Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you - Page 61 - The DIS Discussion Forums

richmo · 04-27-2012, 08:00 AM

I brought some of this up way back in page somewhere of this post, but the last morning is a big advantage to the late dining folks.

If you have early dining throughout the cruise, your assigned breakfast on the last day is really early, as mentioned in some of the earlier posts. If you have late dining, its much more reasonable.

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned a lot is that if you have early breakfast that day, you eat, then you're supposed to take yourself and all your stuff to some common area (like the bars, etc.) and wait for your character tag to get called so you can disembark. This can take awhile and when you do get called, it takes awhile to leave and get thru customs, etc.

Now, if you have the later seating, by the time you finish eating, virtually all the character luggage tags have already been called, there's no hanging around in the bars and the wait time to get off the ship, easier to find your luggage and the wait to get thru customs is generally greatly reduced. Its much more leisurely and less of herding cattle.

A few points, though:
- If you need to get off the ship early and have late dining, you'll have to skip your breakfast assignment and go to the buffet or room service, etc.
- I certainly wouldn't let the last morning dictate choosing early or late dining for the entire cruise, but it is a nice perk of late dining.
- And, of course, whichever dining you pick, you always have the option of going to the buffet. If I remember correctly, the disembarkation sheet you'll get the last night doesn't talk about the buffet opening for breakfast, but it is.
- Some always ask if, having early dining throughout the cruise, if you can go to the late dining breakfast the last day. The answer is no, you shouldn't. You still go to the same table and have the same server that last morning. At the late breakfast, that table is for whoever has it for late dining. If you can't make the early breakfast, go to the buffet.
- Whatever option you choose, they'd really like you out of your stateroom by the time the late dining breakfast starts (around 8:15 or so), so they can get going on getting the rooms ready for the next cruise. Once you leave your stateroom, you can take your time eating your breakfast and leave around 9 or so with little traffic.

Southern Sailaway · 04-27-2012, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richmo

Whatever option you choose, they'd really like you out of your stateroom by the time the late dining breakfast starts (around 8:15 or so), so they can get going on getting the rooms ready for the next cruise. Once you leave your stateroom, you can take your time eating your breakfast and leave around 9 or so with little traffic.

Do you know what we were supposed to do in concierge? We had the good fortune to be able to order room service breakfast on the last morning, so we had a relaxing breakfast in our suite. However, we weren't sure what we were expected to do afterwards. We ended up hanging out on our balcony until our shuttle driver arrived to pick us up (around 8:30 or so, I think). I saw our steward in the hall just before we left and he didn't give any indication he was anxious for us to clear out, but I did notice that everyone in the rooms around us was already gone.

richmo · 04-27-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southern Sailaway

Do you know what we were supposed to do in concierge? We had the good fortune to be able to order room service breakfast on the last morning, so we had a relaxing breakfast in our suite. However, we weren't sure what we were expected to do afterwards. We ended up hanging out on our balcony until our shuttle driver arrived to pick us up (around 8:30 or so, I think). I saw our steward in the hall just before we left and he didn't give any indication he was anxious for us to clear out, but I did notice that everyone in the rooms around us was already gone.

I have no idea about that. I would think 8:30 is OK, but they definitely don't want you hanging around. Everything about the last morning is very business-like. All the CMs are still polite, but their main focus that morning is getting you off the ship pretty much as quickly as they can. Disembarkation/embarkation day for all the cast onboard is their busiest day by far and its only fair to give them as much opportunity to get their jobs done. As painful as it is leaving the ship, appreciate how good the ship is when you embark. Think of your vacation/cruise ending when you go to sleep that last night.

stingfancb · 04-27-2012, 10:32 AM

[QUOTE=richmo;44717315]

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned a lot is that if you have early breakfast that day, you eat, then you're supposed to take yourself and all your stuff to some common area (like the bars, etc.) and wait for your character tag to get called so you can disembark.

There has never been any calling of character tags - this is the location of your luggage. If you eat an early breakfast - you simply just take your things and walk off the ship. ( I am usually sobbing during most of this.)

poohj80 · 04-27-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingfancb

There has never been any calling of character tags - this is the location of your luggage. If you eat an early breakfast - you simply just take your things and walk off the ship. ( I am usually sobbing during most of this.)

This is how it works on the Dream and Fantasy since the terminal cannot accommodate everyone's luggage at the same time. On the Magic and Wonder, you just get off whenever you are ready.

richmo · 04-27-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohj80

...On the Magic and Wonder, you just get off whenever you are ready.

Maybe things have changed. When I was on the Wonder last summer (and the summer before), they displayed luggage character tags on the tv monitors in the lounges indicating when you could leave...

poohj80 · 04-27-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richmo

Maybe things have changed. When I was on the Wonder last summer (and the summer before), they displayed luggage character tags on the tv monitors in the lounges indicating when you could leave...

Sorry, I was speaking specifically about Port Canaveral. In Vancouver for the Alaska cruises last year, tags were used to determine what time we got of the Wonder. Have no idea how it will work in Seattle this year.

Susiesark · 04-28-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richmo

Maybe things have changed. When I was on the Wonder last summer (and the summer before), they displayed luggage character tags on the tv monitors in the lounges indicating when you could leave...

