Must dos & don't bothers

[phinz]

So you don't have to have a reservation in one of the restaurants to visit meridian right?

Correct. Meridian is open to all. I tend to dress nicer when I go up there.

 

[tmoor]

I'm curious where you plan to eat the other three nights. The evening service at Cabanas is not available on the 1st or last night of the cruise, and the kids could not go to Palo or Remy.

I do think the Art of the Theme Show tour is definitely worth the time - especially if the kids are settled in the clubs. You learn a lot about the ship and the themeing behind it.

They could choose room service or quick service on those nights they don't want to go to the MDR. I personally, enjoyed all the MDRs on the Dream for my first cruise. I also encourage my family members that have joined us on the other ships to try them all as well. However, this last time on the Wonder, I definitely wanted to try Parrot Cay and Triton's since I had not been in those yet but for one of my dinners I also wanted to see how relaxed it was in Cabana's/Topsiders (which is it? can't remember!). The hubby wanted to watch college football and I wanted to eat earlier than my 8:15 seating and my 5 yo wanted to get to the club early, so I got quick service for the little one, sent her on to the club and walked on up to Cabana's to dine alone. It was perfect! I was immediately seated in a quiet and almost empty section and then doted on the whole meal. You order off the menu and I even was able to order a meal for my husband and have it to go. It was so nice. Anyway, the MDRs are a great experience but for those that do not feel that is a major NEED, don't be ashamed to enjoy the simpler things in life off the beaten path. Just sayin.

 

[Dug720]

They could choose room service or quick service on those nights they don't want to go to the MDR. I personally, enjoyed all the MDRs on the Dream for my first cruise. I also encourage my family members that have joined us on the other ships to try them all as well. However, this last time on the Wonder, I definitely wanted to try Parrot Cay and Triton's since I had not been in those yet but for one of my dinners I also wanted to see how relaxed it was in Cabana's/Topsiders (which is it? can't remember!). The hubby wanted to watch college football and I wanted to eat earlier than my 8:15 seating and my 5 yo wanted to get to the club early, so I got quick service for the little one, sent her on to the club and walked on up to Cabana's to dine alone. It was perfect! I was immediately seated in a quiet and almost empty section and then doted on the whole meal. You order off the menu and I even was able to order a meal for my husband and have it to go. It was so nice. Anyway, the MDRs are a great experience but for those that do not feel that is a major NEED, don't be ashamed to enjoy the simpler things in life off the beaten path. Just sayin.

I had missed the fact that she said they have to deal with severe allergies. That makes doing anything outside of the MDRs more difficult. It theoretically could be done in Cabanas on nights two and three. But DCL actually discourages room service for severe allergies as room service does not have the allergy kitchen control that the MDRs do and there is a much higher risk for cross-contamination.

 

[Tami0220]

This will be our second cruise... our first was on Halloween last year on the Dream. This will be a 7 nighter on the Fantasy!

Must Do's:
Every Show
Ship Tour
Palo Brunch
Remy Dinner
BBB & Pirates League
Lunch on Castaway Cay (we docked late last time and they cancelled lunch on us)
Room Service Breakfast at least ONE morning
Fish Extender
tour teen clubs
Rainforest day pass
Wake up early one morning to catch sunrise

Don't Do's:
Trick or Treating on the ship... horribly organized (instead join a group and organize your own cabin to cabin trick or treating... much more fun)
Forget to book another on board (as in don't forget to do that)
Overpack

You mentioned Room Service Breakfast at least one morning. Room service breakfast is only continental style unless you are in one of the larger suites. But the continental breakfast is very nice especially if you have a verandah

 

[lulucornbread]

Do you let your servers know if you wont be in a MDR one night?

