Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[BlakeandMaddysMomma]

This may be the only negative post but, they don't tell you the if you want a chair by the Mickey or Donald pool you better be there before 8:00. By that time all, and I mean ALL of the chairs are covered with towels and sandals. Also, they tell you that they don't allow this and that the fellows working by the pools monitor this, but no, they don't!! This is the one reason we will not sail Disney again. My kids did not care for the clubs, all they wanted to do was swim. I figure there are other cruise lines with larger pools and more available seating by said pools, so I guess we will try else where. Now, all that being said, we had a wonderful time, besides that, and we would never regret giving Disney a try, I just felt that the only areas my kids wanted to go were over crowded. If you are going for the swimming, don't sail Disney. (I had actually read that about a month before we sailed, but had no idea how true that is until we sailed)

 

[marciagms]

Thanks great advice!!!

 

[EPCOTatNight]

I think if you are going for the swimming, any cruise is the wrong choice. Just go to the beach or a waterpark. I am not a big sit by the pool person, but I always found a chair when I wanted one. It took a few minutes sometimes, but I was always successful.

 

[richmo]

I think if you are going for the swimming, any cruise is the wrong choice. Just go to the beach or a waterpark. I am not a big sit by the pool person, but I always found a chair when I wanted one. It took a few minutes sometimes, but I was always successful.

I kind of agree with this. Cruise ship pools, understandably, are very small for the number of people on the ship that might want to be using them.

However, Castaway Cay is a completely different story...

 

[jahber]

This may be the only negative post but, they don't tell you the if you want a chair by the Mickey or Donald pool you better be there before 8:00. By that time all, and I mean ALL of the chairs are covered with towels and sandals. Also, they tell you that they don't allow this and that the fellows working by the pools monitor this, but no, they don't!! This is the one reason we will not sail Disney again. My kids did not care for the clubs, all they wanted to do was swim. I figure there are other cruise lines with larger pools and more available seating by said pools, so I guess we will try else where. Now, all that being said, we had a wonderful time, besides that, and we would never regret giving Disney a try, I just felt that the only areas my kids wanted to go were over crowded. If you are going for the swimming, don't sail Disney. (I had actually read that about a month before we sailed, but had no idea how true that is until we sailed)

Disney's sign says not to leave your stuff unattended. So if I see a row of towels sitting there for 10 minutes with nary a human checking in, I have no problem tossing a towel in the bin and sitting there. If someone's nearby, I ask if it's their stuff, but I haven't had a problem in three cruises. I wouldn't touch personal items, but it's kind of ridiculous to insist that it's more appropriate for a towel to lounge on a chair than a person. Which is probably why I've never seen anyone say anything about me moving a lone towel.

All that to say, don't let that turn you off from cruising! You can always play innocent if someone mentions their towel is missing. It's not like they can't go get another one! The CMs will back you up if it gets confrontational for some reason. And fwiw, I have seen CMs taking towels off chairs many times when it was just a towel (no personal items).

 

[oatway]

Disney's sign says not to leave your stuff unattended. So if I see a row of towels sitting there for 10 minutes with nary a human checking in, I have no problem tossing a towel in the bin and sitting there. If someone's nearby, I ask if it's their stuff, but I haven't had a problem in three cruises. I wouldn't touch personal items, but it's kind of ridiculous to insist that it's more appropriate for a towel to lounge on a chair than a person. Which is probably why I've never seen anyone say anything about me moving a lone towel.

All that to say, don't let that turn you off from cruising! You can always play innocent if someone mentions their towel is missing. It's not like they can't go get another one! The CMs will back you up if it gets confrontational for some reason. And fwiw, I have seen CMs taking towels off chairs many times when it was just a towel (no personal items).

Just curious: why not personal items? I'd be inclined to not let that stop me, and I thought DCL's stated policy was to remove them and place them in the lost and found.

 

[NurseDave]

Just curious: why not personal items? I'd be inclined to not let that stop me, and I thought DCL's stated policy was to remove them and place them in the lost and found.

