[pbharris4]

This will be our 1st cruise. We're doing 4 nights @ SS and then the 3 night Bahama Cruise. I wanted to do the 7 night but didn't want to wait until Nov. and well wanted to see how my 2 yr old would do. My 8 yr old is more adaptable. I had some questions if anyone can help, that would be great!

1. Can we take a stroller or can you rent one? If you can rent one what is the cost and are they like the ones at WDW? (I'd prefer our own..more comfy and bigger basket for shopping bags!)

2. How are they Cat.11 rooms? There's 4 of us. Can you fit a pack and play in there? I'm afriad the older child will fall and crush the 2 yr old..plus the 2 yr old may fall off the couch. Can you compare it to a hotel room?

3. I've requested Soy milk for my youngest DD as she cannot tolerate whole milk yet. What if they forget about it and my poor DD goes without milk for 3 days? She can't drink lots of juice either. I do not want to have a toddler (still diapers) with diarrhea for 3 days either! (Guess I can bring Lactaid in case). Will they get Soy Milk somewhere or should I bring some from a nearby store?

4. We're staying at Saratoga Springs before doing the cruise. Can we just go to a counter there and fill out whatever paperwork there is and have them take our luggage? Kind of like a "pre-checkin?"

5. How safe is the parking lot where you pay to park? We'll probably leave a few things in the car and not take on the cruise (only if it's guarded).

6. The Atlantis excursion: After the boat ride, is it hilly terrain? We'll have a stroller. Also, I heard you can't use the pools or slides, but can gamble, see the aquarium, and probably shop. (Wow..some deal...you can spend money there, but you can't use any of the fun stuff). We'd like to this and then go to the straw market and some shopping in Nassau..will there be enough time?

7. Ok, I know it will be hot...how hot? Worse than a WDW park on a crowded July day? Or does an ocean Breeze make it a little more comfy?

8. How good is the shopping on ship and off ship?

9. I'd rather get a Passport for all of us. How long does that take and are there any recommendations about copies or where to store.

10. What to pack? We're doing land and sea so (with a 2 yr old) should I bring toys?

11. Any good guide books you can recommend?


OK..I think that's it..sorry for all the questions! I figured I'd ask all at once.

Thanks for any help you can provide! I am sooo excited!

[brumcg]

pbharris4,

We're going on our first cruise this summer, so I don't know the answers to most of your questions (and hopefully my reply will server as a bump if anyone has them). In my research though, I can take a swing at #5 (parking) and maybe #11 (guide books).

The lots are 'gated' and 'patrolled', and I get the sense that they are relatively safe. I think if you left items in the trunk (or otherwise hidden), they would be okay.

For guidebooks, I'm a big fan of the Passporter (both for the cruise and the parks). For the cruise, it's the best guide that I've seen. There is also a free online cruise guide here that is serviceable.

On #4 (Saratoga Springs), we're in a similar situation that we'll be at the Wilderness Lodge Villas before the cruise. The kicker is that the cruise transportation doesn't go to WLV or Saratoga Springs that I've seen. So, options are limited, and getting your luggage and yourselves to the ship is up to you.

Hope that helped.

Bruce

[woohoo]

1. Can we take a stroller or can you rent one? If you can rent one what is the cost and are they like the ones at WDW? (I'd prefer our own..more comfy and bigger basket for shopping bags!)
`We are taking ours and they said its fine- you can keep it in the closet-

2. How are they Cat.11 rooms? There's 4 of us. Can you fit a pack and play in there? I'm afriad the older child will fall and crush the 2 yr old..plus the 2 yr old may fall off the couch. Can you compare it to a hotel room?

We had catagory 11 the last time and we had plenty of room- the bathroom is tight but they take care of turning the beds into bunkbeds with no issues- They are not tall bunks either and you can ask them to make sure its not roll offable. I could fit a pack and play because we spent so little time in the room that I did not really care that we did not have lots of room- they set up so fast!

3. I've requested Soy milk for my youngest DD as she cannot tolerate whole milk yet. What if they forget about it and my poor DD goes without milk for 3 days? She can't drink lots of juice either. I do not want to have a toddler (still diapers) with diarrhea for 3 days either! (Guess I can bring Lactaid in case). Will they get Soy Milk somewhere or should I bring some from a nearby store?

