First time cruiser questions

[MELSMICE]

We're looking at booking our first Disney cruise (first ever cruise) February 2017. It will only be DH and I. We will want a larger room with a verandah.

General questions of what is the best way to book......right through Disney? With a travel agent? What agent would be recommended?

What others things should we know and what questions should we be asking when booking.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We're looking at booking our first Disney cruise (first ever cruise) February 2017. It will only be DH and I. We will want a larger room with a verandah.

General questions of what is the best way to book......right through Disney? With a travel agent? What agent would be recommended?

What others things should we know and what questions should we be asking when booking.

By DCL Travel agent, Google search and approve a few.

See what on board credits they give you, ask if you can call, them, when their open, not just by email.

Consider.
When you will go.
Where you want to go.
Vacation budget.
Weather.
Stateroom location,
Cruise length 3/4/7 or more nights.
Then basically that will dictate to you what you will do and what ship.
Some embarkation ports are only available at limited times.

Try to book on a DCL cruise release day to get the best value.

Read the navigators for your cruise, the ship activities newspaper, you can google their, in various places and trip reports.

 

[CamColt]

I would recommend Dreams Unlimited Travel, sponsors of this board. Not only will you get an on board credit, based on the amount of your cruise, but with them being the experts, they will be able to walk you through everything you need to know. Their guidance can be priceless, especially for first timers.

And of course, keep reading the boards where you will find tons of helpful information. Happy planning!

 

[MELSMICE]

Thanks!

We're looking at the February 19 or 20....4 day out of Port Canaveral. Right between the dates we'll be in Disney (Feb 14-26)

I think one was on the Wonder and one on the Dream. Any pros or cons to either of those ships.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks!

We're looking at the February 19 or 20....4 day out of Port Canaveral. Right between the dates we'll be in Disney (Feb 14-26)

I think one was on the Wonder and one on the Dream. Any pros or cons to either of those ships.

For a first time DCL cruise, either one is good. Although I, personally, prefer longer cruises.

 

[MELSMICE]

For a first time DCL cruise, either one is good. Although I, personally, prefer longer cruises.

I would too. I'm lucky I'm getting DH on one at all so I'm compromising right now.

 

[Plaid Princess]

Honestly, it's just as easy, if not easier to book on your own. Unless you're going to get a pretty big onboard credit by booking through a TA, personally I'd just book it yourself online. Just read up on some stateroom reports to help you choose a specific stateroom if you're set on a particular location on the ship.

 

[mort1331]

Thanks!

We're looking at the February 19 or 20....4 day out of Port Canaveral. Right between the dates we'll be in Disney (Feb 14-26)

I think one was on the Wonder and one on the Dream. Any pros or cons to either of those ships.

We are rookies too and going on march19. We have booked with Dreams, and they have been so helpful all along so far. I can do wdw with my eyes closed and help lots of new families, but never done the cruise. Plus you get the on board credit that you will not get with booking direct.

 

[Imahikergirl]

I would too. I'm lucky I'm getting DH on one at all so I'm compromising right now.

I got hubby onto our first cruise in March. We had a weekend off at the same time and it was going to cost about the same for a weekend cruise as a weekend in the parks with hotel and food, etc. During the cruise he let me book another one and declared that he thought we were going to be cruisers from now on.

We just used the DCL website as it was only a week prior to the cruise and I hadn't researched anything before then.

 

[mernin]

We are first time cruisers going early Feb 2017. We booked through dreams unilimited for the onboard credit. I think we would have been fine to do it on our own, but why not get a discount if it doesn't add cost! My DH had no want to go in a cruise so we chose a 4 day to give if a try.

Have fun!

 

[ZerasPride]

I dragged DH on his first Disney cruise for 3 nights back in January. He is hooked!! We are doing a 7 night on the Fantasy next August.

 

[MELSMICE]

We are first time cruisers going early Feb 2017. We booked through dreams unilimited for the onboard credit. I think we would have been fine to do it on our own, but why not get a discount if it doesn't add cost! My DH had no want to go in a cruise so we chose a 4 day to give if a try.

Have fun!

Same here. DH is very hesitant about taking a cruise but has agreed to try the 4 day first and see how it goes.

 

[MELSMICE]

We are rookies too and going on march19. We have booked with Dreams, and they have been so helpful all along so far. I can do wdw with my eyes closed and help lots of new families, but never done the cruise. Plus you get the on board credit that you will not get with booking direct.

Same with us. While I know WDW like the back of my hand, we've never done the cruise and I don't want to look like "the rookie"! LOL

 

[kiford]

I would too. I'm lucky I'm getting DH on one at all so I'm compromising right now.

I too talked DH into going on a cruise (4-day Bahamian on DCL in 2000). He didn't really want to. Thought he'd be bored, worried about getting seasick. Couldn't see why people raved about cruising but did it for me. At the end said that 4 days was a great way to test out whether we liked cruising or not but the next cruises would be longer. So while we now prefer to cruise for longer periods, it was a good compromise to start especially if one of you isn't totally sold on the idea. Given that we're now booked on cruise number 10 for December, I think it was a great strategy for us.

 

[FigmentSpark]

While it is pretty simple to book online yourself, for your first time, use a knowledgeable TA. They know what questions to ask and can recommend things like decks or area for choosing a room. They do all the work for you and it doesn't cost or save you anything. If you go to the right TA, you might even get an onboard credit.