Shmoo here

On 2/8/2024 at 7:34 PM, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

I have no desire to attend a performance where you or any other guest is part of the performance and listen to you or any other guest play games.  I'm sure it was memorable for you but not so much for the other guests.

I fail to see much difference between the single piano vs double piano format regarding audience participation.  I've experienced both single and double piano bar situations on HAL, and the audience has been invited to sing along in every one.

20 minutes ago, judycruiser said:

What ship is in Key West today February 10, 2024?

Seven Seas Splendor

4 hours ago, mom says said:

Interesting that only one person has mentioned sun screen. It's always in my day bag. I add mosquito repellant if the excursion is likely to head into a bug prone area. I always carry water. Plus the stuff mentioned up thread.

Sun screen is in my shore excursion bag.  As well as ship's card, photo ID, cash, credit card, and water.  And either my camera or phone (for pictures only).  

5 hours ago, JTor said:

Thank you both!! What’s the usual timeframe for opening advance bookings? I looked for a repositioning in 2026 but not listed yet 

Generally itineraties are released about 18 months out.  

1 hour ago, JTor said:

How can we find out if there is a connecting door before we agree to cabin?

On the DCL website, the deck plans show those rooms with connecting doors.  You can see the door openings on this example:

oops

12 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

I am 66, my wife is 64, Daughter is 32 and her partner is 30.  I went on Disney when my children were very young.  When you get to 66, you can't remember that far back.  My cruise history is 44 years, 30+ cruises mostly on NCL in the Haven Area, Celebrity in the Retreat and Oceania in a Suite.  I share this because I would prefer to book the "Concierge Level" on a Disney Ship.  

 

I do an enormous amount of due diligence prior to making any decisions especially one that would be as expensive as the "Concierge Level" on a Disney Ship. In my attempt to look up the "Concierge Level", all I could find is 3-4 days cruises and I prefer a 7 day cruise.  I would like to go out of a port in the United States. Any support or assistance to help me find "Concierge Level" accommodations would be very much appreciate. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

If you go to the DCL website and do a search for 7 night cruises, you'll find some, out of San Diego, Port Canaveral, and Galveston.

4 hours ago, JTor said:

Hi Disney pros!

appreciate your advice for our first Disney cruise. We are 2 adults late 50s , 38 past cruises and lately on luxury lines. We love the Disney parks and want to experience the magic on a cruise but a bit concerned about the number of kids and general crowds as we’ve been spoiled on luxury lines. Can’t imagine getting on and off again in 3 days so wondering about back to back or a repositioning cruise? Itinerary not important although prefer warmer weather and a visit to one of the private islands would be nice. Price sensitive for this booking so not concierge. What ship and/or sailing do you suggest?

Generally, the longer cruises will have fewer children.  That said, there will still be more kids than you'll find on other lines.  Repositioning with the lowest number, typically.  B2B cruises won't cut the kid load as each cruise will have lots of kids (but not the same ones).

Any cruise out of FL will go to either Castaway Cay or Lighthouse Point (private islands).  

I prefer the classic ships (Magic & Wonder), but have cruised on both Fantasy and Dream.  Haven't done any of the newer ships.

My favorite longer cruises on DCL were Southern Caribbean on the Fantasy, and Panama Canal, as well as Med/Westbound Transatlantic both on the Magic.  

4 hours ago, OttawaJohn said:

Curious, since Disney doesn't do packages like some other lines, do most of you pre-pay your tips or settle at the end of the cruise?

We just have the gratuities added daily to the onboard account.  

1 hour ago, toodycat said:

I am back from our cruise and can report that the only precautions are handwashing outside the buffet and hand sanitizer outside the dining room. None of us got sick.

Those are the standard precautions they've always had.  Not particularly related to COVID.

17 minutes ago, OttawaJohn said:

Anyone by chance have pictures of a typical day's breakfast and lunch for one of the MDRs?

 

Thanks in advance!

