DScroggy5

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I think something should have been said when it happened.

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Our son did it when he was 9 and passed us while hunting. He stopped to say hi and went right back on his hunt. But my son is mature for his age and he was with other campers

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Awesome!

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We really enjoyed Guy's and want them again. Considering we are sailing with NCL in January apparently we will sail on a ship without Guy's burger. Just a preference, thanks!

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We are looking at booking a friends and family cruise on the Dream out of NOLA for Nov-Dec 2015. When I called Carnival, the PCC stated that he was 90% sure that the Dream would be getting dry docked early 2015 and getting the FUN Ship 2.0 updgrades. Does anyone know if this is true? I DO NOT want to be on a ship without Guy's Burger :)

Thanks!

I second the idea of booking as far out as possible. If prices do go down later, you can always call CS and ask about a refund. Plus booking far out gives you time to save. I just booked a 7n western on magic for 4/2015. Now I put away $40/wk in a special acct (ok a grocery bag hidden in a hidey hole!) by next april I'll have the $2000 I need for my passage. I realize saving for 1 is different than saving for 5....but saving is saving. Save what you can where you can. (and if you start putting away now ..for a cruise you want to take in 3-4 yrs, but can't book yet..even better)

 

For the most part I also don't buy any of the extras.... no booze, no photos, maybe an excursion if it sounds really good. The ship is more than enough activity.

 

I'm fairly new to cruising... been on the Dream & 2 NCL ships. Sure NCL is cheaper for the same itinerary....BUT....they don't have MAGIC! It really is just a little "more." I enjoyed my other cruises and plan to continue using NCL ..... but none compared to my Dream cruise. Maybe it's because I regress into a little 8 year old princess...who knows. But my cheeks literally ache by the time I return home! It's the Magic ..(or maybe they put something in the food?? lol)

 

You won't regret the Disney decision. Maybe it's a once in a lifetime splurge. Maybe you'll love it so much it'll be an every 10 yr splurge?

 

I did the dream 4 yrs (?) ago as an anniv trip with hubby (who got seasick and while he loved disney's magic...wasn't so happy with being woozie) So this year I'm going with my mom...it's her 70th and my 45th. So we'll splurge. I thought long and hard about a concierge room...but there's a limit to my "need for magic vs. my bank acct"

 

Enjoy. Hope I helped a little (I tended to ramble, sorry)

Yes, you helped. :)

We just booked our very 1st Disney Cruise last week. Honestly I did not think I would be willing to fork over the dough for DCL. Especially since I am not willing to allow the kids to miss more than 1-2 days of school since my eldest is now in middle school and takes a few accelerated classes. Missing a week of school simply is not an option.

 

So I pulled out the school calendar and looked at every cruise that was during or bordered every school break for next year. I thought I had a deal for one that left on Jan 3rd-6th since my kids do not go back until Jan 7th. It was a decent price compared to summer.

 

But then I found the 3 day the weekend AFTER Easter. Spring break for us the the week after Easter and it leaves on Friday which means they will miss 1 day on Monday. But it was $1800 LESS than the weekend before. Exact same cruise, but $1800 less. It was even less than the Jan one. So I booked it. It was $2300 with taxes for 4 of us in a Deluxe Family with Verandah (the one that sleeps 4-5). I can tell you this is only $200 less than the 5 day Carnival we are going on next month in a Spa Balcony. So the cost is higher, but I wanted to give them the Disney experience just once before they got much older. (They will be 9 and 13 when we sail)

 

By booking early, we have over 7 months to pay the remaining $1900 balance. We are not well off either. DH is a police officer. I was a SAHM for over 10 years but do some work from home now. I use that to pay for the fun stuff like vacations and summer camp, but it's a large chunk of change to put out for sure. Especially knowing we can go on a longer trip for the same price.

 

Honestly, with the age of your youngest, I would wait 2-3 years in hopes that they will all remember the magic. It could be their only DCL trip and if they don't remember it, that would be a shame.

 

It's a hard sell when you can go on a 7 day on other lines for the same price. Folks say it is worth it, I will soon find out.

 

That said, I booked this one knowing it could very well be our only DCL trip. I will have to see what my kids end up preferring. My 8 year old is "meh" about the Disney thing. When she looks at ships she is looking more for ropes courses and stuff. She is so excited to try Camp Carnival. But hopefully she will get swept up in the Disney magic. BUT it could be because the Carnival cruise is a month away while the one in April 2015 seems like a lifetime away for her. A year may as well be 10 years to an 8 year old. If they are in love with DCL, I may try it again for a longer sailing. If they could go either way, we will be sticking to the lower cost lines unless its a deal we can't refuse or a super special occasion.

 

Good luck finding a great deal!

Good point about the youngest one's age but I worry about my oldest aging out and not enjoying it

Well, I've been dreaming of a disney cruise since my little girl (now 7) was born. We are a working class family - don't have a big house, two income family out of necessity not for 'extras' - I have been doing online surveys and focus groups for 6 years - putting every penny away...and we had our dream cruise last october - it was amazing and worth every penny.

