what will you do differently on your next cruise

[princesdi]

Those of you who have cruised more than once or are booked, what will you do differently this time around---will you slow down more, do different activities??? Just curious what you learned the first time around that you will change this time.

Let me add that this time I will: sleep in, stay up later, sit on the deck and enjoy the peace, skip rotating dining when I want---this time around it will be more about R & R rather than vacation where you run non-stop.

 

[mjy]

For me, the next time I do the Eastern Caribbean, I will do it, most likely, excusion-free. I've done the excursions that interested me already and would probably save my money and just get to the sites that I want on my own.

It would also mean that I would spend a little more time on board at some ports and do some of the activities that are available while the ship is in port. I've done very few of those in the past because I was always out on excursions.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Done four so far and fifth in 2008, I still am trying to do everything, last cruise, last month, I did the Gala desert buffett for the first time, always was too busy before, that was great-see DCL picture of the day thread.

Also this time I organised my own tours in the Med, but next time I will either do DCL ones or do it myself when I get there, say Acapulco by myself.

The main point is read the navigators really closley take a highlighter pen and list everything you want to do.

Say if Don Ducky Williams is on do that!

Now what I dropped last time, Plutos and Pizza, never went there in 11 days.

More photos next time from shutters- if they have photopass

 

[DMMarla07860]

this time I'll do a 3 night and not a 7 night , but other then that

-talk to the cruise staff more
-take more pictures
-go to atlantis hotel(which I didn't do on my first cruise on the wonder)

 

[tinkerbell_29]

This time we will be doing fewer excursions and way more relaxing on the boat. The med cruise was wonderful but we really never got to fully experience the ship and we want to deffinetly be doing that next time. It will also be a 7 night instead of ten.

Lissa

 

[caitlinsdad]

Party with my friends more,
Slow down and just enjoy just being onboard.

 

[JNorris]

Swim in the adult pool.

Eat a casual dinner at Topsiders.

Spend a little time in a deck chair on deck 4.

Check out the secret deck on deck 7.


In 4 cruises, I've never done these things.

 

[tink&cinderella]

NOT get off the ship....LOL

Sorry I am still in adjustment mode from the 14 day transatlantic cruise.

Seriously, next time I will:

-take more time to sit and relax on deck 4 and in the comfy chairs in Quiet cove on deck 9 (get there early - they go fast)
-see all the adult caberet shows on Beat street - don't miss the last night pub-night event - it's a blast
-Swim at the adult pool
-Book a massage
-Book several back to back cruises - how will I ever go back to 7 day cruises!!!
-book a Cat. 12 GTY and hope for an upgrade

Denise

 

[yndygo]

- Skip the massage - I can get a less expensive one same caliber at home, but would rather have the time to do other things onboard the ship...

- Taking a 7 day rather than a 3... More time on the ship is good!

- Relying more on the Kids Clubs for adult time now that we know DD loves them -- last time we weren't sure how she'd take to them

- Breakfast on the Verandah w/ Room Service... I love the verandah!

- More time in the Adult-only areas

 

[ibouncetoo]

Next one is only three days long.....so it will definately just be hanging out on the ship with all my Nov 06 double-dip pals and my host in the WALT SUITE!!!

I definately want to attend Pub Night this trip too!

* * * * * * * * * *


For the 08 trip....I'll be starting a list based on what folks post here, plus some things I've already come up with....15 days should give me plenty of opportunity to try lots of things I haven't done yet:

Dinner by the pool one evening.
Lunch in one of the three main restaurants (only done breakfast and dinner).
Nap on deck 4 comfy chairs
Take more pictures (now that I've got my digital!!)

Plus have quite a few DIS events planned already: Ladies Champagne party, Bunco, Australian Line Dancinc and Ladies Tea hosted by our UK pals (where we will learn how to REALLY speak English)!

 

[JerseyBelle]

We are booked on our 2nd cruise for March 08. Here is what I will do differently:

1. Take the 7 night Western instead of Wonder 3 day. (already accomplished)
2. Pack less relative to the number of days. We had just too much stuff with us that we did not use on the 3 day.
3. Spread all our packing throughout the suitecases instead of separately for each of us. (My suitecase was lost for 24 hours and flown into Nassau)
3. Stop fretting that my dd wanted to be in the oceaneer lab so much and enjoy the adult time. Understand that is a different cruise for her then us.
4. Actually go to Palo this time. We canceled because we ended up with Animator's on the night we booked Palo.

I am sure there are others but that is it for now.

 

[durango kid]

If I say eat less; will anyone believe me?

 

[DMMarla07860]

If I say eat less; will anyone believe me?

haha I don't believe you, but don't worry I say that every cruise and it never works for me. maybe it will for you though

 

[dahuffy]

This will be our 3rd. I plan to actually see The Golden Mickeys, stay up past 10:30, check out 70's Night in the club and relax.

 

[bonnielynn]

Haven't been on our first cruise yet.. but next time I will want to do an Eastern since I am about to do a Western...

I will come back to this thread when I return... I should know more of what I will want to do.. and less of what its gonna be like..

 

[Pansy]

First cruise was with 2 cousins, very busy trying to take everything in. 2nd was in July with DH & nephew and tried to do as much for my nephew as we could. Going in November with niece (she's 24) and think I'm just going to tell her the highlights, draw her a map and wish her the best of luck having fun.

Being a personal tour guide on a cruise can be hard work This time I just want to relax with a good book.

 

[candlemakerw/twins]

Go to a show! Did the 3 night last year. We leave for the 4 night Wonder in 14 days! The girls were so young last year that we put them to bed right after dinner each night.

 

[pfp258]

Our sixth Disney cruise is booked for next summer. A 7 night on the Mexican Riviera! We can't wait. Things I'd like to do differently: not get sick on the first night, take a nap during the day and see my daughters a little more frequently. Not sure about that last one as we are cruising with another family again and my girls love just having the freedom to hang out. (They are 14 and 12) My husband and I do love being able to hang out and relax by the adult pool together!

 

[NCRedding]

We're sailing in 4 days (but who's counting). What I plan to do differently this time:

1. First day: pack swimsuit and relax by the adult pool after boarding and prior to drill. I may even skip Parrot Cay for lunch in favor of something from Plutos. Order the "drink of the day" on our first day.

2. Go to Atlantis for the day (already booked the Comfort Suites to use the water area)

3. Drink a Conk Cooler (five prior DCL cruises and I've never had one)

 

[atinkerbellmom]

1) Pack all week as we go instead of spending the entire afternoon packing prior to the bags needing to be in the hallway. Each cruise, I have missed ALL the activities the last night after CC, because I am in the room packing.
2) Plan a little grazing for meals instead of doing a big breakfast, lunch and dinner. By the time the buffets come out on deck 9 at night or the dessert buffet, I am so stuffed, I never can take another bite. Three prior cruises and the next one in count down, I have never eaten a sandwich wrap, the fast food by the pool or the late night buffets. (What's my problem?????)
3) Take in more movies. Last cruise, my family did movies and I stayed and packed.
4) Go to the adult clubs more. I become so obsessed with the pager, that I only sit at the table and not enjoy my adult time, even though I have never been paged.
5) Check out the adult only stuff. The adult pool. Check out the adult only beach at CC (Serenity Bay). Check out that MUD ROOM that you guys have talked about on the boards. We have always stayed away from the spa activities.
6) Take less pictures and enjoy the deck parties and fireworks. Next time I want to "shake it like this and groove it like that". One cruise I video taped it all, the other cruises, I spent taking pictures. I actually could not see the "whole picture" until I saw our video or watched it on U Tube.