Just returned from 7-night Eastern

[VesTrace]

Most of the information I received from this forum was accurate....but there were a few exceptions.....
1) They were not strict about my 4 year old moving up to the 5 to 7 year olds. I was told by a few folks here that DCL was very strict with the age requirments. We had absolutly no issues with the move.
2) They are not strict regarding dress code. I still wore a jacket but there were folks wearing what I consider casual even at Palo (pants and golf shirt).
3) The food was not that great. Most was good to very good. Palo was the exception...it was great and the Brunch was even better. Sasha was excellent at Palo....much better than our Brunch server.

Lessons Learned....If we do a Disney Cruise again,
1) I will not schedule any excursions. The kids had a better time on the boat since the crowds (see number 2) were gone (5 kids in the Micky pool at St. Maarten and even fewer at St. Thomas).
2) I will never schedule a cruise or Disney World during the Winter Break for the Northeast. Wow....I felt like we were stuck in NY or Boston. Nothing personal.....but y'all need to relax a little. I can't count how many times someone broke in line, knocked my daughter(s) over at least twice without even saying excuse me, loud cursing teenagers (actually heard a few verbally abusing and threating a young oriental boy when a elevator door opened), and countless uncontrolled young kids running around.
3) I will not stay in room 6622. There was a mechanical noise, similar to a pump, about every 10 to 15 minutes (all day and night). VERY annoying for the first few days! At one point my four year old screamed...."I wish I didn't have ears!". I didn't complain....I guess I should have but figured there was nothing they could do about it.

Overall a good experience. Would have been much better during a.....less crowed time!
Thanks for all the valuable info!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Overall a good experience. Would have been much better during a.....less crowed time.
Thanks for all the valuable info!

Glad you had a good vacation. I just wanted to let you know that there really isn't a non-crowded time on the Magic. The ship almost always sails full so the vacation week probably didn't have too much to do with the number of people onboard. Disney tends to offer deep discounts to Florida residents and cast members, when necessary, to keep the ship full.

Again, glad you had a good time, and welcome back!

 

[VesTrace]

Glad you had a good vacation. I just wanted to let you know that there really isn't a non-crowded time on the Magic. The ship almost always sails full so the vacation week probably didn't have too much to do with the number of people onboard. Disney tends to offer deep discounts to Florida residents and cast members, when necessary, to keep the ship full.

Again, glad you had a good time, and welcome back!

That's understandable....it was a great time. But, for us....the week of President's day is out in the future!

 

[DVCconvert]

whomever told ya that DCL was strict on dress code, or that the food was great hasn't traveled much.....Glad you had an overall good experience!

 

[woody73]

Thanks for sharing.

Woody

 

[MGM94]

Most of the information I received from this forum was accurate....but there were a few exceptions.....
1) They were not strict about my 4 year old moving up to the 5 to 7 year olds. I was told by a few folks here that DCL was very strict with the age requirments. We had absolutly no issues with the move.
2) They are not strict regarding dress code. I still wore a jacket but there were folks wearing what I consider casual even at Palo (pants and golf shirt).
3) The food was not that great. Most was good to very good. Palo was the exception...it was great and the Brunch was even better. Sasha was excellent at Palo....much better than our Brunch server.

Lessons Learned....If we do a Disney Cruise again,
1) I will not schedule any excursions. The kids had a better time on the boat since the crowds (see number 2) were gone (5 kids in the Micky pool at St. Maarten and even fewer at St. Thomas).
2) I will never schedule a cruise or Disney World during the Winter Break for the Northeast. Wow....I felt like we were stuck in NY or Boston. Nothing personal.....but y'all need to relax a little. I can't count how many times someone broke in line, knocked my daughter(s) over at least twice without even saying excuse me, loud cursing teenagers (actually heard a few verbally abusing and threating a young oriental boy when a elevator door opened), and countless uncontrolled young kids running around.
3) I will not stay in room 6622. There was a mechanical noise, similar to a pump, about every 10 to 15 minutes (all day and night). VERY annoying for the first few days! At one point my four year old screamed...."I wish I didn't have ears!". I didn't complain....I guess I should have but figured there was nothing they could do about it.

