"Dream"ing of April 6, 2015

[mrstortora]

Anyone else?

 

[mrbudyhed]

Yes! My family is going to squeeze into a cabin with my mother in law. It's on her bucket list to go on a cruise, so we just have to treat her to one. Only a year and 2 1/2 months left to plan. So glad someone put a beacon out there for this cruise--might as well get excited about it ASAP!

 

[mrstortora]

We just got off of the Magic on the 17th so I am trying to keep the "high" going for another 15 months. Hopefully chatting with others will help. Tried to talk my husband into taking another one between now and then but then he reminded me that we do have to pay for them. Oh well, guess chatting it up on here will have to do!

We (DH, DD 11, DS 7, and DD 6) will be cruising with my sister and her family (DH, DS 6, DS 2, DS 2) and with my parents. Luckily enough...not crammed in the same room. Although all of the rooms are all right together.

This will be the same itinerary we just did but a different boat. Can't wait!!

 

[mrbudyhed]

Sounds like our girls are right around the same age. I'm interested to see how my DD, who will be 11 when we go, will handle to fact that she can go in the tween club and the oceaneer spaces. She is more shy that my youngest, but sometimes she surprises me with her bravery. We'll see where she gravitates. Your sister with the 3 boys! Oh boy oh boy--but they should be the perfect age for this when we finally set sail!

 

[mrstortora]

Yes, girls will be very close. If she seems iffy about the edge club maybe we can find a way to arrange to meet there the same time at some point. It always helps to know at least one face in a strange place. Despite being 11 my daughter never went to Edge on this last cruise. We had friends with us with 10 year old twin girls so they all stuck together. I think she would be fine on her own but with ready made friends in the oceaneer clubs she wasn't quite ready to go on her own to the other. They spent more time out of the clubs anyway.

Just realized I was wrong earlier. My sister's boys will only be 2 when they are on the cruise! They will definitely have their work cut out for them!

Will you do the FE when it comes out? I did it on the last cruise and my kids really enjoyed it. However, it was a lot of work! I think they would miss it though. Guess I have some time to figure it out, huh?

 

[mrbudyhed]

I am seriously considering the FE, but I will probably opt out if it gets too big. I can only handle a certain level of "stuff," but it sounds sooooo fun! I'll just wait and see how many are going to participate.
Thanks for the offer of getting our girls to meet. I might take you up on it, or maybe we'll get a DIS meets set up after more people join us! It's always tricky trying to "set up" friendships with kids. I remember at that age, sometimes I hated it when my mom would try that (I was very shy) and other times I would be playing with the other girl(s) seamlessly.
I am a therapist in a nursing home/rehab and a couple of the residents have been asking me for my countdown until this cruise. They get a kick out of it. And I get a kick out of them getting a kick out of it...

Our previous (and first) cruise, a 7 day eastern was a blast, but I remember thinking that the duration was great for us adults, but it was a bit too long for the kids. They were ready to be off the boat. I am sure this 4 night is going to be just perfect for them! Our schools always have spring break right after Easter, except this year. I had already booked this cruise when I realized this, so of course I had to write the school board to find out if this was going to be an issue 2015. They said the reason it was different this year because state testing was scheduled for the week after Easter this year, so that was the only reason it was changed this year. So, unless something unforeseen happens in the next year, 2 months and 1 week, we will be there! (This post was longer than anticipated!)

 

[Danielle3699]

We're taking our first Disney cruise and this is it!! It'll be my husband and I and our 2 sons, who will be 13 and 10. Can't wait!!

 

[mrstortora]

Welcome!

You and your family will love it. We just got off our first cruise. We did the same itinerary but on a different boat so if you have questions I might be helpful. According to my husband I am obsessed but I can't help it!

April next year just can't come fast enough!

 

[Danielle3699]

I am totally, completely, helplessly obsessed so I know how you feel! We've been to Disney World 5 times in the last 6 years but have never been on a Disney cruise. We've actually never been on any cruises! I am going on a 3 day Carnival cruise in 3 weeks with my mom and my sister to scope out cruising in general. Everyone says if you like the Carnival cruise, you will LOVE the Disney cruise. My husband enjoys more relaxed vacations, so I figure a Disney cruise will feed my need for Disney, while also providing some relaxation for him. I absolutely can't wait!!!!

 

[mrstortora]

Wow! You sound almost exactly like me. We had been to Disneyworld 3 times in about 5 years and my husband said he was done with that. Then last September we did a 3 night dirt cheap Carnival cruise with my sister and her husband. At departure we were parked right next to the Disne Dream. What a beautiful boat. Then from our spot on the carnival ship we could actually watch the bon voyage party with Mickey and everyone. I was hooked! We loved the Carnival cruise and the whole aspect of cruising in general.
We got home and booked our January trip on the Magic three weeks later. That was right as that boat went into dry dock. I spent the next couple of months watching the updates. Yes...completely obsessed. The Disney cruise experience starts from the minute you pull into Disneys terminal. By the time we boarded I was about to cry from watching the excitement in my kids faces. Now usually when I build something up like that I end up mildly disappointed. That trip was way beyond expectations! My husband was not real thrilled about spending the money to book another one so quickly. By the end of the cruise when I went to do my on board booking he was as excited as I was!

Wow...sorry I had no idea I would write this much! Thanks for humoring this Disney Cruise nut!!

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list
Have a great cruise!

 

[dpswift]

We are booked. Me, DH and our youngest boy who will turn 13 a few days after the cruise. We were on the Wonder last February and he loved the Edge.
Our first cruise was on the Wonder in 2004. we have also sailed RCI and Carnival.

Right now we are booked into the cheapest room as a place holder trying to decide between another inside room for the secret porthole or a balcony. On Disney the price difference is not bad, however we are never in our room.

 

[dpswift]

Wow! You sound almost exactly like me. We had been to Disneyworld 3 times in about 5 years and my husband said he was done with that. Then last September we did a 3 night dirt cheap Carnival cruise with my sister and her husband. At departure we were parked right next to the Disne Dream. What a beautiful boat. Then from our spot on the carnival ship we could actually watch the bon voyage party with Mickey and everyone. I was hooked! We loved the Carnival cruise and the whole aspect of cruising in general.
We got home and booked our January trip on the Magic three weeks later. That was right as that boat went into dry dock. I spent the next couple of months watching the updates. Yes...completely obsessed. The Disney cruise experience starts from the minute you pull into Disneys terminal. By the time we boarded I was about to cry from watching the excitement in my kids faces. Now usually when I build something up like that I end up mildly disappointed. That trip was way beyond expectations! My husband was not real thrilled about spending the money to book another one so quickly. By the end of the cruise when I went to do my on board booking he was as excited as I was!

Wow...sorry I had no idea I would write this much! Thanks for humoring this Disney Cruise nut!!

How did the 3 day Carnival compare to the 4 night Magic cruise? We have had great vacations on both lines however we have always picked longer Carnival cruises because of the party reputation.

Watching all the updates on the Magic got me wanting to go as well. We were booked on the Magic this week but had to put it off.

 

[Danielle3699]

Wow, your story does sound just like mine!! I leave on 2/20 for my Carnival cruise. I can't wait to see what cruising is like! I hope I can see a Disney boat at port too! I just love all things Disney too, so just seeing the Disney store at the Orlando airport, or one of their ships close to mine, will be exciting!

My husband is usually not real enthused about our many Disney trips, but does like some aspects of it. He is really excited about this cruise though, because it'll have all the Disney things he does like, and none of the things he isn't excited about (waking up early for rope drops, rushing from attraction to attraction, and the general business of a Disney World trip.) I haven't brought this up to him yet, but I am also going to schedule us 2-3 days at Disney World before our cruise leaves. I can't be in Orlando and not go to Disney World!

As the person after me asked, how did the Carnival experience compare to the Disney experience?

