Hey! July 30th, 2005 cruise to Mexico DISfriends!

[lwilliam]

This group loves any kind of information they can get.
Keep it coming. Thanks again. - Lucy

 

[jlawall]

Wow, thanks for the excursion info! I liked a lot of the choices in Puerto Vallarta. I'm not as happy with the other choices, I really like to be on the water or at the beach. I'll have to check back. PV has a few that I really like. So, how soon can we book??

 

[jfis1020]

Having already booked Randi's horses, her prices are looking awesome. Hers is $45 and DCL is listing, I think $75. I know there are a few perks thrown in with DCL, but I'm not sure the $30 can justify it.

I too am looking at beaches. DS11, DS8 and DD6 (at sailing time) really enjoy the beach atmosphere. I think once the cruise runs that first route on May 28th, we'll get a lot of input from those folks. Their info is valuable in our choices I am sure.

jlawall.......how was the Titanic? Did you have a nice birthday trip?

 

[LiserAnn]

I have to say, I think they're all overpriced...and that disappoints me! We're already overpaying (and I'm okay with that because it's DCL) for this cruise. I had done some research on things to do in PV and came across the Marigalante (Pirate Cruise) a few weeks ago. On their website it costs $60 adult, $30 kids and you get 15% off if you book online. DCL's prices for the exact same thing...$62 adult, $52 FOR KIDS!!!!!! I'm so upset, how could they mark it up that much? Oh well, such is life! We may spend one or two of the port days enjoying the ship. Well see how the budget works out.

jlawall - I agree I like the PV choices the best. Other subject: tell us about the Titanic!!!

As for booking, this is scoop. You can book shore excursions as early as 90 days prior to your cruise BUT...your cruise has to be paid for in FULL before DCL will let you book.

Lisa

 

[LynnTarrant]

Jfis1020
We're are booked with Randi too. There were so many good comments on the cruise critic board.
Everyone
In PV we will probably do a canopy tour but may not go with DCL.
In Cabo we're veering towards a desert ATV tour.
We like a bit of beach but not too much, so the beach after riding in Mazatlan will be great plus I understand the beach in PV is good where the canopy tours go from.
Would like to do some snorkeling in Cabo but hubby isn't keen and because of the short time I don't think we can fit in 2 activities there

 

[lwilliam]

My DH and I ALSO thought they were pricey and for me, there weren't
too many I was interested in either. I really want to wait until the
first group takes any kind of excursions and hear from them how they felt.
I think that is the best bet. I always took their advice on the Western
excursions from Florida and it really worked out. I noticed alot of the
excursions included food - well, we don't exactly want to eat in Mexico (we love Mexican food, the whole family does, but if we can possibly get
back on the ship for lunch, that is what we will do - THAT food is paid for -
uh-oh, Lucy is sounding cheap). I know for sure we will pick ONE
beach excursion out of the three ports, but as I said before, we'll wait
and see what the future cruisers say about them. Just MY opinion.
Keep talking.

 

[LiserAnn]

I really want to wait until the first group takes any kind of excursions and hear from them how they felt. I think that is the best bet. I always took their advice on the Western excursions from Florida and it really worked out.

I think that's a good plan. I was just afraid that some of them would be "sold out" by the time the first group goes and reports back. None of them really interested me all that much also, other than I know my kids would love the Pirate Cruise, so we'll probably do that one. I did also make a ressie with Ranidi's Happy Horses. You can cancel at anytime without charge, so I figure I'll have that as a back up. Plus her prices are more reasonable and she's so nice (I emailed her with some questions). We'll see........

 

[jlawall]

You guys have some really great ideas, I have to check into them when I have a few minutes!!

We didn't go to the Titanic due to the snowstorm last Saturday in Philadelphia, it was pretty bad so the night before we had to cancel. We had a nice day at home, using the hot tub, and watching a million movie rentals...it was a nice, exciting birthday...all the girls (DDs) were there!!

I want to enjoy the beaches as much as possible...the ATV idea sounds good in Mazatlan...it that thru DCL??

In Cabo, I want to go to a posh hotel and enjoy the facilities...any suggestions???

In PV, I like alot of the DCL excursions....so is anyone paying off the trip so they can book...either way we have to wait 90 days (am I right??)

