Necessities for first Cruise

[Disney Mickey&Minnie Fan]

As a pirate fan, working your plan for Pirate costumes for the ship. If you have little princesses, consider any outfits they might like.

I agree about paring down the packing list. This is a cruise casual vacation; shorts, sundresses, fun and easy.

Coke Co drinks are free and available 24/7 on the Pool Deck. I took an insulated cup with lid and straw ($1 at Wal-Mart) to fill and keep the ice from melting quickly. The water from that dispenser tastes better than my city water. Sodas are also free with meals.

Wine - there is usually a Happy Hour in several bars, which can include wine by the glass.

Great points!

Disney Cruise suggestions:
1) Get your family's pirate night costumes prepared for the cruise
2) Pack less clothing than you think you will need - it is very easy to overpack for a cruise - pack a special outfit to dress up for dinner at least one night of the cruise
3) Yes, free drinks, ice, and water available at the dispensers on the pool deck -- and free soft serve ice cream!
4) Be sure to order Mickey Ice Cream Bar from room service during your Disney Cruise vacation
5) Be sure to pay for a Disney future cruise credit while you are on the cruise ship -- $250 per stateroom. This allows you to book a future Disney Cruise within 24 months at a 10% discount.

KrzyKtty 101 -- Have a great time sailing on the Disney Wish in April!

 

[enzy65]

We always get a veranda stateroom, so we always bring binoculars. Amazing what you will see.
We don’t bring reusable cups, but we bring a cup holder( from a fast food place) to carry drinks from the self serve machines. The cups they have are small.
Plastic storage bags if you want to get cookies, etc. from the buffet to have on hand for a sweet tooth.
I do bring a hanging shelf organizer with velcro, metal hooks not allowed. I find it easier in the closet area as I always run out of shelf space.
I always forget to do this and next time I will. When you put empty suitcases under the bed, flip the lids open. Way easier to throw dirty clothes into.

 

[Disney Mickey&Minnie Fan]

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.

Just finished a Disney cruise ... a Magic Band+ was not needed.

You will be offered the opportunity to purchase a Magic Band+ prior to you cruise at a discount. You can look for the Magic Band+ information through your linked reservation on the Disney Cruise Line website. I think the bands were priced at $39 then offered a $10 discount.

We did not purchase Magic Band+ for our Disney cruise. We just used our Disney Cruise issued "Key to the World" card.

Each person on the Disney cruise will receive a "Key to the World" card with their name and cruise information. This is used to open your stateroom door, pay for purchases, check children into kids clubs, leave and re-enter the ship, ...

For listings of daily ship activates and menus, you need to load the Disney Cruise Line app onto your cell phone.
There is a messaging system within this app that you can use to communicate with you family member and friends on the Disney cruise ship.

 

[Lumpy1106]

One night will be pirate night. You'll want to bring an outfit for that or be prepared to get really creative with what you have.

 

[RedHead0186]

Some thoughts - not DCL specific, but helpful on our cruises (2-3 per year)

• Surge protectors are not usually allowed. Power strips without built in surge protectors are allowed and can be helpful. Not sure about the Wish, but cabins often have only 3-4 available outlets.
• I laughed at magnetic hooks, but my wife always brings them and they can be helpful. Cruise card lanyards, masks, jewelry (inexpensive or free charm bracelets and necklaces, and kids club keepsakes) are easy to keep track of and hard to forget when leaving the room.
• We’ve never used a door shoe organizer, but definitely one of the similar ones (for cosmetics?) for the bathroom door - for miscellaneous stuff.
• You can get drinks on the ship but bottled water is an expensive purchase on the ship. We know lots of people who bring them on. We just buy a drinks package.
• Bringing your own wine can be a good idea. DCL limits you to two standard bottles (or quantities of other beverages like beer). Again, we always do a drinks package, so we don’t do that, but if you’re very specific about your wine, and want to avoid a high charge, BYOB can help.
• Don’t forget to get a prescription for scopolamine patches if you need them. If not, bring some Dramamine in case you hit bad weather.

According to the DCL website, power strips are not allowed: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/prohibited-items/

 

[Akck]

I know it was mentioned once, but for emphasis, I’ll bring it up again. Do bring an air freshener disc for the bathroom. We got the Castaway Cay one from the Magic Candle Company. It will cut down on the smells emanating from there. I also bring a bottle of poo-pourri that I spray in the toilet after every flush.

If you end up cruising on the older ships, do invest in a motion sensor light for the bathroom. We got this from Amazon recommended on another thread:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MHVTHQS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Husker Mike]

First thing is, like Disney World, you DON'T have to do everything or even anything. (Other than the muster drill.) Pirate night is completely optional, as are things like Fish Extenders or Ducks or whatever. If you want to do it, great! If you don't, ignore the people that insist you have to participate. (Or give them a Donald-razzing.)

Magnetic towel rods are really handy to hang up your wet swimwear after Castaway and pools/water slides. Phone chargers and multi-USB hubs are a really good idea, because you need your phone around to access the DCL app. Longer USB cables are handy if you want to charge both phones by the bed. A reusable water bottle is a great idea. Tummy medicene is not available on board, so bring that with you.

If there are activities you want to do and they are booked up when you first get the chance, check back every day or two. First timers can get Palo Brunch reservations eventually. The only thing that you won't get is a cabana at Castaway unless you are extremely lucky, and I'd rather not waste my luck on a cabana instead of the Powerball.

 

[MaleficentDisney]

The one thing that sticks out in my memory is BRING EXTRA SUNSCREEN. We thought we had enough, but ran out for us and the kids. We ended up mortgaging the house, the dogs and four cars to buy three more cans of sunscreen on the ship (I kid, but the prices were pretty above normal).

I will be bringing A LOT on my cruise!

