First time cruise-looking at 4 Night Bahamas on the Dream in December-can you help?

[4Him123]

We are looking at the 4 night Dream, Nassau to CC day at sea then back to PC. We have 6 kids so would need to book 2 rooms.

I need help with:

1) What is the best room options for our family since we need 2 rooms? Kids are ages 5-11.

2) Dinner: We want early eating option. How does this work?

3) What are the best excursions to book in Nassau and CC? We really want to see Atlantis in Nassau and would love a Cabana in CC--what if ship can't dock and we paid for Cabana?

4) Will we totally miss WDW if we do a cruise? I think a cruise would be less work than WDW (less walking, no strollers etc..) but will we miss WDW?

5) Is December warm enough for the kids to swim on ship and at CC?

Thank you and please add anything I have missed as we are very new and never done this before!

 

[Donald_Quackers]

I've been on a few December cruises:

1) What is the best room options for our family since we need 2 rooms? Kids are ages 5-11.
This depends. If you aren't planning on spending a lot of time in your room, would recommend connecting (NOT the same as adjacent) inside staterooms. Others get an inside and a verandah, typically across the hallway from each other when possible.

2) Dinner: We want early eating option. How does this work?
You put in your request when you book your cruise. If early dining is full, they can put you on a waitlist for early dining. Even if you don't get early dining before you cruise, many have good luck switching their preference onboard. There will be a location listed in the navigator you get when you check in that will tell you where to go to make dining changes.

3) What are the best excursions to book in Nassau and CC? We really want to see Atlantis in Nassau and would love a Cabana in CC--what if ship can't dock and we paid for Cabana?
I can't speak much for Atlantis, as I booked an excursion to Blue Lagoon for a Dolphin encounter. Cabanas book quickly, but if you can grab one and you can't dock at CC, then you don't get charged for it.

4) Will we totally miss WDW if we do a cruise? I think a cruise would be less work than WDW (less walking, no strollers etc..) but will we miss WDW?
I didn't because I was going to WDW after the cruise, and many squeeze in a day or two at the parks either before or after the cruise. My opinion is if you are able to, try and do that if you can.

5) Is December warm enough for the kids to swim on ship and at CC?
On ship, the pools are heated and I didn't have any complaints about swimming.
CC, the water for my cruise was chilly but didn't take long for me to get used to it. I'm coming from Chicago, so that may have something to do with me not having a problem with the temperature.

Good luck with whatever you decide and hope you have a great cruise!

 

[rick3236]

Hi, we have sailed several times in December, so hopefully I can help you. I copied your questions and hopefully give you good answers.

I need help with:
1) What is the best room options for our family since we need 2 rooms? Kids are ages 5-11. -

We have sailed with eight people before and we chose two connecting Verandah rooms. It was great the steward removed the dividing wall between the verandahs so we had one huge verandah, great for breakfast. We have also done one outside and one inside stateroom across from each other and that worked well. Just so you have reference there were 8 of us (5 kids ages 12, 11, 7, 6, 3 and three adults - me, my wife and Mom).

2) Dinner: We want early eating option. How does this work?

You can request it when you book, they will likely accommodate you. If they cannot, when you board you can request a change and they will place you on a waiting list if there is one or go ahead and move you. We have only not been accommodated for our early dinner preference once in 8 cruises).

3) What are the best excursions to book in Nassau and CC? We really want to see Atlantis in Nassau and would love a Cabana in CC--what if ship can't dock and we paid for Cabana?

A Cabana will be tough since you are a new cruiser, you will not get the early booking time that Castaway Club members and concierge have. Just try as soon as your window opens up and if you can't get a Cabana go to Port Adventures desk as soon as you board. If it does not dock you don't pay for it. If you really want to see Atlantis, go do it. It is a lot of fun. We don't get off the ship in Nassau any more.

4) Will we totally miss WDW if we do a cruise? I think a cruise would be less work than WDW (less walking, no strollers etc..) but will we miss WDW?

They are completely different experiences. I love WDW - former cast member - but if you come to me and offer one week at Disney or one week on DCL, I would pick he cruise hands down every time and twice on Sundays. However, if you think you are going to miss the parks, try to give yourself one or two days at the parks either before or after the cruise, do both - follow this advice for the dining room also, if you see two things on the menu you want order both, you are not paying any more for it anyway.

5) Is December warm enough for the kids to swim on ship and at CC?

We have cruised in December twice. The first time it was cold almost the whole time (sweatshirt and jeans). Gorgeous blue skies and fantastic weather - but too cold to swim in this native Floridians opinion (although there were people in the pool and in the water at CC). The second time, it was warm enough to swim at CC and on the ship. The moral of the story is if you are going in December, you have to pack for both.

Either way have fun.

 

[mammaminnie]

I completely agree with what the others have said on room options, dining and Port Excursions. For the cabanas, @rick3236 was correct that it may be hard to secure a cabana (but not impossible) as a new cruiser.

Since WDW and cruising can be very different experiences, we never find ourselves missing one or the other. Cruising for us is a great way to get in a more relaxing vacation while still being immersed in Disney. That being said, when we cruise out of PC we do try to fit in a day or 2 at the parks either before or after the trip, however even if you don't do that I think you will have so much fun on the cruise that you will not miss WDW as much

We cruised in December out of Galveston and it was chilly the first day at sea while we were still in the Gulf of Mexico, but once we got into the Caribbean things warmed up nicely to swim. Even on the chilly days, my kids were still willing to swim and so were many others. I did like cruising in December for the simple fact that I didn't feel like it was oppressively hot and humid at the Ports like it can be other times of year. Plus, many of the ports are quieter and have fewer cruises in Port during this time frame.

I think that you will definitely enjoy a December cruise with the family

 

[fltink]

Since WDW and cruising can be very different experiences, we never find ourselves missing one or the other. Cruising for us is a great way to get in a more relaxing vacation while still being immersed in Disney. That being said, when we cruise out of PC we do try to fit in a day or 2 at the parks either before or after the trip, however even if you don't do that I think you will have so much fun on the cruise that you will not miss WDW as much

mammaminnie is right on! To me, WDW and DCL are two totally different experiences. Do I miss one when I do the other? Yes! Because I ALWAYS want to do BOTH! But since this isn't always realistic, I would gladly miss my WDW days in order to do a cruise! Cruising introduces an entirely different way to fall in love with Disney all over again! You get the type of service that Disney is famous for TENFOLD! Spectacular food, amazing character experiences, wonderful entertainment and so much more! It won't make you stop loving the parks, but it will give you a whole new appreciation for them, and a whole new way to relax when you don't want to wait in lines and run around all day.

ENJOY!!!