We Are Returning to DCL

[IrishCowboy]

We have sailed on DCL over 20 times. Our last DCL cruise was 7 years ago. Since leaving DCL, we have sailed many times on NCL and Celebrity.

DW wants to return to DCL and we are looking at back-to-back sailings on Disney Magic September 22 and 25 to get 3 stops at Castaway Cay.

I know a lot has changed on DCL over the past 7 years. I'm reading thru this board to pick up as much info as I can. i would appreciate any things that have changed you think I may need to be aware.

Unfortunately, we are a little late to the party and will probably not be able to snag a cabana on the adult beach. Has anyone had any luck getting a cabana on the adult beach within 90 days of sailing? I was hoping with 2 stops on our Sept 25 ailing that it just might be possible.

Thanks!

 

[lanejudy]

Nice to see you back! Enjoy your cruise!

 

[o&smom]

If you have enjoyed Palo brunch in the past, it is no longer a buffet. They have changed the menu and how the Palo dinner Platinum and Pearl benefit works. You can choose from a set menu that is covered, or you order a la cart, your benefit is applied, and you are charged for the rest. Cabanas is currently not open for dinner. All photos are now displayed on kiosks. Many price increases for alcohol tastings. They tend to be much more strict with PAT since Covid.

 

[DCLMP]

You won’t be in boarding group 1. Only beer and wine can be brought onboard. I’m not sure when that changed maybe it’s been more than 7 years.

 

[shananigans]

Curious what’s bringing you back?

 

[Cheburashka]

We have sailed on DCL over 20 times. Our last DCL cruise was 7 years ago. Since leaving DCL, we have sailed many times on NCL and Celebrity.

DW wants to return to DCL and we are looking at back-to-back sailings on Disney Magic September 22 and 25 to get 3 stops at Castaway Cay.

I know a lot has changed on DCL over the past 7 years. I'm reading thru this board to pick up as much info as I can. i would appreciate any things that have changed you think I may need to be aware.

Unfortunately, we are a little late to the party and will probably not be able to snag a cabana on the adult beach. Has anyone had any luck getting a cabana on the adult beach within 90 days of sailing? I was hoping with 2 stops on our Sept 25 ailing that it just might be possible.

Thanks!

Given that it's Disney, it shouldn't be a surprise that there have been some additions and subtractions in recent years.

I'll do the negative first. Here are some subtractions that I can recall:

• No onboard airline check-in sending your luggage to the airport (I believe it can still check you in, but you have to take your own luggage to the airport)
• No officer's pin trading (some guests put up pin boards on their stateroom doors, but naturally these only yield the cheap type of pins)
• No individual toiletries
• No paper navigators or paper reminders for adult reservations or for time changes or paper copy of your folio given to you automatically at the end of the cruise (now there's an app for everything)
• No buffet at the Pirate Night party
• No buffet at Palo brunch
• Palo dinner has the same food, but for the $45 standard charge (or comp, if you're Platinum), you have to order off of a prix fixe menu, or else order a la carte and pay for anything that costs over $45 (and a la carte has an 18% auto-gratuity)
• Platinum members no longer get to skip getting a PAT.
• No dinner at Cabanas.
• No onboard booking of specific cruises, not even a brochure to look at. You can only book a placeholder via the app.
• No free MBs of Internet available if you claim it the first day.
• You cannot bring hard liquor to drink onboard. Just beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks

There have been additions, as well:

• There's a DCL Navigator app for scheduling, reserving a placeholder, checking your folio, etc.
• There are Internet packages available, with varying reports on how well the Internet works.
• The Magic and Wonder both have Disney on Demand programming now, just like the Dream and Fantasy.
• On Castaway Cay, a couple of the old massage cabanas were converted into additional Serenity Bay cabanas.
• On the Magic, several deck 8 verandah staterooms have been converted to concierge staterooms.
• Olaf now makes occasional appearances in certain circumstances.
• The Magic now has Rapunzel's Royal Table instead of Cariocas. It has a show with Rapunzel, Flynn & the gang, and the characters also come to your table.
• On the Magic there is a Soul Cat Lounge where the old promenade lounge used to be.
• The Magic now has an "Encanto Celebration" onboard.
• Now there is a Pearl Castaway Club tier of people who have cruised 25 times, and they're now the first ones to get to book new cruises, check in online, and book activities.
• DCL transfers from Disney resorts now pick guests up first thing in the morning, which gives them an early port arrival time.

 

[IrishCowboy]

Thank you everyone for the information.

 

[professorandmom]

Well, Irish Cowboy, we were your tablemates way back in 2006! My children are grown (as yours must be too) and now I take my grandchildren on cruises! Welcome back!

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Given that it's Disney, it shouldn't be a surprise that there have been some additions and subtractions in recent years.

I'll do the negative first. Here are some subtractions that I can recall:

• No onboard airline check-in sending your luggage to the airport (I believe it can still check you in, but you have to take your own luggage to the airport)
• No officer's pin trading (some guests put up pin boards on their stateroom doors, but naturally these only yield the cheap type of pins)
• No individual toiletries
• No paper navigators or paper reminders for adult reservations or for time changes or paper copy of your folio given to you automatically at the end of the cruise (now there's an app for everything)
• No buffet at the Pirate Night party
• No buffet at Palo brunch
• Palo dinner has the same food, but for the $45 standard charge (or comp, if you're Platinum), you have to order off of a prix fixe menu, or else order a la carte and pay for anything that costs over $45 (and a la carte has an 18% auto-gratuity)
• Platinum members no longer get to skip getting a PAT.
• No dinner at Cabanas.
• No onboard booking of specific cruises, not even a brochure to look at. You can only book a placeholder via the app.
• No free MBs of Internet available if you claim it the first day.
• You cannot bring hard liquor to drink onboard. Just beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks

There have been additions, as well:

• There's a DCL Navigator app for scheduling, reserving a placeholder, checking your folio, etc.
• There are Internet packages available, with varying reports on how well the Internet works.
• The Magic and Wonder both have Disney on Demand programming now, just like the Dream and Fantasy.
• On Castaway Cay, a couple of the old massage cabanas were converted into additional Serenity Bay cabanas.
• On the Magic, several deck 8 verandah staterooms have been converted to concierge staterooms.
• Olaf now makes occasional appearances in certain circumstances.
• The Magic now has Rapunzel's Royal Table instead of Cariocas. It has a show with Rapunzel, Flynn & the gang, and the characters also come to your table.
• On the Magic there is a Soul Cat Lounge where the old promenade lounge used to be.
• The Magic now has an "Encanto Celebration" onboard.
• Now there is a Pearl Castaway Club tier of people who have cruised 25 times, and they're now the first ones to get to book new cruises, check in online, and book activities.
• DCL transfers from Disney resorts now pick guests up first thing in the morning, which gives them an early port arrival time.

No pirate night buffet? Ugh

 

[IrishCowboy]

Well, Irish Cowboy, we were your tablemates way back in 2006! My children are grown (as yours must be too) and now I take my grandchildren on cruises! Welcome back!

Hi Professorandmom! I remember that cruise!

How have you been?

Yes, children are grown and doing great (lawyer and doctor) but no grand children yet.... still waiting