Some new notes about Disney Cruises

Just returned from another successful Disney Cruise and here are some notes from that. We went on the Alternate Western sailing which goes to Castaway Cay two times and does not go to Key West. Here are some things I found that might help you.

Grand Cayman:
We got off the ship and looked for Soto's for Sting Ray city. (Hold on to your receipt if they added it up wrong the bus driver may not take you...they all work together and have a minimum amount they will take.) We talked them down on price to $20 per person from the $40 they started at. Cash of course! They take you on a bus to the boat were you will go out to a sand bar called "Sting Ray City" and see tons of sting rays and pet them while they supervise. Take your underwater camera, we bought a digital water proof at Costco and it was great!! (The staff on our boat also had a professional waterproof camera that they take pictures of you and try to sell them to you on the way back to shore, kind of expensive but they will negotiate) Then they take you to another spot to snorkel, after that they will take you back to the dock where the bus driver is waiting on you. You can ask to be dropped off at the 7 mile beach and then you will have to find your way back to the port. We asked our bus driver to come back and get us and he charged $3.00 a person to do so (All the Taxis there were charging $4.00 each) It was great we had my boys 7and 9 and my brother's 4 kids ages 4 to 15. All ages loved it!!

At Cozumel we got off the ship and went up the street to the right to the Baraccuda Hotel and rented a car $40 - $50 bucks depending if you get a small car or Jeep. (The name of the Car rental agency is Less-Pay) Here is their Website: LESS PAY
(Note: These cars are not brand new and not perfect but it is one of the cheapest places we have found. Also, make sure you get insurance on the cars, this is a must when traveling outside the country. For the rental car in Cozumel, you have to hold it with a credit card but he will give you the slip back (Make sure all 3 copies are in it) when you return it and can pay cash. This is safer to do, you never know what they will do if you leave a credit card for them to run through their system in Mexico. )

We then drove around the island and just looked for great places to stop along the road there is much to do and plenty of snorkeling and beaches. (Be careful in the water on the other side of the island, rip currents are dangerous) Then at the end of the day we returned the car and on foot did all the shopping beside the port. If you are looking for deal's just walk a few more block's away from the main out door mall and some of the little side streets have some of the best negotiations.

Our previous trip to Cozumel we had gone to the Mayan Ruins which was good once but did not do this trip. PS it's a lot of walking!!

As for the show's at night on the ship make sure you try to see them all but if not go to The Golden Mickeys and Disney Dreams. All are good but these are great!

Never go anywhere without a camera!! You never know what you will want to take a picture or video of and that will be the time you left it in the room. Especially since the character's can be anywhere and sometimes at places that may not be on the schedule.

At Castaway Cay the store has different thing's that you can't get on the ship so look when you get off in the morning if you have time and then buy it before you head back to the ship so you don't have to keep up with it all day.

Also there is snorkeling at Castaway Cay. We take our own mask and snorkel which you can buy at Sam's Club and Costco during the summer months at about $25.00 a set (you can rent there also) each time we get off the ship. At Castaway Cay they let you use their snorkel life jackets free. On the islands it is usually not deep enough to need it, and when we did the sting Ray thing they had life jackets to use on the boat and the snorkel mask. We still used our own, I am not big on putting my mouth on a used snorkel set.

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Tip for Cozumel and Costa Maya-- Use your breakfast door hanger in the desk drawer to order your breakfast these mornings.

Room service is free except for can drinks. You can also write things in for breakfast on that paper, you don't just have to get what is in the checked boxes. (such as eggs and bacon or whatever) Then by the time you get up you will have breakfast delivered, you don't have to wake the kids to go to the buffet and you can dress and eat and get off the ship.

Also the night before order cookies and wrap them in the plastic wrap they come in and take them in your beach bag. Snacks are not the easiest to find in these ports. Again free room service.

My kids can't go to bed without ordering bowl of chips, Mickey head ice cream, a big plate of the best chocolate chip cookies ever or all of the above with lots of milk.

PS - for some reason the cookies they have on the buffet are different than room service and the CAstaway Cay cookies. Room service and Castaway Cay are the best.

