28 days until first cruise- some planning thoughts from a 1st cruiser who is not new to Disney.

[katyringo]

These thoughts have been swirling in my head as we plan for our first Disney cruise. We are not new to Disney. Frequent Disney park visitors who know are avid Disney planners and know the ins and outs of all the park systems. Planning our first cruise has been a different experience and I think it could be helpful for others like me to read something like this. This will come off as complaining because it is lol- I am confident we will have an amazing trip. Trust I know I'm very type A. Once I'm actually there I relax, but I am a person that likes all the details.

In full disclosure I have found the cruise planning to be frustrating at times coming from the parks side. This is just my experience. Now that we are within 30 days and all the activity booking, online check in, pay in full dates have passed I wanted to capture these thoughts.

The first thing I learned quickly that was much different then the parks is the strictness around pay in full/refundability of the cruises. With the parks it's 30 days beforehand but even after that point Disney will work with you to move your trip and your tickets always retain their value. With our 7 day cruise paying in full 120 days beforehand and being locked in was a little nerve wrecking for us. For our parks trips we have never really bought trip insurance - but we 100% did for the cruise. I assume this is fairly standard in the cruise industry but could take someone. Used to parks planning off guard.

The next thing that I found was the very vague information you can find directly from Disney about the activities for your cruise. Until that activity booking window opens you really have no specifics to go off of. If it wasn't for our Facebook group I would have been completely in the dark.

When booking I find the lack of true pricing to be off putting. Example: we are booking a couples villa spa thing. The starting at price drives me nuts and the vague descriptions. It's going to make checking into the experience less relaxing for me because I am going to need to know what the final cost is going to be before I will relax and enjoy it. Disney posts every single menu and price for the parks idk why they can't make that happen for the cruise too.


I would really like to know our dinner rotation ahead of time. Thanks to the cruise Facebook group I know which day is formal night so that's good as I did not want my daughter having BBB that night as we plan to do some family pictures. We like to plan outfits and things around shows/dinners. Not super important but just again would be nice.

Online check in was an absolute disaster. I knew we would get a later PAT. We got 1pm which is fine. What was beyond frustrating was it took 90 minutes to get through it due to the spinning wheel of death. Disney IT is never perfect but it can handle thousands of people going for virtual queues and lightning lanes- they can fix the cruise online check in.

Thankfully I had done enough Facebook group and disboards research to know that I should go for Royal gathering first if it was importsnt to us. Which I did and got it. How would a first time cruiser without being part of these online Disney communities know that? That's a critique I have for Disney for the parks too. That those of us who manage the systems best is because of these communities not because Disney themselves.

If I was a first time cruiser on my cruise who drank alcohol and was very excited about some of the tasting experiences and palo I would have been very disappointed come activity booking day. Everything was sold out. Every single thing except royal tea and spa treatments. I do think some palo dinner experiences have opened up. None of this was top of my list but there were some frustrations in our Facebook group. I see both sides of this issue. I'll admit one of the reasons I was hesitant to try a Disney cruise was because I thought as a first timer we wouldn't get anything. Who knows what the solution is to that.

Lastly- why in the world does Disney not have a way to see your on board credit account prior to sailing? We purchased some with Disney gift cards. I have the confirmation emails and I am confident they are there but it seems like such a simple thing to do.

I very very excited for our cruise and know it will be great. This is a critique of the planning experience only. All that's left now is getting on the boat!

 

[supercarrie]

I'm a regular cruiser with Royal and going on my second cruise with DCL (first since 2001) in a few weeks followed by another RCCL cruise. I largely agree with all of the points above (and not criticizing, either!) Just things I noticed, too.

For cruising - 100% travel insurance is a must, not just because of the stricter cancellation policies. You also want to make sure you have adequate medical and medical evacuation insurance in the event of a medical issue on board. It is just a difference with an international trip on the ocean versus a domestic trip where your medical insurance would often be able to be used in another state.

