Disney Cruise question....s

[katiec]

Hi

Just trying to look at all the options for next year and I know a lot of you have done the 3/4 night Disney cruises.

I am going to e-mail and ask Dreams Unlimited for a quote - is this who you all use?

Also as I am useless at waiting - can anyone give me a ballpark figure for a 3 night cruise (dont think DH would go for any more than that on for a first time as he HATES boats!!!)

Also what else can you tell me/hints/tips etc - will read through the trip reports too but for some quick time info i'd love your thoughts.

Thank you

 

[Clare D]

We did the 4 night cruise on the Wonder in 2006 and I am in the planning stages of another 4 night next year on the Dream.
For a ball park figure if you click on the DCL site you'll be able to view the boat, deck plans and costings for the dates you require for the different level of rooms. Disney are offering a $25 on board ship credit at the minute.

There was a thread on here recently about the problems that some TA's are facing with transferring reservations so you can get the increased shipboard credit. What some do is book direct with Disney and then transfer the booking to DU.

My best tip is to take seasickness medication before you get on the boat. The night we left the dock was unusual as it was quite rough, the staff couldn't believe the number of people who didn't go to dinner the first night, I being one of them I wasn't sick but it did take me until the following morning to feel ok and to be on the safe side I took medication each day. My DS who was nearly 4 at the time and DH were as right as rain.

Also pack antihistamine tablets and cream. On the day in Nassau we went to swim with the dolphins, which we had done on our honeymoon, and I was bitten by something in the water. The next morning I was in the shower and I could feel that my face was a bit bobbly. When I opened the shower curtain I looked like Miss Piggy, my eyes were swollen and I had come out in hives all over my face and arms and legs and there was a huge patch of it at the top of my leg I went to the Dr on board the boat and was told that it is quite common around the waters in the Bahams. As I say I had no problems in the past and neither DH or DS was affected. After a few weeks the patch did go. Make sure you take at least 2 sets of swim wear as they recommend that you thoroughly rinse it and allow it to dry properly.

I too don't like boats, you would never catch me on a ferry crossing for example, but I loved the cruise so much that I was crying when I left and couldn't say goodbye to the staff

The boat is huge so have an idea what you would like to do and what shows you would like to watch when you have your navigator and enjoy it. The food is delicious too and the waiting staff we found to be so friendly.

 

[Pinky166]

Price it up on DCL's site, Dreams Unlimited wont be any cheaper. (Still worth using Dreams for the OBC)

We did our first cruise last December, we did the 4 night it went sooooo fast so I wouldn't recommend a 3 night as you will barely get to see the ship by the time you have a day in Nassau & a day at Castaway Cay.

If your DH is worried about seasickness then try to get a room midship as that is where the boat moves the least, we had room #7070 & when I looked over the verandah you could actually see the stabiliser in the water directly below.

 

[DISWolves]

You can book with DCL and receive their OBC and then transfer the booking to Dreams Unlimited and also recieve their OBC. I did this for 2009 on the Wonder and have also done it for my upcoming 2011 Dream cruise

Disney will turn a blind eye if you bring Alcohol on board in your hand luggage

Do not miss the shows!!!! They are something special

Castaway Cay............best place on earth!

 

[wickesy]

If your DH is worried about seasickness then try to get a room midship as that is where the boat moves the least, we had room #7070 & when I looked over the verandah you could actually see the stabiliser in the water directly below.

That's nice to know - we're in 6078 so we should be fairly near it as well.

 

[katiec]

Price it up on DCL's site, Dreams Unlimited wont be any cheaper. (Still worth using Dreams for the OBC)

We did our first cruise last December, we did the 4 night it went sooooo fast so I wouldn't recommend a 3 night as you will barely get to see the ship by the time you have a day in Nassau & a day at Castaway Cay.

If your DH is worried about seasickness then try to get a room midship as that is where the boat moves the least, we had room #7070 & when I looked over the verandah you could actually see the stabiliser in the water directly below.