 

[LynnTarrant]

jlawall
The ATV tour i found goes from Cabo. It's not a DCL tour I've found where to book direct and also the web site shore trips does it they are more expensive than going direct plus it includes transport to the venue and with shoretrips you get your money back if the ship docks late doesn't dock at all etc.
Here are the 2 sites

http://www.loscabosguide.com/activity/despark.htm

http://www.shoretrips.com/common/search4.asp?rcode=MEX&lcode=CAB&tcode=006679

As I understand it you have to pay in full and then can book excursions from 90 days out

 

[jlawall]

Thx so much Lynn! I checked out the links and .... honestly, I'm afraid the desert idea in the summer will be tough...is there any chance of water on that tour??

Really cool idea, though....you're the best.

So has anyone booked already???

 

[littleowensmommy]

Hello All,

Kathy here. I checked in quite some time ago and have been lurking from time to time to keep informed. I have an almost 6-yr-old DS and an 3 1/2-yr-old DD that keep me hopping. I did take time today to review all of the shore excursions that were just listed for this summer. I am disappointed in many ways. The PV excursions seem to appeal to my family the most. We are conflicted over whether to do the Pirate Cruise or the Dolphin Encounter. I wish we could do both. I think we'll end up on the Pirate Cruise. The DCL price is too high. I too checked the tour operator's website and their direct booking price is much cheaper , however, DCL has reserved the entire voyage so you can't book around them...same thing goes for the Dolphin Discovery. I am also not pleased with the minimum age requirement on many of the snorkel tours. My DD can swim like a fish but since she is only 4, we can't book her through DCL. I will have to find an independent tour operator that will acommodate her. We are really looking forward to this vacation. This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise. We have already booked #4 for 2006. We will be flying into San Diego and staying in Coronado 23-27 July and then on to Disneyland for a 3-night stay at the Grand Californian before departing on DCL. We'll return home to Virginia at the conclusion of the cruise.

 

[LiserAnn]

I have an almost 6-yr-old DS and an 3 1/2-yr-old DD that keep me hopping. I did take time today to review all of the shore excursions that were just listed for this summer. I am disappointed in many ways. The PV excursions seem to appeal to my family the most. We are conflicted over whether to do the Pirate Cruise or the Dolphin Encounter. I wish we could do both. I think we'll end up on the Pirate Cruise. The DCL price is too high.

Hi Kathy! We'll have our two DS on this cruise, one that will be just 7 and the other will be 3 1/2. The prices are too high and IMHO we're already paying a lot more for this cruise than other lines who do the same route. I can't believe Disney would mark up the Pirate Cruise to such an extent. PV tours also appealed most to our family. We'll be cruising with three other families and they all want to do the Pirate Cruise so I think it's going to be a mad dash at the 90 day mark...get your cruises paid early, I suppose! Anyway, if we can get the Pirate Cruise we'll do that for PV and in Maz do either Randi's Happy Horses (non-DCL excursion) or the Folkloric Show and Beach Break. We'll probably not do an excursion in Cabo, or just go into town. My friend who's cruising with us did this exact itinerary on another line and she said Cabo is the safest port of the three and it's easy to walk to from the ship. She also said they have a lot of mall type areas and restaurants...Hard Rock Cafe, etc. near the ship. So we'll either do that or just stay on board and enjoy the ship. It's just disappointing to me!

Lisa

 

[jfis1020]

Anyone considering a Dolphin Encounter? The price of DCL vs. the actual company is almost DOUBLE! I know that DCL provides transportation, but I am looking in to that. I can't imagine it being that! WOW! They are sure making it hard on us!!

 

[jlawall]

I love everyone's feedback about the shore excursions.......my two cents is that usually there's something about the DCL tour that makes it worth an additional fee (convenience and well-trained, charismatic tour guides, etc.) That being said, on my last cruise, I took the advice of the DIS board members and booked most of my tours on my own and we had a wonderful trip!!

It's good to hear about the convenience of Cabo, I'm really looking forward to that port.....(we're all about the HRC stops!!)....what I would really like to do there is go to a resort for the day, I hear they are amazilng there....has anyone been there?? and do they have any recommendations????

We'll we have plenty of time to pay for our trip by the 90 days mark!!

Welcome Kathy!!

 

[LiserAnn]

VideoGal1 posted this on another thread about Cabo, thought you'd all might be interested:

"I spent a week in Cabo several years ago not far from the Finesterra. I found the beaches, as such, are treacherous and not suitable for swimming. The currents are very fast and turbulent. If you read further in the excursion material that fact is explained very briefly. You would be far safer to use the Finesterra pool and just look at the beach. I did go snorkeling behind one of the resorts but came away with huge scrapes from being thrown up against the rocks along with my great pictures of acquatic life..."

