I want a 'Do-over'!!!

[nycmom]

We just came off the Wonder 10/06-10/09.

A few mistakes we made: We packed all of our (most) expensive evening clothes/men's suits, dress shirts, jackets in one garment bag and allowed Disney to take all of our luggage from The Polynesian to our stateroom.
We had Palo reservations for 8PM Thursday; our first night onboard. I made the reservation 2 months in advance to make sure I got my birthday celebration dinner (next day was my birthday, but we would be in Nassau and planned to stay late.)

Lo and behold, everything showed up except for the garment bag.
The guest services people on board kept telling us not to worry and that it would show up in time for dinner...and meanwhile did little to look for it for hours (i.e. calling The Polynesian to see if the bag was still there.)
As the time of our Palo our reservation neared, and no bag appeared, I began to get very agitated. They didn't offer to give us another reservation for another day right away, nor did they offer any other solution. They did say "Unfortunately, the shops onboard do not sell nice clothes to wear to Palo." Thanks for checking!)

Eventually, after days of this, the guest services manager got on the horn and found out that our bags were not at The Polynesian. She assumed they were onboard. They weren't. We found out the last day that our luggage as well as a few other guests' ended up at The Swan (?!?) Then there was a mix up about the bags' arrival at Port Canaveral to meet the ship. Anyway...big mess and I was not satisfied at how Disney handled it. We finally had our Palo reservation on the last night...and they changed the time twice. Joke is, we got there and few of the men at dinner were wearing jackets. Some just in polo shirts! The ladies were not in cocktail dresses as I had expected. I would have been overdressed!!!
And the shops do sell little black dresses. They're cotton, but better than the white jeans I had worn for 3 nights straight! (Anything that was not shorts was packed in that darn garment bag.)

So, my advice is this:

1). Pack something suitable to wear to dinner (semi-nice so you can wear it to Palo, too) in a carry on in case your luggage shows up late or not at all. If it's expensive...even if it's clothes, carry it yourself. No reason to worry that your most expensive clothes will never be found!

2). Do not put your over tired 4 year old in the kids club the first night...it doesn't open until 6 or so on the first night, and he will be too tired to enjoy it the first night, and won't want to go back again because he didn't have a good first experience there.

3). Book a 7-night cruise or longer, if possible, because there is simply too much to do and see for a 3 night cruise. Just as you get the lay of the ship and where everything is, it's time to get off, and you are more frenzied than at the parks trying to cram everything in along with all the day trip at the ports of call.

4). If I had it to do all over again, I would have found a way to get there earlier than the crowd that comes from the resorts in order to enjoy as much time as possible onboard the ship on the first day.

5). Absolutely get a room with a veranda if possible. My husband's and my favorite time onboard was sitting on our stateroom veranda late at night watching the water go by. SO LOVELY! We booked a catagory 12 and got an upgrade to catagory 4 when we checked in (we paid extra for it.)

6). DO NOT WATCH THE NEWS! NO MATTER WHAT! I vowed not to watch the news while on vacation...unfortunately, the weather was stormy and I wanted to see if there was a hurricane brewing (though the cruise was so much fun regardless of the weather...doesn't really effect anything except the pools onboard the ship.)
Anyway, we turned on CNN on the first night...just in time to see our city's mayor giving a terror attack warning. Turned out to be a hoax...but there was no reason I needed to know about that terror alert and I was stressed out for the rest of the vacation!

Oh, so the point is, I want to do it again now that I know what I'm doing!!! I want a 'do-over'!

 

[jillane88]

Lots of good advice! Thank you for your report. Can I ask what it cost to upgrade from a 12 to a 4 at the port?

Heather

 

[nycmom]

I booked the cat 12 for about $1,500. 10 months in advance: two adults, one 13 year old, and one 4 year old. We paid just over $800. for the upgrade. I haven't sat down to figure out if that was a good deal or not...it was my birthday; we weren't counting...but we could have waited until 3 PM to see if there were cancellations and probably gotten a better deal with a veranda in a lower catagory (I still can't figure out the difference...a veranda is a veranda and an inside stateroom is an inside stateroom!)

