How Best To Set Sail The Disney Way

The offerings from Disney Cruise Line keep getting better and better. There are several packages now available, including the option to extend the vacation to include a stay at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim (Los Angeles), California; the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Barcelona, Spain. The Cruise Line's packages are so packed with goodness that an orientation Digital Video Disc is now freely available on Disney Cruise Line's web site. Every aspect of these expansive and extensive vacation packages can be tailored to a group's needs, which is handy because everyone wants something slightly different.

Disney's original flagships, the Italian-built Magic and Wonder are still among the most modern cruise ships on the planet. However, in 2011, Disney Cruise Lines launched the Dream-their newest super sized cruiser. The German-built Dream, who had her maiden voyage on January 26, is 40% larger than Magic and Wonder; she carries four thousand passengers and almost fifteen hundred crew members.

How about those specials?

However, even with the instructional DVD and e-book available on Disney Cruise Line's website, the task of planning such a vacation may be daunting to first-timers. It's recommended to secure the help of a seasoned travel planner who will be aware both of the details of what a party wants out of their vacation and the intricacies of how to set up the features with Disney's vacation planners. If the group is a bit more experienced in navigating the negotiation of these tremendous Disney vacation-cruises, then working in tandem with a travel agent and Disney's web site is recommended. The good news is that these travel planners won't cost you a cent - they are paid directly by Disney.

Get The Planning Started

Your planning shouldn't wait-everything should be nailed down several months in advance to assure that all the desired reservations along the way get made.

It's best to begin by choosing where and when it will all take place. The number one piece of advice for those wishing to bookend their cruise with a resort stay is to choose one that is not far from the point of embarkation for the cruise. This saves money and time in transit. Another method that some vacationers employ is to travel during the off season for the particular area. Pluses include a definite drop in Disney dollars spent; minuses include inclement weather. No one orders a Castaway Cay with a side of hurricane! Savvy shoppers will work hard to find the middle ground between price point, weather, location, and time of year.

Herb likes to write about Disney World. Please check out his website that contains Disney World information as well as Disney Family Cruises information.

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Tips For Booking a Disney Cruise For the Whole Family

Our family travels a lot for the average person. People frequently ask us for advice on how they could travel more. When they ask seriously, they should be prepared for a conversation that may last hours. One day on our November 13th cruise aboard the Disney Dream, we met a great family from Houston sitting at the table next to us for High Tea in Palo. Not only did we outlast the serving staff, we moved to the Meridian Lounge for a couple more hours. We take our travel seriously.

For those traveling on a Disney Cruise, there are a few things that are important to know. Most important, for those that love cruising like we do is to never leave the ship without booking your next cruise. The deals offered on the ship are nearly unbeatable. Either the down payments are cheaper or the price is reduced or both.

Now, many people we talk to reply with is, "I don't know if I can afford to cruise that much or that soon!" Well, the date of the cruise is unimportant. Disney Cruise Lines is great about moving your cruise to another date and you still get the same savings and shipboard deals. This means, as you get closer to the time you board and realize you are not going to make it, change the dates. Note: There is a time after which you cannot move a cruise, don't wait that late! Over the years we have moved our departure dates up and back a number of times.

One year, we were booked on a big cruise in the summer. Because we cruised with Disney before we were sent an offer for 'Kids 17 and under Cruise Free'. That was unusual. Normally their offer was for '12 and under cruise free'. With the money we saved for our teenage boys sailing free and all that we paid ahead, we moved that trip up to spring break, months earlier.

Did you catch that next point? Pay ahead! If you charge your trip to a credit card and pay it out over time after the trip, your vacation will cost a lot more than you thought and all your savings is out the door! Two to three times more is just the beginning and most people pay up to ten times more! Do not charge your cruise to any interest bearing credit cards or accounts.

