Lunch on excursions?

[diznymom]

We are sailing Hawaii to Vancouver in May, 2020. We have booked our excursions through DCL. All of the excursions last 4-5 hours, like morning until afternoon...through lunch. They don't say anything about lunch. What are we supposed to do for lunch?

 

[Marc D]

We are sailing Hawaii to Vancouver in May, 2020. We have booked our excursions through DCL. All of the excursions last 4-5 hours, like morning until afternoon...through lunch. They don't say anything about lunch. What are we supposed to do for lunch?

If it includes lunch, it will say in the description. If it doesn’t and you have free time, they expect you to use it to grab a lunch. Some tours are unfortunately planned badly and involve you getting a late lunch, or just a snack, when you get back onboard. You can bring factory-sealed snacks from the ship in most ports to munch during the tour.

 

[diznymom]

If it includes lunch, it will say in the description. If it doesn’t and you have free time, they expect you to use it to grab a lunch. Some tours are unfortunately planned badly and involve you getting a late lunch, or just a snack, when you get back onboard. You can bring factory-sealed snacks from the ship in most ports to munch during the tour.

Thanks for your reply. I am Type II diabetic. so most snacks are out for me. I have to really watch my carbs and keep them very, very low.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Thanks for your reply. I am Type II diabetic. so most snacks are out for me. I have to really watch my carbs and keep them very, very low.

If there are prepackaged snacks that you can have, you can also bring them on the ship with you to take on excursions. I almost always bring beef jerky with me on the ships for excursions. Also, if there is anyone in your group that likes uncrustables, you can order them from room service to be delivered to your stateroom before you leave on your excursion. Just request they don’t defrost them.

 

[diznymom]

DH might like the uncrustables. Are they w/ grape jelly?

 

[Sun_soakin]

We usually eat a pretty big breakfast before heading out so we aren’t usually hungry until we get back on board. Then we might do a light snack while getting ready for dinner (room service), or just go to dinner hungry.

 

[Marc D]

DH might like the uncrustables. Are they w/ grape jelly?

Those are the only ones onboard. I believe there’s another kind that exists on land but they do not have it. Be careful about the rules concerning taking food on land. In some ports, notably Cozumel, you can’t take any food of the ship, including prepackaged. They have dogs that smell bags and heavy fines can be handed out.

 

[rere101399]

Those are the only ones onboard. I believe there’s another kind that exists on land but they do not have it. Be careful about the rules concerning taking food on land. In some ports, notably Cozumel, you can’t take any food of the ship, including prepackaged. They have dogs that smell bags and heavy fines can be handed out.

I’m so glad I clicked on this thread! I had heard about taking prepackaged foods off and planned to do this at all the ports on our western cruise in 4 days. Cozumel is on our list and we were planning to bring packaged food and spend a few hours at Chakanaab. I’m glad to know we can’t do this before getting in trouble We were also planning to do this in grand cayman, can we bring prepackaged snacks there?

 

[Marc D]

We were also planning to do this in grand cayman, can we bring prepackaged snacks there?

I believe so, but be mindful in all ports of the rules mentioned in DCL announcements. They can change over time. They usually mention limitations the night before a port in the theatre, on the morning Cruise director TV show and in public announcements.

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks for your reply. I am Type II diabetic. so most snacks are out for me. I have to really watch my carbs and keep them very, very low.

I recommend you bring some pre-packaged "snack" items from home to take on excursions because what's available onboard is rather limited and not particularly diabetic-friendly. If you don't have a favorite product already, I suggest you try a few at home to see how it impacts your sugars so you'll know what to expect. My DH doesn't care for the products specifically targeted for diabetics (like Glucerna or NuGo) but there are lots of other brands of protein bars - check the labels to see what best fits your needs (and tastes). It's not something for regular everyday use, but in a pinch we've found it quite helpful to carry a few protein bars on vacation for when meals times don't quite fit the typical schedule.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[kendall]

Protein bars are our go-to. Also consider single serving protein powder packets - they can be added to bottled water (juice, whatever) and shaken to create a protein shake. I always travel with a packet or two in case I get hangry and it also serves to make sure I drink enough fluids.

 

[Missus_Aitch]

Doesn’t anyone like eating in port? We were docked in Bermuda for two days and a night last cruise and were surprised to find that our tablemates had come back to the ship for dinner despite only having one chance to have dinne in Bermuda. We thought they were odd, but maybe we were?

 

[MomOTwins]

Doesn’t anyone like eating in port? We were docked in Bermuda for two days and a night last cruise and were surprised to find that our tablemates had come back to the ship for dinner despite only having one chance to have dinne in Bermuda. We thought they were odd, but maybe we were?

The reason I prefer to eat on the ship for dinner is because it is already factored into the cost of the cruise, so you are effectively double-paying for a meal if you eat on land. For me it would be like buying the Disney dining plan and having a meal off-Disney property instead of using a dining credit.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We prefer to eat on the ship because we know the food is safe. My innards are really ornery and I react to strange food in strange places.

 

[rere101399]

I worry about food quality and safety, water quality used to grow/prepare food etc.

 

[kiford]

I typically try to find excursions that include lunch, especially in the European ports, because eating local food is the best part of my vacation. I prefer to have lunch provided through the excursion, even though I know it will be aimed at tourists and high volume, simply because I need to know (in some ports) that there is at least some likelihood that it will be safe rather than just picking something that's around. Plus, I know that Disney will generally ensure that the tour company takes note of, and accommodates, allergies. I know that a lot of people don't want to pay for something that they've already paid for but just eating on the ship is boring to me. For those excursions that are too short, too early, or too late to provide meals, we may go back and eat on the ship or we may find somewhere in port to eat on our own. It will depend on the port, the type of restaurants available to us, and our command of the local language.

 

[Marc D]

In the Caribbean, we usually plan our day to eat on the ship. We do not trust the food handling and the water. In European ports, we also seek out excursions where a lunch is included because we believe food is a very telling part of a culture but also for convenience. Tours, at least those that we book, are usually long. Sadly, we find that some long tours without a lunch assume you will fast for 12 hours, or give you some free time that requires you to scramble to find something decent to eat.

 

[SamFaniam]

We are sailing Hawaii to Vancouver in May, 2020. We have booked our excursions through DCL. All of the excursions last 4-5 hours, like morning until afternoon...through lunch. They don't say anything about lunch. What are we supposed to do for lunch?

Because Hawaii is so protective of their agriculture and native flora and fauna, this is definitely something you would want to check into before cruising. I would guess that packaged foods would be OK to take off the ship, but perhaps not.

Since your concern is about a medical need, contacting special services might be in order to make sure that you know what foods you can and cannot take off the ship. SpecialServices@disneycruise.com

 

[dprincessmom]

Because Hawaii is so protective of their agriculture and native flora and fauna, this is definitely something you would want to check into before cruising. I would guess that packaged foods would be OK to take off the ship, but perhaps not.

Since your concern is about a medical need, contacting special services might be in order to make sure that you know what foods you can and cannot take off the ship. SpecialServices@disneycruise.com

Thank you for the information. Our next cruise is a with a Type 2 and we are doing western Caribbean. I just sent my questions to the email above.