Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[Lukmag812]

What items have they refused to sign? Thanks!

 

[dizzyr]

I just wanted to post a picture of what I had signed at guest services. It was a plate I got from WDW for $12.95. Guest services asked who I wanted to sign and I said as many as possible. She said usually they only do fab 5 or princesses but she would see what she could do. This is what came back to our stateroom. Admittedly it had Princess Tiana twice but I still love it.

Here is the LINK to the plate.

That looks awesome!

 

[DizDaddy]

Absolutely! When you drop it off to GS you complete a form that accompanies your item. There is a comment sections available and you can write in portrait/landscape easily.

Also, from experience and to reiterate what I believe I saw early in this thread......use a pencil and create a border on the mat or they will sign right up to the edge, and then it will get lost in your frame. Ask that they stay inside of the border.

 

[neg58]

Also, from experience and to reiterate what I believe I saw early in this thread......use a pencil and create a border on the mat or they will sign right up to the edge, and then it will get lost in your frame. Ask that they stay inside of the border.

Or painter's tape.

Nancy

 

[Susiesark]

Mum from Oz, that plate is awesome! Did they draw the middle Mickey? Or did it come like that with the Mickey in the middle? Love it!

Since you are local, pretty sure I saw these at World of Disney, Downtown Disney, DLR.

 

[ksloane]

Or painter's tape.

Nancy

That's what we used, and I wrote along the edges of the tape which direction to sign.

 

[tweis]

On the room service front. I ordered room service almost 14 straight nights on the Wonder and not once did I ever get a slip to sign, so that meant that to leave my gratuity i would need to have small bills. Glad I did or those poor room service runners would not have gotten a tip from me if I did not have my stash of 1's. so have a stash of small bills is a great tip in my book.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

This must vary from ship to ship. We have sailed twice on the Dream and have always been provided with a slip. We did specify that we needed them to bring the slip ONCE on our most recent cruise, but never before that.

Thank you so much for this info. I always want to order room service but I never remember to bring ones with me. A couple 5s if I'm lucky. So glad I can just charge a tip to the room.

We rarely have singles so we always just sign the slip. When phoning in your order, you can request the slip if you want to make certain that they bring one, but I haven't found it necessary. I did request it once because we were out of singles and I wanted to make sure and leave a tip but that was once out of several orders.

Same here. Never got a slip to sign. But I haven't been on the Dream or the Fantasy. My last cruise, I sailed with my mom, her first cruise. We just had a spot where I put our $1s in an envelope and I just told her how to tip. Worked out great.

It must be the difference between the "classics" and the "dream" class because 2 cruises on the Dream and we have always been presented with the slip.

We were on the dream and asked for a slip and were provided one. I don't know if the slips are a ship specific thing or if you have to ask. We didn't know about the small bills tip before our last cruise so were unprepared. I would think that they would absolutely provide a slip if asked but would certainly prefer the cash.

We bring very little cash with us and actually thought on our first cruise that we wouldn't be able to get room service since we didn't have small bills but we found that not to be the case at all. Both cruises on the Dream and we have always been given the slip. Sometimes we pay in cash but if we are out of small bills or need it for something else, then we just sign the slip. I figure they prefer us to leave a tip on the slip versus no tip at all because we are out of cash.

Just to clarify, I would never not leave a tip. Other posters mentioned them preferring cash over the slip, so I was simply stating that they probably prefer the slip over no tip at all.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

The discussion of slips for room service is so interesting: we have been on the Wonder, the Magic and the Fantasy and order a LOT of room service, and have never gotten a slip to sign.

Another cruise secret that worked for us on our recent cruise was Cabanas on disembarkation morning. We tried that tip this time and loved it. We have always disliked the breakfast in the MDRs the last day: rushed, grumpy-ish servers, pre-plated food. While it was not "advertised" that you could go to Cabanas, we just showed up there when we were ready and nobody questioned us. The food selection was better and we could go at our own pace. I will do this from now on!

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

We usually bring a strap or two of $2 bills.

They love them because they are usually hard to find and some cultures consider them to be lucky....at least it is something different and when we are able to get brand new crisp bills they love them even more.

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

That plate idea is awesome. Looking around I also found this one...
Animator's Palette Appetizer Plate - Disney Cruise Line
Very nice and a DCL item and also one of our favorite restaurants.

Sells for $21.95
http://www.disneystore.com/animators-palette-appetizer-plate-disney-cruise-line/mp/1318967/1000352/

 

[thepops]

Another cruise secret that worked for us on our recent cruise was Cabanas on disembarkation morning. We tried that tip this time and loved it. We have always disliked the breakfast in the MDRs the last day: rushed, grumpy-ish servers, pre-plated food. While it was not "advertised" that you could go to Cabanas, we just showed up there when we were ready and nobody questioned us. The food selection was better and we could go at our own pace. I will do this from now on!

