Tons of first timer questions!!!!

twinsouvenirs

Mother of Dragons :)
Joined
Jun 22, 2013
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Cross posted from my pre-trip report... http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...ise-7-day-wc-7-22-17-fantasy-sailing.3515386/

1) If we decide to do a shore excursion, and it is for adult only or in other ways excludes young children (i.e. most of the excursions i have seen) can we leave the kids on the ship in the kids club? All of my kids will have been in preschool for at least a year by then so I am not concerned about their emotional states, but what happens if there is an injury or something--I am assuming we can't take the wave phone with us off the boat--if we do, does it still work?

2) Booze/wine/etc... what are the new rules? I am assuming you can't bring it on the boat with you initially. I have to read the new policy to determine if we can bring a bottle initially, and if not, can we buy at port and bring to our room? I remember from all my podcast listening that this just got more restrictive but my husband will definitely care, and I'm guessing that the drinks on the boat aren't that cheap! Luckily, we're versatile so we can work with whatever, but I'll want to understand the rules on this.

3) Bottled water. Guessing they won't let you bring this on but who knows. Basically, I need to read the cruising rules!

4) Fish extenders. I added myself into a thread for this sailing and I have always wanted to participate! We participated in a holiday tree exchange in WDW and there is something completely magical about engaging with friends you've never met, gifting to people you don't know. We did a photopass share with friends and we all made presents for the kids... that was a blast too! I love anything that makes this world feel a little more intimate... it's a small world after all! But I still don't know all the rules and will have to cruise around pinterest (haha) for ideas, set a budget, and perhaps start making little gifts!

5) Draft a preliminary packing list to refine--not sure what kind of laundry facilities are available. DVC has spoiled us as we can do laundry free every day if we need to. We have three little ones, so we sometimes need to!

6) Lunch. Are there sit down lunch places or is everything quick service style? I sure hope not, we sit down for almost all meals and everyone stays at the table till we're done. We'll live if it's a grab and go kind of thing but I am hoping there are more formal lunch options. Furthermore--if the kids are in the kids club--do they get lunch there? And on port days--I've heard about people getting uncrustables for lunching. I'm also thinking we might bring ziplocs which would allow us to bag BLTs as well to bring along--but probably people mostly buy lunch at their destination, correct?

7) Port days. Do we have to stay off the boat the whole time? Can we get on and off at will?

8) Shore excursions. It sounds like people have a lot of success with the non-Disney sanctioned port adventures, can take their kids at younger ages, and pay less in these circumstances. But I also understand that there are safety issues/timing issues.

9) MONEY. Not gonna lie, this booking hurt--the deposit alone was just a little more than what we budget for a 7 night WDW vacation in a one bedroom, even factoring in our maintenance fees. Between Tables In Wonderland, our Annual Pass, grocery orders and our DVC points, we usually manage to travel extremely quite inexpensively. We sucked it up and booked the expensive cruise (got a cool deluxe family oceanview stateroom with verandah, though, so that's cool) but between the shore excursions, beverages, upgraded meals (We HAVE to try Palo & Remy), upgraded experiences (I will NOT pay $550 for two girls to have tea with princesses, but I heard there is a weeklong spa pass for $200ish...). We aren't HUGE souvenir purchasers but if I meet a DCL Harvey's bag something could happen... So how much should we budget for 'spending money'?

10) Deadlines. DVC WDW trips are mazes of deadlines... 11th month window, 7 month window, banking deadlines, holding points, ADRs at 180 days, FP+ at 60, 30.... RunDisney is the same way. Where is our cruise planning drama? Which deadlines do I need to know for cruising? When do reservations open for Palo & Remy, for port excursions, etc? What are the hardest things to book, etc?
 
I'll give you what answers I can.

