Wonder in the Caribbean!!! 04/27/2014

[TraceyDes]

Just booked our first disney cruise. We will be taking our oldest two boys, aged 8 and 3. Haven't told them yet!!!

So excited and I'm counting down the weeks. Love reading all tips everyone has, it's super helpful...

 

[Gracies Moms]

I spoke with Michael, the best Disney Cruise phone rep ever , today and finalized a few things and got a few tidbits of info I thought I'd share. Nothing major, just fun stuff to get/keep us all excited about our upcoming trip!

*We kinda forgot about trip insurance until a few days ago, so I took care of that. $147 covers the 3 of us for most everything. Can't beat that and it's just added on to the cruise cost, so no separate payment to someone else.

*We went ahead and added our tips to the cruise cost as well. $180 for the 3 of us.

*Requested a table just for the 3 of us. We're not anti-social but I would hate for Gracie to act up or something and totally disrupt our table mates. (not that she would be the first to have done that).

*Let them know that we would be celebrating Gracie's 4th B-Day (technically the day after we return but close enough) while on board. So she'll be sung to at dinner, receive her "It's my B-Day" pin and get a little dessert.

*Asked about the Tea with Alice &/or Princesses and was told it depends on the ship and to stop by the guest services desk first thing to find out for sure.

*Dress Up night (not FORMAL night) is night 2 and as nicswife posted, Pirate Night is night 3.

Let's get going!!

 

[short430]

FYI to my fellow New Englanders - flights out of Boston have been super cheap! Just booked my family for 130PP round trip on American!

 

[nicswife]

*Dress Up night (not FORMAL night) is night 2 and as nicswife posted, Pirate Night is night 3.

Let's get going!!

Great! Thanks for sharing Kim!

 

[cmhguy]

Southwest released April to June airfare today....yeah.... I can plan now.....

 

[lgbroq]

Hi everybody!

Just a reminder for those interested in joining our closed Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/398095096952427/members/

Also, a quick tip:

Try to purchase airfare as early-on possible, because usually Miami fares goes up a lot up quicker. Also compare prices for Ft. Lauderdale. Sometimes it's a lot more cheaper to fly there and take a 45 minute trip to Miami.

 

[cmhguy]

Hi everybody!

Just a reminder for those interested in joining our closed Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/398095096952427/members/

We aren't on Facebook...hope we aren't missing out on the fun....

There are great prices out of Columbus to Miami right now on American and Delta - $107 one-way on a direct flight via American. We stick with SW when possible so likely fly into FLL and catch a shuttle to a hotel in downtown Miami. Leaning toward the Hampton Inn......from what I can read, it gets really good reviews and close to the port. I called, and they offer a shuttle to the port for $18 per person, and they told me for 3+ a cab is cheaper.

Any other downtown Miami hotels anyone can recommend that might be better - either on price or for other reasons?

 

[spencertracy1976]

If anyone else would like to participate, just reply to this post or send me a pm (spencertracy1976@yahoo.com), I will update the list periodically. You can also add via the groups Facebook page

Please provide me with the following….
-- DISboard username
-- Cabin # (if you know it already) (please update me of any changes prior to sailing)
-- Family Last Name (helps with personalizing family gifts)
-- First names of those participating, ages of kids in cabin and whether boys (B) or girls (G)
-- Any special cruise celebrations
-- Any food allergies, etc

If you are uncomfortable posting any of the personal information, you can simply say "Adult, Male" or "Girl, 8" for example.

Our group will close Sunday, March 16th (6 weeks prior to sail date). This allows people plenty of time to order, make, assemble, personalize, etc their gifts. Thank you!!

What Is An FE Gift Exchange?
For those who are new to this fun cruise experience, the Fish Extender itself is a pocket panel you hang from the fish shaped hook outside your stateroom. These can be homemade or you can purchase them on sites like Etsy, you can also find some pictures on Google or DIS forums. Families that join the FE group hang the Fish Extender outside their cabin and then exchange little gifts with others participating in the group by putting little gifts in each other’s extenders.

It's a ton of fun, not just for kids, and you can either give one gift to each cabin, or a gift to each person in the cabin. You can give gifts a few times throughout the cruise or just once. No real set rules, just exchange and have fun! Gifts can be homemade or store bought. That's part of the fun . . . the variety of gifts that everyone brings!

I'm just getting us started and organized, so if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please post!! Can't wait to see everyone!

 

[TraceyDes]

I have been reading that the stateroom # can change, is that true?

I booked through disney and was able choose the stateroom # I wanted. It doesn't seem like that would be possible.

 

[lgbroq]

If anyone else would like to participate, just reply to this post or send me a pm (spencertracy1976@yahoo.com), I will update the list periodically. You can also add via the groups Facebook page

Please provide me with the following….
-- DISboard username
-- Cabin # (if you know it already) (please update me of any changes prior to sailing)
-- Family Last Name (helps with personalizing family gifts)
-- First names of those participating, ages of kids in cabin and whether boys (B) or girls (G)
-- Any special cruise celebrations
-- Any food allergies, etc

If you are uncomfortable posting any of the personal information, you can simply say "Adult, Male" or "Girl, 8" for example.

Our group will close Sunday, March 16th (6 weeks prior to sail date). This allows people plenty of time to order, make, assemble, personalize, etc their gifts. Thank you!!

What Is An FE Gift Exchange?
For those who are new to this fun cruise experience, the Fish Extender itself is a pocket panel you hang from the fish shaped hook outside your stateroom. These can be homemade or you can purchase them on sites like Etsy, you can also find some pictures on Google or DIS forums. Families that join the FE group hang the Fish Extender outside their cabin and then exchange little gifts with others participating in the group by putting little gifts in each other’s extenders.

