for all DCL gurus

[crabbie1]

I have tried posting on the cruiseline thread and to be honest have given up.Noone seems to answer my threads. Someone put a similar thread on to me wh was american and that got answered more or less straight away.Perhaps I am being paranoid but I have noticed it happens quite a lot when brits post on there
Moderators can we not start a british DCL forum.
Anyway I have never done a cruise and wondered if a 7 night would be too long and to just do the 4 night as a taster. The price for the time I have looked at is £1288 for 3 adults and 1 child for the 4 night in cat 9C and £1978 for the 7 night eastern carribean. For some reason not showing western. For those who have done cruises is it worth paying the extra for a porthole? I have read the inside are very dark but on the dream I saw the effects for the virtual and they look great. I dont think we will spend much time in the cabin on the 4 night but may do more on the 7 so not sure on cabin choice.Also are there any decks to avoid as the cheaper rooms seem to be on the lower decks Regards the cabin sizes they are all different as well and as there will be 4 of us in one I didnt want to be squashed like a tin of sardines.
The deposit is around £190 for the 4 night and £230 for the 7 night which Is great.Also should I book through dollors or £'s? Is it like uk disney that is you cancel you loose your deposit or have to transfer it or can I get money back if something happens within the agreed time?
Sorry for all the questions.I have loads more but would rather establish getting it booked with the correct catagory first.
Also regards room location which areas would you recommend. Decks quoted for were 2 on the 7 night and 7 on the 4 night. Also what seating should I book for dinner? Hope someone will answer me and sorry mods for posting on here.

 

[nemmie]

Hi ya

I would say do a 4 night one as a taster and see what you think of it. My husband was not sure he would like it at all (turns out he does TG ) so we did the 3 night and then this last trip the 4 night and next year we are doing the 7 night. We were sold after this last cruise that we will love a 7 night but I would not of been so confident had we not of done that.

I would also encourage on cruises to book the highest cat you can afford. I just could not do an inside cabin but then I do have issues with small spaces. We always book a verandah and I personally think its worth the extra money. Some people don't so its your personal preference.

Dinner seating really depends on what time you usually eat on vacation. We are early eaters so the early dining suits us best (between 5pm - 6pm). If you like later dining after 8pm go for the late seating.

Room location again personal preference but on the 2 two DCL cruises I have done I have been on both sides and both were great. You can get deep into planning and research the best rooms for Port views etc by using the cruise forum searchy thingy

 

[Chilly]

If you book with Dreams unlimited you often get onboard credit, or you can book with Disney and then switch your booking to Dreams to still get the credit.

I'd say do 4 nights first.

 

[crabbie1]

Thankyou both for your replys. We are takin my mom but not tellin her about the cruise. She welled up when i said we may do one in 2012 as she has always dreamed of going on a cruise so we wanted to take her to florida thinkin she is doing 2 weeks on land then tell her the day before . She isnt well and is 72. I think you are both right plus we can go on the new ship. Im not bothered about room location just the deck levels and differences. I was looin at dec but really need the free ddp so lookin at november now. Dnt know if they hv ever done free dinig in december i know its only adv till18th nov. Disney are offering 25 dollor onboard credit dont know abt dreams do they offer more? Cat 9 is fine for us as has the porthole.
Do DCL hv sales or is it best to book early? I dont think £1288 is a bad price foe 4 of us for 4 nights. Need to check nov prices avoidin Thnks giving weekend

 

[Chilly]

If you book now and the price goes down then the price goes down for you as well. That happened to me for our Jan cruise.

 

[crabbie1]

If you book now and the price goes down then the price goes down for you as well. That happened to me for our Jan cruise.

Thts good. Didnt know that but i suppose the fuller it gets the more it will cost so i will prob book in the next few weeks. Will email dreams as well. Will they give me a price in pounds? Also is it a sim deposit as disney direct?

 

[Chilly]

Thts good. Didnt know that but i suppose the fuller it gets the more it will cost so i will prob book in the next few weeks. Will email dreams as well. Will they give me a price in pounds? Also is it a sim deposit as disney direct?

I think its in $

 

[wayneg]

Inside/outside cabin is totally a personal choice, we were upgraded to a balcony cabin on our 1st cruise it was a complete waste, used it for about 10 mins the whole 4 nights. Since then we have booked Secret porthole rooms(pay for inside get outside with obstructed view) not sure if there are going to be any on the new ships.
Easter 2008 was our 1st experience of inside cabin, made absolutely no difference to our enjoyment, only go in there to sleep and change rest of time our and about the ship. Next August booked inside again even though outside was only a few $'s more as we wanted the virtual porthole have you seen this video on AOL travel? http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/10/15/disney-shows-virtual-porthole-on-disney-dream-ship/
Although just about everyone I know would prefer a 7 night compared to the 4 night its probably better sticking to 4 nights to try.

