Tips? - party of 10, 3 staterooms

[DianaMB333]

Hi

We are booked for a 4night Bahamas - Dream cruise. Party of 10 pax (2 kids- 6yrs; 1 teenager; 7 adults); distributed on 3 staterooms -verandah deck 9.

It is our first cruise, and I’m doing all the planning.. so I’d appreciate pls your tips

1.What is the best way to link our reservations? The TA has made a comment to DCL .. is it enough? Should I call? Mail?

2. transportation to the port. We will be at WDW, and I’m debating between the disney cruise bus or the limo service.. is there any advantage on using the bus?

3. embarkation.. would be best entering the 10 all together for the salutation? Or the kids will enjoy it better with their own parents only?

4. Dining- we want to be together, would it be possible? Are there large tables? We have 2 staterooms booked in early dining, and 1 with late dining but waitlist created… what would be the best to secure it?

5. Characters interaction and special photo moments… any tips to ensure it? Do we book them in advance or while checking in at the port?

6. port activities. We might go to the Atlantis in Nassau - mainly for the dolphin interactions.. is it possible to book with Viator or any other agency with better prices than Disney? Any recommendations? Is it worth it?

7. how to book the jacuzzi overlooking the sea? Can we all get in?

8. Misc and open.. any advices for the large group planning?

thanks a lot!

 

[anneeb]

We have a group of 10 in 3 cabins as well. I called to link our reservations, but if you have a TA I think they need to do it for you. There are tables that will seat 10 so you should all be able to dine together if the 3rd cabin is able to get early dining.

 

[Lilsia]

I can answer the bus question. The benefit is that if something happens that you are delayed, flat tire or car accident, if you use Disney transportation they will hold the ship for you. But this is not the case if you are using private transportation. During the day, there always seems to be people in the jacuzzi and your family alone would fill it up. Off times are better to be able to go in as a group.
I would contact the cruise line directly about linking your reservations and about dining together options. Also, you do not have to book with Disney for shore excursions. Just be sure to be back on the ship long before all aboard time. Have fun.

 

[Kwami]

I can't answer all of your questions, but I can answer some of them!

1.What is the best way to link our reservations? The TA has made a comment to DCL .. is it enough? Should I call? Mail?

If you go to the DCL website and log in, then you can go to "Already Booked" and "My Reservations". At the top of that page, you'll see the title of your cruise and a small box off to the right with your reservation number in it. Click the arrow to expand that box and there's an "Add Reservations" link. There, you can manually add the other two reservations to yours with the reservation numbers.

2. transportation to the port. We will be at WDW, and I’m debating between the disney cruise bus or the limo service.. is there any advantage on using the bus?

One advantage is that you don't have to worry about port arrival times (PAT). When you check in, you might not be asked to select a PAT at all. If you are, then it doesn't really matter, because you'll get there when the bus gets there and that's your new PAT. Lately, buses have been coming at about 8:30-9:30am for the resorts, which gets you to the port at a good time. Also, DCL will handle your luggage for you, if you want them to.

And if the bus breaks down or something, then DCL will hold the ship for you. But you'll be early enough that this doesn't really matter, I think.

4. Dining- we want to be together, would it be possible? Are there large tables? We have 2 staterooms booked in early dining, and 1 with late dining but waitlist created… what would be the best to secure it?

If you can't get it sorted before sailing, then chat with Guest Services on the app when you board. They can probably help you out. I don't know if any tables are large enough to seat 10 people, but the staff can probably get you two tables next to each other, at least. Just make sure that your reservations are linked! You can have your TA add a comment requesting that you all eat together, too.

5. Characters interaction and special photo moments… any tips to ensure it? Do we book them in advance or while checking in at the port?

For now, you can't book character interactions. You'll find them scattered around and they'll pose for photos and stuff, but you can't get too close.

8. Misc and open.. any advices for the large group planning?

In my experience, traveling with a large groups is a lot of work. So, good luck! But also, have fun!

