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

[bigmama67]

Just wondering - there are 3 of us...me, DH, and DS almost 5.

Rachel in NJ

 

[ThinkTink75]

Let me correct what I posted a few dats ago-- anyone pre-planning a Wishes or Illuminations cruise for April 14-19??

 

[alanburger88]

Anybody got space for 4 (DW, DH, DD10, DD14) South Africans on an Illuminations Cruise on 7 Dec 07?

 

[Chokky]

Hello!
Due to a couple who can't make it to our Illuminations Cruise I now have space for two people on the night of Thursday, December 13th.
If you are interested in joining us please let me know via PM.
Thanks,
Chokky

 

[MsTinkerChele]

Any available spots open for 2?

 

[Lilolvr]

Illuminations cruises are a fun and special way to view the Illuminations fireworks at Epcot. These cruises are very popular and require some advance planning in order to get a reservation.

You will tour seven seas lagoon prior to the beginning of Illuminations and be entertained, by your boat's pilot, with Disney trivia and views of the Boardwalk and other resorts, then you anchor beneath a bridge for an unobstructed view of the fireworks. One of the things we enjoyed the most about our Illuminations cruise was being able to just get off the boat and go to our car without fighting the huge crowd that was leaving Epcot afterwards.

Illuminations cruises are technically called "Specialty Cruises". There are 3 levels and prices for these cruises and you can read about them HEREhttp://www.wdwinfo.com/recreation/fireworks.htm.

There are only 5 boats available for this activity and they depart either from Boardwalk or Yacht/Beach Club Marina:

Pontoon Boats: Only 4 pontoon boats are available for this cruise. The cost is $150 plus 6% tax for the boat (this includes the pilot). Each pontoon boat will accommodate up to 10 adults or 12 passengers if some of them are children. The cost is not determined by the number of passengers, so sharing a cruise is good idea if you want to reduce cost.

The Breathless: This is a reproduction of a 1930's ChrisCraft Runabout. It will accommodate a maximum of 7 passengers. The cost is $175 plus 6% tax. This boat departs only from the Yacht &Beach Club Marina. This vessel has more speed than the pontoons.

In addition to the basic cost of the cruise, you should allow a gratuity for the Captain. We had 4 passengers on our cruise and tipped our Captain $25. He did a great job and paid special attention to my 6 year old nephew, my dh says now, that he wishes he had tipped him more, because he just made the whole experience wonderful.

How to book an Illuminations Cruise:

You need to call 407-939-7529 exactly 90 days before the date you want to reserve. You can determine when to call by using the DIS's priority seating calculator if you CLICK HEREhttp://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispscalc.html

Since these cruises are so much in demand, start calling about 6:55 am est. If you get a recording that they are not open yet, disconnect and immediately hit redial. If you get the recording thanking you for calling hit #3 right away, as soon as the second recording begins press #2, when the third recording begins press either your reservation number or phone number and finish with the pound sign. Then press #1, then #2. This will take you to a reservationist, if you have to hold do not disconnect or you go to the bottom of the queue.

When the reservationist answers do not make small talk, immediately tell him/her that you want to reserve the 8PM specialty cruise for such and such date.Do not ask to reserve an Illuminations cruise or you will waste time hearing that there is no such thing. After you get your reservation you can talk all you want, but these cruises are very difficult to reserve and seconds count when thousands of people are competing for only 5 boats.

When the reservationist indicates that you have obtained the reservation, tell him/her that you want to see Illuminations. He/she will then make arrangements for your cruise to depart the marina about 1/2 hour before Illuminations begins.

You will be told that they cannot guarantee that you will see Illuminations. They tell you this because, if Illuminations is delayed for any reason, your boat will still return to the marina at the end of your hour. So far, there have been no known instances where Illuminations was not seen.

If you have flexibility in your WDW itinerary, it is best to try to reserve a cruise for the first night you have available. That way, if you don't get the reservation, you can try the next day and the next, if necessary.

If you are unable to secure a reservation for an Illuminations cruise, do not give up. Cancellations happen every day. Keep calling and trying for that reservation, even when you are in WDW. I was told by a captain of one of these cruises that his boat has often sat idle because someone canceled. You can snag a cancellation. I know, because I was lucky enough to get a canceled cruise only 6 weeks before our trip last year.

