Eastern Caribbeean Cruise Sep 4-11,2004

[KANSAS]

I am going on my first every cruise and of course first ever Disney cruise.
I will arrive on Beach Club villa on September 2,(2 days early,have been burned all of my life,with air travel delays) and then ride the DCL bus on September 4 to Port Canveral and then use the DCL bus on SEPT 11 to catch my flight back to Kansas.

I am taking my 78 year old mother, for her birthday.

We are staying in Category 11 cabin.

we are stopping at St THOMAS,San JUan, Puerto Rico and Disney Private island.

I am looking for all the information, from all of you, that I should know, before beginning this venture.

I will sign up for email immediately, will my cell phone, work in St THomas and San Juan,since these they are US Territoires

I do not wish to dress up alot, can I get away, with casual clothes, the whole trip and just go to buffets, or should I bring a suit to do the dinner with cabin and the nice restaurants on DCL, as part of the experience?

Thank you in advance, assume in your reply. I no nothing about DCL, because I do not.

 

[alexandrew]

We will be on that same cruise!!!You truly picked an excellent date, as PR is not a regular stop on the Eastern itinerary....

check out www.threecircles.net

this is Jason's website...he has a log and info of some folks who will be sailing on that cruise as well...

I seriously doubt that your cell will work in PR....yes, there are land lines (pay phones in St Maarten) - However, please note that we are sailing to St Thomas on this cruise (St Thomas, PR, and Castaway Cay)....St Thomas has payphones everywhere....

The evenings, particularly the 2 formal ones, are very special onboard...I would recommend you bring a suit, and just wear a different shirt and tie on each one....The rotation restaurants are a do not miss , as are the shows.....

Fortunately, you have everything you need on this board to gain some worthwhile knowledge about your upcoming cruise

 

[KANSAS]

A friend from Minnesota, recommended the passporters guide to Disney Cruise line book.
It has been very helpful. I still would like to get all the advice, I can, from those of you with much DCL experience.

 

[alexandrew]

Ask a Q, and you will get an answer....I guarantee it!!!!

 

[mostyn17]

We are on the same cruise.....you are going to love it!

As far as the dressing up...It's fun to get all dressed up with everyone else. If you prefer not to do that, then the buffet is the option for you and there is also room service.

If you want to go to just the regular dinners, then a suit , something casual is recommended. There is one night (the tropical party) where you can get away with shorts and a tropical looking shirt for dinner. It's alot of fun

For the phone service, you can check with your phone provider. We have verizon and it does work in our calling area for San Juan and last year I did use the phone in St. Thomas, there was a surcharge for calling there, but it was not much.

Have a great cruise!

Travis

 

[CM_Mom]

Cingular has retail stores and service in Puerto Rico. DD regularly calls from St. Thomas on her Cingular phone. Cingular nationwide plans include U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) and Puerto Rico in the regular minutes swithout any additional charges. FYI, I work for Cingular.

Have a great time with your mom. My mom and aunt...80 somethings went with us on our recent cruise and really liked it.

Don't know what your mom is like but my "ladies" enjoyed the glass bottom boat excursion at Castaway Cay since they aren't "beach" type people.

The St. John Island tour is gorgeous and all of us enjoyed it. Check out my trip report at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=578595

 

[tvguy]

You don't need to dress up at all if you prefer the buffet, and you won't go hungry or be disappointed in the food either.
I don't know why your cell phone wouldn't in St. Thomas or San Juan, but I left mine at home, for the same reason I didn't sign up for e-mail on the ship, I was on vacation and didn't want to hear from anyone. They could always call my cabin and leave a voicemail if there was an emergency.

 

[Scrappy520]

Kansas -

This too will be our 1st cruise ever. I'm sure we'll have a great time.

A few answers to your questions & some suggestions:

1 - Your cell phone will work from PR; however, just check w/ your carrier for surcharges, if any.

2 - Consider purchasing travel insurance but NOT from Disney - well worth it for the $$ you're paying for this vacation! I got my insurance from Travelex.com & for exactly half of what Disney wanted.

3 - I'm going on the same cruise w/ hubby & 8yr old daugther - we decided to get a towncar service instead of the Disney buses. For pretty much the same price [give & take $5], I don't have to wait in lines & can travel a bit more comfortable.

4 - Definitely get the PassPorter - it's a wealth of information.

Have a nice day!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Hello all--

Just saw this thread, well, Travis pointed it out to me actually, and thought I would welcome our newest cruisers.

Don't forget that we also have our very own Disney Magic September 4th Cruise Thread <a href="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=433666">here</a>. Kansas, it's on the Dis Meets Forum at the top of the main Cruise Line Forum.

 

[TheWog]

Welcome... Your cell phone should work in St. Thomas. We have Verizon and ours did. You can wear nice pants and polo shirts to the restaurants and no one will look at you any differently. Just dont' go in shorts or jeans. Its nice to dress up, but don't miss out either. I vote for travel insurance as well. Make sure you go to the sail away party, have your docs filled out ahead of time, prior to getting to port and relax. You will have a great time. See the shows, hang out at the pool. Get a Coconut Java from Joval at the Goofy Pool. have fun