I'm starting over! Changes you would make to your first cruise.

[Beka]

Here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rash_guard

Thank you!

A t-shirt made out of swimsuit material. There might be a different name for it, I am not sure since English is not my first language.

And I have been there with the allergic reaction to sun as well. Very nasty!! So, if he is prone to that and plans to spend a lot of time in the ocean, then by all means get one of those! I would make sure to get one with UPF 50 - and still add sun screen underneath.

Great idea! DH's reaction was horrible. He was miserable for 2 weeks. He blistered and peeled twice. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

DH was skeptical, but I got him one from lands end. He wore it one day and not the next. Guess who had to find aloe for his rosy shoulders on day 2?

I think DH's reaction is fresh enough in his mind to not want to go through that again!

I wear a long sleeve rash guard from Lands End and it helps SO much. I burn really easily and it was nice to not have to constantly worry about my back when I was snorkeling. I saw so many sunburned backs at Castaway Cay, I felt terrible for everyone and the miserable rest of their trips.

We have these for the kids (I didn't know the official name for them), I don't know why I never thought to get one for DH.

 

[mevelandry]

If I could change anything from our first and second cruise: Not a fan of the food in the dining rooms... I would keep Royal Palace (we loved it) and replace AP and Enchanted Garden with Palo and Remy.

 

[Beka]

I think you need to study up just a teensy bit more.

Thank God for the DIS boards!

I personally don't understand what *magic* there might be on a cruise ship. Cruise ship employees tend to work hard and tend to treat their guests very well. (the fact that most employees are paid almost entirely in tips helps with this) There are things going on at almost every moment. There's a lot of stuff going on. Perhaps some people feel that things happening inside of all this are magic; I'm not one. And I don't see how researching something can make it less magical.

For me I dislike the introduction thing, and once I found out that you CAN skip it (found out by researching) we did that, and we're happier for it.

And I dislike finding out that I missed something because I stopped researching. Like the "play and dine" thing. I totally thought that they would *come in and get the kids*, because it just made sense, and then because I didn't read the Navigators. Our first Disney cruise was a 3 nighter. First night wondered what happened. Second night forgot about it. Third night decided I must have missed something, and we were all enjoying dinners anyway, so I ignored the concept. Got home, was reading the Navigators at last, and there it was. That they meet outside the restaurants at x time. Of course, we were all still eating at that time, so it would have *changed* the way we had dinner if we had really wanted him to go to the kid club during dinner.

Well, I guess I just don't want every iota of the cruise known to me before we even go. I want a sense of exploration, which I haven't had in years at WDW, because I read so much on it that I lost some of the magic. Being informed is one thing, but for me there is a line to be drawn where I can know too much, and I really don't want that for this trip. Knowing how things work is nice, knowing every aspect of the ship just isn't fun to me. I want to be surprised a little.

 

[Beka]

If I could change anything from our first and second cruise: Not a fan of the food in the dining rooms... I would keep Royal Palace (we loved it) and replace AP and Enchanted Garden with Palo and Remy.

AP is one thing I've looked forward to since I heard about it when I was in college. I don't care if the food is crappy, I'll just eat later! I'll have to talk to DH about Palo and/or Remy! Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[mevelandry]

AP is one thing I've looked forward to since I heard about it when I was in college. I don't care if the food is crappy, I'll just eat later! I'll have to talk to DH about Palo and/or Remy! Thanks for the suggestions!

AP on the Dream or on another ship? Because I was told that AP is much more interesting on the old ships than on the Dream. Looking forward to try it on the Wonder in 2017.

Also, Palo... and especially Remy (best meals of my life) are AMAZING!

 

[scootch]

I would have gone on a longer cruise if I could change anything. We did a 3 night and I did not fall in love with it. The girls begged to go on the Dream when it came out so we did a back to back(4night/3night). That is when I was hooked. 7 nights on the Fantasy is just the best.

 

[Beka]

AP on the Dream or on another ship? Because I was told that AP is much more interesting on the old ships than on the Dream. Looking forward to try it on the Wonder in 2017.

Also, Palo... and especially Remy (best meals of my life) are AMAZING!

Any of them!

 

[Iamaplanner]

When we went on our first cruise, I had no idea that it made any difference when I logged in the DCL site to check-in. I knew that I could do it online but didn't realize that it mattered when I did it! By not doing it once it opened, it meant a late PAT/limited options for reservations, etc. That is the one thing I wish I had known. Of course it all worked out, but it was a bit disappointing to finally login and see our super late PAT etc.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Following! We will be doing our first DCL cruise in November and am happy to read any tips/tricks/must dos!!!

 

[Beka]

When we went on our first cruise, I had no idea that it made any difference when I logged in the DCL site to check-in. I knew that I could do it online but didn't realize that it mattered when I did it! By not doing it once it opened, it meant a late PAT/limited options for reservations, etc. That is the one thing I wish I had known. Of course it all worked out, but it was a bit disappointing to finally login and see our super late PAT etc.

So I guess I need to do it as soon as I can! Thanks!

 

[scgustafson]

So I guess I need to do it as soon as I can! Thanks!

Remember that the booking window open at midnight (morning) Florida time on the 75th day before your cruise. A lot can be booked up in the time before it opening and the morning when most people get up. If you are on the West Coast, it is nice because it open at 9 pm (technically the 76th day before) and you don't have to stay up as late.