Magic Christmas Cruise 2010 (Dec 18th - 29th) - ***UPDATED - post #411 ***

[pillow]

Well, it looks like we'll be cancelling. I just can't get my ds12 on board with the whole idea of being away at Christmas. I'm crossing my fingers that DCL will do more of these longer cruises in the future. I'm hoping everyone has a wonderful time!!

Jodie

P.S. My opinion on the Santa issue . . . the expense of the cruise is enormous compared to a few Santa gifts. I say skip a few drinks on board (or an excursion or two) and spring for a few presents for the kiddies.

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Hi everyone, we are considering this cruise...right now I have a SPH cabin booked for spring break 2010. We did spring break this year and loved it, but I would really like to go for even longer than 7 days and I love the ports on this cruise!

My only concern is that DD will be 8 (almost 9) when this cruise rolls around. Of course, it's too early to tell if she will still "believe" but if she does, any suggestions on how to handle this? Is there anyone else sailing with younger kids (like 7-9 year olds) who already have ideas in mind on how to go about explaining the whole Santa thing? We cannot afford to have a load of presents from Santa at home like we normally do at Christmas if we are going to do this cruise. DD has mentioned wanting to do the long cruise and I told her that if we considered it we'd have to ask Santa if he coudl just give us money next Christmas instead of gifts since mommy and daddy wouldn't have enough to pay for it all ourselves...she seemed okay with that idea, but of course it's still a year and a half away! So, just looking for suggestions and ideas on how to handle no Santa in 2010 and minimize disappointment...not that there should be any when you're on an 11-night Disney cruise, but you know we're talking about a kid...

Hopefully we will be joining all of you!

We did Christmas 2007 on the Magic. It was wonderful. the kids did not care at all. At the time, DS was 6 and DD was 10. I think it was the year that my DD stopped believing, but she did not fess up until this past Christmas. We told the kids that Santa knows that we will be on the cruise and he will bring small items. My DS is easy to please so some transformer toys and other things like that was enough for him. We told them that we were not getting them anything because of the cruise but they would have money for the gift shop.

There was no disappointment at all from my kids. Even though Disney knows how to do Christmas, I have to say that it helped that it was not a traditional Christmas so the kids were not expecting what they usually get at home.

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Well, it looks like we'll be cancelling. I just can't get my ds12 on board with the whole idea of being away at Christmas. I'm crossing my fingers that DCL will do more of these longer cruises in the future. I'm hoping everyone has a wonderful time!!

Jodie

P.S. My opinion on the Santa issue . . . the expense of the cruise is enormous compared to a few Santa gifts. I say skip a few drinks on board (or an excursion or two) and spring for a few presents for the kiddies.

NO!!!! Let me know if you want me to send you a PM and your DS and my DD can chitchat first. Maybe she can talk him into it!!

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Wow! Santa will be too broke to leave much at our house if we go on this cruise...LOL! It doesn't help the budget that DH is insisting on a verandah...we had one last month and now he just can't live without it -

LOL! My thinking was that with the cost of this cruise, what is a little extra for a verandah?

 

[pillow]

NO!!!! Let me know if you want me to send you a PM and your DS and my DD can chitchat first. Maybe she can talk him into it!!

Unfortunately, I think the homebody in him will trump the girl factor at this point! I'll keep the offer in mind though. Thanks!

Jodie

 

[thegales]

Well, it looks like we'll be cancelling. I just can't get my ds12 on board with the whole idea of being away at Christmas. I'm crossing my fingers that DCL will do more of these longer cruises in the future. I'm hoping everyone has a wonderful time!!
...

Is there anyway that you can wait until after Christmas this year to cancel? I know it may not be feasible with your deposit and trying to book a different cruise, but he may change his mind after another Christmas.

 

[pillow]

Is there anyway that you can wait until after Christmas this year to cancel? I know it may not be feasible with your deposit and trying to book a different cruise, but he may change his mind after another Christmas.

Yes, I suppose I could wait, but I don't think it will make a difference. This is the same kid who begged me to leave the Hilton Head Disney resort a day early last summer so that he could wake up in his own bed on his birthday!!!

On a different note - I'm really looking forward to seeing the cruise schedule for 2011. Apparently the Magic will be on the West Coast. I'm crossing my fingers for Alaska - although the Mexican Riviera wouldn't be too bad either. Did anyone do that one last year? I heard somewhere that the weather on the Mex Riviera can really be crummy during the summer time.

Jodie

 

[Hanny&AlsMom]

Yes, I suppose I could wait, but I don't think it will make a difference. This is the same kid who begged me to leave the Hilton Head Disney resort a day early last summer so that he could wake up in his own bed on his birthday!!!

On a different note - I'm really looking forward to seeing the cruise schedule for 2011. Apparently the Magic will be on the West Coast. I'm crossing my fingers for Alaska - although the Mexican Riviera wouldn't be too bad either. Did anyone do that one last year? I heard somewhere that the weather on the Mex Riviera can really be crummy during the summer time.

