First time cruiser questions

[jrabbit]

Thank you for the great responses. We are new to cruising and I am trying to figure out what a week will cost. What are the adult drink prices like?

Thanks
amber

Generally less expensive than big city bars/lounges.

Drink of the day - probably less than $5. Especially if you do not get it in the souvenir glass (like at the sail away party)

Dinner Menu Drinks - usually less than $7

Nightclub Menu Drinks can be up to $10. But I think they honor the drink of the day prices too.

I think that I have been guessing high - but also don't want to lead anyone to think that they are really cheep.

 

[aboveH20]

all activities are free except for ...

• Some Fitness center activities. Those that carry a charge are identified (body sculpt work out )
• Spa
• Salon
• Hair Braiding
• Shore Excursions
• Bingo (free to watch - heard that it's fun)
• Arcade
• Pin Trading* (*BYOP - Bring Your Own Pins - then free, but there are pins available for purchase)
• Mixology / Tasting Classes
• Palo
• Remy (Dream / Fantasy)
• Bipity Bopity Boutique (Dream / Fantasy)
• Sports Simulator (Dream / Fantasy)

Can anyone add to this list of "activities" that carry a charge?

Here's a thread all about what costs extra:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?page=2&t=3164135

Thank you both. I'm not rich by any means but choose to spend my money on travel. Frugal ways are hard to let go.

One more question, before my mind is complete mush after reading sooooo much. I have a $50 Disney gift card which I had planned to use for the dinner (not tip) part of Palo, and then I wondered if I can do that or if it just automatically goes onto the ship board account.

It's supposed to be below zero tonight in NY. Can't wait for Cozumel!

 

[VbChristy]

Thank you both. I'm not rich by any means but choose to spend my money on travel. Frugal ways are hard to let go. One more question, before my mind is complete mush after reading sooooo much. I have a $50 Disney gift card which I had planned to use for the dinner (not tip) part of Palo, and then I wondered if I can do that or if it just automatically goes onto the ship board account. It's supposed to be below zero tonight in NY. Can't wait for Cozumel!

The Palo charge will go on your onboard acct but you can take you $50 GC and apply it to your account at guest services.

 

[noahdove]

This is a great thread! It's a refresher for me as well as some new info...

 

[moogiepet]

Just booked a cruise for Nov 6. First ever cruise. Thanks for all the info!

 

[lffam]

Great information for a First time cruiser and someone that tipping is not an every day occurrence (from Down Under), thank you very much. We are booked on Fantasy for the Christmas cruise 2015.

 

[aboveH20]

This will be our second Disney cruise . I think part of the reason I'm so gun shy is because of our first cruise. We were wandering around the ship the last night and came to an area with all of the embarkation photos. We saw ours and took it. Months later it dawned on me that we were probably supposed to have paid for it. It's been long enough now that I don't remember the set up and how we might have missed any indication that Mickey wanted money for the photo. In retrospect I'm guessing people saw us with our photo -- not in a folder, not in a bag -- and "knew" we stole it.

I just hope Security doesn't have our mug shot posted.

The Palo charge will go on your onboard acct but you can take you $50 GC and apply it to your account at guest services.

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping to use the gift card AT Palo, but realize that's not the way it's done.

 

[jrabbit]

T..We were wandering around the ship the last night and came to an area with all of the embarkation photos. We saw ours and took it. Months later it dawned on me that we were probably supposed to have paid for it. It's been long enough now that I don't remember the set up and how we might have missed any indication that Mickey wanted money for the photo. In retrospect I'm guessing people saw us with our photo -- not in a folder, not in a bag -- and "knew" we stole it.
...

That was the "Old" set up. It seemed like you were walking through a hallway and they had all of these "walls of pictures". In some places there were signs about pricing, but not on all of the boards. I can "understand" your confusion.

These days on all of the ships the set up is MUCH different. All of your pictures go into the "library" - each stateroom has their own book on a shelf in the "library" .... and signs everywhere about the cost of the pictures.

And now that you are an experience cruiser - you know that they are not free.

Yours seems like an innocent mistake. I have been on MANY cruises where I've seen people take pictures with their cameras of the pictures that Shutters took of them. They KNEW that they were stealing!!!

 

[over50visits]

Captain's Gala is a themed menu in the MDRs. It's typically on a semi-formal night on the longer (7 night) cruises.

More than that! Typically most people dress nicely, and in the atrium the Captain/ship's officers typically mingle so you can meet and speak with them. I've also seen free cocktails served prior to dinner. The ambiance reminds you that Disney can create a special, memorable moment. Sometimes it feels as if the evening has been transformed back to the classic days of sailing. The waiters treat it as a special occasion. More than just a special menu, it is intended to be the highlight evening meal of your cruise.

 

[bcwife76]

Just booked a cruise for Nov 6. First ever cruise. Thanks for all the info!

We are going on our first cruise Sept 27th, finding this thread VERY helpful! Thank you to everyone for your answers!

 

[Disney Mommy D]

Great thread... We are first time cruisers as well!

 

[melissarose]

More than that! Typically most people dress nicely, and in the atrium the Captain/ship's officers typically mingle so you can meet and speak with them. I've also seen free cocktails served prior to dinner. The ambiance reminds you that Disney can create a special, memorable moment. Sometimes it feels as if the evening has been transformed back to the classic days of sailing. The waiters treat it as a special occasion. More than just a special menu, it is intended to be the highlight evening meal of your cruise.

This sounds really awesome. Looking forward to it!

 

[aboveH20]

That was the "Old" set up. It seemed like you were walking through a hallway and they had all of these "walls of pictures". In some places there were signs about pricing, but not on all of the boards. I can "understand" your confusion.

These days on all of the ships the set up is MUCH different. All of your pictures go into the "library" - each stateroom has their own book on a shelf in the "library" .... and signs everywhere about the cost of the pictures.

And now that you are an experience cruiser - you know that they are not free.

Yours seems like an innocent mistake. I have been on MANY cruises where I've seen people take pictures with their cameras of the pictures that Shutters took of them. They KNEW that they were stealing!!!

Thanks for information about the new set up and the old hallways. We went on a Princess cruise to Alaska last year and willingly paid the $19.95 for the photo. I expect we'll buy the photo this time as well since we're pretty much souvenired out.

 

[ladypiph]

Generally how much does everyone end up tipping EXTRA to the servers and stateroom host/hostess?


*Just a side note since Disney allows you to bring on your own alcohol my DH and I brought too much so we also left a nice bottle of wine for our stateroom host as a small thank you. He was very appreciative.

 

[Tig-girl]

Generally how much does everyone end up tipping EXTRA to the servers and stateroom host/hostess?


*Just a side note since Disney allows you to bring on your own alcohol my DH and I brought too much so we also left a nice bottle of wine for our stateroom host as a small thank you. He was very appreciative.

Curious....how many bottles can you bring? We would have to leave home and fly with it since we won't be shopping in Orlando before the cruise so I guess I'm at the airlines mercy on that one, but if I was able to get to a store in Orlando, what can you take on the ship?