Romantic Escape at Sea package...Called DCL and got a little info!

[rae519]

http://www.castawayclub.com/

This site has so much information on it about cruising DCL that you'd be amazed!! Somewhere you will find your answer.

I know that I don't like the Mexicalifragilistic and Tropicalfragilistic menus - that those are set nights, so that's when I plan to have my Palo dining. Also, if you have plans for a late excursion and don't want to worry about returning in time for main dining (if you have it, then that might make a difference.

Mom always said to buy a excellent quality standard black dress then use accessories to change it.

AND YES, DCL needs to be more specific about what we are paying for.

******
TO THE DISNEY BOARD CM's who are monitoring our threads:
Are you reading this???? Please put this in your file as something we are concerned about!!!!

Rae

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by Mickeylover
I had Tammy at DU book this package for us. Some things to point out:

1) Contrary to the post referenced, the Palo fee isn't included, just the opportunity to book early--and currently the promise of brunch and tea at Palo is being done as a courtesy at the time of the dinner booking, but is not part of the package.

2) Tammy seems to think she CAN book the massage (choice of the 50 minute couples massage or a 25 minute massage and 25 minute facial) prior to the trip as well.

Sounds good to me! (now I ALSO need to figure out how to get the kids out of the room for my breakfast in bed!)

Here's more frustration for you all then - my MIL, who is also my TA, told us exactly the opposite of this for our upcoming cruise (DH bought me this package for an Xmas gift) - we CANNOT book the spa, but the fee IS included for Palo's...She's actually calling them today to get more info for me, because she was supposed to have the Palo reservation form faxxed to her 45-30 days before we board - well we board the 31st, so it's time to reserve! *grin*

I'll let you know what her call today brings to light...

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by rae519
http://www.castawayclub.com/
Mom always said to buy a excellent quality standard black dress then use accessories to change it.

AND YES, DCL needs to be more specific about what we are paying for.Rae

Yes -- on my last cruise (a 4-day) I wore the same standard black dress twice. I wore a different wrap/shawl with it each time. I didn't care and I'm sure nobody noticed either. I just don't like packing so many clothes.

Regarding the package....I have to agree. I wish they were more set in stone and specific with what it includes. If you're paying a price for something, you should have a better idea of what you'll be getting. That way you can weigh if it is worth it or not. Especially for those of us who have done these reservations and extras manually without a package and can compare to whether it is worth it or not.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I have read that castawayclub website and I don't recall reading anything about the romance at sea pkg. I'll have to read it again- must have missed it?

Also, I wouldn't mind wearing the same dress TWO nights- but there's no way I would for more than that, especially 5 as my "nightmare" described.

My Palo plans would be directly related to my dining rotation- particularly I would prefer Palo to be on one of the Lumiere's nights on my rotation. So I gather there is no way to know that ahead of time- therefore no way for me to plan Palo ahead of time?

 

[takemeaway]

I have a question about this package. I know this may sound crazy but can DH and I book the massages separately or do we have to have a couples massage? With the children, we like to do our massages separately just in case one of them freaks out and needs us for some reason. (which happened way too much last time).

I think the rest of the stuff sounds great.

 

[The4OfUs]

My TA just let us know that we're all booked for everything - we have Palo's for dinner Weds night at 7, we have the Champagne Brunch Monday at 10:00, AND they did book us for the couples spa treatment Monday at 4:45pm. The DCL lady told my TA that the Champagne Brunch was filling up quick (this is for the 1/31 Western cruise), and also told my TA to make sure that we get the kids OUT of the cabin on the night of our Palo ressies, as that is when we will have our romantic turndown, and "it's VERY romantic so the kids will have to find some way to keep busy that evening!"



I am so excited - not only did DH's xmas gift treat us to so many nice things, but now we have no "reservation rush" worries when we get on board!!

