First time cruise: am I going to be really disappointed when it's time to book on-board experiences?

[katyringo]

Hello!

I'm concerned as a first time cruiser that come time to book on board experiences that we will be very disappointed and that most things will be booked up m
By the more frequent cruisers.

Thoughts? We will have a 7 night cruise.

Things we want to book:

- rainforest room for length of stay
-couples massage
- princess meet and greets (I don't think we will do the tea-- kinda pricey and we've done similar things in the parks) what other princess things are there?
- snorkeling/ tube rental at castaway cay

 

[Geomom]

I have no idea on rainforest room, but couples massage should have availability, but maybe not much available for sea days.

Castaway snorkel/float rental is a definite and can be done when you get there.

The royal gathering princess meet and greet is booked 30 days out for everyone, so you have a chance at it. Even if you don't get it, the individual princesses meet during the cruise (no pre booking). The Royal Tea does sell out before first timers can book, and is very expensive. You do need to have a child under 12 to even book it.

 

[Cheburashka]

Rainforest room might be available. I booked that pretty late on my last cruise. I don't do massages but it seems like they'd be available as they're not a family thing and they're expensive. You can meet individual princesses onboard without prebooking- just get in line at a scheduled time. You'll be able to access the schedule of character meets on the Navigator app when you board. Snorkeling, tube rental & bicycle rental at Castaway Cay have pretty much constant availability even if you just walk up on the island.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

No idea about the rainforest or spa (we don’t do that)

But they never sell out of the floats/tubes

The gathering may get booked but they hold a bunch of availability back for on board booking- I forgot to set an alarm last cruise so it was sold out when I checked at 5 am. Once I got on the DCL wifi had choice of days/times

 

[Karin1984]

I would suggest to not put too much pressure on it. You can have a great cruise regardless of these things. See everything you can book as a bonus to improve the cruise. If you go in this cruise with a feeling of disappointment, it can influence your entire cruise.

 

[katyringo]

Thank you all! This has made me feel better. We aren't drinkers so a lot of those type of things don't appeal. I actually want to try and not book too much extra things and just enjoy whatever the days bring..

 

[katyringo]

I have no idea on rainforest room, but couples massage should have availability, but maybe not much available for sea days.

Castaway snorkel/float rental is a definite and can be done when you get there.

The royal gathering princess meet and greet is booked 30 days out for everyone, so you have a chance at it. Even if you don't get it, the individual princesses meet during the cruise (no pre booking). The Royal Tea does sell out before first timers can book, and is very expensive. You do need to have a child under 12 to even book it.

Thanks! My daughter is 8. We did the princess breakfast at Disneyland and the grand Californian and reading it seems very similar to the royal tea... it was an awesome expirence but dang... expensive!

 

[BarlowFamily]

Hello!

I'm concerned as a first time cruiser that come time to book on board experiences that we will be very disappointed and that most things will be booked up m
By the more frequent cruisers.

Thoughts? We will have a 7 night cruise.

Things we want to book:

- rainforest room for length of stay
-couples massage
- princess meet and greets (I don't think we will do the tea-- kinda pricey and we've done similar things in the parks) what other princess things are there?
- snorkeling/ tube rental at castaway cay

Rainforest room: for our cruise pre-booked passes opened on a random day, not one of the regular check-in type days. They didn't sell out in minutes, but they did sell out before the cruise. People slowly dropped/canceled RR passes in the days leading up to the cruise. They would let everyone in the FB group know so someone there could pick it up. On board on the first day, more length of cruise passes were available. So don't sweat the RR. Try to book it. Keep an eye out for cancelations and head to the spa first thing if needed.

No experience with couples massage availability.

Princess meet and greet (the royal gathering) is worth booking. Meet 4 princesses at one time rather than 4 separate meet and greets. Should be a pretty good availability pre-cruise. If not definitely should be able to book it first day on board. We have precooked and then had to change day/time one on board because precooked conflicts with a different activity we want to do. We haven't had issues.

It's been a few years, but snorkeling and tubes were abundant on our cruise.

Keep checking after your initial booking date. People cancel things. Disney may add spots. You never know. Have a great cruise!

 

[lilmc]

There are so many things that do not require pre-booking that you’ll have a great time regardless!

