Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you - Page 71 - The DIS Discussion Forums

NAB · 11-16-2012, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyfan1

The buses start leaving when they are filled. The ship is usually cleared by 7:30, and people can be out of the terminal by 7:45 on a good day. Now that doesn't mean the bus to WDW will leave at 8 am, but it is possible, if it is full. If you want to eat early, the buffet is open. Guests are called off the ship by luggage tags, too. In reality, most people can be off the ship by 8:30, all guests must be off by 9.

On the Dream they do not call off by luggage tags. You go to breakfast at your assigned time and get off the ship after that. I think they only call the tags when they are not in Port Canveral.

We had late breakfast and took the bus back. They know everyone who is taking the bus to resorts so you just go out to the buses check in and they direct you to the right bus. When it is full enough they go or know everyone going to that resort is there they go.

It is up to you if you want to be on one of the first buses to WDW you can go to the buffet like others said. We tried to stay on the ship as long as possible.

leighi123 · 11-16-2012, 09:39 PM

If you go to Atlantis in Nassau, how does the bus system work? i.e. is there a huge wait with a zillion people all trying to get on the buses at once?

And, our group of 6 is all planning on going to Atlantis, but 2 of us doing a different activity than the others - does everyone ride the same bus or is there one for each type of excursion? (all in the same general location)

If we take a water taxi to get to Atlantis, how does that all work? how close is it from the ship, and from Atlantis?

Are towels provided at Atlantis or can we use the DCL ones or should we pack them?

We are still working out the best way to do Atlantis price and convince wise - either through DCL, OR water taxi over there and buy day passes OR water taxi to comfort suits and get a day room there.

We have 1 kid in a carseat, so if we took a bus or water taxi we would avoid bringing the carseat, we don't want to take a regular taxi b/c of that.

cypressmom · 11-16-2012, 11:02 PM

[QUOTE=NAB]On the Dream they do not call off by luggage tags. You go to breakfast at your assigned time and get off the ship after that. I think they only call the tags when they are not in Port Canaveral. [/lQUOTE]

In Galveston, they do not call luggage tags. You go to your assigned breakfast and exit when they ate cleared.

jacob408 · 11-17-2012, 08:26 PM

Glad I found this thread. Lots of good info.

CrawfordMomof2 · 11-17-2012, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherekhan

We rode the tram to the family beach and kept walking down the path. They were to the left hand side (the ocean side) of the path. I can't remember exactly where but it was definitely past the Flying Dutchman and before you come to the shopping area.

The wagons really come in handy especially if you want to get to the least crowded part of the family beach. There are ideal shady hammocks by the Heads Up bar on the very far side that my family used, but you have to cross a fair amount of sand to get there and my umbrella stroller would not have made it.

There were a lot of people doing what I was doing...hestiantly taking them and looking both ways for someone to leap out of the foliage saying "What's your room number??!!?" But no one did!

I'm a soon to be first time cruiser, and that made me spit out my soda! I needed that laugh!

phoenixleigh · 11-18-2012, 09:22 AM

Subbing

DISNEYFOURME · 11-18-2012, 02:49 PM

What about tips for your breakfast servers? Last cruise we were unsure what to do at breakfast for our servers..we ended up leaving cash on the table as we noticed others had. Obviously we tip our normal servers at the end of our cruise but at breakfast we had different servers..what is correct way???

Hollywood Glitter · 11-18-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DISNEYFOURME

What about tips for your breakfast servers? Last cruise we were unsure what to do at breakfast for our servers..we ended up leaving cash on the table as we noticed others had. Obviously we tip our normal servers at the end of our cruise but at breakfast we had different servers..what is correct way???

The serving staff at breakfast is the same as dinner. The difference is they don't work your tables. Basically your servers at night are serving others in the morning and lunch. You can always tip them if you feel like it. There's no right or wrong. Ideally they get tipped when their patrons tip at the end of the cruise. But everyone could use a tip ... LOL

mickeyfan1 · 11-18-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DISNEYFOURME

What about tips for your breakfast servers? Last cruise we were unsure what to do at breakfast for our servers..we ended up leaving cash on the table as we noticed others had. Obviously we tip our normal servers at the end of our cruise but at breakfast we had different servers..what is correct way???

Technically the tip you leave at the end of the cruise for your MDR servers covers them for all meals they srve, so while you may be at a table with my servers, they are getting my tios, and I may be at a table with your servers, so they are getting your tip. I have, in over 25 cruises, neverseen anyone leave a tip for breakfast service, on DCL or any other line. If you read the DCL website, it indicates that the tip you leave your own serviers is all that is expected. I am sure your breakfast servers were surprised and happy, tho.

violetmonarch · 11-18-2012, 11:37 PM

Forgive me for being "green" but I am confused about the passports.

Some posts say that we are to leave them with Guest Services, but another post says that it's not required. Another post says that we must take them with us when we are at port, but then what happens to them if we are on an excursion where we are going to be in the water or there is no secure place to store our passports?

(I am totally screwed if that is the case)

Second, the whole auto-tip on vs off thing has me concerned. Help please!

morainechef · 11-19-2012, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violetmonarch

Forgive me for being "green" but I am confused about the passports.

