How to make the most of a 3 night cruise?

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Our first cruise is coming up, and I was hoping some of you experts might be able to help out. I know I asked this question before, but I can't get search to work for me.

It will be DH, me, DS9 and DD5. We are planning to not get off at Nassau, and I don't think we will do any spa or Palo. I know we would like to do the bridge tour. MAYBE the surriel bath, but having so many mixed reviews, I don't know that I want to spend our precious time on board on that.

Thanks!

 

[alexandrew]

and the best advice I can give you is to get to the port early!!!!!Be mindful of the fact that embarkation day is indeed day 1 of your 3 day cruise....The earlier you get to port, the earlier you can start having fun....I recommend, if possible, getting to port no later than 11am....check in, take your spot on line, and alternate with someone else in your party exploring the terminal....Then, when embarkation begins at about 12, you'll have some extra time to explore the ship.....

Also, as enticing as it might be, I would not recommend seeing any movies onboard the 3 day....time is just too precious...although the idea of seeing a first run movie currently in theaters is a powerful draw, chances are within a few months these movies will be released on DVD anyway.....Instead, I would take advantage of venues and experiences unique to the ship - the shows, the clubs, the restaurants et al....

 

[DisneyGator01]

Don't try to do everything.. just really enjoy and savor the things you do get to do. And be sure to see the sun rise and set at least once.

There is always the next cruise to see the things you didn't get to the first time.

 

[ohiominnie]

Sit on the steamer chairs on deck 4 with a book. Go to the secret deck 7 aft verandah.

Good thinking...don't get off at Nassau! I've been on two DCL cruises and the only time I've gotten off were at CC and back at Port Canaveral (guess which one was voluntary and guess which one was with great protest!) I do not feel AT ALL like I've missed out on anything.

I say catch a movie if you want....It's fun to sit in the theater and know you're floating at sea. I don't think 2 hours is going to make or break your vacation. I've seen movies on both of my cruises (a 4 day and a 3 day) and now we talk about those "remember when we watched Finding Nemo in the middle of the ocean???"

Have fun, relax and find the booking desk and book your next cruise.

 

[drdelsol]

I don't know if this is one of the things you had in mind, but we made the most of our three day cruise by becoming pregnant.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I just went on my first cruise.

* Read your navigator and choose what most interests you, then you can kind of loosely plan out your days

* Early to rise & Late to bed I loved the mornings & caught some beautiful sights

* Take advantage of room service at least once - pamper yourself

* Choose things that you wouldn't normally do & enjoy the experience

* Don't worry about stuff you might miss - there's always next time

As for the movies - I wanted to go to the movies, but there was so much other stuff going on that I couldn't justify watching a movie and missing out.

I didn't go to the spa - I'll do that next time
I didn't use the pools - I may or may not do that next time
I saw the live shows - loved them
I ate at Palo - great experience
I talked to people I didn't know -- had fun
I went on excursions at Nassau and Castaway Cay - loved them

I had such a good time, I'm still floating when I think of it ... and now I'm planning on going back for a 7-dayer if I can, and a 4-dayer if I can't. I'll be with my kids, and won't do Palo (since I'm a lone adult), and that's okay, too.

 

[minniecarousel]

We just had to go the movie onboard - after all, it was Pirates of the Caribbean - within a week after being released to the theatres!! That was just too cool! Gotta agree - check the Navigators & decide what you want to do.

 

[musicgirl]

If you can go a day ahead of time, stay at cocoa beach. We had a great time and actually would have enjoyed another day. This made it easy to get to port with little stress from traveling.

Also, I recommend going on an excursion at Nassau. We did the Blue lagoon day (we really enjoyed it) and this last time we did the catamaran sail and snorkel. The kids (niece-12 and ds-12) loved it. It was my niece's first time to snorkel and I will never forget the sounds of her squeals through the snorkel. It was beautiful even though it was raining a little at the time. Of course, that was the only time it rain all day! LOL

We also went into Nassau this last time, yes it wasn't the fanciest of placest, but one of the reasons we went on the cruise was to see other places.

There's no way to get enough of the ship, that's why after two 3-nights we booked the 7!!!