Strange.... We did the MDR for both cruises and didn't feel rushed at all. In fact both our regular and assistant waiters were there and took great care of us. No pre-plated food, it was a buffet. Maybe not a big as what Cabanas usually has, but more than enough selections for us to eat and then head out.

 

[richmo]

Any server will tell you that disemb/embarkation day is the most stressful for them, and the longest. On our two cruises, we went to the main dining room for breakfast the last day and had our usual server. He was very cordial and efficient. While I wouldn't say we were rushed, don't expect the "above and beyond" service you might get the rest of the cruise. Everyone at DCL, including the servers, want you off that ship as quickly as possible, so they can get it ready for the next cruise just a few hours later. You say your goodbyes to your serving staff the night before...pretty much the same to the stateroom staff, now that I think about it.

 

[rescuetink]

That plate idea is awesome. Looking around I also found this one...
Animator's Palette Appetizer Plate - Disney Cruise Line
Very nice and a DCL item and also one of our favorite restaurants.

Sells for $21.95
http://www.disneystore.com/animators-palette-appetizer-plate-disney-cruise-line/mp/1318967/1000352/

Love this plate!! But their sold out with no ondication as to when they'll have them again!!

 

[barbmouse]

This is a great thread!! subbing

 

[ahain]

We're very new to cruising - taking our cirst cruise on DCL last October (3 night Bahamas). We enjoyed it so much that we're scheduled a 7 night Eastern Caribbean in April, 2014. Interestingly, MOST of the secrets that I have learned so far, I still didn't know about after we disembarked. It was not until I found the DISboards forum that I come to know of many of these tidbits:

I didn't know:
- that room service was available without extra charge (except gratuity)
- that you could eat breakfast and lunch in main dining rooms (MDR) without making any reservations - we always just assumed those meals had to be at the on-deck buffet!
- that you could bring pillow cases, plates, etc., along with markers, to guest services when you get on the ship and have the characters sign them
- about Fish Extenders (FE) - they sound like so much fun! We're already planning our homemade gifts!
- about door decorating and that there are wonderful, talented designers (DISigners) on DISboards that will make name-fills, signs, luggage tags, etc. for travelers for FREE

Yup - I'm a cruise newbie and I'm a little embarassed that I didn't learn about these things earlier on....thanks for all the wonderful tips!

 

[TexMomma]

New to the DCL board, going on the Wonder out of Galveston 11-16-13. What are Fish Extenders?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

New to the DCL board, going on the Wonder out of Galveston 11-16-13. What are Fish Extenders?

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184281&postcount=2

 

[PoohJen]

New to the DCL board, going on the Wonder out of Galveston 11-16-13. What are Fish Extenders?

Hey TexMomma, welcome to the DIS! Have you seen this thread especially for your 11/16 sail date? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46910567


My favorite tip of all time is to bring an "over the door shoe holder". So handy for all the little things - sunblock, sunglasses, lipbalm, hair brush, dollar bills, camera. More of a "tip" than a "cruise secret".

Best cruise secret - we have always brought our own rolling cooler with bottled water, wine, beer - just don't fill it with ice prior to boarding. The room stewards have always kept it filled with ice for us - without us even asking! I need to find out if this (bringing stocked cooler onboard) is still allowed!

 

[jahber]

Hey TexMomma, welcome to the DIS! Have you seen this thread especially for your 11/16 sail date? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46910567

My favorite tip of all time is to bring an "over the door shoe holder". So handy for all the little things - sunblock, sunglasses, lipbalm, hair brush, dollar bills, camera. More of a "tip" than a "cruise secret".

Best cruise secret - we have always brought our own rolling cooler with bottled water, wine, beer - just don't fill it with ice prior to boarding. The room stewards have always kept it filled with ice for us - without us even asking! I need to find out if this (bringing stocked cooler onboard) is still allowed!

Those tips were both good ones in the past, but DCL has asked guests not to bring over the door hangers an more and they have been cracking down on rolling coolers. Even empty ones. Good thing this thread is here, though. I've heard some interesting alternatives to both, here and in other threads!

 

[NY Disney fan]

Hey TexMomma, welcome to the DIS! Have you seen this thread especially for your 11/16 sail date? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46910567


My favorite tip of all time is to bring an "over the door shoe holder". So handy for all the little things - sunblock, sunglasses, lipbalm, hair brush, dollar bills, camera. More of a "tip" than a "cruise secret".

Over the door shoe holders are no longer allowed on the ships b/c they ruin the doors.