WOW You are Planning a Disney Cruise!
You are considering or have booked your very first Disney Cruise. Congratulations!!!! You are going to have one amazing vacation!
What are some things you should know to make the
most out of your Disney Cruise? I’ll start out with things you should know from
booking your cruise to what to do before you go and then move onto what to do
when you board the ship.
First off let’s talk about booking your cruise.
You can book directly with Disney on their website or by calling them. You can
also find your friendly and trusted Disney Certified (they took the College of
Disney Knowledge training) Travel Agent and book with them. The reason I say Disney
Focused. One, most do not charge extra fees for booking vacations for their client.
If they do skip them! In other words, you will not be charged more for going
through the Travel Agent than if you had booked yourself. Two, having gone
through the training at the College of Disney Knowledge they have more
expertise in handling your booking and answering your questions. Why not do it
yourself? The agent should watch for any problems and handle them. If any
unforeseen problems arise the agent should take care of it for you. The agent
should be willing to book all the little things such as Port Adventures and
even your Shipboard Adventures such as spa time and meals at the Adult Only
Palo and Remy Restaurants. If there are any changes in policies, such as
changes in Covid-19 testing or Pay in Full Date your agent should notify you
and help you understand and make any necessary adjustments to your trip.
No matter how you book your cruise book early.
This is to save you money. The closer to the date of the cruise the quicker and
more the price goes up. It takes a small deposit to book your cruise and then
you can make payments or pay it off all at once by the date Disney Cruise Line
sets. Pay in Full (PIF) dates are changing right now. When you book it may say
90-105 days out but due to Covid-19 DCL may change that to 60 days.
There are several other money saving tips
besides booking early. Purchase Disney Gift Cards at Target Stores using your
Target Red Card (Debit or Credit) and save 5%. There are other places that sell
Disney Gift Cards at a discount like Sam’s Club and some shops on EBates. Use
the gift cards to pay off your cruise! You can also use these gift cards to pay
for your gratuities, shopping on the ships, Port and Shipboard Adventures along
with anything else that could be charged to your cabin.
Some agents give On Board Credit (OBC). On Board
Credit is a gift that some Travel Agents will give you to spend on the ship.
This goes onto your shipboard account and can be used to pay everything from
gratuities to Port/Shipboard Adventures. Any money spent on the ship goes
through your Shipboard Account! Friends and family may also put OBC on your
folio. You can even put some spending money on your account before you leave so
you have a set budget.
*** Booking Tips ***
·
Big
Tip 1 *** You don’t have to pay extra to book with a Travel Agent!!!
o
If
they want to charge find a different agent!
·
Big
Tip 2 *** A Travel Agent will do all the work while you plan to play!!!
o
Have
your agent do as much or as little as you wish!
o
Your
agent can:
§ Book the cruise.
§ Make the payments for you.
§ Answer questions.
§ Arrange for any special needs to be taken care of.
§ Do your online check-in
§ Book your Port and Shipboard Activities for you.
·
Big
Tip 3 *** There are a few ways to save money!
o Watch for them and use them.
§ Booking Early before prices go up.
§ Pay with Discounted Disney Gift Cards are the
easiest to do!
Once you have booked there are still things to
do before you go. If you have a Travel Agent, ask them what date you can book
your Adventures. You must have Paid in Full (PIF) before you can book, no
matter if the required Pay in Full Date has arrived or is a after the Booking
date. The date you can book Port Adventures and things to do on the ship is
based on your Castaway Club Level. Your Castaway Club Level is passed on how
many Disney Cruises you have taken. Here is the breakdown of those dates.
·
First
time cruisers can book things 75 days
before sailing.
·
Silver
Castaway Club Members (those that have sailed
2-5 times with DCL) can book 90 days early.
·
Gold
Castaway Club Members (those who have sailed
6-10 times with DCL) can book 105 days out.
·
Platinum
Castaway Club Member (those who have sailed
10+- DCL cruises) can book 120 days early.
