iloverags2

I'm in! Already enjoying your review and looking forward to more!

This is interesting. Did a passenger fall off the bow of a ship where passengers can't go with flares? How in the heck did a passenger a) get to the bow, and b) happen to be carrying flares?????

As for "clothing" used as flotation, I am a retired Coast Guard Pilot. That was a technique taught to us in training, and we were required to use it to float in a pool for an hour without touching bottom or sides. It works extremely well. A technique that all cruise passengers should keep in mind.

I don't believe that was a flare in the picture. If you look at both pictures closely the second one also has an orange glare in it...and both of those orange glares appear to be a reflection off of a window. I could be wrong, but that's what I saw in them.

Glad to hear the gentleman is ok!

Just stumbled across your latest review here...

First, I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family seem to find strength in each other and being together...it's the tests in life that really show the human spirit and its resilience. May you find peace in memories made, and in those moments when your son shows he is still here with you.

This was a wonderful review...thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. Looking forward to reading about your next cruise.

I have four experiences on DCL sailing as just two adults. The following were our experiences:

Sailed with my mom (me-43, DM-68) - we had late dinner seating with three other married couples ranging in age from late-40's to mid-60's.

Sailed with my DH (both in our 40's) - we sailed concierge with late dinner seating and were seated alone, which I later found out is the norm for concierge (we would have requested otherwise had we known)

Sailed with my DH (both in our 40's) - we had late dinner seating on a sailing that was not nearly full at all and ended up at a table alone (saw many other tables at late seating with just a single family/couple at them)

Sailed with my best friend (both in our mid to late 40's) - we had early dinner seating and were seated with two married couples, both in their 40's.

I pay whatever premium to sail Disney since it is by far our favorite cruise line. Having said that, you will find great experiences on other lines as well.

We are cruising out of Port Canaveral in October. We decided to drive this time since it's such a headache to get transportation from Orlando to the cruiseport. We have made a reservation at the LaQuinta on Hendry in Cocoa Beach. The hotel is oceanfront and will let us leave our car there for the week we are away.

 

Has anyone stayed at this property and, if so, what was your impression? We would like to be oceanfront, so if there are any other OF properties, I would love to hear about them. :)

I have stayed here and enjoyed it...especially for the oceanfront view. It's an older property with exterior access rooms (which I typically do not care for). However, the room was very nicely kept, the staff were all incredibly pleasant, and the hot breakfast was good and plentiful. Would stay again!

We've always stayed at the Residence Inn right at PC. It's very convenient, and it's been great when we've traveled with our daughters, because they offer a room with 2bdr/2baths. They have a nice breakfast buffet which is included. Hertz is located directly in front of the hotel, and we've always returned our car in the morning and shuttle to the ship with them. Our friends have driven down and left their car at Residence Inn. They also offer a shuttle.

 

For our next cruise, since it's just my husband and I, and we didn't need as much space, or the small kitchen that comes with Residence Inn, we're staying a few miles south at the Marriott Courtyard. Breakfast isn't included, but we got a pretty nice rate as Marriott Reward's members, as well as a AAA discount.

We have stayed at the Residence Inn a few times and that is our preference. We stayed at the Hampton Inn which is over by the beach for our last cruise and would not stay there again. It is an older hotel with outdoor corridors, our room had a wet, musty, old hotel room smell to it. Bathroom was clean but needed an update. The lobby of the hotel had been rehabbed and was clean and fresh with a nice breakfast area. Lobby was an absolute zoo with people waiting for shuttles to the port, some were already down there with bags at 9am when we went to breakfast. We had a rental car so we returned the car and took the rental car shuttle to the port.

For future reference if you stay at the Residence Inn Cocoa Beach, if you are returning your rental car in the morning, and plan on having it with you at the hotel the night you are staying there, you will need to pay a $6 parking fee. The Residence Inn just put this policy in place in February of this year. Even those who drive, but park at the port and do not use their park and cruise option, there is still the $6/night parking fee for the night(s) spent at the hotel. Just a heads-up.

We just booked the Residence Inn..anyone have experience staying there?

Keep in mind if you are driving and planning on parking at the port (not parking your car at the hotel for the duration of your cruise), you will still have to pay $6 for parking for the one night of your hotel stay. Residence Inn Cocoa Beach instituted this fee back in February of this year.

What a fun day in Falmouth. I have heard so many bad reviews about the port...it's nice to find a positive review. And since we are Parrotheads, I'm thinking a visit is in store for us!

As for Palo, I will tell you that I much prefer the Magic Class ships' Palo over the Dream Class Palo. It is more intimate (as is everything on the Magic Class), and we have always had wonderful servers. I'm not sure if the larger dining area takes away from the service, but I'm guessing it does.

