DCL Changes You'd Make

[Talking Hands]

More attention and coordination made for those with special dietary needs. In spite of my discussion with the special needs people at DCL I was not accommodated in my need for sugar free, aspartame free desserts. Yes they had sugar free desserts but they all had aspartame in them leaving me with no dessert except fresh fruit while the rest of my group enjoyed fabulous, decadent dessert nightly. This type of need cannot be accommodated if the dining staff isn't informed prior to the cruise since an acceptible substitute has to be arranged such as Splenda. And since I can't bring homemade prepared desserts I am out of luck. NO DESSERTS FOR ME AT ALL!

Sugar free, plain, iced tea included in the soda program. I know you can get it on deck 9 but it would be better if it could be gotten anywhere free. Some people just can't have Coke products like me so we either trek to deck 9 constantly or are out of luck.

Also better coffee. And Cuban coffee and Cafe con Leche. After all you are coming from Florida where Cuban coffee seems to reign supreme and I need my Cafe con Leche in the am.

Some better beer selections like Lowenbrau or Warsteiner or Francis Kahner. Also some German wine like Liebfraumilch and Reisling.

Better access to the private adult beach for those of us in wheelchairs. Never did find out how to get there and gave up and went back to the ship for the day. There was no way to sue the tram since everyone just piled in without paying attention to those in wheelchair and the castmembers were no help at all.

Closed captioning on the Disney movies on tv. Captioning for the shipboard announcements on tv. More captioning all together.
Reflective captioning for the movie theatre. Assistive Listening devices just don't cut it as they amplify everything and not just the speech so the speech gets lost. If I am watching a movie I want to know what is being said!

In room internet access would be nice although I did meet some nice people at the internet cafe. Also plugs on deck near the pool to plug my computer in so I can enjoy the sun and write my poetry at the same time.

A longer ramp exiting the ship. I know this is more for those of us that have mobility issues but that ramp is downright frightening to go down in a wheelchair. My husband was pushing a manual for me and when I saw that ramp I literally freaked out in fright. I didn't thnk he could control it on the incline. Fortunately a castmember handled it instead both leaving and returning.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
I don't think that smoking should be allowed anywhere inside the ship, period. DCL should provide designated smoking areas on Deck 10 and on designated private verandahs.

I attempted to enjoy Sessions one evening on a past cruise and ended up leaving after about ten minutes due to the invasiveness of the smoke. I don't think that it's quite fair that I have to choose between going without a form of entertainment or suffer ill consequences due to someone else's poor decision to smoke.

Good points.

I should have mentioned Sessions along with Rockin' Bar D on the Magic and the Cadillac Lounge along with WaveBands on the Wonder. People who are sensitive to smoke (or who just can't stand the smell) are prevented from enjoying the entertainment that thay paid for.

Also, after I posted the item from the DCL Web site about only two indoor smoking locations on each ship, I seemed to remember reading here that Diversions and the Cove Cafe may also have smoking sections.

I also like your idea of designated outdoor smoking areas (rather than allowing smoking everwhere except by the Mickey pool).

I don't begrudge smokers comfortable places to smoke, even an indoor smoking lounge. But the smoking locations should be places where smoke is never forced on those who are sensititve to smoke. And nobody should be prevented from enjoying the full range of entertainment options because of smoke in the air.

 

[GenieDana]

I once saw a sign that read something like: "If you don't mind my spraying disinfectant (Lysol) at you, then I don't mind you smoking around me." Fair is fair, isn't it?


Smoking should not be allowed in the indoor areas of the ship, period. It is selfish and rude to the non-smoking passengers, who have an equal right to breath clean air as smokers do to breath their smoke.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Please allow me to defend smokers. The smokers that I saw on the Disney Magic all followed the rules and limited their smoking to where it was allowed.

I don't have a problem with smokers, just with where smoking is allowed.

Carnival, with its huge fleet, has one 100% non-smoking ship, the Paradise. They haven't added any more non-smoking ships since the Paradise entered service in 1998 — which suggests the experiment is not an overwhelming business success. Cruise lines are businesses, and their customers include smokers.

DCL needs to make sure smokers are happy, just like any other passengers. I think DCL should provide pleasant indoor and outdoor smoking areas — designed so that the smoke doesn't bother anyone else.

Clearly, the current smoking situation on the DCL ships needs to be modified.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

There needs to be somewhere for the toddlers to play that is available all the time. Maybe a little playground area somewhere up by the sports stuff on deck 9. There just isn't that much for a two-year-old to do!

Also, I think on the Western cruise, drop the Key West day and have an extra day at sea.

 

[NicoleinFL]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
I think this is an excellent suggestion! Although, I would go a step further.

I don't think that smoking should be allowed anywhere inside the ship, period. DCL should provide designated smoking areas on Deck 10 and on designated private verandahs.

I attempted to enjoy Sessions one evening on a past cruise and ended up leaving after about ten minutes due to the invasiveness of the smoke. I don't think that it's quite fair that I have to choose between going without a form of entertainment or suffer ill consequences due to someone else's poor decision to smoke.

I totally agree..Unfortunately, some smokers think they are ENTITLED to make everyone else miserable. Just check out the 'No smoking" thread on the debate board!

As for Disney..I think they might do something about it if more people complained!

One more thing..after reading some of these posts, I think I will try a 4 day cruise on DCL instead of the 7 day. On my recent 3 night Carnival cruise (my first cruise ever), I didn't have any problems being entertained or finding food/snacks after hours. I am a little disapponinted to hear that DCL, which charges way more than Carnvial, does poorly in that area.

Nicole....Looking forward to cruising on the smoke-free Paradise!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
My experience on the Magic in 2002 was that the ventilation was poor, and smoke filled the entire room.

Smoking

should not be permitted in any indoor place on the ship.

 

[jlawall]

I have to agree about the "no smoking indoors" policy. I truly get physically ill from second hand smoke. I would certainly appreciate a "no smoking" policy in the indoor bars and lounges.

 

[westjones]

It would be nice to be able to go and enjoy the adult programs in the evening. We only went one time (not realizing that Disney would allow smoking in those areas), and since then have found ways to entertain ourselves away from those areas.

Maybe one day they will change the policy.

DJ