New to DCL - what's *really* included?

[Ducky4Disney]

Hi folks! I am really hoping to go cruising next year and I've explored the DCL website and ordered my DVD. My boss just went on a Carnival cruise and I know there are key differences between DCL and other cruises.

So what's really included? All food and drinks (non-alcoholic I'm assuming)? Even sodas? What about shows and movies? I know that spa treatments are extra and some shore excursions cost extra, have any examples?

I am hoping it will be me and DH, my parents, and our yet-to-be-born baby (due Feb 2006). If we go in Oct the baby will be about 8 months old at the time, do you think that will be a porblem?

We're also debating on whether to cruise on points or to rent our DVC points and use cash. I'm going to go look for some good cruise pics now!

D4D

 

[mommasita]

Hi..


Soda's are available for 'free" at the drink station on deck 9, and in all dining rooms..There is a charge at bars, or through room service..

Room service has a menu in your stateroom, and "most" of it is free, and the rest is indicated...Just provide a tip..

ALcholic beverages are NOT included, but can be brought on with you to save costs..Yes, spa is extra, as is shopping, and bingo..

KIds clubs, movies, and meals in dining room, and counter service are free.. .

 

[kcashner]

We have sailed on the Magic 12 times, and are DVC members. If you are comfortable with renting your points, it is a much better deal to sail on cash. First, in addition to the points, there is a $75 booking fee. Then, if you make ANY changes to your ressie, you will pay an additional $75 fee. If you book with cash, there is no booking fee and changes prior to 90 days in advance to not incur a fee. If you add people to your party, you will add them at the prevailing rate (you may have gotten a lower rate when you booked), but you will not pay a "change" fee.

Ok, it may be easier to say what isn NOT included.

You will pay for sodas ordered at bars. Sodas in the dining rooms and at the beverage station on deck 9 are free.

You will not pay a cruise fare for an infant--you will pay the port charges and government taxes. You will pay for any Flounder's (babysitting) reservations.

You will pay for any shore excursions you book. You can swim and/or snorkel at Castaway Cay for no charge if you bring your own snorkel equipment. The deck chairs, towels, etc. are all provided at CC. You can also book excursions on your own (not thru DCL). Read the fine print on those to see what is provided. You can take DCL towels on outside excursions.

You will pay for any alcoholic beverages or smoothies you order.

You will pay for any spa treatments. Use of the fitness center and locker room are complimentary.

You will pay for anything you purchase in the gift shops, photo shop, etc. A good way to save $ is to bring your own camera. At most locations, a CM will take a picture with your camera.

You will pay a $10 charge for dining at Palo (the adults only restaurant.) All food in the regular restaurants, fast food outlets, room service, etc. is free. The only place that incurs a food charge is Palo.

You should pay to tip your waiters/room steward on the last night.

All shows/movies/etc. are included in your cruise fare.

We love the cruise. I've never done it with an infant, but the best thing about the cruise to me is that MOM is on vacation too!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

You've been on 12 Disney Cruises?

It really looks like an awesome way to cruise. A Doc I work with does NOT like WDW (he just hasn't "done it right" in my book), but he ADORES the DCL. He thinks it's the best cruise line out there.

I know that the fees are for passenger 1 and 2, then there are fees for the 3rd and 4th passengers (if they are staying in the same room). Two rooms, one for us and baby, and one for my parents, is basically 2 reservations. (I know that sounds simple, but I need to talk this out in my head).

I saw that there is a babysitting service for a fee and it's a good idea, but they mention booking your hours in advance: how am I supposed to know when I'm going to need them in advance?

I'm talking to DH about renting our points to take this cruise. We have about 450 points to rent next year, which should pay for all four of us to go on the cruise (going in regular season, category 7 room), I think.

I still have a lot of things to look up before I completely figure this out! Thanks for getting me started!

D4D

 

[kcashner]

When you book for 2 cabins, you can request that they be adjoining (next to each other) or connecting (a door between). Yes, you are basically doing 2 reservations, particularly if you are each paying for your own cabin.

As to when you need/want babysitting...First, decide which cruise you are going on--3,4,7 day? Then decide which night (if any) you want to go to Palo. You will want Flounder's (babysitting) reservations for that night. You can book reservations 90 days before your cruise on line. On day 90, you go online and make your Palo reservations. Then, you go to Flounder's online and make a reservation there. Depending on the length of your cruise, you are limited in the number of ADVANCED babysitting reservations you can make. However, once you board you can go to Flounders and either make more ressies or be on a wait list for more ressies.

If you can't get a Palo ressie on line, they save a bunch for after boarding. Make a Flounder's ressie or two anyhow..you can always change them later! Remember that the earlier you book, the cheaper the cruise will be (larger early booking discount.)

