Adults on First Disney Cruise (?s about Senses Spa and Palo)

[Yumi696]

Hello! So my family and I are going on our first Disney cruise and this cruise is going to be our second cruise EVER. Our first cruise was on Carnival and it was...meh. The neverending sushi was my favorite part. But my mom wanted to cruise again so we booked a 3-night Bahamas cruise for August on Disney Dream.

Our family is: my parents (40s-50s haha I don't think they'd be happy if I posted their ages online ), me (23 years old) and my two little brothers (14 and 16 years old).

I've been doing a ton of research online and I am already so excited. I'm in WDW mode and I was wondering if I could book excursions already buuuut nope it's 75 days before the cruise where I can book things.

Anyways I have no qualms that my little brothers will enjoy themselves, and I can take care of myself. But I really want to make sure that my parents enjoy themselves.

So I have a question about Palo and some questions about Senses Spa.

I wanted to book my parents something from Senses Spa and pay for it myself on a separate card. Is it possible to do that or are spa bookings done on the one card that was used to book the cruise itself?

Also I wanted to book them a Swedish massage for couples but THEN I saw on a personal navigator from last year that there was a thing called a "pamper package" which includes a 50 minute full body Swedish massage, foot and ankle massage, Indian scalp massage and 25 minute facial. I know it's not possible to book this in advance so if I book a massage in advance, could I later switch it to this pamper package? Also is it possible to do a pamper package as a couple?

Also the question about Palo... so since this is our first Disney cruise, we've never experienced any of the three rotational dining. Is it worth it for my parents to book Palo and skip on one of the three rotational dining restaurants, and if so, which one would you skip?

Sorry for this long post! I just want to make sure that my parents get a really good experience.

 

[Trera]

We skip enchanted garden when we go to Palo on the 3 night cruises.

 

[disnygirl55]

If you can call and request early dining, you can book Palo for a later dinner for your parents - maybe around 7:30 or so. That would give them the ability to join the rest of the family at the early dinner reservation just for family conversation time, and have maybe a drink or an appetizer to tide them over. It would be great if they could see all three main dining rooms. They are each so unique and fun. Unlike the PP, Enchanted Garden is my personal favorite, so you can never tell in advance which one might be worth "skipping". On a first cruise, it would be wonderful to experience them all. If I were in your shoes, that's what I'd try to do. If you have to go on a wait list for early dining, it's still worth a shot. And if you get onboard and find out that you're still at late dining, you can make a same-day request for a switch. The dining change location will be listed in your first day navigator. If you prefer the late dining and don't want to try to get early dining, don't fret - it's still going to be a wonderful time, and enchanted garden is often open for lunch, in which case, I would skip that one.

We have found that the "Pamper Package" is easy to reserve on the first day - and there is sometimes even a special price for it. My husband has signed up for it on the first evening either before or after dinner, depending on your dining time, and he had no problem making a reservation. He thought it was a great way to begin the cruise! To keep the payment separate and simple, you can go to guest services and credit your stateroom account for the approximate price of the spa package they choose (or call and put money on the stateroom account by phone). Alternatively, you can visit guest services on the final evening of the cruise and pay for what they spent. Someone else might have a better suggestion, but I think that would be the easiest thing to do, at least for me.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

If you can call and request early dining, you can book Palo for a later dinner for your parents - maybe around 7:30 or so. That would give them the ability to join the rest of the family at the early dinner reservation just for family conversation time, and have maybe a drink or an appetizer to tide them over. It would be great if they could see all three main dining rooms. They are each so unique and fun. Unlike the PP, Enchanted Garden is my personal favorite, so you can never tell in advance which one might be worth "skipping". On a first cruise, it would be wonderful to experience them all. If I were in your shoes, that's what I'd try to do. If you have to go on a wait list for early dining, it's still worth a shot. And if you get onboard and find out that you're still at late dining, you can make a same-day request for a switch. The dining change location will be listed in your first day navigator. If you prefer the late dining and don't want to try to get early dining, don't fret - it's still going to be a wonderful time, and enchanted garden is often open for lunch, in which case, I would skip that one.

