We'll still have fun, right? Long post from a first time cruiser

[Frieda]

Hi everyone. I'm new here so be gentle with me if I make any posting mistakes.

After years of promising our kids that we would go to Disney World, my husband and I have finally managed to make the trip possible. We will be doing the Land/Sea package with four days in Disney and then we will be going on the 3 night Wonder on November 13th. I am soooo excited. None of us have been to Disney World before and I can't wait. However, in looking at all the brochures for the shore excursions I don't think we will be able to afford any of them. I keep converting the money to Canadian (which we are) and we really can't do it. The kids are 13 and 10, so they will be paying adult prices for everything as well. An Atlantis Beach Day in Nassau will end up costing us about $10,000 Canadian. (Okay, I'm exaggerating there but you know what I mean) . On the ship, we will not be able to do the spas or any of that extra stuff. Heck, we even have an inside stateroom.

Now, I hope you don't think I'm complaining because I'm not. I am just thrilled to pieces to be going and I'm sure we are going to have a fantastic time. Just the thought of a Disney vacation gets me all giddy. I guess I just want reassurance that we will still have fun even without the extras.

Sorry this was so long and if you read it to the very end, thanks!

 

[allears]

You will most certainly have an EXCELLENT time. Many cruisers CHOOSE not to leave the ship for excursions, if that gives you any idea of the fun you can find on board. There is plenty to do and don't discount the joys of doing nothing at all! Especially after your fast paced adventures in WDW for 4 days! Just relax and look forward to a special time!

 

[xABearx]

I think you and your family will have a great time even without doing the extras that cost......they provide 1st run movies, top notch shows, and you'll be pampered and spoiled while on board, none of which will not cost you a dime....Andy

 

[ohiominnie]

I've been on the Wonder twice, once for a 4 day and most recently for a 3 day. I have yet to step off of the ship except at Castaway Cay and, sadly, at Port Canaveral.

We are planning a 7 day next May and we do plan to get off and see the Mayan ruins, but mostly b/c dd studied ancient Mayan civilizations in history and wants to see them when we go.

We have lots of fun on board while in port. Typically lots of people get off, so the pools aren't as full. And DCL continues programming throughout the day for the people who choose to stay onboard.

HTH

 

[jfeasel]

Heck yeah, you'll have fun. My family has done the 4 day and the 7 day cruise. Castaway Cay has a much nicer beach than Atlantis so don't worry about not being able to do anything. You can get off the boat and Nassau and just walk around or take a taxi to Atlantis just to see it. You don't have to do the shore excursions, you can get off and do whatever you want. You can come and go off the ship as you please so you can come back for lunch and then get back off. Also, there are free beaches in the area that you can take a taxi to.

After being in Nassau with our first cruise, I would tell you not even to get off the boat. You'll be bombarded by people who want to braid your hair and sell you t-shirts. After doing our 7 day in June, I really enjoyed our days at sea because we could really enjoy the ship. The pools won't be crowded either.

Go and enjoy!

 

[dairyou]

We've gone on the 4 day and 7 day cruise with a very tight budget.

The 4 day has plenty of things to do that is for free and you'll even wonder how you will fit everything in. Which is why, we booked the 7 day right after we got home. We never even got off the boat in Nassau.

You'll also need down time after trying to "conquer" everything at Disneyworld!

Naturally, we all want to sign up for the excursions, bingo, spa, ect.. but I think you'll see you're so happy to be there and there are so many things to do, it won't even matter!

Don't fret, look forward to your upcoming trip!
Deb

 

[hydster]

We have been to Disneyland many times but were new to the WDW scene last November. We also have cruised many times but not on Disney so we decided to combine both and go for it. We did just opposite of you and did 3 day land/ 4 day sea and by the time we hit the ship the last thing we wanted to do was go go go. We ended up doing just that and go go go but our kids were exhausted and so were we. I think you will find that you will have much more to do than you think. We visited Nassau, Freeport and Castaway Cay. Nassau was nice enough but like others have posted they do like to come after you for T-shirts and hair braiding which is how they make their living but you really arent missing anything. We didnt make it to Atlantis but dont feel we missed a whole lot by not going. Castaway Cay made up for all the beachy stuff we didnt do on this trip and we had a blast there even though it was pouring when we got there and overcast and cool. We are going on the 7 day in May and we dont plan on doing much off of the ship on port days. Maybe a little site seeing or a little shopping but no planned excursions (as of now anyway) and I think the kids will be happier without so much to do. They were always bummed because they didnt get enough time in the kids club and I think you will find that you will be exhausted by the time you hit that ship and be glad for time just to lay in the sun and do nothing!!

Just go enjoy what they offer and dont fret not being able to do excursions! Some of them arent as great as they seem anyway!!!

Heidi

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Frieda and welcome to the Dis boards.

Sorry this was so long and if you read it to the very end, thanks!

THAT was not a long post...

 

[Hygiene99]

our first cruise we did nothing that cost any extra money and still had a great time..... peter

 

[kaykels]

If you want to go to the beach in Nassau, take a cab ride to Cable Beach at the Marriot. It's free to enjoy a day at the beach!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Just wanted to say welcome! As a fellow Canadian I hear you about the cost. We are doing the 7 day cruise and do have an excursion booked but we won't be doing spa treatments or a lot of extras on the ship. Partly because of the cost and partly because we don't feel that we need to. Don't feel bad about the inside stateroom as that's what we have as well.