'Pay ahead' is even more important. Book your cruise far enough out (we generally book a year or more ahead) so that you can make payments on that cruise ahead. Make a concerted effort to pay a few hundred or more on the cruise each month. Because it is not a loan or charge account you can skip a month if the bills pile up unexpectedly one month. If you need more time, move your sail date out farther and better yet, if you find you can pay more than you thought, move your cruise closer. Paying ahead is nothing short of liberating!

Another one of the benefits of booking on board, you get a shipboard credit for doing so. An extra $200-400 on your account when you arrive is nothing to scoff at. That can cover tips and/or various expenses to which you look forward. Just think, a guilt free trip to the Rainforest Room or extra visits to Palo or Remy are more fun when they really did not cost you any extra!

'Pay ahead' on everything you can. Disney (and other cruise lines) allow you to even pay ahead on tips and account credit. The goal is to board and disembark from the cruise with no debt from that trip!

A Caribbean Cruise is a trip of a life time, but done smartly it can be much more. Boarding that luxury ship knowing you will not have any debt for the trip and everything is payed in advance will make it so much better. You will not worry about, 'How are we ever going to pay for this!' and think more about, 'What does a Cruise Ship have to offer to make the next one that much better!'

For an idea about getting to your cruise, see http://www.tiggertravels.com/pl_281_Getting_to_and_Paying_for_Your_Florida_Cruise.htm.

David Bailey has traveled all his life, domestically and internationally. As a family, David, his wife Jennifer and two sons continued their passion for world travel with many cruises and extended stays throughout Europe. He specializes in finding non-tourist attractions that are considered off the beaten path but supply unique and culture-rich experiences.

Follow David's experiences at the Tigger Travels web site at http://www.tiggertravels.com/.

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Why Don't You Try a Disney Cruise?

Another option to experience the Magic of Disney as part of the Walt Disney World Vacation, is going on board at any of the Disney Cruises, where you will have fun, meet the Disney characters, have different shows and entertainments. This option is good if you want to have a cruise but also the magic of Disney at the same time.

The Disney cruise line started in 1995 and the first ship was Disney Magic which started to operate in 1998. The second ship was Disney Wonder inaugurated in 1999. Then Disney Dream became part of the Disney fleet and finally the Disney Fantasy joined and will be sailing for the first time in March 2012. Nowadays the fleet is composed by these great family of four ships.

The current Disney Cruise Lines Destinations includes:

- Alaska & Pacific Coast

- Bahamas

- Canada & New England's Coast

- Caribbean

- Hawaii

- Mexican Riviera

At every Disney Cruise Ship you can experience:

Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks / 24-hour complimentary soda, coffee and tea at the beverage stationStaterooms carefully designed for families.Clubs which guarantee fun for kids of all ages until 18 years old.On board Dining in table restaurants or quick service.Live shows, meet & greet Characters and Disney movies.Pools not only themed designed but also for the different group of ages.Entertainment all the time.Deck Parties.Adults can enjoy nightclubs and lounges as well as SPA's and Fitness centers

Most of the Disney cruises include the:

Castaway Cay: a stop at a Disney's island paradise, exclusively for Disney cruisers.Fireworks at sea

One fantastic idea from Disney Cruises Line is the Port Adventure. It is an itinerary organized in advance which gives you the most selected excursions and activities you and your family can try at the port. They are especially selected accordingly to the port and covers activities for all ages. Some of them are Buggy, flight seeing, dolphin experience, cooking, golf, etc. There is a wide range of options to choose.

Special offers for Florida residents or Military personnel are available all the time, as well as special discounts on specific tours. Nowadays there are Special discounts and rates on Caribbean Cruises for 7-nights or special rates on 3 nights to Nassau.

If you are interested in some help on the planning, you can order a free DVD Disney Cruise Planning through the Disney site.

If you are interested on sailing on any of the Disney Cruises you should start the booking for 2012 soon!

Sally McKnight has been writing articles online for nearly 5 years now. See her latest website here at http://www.visitorlandoattractions.net/. This website helps people find useful information when traveling to Orlando and more buying Disney Tickets.

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