Favorite Guilty Pleasure on DCL

[Stratus22]

Warm Cookies and Milk before bed.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I haven't read all of the replies but I immediately saw a few mentioning the Mickey waffles. I can tell you without a DOUBT that the Mickey waffles on the ship are NOT the same as on land (at least as of our last 2 cruises on the Fantasy in April and May of last year). We have cruised 9x, been on all four ships - and although my memory isn't currently at its best due to medical procedures over the last few months - I can tell you with CERTAINTY that they are not the same and haven't been in ages (if ever). I complain about it EVERYTIME I fill out the survey at the end of each cruise. They obviously use a different mix, freeze them before serving, or something... They have a totally different texture than the waffles on land or any waffle I've had for that matter. I have even spoken to one or more chefs about it. It is the worst part of our cruises for my husband and I. We absolutely love Mickey waffles and the fact that you can't get the same ones on the ships as the ones from the parks really sucks. I guess if that's the worst thing I have to complain about regarding DCL then I'll bear with it. However I will never stop writing the complaint on my comment card and when we cruise Concierge for the first time next month I will be sure to mention it as my CM husband hides in the corner listening to his crazy Mickey waffle loving wife...!

Have you ever asked anyone why the difference? I'm sure there's someone on board or in the galley that can tell you why. Maybe they can't do anything about it but I'd be curious as to what the actual difference is.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

They are all pretty basic items - we only went twice this past cruise, and I knew what I wanted so I didn't look around, but I'd imagine those are out most every day.

As long as there are lots of Brits on the ship (like all the Caribbean cruises I have been on) they are readily available every morning. But on the Alaska cruise (where it is obvious that there are far fewer Brits on board just by listening as you walk around the ship) I was disappointed that I could not locate find any baked beans at breakfast.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

The entire CRUISE is my guilty pleasure! From the moment I set foot on the ship, I am treated like royalty. I don't cook or clean. To us, the MDR food is wonderful. Although we're pretty low-maintenance passengers, the staff has always done out of their way to take care of us and make us feel special. Beyond that, there are several things we can't wait to do/experience each cruise. Although they might seem piddly to some, and most likely not exactly what your post was asking for, they are things that we really look forward to and make us feel "on vacation:"

1. I love to arrive at the cruise terminal as early as possible to read the navigator and just soak-in the ambiance. Our last cruise, we stayed at the Hyatt in MCO airport and were on the first Disney Transport to the port in the morning. I was the first one through security. I rode the escalator up and it was like magic. As I rose, I began to see 2 cast members standing at the top of the escalator welcoming us and waving their Mickey gloved hands. The beautiful, empty terminal room came into view - almost like a surreal dream. It was amazing to see it totally empty except cast members. It was totally awesome!

2. My eyes mist up and I feel a great swell of gratitude and contentment come over me when they announce, "Disney Fantasy, welcome the Hain family!"

3. We head to guest services to take care of any details then head straight upstairs to the buffet, which is usually just opening up. We fill up the thermo-mugs that we brought with us with pop and grab a table outdoors against the railing so we have an amazing view of the area and can feel the sun on our faces (we're from Michigan, so in the winter, warmth from the sun feels absolutely luxurious!), and tie the food bag on! DH LOVES the peel & eat shrimp, DD loves the chicken tenders & mac 'n cheese, and I pretty much graze on everything!

4. Once the rooms open up, we quickly unpack & sometimes we order the "All Hands on Deck" cheese platter and some Mickey bars. Mickey bars are on of the highlights of any Disney Cruise or trip to WDW for DH, so we'll have them several times during a cruise, and DH even requests them for dessert in the MDRs sometimes!

5. We pretty much stay up on deck through the whole sail away party & until we are well out of the harbor and into open water. One of my favorite moments of the entire cruise is when they blow the ship's horn the first time and I hear, "...when you wish upon a star...." Makes me cry EVERY time! It causes me to reflect on how incredibly blessed we are to be happy & healthy, and financially to be able to take these wonderful vacations. When I was a child, we grew up happy (single mom, 3 kids), but financially my family was near poverty, so we would never have been able to even THINK about a Florida vacation, let alone a Disney Cruise. I am so grateful!

6. If we will be booking a placeholder during the cruise, I will look through the navigator and will find the very first time that the booking desk will be open. I will arrive there 15-20 minutes prior and wait for the CM to arrive. I like to have that checked off my list and done before the lines get longer later in the cruise.

7. We usually to go to the pirate buffet after fireworks. It only lasts 45 minutes, so you not only need to know that it's going on (I wasn't even aware of it on our first cruise!), but you need to be prompt or you miss out! DD loves to eat turkey legs! ARRRGH!

Just want to say, you sound like a lovely person! I agree with everything you wrote here. An added bonus: you said "pop." I live in South Carolina these days, and people look at you with three heads when you say that!

