Please recommend child friendly excursions!

[3fromVA]

I keep hoping to see more posts about excursions! Cruising on the Wonder in May with DH and DS 5 and would like to prebook our excursions. I'd love some advice/opinions on which excursions we should consider. None of us have ever been anywhere tropical in our lives, nor have we ever been on a cruise. We really have no interest in shopping or sight seeing. I want to swim in the beautiful tropical seas, play in the sand, and have someone bring me a margarita while sitting in a lounge chair! My husband and son have expressed interest in getting up close and personal with dolphins. We all want to snorkel at Castaway Cay. Would someone out there plase give your opinions on which Nassau and Freeport excursions would be fun for us?

Also, I'm feeling very uninformed/discombobulated about this whole experience. Booked thru Dreams Unlimited and have paid final balance..when will I get my cruise doc's? I feel like all I know is or cabin number and that we leave from Port Canaveral...the rest is a mystery at this point.

Any and all adivce is greatly appreciated. I wish I knew someone who had cruised with Disney... but alas I don't.

Kristin and Family

 

[TnRobin]

Bumping up in hopes of a response.

Anyone????

 

[melissaga]

Unless things have changed, you cannot pre-book excursions. We were on the 4 day Wonder about a year and a half ago with our then 3 yr old. We didn't go on any excursions on that trip. Just walked around Nassau and shopped for a bit. That's about the only thing we would have done differently- we would have gone out to the Atlantis on Paradise Island instead (or we would have just stayed on board and hung out at the pool). While a 5 yr old wouldn't have much interest in the casino, there is the whole aquarium/Atlantis thing to visit (forget what it is called).

 

[hsteacher]

I too booked through DU and you will get your docs sometime (can vary depending on the busy season) about 4 weeks prior. I rec'd my docs two weeks ago for our 3/31 cruise. Yes, you can prebook excursions -- there's a little flyer with your docs that gives an 800 number to do this. We cruised 2 years ago and this didn't exist but it does now. Hope that helps.

 

[1karen]

We were on the Wonder in December and Prebooked our excursions and floats for CC. We have 3 children all under 10. I called the disney excursion # and asked which excursions were available. She explained them in detail and the price. We opted to do the Dolphin encounter. Looking back, we would have stayed on the boat and enjoyed the activities available. Our kids loved the clubs and only wanted us for food.
On CC, I wish we would have done the boat ride or parasailing, but sitting on the beach drinking coolers and playing with our kids was better than planned event we have ever done.

 

[cadburysmom]

My 6yr old ds and I were on the Wonder in Feb 2001. I highly recommend the Atlantis aquarium shore excursion. We did not do the excursion which included the beach and am glad we didn't because the food at Atlantis was terribly expensive and friends onboard complained about the beach restraints. My son and I loved the aquarium tour and then went back to the ship for lunch and a little rest. We then went into Nassau to see the Pirate Museum which is within walking distance of the ship. It really is nice and has lifesize pirate figures and a huge indoor ship which reminded me of "Pirates of the Caribbean" at Disney World. They also have a great "pirate" souvenier shop where you can have photos taken with "real" pirates.

In Freeport, we did the glass bottom boat excursion which my son enjoyed but I thought was just okay. I'd have rather stayed on the ship.

I hope this helps!

 

[3fromVA]

Great advice so far. I realized last night that if we book excursions for all 3 days...we'll never actually be on the ship (that and we'll be broke before we get to Orlando)! I almost wish I'd booked the day at sea cruise instead of the stop in Freeport. But, because I've never been anywhere tropical, I feel compelled to go ashore. Was thinking day at Altantis...but sounds like that's not so hot for DS 5. 1Karen...how was the Dolphin encounter? Was it the one at Blue Lagoon? Was Blue Lagoon really nice?

Keep the advice coming. I really think the DCL discussion board needs more input from all of you experienced DCL cruisers on the excursions. I'd guess most newbies trust Disney implicitly...but we are leary of the excursions since they aren't managed by the mouse.

Kristin

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by melissaga

Unless things have changed, you cannot pre-book excursions.

Yes, things have changed. Starting last summer on the Wonder and last fall on the Magic, you can pre-book excursions when you're within 60 days of the sail date if you've paid the full balance.

 

[1karen]

Yes, we did do Blue Lagoon. I felt it was not quite the picturesque setting we had hoped, but OK. The food was barely passable. Just a Reminder, NO DRINKs or WATER are included in your excursion package. More money yet. Also, if you take Disney excursion expect alot of waiting, and a 1 hour ferry ride each way. I have seen others mention when booking directly you can take a high speed catamaran 20 minutes.
My brother and daughter did Discovery Cove. Nothing but high praise. They were provided wet suits, great pictures, lunch was close to gourmet, snorkel all they wanted and a 7 day pass to sea world.
If its your only chance ever of seeing a dolphin go for it otherwise. IMHO, the cruise is so short, the boat is beautiful, you can't help but have a good time on the boat.