Wow! You sound almost exactly like me. We had been to Disneyworld 3 times in about 5 years and my husband said he was done with that. Then last September we did a 3 night dirt cheap Carnival cruise with my sister and her husband. At departure we were parked right next to the Disne Dream. What a beautiful boat. Then from our spot on the carnival ship we could actually watch the bon voyage party with Mickey and everyone. I was hooked! We loved the Carnival cruise and the whole aspect of cruising in general.
We got home and booked our January trip on the Magic three weeks later. That was right as that boat went into dry dock. I spent the next couple of months watching the updates. Yes...completely obsessed. The Disney cruise experience starts from the minute you pull into Disneys terminal. By the time we boarded I was about to cry from watching the excitement in my kids faces. Now usually when I build something up like that I end up mildly disappointed. That trip was way beyond expectations! My husband was not real thrilled about spending the money to book another one so quickly. By the end of the cruise when I went to do my on board booking he was as excited as I was!

Wow...sorry I had no idea I would write this much! Thanks for humoring this Disney Cruise nut!!

 

[Danielle3699]

What kinds of things did your son do at the Edge? My sons will be 10 and 13 and I'm wondering if somehow they'll want to hang out with my husband and I or if they'll be loving the Edge too!

We booked an outside room with the small porthole. I almost wished we'd have done an inside room, as the secret portholes sound really neat. For my Carnival cruise, we are staying in an inside room, so if that seems adequate, I might end up switching my Disney room too. It'd save money too, so that would be good! Having never cruised before, I just had no clue what to pick!!

We are booked. Me, DH and our youngest boy who will turn 13 a few days after the cruise. We were on the Wonder last February and he loved the Edge.
Our first cruise was on the Wonder in 2004. we have also sailed RCI and Carnival.

Right now we are booked into the cheapest room as a place holder trying to decide between another inside room for the secret porthole or a balcony. On Disney the price difference is not bad, however we are never in our room.

 

[dpswift]

What kinds of things did your son do at the Edge? My sons will be 10 and 13 and I'm wondering if somehow they'll want to hang out with my husband and I or if they'll be loving the Edge too!

We booked an outside room with the small porthole. I almost wished we'd have done an inside room, as the secret portholes sound really neat. For my Carnival cruise, we are staying in an inside room, so if that seems adequate, I might end up switching my Disney room too. It'd save money too, so that would be good! Having never cruised before, I just had no clue what to pick!!

On our first Disney cruise we had a balcony and an inside room across the hall. We have a family of seven and we all went that time. Being new to cruising I had no idea we could get keys to the other room, so I was afraid to use the balcony when I was alone with DS sleeping.

On our Carnival and RCI cruises we had inside rooms. We do not spend enough time in our room to justify a window or balcony. We enjoyed the inside room with a split bath that we had last year on the Wonder.

Last year in the Edge DS played video games, socialized, they did a scavenger hunt and had an arcade night. He had an alarm set to make sure that he did not miss the activities that he wanted to attend.

 

[mrstortora]

Wow...seems as if I have some catching up to do!!

So...Carnival vs. Disney. Well, to be honest, difficult to compare. The Carnival was short, cheap and just my husband and I. Yes, the shorter cruise was definitely a "party cruise". Many bachelor/bachelorette parties, frat boys playing beer pong and the main pool full of young drunk people. That being said, there were very few children on the ship. Thus the waterworks area with the waterslides were always pretty vacant. Every day we got lounge chairs at the very back of the ship looking over that back of the ship at the water. It was very relaxing. Food was not great. Not nearly as good as Disney, but for $250 for 3 nights I wasn't expecting great. You had to walk through the casino to get to the dining. Evening entertainment was truly geared towards adults. Thus, my husband and I had a great time. We also decided we would not take our kids on Carnival for a few years. Disney was...well, Disney! It was special from the minute you pulled into port. You could get a picture with Minnie and Mickey at the terminal if you were stuck waiting - NOTE: This is the only time I remember that both were in the picture at the same time. The food was excellent for the most part. Entertainment great and geared for entire families. Even the day at sea that was cold we found plenty for everyone to do on the ship. For families it was hands down better. So - they were both great for what they were intended for.

