Lots o' Questions from a first-timer

[QueenTrident]

I have a few questions for you all about the cruise. Thanks for any help!

1) What's the earliest time to check in at the Port? Is arriving earlier better? Is there anything to keep the little ones occupied while waiting to get on the boat?

2) If DD3 does not have dinner with us every night (or at all, since we have the late seating) do we tip in full for her? Not trying to be a cheapskate, but just wondering the protocol here.

3) On formal nights, do you have to get dressed up to go to Topsiders? DH and I have no dressy clothes (just slacks/button shirts for him and slacks/sweaters sets for me) and don't have the money to buy them before the trip. I figure we should skip the formal nights, so we don't ruin the formal mood for others at our table (as some sites have suggested). Just not sure what the options are for dinner.

4) Can I still make excursion reservations once on board? Right now I'm planning on just doing my own thing at St. Thomas, but if I change my mind once on board, is it too late?

5) Since I'm doing my own transfers, when should I tell the towncar to pick me up from the port? I have a late flight out of Orlando, but I don't want to be stuck at the port all morning, waiting for a car to pick me up.

6) DD3 is completely potty trained. Does she need a protective swim diaper for the pool?

That's all for now!

Thanks,

Jenn

 

[my3kids]

Your DD won't need a swim diaper. They aren't allowed, actually. Everyone must be potty trained to swim, so you are in good shape.

I think the port opens at 10:30. Boarding won't be until probably around 12:15. I wouldn't want to be in the very back of the line, but not sure there is much reason to wait almost 2 hours in line either. Guess that is a matter of personal preference. Arriving sometime after 11 would shorten your waiting time and still get you on the ship early enough to get your reservations for Palo and the spa.


You daughter might do fine with later dinner seating. You could order a sandwich from room service early, or maybe eat a big snack late in the day on deck. The dinners are so much fun...I'd hate for her to miss it. Don't worry about skipping the formal night. Wear what you have and have a wonderful time! We saw such a mix of clothing. We we in tuxedo and long dress. Our table mates in tropical clothing. If you have dressy things, great, but if you don't, then wear what you have and enjoy your family time together. A fancy necklace could dress your sweater set up, and I saw lots of men in slacks and button shirts on the dressy nights. But, if you just really like the Topsiders menu better for the night, I think any clothing is acceptable. You wouldn't need to dress up. On the tipping, probably yes, tip the full amount. Even if she isn't there everynight, the servers will dote on her so much when she is there that you'll want to tip them well.

You can still make excursion reservations on board, but a lot of them might sell out. There is an excursion desk in the lobby area.

 

[tkd lisa]

My opinion, since you asked:

1) My 3 kids is right about time for port opening and ship boarding. They do have cartoons playing over to the side of the terminal, and there are often characters around for meet and greets. I think 11:00 - 11:30 is the perfect time to arrive. By the time you check in, the line is moving, but it's not so late that you're rushed to get to the lunch buffets.

2) Yes, you tip for all in your party. You can possibly have your daughters dinner brought with your appetizers, then drop her off at the club while you enjoy a more leisurely dinner. Just play it by ear.

3) Formal night attire/dining options. Sorry my3kids, I disagree with you. What the OP mentioned would be fine for normal dinners, but it sounds like they are fine with not bringing formal clothes and just eating at topsiders that evening. Our experience on formal/semi-formal night was that most people are very dressed up. At a minimum, in nice dresses and suits. I saw an occasional gentleman in an open necked shirt, but my DH would have been very uncomfortable in the dining rooms that night if he wasn't in a suit. Topsiders is intended to be casual, so you don't need to dress up there even on formal/semi-formal nights.

4) Excursions: You can make excursion arrangements up to the day of the excursion. Just be flexible, since many of the popular ones sell out. If you have your heart set on a particular excursion, book it at 60 days out.

5) Pick up time: The latest you can leave the ship is around 9 I think. I'd suggest having the car arrive no later than 9:30, since there's nothing to do at the port once you're off the ship. The terminal is actually closed until the next group arrives at 10:30.

6) Swim diaper: Agree w/ My3Kids.

