Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[lklasing]

Now that we're getting close to our trip, I'm starting to think of shipping down some items, particularly my FE gifts. Can anyone give me the 101 about shipping to the ship - address, restrictions, etc.?

Thanks!

[Sebby]

Originally Posted by lklasing

Now that we're getting close to our trip, I'm starting to think of shipping down some items, particularly my FE gifts. Can anyone give me the 101 about shipping to the ship - address, restrictions, etc.?

Thanks!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2068966

Boxes Sent the Ship Ahead of Cruise - PLEASE follow these instructions carefully!!!!!! UPDATED AS OF 2/25/2009
• ONE box per stateroom, no exceptions.
• The package must have the guest full name, ship, sailing date, stateroom number or GTY if you have not been assigned a stateroom number.
• The package also must have a packing slip attached to the outside of the box that details the contents of the package. For prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient. Your list may or may not be read but it must have one. Write packing slip on the outside of the envelope.
• NO FOODS/DRINKS OF ANY KIND, LIQUOR OF ANY KIND, FIREARMS, ETC.. Items that cannot be shipped to the Disney Cruise Line Warehouse and delivered to the ship include: food products (any and all food products including baby food/formula), beverages (liquor, water, etc.), chemicals, and luggage. These items will not be accepted at the warehouse and will be returned. This may cause the dogs to hit on your box and that would be a bad thing.
• The required size of the cartons you are shipping down have to be about the size of a record storage box 12 inches on a side and should not weigh more than 20 lbs. (This has been asked personally by Dave Adams who is the owner)

Address your package(s) to:
Disney Cruise Line Warehouse
Guest Name / Stateroom # (GTY, if you don't know what it is when you send the package)
8633 Transport Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
Phone: 407-566-8196

In the bottom left corner of the top of the package put the following information: ATTN: HOUSEKEEPING
*Name
*Sail Date
*Ship
*Stateroom Number
*Packing slip that details contents of the package (for prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient)
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 7-Night Cruise on the Disney Magic (Saturday).
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 4-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Sunday).
• Packages must arrive by Wednesday by 3:00pm for the 3-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Thursday).

If your box is hit on by the screening dog or chosen for additional screening they will open the list and the box and look through it. They will close it back up and provided nothing bad is in it then it will be in your room as usual later after boarding. These boxes will be coming on the ship with the crew mail among other things so they may be in the staterooms later then they were before as they are low priority in the scheme of things for Disney.

Boxes to Send Home after Cruise - Information provided by Shirley
These guys are great and right off Highway 528 - Shipping Depot located at 211 Crockett Blvd, Suite 103, Merritt Island, Florida, Phone 321-453-2558, Fax 321-453-0161
Hours - Monday thru Friday 9 am - 6 pm, Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
Email - shippingdepot103@aol.com
If you DO NOT want to concern yourself with the carrying of ''stuff'' home that you have purchase or too much to take on the plane, you can take it over to their place of business or they will be more than glad to pick it up from Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral and they will ship anywhere and everywhere. They are UPS and FEDEX office. Owners are Raul and Dwane - super nice folks to work with and very accomodating to your shipping needs. Must mention this board for discount.

[DeAnnaBelle]

Originally Posted by NHdisneylover

Tour the hallways to check out everyone's door decorations. Take a pad of sticky notes to leave messages for doors you really like.

What a great idea! Especially since we are cruising at Christmastime! It will be our cruise version of driving around and looking at Christmas lights!

[TheTexasGal]

But you can't stick stick notes on the door, correct? Nothing sticky allowed. I remember if something sticky is placed on the door and messes the door up then you are responsible for payment. Are you sticking sticky notes to the magnets?

[DeAnnaBelle]

Originally Posted by TheTexasGal

But you can't stick stick notes on the door, correct? Nothing sticky allowed. I remember if something sticky is placed on the door and messes the door up then you are responsible for payment. Are you sticking sticky notes to the magnets?

