February 9, 2012 3 Night Bahamian Dream Cruise

[wink13]

It is just a joy to wait till 3AM to check in online.

We're all checked in. Port arrival time 11-11:30.

Cabana reserved at Castaway Cay. Not sure if I'm going to keep it but at least we have one reserved.

 

[texasmelrose2]

Hi there! We will be sailing with you all too!

We booked a while back and have been planning this trip for almost a year. Joining me will be my husband, DD9, DS3, Mom, Mother in Law and Father in law. We have a verandah room (hubby and I ) and my mom and inlaws booked adjoining inside rooms. We are so excited! Before the cruise we will be spending 4 days at Disney World and making the round there. This will be the first cruise for my kids, inlaws and mom. Hubby and I went on an Alaska cruise last year. (I think we are hooked now) This will be our first time on Disney...Alaska was with Princess.

We have made our final payments for both the land and cruise so we are set!

One question...how did you get to check in so soon? It tells me we cannot check in until 11/26.

Look forward to chatting with you all as we prepare for our cruises! It will be here before we know it!!

 

[KAA1972]

Isn't the military rate AMAZING!! This will be our first trip with the kids but without my parents. We love having them along, but I do think this will be very different! Look forward to cruising with you!

Yes, we were so happy to get the military rate! This will be our first cruise with the kids but without my parents too! I totally get it when you say it will be different. We are looking forward to some much needed family time and our DD loves the kids club so hubby and I will enjoy some time at the adult pool. Can't wait!!

 

[Silverfox97]

One question...how did you get to check in so soon? It tells me we cannot check in until 11/26.

That is because you are 1st time Disney cruisers and cannot check in until 74 days out. Once you complete your first sailing, you become Silver Castaway Club members, and you can check in 90 days out. Once you complete 5 sailings, you can check in 105 days out, and Platinum is 120 days out.

 

[MISSREBECCA76]

It is just a joy to wait till 3AM to check in online.

Ok, maybe this is a dumb newbie question, by why must I wait up till 3am to check in??? Does everything fill up that quickly?

 

[wink13]

Ok, maybe this is a dumb newbie question, by why must I wait up till 3am to check in??? Does everything fill up that quickly?

You can start booking activities at midnight eastern time. Port adventures, adult dining and spa & fitness and some of them do fill up quickly.

On-line checkin starts at 3 a.m. eastern time and if you want an early arrival time at the Port it can be important but not necessary. Some cruises it's more important than others. I don't think our cruise is that full yet as they have discounts for Florida Res and Military so it may not be as important.

Castaway Cay Cabanas often go fast and there are still cabanas available for cruise which indicates waiting is not a big deal.

With that said I did wait until 2 central to do my checkin.

 

[texasmelrose2]

That is because you are 1st time Disney cruisers and cannot check in until 74 days out. Once you complete your first sailing, you become Silver Castaway Club members, and you can check in 90 days out. Once you complete 5 sailings, you can check in 105 days out, and Platinum is 120 days out.

Ah, now it makes sense...thanks!

 

[ssanders79]

The FE List has been updated.

 

[ssanders79]

Ok, maybe this is a dumb newbie question, by why must I wait up till 3am to check in??? Does everything fill up that quickly?

It really depends on the cruise. For example Remy/Palo reso go quick. While they do seem to hold back some for each booking window (Platinum/Gold/Silver/1st) they can sometimes be gone.

Our reason for checking in when the window opens is primarily for the port arrival time. This means more to us than any of the other reservations as we drive to the port from our house (~90 mins) and we like to get on the ship and start our vacations as early as possible.

While this may not be important to others it is worth a late night for us.

 

[mommy2tati]

Good morning everyone!

We'll be joining you on this trip! It will be myself, Ileana & my DD10, Tatiyana. This willbe our 3rd DCL cruise. I couldn't help myself when I saw the VGT rates and the 20% off sale JetBlue had yesterday. Technically I'm not booked yet but I did purchase my flights. I'm just waiting to hear back from DU regarding my reservation. Anyway I'm excited!!!!! It will be a quickie before our 8/25/12 Bahamas sailing from NYC.

 

[wink13]

Good morning everyone!

