OK; You've boarded, booked Palo . . .

[rejobako]

We're on the Wonder cruise beginning this Sunday (me, my wife, and DD5)-- we plan to board as soon as possible and start getting our money's worth. We haven't cruised DCL before, but from what I understand it's a good idea for us to split up with me making Palo reservations and my wife registering our daughter with the Kid's club. At that point, we're going to want to check our cabin if it's ready, and then maybe find a spot on the ship to relax for a bit while we recon the Navigator to decide how to spend the rest of the day.

Anyone have any suggestions on where the primo spot would be to maybe grab a cocktail and relax for a half-hour or so to get our bearings? (I realize this sounds like overplanning -- guilty as charged -- but to be honest, I suspect we're going to be a bit gassed from driving 2+ hours to Port Canaveral and the hoopla of boarding; it'd be nice to have a spot in mind to recharge for a bit while still enjoying the ship's public spaces.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[WDWLVR]

If you get to the port early enough you can register for the kids club right at the port. Then once you board handle any Palo and Spa reservations you want and head to lunch. Lunch will either be inside in Parrot Cay or up on deck 9 at Beach Blanket Buffet. Lunch is a great time to go over the Navigator and see what you want to do. After lunch your room should be ready and you can drop off your stuff. Some like to explore the ship then while others like to hit the pools while they aren't crowded (pack swimsuits in you day bag).

As for grabbing a drink you could head to the Promonade Lounge down on deck 3 inside or one of the bars up on deck 9. Either way you can watch what is going on around the ship.

Enjoy!

 

[rotary2808]

One thing you should do after you book Palo & kid's clubs is meet up at either Parrot Cay or Beach Blanket & try the welcome aboard buffet. Depending on how early you get on board, your room may not be available yet. So this would be great to get a bite to eat & relax for a little bit. Both restaurants serve the same buffet. Just be sure you know for sure which one your meeting at. We (me, DH, mom & dad) got seperated. Me & DH went to make Palo ressies & were going to meet parents at Topsider's (Magic), they ended up at Parrot Cay & we didn't meet up until we got to the room. Have a great trip, wish I was going already.

 

[mommasita]

Hi there...YOu sound like you have a great game plan..Also, keep in mind, you can register your child in the terminal, prior to boarding.. Seeing as you are like us, and you plan on arriving as soon as possible, this would be great for you....Then all you have to do is PAlo ressies....

We love to go to the famly pool (goofy) as this is where the sailaway party is...Any pool is actually nice and empty at this time..THis is the best time to enjoy them...We usually either go to the Mickey or the Goofy Pool, letting the kids swim, and sit down, with a nice drink...

HTH

Enjoy your cruise...

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I like to grab a drink and a book and just camp out for a little while once the initial rush of boarding is over. If it's a nice day, I'll sit up on deck 10, above the pools. It's really quiet at this time. If it's really, really hot, or raining, I'll camp out on one of the chairs on the deck 4 promenade. On the starboard side, you can see the port terminal and all the activity there, on the port side, you can see the rest of the port and (well off in the distance), the Kennedy Space Center. Another good spot is the back deck on deck 7, which is usually pretty empty at this time.

 

[rejobako]

Wow; thanks for some great suggestions -- especially about packing some bathing suits to take advantage of the pools while they're relatively uncrowded. Now all I have to do is get through this last week of work. . . .

 

[yogibigdog]

On the Wonder last week. They let you go to the staterooms after 1:30 until then the halls are roped off. I boarded early an my luggage was already outside my room by 2:00 it was great!

 

[leewrobe]

We were on the wonderApril 21-24 3 day cruise. We signed up my DS 9 year old at the port. My 14 YEAR OLD DID NOT HAVE TO BE SIGNED IN EARLY. He did that at the teens club 1st meet.We then went up to the Buffet. I headed down to the 3rd floor lounge at 12:45 to waitfor the 1:00 opening.To my surpriser it was already open and walked right inand booked Palos for Friday night 7:00 PM .Great restaurant ,they spoiled us with extra food our waiter wanted us to try.Great evening..

 

[spectrum-turbo]

We are going on the Wonder in October and in my over planning have already mapped out the boarding day. What I did not know until reading this thread was about registering the kids at the port for there 'stuff'. How early can you do that and for that matter what time can you acctually enter the port building to start checking in?

I CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR TRIP!!!

 

[mommasita]

We are going on the Wonder in October and in my over planning have already mapped out the boarding day. What I did not know until reading this thread was about registering the kids at the port for there 'stuff'. How early can you do that and for that matter what time can you acctually enter the port building to start checking in?

I CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR TRIP!!!

Hi, not sure exactly what time you do it, as it was not yet implemented last September...I ALWAYS get to the port by 10:15, check-in, and get in the boarding line. If, and I hope it is, still in effect when we return, one of us can hop out with the kids and go to register them...We usually board between 11:30-12:30, and enjoy the empty ship..It makes a great way to start....

HTH

 

[AspiringCindy]

Once you board at say 11:45, can you go up to the pool and swim...or do you have to stay in certain areas until the cabins are ready?

 

[mommasita]

Once you board at say 11:45, can you go up to the pool and swim...or do you have to stay in certain areas until the cabins are ready?

Oh no, you can actually go anywhere except the rooms....They are working hard in a small timeframe, but everything else is AOK...Best time to swim, take a picture then, chances are you will never see it this empty again..

 

[we6clarks]

I have a question about booking Palo's also. We want to eat there. I understand from all I've read we need to make reservations ASAP upon boarding. We need to get babysitting for twin DD at Flounder's. How have people in the past coordinated babysitting with Palo's ressies?
Michele

 

[nrk]

Another great way to relax is just grabbing a couple of lounge chairs and just relaxing up on deck 10 with an Ice Cold Beer...Very little traffic up there especially at the rear of the ship near to PALO

 

[Mianc]

What time do they start taking ressies for Palo's? If I remember correctly the spa didn't start until 1:00.

 

[StuartMI]

Palos is 1230 if I remember right. Spa was 1pm. I was camped out in front of the spa and my wife had us booked in at Palos for dinner and brunch and actually met me up at the spa before the line opened up so we went in together.

After that we went over to the beach blanket buffet and had some food and when we were done our stateroom was open!

 

[UGAFan0829]

We are going on the Wonder in October and in my over planning have already mapped out the boarding day. What I did not know until reading this thread was about registering the kids at the port for there 'stuff'. How early can you do that and for that matter what time can you acctually enter the port building to start checking in?

I CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR TRIP!!!

We're on the Wonder in October, too. What dates are you there??

 

[poohssmum]

For our cruise last November, we got to the port around Noon. Had maybe a 3 minute wait to check-in ... then maybe a 15 - 20 minute wait to board the ship. We couldn't register the kids in the club at the port then, but they did give us the paperwork to fill out early. We met up with our friends (they boarded earlier due to a shuttle snaffoo) at the shore excursions desk. DH headed to make our Palo ressies while I took the kids to the Mickey Pool. We grabbed some lounge chairs and a couple of adult beverages and just enjoyed being on the ship. I don't remember what time I actually got around to picking up my beeper at the clubs ... but it was some time before the lifeboat drill. I personally didn't go to either of the buffets, but did grab some chicken fingers from Pluto's ... yum!