Embarkation day: Those first couple hours

[kiford]

Actually, even for regular shoes that's a good idea about the socks - we put socks and even deodorants or hairbrushes -- anything long or bulky -- into our shoes to save room.

Also prevents the shoes from being squished and damaging them.

 

[mousefan73]

Our first cruise is coming up. This is my agenda in my head. Again never been there so I hope this is possible

1. PAT of 10:45. Hope to be on ship before noon ( can anyone comment if possible?)
2. 12ish Check out atrium and go to Canbanas and hope no crowds.
12:45 head to aquaduck if no crowds.
13:30. Room take pics before we destroy it. Hang decorations out. Unpack FE gifts for day one. Order room service cheese tray, open wine.
3:00. Check out kids open house. Get Millienium Falcon shot.
3:30 FE group pics meet-up


Any experienced folks feel free to comment if my timeline will work!

We have no needs to sign up for things. All set with M&Gs etc.

Maybe a senses tour in there we will add on.

 

[RedSox68]

Our first cruise is coming up. This is my agenda in my head. Again never been there so I hope this is possible

1. PAT of 10:45. Hope to be on ship before noon ( can anyone comment if possible?)
2. 12ish Check out atrium and go to Canbanas and hope no crowds.
12:45 head to aquaduck if no crowds.
13:30. Room take pics before we destroy it. Hang decorations out. Unpack FE gifts for day one. Order room service cheese tray, open wine.
3:00. Check out kids open house. Get Millienium Falcon shot.
3:30 FE group pics meet-up


Any experienced folks feel free to comment if my timeline will work!

We have no needs to sign up for things. All set with M&Gs etc.

Maybe a senses tour in there we will add on.

One suggestion, once you board, try to go around the atrium and shops area and take pictures. There are no people around (for the most part) and you can get some great "empty" pictures of store fronts, walkways and decor. And when you get to the embarkation buffet, have your camera ready to take pics of the wonderful fruit and ice carvings they will have at the entrance and throughout the buffet!

 

[Bonnie1222]

Once we get onboard, but before we get to the room at 1:30,
1. We look for our favorite bartender who is usually at the Bon Voyage bar
2. we head to Enchanted Garden for a quiet lunch.
3. we go to the location for dining changes to confirm we have a table for 2 and are assigned to the dining rotation with our favorite head server.

On embarkation day, after I first get access to my cabin, and before the safety drill, we...
1. Take pictures of the room,
2. I decorate the door
3. DH gets the beer in the fridge to get cold and lock up the wallets, passports and any other valuable items in the safe
4. Unpacks our carry-ons and the luggage if it is there
5. If there is time, we order an All Hands on Deck from room service before we go to the DVC Member Celebration where we get my annual character picture (the only one I usually do). If we don't have time we order the all Hands on Deck the DVC event.
6. Oh, and we text pictures to friends ... saying wish you were here.


After the safety drill... We usually call the parents one last time to let them know we will talk to them in a week. Then we unplug.... the phones get turned off and locked away. Never to be touched again until Debarkation morning.

New things I am adding to my list starting our next cruise...

Go to the guest services or the port excursion desk to get signed up for the Ginger Bread House activity.
Stop by Senses for the Open House if we have time to get into the raffle (does anyone know if you can sign up for the raffle at the Open House and do you have to be there to win? It conflicts with DVC - and I won't miss that)

 

[southerngirl528]

do you have to be there to win? It conflicts with DVC - and I won't miss that)

I'm pretty sure you do have to be there to win. Others will confirm or correct this to be certain. Sounds like you have a great plan!

 

[ScooterScott44]

DW likes to attend the spa raffles and yes you have to be present to win. They do a dramatic little countdown if they pull your name and you do not answer!

ETA - and if you do not win they usually send an envelope to your stateroom with a small discount coupon for spa services.

 

[Dug720]

Once we get onboard, but before we get to the room at 1:30,
1. We look for our favorite bartender who is usually at the Bon Voyage bar
2. we head to Enchanted Garden for a quiet lunch.
3. we go to the location for dining changes to confirm we have a table for 2 and are assigned to the dining rotation with our favorite head server.

On embarkation day, after I first get access to my cabin, and before the safety drill, we...
1. Take pictures of the room,
2. I decorate the door
3. DH gets the beer in the fridge to get cold and lock up the wallets, passports and any other valuable items in the safe
4. Unpacks our carry-ons and the luggage if it is there
5. If there is time, we order an All Hands on Deck from room service before we go to the DVC Member Celebration where we get my annual character picture (the only one I usually do). If we don't have time we order the all Hands on Deck the DVC event.
6. Oh, and we text pictures to friends ... saying wish you were here.


After the safety drill... We usually call the parents one last time to let them know we will talk to them in a week. Then we unplug.... the phones get turned off and locked away. Never to be touched again until Debarkation morning.

New things I am adding to my list starting our next cruise...