Please come over and visit on the Canadian board as well.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Frieda...you have nothing to worry about! There is SO much to do that doesn't cost a penny onboard! Take advantage of all of those things. Check out the sample 3-day Navigators at www.castawayclub.com to see samples of what your numerous options are. In fact, we never do excursions on the 3 or 4-day cruises. Even further, we've seen Nassau already, haven't been impressed and will not even get off the ship on Nassau day! To us it just isn't worth the time, energy or money. Enjoy the empty pools on Nassau day! As for spa treatments --- my husband and I didn't even try the Spa (or Palo for that matter) on our 7-day cruise a couple of years ago and we never felt like we were missing out on anything. That said, you will absolutely *love* Castaway Cay! It is so beautiful and *free* with your cruise cost! You don't have to pay for lunch or the use of the beaches as well as many many other things on CC such as the game room.

So don't worry! You definitely do not need excursions or expensive spa treatments to have a good time and you definitely will not feel like you're missing out on something.

HAVE FUN and don't stress! You'll be overwhelmed by all the ship has to offer at no extra cost to you!

 

[huckster]

You will have soo much fun you wont even have to get off the ship and after all the parks you will be glad to stay on the ship and re cup!! we did the 4 days of few weeks ago and we did atlantis walking tour and just walked around nasasa we will NOT leave the ship on our next cruise now to me thats is exciting!!

 

[Wendybird63]

Gosh, there's not much to add, except to say that I couldn't agree more with everyone. I felt bad that I had to book a Cat. 11 room until I read what nice things everyone had to say about them. My dh and I took a cruise quite a few years ago and did all our own shore excursions. They require some homework, but it's quite a bit cheaper and less crowded. We're going on the 11/22 Magic cruise with ds 9 and ds 7 and we're doing the same things; excursions on our own.
Hope this helps, and have a great time!

 

[jiminy579]

The other posters have done such a great job replying, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents. You will be so caught up in the great activities Disney has to offer, you really won't have time to worry about what you are missing out on. The ship is so amazing, and there is so much to do!!! You are going to have the time of your life!!!!

Here's to a great trip!!

 

[Frieda]

Wow! Thanks for the welcome and all the great responses everyone. I guess since I've been reading so much about all the great excursions and rooms that others have had, I was feeling a little unsure. I'm feeling better about it all now. Our plan is get off in Nassau and maybe do a little bit of touring on our own. Maybe we will take a cab to one of the other beaches. I know about the hair braiding hassle. In our pre children days, we visited a few other caribbean islands and I remember constantly being bugged about getting my braided. "Just say no. Just say no" was my mantra. Easier said than done.

Anyhow thanks again and did I mention I'm sooooooo excited?!!!!

 

[paulasillars]

We just got back from the Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Magic and like you find everything really expensive in US dollars as we are from New Zealand.

We did do shore excursions but figured that we would probably never go to St Maarten or St Thomas ever again so did the island tours rather than the beachy things. The St Maarten tour was the better of the two but St Thomas had more interesting things to do ashore at no cost - check out the old fort in the middle of the shopping district.

Visit your nearest WalMart/Kmart and get a mask and snorkle as these are expensive to hire and will only cost a few dollars buying them from home or even once you get to Orlando.

We didn't do any additional activities on the ship either - no spas for us but found plenty to do and in most cases found multiple events happening at the same time and had to make some decisions about priorities.

Get your children banned from using the machines in the arcade, we spoke to one woman who's 9 year old had clocked up $US180 in one day.

You'll have a fantastic trip even on a budget. We also had booked an inside stateroom but were lucky and got upgraded so just go along with the magic and enjoy yourselves.

Paula

 

[Frieda]

Hi Paula. Thank you for all your advice. We do have a snorkel and mask set somewhere around here. Maybe I'll buy another set and toss them in our suitcase. Unfortunately we are only going on the three night Wonder so there won't be any trips to St. Thomas or St. Maarten but hopefully one of these days.

I'm going to have to keep a close eye on my son when it comes to the arcade. He would probably spend all his time (and our money) there if he could.

I'd love but am not expecting an upgrade. I'm sure we'll enjoy the magic no matter what.

 

[Scratch42]

Frieda, from one Canuck to another............

You can have mega tons of fun without having to do the extras! And as far as an inside cabin, the only thing you'll be using it for is to sleep and change!

Also, bring air freshener for the bathroom! And if it does happen to have an odour, pour some water down the drain which is usually found underneath the Toilet Bowl Brush!

And remember to get the dramamine just in case!

And catch the shows 'cause they are fabulous!

Enjoy your trip! Check out who else is going the same time and you could meet up with other members of the DIS!

Don't stress it, enjoy it!

Scratch

 

[christinou]

I would actually encourage anyone on the 3 day to NOT do any excursion, just enjoy the ship that day....
That is what we did, and it was great.
We are going on the 7 day next, and my husband will go diving, but I am not planning any paying excursions for the kids, or myself, there is so much to do on the ship, and it is also nice to just relax.
You will have a great time...