A Few Days Away From Disney

[tom107]

We are staying in Orlando in November with friends and although we plan on going to Seaworld and Magic Kingdom we would like to do a few days on a cruise. We have never done this before! We have seen one from Tampa to Mexico 5 days. I think that is long enough for a taster. Has anyone done this? Did you book it in the UK or did you book it once in Orlando?

[Guest]

We've done Mexico (Cozumel) with the Disney Cruise Line so I can't comment on other cruise companies. If it's a 5 day trip then you will most certainly call at other places like Grand Cayman along the way. Cruising is a really relaxing thing to do and our little trip to Cozumel certainly gave us a taste for returning and doing a fuller visit to Mexico in the future. Hope you find a cruise to suit you.

[JSP]

We have done it, I cant really help with the booking since my BIL who lives in St Pete Beach books it for us as it works out cheaper.
On a 5 day cruise I would imagine you will stop at 2 or 3 places, as above maybe the caymans, Cozumel and main land mexico, something like that. We find it a nice relaxing experience, dont forget to budget for gratuities (they usually suggest a fixed price per person per night) and also for any shore excursions you want to take

[tonymc]

Back in 2009, we took a similar cruise on Royal Caribbean - 4 nights/5 days from Tampa to Cozumel and back again. We booked in the UK and got our pre-paid gratuities free. However, we were seated with a lady and her daughter from Atlanta who had booked a few weeks before the sailing date, and they paid around 40% of the price we paid in the UK.

Check out the CruiseCritic.com website if you do book, as it has loads of useful advice for first time cruisers (as we were) - for example, getting to the boat for around 11:30 on departure day to use the facilities and restaurants, advice on local tour operators rather than using the cruise line tours.

If you can wait until nearer the time, there is a US website (Vacations to Go)that has details of reduced price cruises departing within 90 days - may be worth visiting to see what is available. Also worth checking for departures from Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Fort lauderdale and Miami which should give you a greater number of options.

[tom107]

Thanks , that is great information. I will certainly follow your advice.

[Guest]

I hope 5nts is enough for a taster as we will be doing our 1st cruise next year, 5nts including Cozumel. Lots of people start with 3 or 4nt cruises as tasters, personally I was looking at 4nts minimum. We are sailing with Disney which is admittedly more expensive than most of the other cruiselines, but there are some things included that you still pay for on others and we felt we would get our money's worth, specially with the ages of our children. We are going to be mega busy in Orlando so using our 5nts for some serious R&R

[DIBBadmin]

This thread has been automatically closed as it has not been posted on in 365 days.