What is the BEST cruise tip you ever learned from the Dis?

[Aurora's Mommy]

Who's Ms. Shirley?

Like Mary, I have a notebook I have been jotting down things in as they come up on DIS. Here's some tips I've noted but I haven't seen on this thread:

Purchase glow necklaces for pirate night

Bring your binoculars

Lifestyle portraits! (Wouldn't have known about these if not for DIS. If you are planning to have one done, the only background choice is white, so plan clothing choices appropriately)

Ask cabin steward for mattress liners (in case of middle of the night accidents from over-tired, over-excited little cruisers)

If you are full at dinner, ask for your waiter to pack up dessert to go.

Do-Si-Do with Snow White is scheduled at 6:45 in the kid's club. If you have the early seating, and kids who want to go, ask the waiter to serve their dinner first, and you still have time to get them to the club, and (my favorite part) savor the rest of your dinner in peace!

I've written down 5 additional tips, just from this thread!

 

[PoohJen]

for me, hands down, it was the "shoe holder over the door" tip!!!! Kept us organized and kept everything off the desk, dresser, etc - no clutter!

~ didn't know where something was, check the shoe holder! (kept the stress down!)

 

[Jillpie]

Who's Ms. Shirley?

!

Shirley is a Diser who has a business making gift baskets in Port Canaveral and sends them on board to those who order them thru her. But she is so much more than that. She has a huge heart and doesn't hesitate to try and help anyone out that is going on a cruise or is anywhere near the port that needs help. She frequently gives out her cell phone and business number to us Disers if we run into any snags before or after cruising, what a comfort to know someone is near by if something happens! And I recently got to know her thru email because she so generously offered to the entire Dis board to pick up several pairs of specially made Kino sandals from Key West, just because she was "heading home" there. What a wonderful person Shirley is. I'm sure you'll get to know her too, just stay around long enough and you'll see.

 

[Hockeychic]

Great tips

Thanks

 

[khakismum]

If you are in an inside cabin or one without a window/verandah etc....order room service breakfast or a wake up call. It stays DARK in your cabin long after the sun is up. If you don't do this, you will sleep waaay to late! DH and I are NOT morning people and on our last 7Day Eastern there were a couple days we woke up after 11:00 a.m. not realizing it was day luckily they were sea days and we didn't miss any shore excursions.

Also, pack half the t-shirts you think you will need. We bought t-shirts at several places and promptly wore them when we got back to the ship. It made the other t-shirts we packed just extra stuff to carry home.

As anal retentive as it sounds I also made a spread sheet that outlined what we were wearing when. This was especially helpful for DH who is clothes challenged. All he had to do was look at the sheet to know what to wear when. It also helped us keep up with which shore excursion or special dinner we were having that day.

 

[BethC1952]

These tips are great, especially the one about not overplanning, but my favorite tip isn't here...

Cruise in the less expensive categories so that you can cruise more often! We don't NEED a verandah (although it was nice). We do like the split bath. Therefore, from now on, it's Cat. 10 (and more cruises) for us!

Beth

 

[jjbescher]

Thanks for ALL these tips. Is there a way to get in touch with Shirley?

 

[Cruella de mom]

As anal retentive as it sounds I also made a spread sheet that outlined what we were wearing when. This was especially helpful for DH who is clothes challenged. All he had to do was look at the sheet to know what to wear when. It also helped us keep up with which shore excursion or special dinner we were having that day.

That sounds exactly like something I would do (still might). It will also keep my daughters from wearing all their dressier outfits druing the day and having no clean clothes to wear to dinner. One DD would wear a sequined dress to the pool or the beach if I let her.

It is a good idea about the tshirts though - then I have a reason to buy them when Dh tries to squash my souvenier shopping! "But honey, I didn't pack enough shirts because I PLANNED on buying shirts at all the ports" ooo I love it

 

[khakismum]

I have a reason to buy them when Dh tries to squash my souvenier shopping! "But honey, I didn't pack enough shirts because I PLANNED on buying shirts at all the ports" ooo I love it

I love it!!! A woman after my own heart!!

 

[Marypoppinsiam]

Thanks so much for the great idea on the tshirts. I am the same way about the spreadsheet. It must be the type A personality I seem to have.

