Newbie Questions, Please Help!

[Mikeb1892]

WDW vet but new to DCL and I'm wondering, what are the differences in planning? Please answer any that you can.

Here is what we know so far about our trips:

Traveling My wife and I and our two sons (11 & 5 at time of travel).
Departure Port: NYC
Destination: South
Duration: 7-8 days

For WDW trips, I know to plan @ 6 months for ADRs and 60 days for FP+, so:

1. What planning (aside from shore excursions) do we need to do?
1a. What can be booked ahead of time?
1b. What should we book once we're on the ship?
1c. Is there somewhere I can find a list of everything that is available to book (so we don't miss anything because we didn't know about it)?

2. What time should we arrive at the NYC Port (we'll be driving in)?
2a. What parking options are there, and will my vehicle be safe?

3. Stateroom type recommendation and why (would like to be mid-ship and lower level due to potential sea-sickness)?

4. Is there a quantity and/or weight limit to how many checked and/or carry-on bags we can have?
4a. What do we need (if anything) for prescription medications that we'll be bringing?

5. Do my kids need passports if our only non-US stop is Castaway Cay?
5a. What about if there is an emergency and we need to fly home for some reason?

6. What is the process for boarding for the first time?
6a. What is the process for boarding at a port during the cruise?

7. What is the process for disembarking (is that a word?!) for the last time (when the cruise is over)?
7a. What is the process for disembarking at a port during the cruise?

8. How much do I have to worry about my 5yo climbing over the rail (we would never leave him unsupervised, but you never know)?

9. What other questions should I have asked?

Thanks.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

WDW vet but new to DCL and I'm wondering, what are the differences in planning? Please answer any that you can.

Here is what we know so far about our trips:

Traveling My wife and I and our two sons (11 & 5 at time of travel).
Departure Port: NYC
Destination: South
Duration: 7-8 days

For WDW trips, I know to plan @ 6 months for ADRs and 60 days for FP+, so:

1. What planning (aside from shore excursions) do we need to do?
1a. What can be booked ahead of time?
1b. What should we book once we're on the ship?
1c. Is there somewhere I can find a list of everything that is available to book (so we don't miss anything because we didn't know about it)?

2. What time should we arrive at the NYC Port (we'll be driving in)?
2a. What parking options are there, and will my vehicle be safe?

3. Stateroom type recommendation and why (would like to be mid-ship and lower level due to potential sea-sickness)?

4. Is there a quantity and/or weight limit to how many checked and/or carry-on bags we can have?
4a. What do we need (if anything) for prescription medications that we'll be bringing?

5. Do my kids need passports if our only non-US stop is Castaway Cay?
5a. What about if there is an emergency and we need to fly home for some reason?

6. What is the process for boarding for the first time?
6a. What is the process for boarding at a port during the cruise?

7. What is the process for disembarking (is that a word?!) for the last time (when the cruise is over)?
7a. What is the process for disembarking at a port during the cruise?

8. How much do I have to worry about my 5yo climbing over the rail (we would never leave him unsupervised, but you never know)?

9. What other questions should I have asked?

Thanks.

1. Whether you want to do adult dining (those reservations go pretty quickly), or spa time.
1a. Shore excursions, Princess Gathering; Frozen Meet & Greet; Character Breakfast; adult dining; spa time.
1b. Tasting/Mixology classes (if interested).
1c. When your excursion booking window opens, everything will be listed there.

2. Depends on the Port Arrival Time you select during your online check in process.

3. Our preference is deck 2 midship (Deluxe Oceaniew Room).

4. Well, you will receive 2 luggage tags per person for your checked bags, but you can pick up more at the terminal. No real limit on weight (but, please, be aware of the poor CMs who will be heaving those bags around). You may also bring as many carry on bags as you want to wrangle.
4a. Prescription meds should be in original bottles. Or at least have the prescription information with you.

5 & 5a. No passport needed for a closed loop cruise in the Caribbean. However, you would not be able to fly back home from a foreign port without a passport.

6. You arrive at the terminal, check in, and wait for your boarding number to be called.
6a. You need your KTTW card plus a photo ID for those 18 and over to gain entrance to the port area, and the KTTW card will also be swiped once onboard the ship.

