Previous NYC to Bahamas sailings - a few questions if I may?!

[amystevekai&bump]

hi all

We have booked one of the NYC-Bahamas cruises for next October and I am so very excited!

Can I just ask a few questions from those who have sailed this itinerary before please?

1) I see the boat docks early at Port Canveral and that DCL put on buses to transfer us to WDW. Are there buses for each park waiting at the port, or do you get on one bus that makes several stops at the various parks?

2) Are there buses all day/evening long to all parks & back to ship? I'm hoping to park hop & wondered how it works?

3) As we won't be onsite guests as such, will we be able to use the Early morning hours?

4) will we be given Magic bands? I'm not sure if that is unknown, as don't know whether MBs were around for the last NYC cruises, but thought I'd ask just in case!

5) I notice on the DCL website that there are excursions for NYC - are those tours available on disembarkation day then? We are thinking of touring the city for the day before our flight home - if we can book something with DCL, will they store our luggage for us? Does anyone have a tour that they would recommend to see the main sights?

Many thanks for any help

 

[lanejudy]

So this thread might help answer some of your questions...it was discussed yesterday as well. http://www.disboards.com/threads/will-you-get-magic-bands-on-ny-cruise-for-wdw.3411506

As to NYC -- DCL does not offer port excursions on embarkation or debarkation days. There may be a luggage-storage service at the port but DCL doesn't store luggage.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[DisCatGirl]

We did this cruise in 2012. There were several buses at the port to each park and at different times. We could take an 8am, 9am, 10am, etc. The passes were park hoppers so you could go to each park if you had time. I am pretty sure we were not there early enough to do early morning hours. There were frequent busses back to the ship. We stayed all day and took the last bus of the night back to the ship. it wasn't too late - maybe 9pm?

 

[amystevekai&bump]

So this thread might help answer some of your questions...it was discussed yesterday as well. http://www.disboards.com/threads/will-you-get-magic-bands-on-ny-cruise-for-wdw.3411506

As to NYC -- DCL does not offer port excursions on embarkation or debarkation days. There may be a luggage-storage service at the port but DCL doesn't store luggage.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks ever so much for your reply - I'll check that thread out now

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We did this cruise in 2012. There were several buses at the port to each park and at different times. We could take an 8am, 9am, 10am, etc. The passes were park hoppers so you could go to each park if you had time. I am pretty sure we were not there early enough to do early morning hours. There were frequent busses back to the ship. We stayed all day and took the last bus of the night back to the ship. it wasn't too late - maybe 9pm?

That's great info - thanks ever so much

 

[dcassetta]

5) I notice on the DCL website that there are excursions for NYC - are those tours available on disembarkation day then? We are thinking of touring the city for the day before our flight home - if we can book something with DCL, will they store our luggage for us? Does anyone have a tour that they would recommend to see the main sights?

Many thanks for any help

As to NYC -- DCL does not offer port excursions on embarkation or debarkation days. There may be a luggage-storage service at the port but DCL doesn't store luggage.

I wonder if they might add something similar to Miami. For those cruises, they do offer a debarkation day that includes a choice of several "Hop-on hop-off" bus tours, luggage storage and transfers to either MIA or FLL.

 

[elphie101]

If I have to venture a guess, I believe the current NYC excursions are on the website because the EBTA just stopped there for the day, I'd be interested to see if they kept anything on once that becomes a port of departure instead of a port of call.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

If I have to venture a guess, I believe the current NYC excursions are on the website because the EBTA just stopped there for the day, I'd be interested to see if they kept anything on once that becomes a port of departure instead of a port of call.

Yes I've just realised that myself . Would be great if they do leave some up for disembarkation day, especially if they include transfers to the airport like they do with other cruise lines/ports.

 

[SeaSpray]

They did offer NYC debarkation day excursions in 2012. We took one of them and it was a lot of fun. We couldn't book the excursion until we were on the ship, and you had to sign up for the one you wanted, and as long as they had enough people to justify (pay the guides and bus, etc), they let you know that it was a
go", and when we got off the ship in NYC, we only had to take our carry on bags with us. DCL porters put our checked luggage under the buses' storage section so we always had everything with us. The bus took us to whichever airport we needed to get to.

