Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: Disney Cruise Line Early 2017 Itineraries Announced!

Goooooood morning, Tinkers!

     Hot off the presses, Disney Cruise Line has announced their early 2017 itineraries. Good news/bad news. Bad: No exciting new destinations. Sailings will be out of Port Canaveral, Miami, Galveston and Puerto Rico, with most itineraries sticking to the Bahamas and Eastern and Western Caribbean. Good: More ships and itineraries to choose from out of those favorite ports!

     ALL sailings from Port Canaveral will include a stop at everyone's favorite island, Castaway Cay. There will be three ships in Canaveral in early 2017. The newest ship, The Fantasy, will do alternating 7 night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. Both The Dream and The Wonder will be running 3 and 4 night sailings to The Bahamas.

     Meanwhile, the original ship, The Magic, will be down in Miami, running 3, 4 and 5 night Bahamian itineraries, and 5 night Western Caribbean itineraries. The Magic will also be hitting up Castaway Cay on every itinerary.

     In the month of April, The Magic heads to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for Southern Caribbean itineraries. The Wonder will also be doing some unique re-positioning itineraries in January, as it returns from Galveston, Texas to San Juan, and then back to Port Canaveral.

     Which one do YOU want to sail on???? To check out all of the early 2017 itineraries, click on disneycruiseline.com. Booking for these newly announced dates will begin on October 8th!

Ask Tink: Palo for Brunch or Dinner?

"Hi, Tink! My girlfriend and I are going on a Disney Cruise this winter. We know we want to go to Palo, but will probably only go for one meal, since it's our first time on the ship. Would you pick brunch or dinner? I have hear good things about both, so I don't know what to pick."

     Oooo, so hard to choose! Both are fantastic, but I have a clear favorite! First, let me explain to those readers who may not know, Palo is an exclusive, adults only restaurant on board the Disney ships. It has Venician theming and decor, an incredible menu, impeccable service, and gorgeous, open vistas of the sea from it's panoramic windows. If Guests choose to dine in Palo, they can do so for a fee of $30 per person. They can opt for dinner or brunch. Guests can do both sometimes, depending on availability. Reservations are required and can be booked 120 days before your sail date for Concierge and Platinum Guests, 105 days in advance for Gold Guests,  90 days in advance for Silver Guests and 75 days in advance for First Time Cruisers. You can also sometimes book once on board the ship, but expect availability to be extremely limited, if available at all. Palo does have a dress code, which requires men to wear dress pants and a dress shirt, or a jacket. Women must wear a dress, pants suit, or blouse and skirt. Jeans, shorts, capri pants, sneakers and flip flops are not allowed either gender.

   

     Dinner is an elegant, multi-course affair, with fine Italian cuisine and lavish, amazing desserts. Just like in the main dining rooms, you can choose as much or as little as you want. You can order a filet, and get a side of the ravioli if you like. There are plenty of options, from seafood, to pastas, pizzas to Osso Buco. And you can't miss the Chocolate Souffle! Disney Cruisers dream of it after they've tried it! If you do make a reservation for Palo dinner, you will skip your dinner in the main dining room, and go to Palo at your designated reservation time, so you'll want to be sure that you aren't booked for a night that you'll be bummed to miss out on, like Pirate Night, or Captain's Gala Night.

 

 


 



















     Brunch is offered on days at sea, on 4 night cruises or longer. You'll want to skip having any sort of breakfast or lunch, because you'll have more food than you can handle at brunch! There are buffet tables set up with breads, fruits and veggies, cold meats and seafood, cheeses, desserts and more. You'll also get a menu to order from. You can choose pancakes and omelettes, or chicken parmesan and pizzas. Or all of the above! Your server will encourage you to eat until you practically have to be wheeled out of the place. You probably don't want to have any big plans for that afternoon, because you're gonna need a nap!

     If I had to pick one meal, I'd go with brunch. It's the more impressive of the two meals, with the largest variety of items. I also love that since it is daytime, you can see the gorgeous ocean all around you. Really, you can't go wrong with either meal, and I would definitely encourage you to try both at some point, but if you're picking just one.... I say BRUNCH!

