Disney Cruise

[happybaby]

Has anybody taken the Disney Cruise (Sea Only) My dd is looking at the 7day Eastern Caribbean Cruise for herself, boyfriend and daughter. Prices say they start at 899 pp and cheaper price for the girl.

She wants us to go also, but I think it will be too much of the Mouse. May be fun tho. If I were to go on a cruise, I want one where we can do some gambling also. Hubby isn't into the dance clubs. Eating yes and a few drinks.

If I went, I'm scared I'd be sitting outside the door where my gr. d is participating in the activites.

I don't see any availability at those rates. Most are going for at least 3,000. And then add air fare on top of that.

Have you left your little ones with the staff for all the fun acitvites for the kids. I guess I'm just over protective and worry alot. It says you have a pager where you can keep in contact with your child, and I assume they have to be signed in and out by a parent or designated person.

[Steamboat Bill]

I have been on 3 DCL and loved tham all. I have also been on Freed of the Seas too.

DCL is the BEST for kids and their kids club is awesome. Disney is NOT cheap, but the ship is well worth it. Try AAA or a crusie agency.

There cruise is NOT a cram disney down your throat and the themeing is fantastic. There are lost of families and you probably shoudl like Disney to consider this.

There are tons of things for adults to do and you are in port 4 out of 7 days. The spa was great.

My kids went to kids club from AM-midnight and felt we were picking them up too early. My kids hated Freedom of the Seas kids club....Disney knows how to entertain kids.

[gt899]

My family and I went to eastern Carib last year, last week of Oct, so we were there for Halloween. My daughters were 7 and 5 at the time. My in-laws went along and stayed in an adjoining room. My in-laws have traveled with us extensively and I beleive my father-in-law was a little tentative but was game all the same. I must say it was a fantastic vacation. I too was a little concerned it would be to much "Mickey" in your face but it wasn't. this was the first cruise for my family but the in-laws had cruised quite often and they were very impressed with the ship, cabins (largest they've stayed in for the price), food, entertainment and especially the service. the ships pool decks are broken down into sections: all kids pool in the stern w/ a water slide, at mid-ships there was the faimily pool (music, video screen, entertainment, food), and at the bow was the adults pool. I sat at the adults pool a few times and the rest of the ship was barely audible.

The kids club is top notch. The only problem at the time is both my daughters got caught right in the middle of the age breaks Disney creates for each of the clubs. So at first they were placed in the youngest groups and both stuck it out but they asked if they could be moved to the next age group. After some rearrangements they were allowed in the next age bracket and it was much better. Now, for my kids, they liked the club but they were much more pleased hanging with mom and dad up on the pool deck. Was not a problem for us but some folks we talked to, they really relied on the clubs to get as much a break from the kids as possible. Security is impeccible.

Meals were excellent! All meals on the ship are sit down. There's one buffet and its on the top deck at the stern of the ship. The dinners are all themed but again not over the top but very entertaining and enjoyable. My kids loved going to our meals for the simple reason the servers assigned to us were outstanding. Anything the kids wanted they got and they themselves were very entertaining.

Ports of call are very nice. But Disney Cay was by far the highlight of all the stop we made. I would highly recommend the Disney Cruise. If you want some great inside info go to www.mousesavers.com. Click on the cruise portal and you'll get great tips on maximizing your cruise fun. Also, I booked our trip through Small World Vacations, who are recommended through Mousesavers. Very good service. We handled everything via email and one phone call. They in turn offer by far the best pricing available. Additionally they deducted $200 from our booking (was an extra few souvenirs and cocktails on ship). When we returned from our cruise I received a $50 check from them in the mail. Wow. Give it a try you will not be disappointed. If you'd like any additional info please feel free to PM me. Gabe

[barndweller]

I haven't taken one yet but we are booked for next October. My son & his family go every year and talked us into going with them next year. Disney cruises are more expensive than other cruise lines so you will not find any bargains. They also book up very early so any of the least expensive rooms go fast. We are Disney fans but are not fanatics by any stretch of the imagination but after researching on DISboards & other cruise forums we decided that it was worth the price to enjoy the cruise with our grandchildren. They love the kid's clubs & spend most of their time in them leaving us older folks to enjoy the adult activities. I don't know yet if the cost to go Disney is worth it, but I know we'll have a great vacation with our family and that is priceless!

[lll1929]

I experienced the 3 day disney cruise in Oct 2005. My son (age 9) enjoyed it tremendously but my daughter (age 10) didn't like it. I made the mistake of taking them when they were too old. The characters are awesome and the daycare service is top notch. My kids were of age where they could check themselves in and out.

The parties that are on board are truly spectacular and the fireworks show was incredible.

Overall, its definately worth the money. The private Island was truly a day of adventure. My kids snorkeled and we saw a baracuda fish (big teeth) and many starfish.

[gt899]

You'll find Sept/Oct/Nov about 1/2 of what you pay in Summer. But you risk hurricane season! We took the gamble...it rained on and off periodically (similiar to Hawaii) but no major storms. A friend from work went on the three or four day cruise in the summer prior to when we went. For his family of four he spent about the same as I did for a seven day cruise in Oct.

[mattman27]

Check out www.allseastravel.com

They always have good deals and they treated us great. There is much more to do for parents or G parents than most would think including an adult only pool and hot tub. The kids club is fantastic and almost all kids will enjoy. The price is usually higher but of the Carnival, Disney, and Norwegian cruises, Disney had the best food, entertainment, facilities, and rooms.

Enjoy.

[Holly]

What is the optimum age for the kids club? My daughter is 4 now...I don't want to wait until she's too old, but my guess is that she's too young right now.