7. You will get a letter in your room specifying your procedure (each port is different, depending on terminal/baggage area size). Basically, once the ship is cleared by customs/immigration they announce who may debark (whether it's by luggage tag color, or everyone can debark).\
7a. Once the ship is cleared, an announcement will be made that you can get off the ship.

8. The railing is about 4' high, with plexiglass on the inside (making the rails not accessible to use as a ladder). That said, while it's possible to actually go over the rail, you have to be pretty determined to do it.

 

[CamColt]

Welcome to the world of Disney Cruising! I will try to answer some of your questions.

You can book excursions, spa, Palo, and meet and greets in advance. On board you can book mixology/tastings and Castaway Cay 5K. I could be missing some but those seem to be the big ones that come to mind.

There is a garage at the NY port. We parked there and our car was fine.

As for room type I usually try for the least expensive option with a verandah. I prefer midship, however that is usually pricier than aft or forward.

We have always brought prescription medication just in its original container (with the info on it), with no issues. No one has ever looked at it.

While it is best to have passports, they are not required for closed loops cruises starting in a US port.

When you do your online check in, you will get a port arrival time. When you arrive at the port and check in there, you will receive a card with a boarding number. When they call your boarding number you can board. At the ports, you can reboard anytime you like.

In general we eat breakfast and then walk off the ship. In the ports, they will advise you of times and where to go.

I would not worry about children climbing any railing if they will not be unattended.

 

[Mikeb1892]

1. Whether you want to do adult dining (those reservations go pretty quickly), or spa time.
1a. Shore excursions, Princess Gathering; Frozen Meet & Greet; Character Breakfast; adult dining; spa time.
1b. Tasting/Mixology classes (if interested).
1c. When your excursion booking window opens, everything will be listed there.

At what point can we book items that are bookable before the cruise?

When you say "when your excursion booking window opens, everything will be listed there" does that list contain the meet and greets, character breakfast, etc, or just off-board excursions?

 

[Dug720]

At what point can we book items that are bookable before the cruise?

When you say "when your excursion booking window opens, everything will be listed there" does that list contain the meet and greets, character breakfast, etc, or just off-board excursions?

For new cruisers, your booking window opens at 75 days out from your cruise.

At that point, excursions, adult dining, spa services, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates' League, Princess Gathering, and Anna and Elsa Meet & Greet open for booking. That is also the point at which you complete online check-in and select your Port Arrival Time (PAT).

 

[adg06]

Another newbie here - when you advance book things like the Princess Gathering and Frozen Meet & Greet, do you have to reserve a specific time & day right then? If so, is there a way to see what times & days are available before the actual booking window? Just trying to figure out how much of each day I need to plan out before the booking window opens.

 

[PurplePencil]

The railing is about 4' high, with plexiglass on the inside (making the rails not accessible to use as a ladder). That said, while it's possible to actually go over the rail, you have to be pretty determined to do it.

PrincessShmoo, most are plexiglass but some are not. Check online reviews to find out which verandahs have white wall, which makes it hard to see out and encourages climbing on chairs and such to see over. @Mikeb1892 If you want you can ask your stateroom host to remove deck furniture

 

[Mommb]

Another newbie here - when you advance book things like the Princess Gathering and Frozen Meet & Greet, do you have to reserve a specific time & day right then? If so, is there a way to see what times & days are available before the actual booking window? Just trying to figure out how much of each day I need to plan out before the booking window opens.

Unfortunately, there is no definite way to see the specific times and dates available on your cruise before your booking window opens. You can usually find various web sites with Navigators and excursion booklets from previous cruises with similar itineraries to your cruise. If you have questions about specific events, you can go to the Cruise Meet page for your cruise here on DisBoards and ask whether anyone with an earlier booking window (that is, people who have taken Disney cruises in the past or who are cruising in Concierge) can take a look and tell you what's available.

My advice: You may not be able to do everything you want in a single cruise. I've done 10 Disney cruises, and on every one I had at least one time when there were 2 places at once that I wanted to be. Just accept this. Choose activities that are important to you and book them, then look at what else is available that interests you. If you select a Meet & Greet (or spa, or dinner) time and then discover that it conflicts with something else, you can try to change it onboard.