You can book with DCL and receive their OBC and then transfer the booking to Dreams Unlimited and also recieve their OBC. I did this for 2009 on the Wonder and have also done it for my upcoming 2011 Dream cruise

Disney will turn a blind eye if you bring Alcohol on board in your hand luggage

Do not miss the shows!!!! They are something special

Castaway Cay............best place on earth!

You guys are just fab

I'm a bit of a bull in a china ship (shop) when I get something in my head! I just have to search and search until I book it!!

Have had a quick look at pricing for Sept 2011, and even DH has now suggested a 4 night might be better (and he thinks its all his idea) and going for 10 nights on DxDDP and 4 nights cruise the price is looking roughly the same for 14 nights DxDDP.

I have a base price of around $1100 - £730 (@1.5) for the 4 night cruise for an inside stateroom

Pinky - was room #7070 an inside stateroom? My thoughts that a balcony would be nice and my motto is "If we're gonna do it we might as well do it properly" but I dont want to do this at the expense of DH feeling

Also - is it right that you get soft drinks included - we're not tooo fussed about alcohol but dont want to have to pay out$$$$$s for cokes etc.

I'm sure I'll have more questions coming up but we're getting closer!

 

[Pinky166]

That's nice to know - we're in 6078 so we should be fairly near it as well.

You should be pretty much midship David.

Pinky - was room #7070 an inside stateroom? My thoughts that a balcony would be nice and my motto is "If we're gonna do it we might as well do it properly" but I dont want to do this at the expense of DH feeling

Also - is it right that you get soft drinks included - we're not tooo fussed about alcohol but dont want to have to pay out$$$$$s for cokes etc.

Yes your soft drinks at dinner & the drinks station on Deck 9 is free, however if you were to order a can of coke from room service then you would have to pay for that. Everything else on the room service menu is free just not "Branded" cans of drinks/chocolate bars.

Room #7070 was an outside room with a verandah. I was the same as you, if your going to do it then might as well do it properly. Have a read of my trip report (Sept 2009, link in my signature) the cruise starts on Day 13.

I warn you though you will be hooked, we are booked on two more cruises for 2011.

 

[nibbo]

You can book with DCL and receive their OBC and then transfer the booking to Dreams Unlimited and also recieve their OBC. I did this for 2009 on the Wonder and have also done it for my upcoming 2011 Dream cruise

Apparently Disney have clamped down on the transfering of credits by reducing the commision paid to the travel agents for transfers. This was due to a TA abusing the system. You can still transfer but it is likely you will not get the full amount. If you read Dreams Unlimited's T&C's, it tells you in there. I just booked direct with Dreams Unlimited.

Nick

 

[amystevekai&bump]

just read that you are now thinking of the 4 night instead of the 3 night - can I just say I think that is a really good move!!

We have done both and it might sound strange but the 3 night felt to us like just a day or so, it went THAT quickly, whereas the 4 nighter almost felt like a week!!! - they honestly didn't just feel like 1 day different, and that was even with us staying on the boat instead of getting off in Nassau!!

Happy planning!!

 

[katiec]

just read that you are now thinking of the 4 night instead of the 3 night - can I just say I think that is a really good move!!

I'm not quite sure what came over DH when he didnt say anything about 4 nights rather than 3 - he just asked how much more it was going to cost him!!

I think he's just resigned to my planning madness

We are looking at the end of Sept 2011 and i think its about $1500 for a Stateroom with a Balcony on DCL (have left prices at home)
Would you say this is a good price - I have NO idea about cruise pricing.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I'm not quite sure what came over DH when he didnt say anything about 4 nights rather than 3 - he just asked how much more it was going to cost him!!

I think he's just resigned to my planning madness

We are looking at the end of Sept 2011 and i think its about $1500 for a Stateroom with a Balcony on DCL (have left prices at home)
Would you say this is a good price - I have NO idea about cruise pricing.

