Honest opinion about photo package please

[sadiwest]

Think it's worth it for a week long cruise? We are having a vow renewal on board, and those photos are separate.
We're planning to get our pictures taken the night before (dh, dd who is 12, and me). So I am still considering it, but realistically how many photos would you need to buy before the unlimited package becomes worth it?
Are they taking photos of people fairly regularly on board?

 

[Calantha]

Are they taking photos of people fairly regularly on board?

We did the unlimited package in 2019 on an 8-night first cruise with 12 people and each family (with overlaps) probably had about 200 pictures. BUT we sought out picture opportunities every day, especially around dinner time. I love what we got.

I did not do any pictures in January (4 nighter) when it was just me and DS (6 at the time), because I didn't want a bunch of pictures with our faces covered.

I have pre-purchased the unlimited package for Alaska, and I'm going to see out it goes. As far as I understand, you can still cancel up to before the end of the cruise. If the rules haven't changed and you're considering it, I'd say it is worthwhile to get the pre-purchase discount in case you do decide to get it.

Maybe someone who has cruised recently can clarify if that is still the rule.

 

[Rob1872]

We stop in the atrium for photos every night, so it quickly becomes cost effective. (You know my wife is dragging us to too many photo opportunities when a photographer has our stateroom number memorized on day 3)

 

[sadiwest]

We did the unlimited package in 2019 on an 8-night first cruise with 12 people and each family (with overlaps) probably had about 200 pictures. BUT we sought out picture opportunities every day, especially around dinner time. I love what we got.

I did not do any pictures in January (4 nighter) when it was just me and DS (6 at the time), because I didn't want a bunch of pictures with our faces covered.

I have pre-purchased the unlimited package for Alaska, and I'm going to see out it goes. As far as I understand, you can still cancel up to before the end of the cruise. If the rules haven't changed and you're considering it, I'd say it is worthwhile to get the pre-purchase discount in case you do decide to get it.

Maybe someone who has cruised recently can clarify if that is still the rule.

Now I'm trying to remember if I sid that. I'm pretty sure I did, in anticipation of at least some of them coming out well.
We don't usually get pictures of the 3 of us, and I am hoping for some nice portrait type shots.

 

[msmama]

I'm one of the people on a first name basis with the photographers on Day 1 because we spend our time before dinner (and sometimes between dinner and show) running from picture opportunity to picture opportunity.

Some of my favorite photos of my son are photos taken by the Disney photographers (well, shutters, we've yet to cruise since the change). They've been able to get him to relax and smile better than any other professional photo shoot (and certainly school pictures).

Also, the more photos you have taken, the more the photogs know you and the more photos they'll take so it kinds of builds on itself. I always tell them I don't mind candids while we're talking with characters, they don't have to be posed.

And PRO TIP - if you have a disney photographer on one of your excursions, as if they want their picture taken!! I thought one photographer was going to cry she was so excited.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I suggest buying it, because it is slightly cheaper in advance, and you can ask for a refund if you don't find it to be worthwhile in the end. We made a real effort on this last cruise to take more pics, and ended up with over 300 (14 night cruise).

 

[mmbrad02]

We bought the unlimited package on our 4 night cruise in 2019. I get rather shy about asking strangers to take our pictures, and its just the 3 of us, so without it I would never get any group pics of us that aren't selfies. I loved it with no regrets.

Edited to add: We also sought out photos... almost all the characters, dinner shots, etc.

 

[Lillebelle]

I think this really depends on if you're the type who enjoys going to the photo backdrops they set up in the atrium or not. I feel like those are set up just about every night, so if you wanted to, you could easily get in many photos. Plus, they went around most if not all the dinner nights on our last cruise taking pictures at our table as well.

 

[holula]

If you work at getting photos then it’s absolutely worth it. I’ve done it a couple of times and got 100-200 photos each time.

 

[princesscinderella]

I booked a 30 minute photo session are those pictures taken there included in the unlimited photo package too?

 

[Calantha]

I booked a 30 minute photo session are those pictures taken there included in the unlimited photo package too?

I'm 75% certain those are not included.

 

[MamaMermaid]

We do it. We make an effort to take photos when we can and enjoy having the physical memories.

 

[Dug720]

I'm 75% certain those are not included.

I'm 99% certain they are not. They are a definite separate cost.

 

[Djcool221]

We just got off a 5 night cruise and pre booked the unlimited photo package. We had our 3 year daughter with us and by the end of the cruise our total photo count was 296. So to us it was definitely worth it.

 

[Travel60]

We bought on first couple of cruises when kids were younger. Have sheaves of photos still in the package in a drawer somewhere. There's only so many pictures you can put in your house. Now we do our own, everyone shares them in a google file and I make a photo book of the whole trip. Duplicate copies if kids and families go.

 

[hpsalb]

We typically get it, even for just a short cruise. We have done some smaller digital packages if they made more sense - like just 10 photos. I’m never in any pictures because I’m always the one taking them, so at least I have proof that I was on this vacation too!

I feel that for it to make sense, you need to seek out some photo opportunities. I usually make my family do pictures before dinner most nights, or at least DH and I. There are also character opportunities, beach pictures, dinner pictures…sometimes we do more of these than others, depending on lines.

 

[lilsonicfan]

We bought on first couple of cruises when kids were younger. Have sheaves of photos still in the package in a drawer somewhere. There's only so many pictures you can put in your house. Now we do our own, everyone shares them in a google file and I make a photo book of the whole trip. Duplicate copies if kids and families go.

These days when you buy the unlimited photo package, it's all online, you don't even have a choice to have them printed or to get a USB stick. But, handy to make into photobooks.

 

[sadiwest]

I'm 99% certain they are not. They are a definite separate cost.

Now that's disappointing. What's the point of a photo shoot if you're not buying the pictures, and then what's the point of an unlimited package if not everything is included?

 

[Rob1872]

Now that's disappointing. What's the point of a photo shoot if you're not buying the pictures, and then what's the point of an unlimited package if not everything is included?

The photo shoot is a private session with a photographer. It is not unreasonable to have an additional charge for that service. If nothing else, there is a practical perspective. If you didn't charge for it, then 3,000 people would be trying to get a dozen slots a day. This way, people who are on board for a special occasion can get some custom pictures.

 

[princessmommyx3]

I booked a 30 minute photo session are those pictures taken there included in the unlimited photo package too?

The private session is definitely a separate purchase, and last I heard, the prices were steep. I inquired about it on the Wonder in 2017 and for digital files on a USB drive these were the prices: 5 photos for $550, 12 photos for $900, 100 photos for $2500. Also, only black & white was available and that color was not an option. Granted this was 5 years ago but I have not heard that it has changed.