First Disney cruise in January - help me decide

[Mkvigneau]

Hello! My family will be traveling on the Dream Jan 30- Feb 4, 2023. I’m putting together our itinerary and am wondering which nights to reserve dinner at Palo or Remy. We embark on my husbands birthday so it might be nice to have an adult dinner that day, but it feels like there’s enough stuff happening on that first evening that we won’t want to miss. The next day is Castaway Cay, and then the following is Marvel day at sea. Thursday we stop at Cozumel and Friday is another day at sea. We have three young kids and plan on having them spend the time in the Oceaneers club when we have dinner.
If you had a choice, what would you pick?

 

[Clarkson U]

My GUESS is your rotation for dinner would be cruise casual, cruise casual, formal night, pirates, and either cruise casual or semi-formal on your five night sailing.

To me the first three nights might be the standard rotation of menus.

If this is your first cruise, I might do Palo Brunch and really enjoy the Main Dining Rooms for dinner. They can celebrate his birthday in the dining rooms as well!

 

[auntlynne]

First night in Palo is typically easier to get a reservation.

Do you have Early Seating for dining? (Second Seating is the default; you typically need to ask or switch it on the app.).

I can see how boarding, getting the kids fed and getting yourself to Palo could just start the cruise on a rushed note.

No family dinner for a birthday?

Are your kids used to Disney cruising and being left in a kids’ club? Will they be cranky from travel to the port, boarding, all the excitement? And then need to be rescued during your dinner?

(I didn‘t realize this was the direction I was headed in my opinion. Also, my 1960s childhood coming through.)

Castaway days have been great for me for Palo. You have to be back on the ship by 4:30. If your kids enjoy the clubs, they won’t have spent the entire day there already. It‘s typically a relaxing day for most.

Marvel Day may have night time events? Oceaneers might be somewhat empty or have fewer activities, expecting families to be on deck celebrating together.

Hope this doesn’t just muddy the waters.

 

[Cheburashka]

Hello! My family will be traveling on the Dream Jan 30- Feb 4, 2023. I’m putting together our itinerary and am wondering which nights to reserve dinner at Palo or Remy. We embark on my husbands birthday so it might be nice to have an adult dinner that day, but it feels like there’s enough stuff happening on that first evening that we won’t want to miss. The next day is Castaway Cay, and then the following is Marvel day at sea. Thursday we stop at Cozumel and Friday is another day at sea. We have three young kids and plan on having them spend the time in the Oceaneers club when we have dinner.
If you had a choice, what would you pick?

I think they're both worthwhile. I personally would have dinner at Remy on the first night and dinner at Palo on the last night. Remy is a rich meal, so imo it's best enjoyed before you've been eating a lot throughout the cruise, but if you're planning to indulge at the welcome buffet upon embarkation, that isn't the best idea. If you can resist a big welcome lunch, though, it would be an excellent birthday dinner. Nothing special happens the first night at dinner at the MDR.

The last night's dinner at the MDR tends to feature servers giving the "excellent" speech in which they pressure you to give high ratings, so it's nice to skip that. (However, if you mention to them that you won't be there the last night, they'll give it to you the last time they think they'll see you.) That would be a nice night to have dinner at Palo, which is an excellent way to end your cruise.

I definitely wouldn't go the night of Castaway Cay, because most people like to be carefree on CC and enjoy a big lunch on the island and not have to rush back to the ship to get ready for dinner.

Whatever you choose will work out. Have a great cruise!

 

[Kwami]

The first night is "meet your serving team" night, though. And for a first-time cruiser, it'd be a shame to miss the MDRs for the first time.

I'd book on either Pirate night or Marvel night so that you don't miss one of the main menus. Well, unless one of those menus is appealing to you! You can see the Pirates and Marvel menus here:

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/pirates-caribbean-dinner-menu/
https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/marvel-day-sea-menu/

I don't think they do anything special for Marvel night. On Pirates night, they usually have someone come in and do a small show, but it's mostly just a song and cheer kind of thing.

You can figure out which nights are Pirates and Marvel by looking at the available activities. If you see that the BBB offers pirate makeovers, then that's Pirate night. If you see character greetings with Marvel superheroes, then that's Marvel night.

 

[Mommb]

My husband and I always do Palo on Pirate night, which will probably be Cozumel day.

I would be reluctant to book Palo or Remy on the first night since you don't know how your kids will take to the Club and what they will want for dinner (which would need to be from the quick-service places on the pool deck, unless Cabanas reopens for dinner). If you have 1st seating, you could book yourself and your husband a late reservation, go with the kids to the main dining room, and just nurse a beverage and/or appetizer while they eat. That would mean you also miss the first night's show, though.