First time DCL Questions: food, shoes and ports

[jelliott04]

Hi all. First time DCL in less than two weeks! I have a few questions:

Cruising Eastern Caribbean in less than two weeks!

1) Do the menus change each week? IE, can I go to allears and see what we'll be having for dinner the Tuesday (for example) of our cruise?

2) What shoes are appropriate for kids? Can they hang out in crocs all the time or are tennis shoes more appropriate? (talking kids clubs etc)

4) How many formal nights are there? Is a nice dress ok instead of an actual formal gown?

3) Pros and Cons to parking at the port or at an off site place.

Thanks in advance!

J

[PrincessShmoo]

Originally Posted by jelliott04

Hi all. First time DCL in less than two weeks! I have a few questions:

Cruising Eastern Caribbean in less than two weeks!

1) Do the menus change each week? IE, can I go to allears and see what we'll be having for dinner the Tuesday (for example) of our cruise?

2) What shoes are appropriate for kids? Can they hang out in crocs all the time or are tennis shoes more appropriate? (talking kids clubs etc)

4) How many formal nights are there? Is a nice dress ok instead of an actual formal gown?

3) Pros and Cons to parking at the port or at an off site place.

Thanks in advance!

J

You will have a different menu each night of the cruise. They are the same menu each week. Each MDR has it's own Signature menu (that's 3 nights). Pirate night menu (4), formal & semi-formal (5 & 6) and, either a Welcome Aboard, or Til We Meet Again menu (sorry, don't know which they do on the Eastern).

Formal night (I think night 2) and semi-fomal (maybe night 6?)

[sambycat]

Originally Posted by jelliott04

1) Do the menus change each week? IE, can I go to allears and see what we'll be having for dinner the Tuesday (for example) of our cruise? ]the menus are basically unchanged for each restaurant and/or night. the 3 signature/basic nights for each restaurant are the same, its not like tuesday is the same every cruise, its AP crush show night is the same and the captains gala menu is the same.. if that makes sense? so yeah, you can look them up on allears or elsewhere and that menu will be the same for your corresponding night

2) What shoes are appropriate for kids? Can they hang out in crocs all the time or are tennis shoes more appropriate? (talking kids clubs etc)
whatever is comfortable for your kids - that sounds fine. we wear flip flops and nicer sandals/sneaks/what have you for dinner

4) How many formal nights are there? Is a nice dress ok instead of an actual formal gown?usually one formal, 2 semi? a dress is fine

J

enjoy your cruise!

[iloverags2]

Originally Posted by jelliott04

Hi all. First time DCL in less than two weeks! I have a few questions:

Cruising Eastern Caribbean in less than two weeks!

1) Do the menus change each week? IE, can I go to allears and see what we'll be having for dinner the Tuesday (for example) of our cruise?
The menus do not change from week to week, but there will be seven distinct menus on your cruise. Each dining room has it's own signature menu. Formal night will have the Prince and Princess menu. Pirates night will have the Pirates in the Caribbean menu. Semi-Formal night is the Captain's Gala menu. The last evening features the 'Til We Meet Again menu. I believe for the Eastern itinerary the 2nd night is formal night, the 4th night is Pirates night, and the 6th night is semi-formal/Captain's Gala. Nights 1, 3, and 5 would be the dining room's signature menu.

2) What shoes are appropriate for kids? Can they hang out in crocs all the time or are tennis shoes more appropriate? (talking kids clubs etc)
They will be fine in crocs!

4) How many formal nights are there? Is a nice dress ok instead of an actual formal gown?
There is one formal night, and one semi-formal night. You will see a wide range of clothing on those nights. If you prefer a nice dress to a formal gown, you will be fine!

3) Pros and Cons to parking at the port or at an off site place.
Off-site is about half the cost of parking at the port. Having said that, we parked once off-site and will not do so again. We much prefer the convenience of having the car at the port and not needing to rely on a shuttle coming or going. It really is what you prefer - save some money, or more convenience.
Thanks in advance!

J

Hope this helps!

[kristieboyd]

We've yet to cruise DCL, but I'm answering based on my research & plans for our upcoming Feb 11 cruise.

Originally Posted by jelliott04

Hi all. First time DCL in less than two weeks! I have a few questions:

Cruising Eastern Caribbean in less than two weeks!

1) Do the menus change each week? IE, can I go to allears and see what we'll be having for dinner the Tuesday (for example) of our cruise?
The first 3 nights are set menus depending on your assigned restaurant. remaining nights will be themed menus (Pirate Night, Til We Meet Again, Golden Mickeys, etc) and will be the same regardless of restaurant assignment.

2) What shoes are appropriate for kids? Can they hang out in crocs all the time or are tennis shoes more appropriate? (talking kids clubs etc)
I plan on taking flip flops & crocs for my kids. Undecided on tennis shoes...we'll have them with us since we're doing Legoland before the cruise, but not sure if we'll take them on board or not.

4) How many formal nights are there? Is a nice dress ok instead of an actual formal gown?
Depends on the length of your cruise. There is only 1 semi-formal night on our 5 night. From what I've read, attire ranges from tuxes/ball gowns to shorts and t-shirts. Pack whatever is comfortable for you. I'll be taking a dress and DH will probably just wear slacks & a polo (he doesn't like having to dress up on vacations. lol)

3) Pros and Cons to parking at the port or at an off site place.
We've decided to park at the port. More expensive, but also safer & more convenient.

Thanks in advance!

J

[4407mark]

OPs have pretty well answered your questions, just wanted to weigh in on the parking issue - have always parked at port and never had a problem. It is more expensive than off-site but for me it is really about the convenience - both when arriving to sail and preparing to depart. Enjoy your cruise!

[Yokelridesagain]

Be aware that you're not going to 'know' your dining rotation until you get on the boat (although you can request one)...so you won't literally know your menu on Tuesday until you get there unless Tuesday is one of the 'theme nights' where the food is the same in each dining room.

[kcashner]

There are 3 signature nights. On those nights you will eat the menu of that restaurant. You will not know which restaurant you will be in each night until you check in at the port. These menus are the same each week, you just don't know in advance when you will have each one.

There are 4 theme nights.Again, they are the same each week. The pirate night menu is always the pirate night menu. Pirate night is the same night of the week on each Eastern cruise. Each of the main restaurants serves the same theme menu on those nights.

SO...you can look at a recent Eastern schedule and know which night will be which theme and from there, what the menu will be.

Parking--$6-7 off site, complimentary shuttle to the port. $15 per day at the port, no need for shuttle.

One formal, one semi. Wear whatever you want.

[Spurr002]

Saturday - Port Canaveral -
[Casual Night] Rotation Menu -
show: The Fantasy Begins

Sunday - At Sea -
[Formal Night] Rotation Menu -
show: Aladdin

Monday - At Sea -
[Casual Night] Rotation Menu -
show: Wishes

Tuesday - St. Thomas -
[Pirate Night] Pirate Menu -
show: Movie in WDT

Wednesday - San Juan -
[Casual Night] Princess Menu -
show: Entertainer

Thursday - At Sea -
[Semi-Formal night] Captain's Gala Menu -
show: Believe

Friday - Castaway Cay -
[Casual night] Till We Meet Again Menu -
show: An Unforgettable Journey