Scuba Mom and I discussed this Friday night over dinner. We will share some ideas with you, but remember they are only our ideas about what works for us. They may not work for you, but through trial and error we have found ways to make
DCL a great family vacation, for us.
I'll let her reply with her own ideas.
My ideas......pack your own wine and don't feel bad about taking it into breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I like wine, but don't like to pay the high premium when I can just bring it with me. I will pack a few large plastic wine goblets, fill them up, and take them into dinner. Never had a problem. My DD will carry my small port glass for me. I will take champaign to breakfast and they will add the orange juice.
Try new things on the menu and this goes for your children as well. This is a time to explore. It's included. If you don't like it, that's okay. Order something else. We have had family table mates where the kids only order chicken fingers. I think that is a waste. Try something new and if they don't like it then order chicken fingers. We have been with kids would did not like to venture, but did when eating with us and they loved it. Now they order only the expensive stuff. That is the down side.
Order what you want, but eat what you order (unless you really don't like it) I will order every desert every night. I love desert. I will try them all. Some I don't like and won't finish them, but all the others are history. I will order multiple apps, they are small and I like to try them. I like to combine dishes and the servers will try their best. They are there to have help us have a good time. Don't abuse them, but ask for what you want and show appreciation when they come through. And don't forget to pace your food in take. It's a long cruise and there is more food right around the corner.
Remember that you can't do it all. There are to many things happening to try and fit them all in. One Christmas cruise DW actually made a spread sheet for each of us showing what we would be doing each hour of every day. We did a lot that cruise, but were dead tired. Now we just plan a few things and then let the day just happen.
Remember too it won't all be perfect. Something just won't live up to your expectations. It might be bad table mates, weather, ect. No vacation is perfect so just make the best of it and enjoy what you have. You could be at work.
Order room service. It's included. Make sure you tip the waiters. We like having the cheese plate in the afternoon since we have late dining. The kids love ordering sandwiches, etc. Having the cheese plate with a nice glass of wine is a great start to the evening.
Unless you have an early flight, don't rush off the ship on the last day. We go up to Topsiders, sit down and enjoy the morning. We have stood in the line before, but no more. We don't mind being the last off. We do a review of the cruise, what we liked and did not like, and do the survey. It's our time to relax before heading back to the real world.
Don't stop at McDonalds on the way to the port. On our first DCL we left work at 12N to drive to the port. We stopped for lunch and got there at the last minute. We then tried to get reservations (that was before they did them on line) We did not get anything. We did not know they severed lunch at noon. Now we get there early and enjoy the day.
Let the kids do what they want to do. It may not be what you want them to do. When the kids were younger we made several decisions for them. We thought DD would have a better time at Atlantis then learning to draw Mickey with her program. We were wrong. We thought DS would rather do something with us then play hockey on the deck with his program. Again, we were wrong. It took those to experiences to remind us that this is their vacation too. Let them pick what interests them. They will have a good time.
Speaking of kids, get them involved in the program on the first night so they can make friends. We can't entertain them like DCL. They are experts and do it every day. Let the kids have fun in the program. On our first cruise we were concerned until we went to pick up DS at midnight. He was dressed in a lab coat. They were about ready to make Flubber. He begged to stay. Now that they are older we have just three rules for them. 1. Don't leave the ship, especially if we are not in port. 2. Meet us for dinner. That is our time to hear stories about their day. 3. Don't be the cause for Security or another DIS parent to knock on my door.
The same goes with the spouse. We don't expect to do everything together. Some things just work naturally better together, but there are many times when we do different things. That's okay.
I love the Rain Forest. There is no better place, except Palos. Take a book, a glass of wine (of course) and enjoy.
You don't have to do a shore excursion in every port and if you do, consider a non-DCL excursion. We now book all our excursions directly. They are cheaper, smaller crowds, and some times totally different. Of course there is a risk that if you don't get back you will get left, but good planning should cover that. On one trip we wanted to do the 12 metre yacht race. DD could not because DCL required age 14. However, the operator required only age 10. We booked it direct and she had a great time. There are all kinds of things to do at the ports if you spend a little time on the internet.
And the biggest piece of advise....read DIS boards. There is a great deal of information here on the boards. You will have to shift through it all, but it is all here from menus to day planners, etc. But remember, you can't do it all.
These are just my thoughts and they make not work for you, but I'm happy with them and more importantly.....DW is happy with them. If she is happy then we are all happy.
I especially appreciate the part about letting the kidlings do things on their own. DD is not into anything involving water. 
DS is part seal. 
In fact his career ambition is to become a Navy SEAL but that could be a whole other thread 
This is such a short cruise I'm tempted to to skip the shore excursion entirely. Has anyone else done that before? Anyone thinking of doing that this time? 
My sister lives in Flowery Branch, north of you. I still have yet to see her house. Perhaps I need to move to Atlanta. 
I've got connections at the hospitals there. Sweet tat, too. Very cute. And original. 
Y'all are hilarious. I thought you guys might be married before you mentioned it. Here's a question DH asked me today....If a man is alone in a desert and says something, is he still wrong? 
OF COURSE!!!
I should mention that we are planning a little skiing in Taos Ski Valley for Spring Break. It will be the kid's first. 
I know....they're weird. 
(still laughing at that one, JoDale)
It'll be time to get the luggage out of the attic before you know it. 
Anyone done any shopping yet? I got alot of new clothes when I went down a size. Course after a long summer, I'm afraid some of those may be a little snug
Guess it's time to step things up a notch,and get serious again. 
Miss you. And yes so far this week has been much better for us. But then, it is only Tuesday
