Questions for my Cruiser Friends!!

[StitchIsOurHero]

Ok, I know there's a Disney Cruise forum, but I wanted to post my questions here because I "know" y'all! I hope that's ok!

Here's the deal. In 2013 (yes, 2 years from now. . .I obsess), DH turns 40 and DS turns 5. We are planning (fingers crossed!!) to go on a Disney Cruise to celebrate! DH & I went on one together in 2005, but obviously, that was before DS and a long time ago!

I've looked up 2012 dates to get an approximate date and an approximate cost. It looks like we'd do the 5-night one, leaving on a Sunday from port.
If it goes like I'm planning, we'll drive down Thursday night into Friday morning, stay somewhere on our DVC points (hopefully BLT or VWL--since we've never stayed there) on Friday and Saturday nights and then drive to the port. Hopefully, this'll be the first week of June (or around the 6-10th, somewhere).

Now, with all of that rambling, here are my questions:

1. When will DCL release 2013 dates?

2. I had read that they did a PhotoPass on board the ship. How does that work? If we did a park day before (like the day before the cruise), could I put those pics on the same PhotoPass?


If y'all can help me out with info, I'd be greatly appreciative!! I'm already excited about our upcoming 2012 trip AND this Birthday Blowout in 2013!!

 

[mommy2mrb]

what a fun way to celebrate your guys birthdays!!

so can't help with any of your questions.....but have fun planning!!!

 

[disney-akj]

Ok, I know there's a Disney Cruise forum, but I wanted to post my questions here because I "know" y'all! I hope that's ok!

Here's the deal. In 2013 (yes, 2 years from now. . .I obsess), DH turns 40 and DS turns 5. We are planning (fingers crossed!!) to go on a Disney Cruise to celebrate! DH & I went on one together in 2005, but obviously, that was before DS and a long time ago!

I've looked up 2012 dates to get an approximate date and an approximate cost. It looks like we'd do the 5-night one, leaving on a Sunday from port.
If it goes like I'm planning, we'll drive down Thursday night into Friday morning, stay somewhere on our DVC points (hopefully BLT or VWL--since we've never stayed there) on Friday and Saturday nights and then drive to the port. Hopefully, this'll be the first week of June (or around the 6-10th, somewhere).

Now, with all of that rambling, here are my questions:

1. When will DCL release 2013 dates?

2. I had read that they did a PhotoPass on board the ship. How does that work? If we did a park day before (like the day before the cruise), could I put those pics on the same PhotoPass?


If y'all can help me out with info, I'd be greatly appreciative!! I'm already excited about our upcoming 2012 trip AND this Birthday Blowout in 2013!!

1. I can not answer??

2. The pictures on the ship are expensive!! You can buy a cd of your images that run close to $300 depending on the length of your cruise, I don't believe that includes any prints either?? The photo pass on the ship is different than the parks, so they are not on the same card. Once you leave the ships, your images are no longer available (you can not view them on-line and decide later like at the parks-unless things have changed since March 2010). There was a CM that was at character photo spots onboard by all of the photographers who was willing to take character photos for you, so I took advantage of this.

 

[Tigger1221]

I agree about the photos they are expensive but we do but a few each cruise as I love the borders. Also if you get the CD the borders are not included. If you go on the Dream or Fantasy your pictures will all be in one area and you can look at them and pick thru, on the wonder and magic you have to find your photos by day and what character/event.

I would defiantly check out the cruise boards as there is a ton of information and they will be the first to say when the 2013 dates will come out. Also after you book make sure to join your cruises meet thread. We also like participating in the Fish Extender gifts.

 

[Disfamily0405]

I am looking into a Disney Cruise in 2013 for our 5yr anniversary the rumors seem to point to October being when they release the 2013 dates.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Thanks, everyone, for all of the information!!! I'm such a photo-geek. . .I told DH how much the CD is, and for now, it's on my list, but it'll come off if something has to get cut!

Looking forward to seeing the 2013 dates. . .I'm hoping October will be the release!!

 

[Tigger1221]

I love photots too but as we have cruised more I have bought less. I went on my 6th Disney Cruise in May and only bought 4 pictures. On our first cruise I bought them all. You might find you like the prints better than the CD since the CD is just the pics which they will take with your camera too but the prints have the cute borders and dates on them.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

I love photots too but as we have cruised more I have bought less. I went on my 6th Disney Cruise in May and only bought 4 pictures. On our first cruise I bought them all. You might find you like the prints better than the CD since the CD is just the pics which they will take with your camera too but the prints have the cute borders and dates on them.

That's funny--I said the exact same thing last night to DH. If we cruised more often, I wouldn't buy as many pics. I'm the same way at WDW, I find myself buying fewer.

That's really true about the CD. I hadn't thought of it that way!! I may go that route!!

 

[morgansmom2000]

I was all set to buy the CD, but when I realized it didn't come with the borders, I decided to forego it. (When I asked why they didn't come with the CD, the girl said "they are copyrighted" my answer to that was, "so are the photopass ones."). I think I bought 14 photos? I would have bought more, but to be honest, my camera takes just as good, if not better photos than the "pros" on-board. Don't get me wrong, they do a good job, but I know I could do just as good, if not better. I also took nearly 4000 photos on board, so I didn't want to go too crazy.

We are cruising next April, and plan on booking on board like we did for that trip. I'm hoping there will be a NYC departure for 2013