Potential 1st time Disney cruiser - some questions

[Avril]

Hi all you Disney cruisers,

I've sailed other lines and absolutly love cruising!! :D I'm not a real Disney fan but am fascinated by the Dream. Would a non-Disney fan enjoy a cruise on the Dream? I love the idea of the Aqua-Duck and the rotating dining (nothing like anything I've seen before and so cool)!! :D Are the specific dining times (I like late dinner) or is it any time like NCL? Are there areas of the ship for adults (I'll be 26 in June)? I don't mind kids so that wouldn't be a problem. I like to party, are there any parties onboard (with or without kids - or both, I don't really care) and what's the adult nightlife like? I know there are no casinos on DCL which is fine by me (in fact, it's awesome) as I don't gamble at all, not even when I go to the horse races here at home. I've heard that they announce your name over the PA system when you board the ship. If this is true, is there a way to avoid it as I would be sooooooo embarrassed!! :o Can you book a cabin by yourself as no one else I know is interested in DCL so I would be sailing alone. Also, can you book 2 sailings in a row (also known as a Back to Back or B2B) as I would go for 7 days and I think the Dream only does short cruises (correct me if I'm wrong). Can you smoke in your cabin and/or on your balcony? Where else on the ship can you smoke? One of my main worries (other than smoking as I am a smoker) has to do with Disney characters. I don't mind them at all but are they around for every meal? I don't want to have every breakfast, lunch and dinner with Mickey, Goofy, Donald, etc. I saw the Wonder in Nassau in December /09 and thought she was beautiful, in my opinion, exactly the way a ship should look. Very elegant and streamlined. :D Of course, I'm not sure I an talk, I was sailing on the Maiden Voyage of the Oasis of the Seas at the time, a truly amazing ship!! She (Wonder) kind of reminded me of my 2 favourite ships of all time, the Titanic (not bacause of the movie, I love the ship all be herself) and the original Queen Mary (which I have had the pleasure of staying aboard for a night). :D

I would just like to know what the Dream and DCL experiance is like overall. Do you get a card (like a credit card) for all onboard purchases? Will I need ID to buy "adult" drinks due to the number of kids onboard? If you get a card, how do they mark them if you're underage (I normally get a hole punched in them and put it on a lanyard so I don't lose it but some cruiselines use a hole to say that you're underage)? Here are 2 of my favourite pictures I took of the Wonder in December (I have lots more if you want them).

I've been to Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California a few times so I'm pretty sure I'd have a good time on DCL. My favourite park is Disney MGM in Florida!!

Please, if you don't mind, tell me anything and everything about the Disney Dream (and DCL in general) and I can't wait to sail on her someday!!

Sorry for the rambling and all the questions!! I hope you don't all hate me now!!

Thanks very much for some (or all) answers!! :D

[tahqa]

Would a non-Disney fan enjoy a cruise on the Dream? Maybe, I guess it depends on the fan.

 

Are the specific dining times (I like late dinner) or is it any time like NCL? There was early seating and late seating, I don't remember there being an "anytime" option.

 

Are there areas of the ship for adults (I'll be 26 in June)? I don't mind kids so that wouldn't be a problem. Yes, there is an adults only pool, the adults only "Cove Cafe" and several adults only nightclubs.

 

I like to party, are there any parties onboard (with or without kids - or both, I don't really care) and what's the adult nightlife like? In my opinion the adult nightlife offerings were meager. Again, IN MY OPINION. Sorry for the emphasis, I've said this before and others have disagreed with me. It's entirely possible that my cruise on the Wonder was an aberration, but I found that while there were many things scheduled for adults at night, they (and the nightclubs themselves) were lightly attended. That's my experience and others have had differing ones. :)

 

I've heard that they announce your name over the PA system when you board the ship. If this is true, is there a way to avoid it as I would be sooooooo embarrassed!! When you board the ship they'll ask your name to announce it. I think you could politely decline to be announced and there'd be no issues.

 

Can you book a cabin by yourself as no one else I know is interested in DCL so I would be sailing alone. Yes, but keep in mind that Disney is more expensive than a lot of other lines. For instance, my cruise last December was twice the cost of a comparable Royal Caribbean cruise.

 

Also, can you book 2 sailings in a row (also known as a Back to Back or B2B) as I would go for 7 days and I think the Dream only does short cruises (correct me if I'm wrong). Yes, you can do back to back. And, yes, the Dream will be taking over Wonder's itineraries (rotating 3 and 4 days).

 

Can you smoke in your cabin and/or on your balcony? Where else on the ship can you smoke? You can smoke on your balcony, but there is no smoking permitted in any indoor area. Smoking areas are cabin balconies and the starboard side of all open decks, except for near Mickey's pool.

 

One of my main worries (other than smoking as I am a smoker) has to do with Disney characters. I don't mind them at all but are they around for every meal? I never saw the characters at any dinner. On the longer cruises there are character breakfasts and the characters do do random appearances during the day in the public areas (as well as scheduled appearances). I was watching the Wonder dock in Nassau and suddenly found myself surrounded by Mickey and Minnie. So surprise appearance can occur.

I don't want to have every breakfast, lunch and dinner with Mickey, Goofy, Donald, etc. I saw the Wonder in Nassau in December /09 and thought she was beautiful, in my opinion, exactly the way a ship should look. Very elegant and streamlined. Yes, the Wonder (and the Dream) does have a very classic appearance, but there are some shortcomings in the interior space design. Again, this is my opinion, please don't slam me. :rolleyes: I didn't find the traffic flow in some spaces to be very well done. But, the public spaces are all very beautiful and elegant.

