Newsies Cruises (or, How We Braved Hurricane Erin on the Magic) - Our First DCL Adventure! - Aug '25 *NEW 09/06*

[Newsies]

I'm loving all the details and photos in your trip report. I've never been on a cruise, but I'm considering taking one sometime in the next year or so.

Okay, thank you so much for saying this because I have been TYPING and TYPING these past few days worried that I was digressing and you guys were going to be like, "can she just get to the point?" -- I'm glad the details are useful to you and I really appreciate the comment!

With all the security, my mind is kind of blown that room keys are just hanging up right next to the room. That is quite the honor system! If the halls are all roped off until the rooms are ready, it seems strange to me that they don't give you your KTTW cards when you are doing check in at the embarkation port.

It also blows my mind that luggage is just left in the hallways too, especially with how strict they are about luggage always being within your control at the airport.

YES, this blew my mind too when I first read/heard about these processes!

KTTW Cards -- It seems very hard to get away with fraud on these, as the charging is so easy to track and it's so easy to turn them off and distribute new cards if your card gets lost or, on the rare occasion, stolen. I remember being reeeeeeally little on a NCL sailing and losing my card and it was easy for me to go to guest services to get a new one. The envelopes by your stateroom are sealed in a way that you will definitely know if they've been tampered with.

Luggage -- again, it seems like every cruise line does this. I don't know the statistics on theft but I would imagine this would be a very hard heist to pull off, as you have to go past security to disembark and they'd see the luggage that matches the reported description.

Overall, while theft happens pretty frequently with fish extenders & stateroom door magnets, I think a lot less people are a lot less likely to commit a chargeable offense like stealing luggage or trying to commit fraud. Cruises sound like a very expensive way to get arrested or spend 7 days in a brig We felt very safe on the boat and at Castaway Cay!

 

[rdkeim]

Your stateroom looks very nice! The split bathroom is such a great idea - I'm sure it made getting ready for the day so much faster. I think 2 staterooms was the way to go. Love that you got all the souvenirs on your wish list. The bag is so unique. Very smart to get them day 1 as soon as the stores opened. Your research paid off! Hope dinner is better than lunch - I have a feeling it was.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

You have your priorities right - pool and shopping!

 

[mikeuno]

Thanks for sharing

 

[piglet1979]

I won’t even lie, Muster was absolutely brutal this afternoon. We were outside on the deck and it was SO hot and humid with no breeze, and it felt like we were there forever. I’m very jealous of anyone who got to do their Muster Drill inside!

I have been on 4 cruises and for 3 of them we have been in the theatre. It is better as we get to sit in air condition but it is still a madhouse. This last cruise (on NCL) they don't even do this. They make you watch a video before getting on. I liked this but it really wasn't that helpful.

 

[Newsies]

Your stateroom looks very nice! The split bathroom is such a great idea - I'm sure it made getting ready for the day so much faster. I think 2 staterooms was the way to go

It really was a beautiful stateroom! I was little when we were on Carnival and Norwegian, but I remember them being not the nicest staterooms on earth. These were palatial compared to NCL... although that could be, as you mentioned, due to the fact that we split two-and-two

Love that you got all the souvenirs on your wish list. The bag is so unique. Very smart to get them day 1 as soon as the stores opened.

LOOOOVE the bag! Definitely worth queuing before the store opened!

Your research paid off! Hope dinner is better than lunch - I have a feeling it was.

Yes! No spoilers, but not to fear -- dinner was great

You have your priorities right - pool and shopping!

Oh, absolutely! My favorite place to be and my favorite thing to do!

Thanks for sharing

You are most welcome, thank you for being here!

I have been on 4 cruises and for 3 of them we have been in the theatre. It is better as we get to sit in air condition but it is still a madhouse. This last cruise (on NCL) they don't even do this. They make you watch a video before getting on. I liked this but it really wasn't that helpful.

Disney seems to be the last remaining Cruise Line where Muster Drill is completed in-person, at each station, all at the same time. On one hand, Safety is "the first key" and I respect that about Disney. On the other hand... "Courtesy" and "Efficiency" are two other keys. There is really nothing courteous or efficient in disrupting every guest's afternoon, having everyone do this all at the same time, and then immediately everyone stampeding up to pool deck for the Sail-A-Wave party. The timing of that was absurd to me.

There has to be some way to do this that balances the convenience of self-mustering with the safety and thoroughness of in-person mustering. "Here are four different times Muster Drill will be offered at your station today. You can show up at any of these times before your first dining seating to complete the Muster Drill process." OR, alternatively, some type of alternative process where the assembly spiel is done in the theater on a rolling basis, card gets scanned there once, then you visit your assigned Muster Station quickly, card is scanned there a second time verifying the process is complete. Anyone who doesn't do this before 3 PM has to go to the 3:30 assembly.

Feels like there are a lot of different ways this could be made better for everyone. I don't understand!