Newbie cruiser with ??? - Can you help?

[fam4jc]

Hi. We are cruising Dec 10,2005 on the Magic. Can't wait This is for our 10th anniversary. Will be me, dh, dd6 and dd8.

I am trying to decide if we want to add four nights to our trip and stay at WL after the cruise. Has anyone done this? Will we be all Disneyed out or tired, ready to go home? (NOT me!)

If we come in the day before the cruise, where should we stay? Currently we have Disney transportation but we can change that. ($199 for MCO to port round trip)

Is it really to risky to try and fly in the morning of your cruise? We are coming from Charlotte, NC.

How much $$$ should I budget for on ship and excursion expenses? I know it depends on what we do, but at a minimum? including parasailing, water bikes, etc on the dis island.

Okay, last one for now: Would you spring the $300 for the romance package or upgrade to a verandah if money was a factor? (right now we have a cat 9 large porthole cabin) I like the idea of not having to wait in line for Palo ressies, AND the couples massage would be way cool for us - neither of us has ever splurged like that.

Thanks!
Shellie

 

[ivanova]

personally, I'd upgrade instead of the REAS package ... you can wait in line on the ship for Palo & spa appointments.

 

[DrCavin]

I would avoid flying in the day of the cruise if at all possible. You never know what could cause a delay in your flight. You can get tons of ideas on where to stay at Daves website: http://www.dcltribute.com/

IF you can upgrade at the port, would be my vote. You can do Palo's & spa on your own.

 

[TiggerKing]

I think the major question about the verandah versus the romance package (REAS) is whether or not you feel that you will be in the room enough to use the verandah. This was a decision for DW and I on our upcoming 4 night cruise. Since it was our anniversary, I felt the splurge on the pampering and other benefits was a better use of the money. However, were we doing a 7 day (like you) and thinking I might stay in the room more often (not likely), I might have sprung on it. Although a Verandah is nice, when I want to see the view, I would anticipate that I would rather be up on one of the open decks, or sitting in one of the great chairs on deck 4.

Just my 2 cents for what its worth. You will obviously have a blast either way!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We've only done the 4 night cruises but this past August we were supposed to stay 3 nights at the YC post cruise though had to leave early because of Hurricane Frances. We were definitely pumped up for it, though. We've stayed at the Radisson at the Port before but missed the Disney resorts so this cruise we stayed at the YC the night before too and it was an awesome way to start our vacation. We always rent a car then drive to the Port since it costs about the same price as the DCL busses for our family of 4 and it gives us more options. Last time we left the car in the cruise lot at $10/day which worked out fine. If you do rent a car you can drop it off near the terminal which we've also done without any problem or hassle. The drive to the Port is fairly easy.

Re: the room and REAS package. Waiting for Palo ressies has never been a big deal for us (took less than 10 minutes each time) so I wouldn't get the REAS package just for that, though if you wanted to splurge for your anniversary that might be nice. On both cruises we've managed to rack up over $1200 in onboard charges (despite being careful) so if you don't want to overtax your budget you might want to skip the verandah this trip and instead do some excursions and save $ for pictures and souvies. We got a verandah last time as a special treat but are rebooked on the Magic for 2006 in a Cat 11 inside room since we're not in the room much at all but love to be on Decks 4, 9 and 10, and the Secret Deck on 7 (and the $1500 we saved will pay for much of our quick trip to WDW this winter).

Another word about excursions. Don't overdo it. We've done them only to wish we were back on the ship enjoying all that's offered onboard (and already paid for). On Castaway Cay DH has done parasailing and loved it, but last trip we did a family excursion on the Glass Bottom Boat (since our kids were a little too young to snorkel) and we all wished we'd just stayed on the beach where we were having a wonderful, relaxing time. I hate watching the time when I'm on vacation.

Re: flying in the morning of the cruise. To me NC seems fairly close compared to where we fly from but if weather or storms are an issue I wouldn't risk it. Also, if you have to catch an early flight by getting up really early, it might spoil your evening later if you're tired. To get the most of your cruise dollar it's good to board the ship as early as you can which means you should be at the terminal by 11am or so. Most people prefer to stay nearby, get a good night's sleep and not have to worry about missing the ship or boarding late.

