First Cruise Questions

[Cheburashka]

Ok good to know. I was looking at the packages you can have waiting in your room and a case of water is $40, kind of much for water, lol

Given that there are 24 bottles in a case, that comes out to $1.67 per bottle, which isn't supermarket cheap but is half the price or less of what you'd pay out of pocket for a bottle of water onboard or at Disney World. You can also buy a 6-pack for $10, or two 6-packs for $20. You don't have to buy a huge amount if you don't need it. The convenience factor of not having to lug heavy water onboard & carry it around until your stateroom opens should be considered, as well.

 

[auntlynne]

First, congratulations on many anniversaries to come. And on your first Disney cruise. I’ve done many with combinations of my nieces, sister, or solo. One niece loves it enough to have honeymooned on DCL to AK.

I do have an opinion - not gospel truth - about the cabin. I use this when picking for myself. Any gray space on a deck plan can be a service area for the crew or equipment. Which I translate to mean noise. As mentioned above, dining rooms above or entertainment / gathering areas above or below are sources of noise. They clean pool decks and move chairs before the guests are out - and you want to be awake. Cast members practice the shows in the theater during the day.

My stories - first cruise. Booked last minute, so not a lot of choice. And knew Nothing about cruising! Got a great room and a location on the ship that made it easy to access everything on the Magic. But - Across the hall was a door to a crew work area. Luggage was sorted there the last evening/night. Throughout the 3-night cruise, it seemed to be utilized a lot.

Princess Cruise to AK. Cabins on sale, so my sister and I got two rooms. Sale = same concept as GTY - they assigned the rooms. My room was fine. Hers was next to some machinery that ran at night. She still will mention it.
...
Looking at the currently available options, I would pay the $30 and pick Stateroom 9177. (It’s also a non connecting cabin - and shares only one wall with another cabin).

[I was about to retract my suggestion, as I noticed it is a single room bathroom - but the Wish has no interior cabins with the split bath that DCL is known for. So a moot point]
...
I‘ve also done the GTY booking; usually when it’s closer to sailing and they are offering deals to fill up the boat. And when there was no option to pick my cabin.

I have found that waiting for a cabin assignment is stressful. Knowing what cabin you are in takes off some pressure; especially helpful when going into a new adventure. And yes, when I check in to a hotel, I find out when I am standing at the check-in desk — so it’s not totally logical, but it is real. But I have been waiting until the day before to find out. I didn’t enjoy it. And an upgrade to a better category is definitely not guaranteed. But I certainly hoped for one. And am disappointed when it didn’t happen.

One woman’s opinion.

 

[Dug720]

This is good to know. I’m not really prone to seas sickness but haven’t really been on a boat to know.

One bit of advice? Yes, if you want to bring something just in case, do. But don’t get so focused on “OMG am I going to be seasick??” that you actually make yourself seasick.
I am NOT saying that it is not a real thing for some people (thankfully not me - if it were I would probably not cruise as I prefer to not spend my vacations medicated), but I do think that there are cases where people get themselves so worried about it they create an issue where there was not one. (Especially with kids - I saw one family where the kids were running all over while the parents waited in line for a character. Kids full of energy, zero issues. The mom kept asking them if they felt ok, if they were REALLY sure they felt ok. Really, really? They didn’t feel sick? To the point that the kid finally just decided they were sick.)

The ships today are designed to minimize movement as much as possible. Now if you are on a smaller boat on an excursion (a boat can fit on a ship is a good way to remember it) you will feel the motion much more. But unless there is unavoidable weather (they do their best to avoid, but sometimes weather changes direction and ships don’t turn on a dime), movement should be minimal with the worst being first and last evening crossing the Gulf Stream to get out of PC and back to PC.

 

[KNovacovschi]

First, congratulations on many anniversaries to come. And on your first Disney cruise. I’ve done many with combinations of my nieces, sister, or solo. One niece loves it enough to have honeymooned on DCL to AK.

