First Ever DISUnplugged Podcast Cruise 5/10/2009

[ClaraBug]

Tracy,

The shore excursions and castaway cay activities we can get a price from you correct?

I do kinda need to budget b/c we are taking the family vacation that following August, so I can't deplete the vacation funds completly. Flying to Wisc is not cheap!

BTW, DH was talking about the cruise last night after I told him about how most people I talk to said that the Cat 11 rooms were really nice, just small.
He said that this was probably a once in a lifetime deal (cruising) unless he found out that he was a pirate in his former life and absolutly loved cruising.
I almost fell off my chair laughing when we told me this. I think it would be kinda romantic married to a pirate ! Then I told him that we will be drinking like pirates that week!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Speaking of drink purchases onboard...are the servers pretty good about leaving you alone once you've declined to order any drinks? We've been on cruises before where the servers assigned to the section we are sitting in kept asking over and over again to the point where it made us uncomfortable and want to leave (poolside, shows, etc). I don't mind an occasional fru-fru drink that is umbrella-worthy, but do not drink continuously throughout the day and having to deal with pushy servers will definitely put a damper on things for me.

 

[DisneyKevin]

The big shock for us every time we cruise is the number of times and amount of money we spend at the Cove Cafe (coffee bar).

 

[ClaraBug]

Don't tell my husband about the coffee bar, he is a coffee addict and if he knows that, well, there goes my souvie $$.

 

[kimisabella]

The big shock for us every time we cruise is the number of times and amount of money we spend at the Cove Cafe (coffee bar).

That would be us - we're really not "drinkers", but we definatley love our iced coffees and lattes!!

 

[ClaraBug]

sorry but I have another ???

we have an inside room, so no veranda.......but is there a designated smoking area? if so, where? DH is a smoke but here is very considerate about (b/c I make him considerate) it.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Speaking of drink purchases onboard...are the servers pretty good about leaving you alone once you've declined to order any drinks? We've been on cruises before where the servers assigned to the section we are sitting in kept asking over and over again to the point where it made us uncomfortable and want to leave (poolside, shows, etc). I don't mind an occasional fru-fru drink that is umbrella-worthy, but do not drink continuously throughout the day and having to deal with pushy servers will definitely put a damper on things for me.

I've never found them to be pushy or obnoxious about it.

Most of the time, they walk around and wait for you to signal to them as opposed to approaching you on each round. I hope that make sense.

 

[mommyceratops]

Only if i can come too!!

You bet! I want to run to somewhere that peaceful and I don't have to drive...the temp is about 70 all the time....

How old is it? If it hasn't expired yet, you can send it in with your marriage license and they will add your name to the back of the passport. I don't believe I paid any fee (although it was 5 years ago and my memory isn't so good! - but if there was a fee, I KNOW it was less than $100!!) Just looking for an alternative since buying passports for everyone is so expensive.

It is about 10 years old...I was in my teens. I need to pull it out and look....Ok DENIAL 20 years ago

I also copy the credit cards I take with (front and back) and keep a copy in a safe place with me and one at home where I could instruct someone to get if something when terribly wrong (ok, maybe I'm going too far).

Never be to safe....

The big shock for us every time we cruise is the number of times and amount of money we spend at the Cove Cafe (coffee bar).

That sounds like my kind of stuff! I LOVE coffee!!!!! (although now I realize how much I miss it...I cut it out of the budget to put gas in the guzzler)

I've never found them to be pushy or obnoxious about it.

Most of the time, they walk around and wait for you to signal to them as opposed to approaching you on each round. I hope that make sense.

We can just get neon sizes to point to the CoBettes!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I've never found them to be pushy or obnoxious about it.

Most of the time, they walk around and wait for you to signal to them as opposed to approaching you on each round. I hope that make sense.

Thanks Kevin -- that's what I was hoping for!

 

[winotracy]

Tracy,

The shore excursions and castaway cay activities we can get a price from you correct?

I do kinda need to budget b/c we are taking the family vacation that following August, so I can't deplete the vacation funds completly. Flying to Wisc is not cheap!

BTW, DH was talking about the cruise last night after I told him about how most people I talk to said that the Cat 11 rooms were really nice, just small.
He said that this was probably a once in a lifetime deal (cruising) unless he found out that he was a pirate in his former life and absolutly loved cruising.
I almost fell off my chair laughing when we told me this. I think it would be kinda romantic married to a pirate ! Then I told him that we will be drinking like pirates that week!

Here is a link to the ports of call http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-ports.htm. If you click on the ports, you can scroll down and see the excursions offered and the prices. Personally, on Castaway Cay I do nothing usually. Spend the day at the adult beach with a couple Konk Koolers!!

As for the category 11 rooms, they are smaller than the rest, but they are larger than other cruise lines. For a four night cruise you'll have no problem with this choice.