Some posts say that we are to leave them with Guest Services, but another post says that it's not required. Another post says that we must take them with us when we are at port, but then what happens to them if we are on an excursion where we are going to be in the water or there is no secure place to store our passports?

(I am totally screwed if that is the case)

Second, the whole auto-tip on vs off thing has me concerned. Help please!

You are traveling, just get the passports. And just go with the recommended gratuity.

Hollywood Glitter · 11-19-2012, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violetmonarch

Forgive me for being "green" but I am confused about the passports.

Some posts say that we are to leave them with Guest Services, but another post says that it's not required. Another post says that we must take them with us when we are at port, but then what happens to them if we are on an excursion where we are going to be in the water or there is no secure place to store our passports?

(I am totally screwed if that is the case)

Second, the whole auto-tip on vs off thing has me concerned. Help please!

You are not required to leave your passport with guest services. In fact I would not let it leave your sight if you are off ship except in castaway cay. Trust me I've known a few people who have missed the ship at port. If you are in a US port just lock the passport in your safe and use your drivers license. You can easily find a waterproof carrier that can go around your neck for any water excursions.

What exactly about the tips confuses you?

sheadley · 11-19-2012, 01:24 AM

My passport will not be leaving my in room safe. You do not need them when in port. You've already gotten into the country, no need to carry them around with you. Carry your license instead.

If anything happens to your passport you are screwed.

EPCOTatNight · 11-19-2012, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morainechef

You are traveling, just get the passports. And just go with the recommended gratuity.

They didn't ask if they should get passports or not.

violetmonarch · 11-19-2012, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EPCOTatNight

They didn't ask if they should get passports or not.

Thank you. No, I have our passports but my concern is taking them with me to port vs leaving them in the safe.

My TA advised me to leave them in the safe, but in previous posts others were taking them with them. There may be waterproof holders for them, but what a hassle to deal with three passports (mine and my 2 kids') and managing two kids without help when I am going to be where I am not permitted to have anything but my bathing suit on me due to the animals.

That was the real concern.
I have also read from other sources that some guests experienced less than satisfactory service than others because it may or may not have been made known to CM who decided to leave auto tip on and who took it off (thereby thinking they were getting stiffed of a tip). I haven't heard much talk about that here, so I was curious if anyone here had any thoughts on that.
I am happy happy to be going in little over two months, and this thread was great to find. Everyone had added some good bit of info! I am all ears, LOL

11-16-2012, 11:02 PM	#1053
cypressmom Love my Disney vacations! Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 676	[QUOTE=NAB]On the Dream they do not call off by luggage tags. You go to breakfast at your assigned time and get off the ship after that. I think they only call the tags when they are not in Port Canaveral. [/lQUOTE] In Galveston, they do not call luggage tags. You go to your assigned breakfast and exit when they ate cleared. __________________ Disney World, 1986,1995, 2011 & 2014 Disneyland, 2001, 2007, 2010, 2011 & 2013 Disney Cruise Line, 2012 & 2014

11-18-2012, 09:22 AM	#1056
phoenixleigh Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 78	Subbing __________________

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11-16-2012, 09:39 PM	#1052
leighi123 Earning My Ears Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 59	If you go to Atlantis in Nassau, how does the bus system work? i.e. is there a huge wait with a zillion people all trying to get on the buses at once? And, our group of 6 is all planning on going to Atlantis, but 2 of us doing a different activity than the others - does everyone ride the same bus or is there one for each type of excursion? (all in the same general location) If we take a water taxi to get to Atlantis, how does that all work? how close is it from the ship, and from Atlantis? Are towels provided at Atlantis or can we use the DCL ones or should we pack them? We are still working out the best way to do Atlantis price and convince wise - either through DCL, OR water taxi over there and buy day passes OR water taxi to comfort suits and get a day room there. We have 1 kid in a carseat, so if we took a bus or water taxi we would avoid bringing the carseat, we don't want to take a regular taxi b/c of that.

11-17-2012, 08:26 PM	#1054
jacob408 Earning My Ears Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 34	Glad I found this thread. Lots of good info.

11-18-2012, 02:49 PM	#1057
DISNEYFOURME Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 334	What about tips for your breakfast servers? Last cruise we were unsure what to do at breakfast for our servers..we ended up leaving cash on the table as we noticed others had. Obviously we tip our normal servers at the end of our cruise but at breakfast we had different servers..what is correct way???

11-18-2012, 11:37 PM	#1060
violetmonarch Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 317	Forgive me for being "green" but I am confused about the passports. Some posts say that we are to leave them with Guest Services, but another post says that it's not required. Another post says that we must take them with us when we are at port, but then what happens to them if we are on an excursion where we are going to be in the water or there is no secure place to store our passports? (I am totally screwed if that is the case) Second, the whole auto-tip on vs off thing has me concerned. Help please!

11-19-2012, 01:24 AM	#1063
sheadley Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 88	My passport will not be leaving my in room safe. You do not need them when in port. You've already gotten into the country, no need to carry them around with you. Carry your license instead. If anything happens to your passport you are screwed.