Disney Cruise Line Caribbean Cruise - Part 7
Page 1 of 6
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
(1024 X 710, 144,834 bytes)
AN A TO Z OF DISNEY CRUISING
Planning a Disney cruise can be a daunting experience for any guest. Hopefully the following points might be able to relieve some of the problems you might encounter.
Booking Your Vacation
It is not always cheapest to book via the DCL direct; Despite the Early Booking Discount, I was able to save an extra $200 per person on our seven-day cruise by choosing Beci at MouseEarVacations.com as our preferred travel agent. Beci has been on several Disney cruises and is a true expert on both the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Her knowledge was an important tool in our early preparation. There are often extra discounts for WDW Annual Passholders and Disney Club members, so check the Mickey Monitor and Disney Club mailings.
It is not the category, but the location of your stateroom; My partner and I spent ages agonising over which category to choose, but ultimately, it made very little difference. We choose a Category 6 on Deck Five, which is a stateroom with a veranda. The extra space was essential for us, as we were travelling for a 2-week vacation. Beci suggested Deck Five to us as there are staterooms only at the aft end of the ship. We found Decks Six and Seven to be exceptionally busy as they are filled with the bulk of the ship’s staterooms. The corridors are narrow and the constant traffic of guests and stateroom attendants can be annoying. We had Stateroom 5622, which was quiet, but the closest stateroom to the aft stairs and elevator network for access to the rest of the ship. The majority of the inside staterooms are around 30% smaller than the outside staterooms with the additional disadvantage on being on Decks One and Two, closest to the water and therefore subject to more movement than the rest of the ship with no natural light at all.
Disney Club discount; Most members are entitled to a $50 onboard credit (depending on the type of cruise and package selected). Your travel agent should be able to tell you if the "DC" credit code is applicable.
Book excursions early; Excursions are added to your on-board account, and therefore there is no need to pay in advance. Many of the excursions on our Western Caribbean cruise sold through prior to departure, particularly the Tulum Ruins at the Cozumel port of call and the discount rentals for Disney’s Castaway Cay (the Getaway package). However, you need to be 100% sure that you will be taking the excursion, as they are non-refundable. A full list of the available excursions can be found at the DCL website.
Book the Mears shuttles; Mears operate the DCL bus network. Operators collect guests from either McCoy International or from SELECTED Walt Disney World hotels. Guests should check pick-up times with their agent as once the bus has departed, you might end up forking out for a cab. Parking is available at Port Canaveral, but is expensive and exposed.
Pack appropriately; There are several opportunities to get dressed up whilst cruising with the DCL. If you intend to dine at the reservations-only Palo’s (mentioned later), then gentlemen must pack a jacket, as the dress code is strictly not "Resort casual" like the other restaurants. Some guests pack a tuxedo, but most opt for the suit option. There is also a Captain’s Dinner when semi-formal attire is requested. The choice is entirely yours, but the events were enjoyable.
Advertisement
ScootOrlando.com
$25 - $40 per day
Laughing Place 10% Discount
Laughing Place Podcast
The LPP are back to discuss Epcot's StormStruck, the KimPossible World Showcase Adventure, Miley Cyrus' Sweet 16 at Disneyland, their Disneyland celebrity encounters and more Disney Channel stuff with Brent plus reader mail, the Captain's Challenge, Stump the crew, FanBoy's Disney Myths and more.
Disneyland Attraction Posters at
The LaughingPlace Store
The LaughingPlace Store now carries a Disneyland Attraction Posters from Sanders CC Gallery