We have found that the "Pamper Package" is easy to reserve on the first day - and there is sometimes even a special price for it. My husband has signed up for it on the first evening either before or after dinner, depending on your dining time, and he had no problem making a reservation. He thought it was a great way to begin the cruise! To keep the payment separate and simple, you can go to guest services and credit your stateroom account for the approximate price of the spa package they choose (or call and put money on the stateroom account by phone). Alternatively, you can visit guest services on the final evening of the cruise and pay for what they spent. Someone else might have a better suggestion, but I think that would be the easiest thing to do, at least for me.

How much is the pampered package?

 

[Yumi696]

We skip enchanted garden when we go to Palo on the 3 night cruises.

Is there any particular reason for that?

If you can call and request early dining, you can book Palo for a later dinner for your parents - maybe around 7:30 or so. That would give them the ability to join the rest of the family at the early dinner reservation just for family conversation time, and have maybe a drink or an appetizer to tide them over. It would be great if they could see all three main dining rooms. They are each so unique and fun. Unlike the PP, Enchanted Garden is my personal favorite, so you can never tell in advance which one might be worth "skipping". On a first cruise, it would be wonderful to experience them all. If I were in your shoes, that's what I'd try to do. If you have to go on a wait list for early dining, it's still worth a shot. And if you get onboard and find out that you're still at late dining, you can make a same-day request for a switch. The dining change location will be listed in your first day navigator. If you prefer the late dining and don't want to try to get early dining, don't fret - it's still going to be a wonderful time, and enchanted garden is often open for lunch, in which case, I would skip that one.

We have found that the "Pamper Package" is easy to reserve on the first day - and there is sometimes even a special price for it. My husband has signed up for it on the first evening either before or after dinner, depending on your dining time, and he had no problem making a reservation. He thought it was a great way to begin the cruise! To keep the payment separate and simple, you can go to guest services and credit your stateroom account for the approximate price of the spa package they choose (or call and put money on the stateroom account by phone). Alternatively, you can visit guest services on the final evening of the cruise and pay for what they spent. Someone else might have a better suggestion, but I think that would be the easiest thing to do, at least for me.

Woah thank you so much for all of your help! I think that my parents are leery of Palo because it's an extra cost, and they would like to eat at all three rotational restaurants because it is our first time. I just want them to experience Palo because it seems like it gets such high praise and reviews. I'll see if I can convince them to get early dining so that they could do what you suggested...or maybe I can convince them that we should cruise again for a longer time

I'll try to reserve pamper package on the first day then as soon as we embark. Hope there's a couples option...

How much is the pampered package?

I don't know how much it would be now but on the personal navigator that I looked at from last year, it was $149 then...

 

[Trera]

We just like it the least of the three restaurants.

 

[diznymom]

We love all of the MDR restaurants. Therefore, we do Palo Brunch. That way, we get the best of both worlds. We have family time at dinner and don't have to miss anything.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We love all of the MDR restaurants. Therefore, we do Palo Brunch. That way, we get the best of both worlds. We have family time at dinner and don't have to miss anything.

Since OP is doing a 3 night Dream cruise, chances are there won't be a brunch. Depends if there's a sea day (or late port day).

 

[Yumi696]

We just like it the least of the three restaurants.

Ahh ok! Is it the food quality or the decor or...?

Since OP is doing a 3 night Dream cruise, chances are there won't be a brunch. Depends if there's a sea day (or late port day).

Haha I thought of that possibility! But yeah our 3 night cruise stops at Nassau and Castaway Cay, and there are no late port days unfortunately...

 

[Trera]

Just our least favorite overall. We have cruised the Dream numerous times, so we don't mind missing dinner now and then so we can partake in Palo.

 

[michellekcm]

You can call DCL and pay in advance for their massage etc. It just goes on their account as a credit, and a little gift card is left in the room for them. I usually say something like "Enjoy the massage" - they ask you what you want it to say. So if you know what you want them to book you can just pay that on it.

