December 6, 2012 ~Dreaming of Castaway Cay~

[taaren]

Hellooooo out there! Anybody on the DIS planning on going on this cruise? Its pretty booked (though some are probably dummy bookings).

We had 2 rooms booked from opening day, then re-booked on board our first cruise on the Wonder this past September to get a larger stateroom that could potentially fit four for the same price. Will be the DH, myself and DS6 on the cruise and we're very excited to see the AquaDuck. Also booked a room for friends in case they can make it. Looking forward to spending my birthday on Castaway Cay next year.

Would have d a cruise with even more nights, but will be doing a week in WDW on either side and were desperate to see Castaway Cay and the AquaDuck before returning to the Wonder again since odds are good after this we'll mainly stick to cruises closer to home on the West Coast.

Would love to do a meet with some other DISsers if anybody else is up for it!

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

 

[Goofy Lover]

Just booked this cruise as a Christmas surprise for my husband and daughter!!! Can't wait to see their faces on Sunday morning

 

[dromio42]

This will be our first cuise too!
Taaren - Thanks for starting the thread. If you have any advice for cruise newbies, please pass it on!

 

[Goofy Lover]

The presentation of the cruise as the big family Christmas gift was a huge success!! I even remembered to get their reaction on video

 

[taaren]

This will be our first cuise too!
Taaren - Thanks for starting the thread. If you have any advice for cruise newbies, please pass it on!

Yay! Welcome aboard! Most of the advice you can get from lurking around the cruise boards for awhile ... just be careful as it gets very addictive. The highlights for us last cruise won't be available on this one since the three-days don't have Palo brunch or the same excursions ... we probably won't do Palo dinner this time as I'd like to experience all three restaurants. Pirate night was a lot of fun, will probably dress up again and see if I can rope DH into it as well for this trip (and I'm not usually a dress-up person since costuming used to be one of my jobs and it still feels a little like 'work' ). Its highly entertaining to be in costume with a thousand or so other people at the same time!

The presentation of the cruise as the big family Christmas gift was a huge success!! I even remembered to get their reaction on video

Sounds awesome! I can't keep secrets like that since I talk about upcoming trips with the DH in front of DS5. Would love to see your video ... if you upload it to a private youtube channel you can always post the link here.

Good to know there'll be other DISsers on-board!

 

[BealsRwe]

Hi everyone. We booked this cruise while on the Dream this past December. It will be my 15th, DH 13th, and DD (age 8 at sailing) 10th DCL cruise. It's a placeholder we have, but we love cruising in December, so more than likely we will be on this sailing.

Stephanie

 

[Tinky624]

Couldn't wait till Our March Wonder cruise! This will be our first December cruise and looking forward to seeing the ship all decorated for Christmas! This will also be the first 3 night cruise we will have done. I hope it doesn't go by to quickly!

 

[taaren]

Hi everyone. We booked this cruise while on the Dream this past December. It will be my 15th, DH 13th, and DD (age 8 at sailing) 10th DCL cruise. It's a placeholder we have, but we love cruising in December, so more than likely we will be on this sailing.

Stephanie

Couldn't wait till Our March Wonder cruise! This will be our first December cruise and looking forward to seeing the ship all decorated for Christmas! This will also be the first 3 night cruise we will have done. I hope it doesn't go by to quickly!

Welcome Stephanie and Tinky624! So glad you're going to be joining us!

This is going to be a bit of a teaser, since we've only done a 5 night and our next cruise will probably be a 5 or 6 night on the Wonder. But I'm still super excited to see the Dream, we've already moved our cabin a few times now we're on the 7th deck forward in a non-connecting 8C cabin. Even though it will go by quickly, I'm still trying to figure out how to enjoy everything. I think we're going to be up late every night trying to fit it all in, and just not get off the ship in Nassau to spend more time on the AquaDuck, etc. And we'll have more time to relax when we get back to Disney World for week two the week after this cruise since I have a non park day or two scheduled in there.

The time keeps sneaking up on me, we're only a little over 2 months away from final payment and Palo booking times. We're about 2/3 paid off on the cruise right now, just bought airfare and reserved the car to and from WDW ($40 each way from the Dolphin to Port Canaveral on our own schedule, much better than DCL's $35 per person transfers). Its getting to be more real!

 

[Tinky624]

We're with you on not getting off in Nassau! The ship has so much to offer and experience!

 

[dromio42]

We are also planning on staying on the ship while at Nassau. With just a quick 3 day dip, we want to explore the ship and discover if more cruising might be for us!

