Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[ccander2011]

Wow!! Some great tips and ideas..we are a family of 4 and will be on our 1st cruise in October 2014..so excited

 

[Ewok]

Ordering coffee the night before the last day of the cruise....good to know!! Thanks...

 

[rsconnelly]

So many awesome ideas! It took me a few days to read the whole thread but it was well worth it. For a first time cruiser, I am so happy i found this page. But I'm going to take a few people's advice and not try to do too much, that way i don't feel rushed on my vacation and can really enjoy myself.

That being said, can anyone give me any insight as to how much it costs to play Bingo, on the DCL Wonder? I was wondering if this was a fun event and if it was worth spending a little extra to participate. What are the prizes like? Can kids play? Is it usually crowded and should I get there early to make sure i get a card?

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Brilliant idea!! I never thought to put my contact info on an index card, take a picture and put it on the lock screen. Fantastic! I just tried it and I'm going to do this on every trip. Thanks!

We were able to turn on a locator for a friend's iPhone and see EXACTLY where it was left (and whether it was 'on the move'). Wouldn't be a bad idea to add this when you go on a cruise, even if the phone is powered in to airplane or even off. If some one does rip it off, eventually they will turn it on (if you don't find it on the cruise, like in your instance) and wala! You will know where they are...

 

[braysmommy]

We haven't been on the new ships yet (1 more week! ) but on the Classics, I always thought the chocolate chip cookies offered on-board weren't that great - mostly over-baked. We ordered them once from Room Service and they were the same cookies served on the buffet - which I grab occasionally only when there isn't anything better!

However, the ones on Castaway Cay are awesome! I don't know what the difference is - I imagine they're the same people cooking them - but maybe the ovens on CC are different enough that the same recipe that comes out overcooked in the ovens on the ship come out perfect on the island? It's a bit of a mystery, but I won't complain!

I am glad I'm not the only one who can't understand the hype about the cookies! Even my DS6 doesn't like them much and wonders why they can't make them like we do
At best they are comparable to store bought cookies.

 

[Justacruiser]

Do you mean do the room stewards leave towel creatures? Yes, they do. It's the first thing we take a picture of when we get into our stateroom.

you need to let your room steward know. Not a big deal with them, otherwise they might remove or re-use.

 

[jenhelgren]

Just subscribing for future reading material

 

[supercrossfox21]

Can someone explain handing over the passport to guest service to get a stamp (if you want one). Never heard of this, is it a special disney stamp or something. Or do they do this anymore? They were talking about it on p.5 of this thread.


thanks

 

[Jillpie]

Can someone explain handing over the passport to guest service to get a stamp (if you want one). Never heard of this, is it a special disney stamp or something. Or do they do this anymore? They were talking about it on p.5 of this thread.


thanks

Yes, I would worry sick about it, and never do it. Personally, it just isn't worth the risk, too many people in GS that could possibly misplace or lose it. No way, no how.

 

[MickeyRocksInPA]

These are all great tips.
Thanks everyone.

 

[valbob89]

Many or all of these ideas may have all ready been mentioned in this long but very helpful thread but we find them helpful:
rubber door stop to hold the door open when moving luggage in and out
magnetic clip to keep current navigator on the back of door (we always seem to misplace it otherwise)
high lighter to mark activities in the navigator
bathroom air freshener
printed address labels for our disembarking tags
one dollar bills to tip room service etc.
thank you cards to write a note with our tip cards and for our table mates
suction cup hooks to hang in the bathrooms and closet doors
candy/treats to give our room host each day
disposable shower cap, tooth brush and razor
pre-written address labels for postcards and postcard stamps
travel mugs and large zip lock bags for those trips to the beverage and goofy fast food in the morning

We order room service the first night, getting a coffee carafe, container of sugar packages, carton of milk, salt and pepper and wine glasses. We keep all in the cabinet for use during the entire cruise. We usually get a bowl of fruit too and use the empty bowl to dump our pocket stuff in one place when we come in the room.. Husband seems to misplace items, i.e. pins, lip balm, sun glasses if we don't have a designated place I can move them to.

 

[mordecai]

Can someone explain handing over the passport to guest service to get a stamp (if you want one). Never heard of this, is it a special disney stamp or something. Or do they do this anymore? They were talking about it on p.5 of this thread.