Also, do the math and if you plan to go to Atlantis for the day...don't do the Disney shore excursion Beach Day if you have alot of people. We got a cab directly from the port for $4. (U.S.) per person and just rented a day room at Atalantis for $150., and you get access to the pools and the slides! There was a party from the ship with alot of kids, and they did the same thing... and I'm sure saved a bundle. The Disney beach day excursion does not include use of the pools and slides, which is the most fun part of Atlantis. Also, the other family had planned ahead and booked it online. When we got there they weren't sure they had a day room left...but they eventually found one for us. http://www.atlantis.com. But keep in mind that in bad weather, the ship may go to another port of call instead of Nassau and you could loose your deposit if you booked ahead of time.

Also, when getting a cab in Nassau, they will try to get you to wait so they can get as many people as possible together in their car to go. I was very bullish...I just said "No, I won't wait...I want to go right now and I will pay $4 per person (it's what the other taxis were asking.) and I got a guy to take us to Atlantis right away...no waiting around.

 

[nycmom]

Also, shops in Nassau closed at 6PM (on a FRIDAY!!!???!!!) and we had planned to grab a few things (Redbull!) on the way back to the ship (had to be back onboard at 7). Everything was closed. Same with the post office in Castaway Cay...closed when we were heading back to the ship.

If you plan to head back to the ship as late as possible like we did...mail your postcards at Castaway Cay early in the day (I think it closes at 4 PM) and shop in Nassau (Bay Street? Is that what it's called?) before 6 PM.

 

[nycmom]

Also. on Castaway Cay. DO NOT rent the combo package unless you are extraordinarily high energy and have the attention span of a knat. We had time only for the float rentals, and you get your choice of a mat or a tube. That was all the fun we had time for, what with lunch, etc. and the massage for 2 we booked (not really worth it...VERY EXPENSIVE after gratuities, etc... and they make you feel very guilty if you don't leave them a big one and then spend the last 10 minutes trying to sell you their (expensive) products...and no, you cannot really see the ocean from the massage cabanas.)

Once again, if I had it to do over again...I would get to Castaway Cay, get my spot on the beach, get my equipment (one type only per person, and then maybe switch off), have my lunch, do the shops, mail the postcards, and that would be it. There isn't time for much else.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Great Advice!!!! Thanks for all the information!!!

Did you rebook?

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Sorry to hear you had such rough time of it. You are a good sport to want to go again. We were on the same cruise as you, but we didnt have any problems. They use to tell you to always pack your dinner clothes in your carry on bags, but now they guarantee your luggage earlier than they use to.
We almost always do that, but this last time we didnt. Luckily our luggage was all there ok.
Since it was Disneys fault I would write a letter to DCL and explain it all to them and tell them how you feel. You may not get compensated, but at least you know the right people will know someone messed up. We write good and bad comments to DCL after almost every trip. They need to know that they need to be more careful with peoples luggage. Someone obviously didnt do their job right or this wouldnt of happened. I hope you book again and have a wonderful trip.
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[nycmom]

Great Advice!!!! Thanks for all the information!!!

Did you rebook?

That was another problem: I understand that if you rebook while onboard the ship, you can get a 10% or 15% discount on your next cruise, and shipboard credits...but I didn't ever have enough time to go to the desk to inquire. Plus, I didn't bring my calendar with me, so I had no idea what future dates the kids would be off from school.

BRING YOUR CALENDARS WITH YOU IF YOU INTEND TO REBOOK WHILE ONBOARD.

Now, awaiting my Castaway Cay Club membership number so I can log in and see if I can get discounts online.

Another invaluable piece of info: You can change your dining rotation before 3PM or 4PM first day onboard. It's on your Navigator, where and what time.

Even thought you may have picked out your dining times prior to your cruise, you may either want to change that or change what restaurant you eat in on which day.

Say, you have Palo reservations for the first night, like we did (though it didn't end up that way.) Your dining rotation states that you have Triton's the night you are supposed to go to Palo. I read that you want to skip Parrot Cay but don't miss Triton's or Animator's Pallet (sp?). I changed around our dining rotation, and we were not disappointed. Even my picky French Husband was very pleased with the food and service at these two restaurants.

CONSULT YOUR NAVIGATOR ABOUT DINING ROTATIONS ASAP AFTER BOARDING and go and switch them around as you see fit.

