First Time Cruiser

[sunshinemelody]

Hello!

So, I've recently just put a hold on a room with DCL for December 12-16, 2016 to the Bahamas.

I chose a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (Cat 07A), Deck 7, Aft. Our dinner seating is late evening. I initially didn't want aft (I actually wanted midship), but, I figured it might be a good thing. I'm not sure. Anyway! This will be on the Disney Dream leaving from Port Canaveral.

This trip is mainly for my mother who has always wanted to go on a cruise. It's her combined late birthday-Christmas present (birthday's in September), however, it'll be a surprise trip. Anywho, is there anything that I should know before making this deposit before May 14th?

I'd like to know how we can arrange travel from MCO to PC the day of the cruise or if it's best we just take a taxi or uber? I know that we should fly in the day before so we don't have any mishaps the day of. But really if there's any great tips for a first timer, that'd be ~awesome~.

TIA!

ETA: What are the dining times? Early and late mean around what hours?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello!

So, I've recently just put a hold on a room with DCL for December 12-16, 2016 to the Bahamas.

I chose a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (Cat 07A), Deck 7, Aft. Our dinner seating is late evening. I initially didn't want aft (I actually wanted midship), but, I figured it might be a good thing. I'm not sure. Anyway! This will be on the Disney Dream leaving from Port Canaveral.

This trip is mainly for my mother who has always wanted to go on a cruise. It's her combined late birthday-Christmas present (birthday's in September), however, it'll be a surprise trip. Anywho, is there anything that I should know before making this deposit before May 14th?

I'd like to know how we can arrange travel from MCO to PC the day of the cruise or if it's best we just take a taxi or uber? I know that we should fly in the day before so we don't have any mishaps the day of. But really if there's any great tips for a first timer, that'd be ~awesome~.

TIA!

ETA: What are the dining times? Early and late mean around what hours?

Depending on how many of you there are - DCL transfers cost $35.00 per person from MCO to port. If you're traveling with 4 or less people that might be cheapest. 4 or more, it might be cheaper to either arrange a towncar/limo, or get a rental car. "4" being the equal cost spot.

You say you're flying in the night before, where are you staying?

Typically the dinner seating hours are: early - 5:45; and late - 8:00. But can vary by about 15 minutes or so.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Depending on how many of you there are - DCL transfers cost $35.00 per person from MCO to port. If you're traveling with 4 or less people that might be cheapest. 4 or more, it might be cheaper to either arrange a towncar/limo, or get a rental car. "4" being the equal cost spot.

You say you're flying in the night before, where are you staying?

Typically the dinner seating hours are: early - 5:45; and late - 8:00. But can vary by about 15 minutes or so.

Thanks for the reply!

I'm not sure where we're staying, I Just booked the cruise on a whim. Do you have any suggestions? It's just two of us, my mother and I. Is the transfer one-way or roundtrip?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the reply!

I'm not sure where we're staying, I Just booked the cruise on a whim. Do you have any suggestions? It's just two of us, my mother and I. Is the transfer one-way or roundtrip?

The transfers are one-way. DCL transfers run from MCO to port; port to MCO; WDW resorts to port; and port to WDW resorts. And the cost is $35.00 for each leg. If you stay at a WDW resort, the Magical Express is a free shuttle from MCO to the resort.

We're staying at the Hyatt MCO when we cruise next. It's quite convenient, in that it's actually in the airport. We've also stayed at WDW on some cruises, but we were staying more than just the one night.

 

[sunshinemelody]

The transfers are one-way. DCL transfers run from MCO to port; port to MCO; WDW resorts to port; and port to WDW resorts. And the cost is $35.00 for each leg. If you stay at a WDW resort, the Magical Express is a free shuttle from MCO to the resort.

We're staying at the Hyatt MCO when we cruise next. It's quite convenient, in that it's actually in the airport. We've also stayed at WDW on some cruises, but we were staying more than just the one night.

Oh, OK.

I wonder how much an uber would be. $70 seems pretty hefty, y'know?

ETA: If only Uber drove out there. Weird.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh, OK.

I wonder how much an uber would be. $70 seems pretty hefty, y'know?

ETA: If only Uber drove out there. Weird.

I believe some sort of uber is available, but the cost is comparable to taking a taxi. A taxi from MCO to port runs around $100.

 

[sunshinemelody]

I believe some sort of uber is available, but the cost is comparable to taking a taxi. A taxi from MCO to port runs around $100.

Ah.

I should probably calculate costs aside from the flight and cruise itself. Hotel and transport costs of course and definitely extracurricular on and off the ship. Should I be on the lookout for anything else expense-wise?

 

[Quellman]

Even if you make a deposit, there will be a "pay in full date". You generally have until that date to either pay, or call Disney and cancel your reservation.

In winter months, traveling one day in advance is a good practice due to flight delays with weather. There are always possible flight delays due to mechnical or something else.

There are plenty of threads about the merits of transportation from the Orlando airport, and the merits of where to stay for hotel. Think about what type of accommodations and what your expectations are. Some people like taking a private car hire to a port hotel that has a shuttle to the port, others prefer staying at the airport and taking the Disney transport. Others will spend the night at Disney (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party is going on the night before your embarkation) and then take a rental car. There truly are options for whatever your needs.

Tips are suggested at $12 per day per person in your stateroom. Many people opt to pay more. That is the only item that is HIGHLY HIGHLY suggested you budget for once on board.

