My first Very Merry....

[Bonnie1222]

DH and I are taking our very first Very Merry cruise (7 day) this year and our booking window is fast approaching. I have read some previous posts on things to do. Our birthdays fall during the holidays and Christmas has always been such a special time for both of us.

What are the MUST do's and make sure to watch for things that occur during the cruise. What were your favorite things?

What do I need to book right away when booking my window opens?

What do I need wait for and book when I get on board?

And last... I am sorry but I refuse to pay the DCL price for a little Xmas tree that I can't take home. I am looking to purchase a small fake tree that I can pack in my suitcase. Have you purchased one that worked well? I'd love to know what you got and where you purchased it from. TYIA

 

[MnkyGirl]

I got a miniature tabletop Christmas tree from Target during the holidays. (at the front where all of the bargain $3, $5, $10 things are) I have it in my office and purchased a $3 pack of battery operated fairy lights for it. It packs up well into my desk drawer when the season is over, so I imagine that it would work well in a suitcase as well.

Fellow birthday during the holidays person here. We went on a cruise for my birthday (which falls just a few days before Christmas) and really just enjoyed the atmosphere and parties around the boat that didn't require reservations. I hear that there is a gingerbread decorating activity though...

 

[dvcdisney]

We did our first Merry Christmas tour this past Dec. We didn't bring any decorations or gifts, we opened our gifts for each other before we left home and the kids were able to open the gifts from Santa when we got back. Santa prefers to drop off his gifts at our house.

As with the cruise, one thing that wasn't available to book online was the Gingerbread Decorating. So I suggest, if you are interested and would like to choose a good time on sea day, you do it as soon as you board. At our cruise, I went directly to GS. I think some cruises are different so find out when you board. They were getting everyone to go directly to lunch but when I asked one of the CMs if I can go to GS to get tickets for the Gingerbread decorating, she said absolutely go to GS. When I walked over, no one was around and no one was at GS. We weren't even early arriving at port.

 

[Love2Cruise2015]

As soon as you get on board go to the excursions desk and book the gingerbread house making activity as it is a lot of fun to do as a family and can not be pre booked.
Just a side note that you can’t take the gingerbread house off the ship but it does make your room smell great

 

[dvcdisney]

As soon as you get on board go to the excursions desk and book the gingerbread house making activity as it is a lot of fun to do as a family and can not be pre booked.
Just a side note that you can’t take the gingerbread house off the ship but it does make your room smell great

We didn't actually bring it to our stateroom because it fell apart the minute we tried to pick it up....it was fun but really messy!

 

[Spotthecat]

Yes plan to do the gingergread decorating as early in the cruise as you can as it will take you a while to keep eating at it in your stateroom!

 

[Bonnie1222]

@Spotthecat @dvcdisney @Love2Cruise2015

Did they offer multiple "sessions" to do the gingerbread house? Was it only on sea days?

Thanks for the info. And if you took pictures - I would love to see...

 

[Love2Cruise2015]

@Spotthecat @dvcdisney @Love2Cruise2015

Did they offer multiple "sessions" to do the gingerbread house? Was it only on sea days?

Thanks for the info. And if you took pictures - I would love to see...[/QUOTE
It was only offered on sea days but it was offered multiple times during the day and while supplies lasted. It was an activity that filled up VERY quickly when we were on the Eastern Caribbean Merry Time cruise.
Sorry, I don’t have any pictures....

 

[tlprice]

Both times we did it (December 2015 and December 2017) we did it the morning of Castaway Cay day. We were on 3 day and 4 day cruises and still managed to get tickets. Maybe because some people don't want to miss Castaway Cay time we were able to get tickets. We did learn to use a LOT of frosting to hold things together and to work QUICKLY. They don't give you a huge amount of time. It is also a pretty yummy gingerbread house to eat.

 

[disneylove69]

I enjoyed Mrs. Claus reading a xmas story. Xmas Carol's and Santa.

 

[Bonnie1222]

Both times we did it (December 2015 and December 2017) we did it the morning of Castaway Cay day. We were on 3 day and 4 day cruises and still managed to get tickets. Maybe because some people don't want to miss Castaway Cay time we were able to get tickets. We did learn to use a LOT of frosting to hold things together and to work QUICKLY. They don't give you a huge amount of time. It is also a pretty yummy gingerbread house to eat.

Thanks @tlprice We will be on a 7 day so hopefully we can get an early session and maybe try to eat some of it, not that we need any extra food.
And I'm not sure if you try to post pictures? I only show broken images.

I got on a gingerbread house kick a couple years ago teasing DH that I had never made one. Now he buys me one each year. I think I end up with more icing on me then the house.

@disneylove69 That sound like something I would enjoy. A few years ago on a HOHS cruise DH and I were wandering the ship well after midnight and they had a film crew in the atrium and Mrs. Clause was there and they were "interviewing" her. It was awesome - but of course we didn't have our camera with us.

 

[dvcdisney]

@Spotthecat @dvcdisney @Love2Cruise2015

Did they offer multiple "sessions" to do the gingerbread house? Was it only on sea days?

Thanks for the info. And if you took pictures - I would love to see...

They did have several sessions but I'm not sure how many. I was one of the first ones so I was able to get a good time. It was on a sea day, but again, I don't know if they offered it other times.

Sorry, I don't have any photos since everyone's hands were covered in icing...it was very messy....or perhaps that was just us...