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mrsrom
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 42 total posts
Name:
H
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Cruise in Jan
Hi - my husband is turning 40 in Jan. and he finally decided he wants to go on a family cruise (2 kids, 3+7). I would assume that Disney is our best option but open to other cruise lines. I'm not even sure if I can book something now for Jan. but all suggestions/tips are welcomed.
Thank you.
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Posted 11/5/18 3:36 PM  |
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JandJ1224
Member since 6/06 5911 total posts
Name:
Jannette
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Re: Cruise in Jan
We are sailing on Anthem of the Seas. They have a kids sail free promotion that makes it super affordable.
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| Posted 11/5/18 3:43 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Cruise in Jan
The only problem with the Anthem is that you are cruising in cold weather for almost half your trip, which stinks. I had a cruise booked on that in February for break, but just changed it last night to Bermuda over the Summer after thinking about it some more (flu season, cold weather, rocky seas turned me off)
January is probably an easy month to cruise because kids are in school still. I would look for something out of FL though.
The Disney cruise is so awesome! We have been 6 times. We went on the Fantasy in August and loved it. You can book that out of FL, they do 7 nights Eastern or Western Caribbean. There is also the Dream that you can book for 3 or 4 nights out of FL.
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| Posted 11/5/18 7:58 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Jan may have rough seas because of hurricanes/storms etc if leaving out of the Caribbean. If leaving out NY or Northeast then you are in the ship since it is cold when you leave. Just be prepared for that. I never travelled in January but we did leave out of NY in mid September and it was a little cold. No big deal the first day because we hung out on the ship. By the next day it was warm. However, it was the most movement we ever felt on a ship. The swaying was a lot.
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| Posted 11/5/18 8:50 PM |
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JandJ1224
Member since 6/06 5911 total posts
Name:
Jannette
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Re: Cruise in Jan
The good thing with Anthem is that it was built to sail in cold weather so lots of indoor activities and pools etc.
If you can fly and go out of Florida that would be my first preference. I would do one of newer RC ships.
Message edited 11/7/2018 10:00:21 AM.
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| Posted 11/6/18 1:26 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by Sash
Jan may have rough seas because of hurricanes/storms etc if leaving out of the Caribbean. If leaving out NY or Northeast then you are in the ship since it is cold when you leave. Just be prepared for that. I never travelled in January but we did leave out of NY in mid September and it was a little cold. No big deal the first day because we hung out on the ship. By the next day it was warm. However, it was the most movement we ever felt on a ship. The swaying was a lot.
Yes there is a world of difference between sailing in the Atlantic and the Carribean. The seas are way rougher. I have a DH who has vertigo and is prone to sea sickness and that is why we really can't cruise out of NY ever- as convenient as that would be! We did it a few times before we had DD and he was miserable until we made it down south.
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| Posted 11/6/18 1:39 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Cruise in Jan
for january, i would look at one that leaves from florida, or somewhere else south. We did a cruise out of NY like 4 or 5 years ago in December, and its almost like you lose a day or 2 of the trip because it starts and ends so cold. plus, the water up here is rougher in the winter for the first day or so. we LOVE our disney cruises (been on 3 so far, and a 4th one booked for August...) so great with younger kids. But i feel like Royal Caribbean and NCL are "catching up" and are really great, too!
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| Posted 11/7/18 7:09 AM |
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mrsrom
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 42 total posts
Name:
H
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Thank you all for the suggestions - I probably should have mentioned that we planned on leaving from Fl. Now what is the best way to book a Disney cruise - direct with them or use a travel agent?
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| Posted 11/7/18 9:29 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Cruise in Jan
I would book directly on the Disney Cruise site...that is what I always do. I don't like losing control of my reservation though by using a third party. Some people like to book through an agent because they will give like $100 onboard credit or so, but honestly that isn't worth it to me. If you have any questions on anything for the Disney cruise, just ask, we have been on 3 of their ships and on 6 different cruises. We love it so much!
PS, when you look online and select your stateroom, make sure that you google the reviews for your stateroom. Some can be noisy, vibrate a lot, etc. Also, you can put a hold on your cruise online and it saves the room for you without money. Just go all the way through check out and click "courtesy hold".
For our cruise in August, I booked a last minute "guaranteed" rate about 3 weeks prior to the cruise date. It was basically a few thousands off, and I picked the category (balcony because it was cheaper than any other!) and they picked the room. We ended up with a room that cost about $3k more than I paid, which was super nice and large for just the three of us!
Message edited 11/7/2018 9:35:13 AM.
