First Cruise 5/18 (58 days away) some questions

[Ashkins]

Hi.. this is my first time going on a cruise. It will be a family event.. Me (32), hubby (36), kids 14, 13, 11.. My sister (35), brother inlaw (don't know), her 3 kids 13, 11, and 4.. our dad and his friend. 12 of us total. We are all totally excited.

Let me get to my questions.

I see on the DCL web page you can advance reserve your excursions. How many recomend doing this and does it really work? (I e-mailed mine in a few hours ago just to see)

My middle child has an allergy to all nuts. Who would I tell and at what point? I am wanting to let them know before we board but not sure how to do it or if it can wait till we board and meet our server.

While in St Maarten me and hubby are wanting after doing a family excursion to go to a casino ... Can we take the kids (14, 13 and 11) on board to join the kids activties and then go to one? Or does the cruise line frown on this?

I see laundry is free on level 6... if you are on a different level can you take your laundry there?

I am sure I will have more questions as the time comes closer..... thank you very much for your inpur...

 

[grlzmom]

Hi, we are cruising same time and totally excited.

Me, dh, 12, 10, 7, 5 and 11 month daughters and mother in law and father in law.

I think you need to get a medical form from dcl about the nut allergy and fax it to them before you get on the boat. One of our girls has a medical condition and thats what we have to do. Not a biggie

Hope someone else can answer your questions. A bunch of us are on 5/18 - there is a thread somewhere

Jeanne

 

[peter pans family]

i dont know the answer to your questions but i know that your teens will have an awesome time at the teen place!! i had the best time and i am still sad that it is over. when i went it was like right after a february vacation so there were only 80 of us but the counselers said the week after our cruise ends to like summer there is going to be like 200-300 teens!! i had a awesome time and u meet alot of people!! if you have any more questions on the teen place or anything else just ask!!

 

[Tluvs2talk]

I would definetly call DCL or Travel agent now!!! to let them know of this allergy. I would also make sure the waiter is informed at your first meal.

 

[Hygiene99]

yes u can do luandry any where they have it aval. i think it is on
more than one location look for the one that is closest too u , and i think there is a charge for washer and dryer , or maybe it was just the soap cant remember, there is also an ironing board there in the luandry room. have a great cruise ...
peter

 

[Ashkins]

Thank you all for your replies.

Called yesterday and had them fix the spelling of my son's name, they also marked his allergy while I had them on the phone, I also reserved our excursions.. woohoo..

It seems since all this is done the excitement is building even more... I think I am more excited then the kids..

A question about bon voyage gifts. My sister and I decided the ones that are offered are too expensive and we would be able to do much better if we put together our own for the kids and other adults... what would be the best way to make is a surprise for them? We had thought about asking the cabin person if he/she could put it in the rooms while we are at the first meal... but how would we get it on the ship and them know thats what it was... any ideas would be great? Could we send it a few days in advance and have it at the port already??

Formal night..... do most men wear tux's? We are not sure if want to rent one or if a nice suit would be just as good.

 

[Hygiene99]

th e TUX, yes
i will have rented a tux from the local shop near me and will bring it with me they do cruise rentals even thought it will be out for 10 days still get the one night price ..
there where alot of tuxes on our last 7 night cruise
and i was glad i had it... was kind of fun ..
and got some great pictures of jen and i Dressed up
witch does not happen all that often
sweats and t shirt kind of people ...
Skip the gifts and let them get something at 1 of the ports that we stop at lots see and do..
peter

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Ashkins

While in St Maarten me and hubby are wanting after doing a family excursion to go to a casino ... Can we take the kids (14, 13 and 11) on board to join the kids activties and then go to one? Or does the cruise line frown on this?

Yes, you could do this.

I see laundry is free on level 6... if you are on a different level can you take your laundry there?

Laundry is not free on level 6. There is a charge on level 6 as there is on the other levels... levels 2 and 7. But you can use whichever level you prefer.

 

[liza]

Our group left our kids on the ship on St. Maarten and no one seemed to frown on it. In the morning the adults rented a van and we drove over to the French side and had a great morning shopping and eating at a great French restaurant. In the afternoon we drove back to the ship, picked up the kids and headed for a beach.

You could certainly leave the kids on the ship for part of the day.

As for laundry, the charge was 75 cents for a box of detergent, 75 cents for a wash and 75 cents for a dry, and it took two rounds of drying for the clothes to dry. You need quarters. There's a change machine in the laundry room.

Have a great time!