First cruise, what do you wish you knew that you want to share?

[budamacdvcr]

Will try not to duplicate any of the responses provided already which are all real good stuff. Here's some of the "little things" we have come to love and never know of or thought of on first few sailings:

• If you like coffee first thing in the a.m. or want to have your first cup of coffee on veranda in your PJs order a carafe of coffee from room service night before - trust me it is still hot in the morning. They will bring you cups, cream, sweetener, etc and you do not have to get dressed to go get your coffee.
• Watch a Disney movie at night on the Funnel Vision on deck
• Avoid ironing clothes if you want by having your clothes pressed on board. Charges are less than a regular Dry Cleaners and who wants to iron on vacation. Have bag picked up as fast as you can when you get to room and they will have back to you by next day - KEEP WHAT YOU PLAN TO WEAR THE FIRST NIGHT
• Meridian Lounge is a must - great view & great for pre or post dinner beverage
• Satellite Falls - less crowded, Adults Only, area to catch some sun, read a book in the shade / just relax

Hope this helps and like others stated, can't do everything so make something like a top 5 things to do list - cheers

 

[DHSbutcher]

Read the Navigators before you board. Have an idea of whats offered what you really want to do, because that first day you won't get any down time until the evening. Do the ship tour!!! Its organized, and saves you from getting lost later on, and helps you see things you may never know existed!
You don't have to eat everything- and its ok if you don't. Taking a few bites is perfectly acceptable!

 

[diznymom]

What I had wished I had known for our first cruise:

• Only bring half the clothes you think you will wear. You won't wear as much as you think.
• The excursions at the ports (except Castaway Cay) are not run by Disney personnel. We were handed over to locals.
• Research the excursions more extensively (not just Disney's review)

 

[AngelinaVP]

Thank you everyone with all the great info. We have already downloaded the App for our phones and my husband plans on using room service as much as possible.
I will have to remind myself about the clothes packing issue...I always pack too many clothes every time we go to Disney.
So what is funnel vision and how do you get to read the Navigator before the day you sail?

 

[Ajojo]

I echo all of the previous suggestions. One thing that I noticed my first cruise, were groups of people wearing the same shirts on boarding day. This was small families or even larger family reunions. I remember thinking that I would never do that. But sure enough, for my next 10 DCL cruises we all wear a matching Disney shirts. It is just fun. My mom loves it because so many people ask who is the mom and who are the daughters

Another thing I thought was weird the first time, were grown ups wearing tiara's or mickey ears on boarding day. But ever since, we all wear tiara's to the sail away party and dance and have fun.

On my last cruise I really wasnt feeling like anything on the menu one night. So they brought me the kids menu and I ordered from it. Also, on my first cruise I absolutely was in love with the Apple Crumble from the Animators Palette. I said something about wanting it every night. The waiter asked if I was sure because he could arrange it. Sure enough, I had an Apple Crumble each night no matter which dining room we were in.

 

[diznymom]

Thank you everyone with all the great info. We have already downloaded the App for our phones and my husband plans on using room service as much as possible.
I will have to remind myself about the clothes packing issue...I always pack too many clothes every time we go to Disney.
So what is funnel vision and how do you get to read the Navigator before the day you sail?

Funnelvision is a huge big screen on one of the funnels (right by the pools)(not the working one) and it has movies and stuff on it.

 

[AngelinaVP]

Funnelvision is a huge big screen on one of the funnels (right by the pools)(not the working one) and it has movies and stuff on it.

cool, thanks

 

[squirk]

I learned that a 4-day cruise is not nearly long enough.

 

[jeepnjudy]

I know many will disagree but for my family it was booking excursions through DCL. Over the years we learned that it is typically cheaper and we can get more time by hiring a local driver to take us around for the day and engage in all the activities a DCL excursion does without the hassle of everyone else on the ship coming along for the ride! Now that's fun and relaxing!

 

[undertheradar]

Know that there is far more going on than you can do. So relax, remember that you can do things that you didn't get to do, on future cruises. Enjoy what you can and don't worry yourself about over planning.

