Walk me through embarkation day...need tips for first-time cruisers!

[jrabbit]

We’ve only sailed on the Magic (one 4 nighter and several 7 nighters)
*Fill out your paperwork as completely as possible – only those items you are 100% sure of before heading out to the port
*Have some breakfast – there will be lunch/food available on the ship from boarding time to 3:30
*Before leaving for the ship – Place DCL luggage tags on your “checked” luggage
*If you plan on swimming before 4pm – either wear your swimsuit under your clothes or bring them in your carryon luggage
*Make sure you have your camera and film with you in your carry on luggage
*Arrive at the port by 11am
*Check in
*Explore the terminal – it’s beautiful. The floor is a map of the Bahamas, there is a model of the ship in side, there is the real ship outside, there are comfy couches in front of TV’s that are showing Mickey cartoons, some characters come out for pictures and to visit with the guests
*Get in line to board and study your “Welcome Aboard” Personal Navigator. They used to have two different Navigators for embarkation day: the first you receive at check in time which is the highlights of the day and the second one is the complete one that is waiting for you in your room (or can be picked up at Guest Services) (don’t know if they have cut this down to one or not)
*Board the ship – don’t pet the dog – he’s working!
*Get your Embarkation Day picture taken
*Hear your name announced and see Mickey and Company applauding for you
*Head down to Rockin’ Bar D to make Palo Ressies
*Go up to the Club/Lab and check in any children under age 12
*See if you can drop your carry on luggage in your room: if you can, be sure to keep your camera with you
*Go to the spa and make wanted spa ressies
*Go to lunch at either Topsiders or Parrot Cay
*Is it time for a swim? Or do you want to explore the ship a little? Check out the Teen Club…it’s the only time parents are allowed in there
*Around 3:30 return to your room to get ready for the mandatory safety drill. While waiting, you can start unpacking your luggage (assuming it has arrived) so that you are starting to get organized for your vacation. Also during this time you can check out the complete Navigator so that you can plan the rest of your day onboard
*Go up to the safety drill (take pictures – everyone will hate you for this at the time, but years latter you can get a good laugh out of the pic’s)
*Return to your room, continue unpacking, go to the sail away party at 4:30 (be a few minutes early)
*Back to the room to continue unpacking and get cleaned up for dinner or the show
*From here on out you’re on your own

Have fun.

 

[IvyandLace]

Wow! This is all excellent information...exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much!

IVY

 

[marley]

I'd just like to throw in that I ate lunch first in Parrot Cay and then headed to Wavebands for Palo reservations. It was 12:45 (15 min. before reservations opened up) and I was number 2 in line. Don't feel like you have to rush there and enjoy

 

[izzinmac]

The confusion on Palo reservation times comes from the fact that they were (are?) different on the Wonder 3 & 4 day cruises vs the Magic 7 day cruises. On the Magic they start taking reservations as soon as boarding starts in the RockinBarD. It is immediately off to the left from the Atrium as you enter the ship. Have someone head there first.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Extremely informative and helpful. Thank you everyone.

Another question: When can you make the hair wrapping/braiding appointments and where?

Thanks.

 

[Jillpie]

As a first timer here, I'm kind of worried about splitting up my family to go and make Palo ressies. Do you think on our first cruise, we should just stay all together to not get lost?

 

[tkd lisa]

Originally posted by DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR
Extremely informative and helpful. Thank you everyone.

Another question: When can you make the hair wrapping/braiding appointments and where?

Thanks.

This reservation is one that changes all the time, so you usually won't see times posted here. Check your navigators for the appointment times. If I remember right, on our first cruise, they didn't actually take appointments until the 2nd day, so if you don't see it in your welcome aboard navigator, you can ask at Guest Services.

The hair wrap/braiding reservations are usually taken by the Goofy Pool, which is where they do the actual braiding.

 

[TLHB70]

I am a first time cruiser also. Thanks for all of this information. OK...let's see if I have this right.
I have scheduled the Radisson shuttle for 10 AM so we should get to the port and check in first thing that morning. (We will get breakfast at the hotel before we go.)
We will not be doing Palo or spa reservations. However, we will have to register our two dd (ages 6 and 9) with the kids clubs.
So should we go eat at Topsiders/Parrot Cay for lunch FIRST when we board the ship since kids registration opens later? Or should I stand in line to register them and THEN go eat? I get the impression from this board that the lunch will be pretty chaotic so I have thought that we should do that first and then register kids. Is that right? Also, will I have to register both girls at the same spot? Or, since they are two different ages in two different clubs will I have two different registration spots.
Also, these papers that everyone is talking about filling out early, beforehand, where are they? I just got my box with boarding passes and papers, etc. I just haven't opened it yet. Are the papers there? If not, where do I get them?

 

[StuartMI]

Look inside the box!

 

[coriedorie]

Originally posted by StuartMI
Look inside the box!

Not the time to think "outside the box"..... It is a storehouse of treasures!!!!

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by Jillpie
As a first timer here, I'm kind of worried about splitting up my family to go and make Palo ressies. Do you think on our first cruise, we should just stay all together to not get lost?

Although the ship is large, you won't have any trouble finding your party if you choose a place to meet - and factor a reasonable amount of time - you might want to have some options.

For instance, "I'll meet you at Topsiders, get a table outside" will put them in an area that you will be able to scan. "I'll meet you by the Mickey pool" will give you a reasonable area to seach. Or "I'll meet you in Parrot Cay" - the restaurant is large, but searchable. Or "You guys go have lunch at Parrott Cay. If I'm done within half an hour, I'll join you. Otherwise, I'll find you at the Goofy Pool."