However, DCL's cancellation policies are fairly standard - in fact, they are even more generous than Royal's, which typically requires a non-refundable deposit unless you pay a higher fare. +1 for DCL for me here.

Agree on the pricing and activities. I have a son who has zero interest in the Royal Gathering, and to be honest I was so thankful - it seems like the sign-ups for this are very limited and I've listened to so many podcasts who mention disappointed families who see it and can't get into the event, especially since it is held so publicly in the Grand Hall on the Wish. Also, I wish we knew the dining rotation ahead of time, too! We aren't interested in Palo this trip, but knowing when to book it would be helpful.

Online check-in worked fine for us, but I wish it was embedded within the app (like Royal) versus it being in a web browser. Just felt like outdated technology. Very minor point here. I liked that status gave you access to an earlier check-in date (thankful for my one cruise I took as a teenager). Royal doesn't give you an earlier check-in date with a higher tier status.

And lastly - agree with you on the onboard credit. We are doing two cruises in a row, and have DCL and Royal credits, and cannot view the DCL credit in advance online but can see the Royal credit (and use it for pre booked purchases).

We are very excited for both cruises and look forward to comparing the experiences.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

A lot of these items are standard or similar to cruise lines. DCL gives priority to return guests for reservations in a way that not all other lines do.

For trip insurance, don’t buy through the cruise line. Better coverage can be bought for cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Sabres431]

We are preparing for our first Disney cruise in August and this is the most frustrating process I've ever seen. We are in DVC, made many trips to WDW and have cruise with Royal, Norwegian, Carnival, and MSC, soo we are familiar with Disney and cruising. I don't understand how they get repeat cruisers based off of the process so far. I can't even begin to plan excursions that I WANT to go on or have a backup plan in case they are sold out because they don't even allow you to see what excursions are available. You can go to their website and look but not all of those may be offered on your sailing. I would really like to do some of the tastings but from everything I've read, since we are 1st time Disney cruisers, we'll be out of luck. I've never seen this level of "caste system" on any other cruise line. Yes, loyalty gets people perks but not to the point of availability of activities. I'm at a point where there is literally nothing to plan because it is all hidden until our "time".

 

[imbelle]

On the flip side, I just had the experience of booking a DCL Fantasy 4 day cruise only a week in advance of the sail date. I'm normally a meticulous planner (DCL platinum) but I was pleasantly surprised at how things worked out. I was able to reserve length of cruise Rainforest passes online and there were still beverage tastings available if we would have been interested in those. As we were not planning to disembark the ship in Nassau and just do beach time at Lookout Cay, I didn't peruse the excursions page.
We were assigned a 1:15 boarding time by online check in and were able to walk right on the ship when we arrived at the port. Once on board I was able to reserve a Palo brunch for our at sea day with no problem. The Royal Gatherings were sold out online but I was able to see all of the same princesses in their individual meet and greets throughout the cruise. The Guest Services desk would put out the next day's paper Navigators about 5pm the day before so it was easy to just highlight what you wanted to do in one format showing you the entire day.
We also ended up changing our stateroom two days prior to sailing and scored a cabin with an extended verandah that was about 3 times the size of a regular verandah. I believe the ship was pretty full because when we originally went to book, the website was not showing any available cabins but we were able to book one via phone.
It was good to know that a spontaneous trip doesn't necessarily mean that you'll miss out on everything.

 

[Sabres431]

Oddly, the Royal gathering is the only thing that opens up to everyone at the same time, from what I've read.

 

[WB1971]

The real lesson that will come out of this is it’s really not necessary to plan a bunch of minutiae ahead of time. Sooo much easier than the parks. Who cares about what dining rotation you have? You’ll go to all the restaurants. You can probably book tastings onboard if that’s critical as well as adult only dining, and honestly there are so many things to do, first timers won’t need to worry about it. Most third party excursions aren’t going to sell out, and there’s always plenty to do at any stop regardless. We love the parks, we love cruises, you simply don’t have to bust your butt to hyper plan a cruise to get the most out of it. Enjoy.

