Never cruised before....

[princesscj]

Is Disney a good first? I have heard of hidden cost on cruises on different lines, what are the hidden cost on Disney? Is Oct/Nov. a bad time to go? Thanks for your help!!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hi Disney was our first cruise and we were hooked.

We like cruising in November towards the end of the month because that is the end of hurricane season. Plus the week just before and just after a holiday are good rates. Another plus is the ship is decorated for Christmas.

DCL doesn't have many extra costs.
All the food is free, where other lines some restaurants do charge for food.
Palos, the adult only restaurant has a $10 charge per person but it is for the gratuity, not the food.

You will be charged to use the games in the arcade, bingo, spa treatments, hair salon, hair braiding, alcoholic drinks, smoothies.

Pop is free in all restaurants and at the drink station on deck 9, but if you order it from a lounge or club you will be charged for it. So grab a cup at the drink station and take it with you to the club.

Tips of course for your wait staff and room host.

I may of missed something, if I did someone else will add to it.

Hope this helps you some.

If your thinking of a 7 day, please consider 11/24/07 or 11/29/08, we are on both of those crusies and would love to have you join us!!!

mom x4,grandma x4

 

[princesscj]

Thanks for your response. We are actually looking at a 3 or 4 day cruise for our first one. Thank for the invite though, much appreciated!!!

 

[mygoldpaws]

My first cruise was on Disney in 2004. I instantly became hooked and have been on another disney cruise in 2005 and 2 on other lines (I live on the west coast) and have booked the May 08 repo cruise.

Disney is hands down the best! I tried hard to not compare when I was on the other cruise line and just enjoyed it for the experience. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed. Your cruise is what you make it!! Have fun!!!

 

[Bytor01]

We just got back about three weeks ago. It was our first cruise. I have 5 year old twins (boy/girl). We LOVED IT!!! Did you hear me correctly, let me repeat that LOVED IT!!! You will have fun. If you have kids they will have fun. Disney has many activities for every age.

Additional charges: shore excursions (of course), bottled water at the restaurants and soda/beer/or wine packages. Plus Disney has many pictures to choose from which are additional costs. Let's put it this way I spent about $1800 on board. But it only came out to about $1500 out of pocket (offset by credits). We were there 7 days. This included everything, shore excursions (3 of them for 4 people), souvenirs, Palo, spa treatments (2), wine package, and other seminars. All in all every dollar was well accounted for and tremendously used.

Did I say we LOVED IT!!!!

Tim

Trip Report: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1342280

 

[Darrow4]

We were very excited about taking our first cruise, but to be completely honest - we were disappointed. Both kids got sick, we missed all but one dinner. Didn't see any shows, got quarantined to the room, glass bottom boat was a dissapointment. Wife and I also got sick within 24 hours of returning home. Prior to this trip, we had taken several family vacations to Cancun as well as Key West and Wisconsin Dells. We spent almost twice as much on this vacation than any other, and had the worst experience. Hate to be so negative, but it's the truth. Cruising is just not for us.