     Hope you found this information helpful! Have a Disney question? E-mail me at tinkinaboutdisney@gmail.com! 

    

Ask Tink: Do I Need a Balcony on a Disney Cruise?

" When I book my Disney Cruise, do I need to pay the extra for a balcony, or would I be ok without one?"

     Thanks so much to the Tinker that sent that question in! Pretty much every Guest who has ever booked a Disney Cruise had wondered this. Unfortunately, there isn't a cut and dry yes or no for this one, either. The biggest factor in this decision is your own personal preferences and needs. 

     A balcony, or veranda, works out well for Guests that will find themselves in the stateroom during the day for children's naps, or just a break in the day, since it provides you with an opportunity to still enjoy the spectacular views and gorgeous ocean air, while having some quiet time. A veranda is always enjoyable if you're someone who likes to read and spend time on your own. Most Guests love having the opportunity to step right out of their room and be out in the fresh air. (A word of caution, though, do NOT get a veranda because you smoke. Smoking is not allowed on verandas, only in designated smoking areas on the outer decks.)

     You may also want to take into consideration the itinerary that you'll be sailing on. The most scenic cruises, like Alaska and the Mediterranean, may have more of a call for a veranda than some of the other Caribbean itineraries, or a Trans-Atlantic, where sailing time is without a view of anything other than the ocean. (Not that the ocean is a bad view, but if you're sailing a coastline looking a fjords, glaciers or villages a balcony makes more sense.) When I did the Panama Canal crossing a couple of years ago, we wished we had a balcony, simple for a place to stand that wasn't crowded!

     Now, can you enjoy a stateroom without a balcony? Absolutely! In fact, The Hubs and I pretty much always go with an inside stateroom, without a window. We are only in the room to sleep and shower, so we will gladly save some money! We can always see what the outside weather looks like by tuning into the channel on the tv that shows the bow cameras, and it's never a long walk to get somewhere where we can step outside. If you're lucky enough to be in an inside cabin on the Dream or the Fantasy, you'll have a super cool virtual porthole that projects a view of what is passing by on your side of the ship, and even has cameo appearances by some of your favorite characters! You might see Carl from "Up" floating by your window, or Peach the starfish, from "Finding Nemo" might come stick around. The virtual portholes are really fun and perhaps even more enjoyable than a regular window!

     If the idea of being in a room with no window doesn't exactly thrill you, you can also choose a room with a large or small porthole, depending on the price point you want to pay, and where you want to be in the ship. Personally, I feel like the regular windows are a waste. I either want to save money, and will go with an inside cabin, or I want to be able to get outside, and I want a veranda. Not everyone feels the same though, obviously, since there are plenty of window-only rooms. 

     So it really all comes down to your budget and preferences. I think a smart way to look at it is to start with looking at the lowest priced cabin that you would be ok with staying in, and then look at how much it is to upgrade to the next step from there. So let's say you know that you don't want an inside cabin, but aren't sure if you want to spend the extra money for a balcony. Price out the least expensive window cabin, and then look at what the upgrade would be to a cabin with a large window. Then look at what it would cost to upgrade to the least expensive veranda cabin. You will likely find that upgrade costs are not as high as you would expect. 

     No matter what stateroom category you select, you will be in heaven on any Disney ship! I have often said that I don't even need a stateroom on the ship. I'd sleep in a lounge chair and shower in the spa if it meant that I could be on a Disney Cruise! (And I bet you would too!)

     Have a Disney question? E-mail me at tinkinaboutdisney@gmail.com! 

Ask Tink: First or Second Seating for Dining on a Disney Cruise?

"Hi! I'm trying to plan my Disney Cruise and they asked if I want first dinner seating or second. What do you think? Is one better than another?"

     Thanks so much for sending in that question! And by the way, I am totally and completely jealous that you have a Disney Cruise Line trip on the horizon! DCL is truly the BEST cruise line in the world and it's such a fun-filled and relaxing trip!

     When it comes to dinner, the seating time that you should select is really the one that works best for your family. I can give you some plusses and minuses to the two times, and hopefully that will help you decide!

