A few miscellaneous questions

[Clojel]

Hi all, we'll be doing a 5 night in February on the Dream. We've sailed before, but nevertheless, I still have questions

1) Cabana - we'll be sailing concierge so I can request a cabana. We've had them in the past but only for 3 of us, there will be 9 this time. I know that the first 6 are covered in the cost and the extras will be $50/pp but I was curious if anyone has ever gotten a regular cabana and used it with that many people? Did it feel too cramped? How did you handle eating lunch? There's only the coffee table and a few small end tables if I remember correctly. Would it be better to book 2 cabanas? Is that even allowed? Is the "Grand" cabana a better idea? (if we can get it)

2) Dining - does anyone know what the dining times are now? We sailed in December and we had 5:35. I'd prefer to eat a bit later but I don't think I could wait until second seating . Is there a later time slot in the "main" dining timeframe?

3) Dining - part 2 - is 9 to a table too many? we'll be 7 adults and 2 children (age 13 and 7)

4) Marvel Day at Sea - this will be our first "marvel day at sea"...any feedback? Are there any special things that I should be reserving in advance? (I know that things are a little weird post-covid...so who knows what will be happening and won't be, but I know NOTHING about it, lol!) DD13 isn't super into meet and greets but she loves the marvel characters so she'll enjoy any deck party type stuff they do....and my Niece, 7, will probably want to do the meet and greets if that's a thing

TIA!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi all, we'll be doing a 5 night in February on the Dream. We've sailed before, but nevertheless, I still have questions

1) Cabana - we'll be sailing concierge so I can request a cabana. We've had them in the past but only for 3 of us, there will be 9 this time. I know that the first 6 are covered in the cost and the extras will be $50/pp but I was curious if anyone has ever gotten a regular cabana and used it with that many people? Did it feel too cramped? How did you handle eating lunch? There's only the coffee table and a few small end tables if I remember correctly. Would it be better to book 2 cabanas? Is that even allowed? Is the "Grand" cabana a better idea? (if we can get it)

2) Dining - does anyone know what the dining times are now? We sailed in December and we had 5:35. I'd prefer to eat a bit later but I don't think I could wait until second seating . Is there a later time slot in the "main" dining timeframe?

3) Dining - part 2 - is 9 to a table too many? we'll be 7 adults and 2 children (age 13 and 7)

4) Marvel Day at Sea - this will be our first "marvel day at sea"...any feedback? Are there any special things that I should be reserving in advance? (I know that things are a little weird post-covid...so who knows what will be happening and won't be, but I know NOTHING about it, lol!) DD13 isn't super into meet and greets but she loves the marvel characters so she'll enjoy any deck party type stuff they do....and my Niece, 7, will probably want to do the meet and greets if that's a thing

TIA!!

Well, the only question I can give feedback on is #3. While I like 6 top tables, in your case I think that your 9 will be fine. Especially since 2 of them are kids.

I haven't had a cabana, but I would think 9 of you would be a bit much for the "regular" ones. If you can swing it, I'd opt for the grand cabana. But, JMO.

 

[dcassetta]

2) Dining - does anyone know what the dining times are now? We sailed in December and we had 5:35. I'd prefer to eat a bit later but I don't think I could wait until second seating . Is there a later time slot in the "main" dining timeframe?

3) Dining - part 2 - is 9 to a table too many? we'll be 7 adults and 2 children (age 13 and 7)

4) Marvel Day at Sea - this will be our first "marvel day at sea"...any feedback? Are there any special things that I should be reserving in advance? (I know that things are a little weird post-covid...so who knows what will be happening and won't be, but I know NOTHING about it, lol!) DD13 isn't super into meet and greets but she loves the marvel characters so she'll enjoy any deck party type stuff they do....and my Niece, 7, will probably want to do the meet and greets if that's a thing

No idea on cabanas for 9, but as to question 3 I think 9 at a table is fine.

The early dining will be about 5:45 and there is not really a way to go later as the servers need to turn your table for the second seating. They have been staggering the dining times a little, I assume to help with distancing, but they are only offsetting by about 10 minutes each way. If they begin serving dinner in Cabanas again, that is an option and you can also dine on the pool deck or through room service at a time you prefer. The adults in your party can go to Palo or Remy.

MDAS - If you do a quick search you will find lots of trip reports with suggestions. We have done 3 MDAS cruises and I would recommend -
1. No matter what DO NOT MISS the MDAS evening deck show. It is amazing!
2. The pre-booked meet and greets - it will most likely be a combination of Iron Man/Spiderman/Black Panther and Groot who may be there with Star Lord and Gamora, although this year Spiderman was in the same location as Groot
3. The USO show with Captain America
4. The Dr. Strange Show
5. The regular meet and greets - there will be lots of these throughout the day and we have found that the Marvel characters are well performed and enjoy interacting with guests. The is especially true with Loki and Thor
6. If it returns, and for the adults only, the Ravager dance party. This will probably be in the Evolution club. This was great fun on out first two MDAS cruises, but was not offered this year.