 

[jdb in AZ]

What airline will you be flying? Some of them have onboard check-in where you set your luggage outside your stateroom door on the last night of your cruise and the next time you see it will be at your home airport. You would need to sign up for the DCL transfer bus (at least on the return trip) for that.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Even if you make a deposit, there will be a "pay in full date". You generally have until that date to either pay, or call Disney and cancel your reservation.

In winter months, traveling one day in advance is a good practice due to flight delays with weather. There are always possible flight delays due to mechnical or something else.

There are plenty of threads about the merits of transportation from the Orlando airport, and the merits of where to stay for hotel. Think about what type of accommodations and what your expectations are. Some people like taking a private car hire to a port hotel that has a shuttle to the port, others prefer staying at the airport and taking the Disney transport. Others will spend the night at Disney (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party is going on the night before your embarkation) and then take a rental car. There truly are options for whatever your needs.

Tips are suggested at $12 per day per person in your stateroom. Many people opt to pay more. That is the only item that is HIGHLY HIGHLY suggested you budget for once on board.

I didn't know about this! Thank you for letting me in on this, woi. Don't want to be "that stateroom" after all.

I might have to look into MVMCP, that might be a wonderful and welcomed surprise for my mom. We've never been during Christmas and she's never been to Disney, so, either way! A week of surprises! If I did decide to do the party and stay at a Disney hotel, would I be able to have DCL transport pick us up from the WDW hotel?

What airline will you be flying? Some of them have onboard check-in where you set your luggage outside your stateroom door on the last night of your cruise and the next time you see it will be at your home airport. You would need to sign up for the DCL transfer bus (at least on the return trip) for that.

JetBlue most likely.

I feel like I'd be terrified to put my luggage out the night before and then be a worrywart the rest of the day waiting on my luggage at home. ;__;

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If I did decide to do the party and stay at a Disney hotel, would I be able to have DCL transport pick us up from the WDW hotel?

Yes, DCL transport picks up from all WDW resorts. One note, however, while there are multiple buses from MCO to port, beginning at 9:00 am, pick ups from the WDW resorts are one pick up at each resort sometime in the 10:45-12:30 window.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Yes, DCL transport picks up from all WDW resorts. One note, however, while there are multiple buses from MCO to port, beginning at 9:00 am, pick ups from the WDW resorts are one pick up at each resort sometime in the 10:45-12:30 window.

That's great to know, thank you!

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Congratulations on booking! This a great surprise for your mom. Don't forget documentation, like ID and passport or Birth certificate for each of you. Sometimes a bit tricky to bring these things without giving away the secret! Good luck!

 

[sunshinemelody]

Congratulations on booking! This a great surprise for your mom. Don't forget documentation, like ID and passport or Birth certificate for each of you. Sometimes a bit tricky to bring these things without giving away the secret! Good luck!

Thankfully the passport situation is an easy one! We keep those locked away and she never bothers with it unless she needs it for documentation purposes (which is a blue moon occurence). But thank you! I'm excited! Hoping that this works out in the end, I'd hate to have to let go of the hold come Saturday.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Thankfully the passport situation is an easy one! We keep those locked away and she never bothers with it unless she needs it for documentation purposes (which is a blue moon occurence). But thank you! I'm excited! Hoping that this works out in the end, I'd hate to have to let go of the hold come Saturday.

I understand that! I have a hold on a cruise that expires tomorrow. I'm waiting to hear about a family obligation that may conflict date-wise. If I don't hear, then I'll pay the deposit as I can cancel by December before PIF date.

 

[sunshinemelody]

I understand that! I have a hold on a cruise that expires tomorrow. I'm waiting to hear about a family obligation that may conflict date-wise. If I don't hear, then I'll pay the deposit as I can cancel by December before PIF date.

That's good! I hope that everything works out for you!

With the cancellation, does that have to be 30 days before final payment like it is for WDW or can you cancel at any point before final payment, even the night before? Or if you can, will you get hit with penalties like not getting the deposit back?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

That's good! I hope that everything works out for you!

With the cancellation, does that have to be 30 days before final payment like it is for WDW or can you cancel at any point before final payment, even the night before? Or if you can, will you get hit with penalties like not getting the deposit back?

For Bahamian cruises, the PIF date is 75 days before sailing. So, you can cancel anytime before 75 days prior and get your entire deposit and any payments back.

 

[ceecee]

We are doing our first cruise in September. We have done 16 trips to WDW. We decided to stay at a Disney resort for a few days before and after and use ME to get to and from MCO. We are using DCL for the round trip to the port. DH trusts no one else. We used to use Florida Towncars before Magical Express but love the efficiency of ME, we've been lucky but never had any issues.

 

[sunshinemelody]

For Bahamian cruises, the PIF date is 75 days before sailing. So, you can cancel anytime before 75 days prior and get your entire deposit and any payments back.

I apologize, but, what is a PIF? Is that Payment in Full? I feel like it is.

We are doing our first cruise in September. We have done 16 trips to WDW. We decided to stay at a Disney resort for a few days before and after and use ME to get to and from MCO. We are using DCL for the round trip to the port. DH trusts no one else. We used to use Florida Towncars before Magical Express but love the efficiency of ME, we've been lucky but never had any issues.

What resort are you staying with?

 

[ceecee]

Haven't decided on the resort yet, hoping for some fall discount, with free dining we may be out of luck??