Disney Wonder crossing the Panama Canal, Aug 26, 2016

[Dakota Red]

OMG - I have just been following the opening day pricing thread. Guess we will have to look for other lines - they are really going "over the top".

I too saw what DCL is asking and my eyes darn near popped out of my head!!! I know many bash on the big red boat but my wife and I have had a ton of fun with them and meet some damn nice table mates that we still talk with. It is not hard to get $60 a night with them also.

Wow, that Norwegian itinerary sounds fabulous!!! plus the drinks and gratuities included and in a mini suite! Sounds like a great deal. We've talked several times about trying other lines, we're open to the idea. You never know until you try them. I was very pleased with this cruises' price though.

Our last family cruise was with Norwegian and while we had fun there was many things that they do that we will most likely be going back to them. The kids activities were so so, kids went but were not overly excited to go. We do not like the any time dining as you will never have table mates ( i know this is a plus for some ) we enjoy meeting new people. The amount of specialty restaurants was a turn off ( 3 or 4 on the Jewel ). The shows in the evening were good and the last night was amazing. The MDR food was very good as was the buffet. I felt the adult activities were lacking.

 

[dizneeat]

Wow, that Norwegian itinerary sounds fabulous!!! plus the drinks and gratuities included and in a mini suite! Sounds like a great deal. We've talked several times about trying other lines, we're open to the idea. You never know until you try them. I was very pleased with this cruises' price though.

That NCL Northern has an awesome itinerary with a great price tag.

But after the first shock I checked prices online for the two Disney cruises that we had on the radar and they actually ARE within budget. So this afternoon Tom and I discussed the matter again and thought about the pros and cons - Magic: going back to Barcelona (we have enough miles to fly for free) and we loved the little flat we had and it would hopefully be WARM weather
NCL Jade - leaves from Hamburg, which we could reach by train (expensive) or we could use miles and the Northern would take us into cold weather - since we have enough cold/winter we decided on going with Disney. Yes, even with the experience we had in 2014 we are giving them another go. Just check my new ticker.

I too saw what DCL is asking and my eyes darn near popped out of my head!!! I know many bash on the big red boat but my wife and I have had a ton of fun with them and meet some damn nice table mates that we still talk with.

Their prices on some of the newer itineraries are insane. And there is only the two of us, but I refuse to pay over 10000$ for a cruise around the British Isles.

Like you we have met some of our best friends on cruises, but we have had our fair share of "special" tablemates as well - something I would not like to repeat.

It is not hard to get $60 a night with them also.

Hm, I have not been able to find such a deal on Disney yet - I would really appreciate it if you could point me towards such a cruise but I need to tell you that I am stuck with school holidays and we do not travel in inside staterooms.

Our last family cruise was with Norwegian and while we had fun there was many things that they do that we will most likely be going back to them. The kids activities were so so, kids went but were not overly excited to go.

No problem for us - we travel without kids anyway.

We do not like the any time dining as you will never have table mates ( i know this is a plus for some ) we enjoy meeting new people.

The any time dining is something that really appeals to us. I always ask for a table for two. With English not being our first language it leaves an odd feeling with you dine with "mates" who do not take into consideration that sometimes it is hard for us to understand accents and they will just leave you out of the conversation. Now, I find it rude to speak in a foreign language at a table with other people, so our conversations are pretty lame as we are giving English a go ....... and then there are table manners ........

Don't get me wrong we have had awesome luck with some of our tablemates, but we have been through the opposite too. And ever since one of the headservers offered a table for two when he saw how unhappy we were, we have asked for one.

The amount of specialty restaurants was a turn off ( 3 or 4 on the Jewel ).

We would love that - actually I had already eyed a package of all speciality dining for the cruise.

 

[MomOf2inSD]

We have traveled on NCL twice now with kids. Both times we thought.. this is nice, but Disney was so much better. The MDR's we found to be severely lacking on the Jewel, so when we went on the Star we did the upgrade package to include dinner every night at the specialty places. THAT was AMAZING! We ate at the Steak restaurant every night. My 8 yr old feasted on whole lobster every other night and my 11 yr old was spoiled with Filet every night. What an amazing treat (and of course we all feasted as well, it's just not often the kids get to eat the good stuff too.) The kids club was lacking. The kids really didn't want to go there. If they did have fun events, it was usually outside of the club and I had to take my kids and stay with them the whole time. They enjoyed the circus and pj party at the end, but the entire time they told us how much better Disney was.

 

[Dakota Red]

I too saw what DCL is asking and my eyes darn near popped out of my head!!! I know many bash on the big red boat but my wife and I have had a ton of fun with them and meet some damn nice table mates that we still talk with. It is not hard to get $60 a night with them also.

Hm, I have not been able to find such a deal on Disney yet - I would really appreciate it if you could point me towards such a cruise but I need to tell you that I am stuck with school holidays and we do not travel in inside staterooms.

