Sailing Feb 17th - 20th!

[burma]

dont know much about FE or where to get one but if it was do able we might be interested

 

[DMMarla07860]

so I'm stuck in Orlando a extra night, so I'll be home Thursday morning instead, hopefully when I get home I can post pictures and videos of the Dream I got while it sailed out of port

 

[disneypoor]

I'd rather be stuck in Orlando than here! We have almost ten inches of snow and a blizzard going on right now. Can't wait for the Dream! Hope you had a good time in Florida!

 

[Disney1430]

Still figuring out the boards and how to read threads.

- Some first timer questions -- and these answers may be elsewhere but her they are:
when we arrive at the terminal is there a place to get food in case kids get hungry?
end of cruise - what do you do for breakfast on the last day? how late can we sleep in? can we carry off all our luggage or do we have to check luggage?
is the pool open on Sunday morning we disembark?

and - what is the safety drill exactly?

thank you! off to read more! too cold for kids to go to school today -- looking forward to going to FL!

This is how it worked the last time and the time before that and the time before that..... Unless they made some major changes here you go

1. There is a snack bar at the cruise terminal
2. The Cabana and one sit down resturant should be opened. The sit down rest. will be based on your dinning the night before and your servers will be there to say goodbye. (early diners goto breakfast 1st, then 2nd seating then 3rd)
3. Luggage is picked up outside your door the last night of the cruise
4. Pool will be closed on Sunday Morning
5. Safty drill is easy - you will here the alarm sound - go back to your cabin put on your life vest and report to the outside deck for your gorup. Location of your group is on the inside of your cabin door. It takes about 10 mintutes or so

Hope this was helpful

We are doing a B2B - 2/13 and 2/17 - We also have about 18 to 20 inches of snow up here

 

[burma]

5. Safty drill is easy - you will here the alarm sound - go back to your cabin put on your life vest and report to the outside deck for your gorup. Location of your group is on the inside of your cabin door. It takes about 10 mintutes or so

We are doing a B2B - 2/13 and 2/17 - We also have about 18 to 20 inches of snow up here

I dont think you need to wear life jackets to the drill anymore

 

[Disney1430]

I dont think you need to wear life jackets to the drill anymore

Maybe not, but we did in Dec. 2009 - I thought it was a regulation.

 

[buckeyejennifer]

Maybe not, but we did in Dec. 2009 - I thought it was a regulation.

I read on another thread that the Dream isn't requiring life jackets anymore (due to space issues). Apparently, the Wonder and the Magic have changed the requirements as well.

 

[orangemom]

thanks for the info everyone - so exited to leave this SNOW and hopefully no east coast snow storms in two weeks when we fly down!

interesting on the life vest/no life vest for the safety drill -- i am sure they will tell us

we got our cruise documents today from the travel agent -- getting very excited!!!!!

signed up kids for oceaneers club, confirmed hotel stay before, confirmed car rental for trip down,

we have early show, 6 pm dinner (or is it 6:30 dinner?!)

we have snorkel trip when in nassau (the cheapest snorkel trip)

and i do have a question: what is the latest we can leave the ship? i know we have to be out of our room, pools are closed, and food court is closed...but what is the best time to get off the ship after the longer lines?

AND...HELP money question: other than excursion, personal shopping, spa and alcohol, and prepaid gratutity...are there expenses i should be prepared for on or during the cruise??

 

[buckeyejennifer]

and i do have a question: what is the latest we can leave the ship? i know we have to be out of our room, pools are closed, and food court is closed...but what is the best time to get off the ship after the longer lines?

AND...HELP money question: other than excursion, personal shopping, spa and alcohol, and prepaid gratutity...are there expenses i should be prepared for on or during the cruise??

