Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [118]
Money-Saving Tip
The ship is going to sail no matter how many people are aboard, so cruise lines offer significant discounts as the time of departure approaches and staterooms remain un-booked. Disney is no exception to this rule, but be aware that the cheaper stateroom levels sell out first, so discounts are more likely to be available on the unsold concierge-level (premium) staterooms. So last-minute travelers might not find lower prices, but they might well find more bang for their buck.
The glamorous northern European and Mediterranean cruises let you explore Europe as a family without the hassle of flying from country to country, dragging luggage, and checking in and out of hotels. In essence the cruises allow you to board the ship, unpack once, and let Europe come to you. With the exception of a couple of dreamy days at sea, most sailings are at night and each morning you wake up in a different port. An 11-night Mediterranean cruise for a family of four in July, for example, will run about $7,500 for an inside stateroom and $11,000 for a deluxe ocean-view stateroom with veranda.
Get the picture? Costs can vary dramatically. To estimate the price of your cruise, start by going to www.disneycruise.com and typing in the destination you wish to visit, the month you wish to travel, the preferred length of the cruise, and the number of people in your party. This will direct you to a page that shows all of your options, from highest to lowest. You can fine-tune from there, and once you have a ballpark price, you can more intelligently comparison shop with a travel agent or on other Web pages. The Web site is also a great source of information on ports of call, shore excursions, and the layout of staterooms.
Other Expenses
One of the beauties of cruising is that most of your expenses are included in your package price. Here’s a list of what isn’t included.
Alcoholic beverages
Arcade games
Child care for children under 3
Medical services
Merchandise bought on board or at ports of call
Palo, the adults-only restaurant on all four ships, which charges a $20 per person cover; Remy, the even more upscale adults-only restaurant on the Dream and Fantasy, has an upcharge of $75 per person.
Photography
Ship-to-shore phone calls
Shore excursions
Spa treatments
Tipping (Based on industry suggestions, this will be about $12–$15 per person per day. This cost, along with any other purchases made aboard the ship, can be added to your general bill, so don’t worry about bringing a lot of cash.)
Lodging
The Disney Cruise Line Web site contains renderings of all the staterooms, from the basic inside stateroom designed for three to a two-bedroom suite that can sleep as many as seven. Most staterooms are in the deluxe ocean-view category, many of them with verandas, and most about 200–250 square feet. (Most of the cabins are outside staterooms, so if you’re planning to save a few bucks by booking an inside stateroom, call early.)
“The general rule is, the longer you’ll be on the ship, the more important the size of your stateroom is,” reports a mom of three from Florida. “For a three-day cruise we’re okay with being piled on top of each other, and we go for the cheapest option we can find. On these short runs, you’re hardly ever in the cabin anyway. But if you’re on a longer cruise that includes multiple days at sea, the size and comfort of your stateroom matters a lot more.”
One other innovation to note: The Dream and Fantasy alleviate cabin fever by putting “virtual portholes” in the inside staterooms. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to your screen. Keep an eye out … sometimes a character pops by as well.