Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[liberty6201]

I think I've read that if there are 3 kids in a stateroom you are allowed 3 things to sign

 

[Tianni]

What is the pillowcase signature thing about? Thanks!

You can bring just about anything and they will sign it... A friend of mine brought a picture frame Matte and they signed it, she put an 8x10 picture in it and framed it, it was a beautiful keepsake!!

 

[r_mccool]

Just found this thread - going back to read from page 1.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think I've read that if there are 3 kids in a stateroom you are allowed 3 things to sign

Yep!

 

[kayleesmomxo]

Love this thread Thanks so much for all of the wonderful ideas! We leave for our first Disney Cruise on the Dream next Sunday! So excited!!!!

 

[mordecai]

Just found this thread - going back to read from page 1.

I did the same thing. I started on page one and I'm now at page 52. It's been a week. Maybe I'm a slow reader but there is a TON of information here. Great thread.

 

[Jenntx]

Most people know there is an exercise room in the spa that you can use at no additional charge.

But what most people don't know is that you can also use the men's/women's locker rooms in the spa at no charge! All you have to do is ask for a key at the desk. (I guess if you're the trusting sort you don't even have to do that!)

The locker rooms are quite luxurious with two unusual showers. One has a shower head as big as a pizza! You can get body lotion and shampoo out of dispensers in the shower. There are some nice lounge chairs, and I think there's even a sauna! (I don't do saunas so I didn't pay much attention to it.) It's a great place to visit after a workout instead of going back to your cabin to shower!

Love this info! Thanks!!

 

[Jenntx]

We bring one of those nightlight/air freshener plug in for the bathroom. It helps when the kids have to get up in the middle of the night.

I have a small extension cord with 3 outlets since we have so many things to charge these days

It's not on the room service menu, but we get the Peanut Butter and Jelly Uncrustables the night before a port day. Ask them not to heat it up and we keep it in the fridge until the next day. It makes a great snack to hold you over or if you have picky kids-this is their lunch.

Just a couple of our tidbits.

The plug ins are an awesome idea! Also love the idea of getting the uncrustables for port days for snacks. Will have to remember that when we take our kids on their first cruise. Thanks!

 

[Jenntx]

There are books and magazines to borrow in the Cove Cafe.

You can get a "frequent buyer" punch card at the Cove Cafe and eventually get a free drink. You can use the card for multiple cruises if needed.

You can order "midnight snacks" from room service. Buy beware, soda has a cost when coming from room service.

Order coffee before you go to sleep, and the carafe the coffee is delivered in will keep the coffee warm until morning.

Have your formalwear pressed for half the price of dry cleaning and skip ironing your own clothes in the laundry room.

Never be afraid to ask for modifications to items on the menu in the dining rooms. Ask for what you want, and the serving team will do their best.

Thanks for this info. Will be asking for the frequent buyers card @ the Cove Cafe.

Also good to know that dry cleaning is inexpensive, as well as having clothes pressed for a small fee. My DH is the "ironer" in our house. When we read no irons in the rooms - I hated the idea of him having to go to the laundry everyday. Love that we can have it done for us! Awesome.

 

[Jenntx]

Hi All!

Here are a few things that I found helpful on our first cruise and will be doing again for our second...

Remember to bring one dollar bills to tip the folks who deliver your room service orders. They are not part of the group included in your personal assigned team and if they are not tipped when they deliver the goods they get stiffed.

And speaking of tips... I choose to pay my basic gratuities as early as possible. They can be paid when you pay for your reservation, any time up to three days prior to your departure through DCL (or via your TA) or at any time on the cruise through Guest Services. I pay them early because I consider the basic gratuities as part of the cost of the cruise and I believe I get even better (if that is possible) service. I happily add to the gratuities to recognize the exemplary service and also fill in guest comment cards as well.

Be sure to tell your waitstaff if you will not be at dinner as they will try to serve the entire table at the same time. If you won't be at dinner (or if you are late you are inconveniencing everyone at your sitting.

If you are a "foodie" be sure to tell your head waiter and ask for receipes as they will happily share.

Bring your oldest clothes to wear on excursions - especially if you might get wet or messy and then throw them away. It will make additional room in your luggage and allow more room for souvenirs.

Bring prepackaged snacks to enjoy during the onboard entertainment (packaged goodies can be expensive on the ship).

Make sure there is contact info on your memory cards just in case you drop them. One easy thing to do is to take a picture of your name and address as your first picture just in case.

