Questions for a 1st timer About This Page:

[mickeycrazy]

We are taking our 1st cruise this June and I have a couple questions that I couldn't find answers to. It is just DH and I and we are staying at Bay Lake Towers before hand.

We will be using Disney transport from Bay Lake to the cruise. What time (approx) do they usually pick up at the hotel? We didn't know if we would have time for a Chef Mickey's breakfast before we go (you know because we won't be eating enough on board!!).

Any opinions on excursions at both Nassau and Castaway Cay? Dh is semi interested in the dolphin/sea lion excursions but wonders if they are more for kiddos/families. Any opinions?

We currently have booked an oceanview stateroom, (I wanted an inside stateroom to save money, DH wanted a verandah so this is our compromise) should I go ahead and upgrade to a verandah? I just don't think we will use it enough to be worth the extra money, but maybe I am just being too frugal.

And finally, DH is prone to motion sickness. He is going to make a doctor's appointment so he can try to find out what the best medicine option would be for him. Any tips for this? I am worried he will be sick the whole time, should I be?

[nurse_mom]

Congrats on a cruise!!
If you are taking their transport, I hear they don't leave until 1-1:30ish, plus you have to pick up others at resorts. So it make take some time. But you have to time to eat at Chef Mickey's.
We don't do many excursions. But I'm trying to convience DH I need to go parasailing

If he get motion sickness easy. I would stay low and below. I have heard people get more sea sick when they are up high, because the ship sways more.

[bobyetman]

You didn't say how long your cruise was, but for the 3 or 4 day cruises, I would save the money on the verandah, see the following thread for more details:

http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ey-wonder.html

[Pris]

I, too, am prone to motion sickness and I had absolutely no problems on my cruises. Unless you run into bad weather, which, of course, is always a possibility, the ship is very stable in the water. They are made with special stabilizers which keep them quite calm. You should be able to check and find out what time the pickup for the cruise is. They are on a definite schedule from different resorts. As to the verandah, as mentioned, I believe that would depend on how long the cruise is. For 3 or 4 days, don't bother. If the cruise is 7 days then I think you would enjoy it.

[Colexis Mom]

You should have time for your breakfast! As for the veranda, we got one on our first cruise (DH's request as well) and loved it! Not sure if I could cruise without one (but I guess it's personal preference)!

[apk]

We have done both the 3 day and 7 day cruises with an inside stateroom. We never missed having a verandah and were only in our rooms to shower for dinner/change clothes and to sleep at night. It's really not worth the cost and we saved so much money, the savings were significant. We put some of that towards the cost of our excursions.

You asked for some opinions so here's ours: Nassau is a dump so the only excursion we would recommend is visiting Atlantis. The aquarium is really worth seeing and it's cool to see such a huge expensive resort. The tour we took did not include use of their pool, so read all the fine print. We decided that any future trips to Nassau would be spent on the ship, as on our 3 night cruise we really didn't have much time to just relax and take advantage of everything to do on the ship. On our 7 night cruise we had more time but still didn't get to do all the things on the Navigator that we would have liked to! We will not get off in Nassau again. On Castaway, we spend all day on the adult beach and don't book excursions there because it takes a bit of time to get from the adult beach back to the family beach where most of the excursions are. If you are beach people or water people at all, you can save money but just snorkeling and hanging out on a raft at the adult beach - it's the number 1 reason we book Disney cruises and we absolutely love Castaway Cay! Have a terrific time!

[RosieCT]

Transderm Scop - the motion sickness patch - is my recommendation. My son gets very sick in cars, planes, boats, and once he was old enough to use the patch, it was like a miracle cure. The patch gets changed every 3 days, so you have to bring a few. The first one should applied 4 hours before cruising. He might want to try one as a trial run in a setting in which he's gotten sick before.

[JEB13]

Nothing beats room service breakfast on your veranda, or watching the ship pull into (or leave port) from the veranda. After Castaway Cay, we had dolphin escorts for an hour (while we were getting ready for dinner/show). Something you can't see from an inside room.

An Oceanview is a great compromise, the natural sunshine can't be beat while running around in your PJ's!

[poohs4me]

We like the Verandah for longer cruises - definately 7 night a 4 night we could go either way. We have never stayed in an Oceanview only inside or balcony.

As for Nassau, we like the Scuba Dive excursion with Stuart's cove and we did one of the catamaran snorkeling excursions as well. We did not like just getting off the ship and walking around. If we did not book an excursion we would have just stayed on the ship.

My DH does not get seasick on smaller boats, but has been seasick on both the Magic and Wonder. He uses Dramamine and is just fine. I am the opposite, I get occasional seasick on smaller ships but not too much on the Magic and Wonder. I also use the chewable drammamine.

[guitardiva]

Congrats on the cruise!
No advice on excusions, because we walked around then went back on the boat. They have nice discounts at the spa on those days.

We had a verandah and yes pricewise it is an indulgence, but worth it for us. I'm claustaphobic and it helped me a lot. Plus it is awe inspiring to stand out on it and see the ocean.
Seasickness..... I got this from our kid's Ped. Start taking dramamine the day before you cruise .After the first day ease off and see how you feel. If you get a bit green continue to take them, if not ,quit taking them.
Have fun!!