Before the date to book arrives look at the
things to do on the ship and in ports. Decide what you would like to do and on
the first available day book it if you can. You don’t have to pay until you
travel. If you decide to change your plans that is ok! You can cancel
adventures before you sail if you wish! Make sure you know the last date you
can cancel and change plans. Most things are 24 hours before the adventure. If
you have booked a port adventure for day 3 of your cruise you can cancel up to
day 2 of your cruise. Many Travel Agents will handle booking your chosen
Adventures for you if you wish. You also need your last date to pay and date
for online booking.
Why should you book your Port and Shipboard
Adventures before you go? Because they are limited and fill up fast! Your dream
of a once in a lifetime swim with the dolphins could be crushed if you wait
until the day you board to book and that Port Adventure is full! Also, why
spend your precious and hard-earned vacation time booking adventures you could
have done from home in your spare time? Palo and Remy fill up quickly as well. You
don’t want to miss some adult quiet time!
How do you find out what is available to do?? Go
to DisneyCruise.com or the Disney Cruise Navigator App and look at the Port
Adventures offered for your ports of call. Then go look at the things to do on
the ship. Decided if Adult Dining are something you would like to do. Would you
like some Spa time? That can be booked beforehand as well. Check out what they
offer! Remember once you choose your adventures your Travel Agent can book them
for you.
Are you interested in making friends onboard?
Consider joining a Facebook Group set up for your cruise. These are NOT
associated with Disney but set up by a fellow cruiser. Just do a search on
Facebook. For example, cruising January 26th, 2023, on the Dream I
search for Disney Dream January 26th, 2023 and find Disney Dream
January 26th, 2023 Cruise Facebook page. Here you will find people
you can meet up with on the ship. Maybe you have kids, and you want to preset
playmates. Maybe you have someone in your group in the awkward age of 18-21?
Too old for the Kids Clubs yet too young for the Adult scene. See if they have
other people that age to mix and mingle with. You can join a Fish Extender
Group (FE) (Click here for more information on Fish Extenders http://pixiepranks-panstinkerbell.blogspot.com/2012/03/fish-extender-what-is-it-why-should-i.html Door Decor is also something fun to work on and
you can learn more in a group (Here is a link to more information http://pixiepranks-panstinkerbell.blogspot.com/2012/03/disney-cruise-line-door-decor.html In this group you can ask questions about
Disney Cruising and get answers from the pros, people who have been there done
that. You don’t have to join the FE Groups or decorate your door if you don’t
wish to. But they are both fun to do!
Make sure you have any necessary documents such
as Passports and Original Copies of Birth Certificates so you can do your
online check-in. Make sure they are packed to go with you as you will need them
to board the ship! As the date gets closer know the dates to check in online
and to book your Adventures as stated before. Have your Adventures picked out
before the online check-in date so you can get in quickly and book them before
they fill up.
If you are a US Citizen and leaving and
returning to a US port technically you do not need a Passport. BUT, it is
advisable to have a Passport Book just
in case of emergency. If something were to happen while in a non US port you
could have problems getting home without one. A NON-Disney ship caught fire
while in port in the Caribbean and guests had to figure out how to fly home.
Those without passports had to wait until they could get to the US Consulate to
get emergency passports. Yes, the cruise line helped them but they could have
been helped much quicker with a Passport Book.
Download the FREE Navigator App and if on the Wish also download the
Disney Parks Play App, to your smart phone and/or tablet. While at home the
Navigator App can keep a countdown until your cruise. Lots of fun! Once on the
ship it will become invaluable! It will give you the daily and complete cruise
schedule of events so you can make plans wisely. It allows you to keep in touch
with other people onboard the ship, allowing you to send messages to each
other. It lets you set reminders for events you don’t want to miss on the ship.
(More app info here https://pixiepranks-panstinkerbell.blogspot.com/2022/06/disney-navigator-app.html)
Pack wisely. Ask your Travel Agent for a
suggested packing list for your chosen destination and season. Know what items
are not allowed (Check out this link for prohibited items https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/my-cruise-plans/faqs/prohibited-items/prohibited-items/ Make sure you have all necessary items such as
medication in the original bottles and medical equipment.
Plan for FUN!!!! Check your health, make sure
the activities you wish to do are suitable for YOU. Plan ahead and deal with
any health issues you can. Do you have special needs members of your group?
