Go for it?

[JSG]

Hi,

DH and I have been to WDW many times, but never on a Disney cruise. I've never been on a cruise at all, actually.

I've been thinking about a Disney cruise for a long time, and had originally thought of trying to get a Springtime Magic deal for May, our birthdays, but wasn't sure if we could afford it.

So, I just got a new job and will be making a major transition in two weeks, with a week off to take a break . . . probably my last full week off for a long time (May doesn't look as possible right now). I'd really like to take a vacation and celebrate and I'm really, really tempted to just go for it and book the 4-night cruise on the Wonder. But, even the cheapest stateroom available is still $768/pp (plus airfare) and it's an expense that we probably shouldn't/can't be splurging on right now.

My husband has been on cruises before, but not since his teens and those were bad experiences. He worries that I won't actually find the experience relaxing at all.

So, my questions. Is it worth it? Does the 4-day Bahamas cruise seem like a worthy splurge? Is it relaxing? Luxurious? Rejuvenating? How would it compare with a 4-day resort vacation? Despite the seemingly high price tag, does it seem like a good value once you consider the included meals, entertainment, etc.?

How quickly do the extras add up? Are there a lot of extra hidden costs? We're not really drinkers, but would probably be spending extra on soda between meals (it's included at meals, right?). I don't foresee buying many gifts or photos. Just fountain drinks and tips on board. My husband scuba dives, so he would do at least one excursion.

I've tried AAA (same as going directly to Disney res.) and Dreams Unlimited (much more expensive). Any other suggestions for lower prices or last-minute deals?

What is the best place for scuba on the 4-day trip? Nassau? Any tips? Can non-divers go on the dive boat too? (Though I should probably just hang out on the ship and veg!)

I realize that I have to decide this for myself, but any insights, tips, etc, much appreciated . . . especially lower-priced deals.

Thanks!

 

[aalan]

i can't answer several of your questions, because i havent been on a cruise yet: we go on march 23 for a seven day cruise to help celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. we are dropping a lot of cash, but our thought was, hey, life's too short, its for living, enjoying and doing things! so why not? from what i have read and talked to people about, i seem to get nothing but positive responses about the disney cruise experience. if you are not careful, you can spend a lot of extra $$$, but most people seem to average somewhere around $200.00-$300.00 extra (for 7 day), although i know someone who spent close to $2000.00! (he had a family of 4, had bottles of wine w/dinner, did lots of excursions, spa visits, and graciously over-tipped) this is the exception. it looks to me that you can be as busy as you want attending activities, behind the scenes tours, the shows/movies, or you can just chill in the sun and water and at the beach, like we plan to do. i think it would help to be a big mickey fan, so you could enjoy the theming of the boat and restaurants, which is supposed to be very well done. with spring break coming up, i'm not too sure if there are any good deals out there, but i still say go and treat yourself!

 

[iluvorlando]

I say go for it. You know you wont have another opportunity for a while. Those rates sound good, and you can control your spending. You deserve a treat!

Congrats on the new job! I also start a new job in two weeks! It's cool, two weeks at the new job, then we cruise on the 7 day magic! Can't wait.

Go for it!!!!

 

[Michelemouse]

If it were me I would not do the 4-day right now but I would book the 7-day for a sailing about a year from now. All you would have to do is put down $200 per person which would be a lot cheaper than the $1600 you'd have to pay for the 4-day. Also, it will give you time to pay off the balance and you'd be able to get great Early Booking savings. You'd also know that the trip was coming in the future so you'd have something to look forward to.

You mention that you shouldn't/can't take on the expense of this trip right now and, speaking from experience, I say listen to your inner voice. If you book the cruise for next year it will be an easier expense to manage. Also, while the 4-day is a much better choice, IMO, than the 3-day the 7-day will definitely provide you with that relaxation you are looking for.

Just my thoughts. Have a great time no matter what you choose to do.

