I feel like I should be doing more....

Lizzie67

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jan 2, 2023
Messages
34
Cruising 7/15- 7/22 on Magic
Cat - Ocean GTY
Air ressies made
Hotel before/after ressies made
Requested water for DH Cpap
Requested solo table
All excursions reserved

Is the next/only other thing to wait for online checkin? I feel like something is slipping through the cracks. I have a bad case of wanting to maximize every second on the ship. It isn't helping that DH is reading The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line each night before bed and every 30 seconds mentions something amazing 'not to miss out on'. LOL I adore seeing him excited, but it also stressed me out to make sure we don't miss something incredible for our girls.

Also, when am I told about our dinner rotation and cabin number? Do we get that on embarkation or before?

I've cruised tons but this is the first time on DCL.

Thanks!!!!
 
Cruising 7/15- 7/22 on Magic
Cat - Ocean GTY
Air ressies made
Hotel before/after ressies made
Requested water for DH Cpap
Requested solo table
All excursions reserved

Is the next/only other thing to wait for online checkin? I feel like something is slipping through the cracks. I have a bad case of wanting to maximize every second on the ship. It isn't helping that DH is reading The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line each night before bed and every 30 seconds mentions something amazing 'not to miss out on'. LOL I adore seeing him excited, but it also stressed me out to make sure we don't miss something incredible for our girls.

Also, when am I told about our dinner rotation and cabin number? Do we get that on embarkation or before?

I've cruised tons but this is the first time on DCL.

Thanks!!!!
I think you have everything set, except for transportation to and from the ship on your list you provided.
We love cruising since its so much more relaxing and less planning involved. Just online check-in and planning your outfits is all that's left :sail:
 
Is the next/only other thing to wait for online checkin? I feel like something is slipping through the cracks. I have a bad case of wanting to maximize every second on the ship. It isn't helping that DH is reading The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line each night before bed and every 30 seconds mentions something amazing 'not to miss out on'. LOL I adore seeing him excited, but it also stressed me out to make sure we don't miss something incredible for our girls.

Go ahead and accept that you simply CANNOT do everything. Things are scheduled at overlapping times. Choices will have to be made. If you go into it trying to do everything, everyone will come back exhausted and miserable.

You can research the excursions usually offered for your port(s) and see if there are any that interest you so you're prepared with what you might want in that respect.

Also, when am I told about our dinner rotation and cabin number? Do we get that on embarkation or before?

Dining Rotation will be in your stateroom when you board the ship. Not before.

Cabin number can be anytime between now and when you get to the port. That's how GTY bookings work and OGT (or any *GT) which it sounds like you have by "Oceanview Guarantee" are often assigned much closer to booking.

Also be aware that unlike other lines where you can call and whine about your cabin and get changed to another if you booked guarantee status, once you're assigned on DCL that's it unless you want to ask about possible paid upgrades at the port (or in the unlikely event that your assigned cabin needs to be taken out of inventory for whatever reason).
 
The only other "must-do" that you haven't already listed (besides transportation to and from the port, which princesscinderalla mentioned above) is making sure all passengers have a current passport or birth certificate, and all passengers 16 or older have a government-issued photo ID. You will need to upload photos of these during online check-in.

There are plenty of other things you could plan/do, including booking photo packages, ordering onboard gift packages, prepaying gratuities, and deciding what to do in ports when you're not on excursions. However, you don't need to do any of these in order to have a fantastic cruise.

You can see what sort of onboard activities have been offered on other cruises, but you won't know what's available on your cruise until you're at the port, and there may be changes once you're onboard. You won't be able to do everything. You might not even be aware of everything you can do.

Your goal should be to enjoy what you do, rather than worry about whether you would have enjoyed something you didn't do even more. Relax and just look forward to your cruise!
 

Others will come up with some ideas for you. I'd suggest finding a way to de-stress a bit Or else you might find yourself so keyed up and tense that you miss the joy around you...now and on the cruise. You can't do it all. Our last cruise we saw a large turtle swiming as we relaxed on the balcony. The rest of our group missed it. Of course we missed the characters that they were seeing at that time. Accept that you will miss things and enjoy the anticipation, planning and a great cruise.
 
