TOTALLY ignorant to cruising.......

[mom2smjn]

Please ignore the fact that these are probably dumb questions but I have always wanted to cruise and have yet to even SEE a ship so bear with me ok?

1)What does the cost include? Food? Entertainment?Activities? What is NOT included?
2) How can a family of 6 cruise when the cabins are so small?
3)Is there enough to do? I fear boredom being on board a ship(no rides, ect)
4)Is there anyway that this type of trip can be affordable for a large family?
5)Is there a difference between the 2 ships(or the 2 trips?)

Thanks so much!

 

[BeanoC]

1) Food and most entertainment are included. Alcoholic drinks, pictures, souveniers are extra, as are shore excursions, such as snorkeling trips.

2) Disney cabins are designed with families in mind, are are bigger than most cruise lines. You can get connecting rooms in the lower categories, or a category 3 or higher suite for a large family.

3) Boredom? HA! There are always 100 things going on on the Disney ships! Movies, club activities, pools, etc. PLENTY to do all the time!

4) Affordability is a relative term. With 6 people, obviously the cost is higher than for a family of 4. But it can be done! 2 cabins in the lower categories would probably be the best value.

5) The 2 ships are nearly identical. The layout of the ships are exactly the same. The Wonder has Triton's restaurant, on the Magic it's called Lumiere's. The statue outside of that restaurant, on the Magic it's Mickey, on the Wonder it's Ariel. On the back of the Magic, Goofy is hanging by his pants, 'painting' the ship. On the Wonder it's Huey, Duey and Luey. Other than that, the 2 are identical.

Anything else??


'Beano'

 

[Lisa F]

Let me just say that I was worried about being bored on the boat. I am not a "sit around in the sun" kind of a vacationer! But there was plenty to do and the cruise was over too quickly!

As far as an affordable option, I think connecting category 10's are going to be your best bet. Request the cat 10's on deck 5 as these have obstructed portholes and are priced as inside rooms rather than outside, so you get the bonus of a "free" window.

Lisa

 

[ruvidu]

You mention two trips. There are actually 4 choices
3 day - Nassau, Castaway Cay
4 day - Nassau, Castaway Cay, a day at sea or Freeport
7 day Western - Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Castaway Cay
7 day Eastern St. Thomas, St. Marteen, Castaway Cay.

Castaway Cay is Disney's private island South of Nassau. It is beautiful and one our favorite stops.

You can book your cruise on line http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/disneycruiseline/index?id=DCLRoot. You can pay $200 per person down and save to pay the rest about 60 days before you sail.

Hope you can make it.

 

[RickW]

I would suggest the following:

1) Download the Magical Disney Cruise Guide:
http://wdwig.com/cruise.htm

2) Visit Dave's & Barb's sites:
http://dcltribute.com/
http://www.castawayclub.com

3) Keep asking questions here. After a little while, you will know enough about the cruise to answer the questions of other people even if you haven't taken the cruise yet.

 

[Hans Solo]

Also check out these web sites. They have a lot of great information, copies of the Personal Navigator, menus, and pictures.

www.dcltribte.com

www.castawayclub.com

You will probably find youself wishing you had more time to do everything!

 

[wovenwonder]

The deposit for the 7 day has increased to $250 per person but the 3 and 4 day deposits are still $200 per person. This deposit can be fully refunded up until the final payment is due at the 60 day mark.

The most economical way to go is to book two connecting rooms (as others have said). The first two people in each room go at the full price fare (no child rate) and each additional person in each room would be at the 3rd and 4th passenger (or child) rate. Your only other option would be to book a suite -- and these are VERY pricey. I have pictures of the secret porthole connecting rooms on my website (linked below.). There are 2 sets of these connecting rooms on the ship with slightly obstructed porthole views. They are priced as category#10 inside staterooms with a free view.

There is a HUGE difference in pricing according season/holidays, etc. DCL provides the biggest discount by booking early.

 

[tecdavidt]

We are a family of 6. Yes it is more expensive but worth every penny. If you book two connecting inside rooms the cost isn't so shocking. The plus of two rooms is the extra bathroom. We always booked two cat. 6 rooms with verandahs. Our three teen boys had a room and we shared our room with our daughter. My husband would shower in the boy's room while I cleaned up in our room.

Boredom, We gave our 4 children a choice when the 7 day cruise came out in 2000. Do a repeat of our 3 day land/ 4 day cruise or do a 7 day cruise. All 4 voted on the 7 day cruise. Back then their ages would of been 19, 16, 16 & 8. So the ship was more fun than the parks in their mind.

Also you can bring your own beverages on board and that can help reduce your cost. We brought our own on board for convience when we put our daughter to bed, no running to a bar for cocktails. Our children are not big pop(soda) drinkers but if they are you can purchase a pop card for them during the entire cruise.

It is a vacation your family will always remember. We are a blended family and our DCL cruises rank as our best family vacations. Our young sons, now ages 18, were sad last March because they knew it was their last Disney cruise for a while. Next March we will be cruising only with our daughter who will be 10 almost 11. Happy Cruising, Kathy

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

We've found that with a bit of careful comparison, selection of dates, etc. the cost is comparable to a WDW or similar vacation. Our next round we evaluated several alternatives and with the inclusion of food and onboard entertainment it was pretty comparable to any land based vacation that includes hotels, any food above fast food level and minimal activities.

Yes, there are extras. When we were discussing a trip for next year the kids were quite clear on their preference!