     Your show time will be based on your dinner seating, so the schedule will work like this: First dinner seating will go to dinner at 5:45pm, and go to the theater for their show at 8:30pm. Second seating will go to their show at 6:15pm, and dinner at 8:30pm. 

     Many families with small children find the second seating to be too late for little ones to be eating, and they end up selecting the first seating. As a result, second seating typically is easier to get into, and has fewer children in the dining room. This also means that the Oceaneers Club tends to have their activities based on the schedule of the earlier dinner. That's not to say that your children cannot attend if you are in the second seating, just that they are more likely to get there mid-activity. For those in the second seating, they do have counselors come to the dining rooms around 9:15pm, to pick up any kids that want to go to the club. It's a nice feature because your kids can eat with you, and then not have to stick around. You can take your time enjoying coffee and dessert, knowing that the kids are safe and off having way more fun than you somewhere. 

     Second seating has always been favored by my family because we can't get it together fast enough to get ready for early dinner. If you have been in a port that day, or even if you're just playing around the ship, getting dressed and being at the dining room by 5:45pm means wrapping up other activities by about 4:30pm or so and that can be tough. Second seating gives you the chance to take your time a bit more. You can always go to the show in your casual attire, and then get dressed for dinner between the show and meal time. That way, you have more time to play AND to enjoy a VERY quiet ship. We found that if we went to the pool around 4:30pm or so, it was almost empty. We could swim for an hour or more, with almost no one else in the pool area, before getting ready to go to our show. And if you manage to already be dressed by the time you go to the show, you can always use the time before dinner to squeeze in an activity, or to grab a cocktail in a lounge.

     We also enjoy the fact that because there is not another group waiting to get into the dining room when you are at second seating, the servers have a bit more time to chat and for you to enjoy their company. (Of course, be mindful that they DO still have to clean up and can't spend the whole night hanging out in the dining room with you.) This is always a highlight for us, as the crew is always phenomenal. 

     The one negative we saw to second seating was that sometimes we would have to rush to get to some of the evening activities. If there was a particular cabaret show taking place, or if it was Pirates Night, we really had to scramble to wrap up dessert and get our butts out the door. This maybe only happened one or two times on the whole cruise though, so it wasn't too big of a deal. 

     So, overall, I prefer second seating, BUT, if you have small children, you may want to stick with first seating to avoid meltdowns and/or your children falling asleep at the table. Although D did fall asleep at our table once during second seating and our servers very sweetly pushed two chairs together, covered her in a tablecloth, and made a pillow from napkins. It was adorable. 

     No matter what, you're guaranteed to have delicious meals, fabulous entertainment, and an incredible family vacation! Have fun and BON VOYAGE!

     

Tink's Tips: 5 Tips for Making the Most of a Disney Cruise

 

   Guys, I have got to tell you, living practically next door to Walt Disney World is pretty awesome. I'm not gonna lie.  But where my heart really, REALLY lies, and where I pretty constantly dream about being, is on a Disney Cruise.



     I’m pretty sure I qualify as being “obsessed” with Disney Cruises. How do I know this?  Well, let’s see… I have been on 12 of them.  Every time I return from a Disney Cruise, I immediately start planning my next one.  I met my husband on a Disney Cruise.  We got married on one 2 years later.  I do “cruise math”, where I judge whether or not something is worth spending money on based on what percentage of a cruise it would pay for.  I recreate DCL menu items at home.  I created an entire playlist of music that reminds me of being on a Disney Cruise.  I even try to buy air fresheners that “smell like the ship”.  See?  Obsessed!!

     But then again, you probably are too!  If not, you haven’t been on a Disney Cruise yet!  So for you newbies, or you fellow fanatics wanting to get someone else’s perspective, here are my Top 5 Tips for Making the Most of a Disney Cruise. Enjoy!

