Necessities for first Cruise

[Geomom]

You really don't need much for extras, especially for a 4 nt cruise. We do bring reusable water bottles just to have around the ship. We bring a USB charger block/plug (so we have extra ports to charge all the devices). I always bring a small supply of OTC meds, bandaids, hydrocortisone cream, etc. Definitely sunscreen.

The Wish has started using Magicband +, not the regular Magicband. But you get a 'key to the world card' anyways, and need to use that to get on/off the ship. If you already have lanyards, that can be good, or a card holder on the back of your phone case. After your first cruise you will get free lanyards, and DVC members can get free lanyards from the DVC desk on the ship.

 

[auntlynne]

Yes, we have never done this but have seen it. Do you know, do you have to drink the entire bottle during dinner? Or can you take it with you each night?

You do not have to finish it in one sitting. I think you can have them store it or take it with you.

 

[auntlynne]

You can also carry drinks from place to another on the ship. One bar owner in this small town (ship).

 

[algae]

The less you bring, the better. Fewer things means less time needed to pack it all back up the night before the end of the sailing. We actually don't really unpack. We pretty much live out of the suitcase the whole time and only hang things that might wrinkle like dresses and dressy clothes. The huge space under the beds makes it really easy to slide our suitcases in and out as we need to while keeping the floor clear to walk around.

On the Wish, we found 3-5 (?) USB ports that were enough to charge handheld stuff and MagicBands each night for 3 of us. Just make sure to bring the charging cables. Power strips are banned and are likely to be confiscated by room stewards if they see power strips in use in the room, so don't bring them. There are a couple power outlets for things like laptops or camera battery chargers if you need that.

We get all our non-alcohol drinks for free from the pool deck. We do bring an empty bottle (water bottle or fancy metal thing) per person to fill with water or soda to keep in the room. Something about drinking water from the bathroom feels wrong even if it's the same water We did not find a need to buy the water bottle package on board even if it does come with a nice cooler bag.

Maybe bring an empty suitcase to hold all the stuff you buy/create on the sailing. At the start of our trip, we usually have one carryon per person packed to the gills. Then, one carryon goes inside a bigger, empty suitcase so we can have a large, empty suitcase to fill for the return home if we need it--and we always seem to need it. We've even had to buy extra suitcases on longer sailings (!)

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Just my 2 cents worth. You are going to the Bahamas. I would recommend drinking water. Bring a refillable bottle and refill from the water bottle fill stations onboard. You do not want to get dehydrated.

Also, I would highly recommend driving down the day before and spending the night near Port Canaveral. You never know what might happen on the drive down, there could be an accident on the freeway causing hours long backups and delays, poor weather, or your tire could blow. There are too many things that could delay your arrival. Do yourself a favor and plan for the extra 24 hours or so.

 

[algae]

The Wish has started using Magicband +, not the regular Magicband. But you get a 'key to the world card' anyways, and need to use that to get on/off the ship.

Hmm.. how does one get into a stateroom for the first time after boarding if you don't have a MB+? The Keys To The World are placed inside your stateroom on embarkation day now as opposed to the old days of getting them in the terminal before you board... Will DCL enable your phone to open the door? We happen to have MB+'s and didn't really give it a thought. Maybe I missed some notice or something.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I did my second cruise in August, as a new cruiser these are some of the things I bring / use

• Tervis mug for soda from the self serve soda station
• Refillable water bottle.
• Magnetic hooks- I use these for my lanyard, and various other bits and pieces, keeps the room tidy and makes things easy to find.
• Flip flops for pool area
• Swimsuit cover up
• Plastic bag for wet swimclothes
• Small tote bag for around the ship. They don't have plastic bags in the shops, so you have to buy the reusable bags when you buy things in the shop.
• Packing cubes, make things really easy to pack and unpack
• A lanyard for first time cruisers - you only get a welcome back lanyard from your second cruise onwards
• Door magnets - optional fun thing to do, decorating the outside of your door is something many people do
• Extra phone power bank
• Buy souvenir drinks glass on the first day, then use it for drink of the day both alcohol and non alcohol for the rest of the cruise
• If you drink beer, buy souvenir beer mug and use it for beer refills for the rest of the cruise
• If you plan to buy multiple coffees at a time for multiple people from the upcharge coffee cafe, bring a cardboard coffee holder from Starbucks
• Reusable straws -only paper straws onboard
• If you plan to use the Rainforest Room, bring body scrubs and or facemasks from home. They sell body scrubs which are not worth the price. I bring facemasks (not the medical ones, ) and do a DIY facial while relaxing on the hot stone recliners.
• Sunscreen
• Mini first aid kit with your over the counter medication of choice, band aids, small sewing kit and nail scissors
• Sea sickness medication
• Mini air freshener / poopourri (I bring a Yankee Candle card hanging car air freshener)
• Snacks like potato chips or chocolate , theres plenty of food on the ship but sometimes you just want some chips. They sell candy, popcorn and chocolate outside the main theater but its more expensive than on land.

