What are the reservations that can only be done on board?

[hypnotoad]

My kids are big into characters so I want to book all of it. This is also my first cruise, I'm not concierge so my booking window hasn't opened for my November cruise. I'm trying to make sure I sign up for everything pre-criuse, but it seems like some of it can only be booked on board. What are these things? I want to make sure I ask for it as soon as I board.

 

[MSPeeler]

Thanks for asking this. I'd like to know as well. I was able to get meet and greet tickets for some characters (princess, frozen, disney junior), but not sure if there is something I am not able to book and need to go do when I board other than Gingerbread House making.

 

[NZMUM]

The Princess Gathering and Frozen are the only characters you sign up for in advance (unless you are on a Star War or Marvel cruise). Frozen is the only one where the characters are not available outside of the ticketed meet & greet. The princesses are available at other times on their own.
There is also a Disney Junior character breakfast on certain sailings.
Other characters are available at various times throughout the cruise. Check your Navigator or the DCL app to find out times for the characters.

 

[dcassetta]

My kids are big into characters so I want to book all of it. This is also my first cruise, I'm not concierge so my booking window hasn't opened for my November cruise. I'm trying to make sure I sign up for everything pre-criuse, but it seems like some of it can only be booked on board. What are these things? I want to make sure I ask for it as soon as I board.

Not character specific, but if your November cruise is a Very Merrytime cruise, you can only book gingerbread house making on board, at least that has been true in past years.

 

[fredandkell]

Not as applicable to Caribbean cruises, but there are several port adventures for the day of debarkation that can only be booked on board, eg for Barcelona.

 

[Sytrace]

My kids are big into characters so I want to book all of it. This is also my first cruise, I'm not concierge so my booking window hasn't opened for my November cruise. I'm trying to make sure I sign up for everything pre-criuse, but it seems like some of it can only be booked on board. What are these things? I want to make sure I ask for it as soon as I board.

Princess Gathering and Frozen Gathering are special meet and greets requiring a ticket to attend. You can pre book these up until 3 days before sailing at 11:59 PM. If you do not get these and want them, go to GS on deck 3 at boarding and see if you can get them there.
If you are on a 7 night or longer cruise, you can pre book Disney Jr. Character breakfast ahead of time as well.
Merrytime cruises (start in November) you can book a gingerbread house decorating session once on board. You cannot pre book this and it is a lot of fun.

 

[hcox31]

I don't know if there is anything you can only book on board and not pre-book. The castaway 5k maybe?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't know if there is anything you can only book on board and not pre-book. The castaway 5k maybe?

And you just barely have to book that. If you show up day-of, they just sign you up.

There are some activities that are sign up on site, like talent contests and BB-8 races on SWDAS cruises and the like. But that's not even "get on board and sign up," it's more "same day at certain times."