First trip questions

[tom1944]

Looking to take our first cruise next August and see a 4-day trip on the Wish that has the best dates for us.

It would be my wife and I and my daughter and granddaughter.

Would that require us to get 2 staterooms? I see you can get connecting staterooms. Is that what we should request?

 

[sponica]

You might be more comfortable in 2 staterooms, but you could do one if you wanted to (it might be tight depending on the ages of your daughter/granddaughter).

Unless you're booking a guaranteed room (discounted but they assign the room), you pick your own room, so if there are two rooms available that connect you can book those two rooms.

 

[Skippyboo]

How old are daughter and granddaughter? You could get a deluxe family veranda room that will have a queen, sofa that folds to single bed and a single bed that pulls down from the ceiling.

You can pick your own room. The floor plans will show which rooms can connect. Most are veranda rooms. You could also do a veranda and an inside room across from the veranda.

 

[tom1944]

Daughter is 35 granddaughter is 6 at the time of the trip

The sleeping habits between 3 of the 4 of us are similar. My wife not so much.

 

[sponica]

Daughter is 35 granddaughter is 6 at the time of the trip

The sleeping habits between 3 of the 4 of us are similar. My wife not so much.

You can fit into one room (although I would book one that sleeps 5) but you might be more comfortable in 2 rooms.

 

[Mommb]

The best room for you depends largely on where your daughter would be comfortable sleeping (assuming that you and your wife would take the queen bed) and how much space and storage you want to have.

If she would be happy on the sofa that flips to be a bed, you granddaughter could go on the bunk bed that folds from the ceiling and you could fit into most rooms.

If your daughter would prefer a bed that folds down from the wall, she could get that in a Deluxe Family Oceanview stateroom, with or without veranda, that sleeps 5. Your granddaughter could then sleep on either the sofa bed or the bunk.

If your daughter wants a queen bed, or if you feel that you will be cramped sharing 1 room with 4 people, you could get rooms that are connecting (with a door allowing you to go between them without going in the hall), adjacent (next to each other without an interior connecting door), or across the hall from each other. A Deluxe Family room will be the most expensive single option but I'm not sure whether it will cost more or less than 2 connecting rooms in a lower category.

You can check the cost of each option and determine what is best for your family.

 

[Skippyboo]

If you go for one room, there is a curtain that can separate Queen bed from couch sleeping area. The cabin steward will take care of setting up/putting away the extra sleeping spaces. Also there are 2 bathrooms- one with shower tub/sink w mirror and the other one is toilet and sink with mirror.

 

[Skippyboo]

Looked at Aug 25-29, 2025 Wish Cruise.

Deluxe Family Oceanview w Verandah Room 7646. 3 adults, 1 child $5444.40

2 Deluxe Oceanview w Verandah Rooms 8682 and 8684 with 2 people in each are $3250.84 each cabin so $6501.68 for 2.

If you swap a verandah room for inside cabin across the hall it’s $6077 for 8185 and 8684

Two Oceanview rooms that connect are $6005.68 for Rooms 7002 & 7000.

A Deluxe Family Oceanview so no balcony is $4996.88 for 3 adults 1 kid. Room 7020.

 

[tom1944]

Looked at Aug 25-29, 2025 Wish Cruise.

Deluxe Family Oceanview w Verandah Room 7646. 3 adults, 1 child $5444.40

2 Deluxe Oceanview w Verandah Rooms 8682 and 8684 with 2 people in each are $3250.84 each cabin so $6501.68 for 2.

If you swap a verandah room for inside cabin across the hall it’s $6077 for 8185 and 8684

Two Oceanview rooms that connect are $6005.68 for Rooms 7002 & 7000.

A Deluxe Family Oceanview so no balcony is $4996.88 for 3 adults 1 kid. Room 7020.

Thank you

When I get home I will go on line to see what each room type looks like.

I had seen an August 18 to 22 last night which works better for us date wise.

 

[Skippyboo]

I just picked the cheapest Wish cruise. You can find Wish cabin tours on YouTube.

 

[tom1944]

I just picked the cheapest Wish cruise. You can find Wish cabin tours on YouTube.

Thank you

 

[Genie+]

Here’s a nice write up describing the diffent room layouts

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2022/03/disney-wish-stateroom-layouts/

 

[kiford]

If you decide to go for two rooms, I wouldn't make one of those a family cabin unless you get an amazing deal on it. DH and I were upgraded to a family cabin once, and it was more space than we really needed (that was on the Magic but it's similar on the Wish). But if you decide to go for one cabin, then I'd definitely do the family one because you'll appreciate the extra space, extra storage and the pull-down bed (better IMO for an adult than the sofa bed).

