Thinking of taking a cruise but unsure About This Page:

[ilovemymac]

What are the Tvs in the staterooms for? Since you dont have TV out at Sea. Do they have DVD players or hook ups for DVD or ipads?

Thank you all for answering our questions. Its always helpful to talk to the experts

[Dave Marx]

One word, "Satellite!"

Actually, it's an entire cable TV system. There are a couple of dozen free on-demand channels with Disney movies (animated, live-action, classic animation) plus a small pile of cable channels, mostly Disney-owned, but also Weather Channel and the like. No pay channels at all. What you don't get is local TV. There are also information channels that run the various "briefings" over and over (there's a "Shopping in Paradise" talk before you hit a port of call, there's always a talk about preparing to go through customs, a travelogue about your visit to Disney's private island, videos about the shore excursions in upcoming ports of call...), they usually also have videos of the live stage shows in case you can't get to them in person (so much to do, so little time!), a "view from the bridge" channel that shows you what it looks like out there, plus ship's speed and location, weather conditions, etc.. On the new ships they even use stateroom TV to display the photos the ship's photographers have taken of you (they take a photo of you when you first board, then use face recognition software to figure out who you are in all subsequent pictures).

They only have DVD players in the suites (and they have a library of DVDs for suite guests, too). They do not have hook-ups for DVDs or iPads. The new ships do have iHome clock "radios," though, for your iPods/iPhones.

Other cruise lines have on-demand video, too, but they charge for it, just like they do at most land-based hotels. This is part of the "Disney difference." DCL is run by an entertainment company, not a lodging company. (And they don't have to pay for the right to show the movies, 'cause they own 'em.)

What else is the TV good for? Giving the kids something to watch before bed time. Disney background music. When I have an inside stateroom (no windows) and want to rise early, I tune to the View From the Bridge Channel. When the sun comes up, I'll know it.

The inside staterooms on the new ships have "Virtual Portholes" - a high-def TV that plays live video of what's happening on your side of the ship. Plus a regular TV.

[ilovemymac]

i dont think i would do an inside state room. I think the private oversized veranda would be what we would want to do. That way you have your own little private area. I am really looking at the 2 new ships either a Bahamas cruise or Caribbean would go with the fantasy but not sure about starting out first time on a 7 day cruise
espicially traveling with a 5.5 year old and 6 month old at the time we are thinking of going.
I read over the menus and wow they serve some really fancy stuff. I wouldnt eat most of that so i guess i could request a NY strip everynight that they serve in the one dining.

[Dave Marx]

A 7-night is a bit riskier for a first-time cruise, especially with younger kids. However, Disney can't be beat if you decide to do that - the kid's programming is unmatched elsewhere, and they also have a complete nursery facility for infant through age 2, which no other cruise line offers. The nursery is not intended for frequent use, but it's nice to get a few hours break a few times during the cruise. At best, the other lines offer in-room babysitting by off-duty crew members. The one time we did that on another cruise line, the sitter stood us up, and there were no others available. Disney, on the other hand, has a large, dedicated child care staff.

We were already veteran cruisers when we started bringing our son, so it's not the same as your situation. However, he was on one week-long and one two-week cruise (and one four-nighter) by the time he was one year old. No problems. He took his first independent steps as we were passing through the Panama Canal. He was on a 10-night cruise just after his second birthday.

[JennCMTravel]

I say try the 3-day Disney Cruise first. If you like it then move onto longer cruises. For the other cruise lines most of the nice ships comparable to Disney Cruises sail longer itineraries. You'll find some of the 3-day options are not quit as kid friendly until you get up to the older ages.

As far as food-- my husband is mr picky. He went so far as to order an appetizer once or twice from the kids menu and it was no problem. If you are in the mood for something not specifically on the menu just ask the waiter if they can whip it up. If they've got it in the back they will make it for you.

On kids-- my youngest was 6 months old on our last cruise. We took him to the Small World Nursery and he did great. The Cast Members running that nursery are AMAZING... I wish I could hire one as a nanny for our little guy. He always has trouble with other adults, but he had no problem there!