I'd suggest you buy the 2005 "Passporter." This is a book that tells you a whole lot about DCL...probably more than you want to know. Our local library has a copy that is a couple years old, but you can order a current one at any bookstore or online. The authors have each sailed on DCL several times. My experience with other books is that the authors have never been on the ships! Don't go overboard with planning. Remember that vacations are to relax and have fun!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

When you first get into your room, look ar your navigator paper and it will tell you a time to go to the nursery the first day. It will be open for you to see and ask questions of the staff there. It is $6. per hour, 2 hour minimum. You must make a reservation for it, as they do limit how many kids they have at any given time. Young kids are usually one attendent for every 2 kids. So your child will get 100% of the attention he needs. They will give you a beeper so they can contact you ASAP if needed.
Besides all the items others have listed there is free Ice cream by the Mickey pool, wraps, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, chips, fries 4 kinds of pizza, fresh fruit, tacos, pop, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and early morning some pastries by the drink bar on deck 9. Snacks are set out late each night near the clubs, the sports club always has hot dogs, salads, sometimes chips and nacho stuff and other snacks too. When going to the movies we stop by deck 9 and get a free soda and hot dogs or pizza to take with us into the theater for a snack too.
Not much to pay for if your not a drinker.
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[alikat99]

When you book for 2 cabins, you can request that they be adjoining (next to each other) or connecting (a door between). Yes, you are basically doing 2 reservations, particularly if you are each paying for your own cabin.

As to when you need/want babysitting...First, decide which cruise you are going on--3,4,7 day? Then decide which night (if any) you want to go to Palo. You will want Flounder's (babysitting) reservations for that night. You can book reservations 90 days before your cruise on line. On day 90, you go online and make your Palo reservations. Then, you go to Flounder's online and make a reservation there. Depending on the length of your cruise, you are limited in the number of ADVANCED babysitting reservations you can make. However, once you board you can go to Flounders and either make more ressies or be on a wait list for more ressies.

If you can't get a Palo ressie on line, they save a bunch for after boarding. Make a Flounder's ressie or two anyhow..you can always change them later! Remember that the earlier you book, the cheaper the cruise will be (larger early booking discount.)

I'd suggest you buy the 2005 "Passporter." This is a book that tells you a whole lot about DCL...probably more than you want to know. Our local library has a copy that is a couple years old, but you can order a current one at any bookstore or online. The authors have each sailed on DCL several times. My experience with other books is that the authors have never been on the ships! Don't go overboard with planning. Remember that vacations are to relax and have fun!

I just wanted to clarify that you can only book at 90 days out if you are a returning DCL cruiser. Otherwise, if you are new to DCL, then you can book online at 75 days out.

 

[tvguy]

It just depends on what you want to do. Other than tips for your waiter, busboy, head waiter and cabin steward, you DON'T have to spend a dime more.
My 82 year old mom cruises frequently, and her only spending other than the fare is for tips, and for a glass of wine for dinner each night. She went on an 11 day on Celebrity's Mercury for a fare of $799. They automatically add $10 a day for tips to your bill, and 11 glasses of house wine with automatic 15% tip added $63.25. Add in the $25 the travel agent charged for round trip bus from their office in Sacramento, to the pier in San Francisco, her total outlay for an 11 day cruise was under $1000 ($997.25 to be exact, under $91 a day)
She brought back the grandkids the mints left on her pillow, some of the crafts she made for free in the classes....and they were delighted.
And she says she had too many things to do.
What really ads up the bill are excursions, liquor and spa treatments.
But you really can cruise for very little above the fare.

 

[daisy112878]

If you're looking at a 7 night in October 2006, there's several extended families going on the Oct 7-14 cruise. My family being one of them. Someone decided to call us the Warm-Up Act since we are the week before the Cruisetoberfest IV.

Also wanted to add to the Palo comment that they have a brunch that is I think $5 per person extra.

Stick around the boards you'll learn a lot of stuff.

 

[jrabbit]

You've been on 12 Disney Cruises?

That more than me but "you ain't seen nothin' yet!!" One of the moderators on this board (Inkognito) has been on more than 40 DCL cruises.


Here's my list of What You Can Pay For while on a DCL cruise
Just remember that you can go and only spend additional money on tips and still have a great time.


What can you spend money on onboard?

Family of 4 on a seven night cruise will generate a "standard" gratuity of about $305. If the family of 4 goes on a 4 night cruise the gratuity would be about $175. Some people don't tip (don't go there ). Some just the standard, some a little more and some tip a LOT more :yes:: yes the service is THAT good).

If you go to Palo there is a service charge of $10 per person. You should tip above this service charge for "using the room" Some people kick in an extra $10 per person, others have said that they've tipped $100 -- Wow!!