 

[RellingTwin]

WDW vs Cruise prices. I think the two are very close price wise. I love that on the ship I am NOT reaching into my pocket every 5 min. for ice cream money, breakfast, lunch, dinner, tips ect. It is very easy for me to skick with our budget because I know almost all the costs ahead of time. Cruise+transportation+excurtions+tips= "fixed cost" then I allow for some "fun money" for shopping ect.
We have been to WDW many times and my kids love it, but when given the choice, they pick the cruise! BTW they were 5 and 6y/o on the fisrt trip, 8 and 9 last year, and will be 9 and 10 this year!

 

[zurgswife]

As a family of 6 I found that booking our first trip early...1 year mark, getting 2 connecting cat 10 rooms....It is almost bearable....

We are DVCers with AP's so the cost out of pocket is less when we actually go to WDW...

But I figured how much to save a week to pay for the trip by the time we left and remembered to include tips, and incentals...and it won't be too bad.....

I think I've read that other families have gone to the lower catagories and fit just fine it's just that the rooms don't connect lower then cat 10

 

[Mom of 4 Princesses]

I can share some idea of cost. We are a family of 6, kids age 13, 10, 6 and 4 when we cruise. We booked the 7 day eastern cruise sailing 11/29/03 (Saturday after Thanksgiving). Our cost for two category 10 connecting staterooms is 4433.10-cruise only-no air, insurance, ground transportation. We were able to reserve the "secret porthole rooms", which is a nice plus.

I will tell you that Thanksgiving week was THOUSANDS of dollars more. Luckily, the kids are good students and I am comfortable taking them out for a week. But as the oldest goes into middle/high school I probably will not do it, so we decided to go for it next year.

I think it seems so expensive because you pay all at once. I would have to say we spent close to that amount in WDW last December.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

The decision to pull kids out of school vs. the cost savings is probably one of the more difficult to make in deciding when to go.

We did pull the kids for our second cruise (10 & 12; 4th & 6th grade) but for our next DD will be 7th - 8th and DS 9th - 10th. Pulling at the end of the school year didn't seem right as those final exams are so critical and fall is not possible as DS is a football player. So we're taking our chances on a summer cruise keeping our fingers crossed that King Neptune will smile kindly and not send any hurricanes our way.

You're right that booking during those peak school break weeks are incredibly more expensive!

 

[DiznyMagic]

We returned a few weeks ago from our first cruise and one thing I can definitely answer is: You will never be bored - actually you may be overwhelmed with everything there is to do. My DS 14y.o actually told me that he would give up the Universal portion of the vacation (rides and all) if he could go back on the ship!

As for the affordability - DCL is more expensive than other cruise lines but I think if you shop around, pick the right time of year to go and cut some corners like bring your own beverages, don't get all the pictures they take onboard etc. its manageable. Good Luck

OHHH and most important keep reading these boards!!!! The veteran cruisers have great ways to help you figure out how to get deals and cut cost.

 

[rae519]

Vote is for cruise over WDW from all of us, including Michael who was 5 years old on the first cruise (3 night) and 6 on the second one (7 night).

So much to do and he'd rather stay on the boat than visit the islands - children's club, pool, activities on board, etc.

I also heard that the Disney cruise line has the largest rooms of all the cruise ships (by 25%). We were very comfortable and loved the open verandah - made the room seem even larger!

Happy sailing!
Rae

 

[SC Minnie]

To save money shop around and book early! The rates are cheaper and it gives you longer to save for the final payment. Watch your DCL video and check these boards often to keep your family motivated on the $ saving! You have to remember that all meals are included, all entertainment is included. If you set a budget and stick to it you can keep you on board cost to a minimum.

You will not be bored. Before we sailed I was one of those that said 'I don't want to be stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean with nothing to do'. Well, we DIDN'T get to do everything! We are sailing again in Oct and are planning another cruise for 2004. A cruise is the type of vacation that you can do as little or as much as you want to do- it is totally up to you. The kids programs have enough variety that ypur children should find something they enjoy.

 

[mom2smjn]

Originally posted by tecdavidt


Also you can bring your own beverages on board and that can help reduce your cost. We brought our own on board for convience when we put our daughter to bed, no running to a bar for cocktails. Our children are not big pop(soda) drinkers but if they are you can purchase a pop card for them during the entire cruise.

Does this mean that your beerages are NOT included? Or that certain types/times(meal) you can get beverages?

 

[rae519]

Generally you can order anything (except alcohol) at your meal times. Alcohol is always a charge item, except at certain functions (Captain's Gala, Castaway Club Party and DVC party) then you can get a free drink or 2 (usually a fruity Bahama Mama).

Disney has two different wine packages available.

Water, ice, several different kinds of tea, hot chocolate and coffee are available 24/7 at the coffee bar (upper deck) for free.

Soda was either individually paid for or on our other cruises paid for one time (souvenier refill cup). It was $35.00 for a cup for the 7 day cruise.

I have heard of people refilling their own bottled water at the convenience station (coffee bar) and making ice tea, lemonade (with the premade packages you can buy at home).

Through room service, I get a few extra milks for later. Room service is free, tip is suggested. General room service is NOT what is offered at the dining room, but you can get salad, pizza, sandwiches, cookies, breakfast AND my favorite "Cheese around the world"!

Rae

 

[DaphneH]

tecDavidt,

You mentioned about taking beverages on board the Disney cruises in order to save money. My husband and I thought that all non-alcoholic drinks were included in the price of the cruise. I went on a cruise on another ship, not Disney, and all non-alcoholic drinks were included and they were available 24/7. My husband and I are BIG on saving money where we can and are planning on taking our first Disney cruise in the near future. Thanks,
Daphne

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Which cruise line was that, Daphne? It seems that it's the exception rather than the rule.