Discovery Cruise Line - Ft. Lauderdale (Reviews Inside)

brobin01

Hi!
Not sure if you ladies remember me, but I posted asking about this cruise about a month ago and got some mixed reviews. I wanted to share some info with you, just in case anyone is looking for a quick, beautiful and affordable get-a-way/mini moon.

My husband and I live in MI, but had to visit his aunt in West Palm, we thought it would be cool to find some type of 2 or 3 day cruise for a mini honeymoon, since we would be so close to the Bahamas. So I researched a few cruiselines and compared pricing, etc. Came across the Bahamas Celebration and Discovery Cruiselines. After lots of research, we chose Discovery Cruislines.

When  I read all the reviews online, I was terrified and almost didn't take this vacation but I came across a few reviews that said try it and read some of the traveling tips and it was REALLY worth it! So I just wanted to share this info with you all - because it was really worth it and this review could help a couple that may not have $2,000 to visit a island and honeymoon. We paid about $500 for 3 days. Totally worth it!!!

The Cruise - You have an option to do a  one day excursion for $99 or the cruise and stay trip (cruise over, stay at a resort for a few days, then cruise back). I say the day cruise is a total waste of time because you only get about an hour on the island.  Do the Cruise and Stay.


When booking, do the "Discovery Plus" upgrade ($39). One of the employee's escorts you the entire time.You board and deboard first, get to stay in a private area of the cruise ship, 5 course dinner (which was awesome - and I am very hard to please), all the drinks you want, first to eat breakfast at the buffet, transportation to and from hotel.

Stay at the Radisson Lucaya. Ask for a Ocean View room. Beautiful. The hotel is right off the beach, Has about 4 swiiming pools and whirlpool. Also has a swim up bar. The other nice hotel is Our Reef Lucaya.

Don't waste money on resort food. The cost is too high. Go across the street from the hotel to the market area. Plenty of cute little affordable resturaunts. Zorba's was great for breakfast. $5! China Beach is also good. It's right off the beach. the portions of the food are family style.

This boat cannot be compared to a cruise ship, becasue it is not. It is a mini version of it. It is totally worth being used as transportation to the Grand Bahamas. We really enjoyed the island and would totally reccommend giving it a try. We also took our son with us. He loved it. the boat has a kiddie lounge and the didn't want to leave. The resort has a kiddie camp, and he didn't want to leave that eiether.
 I can come back later and post pictures if anyone wants to see. Sorry this is so long, but I really wanted to share this with you ladies.

jcaruncho2010

Thank you so much for this!  I've always wondered about Discovery Cruise Line...really appreciate the info.

waterroxy17

Thank you for the info, sometimes with all this wedding planning you need a mini - vaca

brobin01

No problem! We plan on sending our parents. They would really enjoy it. I forgot to add that they have a small casino over there and a few lounges if you are into having a little night life fun . HTH!

Karyan30

Him Brobin! this really helps..do you mind sending pics to my email..kryan3069 at gmail.com? i am really considering this bc our honeymoon is not planned until May2010 bc we are doing Alaska and we are doing it with our wedding gifts through honeyfund.com..we want to do something close that doesnt require flying and also affordable..Theres really not much in FL (didnt want to do the Keys or Orlando been there too many times) and although I have been in Bahamas 3 times (2 weekend cruises and one fishing trip) this sounds like fun..why did you choose the Radisson (if u have pics of the room even better) over Grand Reef..how was the food at the 5 course dinner, worth it, what did they serve? whats included in the extra $39..when u say free drinks u mean in the boat? is the pool at boat nice?  all and any info will help..many thanks!!

EvelynandManny

This is great thank you so much!

shoegirl00

Hey

 Every year i vacation to the Bahamas through DIscovery and i do exactly the same! i pay the additional fee to be escorted and to have a private cabin for the 4 1/2 hour ride, that is all it really is. once you get to the island the hotel is just AMAZING!!!! although i do admit the boat sucks, its not bad at all for just 4 hours... better than being stuck in a car ride. 

lyndopo

I remember when you came on asking about it! I was wondering if you had decided to do it or not! Glad you did and THANK YOU for posting your review!! Very helpful! Glad you and your family had an amazing time!! Please come back and post pics!!

brobin01

Thanks all! Yeah, the boat isn't AWESOME! But, everything else is and it it totally worth it. 

Karyan - I will email you soon. I just finished unpacking and plan on loading pics to my PC tonight.

lyndopo - No problem! i'm glad I could help out. I sure will pos pics!


Karyan -

Him Brobin! this really helps..do you mind sending pics to my email..kryan3069 at gmail.com? I sure will send you pics! No problem, just need to upload all 500 of them and I will send you a few most likely tommorrow.
 
how was the food at the 5 course dinner, worth it, what did they serve?
The 5 course dinner was totally worth it. You have about 4 salads or soups to choose from,4 appetizers (cheese fritters, shrimp cocktail, fruit salad,etc) to choose from, 6 different meals to choose from (I had some typ of chicken that was GREAT! It was very moist and just delicious), about 5 desserts (I had the warm apple pie and vanilla bean ice cream) to choose from, and a few other delicious choices.

whats included in the extra $39..
To me the most important thing was being able to be the first to get off and on the boat, It can take up to 2 hours to get off and through customs, and I didn't want to deal with being in the crowd. Your customer service rep tells all the VIP people to meet in the lounge at a certain time so that we could all be escorted off the boat. they then meet you at the embrkment to pick you up and escort you back on when it's time to get back on to go home.Plus you get the 5 course dinner, transportation to and from hotel and the private lounge area which was great for me and my husban because we were traveling with our 5 year old.

You get to stay in like a private section of the boat (which is great if you want to stay away from the drunks that are on the deck. LOL). it's basically a lounge area with a flat screen TV. They bring you drinks if you don't feel like leaving the lounge area. I went out on the deck and stayed for about 30 minutes, drinking and watching them do a limbo and bartending contest, then slpet about 2 hours in the lounge.

..why did you choose the Radisson (if u have pics of the room even better) over Grand Reef. I just liked the Radisson better personally. Plus we had a Ocean View room with a huge balcony. It's just a matter of choice. Both hoel are nice. Even if you stay at the Reef, you can use the Radisson's facilities, or vice versa.

when u say free drinks u mean in the boat? Yes, on the boat. Unlimited mixed drinks like bahama mamas, strawberry daq's, etc. is the pool at boat nice?  It's small. I wouldn't get in it. all and any info will help..many thanks


Hope this helps!

brobin01

P.S. Be sure to book directly through Discovery. If you cruise the month of your birthday, you get a discount. I cruised last week and my B;day is August 30, so I got a discount. Yippe!

Here is the VIP info  (called Discovery Plus) and also the 5 course dinner menu:

http://www.discoverycruiseline.com/dcl/amenities#Discovery_Plus_VIP_Service

http://www.discoverycruiseline.com/ImageHotel/Grand_Bahama_Grill_-Menu201.gif