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| Posted 11/7/18 9:32 AM |
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JandJ1224
Member since 6/06 5911 total posts
Name:
Jannette
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Re: Cruise in Jan
If you are a member of Costco I would see what offers they currently have. We booked through them on last cruise and received additional obc and a costco cash card. I also price direct from cruise line so I know what should be and go from there.
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| Posted 11/7/18 10:01 AM |
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mrsrom
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 42 total posts
Name:
H
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by BargainMama
I would book directly on the Disney Cruise site...that is what I always do. I don't like losing control of my reservation though by using a third party. Some people like to book through an agent because they will give like $100 onboard credit or so, but honestly that isn't worth it to me. If you have any questions on anything for the Disney cruise, just ask, we have been on 3 of their ships and on 6 different cruises. We love it so much!
PS, when you look online and select your stateroom, make sure that you google the reviews for your stateroom. Some can be noisy, vibrate a lot, etc. Also, you can put a hold on your cruise online and it saves the room for you without money. Just go all the way through check out and click "courtesy hold".
For our cruise in August, I booked a last minute "guaranteed" rate about 3 weeks prior to the cruise date. It was basically a few thousands off, and I picked the category (balcony because it was cheaper than any other!) and they picked the room. We ended up with a room that cost about $3k more than I paid, which was super nice and large for just the three of us!
wow - I didn't realize there were so many differnet Disney ships. Which one do you recommend for maybe 4-5 days, mid Jan? I don't want my DS to miss too much school.
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| Posted 11/7/18 12:21 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by mrsrom
Posted by BargainMama
I would book directly on the Disney Cruise site...that is what I always do. I don't like losing control of my reservation though by using a third party. Some people like to book through an agent because they will give like $100 onboard credit or so, but honestly that isn't worth it to me. If you have any questions on anything for the Disney cruise, just ask, we have been on 3 of their ships and on 6 different cruises. We love it so much!
PS, when you look online and select your stateroom, make sure that you google the reviews for your stateroom. Some can be noisy, vibrate a lot, etc. Also, you can put a hold on your cruise online and it saves the room for you without money. Just go all the way through check out and click "courtesy hold".
For our cruise in August, I booked a last minute "guaranteed" rate about 3 weeks prior to the cruise date. It was basically a few thousands off, and I picked the category (balcony because it was cheaper than any other!) and they picked the room. We ended up with a room that cost about $3k more than I paid, which was super nice and large for just the three of us!
wow - I didn't realize there were so many differnet Disney ships. Which one do you recommend for maybe 4-5 days, mid Jan? I don't want my DS to miss too much school.
Your best bet is to do a 4 night on the Disney Dream! The Dream and Fantasy are the larger ships of the fleet, and I prefer them over the Wonder/Magic to be honest. But, with the Dream, they typically sail on Sunday - Friday, so you would be missing an entire week of school. There is also a 3 night on the Disney Dream, that is typically on a Friday to Monday. I haven't checked for January, but that is usually the schedule. The Fantasy is usually 7 nights (sometimes they do a special 2 night, etc.), and that is usually Saturday to Saturday. I would check around MLK day, because the kids are off on Monday so that at least cuts out one day that he would potentially miss!
Message edited 11/7/2018 12:42:32 PM.
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| Posted 11/7/18 12:41 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Hurricane season is over by January. I've cruised in the winter and it's awesome! You get to leave cold weather and come back with a tan. I'd leave out of Puerto Rico because the farther south you go, the warmer it will be.
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| Posted 11/7/18 12:48 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Cruise in Jan
We have done the Disney Magic out of Miami and loved it and are scheduled to sail on the Dream next.
For the Magic it was a Weds-Sun cruise but the Dream is M-F.
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| Posted 11/7/18 1:56 PM |
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mrsrom
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 42 total posts
Name:
H
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by ali120206
We have done the Disney Magic out of Miami and loved it and are scheduled to sail on the Dream next.
For the Magic it was a Weds-Sun cruise but the Dream is M-F.
Good to hear! I see there is a 4 night to the bahamas on the magic and the dates are perfect for us. I just did a quick search online and on the BJ's travel website they are offering a balacony room from $1026 pp...is that price good? No clue what to expect price wise.
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| Posted 11/7/18 2:43 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by NYCGirl80
Hurricane season is over by January. I've cruised in the winter and it's awesome! You get to leave cold weather and come back with a tan. I'd leave out of Puerto Rico because the farther south you go, the warmer it will be.
I stand corrected, idk why I thought it was till January. lol
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| Posted 11/7/18 2:57 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by mrsrom
Posted by ali120206
We have done the Disney Magic out of Miami and loved it and are scheduled to sail on the Dream next.
For the Magic it was a Weds-Sun cruise but the Dream is M-F.