We'll be joining you on this trip! It will be myself, Ileana & my DD10, Tatiyana. This willbe our 3rd DCL cruise. I couldn't help myself when I saw the VGT rates and the 20% off sale JetBlue had yesterday. Technically I'm not booked yet but I did purchase my flights. I'm just waiting to hear back from DU regarding my reservation. Anyway I'm excited!!!!! It will be a quickie before our 8/25/12 Bahamas sailing from NYC.

Welcome!

 

[brackjr]

Just curious - why don't you just book with them from the get go?

We always book onboard for the best discount at the time. When we get home I then transfer the reservation to them so they can watch for any price changes, news updates and their room credit.

This time the room credit wasn't available and I found the rate change by someone else's post here.

 

[brackjr]

Our reason for checking in when the window opens is primarily for the port arrival time. This means more to us than any of the other reservations as we drive to the port from our house (~90 mins) and we like to get on the ship and start our vacations as early as possible.

We live up the "street" in Lutz and do the same thing!

 

[Silverfox97]

We always book onboard for the best discount at the time. When we get home I then transfer the reservation to them so they can watch for any price changes, news updates and their room credit.

We always book on board as well (in fact, last time, we booked 3 on board - this one, and 2 dummy dates (!), but we name our Dreams TA lovestrucBeth Fejer) at the time of booking on the ship, instead of transferring to them after the fact. I have heard that you are assured of getting the full OBC from them that way, where as if you transfer, it could be reduced from them not receiving full commission (they usually receive lower commission from transferred reservations). Guess if you have been receiving the full amount, it doesn't matter then!

 

[HappyGilmore]

I think we may be joining you guys on this sailing. My family of 4 hubby and2 DD 8 and 5, then my mom, dad, sister, cousin, sister in law and 1 or 2 of her hearing impaired friends. Have any of you cruised in Feb before? What are the seas and temps like? Could you use the pools and swim in the ocean or was it too cold?

 

[Silverfox97]

I think we may be joining you guys on this sailing. My family of 4 hubby and2 DD 8 and 5, then my mom, dad, sister, cousin, sister in law and 1 or 2 of her hearing impaired friends. Have any of you cruised in Feb before? What are the seas and temps like? Could you use the pools and swim in the ocean or was it too cold?

Well, I can't speak to Feb, but we cruised last Jan 3-8 on the Magic - a double dip, so same destinations. We don't get off the ship in Nassau (won't this cruise, either) & that is the day we let DD swim in the pools. The pools were fine, it was cold getting out, but the hot tubs warm you up.

Now, we had 2 stops at CC & being from Florida, that water was unswimmable. We didn't even wear swim suits there on the 2nd stop!! First stop we let DD play in the sand (which she is happy doing). The second stop we rented bikes & all went in to Scuttles Cove as a family to do the whale dig.

To be honest, we knew in advance & planned on not being able to swim, but we still had a great time! Again, we are from FL, so our temp tolerance is different (although in Jan., there were very very few people braving the water at CC).

This is only 4 weeks later, & we are expecting it to be the same. Heck, we just did a 7-night Western in Oct on the Magic & although we did swim at CC, it was not warm like it is in the summer months!!!

Hope this helps!!

 

[wink13]

I think we may be joining you guys on this sailing. My family of 4 hubby and2 DD 8 and 5, then my mom, dad, sister, cousin, sister in law and 1 or 2 of her hearing impaired friends. Have any of you cruised in Feb before? What are the seas and temps like? Could you use the pools and swim in the ocean or was it too cold?

We have done the 3 day Disney Wonder Cruise in Feb of 2009 & 2010. The weather can vary. 2009 we had perfect weather upper 70's to lower 80's in 2010 we could not stop at CC due to weather and high winds.

We are from Nebraska so swimming is cooler water was not an issue for us. Anything above freezing in Feb is good weather.

 

[Silverfox97]

We are from Nebraska so swimming is cooler water was not an issue for us.

So there are other people that swim in that cold water other than Canadians!

 

[texasmelrose2]

I think we may be joining you guys on this sailing. My family of 4 hubby and2 DD 8 and 5, then my mom, dad, sister, cousin, sister in law and 1 or 2 of her hearing impaired friends. Have any of you cruised in Feb before? What are the seas and temps like? Could you use the pools and swim in the ocean or was it too cold?

That's great! Hope it works out and you join us! I have a feeling my DD and your DD may play together in Oceaneers club..

It won't be long now!

 

[wink13]

So there are other people that swim in that cold water other than Canadians!