 

[Flossbolna]

Hmm.. how does one get into a stateroom for the first time after boarding if you don't have a MB+? The Keys To The World are placed inside your stateroom on embarkation day now as opposed to the old days of getting them in the terminal before you board... Will DCL enable your phone to open the door? We happen to have MB+'s and didn't really give it a thought. Maybe I missed some notice or something.

The Key to the World cards are placed in the Fish (a holder for notes and such) outside your stateroom door in a sealed envelope.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Hmm.. how does one get into a stateroom for the first time after boarding if you don't have a MB+? The Keys To The World are placed inside your stateroom on embarkation day now as opposed to the old days of getting them in the terminal before you board... Will DCL enable your phone to open the door? We happen to have MB+'s and didn't really give it a thought. Maybe I missed some notice or something.

Your Key To The World card is OUTSIDE your room, on the Starfish or Fish holder. If you want to get a drink before you go to your room , you just tell the bar tender your room number. They type it into the computer and your cruise profile with your photo comes up on the screen.

 

[Flossbolna]

If you are someone who likes to hang out in the pool or hot tub like my husband and I, I would recommend to bring a waterproof watch or a waterproof pouch for your phone. There are very few clocks on the pool deck. So if you need to see what time it is (to get out to go to some scheduled activities or dinner), you can be out of luck. My husband likes the waterproof pouch for his phone as he has access to the navigator app to check things and for texting me if I am hanging out somewhere else. A waterproof phone pouch might also be good to bring to Castaway Cay.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I highly recommend magnetic hooks and a fake card (or giftcard, etc) to leave in the light switch.

I'd also pack as light as possible - storage is limited.

Unless you really want to see Nassau, I'd stay on the ship during that port and explore/enjoy the less crowded ship.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Less is more on a short cruise and a first cruise. A bottle of wine for yourself is nice. You can always buy a water package on the ship, if you feel you need it. Little magnetic hooks are nice if you like organization with hanging things and take up zero space. I have a little USB powered nightlight for the bathroom. Packing cube keep me organized. More practical~ your chargers, sunscreen, a small medical kit with some advil or the like etc, tote bag for beach on castaway. Lanyards-if you want one or a magicband+ if you buy one or have one. Once you are hooked and addicted on these cruises -LOL, you will sort out what you need and what you don't on a cruise.

 

[sponica]

It's been an eternity since our first (and thus far only) cruise.

Here are the mistakes I remember making/things I wouldn't do again:

• Bringing too much to carry on, we had an early PAT (11:30ish?) and my duffel got super heavy by the time the staterooms opened. When we go on our next cruise in February, I'm literally just throwing swimsuits, electronics and medications in a backpack. Maybe spare clothes for the kids.
• Not bringing enough sunblock to Castaway Cay. We had dinner at Palo that night and we looked like lobsters. I had to buy aloe in the gift shop.

Not related to what to bring, but whatever you do, don't watch a 3d movie crossing the Gulf Stream. I didn't get nauseous until then.

 

[NAB]

Less is more on a short cruise and a first cruise. A bottle of wine for yourself is nice. You can always buy a water package on the ship, if you feel you need it. Little magnetic hooks are nice if you like organization with hanging things and take up zero space. I have a little USB powered nightlight for the bathroom. Packing cube keep me organized. More practical~ your chargers, sunscreen, a small medical kit with some advil or the like etc, tote bag for beach on castaway. Lanyards-if you want one or a magicband+ if you buy one or have one. Once you are hooked and addicted on these cruises -LOL, you will sort out what you need and what you don't on a cruise.

