simplealman

Keep a close watch on it. Our 12/16/18 opened up today. Doesn't seem to be any logic to anything Royal does in their cruise planner.

Following! We board May, 20 and soooo need a vacation.

I’d like to start out by say this was an excellent review and all the pictures really helped me out for our May cruise. I have one question that you may not be able to answer since you didn’t go to the dinning room, but can anyone answer what time the late seating starts? My cruise planner is saying 7:30 but it looks to be around 8:00 by some of the reviews I see on here.

The other thing I like was you gave me lots of ideals on drinks since I have the Ultimate Drink Package for the first time. Long time smuggler on other lines, but this is also my first time with Royal Caribbean. I’m a straight forward Bourbon and Coke drinker, but want to try other drinks to see what I like.

Thanks to anyone that may help out.

We will be on your cruise. Good to know we will be in Jamaica, since its nothing to exciting we may just stay on the ship.

Hey cruise mates we also will be on that cruise. Since cruise is not showing looks like it may be full and crowded.Look for me I'll be the one holding a drink.

Thanks for the heads up just got 24 for 6.52

Hi all. This is going to be our first Disney Cruise and we are very excited. We will be aboard the Fantasy on 20 Sept for a 7 night cruise.

 

We have been given the 2d seating (although we have been put on the "wait list" for first seating) and we are pretty sure that isnt going to cut it because we one of our girls will be still under 2 yrs old at the time of sailing and thats too late to eat.

 

Thus I suspect we will be at Cabanas everynight. We are disappointed because we really wanted to experienc the theming of the MDRs.

 

That said, we do want to participate in the formal nights (like me in a Tux level of formal) but Im concerned we will be the only ones in that restaurant dressed up to that level on that evening.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

Thanks!

Disney is the best at being accommodating to families. If you are persistent and follow up on calls and seeing the Maitre d’ on the ship as soon as you get on, you will eventually get first dining. I have always got ever request on Disney.

Have faith and don’t stress it will all be ok and you will be enjoying dinner in the MDR.

I believe Cabanas is the same dress code as the MDRs, it's just that they "dress up" Cabanas itself for dinner. So there are tablecloths, table service, etc. It's a "fancier" restaurant than at breakfast and lunch.

OH!!! Now I see what scottdvc was saying. Need to pay more more attention to detail.

Thanks scottdvc for the tip on steak. I love a good rib-eye steak and will definably be trying out one or two on the cruise. You said Cabanas was a “dress up” but I thought it was more relax on dress code than main dining from the way Disney’s explains it. I will go back and read it in there FAQ section.

Moki’smommy this sounds good on menu choices and the dessert will not be a problem for me as I never seem to have room for any.

Thanks this is the kind of info I was looking for.

I have a few questions on how the evening dining works on the Fantasy and hope someone who has used this service can help.

Are the courses ordered and brought out one at a time like in the main dining room?

Since you have multiple dining rooms serving various menus each night which choices are on Cabanas menu?

How long does it usually take to eat a full meal?

One in our party will not be able to sit for long periods of time so dining room may not be an option. We have sailed the Fantasy before but always went to the main dining room so we don’t know what to expect in Cabanas at night.

Any other info on dining would also be welcomed.

One newer thing is you can no longer use the over the door show hanger. You will be fined if you use one.

What kind of tips are you looking for?

Hi jenseib I have followed your posting since the review you done on I think the Disney Dream ship and i must say it was excellent and very informative.

I have a question about this post if you don’t mind. I’m just wondering where you got your info on this. I have search Disney Web sight and have found nothing on it about this being a prohibit item. I know you post a lot and keep up with changes but this is a very useful item and I would hate to do a week without it on a cruise.

Can you tell me where to look to find this info. I was hoping to maybe hang it a different way because I know if it is hung wrong it can damage the top of doors.

Second what is this fine and do they say how much it is. If this is not showing up on their web sight how does people know they are not allowed now and will be fined if you use one. I wouldn't have known if not for this web sight.

Thanks for all the info you share on all sights.

Here is a link http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1939863 to a short review. Look at post 9. I took this tour in December.

Hello all just back from a wonderful cruise and here is a small review of Dexter’s Fantasia Tour.

Per Dexter’s request we got pority tendering in Grand Cayman because his first tour is from 8:30 till 1200. When we arrived at the pier Dexter was not there, but he said if we did not see him have someone call him. I went up to the first person and ask him if he had seen Dexter. He looks around and said no but I will call him. He calls and Dexter said he would be right there.

After about 5 minutes I saw a man holding a Dexter Tours sign. I walk up to him and he introduced himself as Dexter. He told us he was still waiting on another group that had not shown up yet. He waits a few more minutes and then shows us to his van. We left port and about 5 minutes down the road he got a call... Yep you guessed it, it was the other group. We did a U’ie and went back to port to get them.

