Looking to book a solo cruise/park stay looking for advice.

[OP95]

Hi everyone,

I have recently been looking up Disney cruises and very tempted to go. Especially making it as a park stay and a cruise. I am from the uk so I will most likely be departing from port canaveral and returning to the parks or vice Versa. I was hoping if anyone had any advice on which cruise would be the best for a solo adult and also what the dining options are? As well as the booking in the parks?

any advice would be appreciated!

 

[RedHead0186]

I just recently did a solo 3-night cruise on the Wish. I think really any of the ships could be good for a solo cruise, so you'll want to look at itineraries out of Port Canaveral. I'm not sure I would do a much longer itinerary by myself, just because I love traveling and sharing with others (but that might be different for you). I actually thought a 3-night was a little too short to be able to explore everything on a (new to me) ship, so maybe a 4-night out of PC? Otherwise you're looking at possibly 7 night itineraries on the Fantasy, which is my favorite ship but also not sure how you would feel about cruising by yourself for 7 nights.

DCL does rotational dining. Each ship has three main dining rooms (MDR), and everyone is assigned a schedule and 'rotates' to each dining room (your servers rotate with you, so you get to know them and they get to know you throughout the cruise which is nice). There are two dining times: main (around 5:45pm) and late (around 8pm). You will get to try each MDR at least once, and if you repeat an MDR on longer itineraries it'll be a different menu. If you choose not to do an MDR one night, you can do specialty dining in one of the ship's adult restaurants (for an upcharge), or get something from the pool deck if it's early, or do room service.

Not sure exactly what you're looking for in terms of info for the parks, but I have done solo trips there as well. Disney can help with transportation to/from the port and the parks, for a fee.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have!

 

[auntlynne]

I have cruised solo, on various cruise lines. And I have been to the parks solo (WDW, Disneyland, DLParis). I am chatty, but not the type who goes to organized Solo‘s events on a cruise.

What is your experience with solo travel? Dining alone? This will play into it.

After deciding yes, I want to do this - and solo, you need a BUDGET.

Disney offers no cruise fare discount for being solo. Ever. You will pay double the fare (but taxes + port fees just for one person.). When you use the Disney Cruise website, just set the # of Guests at 1 to avoid the agony of getting excited and then having to double the price.

 

[RedHead0186]

Disney offers no cruise fare discount for being solo. Ever. You will pay double the fare (but taxes + port fees just for one person.). When you use the Disney Cruise website, just set the # of Guests at 1 to avoid the agony of getting excited and then having to double the price.

Excellent point, thanks for noting! Yes, it's a bummer, but on DCL you will pay the fare for 2 people (though only taxes and port fees for one). They put that in big red letters if/when you select 1 person in your travel party. So, it's not cheap to do a solo cruise, but if you budget for it it can be worth it!

Semi-related rant: I get DCL can charge a double occupancy rate because I'm taking up a stateroom and 'taking away' the chance for DCL to get more revenue out of that stateroom. What I don't agree with is that I'm also charged double for all the 'other' stuff, especially food costs. I only eat enough for one person, so I'm kind of annoyed that I'm subsidizing food costs for my non existent stateroom mate. I wish DCL would maybe offer solo cruisers a far at 75% of the double occupancy rate because of that. But I also get they don't have to do it because people will just pay what they ask for, lol.

 

[RedHead0186]

Oh, and another thing to add about the MDRs: as a solo traveler, you will most likely be seated at a table with (an)other party(ies). If you prefer to dine alone, you can request to have your own table. There is no guarantee DCL will do this for you, but anecdotally it is more successful if you have late dining. I was able to do this on my solo cruise in April-despite requesting it ahead of time DCL had me at a shared table, but once I got on board I went to dining changes and they were able to give me my own table. (And I'm really thankful I did, because I later saw the table I was supposed to be at. The only person sitting at that table was a middle-aged man who appeared to be by himself despite having a wedding ring and mentioning something about his wife. For perspective, I'm a mid 30's woman. Maybe I just never saw his wife, but I'm really glad I wasn't sitting at that table either way . . .)

