Magical Disney Cruise Guide Your Unofficial Guide to Having a Magical Voyage Aboard the Ships of the Disney Cruise Line® (DCL)
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The Magical Disney Cruise Guide Your Unofficial Guide to Having a Magical Voyage Aboard the Ships of the Disney Cruise Line® (DCL) August 2005 Edition You can’t help but to have a terrific time on a cruise ship. There’s abundant, delicious food, top-quality shows, breathtaking scenery and the highly attentive staff. You can take shore excursions, wander around on your own or stay on the ship and lounge around the pool. There’s so much to do that you can’t possibly do it all. The onboard activities are as numerous as are the decisions that you must or should make before, and during your cruise. To help you plan and maximize your enjoyment on the cruise, the Magical Disney Cruise Guide (MDCG) was born. MDCG was originally created to assist the people on the Cruise Critic’s Disney Cruise Line® board looking for help and tips to make their trip easier and better. As the popularity of cruising increased, so did interest in the MDCG. After creating and spending several years updating the guide, the original author, Mickey Morgan, transferred the rights to the MDCG in March 2004 to AllEarsNet.com® and Deb Wills. It now has a permanent home as part of the AllEarsNet® family. Because the cruise experience is always changing, this guide is also constantly changing. We ask that you keep us informed of these changes so that others may continue to get the most out of their vacations. A quick note or a lengthy trip report is always welcome. We want to hear about the good and the bad and the little things that made your cruise magical. We thank everyone for all the submissions that we have received. Send your reports to: http://allearsnet.com/forms/contact.html You can find the freshest revision of the MDCG at: http://allearsnet.com/cruise/cruise.htm Bon Voyage and have a Magical or a Wonderful day. What’s New in this Version? AUGUST 2005 Section 2.1 New Itineraries Section 2.13 New Online Reservations for Palo, Spa and Kid’s programs Section 2.8 New Passport Regulations Section 5.2 Twice Charmed – New Show Section 6.13 Wireless Internet Access on Magic Section 10.5 Stingray Encounter coming to Castaway Cay! January 2005 Section 2.1 Cruise Itinerary changes for some 7 day sailings and new 2006 cruise itineraries. Section 2.2 Updated the WDW Resorts participating in the land/sea packages Section 2.1.3.2.1. Replaced refillable soda mugs with onboard credit for AAA perk Section 2.3 Military Discounts for January – February 2005 Section 2.5 Updated new cancellation policy (now 75 days in advance) Section 3.5 Television Channels updated Section 4.1 New Pirates of the Caribbean themed night Section 4.2 Clarification of Palo dress code Section 5.2 New Show debuts 2005 on the Magic Section 6.1 Vista Spa reorganized and updated Section 7.2 Updated Kids Programs for 4 Night Cruise Section 7.3 Updated Teen Programs for 4 Night Cruise Section 8.2 Nassau shore excursions updated Section 10.5 Castaway Cay Excursions updated NEW Section 13.17 Celebrating US Holidays onboard 1 Table of Contents: 6.8 PIN TRADING............................................. 37 0 DISCLAIMER ...................................................... 4 6.9 CHARACTER GREETING ......................... 37 1 HISTORY AND OVERVIEW ............................... 4 6.10 RELIGIOUS SERVICES........................... 37 6.11 ELONGATED COINS ............................... 38 2 BOOKING AND ADVANCE PLANNING............ 4 6.12 CARD COLLECTING................................ 38 2.1 3, 4 OR 7 DAY CRUISES ............................. 5 6.13 INTERNET CAFÉ ..................................... 38 2.2 WALT DISNEY WORLD ............................... 7 2.3 STATEROOM COSTS AND DISCOUNTS ............... 8 7 KIDS .................................................................. 38 2.4 TRAVEL INSURANCE.................................. 9 7.1 TODDLERS (UNDER 3)............................. 40 2.5 CANCELLATION POLICY .......................... 10 7.2 OCEANEER’S CLUB / LAB........................ 43 2.6 DCL BROCHURE AND VIDEO .................. 10 7.3 TEENS........................................................ 49 2.7 THE WEATHER.......................................... 10 7.4 SINGLE PARENTS..................................... 51 2.8 CRUISE DOCUMENTS .............................. 11 7.5 SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS.............................. 52 2.9 DISNEY VACATION CLUB ........................ 12 8 THE BAHAMAS & EASTERN CARIBBEAN ... 52 2.10 MAGICAL TREASURES............................ 12 8.1 BAHAMAS INFO......................................... 53 2.11 GETTING TO WDW AND THE SHIP ........ 12 8.2 DISNEY SHORE EXCURSIONS................ 53 2.12 YOUR CARRY-ON BAG……………………14 8.3 EXCURSIONS ON YOUR OWN ................ 