After gathering everyone up it was about a 15 minute ride to his boat. When we got there we got straight on and left because it was around 9:00 by this time. We motored out to the sand bar which took about 30 minutes. His boat is big so it was a smooth ride even though the waves were rough.

When we arrived at the bar the waves were very rough. We were given life jackets and snorkeling gear if you wanted it. Dexter and his helper both got out and started helping everyone off the boat. A quick note here, you will need to go down a straight ladder to enter the water so this may not be for everyone, but they will help you down.

After everyone was in the water we played with the rays till everyone was content. Dexter made sure you got lots of pictures and play with the rays as long as you wanted. Never once did we feel rushed. After about an hour or so we pulled anchor and went to the reef to snorkel.

We stayed at the reef snorkeling about an hour and the left to head back to the marina. On the way back Dexter put up the sail and we sailed back to the marine. This was the high light of the tour. The younger folks laid out on deck and Dexter told the older folks stories about the ocean. All had a wonderful time.

All being said this is a 10 for value of money, 10 for making sure all needs are meet, and 10 for the experience. I would highly recommend this tour to any one looking to have a good time in a small group. There were only 14 of us on this tour. If you like to be with lots of people go with the cruise crowd. Look to be 50 or more in them tours but for the best possible experience use Dexter.

We used Dexter's on our tour xmas 2011..

It was fantastic..w/a small group size. I'd say no more than 12 people when I went.

 

The kids LOVED it!! The more adventuresome swam and held the wild stingrays while the not so adventuresome group watched from upon the boat..lol

 

Dexter's Tour also has a Facebook page ;) with a ton of pics and feedback..for anyone interested.

 

I would go again w/them in a heart beat..and had found them originally by some others who had recommended the tour here on cruise critic..

 

Enjoy!!! and have your camera ready

Thanks for the info Suezieq. From all my reading and talking to Dexter, I think we will have a wonderful time.

I will let everyone know how it went when I get back.

You will have to share your experIence wIth us when you retUrn.

 

We have purchased FTTF wIth carnival.... so we will have priority getting off.

 

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I could only get FTTF for one of two booking of my bookings. Hope to pick up another one before our cruise.

If I make our trip I will get back on here and post our experience with everyone.

Only 30 more days.

Has anyone taken this kind of excursion lately? Traveling with DH and two young adult sons. Although none of us know how to pilot a boat, thought this might be fun. Since we've been to Stingray City, I've been searching for something new for the day. Beach Bum offers this (I think they are by the pier) and takes you to Governor's Reef and the Cali to snorkel - two new areas for us.

 

Any information you can share on whether you liked the experience, if it was simple to learn and what operator you used? Thanks!!

I done this with princes cruise line and it was great. Ours were 2 person boats that u took out to the sand bar

Go for it u want regret it.

I don't have any reviews, however I have booKed Dexters for March 2014 for our group... thru email he has been great and very prompt wIth replies. Check out his website, I found it helpful and tripadvisor has great reviews and pictures.

 

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Thinks for the reply csotelo.

I also have him booked for December of this year. He has been good with his e-mails, but seems as if he might carter to the island crowd instead of cruise crowd. He leaves on his first tour at 8:30 and without priory tendering it will be close to make it to the pier at that time.

I have read and saw the pictures and post on Trip Adviser and they are great. This is where I have been getting my info from but was trying to find someone on a cruise ship that has used him.

In our email exchange I ask what his policy was on payment and he stated pay day of trip and if you are not satisfied for any reason you get your money back. He also stated he has a 40’ X 22’ boat and only takes 18 to 20 people per trip.

From ever thing I read and see it looks great and money back guarantee.

Hi all! I have been searching and can not find much info on Dexter's tours except reviews. Does any one have any resent experiences, pictures or any thing they can share on this tour operator?

They have good rating and from e-mail exchanges looks as if this might be a more personal tour since they only take 18 to 20 people per tour.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Yes, if our son was 5 at the time I would have felt safe. Going on our own in Belize is something I would not have done, but with our tour guide I felt very safe. He was WONDERFUL! His name is Manny, just in case you happen to find him!

Thanks for the info. This sounds like something we would be interested in.

We got off the ship, hired a driver for a private tour and had the best day with him! He was a fantastic tour guide and got us to the ruins before all the tour buses arrived, this provided us some great pictures before people were climbing all over them. He also took us on a little hike into the rainforest and told us all about his days of growing up in Belize. It was a wonderful day! :D He got us back to the port with plenty of time to shop the local vendors and then back on the tender to the ship.

Hi jollycruise can you give any info on your trip. We are thinking of doing this also. I have a few questions if you don't mind answering.

How much do they charge for the day?

How long did it take to get to the ruins?

Did you see any vehicles that would accommodate 5 people?

Would you've felt safe with 5 year old child?