Cross posted from my pre-trip report... http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...ise-7-day-wc-7-22-17-fantasy-sailing.3515386/

6) Lunch. Are there sit down lunch places or is everything quick service style? I sure hope not, we sit down for almost all meals and everyone stays at the table till we're done. We'll live if it's a grab and go kind of thing but I am hoping there are more formal lunch options. Furthermore--if the kids are in the kids club--do they get lunch there? And on port days--I've heard about people getting uncrustables for lunching. I'm also thinking we might bring ziplocs which would allow us to bag BLTs as well to bring along--but probably people mostly buy lunch at their destination, correct?

7) Port days. Do we have to stay off the boat the whole time? Can we get on and off at will?

8) Shore excursions. It sounds like people have a lot of success with the non-Disney sanctioned port adventures, can take their kids at younger ages, and pay less in these circumstances. But I also understand that there are safety issues/timing issues.

9) MONEY. Not gonna lie, this booking hurt--the deposit alone was just a little more than what we budget for a 7 night WDW vacation in a one bedroom, even factoring in our maintenance fees. Between Tables In Wonderland, our Annual Pass, grocery orders and our DVC points, we usually manage to travel extremely quite inexpensively. We sucked it up and booked the expensive cruise (got a cool deluxe family oceanview stateroom with verandah, though, so that's cool) but between the shore excursions, beverages, upgraded meals (We HAVE to try Palo & Remy), upgraded experiences (I will NOT pay $550 for two girls to have tea with princesses, but I heard there is a weeklong spa pass for $200ish...). We aren't HUGE souvenir purchasers but if I meet a DCL Harvey's bag something could happen... So how much should we budget for 'spending money'?

#6) There is the buffet. There should also be a sit-down lunch option.

#7) You can come and go as you please.

#8) In the sense that Disney endorses the excursions they offer, and they'll hold the ship if you're not back in time from one of these excursions, there is a degree of safety. But plenty of people have experience with going independently. Check trip reports and or other web sites for reviews of particular excursions you're interested in.

#9) Sounds like you have a pretty good list going. The excursions, tips, Palo/Remy etc. will be added to your on-board account. There are snacks for sale in the main theater for the show. You can totally get by without buying them, though. (You can even bring a soft drink you got for free at the soft drink station instead of buying one at the theater.) And you might want some spending money money for in port.
 
#1
You can only use the wave phone on the ship or at Castaway Cay. I don't believe you can leave your kids in the club and leave the ship in port, other than at Castaway Cay.

#2
Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage.

Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle.

#3
You can bring on bottled water if you choose. We typically pack a 12 pack for a 7 night. They have Evian available for purchase, or just ice water out of the tap at the soft drink station. I suggest bringing your own larger cup like a tervis tumbler with a lid to use. Just use a plastic cup to fill from the drink dispenser and fill your own cup with it. Saves on trips and keeps colder longer.

#6
One MDR is open for lunch each day with a sit down. The buffet has tables as well, and the grab and go stations all have tables as well.

#9
all depends on you. if you want to spend, you can. Alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, Palo and Remy, photos from Shutters, shore excursions, etc. They add up quickly. You can pre-purchase photo packages at a discount.

#10
Platinum can book 120 days from sailing, gold members can start booking 105 days, silver 90 days, and general 75 days. You can also book the first day of sailing, though depending on the time of year, many things will already have been filled up. Dinners at the specialty dining sites, brunches, and the castaway cay cabanas and private cabana massages book up early.
 
You guys are amazing! Thank you!!! I may need to rethink that sailing excursion in Cozumel.... :) But it sounds like we won't dry out after all. 2 bottles of wine at embarkation and 2 more per port= 10 bottles total per person for a 7 night cruise seems like plenty--and it looks like the wine packages are somewhat reasonably priced. I think I will make us custom water bottles so we'll have refillable vessels for drinks.
 

The only thing I would add (because I might have missed it an answer) is that the water on board doesn't taste badly. The water is filtered (it has to be) and so the taste is really OK! It's not like the water in the parks. We take a Tervis, grab some ice, and drink straight tap water, sometimes we add flavor drops. It saves us lugging cases of water.

If you don't have a little luggage trolly you might want one if you hand carry a few bags/cases of water on embarkation day. We have a little foldable one (it weighs 2 lbs and carries up to 100). It makes life easier if you don't check it.

