From WDW To DL With Love - January 06, 2011

[aan1701]

To those that have done longer than one week:
Do they repeat some menus and just throw in a few different ones or will they actually have 15 different menus?
Not that it really matters, just wondering.

I have done the 14 night to L.A. In 05 the 11 night southern carb. in 06 and the 15 night to L.A. in 08. Not one menu was repeted during a cruise. I was very shocked as I thought their would have been some repeted.

 

[glindamood]

Count me as one who complained after each cruise about the stagered dining times. I was so happy in Oct. when they were gone. We always do early, but the first time we cruised with the stagered times we had 5:30. It was way to early. Now I know 5:45 is only 15 min. later, but it sure did not feal like it in Oct. I even thanked DCL for ditching the stagered times.

My issue with non-staggered dining is that EVERYONE that wants their picture take is in the lobby along with all the folks trying to get into Lumiere's for their dinner seating. In all of my cruising years, I never say anything like what we experienced in November. And to top it off - I get sorta cranky when I am hungry so I am sure that didn't help much either. Lumiere's was the worst as then they stopped letting us enter through the back door too so we just went late late. I also TOTALLY agree with you that 5:30 is too early.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

My issue with non-staggered dining is that EVERYONE that wants their picture take is in the lobby along with all the folks trying to get into Lumiere's for their dinner seating. In all of my cruising years, I never say anything like what we experienced in November. And to top it off - I get sorta cranky when I am hungry so I am sure that didn't help much either. Lumiere's was the worst as then they stopped letting us enter through the back door too so we just went late late. I also TOTALLY agree with you that 5:30 is too early.

It the same, I thought 8.30 was just too late, again, its only 15 mins, but 8.15s ok, 8.30, nearly 9pm.
Alst time we asked for 8 and it was perfect.

 

[glindamood]

Well, given a choice between 8:00 and 8:30 I would even take 8:00 but that option doesn't seem available to us so I will take the 8:30. I have been known to be sitting at the last table with passengers there. Once, in Palo, while they were not pushing us out, when we finally decided we should depart, several of them followed us and I remember hearing the lock click. Wonder what they had to say about us.................

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Well, given a choice between 8:00 and 8:30 I would even take 8:00 but that option doesn't seem available to us so I will take the 8:30. I have been known to be sitting at the last table with passengers there. Once, in Palo, while they were not pushing us out, when we finally decided we should depart, several of them followed us and I remember hearing the lock click. Wonder what they had to say about us.................

wont it be 8.15?

 

[Aunt KatKat]

For the past two years I've been on a major bread kick, teaching myself how to make different kinds of bread. I've learned how to make bagels, tortilla and I recently nailed down a great recipe for sourdough.

My dh lets me buy 25lbs of flour from Costco (for $6.50), so each loaf cost about .03 cents.

I just finished making 4 loaves and will go manically around my neighborhood giving people fresh bread.

It's like a bread making sickness, and I thought if anyone could understand that it would be a bunch of dissers.

Katherine

 

[orlandothebeagle]

For the past two years I've been on a major bread kick, teaching myself how to make different kinds of bread. I've learned how to make bagels, tortilla and I recently nailed down a great recipe for sourdough.

My dh lets me buy 25lbs of flour from Costco (for $6.50), so each loaf cost about .03 cents.

I just finished making 4 loaves and will go manically around my neighborhood giving people fresh bread.

It's like a bread making sickness, and I thought if anyone could understand that it would be a bunch of dissers.

Katherine

It sounds lovely, I would just get fat again if I made yummy stuff, too greedy!

 

[Aunt KatKat]

It sounds lovely, I would just get fat again if I made yummy stuff, too greedy!

That's where the manically going around the neighborhood comes in!

Katherine

 

[aan1701]

wont it be 8.15?

Last I knew the times are 5:45 and 8:15

 

[LindaBabe]

For the past two years I've been on a major bread kick, teaching myself how to make different kinds of bread. I've learned how to make bagels, tortilla and I recently nailed down a great recipe for sourdough.

My dh lets me buy 25lbs of flour from Costco (for $6.50), so each loaf cost about .03 cents.

I just finished making 4 loaves and will go manically around my neighborhood giving people fresh bread.

It's like a bread making sickness, and I thought if anyone could understand that it would be a bunch of dissers.

Katherine

LOVE home made bread, but have had to switch to whole wheat for part of the flour. Oddly enough, that just makes it better.

