Just booked!!!

[kozakfamily]

Booked my family's first Disney cruise!!! I went on a few RC cruises back in high school but this will be the rest of our first cruise. (And their first flight). So we're booked for a 4day out of PC on the magic on January 13 2014. I have the rest of this month to plan what we're going to book. (Our slot opens 10/30) so what should I plan? My kids are 3 and 1 so age will be a factor. I know I want a brunch at palo, what day should I do it? The day at sea? What spa treatments should I get? I know my hubby won't want to go to the spa, but he can watch children while I enjoy. What else at must for our family??

 

[the1stlady98]

Following.... We just booked our first ever cruise for Dec 18th on the Magic out of Miami.. Our booking slot opens tomorrow.... No clue what to pick either.. We know already we don't want to eat at Palo's so that at least takes that off the list for us... we have a 4 yr old and 7 yr old going with us..

 

[clten]

Brunch only happens on sea days. You may want to pre-book some hours at the nursery especially if you can get a brunch reservation.

 

[emilyann415]

Also know if there are no reservations available for Palo brunch when you're booking window opens get to port early and be one of the first groups to board. The navigator they give you at the port when you arrive will tell you where to go to schedule/change Palo ressies. They always hold a bunch of these for booking on the ship. IMO you DONT want to miss Palo brunch!!!!

 

[kozakfamily]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to try my darnedest to agent a palo brunch res. my hubby would LOOOVE it. He's definitely a foodie just like me. Are there any excursions/activities I should definitely book for my daughter? She's 3 and LOOOOOVES the princesses, especially Ariel

 

[kozakfamily]

Also I know I will need a passport, but do we need one for our kids too? Or will their birth-certs work enough? I hate to get them a passport when they will only be 9 and 12 when they expire

 

[jahber]

Also I know I will need a passport, but do we need one for our kids too? Or will their birth-certs work enough? I hate to get them a passport when they will only be 9 and 12 when they expire

Is there a particular reason why you need a passport (for example, not a US citizen)? Birth certificates are fine for a closed-loop cruise originating in the US for most people. If you are all citizens and have official BCs, you and your kids are all set.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Booked my family's first Disney cruise!!! I went on a few RC cruises back in high school but this will be the rest of our first cruise. (And their first flight). So we're booked for a 4day out of PC on the magic on January 13 2014. I have the rest of this month to plan what we're going to book. (Our slot opens 10/30) so what should I plan? My kids are 3 and 1 so age will be a factor. I know I want a brunch at palo, what day should I do it? The day at sea? What spa treatments should I get? I know my hubby won't want to go to the spa, but he can watch children while I enjoy. What else at must for our family??

Congrats!! You'll have a great time. There's so much to do, and in just 4 nights, you'll not be able to do it all. If you can... Score a Palo Brunch. There's only one day you can do that but it'll be worth it if you do. Otherwise, just spend the time with family enjoying what they ship has to offer as it goes. I've found that's the best plan.

 

[kozakfamily]

Is there a particular reason why you need a passport (for example, not a US citizen)? Birth certificates are fine for a closed-loop cruise originating in the US for most people. If you are all citizens and have official BCs, you and your kids are all set.

No we're all US citizens I just figured with all the new laws in regards to passports we'd need them. I know years back when I went on RC we didn't need them, but assumed we'd need them for it.

 

[Dug720]

No we're all US citizens I just figured with all the new laws in regards to passports we'd need them. I know years back when I went on RC we didn't need them, but assumed we'd need them for it.

The main reason one would be beneficial would be in the event of some kind of medical emergency where you needed to be evacuated from somewhere not the US. A passport would be needed to get back into the US. It could be done, but would take a while - in an already stressful time.

Likely occurrence? No. But a possibility.

On the whole, I love having my passport and knowing that if an opportunity arose short-notice, I could travel abroad and not have to pass. My preference though.

 

[kozakfamily]

The main reason one would be beneficial would be in the event of some kind of medical emergency where you needed to be evacuated from somewhere not the US. A passport would be needed to get back into the US. It could be done, but would take a while - in an already stressful time. Likely occurrence? No. But a possibility. On the whole, I love having my passport and knowing that if an opportunity arose short-notice, I could travel abroad and not have to pass. My preference though.

I think my husband and I will get a passport, but not for the kids. We've been putting it off but should do it.

 

[N365PA]

Just my 2 cents, but get everyone a passport. We aren't the friendliest folks letting non-US or US citizens back into the country if you don't have one. Not a problem unless something goes wrong, then you definitely want one.

On a happier note, if you havent done so, be sure to go to your cruise's "meet" thread.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3119388

This is where everyone on your particular cruise is chatting. It is usually a great resource of information as time moves on closer to your cruise!

Clint

 

[jahber]

No we're all US citizens I just figured with all the new laws in regards to passports we'd need them. I know years back when I went on RC we didn't need them, but assumed we'd need them for it.

We sailed our first cruise with just BCs for the kids because we didn't know if we'd even like cruising and had no plans to travel internationally. Needless to say, we loved cruising and got passports for the kids right away afterward. And suddenly, we found ourselves booking a last-minute Alaska cruise (because we CAN! We have passports!). And booking a transatlantic cruise (passports!). It's kind of an expensive habit

We assessed the risk and deemed it acceptable for a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas. The risk of one of my kids becoming so severely ill that they needed emergency transport into the US via air was so small, it was a risk I was willing to take. But like I said, passports opened things up for us.