opinions on 14 day FL to CA cruise

[Kmygrl73]

Just curious what you guys think about the 14 day repositioning cruise that they may announce next week for 5/14/05-/5/28/05. Would this be a good idea for a first time Disney cruise? Does it seem like a long time to be on the cruise? Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
Kim

 

[ivanova]

hard to say if you haven't cruised before - I suppose there are some people out there that do not enjoy cruising (hard to believe huh??) so being "trapped" on a boat for 14 days could be torture - but I think it would be GREAT!! We've only ever been on a 4-day once (and doing another 4-day this November), but I think 14 days would be pure heaven.

 

[CAMICKEY]

Please "trap" me on this boat or even the CA to FL one - or both. I would die (well almost) to go on this cruise. If only my DS6 were not in school and my DW were not teaching school......(Lotto, Lotto, where are you). Oh well. - Mike

 

[ivanova]

the dates of the CA to FL cruise fortunately won't conflict with school for us next year ... Aug 20 to Sept 3 is right before the new school year will start (around Sept 6).

 

[SandraLee]

Yes, we are VERY interested in this thread. We have plans to book and have sent in a request to DU. But, I feel very unprepared for this type of itinerary.

How *is* 14 days on a ship? I have seen some back-to-back 7 days done, but I wonder if we or the kids would get bored or tired?

How 'special' is going through the canal? Do you think the kids would find it interesting? Can you see the sides of the canal and really tell when the locks are filling?

How is the weather? Too hot in Mexico that time of year?

I am so LOADED with questions, but I'm sure I'll be moving my current reservation over to the 14 day East / West as soon as I can.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have actually undertaken a 14 day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, and this might give you some indications.

The first point is the difference in the seas.
The Caribbean is often nice and calm, glassy like and the weather is often hot.
The Pacific on my cruise, a May one, was far more active the ship did roll more and the weather was mixed, some hot days some rain.

The ports were nice, but we tendered at every port on the West side, Acapulco Cabo etc.

Concerning entertainment this was a princess cruise and we had, had, a smaller trip on one before.

Entertainment was padded out with the normal shows on sea days, and entertainers, often jugglers brought in on days in port, formal nights were also on sea days

The Panama cannal is interesting, and where you first enter it is very existing seeing the train tugs pulling you up the locks.

But transition for us was a whole day from about 7.30am to 6pm, and most people went about there normal business, pools meals etc. after the first lock. We had a guide on the ship telling us what we saw.

Never felt locked in as there was a lot of ports to see and activities, but put on a lot of weight.

Port trips Acapulco loverly to tour around and the market for buying things, seeing the men jump of the clifts into the sea.
Rain forest in Costa rica, but Cabo, looks loverly but nothing to do.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

I am EXTREMELY interested in this cruise!!! DH and I have been throwing around the idea of a back-to-back cruise but this would be awesome. Can you imagine the party they will throw in Long Beach to welcome the Magic. It would be a blast and a trip of a lifetime.

 

[kpros]

I think a 14 day cruise might be a little much for a first time cruiser. We've done the Magic 3 times - a 4 day, a 7 day eastern and a 7 day western. We are also scheduled for the 10 day Xmas cruise later this year.

If we are lucking enough to get on the 14 day Fl to Ca cruise, it will be without our DD (just me and my DW). I also agree that the party in Long Beach should be great.

Ken in Ventura

 

[ivanova]

they would make sure it was an AWESOME party in Long Beach!!!

 

[lneeley]

Last year we went on the repositioning cruise on Royal Carribean. Very few kids on the whole ship (14), as kids still in school. We went May 2-17. We thought at first that it would feel like we were on the ship forever. But there were some staying another week and going all the way to Vancouver.

Let me tell you, the time flew. We did NOT want to get off the ship in San Diego.

We took our 11 yr. old DD on the cruise as an educational experience and made her read and learn about the canal before the trip. Then she was required to write a report and talk to her class and show pictures. It was amazing. As the ship goes through the locks and the pulley trains are aligning it up and pulling up from one lock to another, it is just an amazing engineering feat. We (along with everyone else on the ship) were up by 5:30 or 6 a.m. that morning. The ship has an actual reservation for entering the locks and everyone is there. It takes all day to go through all the locks and going through Gatun Lake and then you go through the last locks and are in the Pacific. We had a party in our AFT cabin (exactly center, back) and all our friends joined us. We have beautiful pictures of the bridge spanning across the water going over to Panama and all the Panamanians waving to us. It was so much fun.