Also, we originally picked the early (6PM) dining time because of our little one, but found that we weren't ready for dinner that early, with all the shore excursions, showers, time to dress and relax, etc...and the kids had had so many snacks, they weren't hungry that early (BIG, BIG LUNCHES!). Fortunately, they changed ours to an 8PM reservation first day onboard when they switched our dining rotation.
Also, the kids club does not serve dinner the first night, so if you plan Palo the first night and to put your little ones in the kids club for dinner the first night, think again. You can always get them dinner somewhere else first (Beach Blanket and take it to your room so they can eat while you dress or pizza or hot dogs on deck 9). Also, there is only one dining time for kids...so don't think that because you have an 8pm reservation for Palo you can drop your little one off at the kids club at 7:30 and they will eat then...they eat early in the kids clubs, like 6PM. Check first.

 

[nycmom]

Sorry to hear you had such rough time of it. You are a good sport to want to go again. We were on the same cruise as you, but we didnt have any problems. They use to tell you to always pack your dinner clothes in your carry on bags, but now they guarantee your luggage earlier than they use to.
We almost always do that, but this last time we didnt. Luckily our luggage was all there ok.
Since it was Disneys fault I would write a letter to DCL and explain it all to them and tell them how you feel. You may not get compensated, but at least you know the right people will know someone messed up. We write good and bad comments to DCL after almost every trip. They need to know that they need to be more careful with peoples luggage. Someone obviously didnt do their job right or this wouldnt of happened. I hope you book again and have a wonderful trip.
mom x4,grandma x4

Regardless of the luggage problem and the terror alerts...we still had a great time. My favorite part was that my work-a-holic husband didn't have cell phone service and had trouble with his internet (very expensive if you try to use your own laptop...get the $39. plan and go to the internet cafe if you must have internet.) So my husband had no choice but to enjoy family time.

Yes, I still loved it, and I will know what to do and what not to do next time...I think that's why so many people rebook...it's probably more fun the second and subsequent time because you know what to do/where to go/what you'd like to see. I feel like there's so much I missed that I wanted to do (just not enough time.) It's like the parks...you can't do it all in one trip. Keeps you coming back for more!

 

[nycmom]

Oh, and I just want to give you all a giggle:

After 3 days of eating ourselves silly...chocolate Mickey waffles with whipped cream and syrup, and sausages for breakfast, pizza dna hot dogs for lunch, canalonie (sp?) and all the 'extra' desserts they bring you for you to 'try' at dinner (they are forever bringing you extra food)...and then my favorite place onboard being the cove coffee bar place, where I could enjoy a quiet coffee and cigarette...we get to the massage and they have a questionairre about your bad habits (of which we have many).

Okay, so my husband and I are slightly pudgy. Here are these muscular and fit massage therapists (like the 'pump you up' guys on Saturday Night Live, except one was a girl (I think). Afterwards, they give you their 'recommendations'. They're like "Oh, you're from NYC? Oh, so many wonderful health food stores there! Do you go to them?" My husband and I are looking at each other, thinking "We're on a Disney Cruise where the main activity is eating! Do we LOOK LIKE we frequent alot of health food stores?" So the therapists start to go on about their product, for when you start putting all those 'toxins' in your body again like alcohol and caffine...they didn't even mention smoking! Meanwhile, onboard, every place you turn, they are offering you their new specialty alcoholic beverage! Food of the most unhealthy type (but yummy.) I felt soooo sheepish when those therapists were talking to us! Sorry, I must have missed the granola at breakfast!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL, you're correct, it is better the second time around!

Just an FYI about rebooking onboard. We did it with one phone call and no datebook. The lines at the "rebooking" kiosk were long every time I went by but I saw the girl at the Castaway Club reception and told her so. So she told me to do this and it worked out great: I left her a message saying what we wanted in terms of length of cruise, names and ages of people, and category. We were booking in summer, 2004 for 2006 so those dates/rates weren't even out yet. We "made up" a date for 2005 and when the 2006 dates came out we researched prices and such and moved our date forward. Very simple and we were able to take advantage of the rebooking incentives yet didn't waste any of our cruise time standing in line.

 

[Michelle2]

I learned so much....thanks for posting nycmom!! I am going to need it in about a month, and I need all the advice I can get!

 

[AndieB]

Also, we originally picked the early (6PM) dining time because of our little one, but found that we weren't ready for dinner that early, with all the shore excursions, showers, time to dress and relax, etc...and the kids had had so many snacks, they weren't hungry that early (BIG, BIG LUNCHES!).

I second that! We also have a 4-yr old and thought early would be better. Our early dining time was 5:45, and at home we usually eat around 7. Threw our whole night off - 9:00 felt like midnight. Lesson learned, I will never ask for early seating again.