Disney Dream, Jan 15th 2012

[Paragd911]

We just booked this cruise. We got the Military Discount on this.

It will be my DW (Joy) & I (Mark) & DDog Bingo. This is are 12th cruise on Disney. (Bingo's 2nd)

 

[hbensel]

Booked out first Disney Cruise two days ago. It will be me, my husband, DS 10 & DD5.

I am really looking forward to it, but now there seems like I have a lot to learn!

Heather

 

[Spectrum]

Welcome. I will have my 10 year old nephew on this cruise.

 

[GoHabsGo]

Booked out first Disney Cruise two days ago. It will be me, my husband, DS 10 & DD5.

I am really looking forward to it, but now there seems like I have a lot to learn!

Heather

I've found the trip reports very helpful. I've gone through a bunch of the Dream TRs but checked a few others to get some more pointers.

Just over 2 months to go!

 

[Paragd911]

I was wondering if anyone is going to do a fish extenders?
Were in!

 

[spiiffy]

I would like to fo FE too! It is me, my husband and our two sons ages 1 and 3. Someone please organize the FE (I would do it but I just don't have time)!

 

[Gemini Mum]

We (my husband and our four kids aged 11, 9, 7 & 4) are booked on our very first cruise, and very first family trip to the USA. I've just completed the online check in and am so glad to have discovered these boards - thank you for all the tips and info for us newbies. As you can see from the title, we are coming from Australia.

A few questions: what are fish extenders???

And tipping - we don't do tipping in Australia, at all. What is the protocol on the cruise? Who do we tip, how much, and how often? I saw somewhere there is the option to pay gratuities up front, is that advised? I don't want to offend any of the hard working crew with my ignorance!

 

[Paragd911]

We (my husband and our four kids aged 11, 9, 7 & 4) are booked on our very first cruise, and very first family trip to the USA. I've just completed the online check in and am so glad to have discovered these boards - thank you for all the tips and info for us newbies. As you can see from the title, we are coming from Australia.

A few questions: what are fish extenders???

And tipping - we don't do tipping in Australia, at all. What is the protocol on the cruise? Who do we tip, how much, and how often? I saw somewhere there is the option to pay gratuities up front, is that advised? I don't want to offend any of the hard working crew with my ignorance!

Question
What about gratuities? (tipping)
Answer
It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 4-Night
Dining Room Server $16.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $12.00
Dining Room Head Server $4.00
Stateroom Host/
Hostess $16.00
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included
Vista Spa & Salon Your Discretion
Babysitting Gratuity not expected
Port Adventures Optional;
not included in port
adventure price.
For your convenience, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. All gratuities can be charged to your room charge


Its $48 per person. $288 for the cruise

 

[Gemini Mum]

Thank you! At the risk of being a complete idiot, is that per day or in total? Never mind, I realize you very helpfully calculated that for me already ( must read whole reply before responding! )

Now that I know about gratuities, I can find something else to worry about obsessively, LOL.

 

[GoHabsGo]

I would like to fo FE too! It is me, my husband and our two sons ages 1 and 3. Someone please organize the FE (I would do it but I just don't have time)!

Not sure if this is how to do it but...

Should we limit it to the kids?

What's the typical budget per child?

Sign up by 12/31/11? (need time to shop for the "booty")

THE FE LIST for DCL Dream 15 January 2012:

Add/remove/confirm your child's name/age/gender with your cabin #

spiify DS1.5 DS 3.5
amy162 DD6 DD9
spectrum DS10 DS13 DD17
iansmom DS7
teamh5 DS3 DD5 DD5
bytor01 DD10 DS10
SIL to bytor01 DS 12
wiscbill DD9(almost 10)
mandydiane DD6
belle09157 DS1.5 DD3
pooh24 DD5 DS8 DD10
paragd911 SD"Bingo"
hbensel DD5 DD10
gemini mum D?4 D?7 D?9 D?11
gohabsgo DD5

Hope I didn't miss anyone.

 

[Paragd911]

Not sure if this is how to do it but...

Should we limit it to the kids?

We dont have kids going on this Cruise

We are in 9170. It going to be Joy & I (Mark) & my Service Dog Bingo.

 

[Bytor01]

As of right now our whole clan is out for the FE we have been thinking about getting one but haven't yet. I don't think I have enough time to order one. As we are not he most craftiet of soles here. If anything changes I will let you know.

Tim

 

[Michelle2]

Hi Everyone! I just signed up for this cruise with my DH. It will be the first time in a long time that we will be going without any of our kids (we have 4), but since it is for our 20th anniversary, I guess I will have to be ok with it. We have cruised many times with DCL, but it will be DH's first time on the Dream and my second. I am so excited to show him this ship, but wish my kids could see it too since they haven't been on it either.

We will be doing a back to back with the next cruise on the 19th so we will be making a week of it.

Paragd911 I was on the WBTA with you in September as well. It was just my DS9 and myself, but we had a great time!

 

[Spectrum]

Hello, I am doing the same back to back. It's good to know we are not the only ones.

 

[GoHabsGo]

As of right now our whole clan is out for the FE we have been thinking about getting one but haven't yet. I don't think I have enough time to order one. As we are not he most craftiet of soles here. If anything changes I will let you know.

Tim

I may have to hang Christmas stockings!

 

[GoHabsGo]

Not sure if this is how to do it but...

Should we limit it to the kids?

What's the typical budget per child?

Sign up by 12/31/11? (need time to shop for the "booty")

THE FE LIST for DCL Dream 15 January 2012:

Add/remove/confirm your child's name/age/gender with your cabin #

spiify DS1.5 DS 3.5
amy162 DD6 DD9
spectrum DS10 DS13 DD17
iansmom DS7
teamh5 DS3 DD5 DD5
wiscbill DD9(almost 10)
mandydiane DD6
belle09157 DS1.5 DD3
pooh24 DD5 DS8 DD10
paragd911 SD"Bingo" - 9170
hbensel DD5 DD10
gemini mum DS4 DD7 DS9 DD11
gohabsgo DD5 - 9620

Hope I didn't miss anyone.

Bytor01 and SIL - removed for now (at least until the local community center offers FE making classes)

 

[CruznLexi]

Just booked this with the FL special.,late birthday present! staying at VB the night before.,

 

[Bytor01]

Hey this board is starting to pick up a little. Better late than never (my August 2012- 7 day cruise has 30 pages already). Welcome to all the newcomers who have just booked.

GoHabsGo...that's hilarious, that comment above made me laugh. You know we have been on multiple cruises and just never did the FE exchange. Every cruise I keep saying we're going to do it and then it slips my mind and it gets to late to order one to be made by some of the fine FE makers on these boards or eBay. Hey, we finally got in on the door magnets on our last cruise... which reminds me, I better start getting some ideas.

 

[Gemini Mum]

I'm more of a paper crafter than a seamstress, but I like a challenge - making a FE will be a great distraction from all the things on my to do list between now and when we leave!

I realize I left out the gender of my kids (aka The Gang of Four) : girl (11), boy (9), girl (7), boy (4).

I am already packing for the trip and scrutinizing everything with a "would this work on the cruise?" microscope. Also planning to hit the outlet malls when we get to Orlando, so I need to leave plenty of room for those purchases! Ah, the decisions!

 

[GoHabsGo]

GoHabsGo...that's hilarious, that comment above made me laugh.

Glad it got a laugh - that's always where I'm heading but I don't always get there. 60 days!