A few last minute questions from a DCL newbie

[ZerasPride]

I can hardly believe our Dream 3 night cruise is about 2 weeks away! I have been reading this part of the forum obsessively but have a few questions and my DH and I appreciate the help so thanks in advance!

1. Any recent Dream cruisers can tell us the latest time Star Wars shows on board? We have late dining and hope to see the film on Friday or Sunday night.

2. How do you avoid the dreaded sales pitch after a Couples Choice spa treatment? I have no problem saying "no" firmly but politely, I just don't know if it's better to put it on the paperwork we fill out or state our wish in some other way beforehand.

3. What's the best place to watch the sail away party away from the crowds? DH hates crowds but I would still like the experience. I am confused because I have read something about a deck above the party and I thought I read something too about watching from your verandah or adults only area.

Any other cruise wisdom you would like to share is appreciated!! Thanks again.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I can hardly believe our Dream 3 night cruise is about 2 weeks away! I have been reading this part of the forum obsessively but have a few questions and my DH and I appreciate the help so thanks in advance!

1. Any recent Dream cruisers can tell us the latest time Star Wars shows on board? We have late dining and hope to see the film on Friday or Sunday night.

2. How do you avoid the dreaded sales pitch after a Couples Choice spa treatment? I have no problem saying "no" firmly but politely, I just don't know if it's better to put it on the paperwork we fill out or state our wish in some other way beforehand.

3. What's the best place to watch the sail away party away from the crowds? DH hates crowds but I would still like the experience. I am confused because I have read something about a deck above the party and I thought I read something too about watching from your verandah or adults only area.

Any other cruise wisdom you would like to share is appreciated!! Thanks again.

1. Movies aren't at the same set times from cruise to cruise. You'll have to check the Navigator for the times it will show during your cruise.
2. Just tell them you're not interested in any sales pitch. I've read that others have done that, and then leave.
3. Watching from deck 12 (above the pool) is more removed from the crowd. From the adult only areas, you can't really see the deck party. Can't see the sail away from your verandah, either. Maybe someone was saying they do their own sail away party on their verandah? In this picture you can see the higher deck on the left, the stage area is to the right (out of the picture)


Here's the whole pool area (stage to left, and you can see a little of the upper deck to the right behind the Mickey slide)

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I can hardly believe our Dream 3 night cruise is about 2 weeks away! I have been reading this part of the forum obsessively but have a few questions and my DH and I appreciate the help so thanks in advance!

1. Any recent Dream cruisers can tell us the latest time Star Wars shows on board? We have late dining and hope to see the film on Friday or Sunday night.

2. How do you avoid the dreaded sales pitch after a Couples Choice spa treatment? I have no problem saying "no" firmly but politely, I just don't know if it's better to put it on the paperwork we fill out or state our wish in some other way beforehand.

3. What's the best place to watch the sail away party away from the crowds? DH hates crowds but I would still like the experience. I am confused because I have read something about a deck above the party and I thought I read something too about watching from your verandah or adults only area.

Any other cruise wisdom you would like to share is appreciated!! Thanks again.

In the spa area they give you a questionnaire before your treatment, I always answer everything is great, no dry skin, no digestive problems etc. they never have tried to sell me anything.

We watch all deck parties from deck 12 and love it up there. We usually arrive pretty early to stake our claim on the railing. I would suggest if you want to watch sail away party, as soon as Muster Drill is over beeline to deck 12 and find your spot. I hope you love your cruise!

 

[Sir William]

Agree.

For the movies, you can check the Navigator for the shows for that day, or there is a schedule posted outside the theater of all the show times during the cruise. I usually do the latter, making a note of show times for any particular movies I'm particularly interested in seeing if time allows.

The spa doesn't do a hard sell. They will ask if you are interested. If you say no they don't push it. You can also tell them before your massage that you don't want the sales pitch afterward.