 

[Sabres431]

The real lesson that will come out of this is it’s really not necessary to plan a bunch of minutiae ahead of time. Sooo much easier than the parks. Who cares about what dining rotation you have? You’ll go to all the restaurants. You can probably book tastings onboard if that’s critical as well as adult only dining, and honestly there are so many things to do, first timers won’t need to worry about it. Most third party excursions aren’t going to sell out, and there’s always plenty to do at any stop regardless. We love the parks, we love cruises, you simply don’t have to bust your butt to hyper plan a cruise to get the most out of it. Enjoy.

Maybe not, but I'd sure like to know what my options are before my time comes to reserve things. Why they are hidden is beyond me.

 

[WB1971]

Fair enough. They’ve been doing the same ports and excursions for years and years, so likely researchable online somewhere. (Get your point though) Back in the day you could go to a bookstore and buy books that accurately described excursions months/years in advance.

 

[CaptainMarvel]

Not being able to see what's available before your booking window opens is definitely one of the more annoying aspects of cruising DCL, but I will say that I have found that joining the Facebook groups for my specific cruises has been helpful in terms of both setting expectations and sometimes getting actual updates on what is/isn't currently available prior to my booking window opening. I've also had a lot of luck with snagging excursions or dinning that were fully booked when my booking window opened just by repeatedly checking the app.

 

[Mommb]

Maybe not, but I'd sure like to know what my options are before my time comes to reserve things. Why they are hidden is beyond me.

I can see both sides of the issue in listing details for all possible bookings before booking windows open.

On one hand, it is more difficult to make plans without knowing what the possibilities are. Disney does have lists of shore excursions for ports that have been visited recently, spa and salon treatments, beverage tastings, and other activities on the Disney Cruise website. These don't have prices or times/days, but they do provide a sense of what might be available.

On the other hand, seeing a long list of options, making specific plans for what you'll book each day, and then finding that most of the options are gone by the time you can book is frustrating.
For most guests, especially first-timers, there is much more to do than time available to do it. Guests can take a look at what is actually available and decide whether to book it, without worrying about what they could have done if they booked earlier. Activities that are full are still listed at the bottom of the list of what is still available each day, so that if there is something you really want, you can check for cancellations.

When an event in the Disney parks, such as an afterhours party, sells out, it typically stays sold out. On a cruise, there is often (though not always) availability even once the cruise begins for adult dining and spa treatments.

I agree that it' s distressing that the excursions listed for ports aren't always offered. I've run into that problem especially for ports in Europe that are visited just a few times a year -- many of the activities available in the past were not offered on my cruise. If there is an issue that causes an excursion to be cancelled on one sailing, though, it's possible it will be available on another, so the list on the DCL site won't match every sailing. Also, unlike most events at the Disney parks, most shore excursions are run by outside companies so DCL may not know a year in advance, or even a 6 months in advance, what those companies can or will be doing in a way that they can for events at the parks. (This is similar to the way that every year when the list of restaurants on the Disney Dining Plan for the next year comes it, some privately-owned restaurants are missing for a few weeks until contracts are finalized.)

The main events at the parks are bookable well in advance -- afterhours parties, tours, dining. Long-term ride closures are announced in advance. But nearly every day when I've been at the parks, a ride goes down unexpected, so it's impossible to know everything in advance.

 

[OhThePain]

We are getting ready to take our third DCL cruise in a few months and I agree about some of the lack of information for the planning and on board activity booking process, particularly not knowing the dining rotation ahead of time.

It can get frustrating not having much of a chance at booking things like Palo brunch or most of the tastings, but I am also not mad at DCL about it. Most cruise lines offer a lot of extras or discounts onboard for return cruisers including specialty dining, drinks, casino credit, priority seatings for shows, etc., etc., etc., and it usually doesn't take too many cruises to start earning them. Literally, in some cases, pages of extras. DCL doesn't really do that. The one major benefit you earn along the way is the opportunity to book things onboard earlier (which is a line that can still be cut anyway by booking concierge) and eventually a meal at Palo. Keep in mind though, the people who can book activities early were once in your shoes, where they may not have been able to book much either. Obviously, DCL does something right in their eyes to deserve their business even without much benefit.

