Total newbie to post-covid cruises

[Jhondy]

I cruised before covid (although I have not been on DCL cruise for like 15 years) and before my daughter came along. I’m currently considering the idea of doing a 4 night cruise on the Wish in October/November 2022 but I have some questions:

1. I know we have to test so many days before the cruise and then before boarding…is there any other times we have to take covid tests (note my daughter is 3 so she is not vaccinated)

2. since my daughter is not vaccinated, I know that means we can only get off the ship at ports during a bubble excursion but we can get off without an excursion on castaway cay, right? Is there anything else my daughter will not be allowed to do because she isn’t vaccinated?

3. do both my daughter and I need passports for a cruise that leaves from Fl. Goes to naussa, castaway cay, and back to Fl.?

4. I know the kids club our for 3 and up that are fully potty trained. I’m unsure if my daughter will be potty trained by then or not. We are working on it but doing it at her pace. However, even if she is potty trained and able to go into the kids club, I prefer her to spend the majority time with me since it’s a vacation for us to be together, is there enough on the ship to keep a 3 yr. old entertained without the kids club? I’m assuming the answer is yes.

5. What is DCL’s cancellation policy in the even something in our life changes and we can’t go on the vacation. I know with WDW the cancellation is very generous where they let you cancel pretty close to your trip without losing any money you paid or even move the trip to a new date without losing the money you paid, is DCL as generous with their cancellation policy?

I’m sure I have a lot more questions about cruising post-covid times but those are my main ones for now.

thanks for the help!

 

[lanejudy]

1. Current policy: unvaccinated passengers must take a PCR test 24 hours to 3 days prior to embarkation; all passengers are tested at embarkation at the port.

2. everybody is allowed off the ship at Castaway Cay, no excursion required.

3. US citizens on a closed loop cruise (leaving and returning to the same US port) do not need a passport, they may use a birth certificate and drivers' license; however, passports are highly recommended.

4. there is family entertainment for all ages, no requirement to use the kids' clubs

5. currently there is a very lenient cancellation policy, however I don't believe it's been extended to the late fall cruises yet. At the moment, an October/November 2022 cruise cancellation without penalty would be allowed prior to the PIF date (90 or 120 days out), then cancellation penalty begins with deposit and increasing as from there depending how close you are to the sail date.

 

[Kwami]

1. You daughter will have to test within 3 days of sailing and everyone will test at the port. There are no other tests for a 4-night cruise. This policy might change by the fall.

2. You don't need an excursion on Castaway Cay. Nothing on the ship is restricted based on vaccines. You only have to worry about that when you leave the ship. This policy might change by the fall.

3. Nobody *needs* a passport, but it's the easiest and safest way way to provide ID. If you're stuck in a foreign port because of an accident or illness, then you'll have a much easier and cheaper time getting home with a passport. DCL's website does list alternative forms of ID, though. For adults, it's usually a birth certificate and driver's license. I'm not sure how it works for kids.

4. Probably. There are movies, characters, pools, crafts, and lots of other small things to keep kids happy. We don't yet know exactly what will be on the Wish, though.

5. Generally, you can cancel up to 90 days before sailing for a full refund. After than, you start taking penalties. The full penalty schedule is available on DCL's website. Currently, you can cancel with 14 days of sailing if you're been exposed to someone with Covid-19, if you test positive for Covid-19, or if you have symptoms of Covid-19. This policy might change by the fall.

 

[DCnew21]

We did our first cruise (4 night on the Wonder out of SD to Cabo in October) right after my daughter turned 3.

We didn’t have a passport for her and just used her birth certificate. It was a little stressful when at check in CM asked for her photo ID but thankfully we were still cleared.

Side note my passport was still in my maiden name so we had to change the reservation to match my passport.Oops.

She was more than occupied on the cruise. We did bring several of her favorite activities to have in the room just in case (coloring, playdoh, dollies, games, iPad etc)

She loved the shows - Frozen and the other one (can’t recall the name montage of Disney classics). Also the deck parties if they have them. It was worth letting her stay up way past normal bedtime.

We got a comp upgrade to concierge so we did have the luxury of going to the lounge and getting drinks and treats which she loved!

She sort of was potty trained but we never did a kids club as we just wanted to be together and we had hardly left her with “strangers” up to that point. I do wish we would have taken advantage of the Open House times whewe could have gone together.

Overall hope you can enjoy, relax, and have fun.

 

[Kwami]

We got a comp upgrade to concierge

But how???

 

[DCnew21]

A miracle! Still don’t know. We booked within 30 days of sailing and it was our first cruise in the Family Veranda Room. We bought a lot of extras (wine package for dinner, beer and water for the room, a birthday cake for our daughter, a shore excursion and the unlimited photo package) and I think the numbers were so low they figured they might “hook” us. It was definitely a spurge trip for us after pandemic lock down and I doubt we could ever afford to do it again especially at that level. Blessing and a curse!

 

[Annabell]

Do you get a refund if you (or any of your family member) get tested positive at the port ?

 

[Kwami]

Do you get a refund if you (or any of your family member) get tested positive at the port ?

You can choose a full refund or a future cruise credit for the same amount.

 

[Freeman867]

A miracle! Still don’t know. We booked within 30 days of sailing and it was our first cruise in the Family Veranda Room. We bought a lot of extras (wine package for dinner, beer and water for the room, a birthday cake for our daughter, a shore excursion and the unlimited photo package) and I think the numbers were so low they figured they might “hook” us. It was definitely a spurge trip for us after pandemic lock down and I doubt we could ever afford to do it again especially at that level. Blessing and a curse!

How'd that go down? Were you checking in and they just like "Hey, we upgraded you to Concierge!"? I'm assuming you have some level of status with DCL and that had an impact on their decision?

 

[Annabell]

Good to know ! Thanks

 

[DCnew21]

How'd that go down? Were you checking in and they just like "Hey, we upgraded you to Concierge!"? I'm assuming you have some level of status with DCL and that had an impact on their decision?

Actually we got a phone call about 3 days before sailing saying call back within 24 hours if we were interested in a complementary upgrade. My husband almost deleted the voicemail because he thought it was a joke and too good to be true. Thankfully he let me listen to it and we called and they said if we wanted they would switched us from stateroom 8054 (category 04A) to stateroom 8044 (category 00V). We were in shock but said of course!!

We have no Disney status and it was our first cruise. It definitely was some pixie dust magic!

 

[Jhondy]

Thanks for all the replies. I contacted dreams unlimited to get a quote from them as I’m thinking of using a travel agent to plan this cruise since I feel so lost with all the covid stuff