We are thinking of taking a 7 night Western Caribbean Cruise, our parents are getting a deal with their timeshare. We will have to pay $45 per person for food each day, but the cruise is paid for by the time share is this a good deal?
Is it better to take it in January or February?
We'd like to spend 3 days going to the theme Parks before or after the cruise any suggestions on what tickets to get?

So you'll have to pay $630 for two people in a cabin before taxes and port charges are added on (there is absolutely no way to get around these charges) which should be another $300-$400.

I think $1000 for two people on a cruise is a good deal but what kind of time share are you giving up?

A week in Maui or Key West? No way. A week in Orlando or Myrtle Beach? Yes way.

Doesn't sound like it. It sounds like they have found a way to make the cruise sound "free". Check out regular cruise prices (meals included) to see if there is any savings. I think it may be a gimmick.

I'm wrong. I checked the Disney cruise website for 2 adults/ 2 children in January and it is a savings. Sounds like a deal.

Its a decent price, but not a special deal thru the timeshare. Just checked on Travelocity and Carnival's Triumph 7 day leaving out of Miami Feb. 3 at the lowest cabin guarantee comes out to $1042, which includes taxes & port fees. So going by GT's estimate, its about equal. Plus don't forget the $45 does include coffee, milk, tea, etc., but not alcohol or soda.

This is a good deal on a Disney cruise. You can discuss the cost savings of a cruise versus another kind of vacation or a cruise on a different line until you are blue in the face, but I don't think that's the issue here. Disney does offer an interesting and high-quality experience, particularly if you have kids. If you don't have kids, then I would only recommend this cruise if you are particularly enamored of Disney itself. While adults without children do take these cruises, they are in the minority. For me, it's not the price that's the issue (the price is good) but whether you and your parents want to do this cruise on a very family-friendly and kid-filled ship. That's not a relaxing cruise atmosphere for everyone.

oops, didn't notice the title that its for a Disney cruise - so disregard my previous post.

Thank you so much for your responses, I forgot to mention we are taking our children and so it would be Grandma, Grandpa, me, my husband, and our little girl and boy. The timeshare said they would give us a delux stateroom with oceanview, so I hope it will be a good deal...Thanks for letting me know about the cost of changing ports, I'll check into that too.

It sounds like your question is a simple analysis of value. If I understand your question correctly, you're trying to decide if swapping the time-share for a cruise is a good deal. I checked the Day Disney Cruise website. Their lowest level room category with an Oceanview is priced at around $5,000 that time of year. But, for 4 adults and 2 kids, you will need two rooms. In terms of food cost, food on the Disney Cruise is included in the price, but for one high end restaurant that has a $15 supplement. Alcohol is not included.

No we are not swapping a time share, sorry. Our parents own the time share and said they get a delux stateroom and can bring us with them for $45 a day for meals. I guess we can go along with them using their timeshare.
Another question... which is the best website for buying airline ticket?

So, besides airfare, the only thing you're paying is $1,260 (7 days x $45 x 4 people)? And for that you're getting a 7-day cruise in a deluxe ocean view stateroomd, which if you bought on your own would cost $3,500? And you're wondering if that's a good deal? What are we missing here?

I'm confused. Is this two people, four people, or all six of you in that deluxe oceanview stateroom? Please say that you'll get your own stateroom! (and it will be crowded with four, but it can be done)

By the way, $45 PP is a great deal for any resort for three meals a day per person. And of course cruises don't stop at three meals....

Thank you all so much for your help.. I thought it was probably a good deal, but never been on a cruise before, don't know hidden costs, and what I might be missing...
One last question we are trying to decide if late March or late December is a better time to take this Disney cruise... What do you think?

A 7-day cruise will take you further south into the Caribbean, so I doubt it will make much difference weather-wise. If you are taking one of the shorter, 3- or 4-day cruises, the season might make more of a difference because you rarely have time to go further south than the Bahamas, which can be chilly in December. But Castayway Cay is in the Bahamas, and you may find the water temps there a bit cool in the winter.

Thanks, that really helps alot! We are going to plan for March now..And the time share told my parents that the room we will be getting sleeps 6 and is comparable to the Presidential suite at the resort they own, so on the Disney cruise it's probably a suit we'll be getting which we are excited about, but I have a hard time believing things that sound so good to be true...I'll believe it when I see it...

We took the Disney Cruise during first week of January a few years ago. We had excellent weather. We were later told how lucky we were to have such nice weather. Other cruises during January can have bad weather, so bad that they won't make a stop at Castaway Cay island. The weather did turn for worse on our last day on the cruise but we were on our way back to Orlando by then. We had friends later take the same cruise the following January and they had bad weather, including threat of hurricane, but it did clear up and they were able to stop at Castaway Cay. That's probably why rates go down in January--weather is hit or miss.

I suggest doing as much as you can to confirm that the stateroom/suite will be adequate. The 1000+ sf suite Disney says is its largest would probably work for the six of you, but in anything less, you might literally be crawling over eachother.