Cruising 7/15- 7/22 on Magic
Cat - Ocean GTY
Air ressies made
Hotel before/after ressies made
Requested water for DH Cpap
Requested solo table
All excursions reserved

Is the next/only other thing to wait for online checkin? I feel like something is slipping through the cracks. I have a bad case of wanting to maximize every second on the ship. It isn't helping that DH is reading The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line each night before bed and every 30 seconds mentions something amazing 'not to miss out on'. LOL I adore seeing him excited, but it also stressed me out to make sure we don't miss something incredible for our girls.

Also, when am I told about our dinner rotation and cabin number? Do we get that on embarkation or before?

I've cruised tons but this is the first time on DCL.

Thanks!!!!
Yes you should be doing more relaxing 😁 since you have done all the basics of a magical vacation at sea.

Seriously, nicely done and now sit back and enjoy the trip! Don’t sweat the small things!
 
The only other thing I can think of (because I'm in the same boat) is working out transportation plans and any plans for before/after the cruise. Like my husband and I fly in a day early. Hotel and transportation is covered but now I'm working out details like what we are doing for dinners and such the night before.

I'm a planner so I feel ya with trying to make sure everything is worked out! Only additional thing I can think of is now making sure you have everything like packing wise. Like say you need to order a waterproof phone case or something. Make sure you work out those odds and ends and get things ordered if you are purchasing online.
 
One thing I have done to keep myself occupied and still in cruise mode, other than checking the DISboards everyday :rotfl2: is to watch cruise specific YouTube videos! If there is something your curious about, simply search......someone has most likely uploaded a video on that subject!
 
Sounds like you have all the logistics covered, assuming you have all the documents you need for check in. All that's left is to plan for the fun! Since you've cruised a lot, you probably have a pretty solid packing list/things to bring, so you probably don't need to do more than make sure you know where any cruise specific items are and make sure you have sunscreen, etc. At two months out, I'd be planning special outfits - do you want to dress up for pirate night? Do your girls want to wear princess dresses? etc. None of that is mandatory, obviously, but is fun if you're into it.
 
Feels weird doesn't it, especially if you frequently plan WDW vacations? There are times that I just want to do a DCL cruise because it takes so much less time to plan and book and basically just show up and enjoy. Now the only times that I have a lot of planning to do on a cruise is if it's a European one where I need to learn about what there is to see in the various ports.
 
Also be aware that unlike other lines where you can call and whine about your cabin and get changed to another if you booked guarantee status, once you're assigned on DCL that's it unless you want to ask about possible paid upgrades at the port (or in the unlikely event that your assigned cabin needs to be taken out of inventory for whatever reason).
I had a different experience. I had an oceanview GTY stateroom. I call DCL to ask when I would be assigned and they stated that they do not know, it could be at any time. 5 minutes later I was assigned a stateroom. I did not like the location and called to ask if it could be changed. They said they could not do it but to watch for room availability on the Navigator app. Go to your reservation, modify reservation, change stateroom and it will show staterooms available in all categories. You can stay within your category or go into another. After a couple days of checking, I was able to change my stateroom.
 
I had a different experience. I had an oceanview GTY stateroom. I call DCL to ask when I would be assigned and they stated that they do not know, it could be at any time. 5 minutes later I was assigned a stateroom. I did not like the location and called to ask if it could be changed. They said they could not do it but to watch for room availability on the Navigator app. Go to your reservation, modify reservation, change stateroom and it will show staterooms available in all categories. You can stay within your category or go into another. After a couple days of checking, I was able to change my stateroom.

But that required you going in and changing yours.

People on RCCL and Celebrity talk about calling and the cruise rep changing their cabin when they whine. So it's a different situation.
 
You won't be able to 'do everything'. Things overlap, they're on opposite ends of the ship. Choices will have to be made. I'd make a list of priorities. Must do things and then everything else is a bonus.
 

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