FM

Darn it, I first thought this post was about celebrating Halloween onboard while cruising ...

I can understand it being a terrifying experience for them if it was their first time cruising ... but anyone going on an Ocean cruise has to be cognizant of the fact that the open seas can be a rough go when Mother Nature is stirring up the pot. Agree with boscobeans that it appears the ship was handling itself quite well despite the "rough" seas ...

I must be getting used to ocean cruising when the weather is not cooperating ... I remember one cruise where I was in line at the Guest Services desk ... boat was a rockin', waves were smashing into the windows behind the Guest Services desk which caused quite some consternation amoung some of the passengers ... and I'm just swaying along with the movement of the ship. Or the one time we exited into some really bad weather in the Atlantic ... majority of the passengers and number of the crew quite ill ... both of us to the point where there was nothing more left to thr-w up (forget about sucking on ice to stay hydrated) ... for some reason, I got up, "crawled" to the Theatre for the last round of Bingo (there were more sea sickness bags in the Theatre than there were passengers) ... then crawled back to our stateroom and back into bed ... now those were rough seas ...

Appreciate the excellent well-rounded review. We have the Canada/New England tentatively booked for next fall aboard the Anthem so it was quite informative to read about your experiences.

How did you find navigating around on the ship was ... family member has mobility issues so wondering if it took a while to get around to the various venues etc ...

Haha we most definitely have seprate cabins!! Sharing is not for us. We are 2 or 3 doors away from each other which is perfect. Dont mind using the loo in front of hubby so no issues for us there.

 

How do I actually book private tours? Is there certain websites? I have everything wrote down incl the exc we want to do and wpuld like to look at the private ones so I can compare.

We have had no problem in booking private excursions/tours through the island companies websites - as a first-timer for your first excursion you may want to book one of the introductory island tours through the cruise ship so you can get a feel of what a tour may feel like - it'll calm any nervous first time feelings you may have. Attend the shore excursion briefings on the ship or talk to the shore excursion staff onboard - they'll provide you with any assistance you may need.

Have fun!

I have a question about the slides. I wear glasses and I'm blind as a bat without them. Can you go down the slides wearing glasses?

 

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Best to get Rx goggles ... easy to get anywhere there is a dive/swim shop. Made the mistake one time of wearing my glasses while wading into the surf on a "clothing optional" beach in the Caribbean - turned around to wave to DW - she was frantically waving back - WHAM - got bowled over by a big wave ... somewhere in the Caribbean there is a dolphin wearing my glasses. Wore my Rx sunglasses until we hit Saint John - took a boat over to St. Thomas and got replacement glasses in an hr ... one of the most memorable "shore excursions" ever ;)

 

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Aye - cannae mess wi' a Scotswoman during 40 winks time - we need our energy for partying!

OI! ... LOVE IT - rotfl :)

Very well written response cyclenut ... my comments follow below

Since I started the thread I think I'll take a stab at answering some of the critics of my complaints. I'll start first by saying that value is absolutely subjective. That's the whole point of discussing value vs. talking strictly about price. However, value starts with price. When I see such a large price gap, I start to look at the extras that Disney offers and consider whether those extras provide enough value to offset the price difference. I believe a lot of people find greater value in meeting the characters than I do and there are several that see negative value in the lack of a casino. Each cruiser is going to attribute a different value than the other.

 

Price point for DCL is indeed a bit high! For example, we are also looking at a B2B aboard RCL Anthem of the Seas (9 night Canada/New England + 5 night Bermuda). When we compare it to a 2 week Panama Canal cruise aboard the Wonder, DCL comes out $2200 more expensive! But wait you say, I'm comparing apples to oranges re: itinerary. However, I DID take a look at the Magic's Canada/New England cruise - for the 7-night cruise, the MAGIC costs MORE than the B2B Anthem for 14 nights! Ridiculous to say the least ...

 

So what's the point of having a pricing thread at all then if everyone looks at value differently? The point is to have that discussion of value. What is it that drives so many people to the Disney ships? How much value is the Disney brand?

 

Here we come to the crux of the matter - value. As mentioned before, value is subjective. Why did we do a B2B aboard the Fantasy a few years ago when we were not travelling with any kids? Why did we introduce my DW's sister to the Fantasy as her very first cruise experience last year when it was just the three of us? It certainly wasn't the value of the cost of the cruise as she had to pay the single supplement for her own stateroom - it certainly wasn't the fact that there weren't plenty of other choices that would have presented better value for the money. The value of cruising aboard the Fantasy for us was in the experience of cruising with DCL. We've cruised with Princess (Platinum), Celebrity, Holland America, NCL and Carnival - DCL remains one of our top choices.

