Being prepared before boarding

[odomam]

This is our first cruise and I want to get everything I possibly can out of it. What are the things I can do before-hand? My fear is getting on board and not realizing the things I could have taken advantage of!

Any other suggestions for a first-timer? We cannot wait!

 

[kcashner]

First, realize that you cannot possibly do it all. Relax and have a good time. Are you doing 3,4, or 7 days? Which itinerary? It makes a difference in what there is to do. What age kids?

You will get a "welcome aboard" letter when you check in. This will tell you where to go for dining changes, reservations for Palo, spa, etc. Realize that only one of you needs to go to these things, so educate your DH appropriately.

My schedule when boarding is to be at the port about 11 (DCL transfers from WDW won't get you there till after 1). When on board, one of us goes to dining changes to be sure that we got our favorite server and request a change if we didn't. The other goes to Palo ressies. Then one to Spa ressies, the other to pick up Tea with Wendy tickets at Guest Services. Then Parrot Cay for lunch. After lunch, to the cabin to drop carry on bags, then register any kids for club/lab/stack. THen kids to the pool (it is virtually empty at this time), and I go to the cabin to unpack.

We usually have a Disboards meet at 3:15 or 3:30 (check under Cruise Meets to see if there is a thread for your date), then the mandatory safety drill at 4. After that, the fun really starts.

Big things...on 7 day, get Tea With Wendy tickets the first day if you want to go. They don't last forever.....look at the shore excursions and book in advance if you know what you want. You can book on board if there are openings. If you have any budding pianists, dancers, etc. consider the family talent show. It's totally low pressure, fun, a chance for the kids (or adults) to show off). Go to the main stage shows. Some have matinees if you want/need to free up your evenings. Go to Palo for at least one thing. Take kids to the programming on the first full day. Hopefully, they'll make friends and want to go back--that way, you can have a vacation too. Do the rainforest in the spa at least once.

Remember to make time to relax.

 

[webray]

Make sure you documents are completely filled out before you arrive...that way you won't hold up your party..or anyone in line behind you. Have all ids, birth certificates/passports in hand and know which credit card you are using.

 

[mmouse37]

I whole heartedly second the "have your paperwork filled out before getting in line" suggestion. We found that to be the most annoying aspect of checking in....people would not have any of their paperwork filled out and it would hold up the line for everyone.

Now DCL has CM's walking the line making sure paperwork is filled out correctly and answering any questions people may have.

They also have CM's at tables before you get in the line to help with filling out your forms.

Keep your camera availabe at all times for impromptu character spottings....like in the terminal!!!

Have a great cruise.

MJ

 

[Tera]

I was going to have my DH drop me and the two DD's off at the terminal and then drop off the rental car while we get in line. Does he need to be with us to get his KTTW card or can I get all our stuff and get in line without him??

 

[mmouse37]

You can check in with your DD's and wait at the terminal for your hubby to return (we wait on the boarding line after we check in) Make sure he has photo ID so he can get into the terminal (you keep his cruise docs with you) and then he can just pick up his KTTW card from the CM who checked you in when he comes back to the terminal.

MJ

 

[Tera]

Thanks MJ - I'm just wondering if it would be easier for him to drop us off and we check in or just wait until he gets back and all check-in together. Doesn't seem like it'll matter except he'll have to wait in line by himself versus all of us together. Do the kids need to check-in too or can they walk around?

 

[jrabbit]

Originally posted by odomam
This is our first cruise and I want to get everything I possibly can out of it. What are the things I can do before-hand? My fear is getting on board and not realizing the things I could have taken advantage of!

Any other suggestions for a first-timer? We cannot wait!

To find out whats going on during the next day of your cruise, be sure to check your Personal Navigators each evening. It details the activities for the next day - Bring a Highlighter so you can mark the activities you want to participate in.

You will recieve a navigator when you check in at the terminal. It is a brief list of the embarkation days activities. You will find a more complete navigator in you room when you are allowed to go there. Be sure to check them both out.

Here is a list of links to DCL resources

DCL Official Site
Dave's DCL Tribute
Welcome Aboard the Disney Cruise Line (see links on the left)

copy this line into your browser and take out the spaces after the "www" and before the "com" to the end of it:
www .CastawayClub. com
(because the link is now a bad word )

Ok now comes my First Cruise tips....
*Get to the port by 11am. Gives you time to look around the beautiful building, go outside and look at the ship (most of the time you are on the ship looking down, this way you get a good look at how huge it is), look at the model of the ship in the terminal and get your pictures with the Disney Characters.
*Try items for dinners that you 've never had before - if you don't like it, they'll bring you something else
*Go to the shows in the Walt Disney Theater
*Go to the family shows between the dinner seating times
*Go to the "adult" shows later in the evening
*Walk around deck 4 at night with your significant other (but remember to use your room for the really mushy stuff )
*Send yourself a postcard from every port (wish we had done this)
*Take the stairs not the elevators - you will work off some of the food you've been eating and have more room for desserts
*If on a 7 nighter - go to Palo for Brunch - it's wonderful
*Check out the daily Personal Navigator for the days activities, note start time AND location
*Don't stress the little stuff and if anything major goes wrong - try and go with the flow.
*If you don't have the kids in tow - try and visit the adult beach on Castaway Cay for some quiet relaxation.
*Remember - you can't do it all - you may have to make some tough decisions on what not to do (the easiest thing for me to skip is the movies because I can see them at home)
*On a sea day when the ship is cruising at 20knts, into a stiff breaze, go up to deck 10 forward and walk in front of the wind screen that's protecting the basketball/sports court. Just be sure to hold onto any hats, glasses and small children (I can fly!). It always makes me laugh!

