Transportation from Pre-cruise hotel at other ports? And Misc Covid questions.

[MarriedAtDisney]

Hi everyone. quick question or two. Looking at a cruise in February out of New Orleans. They have two hotels listed as pre-cruise hotels. Do they offer/provide transportation from these hotels? I'm guessing it's an incremental cost? I wasn't sure if they were doing these with COVID still running around.

Has anyone seen when they think they'll be sailing at normal 'capacity'? February cruises tend to run a little less packed anyway, I'm wondering how many will be on the boats this Feburary.

Also was wondering how the GTY etc. "guaranteed" rooms are working out with the boat at less than full capacity. I'm guessing they're able to provide 'good' rooms when they finally do assign them more than normal?

Lastly, we'll be traveling as a couple without our kids. Are they seating couples with other couples or is a two person 'family' still sat by themselves for dinner?

Thanks!

 

[lanejudy]

I haven't sailed from New Orleans, but I believe DCL offers transfers in every embarkation port. Here's the page about ground transportation in New Orleans.

Someone recently posted they'd been told 75% by February? But I honestly don't know how accurate that is, because the same report indicated current capacity was only 25% and there have already been at least a couple of cruises with closer to 50%.

DCL is shifting a lot of people's staterooms, even those who booked a specific room. I believe they are clearing lower decks to be used 1) by CMs for social distancing and 2) for quarantine rooms for guests needing to quarantine. There is also an assumption that DCL is trying to leave rooms empty between cruises, but I don't know if that is true or not.

Parties have been seated individually in the MDRs unless you are specifically traveling with another party.

 

[Kwami]

Hi everyone. quick question or two. Looking at a cruise in February out of New Orleans. They have two hotels listed as pre-cruise hotels. Do they offer/provide transportation from these hotels? I'm guessing it's an incremental cost? I wasn't sure if they were doing these with COVID still running around.

I was just talking to my travel agent the other day about a cruise from Miami and I had the same questions. He said that they're still offering transportation to and from partner hotels at an additional cost. He also said that you can use that service only if you book the hotel through DCL or through a travel agent. If you book directly from the website, then you can't use Disney's transportation.

That's for Miami, so NO might be different.

 

[jcota]

Honestly, there are hotels right across the street from the port and convention center. Dependinot on how many bags you have, it may be easier to walk across the street, up the ramp and you are there

 

[mousefan73]

Honestly, there are hotels right across the street from the port and convention center. Dependinot on how many bags you have, it may be easier to walk across the street, up the ramp and you are there

You’re referring to Miami correct? We just booked last minute for the sailing on the sixth. I’m looking at hotels today or any across the street within walking distance? When I look at Google maps it looks like the port is really only accessible by car or road. Any suggestions near the port?

 

[hrhdhd]

You’re referring to Miami correct? We just booked last minute for the sailing on the sixth. I’m looking at hotels today or any across the street within walking distance? When I look at Google maps it looks like the port is really only accessible by car or road. Any suggestions near the port?

No, this refers to NO. Miami is accessible by car only. (Well, you could walk, but it'd be a long one.)

 

[Cheburashka]

Also was wondering how the GTY etc. "guaranteed" rooms are working out with the boat at less than full capacity. I'm guessing they're able to provide 'good' rooms when they finally do assign them more than normal?

The rooms would only be better than usual if your category is inside or oceanview, because decks 1 and 2 are not being occupied by regular passengers at this time, so inside & oceanview guarantee passengers will at least get a stateroom on deck 5 or above. (There are no verandahs on decks 1 or 2, so this doesn't effect verandah guarantees.)

Aside from that, the staterooms chosen are no better or worse than before. I sailed OGT last month and was originally assigned a handicapped stateroom (no bathtub & a shower with no lip that will get the entire bathroom floor wet every time you shower, plus a weird room configuration). I don't consider that assignment to be "good" unless you actually need that as an accommodation.

The savings can be worth it, though.

 

[esmeralda2030]

Parties have been seated individually in the MDRs unless you are specifically traveling with another party.

*Introverted celebration*
For some reason I was very nervous about being seated with strangers. I think it's more of the expectation that you have to talk to them, since Disney places you together with people who have a similar travel party. I'd rather just be with my own people, if I'm feeling frisky I'll talk to someone in line for the slides or something lol

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

The rooms would only be better than usual if your category is inside or oceanview, because decks 1 and 2 are not being occupied by regular passengers at this time, so inside & oceanview guarantee passengers will at least get a stateroom on deck 5 or above. (There are no verandahs on decks 1 or 2, so this doesn't effect verandah guarantees.)

Aside from that, the staterooms chosen are no better or worse than before. I sailed OGT last month and was originally assigned a handicapped stateroom (no bathtub & a shower with no lip that will get the entire bathroom floor wet every time you shower, plus a weird room configuration). I don't consider that assignment to be "good" unless you actually need that as an accommodation.

The savings can be worth it, though.

I guess i was wondering if the "Private Verandah (View May Be Obstructed)" will end up with us in an obstructed view room or not. No big deal either way honestly. We're "gold" almost to Platinum and it's just the two of us... our high school and college kids sitting this one out

 

[esmeralda2030]

I guess i was wondering if the "Private Verandah (View May Be Obstructed)" will end up with us in an obstructed view room or not. No big deal either way honestly. We're "gold" almost to Platinum and it's just the two of us... our high school and college kids sitting this one out

I just did the guaranteed verandah - same thing, it said view may be obstructed - but from the room assignment, it looks like my view isn't obstructed! It's just closer to the aft than most people would choose I think.

 

[Cheburashka]

I guess i was wondering if the "Private Verandah (View May Be Obstructed)" will end up with us in an obstructed view room or not. No big deal either way honestly. We're "gold" almost to Platinum and it's just the two of us... our high school and college kids sitting this one out

Luck of the draw. You're unlikely to get a family verandah (the bigger stateroom with rainfall shower) since you're only 2 people, but you're still more likely to have an unobstructed view than not, simply because there are a lot more unobstructed staterooms than obstructed ones. We sailed VGT a few years ago, and had a very nice, unobstructed room. But it is just luck of the draw. They'll place you where it works for them to place you.