Honest opinion about photo package please

[princesscinderella]

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.

Thanks for the info I have it booked for day 4 so I will inquire with shutters when I get onboard and if it’s not included I’ll cancel the private session. They give no information online about it which is disappointing.

 

[squirk]

I’ll be contrarian, since you asked for opinions.

The vow renewal is a whole separate thing, but speaking solely for us, we have never found the unlimited package to be a good value for a normal cruise.

We discovered that we have a lot more emotional attachment to the candid, unstaged photos we take on our phones than anything ever taken by an on-ship photographer.

We might pick up one or two photos per cruise, but we have never loved (and therefore never bought) anywhere near enough photos where we would have saved money buying the unlimited package.

 

[1200emily]

I absolutely think it is worth it! They have magic shots and there are so many character meet and greet opportunities. Photographers come to dinner in the main dining room every night except the last night. There are photographers on Castaway Cay. The photographers are great about doing many poses and taking individual pictures or different groups of family members. For example, photo with parents, daughter by herself, daughter and mom, daughter with dad, and all three of you. We did a 5 night on the Magic in December and got over 250 photos and this was when there were not photographers at every character meet and greet. We easily got over 200 photos on the Fantasy in May 2019 and about 100 on the Dream 4 night in 2018. For the non unlimited packages for 10 photos you are paying $15 per photo and $12.50 per photo for 20. Even if you only take 100 photos with the unlimited package you are only paying $3 per photo.

 

[scduckman]

Is only one name listed on the photo package or can any one in the stateroom have pictures taken?

 

[elittleton]

Thanks for the info I have it booked for day 4 so I will inquire with shutters when I get onboard and if it’s not included I’ll cancel the private session. They give no information online about it which is disappointing.

If you click on View More it will provide more information. I was looking into scheduling one. The pictures are black and white and there will be up to 100 pictures on a USB.

 

[bayri]

As a couple who is horrendous at taking photos together, the photo package made a really nice opportunity to make sure we took as many as we could on our first cruise (which was 7 nights!). We ended up with ~95 photos, including one that is my absolute most favorite photo of us together. Had we not gotten the package, we probably would have never ended up getting that photo since we wouldn't have been driven to get so many!

But truly, it's up to your family dynamic and whether you view it as something worthwhile. Will I get this package on every cruise? Probably not, but it's def something I'd consider for longer cruises!

 

[sadiwest]

If you click on View More it will provide more information. I was looking into scheduling one. The pictures are black and white and there will be up to 100 pictures on a USB.

I did that and noticed that packages started at $500. Swiftly canceled. Between the wedding and regular photo packages, we're already shelling out enough for pictures. Thank you for the heads up.

 

[1200emily]

Is only one name listed on the photo package or can any one in the stateroom have pictures taken?

Anyone in the stateroom can have their photos taken and are included in the package. They ask for your stateroom number when they take your photo.

 

[BrandyMcD]

I’ll be contrarian, since you asked for opinions.

The vow renewal is a whole separate thing, but speaking solely for us, we have never found the unlimited package to be a good value for a normal cruise.

We discovered that we have a lot more emotional attachment to the candid, unstaged photos we take on our phones than anything ever taken by an on-ship photographer.

We might pick up one or two photos per cruise, but we have never loved (and therefore never bought) anywhere near enough photos where we would have saved money buying the unlimited package.

I'm actually with you. I think it just comes down to personal preferences and travel philosophy, but I'm more about soaking in the moment and if I happen to get a good photo, then great. I don't like spending my vacation time in line or posing for perfect photos. But that's really important to other people and that's fine too! We've done three cruises and each time we've bought one or two of the Disney photos that were really special, and otherwise spent our time/money on other things. No regrets.

 

[darnheather]

I have NEVER regretted money spent on photos. I still lug around my big camera but I feel like it is so worth it to have the pros do it with their cameras and proper lighting. I've gotten the unlimited package on all three of my sailings. Only on the last one did the kids start to rebel (it was 2 weeks) and so I have a lot by myself but I'm so happy to have them.