Remember, people cancel things all the time. They may book first and think it over second and decide against keeping the reservation. We are under 70 days and our cruise still has beer tasting availabilities. Palo and Enchante have had openings come and go for dinner (I have yet to see a single brunch reservation come up, but that is to be expected). I have even been able to book a Stem to Stern Wine Tasting for me and my wife and a Reserve Whiskey Tasting for myself. Sure, it takes luck and good timing, but being able to book things is not impossible.

Extras are nice, but they aren't necessary to enjoy your cruise. Don't let the FOMO get to you. There are still plenty of things to do. Just go with the flow and enjoy yourself.

 

[thegreatdonaldo]

I just wanted to throw out that it really depends on when and where you are sailing. I am doing a b2b on Wish in March. These are my first DCL cruises and I was able to book a cabana at Serenity Bay, spa passes, Palo dinner, Palo brunch, and every drink tasting except Mixology 101.

 

[Girl of the South]

Are you Concierge?

 

[Chrispy97]

I would also check again as soon as you are on DCL WiFi at the port and logged into the true cruise app. We were on the Treasure in the first week of February, and we were able to book a number of things that were sold out on embarkation day or later on the ship because of cancellations (gin tasting for me, chocolate and liquor for my wife, and 3 for martini tasting). My whiskey tasting also ended up being 2 participants with the bartender in Hook's, and I'm shocked so many canceled and more didn't sign up for that.

I'm sure some of it had to do with the Treasure sailing losing the San Juan port and having to rearrange schedules (San Juan day became a sea day, sea day became Lookout Cay day, and things got rearranged.) But there will still be cancellations even while you are on the boat that you can check for in less than 30 seconds on the app that you are already using to find the event schedule.

 

[MomOTwins]

I much prefer how the cruise line does it. Would you rather it be like Genie+ where you have to race thousands of people to book 7 days ahead of time, then on the day constantly refresh and scroll to see what you can get? On the cruise nearly every activity is no reservations required—you just walk up 15 mins before. Then there are a handful you can prebook but at least you know if you can’t get it this trip you’ll have priority to book it next time because your loyalty is rewarded, unlike the parks where the first time we got a fastpass for flight of passage was our 5th trip because every time before we couldn’t prebook it and weren’t quick enough to grab the same day drops despite frantically refreshing all day long.

 

[emilymad]

The main difference is on a cruise you don't need to do all of this planning. It doesn't matter what your dining rotation is. Everyone visits all of the restaurants. Availability for restaurants and tastings usually open up closer to sailing or once you are onboard. Excursions usually open up once you are within in the 3 day cancellation period before sailing. And many of things Disney just can't provide the details up front because it is outside of their control. Even the events on the Navigator can change each day from what is a typical sailing. It can be hard to understand how little of these things matter until you go on your first sailing but the entire cruise really requires extremely minimal planning.

 

[Living42Day]

I'm sorry that planning has been such a struggle. It definitely requires research. We did our first cruise last year, but I don't feel like we ran into as many issues. Granted, we didn't want to book a ton of excursions or onboard activities because I knew we would be content with just being on the ship and exploring since we were so new to cruising. I have difficulty when things are too scheduled, so cruising is nice when we want to just go with the flow on board. Maybe different demographics of each cruise plays a part of things getting snatched up quick?

We've been using the Port Adventures website to research which excursions we want to do for our Alaska cruise. That site is super helpful and pretty detailed about what each activity offers, along with price ahead of time. I'm not sure if you found this, it is kind of tucked away on the Disney website. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/overview/

I hope you have fun, you'll love it once you're on-board!