When I travel I also use the traveling space bags. I took them on my last trip to Ireland and I actually packed 3 times as much as I could have by the traditional packing method. It was great for all the rest of the goodies I brought back.

It is also easier to take a small bottle of Woolite or Tide for laundry. I wouldn't leave my house without the woolite because of all the chlorine and ocean water and I don't want my swimsuits to be gross. Nothing like getting sealice--YUCK!!

Just some other ideas.

 

[imlazar]

Here are my tips after returning from the 9-17/24 magic with my boys (5/2) and my wife's parents.

- we bought the water service, it was a good deal and we're glad we did it. it cost us $29 for 24 bottles of Evian spring water which were delivered to our room on the first night.

- read the passporter guide and the list of tips on this message board, I can't really add much to them. The passporter guide is easily worth the price.

- i'd highly recommend booking excursions on your own, most are very easy to get to on your own and are much cheaper than if you book them through DCL.

- don't try to do everything - our kids were exhausted by the third night, so we skipped a couple of the shows and got them to bed early. That helped a lot. Unfortunately we missed the pirate party.

- It was so hot outside that we didn't spend much time at the ports. In fact, one of the best times we had was when we came back early from Castaway Cay and pretty much had the Mickey pool to ourselves.

- I'd recommend bringing toys that the kids can use in the pool. During our last sea day someone dropped off a ton of beach toys at the Mickey pool that the kids all enjoyed.

- pack a lot less clothes than you think you'll need. I came home with about half the clothes I brought unused.

- packing dishwashing soap was helpful for washing the kids sippie cups.

 

[Tenorsinging]

subscribing so I can read them all later....

 

[wheelerkidz3]

same as above...subscribing so i can read them later!! So many great tips, too little time to read right now!!
Thanks,
shannon

 

[JoyCrazy]

How do you contact Shirley? I'd love to get the kids beach toys for castaway cay and something fun for us as well.

 

[disneybride96]

,
How about the blue anchors on the floor lead you forward and the red lead you aft. And red and aft both have 3 letters to help you remember!

Oh my gosh! Two cruises and I never realized that. I'll have to tell my mom, she kept getting lost on her recent Alaska cruise.

 

[missyoh8]

Suitcases don't slide uner the bed....BUT....if you lift up the bed they fit under perfectly!!!

I don't think this was posted!!

Very nice tip when in those small quarters.

 

[DebºoºS]

In a shoe organizer I pack the kids socks, underwear & whatever other small things (surprises) for the day sometimes labeling them Monday, Tuesday, Castaway Cay day. Then I pack a shirt & short or shirt & pants on wire hangers with a twist tie at the top for each day or night of the trip. At the bottom of the closet I put a plastic shopping bag for dirty clothes. That goes into the suitcase that was inside the suitcase. Customs does not want to inspect that one

I do the same sort of thing for myself with a hanging bag that's similar to a shoe bag for my lingerie and jewelry. I also pack my clothes on wire hangers with tissue in the shoulders. When the trips over I just roll up the bags & throw away the hangers.
Saves precious trip time & space in the draws. Unpacking is a breeze. Just hang it up.

 

[legs22]

Just curious....how many who had a deck 7 aft rooms encountered smokers when they went outside to enjoy the verandah??

It sounds like a great location but it is out of the way. If someone has kids it makes more sense to book a room near the kids clubs.......because you will be going there a lot. At least I did. That's why I am booked near the kids club this cruise. If I did move my room all the way to the back of deck 7 and found smokers on the verandah I would not be happy.

 

[Frank and Lola]

Just curious....how many who had a deck 7 aft rooms encountered smokers when they went outside to enjoy the verandah??

It sounds like a great location but it is out of the way. If someone has kids it makes more sense to book a room near the kids clubs.......because you will be going there a lot. At least I did. That's why I am booked near the kids club this cruise. If I did move my room all the way to the back of deck 7 and found smokers on the verandah I would not be happy.

I am pretty sure there are other lines with non smoking ships. Maybe you are not happy with DCL policy and you should look elsewhere.

Get out the beverages this could be interesting.

Frank

 

[SuzieDizney]

These are awesome tips!! Thank you to all

If you bring small walkie/talkies do they work .....with all the ships metal/steel just wondering!!

Thanks!