Speaking of drink purchases onboard...are the servers pretty good about leaving you alone once you've declined to order any drinks? We've been on cruises before where the servers assigned to the section we are sitting in kept asking over and over again to the point where it made us uncomfortable and want to leave (poolside, shows, etc). I don't mind an occasional fru-fru drink that is umbrella-worthy, but do not drink continuously throughout the day and having to deal with pushy servers will definitely put a damper on things for me.

I wouldn't say pushy at all. On the first day when walking to the buffet we had quite a few ask us if we wanted a drink (usually they only offer the drinks of the day at that time and they have them available on their trays at that time). I found at times it was sometimes difficult to find a server when I was at the pool. They usually just stroll around and if you make eye contact, they'll ask if they can get you something. Not bad at all!

sorry but I have another ???

we have an inside room, so no veranda.......but is there a designated smoking area? if so, where? DH is a smoke but here is very considerate about (b/c I make him considerate) it.

He can smoke on the starboard side of the ship (that is right side when facing front) on open decks only. Deck 4 promenade, Deck 9 or Deck 10. He cannot smoke on Deck 9 by the Mickey pool however. There are no longer places inside where he can smoke. As a side note, smoking is permitted on a private verandah regardless of the side of the ship.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

We've cruised in a cats 12, 11 and 9 and are booked into a 12 for this cruise. The rooms are the same in cats 12 and 11 it's just a different location on the ship. For the two of us the size of the room is fine. If there were more than 2 the size of the cabin is probably fine but then there might not be enough space for stuff -- I tend to travel with a lot of 'stuff'. Don't ask me what it is but at the end of a cruise I'm always amazed at the "stuff" that we have lying around the room.

I will also state that inside staterooms are great for naps!

I didn't find them pushy at all about drinks on DCL either on deck or in the dining rooms which was actually really nice. I will have a couple of drinks but I take medication that doesn't really allow me to drink. (I can take one sip of wine and feel like throwing up so I tend to just avoid it although fru-fru drinks and beer seem ok).

On castaway cay we've rented bicycles which is kinda fun and the cost isn't too much. Other than that I had parasailing booked the last time but it was too rough.

Remember to budget some money for pictures -- we aren't really picture people but still end up buying a couple.

Oh - another hint if this is your first cruise -- your room steward will come into your room during dinner to turn down the bed so if you change before dinner don't leave your clothes lying around. I didn't realize this the first time we cruised and we hurriedly changed for dinner and left clothes and everything else lying all over the cabin which were all neatly picked up and folded when we got back from dinner but I was

Fiona

 

[chickie]

I agree with Fiona on the pictures-
They can be a definite budget buster! I never dreamed we'd buy that many pictures, but they all looked so darned cute! We even got one of DD playing in the sand on Castaway Cay. We have it framed and sitting on our entertainment center. They can be hard to resist!

 

[mommyceratops]

I agree with Fiona on the pictures-
They can be a definite budget buster! I never dreamed we'd buy that many pictures, but they all looked so darned cute! We even got one of DD playing in the sand on Castaway Cay. We have it framed and sitting on our entertainment center. They can be hard to resist!

I am a picture lover! not good news for my budget...

What price range are they in?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Does DCL participate in anything like Photopass?

 

[kab407]

Oh - another hint if this is your first cruise -- your room steward will come into your room during dinner to turn down the bed so if you change before dinner don't leave your clothes lying around. I didn't realize this the first time we cruised and we hurriedly changed for dinner and left clothes and everything else lying all over the cabin which were all neatly picked up and folded when we got back from dinner but I was

Fiona

At least it wasn't incorporated into a towel animal!

I came back to the room one night and found my hat and sunglasses on a towel monkey hanging in the bathroom. Thank God I put my underwear away!

 

[winotracy]

I am a picture lover! not good news for my budget...

What price range are they in?

They have packages, but I know the formal ones (or anything 8x10) are $19.99 if purchased separately. I don't recall the prices on the smaller ones (6x8)

Does DCL participate in anything like Photopass?

Unfortunately, no.

 

[mommyceratops]

At least it wasn't incorporated into a towel animal!

I came back to the room one night and found my hat and sunglasses on a towel monkey hanging in the bathroom. Thank God I put my underwear away!

What? Was it leopard print and not looked good on the monkey?!

 

[kab407]

What? Was it leopard print and not looked good on the monkey?!

Since you insist on knowing Kim, granny panties. How's that for an image for the rest of the afternoon!!!!!

 

[ClaraBug]

That's too funny!! But what color?

Fiona,

Thanks for the info, especially about the turn down.....A nap does sound good right now. I have amp'ed up my exercise routine to lose weight for the cruise. I did squats and leg lunges today and my legs REALLY hurt but it is a good hurt.

 

[ClaraBug]

I have another question

I was looking at some of the Spa stuff online and would someone please tell me or explain what the Exotic Rasul? When I read it, I thought

Is my mind just in a non G rated place?