 

[kiford]

We love Palo's but I think, for a first cruise especially if it's only 3 or 4 days it's something you should skip. Our first cruise was 4 days and we skipped Triton's for Palo. We've never cruised on the Wonder since so I never got to experience Triton's. I regret that. I seriously recommend not going to Palo so that they can experience all three restaurants. If they do second cruise, then do Palo.

 

[Yumi696]

You can call DCL and pay in advance for their massage etc. It just goes on their account as a credit, and a little gift card is left in the room for them. I usually say something like "Enjoy the massage" - they ask you what you want it to say. So if you know what you want them to book you can just pay that on it.

Ooh thanks! That would be a great gift. Would I have to specify a specific spa service, do you think? Because I'd like to get them the pamper package which I don't think I can prepay for.

We love Palo's but I think, for a first cruise especially if it's only 3 or 4 days it's something you should skip. Our first cruise was 4 days and we skipped Triton's for Palo. We've never cruised on the Wonder since so I never got to experience Triton's. I regret that. I seriously recommend not going to Palo so that they can experience all three restaurants. If they do second cruise, then do Palo.

That's also another option... if only there was a sea day and we could get Palo brunch!

 

[gometros]

We love all of the MDR restaurants. Therefore, we do Palo Brunch. That way, we get the best of both worlds. We have family time at dinner and don't have to miss anything.

I couldn't remember if there was brunch on a 3 day (the only 3 day we did was our first ever cruise on the Magic), but I like this suggestion. You get the best of both worlds and done people will tell you the brunch is better.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I couldn't remember if there was brunch on a 3 day (the only 3 day we did was our first ever cruise on the Magic), but I like this suggestion. You get the best of both worlds and done people will tell you the brunch is better.

Most 3 night cruises don't have a sea day. But a few do. If there's a sea day - there's a brunch served.

 

[michellekcm]

Ooh thanks! That would be a great gift. Would I have to specify a specific spa service, do you think? Because I'd like to get them the pamper package which I don't think I can prepay for.

I don't believe so. I had booked it in advance, but it just goes on as an onboard credit, so technically my mother could have cancelled her massage and used the money for something else.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Don't skip the three resturants

 

[Yumi696]

I don't believe so. I had booked it in advance, but it just goes on as an onboard credit, so technically my mother could have cancelled her massage and used the money for something else.

Ahh ok thank you so much! I think I'll have to do that...

Don't skip the three resturants

Haha yeah the restaurants look amazing!

Most 3 night cruises don't have a sea day. But a few do. If there's a sea day - there's a brunch served.

I couldn't remember if there was brunch on a 3 day (the only 3 day we did was our first ever cruise on the Magic), but I like this suggestion. You get the best of both worlds and done people will tell you the brunch is better.

Unfortunately we don't have a sea day.

But this might be incentive to go on another Disney cruise with a longer itinerary!

 

[gometros]

Ahh ok thank you so much! I think I'll have to do that...


Haha yeah the restaurants look amazing!



Unfortunately we don't have a sea day.

But this might be incentive to go on another Disney cruise with a longer itinerary!

There you go! That's how we started. A 3-day on the 5th sailing of the Magic and will be going on our 13th cruise in June. Haven't done anything less than a 4-day since.

Back to your original question, since brunch is our of the question, I would skip the dining room that has lunch on embarkation day (Enchanted Garden?). This way, you at least get to experience it.

 

[Yumi696]

There you go! That's how we started. A 3-day on the 5th sailing of the Magic and will be going on our 13th cruise in June. Haven't done anything less than a 4-day since.

Back to your original question, since brunch is our of the question, I would skip the dining room that has lunch on embarkation day (Enchanted Garden?). This way, you at least get to experience it.

Haha I'm hoping it becomes tradition! I'd also like to experience Royal Caribbean because of their rock climbing and ziplining, but Disney cruises sound soooo amazing and I can't wait to sail!

So on embarkation day, you're saying that instead of going to Enchanted Garden, we should eat at Palo for lunch? Is that possible?