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Disney Cruise Line and Other Cruise Planning Cruise Questions and Tips. |
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25 Sep 17, 08:15 PM |
#1
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VIP Dibber
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New to cruising!
Having been to WDW world now for years we have decided its time to try something new.
We have never been on a cruise before. I don't like the idea of dressing up in long dresses etc. for meals and that is how I see it, in my eyes. I want something casual. Where do I start looking? Maybe just Europe to start with. Any help would be gratefully appreciated, really have no idea
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25 Sep 17, 08:32 PM |
#2
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VIP Dibber
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We have been on six cruises and, to be honest, felt very much the same as you at first.
I recently retired after over 50 years of wearing a suit and tie every day and I was determined that I would never pack a suit and tie on any holiday - let alone a DJ. We've been on two Carnival in the Caribbean, two Princess - one in the Caribbean and one Canaries and two on RCI to the Med. All of them have options to dine in the main dining room or to eat casually in a buffet. In addition to that they also have "signature" restaurants with an additional cover charge. Occasionally they have a couple of formal nights when you are expected to wear either a DJ or suit and tie (men ) or a cocktail dress. We never do these. For the most part though we have eaten about 75% of dinners in the buffet where dress code is anything apart from uncovered cossies. The other 25% maybe in the dining room with chinos and button through shirt for me and maybe a summer frock for Joan. What you do on the cruise is up to you. Take part in every activity or just sit round the pool all day and go on a few shore excursions. That's where the cost builds up a bit. The evening shows are really good and professional. We've always had a balcony cabin as we love opening the curtains and seeing a new port every morning - apart from at sea days. Mick
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25 Sep 17, 08:48 PM |
#3
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VIP Dibber
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Just got back from our first ever cruise - 7 nights round the Med on the Disney Magic. Utterly wonderful.
The 7 night cruise has one formal night, one semi formal night and one pirate night! 'Formal night' is a very wide-ranging dress code. Yes, some people go for the whole dinner jacket and long dress thing, but many just wear smart trousers and shirt or a smart skirt and pretty top. Semi-formal - to be honest I couldn't tell the difference. I pretty much always wore a black skirt and flowery top, so that's what I wore! As for pirate night, we didn't go the whole hog (although it's great to see those who do!) but we did have a few pirate-y touches. If you wanted to avoid any of those, though, you could eat at the buffet (Cabanas) any night you like. We loved the rotational dining - you eat at a different restaurant each night but you have the same tablemates and servers, so you all really get to know each other. There is an upscale restaurant, Palo, which has a stricter dress code (suit, smart dress) but you don't have to eat there (although you should - it was incredible!) Lovely relaxed atmosphere everywhere - we bumped into so many characters, and CMs and guests alike were super friendly. We didn't really do the whole 'relaxing by the pool' thing, partly because the weather wasn't great and partly because that isn't really us. We did animation classes, quizzes, character meats, games, etc etc. It really is up to you how much or how little you do. We absolutely adored our time on the Magic and would recommend it to anyone.
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DLP: many offsite and onsite trips
WDW: Port Orleans Riverside Dec 10; SSR Nov 14, POFQ Nov 2022 DCL cruises: 2 so farOther parks: Tokyo |
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25 Sep 17, 11:42 PM |
#4
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Imagineer
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We love cruising but like you didn't know if it was for us or not before our first one.
Have a look at NCL as they have a very relaxed attitude to dressing up for dinner. The Norwegian Epic has a summer itenary around the med which is a good introduction to cruising. We also love having a balcony.
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Steve 'Oct 97 Days inn main gate west, June '02 Days inn main gate west, Dec '05 All star movie resort, Aug '07 Caribbean Beach Resort, Sept '09 Port Orleans Riverside, Oct'10 Tour then villa at Highgate, May '12 Emerald Island villa. Oct '14 The Keys then SSR. |
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26 Sep 17, 06:27 AM |
#5
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Very Serious Dibber
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I've been back two weeks after our first cruise to the fjords, I was dreading the formal nights but thought what the hell, and just done it, actually I really enjoyed it and it was really nice to dress up and see everyone as myself and husband don't get to do this often. Of course you can eat in the buffet if that's what you want to do but we embraced the whole experience and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was very apprehensive about the whole cruise experience but if I didn't have plans for next year I would be booking another one.
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26 Sep 17, 06:31 AM |
#6
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Very Serious Dibber
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Yep exactly the same for us, now we love cruising. We do go the whole hog in that we dress up for dinner, but it's whatever you want to do, there are plenty that don't and that's fine too. We have only ever cruised with Royal Caribbean so can't compare with others, never had any complaints with anything, food always lovely and great service. It can get expensive once you start adding on extras such as drinks or drinks packages, excursions but again you can do as little or as much as you want. We have done both shore excursions organised with Royal and our own organised ones too.
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26 Sep 17, 06:38 AM |
#7
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Imagineer
Join Date: Jul 12
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NCL is very casual but even on Disney and Royal Caribbean I didn’t find the dress too formal, anything from smart casual to ball gowns seemed to go! Plus there is always the buffet option if you really didn’t fancy it.
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Apr 98..Quality Inn, Dec 2004...hotel Cheyenne, may 2006...Emerald Island, Mar 2013..Regal Palms / AKL / Rosen Inn / HRH, Oct 14..Cypress Pointe, July 2016 Newport bay club, Aug 2016 magic med cruise, Aug 2017 SSR/Rosen pointe/HRH, Aug 19 Northern Europe Disney magic, Dec 2019...Sequoia Lodge, Xmas 2021 Rosen Plaza/HRH, May 2022 POFQ/HRH, May 2023 Disneyland LA. |
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26 Sep 17, 07:04 AM |
#8
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Imagineer
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We did Disney Cruises for this very reason. Unfortunately as soon as we had done one we loved it so much we haven't been with any other company. We do the adult only restaurant and put on something a little smarter but that is it. The restaurants are quite laid back otherwise. We love Disneys private Island in the Bahamas so tend to do cruises that include that as a stop. We have done a med cruise though and loved it.
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WDW too many times to count DL 1999 Paris 1996 |
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