So - We need to bring our own cups?

[SZ2016]

Before our first cruise (prior to me knowing about disboards) I was like "we should takes cups if there's a drink station" so we all got the plastic cups with lids and straws the Disney Store sells for like $8 but we found them at our Disney Outlet for $2. This was on one of the very first cruises ever out of Galveston in 2012 so lots of newbies on board and everyone questioned where we got the cups lol! We used them non-stop that cruise.

This past cruise we didn't use them as much but still enough to warrant us bringing them the next time we cruise again. I also brought a water bottle (I can't drink water out of the same glass I've had another drink in.) Each person is in charge of their cup and must put it int heir carry-on to bring it on/off board so no real luggage space taken up.

 

[cris0809]

We bring Tervis (16oz) and they go in my carry on tote. I like that they keep our drinks from tasting watered down after 5 minutes. A quick run to the drink station before an activity prevents me from spending extra impulse money at the bar.

We've cruised enough that there we have the packing down to a science. One suitcase for both of us (women, and yes that includes shoes and we dress up for dinner) for anything up to 7 nights without doing laundry, 14 with casual clothes going in the laundry.

We carry on one tote bag that has cups, earplugs, medication, lanyards and documents/passports. One messenger bag that has the DSLR/lenses. That's it. We feel the tumblers are worth the space they take up.

 

[Prose]

I know this is slightly off subject, but wanted to ask anyway. If you are supposed to fill your own mug with a disposable cup for hygiene purposes on the cruise ship, why is is OK to not do the same thing when visiting Disney Resorts and using a refillable mug. Just a thought.

You are on a DCL ship with 2000-4000 of your closest new friends. If someone brings on a bad stomach bug, it can spread through the ship like wildfire and you can end up quarantined in your stateroom for the duration. DCL is extremely careful about hygiene because they have to be. They do not want the bad PR that comes with an outbreak, or to have to delay or cancel the next sailing because they have to decontaminate the ship.

In the parks, you are not standing next to the drink machines getting sodas off and on all afternoon, like you are when you are in the on-ship pools. Those drinks stations are busy constantly. The human contact is much greater on a ship.

 

[aprilchem]

We brought one large Tervis with us last time, and will be bringing 3 (for 5 people) on our Dream cruise in 2 weeks. We all drink a lot of water, and it's a big ship with lots and lots of people and one drink station. I don't want to have to walk for 10 minutes every time I need ice water because I don't stay on the pool deck all the time, so it's more convenient for us to have our own.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

<------- Needs a large cup for his coffee.


If you're a coffee addict like me, the little coffee cups that are available from the self serve stations just do not suffice. Another pro tip, in your room (possibly in desk drawer), there will be an "order" card so you can pre-order the night before some cold breakfast items and a pot of the horrendous coffee they serve on the ship. You can have coffee delivered to your stateroom at 6:30 AM to get a jumpstart on your day.

Not just the self serve station - the room service cup that comes with the pot of coffee is one of the tiny ceramic ones (they they use in the dining room). I'd be surprised if you put more than 5 ounces in one of those (without spilling on a moving ship). It doesn't cut it for my morning cup of coffee or my mother's cup of tea. We also bring various non caffinated, diet sodas for the room (very limited on DCL - basically you have sprite zero) and some cans of diet pepsi so we use them for those as well (especially my dad who likes ice in his drink).

I also second the idea of the drink carrier (like you get a dunkin or macdonalds). Makes it very convenient for 1 person to grab drinks from the drink station for the whole gang - great for if you're planning on doing trivia or crafts in La Piazza and don't want to pay $2 plus gratuity for a can of soda.

 

[cindy_k]

I have a collection of Disney refillable mugs with handles we bring one for each person.

These mugs are insulated and bigger than the drink station cups.

They allow one person to go make the drink run and bring back multiple drinks and still have a hand free to collect some snacks.

Don't put your cup under the dispenser, use the cups provided, and just re-pour into your mug.

We use this mainly for coffee. I am a big coffee drinker.

 

[natmom]

I have a collection of Disney refillable mugs with handles we bring one for each person.

These mugs are insulated and bigger than the drink station cups.

They allow one person to go make the drink run and bring back multiple drinks and still have a hand free to collect some snacks.

Don't put your cup under the dispenser, use the cups provided, and just re-pour into your mug.

We use this mainly for coffee. I am a big coffee drinker.

We brought the same cups I couldn't count the number of people that approached us asking where we bought them.

 

[mrslaney]

We don't take our own cups (don't drink enough from the beverage station to warrant doing so), but I have purchased Tervis Tumblers on two of our cruises. OP, if you're debating whether to take your own cups, you could wait until you're onboard and purchase one or two of them. Even if you don't find the need to use them while you're onboard, they make great souvenirs! I bought one of the larger ones (24 oz) with a straw on our first cruise, and DH and I use it all the time for cold drinks. I can't take a photo of that one because DH has it in his car. On our second cruise, I bought one of the smaller (16 oz) ones with the "sippy" top. I use that one for coffee on the go. I love them both and each time I use one I remember our cruises! Here are a few photos of the 16 oz Tumbler: They're good for both hot and cold beverages and are dishwasher safe. They are not leak proof, but they are somewhat leak resistant.

