Help.... new to going on Cruises!!!

[campingpixi 11]

Is there an idiot guide to planning & booking a cruise?

I am so lost and Dh and I would love to take the kiddos on a Disney Cruise but we have no clue what we would be getting into!

Some of the questions I have are....

After you pay for the cruise what are the other expenses will we have no matter what (not including special activities)?

Is there a place to park at the port? If so how much is it and is it safe?

If we booked a week at the fort would we be allowed to keep our camper in the overflow lot for a week if we were going on a Disney Cruise right after?

Is there any chance that the ship would ever leave me and my family on some foreign land?

(okay I know what your thinking)!

Edited February 17, 2012 by campingpixi

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Having been on four DCL cruises, I can help you with those questions.

Before our first DCL cruise (which was a while ago) we bought a book called the Passporter Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. It was a very good resource, and answered all of the questions you are asking (and more). I would assume that guide book is still available and, if it has been updated, I would recommend it.

As for your questions:

1. Cruises are pretty much all inclusive, once you pay for the cruise itself. One additinal big expense that you need to plan on is tipping. It is expected that you tip your dining room servers and cabin stewards a certain amount per day. That is how those folks get paid, and the amount can be significant.

2. Yes, all of the ports provide parking. Last time we went, it was about $15 a day. It seems pretty safe, and I haven't heard of any problems with break-ins and such.

3. The Fort managers have allowed Fort guests to park RV's and trailers in the Fort overflow lot for guests going on a DCL cruise. Those arrangements need to me made by you asking the Fort manager.

4. If you leave the ship on an excursion you book through DCL, they won't leave without you. If you go off on your own at a port, it is possible that the ship will sail without you if you do not make it back by the assigned time. The only exception to this is on Castaway Cay- we have tried to be stranded there before, but someone always comes and rounds us up.

TCD

[campingpixi 11]

Thanks TCD!!! You have helped a great bit!!

[campingpixi 11]

Okay here are my tip calculations for 5 people on a 4 night Cruise..... please correct me if I am wrong when it comes to the tipping or if I am forgetting to tip someone!!

Dining Room Server about $80.00 @ $16.00pp per day

Dining Room Assistant Server about $60.00 @ $12.00pp per day

Dining Room Head Server about $20.00 @ $4.00pp per day

Stateroom Host or Hostess about $80.00 @ $16.00pp per day

Dining Manager - No clue

Port Adventures - No clue

I do know that there is an automatic 15% for bar, and deck service.

I Guess were looking at about $240.00 so I'm just gonna round that up to $300.00 do you think im good or did I under or over pre plan the tips?

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

You calculations look right to me.

Disney will give you specific suggestions in your cruise documents that come after you make your final payment for the cruise.

TCD

[campingpixi 11]

Now that I got the budget all figured out I will start planning a 4 night in Oct after the Charlotte Race!! Woo Hoo Can't wait!!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I forgot another big potential expense- photos. All cruise lines do this. There are photographers everywhere, and they take a lot of photos of you. They go ahead and print these photos, and they are displayed in a special place on the ship. On DCL that space is called Shutters. The photos are expensive. They make their money by offering packages for you to buy the photos. It is hard to walk away from cute photos of your family and your kids- they know this and that's why they print the photos. We have spent a couple of hundred dollars on photos on previous cruises. On our last cruise, we decided not to get sucked in to this. We didn't even go and look at our photos. We took plenty of our own. So, we didn't spend any money on photos.

Excursions from the ship are the same thing- you can end up spending a lot of money on these. They have all kinds of things like parasailing, and swimming with dolpins, and even submarine rides. This all can add up to a lot of money. Since you haven't cruised before I suggest that you not get sucked in to doing excursions. The DCL ships are beautiful, and there are non-stop activities that are already covered by your cruise payment. We rarely pay for an excursion now.

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I'm going to be keeping track of this thread....

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

As TCD said you can leave the camper in the overflow lot, we left the MH there in Sept. when did the Fiends Dream Cruise. All you need to do is stop at the Front Desk, fill out the paperwork and they will give you a parking pass. We also parked in the garage (actually outside in the handicap) and it is absolutely secure. IMHO Disney does it right.

Last but not least, you will love the DIS CRUISE.

[campingpixi 11]

Thanks for all the info everyone :)

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Contact Rhonda to book your cruise!!! She will find any discounts if there are any, plus she will get you a shipboard credit!!