That would be a whole new source of entertainment.

 

[whitfive]

Just curious: why not personal items? I'd be inclined to not let that stop me, and I thought DCL's stated policy was to remove them and place them in the lost and found.

How are you to know or make that determination if that person is say, in the pool with their child? Taking their kid to the bathroom? Standing in line to get a hamburger, etc? You should never remove someone's personal items. Towels, ok, but personal stuff.....that's another story. If it has been there for a while, alert a CM. I personally wouldn't leave my "personal items" out in public to hold a silly lounger for any length of time. Things get stolen!

Just my opinion....

 

[kcashner]

Sometimes the CMs go around and place a neatly folded towel on each chair (at least in the adult area). Don't let a towel without a body in the chair deter you. If there isn't a person in the chair and there is only a towel....that's your chair. It clearly says no saving of chairs. We have seen an officer supervising the removal of personal items from unoccupied chairs, but only once on MANY cruises.

Same for no saving seats in the theater.

 

[oatway]

How are you to know or make that determination if that person is say, in the pool with their child? Taking their kid to the bathroom? Standing in line to get a hamburger, etc? You should never remove someone's personal items. Towels, ok, but personal stuff.....that's another story. If it has been there for a while, alert a CM. I personally wouldn't leave my "personal items" out in public to hold a silly lounger for any length of time. Things get stolen!

Just my opinion....

I wouldn't personally take items down to the lost and found, but I would move them out of the way and use the chair. If someone was in the pool or came back a reasonable length of time later (say, 10-15 minutes), I'd give up the chair. If they came back an hour later I'd tell them to take a hike. It's all hypothetical to me anyway, because I'm sure my kids will have me out there first thing in the morning waiting for the pool to open.

 

[Ccann]

I wouldn't personally take items down to the lost and found, but I would move them out of the way and use the chair. If someone was in the pool or came back a reasonable length of time later (say, 10-15 minutes), I'd give up the chair. If they came back an hour later I'd tell them to take a hike. It's all hypothetical to me anyway, because I'm sure my kids will have me out there first thing in the morning waiting for the pool to open.

I am with you on this.....
Although I that nervous parent that is either pool side in arms reach of their kids or I am pacing.. My children are still small... If I want to lounge the kids will be in the kids club unless DH is with them. And if they are in the kids club I am in the adult area... For some RR...

But if I was that person who left a towel on a chair I came back someone was in it I would walk on by grab another towel and move on... NOT a big deal...

 

[pequele]

I am still reading (only on page 39!) so sorry if this is already asked.

1. We are going on our 1st DCL May 9-12 and was wondering if even the 3 night cruise has a pirate night? What does this mean? My son love pirates, do I dress him up?

2. Before the cruise will we get an idea of events/things to do on board so we can do some planning of where to go/what to do before we arrive without having to wait until we board for a Navigator or schedule for onboard things to do?

3. With everybody hitting up GS when they board to drop off things like passports, things to sign, getting small USD bills, just how long is this line going to be and will we be wasting a lot of our first bit of time onboard in this line?

Thanks for your help...back to reading!

 

[moomy-san]

I am still reading (only on page 39!) so sorry if this is already asked.

1. We are going on our 1st DCL May 9-12 and was wondering if even the 3 night cruise has a pirate night? What does this mean? My son love pirates, do I dress him up?

2. Before the cruise will we get an idea of events/things to do on board so we can do some planning of where to go/what to do before we arrive without having to wait until we board for a Navigator or schedule for onboard things to do?

3. With everybody hitting up GS when they board to drop off things like passports, things to sign, getting small USD bills, just how long is this line going to be and will we be wasting a lot of our first bit of time onboard in this line?

Thanks for your help...back to reading!

All I can help with is #3-
I have never ever seen a big line at GS on the first day. Most people would bring their small bills with them, and store passports in the safe in your room. We waited until mid morning the next day to drop off our things to sign. The only time there was a big line was on the last night and debarkation morning.

