First Non Concierge Cruise, Help Please?

[Texas_Buckeye]

Around the beginning of September, 2022, I will be taking my very first non-concierge cruise. Knowing what happened before covid, my questions are based on that, hoping that things will be somewhat “normal “ by then. DO NOT WANT TO START WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT/WANT. I am at a total loss on what I need to do. It’s a 7-night cruise. When do I need to reserve the character breakfast? What about the meet-n-greats? Dinner reservations? I feel like someone who has never cruised before!! Very used to having shore side help. Could anyone PLEASE give me assistance and what to expect?? I will have a Veranda room. Some stuff I won’t give up!!

 

[Cheburashka]

When do I need to reserve the character breakfast? What about the meet-n-greats? Dinner reservations?

When you get to do online check-in and reserve activities will be based on your Castaway Club Level. Platinum members get to reserve 120 days prior to sail date. Gold members get to reserve 105 days prior to sail date. Silver members get to reserve 90 days prior to sail date. First time cruisers get to reserve 75 days prior to sale date.

 

[TestingH2O]

Make sure you prioritize your list. You almost certainly won't get a Cabana, so beyond that, figure out what is most important and then go in that order. If you belong to a cruise group for your cruise, you can figure out when some things, like character breakfasts, are happening before your sign up window opens so you can be more efficient.

 

[Disneyloverliz]

What dining rooms are the character breakfasts in? I didn't realize this was a thing on the ships!

 

[Calantha]

What dining rooms are the character breakfasts in? I didn't realize this was a thing on the ships!

On 7-day+ sailings only and on the Fantasy, it is in AP. Before we cancelled our Fall cruise, they were not letting anyone reserve breakfasts so it is unclear when they will resume.

 

[MomOTwins]

Make sure that immediately upon booking the cruise, you go the website, pull up your reservation, and choose your dining time. It defaults to late dining, so if you prefer main, book that ASAP as it fills up quick. You can call and ask to be waitlisted though if main dining is full.

As others said, your reservations can be made at midnight EST on your applicable day for your castaway club membership. You can make reservations in the app on on a computer. Cabanas are pretty much impossible for non-concierge guests, Palo brunch is the next hardest thing to book (often sells out at Platinum or Gold level), and Mixology is tough too. If you don't get something, you can usually book it on the ship on your arrival day as they hold back spots for onboard booking (for everything except a cabana).

 

[kathi]

Like the others have said, it will be based on your Castaway Club level. Fall cruises tend to have more adults, so the popular tastings (mixology and bourbon) and Palo brunch sell out either at Platinum or Gold. Fishing excursions on Castaway Cay also sell out either with concierge or Platinum. If you are going to Cozumel, the Cabana Beach port excursion is usually sold out with Concierge or Platinum. Jewel Beach Break on Jamaica also sells out pretty early. If you don't get what you are hoping for, check once you get on board and keep checking back for cancellations.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Best of luck. The first non-Concierge cruise is the hardest

 

[Cheburashka]

I will add that Serenity Bay (adult only) cabanas are occasionally available to non-concierge cruisers- I'm gold and have seen them available a few times on both classes of ship within the past 5 years (I think the first time I saw it I was silver). Probably not much chance of it during a fall cruise that might be adult heavy, though. We always sail during major school holidays, so those cruises have lots of families with kids.

Also, if you have a certain dining preference (like main dining) and it isn't confirmed before sail date, upon boarding go to Dining Changes (located at an MDR that will be listed in the Personal Navigator), which opens around 12pm. They will take requests for things like main dining, private tables, booking meals at Palo or Remy (some might be held back for onboard booking, so if you can't book online, try there). There is no guarantee that they can fulfill your request but they will try, and your chances are better the earlier you show up.

 

[mevelandry]

Around the beginning of September, 2022, I will be taking my very first non-concierge cruise. Knowing what happened before covid, my questions are based on that, hoping that things will be somewhat “normal “ by then. DO NOT WANT TO START WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT/WANT. I am at a total loss on what I need to do. It’s a 7-night cruise. When do I need to reserve the character breakfast? What about the meet-n-greats? Dinner reservations? I feel like someone who has never cruised before!! Very used to having shore side help. Could anyone PLEASE give me assistance and what to expect?? I will have a Veranda room. Some stuff I won’t give up!!

Super simple… You can book everything online at a certain date based on your CC status. I’d try to book everything as soon as the window opens since certain activities are popular and tend to sell out fast. Cabanas can be hard to catch.

Once you have done that, you’re pretty much all set!

 

[OKW Lover]

When you get to do online check-in and reserve activities will be based on your Castaway Club Level. Platinum members get to reserve 120 days prior to sail date. Gold members get to reserve 105 days prior to sail date. Silver members get to reserve 90 days prior to sail date. First time cruisers get to reserve 75 days prior to sale date.

Good advice. One other qualification though, you must be PIF in order to reserve. That means Platinum members have to pay their cruise "early" to take advantage of the longer booking window.

 

[tlprice]

What dining rooms are the character breakfasts in? I didn't realize this was a thing on the ships!

The Character breakfast is only on 7 day or longer cruises on ALL of the ships. It is always in Animator's Palate. On the Dream and Fantasy it is Disney Jr. characters. On the Magic and Wonder it is the classic characters (Mickey, etc.). We always do the character breakfast, but definitely do it for the characters, not the breakfast. The breakfast is usually pretty awful.

 

[JWelch62]

Good advice. One other qualification though, you must be PIF in order to reserve. That means Platinum members have to pay their cruise "early" to take advantage of the longer booking window.

I like to tell my friends that the main benefit of Platinum is that you get to pay before everyone else.

 

[auntlynne]

My memory is that a reservation is not yours until you hit reserve - not just in your cart? Can someone verify this?

 

[DCLDVC1]

The breakfast is usually pretty awful.

We usually head to Cabanas immediately after the Character Breakfast.

 

[TestingH2O]

My memory is that a reservation is not yours until you hit reserve - not just in your cart? Can someone verify this?

Correct. But you don’t have to actually pay for anything.

 

[auntlynne]