 

[kasar]

The subject of formal night always comes up on these boards and opinions seem to vary considerably. In my opinion, if Queen Trident and her family are neatly dressed in nice clothes and not in jeans or shorts there's no reason why she should miss the fun of formal night. Frankly, I have no idea what anyone else on our cruise was wearing (I'm not even sure what I was wearing LOL!) but I do remember having a great time with our servers and enjoying wonderful meals with my family. My suggestion: see if you can borrow a skirt or dress from a friend and pick up a cheap tie for your DH to wear with his button down shirts. Many people on these boards have gotten great deals through ebay. If that doesn't work, or doesn't appeal to you, I would say Go in your best clothes (whatever they are) and enjoy yourselves.

(This is not meant to be a debate, just an opinion - I'm sure others have differing opinions!)

 

[QueenTrident]

You know what? I'm not using my imagination. DH has a sports jacket and nice pants. I'm sure we can find a tie easily enough. If that'll be okay, then I'd love to do formal night. I'm sure I can find something for me. There's enough outlets around. If we spent the extra money to stay an extra night in FL, I'm sure I can eek out a few more dollars so we can enjoy formal night. And, from what I'm gathering, as long as we aren't slobs, we should be okay without tuxes or ballgowns. Is that right? Again, I don't want to ruin anyone else's experience, but don't want to miss out, either.

 

[seastar]

Before you buy something, ask around. Mabye someone in your family or a friend has something you could borrow. My sisters
and I share dressy clothes all the time.

 

[QueenTrident]

Unfortunately, I'm the largest in my family. I'm working on it, but don't think I'll be a size 2 (like my mom and sis) in 60 days. I'll be happy if I'm a size 12 or 14!

 

[my3kids]

I bet right after Christmas you'd be able to find a dressy black skirt marked way down. Pair it with a black sweater set from home, and voila...you have a "little black dress!" Enjoy your trip!

 

[cjsmith]

Don't worry about having a ball gown or tux for formal night, your husbands jacket and nice pants are great. And if you can't find a tie, I would still go for it. I know I'll get flamed, but I could care less what others are wearing on a vacation, I always feel that as long as people are neat, clean, and presentable, than that's great.
I know that getting dressed up is a big deal for some people, but it's not for us. My husband wears and suit and tie to work everyday and we go to black tie balls frequently during our "season" down here in Naples. I had a ball gown on and my husband had his tux on this past Saturday, that's enough for me! There were women there and weathly society women to boot, who had had long dresses, short dresses, and believe it or not very dressy pants suits. Check out our local magazine, like Gulfshore Life and N Magazine(which is like Town & Country to a degree) and you will see all sorts of outifts at these functions, that are held at our Ritz Carlton ( a 5 star hotel) and the like.
On formal night, my husband wore a suit and tie and I wore a very dressy black dress and I felt fine. People should spend less time worrying about others and they'll enjoy life so much more!!!

 

[jrabbit]

Here's my two cents worth:

1) Arrive "early" at the port. 11am should be fine. This will get you through the check in process pretty quicky. Tip: Fill out your cruise documents as completely as possible before arriving at the port. If you have any questions, leave those spaces blank and they will help you fill them in.

The terminal is beautiful (not that a three year old will care much, but several characters make an apperance and there are many tv's with Disney cartoons playing. Pick the area thats between the model of the Magic and where the doors are to board, watch tv there and stand in line there (the line will wind right past you there and you will be near the front of the line - even though it does not look like it. )

2) Tip for everyone in your party to your server/asst server and room steward. It seems extreem, but you will see that they earn it (and you are really tipping for 3 meals per day even though you personally are tipping your waitstaff for your dinners). Be sure to budget for the tips - they are one of the bigger additional items you will encounter on the cruise.

3) I am assuming you are going on a 7 Night cruise, because the 3 and 4 nighters don't have a formal or semi formal night. As you have seen, there are a variety of opinions on the subject of "formal dress". For "normal" nights I wear slacks and a polo shirt. For tropical / mexicalli night I wear slacks and a tropical shirt. Now we are up to the formal nights. I wear a dress shirt, tie, slacks and I hope I don't give anyone a heart atack Warning: Do NOT read any further if you are a squimish type of person ...black socks and oh no, don't say it... sandals. Yes I wear sandals to formal night. I have no idea how many peoples evenings I have ruined By the way, I wear my sandals to all of the dinners. DW wears a pant suit or skirts/blouse/sweaters. The great thing about the skirts/blouse/sweater route is you can mix and match and usually get by with fewer total cloths to bring. Bringing a suit or sport coat usually mean lugging another suitcase along. We try to pack lite and that does not fit into the definition of lite.

