Breakdown of 1st Disney Fantasy Cruise in 18mos

[Meriweather]

We're in 9654....we'll see.

 

[RAD]

A few years ago we were in 10600 and on the run from St Thomas to CC when they’re really booking there was a bad vibration, especially aft. The monitors in The Tube were shaking, even the towel animal on the bed was shaking.

 

[Sherrilatte]

For most of these teams the answer is technically both. DCL was pushing for everyone to do everything virtually through the app chat with a cast member feature but not all teams were available each day. In the app you select which department/team you need to speak with before typing your message. It's supposed to be a live chat but there's always the chance they could take a while to reply to you.

Guest services said they wanted you to use the chat feature first then reach them via pre-booked in-person appointment, then speak to them via walk up as a last resort. That being said, the guest service desk was usually empty of guests so whenever I walked up to them they were happy to help.

The dining team was only available during embarkation. The guest services cast member I spoke to only knew of them being available on that day and through the app only. The port adventures desk was often closed but a cast member was usually available for their app chat. Those were both shifts that the port adventures cast members rotated between.

Most spa services were available via app pre-booking but there were also cast members eager to book for you in person. Although several services were marked as sold out, the spa/fitness center looked mostly empty when I visited. The fitness trainer offered personal training, one pay class and a morning yoga on the beach class. You had to speak to them in person to sign up.

Thanks Tinkermouse!

 

[msrika]

What is the pool situation like? Are they still having people go in 15 min slots? How were the hours for the slide?

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

Great report TinkerMouse!!! My wife, daughter and I were on this cruise and we enjoyed it immensely. We had a concierge stateroom and the concierge team was fantastic. Thank you Andy, Ropa, and Ashley!!! Also going above and beyond to make this cruise so special were our stateroom host and his assistant and the CM's who staffed the concierge lounge and bar providing snacks, lite bites, and drinks during the day and into the evening. Yup, never felt so pampered!!! With only 900+ guests it felt so very safe and almost empty at times. We never encountered anyone else exiting an elevator that we were waiting to enter and never encountered anyone waiting for an elevator that we were exiting. Our ride to and from deck 12 to our stateroom was so quick it was amazing. Our server, Linval, and his assistant, Farzan, fantastic and accomodating. We are scheduled for a sailing out of Miami in November on the Magic and theyn will have big shoes to fill in order to provide same the great service and magic provided by the CM's on the Fantasy!!!

This reminded me…we did have other parties jump into an elevator with us more than once. It was fine- everyone was masked and it only lasted a few seconds. I just mention it so others are aware. Most people were very nice and compliant with the signs that stated one party per elevator. The only time we felt a bit uncomfortable was our assigned table in one of the MDRs...it was very close to another party and looking around, we didn’t see any other tables that close. We didn’t ask to be moved or anything, just thought it was strange given how much open space was in the restaurant. Otherwise, we felt extremely safe and loved the atmosphere on the ship where everyone was so happy to be sailing again!! All CMs we encountered went above and beyond. Would love to take another cruise soon.

@mark nakamichi Agree with you about the service and pampering in concierge!

 

[Meriweather]

What is the pool situation like? Are they still having people go in 15 min slots? How were the hours for the slide?

Interested to know this too

 

[Groucho]

Thanks for the write-up! We're on the 11/14 Fantasy so I've been looking for any Fantasy info!

I'm sure this has been answered elsewhere, but do you know if it's possible to do a cabin upgrade at the port? We have about the cheapest possible, which is OK, but obviously there are a ton of empty cabins, and I wonder if we could score one for a decent price.

 

[TinkerMouse]

What is the pool situation like? Are they still having people go in 15 min slots? How were the hours for the slide?

The family pool had stanchions surrounding it and a life guard on patrol just like on the Dream. My mom heard a whistle blow to rotate people in/out, and sometimes they wouldn't let anyone back in so the pool could have a break and be cleaned. Sometimes it looked crowded but most of the time it was filled with small groups that were socially distanced. Since there were so many water areas for children everyone looked pretty spaced out between the Aqualab, Nemo's reef and the little splash pool area by the windows which closed everyday before dinner. Nemo's was usually empty because I think it's only for tiny children but the regular "kids only pool" and the yellow slide had children there almost the whole time.

