help for first-time cruisers for large group

[kakiax]

Hi

I have always had such great advice on resorts and this is our first Disney cruise (we hope).

Here is the story: We (my family) want to do a trip for xmas next year and thought a Disney cruise might be the answer. There will be 10 adults, including two sets of grandparents, two couples with kids, one couple without. There will be 4, maybe 5, kids ages few months (hopefully) almost 2, 5, and 11.

What advice do you have. We may not go right at xmas but are limited to school vacas as my sister-in-law is a teacher ( but may be on maternity leave with a little luck). Should we do land/sea? All sea for 7 nights. which ship. Will my father survive all the children? He likes upscale dining, etc. and would be happy sipping cocktails in the lounge or golfing.

So anything you can offer would be great as we plot this.

Oh, info on the cabins too. We have five in our group so I think we must be limited to certain cabins.

Thanks!!

 

[jennyl772003]

I'm pretty sure infants under 3 months are not allowed on board. Just an FYI...

 

[NCRedding]

We've sailed with a group of 12 (10 adults and 2 kids) and had a blast. I love WDW and the cruise, but with the age group that you're talking about, your dad (sounds so much like mine) and the time period, I would recommend doing a 7 night cruise on the Magic. (The Magic sails 7 nights, the Wonder does 3 and 4 night). My dad loved the 3 night (we done it twice) and now we're all trying to find time to go on a 7 night. It would be great for your dad, because he has the freedom to come and go and yet still be together for some things--like dinner, etc. If he wants to avoid kids, he can go to the adult pool, or the adult areas of the ship. Also, if you do a 7 night (either western or eastern), golf excursion are offered. I think with 5 in the family, you would need to either book 2 cabins or a Cat 4.

 

[tkd lisa]

If you are thinking about Christmas 2004, there won't be a 7 day Magic, it's a 10 day special itinerary leaving the 18th returning the 28th. There will be a Wonder 2004 Christmas cruise, or you could do something near Christmas but not exactly on Christmas.

As far as the cabins go, you can only book 4 in most cabins, but with a large group, you can probably either book adjoining cabins or list one of your kids in another person's cabin, then have them actually sleep in your cabin.

As far as adult areas, the cruise has many more adult only areas than WDW. The adult pool area, Palo restaurant, the nightclub areas after 9, etc.

Good luck and if you want more info on the 10 day cruise, we have a great thread on the cruise meet board.

 

[kakiax]

thanks for all the input. this is such a process to get 10 adults on the same page and agree to what they want to do! Couple more q's. I like the sound of the western cruise; how are the stops? how far inadvance do you have to book excursions.

If we do land/sea is 3 or 4 night cruise better (we have all done disney many, many times)

 

[NCRedding]

The western stops: Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Castaway Cay. I've never done the western, so I am not sure what, if anything, you need to book. If I were to do a land/sea; I would go for the 4 night cruise, but that's because I love cruising.

 

[mickeymom1]

I am leaving on my 3rd "family " cruise this Saturday. There are about 30 of us sailing this time! It is really great because you can spend as much or as little time together with your group. There is always something for everyone to enjoy. I think if you can get your group up to 8 cabins there is a group discount. (We booked 10 cabins this trip and we will get 1 person's fare refunded)

Good luck planning!!
pam

 

[kcashner]

A couple of thoughts....the cruise is probably the ideal "large family" vacation because you can have as much or as little "togetherness" as you want. Most large groups do dinners together, then decide on other things as suits them.

As to excursions, you can book them about 6 weeks in advance, but if you are doing smaller groups, you can also book on board...you have a lot of flexibility.

You will save major $ if you book the number 5 person into a cabin with the grandparents (or whoever), and then have them sleep in whichever cabin you choose. To put 5 people in a cabin, you have to go to category 4 or above. This can get pricey. Since you have plenty of adults, you can book 2 adults in each cabin in any category you choose...and then put in the kids to a total of not more than 4 people per cabin. DOesn't matter where you actually sleep!

If you book far enough ahead, you can book the cabins along the same hallway all in a row (or across from each other if some want inside, some outside cabins). That way, you are all in a cluster and will only have noise from each other (hee hee). You get your best "early booking" credit the farther ahead you book. If DCL decreases the cost, they will match the new price for you. Most of the time, the cost goes up as the date approaches.

There is a minimum age for cruising--not sure if it is 6 weeks or 3 months (check DCL website). Kids must be 3 AND potty trained to participate in the kid programs. Otherwise, there is limited babysitting available for a fee.

Grandpa will have plenty of time to relax in the lounges without kids and eat great food. He'll be able to hang with the grandkids as much as he likes, but can certainly spend his time in the "adult only" areas. If the grandparents want even more "separation," book them on a different deck than the families with kids! Then you'll only see each other when you plan to.