jwalk03

I agree as well. 2K for 2 extra nights is just not worth it.

Aw, Deely - sorry to hear that. Yes, it was Port Canaveral, but I took these photos with my iPhone. Didn't think about the security angle, but it would be easier to take photos with your smartphone quickly without people realizing it. Glad I got them, because I really like those paintings/murals.

I actually got yelled at last year at Pt. Canaveral after our Dream cruise for using my IPhone in the terminal while waiting to go through customs. (Not while actually even close to a customs person mind you, but whatever floats their boats.)

Agree - jwalk! 100%

 

A San Diego cruise? Is that one of the Pixar ones? Those looked awesome.

 

You'll love the decorations - they're not over the top, but are definitely there. Was an added bonus!

 

Thanks too, LuCruise for the nice words!

I think the Pixar pals ones were just Alaska ones. This year Disney is doing 3 or 4 cruises from San Diego to Ensenda & Cabo, before the Wonder does the Panama Canal trip back east to sail its limited run from Galveston. My brother in law is stationed in San Diego and we had been wanted to plan a trip to go visit him, and when i saw these limited SD cruises released it just seemed like the perfect opportunity to do both in one trip. Not really that excited about Cabo & Ensenada so much, but cant wait for another Disney Cruise experience. I have also never been to California before so thats an added bonus as well.

Loving the review. I am a huge Halloween fan, and go all out at home with decorations, strobes, fog machines, etc. I have a cruise booked for this October on the Disney Wonder, and really cant wait to see some Disney Halloween decoarations on board.

The one thing I am a little sad about though, is that its a cruise from San Diego to Mexico, so no Castaway Cay stop. Castaway Cay was the highlight of our last cruise on the Disney Dream, it is just an absolutely wonderful place full of that Disney Magic that makes the extra expense totally worth it!

Royal Caribbean docks at Labadee Haiti and has for a long time. I did it last year on Celebrity Silhouette.

 

OP should read his contract, this happens to all cruise lines...

Labadee does have a dock now. Royal had to add on so Allure & Oasis could dock there cuz tendering with that many passengers wasnt feasible. But thats why i said private island in the Bahamas.

Disney misses Castaway Cay a lot less frequently than the other lines miss their private island stops, since Castaway Cay has a dock, while none of the other private islands in the Bahamas do.

I would be dissapointed in missing Castaway Cay too, but its just part of cruising. The weather impacts cruises ALL THE TIME. Would you prefer the captain place the ship into an unsafe position and caused serious damage to the ship or worse? Maybe next time you should just jump overboard and seim over to Castaway if the ship isnt able to dock?

All these Cruiselines recycle names especially Carnival, Royal, and Disney. I wouldn't put it past them to try Reflection.

Exactly. Thats why all the ships are CARNIVAL Magic, instead of just MAGIC, or DISNEY Fantasy, instead of just Fantasy, or FREEDOM of the Seas instead of just Freedom with Royal's naming strategy. So the cruise lines can repeat names, without infringing on the copyright. Several of the early Carnival ships were just Fantasy, Imagination, etc. The "Carnival" _____ was added later.

Spa cabins include free Spa access, and from my understanding Carnival actually pays the spa operator a fee for this access. Since rates for 3rd & 4th person are less than 1st & 2nd, maybe they didnt want to be giving away this spa access to the 3rd & 4th at discounted rates since that eats into their bottom line.

Great review. Thank you for sharing. I have not made it on the Magic yet, but its onthe do list. Doing my first cruise on the Wonder later this year, so hopefully Magic next year.

I can't comment on that specific excursion but I will add a general observation. Beach Day Ship Excursions are a waste of money 99% of the time. You can often go to the same beaches, get the same amenities, have more time, and spend less money planning a beach day for yourself.

The only reason Carnival gave us the Splendor was because RCI was moving the Mariner here for it's short lived run on the west coast.

 

Disney moved out before their contract was even up.

 

It's sad, I guess it boiled down to either not being able to fill the ships and/or onboard spending or lack there of. Also, the reputation Mexico has no matter what the truth is.

Disney is returning to San Diego this year for a few cruises. And they must be selling VERY VERY well, because the prices are outrageous!! Like 4K for an interior for a 5 day cruise! (I booked the day the fares were released and got an interior for 3 for only $1700)

I think the west coast is slowly coming back, but it will take time. And no large ships will be coming until the Panama Canal is completed. It's too costly and time consuming to sail all the way around South America.