 

[Scherzermk]

We also had our first cruise in late February. I was not prepared for how windy and cool port Canaveral was. We should have eaten embarkment lunch inside at enchanted garden. Didn't know that was an option until we got home.
Tip 2- book a placeholder while on board. We saved hundreds this way. My dad didn't listen and now he's paying for it, literally.
You're not going to believe how good it is.

 

[TestingH2O]

how do you get to read the Navigator before the day you sail?

http://disneycruiselineblog.com

People post navigators of similar cruises so you can get an idea about activities and schedules.

 

[AnnaC]

I love the coffee at Cove cafe!
If you want a spa appt, book early, especially for the days at sea...they book fast!
Don't over pack, you can do laundy on the ship and use your key to the world card so you don't need to bring quarters or soap.

 

[MunFam]

Our first DCL cruise was a 14-nighter.

My do's that I was thankful I researched and had prepared for:
-bring lots of fun magnets for our stateroom door.
-have a fish extender or door spotter for the hook
-have a shirt or dress for DD on embarkation day that had her name on it. All the characters and staff greeted her by name. She felt like a little VIP. haha
-have lanyards
-pack organizational systems for the stateroom (magnet clips, hanging rack for closet, laundry baskets)
-our DIY drink carrier was a LIFE SAVER as were our giant personalized tumblers
-make sure you know when and where to get tickets for special events and meet and greets the second you get on board (info in navigator)
-weather...a lot of people are saying "don't overpack" but man, I sure was glad to have a fleece and windbreaker on when everyone else was freezing or going inside during the world premiere of Frozen Show. I was also thankful for multiple sandals and multiple pairs of sunglasses.

Things I figured out:
-2 foam cups and a lid will keep soft serve cold/frozen in 90% humidity and 90 degree weather for 45 minutes!
-breakfast buffet on port days was awesome, especially dining outside
-sit down breakfast in the MDR was also a real treat. We had a window seat as we were in the Panama Canal locks!
-sometimes, its better to go to guest services if you have an issue rather than stewing about it.
-skipping MDR dinner and show to have the pool all to ourselves was AMAZING
-stop in at Shutters a few times throughout the cruise to make sure all photos and prints are in the folio (physically and electronically). A lot of our pictures were in the "lost" files and we were able to find probably 50 random shots that would have not otherwise made it home with us. By checking daily, we did not have that much work the night before we left the ship at Shutters, (when everyone was there with "problems", we were good to go)

I wish I had known about:
-the buffet after the fireworks on Pirate Night
-the chocolate buffet (made it, but was late and everything was picked over)
-even if DCL says the non-excursion tenders will not start until 10am, be ready at 8, if that is when you want off. They will likely let people off earlier (just not priority).

I learned just how much I HATE spray sunscreen. People would spray that junk upwind from us and coat us, our stuff and our food with it. I did give people a holler when they were getting us...just a friendly, "thanks for the sun screen" usually did the trick

 

[xlxo]

The cast members will take your photos with your phone or camera. Sure they won't have cute frames, but it will serve the purpose.

To clarify.... cast members yes.... the ship photographer... NO.

 

[JanBlessed]

Arrive early!

I actually arrived at my assigned time (3:00) and EVERYONE WAS ALREADY ONBOARD! The terminal was empty. We missed out on lunch !!!

Wish I knew to arrive early!

 

[JanBlessed]

This was Port Canaveral boarding the Disney Dream 5 day cruise.

 

[AnnaS]

And even order a Mickey Bar to go!

Learned this after my 6th cruise

 

[AnnaS]

One week from today we leave for our first cruise. Taking a weekend cruise on the Disney Dream. I'm so excited!!!

My husband and I have been reading up on things but I thought I would ask this question.

Is there anything you wish you had known before going on your first cruise, or first Disney cruise?

Relax, observe, join in or not. You can do as little or as much as you want. Can't do it all on your first cruise. Most of all have a good time!!

 

[over50visits]

First cruise mistakes:

1 - We brought way too many clothes
2 - We spent too much on various things and programs Disney has for sale, didn't really need to for a great vacation
3 - Tried to overplay, rather than relax and enjoy each day
4 - Didn't eat a Palo
5 - Didn't stop and talk to every crew member we met, whether servers, cleaners, bartenders, entertainers…everyone is so great and has such great stories
6 - Ate last day breakfast in MDR. We later discovered Cabanas for our last day…