Enjoying your review! Looking forward to hearing all about your day at sea. :)

Oh so happy I stumbled upon your review! Enjoying it immensely! :D (And no, it's not because I just drank a margarita. :-p )

Oh yes! The Disney merchandising opportunities! I have one of those butter knives now...and use it regularly when I make cheese ball for company. It continues to get raves.

I have to agree on Animator's Palate. The Dream class version is a bit too overkill for me (I so love the Magic class version of AP). I also agree the concept art towards the end of the meal is the best part about the turtle talk show. Probably why I enjoy the Magic class version better...the artwork!

We have always skipped Quest on Disney, but I may have to give it a try!

when I looked at the pictures of the ship on the Princess website, I said that same thing!!!

 

That's why I wanted to know more. I want to make sure that I don't look like someone's red headed step child that's the poor relation while I'm on board..

You absolutely will not look out of place. We are uber casual (as in I live in my t's and flip flops)...enjoyed our Princess cruise immensely! Never once did I feel out of place, and had an absolutely wonderful time.

As for activities I enjoyed...the Lotus Spa pool, MUTS (take a look at the movies for the week, and then keep your eye out for the ones you want to see so you know to arrive at the pool deck with enough time to grab a lounger!), trivia (i.e. Movie Poster Trivia and the like), and hanging out in the International Cafe area.

Enjoy!

I'm not aware of other cruise lines charging a fee if you bring too much liquor onboard. However, they will confiscate it and hold it until the cruise ends.

Princess charges $15/bottle for any over the one per person allotted. It's considered a corkage fee, and you pay as you enter security.

They also do not charge a fee if you bring more than an allotted amount of wine on board with you. In fact, you can bring all the wine, soda, water, liquor (yes, any type of liquor) with you as long as it is in your carry-on. No limits to how much or what kind.

I just read a post that NCL HAS SIGNED AN EXCLUSIVE deal with Tortola.

 

I don't know when it starts but that might be a reason it was yanked

 

Bill

 

 

Sent from Iphone 4S using Cruise Critic App

Oh no! Where did you read that? :( The only cruise line I really do not have a desire to sail is NCL.

And I'm about to admit another one for me.......I didn't think I'd be back on DCL with their prices so high lately.

 

BUT....I've priced out the Panama Canal with 5 other lines, and we could go on the Wonder cheaper! :eek: I did the PC several years back, with some girlfriends, but my husband hasn't....so we're mighty tempted.

 

One of the things that makes it cheaper for us in the long run is flying into LA and flying home from Houston (Galveston). MUCH cheaper than flying to or from Florida.

 

Stateroom prices are actually quite comparable. Almost exactly the same.

 

If we get to book it, I'm a winner....but on the whole today, I'd say I'm a loser.

 

 

 

YES.....THAT IS ACTUALLY ME.....ADMITTING I'VE BEEN WRONG!!!:p:p

Oh sweet on the Panama Canal cruise! I'd say you are definitely a winner with that one! I'm interested in Princess' R/T partial PC transit someday.

I want to book a Sept 2015 cruise on Disney Fantasy. The cheapest fares are on the first date offered, right? I'm wondering if I need to book tomorrow or wait until I'm on the Disney Dream Dec 1 and book then (10% discount). Any advice?

Book now and then reshop the booking while onboard your sailing. If it comes out to be a better deal with the 10% discount and OBB, then just have them rebook it with the deposit you have already put down. Many folks do this, so DCL will not be put out by this request.

Happy booking!

Oh my gosh! I love your FE gifts! Inspiration!!!

Congratulations on your graduation! What are your future plans? Or are you just starting to come down from the whirlwind of finishing up college?

And Tortola.

Please read my comment on the Tortola thread. Tortola was indeed in Disney literature yesterday at the time of itinerary releases. They switched out their brochure overnight. No one is eating crow except DCL on this one.

The original brochure released yesterday morning around 9 a.m. did indeed list Tortola on four sailings (page 9 of brochure, which is also page 11 in Adobe reader). A copy of the brochure can be found here. DCL replaced the brochure overnight with a new one that has Tortola removed from any literature.

Not just speculation, but announced yesterday less than 24 hours before bookings opened. Imagine the surprise of many when they got through on the phone this morning and CMs informed them no Tortola.

We loved our cruise on the Ruby last Spring...she's a beautiful ship!

There is, indeed, an International Cafe. Ruby has four pools...two main pools, an aft pool, and the spa pool.

I'm trying to decide what my favorites were about the ship, but really don't have one thing. We really liked the MUTS set-up, the crew are awesome, and the layout overall seemed very easy to navigate.

Check out the pictures in my photo review, which is linked in my signature. :)

Yep, still here and enjoying your report! Sorry you missed the omelet station...it's there but somewhat hidden. Just gives you an excuse to go again, right? ;)

Enjoying your trip report!!!