Michele

 

[kshabare]

JSG,
We just got back from the 2/9/2002 onboard the Magic, 7 day. Book it and don't look back. You won't regret it.
Yes, extras add up. Our downfall was pictures on-board. You don't have to buy them. That IS the bottom line. If you think this is something you will have a problem with - stay away from Shutters. When you see the photographer - give him/her YOUR camera and they will take the photo for you.
Get a soda mug - just get one for your stateroom. You can fill it up whenever you want. Definately worth the $35.00(7day). We fortunately booked via AAA and had a complimentary for each person in our stateroom. If you book this month w/them they should give you the voucher - ask whomever you book with.
Tip what you feel is appropriate, based on the suggestion. Be kind and keep in mind some people don't tip at all. Fortunately for my servers, I tip. I feel they work hard to make my trip a memorable one. God Bless them for putting up with cruisers!
If you're sailing w/o children - stay on the adult-only areas and be prepared for families passing thru. Be patient with them - we all want to see the ship so yes, they will not be swimming with you but will be intermingled. If the kids aren't at the kid pools, they'll be in the Oceaneer's Club or Lab and you won't believe there are that many sailing w/you. Very good programs. If you want alot of privacy - go to 7 Aft - thru the doors and you'll be secluded and relaxed. Plenty of sun there.
Whatever you decide, have a good time. Vacations are a time of release and precious. Do what you want, when you want and might I suggest the Rainforest Spa (can't remember the whole name) and maybe the Sureal experience.
Kim ºOº

 

[pal2pluto]

From our experience, the 7 day is where you will relax. The days at sea can be so relaxing and causes me to slow down. I've been on a 3 day twice and felt I "needed" to see the island we stopped at, therefore I never took time to slow down and relax. We are going on the Wonder this October for 3 days...Nassau....been there, done that, so this time I'm staying on ship and enjoying my "mental day at sea". (Wish it were the 7 day )

 

[Casey's mom]

You have a real dilemma and I don't know enough about your personal circumstances to tell you what do to, but I'll point out a few pros and cons.

The key con, of course, is $$$$$. You need to weigh the cost of the cruise along with the financial risks you put upon yourself when spending $ you don't have or shouldn't spend (don't know the true circumstances).

On the flip side, we have sailed on a 3 night cruise and a 4 night cruise and have a 7 night planned for one month from today (!). We have only cruised with Disney butwe have loved our trips. The cruises are great and you will have a wonderful time if you go. Our last cruise was a spur of the moment trip for our tenth anniversary. I planned it just a few weeks in advance and it was awesome. I am frequently bothered on trips by work in part because many times people think its easier to call and get a quick answer to a question that deal with an issue themselves. Therefore, I have decided cruising to other countries is great because people must REALLY need you before they will spend big $$$$ to call me on the ship. You are in a great spot being in between jobs though and that is a wonderful time to travel because you have no one calling from the old job and no responsibilities yet for the new job.

If you decide to travel during your break, I highly recommend the Disney cruise. You can keep expenses down by 1) bringing sodas/other beverages on the ship with you and 2) choosing a reasonably priced excursion or planning your own. Both times our cruise traveled to Nassau we just stayed on the ship. I had heard mixed reviews about Nassau and there was so much to do on the ship, that I don't feel like we suffered by staying where we were. Someday I want to go to Atlantis, but it can wait.

The compromise, of course, is to do what others have said -- enjoy your time off now and book a 7 night cruise for a year from now. The upside for that is you will have something to look forward to and plan over the next year. This board is a great source of tips, advice and creative ideas to get the most out of your cruise!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[inkkognito]

Definitely go for it!!
A Disney cruise is the most incredible experience. Prior to trying out Disney, hubby and I had never been on a cruise before, although we visited WDW as often as possible. The Disney name enticed us to try it. That was back in Sept. 1998, and we have been on 19 Disney cruises since then, plus four trips in Royal Caribbean. I know that Disney is generally more pricey, but you are paying for their quality. Their staterooms (even the cheap ones) are larger than the industry average, the theming and upkeep of the ships is superb, and of course there is the legendary Disney service.
The great thing about a cruise is that once you have paid the upfront cost, you don't have to pay for much more. The main things are the spa, shore excursions, and drinks, and you could have a great time even if you didn't indugle in these items. If you do, it is easy to keep to a budget with some pre-planning. I say go for it...you will love it!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[taswira]

If you have never been on a cruise before, I think the 4-night Wonder would be a great introduction to cruising as well as to the ship itself. If you choose a date that includes a day at sea (instead of Freeport), it would give you more time to relax and enjoy the ship . . unless you particularly want to visit Freeport.

