NA - Disney Cruises

sferguson524

sferguson524

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Have any of you done a disney cruise? We're debating one for next summer. We've got 3 kids, at sailing time they will be 3, 11 and 12
 
Did one once with the kids,both the kids and the adults had a great time.
 
A couple of people I work with do a Disney cruise yearly, they love it.
 
I've been on the Magic. 7 night western. Did a 7 night eastern on RC Freedom of the Seas, and Disney was better by far. You get what you pay for, I guess.
 
WIfe and I did one with a grandson. They do a wonderful job and it was very enjoyable.
 
Cruised Disney to Alaska. Great time and no regrets. It is expensive though... and it's really catered to families/kids, so make the most of the activities and shows. No casino aboard Disney cruise ships, but that's not in keeping with the family activities. Order room service and have them bring the Mickey Mouse ice cream bars. The kids will love it.
 
I've never done a Disney cruise, but I live in Old San Juan, PR, and when a Disney cruise comes in to Old San Juan, you know it. All the other ships come in and dump the passengers off. Disney makes a production of it. They set up tours, they dress their guides in period costumes, and march with them from one historical attraction to the next, complete with a drummer boy sometimes. I saw one being led by Captain Hook and a bunch of Pirates one time, and I almost jumped in line with them.

Years ago I went with my family to Disney World, and we did this package where they had shows for us, guides, we had brunch with the Disney characters, and the whole route. My kids are in their thirties and they still talk about it.
 
My family went on the Disney Magic for Christmas when I was 10. I remember it being a lot of fun even with their very outdated ship. We went a year or two before they remodeled their entire fleet. I bet the ships now are amazing and loaded with interesting activities for both age groups. Castaway Cay, their "private island" was a lot of fun and I hear that it's quite different from what it was during 2001/02.

We did the Eastern Caribbean with stops in St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. Since then my parents bought a share of a condo in St. Maarten. So instead of cruising, my parents spend their summers at the condo. Our cruise was right after 9/11 and I can remember the insane aviation and ship security. The crew told us during the introduction event that we had a U.S. Navy escort for security reasons. I never found out if that was true or if it was something Disney told their guest to make them feel safer.

Anyone know if the Navy did anything like that during the months after 9/11?
 
My wife and I have done Disney cruises 3x with our 4 kids. We have also cruised Royal Caribbean and Holland America without kids. All do a good job but if taking kids, Disney is excellent. We notice on every Disney cruise we also meet adults who go without kids.
Disney does a great job for the entire family. They have very safe programs for the kids which include GPS type wristbands for the smaller kids, most of the time the kids are having so much fun they want to keep with the kid areas. The also have adult only areas on the ship and on their island Castaway Cay.
 
Do it. We waited too long, and by that I mean I cheated my family out of some fun in their grade school years. I worried about the expense. All that worry went out the window when I saw how happy my family was. We were set up with another family for dining, and the way Disney did it, I am sure on purpose, is that they paired us with another couple from the Midwest like us, boy was my son's age, girl was my daughter's. Kids were 12 and 14. Best vacation ever for us.
 
Went on a cruise to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay (Disney's Private Island) on the Disney Dream over Halloween 2 years ago. Was a blast. I'd definitely go every year if I could.

Food is excellent, service is excellent and if you think they don't have areas for kids and adults to do their own thing, you'd be wrong. Adults can definitely chill out while kids have a blast.

Yep I'm a fan :)
 
Disney is the best and it had better be. Costs are between 60-100% more, depending on the competitor. We have looked and the price has kept up out of the Disney cruising.

I'm a long time Disney fan. I've been to Disneyworld more than 25 times in the last 20 years. But since Bob Iger took over, I'm reaching the conclusion that the Walt Disney Company has become too focused on the money and too exclusive for the general public. The prices are just getting too high and their product has gone way down hill. Paying more and getting less is not what I'm looking for in a vacation.
 
We sailed on the Dream her 1st year, it was fabulous. You pay more for a Disney cruise, but it is worth it IMHO.
 
Did their cruise on the Dream last year. Will second every one else's opinion. Was great. (And Disney is fastidious about cleanliness to counter any adverse feelings from the bad press about sickness and other maladies with other cruise lines). Would definitely do it again.
The only real adverse thing might be whoever was assigned to share your dining table with you (ours last year was abit grabby --- they wanted to stick closely to us during the entire cruise and have us gratuitously do babysitting for them). (And, they [Disney] chose to re-carpet the hallway outside of our room [during the cruise] which could have bothered those sensitive to smells, but you couldn't smell the mastic inside the rooms)
 
oldShar said:
The only real adverse thing might be whoever was assigned to share your dining table with you (ours last year was abit grabby --- they wanted to stick closely to us during the entire cruise and have us gratuitously do babysitting for them).
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That has to be the one thing I have ZERO interest in on cruises, is both assigned seating and assigned meal times. Toss in playing dress-up, and I'm out... all the way out. NCL of course, has worked to do away with it completely, and our theme/charter music cruise we take doesn't bother with it at all.
 