The FE is so much fun! There is a thread here that talks about FE's but now I can't find the link :confused3 we don't do a min/max. We make a few handmade gifts and then find something we think is cool from our home state to share, maybe add some candy, or stickers. Every cruise we do something different but it's fun and we don't stress too much. FE can really put the joy in giving. The dollar tree has great Disney stuff!

Enjoy your cruise! I'm excited for you! :mickeyjum
 
wqave phone not work off ship BUT pretty sure you can leave kids in kids club while you go ashore.
 
oh and you will probably get more replies posting on main board for DCL :) I rarely venture in here except when I am procrastinating at work LOL
 
This may be a little late but I noticed that #5 hadn't yet been addressed so...
5) Laundry facilities on the ship are very small and almost always crowded, you may have to check several areas to find an open washer. I would recommend packing so that you don't have to do laundry at all during your trip however that is sometimes impossible. If you have to do laundry, try going in the early morning, late evening, or during a dinner seating as these tend to be the least crowded times.
:laundy:

Hope this helps and enjoy your cruise!
 
This may be a little late but I noticed that #5 hadn't yet been addressed so...
5) Laundry facilities on the ship are very small and almost always crowded, you may have to check several areas to find an open washer. I would recommend packing so that you don't have to do laundry at all during your trip however that is sometimes impossible. If you have to do laundry, try going in the early morning, late evening, or during a dinner seating as these tend to be the least crowded times.
:laundy:

Hope this helps and enjoy your cruise!
I've had good luck going to my nearest laundry facility and finding two washers available on the day I decide to do laundry. I go to early dinner then do the laundry after when there is not a show or something else we wanted to do. But now that you know my secret, I might have to rethink this.
 
Congrats on booking your trip! We also just booked our first DCL cruise and will be taking our twins next summer on the June 2 "double dip" which stops twice at CC. I think we are going to add on 2 nights at BCV before our cruise, and then one night afterward at AKV. We disembark on DH's birthday and I feel bad making him fly home on his birthday. Dinner at Jiko sounds much better (or maybe one of the new restaurants at Disney Springs). I really hope our kids enjoy spending time in the kid's club. And I can't wait to start planning for Pirate Night!

You asked some good questions, so I'm going to follow your post...
 
#1 You can only use the wave phone on the ship or at Castaway Cay. I don't believe you can leave your kids in the club and leave the ship in port, other than at Castaway Cay.

The first part is true. The wave phones only work on ship and at Castaway Cay. But I don't think the second part is true, unless it's a relatively new policy that I am not aware of.

Editing the post to point to a thread that shows the second statement is incorrect.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/leaving-kids-in-club-while-you-get-off-ship-do-or-dont.3492507/
 
Congrats on booking your trip! We also just booked our first DCL cruise and will be taking our twins next summer on the June 2 "double dip" which stops twice at CC. I think we are going to add on 2 nights at BCV before our cruise, and then one night afterward at AKV. We disembark on DH's birthday and I feel bad making him fly home on his birthday. Dinner at Jiko sounds much better (or maybe one of the new restaurants at Disney Springs). I really hope our kids enjoy spending time in the kid's club. And I can't wait to start planning for Pirate Night!

You asked some good questions, so I'm going to follow your post...

first, yay twins, and second---good point about the birthday. I will have to figure out when when we should get down there and if we should stay near the port or at the World!
 
Congrats on booking your trip! We also just booked our first DCL cruise and will be taking our twins next summer on the June 2 "double dip" which stops twice at CC. I think we are going to add on 2 nights at BCV before our cruise, and then one night afterward at AKV. We disembark on DH's birthday and I feel bad making him fly home on his birthday. Dinner at Jiko sounds much better (or maybe one of the new restaurants at Disney Springs). I really hope our kids enjoy spending time in the kid's club. And I can't wait to start planning for Pirate Night!

We are going on that same cruise! Here is the thread for it: http://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-dream-june-2-2017-5-night-bahamas.3515522/
 


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