Embarkation/Debarkation meals

[realityland]

I've read SO many good tips, that it is hard to keep track of everything. So, apologies if this has been answered a gazillion times before.

On the Dream, where is the best place for embarkation and debarkation meals?

 

[mikesmom88]

I would like to know too!

Thanks

 

[jdb in AZ]

When you get on the ship, it depends on how many people are there ahead of you. If the dining room is full, you go to the buffet. I prefer the buffet anyway so I can pick and choose a wide(!) variety and not wait and order. If you have a lot of carry-ons that can't be taken to your room til 1:30, it would be simpler to have sit-down dining -- if you can, or assign someone in your group to babysit the luggage at the table while the rest of you go through the buffet.

On disembarkation morning, you are assigned to eat in the dining room where you had your last dinner. Or you can go through the buffet. No room service is available (except concierge) the last morning, but you can take food to your room the night before.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

They will usually try and steer you to the buffet, even if the MDR is not full. Just tell them you want to wait. We never waited more than a minute and the MDR was usually not more than 1/2 full.

Besides that, it is just a matter of your dining preference. Both places will have the same stuff and the same basic view.

 

[Zandy595]

Cabanas is always our restaurant of choice for both embarkation lunch and debarkation breakfast. As a matter of fact we eat breakfast and lunch there everyday, except for CC day. I like the atmosphere at Cabanas better than the MDR's.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

We loved Cabanas for embarkation. It's a great way to fully immerse yourself in the cruise right away. You can choose outside or inside dining and just being on the pool deck right away feels festive and tropical. Plus, you are higher up so the views are great. As I understand it, both options are buffet but Cabanas has more of a selection. If I wanted a quiet, more peaceful setting, the MDR might fit the bill but I don't see us choosing the MDR ever over Cabanas for embarkation.

 

[kcashner]

The embarkation lunch is always a buffet, regardless of where you sit to eat it. If you go to Enchanted Garden, beverages including refills will be served to you. If you go to Cabanas, you will have to get up to get your beverage refills.

Which is "better" is totally up to you. We prefer to sit down and have our beverages served. This also means that we are escorted to a table rather than finding our own.

On disembarkation morning, it really depends on your time schedule. You will have an assigned breakfast seating based on your last night dinner location and whether you are main or late seating. If that assigned time doesn't work in your schedule, you can eat at the pool deck buffet. We've done both--again, I prefer the sit down if it fits our needs.

 

[Momma2Jax]

Just another option: by the time we got on board, we were hungry, DS was overstimulated, and we just wanted a simple quiet place to eat and breathe for a second. We just grabbed burgers and hot dogs from the pool-side places, and went to the opposite end of the ship on the pool deck. It was quiet, hardly anyone was around, and we were able to eat and relax for a bit! I think we will do this from now on! I was no about to try a buffet with the stroller, carry-ons, and overstimulated child!

We did the MDR breakfast on disembarking day for the same reason. I avoid crowds and stress, as a rule.

 

[SonicGuy]

Just another option: by the time we got on board, we were hungry, DS was overstimulated, and we just wanted a simple quiet place to eat and breathe for a second. We just grabbed burgers and hot dogs from the pool-side places, and went to the opposite end of the ship on the pool deck. It was quiet, hardly anyone was around, and we were able to eat and relax for a bit! I think we will do this from now on! I was no about to try a buffet with the stroller, carry-ons, and overstimulated child!

We did the MDR breakfast on disembarking day for the same reason. I avoid crowds and stress, as a rule.

Smart momma!

 

[realityland]

Just another option: by the time we got on board, we were hungry, DS was overstimulated, and we just wanted a simple quiet place to eat and breathe for a second. We just grabbed burgers and hot dogs from the pool-side places, and went to the opposite end of the ship on the pool deck. It was quiet, hardly anyone was around, and we were able to eat and relax for a bit! I think we will do this from now on! I was no about to try a buffet with the stroller, carry-ons, and overstimulated child!

We did the MDR breakfast on disembarking day for the same reason. I avoid crowds and stress, as a rule.

I like, I like!

 

[Zandy595]

We were practically alone in Cabanas on embarkation day. No stress at all. I guess this probably only happens if you're on the ship early enough though.

 

[zstyles]

Its not that hard, we just got back from our first cruise. We just went around and walked the ship, Goofy's pizza place was open, so was the quick service taco/burger ship by Mickeys Pool..we ate that than went to dinner that night...on the last morning we had room service delivered (we were concierge) and it made it so nice as a friend of ours said the breakfast was crazy, plus trying to wake up early and go to eat...

One tip, you can order cereal and milk the night before(we had a fridge in our room) but we had planned on just doing that. But the last day your off the ship so early that you could even just grab something at the airport or somewhere else after you get off if you cant make a meal...

 

[zstyles]

Its not that hard, we just got back from our first cruise. We just went around and walked the ship, Goofy's pizza place was open, so was the quick service taco/burger ship by Mickeys Pool..we ate that than went to dinner that night...on the last morning we had room service delivered (we were concierge) and it made it so nice as a friend of ours said the breakfast was crazy, plus trying to wake up early and go to eat...

One tip, you can order cereal and milk the night before(we had a fridge in our room) but we had planned on just doing that. But the last day your off the ship so early that you could even just grab something at the airport or somewhere else after you get off if you cant make a meal...

 

[ddixon1]

Ugh on the breakfast on disembarkation day. Will skip next cruise, and follow the advice of very wise DISers... Thanks for the great tips! Love that we're trying concierge next time, so that should be so much easier...

 

[ddixon1]

Ugh on the breakfast on disembarkation day. Will skip next cruise, and follow the advice of very wise DISers... Thanks for the great tips! Love that we're trying concierge next time, so that should be so much easier...

Referring to breakfast in MDR... Really should go to bed, and stop reading DISboards...

 

[Momma2Jax]

Ugh on the breakfast on disembarkation day. Will skip next cruise, and follow the advice of very wise DISers... Thanks for the great tips! Love that we're trying concierge next time, so that should be so much easier...

We almost didn't go, because I kept reading on here not to. We decided to just do it, though, because again, I liked to avoid the buffets. We loved it! We had early seating, so we had time to eat, then go back to the room to get our stuff before having to leave.

 

[Woodmnky]

Just another option: by the time we got on board, we were hungry, DS was overstimulated, and we just wanted a simple quiet place to eat and breathe for a second. We just grabbed burgers and hot dogs from the pool-side places, and went to the opposite end of the ship on the pool deck. It was quiet, hardly anyone was around, and we were able to eat and relax for a bit! I think we will do this from now on! I was no about to try a buffet with the stroller, carry-ons, and overstimulated child!

We did the MDR breakfast on disembarking day for the same reason. I avoid crowds and stress, as a rule.

Great plan. We may try this on Fantasy as we are likely to be boarding during what is usually naptime. The less stress the better.