The AquaDuck was open for most of the day everyday which was helpful to keep the line non-existent since it's for all ages. It was nice to see elderly people excited in line for it. The adult pool and satelite falls had no barriers so they required self-monitored social distancing.

 

[TinkerMouse]

Thanks for the write-up! We're on the 11/14 Fantasy so I've been looking for any Fantasy info!

I'm sure this has been answered elsewhere, but do you know if it's possible to do a cabin upgrade at the port? We have about the cheapest possible, which is OK, but obviously there are a ton of empty cabins, and I wonder if we could score one for a decent price.

I didn't ask while there but before I arrived I was told they weren't doing port upgrades. I'm going to guess that was for two main reasons. 1, to my knowledge, most people who booked GTY staterooms saw nice upgrades and 2, DCL released a last minute discount for Florida residents that filled a lot of rooms last minute.

 

[Groucho]

1, to my knowledge, most people who booked GTY staterooms saw nice upgrades

Interesting! I haven't heard they. We have a GTY 11B; I would be perfectly happy if they upgraded us automatically; I guess we'll find out. I'm find with the cheap room but getting a better would be nice, too!

 

[jktmom]

What times were the shows each night? Two showings still?

 

[TinkerMouse]

What times were the shows each night? Two showings still?

Yes, it was mostly the same as usual/standard. The only real change was the distanced theatre seating and needing to be escorted to and from them. Every night the main show played twice (Aladdin, Frozen, Hocus Pocus, Believe). The first show time was around 5:30p for guests with late dinner seating and the second show was at 9:45pm for those with first dinner seating. I felt like 9:45p was late compared to what I remembered from my previous Disney cruises. I thought the early dining show time used to be 8:30p and if I'm remembering correctly that means they have now added more space between the shows maybe for covid precautions.

 

[jktmom]

Wow! That’s insanely late compared to past cruises! I’m super disappointed to hear that.

 

[TinkerMouse]

Wow! That’s insanely late compared to past cruises! I’m super disappointed to hear that. ☹

It did feel late. I remember from my earlier cruises that we could go straight to the show after dinner but that wasn't the case here. This gap of time between dinner and the show was big enough for us to take a break in our room and find other events to attend until it was showtime. Early/main dinner seating at 5:45p seemed to end for everyone before 7:30p so this was about a two hour break. Once the show was over it was usually time for bed. The three live shows were an hour each. That being said, it did help to keep you awake if you were planning on attending things at 11:30p like late film screenings and the Jack & Sally meet & greet.

 

[jktmom]

Thanks so much for the info.! We actually likely won’t book now bc my 2 and 4 year old cannot make it to a 9:45 show or a 11:30 jack and sally meet and greet (another things my kids would have loved) or 10:30 fireworks. This schedule definitely is not for kids. It actually isn’t even for me as an adult pre-kids!!

 

[brucechase]

Interesting! I haven't heard they. We have a GTY 11B; I would be perfectly happy if they upgraded us automatically; I guess we'll find out. I'm find with the cheap room but getting a better would be nice, too!

Not sure when you are going, but I had an 11B GTY booked and got moved to an 8C room 2 days before the cruise. I was VERY happy with that upgrade. Got room 8172. Large porthole room. Lots of vibration backing into CC and some (not much) going back to Port Canaveral. Overall we loved the cruise. Not sure how much I would love the cruise with 4000 people on it. I have only cruised the Magic and Wonder.

 

[Keterrill]

What time is the late dining starting? I noticed the late shows are moved to a later time. Is that true for dining as well?

 

[Meriweather]

We were told dining is staggered and we will learn our time when there
That is probably why the shows are later, getting all the people through dining

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Dining time was 535/545/555 for main so I’d imagine 2nd was 805/815/825

show time was 845 for main with 815 doors open. I’m pretty sure it was 545 for 2nd as they said door s were open as we were walking to dinner

 

[kblasingame]

Are they still doing the adult costume contest? It’s during the ‘Halloween’s not just for kids’ event. Usually late night on Halloween day.