General Cruise Questions

[4DisneyAddicts]

I am hoping to plan a 2006 cruise for myself, hubby and two sons (will be 4 and 7 in 2006). I am thinking the 7 day beacuase i want to be able to relax, however, this is our first cruise and we really just want the Disney stuff, not so much the island attractions. Will the 7 day be too long? What is the difference between the west and east itinerary? (I know it is diff. islands but which is best for a family like mine?)

Also, I know I want a verandah, what other room selection tips do you have?

What is the most economical way to book, online, via my travel agent, direct tru Disney? I don't suppose there is a discount for WDW annual pass holders, is there? I heard it was cheaper to book early but my agent said that isn't so.

Thanks for any and all tips!

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

It's almost always cheaper the earlier you book. DCL increases their prices as a certain number of rooms in each category are booked, so the earlier you book, the more likely you are to get a cheaper rate. I believe there are occasionally discounts or other perks for WDW passholders, but don't know the details. I do know that my DL annual pass doesn't do anything for me.

As for the best way to book, I'd suggest getting several quotes; from DCL (you can get one from their website), your travel agent, and possibly a couple of others. Dreams Unlimited, the sponsor of this site, always gives competitive rates and I think their service is great. They're very knowledgeable about DCL and can answer most all of your questions. Click on the link at the top of the page, and you can request a quote from their website.

When getting quotes, make sure they are for the same thing. I would suggest getting quotes for the cruise only. Make sure things such as airfare, transfers, and trip insurance are not included in the quotes, that way you can be sure you're comparing apples to apples when price shopping. You can always add these later, or arrange them for yourself.

As fare as the itinerary goes, the main difference between the eastern and western routes (other than the ports of call) is that the eastern has an extra day at sea--3 port days, 3 sea days--while the western has an extra port day (4 & 2). If you're less worried about which ports you're going to and just want to enjoy the ship, I'd say you might want to consider the western, since there will be more days when everyone else is off the ship. I'd suggest researching the ports from each itinerary and see what there is to do at each one and what sounds fun or interesting to you. For a first cruise, I don't think there's a bad choice, really.

Hope this helps.

 

[kikipug]

The most economical thing to do is book now!!! I booked in Nov. '04 for a May '06 cruise, and the total price for the 4 of us has gone up $1700 since I booked... its only going to get worse!!!!