I have been on the Wonder twice in the past year, both out of LA, and they have called the characters name on the luggage tags so you'll be released in smaller groups, although there were always long lines to disembark and get through customs.

linco711 · 04-29-2012, 05:30 PM

love this thread

ginnenern · 04-29-2012, 06:00 PM

Great info. Thanks

lindylou2_2002 · 04-29-2012, 06:05 PM

in THe Med for the last 2 years we have always had early dining but on the last morning both times we have also been given late Breakfast. Is this not what happens state side then

We are doing our 1st cruise out of new york in august and hate the idea of getting up really early on our last day as we dont fly home until the afternoon and was sort of banking on not getting off until at least 8.30 after late breakfast.

jbernatz · 04-29-2012, 06:52 PM

Great tips, cant wait to use many of them!

jbernatz · 04-29-2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rescuetink

Just doing my little bit to share the Magic after all the other DISers have done for me!!

Yes, thank you!!

acourtwdw · 04-29-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindylou2_2002

in THe Med for the last 2 years we have always had early dining but on the last morning both times we have also been given late Breakfast. Is this not what happens state side then

We are doing our 1st cruise out of new york in august and hate the idea of getting up really early on our last day as we dont fly home until the afternoon and was sort of banking on not getting off until at least 8.30 after late breakfast.

If you want a later breakfast time, then go to the buffet instead of your assigned bfast spot. That is what we do. Also the service feels rushed in the MDRs on the last morning and is not relaxing to me.

thrillfan · 04-30-2012, 02:26 AM

My dd 17, took a mat for a 5x7 (the mat is a 8x10) on our Dream cruise and we got a picture mailer from the post office and put it in our carry on and in our carry of bag. When we got it out in the car it was fine. Thats how i do all my pictures

04-27-2012, 10:32 AM	#904
stingfancb DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: south FL Posts: 515	[QUOTE=richmo;44717315] The other thing that hasn't been mentioned a lot is that if you have early breakfast that day, you eat, then you're supposed to take yourself and all your stuff to some common area (like the bars, etc.) and wait for your character tag to get called so you can disembark. There has never been any calling of character tags - this is the location of your luggage. If you eat an early breakfast - you simply just take your things and walk off the ship. ( I am usually sobbing during most of this.) __________________

04-29-2012, 06:00 PM	#910
ginnenern Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 11	Great info. Thanks __________________

04-29-2012, 06:52 PM	#912
jbernatz Earning My Ears Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 15	Great tips, cant wait to use many of them! __________________ <a href="http://distickers.com/ticker/"><img src="http://distickers.com/ticker/tickers/2vubbpfpw945sfnm.png" alt="DIStickers.com Ticker" border="0"/></a>

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04-27-2012, 08:00 AM	#901
richmo DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,310	I brought some of this up way back in page somewhere of this post, but the last morning is a big advantage to the late dining folks. If you have early dining throughout the cruise, your assigned breakfast on the last day is really early, as mentioned in some of the earlier posts. If you have late dining, its much more reasonable. The other thing that hasn't been mentioned a lot is that if you have early breakfast that day, you eat, then you're supposed to take yourself and all your stuff to some common area (like the bars, etc.) and wait for your character tag to get called so you can disembark. This can take awhile and when you do get called, it takes awhile to leave and get thru customs, etc. Now, if you have the later seating, by the time you finish eating, virtually all the character luggage tags have already been called, there's no hanging around in the bars and the wait time to get off the ship, easier to find your luggage and the wait to get thru customs is generally greatly reduced. Its much more leisurely and less of herding cattle. A few points, though: - If you need to get off the ship early and have late dining, you'll have to skip your breakfast assignment and go to the buffet or room service, etc. - I certainly wouldn't let the last morning dictate choosing early or late dining for the entire cruise, but it is a nice perk of late dining. - And, of course, whichever dining you pick, you always have the option of going to the buffet. If I remember correctly, the disembarkation sheet you'll get the last night doesn't talk about the buffet opening for breakfast, but it is. - Some always ask if, having early dining throughout the cruise, if you can go to the late dining breakfast the last day. The answer is no, you shouldn't. You still go to the same table and have the same server that last morning. At the late breakfast, that table is for whoever has it for late dining. If you can't make the early breakfast, go to the buffet. - Whatever option you choose, they'd really like you out of your stateroom by the time the late dining breakfast starts (around 8:15 or so), so they can get going on getting the rooms ready for the next cruise. Once you leave your stateroom, you can take your time eating your breakfast and leave around 9 or so with little traffic.

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04-29-2012, 05:30 PM	#909
linco711 DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 663	love this thread

04-29-2012, 06:05 PM	#911
lindylou2_2002 Mouseketeer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Dartford, Kent, UK Posts: 221	in THe Med for the last 2 years we have always had early dining but on the last morning both times we have also been given late Breakfast. Is this not what happens state side then We are doing our 1st cruise out of new york in august and hate the idea of getting up really early on our last day as we dont fly home until the afternoon and was sort of banking on not getting off until at least 8.30 after late breakfast.

04-30-2012, 02:26 AM	#915
thrillfan Mouseketeer Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 111	My dd 17, took a mat for a 5x7 (the mat is a 8x10) on our Dream cruise and we got a picture mailer from the post office and put it in our carry on and in our carry of bag. When we got it out in the car it was fine. Thats how i do all my pictures