The $60 a night is with Carnival the "Big Red Boat". This was my mistake I should have just said Carnival.

The any time dining is something that really appeals to us.

Like I said it is a plus for some not for my family. I totally understand where it may be uncomfortable for you and you do not want to be rude so you chose to eat by yourself. And the fact that you like the specialty dining NCL sounds like a perfect fit for you!

 

[Pinkocto]

That NCL Northern has an awesome itinerary with a great price tag.

But after the first shock I checked prices online for the two Disney cruises that we had on the radar and they actually ARE within budget. So this afternoon Tom and I discussed the matter again and thought about the pros and cons - Magic: going back to Barcelona (we have enough miles to fly for free) and we loved the little flat we had and it would hopefully be WARM weather
NCL Jade - leaves from Hamburg, which we could reach by train (expensive) or we could use miles and the Northern would take us into cold weather - since we have enough cold/winter we decided on going with Disney. Yes, even with the experience we had in 2014 we are giving them another go. Just check my new ticker.

I can't see the bottom of your ticker! But I'm assuming this means you're giving them another try on the Med and I'm very excited for you Very nice that you'll be able to fly for free as well!!! The 7 nights that I've looked at are not bad at all. I haven't looked at any of the other ones, just from the reports on the pricing thread.

 

[dizneeat]

We have traveled on NCL twice now with kids. Both times we thought.. this is nice, but Disney was so much better. The MDR's we found to be severely lacking on the Jewel, so when we went on the Star we did the upgrade package to include dinner every night at the specialty places. THAT was AMAZING!

You know, before our 12 night Med cruise I would have NEVER EVER even thought about another cruise line. But after that cruise, where we were stuck in a stinky stateroom for 12 nights and had the laziest of stateroom hosts, the food was mediocre at best and the only really awesome things were the excursions which I had booked on my own I realized that even Disney is not without fail.
Now with their price hike and figuring in that we have to fly long distance in the hight of the summer it really made me check out other lines and there are several we want to try. Tui's Mein Schiff is high up my list, but they did not have anything we really wanted. So this is where NCL came in.
Turns out the late August cruises on the Disney Magic are within budget, so now we are giving the Magic in the Med another try.

The $60 a night is with Carnival the "Big Red Boat". This was my mistake I should have just said Carnival.

Oh, I thought you were referring to the ship that used to be the "official cruise line of WDW" - so I got the idea you were referring to DCL. Sorry.

And the fact that you like the specialty dining NCL sounds like a perfect fit for you!

And then I went and booked with Disney again. There were not many late August cruises posted and the ones I looked at had up to 5 people in the room and were just EXPENSIVE! The one we booked now is okay in price and we are going to give the Magic in the Med another chance.

I can't see the bottom of your ticker! But I'm assuming this means you're giving them another try on the Med and I'm very excited for you

YES, after checking on the DCL site yesterday we found late August cruises that were within my set budget and after a long discussion we decided that sun wins over the colder Northern NCL cruise.
We booked for August 26, Deck 7, aft - there are two new ports for us and two we have already been to, so it should be fun.

The 7 nights that I've looked at are not bad at all. I haven't looked at any of the other ones, just from the reports on the pricing thread.

I looked at some of the more unique itineraries and they are just outragous. I don't think we can sail in an inside - I just would feel too boxed in and the verandas are just pricey. But the 7 night Med ones are okay. AND Disney is now offering pricing in Euro, which is awesome - no more extra CC fees!
And I am really looking forward to going to Naples and Livorno this time!

 

[dizneeat]

19 weeks until ........

​

 

[Pinkocto]

YES, after checking on the DCL site yesterday we found late August cruises that were within my set budget and after a long discussion we decided that sun wins over the colder Northern NCL cruise.
We booked for August 26, Deck 7, aft - there are two new ports for us and two we have already been to, so it should be fun.



I looked at some of the more unique itineraries and they are just outragous. I don't think we can sail in an inside - I just would feel too boxed in and the verandas are just pricey. But the 7 night Med ones are okay. AND Disney is now offering pricing in Euro, which is awesome - no more extra CC fees!
And I am really looking forward to going to Naples and Livorno this time!

I'm so excited for you!!! and great about the pricing and no more extra fees.

 

[Pinkocto]

19 weeks until ........

​

This is really getting close now

Thank you for the countdown, I've been enjoying the pictures

 

[Amunet]

So, is anyone doing non-DCL excursions for Columbia?
I think I figured out why even DCL excursions are lackluster ... we'll be there on a sunday Most merchants and what not are closed on sundays in the area. I found this out by looking at a tour we wanted to do that was non-DCL ... but they don't do it sundays! Upon further looking, most tours don't do much on sundays either

 

[DCLJunkeze]

We also will be sailing the Panama Canal in August and are interested in being apart of the Fish Extenders. This will be our 5th cruise, our last cruise was to Hawaii for 10 days. It was a lot of fun but we are so looking forward to 14 days. Hopefully we can being included in the Fish Extenders this time around.

