3 night cruise for August 2008

[TinkTatoo]

IF I were thinking of a 3 night cruise for August 2008 have I left it too late to book :thumbs-up and if I haven't when would I need to book by

[Michelle]

The sooner the better Jakki, otherwise the prices will go higher. Also if you want a specific stateroom, best to book early.

[TinkTatoo]

OK - so here are some really basic questions

1/ I suffer from motion sickness - would I be completly mad considering a cruise? anyone one done one with motion sickness

2/ do you have to go to dinner each night (I am not sure with DS's autism if we could manage a formal dinner)

[Michelle]

No, I don;t think so.

No, you don't have to go anwhere you don't want to go. You could order dinner in your room via room service (24 hour) all it costs is a tip ;)

You know you want too.

[jdybnsn]

Hi

1/ Motion sickness - we found the first night going out of Cape Canaveral very rough, but after that we could hardly feel the ship moving ...bearing in mind that we were cruising in February. I believe it is often choppy the first night due to the sea channel the boat is crossing.
I don't suffer from motion sickness myself, but I believe there are number of effective treatments that are recommended for cruisers.

2/ No you don't have to go to a sit down dinner every night - there several alternatives from buffet, fast food bars to (more limited menu) room service.

I would not call the dining particularly 'formal' as such (though you can be as formal as you like) - don't forget this is a children orientated ship and your dining room servers and other CM will bend over backwards to accommodate any special needs as long as you inform them in advance. I would not let the dining arrangements put you off - they are great with kids !

[TinkTatoo]

....You know you want too. :pgig: :pgig:


.....I would not call the dining particularly 'formal' as such (though you can be as formal as you like) - don't forget this is a children orientated ship and your dining room servers and other CM will bend over backwards to accommodate any special needs as long as you inform them in advance. I would not let the dining arrangements put you off - they are great with kids !

I guess that DH & I are not into dressing up for dinner and would prefer a more casual approach so if there are options for a less formal / dressy dinner it would suit us better. Would a casual shirt for DH and a blouse for me be OK or would we be out of place without a jacket / tie / dressy outfit??

[Michelle]

I guess that DH & I are not into dressing up for dinner and would prefer a more casual approach so if there are options for a less formal / dressy dinner it would suit us better. Would a casual shirt for DH and a blouse for me be OK or would we be out of place without a jacket / tie / dressy outfit??

Jakki, I have just posted a packing list from the DCL
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=137629

We will just be taking smart but casual things, just like you have said, shirt for DH and a nice skirt/trouser with a nice blouse or t'shirt for me. On a 3 night I don't think they do formal formal dress. IYKWIM

[jdybnsn]

There are no formal nights as such on the 3 or 4 night cruise - we dressed smart casual for dinner - some were dressed smarter, and other less smarter.

.....I would not get too stressed as long as you don't turn up in flip flops and swimming attire :omg: , I think they are pretty informal and a standard of dress code is not enforced.

The only place requiring smart attire, is the adult only, Palo restaurant (booking is completely optional and there is an additional charge for making a reservation there of $15).

[ANGEL]

Thre are loads of more casual options to eat at too:) As previously said, the buffet restaurant is open for bf, lunch and sometimes for dinner...there are snack bars...and theres always room service:) Loads of people don't dress up very much so I'm sure you'll feel fine:)

[rylisal]

Have to agree with it being really child friendly-Our lo was a bit of a handful at dinner times but our lovely servers always managed to entertain him!

Dress attire really is just smart casual, I wore a lovely dress one evening & even felt a bit over dressed-Didnt care though as it was my birthday!!

Our 12 yr old just wore 3/4 lenghts and smart T-shirts to dinner & didnt look out of place at all!

So there really isnt any need to worry-Just get booking(Wish I could!)

[Sue F]

We only booked our August 2007 cruise last week and had a good choice of staterooms in our category (cat. 6) so I woudln't worry about 'missing the boat' on booking (see what I did there? LOL :) )

Not sure if we got the best deal but we were happy with it, and the good exchange rate makes it a bit easier to swallow.

[rylisal]

We booked ours October 06 for Feb 07 & there was still plenty of choice then......Kept an eye on the prices but they never altered for our stateroom & only appeared fully booked about 2 weeks before we went
Obviously may depend on time of year but The Wonder was full when we went!
Like you say, exchange rate makes it a little easier for us at mo-We were very lucky as it was even better when it 'Hit' my C/Card bill!!

[BarryandCaron]

Oooh Jakki, that sounds exciting. :spin: This is the only cruise I have ever fancied doing as like you we aren't ones for dressing up for dinner.

Caron

[jdybnsn]

The price will rise of your cruise from date of release, but just by how much is entirely down to demand , so if you are going at a popular time you would have more to gain by booking early. Its a bit like the system that budget airlines operate I believe...they have so many cabins at X price and when these are gone they raise the price to Y, and so on...but if a cruise is under selling then they will hold the price for a bit.
It is very very rare that prices go down, even at the last minute....unsold cabins tend to be offered cheap only to Florida residents. The DCL ships pretty well always sail full by the way !
In the rare event the price is reduced, it is worth noting that you can ring DCL and get the reduced price too, if the cabin category you have already booked is down in price - but you do have to ask- the discounted rate would not be applied automatically.So it is worth keeping an eye open on prices after booking ;)
We booked for Feb 2008 just a couple of days after the rates were released in Nov 2006 ! This was for a cat 6......it has already increased in price by $500 - and pre Presidents Week in February, when we sail, is still classed as low season !

