New to Crusing - What's NOT included?

[lpandorf]

I'm seriously considering a Disney Cruise this summer. We'll be in the Daytona area in July and I see there is a 4 day on the dream scheduled to depart a day before we had to be out of the place we are staying. I'd love to go on a cruise at the end of our week there, but need to think about the cost and if it's in the budget. I am a big Disney fan, so if the money won't work I'd rather just save more until 2012 then go on a different cruise line.

So - how many extra costs are there not included in what I pay for the cruise itself? I've read I'll need to pay tips. However, I asked a guy I worked with that went on a Dis cruise this year and he said tips were included. I'd assume excursions are included. Would I have fun at Castaway Key without paying for something extra?

Thanks!

 

[CherylSue]

This is a general list of things that are not included in the quoted price from the website:

Tips - we just got off a 4 night and paid $144 total in tips.
Excursions
Drinks at bars (with or without booze)
Souvenirs
Anything off the ship at ports (except lunch and soda on Castaway Cay)

In reality....we didn't spend much. We didn't do excursions cause it was our first cruise and we wanted to get our feet wet. We bought about a $100 in souvenirs and about $100 in booze......we got free soda from the beverage station. That was for 2 adults and 1 13 year old.

 

[luv2plan]

hey - I grew up in Cincy, Westside, Mercy 1989

anyway - excursions are extra, you can look at the Disneycruise website to look at them. as far as I know, tips are NOT included, but are at your discretion, there are 'guidelines' for the room attendant and dining staff

alcohol and special coffees are NOT included, but soda, regular coffee and tea are, and of course all food, all day is included, and room serfive is free too. Special dining at Palo is extra, but not very much.

spa treatments are additional

Castaway Cay is included but water sports and rafts cost extra

BTW - summer is about the most expensive time to go and the closer you get, the prices go up. I don't know much about it, but you could possibly get a good deal if you wait until the last minute to book, like the week before??


Hope that helps - Happy Planning!

 

[jkrislc]

You can have a perfectly enjoyable time without spending any additional money other than tips. Unlike other cruise lines, DCL doesn't have a lot of up charge venues. Soda is included in the buffet, at the 24 hour beverage station on deck, and in restaurants. Castaway Cay is completely enjoyable without spending a dine as umbrellas, beach chairs, food, and soft drinks are included. In port, there are many things you can do for free or cheaply on your own, or stay on the ship and enjoy the pools, movie theater, etc. while everyone else is gone.

As for booking, I wouldn't wait. Summer is prime time for cruising in that region as supply is low with ships redeployed to Bermuda, the Med, and Alaska. While there's always the possibility of a last minute deal, my experience with summer cruise pricing from US ports starts to climb by March as bookings increase and supply becomes limited.

 

[dursin]

I'm seriously considering a Disney Cruise this summer. We'll be in the Daytona area in July and I see there is a 4 day on the dream scheduled to depart a day before we had to be out of the place we are staying. I'd love to go on a cruise at the end of our week there, but need to think about the cost and if it's in the budget. I am a big Disney fan, so if the money won't work I'd rather just save more until 2012 then go on a different cruise line.

So - how many extra costs are there not included in what I pay for the cruise itself? I've read I'll need to pay tips. However, I asked a guy I worked with that went on a Dis cruise this year and he said tips were included. I'd assume excursions are included. Would I have fun at Castaway Key without paying for something extra?

Thanks!

Tips are not included, with the exception of Palo, however there is a service charge for that which includes the tip so it's still extra. Figure tips to be $12 per person per day. In addition, you'll want to bring some singles if you get rooms service so you can tip the person delivering your order and also a few dollars for the people who handle your luggage at the port

You can definitely have fun at Castaway Key without paying for anything extra. You can rent snorkeling gear and big inner tube style floats for a fairly decent price and may want to budget for a few drinks on the beach as well.

Other things you might spend money on while onboard...

Alcoholic beverages
Specialty coffee's
Photos (they will take a LOT of photos of your family...sometimes it's hard to resist buying them!)
Souvenirs
Shore excursions

 

[scootch]

You can also spend as much or as little as you want. We booked through Dreams Unlimited for our first cruise, and had onboard credit. The girls got their hair done, got a souvenier Christmas ornament in the shops and a few pictures. After the onboard credit, our bill was only $26! plus tips.

 

[stsomewhere]

snacks nd sodas are sold outside of the movies and shows. Just go grab something from food station to take

 

[MikeyNS]

We're not soda drinkers (and new to cruising!). What about water and milk?
-M

 

[tjbaggott]

We're not soda drinkers (and new to cruising!). What about water and milk?
-M

No additional cost for these items. Only specialty drinks, teas/coffees and acoholic beverages have a charge.

Truly, if you don't have to have a specialty drink, or eat at Palo, and not purchase souveniers, you can have a very very enjoyable time on board, without spending a dime more other than the tips.

 

[luv2plan]

I don't think they have milk at the beverage station though, someone may correct me, though.

They do have lemonade, Hi-C & iced tea, aside from soda

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I don't think they have milk at the beverage station though, someone may correct me, though.

They do have lemonade, Hi-C & iced tea, aside from soda

Yes, there is milk at the drink station. It's by the coffee and hot tea. One side is milk and the other is half and half.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Also, bring your camera everywhere! The ship's photographers are usually good, but their pictures are very expensive. The photographers will take the exact same pictures with your camera so you don't have to buy any from them.

I agree with PP's in that you can get by without any additional costs other than tips. Technically, tips are optional but very highly recommended, and honestly, expected. I would absolutely never advocate not tipping even if you skip the main dining rooms unless you had absolutely horrible service and your head server can't even resolve your problems. However, if that's the case, I'm not sure you're on Disney!

Castaway Cay is great and very low cost if you don't rent a boat or do an excursion. If you have your own snorkeling gear - bring it! Serenity Bay has some great snorkeling - we saw lots of colorful fish by an abandoned motor boat, saw several huge star fish and sand dollars and even saw a stingray and a small shark! I usually rent a raft if at Serenity Bay because of the sharp rocks and some sea urchins. Other free things on Castaway Cay include the Pelican Plunge slide, enjoying a hammock or beach chair on the beaches, the food at any of the three restaurants including soft drinks and ice cream. A soft drink from the bar would cost extra though.

 

[kcashner]

You can cruise and spend essentially nothing in addition to your cruise ticket and tips. As noted, suggested tips are $12 per person per day, so for a 4 night cruise the tips would be $48 per cruiser. My goal is always to have enough OBC to cover my tips (get OBC by rebooking while on board, using a TA who gives this as a thanks for booking, using a Disney Visa to pay for your cruise, etc.
Yes, there is milk at the beverage station. It is also available at no charge thru room service and you can get cartons of milk from the buffet and take it to the beverage cooler in your cabin. The beverage coolers have been A LOT colder recently than in years past, but another trick it to put a glass of ice in the cooler along with your milk cartons--keeps it really cold that way. Water is also available (tap water).

As noted, soft drinks are free in the dining rooms and at the beverage station; you pay for them from room service or at a bar--these are in cans, not fountain service. You are welcome to bring your own cans on board if you wish...like when DD was in the Diet Dr. Pepper only phase.

Photos--these add up. Carry YOUR camera. The character attendants are happy to take a family photo with your camera if you wish.

Dining at Palo ($15 per adult).
Bingo
Shopping
Specialty drinks (alcohol or not) and specialty coffees
Excursions
Spa

When thinking about Castaway Cay, think of it as an extension of the ship; all the food/beverages that would be "free" on the ship are the same at Castaway. If you get something from a server roaming the beach, you'll be charged.

 

[woody73]

Dining at Palo ($15 per adult).

A minor point: I read that Palo dinner soon will go up to $20 per adult.

Woody

 

[kcashner]

Woody is more up to date than I am....I haven't been on a ship since October and it feels like forever!

 

[lovethedream]

This is a general list of things that are not included in the quoted price from the website:

Tips - we just got off a 4 night and paid $144 total in tips.
Excursions
Drinks at bars (with or without booze)
Souvenirs
Anything off the ship at ports (except lunch and soda on Castaway Cay)

In reality....we didn't spend much. We didn't do excursions cause it was our first cruise and we wanted to get our feet wet. We bought about a $100 in souvenirs and about $100 in booze......we got free soda from the beverage station. That was for 2 adults and 1 13 year old.

We did not do shore excursions on our first cruise either. Just did not know what to expect or do. What we ended up doing was leaving the ship and walking around the shops (in the Bahama's) located near the ship, which did not cost us a dime, except for the few things we purchased.

 

[lpandorf]

Thanks so much everyone for all your responses! I really appreciate it. I think I am going to do it. Have a week off over the holidays so time to look at the optins and put a deposit down. Thanks again!

 

[toverly]

Bingo is not included either. I know it sounds funny but who knew my DH would become a Bingo addict onboard. It was fun but got expensive.

 

[com_op_2000]

Another cost saving tip: BYOB
Yes, you can carry on wine, beer, and/or other adult beverage; but do NOT pack it in your checked luggage it must be in your carry-on bags.
Yes, you can bring on soda and bottle water, also.

 

[Euchre_U]

We always carry-on whatever alcohol we plan on drinking - DCL does have a corking-fee if you want to drink your wine at dinner. If you drink it in your stateroom before dinner, however, it's FREE!

You can check a case or two (read 24-count or 36-count) of bottled water straight through to your stateroom. The porters dockside at the terminal will just ticket them like any other checked piece of luggage. This will cut down on your expenses if you prefer "bottled water" to "tap water" on board.

Another simple trick is to carry an empty "QuickTrip" or "RaceTrac" 44 ounce drink cup with a lid+straw with you on-board. With the free drink stations, we've found that this cuts down on the amount of times you need to keep going back/forth to the drink stations for refills.