As for excursions, our most incredible excursion was in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and we went river rafting down the river with guides. About 100 people from the ship went. It was an hour long bus ride (they had air cond. vans/bus) and then we river rafted and then had lunch. We saw so many animals, birds, etc., it was a blast. The guide company had guys kayak ahead and take pictures as we went over rapids and down the river. At the end the guys sold the CD for $20. We ordered one and got it by the time we got home. It had over 700 pictures on it. About 300 from the trip and another 400 of animals, birds, river, people, etc. It was the best.

As for the Disney Cruise, I bet their will be alot less kids than a normal cruise, and my DH and I are planning on the east-west route in May 2005 if it happens. We have our stateroom all picked, (along with alternates), and are waiting for the announcement.

You won't be disappointed. It was a wonderful trip and I hope it happens again!

 

[lneeley]

Ken-hi again! I hope you guys are going too!!!

And, if you take kids, don't worry, our daughter never got bored. Since they only had 14 kids on the whole cruise, we actually were assigned to a family that had two boys, she was socked in right between them in age, so we had 10, 11, and 12 year old. Plus a family from Canada who brought their granddaughter who was 16, but she had had some cancer, so she was more like 13. The four of them became best friends. We went on excursions together and had so much fun.

So much fun in fact, that we went on a cruise in Hawaii together in October of last year, and we are going to go visit them in Virigina this year. We made new lifelong friends!

I can't wait to be on that ship when it enters Long Beach, I just hope it is in the middle of the day and not at 6 a.m. in the morning!

 

[ivanova]

Originally posted by lneeley
I can't wait to be on that ship when it enters Long Beach, I just hope it is in the middle of the day and not at 6 a.m. in the morning!

Unfortunately the ship will probably have to leave at 5pm that night for the 1st mexican riviera cruise, it'll probably pull ino long beach early

 

[moocow35]

For me, 7 days goes by too fast and is not long enough. I am hoping that the May (east to west) is something that I can afford to do. I get goosebumps thinking about the welcoming party in Long Beach!

Robin

 

[rae519]

I'm waiting for WEST to EAST along with a few others (CAMICKEY and IVANOVA) - the chance of a lifetime to enjoy our other home for a longer cruise and different itineraries!!!!

Come on May 4/5th announcement!

Rae

 

[prymsu]

oh boy, I would be so spoiled, i wouldn't want to get off the ship and go home after two whole weeks of spoiling!

 

[kimkatmom]

My family is so excited about this cruise. The day it goes on for reservations is the day we make them. As a matter of fact, my mom told me she would sell her front seat in H - E - double hockey sticks to go.

We're going!!! No matter when - no matter what the price!

21 more days until WDW

 

[Drcell01]

We are already planning our ultimate 2 Coast Disney Vacation based upon the 14 day cruise. Spend a few days at WDW then 14 days on the cruise and then a few days at DL before flying home. What could be better than that!

What a way to celebrate our 25th aniversary! We started at the Poly (honeymoon) and have been visiting many times since. I can't think of any better way to enjoy 25 years together.

Just add this to the other countdowns!! LOL

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by kimkatmom
My family is so excited about this cruise. The day it goes on for reservations is the day we make them. As a matter of fact, my mom told me she would sell her front seat in H - E - double hockey sticks to go.

We're going!!! No matter when - no matter what the price!

21 more days until WDW

I LOVE your Mom!!!!!
Priorities must be in place for this one!!

Rae

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Drcell01
We are already planning our ultimate 2 Coast Disney Vacation based upon the 14 day cruise. Spend a few days at WDW then 14 days on the cruise and then a few days at DL before flying home. What could be better than that!

What a way to celebrate our 25th aniversary! We started at the Poly (honeymoon) and have been visiting many times since. I can't think of any better way to enjoy 25 years together.

Just add this to the other countdowns!! LOL

Only a true Orangeman could come up with this!
YOU ROCK!

Rae

 

[magic cruiser]

This cruise just sounds awesome !! Where did you guys hear about it ? Are there any other details ?

Ineeley: I loved reading about your RCCL experience and going
through the canal/locks ! The river rafting sounds like
something I'd like to do, BUT I'm terribly afraid of snakes
Did you encounter any ?

So is DCL going to officially announce this cruise May 4 or 5 ? We have a Bermuda cruise booked for this fall on Celebrity BUT I'd cancel it in a heartbeat to go on a 14 day MAGIC CRUISE !!!:thewave: