daydreamer16

Thanks for the links!

Any info on snorkeling & bike rentals at Castaway Cay? The kids are more into athletic stuff rather that princess events.

I just booked a Disney Dream cruise for 11, a combo of adults & children. The cruise is not until July of 2025 so I have lots of time but I also have questions. How do you get assigned a check in time? Must our group check in together, we have 3 cabins? I know there are lots of extras that cost $. Are there any that are must do? We will be going to Castaway Cay, what are the approximate costs for snorkel gear & bike rentals? Thanks in advance for your help😀 I'm sure that I'll have more questions...

Thanks, everyone we have secured #9158 for our family of 5 cabin. We booked through a travel agent.

The last time we were in Aqua class (2022) on the Reflection, you could also have some gym equipment delivered to your stateroom. I think we got a yoga mat, maybe some small weights & something else that we didn't use. I think we ordered online & our steward collected them the last night of the cruise. We love Blu too!

About a month later we were on the Grand Princess and a crew member had to be evacuated by helicopter. This was the day before we were supposed to arrive in Honolulu. The captain said we had to be 100 miles of the coast of the big island for the USCG to be able to make it. It was very dramatic with a USCG plane circling the ship for about an hour & then the helicopter hovered above to remove the crew member. Everyone was on their balcony taking pictures even though the captain said to stay off! At dinner that night our waiter said it was someone with appendicitis. He said it's the most common issue to have to be evacuated, at least with the crew.

We were on the Edge for the 3/13/24 cruise and we due to arrive at 6am in Sydney on the day of disembarkation. Early in the evening of the night before the captain announced we'd return by 3-4am because of a sick passenger. I had a 10am flight that I was worried about making, but it all worked out great for me since we were docked about 3:30am.

Thanks so much! Disney is a first for us so I’m trying to figure things out before I make a big deposit. The other 5 day cruise goes to Nassau which I wasn’t too happy about on my last Celebrity cruise.

Haven't been to Cozumel in a long time. Planning a Disney cruise for next summer with a stop there. Is there anything to do at the port area with kids 7-15 years old? When I was there we took a ship tour to Tulum I think. It involved a boat ride, it was at least 15 years ago 😆

I'm in the planning stage as first timer. We are a party of 11, I assume we'll have our own table?

We’ll be in the first group getting off & it seems Uber & Lyft are able to enter the port. I’m taking my chances but I don’t want to wait for a princess bus to fill & they estimate a 45 minute trip to Union Square.

I hope you’re right because Princess is saying there will be limited access to use taxi or ride sharing. They are offering a free shuttle bus to Union Sq. or the Embarcadero. I’d rather take my chances at pier 80 which is closer to SFO, if I’m not mistaken. I have a 12pm flight.

I’m on the Grand right now we cleared immigration in Honolulu yesterday. It looks like a pain to get an Uber or taxi to get from Pier 80 to SFO?

I’m aboard the Grand right now & I was waitlisted for an excursion in Tahiti. When we boarded I asked at the desk & they said that they had added another trip in the afternoon. We remained on the waitlist for the morning but it never opened.

😞

So just asked about sommelier & they called him from another dining room. I asked him about getting a glass of wine from vines & he basically said no. If we want wine from there we have to get it ourselves. He said they serve different wines in different venues for a reason. He said in the MDR, “ the wines here are not to challenge your palate”. 😱 Our wonderful asst waiter said he would get it for us but it’s not a problem, we’re happy to go to Vines. The waiter there is friendly& helpful!

Agreed, we didn’t upgrade to premiere since we only have one or two glasses of wine with dinner. Also, on the Grand, Alfredo’s is the only casual option. We love the service on Celebrity but we chose our cruises based on itinerary so we’ll continue with Princess but maybe not as often as in the past.

I’ll ask tonight, thanks! Will report back!

I have not seen any sommelier on this ship & I did mention to our waiter that we’re going to Vines every night because the wines by the glass are terrible. I am not a wine snob & like a variety of wines. Also, wine service in the MDR is like going to a cheap restaurant. We are just off Celebrity on 3/24 and even if you order a cheap glass of wine, the sommelier takes your order & pours from the bottle at your table. At least you are sure of what your getting!

Currently on the Grand Princess with the plus pkg & very disappointed with wines in the mdr. Yesterday I saw a waiter carrying a tray with 14 glasses of wine to 2 tables. Reds & white of different hues, but no tag or receipt as to what each was. All I could think of was, no way that waiter knows which of those areCabernet Sauvignon , Pinot or Malbec etc☹️ We’ve been going to Vines each night before dinner to pick up a glass!

Yes, we travel to Mohegan because of that reason. We also visit our grandchildren since they live in Connecticut 🤣

Currently on the Grand Princess, with the Plus Pkg & the bars will pour you a double and only charge for one drink. This has been a first for us on Princess!

Currently on the Grand Princess & we had problems with MDR from day one. We haven’t been on Princess since Fall 2019, so definitely out of the loop on dining! On previous cruises we just went down to the anytime dining & got a beeper. Never waited more than 30 minutes. On the Grand we boarded in Auckland, cruise originated in Sydney. First day I contacted guest services & asked about dining & she said you better start making reservations! It’s a 22 day cruise so I tried online but could only make reservations for 6 nights, various times & dining rooms. The first night no reservation, was told 2 hour wait at first dining room. Went to different room waited 10 minutes & saw many unoccupied tables. Next day went to guest services & complained about the system. Was told they would keep a table empty all night if it had been reserved at 6:00 & 7:30 that’s the way the computer system operates! Excuse was guest could be tired from excursion & might or might not show up so they keep table open. I don’t know much about the restaurant business but on dry land I think a restaurant would go out of business if that was their model! After our visit to guest services we got a table for 2 not later tha 7pm. For reference was on the Celebrity Edge in March out of Sydney. We ate a one of the MDRs ( there are 4) every night & never waited for a table for 2. It was the first time in any cruise ( Celebrity & Princess) that we did not wait even once. We usually eat around 6-6:30 so prime time!

So we leave this Saturday on the Grand Princess & yesterday I got an email from the Hilton saying that they are canceling all of the day pass reservations for April since the resort is fully booked. Good luck with your trip!

Have you tried Viator? I see Hobbiton on their site. Auckland is too far for a shore excursion. We went to Hobbiton yesterday & it’s great especially if you’re a fan. We left from Auckland & it was about 8 hrs r/t. We board the Grand Princess on Saturday.