1st family cruise

[mayrubgar]

I am going on the a disney cruise in january just need some advice. My son is 2 and my daughter 5 i was not sure if there were any excursions that we would all enjoy. Its a 7 day western carib cruise. What type of money would you suggest and also gratuity and tips? Whats the difference do I still tip even after prepaid gratuity?

[headhunterke]

First of all, welcome to Cruise Critic. I'm sure you'll find loads of information here. So, please take your time to read up on both general and cruise line specific topics.

 

For the excursions, it all depends on what you'd like to do. But I have no experience in Disney Cruise line. Take a look at this website, and you can filter it port by port:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/search/?facetValue0=fv_ActivityType_family-adventures

 

Onboard, normally you do not need any cash. All will be paid for with your stateroom keycard (the only thing you ALWAYS need to keep with you). On a lot of cruise lines you can add the option to prepay the gratuities.

 

As for seperate tips at the end of the cruise to those who served you on your cruise, there's a lot of discussion going on. However, most people tend to give their cabin stewards and good Dining Room stewards an extra tip at the end of the cruise, if the experience was enjoyable.

 

Small cash however, can come in handy when you go ashore to pay for drinks & souvenirs. However, a lot of places also take credit cards.

'What type of money', I assume you're reffering to foreign currency? I've cruised both the eastern and western Carib and all places took US $

But maybe not all ports. If any other CC member can correct me on this, please do so, because I'm not a 100% sure.

 

If you got any further questions, please shoot! ;-)

[Scrapnana]

On our DCL cruise last year, we did not take any excursions. At one port, my daughter's family took a taxi to the beach and back. Very inexpensive.

 

I think virtually every tourist shop/restaurant in the Caribbean will take US$. Keep the bills small or you might get back more local currency in change than you can use.

 

Your gratuities (tips for the various people who serve you) will be added to your onboard account. Easiest thing to do is leave them in place. If any of the crew do anything that really goes above and beyond (our waiters were super nice to the kids - bringing them extras of their favorites, etc. - so we gave them a little extra. You will be given envelopes and a sheet of perforated paper towards the end of your cruise. Tear the sections, put them in the envelopes (along with anything extra - money, a thank you note) and hand to them the last evening. Here is a picture of the paper, showing the crew member's name and amount of auto tip.

 

[mayrubgar]

First of all, welcome to Cruise Critic. I'm sure you'll find loads of information here. So, please take your time to read up on both general and cruise line specific topics.

 

For the excursions, it all depends on what you'd like to do. But I have no experience in Disney Cruise line. Take a look at this website, and you can filter it port by port:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/search/?facetValue0=fv_ActivityType_family-adventures

 

Onboard, normally you do not need any cash. All will be paid for with your stateroom keycard (the only thing you ALWAYS need to keep with you). On a lot of cruise lines you can add the option to prepay the gratuities.

 

As for seperate tips at the end of the cruise to those who served you on your cruise, there's a lot of discussion going on. However, most people tend to give their cabin stewards and good Dining Room stewards an extra tip at the end of the cruise, if the experience was enjoyable.

 

Small cash however, can come in handy when you go ashore to pay for drinks & souvenirs. However, a lot of places also take credit cards.

'What type of money', I assume you're reffering to foreign currency? I've cruised both the eastern and western Carib and all places took US $

But maybe not all ports. If any other CC member can correct me on this, please do so, because I'm not a 100% sure.

 

If you got any further questions, please shoot! ;-)

 

Thank you very much also in your opinion whats the best way to carry your passport and room keys. I was going to buy around the neck passport/id holder?

[headhunterke]

Varies on your personal perferences. As for my passport, I never carry my passport ashore. I do have my national ID with me (which is ok for most ports; unless otherwise mentioned by ship staff) and carry it in the same holder as my phone (a phone holder with such handy slots for various cards).

 

As for my keycard, I always wear a lanyard. I'm used to at work, so I wear them almost all the time while on the ship as well. You can just tuck them under your shirt if you don't like people seeing it. The ship's front desk is able to punch a little hole into it so you can attach it to a lanyard. A neck passport holder is fine as well, but you need to fumble a little more around imho. I love it slipping the keycard right into the door's slot straight off my neck ;)

 

I also take some cash with me (never more than 20$) in small bills.

[Harry and Lucille]

We use a money belt. Purchase many places. Walmart, drug store, etc. Non metalic, adjustable waist band, velcro close. Under the shirt/blouse. Ship card on a lanyard. Take on shore cash, passport and a credit card.

 

One word of advice tho. In Fort Lauderdale, while waiting on our flight, I went outside for a breath of fresh air. Came back in and went thru security again. Hummmm. First time for the body peeker machine and I didn't even think about the belt. Wrong move. I was pulled aside, escorted into a small room with two tsa agents and endured a through shake down. Whoops.

 

Don't like putting my belt thru the scanner due to the fact that I have my travel cash on my body and there are stories of things going in and not coming out of the machine. Don't want to take that chance. ;)

[spookwife]

I am going on the a disney cruise in january just need some advice. My son is 2 and my daughter 5 i was not sure if there were any excursions that we would all enjoy. Its a 7 day western carib cruise. What type of money would you suggest and also gratuity and tips? Whats the difference do I still tip even after prepaid gratuity?

 

don't waste money on excursions with kids that young. just hit the beaches.

 

the suggested amounts for gratuity are automatically added to your account daily, there is no need to add more unless you really think they deserve it. if you want to know ahead of time for budgeting, that information can be found on the website or just ask your TA if applicable.

[mayrubgar]

I picked the perfect trip Disney Fantasy was so much fun words could not begin to describe what i feel right now. We will be back.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for coming back and telling us that you had a wonderful cruise.