 

Another element of price is most certainly the demand, hence my comment at the end that I hope when more capacity is added, price will normalize. I think that demonstrates my understanding of basic microeconomics. :D

 

I found the banter about capacity to be interesting as well. I've noticed crowding to be more subjective than you'd think. I don't mind crowds too much, having spent many a Christmas holiday at Disneyland. I know many others who differ with me. A ship that is near capacity may seem crowded to one person and just busy to another. I will have to say though that if a ship is near capacity it is defiantly going to feel a bit crowded at times. I don't care what line it is. The notion of crowding is an important factor is determining relative value.

 

Perhaps a more productive discussion can be had on the topic of what makes a Disney cruise worth it for you? What are those things that give you enough perceived value that you are willing to pay the price?

 

Here are some of my top items.

1) Disney and everything that brand stands for. This can be so hard to quantify but for me it holds a special place and set of memories that really can't be found anywhere else. I've spent memorable moments in Disneyland growing up and raising a family in Orange County, CA.

2) Ports and Destinations. It really doesn't matter how much I love Disney or what it offers if the Ports and Destinations are not convenient and exciting.

3) Shipboard experience. Very important since you'll spend a lot of time there. Because Disney caters to families and they know Mom and Dad need their time too, they do an outstanding job of providing adult only areas. They pay more attention to that than most and it shows. I lump everything from staterooms to entertainment in this category. For what it's worth, I put Royal Caribbean higher on the list in the entertainment category with Disney a close second.

4) Price. Is this cruise within the price range that I consider reasonable, in terms of total cost per person. What I mean here is total cost not value. There is a limit for me and for most people where you just can't spend that kind of cash.

5) Schedule. Can I find the right itinerary at a time when I can get the time off work (for those with kids, off school) and when the weather will be acceptable? Can I coordinate schedules? There are times when I think I would have rather sailed with Disney but the schedule just didn't line up. Other lines that have far more ships can offer many more choices.

 

Initially we had taken a look at the EB Panama Cruise aboard the Wonder for fall next year ... but ruled it out not primarily due to cost ... but due to an itinerary that pretty well had no interest for me - other than transiting the Canal - which for DW is not that important at all. The "value" just wasn't there for us. But then I took a look at it again in a different light - celebrating Halloween aboard the Wonder on Oct 31st / combining it with a stay at Disneyland and celebrating Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party / going one step further AND adding a stay at Universal Hollywood and celebrating Halloween Horror Nights ... well the value of the overall itinerary/experience just became more exciting for us.

 

Yes, price is a factor. It will always be a factor. I love the Disney experience but I'm lamenting the fact that the continued rising price for the cruise is pushing me away more and more often. Because I understand basic microeconomics, I know there is a price that is too high. I've also seen what happens when that price is reached and people start to find alternatives. Sometimes it means that the product ends up disappearing. You can't deliver on the promise at a heavy discount and once you've lost the loyalty, getting it back is expensive. I don't know where that price point is for Disney but it sure feels like we're getting close.

 

So the value, dollar wise, for DCL is reaching into the stratosphere for a couple like us. The value of a Disney cruise is in what we want for our trip ... that's why we go Disney for special celebrations/birthdays/Anniversaries etc. Because we love the Disney experience. But as an every day regular holiday ... the value isn't there for us because of the price ...

Bottom line is that along with everything else, Disney is getting a bit darn expensive. But that did not stop me from putting a deposit down yesterday on the EB Panama Canal cruise for next year as one of several options for our Anniversary celebration. Time will tell over the next few months as to what our final decision will be ...

N O P E ... not missed at all :)

Thanks everyone ... information is very helpful. I do like the idea of being able to disembark "early" bypassing the lengthy lines at the start of a port day. Thanks BirdTravels about the info of the elevator from the Haven lounge - it sounds great.

Combined with the Free at Sea promotion when we placed a deposit for a Haven Spa Suite with Balcony aboard the Breakaway, it seems that NCL's Haven class offers a bit more than other cruise line concierge-class cabins - correct me if I am wrong.

My understanding is that Haven Class passengers have priority access for reserving restaurants and entertainment onboard ... how does it work in regards to ...

• Booking a Cabana at Great Stirrup Cay ... when do booking windows open up for "shore excursions" ...
  
• Booking spa treatments ...
   
  

It also states that you can skip the lines and be personally escorted on and off the ship at the pier and at ports-of-call ... does that include GSC? How well does it actually work?

