Illuminations Cruise payment ?

[Three cats]

I have booked an Illuminations Cruise as a surprise for my husband. For those who have done the cruise before, my question is this...I know payment is due at the time you get on the boat but can it be done quietly?? I'd rather not have my husband know just how much I am paying for this little surprise. Did the captain say the amount loudly? Or not at all?? I'm hoping I can just hand him my debit card and have that be the end of it. I'd love to hear your experience. Thanks

 

[Robo]

I'm hoping I can just hand him my debit card and have that be the end of it.

That's how it works.

 

[bucky1023]

It has been a few years since I've done this, but from what I remember you pay at the window where you check in not directly to the person driving the boat so you should be able to keep it quiet.

Good luck and hope he enjoys the surprise.... I personally loved ours

 

[Three cats]

Oh that is great to hear, thank you. I was debating on Illuminations vs the Wishes cruise and ended up picking this one. It would be great if I could pay at the window on the down low...lol

 

[patty57]

I paid at the window in May 2013. They also had a DVC or AP discount.

 

[Cottager]

Don't forget about the gratuity at the end if you feel the captain provided great service. Just use the old money in the hand with a handshake trick to keep it subtle.

 

[Three cats]

I paid at the window in May 2013. They also had a DVC or AP discount.

Unfortunately, I don't qualify for either.

Don't forget about the gratuity at the end if you feel the captain provided great service. Just use the old money in the hand with a handshake trick to keep it subtle.

Absolutely. The tip I am not worried about....It's the initial cost that'd make his hair stand on end, lol.

 

[chrissyc72]

Can I ask what this cruise is? I would love to surprise hubby for our anniversary. Where can I find info?

 

[summerskye]

Can I ask what this cruise is? I would love to surprise hubby for our anniversary. Where can I find info?

Try this link for information

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2069267&highlight=illumination+cruise

 

[Wendybird55]

You can also pay for it with a Disney gift card..that's what I did when I surprised DH with V&A dinner and cruise for his birthday. They can tell you the amount over the phone - I rounded it up and got a Disney gift card for that amount (I got mine from Disney store so could get any amount up to $1,500)and that's what I used to pay so he even couldn't see it on our bank statement when we got back from trip.

 

[jcvalenti]

We surprised some friends with an Illuminations cruise for their Anniversary while down at Food and Wine in the fall. We had some cocktails beforehand at the Belle Vue lounge at Boardwalk, and then talked them into taking a stroll around the Boardwalk area. I excused myself a little before hand, explaining that I wanted to run back to our room at The Swan to get a sweater, and ran over to the Yacht Club to take care of the boat payment and to bring a couple bottles of champagne onboard (and make sure our snacks that we ordered were there). It tooks less than a couple minutes to make the payment, and it's done at a small window - there's no way he would see unless he saw the receipt. I just handed them my credit card and an Annual Pass (for the discount). I palmed the captain a nice tip after the cruise as well.

Have fun on your cruise - it's always one of my favorite things to do at Disney.

 

[patty57]

Unfortunately, I don't qualify for either.

I didn't either, but one of the other passengers did, so we got the discount! I booked the trip, and recruited the eight other passengers here on the DIS.

 

[ccgirl]

We surprised some friends with an Illuminations cruise for their Anniversary while down at Food and Wine in the fall. We had some cocktails beforehand at the Belle Vue lounge at Boardwalk, and then talked them into taking a stroll around the Boardwalk area. I excused myself a little before hand, explaining that I wanted to run back to our room at The Swan to get a sweater, and ran over to the Yacht Club to take care of the boat payment and to bring a couple bottles of champagne onboard (and make sure our snacks that we ordered were there). It tooks less than a couple minutes to make the payment, and it's done at a small window - there's no way he would see unless he saw the receipt. I just handed them my credit card and an Annual Pass (for the discount). I palmed the captain a nice tip after the cruise as well.

Have fun on your cruise - it's always one of my favorite things to do at Disney.