 

Do you get a card (like a credit card) for all onboard purchases? Yes.

 

Will I need ID to buy "adult" drinks due to the number of kids onboard? I don't know. I'm well past the drinking age so I never get carded anyways.

Answers above in red. In general I really enjoyed my cruise on the Disney Wonder and I'll probably take a cruise on the Dream at some point. Just not in the near future. I found that I didn't like DCL as much as I like RCL and at this point it's just not worth the extra cost to me. And I'm a huge Disney fan. In no way do I regret trying DCL and I would cruise with them again if the price was right. :)

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Hello,

the above poster did a great job of answering your questions. I can answer the one they couldnt.

Your Key card will be your ID for being over 21 to buy drinks. Just show it is you get asked. Minors cards look differently and your photo will be on the card too so they will know its you. You need to have the card to charge the drinks to your on board account anyway.

 

You dont have to worry about having meals with the characters. They have an optional character breakfast on the longer crusies only. Sometimes Mickey will stroll through a dining room and wave as he goes by for the kids but he doesnt stay. The decor on the Dream in Animators Palate has chairs with the mickey colors but i dont think it will over whelm you.

 

Late dining has less kids, more adults.

 

The reason the Disney night lfe seems so quiet is that many parents have to get up early with their kids so they dont stay out as late.

I love the clubs being not so crowded when we go.

The adult comedy shows are packed, standing room only.

But when its dance time the crowds disappear. I find it more intimate that way and we can hear each other talking.

The Dream of course is new and none of us have done it yet.

But once she sails you can bet there will be dozens of reviews here to help people decide if they want to cruise on her.:D I can't wait to read them.

 

Thinking of cost, if you book now, just pick a date in 2011 you will save $$. There are actually some good rates in off season if you book now. You can cancel or change your date later on if your date doesnt work for you or you change your mind.

 

If you look at my signature you can tell I am a Disney cruise fan big time!!

Even if DCL isnt for you , I believe it is worth tryng once just to find out.

Its true its not for everyone,but then again Carnival isnt right for everyone either or HAL for everyone etc... We all look for something different in our cruise experience, but you'll never know unless you try.;)

 

We tried Carnival and found out it wasnt for us. We love DCL but still plan in trying HAL next year. Odds are we will still like DCL best but we wont know how great other lines may be unelss we give them a try.

 

I hope you will try DCL once. Even if its not for you I believe you will still have a great time and it will be worth your time and money.

 

 

Kathy

[chitowngirl312]

Even though I had an "adult" key to the world card, I still had to show photo ID when I was younger (but still over 21). I got carded not only at the bar but also at certain events (cooking demo with a wine pairing). If you look close to 21, just bring your photo ID along with you. Better have it and not use it then have to run back to the room to pick it up.

[tahqa]

Your Key card will be your ID for being over 21 to buy drinks. Just show it is you get asked. Minors cards look differently and your photo will be on the card too so they will know its you. You need to have the card to charge the drinks to your on board account anyway.

 

The reason the Disney night lfe seems so quiet is that many parents have to get up early with their kids so they dont stay out as late.

 

As of last December the key cards did not have passenger photos printed on them. At least mine didn't. Unless they think I look like Donald Duck... :D

 

I agree with the second point. I think that because I sailed so close to Christmas (and during a time when kids were sailing free) that by the time the adult activities were occurring a lot of adults were just too tired to attend.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

When we cruised last November on the Magic they put our photos on our room cards. It was new at that time but both ships are suppose to be doing that now, so no need for the extra photo ID.

 

Anybody been on the Wonder this year? Did they take your photo?

 

I know my adult son was thrilled not to have to carry along the extra ID, unfortunately nobody ever cards me. Guess being a grandma gives away the age some ;). It cant be the greying hair, crows feet, support hose and falling asleep by 7:rolleyes:

 

Kathy

[luv2gonow]

While I did love my DCL cruise....it is probably the one line I would never go solo. It is very family oriented.....and the nightlife is dead. Ship is pretty much rolled up at 11pm. Which is kind of cool to feel like you have the whole ship to yourself.

 

As for the name....they announce....Welcome the "jones family"....It is pretty cool....Since you will pay double....is there anyone you can bring.....I don't think you will find many solo cruisers on DCL.

Happy planning

K

[NanciRDH]

Hello Avril! I remember you from Oasis! I too am contemplating a DCL cruise as a weekend getaway with some girlfriends. And to the person who posted right after you...we were on the same Monarch cruise last week! Small world. :). My prefered line is RCI, but will probably do Disney as that's what my friends want to do, they are WDW addicts, and it's either this or a weekend at the food and wine fest.

[alaskabound2323]

I was on the wonder in April, they did not take any photos on our room keys.

[sadajo]

When we cruised last November on the Magic they put our photos on our room cards. It was new at that time but both ships are suppose to be doing that now, so no need for the extra photo ID.

 

Anybody been on the Wonder this year? Did they take your photo?

 

I know my adult son was thrilled not to have to carry along the extra ID, unfortunately nobody ever cards me. Guess being a grandma gives away the age some ;). It cant be the greying hair, crows feet, support hose and falling asleep by 7:rolleyes:

 

Kathy

 

We were on the Magic a few weeks ago and did not have our pictures on our room cards. Maybe it was a test last year and they changed their minds? They did take our picture at check in but that picture only showed up on the crew member's screen when we swiped our cards to get on or off the ship; it wasn't printed on the card.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Sadajo, I think your right. We must have been a test group or something. I cant find anybody else who had a photo on their card.:confused:

 

I know they do test new ideas randomly from time to time.

 

Kathy