The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line

by Testa, Len; Foster, Erin; Stewart, Laurel

• ISBN13: 9781628090185
• ISBN10: 1628090189
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-04-15
• Publisher: Unofficial Guides

Summary

The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line by Len Testa, Erin Foster, and Laurel Stewart is a no-nonsense, consumer-oriented guide to Disney's cruise vacations. This detailed guide points out the best of Disney's ships and itineraries, including a couple of stellar restaurants, top-notch children's activities, and Castaway Cay, one of the best vacation islands in the Caribbean. It also lists which on-board entertainment and restaurants should be skipped, including recommendations on what to do instead. Along the way, this indispensable travel companion shows how to save money, choose the right stateroom, ship, and itinerary, and how to get to and from the cruise with ease.

Author Biography

Len Testa is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland. He lives in Greensboro, NC. As a charter member of the official Walt Disney Parks Moms Panel, Erin Foster has researched and written answers to more than 10,000 guest questions about Disney travel. She lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

PART 1 Getting Started
1. DCL Overview
2. Disney Cruise Line's Target Audience
3. Competitors and Prices
4. What's Included and Not Included in Your Disney Cruise
5. Cruising with Kids
6. Cruising without Kids
7. Where to Find Other Information
8. Our Itinerary Recommendations For Your First Cruise
PART 2 The Ships
1. Overview
2. Deck Plans
3. Common Ship Amenities
4. Unique Features on Each Ship
5. Ranking the Disney Cruise Line Ships
6. Staterooms
Overview and Recommendations
Which Deck to Choose and Why
Amenities Found In Every Cabin
What You Won't Find in Your Cabin
Stateroom Categories
7. On-Board Services
Guest Services
Your Stateroom Attendant
Onboard Airline Check-In
Laundry Services
Port Adventures
Health Services
8. Dining
Overview and Recommendations
Restaurant Types
Dietary Restrictions and How to Make Special Requests
Counter-Service Restaurant Profiles and Ratings
Buffet Profiles and Ratings
Sit-Down Restaurants (Rotational Dining Explained, Dress Code, Sit-Down Restaurant Profiles and Ratings)
Kid's Dining Options
Room Service
Coffee Bars
Wine Packages
Dining on Castaway Cay
9. Children's Activities
Overview
Only-Child Situations
Amenities Common to Each Ship
Ship-Specific Features
Activities for Teens-only
Club 18*21
10. Entertainment
Overview of Disney's on-board show types (jukebox musicals, story re-tellings, etc.)
Each live show rated and ranked
Other Live Acts
Movies
Character Greetings
“Theme Nights” and Seasonal Entertainment (Pirate Night, Formal Night, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Winter Holidays)
Nightclubs and Lounges Rated and Ranked
Where to Watch Live Sports
On-Board Seminars
Family Activities
Shopping
Pools and Water Play Areas
Sports and Fitness
Spas
11. The Ports of Call and Shore Excursions
Overview
Alaska
Bahamas
Caribbean
Europe and the Mediterranean
California Coast
12. Planning Your Cruise
Choosing an Itinerary
Saving Money
Departure Ports
Combining Your Cruise with a Disney Vacation
Combining Your Cruise with an Adventures by Disney Trip
The Itineraries
The Booking Process
Special tips for Special People
Making Dinner and Spa Reservations
Booking Shore Excursions
Packing and Preparing
Electrical Outlets
Passports and Travel Documents
Credit Cards and Payment Methods
Health Insurance