Jan. 18 2009 Wonder - who's cruising?

[jennymc]

When do you find out if you got an upgrade? Does it vary? Does it go by when you book? What if you have connecting rooms? Does that diminish your chances? We booked 2 connecting category 10s (2575 & 2577). We booked back in May right before the fuel surcharge took effect.

Just curious,
Jenny

 

[VA_mouseman]

When do you find out if you got an upgrade? Does it vary? Does it go by when you book? What if you have connecting rooms? Does that diminish your chances? We booked 2 connecting category 10s (2575 & 2577). We booked back in May right before the fuel surcharge took effect.

Just curious,
Jenny

From what I've read on the DCL forum, there's no real rhyme or reason for upgrades. Some are repeat customers who never get them, some are repeat customers who do get them. Some of the upgrades occur at check-in, and for others they are notified in advance. Mostly, it seems that if you are booked in the lower level categories, you stand a better chance. I do believe I read on the forums that someone with adjoining rooms were able to get an upgrade and still have adjoining rooms.

Last I checked, our cruise still had lots of rooms left in most stateroom categories. Not sure if it will sell out or not, or if that has a bearing on upgrades for those of us in Cat 10's or lower.

Like I said, I'd love an upgrade but I'm keeping it real and not expecting one.

 

[iu97alum]

I'm so excited! We got our package info Thursday and now we get to plan excursions!! Emy's wish granters are coming out in two weeks to make a countdown chain for her too! I haven't heard anyone saying the want to do the FE gift exchange but I'm going to go ahead and get a FE, just in case. Worst case, i can put gifts in for the kids as suprises!

 

[VA_mouseman]

I think we'd be up for FE / gift exchanges, but to be honest I need to get through the next few weeks first!

If we do make an FE, it might be an assignment for the desperate mousewife.

 

[VA_mouseman]

Interesting to note that our cruise is far from sold out. I just did a quick check on the DCL website, and I see for a family of four, there are many choices --

Staterooms in Categories 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are available (although I don't know how many in each cat. are still left).

Hmmm, I wonder if the economy right now is taking a toll on DCL? I recall that my last January cruise (albeit on the Magic) was sold out (Jan. 2007).

I just checked the DCL website again .... for a family of four (two adults, two kids), the only available categories now for our cruise are 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9. Cats 10 and 11 are now sold out.

 

[wheelerkidz3]

I just checked the DCL website again .... for a family of four (two adults, two kids), the only available categories now for our cruise are 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9. Cats 10 and 11 are now sold out.

i checked on that the other day and saw those categories were sold out...
i hope DCL knows that they are more than welcome to bump me up and make my cat 11 gty available!!!!

 

[iu97alum]

Ok, I give up. I can't for the life of me figure out what is GTY? Anyone want to help a gal out?

 

[VA_mouseman]

Ok, I give up. I can't for the life of me figure out what is GTY? Anyone want to help a gal out?

GTY is short for "guarantee" ... meaning that if you have a Category 11 GTY, that means you are guaranteed at least a category 11 room. The room assignment itself comes later.

 

[Gypsy Gal]

Hello All,

We will be joining you all on the cruise. Me, DH, DD 16 1/2 & DD 16. We are also on Deck 2 rm#s 2580 & 2582 and like everyone else... we would love an upgrade. This will be our first cruise on The Wonder and 3rd Disney cruise, we are hooked! So looking forward to the cruise and getting away for a bit.

Our original plans had been to cruise a week prior but due to mid-terms we had to make some changes. The girls offered to forgo mid-terms but their school frowned on that. DH and I will be at WDW for the 1/2 Marathon/Marathon weekend 9-11 Jan. The cruise was to be a treat after the Marathons but will still be enjoyed a week later. We arrive at WDW again with girls in tow on Friday 16 Jan and will be at SSR, will cruise and then back to SSR and WDW for a few more days before heading home. YIPPEE!!!

We moved from SoCal this past summer and are all missing our annual DL passes and frequent Disney fixes. So needless to say we will be soaking up as much Disney as we can.

Looking forward to meeting and Cruising with you all!

 

[VA_mouseman]

Welcome aboard, Gypsy Gal! Good luck with the marathon weekend. A neighbor of ours did the full marathon a few years ago and had a blast. We too are arriving 16 January but for two nights at POFQ. We'll also be staying at SSR for several nights after the cruise. Never been there before though.

Not sure what this means, but when I checked the stateroom availability on the DCL website (for a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids), there's been some shifting of staterooms.

Now, the Categories available are 4, 5, 8, 9 and 11. Cat 6 is no longer available and Cat 11 is back on the availability list. Hmm, did some of those folks get upgraded? Again, I have no idea what any of this means. Just kinda fun to check on the cruise details periodically.

 

[iu97alum]

GTY is short for "guarantee" ... meaning that if you have a Category 11 GTY, that means you are guaranteed at least a category 11 room. The room assignment itself comes later.

Thanks! I was wondering what that was as I had seen it several times but didn't have a clue.

Hello All,

We will be joining you all on the cruise. Me, DH, DD 16 1/2 & DD 16. We are also on Deck 2 rm#s 2580 & 2582 and like everyone else... we would love an upgrade. This will be our first cruise on The Wonder and 3rd Disney cruise, we are hooked! So looking forward to the cruise and getting away for a bit.

