Just booked a West Coast Cruise...

[DisneyLovingMama]

Hi. I just booked the August 13 West Coast/Mexican Riviera Cruise. Is there a compiled resource just for these cruises anywhere (e.g., preferred hotels, limos, port of call tips, etc)? Or is just in a bunch of different threads? I'm really worried about taking a Western cruise - I'm afraid that if Disney doesn't have it's act together, it can be a miserable vacation. Also afraid of taking a 5 hour plane ride with a five year old and 9 month old, but I''m keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Hercules10]

I'm afraid that if Disney doesn't have it's act together, it can be a miserable vacation.

My wife and I enjoy Disney because once we put ourselves into their hands we feel comfortable and well taken care of.

As far as useful threads. Use the search function at the top of this page and enter "Western" or any of the stops you'll be hitting. As for a hard copy instructional try Passporters Guide. Very useful.

Good luck and happy cruising!

 

[jrabbit]

Hi. I just booked the August 13 Western Cruise. Is there a compiled resource just for these cruises anywhere (e.g., preferred hotels, limos, port of call tips, etc)? Or is just in a bunch of different threads? I'm really worried about taking a Western cruise - I'm afraid that if Disney doesn't have it's act together, it can be a miserable vacation. Also afraid of taking a 5 hour plane ride with a five year old and 9 month old, but I''m keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for your help!

Is it a Disney cruise The Magic will still be in California doing the Mexican cruises out of LA. In that case you will need to search for MEXICAN probably. If indeed it's a Western cruise then it would be in 2006 and you could have a 9 month old with you but that would take incredible timing/luck and you probably need to "get started" pretty soon

The easiest thing would be to just ask us here about your specific questions and the next resource would be to review your "Cruise Meets" thread for the info you are looking for.

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

Oops, you're right. I meant the West Coast/Mexican Riviera Cruise. And, I do not plan to have a 9 month old in August 2006 - a 22 month old at that time will be more than enough.

Thanks for the advice. I'll do a search. I was just hoping for something comprehensive (like PassPorters), but for the Mexican Riviera. What can I say, I'm lazy.

Thanks!

 

[CamColt]

Hello, fellow 8/13 cruiser!

We have a thread going on the Cruise Meet board(at the top of this board),but its probably fallen down quite a few pages now. Almost time to give it a 6 month bump. There arent many of us there, but there are a few.

I felt really overwhelmed at first too, not knowing about the ports or what DCL will be planning for those cruises. But the more research I do, the more things are starting to fall into place. I think I know what I want to do at each port now so thats a help. Hopefully within the next few months, once the first West Coast cruisers come back, we will know more about how things onboard will go.

Happy planning!!!

 

[LiserAnn]

This link to another thread may help you out a bit:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=735899

 

[Stinasmom]

We too are trying DCL (for the first time) out of LA instead of Port Canaveral where they have the embarkation/disembarkation, transportation, parking, porters, luggage, quelines, reservation desks, and all that down to a science. I can't wait to hear from the first week or two's cruisers to see how they plan to handle all this at a borrowed terminal.
So far our plan is to fly down the night before, not sure which airport as we haven't booked flights yet (determinant on following week's plans), stay the night at the Sheraton LA Harbor who will shuttle us to the terminal. I am going to book REAS so I won't have to worry about the ressie rush.
We then plan to have a rental car at disembarkation---somewhere...maybe they'll pick us up like "Enterprise" advertizes, for a week to visit DL, Legoland and some friends.

Not sure if any of this helps except that those of us not on the first 2 cruises, (we are on the 3rd) will benefit from their trip reports! It is hard to wait!

 

[only1mouse]

Welcome Aboard! We are on the 8.13 cruise as well. We are flying into LAX the night before and staying at the Hilton in Long Beach (I'm a frequent traveler and have points at the Hilton chain, so that's why we chose that hotel) As for our transportation I booked with Pronto VIP Limo Service. We are splurging a little on the limo as I used miles to book our 4 airlines tickets. But, even with that I didn't feel the price wasn't too high. We booked a stretch 10 person limo that will pick us up at LAX take us to the hotel in LB, the next morning it will come back and take us to the port (which is 6 miles from the hotel) and then the Sat we return the Limo will come back and pick us up and take us back to LAX.

We haven't really looked a lot at the excursions, but Disney does have those posted now.

As CamColt mentioned we do have a thread on the cruise meets board.

I'm hoping that since we are on the last cruise, the earlier cruisers as well as Disney can give us some great tips!!

Welcome Aboard!!

 

[minniemoms]

I am so scared to go on the first West Coast cruise. No one to help me out first. I can't wait to go , but I want to benefit from others too. Plus, I have heard from several friends who have done princess cruises who all 3 have said, Don't get off in Mazatlan. I have been reading what the Mazatlan guy said, but when 3 of them tell me, just get off at the other ports,they are wonderful ports, I get a little scared. They all said, it is just very dirty. If anyone else has any experience let me know.

 

[rsjj]

we're on that cruise too!

as for flying 5 hrs, with your children...when we flew into florida, our DSs were 4 & 2 at the time. we packed some "diversions", snacks, books, crayons & papers. it wasn't too bad. there were 4 of us, so we took one whole side of the plane (seats in a row), and one across the isle. and on the one side, we pulled up the handles/divider things, which made it seem more "roomier" for the kids. and they napped, so it seemed to have gone by quickly for us.

there was a thread that sorta had some "compilation" of some sort. had hotels & markets, if i recall. will try to locate it and post. anyways, would be happy to answer any questions, if you have. like others have mentioned, check out the cruise meets site...we're there!