Recommendations for 1st time Disney Cruisers?

[CableKC]

I will be going with my "soon-to-be" wife on the 4 day Disney cruise for our honeymoon in late August 2002 with a 5 night excursion to Disneyworld prior to the cruise.

Does anyone have any recommendations for "honeymoon" couples on what we should do or get taken care of once we board?

I've read that it is a good idea to immediately book a dinner or two at Palo's once you board the ship. Anything else?

Does anyone have any recommendations on what excursions to go on at Nassau and Castaway Cay?

I wanted to make sure that the cruise goes as smoothly as possible. It seems that it is best to reserve or book everything as soon as we board the ship. The question is....what should be booked?

Any help and recommendations would be appreciated....

Thanks

 

[danicaw]

We honeymooned at WDW a little over 5 years ago. And you guys will have a great time.

My only suggestion is to relax and enjoy each other. Weddings can be a wee bit stressful and this is your time. Do what you like, make your own schedule.
Leave a little room in the plan for spur of the moment stuff.

We did our first cruise last Dec on the Magic and it was all wonderful. We are hooked and are sailing again in Sept on the Wonder.

Warning: WDW is addicting, DCL is addicting. We ended up joining DVC to help support our habit.

 

[CamColt]

Congratulations!!!!

Like you said, I would book dinner at Palo ASAP. Also for a little romantic fun, you might want to try the surial mud bath for 2. For anyone, honeymooners or not, I would suggest NOT missing Disney Dreams. Its really a magically Disney show. We cruised(pre DCL) for our honeymoon and visited Nassau. It was then we learned we have no desire to see Nassau again. However, if youve never been there, you might want to see for yourself.
Have a Wonderful time!

 

[atigeg]

The surial bath is an excellent, romantic couples experience. I have a PG-rated report on my website. The couples massages are also very nice. Enjoy!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[BeanoC]

Oh boy, honeymooners asking what to do once on board ship?

Well, I think you should ... oops, forgot - this is a family website!

Seriously, I would strongly echo what danicaw said: Relax and enjoy each other. Weddings are ALWAYS stressful. The cruise is YOUR time, and it's a special time you'll never forget. DW and I cruised on our honeymoon and it was fantastic. We didn't plan too many excursions - we just did whatever we wanted and enjoyed being husband and wife for the first time!
(We will have been married 13 years as of Monday).

Still, you can't go completely unprepared, so I'd suggest the following:

- Surial bath (Fairly inexpensive, romantic and unique)

- Brunch at Palo's

- Dinner at Palo's

- Parasailing at Castaway Cay, if you're up to it!

- How about an evening of room service? A bottle of champagne, some dinner and a romantic evening alone. Do you have a stateroom with a verandah? No better place in the world for honeymooners to sip champagne and watch the world go by!!


I don't think much of Nassau, but you can just stroll around together and take in the sights, trying to avoid the pushy peddlers!


Castaway Cay is truly a paradise. As I mentioned, parasailing is an awesome experience if you're up for it. Otherwise, you can walk the island, bike ride, snorkel, or just lay on the beach! But you SHOULD pick one - being 'all day' at CC is misleading. It goes by very quickly and without a good plan you may find yourself wondering where the day went...

Ok, I have rambled on long enough!!

Have a magical honeymoon!


'Beano'

 

[CableKC]

First off...thank you all for your responses.....

I think I will definitely go for the Surial bath....Is that the couple's mini-spa package that allows you to try a little of everything?

I will definitely go parasailing and snorkelling at least once.....but probably will not do the dolphin experience. It would seem that we can book the excursions beforehand and was wondering which ones are the better ones. Anybody have any good experiences with particular Excusion packages for Nassau, Freeport and CC to choose?

At least at Nassau, I heard that it is better ( and cheaper ) to take your own taxi to Atlantis rather then take a paid excursion.

Regarding booking at Palo's......are you able to book the reservations once you get onboard?

or

Is there specific times when they begin accepting reservations?

I wanted to be sure that we get at least 1 dinner reservation there ( hopefully 2 nights ).

 

[wovenwonder]

The surial is the mud bath for two --- but it is seated for 3 although i've never heard of three enjoying it (at least no one that has admitted to it here on the DIS).

Hiddenhearth has a comical review of the surial on my website (linked below). The review starts at around chapter 10 or so.

 

[BeanoC]

You can make your Palo's ressie shortly after boarding. I think they start taking them at 2:00 PM if I am not mistaken.

Everyone is herded into Parrot Cay for a buffet upon boarding. I had a quick bite to eat, and as my family finished their meals, I hurried on up to Palo's. I expected a mob scene after reading about the 'ressie scramble' here on the boards, but actually it was fairly quiet when I got there. There were only 3 people in line in front of me and I had no trouble getting the days and times I wanted. Then I went back to PC and pigged out!


ENJOY



'Beano'

 

[4407mark]

While at WDW, I would highly recommend dinner at Victoria and Alberts at the Grand Floridian. We were married at Sunset Point at the Poly in 2000 and had a absolutely wonderful dinner at V&As - also highly recommend the wine pairings with dinner. Be sure to call in advance for ressies - I believe you can make them up to six months in advance? Have a great time!

 

[tchrmom]

We just got off the 7 day cruise and heard many people complain that they were not able to get reservations to Palo's or the spa. Get to the terminal early so that you are one of the 1st on board. If you eat first, do it quickly you can always go back. You go to Palo's and your bride should go to the spa. My wife got spa reservations at 12:45. And yes.....do the suriel bath!!! Do not go by the navigator times most reservation desks start early. Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!