New to Disney Cruise (Land and Sea)

[CalDisneyMomof2]

My family of four (5 year old and 3 year old boys) took a WDW trip in April and we LOVED it! (We're DL natives with annual passes) We're already talking about our next trip for next February and possibly including my MIL and SIL with us this trip.

With our WDW trip I planned everything on my own and paid for everything separately. This time I would like to do a land and sea trip. I'm thinking the 3 day Bahamas cruise and 4 days at WDW before. I'm looking at getting to WDW February 8th or 9th and doing the February 13th cruise. Any advice on how to book it all? Use a travel agent? Book it all separately? Are there discounts for booking it together? Any discounts for PAP holders? (I'm going to upgrade my DL pass)

How's the weather that time of year? (Typically) Any information would be greatly appreciated as I know NOTHING about Disney cruises. (As a matter of fact I've only ever been on one short cruise)

TIA!

 

[erionm]

Your better off booking the cruise and hotel separately. DCL can book WDW Hotels, but they will not be at any discounted rates that might be available for your dates.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I just realized I posted this in the wrong forum! How do I get it moved? Sorry!

 

[erionm]

I just realized I posted this in the wrong forum! How do I get it moved? Sorry!

Eventually, a moderator will see it and will move it if they deem necessary.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Eventually, a moderator will see it and will move it if they deem necessary.

Thank you for both of your replies

 

[amwhitaker]

February is perfect for a cruise. We just went on one this past February and the weather wasn't too hot or humid.

As far as a travel agent, I've always booked my own travel.

 

[Wallaby]

Make sure you keep in mind that if you do plan them back-to-back, do the WDW first. After a cruise, you're generally too relaxed to do a WDW if all you're planning to do on a cruise is to sit on the boat and relax. WDW requires lots of energy and walking around as you would understand.

It all depends on how you handle the cruise. Do you relax or do you get off the boat and have fun.

Otherwise, have fun.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

February is perfect for a cruise. We just went on one this past February and the weather wasn't too hot or humid.

As far as a travel agent, I've always booked my own travel.

That's great to hear about the weather! I suppose since I've planned a WDW trip on my own it wouldn't be too difficult to add on a cruise.

And Wallaby, that's just what I plan to do. The cruise will be our relaxation from WDW

 

[DisGirl819]

I'm doing almost exactly that this summer. We're doing 6 nights at WL, a 3 night Bahamas cruise and 2 nights at POFQ afterward. I booked it all myself and all separately and set up all the transfers (DME from MCO to WL, DCL transfer from WL to port, DCL transfer from port to POFQ and DME from POFQ to MCO) It was a bit confusing but the people on the cruise forum are really helpful and nice.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

What about the cruise justifies the $150 or so per person per day cost? (No snarky remarks please) I understand it's all you can eat and drink and the activities but there was essentially the same activities and such when we stayed at CBR in April.

Are there ever any deals for DCL? My husband really wants to do the cruise but I'd be fine with just relaxing an extra 3 days at the resort.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

A 3 Day Dream is an INCREDIBLE experience. We loved it so much, we were dying to book a 4 day for the next year (which was in May).

I was SO MUCH MUCH HAPPIER with our cruise this year than I was with the park days, because of the new FP rollout that was going TERRIBLY and the crowds were awful. I feel so unfulfilled from my park days, I'm dying to leave WDW behind and fly out to the real Disney in CA and get in all the rides I missed out on. BUT our cruise was SOOOO much fun! Even if the rooms weren't perfet (magic is older than the dream), it was a GREAT experience and I didn't feel like I left ANYTHING undone on my cruise.

Right now, I'd say Hubby is right. Take the 3 day cruise, its SOOOO AWESOME. Especially after the ridiculous changes WDW has made. Ugh what a difference one year can make. Last year, we hopped all 4 parks in a day. This time, one park one day wasn't even enough. ::

Btw, if you aren't sure about what all Disney Cruising is about, you can check out my latest cruise trip report from this last May Magic a month ago:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3276365
(Fyi, we don't have any kids so its not a family trip report, but believe me, there are LOTS and LOTS of them on the DCL Trip Reports page)

Castaway Cay is like Disney's 5th park out in the middle of the ocean, its amazing. And the Dream is even better than the Magic.

If you can get a good deal on the Dream, it will honestly just amaze you. We had INCREDIBLY high standards for our first Disney cruise and we were BLOWN AWAY. A good deal is somewhere around $500-600 pp for the first two adults, unless you are looking at a 7 Day Fantasy and then they typically are no lower than $1000 per first 2 adults, but it sounds like we are talking the 3 or 4 day Cruise....

