Originally Posted By mickeymeg Hi everyone. We are strongly considering booking ourselves on one of the Alaskan Cruises. The thing is, we have never been on a Disney cruise, or any cruise for that matter, before. We have spoken to a travel agent at Mouse Ears about pricing and it looks like the fancy rooms with verandahs are just outside our budget. Has any on traveled in an inside cabin before ? I know we won't have the fabulous view obviously, but I don't think we will be spending that much time in the room as it sounds like there is lots to do around the ship. Do you think it is still worth doing with the basic room ? What else can you tell us about cruising with Disney ? We will be traveling with friends, and both families will be 2 adults with a 2 year old. Also do you think it would be worth a bit of extra money to go on the very first cruise up to Alaska ? Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much -Meg
Originally Posted By Kala If you don't mind not being able to see outside an inside cabin is great! We've cruised with Disney 4 times and will be going on another one in March 2010. DH needs a window. But we did look in an inside cabin on our last cruise and it wasn't too bad. The room is dark but so are the other ones and we bring a night light for the bathroom when we cruise. We are biased and haven't cruised with other cruise lines because we like the Disney experience. We had a verandah the first 2 cruises and while they were nice we used them maybe twice out of the 7 days we were on the ship. We were kept that busy! Here are some options you may want to consider if you are set on going to Alaska. Book a secret porthole room, (SPH). These are inside cabins on Deck 5 that are billed as a cat. 10 You get a porthole that is view obstruct but isn't all that bad. We were able to get one for our next cruise! here is a link with info. and pictures: <a href="http://www.disneycruiser.info/pics.htm" target="_blank">http://www.disneycruiser.info/pics.htm</a> They go fast so booking them early is key, but I called back last month and one opened up so I changed cabins. Another option is to find a travel agency that buys blocks of room for group reservations this will save you some $$ because the price is discounted. I recommend using a Disney TA Like Dreams Unlimited, Small world vacations, we used them for our first cruise and they were great, and mouse ears. Ask if they have any cabins at a group rate. We used Costco too but some of their agents are what we call Disney clueless so we ask for someone who has experience dealing with Disney cruises. We got over $700 back in Costco gift cards when we got back from our last cruise. We had booked 2 rooms one for my brothers family and one for us. We have no children and enjoy cruising with Disney because they are more laid back and the service is top notch we have never been disappointed. the first 3 times we had to share our meals with other cruisers and Disney did a fantastic time pair us up with other families. You probably won't have to do that since you have enough people for a table. There are a lot of activities to keep you busy from when you get up until you go to sleep. Sometimes we just sit back and relax. I haven't been on a cruise to Alaska, but then again I lived there for 20 years. Everyone I know who has taken a cruise through Holland America or Norweigan said it was the most beautiful cruise ever! I'm sure we'll cruise to Alaska with Disney after the newness of the new itinerary dies down. Personally I think the AK cruise is overpriced. We like the Caribbean cruises because we LOVE castaway cay Disney's private island. Hope this helps to get you started. Let us know how it goes!
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder I hate to be blasphemous here, but decide what your primary goal is, going on a Disney cruise or going on an Alaskan cruise. If it's Alaska more than Disney, then check out Royal Caribbean or Princess cruise lines as well, because RCL and/or Princess might be priced a lot better than Disney.
Originally Posted By mickeymeg Thanks Kira. I will look into the secret porthole rooms, those look great to me =) SSP, our goal is the Disney cruise. Because we live pretty much where the cruise sets off from it is a great option for us. Disney is finally coming to us =) The cost of flying to Florida and staying there for a few days puts the carribean cruise out of our budget for now. Not to mention the fact that if we were to be in Florida anyway we would be forced to spend some time in WDW. One Day....
Originally Posted By tiggerdis_ lol - when you find this thread on community, it says Alaska has been moved. I didn't know this little website could do that!
Originally Posted By teachin I have been on 5 Disney cruises and stayed in the inside rooms everytime. They are fine. I have also been on an Alaskan cruise it is beautiful. I would prefer going to Alaska on Disney as compared to the other cruise lines so I say go for it. Usually there is a "star" on the first cruise of a new itinerary but they dont usually say who it is so it is a chance you are taking.
Originally Posted By Kira <<Thanks Kira. I will look into the secret porthole rooms, those look great to me =)>> LOL I had to re read through the thread, I thought I was going crazy and had commented but missed it!
Originally Posted By Kira haha yep, I think it has happened more than once around the boards too. Heck even I scroll through every once in awhile and mistake myself for Kala LOL!
Originally Posted By Kala Kira I'm honored to be mistaken as you, girl you are Awesome AND a CM!! WOOOT! Big congrats!
Originally Posted By Kala Mickeymeg, book as early as you possibly can because the prices do tend to go up on the DCL. When you book you put down a deposit and, if they haven't changed the rules in the last year, you pay off your balance 75 days before your cruise. If you want to cancel the cruise you can BEFORE the final payment due date and you'll get your deposit back! After the final due date you get a percentage back. Check with them to make sure it is still the same. We rebook onboard to get the 10% discount and On Board Credit (OBC). Our last cruise was in 2008 my DB rebooked and has been saving so they can have everything paid off to go in 2010. They changed their date when it became available. NO charge for the first change. I always tell people to make sure to save for a deposit for rebooking when they take a Disney cruise. Here are some tips I used when I planned my first cruise: Start a word document and cut and paste information that you find to the doc when you see it because you won't remember where you saw it later. I later put them into categories to find them easier. Start a cruise box. We have a plastic bin I keep our cruise things in then about 6 mos. out I make a list of things I need to add, tape it to the box lid, and cross it out when I throw it in. Here is what I keep in the box permanently: pop up hamper shoe holder that goes over the hanger rod and looks like shelves. People who have kids swear by the clear plastic shoe holders. night light multiple outlet plug in - Some people use extension cords, this is less cumbersome. We use it in the bathroom mostly. Snorkle equip. you probably won't be doing this on the Alaska cruise! LOL! night light Pirate gear Just a few suggestions. I hope they will help with any planning.
Originally Posted By Kira <<Kira I'm honored to be mistaken as you, girl you are Awesome AND a CM!! WOOOT! Big congrats!>> Thanks Kala Never had anyone be honored when mistaken for me before haha. So cool! All this cruise talk has me wanting to go on a cruise now too!
Originally Posted By mickeymeg Wooo Hooo ! We just booked and put a deposit on a Disney Cruise to Alaska on May 3rd 2011 =) Thank you for the Tips Kala ! I am staring a word doc right now with your tips in it. I can't wait, this will be my first cruise and likely my little ones first Disney Vacation.
Originally Posted By Kala YAY! I can't wait to hear about the Alaska cruise! Kira you should plan a cruise they really are a lot of fun!
Originally Posted By BellesLibrarian Thanks for posting this. I had the same questions. Still no answers on this end, though. Tough coming up with a huge deposit for a trip that is nearly 2 years away (we are looking at dates in August).
Originally Posted By Kala MickeyMeg Disboards.com has an excellent Disney cruise section with a TON of awesome tips on cruising. Check them out!
Originally Posted By Kala Belles Librarian try the Disboards there is a great topic on the Alaska cruise with dates, prices, etc...
Originally Posted By Megara A Disney cruise is fantastic. It's good clean fun. With family atmosphere. No sleazy drunk people on these cruises. I would book a room with a window. Yeah, I hear people say "we won't spend much time in the room".. but its lovely to wake up and see a new location out the window. The first glimpse of Castaway Cay from your window, early in the morning, when they dock. To see where you are, the weather for the day, sunny or rainy. To watch the ocean go by.. lovely.