 

[auntlynne]

From the budgeting side - 3rd and 4th guests in a cabin are less expensive than the first two guests. Your granddaughter’s fare would be slightly less.

This was for a Cabin on Deck 8. Price does go up as you go to higher decks.
Deck 6 was about $8 pp cheaper. So not a big jump.




If you were to opt for this category of cabin - but booked 2 of them, you would have the same rate for both cabins. Total $7157.68.

There is no 3rd/4th person nor child discount when occupancy is 2 guests of any age.


Only your family can decide if more and separate sleeping space is worth $1500 for a 4-night vacation.

Would you ever consider staying together in a hotel room? That helps in deciding one or two cabins. These cabins are usually not as large as hotel rooms.

I find a first, short cruise like this means my room is a sleep and shower place. There’s a ship to discover.

Unless you choose the basic interior cabins, you will have a split bathroom. One unit has a tub and sink; the other is a toilet and sink. Each has a door. And you can go to the spa if two or more need the shower at the same time.

I like to pick a cabin surrounded by other cabins - above, below, beside and across. It usually means a quieter ship.

 

[tom1944]

From the budgeting side - 3rd and 4th guests in a cabin are less expensive than the first two guests. Your granddaughter’s fare would be slightly less.

This was for a Cabin on Deck 8. Price does go up as you go to higher decks.
Deck 6 was about $8 pp cheaper. So not a big jump.


View attachment 888556

If you were to opt for this category of cabin - but booked 2 of them, you would have the same rate for both cabins. Total $7157.68.

There is no 3rd/4th person nor child discount when occupancy is 2 guests of any age.

View attachment 888557
Only your family can decide if more and separate sleeping space is worth $1500 for a 4-night vacation.

Would you ever consider staying together in a hotel room? That helps in deciding one or two cabins. These cabins are usually not as large as hotel rooms.

I find a first, short cruise like this means my room is a sleep and shower place. There’s a ship to discover.

Unless you choose the basic interior cabins, you will have a split bathroom. One unit has a tub and sink; the other is a toilet and sink. Each has a door. And you can go to the spa if two or more need the shower at the same time.

I like to pick a cabin surrounded by other cabins - above, below, beside and across. It usually means a quieter ship.

We just took our second DVC trip, and the decision was made that we will try to book 2-bedroom accommodations from now on. I am thinking that we will get 2 connecting staterooms for the cruise.


The next question is should we prepay the tip? I was surprised when they asked me that when I called to ask about the rooms. I am generally a good tipper.

 

[Skippyboo]

They will charge at standard rate per night per person to the card you have on file when you do your check in at 30 days. They will also give you envelopes the last night where you can put additional money and give them to the person. You are tipping the cabin steward, your waiter and assistant waiter and the head waiter. What’s nice on a Disney Cruise is your waiters follow you as you rotate through the 3 main dining room restaurants. So you see them each night. I think it’s like $14 bucks per person per night
off the top of my head.

If you get an alcoholic drink from a bar or during a meal, they will add 18% tip to the bill. You don’t have to pay for soda, ice tea, regular coffee. There are drink stations up on the pool deck so bring refillable mugs. Room service is also free and included just need to tip the person when they bring it a couple of bucks.

 

[auntlynne]

I do not prepay tips until close to sail date. They don’t need to bank my money. You have until about 3 days before sailing. Usually, I just let it go to my credit card at the end of the cruise. Gets settled with any other charges.

 

[Mommb]

They will charge at standard rate per night per person to the card you have on file when you do your check in at 30 days. They will also give you envelopes the last night where you can put additional money and give them to the person.

Just to clarify: At the end of the cruise, if you haven't prepaid tips or made adjustments, the standard tip of $14 per passenger per night will be charged to the credit card that you placed on file when you checked in for the cruise (if you have one) or to your cash account (if you don't have a credit card on file).

Some people like to prepay so they have a smaller bill at the end of the cruise. If you're paying for the cruise with a Disney Visa, prepayments may qualify for the "6 months no interest" deal, but payments made while you are onboard do not. Other than that, there is no advantage to prepaying.

Even if you do prepay, you can increase your payment either by giving cast members cash or by going to Guest Services and adding an additional amount to the electronic payment. (It may be possible to decrease prepayments, but I have never had any reason to decrease a gratuity.)

 

[sponica]

We just took our second DVC trip, and the decision was made that we will try to book 2-bedroom accommodations from now on. I am thinking that we will get 2 connecting staterooms for the cruise.


The next question is should we prepay the tip? I was surprised when they asked me that when I called to ask about the rooms. I am generally a good tipper.

I do but it's only so that I have one less thing to think about.

 

[tom1944]

I do but it's only so that I have one less thing to think about.

It was not much. Not near enough to be concerned about.