I believe that you have to be off the ship by 0900, but someone else can correct me if I'm wrong. They will direct you to breakfast at the same restaurant where you dined the night before. The early seating guests have the early seating at breakfast (which is EARLY). We always skip that and just go for a buffet breakfast (not sure what the name of the buffet restaurant is on the Dream). It's usually not too crowded and gives us a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning. We try to get there at around 0815 for breakfast. In the past, we have just strolled off the ship after breakfast with very little line. I realize that may be different on the Dream (I've read about long customs lines), but that is how it has been for us in the past.

As for expenses, I think you have it covered! We are going to try and prepay our gratuities this time. The gratuity bill is usally the largest part of our stateroom account at the end (we're not really big drinkers). It will be nice not having that at the end! We have a $100 stateroom credit this time, so I'm going to try and use it for fun stuff! One other thing that they always get you with is the "light-up" drink on pirate night. They have these Mickey or Tinkerbell lights that attach to smoothies. They sell them on Pirate night at dinner and it seems like most of the kids get them. I think they are $7 or $8. My husband declined the offer on our first cruise and then felt guilty for our DD because ALL of the kids around us had one. He flagged down our server to get her one, so now we always go ahead and order it. It's an extra special treat and she enjoys it.

One other thing to offer. I always bring some of the light up bracelets for my daughter for pirate night. We bring a bunch (I buy them online from Oriental Trading) and then share them with other little kids we see. It's kind of fun and our DD enjoys sharing.

Have a great time. You will LOVE your trip. This will be our 3rd cruise. It seems like not long ago I was on these boards as a newbie--gobbling up every piece of advice I could find. Now I'm the one offering advice!

 

[NTOFD]

Two weeks from today we set sail!

We have been in Orlando for the last 5 days missing the weather in NJ. I get to go home and scrape ice today. I hope the weather for our cruise stays as good as it has been here, it has been warm and sunny the whole time.

 

[Disney1430]

[AND...HELP money question: other than excursion, personal shopping, spa and alcohol, and prepaid gratutity...are there expenses i should be prepared for on or during the cruise??[/QUOTE]

They have a new Frozone Treats Menu at the Cabanas the ice cream is Free, but the Incredible Smoothies run $3.95/$5.25

Also not sure if your doing Lanudry, but its $2.00 a piece for Washer and Dryer as of Jan 2010. (You use your room/charge key to pay) Laundry soap is $1.00

We also bring a couple of extra dollars and leave them in a drawer to tip room service - though you could use your key to the world card as well. - Heads up any of the items listed below if order through room service have a charge involved SNACKS: M&Ms, Buttered Popcorn, Salted Peanuts, Cashews
BEVERAGE PACKAGES Like Soda and Mineral/Botteled Water

When you enter the Walt Disney Theatre or Buena Vista Theater you can buy snacks/drinks

The Ard-cade also charges per game (Only takes key to the world cards - I belive)

 

[Disney1430]

I Forgot - This is directly from the Disney Cruise Line Site We have never gone over the limit, but charges can occur if you do.

Each Guest returning from the Bahamas to the U.S. can bring back up to a total of U.S. $800 worth of duty-free merchandise (retail price). Each Guest 21 and older is limited to 2 liters of alcohol, of which 1 liter must be produced in the Bahamas, and Guests 18 and older are limited to 200 cigarettes and 100cigars (excluding Cuban cigars). These limits are mandated by U.S. law and are subject to change.

At the conclusion of your cruise vacation, one Guest per family must complete a U.S. Customs Declaration Form to submit to U.S. Customs, required for your return to U.S. soil. Customs Declaration Forms are also available in different languages at the Guest Services Desk located on Deck 3, Midship. Please note that you will be subject to additional fines if you fail to declare purchases in excess of the Customs allowance, and that these limits are mandated by U.S. law and are subject to change.

 

[orangemom]

many thanks for the $$$ notice on the cruise ship things, not worried about spending over $800 forthe customs declartion -- doing this trip on a low budget!

and um..why is there a charge for m&ms via room service?! and does the room service menu state the price?!

