FORT FIENDS DREAM CRUISE Sept 4th, 2011 (Labor Day Week)

[BigDaddyRog]

How late is TOO LATE for Early Booking?

And I'll FINALLY get to use THIS THING!!!!!

 

[WhitShores]

Now that would be a awesome pic,,
you at the Capt.s table,,during the formal dinner, next to the Capt,, in your Life vest,,

I might try fitting it UNDER my dress... That way it just looks like I had more dessert than I should have the night before...

 

[BigDaddyRog]

A Dream cruise sounds great!! This is an awesome ship!!

If you want my help, putting it all together, Rog, I'll be happy to help! And, I can get everybody a nice shipboard credit in the process!

September is a great time to cruise, because it is technically hurricane season. Prices are low, because people think it's a bad time to be out there. But, it's just the opposite! A cruise ship is the safest place to be, because the Captain watches the radar, and steers the ship away from the storm!

We were on a cruise during Hurricane Wilma, a couple of years ago, and we were steered up and around the storm, and it never affected us.

Rhonda...I think I speak for everyone when I say that WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO HELP PUT THIS TOGETHER!!!!



So....should we set it in stone? September 4th, 2011? The official date of the FORT FIENDS DREAM CRUISE? I like it.

 

[WhitShores]

So....should we set it in stone? September 4th, 2011? The official date of the FORT FIENDS DREAM CRUISE? I like it.

Sounds great!!

 

[LORNADUCK]

I'm pretty sure we are in. Does anyone know how much of a deposit we will have to put down to book early?

 

[kc5grw]

September is a great time to cruise, because it is technically hurricane season. Prices are low, because people think it's a bad time to be out there. But, it's just the opposite! A cruise ship is the safest place to be, because the Captain watches the radar, and steers the ship away from the storm!

I'll make a comment here regarding cruising in hurricane season and cruising in general. Cruise fare only guarantees you passage on the ship. If for some reason (weather, health, or unrest) a ship does not dock at a certain port you are only entitled to a refund of the port charges for that port. Typically these run $20-$50 per person. Cruising can be unpredictable and you need to be willing to accept the fact that changes can happen. If a particular itinerary is very important to you, then sailing during hurricane season may not be the best thing to do. I have read way to many reports on cruise boards from people who were irate because they missed a certain port. The ports for me are just icing on the cake, if we make all of them great, if not, eh, no big deal.

On our upcoming cruise on the 3/14 Wonder I couldn't really care less if we stopped in Nassau. I do want to see Castaway Cay though as this is our first Disney Cruise, but if we had to miss it for weather or whatever, it really wouldn't bother me. I'm going to have 5 days that I will be disconnected from the world, no internet, no cell phone, just eat, sleep, play, repeat.

 

[clkelley]

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[WhitShores]

Question...

When you pay for your cruise what EXACTLY are you paying for? I know the room and all, but what all is included?

 

[kc5grw]

Question...

When you pay for your cruise what EXACTLY are you paying for? I know the room and all, but what all is included?

Cruise fare includes room, food (excluding the specialty restaurants), beverages(coffee, tea, water, lemonade, hot cocoa and juice at breakfast), Disney also includes sodas from the self serve location on board most lines don't. The shows are free. Cruise fare also includes port charges, as stated before these are typically about $20/person per port and are refunded if you don't make a specific port.

The following is from the DCL FAQ

Question
What's included in the basic price of a Disney cruise?
Answer
Your vacation package price includes almost everything on board—from your stateroom to breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, along with soft drinks served at meals and at the beverage station on Deck 9, and snacks and ice cream throughout the ship. All onboard activities and entertainment are included. While you're sailing, there are only a few things that will require an additional charge: shore excursions, spa or salon visits, phone calls, photos, video games, Internet usage and all alcoholic beverages.


Oh yea, ice cream, I forgot about the ice cream, ice cream 24/7 from the self-serve dispensers.

 

[clkelley]

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[BigDaddyRog]

Deposit on a four night cruise is $200 "per passenger"....my deposit is gonna run me $800!!!!! But at least that will be close to half of the total!!!!



I attempted to answer Whits Q also...but then I saw Mike & Carols answers...and it BLEW mine away!!!!

This web page gives you exact amounts of whats expected to whom on each cruise line...its automatic...just plug your numbers in.....

Cruise Ship Tip Calculator

For a family of 4, on a 4 night Disney cruise...the total amount of tipping expected is about $144(2 adults, 2 kids...I dont check the box marked "full tip" for kids) at the end of the cruise. Carol...Im glad you know what your doing...I would have thought the Room Service tips were included in that had you not said anything.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Mike....like you...Nassau doesnt really interest me all that much either..Ive heard its kinda gross....we may take a short run around...but Im thinking we'll spend most of that day on the ship as well!

 

[LORNADUCK]

How soon would we have to give the deposit. It will cut into my camping fund (which there isn't much right now).
I just went on that time calculator and for the 2 of us it's $96.00 for 4 nights.
We went on one April 2008, my company gave it to me as a gift. I loved it because it was freeeeeeee. But I spent as much in the casino. I am glad that Disney doesn't have a casino becuase I couldn't afford to go.
Did I read here that you can bring your own liquor on the ship?

 

[clkelley]

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[BigDaddyRog]

Yep....disney allows you to bring alcohol on board.....I dont know if theres a limit to how much they allow you to bring.

Ive heard that any tours you want to do of Nassau are MUCH CHEAPER if you book them once your actually ON NASSAU ground verses booking a tour through the ship....i.e.-booking a tour through Disney will cost you appx 100, booking it on shore will cost you 30!!

 

[clkelley]

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[BigDaddyRog]

Lorna....I was hoping that Roz might be able to give us a deadline date for the Early Booking Discount.

I dont think we have to have it in all THAT soon though..its gonna take me a couple of months to wrangle up my deposit. Heck....Im "planning" to do a cruise from New Orleans this summer, so I have to get THAT taken care of first.

 

[clkelley]

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[LORNADUCK]

I love that Disney can't fool the Fort Fiends, if there is a way around booking something with them we will figure it out. Good going Carol.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

What a GREAT idea!!!! Let us know as soon as you find anything out!!!