*does happy dance*

 

[KarenB]

Hey wait just a minute here!!!! I thought you were taking those two boys of yours along.......or are you sending them with our kids. Hey, there is a thought! Change your cruise to ours, and the four boys will have a blast!! We will never see them!


Just kidding. Guess you will have to do an adults only cruise!
Karen

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thanks for the information! That's especially interesting to note that you DID get to book your spa reservations ahead of time also....

Am I reading this right that you get champagne brunch at Palo's instead of Champagne breakfast in bed as listed?

Did they mention at all what the amenity is/could be/might be?

 

[SeaSpray]

The4OfUs: Thanks for that info! Please let us know how you liked all the components of the Romantic Escape package when you return from your cruise. Have fun!!!

Hi Karen!! We ARE taking our sons on the cruise with us! LOL I guess we'll have to tell them to make other plans on the morning of our breakfast in bed, and the night of the "romantic turndown". LOL And I still wish we were cruising at the same time!!! I know the kids would get along great We are doing an adults-only cruise next year (summer 2005) but that will be on Royal Caribbean's Voyager, with 2 of my brothers and their wives. But I'm really hoping that DH loves our Disney cruise so much that he wants to rebook another DCL cruise, too!

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
Thanks for the information! That's especially interesting to note that you DID get to book your spa reservations ahead of time also....

Am I reading this right that you get champagne brunch at Palo's instead of Champagne breakfast in bed as listed?

Did they mention at all what the amenity is/could be/might be?

I was shocked about booking the spa stuff ahead of time, but my TA (who is also my MIL) said it's something they're doing as a courtesy for those who book the package - in addition to allowing us to book not only dinner @ Palos, but also the champagne brunch and tea if we want - we plan on skipping the tea.

This does not preclude the champagne breakfast in bed tho - it's in addition.

I'm SO excited!! I'll take notes and photos and share them with everyone here.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

The4ofus- I really appreciate you passing this info on!
I see your cruise is coming up quick though.. do you find out your dinner rotation before you board like with your documents? Or not- and only find out once you get on the ship/board?

I'm really curious because I would think I'd like to know my dinner rotation first- so I can plan Palo night for the same night as Lumiere's- it would make one less night of dressing up more for dinner. (I'm worried that with our kids- who may or may not even eat each meal with us as we have the late dinner seating- we'll get the dinner rotation that is PC & AP for semi-formal & formal nights- then Lumiere's on other nights!!- and I'd rather not make Palo yet another night- that would be 5 nights out of 7 dressing more formal!!!!)

So basically I'm asking- how did you plan Palo ressies without knowing the dinner rotation? Or do you know in advance with documents?

 

[The4OfUs]

Because I booked the entire package, including airfare, through DCL, I haven't gotten my docs yet - they told my MIL that they were beign prepare yesterday, and sent out last night or today, so I should have them (3 day UPS) by the weekend.

What we did is take a look at the DINNERS, rather than the rotation, because contrary to Elijah's Grandpa's experience, we did NOT get to pick our rotation.

We have decided to forego the Mexicali night, as here in the "north of Boston" area, we are innundated by Mexican restaurants - it's like ALL we have to pick from to go out at night, so I didn't particularly care if I missed that night. It was a tough choice, because Friday the 6th is my birthday, and it would be nice to be in Palos for that, but I also wanted to be in the regular rotation for the last night, and be with the kids on the last night, so that's how we picked. Because my kids are at that "tween" age, not quite "little kids" and not quite "teenagers" (10 & 11 1/2), I can't even guess as to what my rotation might be, so we just did it that way!

