New Cruiser With Questions!

[msteddom]

Hi all! I just booked my first Disney Cruise, July 22, 2006 on the Magic, one of the Castaway Cay double dips. I have a few newbie questions, so please bare with me if I'm asking something simple:

1. Right now I am planning on cruising solo (hello sticker shock ). Will I feel very akward being by myself? I love doing day trips on my own, but I am a bit nervous about the whole dining alone thing.

2. I know that you rotate dining rooms on the ship, and that each room has it's own menu unique at least one night each. On the remaining 4 night does the whole ship have the same menu regardless of where they are in the rotation?

3. Any opinions on which pool is the best for lounging? I know there is a family pool and an adults only pool, but does one have distinct advantages over the other?

4. What kinds of late night activites are offered after the main show for the evening wraps up?

5. I know I would like to have dinner at Palo one night, but the brunch and the tea look great too. Would doing all three of them in a week be complete over kill? Any opinions on which is better the tea or the brunch?

6. Is there a quiet spot somewhere on board where I can plop down on a lounge chair and fall asleep while watching the ocean?


Any replies would be extremely helpful. Thanks!


Melissa

 

[PizzieDuster]

QUOTE=msteddom]Hi all! I just booked my first Disney Cruise, July 22, 2006 on the Magic, one of the Castaway Cay double dips. I have a few newbie questions, so please bare with me if I'm asking something simple:

1. Right now I am planning on cruising solo (hello sticker shock ). Will I feel very akward being by myself? I love doing day trips on my own, but I am a bit nervous about the whole dining alone thing. redThat's cool! I've gone to Mexico by myself and it was one of my favorite vacations I ever took!

2. I know that you rotate dining rooms on the ship, and that each room has it's own menu unique at least one night each. On the remaining 4 night does the whole ship have the same menu regardless of where they are in the rotation?

3. Any opinions on which pool is the best for lounging? I know there is a family pool and an adults only pool, but does one have distinct advantages over the other? red I liked to be by the adult pool, on sea days they play games and it's fun. For relaxing, listening to my CD player, reading a book that I've saved for the cruise, I like Deck 10, above the adult pool, Quiet Cove.

4. What kinds of late night activites are offered after the main show for the evening wraps up? red\ My DH and I had a fantastic time at the 70's, 80's night in Rockin D Bar. We would get there early enough to get a good seat. The cruise staff dances, everyone dances, and who knows who's with who, just get out there and dance!

5. I know I would like to have dinner at Palo one night, but the brunch and the tea look great too. Would doing all three of them in a week be complete over kill? Any opinions on which is better the tea or the brunch?red I would say --- do all of them. This was the BEST food we had on the ship. The brunch was AWESOME! There is a bar area there, but if the staffed asked me to have a fellow cruiser join us I would embrace it! Wholeheartedly! New conversations!

6. Is there a quiet spot somewhere on board where I can plop down on a lounge chair and fall asleep while watching the ocean?

red Deck 4, the blue lounge chairs, everyone talks about how wonderful they are. But then again, everyone walks by you and looks at you. Grab a lounger on Deck 10 and place it by one of those wind barrier clear walls looking out onto the ocean and you won't be able to see who's walking behind you! THAT'S the best spot to enjoy where you are! I can't relax if I know people are walking by looking at me closing my eyes
Any replies would be extremely helpful. Thanks!


Melissa[/QUOTE]

 

[CM_Mom]

Where to lounge with a good book depends on whether you want to be in the sun or shade also. Deck 10 is in the sun and Deck 4 is in the shade. Who cares if they look at you? The Teak loungers with the big blue cushions on deck 4 are fantastic.

You didn't say what category cabin you have, but if you have a stateroom with a verandah, that's the other choice for relaxing with a good book.

Jump on the cruise meet thread for your sailing and meet some folks from the boards who are sailing with you. Then you won't really be sailing alone. You can connect up with friends to sit with at Palo and also link ressies for dining if you wish.

Go and have a great time. Some things are worth the sticker shock.