ANY Disney cruise can be rejuvenating. I'd say go for it and if you like it (You will LOVE it!) then plan a 7-night Magic cruise for the future.

 

[mickybean0816]

I went on the 4-night Wonder cruise last year in April, and now my mom and I are booked for the 7-night Magic cruise that leaves a week from today! So you can see that I loved it so much last year, that I just had to go again...and for longer! Disney cruises are an absolute dream...and will surely give you lots of relaxation, rejuvanation, and tons of fun! And I'd say it's definitely worth the price you pay. I paid approx. $1,300 all by myself (I'm a part-time working, full-time college student, so I don't really have that much money to begin with)...and I think prices have actually dropped since then...quite a bit from what you mentioned! All the food on the ship is included in the price...soda at meals is also included in that price...you can buy a soda mug at the beginning of the cruise that I think is now $35...and then you can refill it as much as you want at any of the bars on the rest of the cruise...that way you don't have to pay for individual sodas between meals (which would be very expensive, especially if you are a big soda drinker). The only things you will have to pay for are any gifts that you want to buy either on board or at the ports, food at the ports of call (but who needs that when you can just go back to the ship and eat all you want), tipping at the end of the cruise, and the excursions (which you will want to sign up for as soon as you get on the ship) as they go quick.

So, as a college student, if I could afford it, I think you could splurge just this once...and you'll have the time of your life. It's Disney, so you know they always do everything best. You'll feel like a kid again!

Mickybean0816

 

[albiats]

Yes, the 4 day cruise is very relaxing and rejuvenating. You can determine your own level of activity and do as much or as little as you want each day. And I especially recommend the 4 day cruise with a day at sea and not the stop in Freeport. On the day at sea, the ship cruises at a leisurely pace which fits in very well with a leisurely day.

Here's another suggestion about the money situation - go for the 4 day cruise now and then book another 7 day cruise taking advantage of the Castaway Club benefits for return cruisers. If you book another cruise within 120 days of your last sail date and also sail within 18 months of your last sail date, you can get an onboard credit of as much as $200. Then you can take all that time to save up for the final payment for the 7 day cruise, enjoy Early Booking Savings, look for price breaks on the new cruise, and have the fun of anticipating and planning.

 

[dijid]

I think the ability to relax depends a lot on your state of mind. We wanted to do a cruise 3 years ago right after I found out I was pg with our first, but we just couldn't handle the expense at that time. If we had gone, I don't think I would have been able to relax because I would have felt guilty about the money we were spending. But our situation is different now and we're going on a 7 day cruise with the kids in May. I know I can relax and enjoy it without worry. I liked the idea of booking for a year from now because it gives you time to save the $$ and something to look forward to.

 

[JSG]

Thanks to everyone so far for the very helpful insights.

If I can clarify at all . . . I happen to be someone who always worries about money and rarely, if ever, treats myself. The money is there for this treat, but as a young couple constantly and quite aggresively minding our spending, we always worry about things in the future like starting a family, buying a home, etc. But while we're at a stage in our lives when every last penny counts, nothing critical has happened recently . . . just wanted everyone to know that, so that I can clarify. It's so considerate of everyone to be so supportive of our circumstances.

It seems that the cruise would be about equal (and, likely, less) than going elsewhere in Fla. for a few days. I need to stew about this a little longer, but I did put a no obligation hold on a room (good until Monday). So I'll think about it a little longer.