 

[jrabbit]

I am trying to decide if we want to add four nights to our trip and stay at WL after the cruise. Has anyone done this? Will we be all Disneyed out or tired, ready to go home? (NOT me!)

NOPE - you will NOT be Disneyed out. Being on the ship is nothing like being in the parks where lots of us go commando style - "attacking" the parks, show and attractions to "get our moneys worth". The cruise is nothing like that. Yes there's lots of Disney, but a lot of it is subtle and some of it is over the top. Go to the parks afterwards - that's what I would do (or do do)

How much $$$ will we spend on board (or a question to that effect)

Thats mostly up to you, but tipping is "manditory" (in that DCL doesn't pay the folks in tipped positions more that $50/MONTH (not Day, not Week). Here is DCL's tipping guide - consider it a cost of the trip

What about gratuities? (September 2004)
We'll make it easy. It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, may we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server 11.00 14.75 25.75
Dining Room Asst. Server 8.00 10.75 18.75
Dining Room Head Server 2.75 3.75 6.50
Stateroom Host/Hostess 10.75 14.50 25.25
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion

For your convenience, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine, and deck service tabs. All gratuities can be charged to your room charge.
At the Walt Disney World® Resort, 15% is the customary gratuity at restaurants and bars.

So since there are 4 of you and someone said that it is a 7 nighter your recommended gratituities are:
Server: 4*25.75 = 103.00
Asst. Server: 4*18.75 = 75.00
Head Server: 4*6.50 = 26.00
Stateroom: 4*25.25 = 101.00
Total: 305.00
-----------------
It's quite likely that you will use the services of a porter at Port Canaveral. Count on $15 comming and going...total $30.


Now for the optional costs:
Pictures from Shutters: unless you have way more self control that we do you can easily spend $200 here

If everyone gets 1 drink per day (the adult beverage of the day and smoothies for the kids $4/Drink X 4people X 7 nights = $112.

Palo brunch and dinner for the adults ($10 service charge per person for each meal) $40. Then you will probably want to tip extra so probably another $40 for a total of $80.

Souvineers = the sky is the limit here. I would buy 4 lanyards on board to hold your Key To The World cards ("only" $6-8 each). THese will be the least expensive wouvineers that you will buy on DCL.

2 arcade cards - one for each child $20 total.

To here we are up to over $750!!

Spa treatments - thats up to you!

Excursions - same as above - it's up to you. If you go with DCL you will spend on average $50 per person per excursion (some less, some WAY more). If you want to go spend a day on the beach in one of the ports (not Castaway Cay) you can usually do it for around $50 total - not counting drinks or renting "big kid toys" (jet skis, etc) on the beach.

To get an idea of costs of the items on Castaway Cay see...
Click here for excursions

Final though: Q: "Is it really to risky to try and fly in the morning of your cruise? We are coming from Charlotte, NC." Answer...Yes it is...DON'T DO IT that is unless you can drive from the airport to Port Canaveral and arrive BEFORE 3PM after you flight gets canceled, delayed, rerouted, etc.
Don't take my word for it try this thread...Our Horror Story Granted they were comming from farther away (and through your air port too), but I would not want to go through that --- it's your 10th anniversary - remember

Have a great trip!!

 

[fam4jc]

Wow!!! Great advice! Thanks Maybe we will come in on Thurs, do the Space Center of Friday and head for the port on Sat morning... definately will fly in atleast the day before. All the little charges sure add up! I was figuring $1500 to spend on board and that sounds about right if we don't get too carried away. I might can do it for $1000 and still see both ports and rent toys on castaway.

Here's my trip budget:
cruise 3400
air 800 (probably a little less)
port hotel 200 (2 nts)
port food 100
ground trans 250
shipboard 1250
WL 4 nts 700 (with AP rates, hopefully)
DW tix 600 (1 A 2 C PHP 4days + MVMCP)
land food 800
Misc 200
Total: $8,300

That's not too bad for 13 night vacation. Am I forgetting something?

By the way, how in the world do you pack for a trip like this? especially in December!


Thanks to everyone!