littleaussie
I tell people my daughters are 75% American and 25
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
Southern Caribbean Magic 2014 planning
If you are a geek like me, you love to plan. . . and plan. . . and plan your Disney Vacations. I thought it was time to get this party started and compile info on the 4 - 2014 Southern Caribbean DCL sailings.
2014 Sail Dates: September 20, 27, October 4, 11
***Consider adding on the 3 night repositioning cruise from San Juan to Port Canaverol on Oct. 18 - this includes a stop at Castaway Cay!!!
Itinerary Port - and links to each posting
Saturday - San Juan, Puerto Rico, All Aboard at 9:30 p.m?
Sunday - At Sea
Monday - Antigua - 7-4:45 p.m
Tuesday - St. Lucia - 7:15-4:45 p.m.
Wednesday - Grenada - 7-4:45 p.m.
Thursday - Barbados - 7-4:45 p.m.
Friday - St. Kitts - 12-5:30 p.m.
Saturday - San Juan, Puerto Rico, 7 a.m.
DCL will sail out of the Old San Juan pier, rumored to be Pier #4?
Hotels close to the pier:
Sheraton OSJ: http://www.sheratonoldsanjuan.com/ ** Closest to the pier. When booking direct with Sheraton, you must have a 2 night stay. Posters have been able to book one night only by going thru Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. . .
Hotel Casablanca: http://www.hotelcasablancapr.com/
Da House: http://dahousehotel.com/
Hotel Plaza de Armas: http://www.hotelplazadearmaspr.com/
Villa Herencia: http://villaherencia.com/
Disney is offering 2 hotels as part of their cruise package: Caribe Hilton San Juan ($237+/night) or San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino ($239+/night)
***Of course, there are chain hotels located on the way to Old San Juan from the airport, just google to find which ones.
If you are looking for a beach hotel, try the Isla Verde or Condado area.
Most area hotels do not offer a free shuttle to/from the pier/airport areas, please check with your prospective hotel before booking but it looks like you will need to pay for a taxi or organize Disney transportation with airport/pier connections.
Here's an opinion on hotels in OSJ: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hotels-old-san-juan-pr-33138.html
This is a starting point to get you orientated with OSJ: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/old-san-juan-basic-info/
And a free trolley to get around in OSJ: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/free-trolley-old-san-juan/
Jckygrl is a local and offered her opinion of San Juan and things to do/places to eat: link
Disney is offering transportation from the airport to the pier at a price of $20.00 for one way or $40.00 round trip per person. (thanks eandesmom)
Taxis:
The metropolitan tourist area is divided into the following taxi zones:
" Zone 1 Luis Munoz Marin (SJU) Airport
" Zone 2 Hotels in the Isla Verde Area
" Zone 3 Hotels in the Condado and Miramar Areas
" Zone 4 Hotels & Piers in Old San Juan, Puerta de Tierra, Pan Am Pier & Miramar
" Zone 5 Convention Center & the Luis Rivas Dominichi Airport in Isla Grande
Rates from the airport to OSJ or pier will vary from $15-$19 (one way fare) plus surcharges that can include: extra passengers (more than 5 people?) and luggage charged at $1 per piece. There are conflicting reports that carry-on luggage is assessed this charge as well as your regular suitcases?
On your return journey by air:
Before checking in with your favorite airline at SJU, it is very important to notice if your destination or stop is located in the United States of America or elsewhere.
If the United States of America is the right answer, make sure that you visit the nearest USDA checkpoint to verify that all the bags to be checked in are under the law. This is to protect the flora and fauna of your destination. These checkpoints are located at the entrance of every terminal. If you are traveling with American Airlines, you will find a checkpoint right at the taxiway of the AA's terminal. If you are traveling with any other airline the nearest checkpoints are located right at the entrance of the Concourses A, B, and C terminal.
The Port of Calls and what I'm doing (lol):
DCL has previously visited all ports with the exception of Grenada. While DCL-sponsored excursions have not been released yet, a great starting point is found at: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/sanjuan.htm
Click on each highlighted Port that will take you to the excursions that were previously offered.
Antigua: I'm torn between winging it to a beach, Adventure Antigua (Eli's Eco Tour) or booking a day pass at Coconut Beach Club at $50/pp - www.coconutbeachclub.com
St. Lucia: Want to try one of the Land and sea tours (Herod's, Joe Knows, Spencer)
Grenada: Stan at JNJ tours - http://jnjtours.com/Home.html This guy is a former US military who gets good reviews on TA and that 'other' cruise site. A few of us from our cruise group are going to fill a few of his vans for an island tour at $50/pp. I am especially excited to see the old spice plantation!
Barbados: This one was easy: Sail Calabaza - www.calabazasailingcruises.com at $110/$90 ad/ch - swimming with the turtles and an intimate setting on a Catamaran!
St. Kitts: Debating on booking Javin with My Island Tours @ $65/$45 ad/ch or trying for the zip line
Cruise meet links!!!
9/20: Here
9/27: Here
10/4: Here
10/4 KIDS: Here
10/11: Here
Links to previous SC trip reports:
Disneynut1955
Prettyintink
***Please help a girl out and offer your opinions, plans, advice for these sailings. Let us know what you've booked for next year so far, and why. Correct me where I go wrong. Anything goes. I will continue to update this post. And so it goes. . .
