Help! Palo? Excursions?

[sylviarj]

Okay, this is our first cruise, kids don't know about it. It's their Christmas present! We're on the Wonder out of Galveston. I'm supposed to make reservations for things next week. I don't know what excursions or anything. My husband and I want to try and eat at Palo--what night should I schedule that for? If I can even get a reservation! I don't want to stress...but I'm starting to stress!

 

[ajo]

You definitely want to do Pirate Night in the MDR with your kids on your first cruise, so don't schedule Palo that night. You can also do a Palo brunch, which is a wonderful meal and experience, in lieu of or in addition to dinner there. Although keep in mind that brunch is only offered on at sea days. Our first cruise we just picked a sea day for our Palo dinner figuring that we didn't want to be rushing back from port to get the kids fed and get us to dinner. But really, I don't think there is any "perfect" night. Any night is Palo is wonderful.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Can I suggest Palo brunch also? It's AMAZING and then you don't have to worry about not being with your kids for dinner one night! Also, please don't feel like you have to do excursions. I remember before our first cruise I felt like that was something we had to do, but I quickly learned it's just as easy to arrange your own tours or just go it on your own at many stops. I can't even begin to imagine how much money we've saved over the years doing it on our own. Now, some people aren't comfortable with this because the ship will in fact leave you if you aren't back in time, but we have never cut it close.

Don't stress! It will be fun and everything will fall right into place.

 

[sylviarj]

BRUNCH!!!! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks guys! I'm not sure how to find out when pirate night is or anything so brunch is my safest bet.
And with a port like Key West, I have no problem doing our own thing. Nassau is on New Year's Day so hopefully we'll sleep in a little anyway. I think we can fill up our time at CC without an excursion, so I should be good. Okay! Back to just counting down the days and NOT stressing!

 

[Gilland18]

I would also suggest Palo brunch. We enjoy the MDR and there is a different menu each night. My advise would be to experience all that the MDR offers for your first cruise. If you can't get a Palo meal (whichever you choose) when you do your on-line check-in, they hold many slots open for booking on board. Check your Navigator for where to go when you board and you will probably be able to get something then.

 

[Dawn Hart]

Can I suggest Palo brunch also? It's AMAZING and then you don't have to worry about not being with your kids for dinner one night! Also, please don't feel like you have to do excursions. I remember before our first cruise I felt like that was something we had to do, but I quickly learned it's just as easy to arrange your own tours or just go it on your own at many stops. I can't even begin to imagine how much money we've saved over the years doing it on our own. Now, some people aren't comfortable with this because the ship will in fact leave you if you aren't back in time, but we have never cut it close.

Don't stress! It will be fun and everything will fall right into place.

I like the brunch idea! I have a 10 year old daughter going on the cruise with us and I wanted to spend some time with my DH. So, I appreciate all of the input on the brunch! That's awesome

 

[Firefighter22]

I actually enjoyed Palo dinner more than Remy dinner. Food was good at remy and also how quiet it is but I prefer Palo for dinner. Along with Palo and Remy dinner we did Remy champagne brunch which was really good as well. Next Nov we are going on another Disney cruise and plan on doing Palo Brunch. We sailed out on September 26th (Saturday) and our formal night was Monday the 28th. Our semiformal was thursday Oct 1st. As far as excursions go It was my first cruise and my wifes first disney cruise, we just booked through disney and did the tours around the island. We wanted to see the whole island so we opted to do that.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm not sure how to find out when pirate night is

Usually, after your online check in window opens, you can go to the "My Cruise Activities" link and see the calendar for the activities you've booked as well as "Ship Activity" will be noted. Click on "Ship Activity" and a window will open showing you what that activity is (Pirate Night, sail away party, etc as well as the time of the activity). However, I will note that the recent switch to the new website has erased such information from several reservations.

 

[SillyInventor]

Rule number 1 of cruising: don't stress, there's no way of doing everything in one cruise.
You will have a great cruise with or without Palo, with or without a dolphin encounter, with or without the one specific SPA treatment.
Enjoy the time you spend with your loved ones, take pictures, have the MDR meals walk around the Ship, meet characters, take a swim, order some roomservice or not, have unlimited food and ice-cream. Just relax and have fun! If you focus on all must-do's you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Practically: half of the time slots in Palo are only available for booking once on board, so even if you don't get the time/meal you wish online, just give it a shot at embarkation day. No reason for stress.

Only stress is: bring you id (BC+photo id or passport) as no id = no cruise and be on the Ship well on time. All other things are "take as they come" and you will have a blast.

 

[lffam]

Rule number 1 of cruising: don't stress, there's no way of doing everything in one cruise.
You will have a great cruise with or without Palo, with or without a dolphin encounter, with or without the one specific SPA treatment.
Enjoy the time you spend with your loved ones, take pictures, have the MDR meals walk around the Ship, meet characters, take a swim, order some roomservice or not, have unlimited food and ice-cream. Just relax and have fun! If you focus on all must-do's you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Practically: half of the time slots in Palo are only available for booking once on board, so even if you don't get the time/meal you wish online, just give it a shot at embarkation day. No reason for stress.

Only stress is: bring you id (BC+photo id or passport) as no id = no cruise and be on the Ship well on time. All other things are "take as they come" and you will have a blast.

I really like this advice. I have a bit of a tendency to stress because I haven't booked enough/the right things ( going on first cruise in Dec) so I'm not even sure what to book. Reading your post just made me take a breath and not forget that it's a time to enjoy being together as a family, especially given we are cruising over Christmas

 

[5forDis]

We have only done Palo brunch & loved it. It was easier for us with 3 kids and the logistics of dinner if we decided on dinner time. I don't know where you cruise goes to give suggestions on excursions.

 

[MamaPajama26]

Rule number 1 of cruising: don't stress, there's no way of doing everything in one cruise.
You will have a great cruise with or without Palo, with or without a dolphin encounter, with or without the one specific SPA treatment.
Enjoy the time you spend with your loved ones, take pictures, have the MDR meals walk around the Ship, meet characters, take a swim, order some roomservice or not, have unlimited food and ice-cream. Just relax and have fun! If you focus on all must-do's you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Practically: half of the time slots in Palo are only available for booking once on board, so even if you don't get the time/meal you wish online, just give it a shot at embarkation day. No reason for stress.

Only stress is: bring you id (BC+photo id or passport) as no id = no cruise and be on the Ship well on time. All other things are "take as they come" and you will have a blast.

Great info! Thank you so much! I am getting a little crazy planning our first DCL cruise and I am getting so hung up on planning everything perfectly. I need to relax and enjoy. I know we will be in good hands.