Photo Package advice

[PrincessShmoo]

If you purchase the digital photos -- are they loaded to a CD or a USB? I've seen both items mentioned -- as well as cruisers noting that their media was blank/not loaded with all pictures. Trying to figure out whether I need to bring my laptop (and an external drive) to check my media before leaving the ship. Thanks!

It's probably no a bad idea to have a laptop to confirm it. But, if that's the only reason you'd bring the laptop, it might not be worth it. If you're already bringing the laptop, just keep it handy the morning you pick up the photos. The full package was on a CD, but recently I've read that they are now using a USB for it.

 

[MamaBear58]

I just got off the Fantasy on Saturday. It was a USB. I bought it because it was my kids' first cruise, and the Star Wars Day at Sea. But honestly, I'm not sure that I would do it again. It doesn't include any stock photos. And there were not a lot of photographers or photo opportunities. I've never been on a ship that didn't take photos at each port-here, only at Castaway Cay. The lines for photos on Formal and Semi-Formal night were ridiculous...those and Cabanas were the times you knew you were on a Disney trip. And the photographers weren't that good...no attention to detail regarding how suit jackets and dresses were hanging, for example, and not very imaginative. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[hnthomps]

I just got off the Fantasy on Saturday. It was a USB. I bought it because it was my kids' first cruise, and the Star Wars Day at Sea. But honestly, I'm not sure that I would do it again. It doesn't include any stock photos. And there were not a lot of photographers or photo opportunities. I've never been on a ship that didn't take photos at each port-here, only at Castaway Cay. The lines for photos on Formal and Semi-Formal night were ridiculous...those and Cabanas were the times you knew you were on a Disney trip. And the photographers weren't that good...no attention to detail regarding how suit jackets and dresses were hanging, for example, and not very imaginative. Just my opinion, of course.

This, exactly. I also was on this same Fantasy cruise, and also bought the full package, and got a USB stick. I considered cancelling it toward the end when it was clear we weren't going to have $300 worth of quality photos, but... kids' first cruise, SWDAS, etc. And the price for a smaller package on board was close enough to what I had paid to make it seem silly to downgrade.

But next time we won't bother. We didn't stand in any line for portraits as the lines were way too long (longer than most character lines). The photographers did an ok job at getting the kids to look at them, but someone has an eye closed or a piece of clothing askew in pretty much every photo--despite our attempts to fix things in advance.

 

[MamaBear58]

This, exactly. I also was on this same Fantasy cruise, and also bought the full package, and got a USB stick. I considered cancelling it toward the end when it was clear we weren't going to have $300 worth of quality photos, but... kids' first cruise, SWDAS, etc. And the price for a smaller package on board was close enough to what I had paid to make it seem silly to downgrade.

But next time we won't bother. We didn't stand in any line for portraits as the lines were way too long (longer than most character lines). The photographers did an ok job at getting the kids to look at them, but someone has an eye closed or a piece of clothing askew in pretty much every photo--despite our attempts to fix things in advance.

Sorry to hear of your experience, but it's nice to know that I wasn't imagining it! I didn't even know cancelling was an option, but the truth is that I ended up paying the additional $100 to get the prints. I saw the banners on them, realized that I couldn't do that myself (like with the package at WDW), and figured after all that I had spent what was another $100 for the ones that were decent? Live and learn I guess!!!

 

[MamaBear58]

This, exactly. I also was on this same Fantasy cruise, and also bought the full package, and got a USB stick. I considered cancelling it toward the end when it was clear we weren't going to have $300 worth of quality photos, but... kids' first cruise, SWDAS, etc. And the price for a smaller package on board was close enough to what I had paid to make it seem silly to downgrade.

But next time we won't bother. We didn't stand in any line for portraits as the lines were way too long (longer than most character lines). The photographers did an ok job at getting the kids to look at them, but someone has an eye closed or a piece of clothing askew in pretty much every photo--despite our attempts to fix things in advance.

Sorry to hear of your experience, but it's nice to know that I wasn't imagining it! I didn't even know cancelling was an option, but the trust it that I ended up paying the additional $100 to get the prints. I saw the banners on them, realized that I couldn't do that myself (like with the package at WDW), and figured after all that I had spent what was another $100 for the ones that were decent? Live and learn I guess!!!

 

[Vicki106]

We sailed on the Dream a week ago and I pre-ordered the $194 digital package. I was very skeptical about whether or not I'd get what I felt was my money's worth, but I thought I give it a try and just cancel it before the end of the cruise if I didn't think it was worth it. As this was our first cruise, I hoped that I would be pleasantly surprised. AND I WAS! My son (8) posed with every character that was onboard - except Princess Sophia, we had photos taken on Castaway in multiple spots, photographers came around to our table two nights in the main dining room and we had portraits taken of the 6 of us on two nights since the lines were not long at all. We ended up with over 120 photos on a 4 night cruise. I found that the borders weren't even as annoying as I expected them to be. My mom was traveling with and she decided to add the prints to the package since they were only an additional $75. I did feel that I needed to keep checking the photos on a daily basis and found at least one group that were not included in our folder until I waited in line and requested that they be printed. I had to request it twice, because they didn't print them the first time I asked. Since I knew that lots of people had issues with the USB stick, I was in line at precisely 7 am on the last morning of the cruise, and I insisted that the Shutters employee show me the contents of the USB stick on his laptop before I would accept it.

I realize the everyone's experience is different, but IMO the experience went pretty smoothly and the Shutters pictures were better than the ones we took in some instances - especially those photos with Captain Jack in the D Lounge. (The lights were red and orange and my snapshots came out looking very red/orange. The professional ones had good/normal color.)

Yes, they were kind of overpriced and yes, PhotoPass/MemoryMaker is easier to deal with, but overall our experience wasn't bad.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'm disappointed that we really haven't posed for many pics, and the ones that we have aren't that great.

I did pre-order -- tomorrow is the last day of our cruise, so I am hoping I can cancel...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm disappointed that we really haven't posed for many pics, and the ones that we have aren't that great.

I did pre-order -- tomorrow is the last day of our cruise, so I am hoping I can cancel...

You can cancel the package at any time through the last full day onboard. Is tomorrow a full day, or the day you get off?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You can cancel the package at any time through the last full day onboard. Is tomorrow a full day, or the day you get off?

Tomorrow is our last full day -- so I'd better get on that!!! THANKS!!!

ETA: I'm assuming I have to go to Shutter...? I know I'll get an answer here faster than trying to call around on board, somehow!