canyoncam

We will be arriving in San Diego after our Panama Canal cruise. I have heard horror stories of getting off the ship. I currently have a 12:15pm flight but wonder if I should move it to the next flight at 4:00pm to be more relaxed on the last day. Or would you think I should be able to make the first flight? I was planning on getting a taxi to airport but I also heard they are rather limited there. Maybe book the cruise shuttle for that if we do the early flight?

One more question for moki'smommy. If I want to change my room category on this same sailing will I have to pay the new fees or am I still considered locked in?

Correct. DCL's policy is that you are charged whatever the port charges/taxes/government fees are listed at as of the day of booking. Once you have made your reservation and paid the down payment' date=' they regard that as a fixed contract. If any of the above increase (and different jurisdictions have different change dates), DCL "eats" the increase. If they go down, you get a refund--and they do go down many times, but in very small dollar amounts. Hence you see a $13 refund to your credit card which might represent the decrease for 4 people.

 

However, a $63 per person increase is quite a lot. I've seen small increases in the past, but nothing this big.

 

My only question of the above response is that we've always seen the amount fixed at the time of paying the down payment, not at paying off the cruise in full.[/quote']

 

Ok. So its the Panama canal, thus the large difference. I am not PIF but did have the down payment paid. I have received refunds in the past when fees went down. Guess I can hope for that in this case.

I had a room already booked on a cruise and today moved another booking to the same cruise. The port taxes are higher $63.20 per person on the new one. Double checked the older reservation and they have not gone up. Should I expect them to? Is this common? Shouldn't everyone regardless of when they booked pay the same port taxes?

Thanks everyone!

I don't know why I did not even think of CVS! I am so glad Florida does not have the silly law Colorado does of only one location in a chain store being able to carry wine. As long as we get the wine we are good. I can wait until the the first port to get my liquor. Sailing on Disney so its allowed back on with me!!!

Walgreens offers a reasonable selection of national brand wine - nothing fancy or super expensive.

I know its nothing fancy but one of us HAS to have wine every night before dinner and at home it is just boxed wine anyhow. I just wanted to confirm this Walgreens does sell wine. Thanks.

Just trying to figure out best option. Flying in the night before to MIA with a landing time of 8:59pm. Currently I am holding two reservations at hotels.

The first is for Springhill Suites East by the hospital. This is an industrial area and I have not found any liquor stores in walking distance. We could just take a taxi the next day instead of the shuttle and stop at one on the way to the port.

The other is for the Holiday Inn Miami Port. I hear see there are plenty of liquor stores within 3-4 blocks. I am leaning this way. There is also a Walgreens but I am having difficulty determining if it sells wine or not. I called but the girl did not speak English which unfortunately is the only language I do speak. But at least I know then I could also grab some water.

My other concern is when all these stores are open. I don't want to walk around at night. Even if we took taxi to hotels from airport I think we might be too late as some say closed at 10pm. In the morning I want to be on the ship as early as possible to secure some reservations. Most say not open until 10am.

So my main questions I guess are:

Has anyone used Walgreens by Bayside between Flagler and 1st off of SE3rd to get wine?

Does anyone know of any better options?

TIA

Hmmm...that does look narrower than normal. And I trust that is the only cabin open in that category.

 

OK' date=' I'm a nasty person. Why should you share your onboard credit with someone who isn't entitled to it? And if it helps, it will show up on YOUR account, not on hers. At least that's what happened when I had a similar situation. If you each use your own credit card on your accounts,there is no reason for her to ever even see your account. I wouldn't give it to her!

 

Tell her outright that you want your space...and that she should invite someone else to share her cabin or pay for the whole thing herself. But then, as I said..I'm nasty like that.[/quote']

 

Yes only cabin left in category but as it follows curve I think it'll be closer to normal which is why I am asking.

 

I think like you but alas this room is in her OBB in her name. Not a big deal, just pointing out my savings are next to nil by rooming with her. And I will enjoy a balcony if it is normal size.

 

She will give me space. Just another observation that this room really only has as much storage as my inside room which was a sideways with the trunk. I will tell her it won't hurt to do laundry;)

 

I am probably mostly mad that I told her about this cruise and she goes "Oh I've always wanted to do that one. I'm going with you" but I have to do all the planning!!!

I'm not aware of any balconies on the Magic or Wonder that are more narrow than normal. The normal balconies are quite narrow. As you go around the curve of the ship' date=' they actually get wider. The solid wall balconies that I am familiar with are the standard width. Haven't been in this room, but have been right down the hall in both directions. Solid wall balcony doesn't bother us at all. If she wants a seated ocean view,they are available on decks 4 and 9.

