First Cruise

[ClemmyIndyBambi]

I've been on DisBoards for about a decade, and I've been to WDW between 50-60 times, and DL about 5 times, but I have never been on a Disney Cruise and so I decided to make an acct because I want to make sure I'm on the right page with whats going to happen. This is my first cruise ever, and so obviously my first Disney Cruise. We (my boyfriend and I) are going on the Dream's January 4th Bahamas cruise. It was a last minute decision in September. My boyfriend was eagerly planning his first cruise on Carnival in October with his childhood best friend and I was watching Speed 2: Cruise Control which made me decide that it looked pretty south of FL and I wanted to see it too. I have always said if I went on a cruise it would be a Disney Cruise, and so I called to price the cruise and I ended up booking the cruise. Anyway, my boyfriend is freaking out that we are going to forget something because his cruise was booked by his childhood best friends mother who is a travel agent, and apparently she made it seem like it's not something that the regular people of the world can figure out. I think I have it figured out, but want to double check so we aren't on the trip and he gets all pouty because I did something wrong.

We are flying into MCO, and then driving to Port Canaveral to stay the night. I have not yet booked a hotel in Port Canaveral (suggestions?). My plan was to drive our rental car to the port and park it there. I know to have cash on me to pay for parking. We can pay when we arrive at the port for parking. We need to keep our passports, and other cruise documents with us in our carry-on to present when we board. We go to our room, and then we have the drill before we leave to make sure we know how to properly flee in the event of emergency. Then we set off for the Bahamas. Thus far I'm on the right page correct? Here is where I have a few questions. Can I find out our dining rotation prior to boarding? I was thinking of adding an adults only dining, but I don't want to miss any of the other three dinings. I've already paid gratuity ahead of time, and when I did she said I would have coupons to give to each of the people who receive gratuity, do I need to hunt each of them down to give them the coupon (that's the way she made it sound)? How do we get to our Port Adventure on Nassau? My boyfriend picked Atlantis for our Port Adventure in Nassau, how do we get there? On his cruise in October he said they had to get taxis in each of the ports they visited to take them to their destinations. How is the seating during the shows on the ship determined? Are the character lines mostly small children? Or is there a mix of ages like at the parks? You have to get a ticket or something to get pictures with characters right? Where do you get it? If we enjoy this cruise, we are thinking of booking a cruise in December 2016 but because of my new job I'm not sure if it'll be the Dec 10 out of Port Canaveral or Dec 16 out of Galveston, if you book before leaving do they offer a discount like the resorts in the parks do?

Is there anything else I need to think about? I'm getting excited because I've wanted to go on a Disney Cruise since I was a teenager, but at the same time I'm getting nervous because it's my first cruise and I feel like I'm not going to be able to make it as amazing as I can make the parks (because I know them like the back of my hand).

 

[dglilbit]

Congrats on your cruise! We are going on our first cruise on Friday!! It is the Wonder cruise out of Galveston and to the Bahamas.

Here is a thread about the Atlantis excursion booked through DCL:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/atlantis-excursion-timeline.3464817/#post-54763349

I compiled a bunch of information in my PTR if you want to check it out.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/1s...very-merry-time-on-the-disney-wonder.3450880/

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Our first cruise as well-- does the Disney Dream staterooms have Kleenex's? Or do I need to bring a box?
My son & I are getting the sniffles.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Speed 2: Cruise Control which made me decide that it looked pretty south of FL and I wanted to see it too. FWIW, Speed 2 was filmed at St. Maarten.

Anyway, my boyfriend is freaking out that we are going to forget something because his cruise was booked by his childhood best friends mother who is a travel agent, and apparently she made it seem like it's not something that the regular people of the world can figure out. I think I have it figured out, but want to double check so we aren't on the trip and he gets all pouty because I did something wrong. Planning a cruise is actually simpler than planning a trip to WDW.

Can I find out our dining rotation prior to boarding? You find out your dining rotation when you get your KTTW (key to the world room key) when you check-in at the port. You'll be given a "Navigator" daily newsletter when you board, and it will tell you where to go to make dining changes. You can book adult dining there.

Gratuities: she said I would have coupons to give to each of the people who receive gratuity, do I need to hunt each of them down to give them the coupon (that's the way she made it sound)? No, the coupons are just a formality. The $$$ will automatically be posted to each person's account.

How is the seating during the shows on the ship determined? First come, first serve.

Are the character lines mostly small children? Or is there a mix of ages like at the parks? A mix. You have to get a ticket or something to get pictures with characters right? Where do you get it? Guest services. If we enjoy this cruise, we are thinking of booking a cruise in December 2016 but because of my new job I'm not sure if it'll be the Dec 10 out of Port Canaveral or Dec 16 out of Galveston, if you book before leaving do they offer a discount like the resorts in the parks do? Yes. I would book the Dec 10, and if you have to switch to Dec 16, you can move it any time before your paid-in-full deadline.

Is there anything else I need to think about? Yes. Tell your boy friend to relax, you've got this. I'm getting excited because I've wanted to go on a Disney Cruise since I was a teenager, but at the same time I'm getting nervous because it's my first cruise and I feel like I'm not going to be able to make it as amazing as I can make the parks (because I know them like the back of my hand).

.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Our first cruise as well-- does the Disney Dream staterooms have Kleenex's? Or do I need to bring a box?
My son & I are getting the sniffles.

Yes, they have Kleenex. If you run out, just ask your stateroom host for more, but he/she will probably replace the box without being asked.

 

[rwcmath]

There are tissues in the bathrooms.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have been on 18 disney cruises. But never just a three day. Here are some ideas.

