Just did a Disney cruise--AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you go on a Disney Cruise? I read every post here and it sounds miserable. The food is bad, the cost was high, the kids really didn't have fun at the kids club, you wait in line to characters in costume.... God! I have two kids and I just don't let them watch Disney Movies because they're garbage. This cruise sounds uncomfortable at best, and your kids are learning absolutely nothing. Sorry for having such a strong opinion, but I can't help myself.

We have at least five friends who have done a Disney Cruise in the last couple of years and ALL of them said it was a blast! We've never done it because quite honestly, we've never had the money. But from everything I've heard, Disney does a great job with their cruises.

[Anonymous]

We just did a 9 night Disney cruise to Norway and it was amazing! Great way to travel with a large group and with kids. No packing and unpacking every night. The kids were old enough to run around the ship without us. They could check themselves in and out of the kids club as they wanted. We complained about the pad thai one night and the next night the chef made a pad thai just for our table that was perfect. The following night he made a few Indian dishes and the last night he made Chicken Adobo for my husband who is from the Philippines. The crew really goes out of their way to ensure you have a great time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was your room comfortable. Were you able to relax in it and watch t.v.?

Yes, I was surprised at how big the rooms were. We didn't spend a ton of time in it because there was so much to do on the ship. But we watched a movie one night and spend some time on our balcony watching the ship leave port.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How dressed up do I need to be for the semi and formal dinner nights? We are headed on a 7 night cruise and then an additional week of vacation so I'm trying to to bring too much.

Is a sun dress and dress pants/shirt good enough?

Disney doesn't really do "formal" or "semi-formal" like some other cruise lines do. When we dressed for dinner, I would do a sundress, put kids in a collared shirt (polo) and not jeans.

Thanks. I'm finding that they dress code is very lack.

Do I need a beach towel for when we use the pool on the boat? (we are doing a European cruise and not getting off the boat for any beach days)

They will give you towels for use on the pool deck. And a sundress is fine. We saw people in shorts/T-shirts even on formal night.

[Anonymous]

How is it for teens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How dressed up do I need to be for the semi and formal dinner nights? We are headed on a 7 night cruise and then an additional week of vacation so I'm trying to to bring too much.

Is a sun dress and dress pants/shirt good enough?

Disney doesn't really do "formal" or "semi-formal" like some other cruise lines do. When we dressed for dinner, I would do a sundress, put kids in a collared shirt (polo) and not jeans.

Thanks. I'm finding that they dress code is very lack.

Do I need a beach towel for when we use the pool on the boat? (we are doing a European cruise and not getting off the boat for any beach days)

They will give you towels for use on the pool deck. And a sundress is fine. We saw people in shorts/T-shirts even on formal night.

So this is what really bothered me on our recent cruise. Shorts and tshirt are suddenly fine for dinner? We went last year and everyone was dressed up for dinner, so this year I packed dressy clothes and people were not at all dressed up. Just a pain to pack dressy stuff for no reason.

But if you do one of the adults only restaurants, there is definitely a dress code there. I'd recommend Palo.

[Anonymous]

Cruises are way more expensive that trips to the Disney parks. Since weight can be associated with income, it makes sense that on average the Cruise guests will be a little less large.

What the hell? I wish that were true. So does Oprah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Cruises are way more expensive that trips to the Disney parks. Since weight can be associated with income, it makes sense that on average the Cruise guests will be a little less large.

What the hell? I wish that were true. So does Oprah.

Nobody said correlation was -1.0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay 23:24 I will answer your "why on Earth. . ." Question. why not? We are planning to try one because it's been recommended to us many times. Friends have described it as relaxing and entertaining. For example, I really love days at Dutch Wonderland and think Disney cruise would be like a DW day x10. I just want to try it. Our kids are ages 3 and 5 and enjoy Disney movies.

Sorry if I came off like a jerk, but I still don't understand. I guess it's because I don't like theme parks in general. Also I don't allow Disney movies, and I would prefer to use the money on a more educational and interesting vacation.

But I am sincere when I say that almost every post here complains about something (the food, atmosphere, expense), and I think you'd have a better time elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay 23:24 I will answer your "why on Earth. . ." Question. why not? We are planning to try one because it's been recommended to us many times. Friends have described it as relaxing and entertaining. For example, I really love days at Dutch Wonderland and think Disney cruise would be like a DW day x10. I just want to try it. Our kids are ages 3 and 5 and enjoy Disney movies.