Good to hear! I see there is a 4 night to the bahamas on the magic and the dates are perfect for us. I just did a quick search online and on the BJ's travel website they are offering a balacony room from $1026 pp...is that price good? No clue what to expect price wise.
What is the price on the Disney site? Also, in our experience, it's expensive to fly into FLL or Miami, so price that out also.
Message edited 11/7/2018 3:13:20 PM.
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| Posted 11/7/18 3:11 PM |
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mrsrom
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 42 total posts
Name:
H
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by mrsrom
Posted by ali120206
We have done the Disney Magic out of Miami and loved it and are scheduled to sail on the Dream next.
For the Magic it was a Weds-Sun cruise but the Dream is M-F.
Good to hear! I see there is a 4 night to the bahamas on the magic and the dates are perfect for us. I just did a quick search online and on the BJ's travel website they are offering a balacony room from $1026 pp...is that price good? No clue what to expect price wise.
What is the price on the Disney site? Also, in our experience, it's expensive to fly into FLL or Miami, so price that out also.
It varies from $3660-$3701 for a Verandah. depends on if you choose Aft, Midship or Forward. What is the best area?
My DH works for Jetblue so if the flights look good we can fly standby or buy discounted tix.
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| Posted 11/7/18 3:34 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Cruise in Jan
So then it's cheaper to book through Disney if it's $1026 per person through BJ's. I would just book on the website. Midship is the best location since the motion stabilizes a bit in the middle! Plus you are closer to the mid ship elevator. My second choice would be aft. Last would be forward (feel the most motion). I haven't been on the Magic, but have been on the Wonder which is the same as the Magic. We usually stay very low in an Oceanview room with a porthole window (the porthole windows are awesome and my kids love sitting in them!). I don't think a verandah is necessary on a short cruise, but of course that all depends on your personal likes. Oh wait, the Magic doesn't have porthole seats, we have only had them on the Dream/Fantasy. They have just plain round windows
Message edited 11/7/2018 4:15:36 PM.
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| Posted 11/7/18 4:13 PM |
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mrsrom
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 42 total posts
Name:
H
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Cruise in Jan
Thank you for all the suggestions! We're booked on the Dream from Port Canaveral for 4 nights, yay! Anything we need to know before we set sail...do we need make restaurant reservations, shows...etc??
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| Posted 12/19/18 1:33 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by mrsrom
Thank you for all the suggestions! We're booked on the Dream from Port Canaveral for 4 nights, yay! Anything we need to know before we set sail...do we need make restaurant reservations, shows...etc??
You don't need to make show reservations or dinner reservations, unless you want to dine at the adult only restaurants (Remy and Palo). I would do your online check in right away and select your port arrival time and book any other extras (Bibbidi Boutique, etc.) or excursions you want. FYI you are not married to the port arrival time, you can get there when it first opens...and we always do, they won't turn you away. I like to get there at around 930am. Terminal opens around 10:30 am, and there you check in, then you can get pics with Mickey/Minnie in the terminal (line gets long). Boarding is typically after 11:30ish. We were actually chosen as "Family of the Day" one time! We got to board first, sit at a private table in the terminal, and taken right up front for pics with characters. It was so awesome!
Have fun!!
PS if you are on FB, join "Disney Cruising", so many helpful people in there!
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| Posted 12/19/18 1:53 PM |
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mrsrom
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 42 total posts
Name:
H
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Cruise in Jan
thanks for the info, BargainMama. Another question....sorry! Do they offer a drinks package (my husband and I enjoy a few cocktails...lol)?
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| Posted 12/19/18 3:24 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Cruise in Jan
You can buy a glass and get the drink of the day at a discount and buy a cooler with beer and also get a discount.
We were supposed to do a 4 night cruise on the Dream in January but had to cancel! Enjoy!
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| Posted 12/19/18 3:44 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cruise in Jan
Posted by mrsrom
thanks for the info, BargainMama. Another question....sorry! Do they offer a drinks package (my husband and I enjoy a few cocktails...lol)?
No drink package, but it's like Ali says. I'm not a drinker to be honest, so I have no idea how much the drinks run. But, I know that a can of soda in the lounge areas is $1.50 or something cheap!  (Fountain drinks are free)
Also, get some decorations to do up your door! They are magnetic so you can order from Etsy or print your own. It definitely helps identify your room in the sea of doors, and it's cute!
Here is ours from one of our cruises
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| Posted 12/20/18 9:04 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Cruise in Jan
Also, you can order decorations for your room that they will put up in the "Gifts and Amenities" section on the Cruise website. We have done that a couple of times, super cute!! Oh, and bring refillable water bottles because the cups have no lids or straws on the deck at the drink stations. The "hot cups" do have lids though FYI
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| Posted 12/20/18 9:06 AM |
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