 

[Chilly]

Wayne which are the Secret porthole rooms?

If we do a cruise next year I think i'll try and book one of them if I can.

 

[wayneg]

Wayne which are the Secret porthole rooms?

If we do a cruise next year I think i'll try and book one of them if I can.

5520, 5522, 5524, 5020, 5022, 5024

6 cabins on deck 5 of the Magic & Wonder. No idea if there will be any similar on the 2 new ships.

 

[Chilly]

5520, 5522, 5524, 5020, 5022, 5024

6 cabins on deck 5 of the Magic & Wonder. No idea if there will be any similar on the 2 new ships.

Cheers Wayne, it would be on the Magic if we went, what cabin grade are they then?

 

[wayneg]

Cheers Wayne, it would be on the Magic if we went, what cabin grade are they then?

Category 10.

 

[Chilly]

Category 10.

(it'll be a last minute booking so they prob won't be available but a girl can dream)

 

[~Piglet~]

Next August booked inside again even though outside was only a few $'s more as we wanted the virtual porthole have you seen this video on AOL travel? http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/10/15/disney-shows-virtual-porthole-on-disney-dream-ship/

How good do they look?! we booked an inside cabin (deck 7, room 7067) for our 4 day cruise, I wasn't bothered about having a porthole as I don't really like looking at the sea when I can't see any land on the horizon. There was enough room for the three of us, and like Wayne we didn't really spend that much time in there besides sleeping

 

[MrsTigger]

Just the thread I needed. We have been looking at a 3night cruise for 2012 to start our wdw trip either in sept/oct but would love to try nov if the price is right.
My other half said he would NEVER go on a cruise but has soon come around to the idea within a day.

So in terms of the rooms basicly the highest cat is best? so how do I see where abouts the numbers and letters translate to on the ship?

Also can someone explain the dining, I have read about the rotation thing. So you are assigned where you will be eating but if you want to eat at the adult only places you miss one of these rotations and have to book your own table?

thanks

 

[crabbie1]

Just the thread I needed. We have been looking at a 3night cruise for 2012 to start our wdw trip either in sept/oct but would love to try nov if the price is right.
My other half said he would NEVER go on a cruise but has soon come around to the idea within a day.

So in terms of the rooms basicly the highest cat is best? so how do I see where abouts the numbers and letters translate to on the ship?

Also can someone explain the dining, I have read about the rotation thing. So you are assigned where you will be eating but if you want to eat at the adult only places you miss one of these rotations and have to book your own table?

thanks

.
Anyone ?? We are beginners. Mrs tiggers I have just priced up the 4night for 3 adults and a child cat 11A I think(doesnt seem many of these cabins dont know why) deck 7 and it is 1143.16.I havent decided about the transfers yet but am going to book in the next 2 weeks as only £233 deposit.
Also 10 days OKW 1 bed with 5 day premium tickets Free DDP and car just over £2500. just flights,disc cove and IOA . Just wish they did free DDP in december.

 

[~Piglet~]

So in terms of the rooms basicly the highest cat is best? so how do I see where abouts the numbers and letters translate to on the ship?

Also can someone explain the dining, I have read about the rotation thing. So you are assigned where you will be eating but if you want to eat at the adult only places you miss one of these rotations and have to book your own table?

thanks

You can look at the deck plans Here

For the dining you will receive your rotation, for example on the Wonder ours was PTTA (Parrot Cay, Triton's, Triton's, Animators Palate) so if you wanted to book a table at Palo yes, you would miss one of your assigned restaurants and have to book your own table.

 

[~Piglet~]

.I havent decided about the transfers yet

I booked through DU and then added a one way transfer to the Port from POR about six months later with no problems, as we hadn't decided about transfers either at the time of booking

 

[wayneg]

If you book Palo for brunch rather than evening meal you don't miss your evening meal.
I posted pics of our brunch in this thread post #33
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2570708&page=3

 

[wideeyes]

Although just about everyone I know would prefer a 7 night compared to the 4 night its probably better sticking to 4 nights to try.

Really? I have booked the Mexico one for 7 nights so we can visit DL too. I was wondering if we would be better doing the Bahamas 4 night one but we want to go to CA next. It is our first cruise and will be our first visit to DL and CA. It will just be me and my daughter who will be 9 and that has always been my biggest worry about doing a cruise. That we will end up bored.

I feel like we are risking getting stuck in a rut if we keep going Orlando every year and I will never be brave enough to try new places.