Might not be the best place to hang out on the beach but I hear the Finesterra is just beautiful in terms of resorts. I guess their pool area is very nice.

 

[lwilliam]

Thanks for responding. This is such a nice way to meet people
before our cruise. These people on "our" thread are so nice.
We will also be at the GC, as will, I believe, JoAnn. Maybe we
will run into each other or have a meeting place before we get
on the ship. We are bringing friends along from PA. We'll have
a great group. Think we are going to wait on any excursions
until we hear from DISers who take the shore excursions.
Keep in touch with our group. If anyone is willing, as I am, let
me give you an update on my family. (Oh, by the way, notice, I will
NOT list my age........... )
Bob - DH and super Disney nut, and great planner, and great all around guy
Me - Lucy, loves that her DH loves Disney
Bryan - will be 19 on the day the cruise begins - he also loves Disneyworld
but especially cruising on the Disney ships
Tyler - will be 13, has grown up loving Disneyworld and now cruising.

 

[LiserAnn]

These people on "our" thread are so nice.

I would have to agree...we are a nice bunch!

To recap my family (with ages listed as they'll be on the cruise):
DH: Mark 39
Me: Lisa 39 (turning 40 on 8/6-eeeeck)
DS: Ryan 7
DS: Drew 3

We're in cabin 2608. We're also traveling with three other families with childrens ages ranging 5-9...there will be a total of 16 of us, 8 adults, 8 kids.

The only excursion I will be booking at the 90 days mark is the Pirate Cruise because all the kids in our group are interested in doing it (me too!). It sounds like a lot of fun. Other than that I think I'll wait to hear what the first few cruises have to say.

One question: does anyone know when our semi-formal, formal and pirate nights are supposed to be? We're doing the REAS and I want to make sure I don't book Palo's on one of those nights.

Lisa

 

[jfis1020]

Hi all! I did some looking into the Dolphin Excursion situation in PV and like someone has mentioned earlier, DCL has EVERY space reserved under their name. So, if we have any intentions of going on that excursion, we are at DCL's mercy. Granted it's a 30 minute trip one way, but DCL has priced it almost DOUBLE the normal rate. I can't see where 60 minutes driving constitutes another (I think) $60 PER PERSON!! I am disappointed because this is what my kids really want to do. DH could care less, but still that's FOUR of us.

We do seem to be a friendly group! On our previous cruise I can't say that I really "met" any families. Our tablemates were a family of late teen daughters (3). Two were very "shaply and beautiful" and the third was not. The two spent the entire cruise dinners making this poor girl feel like an outcast. They family would never talk to us (they were always arguing!). We tried to be "friendly", but I think there were some "issues" there!!!

Anyway......here's our recap:

DH ~ age 39
Myself ~ age 42 (yep, I robbed the cradle!)
DS ~ age 11
DS ~ age 8
DD ~ age 6

We'll be occupying cabins 6137 and 6139 (no, I didn't get a verandah....I so wished for one, but I am thankful to just be on the boat!

I cannot wait for this trip. We are doing Reds vs. Dodoger and Reds vs. Padres the week before along with DL. We will stay at the Orange Co. Hyatt near DL (love those points!!!).

º0º Jenny

 

[LiserAnn]

I meant to share this thread I started, because I know you all will love to hear this info:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=730345

jfis1020 - I share in your diasppointment. As you've read, I'm sure, I wanted to go on the Pirate Cruise and they've added a 75% mark up to the kids (only 2% for the adults). I guess I'm most disappointment because they're already charging more the cruise, they don't have to gauge us on the excursions. Oh well, nothing we can all do....except complain LOL! I am happy just to be going on a Disney cruise.

 

[jlawall]

One good thing about booking a DCL excursion is that if anything goes wrong the ship is more likely to wait for your group if you are on a excursion?? I'm not sure that that helps but I thought I would share!!

My group is...

My mom and dad (albil)
Me..43
Hubby..48
DD21
DD18 and
DD15

I do want to do some research on our ports b/c I don't know much about any of them...but I'm so psyched!!

We are staying at GC a few nights before the cruise, it might be fun to arrange a meeting but I have to look into that as well (maybe a breakfast the morning of??)

Also we have late seating! Go EAGLES!