I know that they accomodate special dining requests- call the cruise main 800 line for more info and to place such a request!

4. We're staying at Saratoga Springs before doing the cruise. Can we just go to a counter there and fill out whatever paperwork there is and have them take our luggage? Kind of like a "pre-checkin?"

We had the transfers that were land and sea and they picked our bags up for us- the only problem is that I dont know if that is a "cruise" hotel- you might have to have them transfered to another hotel to be picked up- how are you getting to the boat from the parks??

5. How safe is the parking lot where you pay to park? We'll probably leave a few things in the car and not take on the cruise (only if it's guarded).

I have no clue-

6. The Atlantis excursion: After the boat ride, is it hilly terrain? We'll have a stroller. Also, I heard you can't use the pools or slides, but can gamble, see the aquarium, and probably shop. (Wow..some deal...you can spend money there, but you can't use any of the fun stuff). We'd like to this and then go to the straw market and some shopping in Nassau..will there be enough time?

I dont know if that excursion is worth the money- we are not going to do the excursion thing untill the baby is older- We rented mopeds the last time and went to see Atlantis on our own but it was something that I think would be better to visit as a resort and not a day trip. I want to spend a day on the boat and perhaps hit the shops for some bargaining. I like to haggle- beware though- Nassau was like a war torn area that they did not clean up and they hound the tourists as soon as you get off the boat- kind of rude too.

7. Ok, I know it will be hot...how hot? Worse than a WDW park on a crowded July day? Or does an ocean Breeze make it a little more comfy?

dont know- we go in Feb

8. How good is the shopping on ship and off ship?

there is a cute shop on the ship that had some neat sales too- off the ship was a fun little market that you can haggle at- but there is a lot of begging and soliciting and there is broken leftovers from storms that was not so nice to look at- at least it was this way back when we went in 2001.

9. I'd rather get a Passport for all of us. How long does that take and are there any recommendations about copies or where to store.

dont know- we do the birth cert thing


10. What to pack? We're doing land and sea so (with a 2 yr old) should I bring toys?

I think there is a limit to the bags and there is so much to do I would not bother- there is also a laundry room on the boat so if you get there early for the early boarding you can do laundry from the parks without bother.

11. Any good guide books you can recommend? the one from AAA is pretty good but there is such limited info in any of the other books that unless you get it free from the library its not worth buying.

[snow'sfriend]

PARKING- We did the 7 night and we left a few things in there and it was fine.- So don't worry.
SHOPPING- Yes my FAVORITE!!!! The shopping on the boat is great! One day I was at the shop until 1:00!!!!
WEATHER- We went in mid August, it was definitly not as hot as WDW but was still pretty hot-SUNSCREEN!!!!
Hope you have fun!!!

[pbharris4]

Thanks you soooo much everybody!!! I had bought Passporter's Guide to DCL and it was helpful, but I wanted people's actual opinions and what they've done, etc. So thank you! I can't wait to shop! After careful thinking, we are going to skip the Atlantis Resort and just do some shopping on our own in Nassau. And then spend more time on the boat. Thanks for the heads up on how it can be there. I've been to Tiajuana several times so I know what you are talking about. Although you can get great deals you are constantly fending people off. It shouldn't be that way. One time in Tiajuana..my dad felt bad for a little kid who was selling Chicklets so he gave him a $5.00 bill..not 2 mins. later he had 6 boys & girls tugging at his pants leg. It breaks your heart. But then there's the "cons" who want to sell you that "genuine" Louis Vuitton purse or get you to come in to see "the live show." Hopefully, the children don't get scared.

We can always do it another time as we hope to do a 7 night cruise in another year or two.

I've already got certified copies of our birth certs. Once I saw how much Passports would be I saved alot of $$ getting the certs. One thing..mine (from PA) has a raised seal, but my Dh & DD's are from VA and they have watermarks not raised seals..hope it's not an issue.

We're driving to the terminal and we're DVC so we have to take everything with us and park.

