Wonder 1/14/2013 Bahamian - 5 WONDERful Nights

[lonestardawn]

Hi everyone! I'm Jennifer and this will be the first Disney cruise for my family. I hope there will be many more to come in the future too. My daughters will be 3 years old and 15 months. I'm looking forward meeting all of you and to learning more about the Disney experience from those of you who have been before.

 

[crystaljustice]

Hi everyone! I'm Jennifer and this will be the first Disney cruise for my family. I hope there will be many more to come in the future too. My daughters will be 3 years old and 15 months. I'm looking forward meeting all of you and to learning more about the Disney experience from those of you who have been before.

Hi Jennifer!!! My son is 4 and my daughter is almost 2 so she will be at the nursery a few times during the trip. :-D This is our first cruise too, so we are really excited. We made reservations for Palo on the first sea day for dinner, but I heard the brunch is really good too, so we might do it towards the end of the trip. How about you? Have you booked activities? I don't know if in order to get off the ship we have to pay. Maybe someone can clue us in on that. :-D

 

[kaj1436]

Welcome to the thread. I'm sure you will love cruising Disney. This is our second Disney cruise...we fell in love after the first one.

 

[lonestardawn]

Hi Jennifer!!! My son is 4 and my daughter is almost 2 so she will be at the nursery a few times during the trip. :-D This is our first cruise too, so we are really excited. We made reservations for Palo on the first sea day for dinner, but I heard the brunch is really good too, so we might do it towards the end of the trip. How about you? Have you booked activities? I don't know if in order to get off the ship we have to pay. Maybe someone can clue us in on that. :-D

We have booked a couple of times for our younger daughter in the nursery. I am hoping that my older daughter will be willing to stay in the kids club while my husband and I do some of the adult activities. I am not sure if she will like the kids club or not. She is very petite for her age and doesn't like to be pushed around by older kids. She is in daycare full time so she is pretty good at holding her own, but if larger kids push her out of the way or don't let her have a turn she gets very upset. Hopefully she will love it and want to spend lots of time there

In Grand Cayman we are going to the turtle farm and in Cozumel we are doing the beach break. Is anyone else planning on those excursions? On previous cruises with just my husband and I we booked independent tours or explored on our own. I am a big stickler for having the kids in carseats, even in taxis/airplanes/foreign countries. For now I decided to spend the extra money to book through Disney because it is my understanding that Disney uses the large tour buses. I am still researching to figure out if there are any private options that use the large buses. I don't really want to spend extra time to find taxis with seat belts and install seats. I would rather just spend the extra money to go on the Disney excursion.

On the first sea day I am going to the spa. Hopefully my older daughter will go to the kids club so my husband can have some relaxing time alone too. On the second sea day we are having the Palo brunch. I saw a lot of people booked brunch for the first sea day. Is anyone else going the second day? I am hoping my daughter will be comfortable enough with the kids club by then that we can enjoy the whole brunch uninterrupted.

 

[lonestardawn]

Welcome to the thread. I'm sure you will love cruising Disney. This is our second Disney cruise...we fell in love after the first one.

Thanks for the welcome! I am hoping we fall in love with cruising Disney too. Enjoy your second time!

 

[crystaljustice]

We have booked a couple of times for our younger daughter in the nursery. I am hoping that my older daughter will be willing to stay in the kids club while my husband and I do some of the adult activities. I am not sure if she will like the kids club or not. She is very petite for her age and doesn't like to be pushed around by older kids. She is in daycare full time so she is pretty good at holding her own, but if larger kids push her out of the way or don't let her have a turn she gets very upset. Hopefully she will love it and want to spend lots of time there

In Grand Cayman we are going to the turtle farm and in Cozumel we are doing the beach break. Is anyone else planning on those excursions? On previous cruises with just my husband and I we booked independent tours or explored on our own. I am a big stickler for having the kids in carseats, even in taxis/airplanes/foreign countries. For now I decided to spend the extra money to book through Disney because it is my understanding that Disney uses the large tour buses. I am still researching to figure out if there are any private options that use the large buses. I don't really want to spend extra time to find taxis with seat belts and install seats. I would rather just spend the extra money to go on the Disney excursion.