We got a last minute 3 Day Veranda Guarantee (VGT) on the Dream last year mid april for $540 pp and had the single best stateroom I have EVER SEEN on any of my cruises (which you can see from my signature is a few.) This year, we got a 10% off coupon and booked a 4 Day Magic (same itinerary intentionally because Nassau has Blue Lagoon WHICH WE LOOVVE!) and got a sea day with it, and the 4 day was $522 pp interior.

However, we opened up the Disney Visa cards because you can put the cruises on there 6 months interest free and then build Disney rewards. I also opened up the premier one for myself (to build my own credit and to get 2% rewards and a $200 gift card for opening it) and I totaled up $933 of savings/rewards/gift cards for having those cards for just over a year! And I got back and in my first month, I already have $40 in rewards. Plus all of our Sea Lion and excursions and on board expenses went on it for 6 months interest free as well.

So our $1200 cruise including gratuity, tax and port fees ended up costing us $612 or $306 PER PERSON to cruise on DCL! WOOWOO!!!

LOVE ME MY DISNEY CARDS! ::

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

A 3 Day Dream is an INCREDIBLE experience. We loved it so much, we were dying to book a 4 day for the next year (which was in May).

I was SO MUCH MUCH HAPPIER with our cruise this year than I was with the park days, because of the new FP rollout that was going TERRIBLY and the crowds were awful. I feel so unfulfilled from my park days, I'm dying to leave WDW behind and fly out to the real Disney in CA and get in all the rides I missed out on. BUT our cruise was SOOOO much fun! Even if the rooms weren't perfet (magic is older than the dream), it was a GREAT experience and I didn't feel like I left ANYTHING undone on my cruise.

Right now, I'd say Hubby is right. Take the 3 day cruise, its SOOOO AWESOME. Especially after the ridiculous changes WDW has made. Ugh what a difference one year can make. Last year, we hopped all 4 parks in a day. This time, one park one day wasn't even enough. ::

Well, when we went in April we never waited for more than 30 minutes for a ride (On our last day - we HAD to do the safari ) so we didn't have a problem with waits. Either way, we'd use the extra days to just relax at the resort, partake in resort amenities go to DTD. We didn't have time for that the last time around.

No matter what, we plan to do at least 4 days at the parks- I'm just trying to justify the cost of the cruise. Not that I don't want to do it. (There are cruises from here in L.A. non Disney that are about $50 per person per day and I know it's not Disney but it's such a huge difference in cost!)

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Actually DCL is coming to the West coast in 2015. If you dn't want to add it to your Orlando trip, that is always a possibility.

Whatever you do, DON'T TAKE A CHEAP CARNIVAL. This is NOT the same. I used to LOVE Carnival, as you can see, I've taken quite a few, in fact, I have gold status with them. But I wouldn't take one for FREE now. I wouldn't even go if they offered to pay for everything. Its such an uncomfortable vacation, like being on a floating infomercial. They come on the announcement all the time to tell you to buy bingo cards, or the gold jewelry by the inch, buy buy buy, drink specials, and come to the theater 30 mins early for a seat, and WALA, buy bingo while you are here!

Ugh. Its such a shame. Believe me, I LOOVVVVE cruising, can you tell based on my history? On my last cruise, I was fine if I NEVER WENT ON ANOTHER CRUISE AGAIN. It seriously was bad enough that I didn't care if I never cruised anymore.

And then Disney Cruise Line cured me! And I realized how a REAL entertainment vacation company runs a cruise line! Not with 'sexy man' or 'hairy chest' contests on the pool deck in the middle of the day, but with 3 D movies, incredible staged performances similar to Lion King on broadway, fireworks out at sea, Jack Sparrow live stunt show fighting off the pirates who commandeer the vessel, a different dining room every night, interactive and really special and magical, and of course superior service. Family karaoke was hilarious and SO much talent.

Their island includes SO much.

Really, don't cruise if you don't want to. But if you allow your honey to book the 3 day Dream because he wants to try it, you will NEVER. EVER. REGRET IT. There's just no way that I can see.