[srsatkowiak]

Originally Posted by mickeycrazy

Any opinions on excursions at both Nassau and Castaway Cay? Dh is semi interested in the dolphin/sea lion excursions but wonders if they are more for kiddos/families. Any opinions?

We went to Atlantis in Nassau, personally I thought it was a waste. I just wanted to see the Aquarium and just walk the grounds, maybe play some slots. Lets just say I was not impressed with the grounds or The Dig. Don't get me wrong, the place is nice for what it is, and people looked like they were having a great time, but I would save my money and not go there again as an excursion and save the beach time for Castaway Cay. I didn't think the resort was anything different than what is in Vegas. The next time we go to Nassau we may get off the ship just to do some shopping or check out the town, but other than that we will remain on the boat. If we want to go to Paradise island for something we will just take a water taxi.

In Castaway Cay, I suggest the Extreme Getaway Package if the details interest you. This gets you a floater, snorkel equipment, bike rental for an hour and Castaway Rays Sting Ray Encounter. We did this and really enjoyed it. We also did the jet ski excursion (double) and had a blast.

Originally Posted by mickeycrazy

We currently have booked an oceanview stateroom, (I wanted an inside stateroom to save money, DH wanted a veranda so this is our compromise) should I go ahead and upgrade to a veranda? I just don't think we will use it enough to be worth the extra money, but maybe I am just being too frugal.

We took our first cruise over Thanksgiving and had a deluxe inside stateroom and loved it. I didn't miss the window at all since we were only in there to sleep and get ready for dinner. Also not having the window helped me sleep. We are planning our next cruise (a 7 night) and still want an inside stateroom for that reason. It is a real value for us. With that said, I wouldn't upgrade to a veranda.

Originally Posted by mickeycrazy

And finally, DH is prone to motion sickness. He is going to make a doctor's appointment so he can try to find out what the best medicine option would be for him. Any tips for this? I am worried he will be sick the whole time, should I be?

I had a lot of trouble the first night getting my sea legs. My dinner at Palo was not very enjoyable because of this. I had to go to bed early, but the rest of the trip I was okay and just took things slow. What I did that really helped was ginger root tablets, drinking ginger ale with dinner and also took Bonine when necessary. I preferred the ginger because it doesn't have any side effects and worked really well for me. There are also things called sea bands or patches that can help.

[dmpyron]

As far as motion sickness is concerned, yes, talk to the doc. I, personally, am against the Transderm Scop because of the medication used and its sides. Meclizine and ginger are our choices, although this is only for the first night. But we start about the time we show up at the pier, or even when we leave the hotel, if that's the situation.

Upgrade? Nah. Nice, but not needed. And, as others have pointed out, low and inside works for pitchers and those prone to motion sickness.

Umh, it's always been the case, but several cruise lines are now reminding people to watch their valuables and be aware of scams, as they would in any major city. We just stay on the ship. Make sure you know and understand exactly what you are getting with the dolphin excursions. There are different kinds, check to make sure the features offered are what you want.

[Belle*]

Congrats on your upcoming cruise!

Any opinions on excursions at both Nassau and Castaway Cay? Dh is semi interested in the dolphin/sea lion excursions but wonders if they are more for kiddos/families. Any opinions? I agree with those who said either plan on visiting Atlantis or staying on the ship. We usually get off long enough to walk down to the straw market and buy some cheap t-shirts. I did actually once score a very nice straw bag with a "bamboo" handle. Be ready for crowding and haggling though!

We currently have booked an oceanview stateroom, (I wanted an inside stateroom to save money, DH wanted a verandah so this is our compromise) should I go ahead and upgrade to a verandah? I just don't think we will use it enough to be worth the extra money, but maybe I am just being too frugal. I think the Oceanview stateroom is the perfect compromise. We've cruised in a Cat 9 on Deck 2 twice now and love it. We did a verandah on one cruise and enjoyed it but on a 4 night, I don't think it is worth the extra price.

And finally, DH is prone to motion sickness. He is going to make a doctor's appointment so he can try to find out what the best medicine option would be for him. Any tips for this? I am worried he will be sick the whole time, should I be?
My DH is REALLY prone to motion sickness. He uses an OTC such as Bonine but check with your Doctor. No matter what method you use, it's about prevention. So take the Bonine or put on your wristbands BEFORE boarding!

Have a great time!

[Magic#7564]

I too get motion sickness on planes, ships, you name it I need medicine. I was nervous for our first crusie in Jan of 09, but my doctor prescribed me Compazine. It worked like a charm for me. I would recommend it to anyone. I would suggest that your DH asks his doctor about it. Good Luck! and Have a great time!!

[EeyoreNeedsLoveToo]

for me - the two are connected - fresh air seems to help a lot with any seasickness issues I had - so the verandah helped a lot - even just to have the door cracked a bit. Since we travel with young ones, the verandah is a beautiful place for us to relax and chat with coffee in the morning, or a drink or mickey bar at night while the young ones sleep.