Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[Bluestars]

Did this help at all???

Thanks!

 

[k8smiles]

This is what we did as well. Since the outside door looks on the Dream are touch pads, rather than sliding the key card in, we didn't have to remove them from the lanyards to get in the room. So it was easier to just leave our KTTW cards in the lanyards and use a spare hotel key card for the lights.

Instead of turning off light switches when we left the room, we just pulled the keycard out of the slot and left it there.

So we shld bring our lanyards to keep our KTTW card on??

 

[Susiesark]

So we shld bring our lanyards to keep our KTTW card on??

If this is your second, or more, cruise you will get a lanyard when you check in .

 

[cflmom]

So we shld bring our lanyards to keep our KTTW card on??

If it's your first cruise, then bring some, or you can buy them on board. If you have sailed with DCL before, you will receive some when you check in at the terminal.

 

[carrierae21]

I ordered some on Etsy that have the kids names, cruise name and date of the cruise on them!

 

[flmom66]

My daughter gets daily injections that have to be refrigerated and a ice pack we like to have frozen at the end of the cruise.

How large are the refrigerators in the room and has anyone asked for a different one? I am curious about if we could use what is in the room normally or if we will need to ask for something else.

I have been researching this as well, as ds is an insulin-dependent diabetic (dx'd after we booked!) and I am a little nervous! Most advice I received said not to trust temperature sensitive meds in your fridge-they can freeze. The ship's medical clinic will keep them for you-their fridge is temp controlled. I plan on keeping our back-up meds in the clinic. Have you seen the frio pouches? They can keep meds cool for several days at a time-again, it would depend on the specifics of your med/length ofcruise. I sent an email last week with questions, and got a call the next day to discuss what I needed-very impressed! So don't hesitate to do the same! Happy cruising!

 

[k8smiles]

Great! Thanks for the info. Next question....we are sailing from port can. I'm not planning to get passports for my children. Has anyone traveled without them? Run into any snags? Txs

 

[tigger309]

My DW, DD 8, DS 5, and I have been on three cruise all without passports and haven't had any problems. As long as you return to the same port that you leave from it is called a closed loop cruise and you don't need a passport. The only time you would run into a problem is if you had to return to the US via a different mode of transportation other than the cruise ship or if the island that you are visiting would require a passport.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Great! Thanks for the info. Next question....we are sailing from port can. I'm not planning to get passports for my children. Has anyone traveled without them? Run into any snags? Txs

You can find LOTS of threads on this topic on the cruise board.

Do you HAVE TO have them, legally? No, as long as you return with the ship.

SHOULD you have them? Welcome to the great cruise debate. I, personally, would never travel out of the US without a passport. If you or your family members have an emergency that makes it such that you have to return without the ship for whatever reason, you are now in a foreign country without a passport. Getting back in the USA will require jumping through hoops, money, and time.

So, if everything goes perfectly during your cruise, no, you do not need them. If there is an emergency back home and you need to leave the ship or if you or someone with you on the cruise needs medical attention in a city while on your cruise and you do not return to the ship, life gets much more complicated without passports. And of course, if you miss the ship.....

it's a.personal decision. We would never travel to a foreign country without them.

HTH,
Dreams

 

[KateMW]

Great! Thanks for the info. Next question....we are sailing from port can. I'm not planning to get passports for my children. Has anyone traveled without them? Run into any snags? Txs

I would never leave this country without a passport...no matter what. What if something happens and you need to leave the ship before it returns to the States?

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Great! Thanks for the info. Next question....we are sailing from port can. I'm not planning to get passports for my children. Has anyone traveled without them? Run into any snags? Txs

I have and had no problems. I will again in 3 days. I think that if you're concerned, then get one. A lot of people say IF this happens and IF that happens. There is always the possibility of something happening, but what is the probability? Some say that they wouldn't go without one yet fly on planes without a parachute. Obviously, that was a joke, but I don't see the need in not traveling because something that has a less than 1% chance of happening is "possible". It's also possible to be a victim of a murder, yet many walk around without a bulletproof vest or gun on their hip. I am NOT a big risk taker. I just don't see cruising without a passport as a big enough risk to be concerned about, especially on a 3 or 4 nighter. This not a debate or me trying to talk you out of getting one. IT IS JUST MY OPINION.

 

[ssnow32539]

As long as you return to the same port that you leave from it is called a closed loop cruise and you don't need a passport. The only time you would run into a problem is if you had to return to the US via a different mode of transportation other than the cruise ship or if the island that you are visiting would require a passport.

I fully agree with what Tigger said here. We did get passports after our second cruise, however, because we want to take an Alaskan and have to travel to Vancouver. It also makes checking in at the terminal and passing throught the customs line a little faster. All they have to do is swipe the passport through a reader.

 

[buglady11]

If it's your first cruise, then bring some, or you can buy them on board. If you have sailed with DCL before, you will receive some when you check in at the terminal.

Is this a perk for repeat cruisers? What is the benefit of a lanyard instead of your pocket?

 

[ksloane]

Is this a perk for repeat cruisers? What is the benefit of a lanyard instead of your pocket?

Yes, it's a perk for repeat customers. For me the benefit is that I sometimes don't have pockets in my clothes.

 

[bitlerzx4]

I ordered some on Etsy that have the kids names, cruise name and date of the cruise on them!

will you share the sellers website on etsy for me. I would love to order.

 

[Susiesark]

Is this a perk for repeat cruisers? What is the benefit of a lanyard instead of your pocket?

Sometimes you are walking round with just swimwear on, so the lanyard is more convenient. And I have found KTTW cards on the ground, probably fallen out of pockets.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Adding this as a subscription

 

[noriega]

Just off The Magic... I wanted to reiterate the great idea of going to a DVC presentation since they give away a $300 OBC. I went to the very first one listed and WON!! There were only five other people there, so chances were good, but as the week went on, the presentations were more crowded. My advice: go to first one. Good luck!!

Where there any other give aways?
How long was it?
Is it a hard sell?
What do we do with our 10 year old during this time?

 

[GBBTomorrow]

[/QUOTE]

Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area.

[/QUOTE]

Oh man, now I wish I had not opened this thread. We have always brought little airplane-sized bottles of rum for Rum and Diet Coke (from soda station) by the pool. Doggone it, I had no idea we were doing something illicit and now I am going to have a big ethical drama with myself deciding whether to carry on with our little tradition. Bummer.

 

[n5749w]

I was wondering the same thing! Are kids allowed in?