Newbie questions, dining, spa, Flounders etc

[Dana_Buckley]

This is my first cruise, I am taking my 20 month old and 5 yr old along with mom (DH didn't want to cruise ). Cruise date is March 6 on 4day Wonder and I have several questions...

1. We are taking disney transfer from the AKL, but it doesn't pick us up until 12:30, so we won't be on board until 2 or even 3pm, will I still be able to make Flounders ressies? What about Palo brunch? Or spa treatment? I really want to try the alpha capsule What order should I go in, take the kids to Flounders and Ocean Club to get registered and get ressie, then go to Palo, then the spa? Argh, I'm worried there won't be any Flounders spot left.

2. Are the restaurants open for lunch? Is there usually a wait? What are the lunch menus like?

3. We were going to do the snorkel excursion in Nassau, but Flounders isn't open during the same time. Any other snorkel recommendations? We didn't want to do the excursion at CC because we want to take the kids to the beach that day.

4. How does Flounders work with first seating for dinner? I mean, if I can get DS in at 6pm when they open, do I just have to run to the dining room after dropping him off? I was hoping to have one dinner without the kids but noticed Flounders isn't open until 6pm.

5. I read a sample navigator and noticed the character greet times were only for 20 minutes. Is it a complete madhouse? Do people arrive early and wait in line? Then do they cut the line off and some people don't get to meet the characters at all?

6. How much luck have you had moving your sleeping children from Flounder to your room? It might be nice to a late evening w/o the kids, just wondering how it has worked for others picking up their little ones at 10 or 11pm and going back to the cabin?

7. Is there a pirate night on 4day? When is it? Is that how they resolve the 3 restaurants/4 day issue or do you double up at one of the restaurants?

8. How much is the bingo, I guess you have to pay for it, right?

Thank you so much for your time and responses, I really appreciate it!

 

[flexsmom]

I will try to answer some!

1. We are taking disney transfer from the AKL, but it doesn't pick us up until 12:30, so we won't be on board until 2 or even 3pm, will I still be able to make Flounders ressies? What about Palo brunch? Or spa treatment? I really want to try the alpha capsule What order should I go in, take the kids to Flounders and Ocean Club to get registered and get ressie, then go to Palo, then the spa? Argh, I'm worried there won't be any Flounders spot left.

I would send one person to the Palo line and one directly to Flounders, maybe with 2-way radios to coordinate what times are available. Then I would head to the spa - there are FAR more spa times available than Palo reservations. Then go to Oceaneers Club - you can never "not" get registered for that, so it last on the list.

2. Are the restaurants open for lunch? Is there usually a wait? What are the lunch menus like?

Topsiders/BBB is always open for lunch, as well as the pool-side "fast food" places. Lumiere's or Parrot Cay is usually open as well for a "sit-down" meal although we've only done lunch at PC once. It was very good, but we found that with pool time in the morning, it was too tough to get changed over to go to a "nice" lunch. No wait.

3. We were going to do the snorkel excursion in Nassau, but Flounders isn't open during the same time. Any other snorkel recommendations? We didn't want to do the excursion at CC because we want to take the kids to the beach that day.

Can't comment on this, but don't assume Flounders won't be open until you see the schedule - they were open for a good deal of the Port time we had. That said, you'll get a lot of comments on the wisdom of leaving kids on-board while going ashore - no comment from me, though!

4. How does Flounders work with first seating for dinner? I mean, if I can get DS in at 6pm when they open, do I just have to run to the dining room after dropping him off? I was hoping to have one dinner without the kids but noticed Flounders isn't open until 6pm.

We had first seating and simply sent the rest of the family to the restaurant and one person with DS to Flounders. Once we checked in, I'd head to the restaurant of the day - it really isn't a big deal to be a few minutes late and DH usually had ordered my drink for me. No worries here.

5. I read a sample navigator and noticed the character greet times were only for 20 minutes. Is it a complete madhouse? Do people arrive early and wait in line? Then do they cut the line off and some people don't get to meet the characters at all?

They do cut the line off when it's time, but we found that there were so many characters meets that we didn't really have a "frency", except for formal night pictures in front of the Christmas tree with a character! That said, arrive a few minutes early and you'll get a good place in line. The "madhouses" vary from character to character! If it was too nuts, we just abandoned it - DD didn't mind since she knew she'd see them again. The character breakfast also helped - no line there.

6. How much luck have you had moving your sleeping children from Flounder to your room? It might be nice to a late evening w/o the kids, just wondering how it has worked for others picking up their little ones at 10 or 11pm and going back to the cabin?

DS was crashed in the crib at Flounders the three nights he was there late - he'd wake up a bit but crashed just as fast when we got tot he stateroom. We tried to take him to Flounders at 6pm in his PJs to make it easier when we got back to our room. He didn't seem to mind at all.

7. Is there a pirate night on 4day? When is it? Is that how they resolve the 3 restaurants/4 day issue or do you double up at one of the restaurants?

Ahh - I was wondering if you were on 3, 4, or 7! Can't help you here!

8. How much is the bingo, I guess you have to pay for it, right?

$25 (I think) for a pack of three cards per game, with 5 or 6 games, the last being the coverall for the jackpot. $35 for a pack of six cards per game. The last bingo game is PACKED - our jackpot was >$5000 and the last game means that someone is going to win regardless of how many numbers it takes!

Have fun! I'm jealous - we have 21 more months to wait!

 

[princesspumpkin]

7. Is there a pirate night on 4day? When is it? Is that how they resolve the 3 restaurants/4 day issue or do you double up at one of the restaurants?

There is a Pirate night on the 4 day. It's on the 2nd night. Now, for the 4 day, you do the same restaurant for the first two days. Our Pirate night was in Tritans. They gave out bandanas and wore pirate type stuff.

 

[Dana_Buckley]

Thank you both so much for all of the information.
Two way radios, I still need to get those!

 

[DrCavin]

Not to make you more worried, but just so you know in advance... Arriving at 2:00 or 3:00 on a 4 day cruise you will have very limited choices for Palo's. Recent posts have indicated that Palo has been booked when they boarded at 1:00..

Now even if you get to the reservation desk & they are booked, you can be put on a waiting list and if someone cancels you can take it.

You could also book the REAS package now & that will allow you to book Palo before leaving on your trip.

 

[cntkg1]

What is a REAS package? I've been reading that for the past few days but have no idea what that is. Please explain.

Thank you

 

[daisy112878]

The REAS package includes a couples massage or spa tester, romantic turndown, Palo dinner ressies (also the price includes the palo subcharge), welcome gift basket, and breakfast in your room. If you look at the top of the main page of DCL treads there's one that's always on top. It says something like Look Here. There's a whole thread in there about this package as well as pics. We are doing it for our sept cruise. It was $339.

 

[surfer_ed]

Hi Dana, I would love it if you update me on Flounders after the trip. We are thinking about a DC next year with our then 12 month old. Having never crusied before, I am a little unsure of reservations/procedures etc.

You will love AKL. We spent a ling weekend there last year and thought it was spectacular.

PM when you get back on Flunders and I would be greatful.

Have fun!