 

[Pam]

I personally recommend getting off the ship at Nassau even if you don't want to do one of the excursions. We did the horse riding on the beach and then came back and eplored the town (during the day). DD and I hit the shops and took photos of the town, etc. DH and DS explored the forts. Later that evening DD did the Junkaroo Curise, which she loved!

We went to all the Live Shows - but not the Clubs. We also didn't do Palo but ate as a family each night in the different restaurants.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I recommend just being happy that you're there! Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. If something goes awry on your trip, ignore it! Be happy you're cruisin' with the Mouse!

(Ahh....the things I've learned....)

 

[PiperG]

Stay up late

Do you have a verandah? We ordered room service at midnight and ate pizza and chicken tenders while watching the sea pass us by.

That is my "must do" on the 3-day!!!

 

[ElaineMc]

Just having come off a 3 day I would suggest reading your Navigator, something we looked at but didn't follow. I feel like I didn't get the full cruise experience this time. Maybe it was because I had done so much research that I felt I had already been on the Wonder before I had even boarded so there weren't any suprises as I had already read anything and everything, or maybe it was because we were late risers due to the fact that we had just flown in from the west coast so by the time we got up and had breakfast, it was already around 11:00 a.m. We did get off in Nassau and went to Atlantis which I wouldn't do again. I would get off the ship again, just not go to Atlantis. By the time we got back on the ship andl had our showers, it was time to see the show and then an hour later have dinner. After dinner, 10:30 p.m., we didn't do much except head back to the cabin. One night we did go to one of the clubs. Maybe I'm missing something here but I certainly didn't feel it was non-stop action on board. Unless you wanted to party or play bingo, there wasn't really much to do. Please fill me in here as to how I can do it differently next time.

 

[swandiverpatt]

I'd say find out what's available and do what *you* wnt to do. We didn't do any shows and just briefly watched the floor show during 80's night. We did go to the movies, Pirates of the Caribbean, during rough seas the first night -- what a hoot! We did go to Atlantis, we did buy all the duty-free alcohol, we did spend time in the hot tubs, we went to Palo our last night and drank martoonis, we did watch a lot of movies in-room. (my daughter's choice) with cheese plates from room service. This upcoming trip with include my hubby , but I suspect it'll be more of the same with my time split between my daughter and my hubby.

 

[JCarangal]

We loved the 3 day cruise we took!! It was totally too short and that is why we are taking a 7 day next May.

Some things we did:
* the kids loved playing in the pools -- they got in the Mickey pool (and did the water slide) just after we boarded.
* we didn't get off the ship in Naussau either -- we enjoyed a much less crowded pool area.
* ordered room service (as a late-night snack) -- I loved their tomato soup!
* saw the shows after dinner; DS and DD (then 3 and 4) loved the Hercules show -- it was very funny.
* right after dinner we went to Studio Sea where the kids danced until it was time to go to the theater for the show.
* Castaway Cay was divine!! Loved just sitting at the edge of the water while the kids floated on rafts and built sand-castles and dug holes.
* one day we went to Triton's for a sit-down breakfast (DH wanted lox and bagels)
* On the Castaway Cay day we had breakfast at the top deck buffet -- we sat outside and looked over the island while eating -- it was really breathtaking!

We didn't do any spa treatments and I am in the same boat as you (pardon the pun) now as I plan our 7 day cruise -- DH and I want to do the Suriel Bath but are concerned about the mixed reviews.

Whatever you do -- just relax and enjoy -- we loved it!!!!!

 

[minnieluvzmickey]

We just got off the 3 day yesterday! It was so awesome! Just relax and enjoy! The best advice I have is leave your kids at home (lol). That is what we did and it was so fun! Now, we feel guilty and have to plan another trip so we can take them.....isn't that a shame.....we HAVE to plan another cruise

We did the spa and Palo and enjoyed them both. We got the couples well being massage. Afterward we went and hopped in the hot tub. It was fantastic! I can't wait to go back!

The best part is that my dh was not too thrilled to be going on a cruise at all. He would rather be deer hunting! But, now he is hooked. He even watched the dcl video when we got home last night.