlines in how to move people on and off planes quickly. Well, Princess doesn't hold a candle to Disney. We still joke about how fast Disney got us on and off the ship.

Getting off in particular is a favorite story. We were in the first wave of people alowed off the ship on the last morning because we had a rental car (those taking Disney's transportation have to wait.) We came down the escalator in the terminal, grabbed a porter with a cart who sent my husband to the line to show our passports and took me to point out our luggage in the well organized color coordinated rows, joined my husband in the fast moving line, SPRINTED to the parking lot trying to keep up with the porter, and stood there at the car with our luggage wondering what had hit us. It literally was about 5 minutes from the top of the escalator to standing in the parking lot across the street. I think we were back to WDW by abou 8 am. WONDERFUL organization on Disney's part.

Yes, you will all be spoiled for any other cruiseline to come!

 

[missamouse]

I'M DOING THE 6 WEEK CHEER!

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

Yes, you will all be spoiled for any other cruiseline to come!

Disney is the only cruiseline I intend to cruise on, so I have nothing to worry about