If Mexico could holds its act together with all the drug violence that would also greatly help the west coast. People are far more likely to want to cruise from the west coast with a wider variety of safe ports to visit in Mexico.

St. Thomas for sure! Also if you purchase in St. Thomas you are allowed 5 liters pp duty free when you return to the US, instead of the usual 1 liter per person if you purchase anywhere else in the Caribbean.

(6 liters per person is allowed if the 6th liter is a product of the USVI)

Don't most rental car agencies provide car seats? My DS is 19 now so we haven't had these problems in awhile. LOL! But I'd check that out...I do think car seats are provided with rental cars if you ask for them. What I'm not sure about is if you have to pay an additional charge for one.

They charge extra for car seats, but will provide them as long as you reserve in advance. Typically $5-10 per day in my experience.

You should have included Vista class as an option as well.

Another vote for umbrella stroller. Second option would be to rent one on the ship and not bother trying to fly with one.

 

 

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Flying with a stroller is SUPER easy! Easier than flying with baggage, lol. You just check it at the gate when you board the plane, and its sitting there waiting for you on the jetway as you de-plane. There is also no charge for gate checking the stroller either, just like a wheelchair.

We took our 18 month old last year on a cruise, and we def brought the stroller. It was great for the ship and ports especially so we were not confined to the cabin anytime DD wanted to take a nap. She fell asleep at Castaway Cay and when we re-boarded we just dropped her at the nursery stroller and all so she could continue her nap while mommy and daddy went to the Adults Only Area.

It was also a really good way to get her out of the sun with the cover on the stroller so she didnt get over exposed.

the pools are def fresh water. One of the nicest perks of a Dsiney cruise versus say Carnival where the pools are all salt water.

I dont see the west coast getting any newer bigger ships until the Panama Canal extentsion is completed at the very least. It is very very costly to sail all the way around the tip of South America to get a ship there that cant fit through the canal.

I keep hearing so many good reviews on the California Coastals! Might be doing one on Princess next year! Going on my first Princess cruise next month to the Mexican Riviera. There have been more cruises from here, which is a very good sign. Carnival even sent a third ship here last year and Princess is sending another ship to San Pedro which is making its way over here as we speak. Carnival needs more options here.

 

Princess is the leader here in California for its variety in itineraries, and if Carnival wants to compete, they need to add some different itineraries to attract more cruisers.

Since Princess and Carnival are corprate cousins I would not say that competing is high on Carnival's priority list.

On the contrary....Port Tampa Bay currently serves 4 major cruise lines - Carnival, RCCL, NCL, HAL and also port calls from other lines such as AIDA. As such I can only see the area thriving, despite the bridge issue with even that becoming a non-issue in some years to come.

Tampa may have 4 cruise lines that port there currently, but with older smaller ships.

And seriously how many cruise lines port in Miami, Ft. Launderdale, and Pt. Canveral. I gurantee its a heck of a lot more than 4 in all of them.

I don't think Tampa offers nearly as much as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral, if anything special at all. It's just another city trying to play "me too."

THIS. Exactly right.

The biggest problem with Tampa is, that is just another one of MANY port choices in Florida. And with the restrictions on the size of the ship that can sail from there its pretty close to the bottom of the list of Florida ports. (JAX would be the only other contender, which also has ship size issues due to a bridge.)

I mean Tampa really doesnt bring anything to the table compared to Miami, Ft. Launderdale, and Port Canaveral. I think that when Carnival does start retiring the Fantasy Class ships (and reducing the overall # of ships in the fleet) we will see ports like Jacksonville & Tampa being the first ones cut.

Taking a Disney cruise out of San Diego later this year and I cant wait! Its gonna be awesome.

I fly Southwest to San Juan RT from Columbus for $300pp. It was a steal. Dont just assume the airfare to SJU is always expensive, there are deals to be had.

The cruise from San Juan is fabulous, though I am with some of the other comments on here, I dont think I will do it on a Fantasy class ship. Even with the very busy port schedule and only 1 sea day, I just dont think the Fantasy class is the best option. If I were going to do another cruise from San Juan, I would look at other lines.

Fitbit does not require wifi to sync with your phone. Only bluetooth.

I think Magic to Canaveral

I think this is the most likely outcome. Canaveral is a popular port, and could support a Dream class ship with all the bells and whistles. Move Magic to Canaveral and move one of the Canveral ships to Port Everglades which seems like a port that could support move capacity as well.