thinking about Disney Cruise, need advice

[ltrain]

Planning on a cruise to either Bahamas or Caribbean in Oct 2015. Can someone point me in the right direction as to where to start, what to expect, tips and tricks, etc. Also, do you need a passport?

It is a bit overwhelming.

TIA,
Lori

 

[Trera]

start reading the forums and you will get a world of information.

if you list a few specific questions you have, then people will answer them for you.

First things I would recommend starting with is which itinerary you are interested in (which will also set the number of days for your cruise), when you want to go and which ship do you want to be on if there are multiple choices?

Next would be researching and selecting your cabin(s).

Finally, you can start to look at dining, spa, excursions, kids clubs, etc.

Just my opinion. Good luck.

 

[missyp]

For the Bahamas a birth certificate and drivers license is enough. Just be prepared, Disney Cruises can get expensive and once you are hooked you may find yourself booking many more.....

 

[DISGRL13]

These forums have a wealth of information. You can look on the Disney Cruise Line website to see the 4 ships. Decide if you want the larger newer ships or if you would prefer the older smaller ships. I have been on both and enjoyed both. My favorite is the Magic because it is a little smaller and less crowded.
But I usually decide which ship based on the itinerary offered and where I want to go.
I would say try and do a 4 day or more so you can really have time to enjoy what the ships have to offer.
Good luck with your decisions and you really can't go wrong....you will love cruising with Disney!

 

[sambycat]

You might try looking through a guidebook. Passporters makes a great one. It will give you a good overview and make these boards easier to understand. There is a lot of great and up to date info here but it's a lot and from the perspective of folks that like to micro manage planning! But read up here and take a look at your library or bookstore for a recent issue travel guide specific to DCL

 

[Sir William]

You might try looking through a guidebook. Passporters makes a great one. It will give you a good overview and make these boards easier to understand. There is a lot of great and up to date info here but it's a lot and from the perspective of folks that like to micro manage planning! But read up here and take a look at your library or bookstore for a recent issue travel guide specific to DCL

I second the Passporters guide. Check your library for a copy. Even an old one can be useful.

Your library should also have other books on cruising, which can also be helpful.

If you've not cruised before, I recommend the 4-5 day cruises: long enough to see what it all about, but short enough that if it's not for you, little lost. Plus, a you'll get a sea day, which are completely different from port days. For your first voyage, the focus should be on the experience, not the destination (though it's good to go somewhere you're interested in seeing).

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I agree 100% with Sir William, the only thing I would add is don't get too wrapped up in making your cruise "perfect" by controlling dining rotation, servers, best room etc. I would let fate control that kind of stuff for your cruise and by all means, don't try to do it all on the ship, you'll go crazy. Cruises are great to unwind and enjoy downtime with the family, don't go crazy over planning everything.

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

GREAT ADVICE SO FAR!

One piece of advice I like to give everyone is get your budget ready ASAP. Try in include everything from trip insurance, passports, tips, excursions, souvenir money, etc. and see how much you want to spend on your cruise fare. Lots of people on here can help with budgeting specifics if you ask. I find it easier if I have a budget ahead of time when I'm looking at staterooms since there can be a big difference monetarily between cabins. We have our cruise booked for October of 2016, and we can't wait. I haven't sailed in October, but I've heard the weather is good. Happy cruising!

 

[avgsuperheroine]

Yes this is all great! There are perspectives sometimes that may lead you to think planning and overplanning is necessary, but it's really up to you. If you just want to read the site or a guidebook and then do the basics, you can. If you want to get all involved in the planning you can. I prefer to leave quite a bit to chance, that's part of the magic of a cruise, it can be very relaxing. Most questions you'll have there's almost no "right answer"--because all the choices are great.

 

[Sunshine2U]

I agree to keep it simple.
- Agree with 4 days or more.
- For the first cruise, think of the ship as the destination. You pay a premium for to be on a Disney ship. Don't feel like you need to do excursions at every port to fill the port days.
- Choose whether you want early or late seating. Don't worry about which specific rotation or serving staff you get. The experience is the same with only slight differences. If you cannot get the seating time you want, don't worry - that will work out, too.

Tell us when who you are traveling with, and which cruise you select, and there will be more suggestions. Mostly, enjoy the process and don't fret!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Agree with the several others--start with the Passporter DCL book!!

Then refine and look in depth on these boards!!

 

[turtle27]

Start with how long you want to be gone, how much you want to spend, and where you want to go. After that, what everyone else has said, book, this forum, just do a search up at the top and see if your question pops up. If not, start a thread and ask a few more specific questions. Have fun!

 

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Get a Passport. While there is a cruise travel loophole ("the closed loop itinerary"), if you miss the boat due to illness or other unforseen circumstances re-entering the US without one can be a nightmare.

 

[RebelHawk]

There are many discussions on this message board about whether to use a Travel Agent. Many TAs offer an on board ship credits when you use them to book your cruise. Dreams Unlimited Travel, who is the sponsor of these message boards, will take great care of you. My wife and I have used them for multiple cruises and it is a nice perk knowing that when you leave for your next cruise you already have some money in your cruise account.