ILLUMINATIONS CRUISES-What they are--How to book--FIND ONE TO SHARE

[meatballsmom]

Sorry about the late post.... I had planned a peter pan fireworks cruise with a few DISers for 10/7 and just found out because of time changes in our flights that I don't think I'm going to be able to make it. Would anyone like to take our place??? There is room for up to 3 people on the boat. Please PM me if interested and I can give you the details.

 

[JudyS]

Anyone interested in joining my group for Illuminations on 9-29?

I might be able to make this! It would be just me. I will PM you.

 

[mars315]

We have been lucky enough to book a wishes cruise for Christmas time. If we decide to ask for fellow DIS-ers to join our cruise, do we have these folks send us payment ahead of time? I mean, what if they just don't show up, and then we are stuck because we COULD have given the spots to OTHER fellow DIS-ers? Am I making sense?

Also, how much do you all tip the boat captain? Somewhere earlier it said that the captains were untipped positions, but many other folks are talking about how much each seat is on their cruises, PLUS tip.

Thanks for all the info.

Michelle

 

[NJmouse]

I have hosted 2 boats and been on someone else's cruise. Each time I have not had a problem with people showing up or paying me right at the dock for the cruise and I paid the other hostess at the dock also. I do not know of anyone getting stuck at the dock with payment. Has anyone had this problem? Also if you want to tip the driver that is you choice. We always tip them. Our guests usually just give us money for him on the boat or when we get back to the dock after the cruise so we would hand the driver the tip then. Depends on how good the driver is determines the tip amount. I never tipped the driver personally so I don't know how much was given to him, That was up to my hubby and other hubbies on the cruise, but he was tipped!!

 

[mars315]

Thanks NJmouse for your responses. I didn't mean to make it seem like I thought there was a high liklihood that we WOULD get stuck, just wanted to know what others do. Which you nicely told me. That is good to know. I guess it will be fine, since DH doesn't care whether we even get anyone to share or not. But here is a "what if?" We are a family of 4. What if we get 2 parties of 2 each to share the boat with us. That would be 8 total, but the boat holds 10. Would we just split it 8 ways, which would be 31.25 each? Or do we charge the others just 25 each? And whatever THAT answer turns out to be, what if one of the parties of 2 does not show? What do we charge the other party of 2? Do we, at that point, split it 6 ways, which is 41.66? Or do we charge them the original price (8 ways), and we just have to make up the difference?

My head is hurting after that!!!

MIchelle

 

[HulaHoop]

I wouldn't book an activity unless I'd be happy paying the entire cost myself. If I joined someone else on a cruise they had booked, I'd expect to pay this amount: add the tip to the cost, then divide the total by the number of people on the cruise. Just ask anyone who's interested in joining you what their expectations are. Then decide if you want them to join or not. Don't worry! It's a vacation!

 

[mars315]

How much do you tip?

 

[NJmouse]

We always prepare to pay for the whole cruise if no one shows up. We figure on how many the boat holds and divide the price by that. Example this cruise costs $250 and holds 10 people so each person is expected to pay $25 ea. If I only get 2 people they still only pay $25 ea. It doesn't matter how many are on the cruise. I can't expect other people to take up the slack of someone didn't show up or if I couldn't get anyone else to join us, that is my problem not our guests. Tipping is up to each person-we normally just collect near the end of the cruise whatever you want to pay, we don't set a price for that. If no one gives my DH would take care of the driver no problem.

 

[mushumadness]

thats the way we feel we booked the cruises (both lol) and if the second one doesnt fill we will just pay it ourselves

 

[kpk89]

How strict is the 10 person per boat rule, and is there any leeway for lapsitting children? Our party will be 11 -- but 5 of them kids, and one is a toddler who will not be in her own seat.

Anyone know about this? We could even bring her own lifejacket if that's the issue.

 

[funshipm174]

How strict is the 10 person per boat rule, and is there any leeway for lapsitting children? Our party will be 11 -- but 5 of them kids, and one is a toddler who will not be in her own seat.

Anyone know about this? We could even bring her own lifejacket if that's the issue.

From what I was told ( I had the same question) Even an infant is counted as one passenger. I wouldn't go there with 11 passengers expecting to try and get by. Call WDW to confirm.

 

[kpk89]

Oh, definitely. I would hate to try and "squeak" by and have somebody get left standing at the dock! I guess I'll just have to call when the time comes. Maybe we'll vote someone off the island.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Wow I thought that I had read somewhere that it was 10 adults or 12 passengers if there were kids. We're going to try to book one in Feb and will have 6 adults and 5 kids. We're counting the 13 yo as adult and the 9yo, 7yo, 4yo, 2yo and 17 month old as kids. Hope we can do it !!! that's 11 total, but a whole herd of kids.

 

[Tiffany]

Wow I thought that I had read somewhere that it was 10 adults or 12 passengers if there were kids. We're going to try to book one in Feb and will have 6 adults and 5 kids. We're counting the 13 yo as adult and the 9yo, 7yo, 4yo, 2yo and 17 month old as kids. Hope we can do it !!! that's 11 total, but a whole herd of kids.

When I booked our crusie for Nov 19th the CM was quite clear that it is 10 people total. Regardless of age, size, whatever. 10 people in total no exceptions. We only have 7 people so it will not be an issue for us. The rule and price changes are taking effect as of 10-01-05 according to the CM I dealt with.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

From what I was told ( I had the same question) Even an infant is counted as one passenger. I wouldn't go there with 11 passengers expecting to try and get by. Call WDW to confirm.

Go directly to Bayside Marina and ask.
When you call WDW you will be told 10 (period).

 

[Nickymouse]

I agree with Crazy Hakim; go to the marina and ask. The person you booked with is simply reading directions off of a screen. They don't personally know the capacity of the boat or what it looks like in many cases. The people at the marina are very helpful.

 

[lynnmci]

still wondering if anyone has any space n any cruise between 18th and 39th November for me and my husband.

Thanks.

Lynn

 

[JerseyJ]

Anyone interested in sharing Illuninations Cruise if we are able to get for a date during this time frame? We have 4 adults in our party.

 

[mmcguire]

*UPDATE* THIS CRUISE IS NOW FULL. THANKS!

We still have room for two more on our Premium Wishes Cruise on Dec. 16. This is a MVMCP night, so the show includes the perimeter fireworks and is viewed from Bay Lake. Leaves from the Grand Floridian dock. $25 per seat; please PM if you're interested!

 

[dcgrumpy]

If anyone has room for a cruise on 11/30, 12/1 or 12/2 for 5 (2 adults, 3 children) We would love to share

TIA