First cruise. Need help

[Kmh678]

My husband just booked us our first Disney cruise. We are traveling December 13th out of Miami. Any one help me out with what is important to bring. Do I need dresses for dinner. Also, we were thinking of flying in the night before, is it better to do that or fly in early morning the day of the cruise. Thanks

 

[DISGRL13]

We always fly in the night before because you just never know.

You can be casual or as dressy as you like for dinner. If it is a seven night cruise there is a formal night, but you do not have to dress formally if you do not want to. My husband wore khakis and a polo or button down each night to the main dining room for dinner. Slacks and a blouse for you or dress if you wish.

Just relax and enjoy!

 

[Kmh678]

Thank you. My other question is. If we fly in the night before, how would one get to the port. Do we have to go back to the airport for the transportation my husband had to pay for.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you. My other question is. If we fly in the night before, how would one get to the port. Do we have to go back to the airport for the transportation my husband had to pay for.

If you stay off site (from the airport), yes you'd have to go back to the airport to catch the DCL transfers. Or you could stay at the Hyatt MCO. They're right in the airport and very handy. They have an agreement with DCL transport to get your bags from your room there and take them directly to the DCL transport truck. You wouldn't see your checked bags again until they show up at your room onboard the ship.

Sorry, this is for Port Canaveral. Don't know if the airport hotel at Miami also has a similar plan or not.

 

[over50visits]

My husband just booked us our first Disney cruise. We are traveling December 13th out of Miami. Any one help me out with what is important to bring. Do I need dresses for dinner. Also, we were thinking of flying in the night before, is it better to do that or fly in early morning the day of the cruise. Thanks

If you spend the night before in Miami, you're on your own getting from the airport to the hotel and back for DCL transfers. Coming in early morning works just fine for everyone, but if your comfort level (worried about flight delays, for example) needs it you may want to come in the day before. Many folks do that.

You might consider the Miami Airport Comfort Suites, they used to give free transfers from the airport to the hotel, then to the Port of Miami. Then after the cruise use the Disney transfer you paid for.

Dinner dress: the dining rooms are elegant, the waiters dressed up, and the setting enchanting. You would love dressing appropriately. However, it's not required, and you'll see plenty of people in casual clothes (even some in shorts and t-shirts) and plenty of people dressed nicely. Absolutely up to what you want to experience!

EDIT: See the following post bye ajo with better hotel info...

 

[ajo]

We stayed at the Conrad in Miami the night before our cruise and our DCL transfer bus picked us up right at the hotel the next morning (there is a DCL check-in desk inside the hotel). Our bags were picked up in the room and we next saw them outside our rooms on the ship. No need to go back to the airport. If you are flying in the night before, I'd find out which hotel(s) DCL is currently partnering with for the bus transfers. It was super easy!

 

[over50visits]

We stayed at the Conrad in Miami the night before our cruise and our DCL transfer bus picked us up right at the hotel the next morning (there is a DCL check-in desk inside the hotel). Our bags were picked up in the room and we next saw them outside our rooms on the ship. No need to go back to the airport. If you are flying in the night before, I'd find out which hotel(s) DCL is currently partnering with for the bus transfers. It was super easy!

Great information!

 

[smootenloopers]

If you stay off site (from the airport), yes you'd have to go back to the airport to catch the DCL transfers. Or you could stay at the Hyatt MCO. They're right in the airport and very handy. They have an agreement with DCL transport to get your bags from your room there and take them directly to the DCL transport truck. You wouldn't see your checked bags again until they show up at your room onboard the ship.

This only applies to cruises out of Port Canaveral, not Miami.

 

[sleepydog25]

If I read the listing correctly, you'll be on the Magic. As such, I highly recommend you dine one night at Palo--it's worth the extra cost--the chocolate souffle is worth the extra dollars alone. If you dine there, I would suggest dressing up a bit for there, though formal wear certainly isn't necessary. As it's an adults-only restaurant, it's quieter and more refined than the other main dining areas, and dressing up a bit for Palo enhances the experience for us. Have fun!

 

[anricat]

There are a lot of great threads about where to stay in Miami the night before. We stayed downtown, taking a shuttle from the airport to our hotel. Then the next morning took a cab to port (about $10). We really enjoyed being downtown the night before. We enjoyed dinner within walking distance and some local gelato. The cab to port the next morning was easy and fast.

We booked our hotel on hotwire.com after someone posted here that the Intercontinental could be had for a super cheap price. We chose the downtown area and then it gave us the option of a "mystery hotel" that was 4 stars, in downtown and $85. We rolled the dice and were very happy.

 

[swfmco]

We stayed at the Conrad in Miami the night before our cruise and our DCL transfer bus picked us up right at the hotel the next morning (there is a DCL check-in desk inside the hotel). Our bags were picked up in the room and we next saw them outside our rooms on the ship.

What time did the DCL bus leave from the Conrad? Do they have multiple departures or just one? What time did you need to have your bags read for the bus? Did you put them outside your room or did they knock?

 

[ajo]

What time did the DCL bus leave from the Conrad? Do they have multiple departures or just one? What time did you need to have your bags read for the bus? Did you put them outside your room or did they knock?

The boarding time for the bus was at 10:00 a.m. and there was only one departure. We ended up leaving about 20 minutes later because they couldn't find one of the families that was supposed to be on the bus. I think our bags had to be ready in our rooms for pick up at 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. They knocked on the door and collected them directly from us because we were still there, but I think they would have come in and gotten them if we were already gone.