On the first sea day I am going to the spa. Hopefully my older daughter will go to the kids club so my husband can have some relaxing time alone too. On the second sea day we are having the Palo brunch. I saw a lot of people booked brunch for the first sea day. Is anyone else going the second day? I am hoping my daughter will be comfortable enough with the kids club by then that we can enjoy the whole brunch uninterrupted.

I was thinking of doing the turtle farm too! I hope she does like the kids club so you all can enjoy too. I get nervous too having the kids separate from us, but I'm glad they have those "phones" for us parents. I can honestly say that if I can just sleep for an hour uninterrupted I will be a happy camper lol! I think we are doing Palo brunch on that day too.

 

[3Gillisgirls]

We are new to the Disney cruise - but heard alot about fish extenders - anyone know if there is one on this cruise out of Miami on January 14 and whether there is a formal night on the 5 day cruise????? Any advice would be greatly appreciated for these newbies!

 

[crystaljustice]

We are new to the Disney cruise - but heard alot about fish extenders - anyone know if there is one on this cruise out of Miami on January 14 and whether there is a formal night on the 5 day cruise????? Any advice would be greatly appreciated for these newbies!

Hi 3Gillisgirls! Welcome!!! So far it has not been organized yet, for the fish extenders. This thread has been slow to move. I have not heard of the formal night on the five day, but I could be wrong. Have you booked your activities yet?

 

[livia317]

I was thinking of doing the turtle farm too! I hope she does like the kids club so you all can enjoy too. I get nervous too having the kids separate from us, but I'm glad they have those "phones" for us parents. I can honestly say that if I can just sleep for an hour uninterrupted I will be a happy camper lol! I think we are doing Palo brunch on that day too.

I have heard the best of things about the turtle farm. We have three little kids with us so I thought it might be a good option but most of the reviews I read said it was just ok. This is our first cruise too though so I don't have any personal options to contribute :/

 

[livia317]

I was thinking of doing the turtle farm too! I hope she does like the kids club so you all can enjoy too. I get nervous too having the kids separate from us, but I'm glad they have those "phones" for us parents. I can honestly say that if I can just sleep for an hour uninterrupted I will be a happy camper lol! I think we are doing Palo brunch on that day too.

**correction** - haven't heard

 

[crystaljustice]

I have heard the best of things about the turtle farm. We have three little kids with us so I thought it might be a good option but most of the reviews I read said it was just ok. This is our first cruise too though so I don't have any personal options to contribute :/

We are debating it. it seems to be quite expensive to just go to the beach. $200 plus for us.

 

[penel3]

Hi 3Gillisgirls! Welcome!!! So far it has not been organized yet, for the fish extenders. This thread has been slow to move. I have not heard of the formal night on the five day, but I could be wrong. Have you booked your activities yet?

Hi all, we REALLY, REALLY want to do the FE.....I have never done one BUT, I am willing to give a go at organizing it for us all (scared)! So let me do some research on it and I will post and request info from all regarding what, how and when.....

 

[kaj1436]

My kids are so unpredictable so we have not pre planned any excursions...sometimes they just prefer to stay on the ship...I thought we would just play it by ear this time around. I am interested in going to the turtle farm and have read that it is fairly easy to do it on your own. So that is probably what we will do if we do get off the ship. We have been to both of these ports so many times that we are running out of ideas on what to do. Another reason why we may just stay on the ship any enjoy it while it is empty. We always enjoy going to the beach in Cozumel. Another thing that is very easy to do on your own...cabs are always available. Was thinking of doing chankanaab park this time around....hmmm...decisions, decisions...

 

[crystaljustice]

My kids are so unpredictable so we have not pre planned any excursions...sometimes they just prefer to stay on the ship...I thought we would just play it by ear this time around. I am interested in going to the turtle farm and have read that it is fairly easy to do it on your own. So that is probably what we will do if we do get off the ship. We have been to both of these ports so many times that we are running out of ideas on what to do. Another reason why we may just stay on the ship any enjoy it while it is empty. We always enjoy going to the beach in Cozumel. Another thing that is very easy to do on your own...cabs are always available. Was thinking of doing chankanaab park this time around....hmmm...decisions, decisions...