Rooms...we did an ocean view on the Carnival. I loved looking out my window and seeing the ocean especially because I had never been on a cruise. My husband says he will always have to have at least a window because he would feel trapped otherwise. On the Disney we had to do the Deluxe Family with the Verandah as that is the only room that will fit 5 on the Magic. I loved having the Verandah. My son and I both are early risers so we would sit on the balcony and talk/read while waiting on the others. It was beautiful as we were on the side of the boat that saw the sunrise. This time we are in the same room type. My sister and her DH have the same type right next to us. My parents are across the hall in an interior room. I have to admit that I am glad they did this as I can't wait to see the "magic porthole".

Sounds like we will have a lot of kids in Edge! Although, this being a cruise during spring break week I am anticipating a lot of kids of every age!

So, my question is, what about excursions? Have any of you done the ones in Nassau before? Did you enjoy them, would you recommend them? We are actually probably going to stay on the boat on the day in Nassau. I enjoy it when it is a little less crowded.

Okay...enough running my mouth. My husband asked if I was writing a book. Said yes...pretty much!

 

[dpswift]

mrstortora thank you for your Carnival review. We have enjoyed our long Carnival cruises but stayed away from the shorter ones because of the party stories. On the longer cruises it was impossible to get seats near the pool. However they are very family friendly. I would not hesitate to take children particularly when school is out on a 5 day or longer.


Nassau kind of a been there done that thing for me. 10 years ago we did Discover Atlantis through Disney. In fall of 2012 DH and I were going to overnight in Nassau on a Carnival cruise but hurricane Sandy shortened our stop to just a few hours. We did a walking tour that DH found online. Last February on our Disney cruise DH got off and walked around but the kids and I stayed on the ship.

 

[Danielle3699]

My Carnival cruise in 2 weeks is just me and 2 other adults, and we are all 3 "go with the flow" type people so I have no doubt we will enjoy it, no matter what the atmosphere. I don't have sophisticated dining tastes either, so that shouldn't be a problem if the food is less than stellar.

My husband is the reason I got the exterior room with a porthole. He thought he'd feel trapped and closed in too, so just like your husband! However, if the Carnival interior room goes well, I might change the Disney cruise to an interior room as well. My travel agent scored us a room in the exact middle of the boat for our Disney cruise though, and if she can't find another middle room on the interior, I'd just leave our booking as it is. When we booked, she said most of the interior rooms were already sold out.

Are the arcade games free at the Edge or do you have to pay extra for that? My kids definitely enjoy video games!

We are considering doing Atlantis in Nassau. Haven't decided yet though! It sure is expensive, considering it's just a few hours there!

 

[dpswift]

My Carnival cruise in 2 weeks is just me and 2 other adults, and we are all 3 "go with the flow" type people so I have no doubt we will enjoy it, no matter what the atmosphere. I don't have sophisticated dining tastes either, so that shouldn't be a problem if the food is less than stellar.

My husband is the reason I got the exterior room with a porthole. He thought he'd feel trapped and closed in too, so just like your husband! However, if the Carnival interior room goes well, I might change the Disney cruise to an interior room as well. My travel agent scored us a room in the exact middle of the boat for our Disney cruise though, and if she can't find another middle room on the interior, I'd just leave our booking as it is. When we booked, she said most of the interior rooms were already sold out.

Are the arcade games free at the Edge or do you have to pay extra for that? My kids definitely enjoy video games!

We are considering doing Atlantis in Nassau. Haven't decided yet though! It sure is expensive, considering it's just a few hours there!

I think that the food on Carnival is very good much more choices than Disney.

The games in the Edge are television based systems and there is no charge for them.

In the arcade you have to pay for the games however both Disney cruises that we were on had one Edge get together at the arcade during that time the games were free.