No night light needed for the Wish they have one build in.

Bring over counter stuff, Advil, gravel , bandaids ,etc. that stuff is expensive on the ship. My daughter started her period when on you don’t even want to know what we spent for that.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Just my 2 cents worth. You are going to the Bahamas. I would recommend drinking water. Bring a refillable bottle and refill from the water bottle fill stations onboard. You do not want to get dehydrated.

Also, I would highly recommend driving down the day before and spending the night near Port Canaveral. You never know what might happen on the drive down, there could be an accident on the freeway causing hours long backups and delays, poor weather, or your tire could blow. There are too many things that could delay your arrival. Do yourself a favor and plan for the extra 24 hours or so.

Took your recomendation to heart and made a reservation at TownePlace Suites down the road.

 

[sjuncfan]

Most of this has been mentioned but here are the things we like to have:
- magnets - helpful on the inside if you have paperwork to keep handy, like tickets for excursions (may be less relevant these days). A hook is even better if you have your key to the world card in a lanyard. A couple on the outside of your door can help you recognize your room too. They all look alike!
- a card of the same size and shape as your key to the world card to keep in the light thingy
- a usb hub to plug in multiple devices
- I do sometimes bring a shoe organizer and a laundry bag but probably not necessary for a short cruise... those are helpful for 7 days +
- clothespins for wet items either in on the clothesline in the shower or to pin to the chairs on your verandah
- we usually do bring bottled water just so we don't have to go to the refill stations, but a refillable water bottle is fine too
- I usually bring a bigger cup with a cover and straw for the soda machines - otherwise it's a tiny paper cup

Have a great time!

 

[algae]

I highly recommend magnetic hooks and a fake card (or giftcard, etc) to leave in the light switch.

Yes, having a random credit-card-sized card to leave in the light switch is very handy. Just leave it in there the whole time and you can pull it out of the slot a bit as you leave the room to shut off all the lights. When you return, just push the card back down into the switch to turn everything back on without fumbling to find a card. Rooms keys from the pre-cruise hotel stays are good for this. Just don't forget to take it out when you disembark.

 

[Dru]

Magicbands do not work - you need that + (The Disneyband + is a Magicband+).

It's surprising how difficult Disney makes it to find necessary info. What is a Magic band+? I found plenty of references to it but no specific info about how to obtain it, how much does it cost, if anything, how and for what it is used. I found references to using it to connect. With family members? With ship activities? With staff? Obviously, I'm a first time Disney cruiser. Plenty of other cruises, but in the distant past.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

It's surprising how difficult Disney makes it to find necessary info. What is a Magic band+? I found plenty of references to it but no specific info about how to obtain it, how much does it cost, if anything, how and for what it is used. I found references to using it to connect. With family members? With ship activities? With staff? Obviously, I'm a first time Disney cruiser. Plenty of other cruises, but in the distant past.

These are MagicBand+

https://www.shopdisney.com/disney-p...BKeBlIK9btHbgtiqEBMaAgbnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

If the link isn't allowed, I apologize. I am just trying to show what they are. You can buy them online from the Disney Store. I don't have one, so I can't speak to much, but they are like the WDW MagicBands, but have some additional features. They are re-chargable, like a smart watch but without the helpful feature of actually telling the time LOL.

I have no idea what it actually helps with on the ship, just what they advertised it did in the parks.

 

[Geomom]

It's surprising how difficult Disney makes it to find necessary info. What is a Magic band+? I found plenty of references to it but no specific info about how to obtain it, how much does it cost, if anything, how and for what it is used. I found references to using it to connect. With family members? With ship activities? With staff? Obviously, I'm a first time Disney cruiser. Plenty of other cruises, but in the distant past.

We haven't been on a ship yet that had activated Magicband + (called Disneyband + on the ships) capabilities. You do NOT need one. You use your key to the world card to get on/off the ship and to make purchases on the ship. You use the Disney cruise line navigator APP to text family on the ship, see all the activities on the ship, menus, hours of operation, etc. I assume you can play the ship game (on the Wish) with the Magicband +, but you can also use your phone. We do love using regular Magicbands at Disney World though, since you can go in the pool with them. I don't see the necessity of them on the ship yet.