I am most excited though about the new Lagoon Retreat coming to GSC. With Haven and Suite guests (and those booking spa treatments) having exclusive access, this makes it a very enticing perk. The highlight on our previous Disney cruises was Castaway Cay ... and the ability to book a Cabana if you were lucky enough to grab one. So the opportunity to book a beachfront luxury villa on GSC is very alluring ... though I shudder to think at how much this perk would end up being priced at ...

55+ ... does that mean I'm not a "senior" ... yet? - LOL

I'm too old for the 18-35's Contiki Tours but not old enough yet to get any senior discounts ... stuck in limbo ;)

It depends on what you and your wife are looking for ... we have yet to cruise Viking but it is one of several options we are still exploring as it offers a more intimate more refined experience. The best way to "experience" what a cruise line offers without actually being onboard is to look for You Tube reviews of the various cruise lines/ships ... it'll give you an idea of what you would like to get from a cruise ...

Thanks for the report ...

Did you get any of the drink packages ... do you recall how much bottled water was ...

I don't remember the temperature but I did enjoy it the one time I used it. Took 40 minutes to fill and has no heater. It was the sloshing at night that bothered me...

40 minutes ??!! Didn't I read somewhere that you can have the Butler draw up a bath for you?? Wonder if they do that by bringing in buckets of hot water - lol - geesh ... ;)

Also re: the thalassotherapy pool, was it fresh water .. or salt water ... and it must be heated right?

Thanks

If I'm having a steak, it will usually be a fillet. If it is good, all it may need is a little sprinkle of salt. However, from time to time, I have had occasion to consume a lesser cut and have resorted to Heinz.;):p I have a kid who will put that on a dog and there are times I wonder if he is really mine.:eek::rolleyes:

Kids embarrassing their parents - how wwuuddee - LOL. Was going to ask a "Brooklyn gal" where to dine in the NY area as looking at cruising out of there next year ... but then I noticed you're in the MD area ... :( - lol ...

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The big thing with NCL is the Haven area which is only accessible by suite guests and in some cases only higher ends suites. So you can imagine an area (which includes a smaller pool, hot tubs, sun decks, eating areas) only available to very limited number of guests. This is a huge benefit for NCL in my opinion and one of the reason I like their ships.

 

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Did you cruise Haven and how did you like it?

DELTABLUE ...

Your post elicited a few hearty chuckles from myself :) ... I take it that you do not advocate putting ketchup on steaks also - LOL ;) ...

I do not recall ANYONE saying kids could not laugh and play and be loud on the waterslides?? This conversation is about the Haven area and being respectful of one another. A kid laughing and swimming in the pool is great. A kid singing at the top of his lungs with no regard for other people who paid to enjoy the same "small" space is just ridiculous. I am a parent and I would NEVER sit back and let my kid annoy and disrespect everyone around them. It amazes me how some parents think their children have the right to do anything they damn well please?

 

The people who just don't like kids and think they should be silent are ridiculous AS ARE the parents who think their loud, running, throwing, disrespectful kids are adorable. Both are way too extreme.

 

Kids in the Haven are fine, just keep a look out for your kid (just as you should anywhere) and correct them when they are being too loud, running, throwing stuff, dumping orange juice in the hot tub, etc... Parenting is work. It is much easier to be lazy and let them be disrespectful little brats. But our job is to try our best to raise these little ones into caring, respectful adults. It is work for sure.

Thumbs up! ;)

Restaurants

 

... I’ve never seen French Toast so small. Two triangle shaped pieces, maybe 4 inches on the hypotenuse side! That was breakfast.

The hy what ?? You got a loud guffaw from me on that one - LOL :D ...

Yes, I too would be disappointed by some of the slip-ups considering the premiere type of stateroom that you booked ...

Didn't know you had to carry the souvenir cup in order to access some of the dispensing machines - that would be a ... in the ... ! With a family member who has mobility issues, your observations about trying to find seating in the Windjammer, elevators etc are helpful ...

And I'll be right beside you on the soapbox re: the issue of wasted food. If a person took a look at the plate I bring back from the buffet, one would think that I eat like a bird. I just take a scoop or two of what I'm interested in ... and if I like it, I get back up and get some more. It just amazes me when people stack their plates with a "Mount Rushmore" amount of food ... like it's a major inconvenience to get up and get some more ... or they're terrified that the cruise ship will run out of shrimp for example ...

Thanks for the review

We did a Haven Spa on GA. Quite honestly the Haven was so nice we did not utilize the Spa as much as on other cruises. I think I would have preferred to be in the Haven itself and just enjoy the Haven pool area...

 

The whirlpool in the room was not worth it. Long time to fill and the jets never completely empty of water so you hear it sloshing at night--very annoying.