Gail, I agree with you about the mayhem in the lobby! It seems so much worse in recent trips than it used to be. I wish they'd either go back to staggered times or move some of the photo ops OUT of the atrium. Those "lifestyle" portraits for example, could be done in one of the lounges that aren't used at that hour - or even "by appointment" so the lines wouldn't be so long.

 

[LovesToRun]

Hi there,

Does anyone know if on the 15-night PC cruise if there are different themed nights that they do not have on the 7-day cruise where we should plan to dress a certain way... or if there is more than one formal night? I know it's still 11 months away, but it's fun to start to think about.

I asked our waiter this question on our 7-day cruise last week, and he said every night is a different theme on the PC cruise and a different menu (he told me he remembered having 15 different themed uniforms having to store in his tiny stateroom, which he said is on "deck B", which is below the water), but he couldn't remember specifics of each theme each night. He did say that he remembered when they got to the Mexican Riviera, there was some Mexican themed night with some sort of Mexican type party... I'd love to know if people dress up a certain way for these extra themed nights, or if it's just cruise casual, except formal, semi-formal and pirate night.

Also, does anyone know if on a 15-night cruise if you can schedule more than 1 Palo night? We love Palo (like probably almost everyone else does), and we'd LOVE to be able to do 2 Palo nights on the PC cruise given it's 15 days.

And, when do you think the shore excursions will be listed? I can't wait to see what they offer so we can start thinking about that, too!!

Thanks!
Kathy

 

[JenKatt]

Hi there,

Does anyone know if on the 15-night PC cruise if there are different themed nights that they do not have on the 7-day cruise where we should plan to dress a certain way... or if there is more than one formal night? I know it's still 11 months away, but it's fun to start to think about.

I asked our waiter this question on our 7-day cruise last week, and he said every night is a different theme on the PC cruise and a different menu (he told me he remembered having 15 different themed uniforms having to store in his tiny stateroom, which he said is on "deck B", which is below the water), but he couldn't remember specifics of each theme each night. He did say that he remembered when they got to the Mexican Riviera, there was some Mexican themed night with some sort of Mexican type party... I'd love to know if people dress up a certain way for these extra themed nights, or if it's just cruise casual, except formal, semi-formal and pirate night.

Also, does anyone know if on a 15-night cruise if you can schedule more than 1 Palo night? We love Palo (like probably almost everyone else does), and we'd LOVE to be able to do 2 Palo nights on the PC cruise given it's 15 days.

And, when do you think the shore excursions will be listed? I can't wait to see what they offer so we can start thinking about that, too!!

Thanks!
Kathy

We did the '05 WB PC cruise, so we had the original experience with the long cruises. Yes you can do Palo as much as you want. Even with 15 nights it will be hard to get certain reservations as a large portion of the guests on board are adults.
Every night was a different theme. Yes there was a Mexican night. A fair amount of people got dressed up. There was also 2 formal nights.
I wouldn't expect shore excursions until the summer.

 

[aan1701]

On the 08 to L.A. they were only allowing one tea, brunch, and dinner at Palo per stateroom to be reserved in advance. You were able to go and get other reservations once you boarded. They said it was due to over 80% of the ship being CC members. I would think it will be the same for this cruise.

 

[Aunt KatKat]

Hi there,

Does anyone know if on the 15-night PC cruise if there are different themed nights that they do not have on the 7-day cruise where we should plan to dress a certain way... or if there is more than one formal night? I know it's still 11 months away, but it's fun to start to think about.

I asked our waiter this question on our 7-day cruise last week, and he said every night is a different theme on the PC cruise and a different menu (he told me he remembered having 15 different themed uniforms having to store in his tiny stateroom, which he said is on "deck B", which is below the water), but he couldn't remember specifics of each theme each night. He did say that he remembered when they got to the Mexican Riviera, there was some Mexican themed night with some sort of Mexican type party... I'd love to know if people dress up a certain way for these extra themed nights, or if it's just cruise casual, except formal, semi-formal and pirate night.

Also, does anyone know if on a 15-night cruise if you can schedule more than 1 Palo night? We love Palo (like probably almost everyone else does), and we'd LOVE to be able to do 2 Palo nights on the PC cruise given it's 15 days.

And, when do you think the shore excursions will be listed? I can't wait to see what they offer so we can start thinking about that, too!!

Thanks!
Kathy

I can't answer your questions, but you got me thinking. Our servers seemed absolutely exhausted after our seven day cruise. Can you imagine how tired these people will be after 15 nights?

I wonder if there is anything we can do for them to make their lives a little easier?

