First Time Cruiser on April 14 with QUESTIONS!

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Our family of 7 (Me 43, DH 45, DD 14, DS 13, DS 9, DD 7 and Sister) will be taking the first cruise of our lives on April 14 on the Wonder for four nights.

We are staying at the AKL for three nights prior to the cruise. We will have our own car with us for the trip and will be returning to the BWV on April 18 for two more nights.

I simply don't know where to start with all of the questions that I have so if you don't mind, let me start with the most basic question of all. What should we do and what should we avoid?

WHAT ONE THING DO YOU WISH SOMEONE TOLD YOU BEFORE YOUR FIRST CRUISE?

Many of the posts on this board have helped but any help will be appreciated for our particular situation.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Hi. Welcome to the DIS cruise boards. You've found a knowledgeable and enthusiastic community that will love to help you with your questions.

But the best way to start is to go to EntropyM's web site (hometown.aol.com/entropym) and download his "Magical Disney Cruise Guide". This is the most comprehensive compilation of unbiased DCL information in a single document. It's available in HTML, Microsoft Word, and plain ASCII text. We downloaded it and read it cover-to-cover. This is a great way to answer the questions you don't even know you have.

I also have a web site with a fair amount of useful reference material:

www.dcltribute.com

Barb and Tony, who post on this board as Inkkognito and atigeg also have a web site with a wealth of useful reference material:

www.castawayclub.com

Between Entropy's guide and these two web sites, you'll have a lot of your questions answered and will come up with more focused questions. This board is the place for them. We can usually help you out.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Dave_from_Marietta

Thanks so much for the leads. I am sure these will help me to get much more specific. It's kind of like school. When you know nothing about a subject, you tend not to know what questions to ask the teacher.

HBC

 

[dbkelly]

This is also our first cruise for us. DH (40), DS (10), DD (7 & 4) and myself (38). We are from Massachusetts. Do you plan to visit Atlantis?

dbkelly

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We booked the Blue Lagoon excursion this morning. The kids really wanted to do the Beach and Ocean stuff.

 

[Gabbys_mom]

Hi!

We (myself-41, DH-40, DD-4 as well as my parents) are also on the Wonder on the 14th. We'll also be at WDW for the 3 days before. I can't believe it's less than a month away! I'm so excited.

My daughter doesn't turn 5 until April 26th so she's too young for most of the excursions. We were also wanting to go to Atlantis, but will probaby take a taxi there and try to see it some on our own. I'm not sure how long my daughter will last during the afternoons. I'm hoping she'll enjoy the kid's club on the ship.

Gabbys mom

 

[Pleiades]

wow! I will be on the wonder on the 14th too it is our first cruise. we are going on our honeymoon.

I am excited to see people going on the same day

 

[mickeymom]

Hi everyone, we (DH 42, me 38, DD 16,DD b/f 18 and DS 13) cruised last April on the Magic and are returning this year on the April 14 Wonder. Docs came yesterday! We will be staying at the Swan for 4 days after the cruise. Can't wait!

 

[robinbrennan]

Originally posted by dbkelly
This is also our first cruise for us. DH (40), DS (10), DD (7 & 4) and myself (38). We are from Massachusetts. Do you plan to visit Atlantis?

dbkelly

Hi! Me (39), DH 46, DS 7 & DD 4 will also be on this ship. We are staying at the GF for 4 days before. We are all very excited! Does anyone have Disney Time on their computer? I found this program a long time ago when we first book our trip (over a year ago) You input the day you arrive and it will count down days, hours minutes and even seconds until your Disney Adventure begins! It is cool!
I can't remember the link but try a search on "disney time" and see if you can find it.
Robin

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

mickeymom,

Since this is your second cruise, is there anything you will do different either getting ready for or on this one than you did on the first?