You can get the water pretty hot if you want in the whirlpool if you like right? Nothing worse than a lukewarm whirlpool bath ...

Wow ... this thread is still active ... I keep checking the NCL boards so I can decide which of the three cruise itineraries I should finalize for our trip next year, one of which is a B2B aboard the RCL Anthem / NCL Breakaway Haven. The Haven sounds like a great experience ... less so with the observations of "unruly behavior" ... but I figure if we can enjoy our last three cruises aboard the Disney Fantasy, then the Haven should be no problem ... right?

You'll always run into people on holidays, land or sea, where they are of the "sun revolves around the earth" mentality ... i.e. "it's my holiday, my family, my kids" so --- the torpedoes and everyone else and we'll enjoy our holiday our way without any consideration of other's ...

So you'll never win an argument with them with any logic or sound reasoning or common sense ... maybe NCL can consider a Haven within the Haven ... lol ... ;)

We have just returned from a Viking Homelands cruise on Viking Star and I have posted a review of our cruise. I agree with the comments made in the original post. We found that trying to get a table in the restaurant at a time to suit us was impossible and had to compromise and eat far later than we would have preferred. There was only a choice of one white or one red complimentary wine so if you didn't like the grape variety, tough luck. The premium wines in the Chef's Table we were disappointing. At times the ship seemed deserted with the trio playing to six or eight people. Service in all the restaurants was never consistent, sometimes it was good and sometimes mediocre. We were in a Penthouse Junior Suite and could always hear the television in the next cabin. We have cruised since 1993 and prefer the traditional cruising experience but are growing weary of cruising and will probably stick to land based holidays from now on.

 

Pugwash123

Do you have a link to your review as tried searching for it ...

Our first cruise was our honeymoon cruise aboard the Fair Princess back when it was under the Princess banner ... boy, cruising has come a LOOONNGG way since then - lol. Still love cruising but now we combine a land holiday before and/or after the cruise; like we've done the past three cruises with Disney - usually WDW before and Universal after ... the best of both worlds :) ...

Appreciate your candid review LesSails. Being on the Sea for that long a period offers you a unique perspective in the day-to-day experiences aboard the ship. I am still in the process of deciding which cruise to book ... Viking has a Caribbean cruise which would offer us an opportunity to experience a different way of cruising as opposed to the mainstream lines but with an itinerary where we have been to every port of call on their itinerary before ... whereas we're looking at other cruise lines which offer the mainstream cruise experience but with itineraries/ports we have yet to try.

There were a lot of positives in your review ... so any pitfalls that you noticed, such as the irregular dining room service and the shore excursions department, makes it a more "honest" review in my opinion. Thanks.

LittleRascal ... I also had questions regarding Viking's Air program especially for sailings over a year from now. I found that the Viking rep was helpful and went out of his way to ascertain whether we could go Premium Economy when it wasn't readily available from Canadian departure locations. Overall I found that the better option would be for us to book our own air if we decided to go "Viking" ... it offers us total control over all details of booking the flights as travelling to a destination is much more of an endeavor for family members who have health concerns. Plus, if you are looking at anything above Economy, you can usually do a better job in getting a lower price.

When I first heard there was a JR onboard, I though cool - we used to have a JR here many years ago. But like fliprcruzr, I was surprised to see there is a cover charge. With so many good burger places on land, I think I can handle going burgerless onboard for the week while I try out the oh so many other food options available on a cruise ... :)

People have odd and unique taste.

 

We have JR in Orlando. I've never once been impressed on land, so I'm definitely not going on the ship. We used the 2-for-1 shake coupon once and it was ok... we're not huge shake people and it won't hurt my feelings to never do that again.

 

We have friends from the Midwest that think Bahama Breeze is the single best restaurant in the universe. They associate BB with their trips to Orlando and their honeymoon and their most fun vacations. They don't have BB at home.

 

They are ABSOLUTELY FLOORED when we tell them the only time we ever go there is when they are in town and insist on us meeting them there.

 

They rave about BB like it was the 2nd coming. They have the best drinks. They have the best shrimp. Everyone who works there is the most hilarious human that they have ever met. They follow BB on social media. They plan nights around it. Bahama Breeze is their personal party restaurant.

 

 

 

BUT HEY... I bank on hitting Skyline Chili every single time I'm in Ohio, so who am I to talk? To each their own.

Lol - loved Bahama Breeze the first time we tried it in Orlando ... was looking forward to it when we returned to WDW ... however it was just meh ... so there will be no 3rd time ...

Forgiven - lol. We're Platinum with Princess but am glad we've explored other lines ... looking now at RCL for the first time ... and possibly Viking ... - lol