The other important thing to bear in mind for when to book, if you have kids (and is not really applicable to adults only groups) is that DCL will only allow a set number of kids of each age group on each sailing, to ensure that there is always availability of space in the kids clubs. This is very strictly adhered to so that once the quota of for example 3 - 9 year olds has been met, no more bookings can be taken for groups who have kids of this age. There is absolutely no tolerance on this figure - once the age group is full, thats it.

Also worth noting that the number of cabins that sleep 4 is surprisingly smaller than what you might expect on a 'family' orientated boat. The majority sleep 2 - 3. and there are even fewer still of cabins that sleep over 4 ....and these are so costly, that more often than not, it is actually cheaper to book 2 lower grade cabins, or one mid grade & one lower grade cabin than book the 4+ cabins.

Hope this is of some help.:wavey:

[TinkTatoo]

Thanks again guys - I am swaying (and that's without being on the boat) ;) is there any website where I can check what cabins are still available for the cruise I want?

[Michelle]

Jakki, just go through the motion ;) of booking a cruise on the DCL website and you will be asked if you want to choose a particular stateroom etc. If it's available then it will let you choose it.
That's how I did it anyway:D

[TinkTatoo]

Jakki, just go through the motion ;) of booking a cruise on the DCL website......

Is there a button to report bad jokes :pgig: :pgig:

Just off to try booking now to see what's available

[ANGEL]

good luck Jakki! :)

[Michelle]

Is there a button to report bad jokes :pgig: :pgig:

Just off to try booking now to see what's available


Oi that was one of me best :pgig:

Good Luck :thumbs-up :pd

[ANGEL]

Oi that was one of me best :pgig:

Good Luck :thumbs-up :pd


should I be taking note of these jokes? ;) ;) :D

[jdybnsn]

Just for information, the DCL website lists what category of cabins are available (given your party size & kids ages etc) for each cruise...then if you select a cabin category it will 'suggest' some available cabins...but these are by no means all that are available.
As previously posted you can at this stage key in some cabin numbers you may be interested in to see if they are available - there are deck plans on the website which will show you where each cabin is located.

If you desired cabin(s) is not available don't get disheartened, as people are regularly swapping/cancelling cruise dates so you could keep checking the site to see if they are available....... and/or ring DCL and ask if you could be wait listed for particular cabin in the hope they get re- released back into the system.
Alot of cabins come back into the system a few days after the cruise dates are first released and also as it comes up to the point when the deposits are non returnable, and final payment must be made.

Also don't forget the inital price shown on the DCL website includes transport to the ship & insurance which (provided you have your own arrangements on both counts ) you can then deduct, and which knocks roughly $600 off the price.

[TinkTatoo]

.....Alot of cabins come back into the system a few days after the cruise dates are first released and also as it comes up to the point when the deposits are non returnable, and final payment must be made.......

At what stage does the deposit become non returnable?

[TinkTatoo]

Oi that was one of me best :pgig:....

If that was one of your best god help me if I have to hear the worse :pgig: :pgig:

It's getting serious now so watch this space :thumbs-up

[jdybnsn]

At what stage does the deposit become non returnable?

Generally (for most categories & sailings), 75 days before sailing, and at which time your final payment is due .
However, a bit earlier if you have booked a higher cat. cabin than a cat.4 and/or are doing a 10 night or special cruise like a repo cruise and there are some exceptions for special cruises on these higher grades.

You can also transfer your deposit to another cruise up to this point.

.......all of which is why cabins suddenly become available again at this point :)

[jdybnsn]

Found the DCL cancellation policy for you...

"Cancellations/Refunds
Cancellations may be made by telephone or in writing. Changes to the vacation commencement date or changes of guest names will be considered cancellations. For cancellations, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees and other amounts owed, will be promptly refunded. The cancellation fees assessed will be as follows, regardless of resale of stateroom or hotel room:

All Sailings except Europe/Transatlantic
Days prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
· 90 days or more Deposit amount per guest for categories 1-3 for 10-night, 11-night, and all sailings 2007 and beyond
· 89-45 days (Category 1 through 3) Deposit amount per Guest
· 74-45 days (Category 4 through 12) Deposit amount per Guest
· 44-8 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
· 7 days or less No refund

Europe/Transatlantic
Days prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
· 90 days or more (Categories 1 through 3) Deposit amount per guest
· 89-45 days Deposit amount per Guest
· 44-8 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
· 7 days or less No refund "

[Michelle]

If that was one of your best god help me if I have to hear the worse :pgig: :pgig:

It's getting serious now so watch this space :thumbs-up


You can go off people, I thought it was a good one.

I am excited for you Jakki, I know how it was for me when I was looking/booking:spin: