Don't have time for a full trip report and somehow just erased my last thread! The trip was fantastic so I feel I owe you all some tips as thanks to all the info you all provided.
What worked:
Cocoa Beach tips - Dave, thanks for all your tips - Marriott Courtyard very nice, Avis car worked great and Grills was excellent as well. They don't take reservations and usually have 1 hour plus waits - we called ahead and got right in.
Cabin on 5 (5128) Barb you were 100% correct - best spot on ship - no extra movement, right next to theater, down to restaurants, shows, etc. and up the back stair to 7th floor deck (best tip of all!) and Topsiders.
Tipping - worked great to settle tips on credit card on Thursday - Barb, again great tip on the phone cards - those who knew what they were really appreciated them - I bought themm at Sams club - they didn't work in St. Martin though.
Late seating - this one was tough - had early seating on the Wonder which never gave you time to get ready and made the shows seem late - we did get to see more shows awake and ended up really appreciating this on the last day with the later breakfast.
Service - as always staff was friendly, accommodating, and service was excellent.
Damage from fire - minimal - hardly noticed.
Food - Very good in general and seafood was abundant - ate a ton of shrimp, crab legs and even lobster - check out the grilled lobster tails on Castaway Cay adult beach - best I ever had!!
Just some thoughts:
Formal nights are all over the board - we are not usually one for over dressing but felt that way first night - I had a long black sparkly tank dress and husband had dark blue suit - Robin from ship commented that it was sad people don't follow dress codes - hard with kids but we left the boys (from two families) in room for movie and room service.
Laundry rooms - still a nightmare - hot, crowded and runs out of detergent - brought my own detergent you really can't trust the time on the dryers and people get angry when you leave your clothes in and they are not dried - takes at least two cycles
Disembarkation on castaway cay - what a complete farce - here we are in an aft cabin thinking we get off forward as we did on the islands - went to 1 midship and waited in line in that small hallway for almost 40 minutes - later realized that others were coming down the elevator on 1 forward and cutting in front to get right off - but worse - also exiting 1 aft - wish I had known!!!
Thursday immigration check in - we were 10 minutes past the recommended time for those with shore excursions and really regretted - sat in the theater for 40 minutes even after arriving at 6:40.
Boys - ages 8 - 14 - My son, our friends son, and many boys I saw on board in this age group really have a tough time - they think they are too cool to go to the kids clubs and the events just don't appeal to them. The one thing my 12 year old wanted to do was the playstation games for boys only (only boys only event I saw) but it was on one of the first nights around 9:45 and we were all too beat. This group of kids seem to wander aimlessly on board - too young for common grounds, too old for the clubs - maybe some more organized sporting events just for them?
Disney on-board costs - ya know you spend a fortune on this cruise - especially in high season and a decent catagory - there are still too many sales pitches for drinks, wine packages (which by the way did work out well for us), etc. I think Disney could pop for the popcorn outside the theater at Preludes!
Thanks to all for tips, to Disney for another great time! Scoop from Christian - head server in Lumieres - possible third ship in progress with stop at Cozumel! If I think of more I'll update.
What worked:
Cocoa Beach tips - Dave, thanks for all your tips - Marriott Courtyard very nice, Avis car worked great and Grills was excellent as well. They don't take reservations and usually have 1 hour plus waits - we called ahead and got right in.
Cabin on 5 (5128) Barb you were 100% correct - best spot on ship - no extra movement, right next to theater, down to restaurants, shows, etc. and up the back stair to 7th floor deck (best tip of all!) and Topsiders.
Tipping - worked great to settle tips on credit card on Thursday - Barb, again great tip on the phone cards - those who knew what they were really appreciated them - I bought themm at Sams club - they didn't work in St. Martin though.
Late seating - this one was tough - had early seating on the Wonder which never gave you time to get ready and made the shows seem late - we did get to see more shows awake and ended up really appreciating this on the last day with the later breakfast.
Service - as always staff was friendly, accommodating, and service was excellent.
Damage from fire - minimal - hardly noticed.
Food - Very good in general and seafood was abundant - ate a ton of shrimp, crab legs and even lobster - check out the grilled lobster tails on Castaway Cay adult beach - best I ever had!!
Just some thoughts:
Formal nights are all over the board - we are not usually one for over dressing but felt that way first night - I had a long black sparkly tank dress and husband had dark blue suit - Robin from ship commented that it was sad people don't follow dress codes - hard with kids but we left the boys (from two families) in room for movie and room service.
Laundry rooms - still a nightmare - hot, crowded and runs out of detergent - brought my own detergent you really can't trust the time on the dryers and people get angry when you leave your clothes in and they are not dried - takes at least two cycles
Disembarkation on castaway cay - what a complete farce - here we are in an aft cabin thinking we get off forward as we did on the islands - went to 1 midship and waited in line in that small hallway for almost 40 minutes - later realized that others were coming down the elevator on 1 forward and cutting in front to get right off - but worse - also exiting 1 aft - wish I had known!!!
Thursday immigration check in - we were 10 minutes past the recommended time for those with shore excursions and really regretted - sat in the theater for 40 minutes even after arriving at 6:40.
Boys - ages 8 - 14 - My son, our friends son, and many boys I saw on board in this age group really have a tough time - they think they are too cool to go to the kids clubs and the events just don't appeal to them. The one thing my 12 year old wanted to do was the playstation games for boys only (only boys only event I saw) but it was on one of the first nights around 9:45 and we were all too beat. This group of kids seem to wander aimlessly on board - too young for common grounds, too old for the clubs - maybe some more organized sporting events just for them?
Disney on-board costs - ya know you spend a fortune on this cruise - especially in high season and a decent catagory - there are still too many sales pitches for drinks, wine packages (which by the way did work out well for us), etc. I think Disney could pop for the popcorn outside the theater at Preludes!
Thanks to all for tips, to Disney for another great time! Scoop from Christian - head server in Lumieres - possible third ship in progress with stop at Cozumel! If I think of more I'll update.