I do have an opinion - not gospel truth - about the cabin. I use this when picking for myself. Any gray space on a deck plan can be a service area for the crew or equipment. Which I translate to mean noise. As mentioned above, dining rooms above or entertainment / gathering areas above or below are sources of noise. They clean pool decks and move chairs before the guests are out - and you want to be awake. Cast members practice the shows in the theater during the day.

My stories - first cruise. Booked last minute, so not a lot of choice. And knew Nothing about cruising! Got a great room and a location on the ship that made it easy to access everything on the Magic. But - Across the hall was a door to a crew work area. Luggage was sorted there the last evening/night. Throughout the 3-night cruise, it seemed to be utilized a lot.

Princess Cruise to AK. Cabins on sale, so my sister and I got two rooms. Sale = same concept as GTY - they assigned the rooms. My room was fine. Hers was next to some machinery that ran at night. She still will mention it.
...
Looking at the currently available options, I would pay the $30 and pick Stateroom 9177. (It’s also a non connecting cabin - and shares only one wall with another cabin).

[I was about to retract my suggestion, as I noticed it is a single room bathroom - but the Wish has no interior cabins with the split bath that DCL is known for. So a moot point]
...
I‘ve also done the GTY booking; usually when it’s closer to sailing and they are offering deals to fill up the boat. And when there was no option to pick my cabin.

I have found that waiting for a cabin assignment is stressful. Knowing what cabin you are in takes off some pressure; especially helpful when going into a new adventure. And yes, when I check in to a hotel, I find out when I am standing at the check-in desk — so it’s not totally logical, but it is real. But I have been waiting until the day before to find out. I didn’t enjoy it. And an upgrade to a better category is definitely not guaranteed. But I certainly hoped for one. And am disappointed when it didn’t happen.

One woman’s opinion.

Thank you. It’s been bugging me not knowing where we would be located and noise levels so I took your advice and changed it from GTY to stateroom 9177. My DH thinks we will feel the waves more back there, will we?

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Ok good to know. I was looking at the packages you can have waiting in your room and a case of water is $40, kind of much for water, lol

That is pricey considering Sam's Club or Costco sells a big case of 40 bottles for around $5.

 

[KNovacovschi]

First, congratulations on many anniversaries to come. And on your first Disney cruise. I’ve done many with combinations of my nieces, sister, or solo. One niece loves it enough to have honeymooned on DCL to AK.

I do have an opinion - not gospel truth - about the cabin. I use this when picking for myself. Any gray space on a deck plan can be a service area for the crew or equipment. Which I translate to mean noise. As mentioned above, dining rooms above or entertainment / gathering areas above or below are sources of noise. They clean pool decks and move chairs before the guests are out - and you want to be awake. Cast members practice the shows in the theater during the day.

My stories - first cruise. Booked last minute, so not a lot of choice. And knew Nothing about cruising! Got a great room and a location on the ship that made it easy to access everything on the Magic. But - Across the hall was a door to a crew work area. Luggage was sorted there the last evening/night. Throughout the 3-night cruise, it seemed to be utilized a lot.

Princess Cruise to AK. Cabins on sale, so my sister and I got two rooms. Sale = same concept as GTY - they assigned the rooms. My room was fine. Hers was next to some machinery that ran at night. She still will mention it.
...
Looking at the currently available options, I would pay the $30 and pick Stateroom 9177. (It’s also a non connecting cabin - and shares only one wall with another cabin).

[I was about to retract my suggestion, as I noticed it is a single room bathroom - but the Wish has no interior cabins with the split bath that DCL is known for. So a moot point]
...
I‘ve also done the GTY booking; usually when it’s closer to sailing and they are offering deals to fill up the boat. And when there was no option to pick my cabin.