Overall a good experience. Would have been much better during a.....less crowed time!
Thanks for all the valuable info!

Well, I am truly sorry to hear about the sound from pipes etc in your cabin. If the ship was full (and almost always is) you wouldn't be able to change to another cabin. However I still would have made an official complaint. If you don't tell them how can they check it out to see if the sound is normal to them or a problem they need to fix.

Now, as for the rest of your review. I'm am trying to chalk it up to your lack of sleep.

As a born and raised native New Yorker (NYC) I find your generalization of an entire region of this county to be extremely offensive.

Nothing personal but y'all need to work on your manners as well.

 

[MGM94]

Oh, by the way.

"threating a young oriental boy"

Carpets are Oriental. Human Beings are Asian. Guess what us big city folk lack in politeness, we make up for by being well educated.

 

[WiscBill]

"3) I will not stay in room 6622. There was a mechanical noise, similar to a pump, about every 10 to 15 minutes (all day and night). VERY annoying for the first few days! At one point my four year old screamed...."I wish I didn't have ears!". I didn't complain....I guess I should have but figured there was nothing they could do about it. "

We were in 6624 on the New Year's Eve Cruise. The noise is a hydraulic pump which is used to pressurize all of the lifeboat hoists. It cycles almost continually. If you look at a deck diagram, these two rooms are directly over the end of the lifeboats on deck 5. I learned about that from one of the ship's deck officers at the Captain's reception. I tried to file a stateroom report warning people to stay away from these rooms, but for some reason it would not post. Aside from changing rooms, there is nothing to be done about it. I would suspect that 6124 and 6122 on the other side have the same problem.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

2) They are not strict regarding dress code. I still wore a jacket but there were folks wearing what I consider casual even at Palo (pants and golf shirt).

Overall a good experience. Would have been much better during a.....less crowed time!
Thanks for all the valuable info!

I'm surprised by your statement about not being strict on the dress code. I have been to PALO with my BIL who did not have his jacket on and they sent him back to get it. Anytime I've ever gone to PALO, they've ALWAYS been strict about the dress code. But, only in PALO, not necessarily the regular rotation dining areas. But, the last time we sailed was 1/13/07-1/20/07, so maybe over the last year they have gotten a little less strict.

I'm sorry that you had that disturbing noise in your stateroom. That would drive me nuts and I probably would have said something. Hopefully next time you'll have a better stateroom.

I'm glad you had a good time.

 

[lillygator]

Palo is strict re shorts, but you can dine without a jacket no problem.

 

[outahere]

I'm surprised by your statement about not being strict on the dress code. I have been to PALO with my BIL who did not have his jacket on and they sent him back to get it. Anytime I've ever gone to PALO, they've ALWAYS been strict about the dress code. But, only in PALO, not necessarily the regular rotation dining areas. But, the last time we sailed was 1/13/07-1/20/07, so maybe over the last year they have gotten a little less strict.

I'm pretty sure that they did away with the jacket requirement for dinner in Palo, sometime in the past year or so.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

I'm pretty sure that they did away with the jacket requirement for dinner in Palo, sometime in the past year or so.

Oh, if this is true (which it sounds like it is from OP's post), my DH will be SOOOOOO happy!!! He absolutely HATES packing a suit jacket!!

 

[kaysmommie]

Sorry about your cabin noise, that is awful. ALso glad to hear they wil let a 4 YO with the 5-7 club then my kids can be together.

I have to say though I much prefer to be on vacation with Northerners. I live in TN and we had fall break this year along with lots of schools in the South and it seems like I had many encounters with people who have absolutely no manners. I guess I'm saying it doesn't really matter where your from your going to find rude people from everywhere. Most of the nice people who met at the Poly pool and on line in the parks were from Boston and NJ .

Also since I lived in both places, the absolute truth is people here in TN are wayyy more rude and ignorant than people up north. My DD has unlearned some of her manners being in school here for 3 years. Not that I'm going to let that happen. JMHI .