Answering your previous question that I see I missed - no they did not give us any details as to what the "special gifts" are...or maybe they did and my MIL is not telling, for a "surprise" - but as I mentioned, they DID tell her to tell us to be sure the kids are "occupied" on Weds night, our Palo/Romantic Turn Down night, as she said it's "very romantic"...we've already told the kids! *grin* As far as I'm concerned, anything they do is "bonus", because they've already taken away the one point of stress I had, making all those ressies for Palo and the Spa, on days I actually WANT to be there instead of what is "still open" - that alone adds to the whole romance of the trip, I get to get on the boat and just check the kids into the clubs and not worry about any of that! (and I WAS worried, but I'm a type A personality about things like that..."What if we dont' get the night we want, what if what if..." how pathetic is that! *grin*)

 

[The4OfUs]

Just got an email from my MIL, with a little more info - she made all these reservations for us yesterday, while on the phone with the Dining Coordinator - she had had to call DCL because her travel agency had not yet received the form required for booking Palos early, and that was supposed to come 45 to 30 days out...so she called DCL and explained how anxious we were, and the CM that helped her took our ressie request over the phone, and emailed it directly to the dining coordinator. THAT CM (the dining coordinator) called my MIL directly the next business day to confirm our reservations, and at that time she suggested that we book the Champagne Brunch as well. She also then offered to set up our spa reservations as a courtesy, and noted "they don't normally do that" - so I don't know why they did it for us but I love them for it!!

MIL also said that rose petals were part of the "romantic turndown service" - but that's all I know for now in regards to any special touches...oh, and she said that we can arrange our "champagne breakfast in bed" once we get on board, so we definitely get that as well.

Oh yeah, one more thing, the Palo charges are NOT included, as she did say that the brunch was $10/pp plus tip.

So I guess the spa ressies were just luck on our part?? (not that I'm complaining! *grin*)

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Ah, so the Palo fee is NOT included (which I think is silly... the spa fee is included but Palo isn't when it's MUCH less??? doesn't make sense....), you don't get to know your dining rotation beforehand, and the spa reservations is not a "given"- we may have to wait until we board for that as well.

Something to think about... whether getting Palo ressies in advance is really worth it for us if we have to make the ressies not knowing our dining rotation, plus still have to get there early and rush to get spa ressies if they don't give us that "courtesy" that they did for your MIL. Things to think about..... I have a long time before my cruise anyway- things could change by then. I don't even know if I booked it now if they'd want me to book everything now (like Palo) or wait until 30 days out or something- and the pkg could be entirely different by then. We'll see...

Hope you enjoy your cruise & pkg!

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
I have a long time before my cruise anyway- things could change by then. I don't even know if I booked it now if they'd want me to book everything now (like Palo) or wait until 30 days out or something- and the pkg could be entirely different by then. We'll see...

Hope you enjoy your cruise & pkg!

Good points! I know that MIL said that they would not fax the form for the Palo ressies until 45 days before the cruise, so you do have time to decide and can add on later. By then I'll be back with a report and lots of photos, I'll be sure to document what we do get with the package!

 

[SeaSpray]

I think what I've been reading is that Palo DINNER reservations and fee is included, not the Champagne BRUNCH. They do often allow people to BOOK the Champagne brunch when they make their Palo DINNER ressies in advance, but it's not part of the package, and they don't have to allow you to make that ressie in advance. Then, the champagne breakfast in bed is another amenity, and that IS included.

So far, I really like everything I've been finding out about the Romantic Escape package. My only problem is that we're traveling with SIL and BIL, and if they want to dine with us at Palo for dinner, I wonder if we'll be allowed to make a ressie for 4 people, not just 2. I guess I will find this all out eventually.

Thanks again for the additional info, The4OfUs!

 

[Hygiene99]

Bump back to page 1 for another poster

 

[tfc3rid]

Thanks for the information.

My question still remains... Can I book this if I am sailing on DVC Points?

 

[The4OfUs]

It's an 'add on' to the cruise, as in 'not associated with your accomodations', so you'd have to pay for it in cash, I'd guess...$299.



I can't see how they'd use points for this, but it might be worth a call to member services for more info!

 

[tfc3rid]

I don't want to use points to book I was wondering if I booked via member services and did not pay cash was I eligible to purchase this package.