I have found that waiting for a cabin assignment is stressful. Knowing what cabin you are in takes off some pressure; especially helpful when going into a new adventure. And yes, when I check in to a hotel, I find out when I am standing at the check-in desk — so it’s not totally logical, but it is real. But I have been waiting until the day before to find out. I didn’t enjoy it. And an upgrade to a better category is definitely not guaranteed. But I certainly hoped for one. And am disappointed when it didn’t happen.

One woman’s opinion.

I actually decided to upgrade to a Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah, mid ship.

 

[mevelandry]

I booked our first cruise tonight and it will be on the Wish, perfect ship to cruise on for a first time. We are booked for the Sept 30-Oct 3rd, 2022 sailing and booked inside stateroom GTY. Being I’ve never been on a cruise before I’m wondering a couple things.

1. I understand I booked a guaranteed inside stateroom but after reading what that meant I went to see availability if I picked a non GTY room and there are only about 6-10 rooms left, what happens if all those rooms get booked?

2. in my reservation it says second for dining? What time is that normally and if it’s to late am I able to request an earlier dining? I‘m not seeing anything in my reservation to do that so will I need to call to request it.

3. If I were to change my room category, it’s only a $30 difference, is the front or rear of the ship better, middle is unavailable and I’m worried about sea sickness? For the rear only deck 9 and 10 have rooms available but for front deck 9, 10, and 11 have rooms, only a couple on each. With so little rooms left is it better to just leave what I have booked or change it.

4. Don't laugh as this is probably a silly question but how do the deck numbers work, is it deck 1 at the top and works down in number or is deck 1 at the bottom and works up in number.

5. Am I able to request a table for 2, my DH is an introvert and doesn’t really like to have to eat with other people. He refuses to go to Biegarten due to having to sit with others.

6. I would like to note we will be celebrating our anniversary while on the cruise, am I able to do this.

7. seeing as this is only a 3 night cruise do you have any suggestions for first timers.

Sorry for all the questions, I know WDW like I know the back of my hand but this is all new to me.

Thanks

Well, the good news is that by booking the Wish for a first cruise, all other cruise ships and cruise lines will feel extremely affordable to you in comparison.

1. The cruise lines websites rarely show all the cabins available.

2. Second seating can be late (8:30ish). You will never miss a show as they have two representations but dining that late isn’t for everyone. You can request to be on the first seating... You may be on the waitlist though.

3. Usually lower decks as close as possible from mid-ship is best for sea sickness. But try to get Bonine if you are afraid of sea sickness and take it BEFORE the ship leaves the port.

4. Deck 1 at the bottom.

5. Yes, you can request a private table. We always do this and always got one.

6. Mention it when you call.

7. Make some research and pick your priorities. You will not have time to experience everything...

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Given that there are 24 bottles in a case, that comes out to $1.67 per bottle, which isn't supermarket cheap but is half the price or less of what you'd pay out of pocket for a bottle of water onboard or at Disney World. You can also buy a 6-pack for $10, or two 6-packs for $20. You don't have to buy a huge amount if you don't need it. The convenience factor of not having to lug heavy water onboard & carry it around until your stateroom opens should be considered, as well.

Don’t forget to add the 15% autogratuity, so actually ~$1.92/bottle.

 

[auntlynne]

I actually decided to upgrade to a Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah, mid ship.

Yeah! Balconies are nice, especially when celebrating anniversaries (Or just life).

I tend to cheat myself out of one, owing to the price difference. But on short cruises, it’s not usually so much. I’m known for nickel and dining - and then doing something crazy expensive and wiping out all savings.

... In >20 cruises, I’ve only had one truly rough sailing - a storm came up in the Mediterranean and really rocked us. Apparently, the Med is known for storms.

I was prone to seasickness since childhood. Cruising seemed to cure it, although I can’t turn Toward the backseat when the car is in a turn.

If you know you are prone to seasickness, consider getting one patch from your doctor. Scopalomine. It will last a 3-night cruise. It can make you thirsty, but not sleepy. Your doctor will know if you can use it or if something better is on the market. Not available over the counter in the US.