We also just got back from the cruise yesterday and are going again on the January 6, 2007. The cruise was great and the whole family enjoyed themselves. While this is a bit off topic, I thought that those who are about to go on the ship might be reading this thread. Here are our list of must do's on the cruise:
1. Anyone with kids between the ages of 10 and 15 need to definitely check out the Ocean Quest lab on Deck 2. My girls (age 12) practically lived either there or at the Oceaneer Lab. (Quest is THE Best chill out place for 10-14--according to my DD).
2. Anyone with children need to make sure that they participate in the Disney Sea University finale on Thursday at 5 pm. The kids are on stage with Mickey and Minnie. And,
DCL gives each kid a graduation hat with Mickey ears and t-shirt that the child gets to keep. My girls took a sharpie and had the counselors and other kids autograph their shirts.
3. If you want to see the island at St. Thomas, go on the island tour.
4. All guys should at least take a coat and tie for formal night, whicch is on Sunday evening. I took a suit and was glad I did. We got some great pictures from that night (especially the one with the Captain of ths Ship).
5. We did not take anything to dress up in on pirate night (which is Tuesday night) and I regret that we did not. Next time we defintiely are. In fact, I know that Wal-Mart is selling a pirate eye patch and fake earing now for Halloween for one dollar. Much, much cheaper than on the ship.
6. Pictures with Captain Jack on the ship. Captain Jack was only available 2 times for pictures on the ship--Tuesday night. Definitely go and get pictures with him and make sure you get there early. (He acts EXACTLY like the Captain Jack in the movie).
7. Complete your registration documents online. It made checking in at the Port so much easier and faster.
8. Anyone who is not already a Disney Vacation Club member and is contemplating on becoming one, wait, if you can, until the cruise. They appeared to be running a really good deal on the ship.
9. At
Castaway Cay definitely eat breakfast at Topsiders. You get a great view of the Flying Dutchman from up there.
10. Meeting the first day of the cruise--We had one at Promenade at 2:30 pm on the first day of the cruise which was great. I then could names and faces together for the remainder of the cruise.
11. If your children at the same age as mine (11-12) take Walkie-talkie radios for eveyone in the family--DH, DW, and kids. We did not and needed them to keep track of where everyone was. (And, make sure you take plenty of batteries--the batteries on board were VERY expensive).
12. Before the cruise, go and buy Airborne at the local drugstore and take it every day of the cruise. I did not run into anyone that seemed to have a cold. Yet, I came home with one. And, both my DD and the woman at the next table at breakfast on Saturday were both sniffling.
13. If you like Chocolate, plan on going to the midnight dessert buffet which was on Thursday night.
14. If you would like something autographed (picture, pillow case, mouse pad, etc) by the characters. Drop it off at Guest Services early in the week and they will assure that it gets autographed. (One of the little girls that figure skate with my DDs wanted an autographed picture of Minnie Mouse. So I downloaded one from the internet, printed it on photo paper, and we had that autographed).
15. Definitely take rain ponchos-the ones that cost about a dollar or two at Wal-Mart and take with you when you leave the ship. It rained at some point in St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. The small ponchos are easy to carry and can be discarded when you are done with them.
16. For families with smaill children, purchase an autograph book and pen at Wal-Mart before you get the cruise terminal as it is much cheaper than at the terminal or on the ship.
17. Disposable cameras--take them and let your kids use them. We took disposable cameras for the girls that they could take with them and use to take pictures of their friends. Write their names and cabin number on them and if they lose them they will undoubtedly get turned into Guest Services and make their way back to the cabin.
18. Make a door poster for your cabin door. It made it very easy to know which door was ours. And, the girls thought it was very cool because our signs were pictures from Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
Although my report will probably not be as exciting as anyone else's here goes.
Already can't wait for the next cruise!
I really hope Anthony does that in the future. I was just a little disappointed and had hyped myself up about getting time alone to relax and have them go to the club for a while. However, I did get over it, eventually... 
DH Joe was a little help and would take him for a while so I could get something to eat for lunch and sit on the deck and watch the water. Then we would all go to the Mickey Pool for swimming. 
At this point they are at the age I feel they embarass me when they yell and argue with each other. Why is is that we teach them to walk and talk?!?!? 