You can also sometimes find someone who has a reservation already and is willing to share the space and cost of his cruise with you. The Illuminations Cruise Central posts on the Theme Parks board are there to help people match up for these cruises. There is an Illuminations Cruise Central for each month, beginning 3 months ahead of time.

Can the OP update this page. The info provided is no longer valid.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Just wanted to put in a note to say that the Breathless II IllumiNations cruise was definitely a high point of our visit last week. Our driver Aaron was so nice, and lots of fun! It was a blast meeting all the CMs/skippers at the Marina (hi, Mike, Mike, Katie (I think....), and new kid (wow, my mind is really going...). I was with a party of very picky, fussy men, and even they were blown away...so much so that they tried to book Breathless for a second night (silly boys, of course they couldn't). If you have a smaller party, and want a really special time, try for the Breathless.

 

[dralph]

I have the following booked:


December 19th
Grand 1 Yacht 1.5 hour excursion 8:30 pm we will be seeing the Wishes Fireworks.......I have room for 6 people. Off the top of my head I would say it will be $45-50 pp. give or take.

December 22

I have an Illuminations Pontoon booked & the Breathless booked. I have room for 6 more people. We can equally divided the cost pp including tip for the driver.

This is my 3rd year sharing cruises and it has always been a wonderful experience! If you need a reference from a past Dis member who shared a cruise with me...just let me know.

If you are interested...please PM me.

Kristine

edited to add...I didn't realize how many people fit on the Grand 1, so I actually have room for 6 more. Price down to $45-50 pp.

Hi, I'm new to the forum.

I will be bringing my family to Orlando Dec.15-22. At this late date, it's probably a longshot, but do you still have room on a cruise?

It would be 5 passengers: my wife and myself, 2 daughters (14 & 9), and my son (5).

Thanks, I'll keep my fingers crossed!

 

[eric almly]

I definitely need to try an illumination cruise.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

We have a January 8, 2008 opening for a Wishes cruise! PM me!

 

[KristineN]

My husband and I have an Illuminations cruise booked with lots of room available....cost will be approx $35 per person.

Let me know if any of you are interested. I do this several times a year...and have always had lots of fun sharing the cruises.

 

[TAKitty]

Does anyone know if on the Illuminations cruise you can see the globe?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Yes, you can see everything. You are a little further from the globe than if you stood in , say, Italy, but it is still perfectly visible.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

Can I pay for a Wishes cruise with a credit card? We are sharing a Cruise, so each person will be paying individually. Can DF and I pay for our part upon arrival with a credit card??

 

[UrsulasShadow]

My guess is that it should be put on one card. The card used to hold the reservation does NOT have to be the one used to pay for it, though. You should maybe designate one person to pay on the card, and arrange for the others to pay that person cash. Don't forget to figure in the tip!

 

[pixietwin]

Hiya, anybody have 4 extra spaces for Feb 11-14 for a Wishes or Illuminations cruise??

Nevermind..just called and got thru and booked Illuminations on Breathless for the 12th. I called to tell me mom (there will be me and DH, mom and step dad) and she thinks it's crazy since it's an hour and nothing but water and coke. I am unsure, but I have awhile before I need to cancel. It's $297 after tax!!!!!!!

 

[KristineN]

I really enjoyed Breathless a lot!! We did it last week. My husband however, hated it and much prefers the pontoon boat over the speed boat.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Does anyone know if on the Illuminations cruise you can see the globe?

The globe is directly in front of you, unobstructed view, no trees or fat heads.......

 

[TAKitty]

Hiya, anybody have 4 extra spaces for Feb 11-14 for a Wishes or Illuminations cruise??

Nevermind..just called and got thru and booked Illuminations on Breathless for the 12th. I called to tell me mom (there will be me and DH, mom and step dad) and she thinks it's crazy since it's an hour and nothing but water and coke. I am unsure, but I have awhile before I need to cancel. It's $297 after tax!!!!!!!

Is the Breathless the same as the Pontoon boats now?

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Is the Breathless the same as the Pontoon boats now?

Yes, all IllumiNations Cruises (Pontoon or Breathless) are $275 per boat plus Tax. Pontoon hold a maximum 10 guests, Breathless maximum 7 guests.