I don't like crowds either so find Deck 12 a good place to be to enjoy the infectious excitement. You can watch the departure from other decks and locations, but the "party" is held in the family pool area. As this is your first Disney cruise I recommend Deck 12. You're above the action on the pool deck, but have a better view of the shoreline as the ship moves down the channel and into the ocean. You'll see lots of people waving as the ship passes (and lots of people onboard waving back).

 

[TiggerBouncy]

The spa doesn't do a hard sell. They will ask if you are interested. If you say no they don't push it. You can also tell them before your massage that you don't want the sales pitch afterward.
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You must have had a different masseuse then I had. Mine didn't ask. They made comment after comment during the massage that I needed to consider this or that which they pulled out during the massage to show me (so it wasn't something I could get up and leave during). I told them I didn't want it, and they would choose something else. i told them I don't want anything, and they said they understood, but still think I need to consider product x.

to this day, I won't use Senses because they made me feel very uncomfortable.

 

[Quellman]

3. What's the best place to watch the sail away party away from the crowds? DH hates crowds but I would still like the experience. I am confused because I have read something about a deck above the party and I thought I read something too about watching from your verandah or adults only area.

Any other cruise wisdom you would like to share is appreciated!! Thanks again.

Congrats on not exploding with excitement for your cruise!
There are people who experience the "sail away" from the starboard side of the cruise ship from their rooms. There is a webcamera at the Fish Lips restaurant which live streams. So lots of people like to hang out on their balconies or that side of the ship so they can wave to family back home! People will also do this from the meridian lounge as well. But other posters are correct, you will miss the Disney sail away party if you stay in your room. We liked deck 12 the only time we did the party because it wasn't in the mosh of kids below. On other cruises, we hung out to wave to family on the webcamera and enjoyed the farewell to land!

 

[Sir William]

You must have had a different masseuse then I had. Mine didn't ask. They made comment after comment during the massage that I needed to consider this or that which they pulled out during the massage to show me (so it wasn't something I could get up and leave during). I told them I didn't want it, and they would choose something else. i told them I don't want anything, and they said they understood, but still think I need to consider product x.

to this day, I won't use Senses because they made me feel very uncomfortable.

It's possible that they don't pitch as hard to men as they do to women. I've only had two massages on DCL, and both times I just told them I wasn't interested and that ended that. DW told me she just tells them she isn't interested and they stop.

 

[southerngirl528]

I just had 2 separate treatments on the Dream a few days ago, 2 different therapists and neither tried to "sell" me. I have had them try in the past a number of times, but never felt it was a hard sell. Their products are lovely, but they are high end and very pricey. Just tell the therapist up front you have no interest in product.

 

[ZerasPride]

You guys are so wonderful!! Thanks for sharing your experiences and expertise. I'm so excited about this trip and your suggestions will just make it that much more fun for us!

One more question. Embarkation buffet - Cabanas or Enchanted Garden? If you say EG did you get your own table or have to sit with others? Thanks again everyone!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

You guys are so wonderful!! Thanks for sharing your experiences and expertise. I'm so excited about this trip and your suggestions will just make it that much more fun for us!

One more question. Embarkation buffet - Cabanas or Enchanted Garden? If you say EG did you get your own table or have to sit with others? Thanks again everyone!

We LOVE Cabanas, especially on the Dream and Fantasy and it feels like we have "arrived" once we sit down there - AHH It can get a little nutty in there at times as it gets crowded but I'd still choose it over EG but that's what we prefer. You really can't go wrong, but we adore Cabanas.

Have fun!
Heather

 

[Sir William]

You guys are so wonderful!! Thanks for sharing your experiences and expertise. I'm so excited about this trip and your suggestions will just make it that much more fun for us!

One more question. Embarkation buffet - Cabanas or Enchanted Garden? If you say EG did you get your own table or have to sit with others? Thanks again everyone!

I prefer Enchanted Garden as its not quite as hectic and noisy compared to Cabanas. However, they have a broader selection at Cabanas. At Cabanas you find and choose your own table to sit at. At EG you will be seated by the staff, however you will still get your own table.