Thoughts?

[Steamboat Bill]

Originally Posted by Holly

What is the optimum age for the kids club? My daughter is 4 now...I don't want to wait until she's too old, but my guess is that she's too young right now.

Thoughts?

Nope...4yo is a perfect age.

I think the 3-12 range is perfect for the kids club.

[mattman27]

4-12 is perfect. I agree...

[lll1929]

I think the 4-12 age is fine. I would suggest taking girls towards the lower end of the age bracket. My 10 yr old daughter was 5'6 and not interested in the characters (she was taller than many). I think the girls who are able to dress up in the character costumes gain more value from the disney cruise.

[readyalready]

We love the DCL cruises, was on the tropical storm 7 day last week and still had a great time. I agree that the theming is not crammed down your throat. 2 of my 3 kids are over the characters, one of them wanted to have her picture with a specific two or three. I think they do a good job of having general 'non disney' family entertainment too, like magicians, comedians, etc.

That $899 pricing was likely for the lowest inside category 12, which does sometimes sell out. I researched far and wide and found the best deal to be through Costco, who sends costco cash cards after based on the price of the cruise. From what I've read, all travel agencies are supposed to charge the same price, but what varies is the rebate or onboard credit that they offer.

[lprstn]

We recently got back and this describes our 3 day experience, we got 2 inside rooms for $1133 a peice..

Nov. 18 th (Sun) 3-Day - Disney Cruise to Bahamas on the Disney Wonder! We started our trip by being annouced, taking our pics and going aboard. Everyone had a backpack with their bathing suites, sun glasses, and changes of clothes. We first went to lunch @ Beach Blanket Buffet, overlooking Port Canaveral. It was 1:30pm and we decided to check out our room to see if it was ready. Not only was it ready but our bags were waiting for us. Since it was my oldest son's birthday I called ahead and arranged for his room to be decorated for his birthday and a birthday cake and card was also waiting for him.

- We danced, laughed and screamed at the Sail Away Party where they blast confetti on Party Goers and all the characters come out.
- The kids went to their camps where the younger ones, had a Luau, played dressup, the oldest went to the 411 session (which is very important) and got the rules and itenary for the big Gotcha Game and Scavenger hunt where they put your kids in teams.
- Hubby Played Bingo (since there was no casino - and very little people were at the adult clubs or bars), I went to see the show Hercules with my daughters, and my oldest refused to hang out with us as he was having too much fun in the Aloft.
- Ate Dinner at Animator's Palate which is a restaurant that changes colors and pics as you eat.

Nov. 19th (Mon) - The Bahamas and the PIRATE PARTY -- Yahooo!!! My youngest two got sick and I got this stuff from the Bahamas called Gravol that was in liquid form and worked wonders!

- We toured Atlantis, the Bahamas and the Aquarium (it was amazing, except for the 2 sick kids we carted with us)
- Dressed in Pirate attire, after dipping in the pool and eating, took pics with characters, and ate dinner at Parate Cay, where they gave us Pirate head wear for the party (hower my youngest kids were already dressed.)
- Show 'The Golden Mickey's' where they snapped pics of us and interviewed us like we were stars, and played it in the theatre for all to see during the begining of the show
- The younger kids baked cookies, made soap and learned how to be a Pirate from Captain Hook, they watched Peter Pan and Followed Hook and Smie around playing Pirate games.
- My oldest made flubber, played Disney Karoake, did science experiments and had to be dragged to the Pirate Party.

- The Pirate Party was the best, with all the characters decked and dancing, with Mickey coming from above our heads from one part of the boat to another (who did they pay to do that?!) and then ended with a huge FIREWORK Display - Disney is the only cruise ship with permission to do this!

Nov. 20th (Tues) - Cast-Away Cay Disney's Private Island! Paradise....and the cleanest well planned out Island I have ever visited. Its got an adults area, private teen area, private kids clubs area (that is supervised by the counselors - so you can leave your kids and go to the private Adult only beach! for a massage)

- We dropped of the kids in the kids area where they played water games, made sandcastles and had a Carribean Beach Party! We had to drag them out of the club to play on the beach and have family time if it killed us!!!
- Our oldest wanted to stay with the teen group and do the 'Wild Side Tour' so we didn't see him until he got back on the boat.
- My husband and daughter rented bikes, tubes and snokels and went on the paved bike trail through the Island

We ended our last cruse day with
- The kids Graduation from the Oceaner Clubs/Labs
- The Disney Dreams Show...which was great...and pretty much ended our night...

[tomandrobin]

Wow, what a trip. Disney Crusie line sounds fantastic for a family cruise!

[Steamboat Bill]

I have been on DCL 3x and your post made me think of those wonderful trips again. I know DCL is about 25% MORE than other cruises, but they offer a fantastic product.

[MusicMan (Formerly JP)]

My wife and I (mid 50s) took our son, DIL, and Granddaughter on a Disney Cruise this past summer. We normally cruise other lines, but this was the GDs trip, so in my opinion, it HAD to be Disney. Asin all things Disney, it's expensive, but DISNEY DOES KIDS RIGHT! I will probably never cruise Disney again (unless there's another grandchild involved), because it's more expensive..BUT we ALL had a great time. There are areas of the ship that are "Adult Only" (nothing risque, just NO KIDS ALLOWED). The food is good, the entertainment is great (though Disney themed) and Castaway Cay is one of the best "ports" I've been in. With Castaway Cay, your food is included just as if you were on the ship. Any "beach toys", souvenirs, etc can be charged to your ships account. It's true there is no casino, but we never spend all that much time there anyway. If kids are involved, GO, have a great time!