First time on DCL questions!

[hlm2007]

We are new to DCL but not new to cruising. We have our first DCL cruise booked for January 2017 with an aft verandah cabin on the Dream. On other cruise lines, we usually watch sail away from our balcony each night. I don't want to miss anything different or special that Disney will possibly do. What times should we try to be on a public deck for sail away and where is the best place? Possibly a "secret" spot? Also, we are about to be able to pick our reservations, port arrival time, etc. What do I most definitely need to book this far in advance? We generally book excursions outside of the cruise line so that's not a big concern.

I'm also concerned that the ship is so big and we only have 4 nights that I will miss so many special areas of the ship. How can we best see everything and not miss out? Are there some not to miss areas/restaurants/bars, etc? I so want to optimize our time on this ship.

Any tips would be appreciated! TIA

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are new to DCL but not new to cruising. We have our first DCL cruise booked for January 2017 with an aft verandah cabin. On other cruise lines, we usually watch sail away from our balcony each night. I don't want to miss anything different or special that Disney will possibly do. What times should we try to be on a public deck for sail away and where is the best place? Possibly a "secret" spot? Also, we are about to be able to pick our reservations, port arrival time, etc. What do I most definitely need to book this far in advance? We generally book excursions outside of the cruise line so that's not a big concern.

I'm also concerned that the ship is so big and we only have 4 nights that I will miss so many special areas of the ship. How can we best see everything and not miss out? Are there some not to miss areas/restaurants/bars, etc? I so want to optimize our time on this ship.

Any tips would be appreciated! TIA

Well, firstly, you're not going to "see everything" in 4 days.

DCL does a sail away party on embarkation day on the pool deck. If you're into that, that's where you need to be.

Adult dining, if you're interested in that, goes fairly fast. Also cabanas on Castaway Cay, if you want one of those (but you're not likely to get one).

You don't mention what ship you're on, so I can't address specific areas/lounges, as they vary from ship to ship.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

Also if you have kids traveling with you, you can book the princess gathering, anna & elsa, or character breakfast before your cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Also if you have kids traveling with you, you can book the princess gathering, anna & elsa, or character breakfast before your cruise.

No character breakfast on a 4 night cruise.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

No character breakfast on a 4 night cruise.

I've been planning for our 7 night Western and forgot the 4 night doesn't have it. Whoops!

 

[tee11]

I think my biggest advice is: don't try to see it all or do it all!
That is too stressful - and there will be events that overlap.
Get an idea (maybe looking at some navigators you can find online) what some things might be, that may interest your family. Then go from there.

 

[hlm2007]

Thank you all - added that we are cruising on the Dream.

 

[tigerchic89]

For sail away, I like being on the deck above the pool midship... I think that's deck 12 on Dream.. it's open in the middle so you can still see the pools, stage and funnel vision but it's easy to get an open rail with no covering overhead obstructing your view. I love hearing them sound the horns, so I always go up on deck for that.

For PAT, try to get the earliest time that's available. You can board, have lunch, and them check the navigator for the ship tour time that day. It's usually only 45 minutes but will give you an overview.

 

[Quellman]

There isn't really anything special about sail away other than the first day when the do the Sail Away deck party. They will sometimes play the various horns pulling into/out of port. But on the Dream they usually do this on Castaway Cay so as not to disturb the locals in Nassau twice a week.

We enjoyed being on our aft balcony views of both ports. Didn't feel like we 'missed anything' because we did exactly what we wanted and thats the point. In 4 days you aren't going to see everything, much less figure out what areas you enjoy hanging out in the best. Spend the first night hopping the adult spaces and figure out where you want to be the next 3 nights. Have a great trip!

 

[scrappinginontario]

There isn't really anything special about sail away other than the first day when the do the Sail Away deck party. They will sometimes play the various horns pulling into/out of port. But on the Dream they usually do this on Castaway Cay so as not to disturb the locals in Nassau twice a week.

When we were on the Fantasy in 2014 they also played all of the horns at noon on our sea days. I didn't find the out until our final sea day and was sorry to have missed it earlier.

 

[jrabbit]

If we tell, it won't be a secret any more

Three Rules:
1) You Can't Eat it All, so don't try ... BUT it is time to try new foods. If you don't like it, they will bring you something else
2) You Can't Do it All ... BUT Sleep is for AFTER your trip
3) Sunscreen, Bring It, Use It, don't get burned - because the sun IS different in the Bahamas / Caribbean than at home (for most of the USA)

Dining and Main Stage Shows are Different on DCL than Other Cruise Lines:

Main Dining starts somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00
Late Dining starts at 8:30
SO
If you have Main Dining then you have the LATE SHOW @ 8:30 after Dinner
If you have Late Dining then you have the EARLY Show @ 6:00 (or 6:30) BEFORE Dinner (this get other cruise lines experienced cruisers)
Inbetween shows: in the past there seemed to be more offerings, and there still are some: there are "quick little" Family Shows in the various venues between your dinner and main show. Music in the atrium and other places, other entertainers doing there thing, etc​

Sail Away - only the first day will be the sail away deck party. Typically there won't be crowds up on deck when leaving the other ports (Nassau and Castaway Cay)

Not So Secret Spots:

• I love the loungers on Deck 4 - the largest "veranda" on the ship. Usually not in the direct sun, lovely views and ocean breezes
• For the Adults: Deck 13 Forward - Satellite Falls (I think the Dream has this now). Nice soaking, leg dangling pool. Plenty of covered and uncovered areas up here to be in the sun, or not.
• Again for the Adults: Our Private Bar - Meridian: At the back of the ship, Classy, Quiet, and you do NOT need Palo or Remy ressies to visit here.
• There are a couple of out of the way (therefore slightly used) public restrooms, but I'm not sharing ...
• If you've been to Nassau before, you could / should consider staying onboard - enjoy the pools, AquaDuck and Goofy Golf (mini golf) with a lot fewer people. But more importantly - Give Mickey's MidShip Detective Agency a try, and move around the ship solving the mystery, enjoying many of the animated pictures as well. This is running all of the time, but again on Nassau day there should be fewer people onboard...

 

[Quellman]

If we tell, it won't be a secret any more

Not So Secret Spots:

• I love the loungers on Deck 4 - the largest "veranda" on the ship. Usually not in the direct sun, lovely views and ocean breezes
• For the Adults: Deck 13 Forward - Satellite Falls (I think the Dream has this now). Nice soaking, leg dangling pool. Plenty of covered and uncovered areas up here to be in the sun, or not.

Yes the Dream has the Satellite Falls. It was added during the last dry dock.