denverpilot said:
That has to be the one thing I have ZERO interest in on cruises, is both assigned seating and assigned meal times. Toss in playing dress-up, and I'm out... all the way out. NCL of course, has worked to do away with it completely, and our theme/charter music cruise we take doesn't bother with it at all.
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Royal Caribbean doesn't have it either
 
denverpilot said:
That has to be the one thing I have ZERO interest in on cruises, is both assigned seating and assigned meal times. Toss in playing dress-up, and I'm out... all the way out. NCL of course, has worked to do away with it completely, and our theme/charter music cruise we take doesn't bother with it at all.
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Our Carnivla cruise a few months ago they let you choose an anytime dining for the main dining room. Show up when its open, and you could ask to be sit alone or with a group. The dress up night I just wore slacks and a dress shirt and I was fine.
 
denverpilot said:
That has to be the one thing I have ZERO interest in on cruises, is both assigned seating and assigned meal times. Toss in playing dress-up, and I'm out... all the way out. NCL of course, has worked to do away with it completely, and our theme/charter music cruise we take doesn't bother with it at all.
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On Disney, it isn't only assigned seating and assigned times, but also assigned dining rooms (and you get a different one each night --- but with SAME companions and SAME waiter)

You ARE on your own for breakfast, lunch, and snacks (and they have ice cream kiosks all over the boat --- but you have to wipe down your hands with moist towelettes before approaching any meal station or dining room)
 
we've been on 9 disney cruises, but it's been several years since our last one. I actually enjoy their smaller ships, but that's just a matter of preference. Disney's claim to fame is their customer service, and it's second to none. Castaway Cay is my favorite stop.
 
denverpilot said:
Toss in playing dress-up, and I'm out... all the way out. NCL of course, has worked to do away with it completely, and our theme/charter music cruise we take doesn't bother with it at all.
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Aw, c'mon. You can put on your best Snow White dress and tell all the Dwarves' dirty little secrets.

I don't care for it either. I've done a bunch of cruises, and they aren't my cup of tea. Add to your list a guaranteed crowd everywhere you go.

I just came back from Sydney, and there was a massive cruise ship in the way of everything for the first few days. It was a much more pleasant place once they shoved off. I think they went to Hong Kong.
 
MAKG1 said:
Aw, c'mon. You can put on your best Snow White dress and tell all the Dwarves' dirty little secrets.

I don't care for it either. I've done a bunch of cruises, and they aren't my cup of tea. Add to your list a guaranteed crowd everywhere you go.

I just came back from Sydney, and there was a massive cruise ship in the way of everything for the first few days. It was a much more pleasant place once they shoved off. I think they went to Hong Kong.
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LOL!

On the music cruises the crowd is a plus. Crazy crowds at every concert and four or five different venues going at the same time. And "front row" available anytime you just show up 20 minutes early. It's really awesome.
 
I did one as a kid the year they set sail with the Magic... but in my adult years we did Alaska in 2012, Eastbound Transatlantic May 2015, a short 4 day with my cousin last month (In a Royal Suite!) and a couple of days ago I booked a 10 day that goes into Russia and Finland in 2017. Hoping we can squeeze the Westbound Panama Canal in in August but I don't think my husband's schedule will allow it.

FWIW we don't have kids. We did Alaska with my parents and some family friends who had a 2 year old at the time (all seperate staterooms), same with EBTA (she was 4 then). But for the most part we were kid-free and had a BLAST. They used to let you bring on as much alcohol as you could carry so that was awesome, but I hear they've tightened up the policies on that :(
 
Z06_Mir said:
I did one as a kid the year they set sail with the Magic... but in my adult years we did Alaska in 2012, Eastbound Transatlantic May 2015, a short 4 day with my cousin last month (In a Royal Suite!) and a couple of days ago I booked a 10 day that goes into Russia and Finland in 2017. Hoping we can squeeze the Westbound Panama Canal in in August but I don't think my husband's schedule will allow it.

FWIW we don't have kids. We did Alaska with my parents and some family friends who had a 2 year old at the time (all seperate staterooms), same with EBTA (she was 4 then). But for the most part we were kid-free and had a BLAST. They used to let you bring on as much alcohol as you could carry so that was awesome, but I hear they've tightened up the policies on that :(
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Get yourself a couple of these. Made it just fine through my checked bag filled with rum. You can get a little more than 1 bottle of rum in 2 of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Smuggle-Mug-16oz-Shampoo-Conditioner/dp/B00JYAEUGM
 
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