Best/Worst DIS Cruise Tips

[pwoodham]

We cruised on the Magic 11/27, and I used this forum extensively to plan our trip. Here's my best and worst of the tips I got here, plus some things I wish I'd known.

Best

1. Shoe holder to hang over the bathroom door to organize toiletries. There's just not alot of space in those bathrooms and this made keeping all our "stuff' organized a breeze. Great idea!!
2. Book REAS. What a set of treats! Welcome basket, couples massage, dinner at Palos, romantic turndown. It compelled us to schedule an "all adult" evening, and it was truly worth it!
3. Bring more than 1 swimsuit. Oh yeah.
4. Get to the formal evening photo sessions early. We were very glad we did when we saw the line later on!
5. Walkie-Talkies. With 5 boys, 3 of whom were free to come and go as they pleased from the clubs, we used these extensively.

Worst

1. Bring lunch from the ship on your shore excursion. Not on the Eastern!! Taking food from the ship (sandwiches, apples, etc) into St. Thomas or St. Maarten is actually illegal. It's not worth it and I would never suggest anyone try it.

Things I wish I'd known

1. CC shuts down at 4 pm. We planned alot that day, and didn't realize the Lagoon "closes." Two of our boys did not get to snorkel (we just did other stuff first) and cried all the way back to the ship. It broke my heart.
2. Limit shore excursions. This is more like common sense, but some in our group did so many excursions they couldn't really enjoy the ship the next day because they were exhausted.
3. Don't fret over dining rotation. I just didn't see how formal night would be okay at Parrot Cay instead of Lumieres. I realize now it just doesn't matter. Each theme night is pulled off in a wonderful way at each restaurant.
4. Teens at The Stack. My 13yods spent every possible moment at The Stack. He went on the Wild Side teen excursion at CC. All good, right? Well, I have no pictures of the family at CC that include him, and to be perfectly honest, I missed him. I will be planning a WDW visit next, so I'll get to see more of him on our family vacation. It was just too much of a good thing for me.

Big Thanks to everyone here. Your help with our cruise was priceless.

 

[Q's My Princess]

What is REAS?

Laurie

 

[AKB]

Great tips! Thank You ,
Kathy

 

[bratray]

REAS= ROMANTIC ESCAPE AT SEA

this information is per my travel agent at Dreams Unlimited, DU has great prices and professional, friendly agents

"The REAS is $339 for 2005 sailings. It can be added to the reservation at any time, but payment is needed at the time of booking if the reservation is already paid in full. The package includes dinner at Palo (with advance reservations), romantic turndown service performed while you are having dinner at Palo, champagne breakfast in bed (scheduled once you board the ship) and a spa treatment from a selection of two. The spa treatment choices are a 50-minute couple's Well-Being massage with aromatherapy oils or a combination treatment beginning with a 25-minute couple's Spa Taster (back of legs, back, neck and shoulder massage) followed by a 25-minute facial booster. You will also receive a gift basket that will be waiting in your stateroom when you board the ship.

Disney will book your reservations for brunch and tea at Palo as a courtesy. The service charge for these meals ($10 per person for brunch and $5 per person for tea) is not included in the package price.

You are able to request a dining rotation but they do not guarantee it (the likelihood that you will get it is good, but not guaranteed.)"

OP: those are some great tips, good and bad- thanks for taking the time to post them

 

[DrCavin]

What is REAS?

Laurie

From Disney web-site

Romantic Escape at Sea

Sip champagne as you sail on a romantic fairy tale voyage to The Bahamas or the Caribbean. Discover special Disney touches, like a romantic gift left in your room, priority seating at the exquisite Palo restaurant and an aromatherapy body massage at the Vista Spa & Salon.

 

[april riddle]

I totally agree with everything OP stated one more to add - pack half of what you want to bring - especially on the eastern when you have three sea days and castaway cay - you don't need a ton of clothes. Also I would add take an hour for yourself each afternoon at Quiet cove have a specialty coffee and watch the water go by.......................hmmm I can close my eyes and picture every afternoon around 5pm. Oh yeah don't miss the brunch at Palo's (I loved high tea as well)

 

[mamalle]

thanks for the tips. Im looking forward to our cruise!

 

[E&BMom]

Do you have any tips for attire for the different theme nights and Formal night. I am going on the March 26th magic 7 day cruise and am not really sure of what to expect. We went on the 4 day Wonder but it didn't have the Formal night or theme nights???

 

[Bmwdsny]

REAS= ROMANTIC ESCAPE AT SEA

"The REAS is $339 for 2005 sailings.

Is that per person or couple??

 

[hAm53]

the 399 is per couple. i plan on suprising the misses on her birthday cruise in 2006 with one.

 

[tvguy]

You have to read the Navigator carefully also. Mine from a year ago states that all services on Castaway Cay end at 4 pm, which makes sense since everyone has to be back on the ship by 4:30.
Interesting you were able to get the walkie talkies to work well enough to be worth it.
I guess our family of four travels light, we had plenty of room in the split bathrooms to store all our bathroom supplies.

 

[pwoodham]

Dressing for dinner - I found my dining attire on sale at JC Penney's for $100 with tax. I was able to get a top and skirt rather than one dress, so I wore the top again on semi-formal night. I won't wear it again until I go on another cruise, I'm sure. I also looked at GroupUSA (they have a website) and Windsor (they also have a website). Those prices were reasonable, but I am no longer a junior size.......maybe it would work for you.
On Pirate night, I just wore a blouse with palm trees on it and my trusty black slacks. Here's another tip I didn't mention that was a good one - bring black slacks and just change blouses for dinner. I did that and it worked great. I just took my one formal outfit, black slacks, and 5 nice blouses (including the "tropical" one).

Walkie-Talkies - They worked GREAT. I think the device that won't work well at sea is the cell phone. If your walkie-talkies work at the theme parks, they will work on the ship also, at least ours did.

Good lesson on reading the navigator. I'm sure it did say the time everything shut down, but we were too busy planning our day to look at it carefully. Live and learn.

 

[E&BMom]

Thanks for the attire tips!!!

 

[disneyfan551]

bump! Great thread! Wish I could afford the REAS!! It sounds wonderful.