Go to the guest services or the port excursion desk to get signed up for the Ginger Bread House activity.
Stop by Senses for the Open House if we have time to get into the raffle (does anyone know if you can sign up for the raffle at the Open House and do you have to be there to win? It conflicts with DVC - and I won't miss that)

Yes. You have to be present to win at the spa raffle.

 

[RedSox68]

I love the PP's comment about taking pictures of the room "before you trash it" -- those are the first words out of my husband's mouth when we enter the room One time we forgot and had suitcase guts strewn around the room -- so we waited until a day at sea when the room steward had made up the room and took what pictures we could as we moved all our junk out of the way!

 

[rawdata]

We also sign up for the Rainforest Pass in the Spa, esp if you don't win one in the raffle. It's worth it for the roomy showers alone!!!

 

[Dug720]

We also sign up for the Rainforest Pass in the Spa, esp if you don't win one in the raffle. It's worth it for the roomy showers alone!!!

You don't need the Rainforest Room pass to use the showers in the locker rooms - anyone can use those. The ones in the Rainforest Room are not designed for shampooing and regular shower stuff - they are more experiential with sounds, scents, and temperatures.

 

[Donna3271]

You don't need the Rainforest Room pass to use the showers in the locker rooms - anyone can use those. The ones in the Rainforest Room are not designed for shampooing and regular shower stuff - they are more experiential with sounds, scents, and temperatures.

Dug,
I think that is what they meant... the rainforest showers, not the ones in the locker room. And you are correct. Those are available to all.

 

[rawdata]

Well, both actually!!! The rainforest ones are nice. I have, however, just used the locker showers almost exclusively on a cruise as the ones in the room were a little bit snug for me...

 

[lbatesetc]

Presumably, I've already booked any activities I couldn't get online (which is the first thing I do) and already had lunch (the second thing I do) and hung out on the pool deck with a libation (what I do until my state room is ready). Once in the room I savor the quiet and privacy after hours of crowds. If the luggage has been delivered, I unpack. Then I settle in and relax on the veranda until they call muster.

Just wondering, so I don’t waste time in wrong line. Do you book onboard activities at guest service?

 

[WanderLit]

It's not that simple, I'm afraid.
Spa treatment or Rainforest pass? visit the the spa.
Want to see if there are any Remy or Palo reservations left? Go to Remy or Palo.
Looking for a Bibity Bobity Boutique appointment? Go to the BBB.
If in doubt, visit the Port Adventures desk if they can't get you signed up they can tell you where to go. They also have tickets for Princess gatherings, Character breakfasts, and meet and greets there.

 

[Dug720]

Dug,
I think that is what they meant... the rainforest showers, not the ones in the locker room. And you are correct. Those are available to all.

I wasn't sure. They mentioned the size, and I didn't find the ones in the Rainforest Room all that "roomy" - that's where I got confused. I love them, don't get me wrong. But they're not super "roomy". (And in case anyone is wondering, the RR showers (and loungers, steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs where applicable) ARE more or less public for anyone in the Rainforest Room - so bathing suits please! )

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

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...”

We typically get there long before our rooms are available. We usually hit Cabana’s first for lunch, then down to make tasting reservations, then swim/AquaDuck (Mom sits with carry-ons and a drink of the day!). Once our room is ready we drop off our stuff and then head to the Edge/Vibe open houses. Finally, we just wander the ship enjoying just being on board. Once in a while we stop and play shuffleboard.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

those cubes sound nifty! But what you said about shoe bags made me laugh because I literally use my bf's shoes as bags. They're size 15/16 and I usually put our socks and a few of my shorts/shirts rolled up into them. Packing really gets difficult when you have a giant coming along lol

I feel the same about DHs size 13’s. And they are so heavy. But I use parking cubes for the rest.

 

[southerngirl528]

the RR showers (and loungers, steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs where applicable) ARE more or less public for anyone in the Rainforest Room - so bathing suits please! )

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

Our first cruise is coming up. This is my agenda in my head. Again never been there so I hope this is possible

1. PAT of 10:45. Hope to be on ship before noon ( can anyone comment if possible?)
2. 12ish Check out atrium and go to Canbanas and hope no crowds.
12:45 head to aquaduck if no crowds.
13:30. Room take pics before we destroy it. Hang decorations out. Unpack FE gifts for day one. Order room service cheese tray, open wine.
3:00. Check out kids open house. Get Millienium Falcon shot.
3:30 FE group pics meet-up


Any experienced folks feel free to comment if my timeline will work!

We have no needs to sign up for things. All set with M&Gs etc.

Maybe a senses tour in there we will add on.

For PAT, typically they start boarding the ship around 11:5-11:30. We usually have a 10:30 PAT and are in boarding group 2 or 3. I would imagine with a 1:45 PAT you would get a boarding number around 5 or 6 and would still be on well before noon.

 

[braysmommy]

Since my DS loves swimming from the moment we get on until around 2:30 or 3 you can find us at the pool. One of the best times to enjoy an uncrowded pool. After we will wander down and see if our luggage is there and while DS showers I will start to unpack.