Room service is free for most items on the menu (sodas and some items you have to pay for). Be sure to tip your "server" or is it runner in this case . DCL has reciently made it possible to tip your server on your KTTW card.

Room service There are items on the menu that Do carry a charge -soda and the other chargable beverages along with several food items.

You can purchase snacks at Preludes (outside of the Walt Disney Theater). There is candy and popcorn to buy.

Baskets and Cruise Gifts I don't know if you can order these once you are on board but you can most definately order them before your cruise. DCL includes a brochure with your cruise documents.

Depending upon the ages of your children (or if your DW is gosh darn beautiful ) Shutters may be a big ticket item. The 6x8 (small) photos are around $10 each. I don't remember how much the formal (large) photos are (maybe $20 each).

If you have a child that is not yet potty trained (and 3 or younger) you can "hire a babysitter" at Flounders. You are able to initally reserve 3 time slots for your child. Later in the cruise you can see if you can get any additional times (if you need more mommy and daddy private time ) This is different than the Club, Lab or the Stack / Aloft - which are included in your cruise fees for kids from age 3 to 17.

If you stick to the drink of the day, they will run you $3.50 each (which isn't too bad). Otherwise the prices go up from there (but still are not outrageous!!) Speciality Drinks - like coffees, smoothies etc carry a charge. Smoothies run about $5.00 each with manditory tip.

If you buy the wine package for dinner the cost is $185 to $250 depending upon the package purchased. If you buy wine by the bottle I believe you can count on $50 per bottle (but if you each only drink 1 glass each, it will last for two nights and your waiters will take care of it for you!)

There is also a "water package" that you can purchase for dinners. Why , I don't know, the water that the ship "makes" is wonderful.

Shore excursions really add up. Even if you do a "cheep" $45 excursion that's $180 for the family.

If you do the wine tasting class onboard there's a cost and I really don't know how much it is because I don't like wine that much.

Spa treatments run from $83 to well over $200 per person per treatment (count on at least $100 ).

Arcade cards for the kids. Denominations start at $10 and go up from there.

Now for the souvineers: you can get some small plastic figurine for $5. If you want a tee shirt, think at least $35, polo shirts are well over $50. A DCL frame for one of your 6x8 pictures will run you $18 to $20. Lots of fun stuff to buy for the whole family at Mickey's Mates. Then across the hall is the Treasure Ketch and that stuff is generally way more expensive!!

Then there's the "store" that's between Rock'n Bar D and Diversions on the Magic (its in the same location on the Wonder-just different Club Names) that sells tobaco and alcohol products. I believe that any alcohol you purchase CAN NOT be consumed onboard. They will deliver it to you close to disembarkation time.

Some people have a Bingo habit that costs them a ton of $$$$. There are 5 games played each session. There are 3 different "pacakage" for purchase. 1) Standard ($20 or $25): 5 games with 3 cards each, 2) Jumbo: ($35) 5 games with 6 cards each, 3) Ultimate ($50) it's the Jumbo pack with an extra sheet of 6 cards for the jackpot game. It sounds like there is an option for any of the packages for $15 that will get you 6 bonuse careds for the jackpot game (that's how you get from the "Jumbo" to the "Ultimate" (this is all second hand info - never played)

Hairbrading onboard has a per braid charge.

Landry: You’ll need money if you plan on using the Self Service Landry’s on the ship. You'll need even more money if you use the onboard Landry and Pressing service that DCL offers!

Other people have talked about spending money onshore. Unless its at Castaway Cay, thats a different bill from your onboard account.

I think thats all of the areas that you can spend money ON the ship.

 

[mmouse37]

I am another great lover of DCL....will be taking DCL cruise #14 on Saturday!!!

You can definately spend as little or as much as you like...there are ways to save money like bringing on some of your own wine/liquor and not spending a ton on the photos taken onboard.....

We rarely do DCL excursions...we investigate each port and arrange our own excursions that are usually much less than DCL and/or we will hire a local taxi driver to take us where we want to go...also much less money than taking a DCL excursion.

You have great information posted already....it pays to know ahead of time all the money you may spend or at least be tempted to spend on!!!

Happy sailing....

MJ

 

[hbg4]

2 differences I can think of are
1) the DCL children's club is opened for extended hours compared to the cruise lines. ie you don't have to take your kids out at meal times, the counsellors will take them to the restaurant instead as a group. The kids club is opned until 12am, unlike Carnival where you have to pay extra babysitting fees for your children after 10p.
DCL your child has to be over 3y and potty trained to be in the kids club for free. With Carnival they just have to be over 2y and not potty trained as long as you provide pampers or pullups for them

2)Photos- I think you get a better deal with DCL. The CM are willing to take photos of you with your own camera with the characters or wherever, unlike the other cruise lines whose professional photographers frown upon you when you want to take photos with your own camerea in their setup.