 

 

1. Try to reason with hurricane season.

 

     Don’t let hurricane season scare you away.  In my opinion, the fall is one of the very best times to take a Disney Cruise.  Pricing is reasonable, crowds are smaller, and believe it or not, the weather is usually gorgeous!  Disney has amazing weather technology onboard the ships and can avoid most inclement weather systems.  Just don’t go in the fall if you are super attached to the idea of visiting a certain port, since ports can sometimes be skipped, or replaced with alternate ports, if weather is bad. (P.S.- The below pictures were all taken in September!)

   
 

     If the fall really doesn't work for your life, consider a cruise in January or February. Prices are on the low side, weather in the Caribbean and the Bahamas is at a more comfortable temperature for touring, and the risk of a hurricane or major storm is pretty much nil. Just know that it can get chilly, especially on your days at sea. If the spring works for you better, try to go for late April or early May, before the summer crowds flood the ships and the temps down south hit a level close to unbearable.

 

2. Save a little here, spend a little there.


Cartagena, Columbia

     Your family works hard for their money, so you want to make it go as far as you can, right?  Well, when booking your cruise, I recommend deciding up front what you want to save money on, and what you want to splurge on.  If you like exploring on your own, you may want to only pick out one or two excursions to book through Disney, and do the rest of your shore exploration on your own.  (Just be careful about staying in safe areas, and getting back to the ship on time.)  If you don’t drink alcohol, instead of factoring in money for a bar tab, you can treat yourself to an extra spa appointment, eat at Palo, or play a few rounds of BINGO.  If you’re like my family, and you don’t plan on spending much time in your stateroom, maybe consider going with a lower priced cabin, and spending your savings on gift shop purchases, a massage, port adventures, etc.  With the amazing new technology of the Magic Portholes (currently only on the Dream and Fantasy), inside staterooms can be just as interesting and enjoyable as outside ones.  The point is, decide what is most important to your family, and what you want to get out of the trip, and then make choices accordingly. 

 

3. Go big, or go home.

 



Empty pool? Yes, please!

Princess Tea

     Well… ok, don’t go HOME.  Let’s be real.  Even one day on a Disney Cruise is better than staying home.  But my point is this… the longer the cruise you can swing, the better.  Aside from the obvious reasons why a 7 night is better than a 3 night, and a 12 is better than a 7, there are some lesser known ones too.  For example, many of the fun extras that DCL offers are only available on the longer cruises, like certain shows, special activity series and Princess Tea.  Looking for the best value?  Many times, if you break down the “per diem” (per day) cost of your cruise, the longer ones end up giving you more bang for your buck.  Personally, I love when longer cruises include extra days at sea, too!  Some guests like to do cruises that are packed with back to back port visits.  Not me.  I’d take a whole cruise at sea!  Sea days are full of awesome activities like trivia, movies, dance class, character appearances, scavenger hunts, and ice carving demonstrations.  Or, you can do nothing at all.  Grab a lounge chair, a good book, and just relax.  Nowhere to be.  No port that you are missing out on.  Just you and the open sea.  Ahhh….
 



Pixar Dance Party

Going for a walk with Snow

  



Princess Hide 'n' Seek

     In September of 2013, my family and I were lucky enough to do the 14 Night Panama Canal Crossing and it totally spoiled us!  The special, longer cruises frequently get less children, (particularly the ones that happen to be in the fall), and as a result, the kids that DO travel, get a more magical experience.  Since the Wonder had about ¼ of the number of children onboard for our Panama Canal Crossing than it has on average, the Oceaneer’s Club was far less crowded, which meant more one on one attention for my 4 year old daughter, and the ability to do what she wanted, when she wanted.  Also, we found the kids’ pool to be pretty close to empty most days.  And let’s not forget the character experiences!!  By three days in to the trip, ALL of the Princesses knew my daughter’s name!  There were such small waits for the character meet and greets that every character we saw spent a ton of time with her.  Can you imagine walking down the hall to dinner and Ariel calling out, “Oh, Kayla!  There you are!  Flounder and I have been looking for you all day!” And one night, D got to play tag and hide and go seek for about 45 minutes, all around Deck 5, with Cinderella, Belle, Peter Pan and Ariel! They just happened to be hanging out, playing games with about ten little girls up there. Totally unscheduled and out of the blue. She.  Was.  In.  Heaven.  (Granted, she is now beside herself when we go to the parks and she gets less than five minutes with a character.)  I would do a 14-Nighter again for the character experience ALONE!