 

[BealsRwe]

For those of you that haven't cruised on the Dream, it is incredible! Our favorite time of the year to cruise is December, as seeing the ships and Castaway Cay all decorated for Christmas really puts me in the holiday mood! I'm not a huge fan of the 3 day, as it does go by fast, but with DD school schedule, it's hard to do more since she will be a 3rd grader this year. In Florida, that means having to pass the dreaded FCAT exam in the spring, or you must repeat the grade. We will see how school is going, and we may move this one to a longer cruise. DH and I both work at WDW, so we are always looking for the next great cast rate we can take advantage of. Our PIF date is approaching, but we will hold out as long as we can, in hopes rates start becoming available (hopefully) later this summer/early fall.

 

[BealsRwe]

Well, it is appearing that we may be having to cancel this cruise. DH is a manager at Magic Kingdom, and all managers vacations for Oct-Dec are cancelled due to new Fantasyland opening. I know we can always head out on another, but I love the ships and Castaway at Christmas time! I will stay on this board, just in case!

 

[taaren]

Well, it is appearing that we may be having to cancel this cruise. DH is a manager at Magic Kingdom, and all managers vacations for Oct-Dec are cancelled due to new Fantasyland opening. I know we can always head out on another, but I love the ships and Castaway at Christmas time! I will stay on this board, just in case!

Aww, that's unfortunate. Guess that's the nature of working in something that is tourist-oriented though, when its high season they take away vacations. Any chance you and DD want to come without him?

Really looking forward to the Dream. Only a little over a month til excursion and Palo bookings are available for Castaway Club members!

 

[taaren]

So we're officially at 3 months out! I just made my Palo reservation this morning, paid off the balance yesterday!

Still haven't found a reasonable rental car rate to get to and from port though. Anybody else?

 

[DbleTheFun]

Hi al! I will be traveling with my twin boys before spending the week at WDW. They are super excited as am I! Ive already booked a cabana for Castaway Cay, and we will likely spend the day on ship at Nassau. Been there before and see no need to see it again, much rather spend the day exploring the Dream!

 

[BealsRwe]

Well, we are officially cancelled at this time. Hoping DH can get the weekend off and we can grab a cast rate for something in December. Unknown as the Fantasyland expansion is opening December 6th.

At least we have Allure of the Seas booked next summer, and since we live in Florida, hopefully a quick weekend cruise between now and December. Who knows, may be we will sail on 12/6 after all. Bon Voyage and enjoy the Dream!

Stephanie

 

[taaren]

Hi al! I will be traveling with my twin boys before spending the week at WDW. They are super excited as am I! Ive already booked a cabana for Castaway Cay, and we will likely spend the day on ship at Nassau. Been there before and see no need to see it again, much rather spend the day exploring the Dream!

Sweet! Welcome aboard. I think it'll just be a bunch of us DISsers on board in Nassau.

Well, we are officially cancelled at this time. Hoping DH can get the weekend off and we can grab a cast rate for something in December. Unknown as the Fantasyland expansion is opening December 6th.

At least we have Allure of the Seas booked next summer, and since we live in Florida, hopefully a quick weekend cruise between now and December. Who knows, may be we will sail on 12/6 after all. Bon Voyage and enjoy the Dream!

Sorry you had to cancel. It would be cool if you come as a last minute thing. There's so many cabins available still that I'm contemplating cancelling our reservation on the chance that they'll run some cheaper *GT rates, but since we booked with an onboard OBC offer last year, it would have to be more than 10% off + $100 in order to make it worthwhile, so I'm going to have to check historical *GT rates to see if the numbers would add up right ... if I can find them in the next ten days before the official paid in full date. Because we will definitely be going on this cruise.

 

[DbleTheFun]

Haha yes, i agree (and hope) that most will leave the ship in Nassau and leave us folks on board to ride the aquaduck and splash around an empty pool! Small group so far... And ship doesnt seem very full at all! We used points, and booked guaranteed OV so maybe we'll get lucky and move up a category or two! If not... Its a Disney cruise in December (we're from Calgary- its cold here by then) so im not complaining.... Anywhere is fine with me!

 

[conwrightnie]

We just made our final payment for our cruise! Yay! We are so excited. We were supposed to take a 4 night in Oct. of 2011, but my husband was supposed to be deployed. He now gets home in Oct. of this year and we'll be headed out to enjoy our long awaited cruise. This is our first time and are traveling with DH, DS17, DD15, DS13, DD11, and DS8. Yes, there are 7 of us in 2 separate rooms! If ya'll have any tips for first time cruisers, please share. I am open to all suggestions and secrets!