 

[bethy]

They could choose room service or quick service on those nights they don't want to go to the MDR. I personally, enjoyed all the MDRs on the Dream for my first cruise. I also encourage my family members that have joined us on the other ships to try them all as well. However, this last time on the Wonder, I definitely wanted to try Parrot Cay and Triton's since I had not been in those yet but for one of my dinners I also wanted to see how relaxed it was in Cabana's/Topsiders (which is it? can't remember!). The hubby wanted to watch college football and I wanted to eat earlier than my 8:15 seating and my 5 yo wanted to get to the club early, so I got quick service for the little one, sent her on to the club and walked on up to Cabana's to dine alone. It was perfect! I was immediately seated in a quiet and almost empty section and then doted on the whole meal. You order off the menu and I even was able to order a meal for my husband and have it to go. It was so nice. Anyway, the MDRs are a great experience but for those that do not feel that is a major NEED, don't be ashamed to enjoy the simpler things in life off the beaten path. Just sayin.

Thank you for this. I love your last comment about simpler things off the beaten path. That describes much of our lifestyle right now.

I can definitely see the traditional appeal of MDR dining. Just not sure it will work well for us on this cruise. However, we do have allergies to contend with. For my DD it is not as severe and she can tolerate some minor risk of cross contamination. But my DH's entire vacation could be ruined if he got even a hint of dairy. Sooooo I will have to think on it. We've had good luck with Disney parks in the past with him, but yes they often cook for him in the special allergen free kitchen area.

Like I said I am glad to know all this ahead of time!!

 

[SillyInventor]

It is polite to tell them the night before, so they don't have to count on you when planning their service. There is no fee or penalty for not showing up at an MDR diner.

 

[Dug720]

It is polite to tell them the night before, so they don't have to count on you when planning their service. There is no fee or penalty for not showing up at an MDR diner.

Also do keep in mind that the servers work both the buffet and/or seated breakfasts and lunches around the ship, so their tip shouldn't be reduced just because you skip a dinner in the MDR.

 

[bethy]

Also do keep in mind that the servers work both the buffet and/or seated breakfasts and lunches around the ship, so their tip shouldn't be reduced just because you skip a dinner in the MDR.

Oh absolutely! I would never ever want to impact the servers negatively. I want to do what I need to for our family while being as considerate of others as possible. Selfishly, feeling that I had hurt someone in some way or been impolite would negatively impact my own experience.

I will pay the normal gratuities at the start of the cruise and then add cash as we go along and receive great service etc.

 

[Dug720]

Oh absolutely! I would never ever want to impact the servers negatively. I want to do what I need to for our family while being as considerate of others as possible. Selfishly, feeling that I had hurt someone in some way or been impolite would negatively impact my own experience.

I will pay the normal gratuities at the start of the cruise and then add cash as we go along and receive great service etc.

I wasn't intending to single you out. The question often comes up from others "If I'm not eating in the MDR do I still tip my servers?" so I was being proactive.

I even made the choice on my last cruise to tip two sets of servers - those I was assigned to and those I actually had. When my table assignment was changed so that my sister (who is a CM and had permission to dine with me in the MDRs) and I could eat and talk in relative privacy (as private as you can get with tables less than a foot apart in some cases that is) and she didn't have to answer a zillion questions about the ship, my server and assistant server changed (head stayed the same - though funnily enough he didn't make the connection with the names because two days into the cruise I got a phone message from him that he noticed I hadn't been to the dining room and was there anything he could do such as send food to my cabin...cleared that up that evening). Even though my sister even said I could just get the tips changed to the ones we had and not worry about it, I personally felt bad that through no fault of their own my initially assigned serving team would lose those tips. I'd budgeted enough extra I was fine with it, and I felt better about it. Like you, I'd feel too bad about taking money from someone who was expecting it when it wasn't their fault I wasn't there.

 

[bceagle76]

It is really up to you also depends if you have young chldern with you


Do's
MDR
Palo one night
Palo Brunch
Sitting on the Deck Chairs on Deck 5 watching the ocean Reading a Book
Sitting on Verradah watching the ocean reading a book
The Shows(even seen them before there is a difference because the actors are no the same)
The performances by acts in small venuse both family and adult
Bingo nevre played except on the ship it is rip off but it is fun
Health club need to walk off the diners
Good Ecrusions hard to find
Lunch with Drinks at tourist water hole on the islands
Castaway Cay
Indy 200
Hang out at Ogills after the show before dinner with the family maybe watching a game


Can take or leave
Pirate Night Too Crowded
Pools Too Crowded and small only go in for a dip
Wine Tasting I can never tatse the Oak
Movies if there is something I want to see OK