 

[holula]

When I had my wedding on DCL we had a party of 12 at one table and it was not an issue. 9 should be fine.

 

[auntlynne]

We had 14 Disboarders at a table for 2 weeks; it was great.

 

[Cheburashka]

I had a regular cabana in October and 9 people would definitely feel crowded in one. I recommend the Grand Cabana.

 

[iloveeeyore]

This year the only MDAS things that could be booked in advance were the meet and greets, which are mentioned above. Bookings opened around check-in or maybe even later than the 30 day mark; they were not announced or opened for booking when most activities were available. Most of the other must-do activities were scheduled multiple times during the day, and we found it easy to fit in everything we wanted to do, even with Palo brunch and a mixology thrown in. Even the big Marvel heroes deck show was shown twice, once for each dinner seating, but many who had early seating came to both shows because it's that great.

The only event that happened once which we thought was a must-do was a deck show with Disney characters in Marvel costumes. and DH and i thought it was adorable. It was around 5 pm.

 

[Starwind]

When we have had a cabana we have always walked to the food area and eaten there, not at the cabana, so that has never been an issue.

SW

 

[Marc D]

If you insist on eating inside the cabana, then it would be too crowded for a regular one. However, the Grand Cabana is at the far end of the family beach, and walking from Cookies Too back there with a plate of food would be long and bothersome, especially if some decide to go for seconds, or an ice cream. It defeats the purpose.

As for crowding outside of lunch time, it depends on what people want to do with their day. If everyone is out and about, biking, swimming, snorkeling, then a regular cabana should be just fine as a meeting point and for resting. If everyone wants to chill in the long chairs or on the couches inside for the entire day, then you’ll probably prefer the Grand cabana.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Dining - does anyone know what the dining times are now? We sailed in December and we had 5:35. I'd prefer to eat a bit later but I don't think I could wait until second seating . Is there a later time slot in the "main" dining timeframe?

On the first night, show up at the stated time but then talk to your server. There's a window and you're not technically pegged to whatever the app says, they just do that to space people out so people don't show up all at once and overwhelm the wait staff and the kitchens. For example, on my December sailing we were assigned 5:55, but when our waiter saw that we had young kids, he encouraged us to come right when the dining room opened at 5:30 because 1) the kids are slow eaters and 2) a multi-course dinner starting at 5:55 starts to run into bedtime. I imagine they won't have any problem doing the reverse for you.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

When we have had a cabana we have always walked to the food area and eaten there, not at the cabana, so that has never been an issue.

SW

Yeah the cabanas aren't really set up to eat a meal in. Even if it was only two people, they don't have the furniture for it.

 

[Clojel]

thanks everyone! for those that were team "grand cabana" - can you give me any insight into what the water was like over there? We've always stayed in cabana 8 and 9 - right in front of the water - but I think the grand cabana is more on the lagoon side, right? Is the water just as deep there? Or no? Colder? Warmer?

 

[Cheburashka]

thanks everyone! for those that were team "grand cabana" - can you give me any insight into what the water was like over there? We've always stayed in cabana 8 and 9 - right in front of the water - but I think the grand cabana is more on the lagoon side, right? Is the water just as deep there? Or no? Colder? Warmer?

I just recommended the grand cabana for capacity/crowding reasons. My cabana was on Serenity Bay, so I'm not familiar with the Family Beach at all. I did have lunch in my cabana and personally preferred that to eating by the buffet. However, ants will descend on any dirty plates left around, so if you want to eat there, be sure to return your plates to Cookies afterwards.

 

[Marc D]

thanks everyone! for those that were team "grand cabana" - can you give me any insight into what the water was like over there? We've always stayed in cabana 8 and 9 - right in front of the water - but I think the grand cabana is more on the lagoon side, right? Is the water just as deep there? Or no? Colder? Warmer?

The water in front of the Grand Cabana is definitely less deep than in front of Cabana 8. It varies with the tides but it most often not swimmable.

On our last cruise, which was the next-to-last cruise before the shutdown in 2020, we were able to tour Cabana 21 since it was not booked. Here are a few pictures. The picture of the beach is taken from Cabana 21.

 

[Clojel]

The water in front of the Grand Cabana is definitely less deep than in front of Cabana 8. It varies with the tides but it most often not swimmable.

On our last cruise, which was the next-to-last cruise before the shutdown in 2020, we were able to tour Cabana 21 since it was not booked. Here are a few pictures. The picture of the beach is taken from Cabana 21.

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Hmm...yea...that's my primary concern about getting the grand cabana. Thanks for that information. I guess I'll throw it out to the group and see what they want to do!