Our original plans had been to cruise a week prior but due to mid-terms we had to make some changes. The girls offered to forgo mid-terms but their school frowned on that. DH and I will be at WDW for the 1/2 Marathon/Marathon weekend 9-11 Jan. The cruise was to be a treat after the Marathons but will still be enjoyed a week later. We arrive at WDW again with girls in tow on Friday 16 Jan and will be at SSR, will cruise and then back to SSR and WDW for a few more days before heading home. YIPPEE!!!

We moved from SoCal this past summer and are all missing our annual DL passes and frequent Disney fixes. So needless to say we will be soaking up as much Disney as we can.

Looking forward to meeting and Cruising with you all!

Hi there! We too are on deck 2 2604/2602 and it's our DD's wish trip! So excited


On another note, for those that want to do a FE gift exchange, do we start another thread or just keep it attached to here? Just curious!!

 

[weired88]

Hi, we are just signed up. Two sisters mid to late 20s. First cruise for the both of us! Very excited!

 

[weired88]

Any recomendations for two sisters 24 and 28 on activities? One of us loves the theatre while the other likes to just have fun. Any recomendations? Also, we are on the bottom deck, how common is it for us to get upgraded? Lokoing forward to it!

 

[VA_mouseman]

Any recomendations for two sisters 24 and 28 on activities? One of us loves the theatre while the other likes to just have fun. Any recomendations? Also, we are on the bottom deck, how common is it for us to get upgraded? Lokoing forward to it!

First off, welcome aboard! Sounds like you're on deck 1 or 2.

The question of upgrades is popular on the main DCL forum. The quick answer is, they're pretty uncommon but if it happens, it seems mostly to occur for those in Categories 9 and lower. It's entirely up to DCL Inventory, based on whatever criteria they have. I've been tracking our Jan. 18 cruise on the DCL website, and there's been some shifting of stateroom availability (not sure if it's starting to book up, or if some upgrades are occurring). Right now, only Cats 5, 8, 9 and 11 are available -- 4 recently booked up, and 10 and 12 also recently booked up.

As for ship activities -- there's a ton! If you don't already have it, I'd recommend getting a copy of passporters's Guide to the Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call (they're at least at the 4th edition). It should be available at bookstores, or directly from www.passporter.com. A great read and it goes into great detail on all the details of the Magic and Wonder. DCL has a great theatre and has original programming. There's a movie theatre as well. There are night clubs and fun adult evening activities. No casinos though. Deck 10 is the top 'outdoor' deck, and the front third is adults only -- bar, pool and jacuzzis. There's also an excellent spa onboard! On Castaway Cay -- the private island in the Bahamas -- there's also an adults only beach. I haven't been there though.

Lots to look forward to!!

ps -- the passporter site has some good info on DCL -- http://www.passporter.com/dcl/

 

[jennymc]

Our waitlisting for the "Main" dining came through. I was worried about waiting until 8:15 to eat every night with my 5 and 7 year olds. Now we can go to dinner earlier and be done in time to enjoy the shows after dinner!

Now I can get back to hoping for a room upgrade!

Have a good week!

 

[Cellthing]

Count us in. We just booked yesterday and am so excited! We were scheduled to be on a cruise earlier this month but my husband ended up having to have back surgery which put us cancelling the cruise. Well, we officially decided to reschedule and lucky you guys, you get us joining you. We are also doing Disney World after the cruise til the 27th. Go big or go home. Anyone else doing the world?

Excited to join you guys.
Craig, Kristen, Carly (9), Claire (5)

 

[VA_mouseman]

Welcome aboard, Cellthing! What stateroom category did you book? What deck are you on? We too are heading back to the World after the cruise for five days.

jennymc, congrats on the main dining rotation. Agreed, keeping younger ones up for a later dinner isn't a great idea.

Our cruise is getting closer to booking up. I keep checking the stateroom categories available and I'm seeing a bit of fluctuation -- right now, for a family of four the only cats available are 9 and 11 (5 was briefly available yesterday). I've seen 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 all fill up in recent days/weeks. Should be a packed ship!

 

[Cellthing]

We are category 11 GTY, so we don't have a room assignment yet. I am fine with that. We like to live life on the edge. Guess I will report back once we have an assignment. I'd assume that wouldn't be until a few weeks before the cruise.

 

[VA_mouseman]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Safe travels for those who are heading out. We're driving to the Philly area tomorrow morning.

 

[weired88]

hey, looking for recomendations on excursions....

We are interested in snorkling (which we can bring our own gear, but undertand one excursion takes you on a boat to snorkle in open water), the sting rays, and possibly blue lagoon dolphin observer. We understand that you only actually play with the dolphins for about 3-5 minutes, but havent decided if thats worth it.

We are two girls on a budget, willing to spend money if it's really worth it. but we cant figure out whats worth it...



At castaway cay we are looking at:
Sea Horse Catamaran Snorkel adventure
Sting Ray adventure


And at Nassau we are looking at:
blue lagoon dolphin encounter
blackbeards cay stingray and beach



Any recomendations?

THANKS!