The idea is if you give them your passport they'll have it stamped at each stop for you if they can. Honestly I'd just keep mine with me and get it stamped personally at each stop. It doesn't take a lot of time to do and adds that personal touch.

 

[cmesq61]

The idea is if you give them your passport they'll have it stamped at each stop for you if they can. Honestly I'd just keep mine with me and get it stamped personally at each stop. It doesn't take a lot of time to do and adds that personal touch.

At the risk of sounding stupid, is there a customs desk at each Firesign port that I can just walk up to & get a stamp?

 

[neg58]

The idea is if you give them your passport they'll have it stamped at each stop for you if they can. Honestly I'd just keep mine with me and get it stamped personally at each stop. It doesn't take a lot of time to do and adds that personal touch.

I don't think they will even take them anymore. In Nov. I did hand mine over to get a stamp at Castaway (the only way you can get them for Castaway). They gave me a receipt and I had no worries that it would get lost or misplaces.

When I cruised again in May, we asked for a CC stamp and GS said no. They did arrange for someone to stamp passports for the Panama Canal, but you had to line up and keep your own.

Nancy

 

[neg58]

At the risk of sounding stupid, is there a customs desk at each Firesign port that I can just walk up to & get a stamp?

No. Some of the passport offices are very hard to find. In nassau, it is right by the port and you go into the building that says security and they will stamp it. In St. Maarten, you can supposedly get both French and Dutch stamps, but we were there on Dec. 26, a holiday, and got no stamps. In Cartagena, we tried to find the office (in town, not at the dock) and couldn't. Mexico? No.

Nancy

 

[cmesq61]

Thx

 

[llqool]

My favorite thing that I brought last cruise was a cardboard tray from Starbucks (picked one up at a Starbucks on the way to port) that I used to hold our cups when I would go on a drink run up to deck 9. It was SO helpful to have that rather than try to balance four drinks in my hands at the same time! I kept getting asked where I got it.

As far as the door stops go, the steward will give them to you if you ask.

And if you don't want to give cash tips when you get room service, you can just write a dollar amount on the receipt for a tip and they will charge it to your account.

 

[carissa1970]

My favorite thing that I brought last cruise was a cardboard tray from Starbucks (picked one up at a Starbucks on the way to port) that I used to hold our cups when I would go on a drink run up to deck 9. It was SO helpful to have that rather than try to balance four drinks in my hands at the same time! I kept getting asked where I got it.

As far as the door stops go, the steward will give them to you if you ask.

And if you don't want to give cash tips when you get room service, you can just write a dollar amount on the receipt for a tip and they will charge it to your account.

Are you sure about the tips for room service? Everything, literally, that I have rad about tipping room service said you needed dollar bills. It would be so much easier if I didn't need to bring a ton of ones!

 

[llqool]

Are you sure about the tips for room service? Everything, literally, that I have rad about tipping room service said you needed dollar bills. It would be so much easier if I didn't need to bring a ton of ones!

Yes, definitely, unless it's changed in the last month or two. Even though room service is free of charge, the person who brings room service brings a receipt that they have you sign that looks exactly like the ones the bartenders or servers on deck will give you if you order a drink (or a specialty coffee in the cafe). At the bottom of the receipt is a space for "tip", and we write our tip in there.

On our first cruise, we also brought a lot of ones, but I have learned something new with each cruise!

Oh, another tip -- for the longer cruises, we bring one of those pop up laundry hampers and the Purex sheets that are laundry soap/dryer sheet in one. I also bring a Shout color catcher sheet just in case I have to wash dark colored clothes. These sheets weigh nothing and they are dry so they make no mess. You can use your key card to pay for the washers/dryers.

Also, I have found dry cleaning/laundry to be very reasonably priced and speedy. It costs less than the dry cleaners in this area, and I don't have to worry about things getting crushed in transit.

 

[SuperDry]

Are you sure about the tips for room service? Everything, literally, that I have rad about tipping room service said you needed dollar bills. It would be so much easier if I didn't need to bring a ton of ones!

Yes, I'm sure. I've read the same things you have. I have no idea why so many people talk about the need for bringing cash for room service tips. I suspect that some people just like the notion of having some problem that they can make a big production over. "How many $1's and $5's do I need????" and "I guess I'll make a special trip to the bank!" and so on. Just sign the room service tip to your room (even if it's a $0 ticket plus tip) and be done with it. You don't need cash for ANYTHING on board. And yes that's a period at the end of that sentence.