If you decide to try any other cruise lines, our friends who HATED the Carnival that I actually thought was a good trip, who always cruise Disney with us, they enjoyed their NCL cruise in Hawaii. I also have a decent history with Royal Caribbean, but I wouldn't sail anything less than their Freedom of the Seas, or Oasis/Allure (that's the one I'm sorta interested in), but dont' fall for a crappy deal on one of their ancient Majesty of the Seas etc. I went on her DECADES ago. I totally forgot what ship I was on in Hawaii, because while the ports were INCREDIBLE, the ship was just ok but not memorable. Turns out I found a picture that said it was the Legend of the Seas. But the Oasis/Allure class ships for RCI are basically similar pricing to a Disney cruise and they don't include all the dining rooms (on Disney, only the adult dining rooms are for a fee), and they don't include unlimited soft drinks either.

And Disney is the ONLY CRUISE LINE I know of that lets YOU BRING any beverage of any quantity of ANY KIND on board with you. That means unlimited booze if you want. Every other cruise line makes you check your island purchases with them until the cruise is over, and charges you UNREAL for their drinks or drink packages. (Some allow you to bring one bottle of wine pp.) Disney has no limits. Just FYI.

DCL is definitely VERY VERY different from all the other cruise lines I've tried. And for adult entertainment, I laughed and laughed my head off! And this was WITHOUT any bad language or entertainment, it was just brilliant from a company that likes to entertain.

If you don't cruise DCL or RCI, save your money and don't step on a ship... You obviously aren't sure about cruising in general, not sure what it's all about, and so dipping your toes into it by going on a crappy drunken Carnival will just turn you completely off to cruising. Best just not to go in that case...

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I always book it myself and book things separately. I do not need them together and it used to be you didn't get discounts on land and sea packages that you could get by just booking things separately. It is also a pain in the rear to have DCL working with your WDW resort reservation. Much easier to do that through WDW itself.

 

[mb187143]

Make sure you keep in mind that if you do plan them back-to-back, do the WDW first. After a cruise, you're generally too relaxed to do a WDW if all you're planning to do on a cruise is to sit on the boat and relax. WDW requires lots of energy and walking around as you would understand. It all depends on how you handle the cruise. Do you relax or do you get off the boat and have fun. Otherwise, have fun.

We did a 4 night dream cruise after our Disney wedding. We had 4 days at WDW before, the 4 night cruise, and then 7 nights back at WDW. We were far more relaxed and had much more energy after the cruise. Yes, we had wedding stuff in the days before the cruise, but even compared to our previous WDW vacations together, we were far more relaxed after taking it easy on the cruise, and less frustrated by crowds that were higher than we usually experience when we go.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Didn't you LOOOVE Animator's Palate dining room?? We were SOO DELIGHTED!! We had no idea what to expect.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Actually DCL is coming to the West coast in 2015. If you dn't want to add it to your Orlando trip, that is always a possibility.

Whatever you do, DON'T TAKE A CHEAP CARNIVAL. This is NOT the same. I used to LOVE Carnival, as you can see, I've taken quite a few, in fact, I have gold status with them. But I wouldn't take one for FREE now. I wouldn't even go if they offered to pay for everything. Its such an uncomfortable vacation, like being on a floating infomercial. They come on the announcement all the time to tell you to buy bingo cards, or the gold jewelry by the inch, buy buy buy, drink specials, and come to the theater 30 mins early for a seat, and WALA, buy bingo while you are here!

Ugh. Its such a shame. Believe me, I LOOVVVVE cruising, can you tell based on my history? On my last cruise, I was fine if I NEVER WENT ON ANOTHER CRUISE AGAIN. It seriously was bad enough that I didn't care if I never cruised anymore.

And then Disney Cruise Line cured me! And I realized how a REAL entertainment vacation company runs a cruise line! Not with 'sexy man' or 'hairy chest' contests on the pool deck in the middle of the day, but with 3 D movies, incredible staged performances similar to Lion King on broadway, fireworks out at sea, Jack Sparrow live stunt show fighting off the pirates who commandeer the vessel, a different dining room every night, interactive and really special and magical, and of course superior service. Family karaoke was hilarious and SO much talent.

Their island includes SO much.

Really, don't cruise if you don't want to. But if you allow your honey to book the 3 day Dream because he wants to try it, you will NEVER. EVER. REGRET IT. There's just no way that I can see.