Soda is free in the buffets, dining room's and self server by the Mickey Pool!!

Chocolate milk, white milk, all kinds of juices and tea is all free all the time. Just ask for it!

Okay, what else can I tell you about?? I get carried away, we love this cruise!

Getting the best price

Not many people know that you can get the price on a Disney cruise while on the ship. You can book a cruise onboard and get an automatic savings of 10% off the price of the cruise. Then you will get an on board credit up to $200.00 for that booking. You don't have to know the exact date of the next cruise, just book a date and then later you can change it if needed. Also, once booked on the cruise you can transfer the cruise to me and I can give you an even better onboard credit. This will be the best deal you can get on a Disney cruise. The desk for booking is on Deck 4 in the atrium area.

Things To Know When Cruising on Disney

For those of you who have never been on a Disney Cruise I offer these tips and advice so you will not make the mistake my family did on our first Disney Cruise.

You should arrive at the port no earlier than 10 AM.
You can arrive and check in before it gets crowded (It usually starts getting crowded around 12-12:30) and you will get a number that will tell you which group you will board with. Starting at number one, two and you get the idea. The doors to board usually open at 12 sharp and you will be called in order. Once you get on board, you will be on deck three mid ship lobby.
If you need to make any dining changes or reservations for Palo you should do it soon as you board.
There will be a hall right behind guest services and the first nightclub on the right that has tables set up to help you. If you do not need any dining changes you will go in and down the hall to the left that will lead you to a restaurant called Parrot Cay that has a buffet or you can go to deck 9 up to Beach Blanket or Topsider's Buffet (same place just a different name depending on which ship you are on). The staff tries to tell you where you have to go but you can do either one. At Parrot Cay it is buffet but you will have a server and all indoor eating. topsiders is up on deck 9. It is all self serve and you can eat inside or outside on the aft deck or out by one of the pools. There are also walk up food areas by the Mickey pool and the Goofy pool that will have pizza, fruit, wrap’s, burgers, chicken strips, and hot dogs. The soft serve ice cream is all you can eat out by the Mickey pool as well.
Hang out, eat, and make sure the kids or everyone has a swimsuit on under their clothes or you can carry it on to change in a nearby restroom , because the pools are open when you get on.You are allowed in your room once the room steward has finished usually around 1:30 or 2:00.
At approximately 4:30 the sail away party will begin with a huge dance party and all the Disney character’s will appear and at 5:00 the magical horn will blow and streamers will shoot out.At that point if you are in first dining you will need to go get dressed for dinner and find your restaurant by your designated time. Just because your key says your dinner says 5:45 don't stress if you are a few minutes late. Things are not that strict on the ship.
DINING DRESS CODE
On a 3 and 4 night cruise you will have a casual dress night such as sundress or capris for ladies and kakis and a polo for men. No jeans or shorts are allowed in any dining room unless you are under 5 years old.There will be a semi- formal night, men do not have to wear a jacket or tie but recommended. A nice button down with dress pants will do and a dress for ladies.
There is pirate night were everyone can opt to dress up in pirate costumes or just the kids, it’s up to how much you would like to get involved. There is also a tropical night, so pack your Hawaiian shirts and dresses.
The 7 night has a full semi and formal night. So take your tie and or jacket guys. Ladies pack those nice dresses, some even wear floor length.If a dress is not stated in your Navigator then look at the restaurant you will be in that night and dress accordingly. Animator’s Palate is casual, Parrot Cay is Tropical and Triton’s on the Wonder and Lumiers on the Magic you will need to dress up tie would be suggested for the men and a dress for the ladies as this is a fancier style restaurant.
Soft Drinks
Soda is free in the restaurant and out by the pool in the fountain. Other wise you will be charged. PALO- Adults Only Restaurant
Adults make sure you make your Palo reservation and if you have little one’s under 3 you will need to also have nursery arrangements. This is a restaurant for Adults only and you must wear a tie or jacket. This is a very hard restaurant to get into so make sure if you are paid in full and 90 days out you log onto the Disney cruise line website and make this reservation. You can also make your nursery arrangements as well.If you kids are 3 and up and potty trained they will be able to go into the kids club and you do not have to make advance arrangements.
LUNCH
For lunch you may go into Tritons or Lumiers and eat with out a reservation just walk in and you will be seated and this is the one time you can wear shorts to a restaurant. There will also be the buffet (Beach Blanket or Topsiders) up by the pool but it is only open for selected times as will Triton’s or Lumiers.
The walk up’s by the pool are always open.