Oh, that's a good point. So there's a rule about nothing sticky on the door? Not even a post it note? I wouldn't think a post it note would damage the door, but I definitely wouldn't want to risk getting another passenger in trouble. Especially when the intent is to compliment them! Thanks for the info!

[ethanash1]

Originally Posted by DeAnnaBelle

Oh, that's a good point. So there's a rule about nothing sticky on the door? Not even a post it note? I wouldn't think a post it note would damage the door, but I definitely wouldn't want to risk getting another passenger in trouble. Especially when the intent is to compliment them! Thanks for the info!

Post it notes are fine. The "no sticky" rule was implemented because cruisers were using double sided foam tape and similar products on their doors. It was peeling off the paint, so there's no tape allowed any longer. I used post it notes on our last cruise with no issues at all. They're harmless...

[tnbeth1972]

Regarding the extra appetizer: Do we just put it in our room and write our housekeeping CM's name on it? How do we give out extra things like candy or stuff I bring from home? This is our first Disney Cruise. We had other cruises in the past and never thought about things like this.

Originally Posted by stefanie.cadell

Fresh fruit is available at nearly any time in the crew dining area. Bananas, apples & oranges were never hard to get if we wanted them. We just couldn't have them in our cabins. <-- Huge trouble.

As far as pooling tips for non tipping cast members (kids staff etc), the tips go to nice parties they'd have for us. Nice food that we never see in crew dining is made specifically for us, we play games & have drawings for nice items.. All of this is done with money that we pool together from parents & other guests that tip us.

When tipping for tipable CMs, there are things that they can't accept: (mostly) really expensive gifts. When this happens, we're trained to politely decline the gift a few times. After that we turn it into management & it's a lot of paperwork.


Again, phone cards are amazing tips, cash works great too! Candies & baked goods are awesome! Order an extra appetizer, have it boxed to take it back to your state room & then give it to your favorite CMs! Seriously, that would make any CM's day.

[EWL]

Originally Posted by acourtwdw

Order coffee from room service before you turn in for the night. It is a great wakeup call and you do not have to schlep upstairs to get coffee while you are getting ready for the day. By the way, room service is free, so go ahead and indulge.

OK... something not sinking in here. I get doing this on the last night when there is no room service the next morning (although even then, they get you up so early...) but why on other nights? Why not just order it in the morning? No waiting? Or do they only deliver in the morning according to the continental breakfast timeslots and you get up even before the first one?

[Susiesark]

Originally Posted by tnbeth1972

Regarding the extra appetizer: Do we just put it in our room and write our housekeeping CM's name on it? How do we give out extra things like candy or stuff I bring from home? This is our first Disney Cruise. We had other cruises in the past and never thought about things like this.

I bring goody bags to give to the guest services desk, when leaving something to sign, and a daily treat for the room steward along with a thank you note. On the last day I've left a large box of Oreos for the Oceaneers Club & Lab.

[Codie]

Originally Posted by Susiesark

I bring goody bags to give to the guest services desk, when leaving something to sign, and a daily treat for the room steward along with a thank you note. On the last day I've left a large box of Oreos for the Oceaneers Club & Lab.

What kind of daily treats?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

[ddixon1]

I ordered a carafe of hot water on the last night, and cream and sugar. It stayed piping hot until the next morning. I added my Via, and was good, to go!

[Shartman79]

Love the pillowcase idea!!

[itzkelly]

Just finished reading all these wondeful tips! Thanks so much!

[triciari]

Originally Posted by EWL

OK... something not sinking in here. I get doing this on the last night when there is no room service the next morning (although even then, they get you up so early...) but why on other nights? Why not just order it in the morning? No waiting? Or do they only deliver in the morning according to the continental breakfast timeslots and you get up even before the first one?

I think they open ay 7 am. I am an early riser - 5:15 or so - and want my coffee!!! (Although I'm hoping I'll sleep later on the ship!)

[Susiesark]

Originally Posted by Codie

What kind of daily treats?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Candy bars, unpopped/micro popcorn. I've also heard about giving international phone cards, but I don't know if they would include all countries.