 

[Karin1984]

Yes, don't get carried away. Because you are probably going to be overwhelmed with all that is offered, likely some of the "handy things" will stay in your suitcase, because you just forget about it.

Think about when you go to a hotel/resort etc. When not on a cruise. Are there things you need in the room around the resort when travelling not on a cruise? Most of your essential tips & tricks stay the same.

 

[Dru]

Just finished a Disney cruise ... a Magic Band+ was not needed.

You will be offered the opportunity to purchase a Magic Band+ prior to you cruise at a discount. You can look for the Magic Band+ information through your linked reservation on the Disney Cruise Line website. I think the bands were priced at $39 then offered a $10 discount.

We did not purchase Magic Band+ for our Disney cruise. We just used our Disney Cruise issued "Key to the World" card.

Each person on the Disney cruise will receive a "Key to the World" card with their name and cruise information. This is used to open your stateroom door, pay for purchases, check children into kids clubs, leave and re-enter the ship, ...

For listings of daily ship activates and menus, you need to load the Disney Cruise Line app onto your cell phone.
There is a messaging system within this app that you can use to communicate with you family member and friends on the Disney cruise ship.

How do you communicate with your kids or grandkids, or they communicate with you, when they are in the kids clubs?

 

[Disney Mickey&Minnie Fan]

How do you communicate with your kids or grandkids, or they communicate with you, when they are in the kids clubs?

We have not traveled on a Disney Cruise with young children.
Not sure on the details of communicating with young children in the children's areas.

 

[Skippyboo]

The Magicband+ from the parks and shopDisney will work on DCL where they have it activated. If you aren’t super picky about the design, you can probably get a holiday themed one on clearance for cheap. I got a Halloween one super cheap last year.

Does give you that extra security of just having it on your wrist, incase you walk out of the room without your lanyard which I have done at Universal.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

Get how much ocean safe sunscreen you think you need and then double it. Both cruises I went on I got horrible sunburns, and that was with applying sunscreen. And bring aloe for sunburns just in case, the aloe on board came in a tiny bottle and was very expensive.

Other than normal items I would bring a bag for dirty laundry, just to keep it contained without needing to pull out a suitcase.

 

[Mommb]

How do you communicate with your kids or grandkids, or they communicate with you, when they are in the kids clubs?

The kids' club staff will sent you a message on the app if they or the kids need to reach you.

If your kids are carrying cell phones, you can sent text messages on the DCL app.

When my kids were too young to check themselves out, we just asked when we dropped them off how long they wanted to stay and then came at that time to either pick them up or set a new time if they were still having fun. Once we trusted the kids to navigate the ship on their own, they had instructions to return to the room and leave us a message inside the room if they were going anywhere else.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

Another victim of underestimating the sun at Castaway Cay… allocate your usual amount of sunscreen, then if not double at least bring one more tube/can of sunscreen. Maybe even consider a long sleeved rash guard. And avoid exfoliating (even shaving…) prior to visiting.

Pack your suitcase for what you think you’ll need, then remove half of it. Exception is swimwear, take at least two.

Always get an onboard booking.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Get how much ocean safe sunscreen you think you need and then double it. Both cruises I went on I got horrible sunburns, and that was with applying sunscreen. And bring aloe for sunburns just in case, the aloe on board came in a tiny bottle and was very expensive.

Other than normal items I would bring a bag for dirty laundry, just to keep it contained without needing to pull out a suitcase.

For my husband, I will need an entire suitcase full. His poor Irish genes hate the sun. I swear, even 50 spf doesn't work for him.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

For my husband, I will need an entire suitcase full. His poor Irish genes hate the sun. I swear, even 50 spf doesn't work for him.

I would definitely see if he would do a rash guard. I can still remember how bad the burn from my first cruise hurt and it was in 2003 (I was 11) . If you have little girls and are planning to snorkel, make sure to REALLY get those upper legs. That's what happened to me.

When we cruised in 2019 I burned pretty badly too, our state room host started reminding me to wear sunscreen when she would see us.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

For my husband, I will need an entire suitcase full. His poor Irish genes hate the sun. I swear, even 50 spf doesn't work for him.

Oh, I get 100+ spf. Lol. Like I get the absolute highest and apply it very very often. And I stay in the shade as often as I am not in the water. And I wear a long sleeved rash guard that is at least 50 spf. It’s something about Castaway Cay! So deceptive!

ETA: I blistered after and it made the EPCOT 40th Anniversary very uncomfortable!! I had to walk around holding my clothes off my body because any brushing or touching of it just about killed me! If it wasn’t for my intense love of Guardians of the Galaxy, I’m not sure I would have been able to tough it out! Lolol!

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

I would definitely see if he would do a rash guard. I can still remember how bad the burn from my first cruise hurt and it was in 2003 (I was 11) . If you have little girls and are planning to snorkel, make sure to REALLY get those upper legs. That's what happened to me.

When we cruised in 2019 I burned pretty badly too, our state room host started reminding me to wear sunscreen when she would see us.

The state room hosts are so adorable!!! They always remind me when they see my red hair and freckled face!

 

[KrzyKtty101]

While he is swimming I doubt he would wear the rashguard, But maybe. I will definitely ask.

Otherwise, he tends to run around with a hat everywhere when he is not swimming to protect his bald head. Honestly my husband and I tend to re apply fairly often. It's my kids that are the problem. They inherited my Olive skin tone.
that is fairly burn resistant and take it for granted. My stinker of a teenager was in bandcamp all summer and didn't use the sun block I sent with him once. He came back bloody dark . All my conversations with him about skin cancer went straight through one ear and out the other.

Any particular reef safe sunblock you found you loved? I tend to use mineral based on my face because otherwise I get a burning sensation near my eyes.