We've done multiple cruise companies and you really cannot go wrong with Disney, especially with kids.

[ilovemymac]

Sounds like it will be lots of fun. I am thinking the 4 day because i would like 1 day at sea just to be out and about so to speak.
I was just interested in the Fantasy because of more options more pool areas and it says a lazy river.
I told my wife i wanted a suite because the rooms look so small but i think with the veranda or oversized veranda it should be good.
I know our daughter will love having other kids to play with she loves school and enjoys other kids allot so having a dedicated place of other kids in her age range would be just great.
We just got back from WDW with her and she loved it in fact the wilder the ride (within reason that i would take a 4 yr old on) she loved it. I think the water slide thing she would just want to do over and over.

Thanks for the advice on food. Its good to know im not the only "mr Picky" out there. I love steak but do not like fish or any seafood. So man steak everynight and hamburgers or pizza for lunch id be in heaven lol.

[lauriep]

I think the 4-day as a first cruise is perfect. I did the 3-day and was wishing for another day to explore more that the ship has to offer.

[Dave Marx]

The Fantasy won't have a lazy river - they'll have AquaDuck, the same as on the Dream. AquaDuck has some stuff in common with a lazy river, but you're moving faster, and the ride is over in a few minutes. However, they're adding more water/play features to the recreation decks on the Fantasy, so there's definitely a bit more "bang."

I think four nights will be the right choice for you. There's an enormous amount to experience on the Disney ships, and one day at sea is hardly enough to experience it all. When you have multiple days at sea (as on the 7-night itineraries) the additional facilities on the Fantasy will be easier to appreciate.

[JennCMTravel]

And don't worry about the room sizes. If you get a Deluxe Family Stateroom you will have more space than you know what to do with. Heck I think it was bigger than my first dorm room!

My sister-in-law got a suite once. Beautiful, but they were rarely in it.

[KSSteve]

Originally Posted by ilovemymac

Sounds like it will be lots of fun. I am thinking the 4 day because i would like 1 day at sea just to be out and about so to speak.
I was just interested in the Fantasy because of more options more pool areas and it says a lazy river.
I told my wife i wanted a suite because the rooms look so small but i think with the veranda or oversized veranda it should be good.
I know our daughter will love having other kids to play with she loves school and enjoys other kids allot so having a dedicated place of other kids in her age range would be just great.
We just got back from WDW with her and she loved it in fact the wilder the ride (within reason that i would take a 4 yr old on) she loved it. I think the water slide thing she would just want to do over and over.

Thanks for the advice on food. Its good to know im not the only "mr Picky" out there. I love steak but do not like fish or any seafood. So man steak everynight and hamburgers or pizza for lunch id be in heaven lol.

We had a verandah room on our trip in Nov 2009, and it was very spaciaus for two. I think 4 would be fine in one of these rooms. You will love the private verandah. Nothing like waking up, walking on the verandah, and seeing the ship sail into port.

[ilovemymac]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

The Fantasy won't have a lazy river - they'll have AquaDuck, the same as on the Dream. AquaDuck has some stuff in common with a lazy river, but you're moving faster, and the ride is over in a few

Oh I was just reading the website it says aqua duck exits into a lazy river.
That is where I found it. I can see then why they are adding more water features to the fantasy if they are going to have it out on the 7 day cruises.

We actually are looking to go to the aquarium at the Bahamas when we go first time.

[Dave Marx]

I'm sorry, it does say that it ends in a lazy river. It says that in the description for AquaDuck on the Dream, too. On the Dream it's just a level splash-down zone. Having ridden it on the Dream, I probably just zoned past that phrase as marketing hype. Maybe they're making some changes on the Fantasy. You can't be sure with Disney, Imagineering doesn't like to repeat itself exactly. Meantime, here's one of dozens of videos made on AquaDuck during the Dream's Christening Cruise. Disney had a special camera raft setup for the media to ride. For whatever reason, I didn't sign up for that particular photo op (I think it had to do with getting some interviews I was itching for).