Jodie

I'm disappointed to hear we won't be able to meet in person. I know what it's like to have a homebody child - my son is very much the same way.

I am very happy to hear that Disney will be on the West Coast - much cheaper airfare for us! We will definitely be checking out those itineraries.

Take care, and drop in to chat once in a while.

Carolyn

 

[Hanny&AlsMom]

We did Christmas 2007 on the Magic. It was wonderful. the kids did not care at all. At the time, DS was 6 and DD was 10. I think it was the year that my DD stopped believing, but she did not fess up until this past Christmas. We told the kids that Santa knows that we will be on the cruise and he will bring small items. My DS is easy to please so some transformer toys and other things like that was enough for him. We told them that we were not getting them anything because of the cruise but they would have money for the gift shop.

There was no disappointment at all from my kids. Even though Disney knows how to do Christmas, I have to say that it helped that it was not a traditional Christmas so the kids were not expecting what they usually get at home.

This is likely how we will handle the situation as well. A huge issue for us is where to pack all of the stuff (even if it is small). I am a chronic overpacker, so I can't imagine where I'd put big stuff. I suppose we'll decide as the time gets closer whether or not there will be gifts under the tree when we home. I really think that my kids would be ok with some small things to open and a gift card for the store.

 

[pillow]

This is likely how we will handle the situation as well. A huge issue for us is where to pack all of the stuff (even if it is small). I am a chronic overpacker, so I can't imagine where I'd put big stuff. I suppose we'll decide as the time gets closer whether or not there will be gifts under the tree when we home. I really think that my kids would be ok with some small things to open and a gift card for the store.

I've heard you can ship things to the ship. It might be a little easier than trying to pack all that stuff. Worth looking into.

Jodie

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Yes, I suppose I could wait, but I don't think it will make a difference. This is the same kid who begged me to leave the Hilton Head Disney resort a day early last summer so that he could wake up in his own bed on his birthday!!!

On a different note - I'm really looking forward to seeing the cruise schedule for 2011. Apparently the Magic will be on the West Coast. I'm crossing my fingers for Alaska - although the Mexican Riviera wouldn't be too bad either. Did anyone do that one last year? I heard somewhere that the weather on the Mex Riviera can really be crummy during the summer time.

Jodie

I can not wait for west coast iteneraries either! they say they will be released in the fall, possible late October/early November. We are on a cruise at that time!! I wish i was flexible with my schedule to do a Madian Voyage, but my understanding is the date can change several times. I would love to take the Wonder on the repo cruise to the west coast. I guess i will just wait and see what happens.

 

[itutorfortravel]

This is likely how we will handle the situation as well. A huge issue for us is where to pack all of the stuff (even if it is small). I am a chronic overpacker, so I can't imagine where I'd put big stuff. I suppose we'll decide as the time gets closer whether or not there will be gifts under the tree when we home. I really think that my kids would be ok with some small things to open and a gift card for the store.

My DD will be maybe a just a little older than you DS when this cruise rolls around, so it's good to know that others with kids around the same age are not hesitating to do this cruise b/c it's over Christmas. DD actually asked where this cruise went and was pretty excited about it. I all but told her there is no way we can do it, but where there is a will there is a way! I have 18 months to save towards it, and I think I almost have DH convinced he would be fine with just a window, so maybe there is hope yet!

I really hope I'll get to meet you guys!

 

[itutorfortravel]

LOL! My thinking was that with the cost of this cruise, what is a little extra for a verandah?

Thanks so much for your experience on a prior Christmas cruise with your kids...certainly, DD would not go empty handed at Christmas, but it would be scaled back BIG TIME! I took an Easter basket and all the stuff to go in it on our Easter cruise and it worked out great, so maybe 2010 will be the year for the DS or something like that that is small and easy to pack and that can actually be used on the trip home and the boring moments on the cruise - HA HA HA....there will be none of those, i can assure you!!!

Yes, I hear you on the outrageous cost of this cruise! But the difference for us in a cat 9 vs. a cat 6 is $2000! I think I am a little spoiled b/c with the combination of a really good cat 12 rate, some DCL pixie dust, and an upgrade at the port, we were able to sail over spring break in a cat 5 for $3700! So, that is my reference point...it's not helping me cope with the cost of this cruise very well! LOL!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Well, it looks like we'll be cancelling. I just can't get my ds12 on board with the whole idea of being away at Christmas. I'm crossing my fingers that DCL will do more of these longer cruises in the future. I'm hoping everyone has a wonderful time!!

Jodie

P.S. My opinion on the Santa issue . . . the expense of the cruise is enormous compared to a few Santa gifts. I say skip a few drinks on board (or an excursion or two) and spring for a few presents for the kiddies.

Thanks for the ideas on the Christmas gifts! Since we've already sailed to St. Maarten & St. Thomas with DCL, the idea of skipping excursions this time sounds good!

 

[pillow]

Yes, I hear you on the outrageous cost of this cruise! But the difference for us in a cat 9 vs. a cat 6 is $2000! I think I am a little spoiled b/c with the combination of a really good cat 12 rate, some DCL pixie dust, and an upgrade at the port, we were able to sail over spring break in a cat 5 for $3700! So, that is my reference point...it's not helping me cope with the cost of this cruise very well! LOL!

