What are the first things you do when you board the ship??

[Sarahsal]

We got there early, and I had my dd's wear their swimsuits under their clothes. They had the Goofy pool to themselves for over an hour. My dh and I had a snack and a drink while we watched them-most relaxing time of our cruise!

 

[virginiamama]

First - Take a deep breath if this is all new to you - you've studied up on the boards and know more of what is going on than most first time cruisers.
Then...

1. Check what time Palo and Spa ressies start. If you have 30-45 minutes until they start taking reservations, go get something to eat. We all ate and still had about 15 minutes to get in line. I ate and was still first in line for spa ressies.
2. Send DH for Palo ressies (get there 10-15 minutes before they are scheduled to start taking reservations - don't worry if you are the only person in line - that just means you are first!) Palo started taking ressies sooner than scheduled and DH, FIL, and BIL were first in line and were done before the spa even opened.
3. I go for Spa ressies - I knew what I wanted to sign up for so I skipped the tour. Be aware that on our cruise you sign up for some treatments with a nice lady at a table at the end of the tour but I think for cabana massages and a few other things you must sign up at the spa's front desk. You can still skip the tour if you know what you want - just ask where you can sign up for what. They really like for you to take the tour though so they seemed a little irritated with those of us who just wanted to make our ressies.
4. Flounders (for those of you with little ones - go there as soon as you can and sign up for 3 times that you'd like baby to be watched - we got all 3 we requested and there was only 1 other guest there when we went to sign up.)
5. By this time your room might be ready - if so, unpack and stow away your suitcases.
6. Get to the drill on time!!!
7. Sail away party - a DO NOT MISS!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

We're cruising Feb 5 on the magic. We were planning on boarding early and swimming as has been suggested.
Will it be too cold? Anyone swam on board, while still in dock, around this time?
Thanks for the info!

 

[OurDogCisco]

Swim in the Mickey pool before the rugrats take over... Eat... Drink.... Soak up the atomsphere... Take pictures before it gets too crowded..

 

[KarenB]

hhmmmm....DH and I were on the 7 night western along with our teen DSs in July. When we got on the ship, DSs explored, DH made Palo ressies, I made spa ressies, kids found the pizza place, DH and I had a Baybreeze, and then we all met at out room around 1:30 or so!!!!

It was a great vacation!

 

[JimB.]

Eat Lunch

 

[married2grumpy]

We won't be using the spa or going to Palo's so no rush there but do you have to sign the kids up for the kids clubs as soon as you board? Is there a benefit to signing them up early? Do certain things for the kids book up? Thanks for your help!

 

[cmesq61]

Anyone know where/when you sign up for the wine plan--where you have a bottle at your table each evening?

 

[tvguy]

Hezzie....
#1 Lifeboat drill is at 4 pm and lasts 30 minutes, or less, if everyone gets there promptly at 4.

# 2 Disney cruisers seem to prefer early seating, likely because they are more likely to have younger children. So it is harder to get on Disney. On other lines late seating seems to be the preferred time to eat. There is no question that Disney is an "early to bed, early to rise" cruise as compared to other lines. Late seating tends to be more relaxed, you have time to get ready on port days. HOWEVER, Disney does something other lines don't....if you have late seating dinner, your evening show is BEFORE dinner, which kind of defeats the reason a lot of us prefer late seating. Now for some shows, they do put on a third show, after late seating dinner. So late diners can skip their scheduled 6:30 pm show, and go at 10:30 instead, or go to the 6:30 show and see the show a second time at 10:30.. Early seating shows are at 8:30 pm. This also gives early seating folks an option to skip their show, and go at 10:30, or to see the show twice. On a sea day for one show they did an afternoon showing instead of the 10:30, at 2 pm.

3) Can't answer. Had no interest in Spa, Palo, and our kids weren't interested in the clubs.

4) Should be able to wander around without an excursion no problem...mind you I haven't been to Nassau in 17 years, so don't know if things have changed or how Disney handles things.

 

[Robert and Kelley]

We eat lunch then go make spa appointments. Then its off to the stateroom to unpack.

 

[Robert and Kelley]

We did the wine package a couple cruises ago..They will have people asking you if you want it at bars and again when you eat dinner. You can sign up at dinner or even lunch after you board. You pick the bottle you want each evening when you get to the dining room.

 

[Sarahsal]

As to the question of signing up at the lab/club-the only advantage to signing up early that I am aware of is to avoid the crowd that will likely form later in the day-DCL limits the number of children on board so that all may participate.

 

[jfis1020]

1) Spa ressies
2) Palo ressie
3) register kids in clubs
4) GET A DRINK!
5) relax and enjoy