Embarkation day: Those first couple hours

[southerngirl528]

quick question if i may ask, generally when does your luggage arrive at your cabin??

It really, really varies. I've had a bag or 2 at our door when the rooms are ready before, and then I've had it pushing dinner time before the last bag came. It is SO important to have essential items in a carryon.

Have fun on your first Disney cruise!!! You're gonna love it!

 

[dprincessmom]

Unpack the carry on and get any exchange stuff ready for delivery. We like to deliver the first evening so we don't have to worry about it later on.

Check the navigator for things we want to do and just take a minute to relax.

This is a great thread for newbies like myself to get ideas..... quick question if i may ask, generally when does your luggage arrive at your cabin??
Also after this Friday I won't be a newbie anymore!!! my first cruise sets sail from PC going to the bahamas!!!

Once the bags arrive (our experience was around 3 pm but I have heard of them arriving even later) we unpack and stow the luggage under the bed so we can switch to vacation mode.

 

[DCL_Wonder]

test out the toilet in my cabin.

 

[Jennifer777]

“On embarkation day, after I first get access to my cabin, and before the safety drill, I...”

1. Attempt to book any reservations I wasn't able to make beforehand.
2. Double check to make sure we got a private table for our family in the dining rooms and if not, try to arrange for that.
3. Have lunch
4. Unpack.

Basically I try to get everything settled so we can just relax and enjoy the rest of our week once the ship sets sail.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Pools are heated so jump on in! My girls loved being the only ones in the pool in NYC.

We are from the deep south adn cruise early spring. Below 75 is no dice even with pool heat!

 

[Numtini]

Funny thing, I just looked at my journal entry written the day we got back and it says we went to Cabanas then checked out the kids clubs then our room was ready and then says "and I don't have any idea what we did between then and the lifeboat drill."

I want to say our bags didn't arrive until after the sail-away party thingie, just in time to change for early seating dinner.

 

[shoes99]

DH has mobility issues so as soon as he is settled in the cabin after 1:30PM, I make sure his rented ECV has been delivered then I let him nap
while I roam the ship until it is time for the muster drill, then I unpack any suitcases that have been delivered.

 

[mevelandry]

Experienced Disney cruisers are asked to complete the following sentence for the benefit of us first-timers:

“On embarkation day, after I first get access to my cabin, and before the safety drill, I...”

Go have lunch at Cabanas.

 

[RedSox68]

1. Attempt to book any reservations I wasn't able to make beforehand.
2. Double check to make sure we got a private table for our family in the dining rooms and if not, try to arrange for that.
3. Have lunch
4. Unpack.

Basically I try to get everything settled so we can just relax and enjoy the rest of our week once the ship sets sail.

I remember one time we couldn't get Palo brunch (when we were still silver) and while family sat in the restaurant for embarkation lunch, I ran up to deck 9 and booked it and back for the rest of my lunch -- and it only took 15 minutes total!

 

[NC Mountain Cruiser]

“On embarkation day, after I first get access to my cabin, and before the safety drill, I...”

take a minute to enjoy the fact that my entire vacation is still in front of me.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

DH has mobility issues so as soon as he is settled in the cabin after 1:30PM, I make sure his rented ECV has been delivered then I let him nap
while I roam the ship until it is time for the muster drill, then I unpack any suitcases that have been delivered.

We are planning to be traveling with family with one mobility issue (adult).

• How and where do you rent an ECV? Is it the same as WDW ($50/day plus deposit)?
• Do you preposition your selves prior to the muster drill or do you wait and have the safety attendants do their job so they know the issues for movement during an emergency?

 

[hcox31]

We feed the two hangry little people. Then we check out the kids club for said hangry littles to burn some energy. Then we go to the room, where the family watches a movie and relaxes while I unpack.

 

[Aluvendale]

test out the toilet in my cabin.

Bring the appropriate gear.

 

[cheshie6]

On the Magic/Wonder ask the room steward to remove the small table in front of the couch to make more room. Then unpack until the DVC members meeting, just in case we win something.

This is good to know. I didn't know they could remove it! With LO, that'll make more room for the pac n' play

 

[lanejudy]

We are planning to be traveling with family with one mobility issue (adult).

• How and where do you rent an ECV? Is it the same as WDW ($50/day plus deposit)?
• Do you preposition your selves prior to the muster drill or do you wait and have the safety attendants do their job so they know the issues for movement during an emergency?

No, it is not like WDW. DCL does not provide ECVs or wheelchairs for rental; they do have a few wheelchairs for emergency needs. If you know your family member will need a mobility aide, you should plan to either bring one or rent from a 3rd party vendor. I know that Special Needs at Sea, Brevard Medical, and Walker Mobility will all deliver to the DCL terminal at Port Canaveral for you. Special Needs at Sea also works with most cruise terminals.