 

[Momeska]

OK...I'm going to let the cat out of the bag. DS17 found the absolute BEST quiet spot on the entire ship. Deck 7 far aft has a door marked (I think) Deck 7 Lookout. There are a couple of tables and chairs and maybe a dozen chaises out there. Nobody was ever out there and he could study. Check it out. But...don't tell anybody!!!
Linda

 

[lbgraves]

The first thing that came to mind when I read your question about the difference between the goofy & quiet cove pools was KIDS!!! If you don't have to keep up with one, why wouldn't you want to relax at the adult pool? I love to go there even once on our cruise since we have young kids who stay at the Mickey pool. They also have times noted in the navigator for singles to meet & eat with the CMs so you get to meet other singles traveling. The best advice was CM mom's to get involved in the thread for your cruise on the meets board. You can probably meet people there to link your dining to so that you will already have friends onboard.

 

[Suzanne]

I am also going on my first cruise Dec 03/05 I'm going with my DS11 who is very much a "joiner" He can't wait to get to the lab & do all the activities. I was worried about the same things you are since I know I will spend most of the cruise solo. We have late seating so doubt if my DS will even be joining me for dinner.

The advice to go to the cruise meets thread for your trip is great advice. I did that, and the people seem so nice & have been very supportive.

Here's your cruise meet http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=653900

I also downloaded some navigators to see what kind of activities, the ship has, that I might be interested in. I realized there were a lot of classes & events I wanted to sign up for. In fact I'm thinking in some ways it's good I'm going alone because I'm going to have a chance to take everything I want.

Now I have no worries about going without another adult. I can't wait to go & everytime I think about going I dance like the banana.

 

[disneymusical135]

Hi.

I am now 20 years old and I have gone on 7 DCL cruises. I went on one with my whole family and the other 6 with just my parents. The one's that I went on with my parents I felt it very similar to cruising alone. Although I ate dinner with them, and did a few things with them, we all basically had our own agenda while on the cruise. My dad likes the shade, my mom likes the sun, and I can never stay in one place long enough to have an opinion. My advice to you would be to just be as sociable as possible and get to know everyone who will talk to you. I have had sooo many amazing conversations with the most random people while onboard. I have also made friends that I have now been in touch with for a few years. I always go to the Crew member lunches with singles and have a blast. You get to meet the crew which is totally cool. Be careful though because once they know you, the crew will make you participate in just about every activity you go to "to just watch". It's a lot of fun though.

Don't be scared about going alone because the crew and other passengers become like an extended family by the end of the cruise and if you are anything like me you will be crying as you leave the ship!

 

[jrabbit]

OK...I'm going to let the cat out of the bag. DS17 found the absolute BEST quiet spot on the entire ship. Deck 7 far aft has a door marked (I think) Deck 7 Lookout. There are a couple of tables and chairs and maybe a dozen chaises out there. Nobody was ever out there and he could study. Check it out. But...don't tell anybody!!!
Linda

Trust me, the "secret verandah" isn't so secret anymore. But you're right, it's not real busy either. It would probably be used more if the "walls" were plexiglass instead of metal (but it wouldn't look right) so you could see the ocean without having to stand up. I think that I'll bring some wood blocks along next cruise to take with me so I could "raise up" my chair!!

 

[Momeska]

Jrabbit...you're too funny! How about one way glass???

 

[msteddom]

The first thing that came to mind when I read your question about the difference between the goofy & quiet cove pools was KIDS!!! If you don't have to keep up with one, why wouldn't you want to relax at the adult pool?

I don't know. that's why I asked Perhaps one has a better location next to a snack bar, or has more sun/shade than the other, or maybe things are a little too quiet at the adult pool, I'm just trying to not miss out on something.
Thanks for all of the replies!

Melissa

 

[disney1972]

Where did you download the "navigator" from?? I have been looking for them everywhere..

 

[CM_Mom]

You can download Navigators from a couple of places, one easy, one not so easy. Go to www.dcltribute.com/navigators and choose your cruise length to see sample Navigators. While there click on Incognito's site and go there to see more recent Navigators - and more of them.

Reading the Navigators ahead of time is one of the most fun parts of planning the cruise...aside from shopping!

 

[lbgraves]

I don't know. that's why I asked Perhaps one has a better location next to a snack bar, or has more sun/shade than the other, or maybe things are a little too quiet at the adult pool, I'm just trying to not miss out on something.
Thanks for all of the replies!

Melissa

Sorry if my reply didn't come across well. I was smiling when I typed it envious of everything that you will be able to enjoy on the ship. There is a bar at the adult's pool but I don't know about food. Pluto's & Scoops is up by the Mickey Pool...but that is a quick trip there & back to Quiet Cove.