 

[ellensfamily]

Hi there


I would like to go to GS when we get on the ship becuz we need to at least TRY for a cabana, and there are none left online

Is GS the place where I shd be going when I get on the ship or should I be going somewhere different? I welcome any aid..
Thnks
Ellen

 

[californian]

Thanks for all of these great suggestions - it is really appreciated. Especially for a first time DCL newbie like me!

 

[toniosmom]

1. We are going on our 1st DCL May 9-12 and was wondering if even the 3 night cruise has a pirate night? What does this mean? My son love pirates, do I dress him up?

2. Before the cruise will we get an idea of events/things to do on board so we can do some planning of where to go/what to do before we arrive without having to wait until we board for a Navigator or schedule for onboard things to do?

1. Yes, we did a 3-day on the Dream in Nov 2011 and we had a pirate night.

2. I don't recall receiving anything like that prior to the cruise. You can check the DCL web site for suggestions on what to pack, etc. Also, search the forum to see if anyone has posted Navigators from previous cruises. That might give you a good idea of what kind of activities you might find on board.

 

[rescuetink]

How are you to know or make that determination if that person is say, in the pool with their child? Taking their kid to the bathroom? Standing in line to get a hamburger, etc? You should never remove someone's personal items. Towels, ok, but personal stuff.....that's another story. If it has been there for a while, alert a CM. I personally wouldn't leave my "personal items" out in public to hold a silly lounger for any length of time. Things get stolen!

Just my opinion....

I concur!!!

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

I am still reading (only on page 39!) so sorry if this is already asked.

1. We are going on our 1st DCL May 9-12 and was wondering if even the 3 night cruise has a pirate night? What does this mean? My son love pirates, do I dress him up?

2. Before the cruise will we get an idea of events/things to do on board so we can do some planning of where to go/what to do before we arrive without having to wait until we board for a Navigator or schedule for onboard things to do?

3. With everybody hitting up GS when they board to drop off things like passports, things to sign, getting small USD bills, just how long is this line going to be and will we be wasting a lot of our first bit of time onboard in this line?

Thanks for your help...back to reading!

You might enjoy Passporters Disney Cruise Line 2012. They have 300 pages of info and they even show some Navigators to give you an idea of things offered each day! We keep ours as a great keepsake of our cruise!! ALOHA, Karen and Ron

 

[richmo]

I am still reading (only on page 39!) so sorry if this is already asked.

1. We are going on our 1st DCL May 9-12 and was wondering if even the 3 night cruise has a pirate night? What does this mean? My son love pirates, do I dress him up?

2. Before the cruise will we get an idea of events/things to do on board so we can do some planning of where to go/what to do before we arrive without having to wait until we board for a Navigator or schedule for onboard things to do?

3. With everybody hitting up GS when they board to drop off things like passports, things to sign, getting small USD bills, just how long is this line going to be and will we be wasting a lot of our first bit of time onboard in this line?

Thanks for your help...back to reading!

1. I believe all the cruises have a pirate night. Even Alaska (minus fireworks). It takes place after both dining seatings (I think about 10 PM). Many, but not everyone, dresses up in pirates gear....anything from a pirate themed t-shirt to full fledged Jack Sparrows. It takes place on the pool deck if the weather is good; they'll move it inside to the buffet if it isn't (and I think its always inside for Alaska since its cold). They'll be serving more food, even though you're likely stuffed from dinner. Definitely worth your time; personally, I don't bother getting dressed for it, but it is fun. So, yes, dress your son up if he's into it and you have the packing room. Sometimes they'll give you a bandanna at dinner time. I thought they had stopped, but they did give them out on the Alaskan cruise in '11.

2. Old navigators are posted online; I believe some are available on this site. Try to find a recent one for the same length cruise with the same itinerary and you should get a good idea of the goings on.

3. My advice on Guest Services: sometimes its busy, sometimes not. If it is busy, just come back another time. You'll be walking by there several times anyway. Don't waste a lot of your ship time standing in a line.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]