If you are a geek like me, you love to plan. . . and plan. . . and plan your Disney Vacations. I thought it was time to get this party started and compile info on the 4 - 2014 Southern Caribbean DCL sailings.
2014 Sail Dates: September 20, 27, October 4, 11
***Consider adding on the 3 night repositioning cruise from San Juan to Port Canaverol on Oct. 18 - this includes a stop at Castaway Cay!!!
Itinerary Port - and links to each posting
Saturday - San Juan, Puerto Rico, All Aboard at 9:30 p.m?
Sunday - At Sea
Monday - Antigua - 7-4:45 p.m
Tuesday - St. Lucia - 7:15-4:45 p.m.
Wednesday - Grenada - 7-4:45 p.m.
Thursday - Barbados - 7-4:45 p.m.
Friday - St. Kitts - 12-5:30 p.m.
Saturday - San Juan, Puerto Rico, 7 a.m.
DCL will sail out of the Old San Juan pier, rumored to be Pier #4?
Hotels close to the pier:
Sheraton OSJ: http://www.sheratonoldsanjuan.com/ ** Closest to the pier. When booking direct with Sheraton, you must have a 2 night stay. Posters have been able to book one night only by going thru Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. . .
Hotel Casablanca: http://www.hotelcasablancapr.com/
Da House: http://dahousehotel.com/
Hotel Plaza de Armas: http://www.hotelplazadearmaspr.com/
Villa Herencia: http://villaherencia.com/
Disney is offering 2 hotels as part of their cruise package: Caribe Hilton San Juan ($237+/night) or San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino ($239+/night)
***Of course, there are chain hotels located on the way to Old San Juan from the airport, just google to find which ones.
If you are looking for a beach hotel, try the Isla Verde or Condado area.
Most area hotels do not offer a free shuttle to/from the pier/airport areas, please check with your prospective hotel before booking but it looks like you will need to pay for a taxi or organize Disney transportation with airport/pier connections.
Here's an opinion on hotels in OSJ: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hotels-old-san-juan-pr-33138.html
This is a starting point to get you orientated with OSJ: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/old-san-juan-basic-info/
And a free trolley to get around in OSJ: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/free-trolley-old-san-juan/
Jckygrl is a local and offered her opinion of San Juan and things to do/places to eat: link
Disney is offering transportation from the airport to the pier at a price of $20.00 for one way or $40.00 round trip per person. (thanks eandesmom)
Taxis:
The metropolitan tourist area is divided into the following taxi zones:
" Zone 1 Luis Munoz Marin (SJU) Airport
" Zone 2 Hotels in the Isla Verde Area
" Zone 3 Hotels in the Condado and Miramar Areas
" Zone 4 Hotels & Piers in Old San Juan, Puerta de Tierra, Pan Am Pier & Miramar
" Zone 5 Convention Center & the Luis Rivas Dominichi Airport in Isla Grande
Rates from the airport to OSJ or pier will vary from $15-$19 (one way fare) plus surcharges that can include: extra passengers (more than 5 people?) and luggage charged at $1 per piece. There are conflicting reports that carry-on luggage is assessed this charge as well as your regular suitcases?
On your return journey by air:
Before checking in with your favorite airline at SJU, it is very important to notice if your destination or stop is located in the United States of America or elsewhere.
If the United States of America is the right answer, make sure that you visit the nearest USDA checkpoint to verify that all the bags to be checked in are under the law. This is to protect the flora and fauna of your destination. These checkpoints are located at the entrance of every terminal. If you are traveling with American Airlines, you will find a checkpoint right at the taxiway of the AA's terminal. If you are traveling with any other airline the nearest checkpoints are located right at the entrance of the Concourses A, B, and C terminal.
The Port of Calls and what I'm doing (lol):
DCL has previously visited all ports with the exception of Grenada. While DCL-sponsored excursions have not been released yet, a great starting point is found at: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/sanjuan.htm
Click on each highlighted Port that will take you to the excursions that were previously offered.
Antigua: I'm torn between winging it to a beach, Adventure Antigua (Eli's Eco Tour) or booking a day pass at Coconut Beach Club at $50/pp - www.coconutbeachclub.com
St. Lucia: Want to try one of the Land and sea tours (Herod's, Joe Knows, Spencer)
Grenada: Stan at JNJ tours - http://jnjtours.com/Home.html This guy is a former US military who gets good reviews on TA and that 'other' cruise site. A few of us from our cruise group are going to fill a few of his vans for an island tour at $50/pp. I am especially excited to see the old spice plantation!
Barbados: This one was easy: Sail Calabaza - www.calabazasailingcruises.com at $110/$90 ad/ch - swimming with the turtles and an intimate setting on a Catamaran!
St. Kitts: Debating on booking Javin with My Island Tours @ $65/$45 ad/ch or trying for the zip line
Cruise meet links!!!
9/20: Here
9/27: Here
10/4: Here
10/4 KIDS: Here
10/11: Here
Links to previous SC trip reports:
Disneynut1955
Prettyintink
***Please help a girl out and offer your opinions, plans, advice for these sailings. Let us know what you've booked for next year so far, and why. Correct me where I go wrong. Anything goes. I will continue to update this post. And so it goes. . .