I find cruises much less planning-intensive than park trips, because I don't have to think about what park I'll be at for dinner, what section of the park I need to be in at each FastPass time, who will watch kids on rides they're too small to do, and so on. I do spend time planning what to do in each port, but not so much planning for the ship. There will be many activities on board that don't require advanced planning at all, so you can take most of each moment on the ship as it comes, and even move from one activity to another if you don't like the first one.

Happy planning!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I look at it this way. Plan the biggest pieces first, then medium, them small, and I agree with Mommb, there isn't THAT much that needs to be planned.

Before your window, figure out what excursions you want to do at which ports. Figure out what else you will want to book: Spa treatments, BBB, Meet and Greet, Character Breakfast (if your length of cruise has one), etc.

When your window opens, it won't be hard to fit these pieces together. Start with the Excursions you wish to book. Then fit in the Spa, meet and greets etc. around them. Often (depending on your cruise) the character activities are on the sea days anyway.

Then when you are on board, you can fit in other things like wine tasting or Mixology around what you have already booked, and finally, you can go to other activities (that don't require booking) in the remaining times.

But I also agree with the PP you won't be able to do everything, but there will be time to do what you most want to do.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

PrincessShmoo, most are plexiglass but some are not. Check online reviews to find out which verandahs have white wall, which makes it hard to see out and encourages climbing on chairs and such to see over. @Mikeb1892 If you want you can ask your stateroom host to remove deck furniture

I was saying the plexiglass was there to point out that the lower rails on the public deck railings are not accessible for climbing like a ladder.

 

[PurplePencil]

I was saying the plexiglass was there to point out that the lower rails on the public deck railings are not accessible for climbing like a ladder.

View attachment 220327

Ah Gotcha, it is good to note that deck furniture is climbable and if you want your child to not be tempted to climb go with plexiglass and not white wall

 

[adg06]

Very helpful info Mommb and Anchors Away, thank you! The fact that less planning is needed for a cruise vs the parks is one of the many reasons I am so looking forward to this trip! Anything princess related will have to be near the top of our list though for sure!

 

[Mikeb1892]

Are cancellation policies usually the same through travel agents as they are through Disney?

 

[Dug720]

Are cancellation policies usually the same through travel agents as they are through Disney?

Yes in terms of days.

But check with your TA as some have their own cancellation penalties REGARDLESS of when you cancel.

 

[oufpat]

Another newbie ?, our first Disney Cruise and out of Barcelona next Sept, I'm just wondering if port excursions fill up before it's our turn to book. Being this is our first time to Europe, DH only wants to do DCL excursions.

 

[Trera]

We haven't been on a European cruise yet, but some of the more popular excursions do fill up on the carribbean cruises. Just be ready when your booking window opens to jump online get reserve what you want as there will be lots of others doing the same thing.

 

[PurplePencil]

Anything princess related will have to be near the top of our list though for sure!

If your boys (or you) are interested in Pirates there is the BBB which turns into Pirates League. Your boys can also get a royal knight/captain https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/bibbidi-bobbidi-boutique/

 

[puzzledprincess]

4. Is there a quantity and/or weight limit to how many checked and/or carry-on bags we can have?
4a. What do we need (if anything) for prescription medications that we'll be bringing?

Thanks.

No limit on the quantity or weight of bags you can bring. My hubby and I each usually bring one large suitcase and one dress bag. We like to dress up to go eat dinner in the dining rooms and Palo/Remy. We love that we don't have to worry about the weight of our bags etc. With that being said, remember there is limited space in your cabin! (We usually store suitcases under the bed.)

You don't need any sort of documentation for medicine. Definitely smart to pack extra (even of over the counter stuff.) The medicine they have in the shop on the ship is limited. Of course there is an infirmary for emergencies too.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I'm just wondering if port excursions fill up before it's our turn to book. Being this is our first time to Europe, DH only wants to do DCL excursions.

Definitely sign up as soon as you are allowed, but don't be discouraged if the excursions you want are booked up when you first try or if you can't get as many slots as you need. Book as many as you can, and then check back (daily or every couple of days). When people reserve this excursions they haven't actually committed any money to them until three days before the cruise. Thus, a lot of people back out, or switch to a different excursion. So what seems like a full trip now may not be full in a few days. We had a Caribbean excursion where we wanted 9 slots and at first could only get 5, but over the next several days (didn't take long) we got all the spots we wanted. So don't despair!