[email protected]

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

The MORNING that they open up booking for excursions, special dining, and any other things you might want to book, go online and book them. Stuff fills up fast!

[campingpixi 11]

Thanks Carol!

[JCJRSmith 6]

While a Disney Cruise looks wonderful, if you shop around you will find other cruise lines are MUCH less expensive. We have cruised on Royal Caribbean three times, and we are going on a week long cruise this summer on RCL again. RCL has clubs for the kids and keep the kids VERY busy on board, letting the adults relax their own way. The food is wonderful, and you can eat ALL THE TIME. Be real careful with that. On RCL, iced tea/lemonade/fruit punch are free. Mixed drinks and sodas cost, and they will offer you a refillable mug when you arrive, so there is another expense to keep in mind.. We get them for the kids.

When we were pricing the transportation to/from Florida for the four of us, once we added up the air and bag fares to/from Orlando and transport from Orlando to Port Canaveral and back, it was really expensive. We could drive down, but mom, dad, 20 year old son and 14 year old daughter in a small SUV with all our luggage was too cramped. We thought about taking the motorhome, but again, it would be expensive and I am the only one who drives when we use the motorhome.

Our solution: The Autotrain. The four of us in coach along with all our luggae in the car is just under $1000.

[Lou... 3,118]

Absolutely correct Jerry.

DCL cruises are more expensive and when compared to certain cruise lines, much more expensive, but if you want the Disney factor, whatever that is, there is only one cruise line where you'll find it.

It's just like WDW. There are other great theme parks, but only one WDW.

Decisions, decisions.

[rdancemom... Pam 113]

Buy trip insurance. I still remember sitting in the comfort of our hotel room at Portofino Bay while booking DCL for two days later. The guy asked if I wanted travel insurance. As a TA I rarely bought it and usually used another company for clients when they wanted it. I looked at DH, asked if he thought we should add it. We both said something like "it's only 4 nights what could happen?" and opted to save $110.

Sure enough, Starla broke her toe in the kids' club. Nothing major but BC/BS didn't cover the medical expenses b/c we were out of the country even though it was all taken care of in the onboard hospital area. The bill came to just over $1,000 and had to be paid for before we disembarked. Disney doing what they do best, just added it to our room charge.

Back then we had credit cards and that was fine. Today we use cash or debit card only and that unexpected expense could be our gas money home if the emergency fund was empty...

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I cannot deny that there are other very nice cruise lines which offer much cheaper prices than DCL.

Just like there are very nice "off property" hotels available around WDW where you could stay at prices much less than you pay to stay on property.

I have cruised on Carnival, RCCL and Princess. For our family, we think the extra cost of a DCL cruise is justified.

Pam- You made a very good point about travel insurance. Being cheap, we have always declined to purchase travel insurance. I guess we have been lucky. Since I hate insurance companies with a passion, I am probably going to continue to decline it. I guess I'll have to look at it this way- even if I have to pay $1000 for a broken toe, I have saved much more than that over the years by not paying for the insurance.

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Pam- You made a very good point about travel insurance. Being cheap, we have always declined to purchase travel insurance. I guess we have been lucky. Since I hate insurance companies with a passion, I am probably going to continue to decline it. I guess I'll have to look at it this way- even if I have to pay $1000 for a broken toe, I have saved much more than that over the years by not paying for the insurance.

TCD

Having a child that is severly (epi pen) allergic to eggs, the extra cost is worth it for us just in case. Having said that, if I didn't have to worry about that then I'd probably not get it either.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Although the inital cost for a Disney cruise may be higher, I think it is less expensive in the overall scheme. For one, no casinos!! If the casinos had been there, we would have been in them. Since there were no casinos, we were out enjoying the ship, going to the shows, played with the enchanted art, etc.. Also, they let you bring your own alcohol on board. Relaxing on our verandah with our own drinks was great!!

[rdancemom... Pam 113]

The shipboard hospital can handle little things but for anything urgent or serious passengers tend to be transported by chopper to the closest hospital which could get quite costly if your ins didn't cover out of country medical expenses, not to mention air transport and lodging for family accompanying you.

Another thing ins will cover that you don't expect to need but could be extremely costly if you're unlucky - expenses if the ship leaves port without you b/c you lost track of time. Everybody knows insurance covers cancellations b/c of health/weather/emergencies but it's the little unexpected things that'll get you...