 

[outahere]

Oh, if this is true (which it sounds like it is from OP's post), my DH will be SOOOOOO happy!!! He absolutely HATES packing a suit jacket!!

I just looked at a recent set of Navigators and under the "Palo Dining Option" it said "Dress shirt or jacket required". Your DH should be happy..... I know I am. One less thing to pack!

 

[happymommy]

I understand about not scheduling excursions - we didn't schedule any for our cruise next month. We just want to wander around a bit, enjoy the beach, and do whatever we want on our schedule.

Nice to hear about Palo and jackets - I don't think my DH will need one for brunch. Maybe he'll feel like it for our dinner, especially since we're going with friends.

 

[DCL Repeaters]

I just looked at a recent set of Navigators and under the "Palo Dining Option" it said "Dress shirt or jacket required". Your DH should be happy..... I know I am. One less thing to pack!

If you wear a non polo type collar shirt no jacket required. Polo shirts require a jacket. This was per PJ the Palo manager whom we heard ask a gentleman to either change his polo shirt or go get a jacket.

 

[Joan1]

2) I will never schedule a cruise or Disney World during the Winter Break for the Northeast. Wow....I felt like we were stuck in NY or Boston. Nothing personal.....but y'all need to relax a little. I can't count how many times someone broke in line, knocked my daughter(s) over at least twice without even saying excuse me, loud cursing teenagers (actually heard a few verbally abusing and threating a young oriental boy when a elevator door opened), and countless uncontrolled young kids running around.

Overall a good experience. Would have been much better during a.....less crowed time!
Thanks for all the valuable info!

That's understandable....it was a great time. But, for us....the week of President's day is out in the future!

Believe it or not Presidents week sailings aren't as crowded as Spring Break time or summer sailings (except late August). Not all schools are off the week of Presidents week holiday. The only time you will find it less crowded is during non school breaks, and these differ a lot now.

Well, I am truly sorry to hear about the sound from pipes etc in your cabin. If the ship was full (and almost always is) you wouldn't be able to change to another cabin. However I still would have made an official complaint. If you don't tell them how can they check it out to see if the sound is normal to them or a problem they need to fix.

Now, as for the rest of your review. I'm am trying to chalk it up to your lack of sleep.

As a born and raised native New Yorker (NYC) I find your generalization of an entire region of this county to be extremely offensive.

Nothing personal but y'all need to work on your manners as well.

I completely understand what the OP was referring to about Northeast crowds people / manners - Yes he was generalizing and not everyone in that area is like that. I live there and am not like that, however I do understand because I have taken cruises out of NY / NJ where we wished we hadn't. Not because of the cruise line directly but because of a lot of the people onboard

 

[VesTrace]

Oh, by the way.

"threating a young oriental boy"

Carpets are Oriental. Human Beings are Asian. Guess what us big city folk lack in politeness, we make up for by being well educated.

Oh...sorry. Well educated...I guess my MBA from the University of Auburn doesn't count? How about your education? "Oriental" is used as a term to describe cultures, countries, peoples and goods from the Orient OR Asia. And I was not trying to offend anyone one with the New York "Winter Holiday" commit. I've traveled and worked with many great individuals in NYC, Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, and Boston. I'm just saying that next time I'd probably choose an alternate week.

 

[dursin]

Oh, by the way.

"threating a young oriental boy"

Carpets are Oriental. Human Beings are Asian. Guess what us big city folk lack in politeness, we make up for by being well educated.

...I think this comment just re-enforced the generalization made by the OP. Very rude.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Oh...sorry. Well educated...I guess my MBA from the University of Auburn doesn't count? How about your education? "Oriental" is used as a term to describe cultures, countries, peoples and goods from the Orient OR Asia. And I was not trying to offend anyone one with the New York "Winter Holiday" commit. I've traveled and worked with many great individuals in NYC, Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, and Boston. I'm just saying that next time I'd probably choose an alternate week.

The term Oriental can be considered pejorative.
You really should use something more specific and less offensive otherwise you are going to have people all over you -- especially on message boards.