It's a ton of fun, not just for kids, and you can either give one gift to each cabin, or a gift to each person in the cabin. You can give gifts a few times throughout the cruise or just once. No real set rules, just exchange and have fun! Gifts can be homemade or store bought. That's part of the fun . . . the variety of gifts that everyone brings!

I'm just getting us started and organized, so if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please post!! Can't wait to see everyone!

Cabin 6101.
Family Barreto.
DW Lysandra (#@), DH Luis (#$),
DD Ruby (8) and DS Diego (5)

 

[nicswife]

I have been reading that the stateroom # can change, is that true?

I booked through disney and was able choose the stateroom # I wanted. It doesn't seem like that would be possible.

Hi Tracey! If you have chosen the stateroom for your cruise already, it shouldn't change. Sometimes if you book a GTY cabin you don't know your stateroom # until close to your cruise date, and then I have read that people have checked in at the ship and ended up with a different room altogether. Have you read on the Disboards that Disney has changed people's stateroom #?

 

[TraceyDes]

Hi Tracey! If you have chosen the stateroom for your cruise already, it shouldn't change. Sometimes if you book a GTY cabin you don't know your stateroom # until close to your cruise date, and then I have read that people have checked in at the ship and ended up with a different room altogether. Have you read on the Disboards that Disney has changed people's stateroom #?

Thank you for responding we have never taken a cruise before and I was reading all these posts so I wasn't quite sure, I didn't read anything about disney changing stateroom #s. Just wanted to be sure, we upgraded from a porthole window to a verandah and I spent some time choosing the stateroom I wanted!

 

[nicswife]

Thank you for responding we have never taken a cruise before and I was reading all these posts so I wasn't quite sure, I didn't read anything about disney changing stateroom #s. Just wanted to be sure, we upgraded from a porthole window to a verandah and I spent some time choosing the stateroom I wanted!

I hear ya! We got the exact (aft veranda) room we want too, so exciting!

 

[TraceyDes]

Anyone flying the day before and staying in Miami (close to port). Any recommendations? I've only stayed in Orlando, it's our first time in Miami.

 

[JanDave]

This is our first stay in Miami. We.have a room reserved at the Hampton Inn Blue Lagoon near the airport.

 

[cmhguy]

Anyone flying the day before and staying in Miami (close to port). Any recommendations? I've only stayed in Orlando, it's our first time in Miami.

I've been researching the same thing and asked this question last week.....

There's a lot of information on Disboards and others about MIA hotels......a lot of reading....

So far, this is what I've gleaned.....

Near Airport - good reviews...Blue Lagoon area - Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites. However - I just read yesterday a Cambria Suites is opening up in that area and rooms are really cheap - around $100 for the sat night prior and less if you are willing to prepay. It's a new hotel opening next month so no reviews and likely why the rates are so amazing.... Generally, Cambria as a chain tends to fare well as far as reviews go. Cab fares to port the next morning from this area appear to be decent - I read around $25 but haven't confirmed....maybe someone else can...Across from Hampton is a little strip mall with a few dinning options and sounds walkable from other 2 hotels.

Downtown - I'm leaning this direction to have things to do the day/evening before and better dinning options within walking distance. Hampton Inn Brickell gets really good reviews and isn't much more than the above named Blue Lagoon hotels. I have found the price keeps going up and down - so I keep checking it.

I know you said MIA - but just in case...we are flying into FLL and considering staying there and taking a shuttle to port on Sunday morning. Shuttles appear to be $15 per person, and I'm finding cheaper hotel options. Happy to share any of that info if you are interested.....just let me know....

 

[TraceyDes]

Thanks for posting your recommendations and ideas. Looks like its going to be Hanpton Inn Blue Lagoon- decent price and good reviews.

 

[spencertracy1976]

I've been researching the same thing and asked this question last week.....

There's a lot of information on Disboards and others about MIA hotels......a lot of reading....

So far, this is what I've gleaned.....

Near Airport - good reviews...Blue Lagoon area - Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites. However - I just read yesterday a Cambria Suites is opening up in that area and rooms are really cheap - around $100 for the sat night prior and less if you are willing to prepay. It's a new hotel opening next month so no reviews and likely why the rEwes are so amazing.... Generally, Cambria as a chain tends to fare well as far as reviews go. Cab fares to port the next morning from this area appear to be decent - I read around $25 but haven't confirmed....maybe someone else can...Across from Hampton is a little strip mall with a few dinning options and sounds walkable from other 2 hotels.

Downtown - I'm leaning this direction to have things to do the day/evening before and better dinning options within walking distance. Hampton Inn Brickell gets really good reviews and isn't much more than the above named Blue Lagoon hotels. I have found the price keeps going up and down - so I keep checking it.

I know you said MIA - but just in case...we are flying into FLL and considering staying there and taking a shuttle to port on Sunday morning. Shuttles appear to be $15 per person, and I'm finding cheaper hotel options. Happy to share any of that info if you are interested.....just let me know....

Can you share the FLL info?? We are flying in to there Friday and driving to Miami Saturday. Thanks!

 

[JanDave]

I just booked a room at the Cambria Suites hotel near the Miami airport. Hotel will open for business next month. Another option for us!

http://www.cambriasuites.com/hotel-miami-florida-FLC06

Jan

 

[TheKernFamily]

I joined the Facebook group last week, and just made this account for the DIS Forum! Very much looking forward to this!