Sorry if I came off like a jerk, but I still don't understand. I guess it's because I don't like theme parks in general. Also I don't allow Disney movies, and I would prefer to use the money on a more educational and interesting vacation.

But I am sincere when I say that almost every post here complains about something (the food, atmosphere, expense), and I think you'd have a better time elsewhere.

I understand where you are coming from. If our travel budget was more limited, we probably wouldn't do it. But we are lucky enough to afford a few vacations next year, so a Disney cruise makes the cut. I only like theme parks in small doses - for instance, if I was planning a 2 week vacation, I may insert one theme park day. Also, on the Disney cruise, I don't think we will use the kid's club, so the complaints about that don't phase me. I'm not expecting amazing food. Atmosphere - well, I think I need to go and see for myself.

[Anonymous]

Regarding Nassau, the excursions to Atlantis aren't cheap. I think they want something like $200 a person including kids. I've walked around Nassau once to see the straw market, the steps, and the fort. I don't feel the need to do it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay 23:24 I will answer your "why on Earth. . ." Question. why not? We are planning to try one because it's been recommended to us many times. Friends have described it as relaxing and entertaining. For example, I really love days at Dutch Wonderland and think Disney cruise would be like a DW day x10. I just want to try it. Our kids are ages 3 and 5 and enjoy Disney movies.

Sorry if I came off like a jerk, but I still don't understand. I guess it's because I don't like theme parks in general. Also I don't allow Disney movies, and I would prefer to use the money on a more educational and interesting vacation.

But I am sincere when I say that almost every post here complains about something (the food, atmosphere, expense), and I think you'd have a better time elsewhere.

I understand where you are coming from. If our travel budget was more limited, we probably wouldn't do it. But we are lucky enough to afford a few vacations next year, so a Disney cruise makes the cut. I only like theme parks in small doses - for instance, if I was planning a 2 week vacation, I may insert one theme park day. Also, on the Disney cruise, I don't think we will use the kid's club, so the complaints about that don't phase me. I'm not expecting amazing food. Atmosphere - well, I think I need to go and see for myself.

We went on a Disney cruise last year. While I thought the food was average at best, our kids never ate better. Something about waffles and pasta shaped like Mickey makes my kids want seconds and thirds. Kids even ate all the veggies on the Mickey plate. They put milk in little cups with covers where the waitress drew a Mickey heart. It was a small touch that the kids seemed to really enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just did a 9 night Disney cruise to Norway and it was amazing! Great way to travel with a large group and with kids. No packing and unpacking every night. The kids were old enough to run around the ship without us. They could check themselves in and out of the kids club as they wanted. We complained about the pad thai one night and the next night the chef made a pad thai just for our table that was perfect. The following night he made a few Indian dishes and the last night he made Chicken Adobo for my husband who is from the Philippines. The crew really goes out of their way to ensure you have a great time.

Was it the Frozen themed cruise? My dad keeps talking about taking the grandkids on that one. How was it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay 23:24 I will answer your "why on Earth. . ." Question. why not? We are planning to try one because it's been recommended to us many times. Friends have described it as relaxing and entertaining. For example, I really love days at Dutch Wonderland and think Disney cruise would be like a DW day x10. I just want to try it. Our kids are ages 3 and 5 and enjoy Disney movies.

Sorry if I came off like a jerk, but I still don't understand. I guess it's because I don't like theme parks in general. Also I don't allow Disney movies, and I would prefer to use the money on a more educational and interesting vacation.

But I am sincere when I say that almost every post here complains about something (the food, atmosphere, expense), and I think you'd have a better time elsewhere.

Just don't listen to this poster. She had NO idea what she is talking about. She is blowing smoke out of her ass.

My kid had a great time on the Disney cruise at age 5, and still remembers it at age 11. They were thoughtful down to the last detail. I was a single parent with a 5-year old daughter, and for dining, they put us with 2 other single parents with 5-year old daughters. Ready-made friends all around.

It was memorable. You say you want to try it. That's what you should do.

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old and 4 year old kids loved the kids club. We weren't intending on having them spend much time there, but they asked to go and wanted to stay a long time (including for the 11 pm glow stick dance party!). We would go check on them and they would refuse to leave. My husband and I almost didn't know what to do with ourselves with all the free time