You could bring champagne? I thought you couldn't bring your own food or beverages?

 

[Three cats]

You can also pay for it with a Disney gift card..that's what I did when I surprised DH with V&A dinner and cruise for his birthday. They can tell you the amount over the phone - I rounded it up and got a Disney gift card for that amount (I got mine from Disney store so could get any amount up to $1,500)and that's what I used to pay so he even couldn't see it on our bank statement when we got back from trip.

That is a great idea Wendy

We surprised some friends with an Illuminations cruise for their Anniversary while down at Food and Wine in the fall. We had some cocktails beforehand at the Belle Vue lounge at Boardwalk, and then talked them into taking a stroll around the Boardwalk area. I excused myself a little before hand, explaining that I wanted to run back to our room at The Swan to get a sweater, and ran over to the Yacht Club to take care of the boat payment and to bring a couple bottles of champagne onboard (and make sure our snacks that we ordered were there). It tooks less than a couple minutes to make the payment, and it's done at a small window - there's no way he would see unless he saw the receipt. I just handed them my credit card and an Annual Pass (for the discount). I palmed the captain a nice tip after the cruise as well.

Have fun on your cruise - it's always one of my favorite things to do at Disney.

Thank you! I am glad to hear about paying at the window. I had kind of pictured an awkward moment paying the captain with my husband standing right there...lol

You could bring champagne? I thought you couldn't bring your own food or beverages?

I'm not sure if something has changed but when I called to book last night the agent told me that we would not be allowed to bring any food or drink on with us.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You could bring champagne? I thought you couldn't bring your own food or beverages?

You can't bring your own on with you, but you can order it from Disney (probably at a big markup). Don't know how the previous poster got onboard with their own.

 

[Jen7079]

We surprised some friends with an Illuminations cruise for their Anniversary while down at Food and Wine in the fall. We had some cocktails beforehand at the Belle Vue lounge at Boardwalk, and then talked them into taking a stroll around the Boardwalk area. I excused myself a little before hand, explaining that I wanted to run back to our room at The Swan to get a sweater, and ran over to the Yacht Club to take care of the boat payment and to bring a couple bottles of champagne onboard (and make sure our snacks that we ordered were there). It tooks less than a couple minutes to make the payment, and it's done at a small window - there's no way he would see unless he saw the receipt. I just handed them my credit card and an Annual Pass (for the discount). I palmed the captain a nice tip after the cruise as well.

Have fun on your cruise - it's always one of my favorite things to do at Disney.

Did you have to order the champagne through them? Or are you able to bring your own on?

Also, I booked yesterday and they told me that their is no discount. I will try at the window the day of to see if that changes.

 

[gamomof2]

How much are the DVC and AP discounts?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I just went on one of these cruises last month and my friend who booked it was told that you cannot bring your own food or beverages but you can order it. she ordered it. We had champagne, several kinds of chips, sodas, water and a birthday cake.

 

[jcvalenti]

I just went on one of these cruises last month and my friend who booked it was told that you cannot bring your own food or beverages but you can order it. she ordered it. We had champagne, several kinds of chips, sodas, water and a birthday cake.

The official policy is that food and beverages should be ordered through Yacht Club in-room dining ... but we have done several "special" cruises, and being big wine drinkers, we have often brought a special bottle or two. It's not like in-room dining has a 40 year old Bordeaux or a bottle of Dom Perignon from the year you were married sitting around. It's never been a problem, and often the captain has even offered to serve the wine or champagne we brought.

I will add that we have always ordered some extra snacks, like a shrimp cocktail or cheese plate, to go with it.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

How is everyone keeping expensive payments secret? I mean, I want to surprise my partner with a dinner at V&A, and I know she'll absolutely flip if she sees the full cost, but there's really no way to keep secrets without having private accounts. Even if I went to buy a gift card, there's still a charge for the amount and she'd ask what I bought at the disney store for $600 or whatever. Do most people have private credit cards they don't let their partners see?