Hello all,
Since I see the same questions pop up over and over, here are some answers:
1 - The prices for Illuminations Cruises are $275 plus tax ( total of $292.88). If you do the Celebration Upgrade, add on $25. That includes balloons, and appropriate banner ( birthday, anniversary, congratulations). That price is the same for all cruises at Illuminations. The cruise includes Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Bottled Water. it also includes Lays chips, BBQ Chips, pretzels, Doritos, and Cheetos. Sometimes one or the other variety is not in the mix.
2 - Wishes Cruises have two levels. The Basic 21' pontoon is $225 plus tax ( total of $239.66). This boat seats 8 guests, plus driver, and does not have on-board audio. The Premium 25' pontoon is $275 plus tax (total of $292.88). It seats 10 guests, plus driver. This boat includes on-board audio. Depending on wind conditions and proximity to other boats, being on a basic boat does not mean that you will not hear the Wishes ( or whatever show is being run that evening) soundtrack, but don't depend on it. The same $25 celebration upgrade price applies to these cruises. The passenger limits are strictly adhered to. It does not matter how many are children, infants, or adults, the limit is the limit.
3 - Illuminations cruises are pretty much the same time year round, with the exception of the day after Thanksgiving until the day before NYE, when Illuminations is at 9:30pm. The rest of the year it is at 9:00pm, with check-in between 8:00 and 8:15pm.
4 - Wishes cruises vary depending on the fireworks, with fireworks being anywhere from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. No matter what the person on the phone tells you for the time of the pickup and fireworks on the date of your cruise, ALWAYS call the specific marina the day of or before your cruise to doublecheck the correct times. Too often reservationists have provided inaccurate times to guests for Wishes cruises, causing guests to show up early or late for their cruise. Don't call the front desk, call the actual resort marina where you will be departing from. The correct cruise time is 1 hour prior to the fireworks time. This month alone, there are 9:00pm, 10:00pm, and 9:45pm fireworks times, so make sure to verify.
5 - Additional food and beverage can be ordered through private dining. The most common orders are wine, champagne, fruit and cheese plates, and chocolate covered strawberries. Full meals are not really appropriate due to the seating and small tables. Also, beer ordered through private dining can be exhorbitantly overpriced, as it is charged at the single bottle price no matter how many are ordered.
6 - The Wishes cruises usually include the Electric Water Pageant, but due to Wishes timing, some nights the EWP is not included. For example, if Wishes is at 8:00pm, since the EWP starts at 9:00pm every night, you will not see it as your cruise will be over by then.
7 - Illuminations is tougher to book as there are only six boats each night ( including the Breathless II ). Wishes is easier to book, as there is the potential for 6 premium boats ( 2 from the WL, 1 from the CT, 2 from the Poly, and 1 from the GF), and 15 basic boats each night, although it rarely reaches that number. Keep in mind that no matter where the boats originate from, they can pick up at any Magic Kingdom Resort, including the FW Campground. They cannot pickup or drop off at the Magic Kingdom or Ferry Boat docks.
Hope this is of some help,
Take care,
Bill