8. We do an excursion of some sort in every port we visit - at least the first time we visit it - because we feel its good to explore a bit and experience the local culture. (We may not do excursions in Nassau again, because we've "been there, done that")

We've never: done the spa, played bingo, gone to Palo or Remy, gotten a Cabana etc. which for many might be their "guilty pleasures", but we have no desire to try. Like I said, we are truly happy being on the cruise.

 

[castlegazer]

Swiss Bircher muesli.

I thought I was making a relatively healthy choice when I ate it. Came home and checked nutrition.

Oh I love this every morning! I have never checked - don't tell me!!!!

We discovered getting french fries with mayonnaise to dip them in and then taking them in to the movies. I have no idea why I had never tried this, but it became quite an addiction on our cruises.

 

[sabrecmc]

A glass of wine and one of the loungers on Deck 4, watching the world float past.

The oatmeal at breakfast with brown sugar, lots of fruits and nuts mixed in. Yum!

Konch Kooler while sitting in one of the beach chairs with my feet in the water at CC.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

All Hands on Deck and fruit ordered from room service every evening, enjoyed with a glass of wine (brought from home).

Hours by the pool watching movies on Funnel Vision and drinking Mai Tais.

Ice cream sundaes for dessert in the MDRs (seemed like there was a different one offered each night and they were all yummy).

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm sure I'll think of more but for now:
- eating as much as I want. Our first night I enjoyed the sea bass entree followed by the scallops and both were amazing!!
- lobster and lava cake night!
- a new one on this past cruise: Rainforest Room!
- the Backpacker thingy (strawberry soup) in the Royal Court! We have it for breakfast and lunch when it's offered!

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

Cove Café cakes!
I don't even drink coffee. lol
On our last cruise, I was in there so frequently the CM would always call me "princess" as soon as I walked in the door and would go ahead and get my pastry ready

I know the coffee costs extra. Does everything else they have cost extra, too?

 

[Oh Henry]

spicy chicken sandwich

Are these at Pete's boiler bites? Glad they have something other than regular burgers available.

Also I've seen Taco's mentioned in this thread. Do they have Tacos on the Wonder?

 

[squirk]

I don't know why, but going off to Flo's by myself and getting a cheeseburger always calls out to me. The burger itself is OK, but they also give you a ton of fries and they have that fixin's bar with the olives. I usually do not use mayo as a burger & fries condiment, but on the cruise, that just seems to taste really good.

Oh, and a DIY Coke float w/vanilla ice cream to round out my healthy meal.

 

[Geomom]

I know the coffee costs extra. Does everything else they have cost extra, too?

The snacks are free at Cove Café. It's just the drinks that cost extra. We were on the Wonder, and I'd go there every day, various times of day--pastries in the AM, desserts (brownies/cakes) in the afternoon, meats/cheeses/crudité at night. One morning when everyone was asleep, I got the free coffee from the beverage station, went to Cove Café for the pastries, and just sat there for a while to enjoy an adult space by myself.

 

[wilma-bride]

Are these at Pete's boiler bites? Glad they have something other than regular burgers available.

Also I've seen Taco's mentioned in this thread. Do they have Tacos on the Wonder?

Yes, spicy chicken sandwich at Pete's - I love it with bacon and cheese added. Yum

Never seen tacos.

 

[ahain]

Thank you! Yes, in Michigan, we say "pop"

 

[pudinhd]

My guilty pleasure is coconut popcorn shrimp.

I must know where to find coconut popcorn shrimp!!! My favorite!!!!!!

 

[scgustafson]

I must know where to find coconut popcorn shrimp!!! My favorite!!!!!!

First rule of the coconut popcorn shrimp, no talking about the coconut popcorn shrimp.

 

[BAIC03]

Konk Kooler on Castaway Cay

 

[FigmentSpark]

Buying a cafe mocha latte at Vista or Cove or Cabanas instead of drinking the 'free' coffee.... then adding 8 sugars.

 

[darnheather]

I don't know why, but going off to Flo's by myself and getting a cheeseburger always calls out to me. The burger itself is OK, but they also give you a ton of fries and they have that fixin's bar with the olives. I usually do not use mayo as a burger & fries condiment, but on the cruise, that just seems to taste really good.

Oh, and a DIY Coke float w/vanilla ice cream to round out my healthy meal.

Loved having a different flavor coke float every day.

I took the egg off the eggs benedict each morning and put it on top of those delicious hash browns! My youngest daughter had soup each night and that was her highlight. For my oldest I think it was just getting away from her sister!

 

[lorimay]

The hash brown patties in Cabanas....yum 21 more days till I can score some!!!!

Our last cruise in January was with our 2 grandkids and it was a bit less relaxing than cruising just the 2 of us.
So this B2B we have coming up is going to be a peaceful guilty pleasure for us, and we will never tell the grandkids, they wouldn't let us live it down that they stayed home with mommy and daddy.