 

[John VN]

^^^ =


1st --- Good LUCK and HAVE FUN

2nd --- DW and I have a TA already in place to get the ball rolling ASAP when our selected cruising date becomes available for a 2023 - 50th Anniversary Sail-abration with 12 plus us

 

[stkgator]

You should also be aware that if one member of your travel party tests positive for Covid on the day of the departure, the entire party will be refused boarding. DCL uses the linked reservations to determine the travel party.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi

We are booked for a 4night Bahamas - Dream cruise. Party of 10 pax (2 kids- 6yrs; 1 teenager; 7 adults); distributed on 3 staterooms -verandah deck 9.

It is our first cruise, and I’m doing all the planning.. so I’d appreciate pls your tips

1.What is the best way to link our reservations? The TA has made a comment to DCL .. is it enough? Should I call? Mail? Your TA must tell DCL that you want to link all the reservations.

2. transportation to the port. We will be at WDW, and I’m debating between the disney cruise bus or the limo service.. is there any advantage on using the bus? With that many, it will be less costly to procure private transportation.

3. embarkation.. would be best entering the 10 all together for the salutation? Or the kids will enjoy it better with their own parents only? I would say you should break all the families up for separate onboard announcements.

4. Dining- we want to be together, would it be possible? Are there large tables? We have 2 staterooms booked in early dining, and 1 with late dining but waitlist created… what would be the best to secure it? Once your reservations are linked, it should help the late diners on the wait list to be moved to early seating.

5. Characters interaction and special photo moments… any tips to ensure it? Do we book them in advance or while checking in at the port? You can purchase separate photo packages (at extra cost) onboard. These are typically studio style photos, not character ones.

6. port activities. We might go to the Atlantis in Nassau - mainly for the dolphin interactions.. is it possible to book with Viator or any other agency with better prices than Disney? Any recommendations? Is it worth it?

7. how to book the jacuzzi overlooking the sea? Can we all get in?

8. Misc and open.. any advices for the large group planning?

thanks a lot!

My answers in red.

 

[HiStitch626]

6. port activities. We might go to the Atlantis in Nassau - mainly for the dolphin interactions.. is it possible to book with Viator or any other agency with better prices than Disney? Any recommendations? Is it worth it?

7. how to book the jacuzzi overlooking the sea? Can we all get in?

6. Currently Disney is not doing Atlantis excursions. Your family can plan to do this on your own as they do offer day passes, but everyone in your party must be fully vaccinated, including the kids, to go ashore on your own.

7. The hot tub on the family pool deck cannot be reserved. If you mean the hot tubs in the rainforest room, I believe they are still doing the process where you can reserve the rainforest room just for your group. None of the children would be able to go to the rainforest room.

 

[DianaMB333]

Thank you!

 

[anneeb]

You should also be aware that if one member of your travel party tests positive for Covid on the day of the departure, the entire party will be refused boarding. DCL uses the linked reservations to determine the travel party.

I called about this specific concern and was told linked reservations do not mean automatic refusal of boarding of all cabins if one person tests positive. If you have not had contact with eachother and have not traveled together and planned to meet on board then you may not all be refused boarding. It still makes me nervous but ultimately we decided to link reservations for the benefits of dining together and booking excursions together.

 

[starry_solo]

I called about this specific concern and was told linked reservations do not mean automatic refusal of boarding of all cabins if one person tests positive. If you have not had contact with eachother and have not traveled together and planned to meet on board then you may not all be refused boarding. It still makes me nervous but ultimately we decided to link reservations for the benefits of dining together and booking excursions together.

You should book private transportation for each stateroom party then (or go on the DCL bus at $39/pp one-way).

 

[anneeb]

You should book private transportation for each stateroom party then (or go on the DCL bus at $39/pp one-way).

We will be driving to the port. I'm not sure how my brother's family plans to arrive but we won't be traveling together.