 

[auntlynne]

A lot of the ship choice depends on the season. And now, the year.

The Wish is currently doing alternating 3-night and 4-night itineraries. Both visit Nassau, Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. This is the newest ship in the fleet (debuted Summer 2022). The next new one is scheduled for delivery late 2024.

Basically, New = higher cost per night.

You can find information on the Disney Cruise Line website, selecting months and Departure Ports.

 

[CastawayCayLover]

Don't rule out Miami/Ft. Lauderdale as a departure port after doing the parks. With Brightline train service scheduled to begin over the summer it's definitely a pretty convenient option.

 

[auntlynne]

This is my recommendation, based on some assumptions
1. Solo Cruiser
2. Port Canaveral as boarding / disembarkation
3. Use 3 or 4 nights combined with park days
4. You are British and can tolerate cooler weather at the beach (Jan 26 C degrees, with water 23.3 C)
5. The parks can be less busy (and not the HOT weather often experienced much of the year)
6. It is not Hurricane season




_________________________________

This same cabin as a 3-night cruise is this rate: this would be the weekend before or after the one I was recommending.



And an oceanview (A little more $ than an interior), also 3 nights, could be this amount:

 

[auntlynne]

A consideration when doing parks and cruise is Weekends. The 3-night cruise boards Fridays and returns Monday morning. That leaves you the weekdays for the parks. They are often less busy.

There is no bundled pricing (at least for US citizens) to do a parks + cruise.

As a solo, the cost for a solo traveler is not a penalty. Hotel rooms are going to be the same price, whether one or two guests. But you buy park tickets individually, so - yeah!

I’ll leave it at this unless you want to tell us more. It can be overwhelming, exploring and planning a big vacation.

It is easy to want to maximize time in the US after purchasing airfare, but any trip with Disney in it will have a fairly high per-night cost.

 

[auntlynne]

The cabins I picked are an oceanview with Verandah (a balcony cabin) - because a lot of people like them - and the price difference is not so severe on this week as on other cruises.

Interior cabins have no window / outside light source
Oceanview have a window - typically a fairly large round porthole (which does not open)
Oceanview with Verandah (balcony) is becoming the standard cabin for the cruise line industry. Sliding door (two panels of glass on Disney) opens to a private balcony.

 

[auntlynne]

When Disney started their cruise line, this offer of 3- and 4-night cruises was their intention/ plan for the company. Sell it as a compliment to a parks vacation.

Over the years, while adding new ships and itineraries of various lengths - and new home ports, they have continued to offer these shorter cruises to the Bahamas.

(Starting in Summer 2024, they will have an alternate beach destination in the Bahamas, Lighthouse Point, while continuing trips that include Castaway Cay).

It is a great way to experience two aspects of Disney. And it really is that; the cruise is not WDW at Sea! Many of us consider the cruise to be a great place to relax.

 

[loislane]

My advice for cruising and WDW is to do the parks FIRST and then enjoy a nice relaxing cruise to unwind.

 

[Skippyboo]

Have you thought about looking at the DCL cruises from Southampton? There are shorter European cruises. Then do your park trip

 

[holula]

Semi-related rant: I get DCL can charge a double occupancy rate because I'm taking up a stateroom and 'taking away' the chance for DCL to get more revenue out of that stateroom. What I don't agree with is that I'm also charged double for all the 'other' stuff, especially food costs. I only eat enough for one person, so I'm kind of annoyed that I'm subsidizing food costs for my non existent stateroom mate. I wish DCL would maybe offer solo cruisers a far at 75% of the double occupancy rate because of that. But I also get they don't have to do it because people will just pay what they ask for, lol.

Agree, even something like $200 in OBC as a solo cruiser would be nice tbh! Although to be honest I eat like I’m eating for two on a cruise