Another plan is to make DH responsible for lunch and kids for 2 hours - boarding until 1:30 or so. You get Palo ressies, get them registered in the club, then meet them at a predetermined time in your stateroom once its open (of course, this nixes the whole family walking into the stateroom together for the first time).

It is a little like meeting at DisneyWorld. "At the MK" - you'll never find them. "At the Castle" is less than completely helpful. "Inside the castle by the mosaics" will get you to your party.

Get out your ship map before you go and choose a side of the pool to meet at. By the way, if your kids are older, deck 9 is more populated (and its harder to find people in crowds) than if you meet on deck 10.

 

[thegales]

Also, will I have to register both girls at the same spot? Or, since they are two different ages in two different clubs will I have two different registration spots.

You can register both at the same time in either location. In my opinion, it is not necessary to wait in a line to register the kids. There are many opportunities to do this through out the first day. When you first board, see if you can register them then. If not, go have lunch, then check back. If it is too crowded, go to the pools for a bit, and check back again. Check again once you are allowed to go into your state room. You should also check out both the club and the lab to see which has a shorter wait. There were also times when they were taking reservations in the hall on deck 5 (on the side opposite the club). In the club (3-7), they had tables inside with a CM at each table. I think we went after lunch, and there was no wait. Lots of people to help.

 

[TLHB70]

Look inside the box

OK I finally dug into the box and searched through its contents.
The box is from our travel agent. This is what is inside:
(1) DCL important documetation reminder about valid ID
(2) Passport to Disney Wonder -- small booklet of information. There are no papers to fill out in it. It is only information.
(3) Letter from our travel agent reminding us about ID and excursions.
(4) DCL gifts brochure -- no paper work to fill out unless you order gifts
(5) Government of The Bahamas. -- There is one paper for each of our family members to fill out. It is immigration papers for Bahamas.
(6) Travel booklets/boarding passes for each of the family members. In each booklet I see:
*itinerary of ports, times, etc.
*messages about weapons, ID, coolers,medical,etc.
*cruise information - room, dining arrangement, reservation
*gratuity guideline
*tags for luggage
*transfer information
*form for minors traveling WITHOUT parent or guardian
*payment authorization form
*embarkation form
*departure information form
*cruise contract signature form
*DCL terms and conditions

Is this all of the paperwork that you are all mentioning to fill out early? Am I missing anything? I do not see any form to fill out for the kids club. Is this all I need to fill out before I arrive? Is there a kids club form that I can get somewhere to fill out beforehand?

 

[Jillpie]

Crisi, thanks for that great response, I really appreciate it.

 

[TLHB70]

Thanks thegales! That makes me feel much better!

 

[confal1]

TLHB70- We will be seeing you on that 10AM shuttle. It will be myself, DH, DD-5 1/2 and DS 15 months. Can't Wait.

 

[snowiit]

[
(6) Travel booklets/boarding passes for each of the family members. In each booklet I see:
*itinerary of ports, times, etc.
*messages about weapons, ID, coolers,medical,etc.
*cruise information - room, dining arrangement, reservation
*gratuity guideline
*tags for luggage
*transfer information
*form for minors traveling WITHOUT parent or guardian
*payment authorization form
*embarkation form
*departure information form
*cruise contract signature form
*DCL terms and conditions

Is this all of the paperwork that you are all mentioning to fill out early? Am I missing anything? I do not see any form to fill out for the kids club. Is this all I need to fill out before I arrive? Is there a kids club form that I can get somewhere to fill out beforehand? [/B][/QUOTE]

There will be nothing to fill out for the kids club before getting on the ship. Yes, that cardboardlike booklet is the "paperwork" that you have to fill out. The ones above are in that book, ... payment info, contract, the one for either departure and/or embarkation and the child cruising without their gaurdians. etc.
Hope this helps! So fill those all out (disregarding the child one if you aren't taking any that aren't yours) and you're all set!
Nancy

 

[mickeyfanmom]

If you don't register the kids for the clubs the first day, are you still able to go and do it the next (or next or so on)?

Or do you have to do it the very first day?

 

[profdsny]

When are we supposed to get the forms? We are going on points for DVC for December. All we got was a confirmation. btw, thanks for all the info. I'm pasting it in one file to have. This has been great.

 

[KerryM]

HI, well the only one I can comment on really is the SPA ressies, in previous years I have just gone gone in the relevant room within the SPA (some treatments are booked in the dance studio others in the gym) and booked. This last year was frustrating as they changed the rules, they didn't open until 1.30 - so my family lost me for an hour before we could lunch at topsiders. Bless them they didn't starve, they just started on the icecreams on deck 9 whilst looking through the window at me

The queues started at 12.30 and we all knew who was where in line (we had all gossiped for the hour - that's how friendly people are on the cruises) but they insisted on taking groups through and try to make us do a tour to see the treatments, we all knew what we wanted, we had already waited an hour - and we were all determined that no group from further down the queue should start booking first because their tour started in reverse. All our families were still waiting for us for lunch.

So in the end we railroaded our lady to take us into start bookings, which then took another 25 minutes, and how I don't know (since we were the first group) but there were still days already booked up !!.

Anyway despite that one frustration, the treatments were worth the queuing and the cruise - as fantastic as ever.

Enjoy your trip