What should we do first thing?

[LoveStitch]

It's getting close and I'm getting excited!

We're two adults, no children; with an early (11:00 am) boarding time.

What SHOULD we do right away after we board? And what suggestions do you all have for fun, too!?

 

[Otimon]

The 11:00 AM time is not your boarding time, it's your port arrival time. Boarding time will be approximately 1130-11:45 or whenever they are ready for guests.

My first suggestion would be to go to lunch. We always head to Cabanas on Pool Deck 11 for a wonderful buffet. One of the rotation restaurants will also have a buffet set up (not as large as Cabanas) so you can choose which you would prefer.

Your Cabin will not be ready for you until 1:30 so you may wish to explore the ship until then.

Have a wonderful cruise.

 

[NAB]

Yes I second eat first then explore the ship. This is the only time you can go into the spa and see the rooms there, or kids club if you just want to see what it looks like. They all have open house.

 

[darkwing818]

Another vote for "Eating" ... And if you're a bit adventurous hit the Aqua Duck before the line get to long. After that take stroll & check the ship, especially places (Palo/Remy, lounges, the Spa etc.) you plan to visit.

 

[Zandy595]

The first thing we always do is lunch at Cabanas/Topsiders/Beach Blanket. Then we go to dining changes to make sure we got a table for just our family. If it's 1:30pm by that time we go to our room, if not you can window shop at the stores on deck 3/4.

 

[kcashner]

If you do not have all the reservations you want, you should make them --first, before other people are on board and the lines are longer. This would be Palo, Remy, shore excursions, tastings, etc.

Once you have your excursions, go to lunch (Enchanted Garden/Parrot Cay will be a buffet with beverage service, Cabanas/Topsiders will be a buffet). Then explore and have fun.

 

[Rogillio]

1. Go check out your room. Look in all the empty closets, look in the bathroom, sit on the bed, sit on the couch, go out on the verandah if you have one and look around, pick up the phone to see if it works, check out your excursion tickets which might be in your room in an envelope, check out the wavephone things, turn on the TV and flip thru the channels, go to the bathroom, 'claim' a side of the bed, 'claim' the set of drawers you want for your clothes.

This will take about 10 minutes.

2. Go eat.

3. Walk around the ship exploring.

4. Go to room to see if your luggage has shown up yet. If it has, unpack.

5. Go up on deck and have a drink of the day and see what is on the big screen mid-ship.

6. Read the Navigator to see what is going on that night and what movies and shows will be shown when/where during your cruise.

7. Stare over the side of the ship at the dock workers and see if you can find your luggage among the thousands of bags being loaded.

 

[kristinfly2]

I agree with eating too! . We really enjoyed sitting down in parrot cay and relaxing a bit after getting on. The hallways to the rooms are blocked off until they are done cleaning so we had time to eat before we were even allowed in.

 

[kcashner]

You will not have access to your cabin till 1:30. If you have an 11:00 port arrival time, you'll be boarding before noon. SO you can't go to your cabin to dump carry ons or check things out. Do the other things first--get your dining table, reservations, etc. all set and eat. By that time, you'll usually be able to get to your room.

 

[Rogillio]

Didn't think about the early boarding time. You don't have to board that early. We usually wait till early afternoon and then there are no lines to get thru security and no lines to check in or get on the ship.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Didn't think about the early boarding time. You don't have to board that early. We usually wait till early afternoon and then there are no lines to get thru security and no lines to check in or get on the ship.

Early afternoon boarding also means you can drop off your carry-on luggage in your room immediately, and not haul it all over the ship as you explore.

Only drawback -- if you eat lunch too late you won't have as much time to work up an appetite for dinner, especially if you have main dining.

For pre-cruise "entertainment" DH likes to take the mickey head shaped cheddar crackers from our DCL castaway cay backpack out onto the verandah and throw them to the seagulls. The scavengers are overly friendly.

 

[clarkshel]

We had a 11:30 port arrival time. Our driver got us there at 11:00. We didn't have to wait in a security line up. We also didn't have to wait for the check in counter either. We got boarding number 9. We were on the ship by noon. We ate at Flos, near Cabanas. We then took the kids to the Aquaduck and pool. We hung out there until around 3:00. We then explored the kids clubs a bit, then went to our tool and unpacked. Everything went very smooth.

 

[STLEdge]

Assuming you're on the Dream or Fantasy, ride the Aquaduck. There will be no line - probably for the only time on the cruise. Either wear bathing suits under your clothes, change at the terminal, or change when you get on board. After riding a few times, then go ahead and eat lunch.

Take advantage of the lack of people on the pool deck - it will be the least crowded you will ever see it.

 

[nhgirl]

The first thing we did was head over to Guest Services to get tickets for Alice's Tea Party. Not sure if they do something similar on your ship (we were on Magic) or if you even have any little girls to bring. But it is free and seats are limited. My daughter loved it.

Second thing we did was eat at Topsiders because they were sending everyone to Parrot Cay and the line was huge. There were very few people at Topsiders.

Sorry I should have read the post more carefully. Just two adults no children.

 

[oybolshoi]

we don't have kids either. our typical plan involves getting paninis / wraps from counter service on the pool deck and then we take them over to the Cove Bar and enjoy them with a nice alcoholic beverage. it's a much more peaceful lunch that way and then we usually go exploring until the room is ready.

as others have stated, this is also a good time to secure any spa or dining reservations you may not have been able to book online.

 

[Brumbie13]

Go eat, then sit by the adult pool and order and drink and smile... your vacation has begun!

 

[lilbuddy88]

Do the other things first--get your dining table, reservations, etc. all set and eat. By that time, you'll usually be able to get to your room.

Where do you go to change Palo reservations? I thought this option was not available until 1:00?

 

[jahber]

For pre-cruise "entertainment" DH likes to take the mickey head shaped cheddar crackers from our DCL castaway cay backpack out onto the verandah and throw them to the seagulls. The scavengers are overly friendly.

Ha! My kids won't even eat those. They think they taste funny (and I agree!). I have two containers from my last cruise...maybe I'll go feed the birds!

 

[Mackie Mouse]

We got smart last summer (cruise #2!) on the Dream and did the following. Note...we don't have kids:

-Got to the port as early as possible, and were on the ship well before noon

-Had a quick lunch at the buffet, then hit the pool (mostly empty!) and the Aquaduck (short line!). The key here is remembering to wear your bathing suit under your embarkation-day clothes.

-Went back to our room to drop off our carry-ons and change out of now-wet bathing suits, and to make sure everything was in working order

-Explored the ship and attended the open house at the spa; won a free hair treatment because we stayed for the raffle! Somewhere during exploring we hopped over to Palo to secure brunch reservations that we couldn't get before boarding. While we did this, friends went to secure spots at some alcohol tastings.

-Muster drill, then sail-away party!

-We may even have had some time to take in Goofy Golf before dinner that night. If not, we just spent some more time walking around the ship, taking in the ambiance, and planning out some activities for later that night.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[kcashner]

Where do you go to change Palo reservations? I thought this option was not available until 1:00?

In my experience, it depends on the ship. On the Magic, it has always been open as soon as we boarded (we're platinum, so usually board right away). On the Wonder, it didn't open till 1:00 supposedly, but after being "shoo"ed away at 12:30 and returning at 12:55, it was in full swing.

On the Fantasy, it was open at noon--I don't know how much earlier.

Look at the Navigator to determine where it is--I've seen it in lots of places depending on the cruise.