 

[squirk]

I'm actually with you. I think it just comes down to personal preferences and travel philosophy, but I'm more about soaking in the moment and if I happen to get a good photo, then great. I don't like spending my vacation time in line or posing for perfect photos. But that's really important to other people and that's fine too! We've done three cruises and each time we've bought one or two of the Disney photos that were really special, and otherwise spent our time/money on other things. No regrets.

Right. No disparagement toward those who like the posed photos. More power to them.

Just speaking for myself and my wife, the cruise photos we keep going back to are the ones where, like, one of the kids was caught mid-giggle during dinner, or one of us was passing overhead on the clear portion of the AquaDuck, or the view of Tortola from our verandah. Stuff no ship photographer was ever going to catch.

Those are the pictures that make me reminisce and smile when I look at them.

 

[JoeFromSeoul]

I buy the pre-paid unlimited package every time. Twenty percent of our cruises (math is easy when you have only sailed five times) we got our money refunded. It was a 3-night cruise and we just didn’t have that many pictures. We’ve been pleased with the other sets, particularly after someone on these message boards suggested removing our lanyards for photos.

 

[DianaMB333]

I buy the pre-paid unlimited package every time. Twenty percent of our cruises (math is easy when you have only sailed five times) we got our money refunded. It was a 3-night cruise and we just didn’t have that many pictures. We’ve been pleased with the other sets, particularly after someone on these message boards suggested removing our lanyards for photos.

Hi… can you ask for refund if at the end are just few photos or if we don’t like them?

We are in 3 connected staterooms, with pre booked photo pakage for all… but if at the end we ended up having all full party photos, then the pckge for 1 stateroom could be enough… thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi… can you ask for refund if at the end are just few photos or if we don’t like them?

We are in 3 connected staterooms, with pre booked photo pakage for all… but if at the end we ended up having all full party photos, then the pckge for 1 stateroom could be enough… thoughts?

Thanks!

You can cancel the photo package any time prior to the last (full) day of the cruise. Well, at least it was that way pre-COVID.

 

[DianaMB333]

You can cancel the photo package any time prior to the last (full) day of the cruise. Well, at least it was that way pre-COVID.

Thanks!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We bought it for a 7-night cruise to Alaska. A lot of their character photos are indoors and the quality of their photos ended up being much better than mine because they always had the right flash/lighting set up on hand and I didn't, even with my very expensive mirrorless camera. We did go for a lot of the character photos because I had young kids. For a shorter cruise I don't think I would bother with the package and just get a few individual shots if they came out well.

 

[BStieers]

As a scrapbooker I always find them of great value. Even on a little 3 night cruise we end up with over 100 pictures

 

[dleighb]

As a scrapbooker I always find them of great value. Even on a little 3 night cruise we end up with over 100 pictures

B!!!!!! Imagine running into you here! As you can imagine, I agree with you. I'm always getting the photo package because I'm a scrapbooker. I like a combo of the posed photos and the candid. On my upcoming cruise, I will evaluate before downloading in to see if we get enough to justify the unlimited package and how many we can get with our group. I don't think there will be a need for everyone in our group to get the unlimited photo package. We may just supplement the group photos with some individual photos. I also have an idea to see if we can "game" the system. I'm curious to see if it works!

 

[Howmel]

There are 17 of us going in 5 different cabins. I think we will buy a couple of photo packages between the 5 families. My question is, if all 17 of us are in a photo and only a couple of us have the photo package will the photo with all 17 of us be included in our digital photos. (I hope that makes sense?)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There are 17 of us going in 5 different cabins. I think we will buy a couple of photo packages between the 5 families. My question is, if all 17 of us are in a photo and only a couple of us have the photo package will the photo with all 17 of us be included in our digital photos. (I hope that makes sense?)

If 2 rooms purchase photo packages, any photos taken that include anyone IN those rooms will be included in their package. So, (as a group), you'd get 2 copies of any photo with all 17 of you in it.

One note - 17 in one photo can be a bit of an issue (distance from subjects to camera, for example), so be prepared that all photo locations may not be able to accommodate you.