Don't

Sail away party
Spa too expensive
Movie Night in the main theatre


Haven't done yet in 11 cruises but should try
Tour of the ship not like used to be becuase of security
piano bar
cabana massage but the price is so much

 

[tmoor]

Yes, I think it is very important to let the servers know if you do not plan to attend, whether it be the night before while you are in the MDR or if you can manage to just swing by there a moment before your seating time to let them know. With knowing my husband was probably not going to leave the tv the next evening because of a football game (and not sure how long the game would last), I went ahead and mentioned it to the servers that more than likely we would not be in the dining room. And as others have mentioned, I would never think of not tipping, or reducing tips, just because I wasn't in there one night.

 

[tmoor]

Okay, I'm sorry. Got caught up in the dining experience! As you'll see below, I base most of my cruise on how many times I can eat!

My "Must Do" list:

--Eat as many Mickey Bars as I can manage
--Try out the cheese platter from Room Service
--Eat in a MDR for breakfast and lunch as opposed to the buffet (the omelets are the best!!!)
--Find those "free" pastries at the Cove Cafe - I managed to find the cafe on the last cruise, but I did not see any pastries!!
--Take the stairs no matter where I'm heading (to work off some of the food)
--Go to the very front of the ship for SailAway
--Have a Drink of the Day every day
--Get on Pelican Plunge at CC
--See Serenity Bay at least once (kinda hard when you have a little one that wants to be in the water as opposed to the kid's club at CC) - three cruises and still haven't seen it
--Get a family portrait taken

 

[redsonja76]

Must dos:

MDR
Verandah Room
Spa treatment just once


Dont bother:

Sail away party (too crowded!)


That's my only don't bother!

 

[Sunshine2U]

Must Do for Children on First Cruise:
Sail Away Party
Pirate Night Costume (bring with you)
Pirate Party
All Shows
MDRs - they feel so special!
Then they talk about it so much you end up doing it on subsequent cruises. Looking forward to no-child cruise so we can skip those and do more than pass through an adult area.

 

[lulucornbread]

Must Do for Children on First Cruise: Sail Away Party Pirate Night Costume (bring with you) Pirate Party All Shows MDRs - they feel so special! Then they talk about it so much you end up doing it on subsequent cruises. Looking forward to no-child cruise so we can skip those and do more than pass through an adult area.

non-child cruise sounds so nice!

 

[perdidobay]

After 14 cruises on DCL, all without anyone under 18, here is my must do list:

Eat lunch on embarkation day outside in the sunshine. A photo of my DH and his shrimp from Cabanas is a tradition.
Sail away party, I just love the energy and the happiness of everyone, hey we are on vacation! After the ship starts moving we always head up to the front top deck till we clear Jetty Park.
A spa treatment on sea days
Rainforest pass for the length of the cruise
Reading books on a lounger by the adult pool, sipping adult drinks!
Going to the adult venues after dinner in the Tube, for the adult entertainment and more drinks.
Aqua duck!!
palo brunch


If I have time/ feel like doing:
Catch a movie in the theater
Go to a cooking or craft presentation
DVC events
Muppet Detective game
Goofy golf
Pirate Party

Don't bother to do:
Evening stage shows

 

[ChariD]

Our first DC last year was 4 nights to Bahamas and back. I say relax, relax!! We tried to cram everything into these 4 nights and it was more stressful than I would have liked. If your on a short cruise and wanna do the shows Id say pick one or 2 you really might like as they are all great. Also do Pirate night and dress up for it if you can. We didnt last time, but we are this time. Even if its a pirate tee shirt and a hat or something. Do the sail away party if this is your first cruise and again relax!! Hope you have a great time!

 

[Jbo]

Thank you for great tips. We're first time cruisers.

 

[amyshell]

It had been my understanding that DAY passes had to be purchased in advance through the in-room shopping link on the DCL page and only length of cruise passes were sold on board, but recently people have reported buying day passes on board. If you KNOW you just want a one day pass, I would buy it early just in case they don't sell day passes on your sailing.

Just looked this up.. So I have to print off the sheet and send it in with my $16 to get a day pass???