Woohoo...have fun on your trip!!! 4 days..I bet you can't wait! Wish I was you right now! Didn't you get a ton of snow?

Bruce...which cruise are going on? We're doing the 3 day on July 21st. Are you a DVC member? I was told if you use points you don't get transfers. (I am pretty sure they said that, could be wrong though)

Snow's friend: Sounds like we're both shopaholics! And sunscreen....well I have a red head DD and her sister and father are both blondes and they are ALL very fair in skin tone. I am the only one who tans..so they all need SOF 50+!!! Thanks, all!

[snow'sfriend]

Originally Posted by pbharris4

Snow's friend: Sounds like we're both shopaholics! And sunscreen....well I have a red head DD and her sister and father are both blondes and they are ALL very fair in skin tone. I am the only one who tans..so they all need SOF 50+!!! Thanks, all!

LOL!!! Hey you're lucky, I have blonde hair and very fair skin so i have to use 60 !! Hope your trip is great!!!!

[brumcg]

Bruce...which cruise are going on? We're doing the 3 day on July 21st. Are you a DVC member? I was told if you use points you don't get transfers. (I am pretty sure they said that, could be wrong though)

We're doing the 4-day cruise that sails on 6/5. We are DVC members, and we did end up using points (although next time I'll definitely take Mickey's advice and sell the points and use the funds towards the cruise), and transfers were an additional charge. It didn't occur to me at the time that they might have meant transfers from the actual DVC resort. Hmmm. On the other hand, IIRC, transfers were almost $70/person...which would be $280 for the 4 of us. Currently, we're thinking about a towncar which will come out to a similar price and might give us some more flexibility.

Bruce

[woohoo]

Originally Posted by brumcg

We're doing the 4-day cruise that sails on 6/5. We are DVC members, and we did end up using points (although next time I'll definitely take Mickey's advice and sell the points and use the funds towards the cruise), and transfers were an additional charge. It didn't occur to me at the time that they might have meant transfers from the actual DVC resort. Hmmm. On the other hand, IIRC, transfers were almost $70/person...which would be $280 for the 4 of us. Currently, we're thinking about a towncar which will come out to a similar price and might give us some more flexibility.

Bruce

You should price out quicksilver- I called a few services and Quicksilver was an easy $100 less than everyone for our whole trip.

I just received my trip docs yesterday and Im sooooooooo Excited!!!

WooHooo!!!!

Im coming yellow people! did you miss me - sigh-

[pbharris4]

I saw that post on renting your DVC points too, but after I had already made a reservation. That is a good idea and we may do that next time..the points are getting too high. They really jumped this past year! Or we may use points for us and pay for the girls..depends on the time of year, etc. Sounds like what WooHoo said about Quicksilver is the way to go. Since we are driving, we can't leave our car at WDW so we just have to park it. That Passporter's guide to the DCL is awesome..I read it in 1 day. Although, now I heard something on the news about illness aboard ships again! I missed the story, but it was Good Morning America. WooHoo...stay healthy and I can't WAIT to hear your trip report!!!! Make sure to include pictures!!!!!!!

[woohoo]

I cant wait to be able to give one! I cant help but read others and get real jealous that it isnt mine!!
I am bringing seabands for the trip in case there is illness again but as far as I know it is not on Disney but on Carnival or Norwegian - one of those. As long as this winter weather holds out Ill be fine- I have clear weather so far for my flight!! WOO HOOO! We are getting another 4 inches tonight and tomorrow- just not friday!!!

[pbharris4]

I know you guys got lots of snow!!! Hope it works out for you! I can't believe you got your trip docs so close to your departure date..is that normal?

[woohoo]

well for us we were waiting for one of the groups in our party to get early dining- because we are all trying to keep reservations together we had to wait for that to happen- but yes - the last time we got them about a week in advance. The AAA agent got them last friday, looked over them and then overnighted them to us. Part of the trouble is that we booked as 4 seperate reservations. 1. the night we get in 2. start of our vacation package 3. last night of our trip at WDW and 4. the Cruise. This saved us about $800 total to do it this way but the cruise line thinks we are not leaving until the 3rd of Feb when we are leaving the 28th of Jan. So this is why it is so close.