Thanks for the suggestions to delay a year. Actually, we're supposed to go on another cruise (not Disney, sadly) next winter for a professional conference. That one will be a sometimes working vacation, and free, so there is a cruise on the horizon in early 2003. But I do need a mental and physical break between jobs. It's been a long and stressful job hunt and I'm taking a big, important step. Need to get away somewhere, anywhere (even if, in the end, it's not a cruise). I am tempted to hold on to the $$ for an overseas trip summer 2003, but all I can think about right now is GETTING AWAY!

Three more quick questions:

I got the $768 rate for a cat 11 quoted by Disney and AAA. I also got a $783 rate for a cat 10 quoted by buycruises.com. My inclination is to save the $30 and deal directly with Disney since the difference between 10 and 11 seems so minor (through Disney, it's $100 diff between the two categories). Anyone think it's worth $30 to have the upgrade?

I'm inclined (especially since we'd be sailing in two weeks) to skip the insurance. We've never gotten trip insurance before, even when overseas. Is there something about cruising that makes having insurance more important than with other trips?

Also - any tips for finding a better rate than $46/pp for the airport transfers? It's minor, but I was wondering if there are ever discounts on the Disney transfer?

Thanks!

 

[ripleysmom]

If you are a Costco member try calling Costco travel. I recently priced the 3 day cruise and it was about $200 cheaper than AAA.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by JSG

Any tips for finding a better rate than $46/pp for the airport transfers? It's minor, but I was wondering if there are ever discounts on the Disney transfer?

I've never heard of the transfers being discounted, but there are other options...

A towncar service... perhaps a bit pricier, perhaps a bit less expensive than Disney transfers depending on the number of people in your party. Convenient and comfortable. Most drivers will allow you to stop to pick up snacks/beverages on your way to the port at no extra charge.

The favorite towncar companies on this board are Tiffany Towncars (www.tiffanytowncar.com) and Happy Limo (www.happylimo.com). You can get a discount coupon for Happy at Barb's site (www.castawayclub.com).

The other option is to rent a car. If you want to rent a car and park it at the port ($8/day), you have a multitude of options:

www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/ops/rac.htm

But there are four companies that allow you to rent a car in Orlando and drop it off near the port before your cruise. Then you can pick up another car from the same company after your cruise and return it at the airport. This is the most cost-effective option. Here is a summary of the possibilities:

www.dcltribute.com/carhire

 

[taswira]

If you can afford it, I would DEFINITELY get the trip insurance. The difference with being on a cruise is that if by some chance you became really ill or ended up needing a medical evacuation (Not likely, but it can happen to anyone), you would be REALLY glad you had trip insurance!

Other things - baggage insurance, trip interruption, etc. - are sometimes already covered if you book on a platinum credit card or something like American Express Corporate Gold. But you would need to check with your credit card company.

Insurance is one of those things that seems like a total waste of money . . . until you NEED it!

 

[Lisa F]

I think I can understand where you are coming from. My husband and I both work extremely long hours (100+ hour weeks). I am really type A and just don't know how to relax. My schedule is such that I run myself into the ground for several months and then need a vacation bigtime. At the same time we are a young couple who just lost a significant part of their nest egg (hubby used to work for enron and got great bonuses in enron stock, ugh), and I am going to school full time for my Master's, so we're not exactly rolling in the dough.

IMO, you have to balance planning for the future with living for now. I don't want to spend my entire youth waiting for "tomorrow" to do everything. At the same time, we have goals and dreams (such as owning a house, having kids) and need to be responsible about those too. It's all about balance though.

Being type A, I had a lot of anxiety about going on a Disney cruise. I love my disney vacations because there is always something to do, but I was worried about being stuck on a ship and being bored. My husband laughs at me because I absolutely do not know how to relax. Imagine how shocked he was when for the first time in my adult life I DID relax, on our 7 day trip. Maybe it was the sea air, maybe it was the motion of the ship, maybe it was the scenery... I don't know. But after about 24 hours on the ship I was able to just chill out. For me, that was worth every cent the cruise cost and then some.

Lisa