The cost of the excursion included the transfer fees.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

They did offer NYC debarkation day excursions in 2012. We took one of them and it was a lot of fun. We couldn't book the excursion until we were on the ship, and you had to sign up for the one you wanted, and as long as they had enough people to justify (pay the guides and bus, etc), they let you know that it was a
go", and when we got off the ship in NYC, we only had to take our carry on bags with us. DCL porters put our checked luggage under the buses' storage section so we always had everything with us. The bus took us to whichever airport we needed to get to.

The cost of the excursion included the transfer fees.

That sounds great! Hope this is something they offer us next year. Thanks for posting

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

hi all

We have booked one of the NYC-Bahamas cruises for next October and I am so very excited!

Can I just ask a few questions from those who have sailed this itinerary before please?

1) I see the boat docks early at Port Canveral and that DCL put on buses to transfer us to WDW. Are there buses for each park waiting at the port, or do you get on one bus that makes several stops at the various parks? You sign up for the bus to the park you want to start with

2) Are there buses all day/evening long to all parks & back to ship? I'm hoping to park hop & wondered how it works? You will get a departure schedule as you exit the ship with the bus station number and return times

3) As we won't be onsite guests as such, will we be able to use the Early morning hours? YES, we were able to go to all 4 parks using EMHs

4) will we be given Magic bands? I'm not sure if that is unknown, as don't know whether MBs were around for the last NYC cruises, but thought I'd ask just in case! Probably not. Your room key will be your ticket and FastPass.

5) I notice on the DCL website that there are excursions for NYC - are those tours available on disembarkation day then? We are thinking of touring the city for the day before our flight home - if we can book something with DCL, will they store our luggage for us? Does anyone have a tour that they would recommend to see the main sights? We did the theater tour. DCL stored our luggage for the day.

Many thanks for any help

 

[amystevekai&bump]

That is awesome news - thank you so much for replying!

 

[punch423]

Is the park hopper ticket included in the price of the cruise or do we pay for that separately? Thanks!

 

[lauti]

Is the park hopper ticket included in the price of the cruise or do we pay for that separately? Thanks!

Included.

 

[punch423]

Oh that is so awesome! I'm so excited!!!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

I didn't see this mentioned, but in 2012 you had to sign up ahead of time on-line for which park you would be going to first, and I think a time too. I remember because we had wanted to go to DHS first on the first buses available, but those were all signed out. We ended up going to EPCOT, and then taking the boat to DHS after lunch.

 

[amosthefamous]

In 2012 for the ahead-of-time sign-up, where/when did you sign up? Online before the cruise? I would of course like to get an early bus to MK and I would think those buses would fill up quickly.

 

[SleepyV]

In 2012 for the ahead-of-time sign-up, where/when did you sign up? Online before the cruise? I would of course like to get an early bus to MK and I would think those buses would fill up quickly.

Online as if you were booking an activity or port adventure.
Enjoy! Sailing out of New York harbour was one of my favourite memories.

 

[angelinaxox]

I agree sailing out of New York on the Disney ship was wonderful. When I did the cruise, I had signed up for I think a 7:15 a.m. time, but there was an earlier time at 6:45 a.m. I had wanted the earlier time, but I was going to the park with just my mom and she didn't want to go that early. My dad, brother and my brother's family were all going to the space center. Even if the tickets for WDW weren't included, I still would have chosen it. I believe the ticket was loaded right on our cruise card and that was what we used to get in the park back then.
My mom and I ended getting to the buses early and the Cast members directed us on a 6:45 bus. They told us it didn't matter what time we had. They were sending the buses as they filled. So I was thrilled that we got on the early bus and made it to the park for opening. The bus dropped us off right where the resort buses had a drop off and we had a full day in the parks. (Much more convenient and much longer day than when I have done the park on another cruise line stop, and plus it was included in our cruise.)
We did a lot at the Magic Kingdom including having a nice lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern which I booked online ahead of time. We took a bus back to the ship around seven at night, because we wanted to eat dinner on the ship and that was a long day for my mom.
Dinner that night worked differently to accommodate passengers coming back at all different times. Our waiter told us the night before about the arrangements and it was posted in the Navigator. Lumiere's was open seating until nine I believe and we went right in and ate when we got back on the ship at a table for just the two of use. I think Cabanas was open really late for dinner. All in all it was a fantastic day. Have a great time!

 

[ShellB8585]

@amystevekai&bump you need to update your signature