As for the Rainforest Room, it definitely seems to me that they hold some back for when you board. Head there, tour it, and book if you like it and I don’t think you’ll have a problem getting it.

 

[Betsyp]

I was worried about being shut out for my March cruise on Fantasy because I’m first time DCL, but I didn’t have any issues. So, think positive ....

 

[guineapiggie]

Hello!

I'm concerned as a first time cruiser that come time to book on board experiences that we will be very disappointed and that most things will be booked up m
By the more frequent cruisers.

Thoughts? We will have a 7 night cruise.

Things we want to book:

- rainforest room for length of stay
-couples massage
- princess meet and greets (I don't think we will do the tea-- kinda pricey and we've done similar things in the parks) what other princess things are there?
- snorkeling/ tube rental at castaway cay

I just got back from a Disney cruise last week (14 day Panama Canal). Even though it was my first time, I found that Disney holds back some availability for tastings, spa stuff, etc, so people can sign up for it when they board the ship.

 

[LordVader]

Our very first cruise was in November and had absolutely zero issues getting everything we wanted. My biggest concern was Royal Gathering since it opens up to everyone 30 days out. Since we were had an early PAT due to Disney Transport, I didn't focus on finishing our boarding stuff, I focused on getting Royal. I had my laptop ready 5 min before 9pm (PST) and refreshed at 8:59:59 and immediately grabbed that, a massage for my wife, a salon appointment, etc. No issues at all.

Just be ready, set an alarm and prioritize what you want first! Best of luck!

 

[NMPensFan]

My activities opened last night (first time member). Wasn’t able to get brunch so I reserved a palo dinner.

I was surprised to see a lot of the alcohol activities sold out. I enjoy drinking but don’t understand why these are so popular. If you love going to these classes, what do you love?

 

[SnowWhite2]

Getting the rainforest pass is the first step. Actually getting a heated lounger or in the whirlpool once you arrive is a whole other issue. You needed to use it either between 8-10am or 5-close. Even port days it was busy.

 

[guineapiggie]

My activities opened last night (first time member). Wasn’t able to get brunch so I reserved a palo dinner.

I was surprised to see a lot of the alcohol activities sold out. I enjoy drinking but don’t understand why these are so popular. If you love going to these classes, what do you love?

If you are worried about the alcohol activities being sold out, Disney opens up more slots as it gets closer to cruise time. Also, they release even more slots once you board the ship. That’s what I noticed on my cruise 2 weeks ago

 

[starry_solo]

I don't think you'll have too much issue.
Go to the spa when you board. They have lots of availability and specials on that day, including couples massages. You can get the rainforest passes there too, as I recall, if it sells out prior to boarding.

 

[NMPensFan]

My first stop will be to try and get the rainforest pass. There are still some tastings available, but none really appeal to me. I think I’d rather spend $ at the bar or sommelier bin.

 

[Karin1984]

I enjoy drinking but don’t understand why these are so popular. If you love going to these classes, what do you love?

The only things to book for adults are Palo/Remy or alcohol, I think. Because that is all that is offered with the other activities, they probably book up early. And there is a very limited amount of people per class.

During the day, you can go to the rainforest room or sit in the adults only for a swim, read, sun bathe. But those activities do not need to be booked.

Probably people think they have to book things to do.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I was surprised to see a lot of the alcohol activities sold out. I enjoy drinking but don’t understand why these are so popular. If you love going to these classes, what do you love?

I book the alcohol tastings as for me its a chance to taste various drinks that I would not normally buy. Its a chance to have some time with a sommelier or experienced bar tender and learn about the history of the alcohol and drinks.

While the names of the various alcohol activities are the same on each ship and cruise, the sommeliers or bar tenders can customize and be creative with the drinks, so you get a unique experience.

And despite the moans and groans of the people who cruised before 2020 about the price increases, if you price up each drink and add in a cost for the talk by sommelier or bar tender, it is still very good value.

 

[soniam]

We didn’t get everything our first cruise. Really didn’t know what we were missing either. I think it also depends upon the cruise length. We only booked Palo brunch for our 4 night. Not even a single tasting, no massage, which I almost always do, no rainforest room, and no other specialty meals. Didn’t have time to miss any of it.