Can you get something to eat in between meals?

[dbkelly]

My 9 1/2 year old son can eat all day long. Do I have to pack snacks or can he get something to eat anytime he wants? I have never been on a cruise, so I am not sure what is meant by all meals included.

D.B. Kelly

P.S. Is it possible to be on a cruise and not gain weight? I just lost 6 lbs for the cruise, am I going to gain it back?

 

[Gretel]

yep, there is 24 hour a day room service and the snack places seem to be open all day

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

DS will be able to eat 24/7 if he wants to. Pluto's Dog House and Pinocchio's Pizza are open during the day and evening by the pools and the ice cream place is open too. You can get 24 hour room service also. The only thing I had trouble finding on the boat was chocolate and candy bars. If you like candy or want some healthy snacks (granola bars, cereal bars, peanuts)-bring some, otherwise leave everything else at home.

As far as gaining weight, if you tried really hard you might not gain anything. I watch my weight carefully, but have always given myself permission to eat what I want on vacation, thus I've gained 6-8 lbs each cruise. I work hard when I get home to take it off.

 

[dbkelly]

Wow!!!! However, I thought I read that people pack snacks. What would be the need? Maybe they were just talking about soda. So I shouldn't pack snacks, I just need to pack soda or juice boxes? Can you get any drink for free water, coffee, juice? Is the water bottled or spring water?

Thank You.

D. B. Kelly

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

You can get fountain water, milk and I think juice or punch at the deck 9 drink station. I would bring soda, juice boxes and bottled water. Also, bring some baggies to get ice at the drink station to keep your drinks cold when on excursions and CC.

 

[herrmfam24]

I'm pretty sure you can get juice in room service. Also, the water isn't bad at the station on deck 9. so i guess if you are particular about your water then that would be the only real reason to bring bottled water....just my oppinion. Also, the baggy thing is a good idea but for convinience, room service can bring you ice instead of having to go get it yourself.

 

[perdidobay]

I dieted and lost 16 pounds before my cruise in January and decided to enjoy myself and ate (and drank) all I wanted on our 4 day cruise. We did room service coffee and danish, then went to BBB for a buffet breakfast , then several "adult beverages", then buffett lunch and then more drinks and then late afternoon pizza or burgers to tide us over till late seating for dinner , then dinner, then MORE drinks, on and on, every day! By the last day we were thinking, another meal?!?!!! But I didn't gain a pound due to all the walking and stairs we took plus the all day in the water at CC burned off some of those yummy desserts
I am sure if you stay active you won't gain much if at all.
have a great cruise!

 

[dbkelly]

I am picky about my water, so I am going to pack bottled water, plastic baggies and nothing else.

Perdidobay, I just love your post. You made me feel much better. I have no intentions of dieting on vacation. I am somewhat active and I do not drink so I hope to only gain 1-2 pounds at most.

Can anyone else confirm for sure that there is free juice or punch on deck 9? My 4 year old refuses to drink milk and she is not very fond of soda. If I can get juice from room service, does that mean I have to go back to my room everytime my 4 year old wants a drink?

Thanks

D.B. Kelly

 

["Ginger"]

Sorry no juice or punch on deck 9 milk station. Your choices are Milk, Coffee, Hot Teas, Hot Choc. Water and cruished Ice. You can make Iced Tea at the milk station. If Topsiders is open for lunch you can go in there and carry out punch.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I took the personal sized Brita water bottle to Disney in Oct and on my NCL cruise in Dec. I had "clean" water and didnt need to lug around extra water bottles.

 

[Jobro2]

I wouldn't even bother packing snacks personally...there are hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, chicken tenders (!) , pizza ,ice cream and fruit available all day on deck 9. Then there's room service. I also found the water at the drink station to be just fine! Save your time and space and don't bother withthe snacks!!! Enjoy!

 

[cruisnfamily]

DBKelly:
My ds6 doesn't do soda at all. He does like water but would prefer juice or punch. I too was stressing over this when someone suggested bringing powdered drink mix to make up my own punch or whatever. What a great idea! I've heard the water is quite good.

 

[CarolAnnC]

You can purchase bottled water and Powerade on board ship too.

 

[dbkelly]

Thank you everyone! I also like the powdered drink mix idea.

D.B. Kelly

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by dbkelly

I am picky about my water, so I am going to pack bottled water

I am picky about my water too, so I carried on three cases of bottled water. Boy, did I wish I didn't. Bottled water is heavy! I had it on a luggage cart, but it still was a real pain hauling it from my car through the terminal onto the boat and up to our stateroom. And the drinking water onboard is just fine! Next time, I'll just bring some empty bottles, fill them at the Deck 9 beverage station, and chill them in my inroom fridge.

Note... the drinking water served in the dining rooms and at the Deck 9 beverage station is fine, but the water in your stateroom bathroom is not. The water in your stateroom is safe, but it hasn't been filtered for taste like the drinking water has.

 

[dbkelly]

Dave,

Can you confirm that the drinking water is filtered? My neighbor who is a doctor for infectious diseases warned me about the water on cruise lines, so now I am paranoid. My children are still young enough that they sometimes swallow the water when they are rinsing their mouths out after brushing.

I have packed 12 bottles in a soft cooler which is packed in my children's suitcase. Therefore, it will not be much trouble to bring the water. The only chance I take is that the luggage will be thrown around which might burst the plastic bottles. Then again it is only water and the clothes can dry. Do you still think I should forget the water?

D. B. Kelly

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by dbkelly

Dave, can you confirm that the drinking water is filtered? My neighbor who is a doctor for infectious diseases warned me about the water on cruise lines, so now I am paranoid.

dbkelly, all international cruise ships that call at ports in the U.S. are regularly inspected by the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). Among their tests, they make sure the water meets sanitary standards and contains a minimum level of chlorine. The Magic and Wonder both scored 99 out of 100 on their most recent CDC inspections! The stateroom water, as I mentioned, is safe, but it tastes like a swimming pool because there is so much chlorine. The drinking water onboard is equally safe, but has been filtered to remove the chlorine taste.

 

[dbkelly]

Dave,

Thank you!

D. B. Kelly

 

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

As long as the knees hold out... I'm going to take the stairs every time!
And yes, the powdered drink plan is the best. Crystal Light has some great sugar free flavors. (Plus, it leaves more room in the bags for our favorite beer and wine!) LOL

 

[dbkelly]

Thank you for the great tip about the stairs. I guess I don't realize how big the ship is and how many stairs that it must have.

D. B. Kelly