HBCat

 

[wilmywood]

I just got off the Wonder andasafirst time cruiser, I'dbe gladto answer any questions to the best of my ability. Stick with this group of dis-ers,they are always right!
Sincewelive at the beach,wedid not book any exursions and do not regret it. The bluelagoon had rave reviewsfromthosewho went. Things I wish I had know ahead of time:
1. Luggage will show up,don'tsweat it if one piece is missing-it will be there!
2. No matter what we lost-andwelost lots of things- guest servicesseemedto have it turn up by the end of the day!
3. The kids really are as safe as everyone says they are. My 7 year old knew how to get around better than I did! The waiters are so friendly, we went to Palo and the kids went to dinner without us- met us for the show after!
4. Take a permanant marker- there are so many mugs!

Our cruise was a dream come true-we areplanning a 7 day for next year! Contact me for anything !!!

 

[goofysgal]

We also are taking our first cruise on the 4/14 WONDER. It's me (46), DH (47) and DS (10). DS will turn 11 the day we sail; DH & I are celebrating our 25th anniversary on 4/16. DD (19) is a little peeved at being left at school (hey-final exams are two weeks after the cruise so what can we say--anyway she's on spring break at Universal right now.)

We are planning on doing Atlantis on our own--visit the casino, the aquarium, etc. then back to ship. Later that day walk to the Pirates' museum in Nassau.

On Castaway Cay planning to snorkle, banana boat ride, and possibly fishing.

What have you got planned?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We have already signed up for the Blue Lagoon excursion and the Cataway Cay excursion that includes a float and snorkle gear for the day and a 1 hour bike rental for each in our group. The banana boat also sounds interesting but we still have not signed up for it.

wilmywood: Great idea on the marker. That is the type of thing I would never think of. And yes I would be a wreck over the luggage. Thanks again.

HBC

 

[peter pans family]

i just want to let u know that your teens will have alot of fun. even though i went on the 7 day cruise i had alot of fun. i know a few teens that went on the 4 day cruise and they had alot of fun. if it is like the 7 day there are teen dances that are alot of fun. any other questions ask!!

 

[dizneykids]

...and one thing i brought this time that i had not previously is a clock. they don't have them in the staterooms. i found a samsonite indiglo battery-powered clock at target for $12.00.

it helped me to know that the fire crew started running for the fire at 4:26 a.m. on the 3/9 "fire cruise"!!

 

[Ginny]

I am so excited (and envious) of all of you with cruises quickly approaching. Dave from Marietta has already given you the best advice but there are 3 random thoughts I would like to share after 3 DCL cruises:

#1) I encourage parents to have their children participate in Club/Lab activities on the first night. Everyone is "new" so they all have equal footing when meeting friends!! On our second cruise, I took DD (then 5) to the club that Friday night and let her stay until 10:00 PM (I was spying from 9:00 on) and she had a wonderful time. She begged to stay later and when she went the next day, she already knew children when she arrived!

#2) We were somewhat hesitant about planning activities with folks we didn't know but on our Halloween '01 cruise, we opted to join the DIS group activities that our DIS'ers were planning and we had a WONDERFUL TIME with an extraordinary group of special people from all over the country. The DIS'ers planned matching shirts, buttoms, our own Trick or Treating on Sunday morning and a Brunch together. The couple who organized the T& T made an incredible treasure map of the ship (cause we had folks in staterooms on all decks) for the kids and door decorations to specifically mark each participating stateroom. What was great was that when we went to Family activities, deck parties or the Movie Theater, etc, the other DIS's were there and we already knew folks and it made it so much more fun. After we got to know each other, several admitted that they shared the same hesitation about planning time with strangers!! The best part was that one family we met from New York have become close friends. So, if there are other DIS members on your cruise planning DIS meets or other activities, take a chance!!

#3) My first cruise, I was on a mission to create the "perfect" cruise experience. I was so busy and so worried about reaching my goal that I almost missed the objective: FUN!! Thank heavens, I caught on by Day #2. While I still pre-register for activities and bring a highlighter to mark our Navigators, I just roll with activities and know that everything will work out. My last two cruises have been so much fun and we have really relaxed. And, we have incredible memories even without my "intense focus" on perfection!

Have a great time!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

peter pans family, disneykids and ginny,

Thank you all so much.

The clock is now on the list and our teenagers can't wait.

It is funny ginny, we have many of the same reservations you talk about. What you have said will probably make us look at things differently. Thank you.

That is why these boards are great!