If you decide to try any other cruise lines, our friends who HATED the Carnival that I actually thought was a good trip, who always cruise Disney with us, they enjoyed their NCL cruise in Hawaii. I also have a decent history with Royal Caribbean, but I wouldn't sail anything less than their Freedom of the Seas, or Oasis/Allure (that's the one I'm sorta interested in), but dont' fall for a crappy deal on one of their ancient Majesty of the Seas etc. I went on her DECADES ago. I totally forgot what ship I was on in Hawaii, because while the ports were INCREDIBLE, the ship was just ok but not memorable. Turns out I found a picture that said it was the Legend of the Seas. But the Oasis/Allure class ships for RCI are basically similar pricing to a Disney cruise and they don't include all the dining rooms (on Disney, only the adult dining rooms are for a fee), and they don't include unlimited soft drinks either.

And Disney is the ONLY CRUISE LINE I know of that lets YOU BRING any beverage of any quantity of ANY KIND on board with you. That means unlimited booze if you want. Every other cruise line makes you check your island purchases with them until the cruise is over, and charges you UNREAL for their drinks or drink packages. (Some allow you to bring one bottle of wine pp.) Disney has no limits. Just FYI.

DCL is definitely VERY VERY different from all the other cruise lines I've tried. And for adult entertainment, I laughed and laughed my head off! And this was WITHOUT any bad language or entertainment, it was just brilliant from a company that likes to entertain.

If you don't cruise DCL or RCI, save your money and don't step on a ship... You obviously aren't sure about cruising in general, not sure what it's all about, and so dipping your toes into it by going on a crappy drunken Carnival will just turn you completely off to cruising. Best just not to go in that case...

WOW! Thanks for all that information Like I said, I have no problem going on a cruise- it's justifying the cost I'm having trouble with. We definitely can't open up a credit card so the Disney Visa is out. But are there ever any other discounts? Kids sail free etc? I'd be just as happy being lazy at our resort.

We will have to look up the cost of the West Coast cruises - that might be something I'd like to do with just DH.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

WOW! Thanks for all that information Like I said, I have no problem going on a cruise- it's justifying the cost I'm having trouble with. We definitely can't open up a credit card so the Disney Visa is out. But are there ever any other discounts? Kids sail free etc? I'd be just as happy being lazy at our resort.

We will have to look up the cost of the West Coast cruises - that might be something I'd like to do with just DH.

What are your dates and ages for those traveling? Some fill the ship guarantee sails have been posted. They don't do KIDS SAIL FREE any more thank goodness because a lot of us cruise who have no kids so really that special has been replaced with the IGT/OGT/VGT (interior, oceanview, veranda guarantee) sales. Its a majorly discounted sailing designed to fill the ship. Depends on how the ship is sailing. For instance, our Magic sailing had a VGT sale in the $800 or $900s. not much of a deal considering my parents got a veranda early on for $600s something. But this was a pretty full sailing so they weren't desperate to fill it.

This is going to price totally different from your other cruise lines. Here's why: DISNEY HAS FOUR SHIPS. TOTAL. that is there fleet. So...when the other cruiselines are desperate to fill their 26 ships, disney only has to fill FOUR. Keep that in mind with supply and demand.

Additionally, in the summer months: WONDER goes to Alaska, MAGIC goes to Europe. That leaves TWO ships around Florida. FANTASY does 7 days (doesn't sound like you are in to that.) DREAM does 3/4 days out of Port Canaveral (basically Orlando port.)

It's not impossible to snatch up a good deal, but I just want you to realize that Disney doesn't have to go SOOOOOO low on their deals because they don't have to. Because they are THAT GOOD that people book them on opening days evening over a year ahead of time. We booked our Magic in July 2013 and by Feb 2014 just before the Paid in Full time, our room had gone up $400... So you should either book it REALLY FAR out ahead of time, or snatch up a IGT/VGT. These sales are provided for everyone, instead of just doing a kids sail free. Sometimes the kids are REAL cheap though (which can bring down the rate on the first two adults. Ie, if the kids are ZERO, DCL will just charge more for the first two adults, which means that people like us won't buy it because we don't have kids. But if they slash prices on EVERYONE sailing, and especially discount the 3rd and 4th passengers, then it benefits everyone.)

Bummer about the Visa. I don't advocate debt but we never would have been able to join our parents on the 45th anniversary Dream cruise last year with out it. And getting our cruise paid off by half was a big help.

You can shop already for 2015 on the west coast! Wonder will be there in the fall before it goes back through the Panama canal and starts doing Galveston TX cruises in Nov.

