Is Passporter worth it for a shorter cruise?

[daisyx3]

People rave about the Passporter. I bought the Unofficial Guide and I have already read it! My thing is we are only going on a 4 day Dream. I'm not sure a Passporter is worth it if I have no plans to ever do the Mediterranean or Alaska. While I would like to try the Fantasy with DH, that would be no earlier than 2017 (our Dream cruise is March of 2016). Is Passporter worth the money for information about the shorter itineraries?
Daisyx3

 

[Sunshine2U]

I haven't used one since the 1990's so I cannot say what they are like today. Since then I have been happy with online resources - like this!

 

[sambycat]

i liked passporters better than the unofficial guide for the cruise line and i highly recommend them for new DCL cruisers and personally think there are so many opinions here on the boards, that a factual guide book is really nice for first timers. that said, if you've been on one you have the general gist as to disney cruising and i think info can be gleaned online.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

We are golden cruisers and LOVE the Passporter!! I would especially encourage you to buy the latest edition,12th edition that is in full color! It is written by Dave and Jennifer Marx with their 10 year old son as their kid contributor, and you really get a family feel for DCL! IF YOU LOVE TO READ, there is nothing better than to curl up with a cup of tea,[ or a glass of wine!] and dream away of your next cruise!! ENJOY!! Aloha, Karen

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Check your local library. Mine has the Passporter. I checked it out and read it so I didn't have to purchase it. It gave me a nice base of information, but I gained far more information on these boards.

 

[bumbershoot]

I like the Passporters. Awhile back I bought two of the versions with the binders, and now I just get the latest edition of the binder refills of whatever book I want to get.

 

[ptcbass]

I have been on this board reading tons and have learned so much! Thanks everyone!! In saying that how much more information could be in the Passporter? We are getting ready to go to St. Thomas on the Fantasy. Now I am wondering if I should pick one up although I can't imagine there being any information in it that I haven't already learned. Or am I wrong?

 

[OhThePain]

My wife and I just did our first DCL cruise back in September (7 nights on the Fantasy). I looked through the DCL Passporter while standing in a bookstore (yes, they do still exist) and was not impressed by the information in it. I had already been lurking these boards and felt like I already knew more than the book had to offer and I hadn't even been on the cruise yet. I do still enjoy the WDW Passporters, but I didn't think the DCL one would have been worth it.

 

[lanejudy]

Is Passporter worth the money for information about the shorter itineraries?

I like Passporter. It's a good reference for the static type of information -- staterooms, MDRs, shows, onboard activities, etc. However, if your primary interest is to get it for information about itineraries and ports of call -- that information is available elsewhere and likely more up-to-date (though the 4-night cruises don't have much if any change year-to-year). Unfortunately due to printing schedules, the books often go to press too early to get the details of port excursions especially on new itineraries or new ports of call. I use online resources for info about ports of call.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[richmo]

Not a big Passporter fan here (I can't stand how they put themselves in the book), BUT I think the DCL Passporter is the best reference going. The only problem is that it quickly gets dated because itineraries and excursions change fast. That's part of the reason they dropped putting the year on the title...they couldn't keep up. It shouldn't matter that your cruise is short...the info in it is pretty good.

 

[Pens Fan]

Chalk me up as another Passporter fan. I think it's really helpful - much more so than the Unofficial guide (wasn't impressed with that at all). While you might find the same information here, I like having it all in one nice compact place. For me it's easier to find specific topics than searching through a bunch of posts. My only real critism of the Passporter is I do think they write with their Mickey colored glasses on, but I guess that's to be expected. It doesn't change the validity of the vast majority of their information.

 

[tltay2005]

I really enjoyed the Passporter book. I bought a used one off Amazon, so I got it for a really good price, I think it was less than $7 and that was including shipping.

 

[ludari]

I purchased the Passporter book several months before my first cruise and although it has a lot of good information I wasn't using it when I was on the ship. As a single adult cruiser the book seems more targeted towards families (obviously) and the extreme over planner (IMHO). I believed that I have learned enough from the book, my 8 Disney Cruises and the Disboards that I no longer need it or use it.

 

[CruisingGoddess]

Does anyone have a copy of the 2015 edition that they are no longer need?

 

[Uncleromulus]

Passporter is the best cruise guidebook out there--by far!!

 

[BrytEydBelle]

I bought it last year for my four day dream cruise and personally found it unnecessary. I spent a lot of time on this website and the Disney cruise line blog so the book was kind of redundant in my opinion.

 

[lanejudy]

Does anyone have a copy of the 2015 edition that they are no longer need?

I don't believe the Passporter DCL book gets updated every year like the WDW book. The most current version on their website is the 12th edition, which I believe was printed in 2014. You may be able to find them at your local library.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[rcchello]

When I was getting ready for my first cruise I went to Barnes&Noble and checked out all the books and found none worth it. I was already reading this forum and the Cruise line website and had enough information for the shorter cruises. On the seven night cruises I find I have to add cruisecritic.Com and other travel websites for the ports.

I did buy the tour books for Disneyland and Disney world for the first few times and enjoyed them, so I am not anti-tour book. I also buy tour books when I go to new cities for vacations. I just did not think the cruising tour books worth it.