So in order to go to a beach we don't have to pay? As a newbie, and a south Florida resident, paying $200 is a hefty bill for a few hours on the sand. Lol! So we can get off at the port and go exploring? I'm assuming paying Disney is for them to do all the planning? I have never been to either port so I was curious on exploring it a bit.

 

[crystaljustice]

Hi all, we REALLY, REALLY want to do the FE.....I have never done one BUT, I am willing to give a go at organizing it for us all (scared)! So let me do some research on it and I will post and request info from all regarding what, how and when.....

I do too!!! You can organize it if you like! I just think this is a great way to meet people. :-D

 

[kaj1436]

So in order to go to a beach we don't have to pay? As a newbie, and a south Florida resident, paying $200 is a hefty bill for a few hours on the sand. Lol! So we can get off at the port and go exploring? I'm assuming paying Disney is for them to do all the planning? I have never been to either port so I was curious on exploring it a bit.

Both ports are very easy to get around...the ship docks at a very central location and there are cabs/tour companies readily available as soon as you get off the ship...of course there will be plenty of shopping right there as well. Both ports I gave found to be safe in terms of doing stuff on your own.
In Cozumel there are a couple of beaches that you can cab to...we like paradise beach...I think there is a minimal charge for a beach chair and I think you need to make a minimum purchase at he restaurant..$10 maybe? It is not much and he food is decent. There are clean change rooms and even a pool if you don't like the beach...check out their website. They have a lot of large floating toys in the water you can purchase a play all day pass but we have never used them since our kids are small.
In cayman there is 7 mile beach which is great and public..no fees unless you rent a beach chair. There are vendors all along there as well if you want anything to eat or drink. Royal Palms and SeaGrape are two beach clubs on the beach that you could ask the driver to take you. Cab or bus...it is very easy to get to.
Hope this helps...

 

[crystaljustice]

Both ports are very easy to get around...the ship docks at a very central location and there are cabs/tour companies readily available as soon as you get off the ship...of course there will be plenty of shopping right there as well. Both ports I gave found to be safe in terms of doing stuff on your own.
In Cozumel there are a couple of beaches that you can cab to...we like paradise beach...I think there is a minimal charge for a beach chair and I think you need to make a minimum purchase at he restaurant..$10 maybe? It is not much and he food is decent. There are clean change rooms and even a pool if you don't like the beach...check out their website. They have a lot of large floating toys in the water you can purchase a play all day pass but we have never used them since our kids are small.
In cayman there is 7 mile beach which is great and public..no fees unless you rent a beach chair. There are vendors all along there as well if you want anything to eat or drink. Royal Palms and SeaGrape are two beach clubs on the beach that you could ask the driver to take you. Cab or bus...it is very easy to get to.
Hope this helps...

Life saver!!! Paradise beach! great!! do they take dollars? I'm assuming yes. This is great info! I was afraid we would be stuck in the ship and never touch land. Ok another question do we all have to have our passports? My daughter still doesn't have hers and I'm finishing her vaccines too. Ugh so much to do!

 

[kaj1436]

Yes they do accept US dollars...no problem.
I can't help you with the passport question...we are Canadian and always have our passports traveling to the US. Maybe someone else can chime in about that one.

 

[lonestardawn]

You don't have to pay anything to get off the ship and explore on your own. The money you pay for Disney excursions is for them to plan everything for you, including the transportation and entrance fees.

For passports, you are not required to have them for the children to go on the cruise or visit the ports. If an emergency happened while on the cruise and you needed to fly the children home unexpectedly, you are REQUIRED to have a passport. Whether or not you get them depends on how much risk you personally are comfortable with. We got them for our two kids (and ourselves) so we will have them in case of a medical emergency or something.

 

[penel3]

But, you must have certified birth certificates for all in order to board the ship! There are many posts about this elsewhere if you want more info.