Find out all the information you can and prepare them. If they have mobility
issues, make sure they have an accessible cabin. Do not be afraid to ask
questions of your Travel Agent and/or Disney Cruise Line! Explain what will be
going on and what will be available for them. Encourage them to be part of the
planning process if possible. Be aware that not all Port or Shipboard
Adventures are suitable for all guests. At non US ports the vendors do not have
to comply with the US ADA laws. Often the Port Adventures are ok but if the
ship is Tendered offshore it is not possible to get into the Tender boat to get
to shore. There is still plenty to do. Disney Cruise Ships and Disney’s
Castaway Cay is completely compliant with ADA laws and very inclusive.
Notify Disney Cruise Line of all allergies or
special medical needs 60 days before the cruise. Let the cruise line know if
you have a young child that is using formula. Your Travel Agent can do it as
well. If anybody uses a CPAP and needs water for it let them know and it will
be provided free of charge.
Know your Online Check-In Date and have your
Proof of Citizenship, Photo of yourself, Payment method for your ship-board
folio, and travel information ready. You will pick your Port Arrival Time (PAT)
once you have completed Online Check-In. At this time Online Check-In is done
30 Days before your cruise. Do it early so if DCL requires you to resend
information you can.
Be ready 15 days from your cruise upload your
Covid-19 Vaccination Card to the Safe Passage website.
Get a Covid-19 test and upload your negative
results no more than 2 days prior to sailing and upload no later than 11:59pm
the night before you leave. Again, I say do it as early as you can. If you do
not do this you will have to take the test in the port and pay $129 per person
for the test.
*** After Booking /
Pre-Cruise Tips ***
·
Big
Tip 1 *** Know important dates such as last day to pay, online booking date and
when you can book Port and Shipboard Adventures
·
Big
Tip 2 *** Discuss what Adventures you wish before dates to book open.
·
Big
Tip 3 *** Join a group! Maybe join a Fish Extender Group
·
Big
Tip 4 *** Get your documents in order! Passports can take 6-12 weeks to
process! You WILL need them to board the ship!
·
Big
Tip 5 *** Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App
·
Big
Tip 6 *** Plan your fun! Especially if you have special needs members of your
group. Know what is available and where things are limited.
·
Big
Tip 7 *** Disney Cruise Line can only help you IF you tell them your special
needs. This includes allergies and special medical needs.
·
Big
Tip 8 *** Know your Online Check-In Date and be ready with all the paperwork.
·
Big
Tip 9 *** Know your Safe Passage Check-In date
·
Big
Tip 10 *** Know your date for taking and uploading your Negative Covid-19 Test
Result
Once on the ship switch your Navigator App to
active. This requires turning your phone to Airplane Mode and following a few
on screen directions. Use the app to send messages to family, friends, and
fellow passengers you become friends with. Check the above link for more
information on the use of the app. Also make sure you take advantage of the
printed Personal Navigator that is left in your stateroom every day. The
Navigator is a schedule of all the things happening on the ship. One of the
special things on longer cruise that you should be looking on the Navigator app
for are special Disney Behind the Scenes events. They have Disney Imangineers
and others give talks. You can learn a lot of interesting things at these
events. There are also The Art of Disney Entertainment sessions. At these you
can learn how to make some of the special foods served at Disney locations.
There are also special tours of the ship. My favorite is the Art of the Theme Show
Tour.
One of the first things to do on the ship is the
Sail Away Deck Party. This is an amazing party on the deck of the ship. They
cover the pools and turn them into places where you can dance and dance you do.
This is the best thing to take your young children too. At this party the youth
councilors are introduced. The kids will get excited about the Kids Clubs at
this party.
Now that you are on the ship relax and have
fun!! Let the kids enjoy the Kids Clubs and you enjoy the adult spots! Enjoy
the family time together!
Do you want to book a Disney Cruise Line or other Disney Vacation? Let me know!
Carolyn@EliteMemoriesTravel.com
https://www.facebook.com/CarolynsPixieDustedMemoriesAtEliteMemoriesTravel
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