First Time Cruiser..Help..Please

[LBIgrl1]

Hi everyone,
I'm in the process of booking a cruise on Fantasy. I have never cruised before and had some questions that hopefully you guys can answer. Most importantly, should I book direct thru Disney or with a ta? I researched ta's that specialize in Disney cruises and found dreams unlimited, which is offering on board credit but the same price as Disney. Which is better? Also opinions on dining at Remy and Palo. And frankly, any useful information about what to expect will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[MelSpees]

Whoever you book through, you will get the same price. The difference, monetarily, comes from any On Board Credit (OBC) you get from a TA. Costco gives you a gift card after the cruise for a percentage of the cost. I think it's 8%. A TA will handle details for you, including any changes you may make to your cruise. Whether you go through a TA or not you will be able to on-line check-in and reserve excursions, Palo etc. and Port Arrival Time (PTA) yourself.
I haven't done Palo or Remy so can't really help you there, except to say I really like the MDRs.
If you look through some of the recent threads there is a lot of talk about TAs and what people like to do when they book.

 

[LBIgrl1]

Whoever you book through, you will get the same price. The difference, monetarily, comes from any On Board Credit (OBC) you get from a TA. Costco gives you a gift card after the cruise for a percentage of the cost. I think it's 8%. A TA will handle details for you, including any changes you may make to your cruise. Whether you go through a TA or not you will be able to on-line check-in and reserve excursions, Palo etc. and Port Arrival Time (PTA) yourself.
I haven't done Palo or Remy so can't really help you there, except to say I really like the MDRs.
If you look through some of the recent threads there is a lot of talk about TAs and what people like to do when they book.

Thank you for responding and your input! Maybe you can answer this question for me about the dress code. I live at the beach (literally)...so general wear for me (at least in the summer months) is flip flops, shorts, sun dresses ect...is that what is considered appropriate? Is formal wear a gown for me and a tux for my bf or just cocktail attire for me and dress pants and shirts for him? Sorry if it sounds silly I just want to be prepared.

 

[genki3]

Is formal wear a gown for me and a tux for my bf or just cocktail attire for me and dress pants and shirts for him? Sorry if it sounds silly I just want to be prepared.

Eating in the MDRs (main dining room), on Formal & Semi-formal nights, people generally wear cocktail dresses and suit/tie or button-down shirt/tie. On the other nights, it's whatever you want. I've gone in a summer dress, shorts and tee, shorts and tank top. You're on vacation! Do what makes you comfortable.

And I just recently went on my 1st DCL cruise. Before that I was reading on these boards a lot and learned so much of what to expect. If you have the time, read up on threads you're interested in or do a search for a particular topic. But one advice: You won't know everything. But you'll figure it out when you're on the ship.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Hi everyone,
I'm in the process of booking a cruise on Fantasy. I have never cruised before and had some questions that hopefully you guys can answer. Most importantly, should I book direct thru Disney or with a ta? I researched ta's that specialize in Disney cruises and found dreams unlimited, which is offering on board credit but the same price as Disney. Which is better? Also opinions on dining at Remy and Palo. And frankly, any useful information about what to expect will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

I would recommend booking through a travel agent, especially since you have never cruised before, and it is really nice to get an OBC for booking.

I haven't been to Remy, but have had dinner in Palo. I loved the dinner. The food was delicious and plentiful. The service was amazing. I'd highly recommend it. I have both a dinner and brunch scheduled for Palo when I cruise next month.

Thank you for responding and your input! Maybe you can answer this question for me about the dress code. I live at the beach (literally)...so general wear for me (at least in the summer months) is flip flops, shorts, sun dresses ect...is that what is considered appropriate? Is formal wear a gown for me and a tux for my bf or just cocktail attire for me and dress pants and shirts for him? Sorry if it sounds silly I just want to be prepared.

There is a much stricter dress code in Palo and Remy than in the MDRs. Flip flops and shorts are definitely on the no-no list for those two restaurants.

