Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[ChristyBrown]

A person on my cruise next week called and asked. You are allowed to do 1 item per person in your stateroom.

We were told that each stateroom was only allowed two items no matter how many people are in it when we took our cases to the desk to turn them in. They said they only make exceptions if there are more than two children booked in the stateroom.

 

[TheBanksFam]

If I join a fish extender (FE) group, what type of gifts would people suggest giving? What have you given and received?

There is a thread titled "Homemade FE Gifts - Part 2" that has tons of ideas. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2907032 Pinterest also has some great boards. We are making a travel game kit for our next cruise and made cruise specific bookmarks for our last. Our boys got autograph books, tote bags, magnets, key chains, buttons, silly bands, you name it. There are lots of options out their for the crafty and the not so crafty. I would definitely participate in your cruise FE exchange. We have some friends that are Castaway Club members and had never done it and we vaguely familiar with it. Our kids loved it and we did too! Plus making the FE gifts was a good way to get excited about the upcoming cruise.

 

[Dreams1968]

Wonderful. Thank you.

 

[RonMan2]

I had read on another post that the front desk won't accept items to sign (pillowcases etc) because of excessive demand. Has anyone been on a cruise lately to know if that's true?

We were on the Fantasy for Christmas and they took our pillow cases with no problems.

 

[disny_luvr]

We were on the Fantasy on November 30th and they took and signed two photo mattes for us. They both turned out great!

 

[Dreams1968]

Can't wait. Thanks for the hints on signing pillowcases and photo matts.

 

[tinkerone]

One more thing I didn't see posted... If someone offers you a drink, it's free! I didn't know that one until after the Sail Away party. The drinks are complementary at the Sail Away party and at the Captain's reception.

oh, i think you are very wrong on this and i would hate for a family to take drinks and then get a whooping bill they were not expecting. while the drinks at the captains reception are complimentary if they are being passed around on a tray they are not free at the sail away party.
they walk around with the trays in hopes that you will buy them in there special cups, which by the way cost more. you will be asked a ton of times at the sail away.

 

[Dug720]

oh, i think you are very wrong on this and i would hate for a family to take drinks and then get a whooping bill they were not expecting. while the drinks at the captains reception are complimentary if they are being passed around on a tray they are not free at the sail away party.
they walk around with the trays in hopes that you will buy them in there special cups, which by the way cost more. you will be asked a ton of times at the sail away.

Excellent point!!

I will say, if you really want the drink of the day in a special cup at the Sail Away Party, wait until just after it's started and they have usually dropped them to two for one. I'd bought for my sister and I, and literally about 10 minutes later they were two-for-one.

 

[Ancaster]

I imagine anytime they need to identify you and your stateroom, it's not free.
Same with drinks sent to your room in original containers eg; canned pop.

 

[LeahJH]

I imagine anytime they need to identify you and your stateroom, it's not free. Same with drinks sent to your room in original containers eg; canned pop.

This is not the case when eating breakfast or lunch in one of the MDR. They ask for a room number but there is not an additional charge.

 

[Ancaster]

If you buy fabric markers from a craft store eg; Michaels, they are less likely to distort or fade in the wash. You could always do a test run at home on throwaway clothing if you want to try Sharpies, etc.

Unless things have changed, we did 2 bags and 2 frame matts, it was 1 per person last year.

 

[mom4fun]

If you buy fabric markers from a craft store eg; Michaels, they are less likely to distort or fade in the wash. You could always do a test run at home on throwaway clothing if you want to try Sharpies, etc.

Unless things have changed, we did 2 bags and 2 frame matts, it was 1 per person last year.

The markers you want for fabric are called "stained" by sharpie brand.

 

[Bear3412]

...Unless things have changed, we did 2 bags and 2 frame matts, it was 1 per person last year.

My understanding it is 2 items per cabin, with the occasional exception if 3/4 young kids were in the sateroom.

Wonder if it is 2 items per cabin on new builds, and 1 items/person for classics? Just a guess.

 

[Ancaster]

This is not the case when eating breakfast or lunch in one of the MDR. They ask for a room number but there is not an additional charge.

I should add when they are offering something and the message was missed, for example, when you are distracted and the price was mentioned to the table or group at the beginning.
Safest bet for anyone is to ask if unsure.

 

[The Sasquatch]

We are going on the Dream for a 3 night cruise.. Can you get the pillowcase signed on the shorter cruises as well?

Yes, we have been on that cruise twice and no issue at all. I would just make sure you drop it off first thing.

 

[Ancaster]

Ours are made by Marvy Uchida.

Our local craft store also sells blank canvas bags, which I thought was practical because the kids take them to show and tell and use them at school. The frame mats were a bit of a pain to travel protected in cardboard, but I think they are better keepsakes than pillowcases or bags.

It could be they let little ones have their own, hence 4 from our room, not sure.

 

[whitfive]

Originally Posted by Dreams1968
I had read on another post that the front desk won't accept items to sign (pillowcases etc) because of excessive demand. Has anyone been on a cruise lately to know if that's true?


I think this should have said that items for signing are limited to two per cabin due to demand, not that they aren't doing it anymore. We are off the Dream today and had no issue.

 

[Ancaster]

If they stopped doing it, it's no big deal. You don't actually see them signing (it's probably the concierge staff ;-P).
You could take your items to work for your female colleagues to sign them and the end result would be the same, lol.

I forget, do they have individual character meets where they do signatures? I don't recall the princesses signing anything during pic sessions.

 

[Bear3412]

If they stopped doing it, it's no big deal. You don't actually see them signing (it's probably the concierge staff ;-P).
You could take your items to work for your female colleagues to sign them and the end result would be the same, lol.

I forget, do they have individual character meets where they do signatures? I don't recall the princesses signing anything during pic sessions.

It's definitely not the concierge staff signing items.

In fact, these folks who sign are well trained and I was told "you would be surprised how few of them are aboard each sailing."
Also this services is NOT done during their time off as was debated awhile back.

Each and every signature by the same character needs to appear identical as possible across the fleet/parks.
They work very hard to attain that consistency, whether or not it results.

 

[Ancaster]

I find it hard to believe they have dedicated staff for signing only. At least I've never seen that job posting .
So if they stopped doing it, they must be fired, lol... well, not lol, I'd hate to see anyone lose their job. Rather, whether they work at the concierge desk or elsewhere, I imagine it's one task they do out of other responsibilities and they are using templates.

Good point though they have to be the same sigs for the same characters.