 

[PoohJen]

Wear (or bring in carry on) your bathing suits to swim when you get onboard, while your rooms are still being prepared!

If you think you'll want spa and Palos appointments, consider doing the Romantic Escape at Sea package (REAS) - you book it w/ your TA or w/ Disney in advance, so can avoid making reservations when you get onboard.

You can check out navigators on the dcltribute site (www/com) mentioned above. (Really, its a bad word?? )

Keep reading these boards!!! Lots of tips! Before long you'll be obsessive- compulsive about your cruise like the rest of us!

oh, don't forget to check the "cruise meets" thread above, to look for folks going on your very cruise!)

Happy Planning!

 

[jrabbit]

(Really, its a bad word?? )

DCLTribute is not a "bad" word, "www CastawayClub com" is the bad word. When you type it in with the period it comes out like this: ********************** It's not really a bad word (like the 7 word you can never say on tv - ok so the seven words have been whittled down some over the last 20 years ) it's just been censored here on the DIS.

 

[crisi]

If you board early (recommended, particularly if you want specific Spa or Palo ressies, but besides that, who doesn't want to spend as much time on the ship as possible), keep in mind you will carry your carryons until 1:30 or so. If you get to the terminal at 11:00 and the ship starts boarding at 11:45, you'll have toted that darn thing around, setting it from spot to spot, for two and a half hours. So pack it relatively light, if possible, or if heavy (for instance, you have a lot of electronics you don't want to check or are bringing your own pop or liquor), consider using something small with wheels.

Consider knowing two things when you board... one, they will announce you by name and home town "The Smith family of Albany, New York" so keep that in mind - first time cruisers often don't have a clue why they are being asked for name and hometown. The other, you will have three choices for lunch if you board at lunch time - Parrot Cay, Topsiders (Beach Blanket Buffet on the Wonder), or to grab something from the fast food windows. Since you may be a little overwhelmed, it helps to know where you are going when you board - particularly if you aren't going straight to the Palo line. The cruise staff directs people to Parrot Cay first, as it fills (when the ship is about 1/6th full), they start directing to Topsiders, then Parrot Cay may start to empty again. But if you have a preference, you don't need to go where directed.

 

[EileenAmI]

I TOTALLY agree with jrabbit on Palo, and the romantic walks. Also, here's a little tip for your shower and bathroom necessities...buy on of those shoe holder thingies that hang over the back of the door. You can get them at Target or Walmart. There are plastic pockets to hold about 5 or6 pairs of shoes. We hung it over the inside of the bathroom door, and put out shampoos, soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, etc. in the pockets, so nothing would clog up the tub or sink. It wokred beautifully!

Enjoy your cruise, and make sure you go to the Palo brunch! (Try the "homemade" strawberry jam....DELISH

 

[JC Butterfly]

I am so glad the OP asked this question, I love all of these tips!!

Welcome to the DIS odomam!

 

[kcashner]

Your kids do not have to stand in line to check in. If they are old enough, they can stand in the boarding line or check out the ship model, the characters, etc. in the terminal.

It really does save time for DH to drop you off then return the car. First, depending on time of day, you may not be at the front of the line when he returns. Secondly, when he returns, you have already completed his check in process. All he needs to do is to find you so that you can tell him which line has his KTTW. He just needs to politely move to the front of the line and wait till the first person in line is finished. Just move to the desk and flash his photo ID. The CM will hand him the KTTW and he will join you in the boarding line--NO NEED to wait for the whole line thing again. Since he literally takes 3 seconds of the CMs time, she will effectively allow him to "cut" to the front of the line.

 

[odomam]

Thanks for the tips - these are great! We are going on the 4-day cruise - Wonder 9/26-30. My daughter is 4 and I know we will have a wonderful time! We cannot wait!

 

[Tera]

Thanks kcashner - That helps a lot. My kids will be 12 and 10, so old enough to hang out in line for the ship if it's getting long. It'll be so much easier for DH to just drop us all off and do the car thing by himself. That makes the beginning of our vacation less crazy

 

[Susan Prescott]

Hi, we went on the 7/17 Western. There were 8 of us. I usually do all of the checking in for everybody and get everyone's KTTW cards. We have 5 adults and 3 children. This time, the CM insisted she had to see all of the adults and match them with their photo id's. I had all of the adults' licenses on me and obviously, they would have had to have shown them when we arrived at the port. I don't remember this happening on our two prior cruises with Disney. Maybe it's something new?

 

[Tera]

I'm sure with all the new security issues, they check people in with a little more caution.

 

[Hygiene99]

HAVE to have photo Id to get in the Building...