Here's the dress code for Remy:

Dress Code for Dinner: Men should wear dress pants with jacket (sports or suit). Women should wear a cocktail dress, pantsuit or skirt with blouse. Please, no jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

Dress Code for Brunch: Men should wear dress pants and a dress shirt—a jacket is optional. Women should wear a dress or pantsuit. Please, no jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

And the dress code for Palo:

Dress code: At Palo, dress pants and a shirt are required for men (jacket is optional) and a dress or pantsuit is required for women. Please no jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

There will be a greater variety of dress in the MDRs. There are a formal and semi-formal nights, but not everyone dresses up for those. A gown and tux are certainly not required for these nights, but you will see people in that type of attire. A simple dress for you and dress pants and shirt for your BF would be fine. Shorts are permitted in the MDRs, but no tank tops or swimwear. I wore capris and a nice blouse to the MDRs on the "cruise casual" nights. And of course, there is pirate night where you can wear your favorite pirate costume, unless you are in Palo or Remy that night.

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

Everyone has given you great advice so far. I second another poster in saying keep an eye on the boards. I have posted some questions and gotten EXCELLENT advice, but I have also found things out just by checking back that maybe I hadn't thought of yet. Feel free to post as many questions as you want. Everyone here is super helpful. HAPPY CRUISING!

 

[LBIgrl1]

Once again, thanks everyone. There's a lot to take in...but it's definitely worth it.

 

[Dona Momma]

If you would like to email me, I can give you a name of a great company to use. I just try to stay away from advertising on here. I don't want to hurt any feelings.

dkd7373@aol.com

Dona Momma

 

[FantasyDisneyFan]

I would recommend booking through a travel agent, especially since you have never cruised before, and it is really nice to get an OBC for booking.

I haven't been to Remy, but have had dinner in Palo. I loved the dinner. The food was delicious and plentiful. The service was amazing. I'd highly recommend it. I have both a dinner and brunch scheduled for Palo when I cruise next month.



There is a much stricter dress code in Palo and Remy than in the MDRs. Flip flops and shorts are definitely on the no-no list for those two restaurants.

Here's the dress code for Remy:

Dress Code for Dinner: Men should wear dress pants with jacket (sports or suit). Women should wear a cocktail dress, pantsuit or skirt with blouse. Please, no jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

Dress Code for Brunch: Men should wear dress pants and a dress shirt—a jacket is optional. Women should wear a dress or pantsuit. Please, no jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

And the dress code for Palo:

Dress code: At Palo, dress pants and a shirt are required for men (jacket is optional) and a dress or pantsuit is required for women. Please no jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes.

There will be a greater variety of dress in the MDRs. There are a formal and semi-formal nights, but not everyone dresses up for those. A gown and tux are certainly not required for these nights, but you will see people in that type of attire. A simple dress for you and dress pants and shirt for your BF would be fine. Shorts are permitted in the MDRs, but no tank tops or swimwear. I wore capris and a nice blouse to the MDRs on the "cruise casual" nights. And of course, there is pirate night where you can wear your favorite pirate costume, unless you are in Palo or Remy that night.

Thank you for the detailed information on what to wear in the MDRs, my kids were just asking me if they had to bring "fancy" clothes, I think we can now reach a happy medium on the dining attire.

 

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Hi! We have done both, through an agent and by ourselves over the computer/phone. Wife actually did 99 percent of that. We believe the travel agent is the way to go...quick, easy, they do it all and there is really no difference in prices. That's what we will be doing from now on. Have fun!!

 

[TxT365]

Maybe it's just me, but I find the idea of a "pants suit" for women to be an obsolete idea, business suits, yes, just not pants suits. For some reason, all I can picture is some 1970s era polyester type of outfit. (Probably because my dad got my mom something like that and then tried to pawn it off on me.)

I am also not a dress type of woman. With that said, I will have a pair of black slacks and a long-sleeved, collared blouse for formal night. Will that be sufficient? Is it okay to wear my black sneakers with those? Okay, that last part was just messing with you...I have a pair of black shoes to wear with them. This is something I would be comfortable wearing this to weddings, funerals or church. Am I on the right track?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Maybe it's just me, but I find the idea of a "pants suit" for women to be an obsolete idea, business suits, yes, just not pants suits. For some reason, all I can picture is some 1970s era polyester type of outfit. (Probably because my dad got my mom something like that and then tried to pawn it off on me.)

I am also not a dress type of woman. With that said, I will have a pair of black slacks and a long-sleeved, collared blouse for formal night. Will that be sufficient? Is it okay to wear my black sneakers with those? Okay, that last part was just messing with you...I have a pair of black shoes to wear with them. This is something I would be comfortable wearing this to weddings, funerals or church. Am I on the right track?

Thanks!

Yes. I've worn dress black slacks with a sparkly top for formal nights (as well as full length gowns and cocktail dresses). So what you're describing will be fine.