Happy sailing! There is NO DOUBT in my mind that we have gotten our money's worth on our Disney cruises. I paid the same for a 7 day CCL and was delighted to pack up and leave it. It might have been 7 days vs 4 days, but all you got were horrible boring sea days where you stood in line for hotdogs, icecream, and omelets...horrible...

ahhh late gotta go

 

[Volunteer]

My family of four (5 year old and 3 year old boys) took a WDW trip in April and we LOVED it! (We're DL natives with annual passes) We're already talking about our next trip for next February and possibly including my MIL and SIL with us this trip.

With our WDW trip I planned everything on my own and paid for everything separately. This time I would like to do a land and sea trip. I'm thinking the 3 day Bahamas cruise and 4 days at WDW before. I'm looking at getting to WDW February 8th or 9th and doing the February 13th cruise. Any advice on how to book it all? Use a travel agent? Book it all separately? Are there discounts for booking it together? Any discounts for PAP holders? (I'm going to upgrade my DL pass)

How's the weather that time of year? (Typically) Any information would be greatly appreciated as I know NOTHING about Disney cruises. (As a matter of fact I've only ever been on one short cruise)

TIA!

If you want to go the travel agent route, and don't have someone already in mind, you should check out cruisecompete.com. You register at the site (it's free), input the cruise line/itinerary/a few cabin preferences/etc and travel agents will send you pricing and on board credits. You will basically have travel agents bidding for your business!

The downside with going through a travel agent though is that you do not have control of the reservation, so if you need to change anything it has to go through them (although you will be able to check in online and select your excursions, etc if you book them through Disney - at least I was).

Feel free to ask any other questions!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

What are your dates and ages for those traveling? Some fill the ship guarantee sails have been posted. They don't do KIDS SAIL FREE any more thank goodness because a lot of us cruise who have no kids so really that special has been replaced with the IGT/OGT/VGT (interior, oceanview, veranda guarantee) sales. Its a majorly discounted sailing designed to fill the ship. Depends on how the ship is sailing. For instance, our Magic sailing had a VGT sale in the $800 or $900s. not much of a deal considering my parents got a veranda early on for $600s something. But this was a pretty full sailing so they weren't desperate to fill it.

This is going to price totally different from your other cruise lines. Here's why: DISNEY HAS FOUR SHIPS. TOTAL. that is there fleet. So...when the other cruiselines are desperate to fill their 26 ships, disney only has to fill FOUR. Keep that in mind with supply and demand.

Additionally, in the summer months: WONDER goes to Alaska, MAGIC goes to Europe. That leaves TWO ships around Florida. FANTASY does 7 days (doesn't sound like you are in to that.) DREAM does 3/4 days out of Port Canaveral (basically Orlando port.)

It's not impossible to snatch up a good deal, but I just want you to realize that Disney doesn't have to go SOOOOOO low on their deals because they don't have to. Because they are THAT GOOD that people book them on opening days evening over a year ahead of time. We booked our Magic in July 2013 and by Feb 2014 just before the Paid in Full time, our room had gone up $400... So you should either book it REALLY FAR out ahead of time, or snatch up a IGT/VGT. These sales are provided for everyone, instead of just doing a kids sail free. Sometimes the kids are REAL cheap though (which can bring down the rate on the first two adults. Ie, if the kids are ZERO, DCL will just charge more for the first two adults, which means that people like us won't buy it because we don't have kids. But if they slash prices on EVERYONE sailing, and especially discount the 3rd and 4th passengers, then it benefits everyone.)

Bummer about the Visa. I don't advocate debt but we never would have been able to join our parents on the 45th anniversary Dream cruise last year with out it. And getting our cruise paid off by half was a big help.

You can shop already for 2015 on the west coast! Wonder will be there in the fall before it goes back through the Panama canal and starts doing Galveston TX cruises in Nov.

Happy sailing! There is NO DOUBT in my mind that we have gotten our money's worth on our Disney cruises. I paid the same for a 7 day CCL and was delighted to pack up and leave it. It might have been 7 days vs 4 days, but all you got were horrible boring sea days where you stood in line for hotdogs, icecream, and omelets...horrible...

ahhh late gotta go

My kids are 5 and 3-they will be 6 and 4 in February. Unless some good deal comes up I can't justify $2400 for the 4 of us. I can spend just over $1000 on hotel and food if we stay on land at a moderate. I'd really like to do the cruise but I guess we can wait until closer to the date to book it and cancel the other days of the hotel if we have to.

That totally makes sense about the supply and demand aspect. Thanks again for all of your input