 

Beds on the Wonder still split. TO put a suitcase under the bed on the Wonder, lift up the bed frame at the bottom and slide the case under. We've found other spots for them as well, but this is amazing. Point out to her that laundry is $2 wash, $2 dry and that is a lot cheaper than excess luggage charges

 

You are probably saving money since you were paying the single supplement.

 

No, I wouldn't move to a cat 5 to get a plexiglass unless YOU want it. The balcony width is the same in all the cabins that I'm aware of till you get into the curve. This applies only to classic ships. Balconies on new ships are different.[/quote']

 

If this link works will show the narrow balcony I talk of. This is the room next to ours but before curve.

 

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=12694795&postcount=59

 

Surprisingly only a difference of $200 from single with the supplement to paying half of the balcony! $200 would be worth it for me to have my space. And I had OBB for both these reservations (currently keeping the inside in hopes she talks someone else into going with her) so the 200 credit for me solo gets split in half knocking savings down to only $100. I am out and about most of the time so inside is fine. My aunt won't pay single supplement for her balcony, but I don't blame her. She might pay for a few drinks to keep me happy though

If you do an internet search for "Disney wonder room reports", you find several hits with room reviews. If you find a page with all ships listed, just click on the room number you are looking for (regardless of which ship it's actually listed under), as they lump all room reports together by number.

 

There is lots of storage in the rooms on DCL, even without the steamer trunks. There are two hanging closets, one closet with about 4 deep shelves, and 6 drawers in the desk. Plus a storage shelf (3 shelves) in the corner of the bathroom, besides the under sink shelf and a wide counter around the sink.

 

Yes, you can store stuff under the beds on the Wonder (still the splittable queen/twin bed). Sometimes you may have to lift the foot of the bed to slide suitcases underneath (the frame hangs lower than the rest of the bed).

I have done the search and got good reviews but I specifically am concerned over size of balcony. none of the reviews mention anything, which leads me to believe it is normal size, but want a real answer.

Already a bit bummed as my aunt invited herself and it is her that needs a balcony. I had an inside room since I was solo. This was the last of the cheaper ones. To go up two categories since the in between is sold out is $400 pp. But for 15 nights that might be worth it if she would be upset over balcony size. She says it is ok but you know how some people say something to make you happy then proceed to pout so you know how they really feel :rolleyes: Don't know if I could handle that on MY vacation!

Has anyone stayed in this room? I know it has the solid white wall verandah and that is ok. But I have seen pictures of the room next door (5646) and how that is a very narrow balcony. I know that 5648 starts around the curve of the ship though so looks like it might be more normal size?

Also know it is one without the trunk for extra storage. this may present a problem on the Panama Canal crossing with my aunt who does not pack light :) But can a suitcase fit under the bed? And of course we are on the Wonder so do those beds still split? I have been on 8 Disney cruise and only slept in the bed for 3 of them because I am single so usually travel with my aunt or friends and just not too keen on sharing a bed. Must say their sofa beds are comfy though :p

Agreed. What, particularly, do you love about Disney and RCCL? Razzle-dazzle entertainment? Family-centric atmosphere? That's not Princess. On the other hand, in a month I'll be on my third Princess SFO-Alaska cruise, so obviously some of us like the voyage a lot.

 

Oh, and if you love sea days, be advised the days between San Francisco (we who live here tend not to call it "San Fran," btw) to the Inside Passage can be on the rough/chilly side.

We love the look/feel of the ships. Love the promenade decks on the Disney ships and spend most of our tome there. Good food and plenty of availability a must. I do feel Disney should have a 24 hr buffet but we do fine without. Don't need entertainment. If we take this cruise the "youngest" will be pushing 40 so lack of sports activities not a worry.

I just really want to know if the ship feels dated, the rooms feel way too cramped (most likely getting balcony but could have to go oceanview), the staff friendly, the food edible, and the scenery of Alaska worth being away from Colorado during it's best months.;)

Thanks everyone for taking time to reply. I love boards like these.

Never have cruised Princess before but have heard mostly good. We love Disney and really like RCCL. My sister would like to surprise my parents with an Alaskan cruise and since Mom would like to see San Fran thought this might be good. We also LOVE sea days. So I am just asking for thoughts on this itinerary and ship.

I am looking for any pictures anyone may have of these. I booked 6652 on the Wonder for next spring as it was the cheapest verandah. Also is extended I believe. Since the sailing is only 5 nights I wanted that $100 savings to go towards Palo. I don't spend much time on the balconies myself but my mom does. I know the solid white wall won't be a problem as we really don't sit out there for long periods. I just really want to get an idea how much extra space do we really get on that verandah? The last cruise I took was on RCCL Allure and I thought the balcony was quite big compared to the cataagory 6 on the Fantasy. Now looking back through the pictures I find of the regular (not extended) solid white wall verandahs on Wonder/Magic I am seriously hoping it will be big enough!