Katherine

 

[CruznLexi]

My husband used to be a waiter for RCI on Majesty of the Seas. Most crew like money or gift cards. Most send money home to family. Our waitress on the Magic was from Jamaica and husband worked on Freedom of the Seas and has 3 kids back in Jamaica. The cabins are small so not much room to store things.
Lexi

 

[carmie3377]

Our servers seemed absolutely exhausted after our seven day cruise. Can you imagine how tired these people will be after 15 nights?

Katherine

Our server on the Magic told us that Saturday is always the worse because of the turnover of guests. I would think then that they would welcome the longer cruises because of less turnover. I'm not saying they won't be exhausted because I know they work long days. I just wonder if they actually like the longer cruises. May be something that we chat about with them. Ours always seemed to enjoy the small talk

Also, our stateroom host seemed frazzled on Saturday morning trying to get the rooms ready. It was the one time he didn't stop us to say hi, ect. So, do they like it better when they can just do their daily routine vs the weekly turnover

 

[carmie3377]

i have done the 14 night to l.a. In 05 the 11 night southern carb. In 06 and the 15 night to l.a. In 08. Not one menu was repeted during a cruise. I was very shocked as i thought their would have been some repeted.

thank you!!!

 

[DCL_FAN_TAC]

For the past two years I've been on a major bread kick, teaching myself how to make different kinds of bread. I've learned how to make bagels, tortilla and I recently nailed down a great recipe for sourdough.

I just finished making 4 loaves and will go manically around my neighborhood giving people fresh bread.

It's like a bread making sickness, and I thought if anyone could understand that it would be a bunch of dissers.

Katherine

1 Word -- YUM!!!

Absolutely, dissers understand obsessive behavior or am I the only one who checks online before my coffee in the morning

 

[DCL_FAN_TAC]

On the 08 to L.A. they were only allowing one tea, brunch, and dinner at Palo per stateroom to be reserved in advance. You were able to go and get other reservations once you boarded. They said it was due to over 80% of the ship being CC members. I would think it will be the same for this cruise.

One of each tea, brunch and dinner at Palo per stateroom to be reserved online prior to sailing. Online booking opens according to the DCL levels and Conceirge staterooms, of course the stateroom must be Paid in Full (PIF) prior to the online booking availability. Same holds for Shore Excursions & Spa reservations. Once on board, beeline to Rockin Bar D to make additional reservations (especially once you know what dining rotation you have). There are always cancellations, so signup for the waitlist if you have a specific night in mind.

Does anyone have a favorite dining rotation? Favorite night to skip regular rotation and have dinner at Palo? Do you prefer Palo as a date or larger group?

 

[LovesToRun]

Our server on the Magic told us that Saturday is always the worse because of the turnover of guests. I would think then that they would welcome the longer cruises because of less turnover. I'm not saying they won't be exhausted because I know they work long days. I just wonder if they actually like the longer cruises. May be something that we chat about with them. Ours always seemed to enjoy the small talk

Also, our stateroom host seemed frazzled on Saturday morning trying to get the rooms ready. It was the one time he didn't stop us to say hi, ect. So, do they like it better when they can just do their daily routine vs the weekly turnover

This is what I was thinking, too. We chatted quite a bit with our server on our cruise last week, and he said the same thing, that Saturday's are exhausting because of the turnover of passengers, and he said they have to serve at breakfast, lunch and dinner. But, he also said that by dinner on Saturday night on the 7-day cruise, he gets a second-wind to make it through the next week because it's fun to meet new passengers, get to know new people, etc.

He told me they work 90 hours a week, every week they are on the ship, with no days off for all the months they are on the ship. But, he said they just get used to it, and if you get in the right mind-set, it's not as difficult. But, I also thought that a 15-day cruise would be a bit more relaxing for the dining room servers and the room hostess' because they get more or less a "free" Saturday where they aren't trying to turn the ship around.

Although, our server did say that usually by Thursday or Friday of a 7-day cruise, he is starting to feel the exhaustion of working long days without a break, and that is why he thinks seeing new passengers, new faces, etc. on Saturday gives him a second-wind. So, with the 15-day cruise, I wonder if they ever get that "second-wind" half-way through. It probably depends on the person.

I am going to bring some fun little gift for our server, assistant server and room host/hostess because 15 days is a long time, and I know I will appreciate every day they work to make our trip amazing! I also think the 15-day cruise will allow us more time to get to know our servers and room host/hostess... seems like the 7-day cruise, we are just getting to know each other on a more personal level, and then the cruise is over.