I totally get the sticker shock thing. We had some similar luck on our Med trip a couple years ago. We were able to book cat 12 for $4000 for ALL FOR OF US FOR 11 NIGHTS!! It felt like the deal of the century. Then I got a call from DCL . . . they bumped us up to a cat 9 on deck 2. I felt like the luckiest person alive!! I sure do hope we see rates like those again - although I get the impression that the holiday cruises fill up quickly so no need to offer the deep discounts . . . although I did see a cat 12 cheapie rate available a couple months before the spring break trip. I was surprised to see it out there!

How did you get into the cat 5? Did you have to pay for an upgrade or did they just bump you?

Jodie

 

[itutorfortravel]

I totally get the sticker shock thing. We had some similar luck on our Med trip a couple years ago. We were able to book cat 12 for $4000 for ALL FOR OF US FOR 11 NIGHTS!! It felt like the deal of the century. Then I got a call from DCL . . . they bumped us up to a cat 9 on deck 2. I felt like the luckiest person alive!! I sure do hope we see rates like those again - although I get the impression that the holiday cruises fill up quickly so no need to offer the deep discounts . . . although I did see a cat 12 cheapie rate available a couple months before the spring break trip. I was surprised to see it out there!

How did you get into the cat 5? Did you have to pay for an upgrade or did they just bump you?

Jodie

Oh wow, what a deal on the Med cruise!!! I would love to do one of the TA cruises, but they are both during bad times for DD to miss school...just my luck. The prices on those are pretty tempting.

We got one of the cat 12's they had for Easter week. DCL first upgraded us to a sideways cat 11 and then 6 days before the cruise IC called and said they were upgrading us to a mid ship cat 9 on deck 2! That was awesome! We really love cruising with a verandah but didn't feel we should spend what DCL was asking to book one upfront, so I just waited till we got to port and asked if there were any upgrades. All verandah cabins are kind of lumped together in an upgrade category and it just so happened that the one we got was a cat 5. It was fabulous and like I said by the time we were done paying for it all, I thought it was a real deal!

 

[pillow]

Oh wow, what a deal on the Med cruise!!! I would love to do one of the TA cruises, but they are both during bad times for DD to miss school...just my luck. The prices on those are pretty tempting.

We got one of the cat 12's they had for Easter week. DCL first upgraded us to a sideways cat 11 and then 6 days before the cruise IC called and said they were upgrading us to a mid ship cat 9 on deck 2! That was awesome! We really love cruising with a verandah but didn't feel we should spend what DCL was asking to book one upfront, so I just waited till we got to port and asked if there were any upgrades. All verandah cabins are kind of lumped together in an upgrade category and it just so happened that the one we got was a cat 5. It was fabulous and like I said by the time we were done paying for it all, I thought it was a real deal!

I always thought the holiday cruises sold out - am surprised they had upgrades available at the port. I wonder if that is always the case or if it was due to the economy this year. What a great price!

Same issue with us for the TA's. I would really love to do a Panama Crossing, but I'm pretty sure the relo in 2011 will be in the spring when the kids are in school. The long cruises are what really appeal to me!

Jodie

 

[itutorfortravel]

I always thought the holiday cruises sold out - am surprised they had upgrades available at the port. I wonder if that is always the case or if it was due to the economy this year. What a great price!

Same issue with us for the TA's. I would really love to do a Panama Crossing, but I'm pretty sure the relo in 2011 will be in the spring when the kids are in school. The long cruises are what really appeal to me!

Jodie

I honestly think it is b/c of the economy that so many cat 12's were sold and possibly why there were a number of upgrades available. I know when I checked for a verandah upgrade, there were about 5 on the supervisor's list. After we boarded, there was a sign at GS saying that the ship was full and no upgrades were available.

 

[pillow]

I honestly think it is b/c of the economy that so many cat 12's were sold and possibly why there were a number of upgrades available. I know when I checked for a verandah upgrade, there were about 5 on the supervisor's list. After we boarded, there was a sign at GS saying that the ship was full and no upgrades were available.

On the supervisor's list? What does that mean?

Did you have to pay for the upgrade or did they give it to you for free?

This is a good thing to know!

Jodie

 

[itutorfortravel]

On the supervisor's list? What does that mean?

Did you have to pay for the upgrade or did they give it to you for free?

This is a good thing to know!

Jodie

There is an area at the far end of the check-in counters marked "supervisor". After you check in, you can go to that desk and ask if there are any upgrades available. DCL had given us the free upgrade from cat 12 to cat 9, but we did have to pay to upgrade to the cat 5. however, it was about 60% less than what the upcharge would have been between at cat 9 and a cat 5 before sailing, so it was a bargain in my opinion! however, you cannot count on upgrades being available, as the ship often sails full. we were just willing to take a chance at booking a lower cat and being able to upgrade at the port. it was nice it worked out for us this time.