I'm not the best person to ask when it comes to pricing - it sounds worth it to me, but then I LOVE DCL and LOVE balconies, so then the price all gets a bit lost in the excitement of it all for me!!

To some $1500 will sound a lot, but then I just tell myself that includes the food and soft drinks and disney shows, and before I know it, it sounds like a bargain!!

 

[Clare D]

We had a balcony on our first cruise and it was great when we arrived into Castaway Cay with the sun shining. It also looked like the island was inhabitated by pirates as the ship from Pirates of the Caribean, the flying Dutchman, was there.

This time we are going for the large porthole window as last time we only had Joe who was nearly 4 but Owen will only be three. I don't mind them sitting in the window looking out to sea but not on the verandah

 

[amystevekai&bump]

.

This time we are going for the large porthole window as last time we only had Joe who was nearly 4 but Owen will only be three. I don't mind them sitting in the window looking out to sea but not on the verandah

Oh no don't say that Clare!! - Last cruise we went through the dilemma of balcony or no balcony, as the boys were 3 and 9mths, and I ended up chickening out and going for the porthole - but we really missed the verandah. So at Christmas we have sprung for the verandah again, but our boys will still only be 6 and 3 - have I made the wrong choice?? - now I am all scared again!!

 

[Clare D]

Oh no don't say that Clare!! - Last cruise we went through the dilemma of balcony or no balcony, as the boys were 3 and 9mths, and I ended up chickening out and going for the porthole - but we really missed the verandah. So at Christmas we have sprung for the verandah again, but our boys will still only be 6 and 3 - have I made the wrong choice?? - now I am all scared again!!

With Joe I had no hesitation as he would quite happily sit there with one of us looking out to sea. Owen on the other hand is completely different. He is always trying to climb up onto things so for me it was the safer option. If I was on the Magic or Wonder I would have gone for the verandah and just sat outside if he was sleeping but on the Dream they have a bigger porthole with seating in it, thank goodness. I personnally prefer to sea the sea from my room otherwise I feel a bit penned in. I think you've made a good choice

 

[Cinderella2006]

This thread should come with a warning

I want to do a cruise now!!! (off to do some math!)

 

[torsie24]

Heehee - glad to see your DH thinks a 4 nighter might be the way to go. I sold DF on a 3 nighter, and then mentioned about how if you can't dock a CC on the 4 night you get a second chance, and then it was 'his idea' that we ought to change it for a 4 nighter.

We are having 4 nights on the dream (cat 5B) for $2030 so around - £1353. A lot for 5 days, but I get claustrophobic which can lead to panic attacks sometimes so I don't think I could go on a first cruise without being able to get fresh air ASAP. Hopefully I'll be fine though and our subsquent cruises can all be a little less pricey (and the huge portholes just look amazing! - as do the new virtual ones!)

Let us know how you get on!!

 

[february]

Just thought I'd let you know that we recently booked 4 nights on the dream for August 2011. It's true that transferring doesn't work in the same way as it used to. We discovered it was better to book direct through DU. We got their OBC as well as the $25 that Disney are offering. Had we transferred from DCL to DU, DU would have only been able to offer us a reduced OBC if any at all. Have to say DU have been great. Quick and efficient service.
Best of luck with your plans. This will be our first cruise and I and sooooo excited

Celia

 

[Ware Bears]

You are so right to book a 4 night or more. We were only able to book a 3 night as the 4 night for our dates went over Christmas itself and was more than double the cost of our 3 night. There is no way I would ever book a 3 night again if it's possible to do a 4 night or preferably even longer.

 

[katiec]

I have been quoted by DU $1592 with $100 OBC for a 4 night cruise at the end of Sept 2011. This is for a verandah stateroom for the 2 of us.

Is this a good price? They are holding it for me until 11 April.

Still cant believe DH hasnt actually said no... means we're on the right track!!

 

[torsie24]

That's an amazing price!!!!!

Do it!