Where is that soapbox "smile"

Note: there is a definate heirarchy: the people in the tuxes/formal gowns don't like those who come in a suit, those in a suit don't like those wearing a sport coat, those in the sport coat don't like the way I come (shirt and tie), and none of us appreciate those who show up to ANY of the dinners in shorts or swim suits.

4) Yes you can make your shore excursions while on board. If you are going to bring your 3yo, the choices are somewhat limited at those have the most probability of NOT being fully booked. If you and DH/DW are going by yourselves there are several excursions that do sell out. Eastern: Golden Eagle Catamaran, Pinel Island Snorkel. Western: Sting Ray City tour.

5) You will want to be picked up at the port around 9am at the latest. Earlier if you have early seating. What are you going to do for the day? If your flight home is after 4 it might be better to rent a car for the day and do something (you can drop it off at the airport and skip the towncar). There are the beaches around the port, Cape Kennedy Space Port or you could go to downtown Disney and slowly ease yourself back into reality. You could keep the towncar and have them drop you off at the airport and you could rent a day room at the Hyatt and enjoy some down time and pool time. Sine 9/11 you cannot check your bags with the airlines untill your flight is within 4 hrs of departure. If you are flying on an airline that picks up your luggage at the port, then you are set there.

 

[Cruise04]

We did the 7 night cruise this past year and I didn't have alot of money and had a hard time finding a formal dress. So I found a nice skirt/jacket set and bought two shirts that went with it and switched them for each of the nights. It worked for me and wasn't too hard on my pocketbook. I didn't have an evening gown and my dh didn't have a tux and we fit in just fine. So as others have said - if you have a skirt and a nice blouse you will be fine. And if you have a jacket for your dh - he will be fine too. You usually can find a decent priced tie at WalMart and they look good and last just as long as a $50 tie from JCPenney.

Just remember to just relax and have a good time and not worry about those around you.

 

[dancermom]

Queen Trident - a sports coat is def fine for the DH. I'm sure you have a skirt or dress in the closet which is fine. Don't worry about wwhat anyone else thinks. This will be my third cruise and I don't remeber what anyone had on. If your table mates don't like it, that is there issue not yours. Whay miss out on the formal nights, unless you don't want to go. Also, a lot of people are correct, after Christmas should bring great bargains in time for our cruise on the 24th. I'm waiting until the after Christmas sales to get a dress for formal night. On our last cruise I had on a gown I got on clearance for $20.00. Looked very similar to my DM's and she paid over $200.00. It doesn't make sense to spend a ton of money on clothes you wiill only wear once.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

jrabbit,
that's just wrong, wrong I say, have you no dignity

 

[Michelemouse]

Chadwicks is a great place for low-cost dresses. I got my long, black formal dress from them for $49.99 and it is beautiful. I'm not the type to wear that kind of thing often so the less expensive option was perfect for me. You can also find skirts and nice pant suits there.

You can find them at www.chadwicks.com. I'm betting they'll be having some discounts this week and in the weeks to come.

 

[jrabbit]

that's just wrong, wrong I say, have you no dignity

At least i wasn't wearing shorts with the dark socks and sandals And you know me well, I have no dignity - much to the embarsement of my teenager!!

 

[lbgraves]

Your DD wont need a swim diaper if she is PTd. We had DD use one since she was newly PTd and she stayed in the one Mickey Ear with the fountain. That is where the non PTd kids play at the pool now.

We arrived last Saturday at 10:30 & wondered why people were already getting in line to board. Well, the paper they gave us said that they were boarding an hour early that day. That was nice for us but we did have to wait a little bit. It went pretty smoothly once everyone started moving though. I stood in line while DH walked around with the kids (3&5).

Also, Coldwatercreek.com has some great deals in their outlet section.

 

[BWVDenise]

Someone on this thread mentioned that there is no formal or semi-formal night on the 3 and 4 night cruises, but in the cruise brochure, jackets are "suggested" for Tritons. I was wondering if that applies to just the 7 night cruise, or to all of them. I hate to take up all that space packing something that will only be worn for 2 hours, one time! Can I leave the jacket at home and have dh just wear slacks, shirt, and tie on our Triton's night?