I have this exact cup. I take it to work with me everyday (an elementary school) and wish that I was back on Castaway Cay. The kids absolutely love it. It will keep my coffee hot for several hours if I forget and leave it sitting.

 

[mrslaney]

(Shhh, but the large Disney Cruise Line tervis with lid and straw cost only $25 onboard....)

Agreed. I only paid $14.95 for my Castaway Cay tervis and it had a lid. However, I have seen them at Academy Sports for $22.95 without the lid.

 

[wcw57]

i vote NO for bringing cup....it's just 1 more thing to lug around, worry about losing, have to rinse out, etc etc...

I did this (with my OH-fish-yul wdw) refillable huge mug...after the first day of hanging around the pool and carrying it to various food spots, from community pool to kids pool, to dance party...I rinsed it out and left it in my room.

Don't see the need for it. I carry stuff all over WDW when I go but on the ship I want to be unencumbered (and my salads to be uncucumbered)...

opinions are like....well, you know. Decide for yourself and report back

 

[4HppyCamprs]

We brought large cups and ended up using just one and it was for a night cap for DH. The rest of the families stayed packed. We found since we had to go to the beverage station and use their cups to fill our cups it was just as easy to just use their cups and more convenient. We also ordered a lot of beverages from roaming waiters so that may have been part of it. Another part is during meals all our beverages are provided in the restaurant and even at cabanas it was just easier to use their glasses.

Just our experience on our first cruise

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ptcbass]

Hmmmm - well I certainly am happy to know that plenty of cruisers do just fine without bringing their own cups! I can see the advantages on both sides. I will have to really ponder whether I want to bring our own or not.

For the coffee-loving poster who mentioned that the provided coffee cups are too small: How big are they? Are we talking little teeny tiny styrofoam ones? Or the slightly bigger 12 oz ones? We definitely need our coffee in the morning - and from what I hear there is only one place on the ship to get "good" coffee without paying for it. Would love to make only one trip there in the mornings. I can do without a soda cup during the day, but may need the extra space for coffee!!

Where is this place on the ship with "good" coffee without paying for it?

Sorry I just found another post with a answer that there isn't any "good" free coffee.

 

[jrabbit]

Many people seem to think that they need the "perfect" dinning rotation, the best seats in the house, their own booze, deck chairs reserved for them all day ...

A cruise should be more relaxing than that. DCL provides cups at the drink station - ONE TIME USE - and they want you to use a clean cup every trip. It cuts down upon the potential transmittal of germs that way.

Numerous studies have shown that fountains where the liquid is dispensed straight down carry the highest rates of germs etc. Typical drinking fountains are cleaner, even the "bubbler" types.

 

[ptcbass]

We brought one large Tervis with us last time, and will be bringing 3 (for 5 people) on our Dream cruise in 2 weeks. We all drink a lot of water, and it's a big ship with lots and lots of people and one drink station. I don't want to have to walk for 10 minutes every time I need ice water because I don't stay on the pool deck all the time, so it's more convenient for us to have our own.

I didn't think DCL offered water, only sodas, teas and coffee. If they do that is great! Is it at the regular drink stations or somewhere else?

 

[Dug720]

Many people seem to think that they need the "perfect" dinning rotation, the best seats in the house, their own booze, deck chairs reserved for them all day ... A cruise should be more relaxing than that. DCL provides cups at the drink station - ONE TIME USE - and they want you to use a clean cup every trip. It cuts down upon the potential transmittal of germs that way. Numerous studies have shown that fountains where the liquid is dispensed straight down carry the highest rates of germs etc. Typical drinking fountains are cleaner, even the "bubbler" types.

I for one used one of the provided cups to fill my large cup - fill and dump without touching the personal cup and no crew ever looked askance at me. One or two even thanked me for filling with their cup.

Because I wasn't hanging out on the pool deck all day, I wanted to have soda or tea without having to run back to Deck 11 every 30 minutes or so. Nothing special about *my* cup other than it holding more liquid. If they had bigger paper cups available, I would gladly use those.

 

[Cjjoncas]

I do bring water bottles with us to fill before heading out on a shore excursion. They have also come in handy when having a room on deck 2 and the drink stations are on deck 12. It never fails that we would get to our room and one of the kids would say they were thirsty and one of us would have to trudge back up to deck 12 to get drinks.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

1) The paper cups provided are small. You may prefer a larger cup.
2) Some guests believe it is more environmentally conscious to use a refillable cup.
3) The kind of item you can seal is easier to take off the ship for excursions, etc.
4) The possibility of getting an insulated item to keep your beverage cold or hot longer.