Kids Clubs
These are for ages 3 all the way up to teenagers. The Oceaneers Club and Lab are for kids age 3 -12, they open at 9am and close at 12 midnight! That’s right you can leave them all day and they will be taken care of and they also take them to eat. For teenagers or a 12 year old within two months of their birthday they can opt to go to the Teen Aloft Club. There are organized activities or just go hand out and play video games.
Check your navigator on one night there is Goofy's Pajama party (7 night sailings) where the kids go to the club in their PJs and have a big time with Goofy! Don’t miss it, they love it.The kids clubs are filled with constant activities and some free play time. They will bake cookies; make flubber and lot’s of other cool things. There is always a character coming to visit and play with the kids on different days. It is super secure, like the White house of security for your children, so don’t be afraid to leave them.
Adult activities
There is so much to do each day on the ship some things are for grown ups only such as the Bridge Tour, Food demonstrations, or Wine Tasting.
Family Activities
There are also many family activities such as napkins folding, food carving demo’s, character drawings, and live family game shows. Also look for other things such as magic show’s during the day and ice cravings. You can do as much or as little as you like while on board a Disney cruise.
Room Service
A little hidden secret is room service is also Free. My kids think they can’t come in from the pool or go to bed without milk and cookies. Call up room service and ask for a big plate of assorted cookies and milk and or juice. Soda does cost through room service and at the live stage show. There is a book in your room that on one of the pages list some pizza’s and burger’s that can be ordered free of charge. There is a note beside any item that would not be free. Also ask for the cake of the day. Hey you are on a cruise why not get every dollar you have paid for right?
Castaway Cay –
This is Disney’s Private Island and it is a little piece of paradise. If you are healthy I suggest walking over in the morning so you can enjoy the beauty and take pictures because at the end of the day you will be too tired to care. You can take the tram back at the end of the day if you like.If you get off early you may be one of the lucky few to get a hammock under the trees. There are plenty of chairs but few hammocks and some people literally run for them.You can rent floats for just a few dollars a day and take your own sand buckets and snorkel gear or you can rent or buy these items.There are water sports to do such as sea doos, Hobie cat, and other things. These do cost money. All your food, ice cream, and drinks are included because it is still Disney. There is a family beach, teen beach, and Adults only so no kids to deal with.When you get to the beach have a little family time then take the kids to the club which is moved to the beach for the day, then go over to the adult beach for a little quiet time. There is food for you there as well and they have steaks that is not offered at the family side.

The Adult Areas on the Disney Cruise Line

I suggest the Disney Cruise to adults without children.....I can hear you asking now......Why? You don't have to be a child to enjoy all the cruise has to offer. Disney has dedicated areas for adults only including bars, nightclubs, a whole beach just for adults, a swimming pool just for adults, and even a restaurant just for adults. My husband and I plan to take a short Disney cruise together in December for his 40th birthday. I can't wait.

Disney Cruises and Families

I have to say the most satisfying family vacation I have had is the Disney Cruise. Now I have to admit, I am a bit of a fanatic for anything Disney, but even if I were not I would still say that Disney knows how to do up a cruise. I, along with my husband and two boys, have been on six Disney cruises in about 2.5 years. All varying lengths but all were wonderful. There is something for everyone on a Disney Cruise and there is no shortage of fun. This is one of the main reasons why my main focus in my Travel agency is Disney. In about 2 months I will be going on my 7th Disney cruise and I am as excited now as I was the first one.

Want to know more?
Go to my website at www.cruiseondisney.com