There really is no reason to leave s rental csr at port and pay the parking rate and the rental car Cost. You can easily drop off the car at the company location nearest the port and get a shuttle to port. Then pick up a car again when you get back. We have found that for just two people the cost of the car vs just taking a transfer is about even. With three or more it is more cost efficient to get a car.

There is Kleenex in bathroom.

I think you can call to find dining rotation. For 3 nights I'm not sure I would go to palo. For a first timer the MDRs are great.

Part of the cost of the port adventure is to get you there. There should be a bus. Your excursion ticket will be in your room and will tell you where to meet your excursion and what time.

Lots of adults do character pictures. You may need to get tickets in advance at guest services once you board. When you check in you will get s navigator that explains everything.

If you book onboard there is a small discount.

For the shows its first come for seats. Sit wherever you like. The Disney theater gets pretty full but we've never been turned away.

 

[ClemmyIndyBambi]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

That's funny Speed 2 was filmed in St. Maarten. He (the boyfriend) actually went there on his cruise in October. I just thought the water and bright colors were pretty. I've never actually been farther south than central FL. I've been to Tampa, Port Canaveral, Venice, Cannes, Nice, San Francisco and all over southern California, but I've never seen water in person that is that clear. In fact, most the water I've seen is pretty nasty looking.

I'm glad lots of adults do character pictures. I took my boyfriend with me to WDW in 2007, but he was too cool for character pictures at 22 (one of the reasons he's not been invited back with me). Now that he's older (and he realizes it's all about having fun not about looking "cool") he's actually looking forward to character pictures, and I was worried if it was only small children in the lines he'd back out. I had intended to turn this into a WDW/DCL trip, but because I planned it so late (and it's at the same time as the marathon) the only rooms I could find were really expensive on property. So, we decided to turn it into a DCL/Universal trip, which I've never stayed on Universal property so it'll be another entirely new experience for me. Unfortunately, that cuts down on our character picture time to only during the cruise. It's actually been kind of neat to see the guy who pouted about his friends making fun of him for going to WDW (none of course had been there) getting excited about seeing the shows on board and seeing characters. It only took 10 years, but I finally rubbed off on him.

That's good to know I can change the cruise if needed for next December. We really prefer the December 10th trip, so we can turn it into the WDW/DCL trip we wanted this January. But, if we have to leave on December 16th from Galveston we can at least stop by and see my cousin who lives in Houston. Either way, we'd be experiencing Disney so it's all good.

 

[codex57]

I would do a one way rental to and from MCO and Port Canaveral. There are also plenty of hotel options right next to the airport. We're staying at the Hyatt in the airport.

 

[ClemmyIndyBambi]

I would do a one way rental to and from MCO and Port Canaveral. There are also plenty of hotel options right next to the airport. We're staying at the Hyatt in the airport.

How does this work? I've never done a one way rental before, except once when I got stranded in Chicago to drive back home to Iowa. How do I get to the hotel from the rental company? How do I get to the rental company from the port? It would be nice not paying for the car when we aren't using it, because it's going to be several hundred just for it to sit.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How does this work? I've never done a one way rental before, except once when I got stranded in Chicago to drive back home to Iowa. How do I get to the hotel from the rental company? How do I get to the rental company from the port? It would be nice not paying for the car when we aren't using it, because it's going to be several hundred just for it to sit.

There are shuttles from the port to the major rental car companies in Cape Canaveral. When figuring out costs, be sure check if one way rentals cost more than actually parking the car for a short cruise. Sometimes they do.

 

[over50visits]

How does this work? I've never done a one way rental before, except once when I got stranded in Chicago to drive back home to Iowa. How do I get to the hotel from the rental company? How do I get to the rental company from the port? It would be nice not paying for the car when we aren't using it, because it's going to be several hundred just for it to sit.

One way rentals are just like regular rentals. Same paperwork, pickup procedure, dropoff procedure. You'll get your car at MCO and drive to your hotel. As for the port, just drive to the rental location, drop off, and they'll take you to the ship. Check to be sure they'll pick you up at the ship to bring you back to get your second rental three days later.

So it's not too bad.

But...my advice is to get and keep one car. First, two one-way rentals are (in our experience) more expensive than a round trip rental. Parking for a three day cruise is $60 (pay in cash or credit card, and there are PLENTY of parking spots). And it's really not "easy" to get from the rental location to the port and back. You have to wait until their shuttle is available, hope the shuttle isn't a cattle car, and after the cruise stand on the curb with your luggage until the shuttle shows up. Parking at the port is expensive, but the convenience is head and shoulders above any other option, including the rental car dropoff.

I think the potential saving in rental fees (4 day rental vs two one-way rentals) and the real, real convenience of port parking is so high that you should seriously consider a roundtrip rental, and park at the pier.

p.s. Just another thought. We always spend the night before at a Disney hotel (usually one of the "value" ones). We love staying at Disney, it gets us in the mood, and the drive to the port is a very very easy and short (one hour straight shot) one through nice countryside on a nonstop highway. And the view of the ship as you come over that last bridge is amazing. I guess I shouldn't say always...years ago we stayed at a nearby hotel. Nothing in the world compared to staying at WDW. Never again.

 

[codex57]

There are shuttles from the port to the major rental car companies in Cape Canaveral. When figuring out costs, be sure check if one way rentals cost more than actually parking the car for a short cruise. Sometimes they do.

Yeah, just trying to give you options. There are so many discounts on car rentals, it's hard to say which way will be cheaper.

Same with hotels. My TA thinks I should book a hotel in the Cape Canaveral area because many of them come with free buffet breakfasts. I ended up staying at the airport cuz after hours on a plane with the kids, I'm not relishing another hour drive.