 

[dizneeat]

I'm so excited for you!!! and great about the pricing and no more extra fees.

Thank you! We are too! And I have already changed our stateroom assignment.

This is really getting close now

Yes, and it is coming up FAST as well. I am so not prepared yet.

So, is anyone doing non-DCL excursions for Columbia?

We have booked Dora's. All others might be with Disney. And we are not doing anything in Cozumel - been there, done that.

I think I figured out why even DCL excursions are lackluster ... we'll be there on a sunday Most merchants and what not are closed on sundays in the area. I found this out by looking at a tour we wanted to do that was non-DCL ... but they don't do it sundays! Upon further looking, most tours don't do much on sundays either

Good to know! Sounds like this is like Europe where most things are closed on Sundays.

We also will be sailing the Panama Canal in August and are interested in being apart of the Fish Extenders. This will be our 5th cruise, our last cruise was to Hawaii for 10 days. It was a lot of fun but we are so looking forward to 14 days. Hopefully we can being included in the Fish Extenders this time around.

Glad that you decided to join the FE. I can put you on the list for sure - just let me know everyone's first name and the kids' ages and include your stateroom number if you already know it. You will not be able to PM me though as you don't have 10 posts yet - you can either post here a few more times or on the community board or you just post names and so on here.

 

[Brixton]

After cancelling five Panama Canal cruises due to doctors orders, I am finally able to take this cruise! We haven't been through the canal since 2013, and we are very excited to return Our only complaint is that the PC cruises no longer stop at Castaway Cay

This is our eighth DCL voyage, the seventh on The Wonder. The kids really wanted to take this last trip before dry dock. The Edge on The Magic was so disappointing to them, they're afraid The Wonder is going to remove the arcade in favour of a really small Edge.

Planned excursions include Las Caletas in PV, Salsa y Salsa in Cabo, Las Americas in Cartegena, and the Eco-adventure park in Cozumel.

We'll send a separate PM to join FE, then look forward to meeting all of you in August

 

[Pinkocto]

Welcome!!! I'm sorry you've had to cancel five others but hooray for being able to take this one and it's getting so close

 

[dizneeat]

Will be back with comments tomorrow - fighting a cold and am heading to bed

But I really wanted to say

18 weeks until .......​

 

[Amunet]

Today is a good day with news:

First - Finally paid in full as of tonight!!

Second - Got a job offer ^_^ Will be making enough to move and not worry too much on pinching ALL pennies on the trip (only a few ^_^). Yay!

 

[Pinkocto]

Will be back with comments tomorrow - fighting a cold and am heading to bed

But I really wanted to say

18 weeks until .......​

That's a great photo! And 18 weeks is coming up fast!!!

I hope you feel better soon

 

[Pinkocto]

Today is a good day with news:

First - Finally paid in full as of tonight!!

Second - Got a job offer ^_^ Will be making enough to move and not worry too much on pinching ALL pennies on the trip (only a few ^_^). Yay!

Awesome about being paid in full!

CONGRATULATIONS on the job offer!!!

 

[dizneeat]

After cancelling five Panama Canal cruises due to doctors orders, I am finally able to take this cruise! We haven't been through the canal since 2013, and we are very excited to return Our only complaint is that the PC cruises no longer stop at Castaway Cay

to our cruise meet thread! It's so nice to meet some new fellow cruisers!

Wow! Having to cancel five PC cruises is hard. Hope you are feeling a lot better! And you are a PC cruise veteran as well. Couldn't agree more with you about CC, but it is what it is and we are happy to be able to go on this cruise too. (Thanks to it being so early. )

This is our eighth DCL voyage, the seventh on The Wonder. The kids really wanted to take this last trip before dry dock. The Edge on The Magic was so disappointing to them, they're afraid The a Wonder is going to do the same.

Seven cruises on the Wonder! And since you were so disappointed in the Magic I guess that was cruise no 8.

We'll send a separate PM to join FE, then look forward to meeting all of you in August

I got your PM and will answer it soon - just need to finish off here.

Today is a good day with news:

First - Finally paid in full as of tonight!!

Paid in full - AWESOME! Congrats!!

Second - Got a job offer ^_^ Will be making enough to move and not worry too much on pinching ALL pennies on the trip (only a few ^_^). Yay!

And it gets even better! Congratulations on the new job!

That's a great photo! And 18 weeks is coming up fast!!!

Taken when you were still allowed to take photos during the shows. I miss that time.

I hope you feel better soon

Thank you!!! Me too. At the moment I am strongly thinking about staying home on Monday - let's see how tomorrow turns out.

 

[dizneeat]

We'll send a separate PM to join FE, then look forward to meeting all of you in August

FE list is updated!