57 2.13 BOARDING AND THE RESERVATIONS SCRAMBLE 8.4 FREEPORT .................................................... 2.14 BOAT DRILL .............................................. 18 8.5 ST. MAARTEN............................................ 59 3 STATEROOMS ................................................. 18 8.6 ST. MAARTEN EXCURSIONS................... 60 3.1 INSIDE OR OUTSIDE CABIN? .................. 19 8.7 ST. THOMAS.............................................. 62 3.2 CATEGORIES ............................................ 19 8.8 ST. THOMAS EXCURSIONS..................... 62 3.3 CONCIERGE SERVICE ............................. 20 8.9 VIRGIN ISLANDS ON YOUR OWN ........... 64 3.4 HANDICAPPED ACCESS .......................... 20 9 WESTERN CARIBBEAN................................... 65 3.5 TELEVISION CHANNELS .......................... 21 9.1 KEY WEST ................................................. 65 4 DINING ............................................................... 21 9.2 KEY WEST SHORE EXCURSIONS .......... 65 4.1 DRESSING FOR MEALS ........................... 22 9.3 GRAND CAYMAN ...................................... 67 4.2 PALO........................................................... 23 9.4 GRAND CAYMAN SHORE EXCURSIONS 67 4.3 RESTAURANTS AND DINING ROTATION 9.5 COZUMEL .................................................. 70 4.4 CABIN SERVICE, SNACKS & DRINK MUGS25 9.4 COZUMEL SHORE EXCURSIONS ........... 70 4.5 EATING HEALTHY..................................... 26 9.5 COZUMEL ON YOUR OWN ...................... 72 4.6 CHARACTER BREAKFAST ....................... 26 10 CASTAWAY CAY ........................................... 72 5 ENTERTAINMENT............................................ 26 10.1 THE BEACHES ........................................ 73 5.1 BEAT STREET/ROUTE 66......................... 27 10.2 THE WATER............................................. 74 5.2 WALT DISNEY THEATER SHOWS........... 27 10.3 THE LAND ................................................ 75 5.3 BUENA VISTA THEATER .......................... 29 10.4 CASTAWAY CAY TIDBITS ...................... 75 5.4 ESPN SKYBOX ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT 10.5 CASTAWAY CAY EXCURSIONS ............ 76 DEFINED. 11 DISEMBARKATION ....................................... 77 5.5 STUDIO SEA .............................................. 29 11.1 TIPPING.................................................... 78 5.6 DECK PARTY ............................................. 29 11.2 CUSTOMS................................................ 78 5.7 7-DAY CRUISE ENTERTAINMENT........... 29 11.3 GETTING TO… ........................................ 79 5.8 7-DAY CRUISE THEMED EVENINGS....... 30 12 WEBSITE LINKS AND RESOURCES .......... 80 6 RECREATION................................................... 31 6.1 THE VISTA SPA ......................................... 31 13 OTHER ............................................................ 80 6.2 WINE TASTING .......................................... 36 13.1 DISNEY CRUISE LINE®® CONTACT INFO80 6.3 THE POOLS ............................................... 36 13.2 DISNEY MAGIC AND WONDER 6.4 SHOPPING ................................................. 36 SPECIFICATIONS............................................... 81 6.5 QUARTERMASTERS - THE ARCADE ...... 36 13.3 SMOKING................................................. 81 6.6 CIGAR AND BRANDY SOCIAL.................. 37 13.4 GAMBLING............................................... 81 6.7 ART TOUR.................................................. 37 13.5 MONEY..................................................... 81 2 13.6 THE CASTAWAY CLUB........................... 82 13.14 SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCHES ............. 86 13.7 WEDDINGS HONEYMOONS AND REUNIONS 13.15 SHIPBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY ............. 86 ............................................................................. 82 13.16 SPECIAL NEEDS …………………………83 13.8 COMMUNICATING AT SEA..................... 84 13.17 HOLIDAYS……………………….. 13.9 HIDDEN MICKEYS.................................. 84 13.10 BRIDGE TOURS..................................... 84 13.11 SEA SICKNESS...................................... 84 13.12 MEDICAL FACILITIES............................ 86 13.13 BUBBLES ............................................... 86 3 0. Disclaimer: 1. What’s the big deal? Overview and History. The Disney Cruise Line® was started when Disney executives decided to bring the unique style of Disney entertainment to the cruise industry. Previously, Disney had a cooperative venture with Premiere Cruise Line’s Big Red Boats, but they weren’t completely happy because they couldn’t control the entire experience. Disney wanted to be absolutely sure that any cruise that they put their name on was up to the standards of their parks. So, they created the Disney Cruise Line® and built two ships called the Disney Magic and the