  

Just hangin' with her Princess pals

Who knew Pan and Hook cruise together?

 

4. Have some of Column A, try all of Column B.

 

     Dining is truly an experience on the ships.  The food is of excellent quality and it is certainly plentiful, but do you realize just what lengths DCL will go to in order to assure that you love every meal?  You don’t like the sauce that comes on tonight’s steak?  Your server will get it for you without.  You think the mashed sweet potatoes from the chicken dish sound better than the rice that comes with your fish?  It’s no problem to switch them.  Two different entrees sound good tonight?  Or even three or four?  Your server will gladly bring you a taste of each.  Like no other restaurants I have seen, DCL dining rooms will customize your meal to your liking.  And even more care is taken in dealing with your food allergies.  All you have to do is make your server aware of your allergy, and at every single meal, they will assure that your food is safe for you to eat.  A chef will even walk you through buffet lines and tell you what you can and cannot eat.  Our serving team was phenomenal in dealing with our one year old’s egg allergy.  (I do recommend that if someone in your party has an allergy, have it notated on your reservation before departing for your cruise, in order to make sure extra caution is taken in the kitchen.) 
 

      
 

5. EXPERIENCE the magic! (Or the Wonder, or the Dream, or the Fantasy)

 

Sail Away Party!!!!

     Even if you have cruised before, with Disney, or on another line, you have never had an experience like the one you’ll have on your next cruise.  Disney cruises are filled with magical moments, for every age range, and all you need to do is be present for them!  There are certain things that you just don’t want to miss in order to truly have experienced a Disney cruise.  Take the Sail Away Party, for example.  Ask anyone who has ever been, and they will tell you that there is nothing like counting down to sail away, and hearing that magical DCL horn ring out, as you leave all of your cares behind.



Disney Dreams

     And the shows!  You can’t miss Disney Dreams on the Wonder and Magic, or Believe on the Fantasy and Dream.  (If you have a pulse, they’ll bring a tear to your eye.)  Don’t miss out on the Pirate Night festivities.  Even if you don’t want to dress up and get “piratical” yourself, it’s so much fun watching the crowd get into the evening!  Even the fireworks are pretty impressive.  You’ll most likely find yourself saying, “Arrrrrgggghhhh!!”, by the end of the night.  If you can make dining in an adult-only setting happen, have a meal at Palo, (or Remy).  You’ll be dreaming about the chocolate soufflé for months. 

 

     Enjoy the ship itself, and all it has to offer.  Each ship in Disney’s fleet boasts special and unique things, like Enchanted Art on the Dream and Fantasy, a two-story, glassed-in coffee café on the Wonder, or the amazing Aqua Dunk on the Magic.  All four ships are intricately decorated and have so much gorgeous detail to take in, that you could explore for days. 

 
 

Two of our favorite servers, Mo and Hilash

     Lastly, but possibly most importantly, enjoy the crew.  The folks that work on Disney’s ships are special.  They are from countries all over the world, and they are hand-picked to deliver the best possible guest experiences.  Crew members everywhere you go will want to know your names, your likes and dislikes, and where you are from.  They want to engage you in conversation because they truly care and genuinely love talking to their guests.  My family loves hearing about where our server is from, what types of foods they eat back home, whether or not they have kids, etc.  One time, our server was so excited about us taking an interest in his Indonesian background, that he had the chef prepare a special Indonesian dinner, just for us.  (It was one of the BEST meals we have ever had on a Disney ship!)  We always disembark feeling like we have made a bunch of new friends, and not being able to wait to get the chance to come back and see them again.
 

    

    

     So, there you have it!  Just a few of the things I have learned from cruising with The Mouse.  Now… aren’t you just Dream-ing about getting out there on the open seas and experiencing the Magic, enjoying the Wonder of it all, and making your Disney Cruise Line Fantasy come true?  What are you waiting for?  Go pack!  I’ll see ya real soon!!!