Call DCL Special Needs Department to discuss the person's needs during the muster drill. It's important that DCL know there is a guest with mobility needs, in the event of a true emergency they will plan to assist. They are great and will help you with any questions -- muster drill or otherwise. Phone: (407) 566-3602 Email: SpecialServices@disneycruise.com

Be aware that most stateroom doorways are not wide enough for an ECV, so if you don't have an HA room reserved someone may need to take the ECV to a general parking area. I believe those are deck 2 or deck 6, depending on which ship. ECVs cannot be parked in the (rather narrow) hallways.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[shoes99]

We are planning to be traveling with family with one mobility issue (adult).

• How and where do you rent an ECV? Is it the same as WDW ($50/day plus deposit)?
• Do you preposition your selves prior to the muster drill or do you wait and have the safety attendants do their job so they know the issues for movement during an emergency?

In Port Canaveral we rent from Buena Vista delivered to the Hyatt or Disney Hotel. In New York and on our WBPC out of PC cruise we use Special Needs At Sea. It averages $35 per day
with discounts for longer voyages. On one way voyages SNAS charges an extra $100 one way drop off surcharge. We are happy with Special Needs At Sea.
They deliver the ECV to your handicap cabin, or deck 6 on the Magic/Wonder ECV parking lot, or deck 2 on the Fantasy/dream. Biggest problem is getting the adult with mobility
issues from the terminal to the cabin. There might be DCL manual wheelchairs to use. If not I get on the ship, park DH in the atrium and go up to our handicapp cabin to get the ECV.
At the muster drill its only a problem if you have to be out on deck. They will park the ECV/family in one section, but don't count on getting out before the crowds. They push and shove.
This time we will just wait until the crowds disperse before trying to get on the elevator. You have to have a lot of patience using an ECV/wheelchair on the ships.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

At the muster drill its only a problem if you have to be out on deck. They will park the ECV/family in one section, but don't count on getting out before the crowds. They push and shove.
This time we will just wait until the crowds disperse before trying to get on the elevator. You have to have a lot of patience using an ECV/wheelchair on the ships.

I'm understanding you (the family) needs to get the person (with equipment) to the designated muster station?
Question: do the elevators work during the drill? Never used an elevator during the drill, just the back (crew) stairs. They don't shut down like a building during a fire drill?

Thank you for the information, it really helps.

 

[shoes99]

I'm understanding you (the family) needs to get the person (with equipment) to the designated muster station?
Question: do the elevators work during the drill? Never used an elevator during the drill, just the back (crew) stairs. They don't shut down like a building during a fire drill?

Thank you for the information, it really helps.

Family needs to get the wheelchair/ecv user to the elevator to get to the assigned muster station for the drill. Yes you can use the elevator. In case of a real emergency a crew member
will be assigned to your cabin to get them out safely. If they see you with a wheelchair/ecv they will direct you to the elevators. Only supposed to be used for folks who cant climb the stairs.

 

[serenitynow]

Family needs to get the wheelchair/ecv user to the elevator to get to the assigned muster station for the drill. Yes you can use the elevator. In case of a real emergency a crew member
will be assigned to your cabin to get them out safely. If they see you with a wheelchair/ecv they will direct you to the elevators. Only supposed to be used for folks who cant climb the stairs.

I use either my power chair or ECV on Disney cruises. We’ve always sailed on the Dream. At each muster drill a crew member has come over and introduced themselves as the crew mate assigned to “us” in the very unlikely case of emergency. That same crew member then has walked to the elevator and held one for us to exit the muster drill. Its very friendly and low key in tone.

 

[kiford]

Before I go to my cabin, I check in at Guest Services, or wherever the Navigator says, for various tastings (assuming I haven't been able to book online previously) and book them. Then go to my room, check my excursion tickets for accuracy and go to Port Adventures to correct if necessary (had to get them fixed twice), check out my dining rotation, check out the Navigator or app for plans for the cruise plus menus for said dining rotation, unpack carry-ons, go for lunch, wander around, take pictures (even though we have hundreds of the same pictures already), unpack (if bags are there), say hello to our room attendant, check out what movies are playing on TV and maybe watch some of the Disney channels for a bit, try on the lifevest to make sure I remember how to do it and that there's no problems with it (yes, always), check out where we are supposed to meet for the drill.

After the drill, head to deck party, after party grab some pizza or snacks, back to room, sit on verandah with snacks and champagne that was previously arranged for delivery to stateroom and watch us leave port.