Check with your cellphone company before your trip to find out if your phone will work in your ports of call and if you are going out oof the country make sure you know how to place a call if you need to.

Order the fruit and cheese plate from room service before dinner. It makes a great appetizer and will keep well without refrigeration.

Bring a couple of small flashlights (those inside cabins get pretty dark).

Bring half as many clothes and twice as much money.

If I think anything else I will happily share.

Take care all, help lots of people and have a "Wonder"ful day!

Tisza

Oh wow- so much information in this one! Thanks for the tip about letting your server know of if you are not going to be @ dinner one evening. .

 

[Dug720]

So if you're doing Palo the first night (we are...sis always does it this way), how do you let your server know?

 

[tweis]

So if you're doing Palo the first night (we are...sis always does it this way), how do you let your server know?

I don't know the answer to your question but we had Palo on our last night and our servers mentioned it to us before we could let them know. They already knew so maybe it's the same way if you have Palo on your first night.

 

[Marlea98]

We just got off the Dream last week and were told by guest services that the limit is 2 items per stateroom for signing. Justan FYI. I left the 2 pillowcases for the girls, but couldn't leave one for me or my photo mat. Not sure what I would do if I had 3kids in one stateroom....
Thanks!

We had two pillowcases and a photo mat signed even though we had two kids. Our cruise was not full so they were happy to do that for many people on our cruise

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jrez]

On our last cruise my iPhone slid out of my pocket while watching the late show in the Walt Disney Theater. I didn't realize it was gone until about a 1/2 hour after the show was over. I use the passlock on my phone and had it put in airplane mode when we left Port Canaveral. So really no one would be able to unlock it to see whose it was and I wouldn't be able to use the Find My iPhone app since the GPS was disabled with airplane mode.

Fortunately when I went back to the theater I found it right under the seat I had been sitting in.

The next day I took a picture of our room number on our door and set that as the picture on the lock screen so if I lost it again on the ship everyone would know what room it belonged to.

Quite frankly it's not a bad idea to just put a message on the lock screen with contact info about who to call if your phone is found regardless if you are on the ship or just back at home.

 

[cheribelle]

On our last cruise my iPhone slid out of my pocket while watching the late show in the Walt Disney Theater. I didn't realize it was gone until about a 1/2 hour after the show was over. I use the passlock on my phone and had it put in airplane mode when we left Port Canaveral. So really no one would be able to unlock it to see whose it was and I wouldn't be able to use the Find My iPhone app since the GPS was disabled with airplane mode.

Fortunately when I went back to the theater I found it right under the seat I had been sitting in.

The next day I took a picture of our room number on our door and set that as the picture on the lock screen so if I lost it again on the ship everyone would know what room it belonged to.

Quite frankly it's not a bad idea to just put a message on the lock screen with contact info about who to call if your phone is found regardless if you are on the ship or just back at home.

That is a great tip!! Thank you

 

[disneydecorator]

Bring a pillowcase from home and give that and some markers to guest services when you board. They will have the chAracters sign it and return it to your room before the end of the cruise.
Great and not so expensive treat!!

How cool how many markers should we bring

 

[disneydecorator]

This has been posted before, but what fun things can you do that DCL doesn't tell you about? We are going to be on the ship for 25 Days and want to utilize all the little "secrets" DCL doesn't tell you about.. Here's what I came up with:

1. Pillow cases with signatures
2. Ordering cookies and milk from room service before bed.

What else????

How do u order the cookies?

 

[brentm77]

The cookies are on the room service menu for no charge. But don't set your expectations too high. They are dry, overcooked, and flavorless. They don't even look appetizing. The oatmeal seemed like store bought, but were a bit more palatable.

 

[disneydecorator]

Oh speaking of treasure hunts. Don't forget the one on CC. You get your booklet the morning you dock there. It's great fun! For those who have been there before, it gives you something new to do. For those who have never been there before. It's a great way to explore the island. No promises, but you might even find buried treasure!

How do u participate in the hunt

 

[disneydecorator]

A few more I thought of last night and from my husband:

4.Exercise in the workout room at least once--just for the great view of the bridge.

5. Ask for the Hidden Mickey Challenge at Guest Services.

6. Pick a word (thank you or hello is nice though my kids tend to go for ice cream) to learn and see how many languages you can learn it in.

what is the hidden Mickey challenge?