Started a thread report to post some pre stuff then report....it is entitled 3 generations Dream Feb 17-20 -- be sure to comment if you want

 

[orangemom]

....noticing not many posts on our thread here with less that 2 weeks to go...could it be that our cruise is not fully booked?! so not many people posting on this board?!

 

[DMMarla07860]

can't wait for the cruise, only 13 more days

 

[buckeyejennifer]

....noticing not many posts on our thread here with less that 2 weeks to go...could it be that our cruise is not fully booked?! so not many people posting on this board?!

I went online yesterday to the DCL site to try to book the cruise (to see what was available). There was only one stateroom category that was availble (11). So I'm thinking it might be pretty much booked solid.

Ok, I just checked again. Now our cruise isn't showing up at all. I assume that means it's full?

 

[disneypoor]

Hi, everyone! We are also getting so excited as our cruise gets closer! My DD got hurt at volleyball a little over a week ago, and we found out that she tore her ACL and miniscus and will be having surgery the day after we get home from the cruise. So, if you see a girl about 16 years old that is limping, it's my girl.

I have so much to do before we leave on the 16th! I am a teacher and now that my daughter is having surgery, I will be gone for a week and a half, so I now get to do lots of lesson and sub plans. Mix that with basketball games for my son and packing and the next week and a half should just fly by!

I saw some of the questions a poster had earlier, and something I was going to add was also bringing dollar bills for tips for room service. I always take $25 in ones just to make sure we have enough. My kids love getting room service, so we usually use the majority of it. I also bring those suction hooks for the bathroom walls so we can hang our suits to dry. They work great!

My sister and I went shopping yesterday and found dresses for formal night. We don't usually dress too fancy, but there are 18 of us traveling, and my mom insisted we have a family picture taken. I can't blame her!

I look forward to hearing from all of you and cannot wait to board our plane on the 16th! I'm a little worried about WDW after the cruise now that my daughter is injured, but we may just have to rent a wheel chair if it proves to be too much for her. She's not too worried about it.

Take care!

Susan

 

[Disney1430]

many thanks for the $$$ notice on the cruise ship things, not worried about spending over $800 forthe customs declartion -- doing this trip on a low budget!

and um..why is there a charge for m&ms via room service?! and does the room service menu state the price?!

Started a thread report to post some pre stuff then report....it is entitled 3 generations Dream Feb 17-20 -- be sure to comment if you want

NO the menu dosn't state the price it says to call. All Candy items though (I believe) have a charge. I think because you can buy them in the gift shop or the Theaters.

 

[Disney1430]

Hi, everyone! We are also getting so excited as our cruise gets closer! My DD got hurt at volleyball a little over a week ago, and we found out that she tore her ACL and miniscus and will be having surgery the day after we get home from the cruise. So, if you see a girl about 16 years old that is limping, it's my girl.

I have so much to do before we leave on the 16th! I am a teacher and now that my daughter is having surgery, I will be gone for a week and a half, so I now get to do lots of lesson and sub plans. Mix that with basketball games for my son and packing and the next week and a half should just fly by!

I saw some of the questions a poster had earlier, and something I was going to add was also bringing dollar bills for tips for room service. I always take $25 in ones just to make sure we have enough. My kids love getting room service, so we usually use the majority of it. I also bring those suction hooks for the bathroom walls so we can hang our suits to dry. They work great!

My sister and I went shopping yesterday and found dresses for formal night. We don't usually dress too fancy, but there are 18 of us traveling, and my mom insisted we have a family picture taken. I can't blame her!

I look forward to hearing from all of you and cannot wait to board our plane on the 16th! I'm a little worried about WDW after the cruise now that my daughter is injured, but we may just have to rent a wheel chair if it proves to be too much for her. She's not too worried about it.

Take care!

Susan

Wow! Poor girl - I hope they are able to fix her up quick so she will be able to Volley again real soon.

 

[NTOFD]

A heads up on those who checked in on line a while ago. They have changed the check in to assign port arrival times. It may say check in complete but it is a little different with a new signature form with a bar code.