 

There are things that disney provides that no other line can: the best and most extensive kids program afloat. There is a quality that just isn't there on the other lines - from the facilities, to the counselors, to the activities, and the hours/availability....

 

So that is how I did it....prior to kids DH and I have been on many cruises, and even though it would be somewhat (not a whole lot) cheaper...Disney is just the best for kids...I started doing surveys as soon as we got home - it may be another six years, but that is fine. I don't need concierge, or cabanas or dinner at Remys - I just need to get away from life's stresses and be with my husband and kids...

I understand 100% we live with necessities but afford our family to vacation :-) We both work and only have one vehicle and rent. But we like that we can make payments on a cruise and tend to drive down to the port.

Try to cruise during off season and do shorter cruise ... like 3 or4-night Disney Dream in September/October, or the 5-night Disney Wonder in January/February out of Miami. Those dates/ships at usually less expensive on a per diem basis.

I was reading that people tend to do shorter ones but DH thinks 3 days is not enough he wants 5 or more on a cruise but we may have to do just do a 3 or 4 day

First, book as far out as possible. Cruise fares rise as the space fills, so, for the most part, the costs will be higher the closer to the cruise it is.

 

Now, if you're able to take vacation at the last minute (in the 45-60 days out timeframe), some cruises may have last-minute restricted fares. However these typically are not available for parties over 4 (sometimes not even quads are available). These fares only come out on those cruises that haven't been selling well, and have lots of restrictions:

 

When booking this restricted-fare category stateroom, please note the following:

• New bookings only. Existing reservations cannot be modified to these new categories.

• You are reserving a stateroom within the selected stateroom type: Inside, Oceanview or Verandah*.

• Disney Cruise Line will assign your specific stateroom at a later time, based on remaining availability.

• Specific stateroom requests will not be accommodated.

• Full payment is required at the time of booking for all Guests and is non-refundable.

• Sail date and stateroom category changes are not permitted.

• The stateroom offer cannot be combined with any other discounted or promotional offer.

• Full legal names of all Guests are required at time of booking and no name changes are allowed.

• * Most Verandah staterooms include a private verandah with a clear plexiglass wall; some may include a solid white wall depending upon location. A limited number of Oceanview and Verandah staterooms may include a partially obstructed view.

Excellent idea, we always book far out so will see how far out we can look with Disney.

Any tips or suggestions on how to afford a DCL cruise? I really want to go but DH is having a hard time agreeing with me due to pricing. When we do go there will be 5 of us (me, DH, 12yo boy, 4yo girl, 2yo boy). A 3-4 day is as much as a 7 day on others. I know I am getting a better experience but how do I make it affordable???

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I loved it! Used it for our first family cruise and would do it again in a heartbeat

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If anyone has stayed in this room please share details and pics with us!?!? Thanks!

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Thanks! That helps some...I just love having a balcony and sitting out there in the mornings.

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We are looking into possibly booking the Dream for November 2015. There are 5 of us and we have been informed that we can only be in an ocean view room. Has anyone been in one with 5 people? I really want my balcony but was told I would have to get two rooms that join with balconies. Thanks!

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Awesome! Can't wait to see the pictures~ LaToya

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It was hard for me to stay up late and I'm not even 30 yet! Just use to being up early~ LaToya

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My husband has sailed in interior rooms. My first one we had a balcony and I can't imagine NOT having one!

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I just want a simple picture. :D I have read that you have to be a certain height in order to be able to do the ropes course (which my little one won't be big enough yet) and read that they have a "mini" ropes course below for the little ones. However, I have yet to find a picture of it. Can you take a picture please? :)

And the maximum weight would be nice to know too.

We are leaving soon for the sunny beaches of Ft. Lauderdale, followed by our Getaway cruise (finally). Anyone have anything specific they'd like to know?

 

LrgPizza - forgive me (please!! LOL ) I know I was supposed to find out something for you regarding the kids' club, but I didn't write it down. What was it?

Any of the dailies especially for the kids (my two will be 11 and 3 when we go)

The sliding doors are really heavy. First you have to move the handle 90 degrees and then pull pretty hard. Our 9 year old had to give it some might to move. Also at the very top there was something you could lock the door. We never used it but I saw it. No kid would be able to reach that.<br/>

Thanks for that info I was wondering if there was a second lock.

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Thanks for all the ideas when we go on the Getaway January 3rd, 2015

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I am hoping someone here may know the answer to this. This will be our first cruise with NCL. When we cruised with Carnival I brought cash to put on our "accounts" as I did not want to tie up my cards. Anyways, I am online and it looks like if we do the cash option that the minimum is $100 per person, per day!

Here is what it says online:

Cash/Traveler's Checks Procedures You can deposit cash or US Traveler's Checks into your onboard account. To start, US$100 per person per day is required, although more can be deposited depending on what you plan to spend.

Is that true? That means if I wanted to use cash for our onboard account, that I would have to bring $2800!!! That can't be right, or is it?

Can't wait to read the rest of the review. My DW&Ks are cruising on the elation in January and we also booked a park and cruise at the quality inn in Gretna ourselves.