Don't know if there's pictures here or not, but you can find menus on this link:

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/

53 minutes ago, Terry Bill said:

I thought that - perhaps I should try some other agents.

For several cruise lines, you can sign up on their website to be notified when new cruises are offered.  

2 minutes ago, Terry Bill said:

I can't check all the websites of all the cruise companies that interest me each week.

That would something that  a Travel Agent could help you with.

1 hour ago, disneyochem said:

I thought so too but after I said no, the survey ended.  It was weird…

After I selected "no" the survey continued.

1 hour ago, WHSLover said:

Amber Cove: Very easy. A stand at the port to stamp the souvenir stamp for free.

Be aware souvenir stamps in a US passport are illegal.

1 hour ago, disneyochem said:

I got the survey this morning as well.  I was asked to video tape my responses to three questions…….never have had a survey that asked that required that!

I had to option to opt out of the video responses on my survey.

3 hours ago, SDARCH said:

This was actually a follow-on survey for me.  A few months ago I got a survey probing our interest in longer cruises with questions about specific itineraries. 

Same here.  I do remember the earlier survey, mostly because I've never gotten any of the surveys that people post about getting.  Now I've had 2.

4 minutes ago, Denbon1985 said:

My wife and I are debating whether to do a cruise to Alaska or fall Canada New England cruise. We did a Alaskan cruise a couple of years ago. I did not enjoy it because about 4 weeks before we left I cracked my hip. I want to go back to Alaska but I also want to do the fall Canada New England cruise. It’s for our 40th anniversary. Which do you think we would enjoy doing? We can’t afford both it’s one or the other.

Too many variables to answer that.  Cost?  Length of cruise?  Ports?  Time of year?  What types of activities do you enjoy?  

24 minutes ago, toodycat said:

Same! My last DCL cruise was in 2016, but I'm still gold. 

The speculation at this point is everyone is starting from 2023/24 in calculating.  So, even if it's been 17 years, and you book a cruise within the next 5 years, you will retain your status.

At least, so far, that's how it's working.

Of course, DCL can change the rules at any time.

1 hour ago, bob brown said:

Yes…as long as they are foreign.  But for example, Key West would not, right?

Correct.  Key West is in the USA.  Not a foreign country.

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

I think there's an exception in the PVSA that allows one way cruises from either Puerto Rico or Virgin Islands until there is a US carrier that is up to the job.  I can't remember which of the two it is but my best recollection is that it's San Juan.

 

Roy

Exactly this - one way cruises to/from Puerto Rico to a stateside port are allowed.

25 minutes ago, katmu said:

Eurodam

Day Port

Day 1 Fort Lauderdale, FL 3:00pm

Day 2 At Sea

Day 3 At Sea

Day 4 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 9:00am 6:00pm

Day 5 St. Kitts 8:00am 5:00pm

Day 6 Roseau, Dominica 8:00am 5:00pm

Day 7 St. Lucia 7:00am 5:00pm

Day 8 Antigua 8:00am 6:00pm

Day 9 St. Maarten 7:00am 3:00pm

Day 10 At Sea

Day 11 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8:00am 3:00pm

Day 12 Fort Lauderdale, FL 7:00am

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Longer cruise, more ports.

9 minutes ago, Kathamo said:

Hello! My friend is a first-time cruiser and trivia enthusiast. What type of trivia games can we expect on the Disney Wonder? Are they offered daily?

DCL does have trivia games.  Most of which center on Disney stuff.  But some others like oldie songs, movies.  I can only speak to longer cruises, but it seemed to be pretty much every day.

13 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

Was the concept ever "dueling pianos?"  What would that mean?  I thought it was always dual pianos.

That's my understanding, also.  It was dual (as in 2) pianos.  Not dueling (as in challenging each other to see who does it best).

3 hours ago, ontheweb said:

That assumes one reads every thread. I don't think there are enough hours in the day for me to do that for all the cc forums I read.

Well, I only click on the threads I'm interested in, not all of the ones with unread posts.