What is the first thing ???

[Debbie Torres]

We board our second cruise on Wednesday . This will be our first on the Magic. What is the first thing we should do ???? I am planning to go to Guest Service to get tickets to Gingerbread House Making. This is my parents first ever cruise and I want it to be as stress free and enjoyable as possible . Mom doesn't do well with crowds. Should we then go to Cabanas for lunch . Or should we do the open house for kids clubs and explore and then go to lunch around 2:00. Our PAT is 11:30.

Thanks for your insight

 

[Otimon]

I would have the group go to Cabanas and get settled while you make the reservations for the Gingerbread fun and meet them there afterwards.
The Open Houses will still be going on after you finish lunch so you can do that afterwards and explore some of the ship, too, before the mandatory
boat drill at 4:00PM. Have fun!

 

[dclpluto]

Eat

 

[Skittlesmom]

Get something to eat, go to the kids clubs, tour the ship, get a drink, and relax.

 

[disny_luvr]

I think you've gotten some great advice already, but I just wanted to stress the importance of getting the gingerbread house tickets immediately upon boarding. We've been on two Christmas cruises and were able to secure tickets both times but only because we got them as soon as we boarded. We meet many that weren't able to get tickets because they waited. I'd also head up to Cabanas for a nice meal before the masses arrive.

 

[Marc D]

If you want to avoid crowds, go to the dining room (Carioca's) for your embarkation lunch instead of Cabanas. They serve you your drinks and it's a buffet. It's much less crowded than Cabana's. And send someone at the same time to guest services for tickets to all the activities you want to book. Not everyone needs to be at the counter.

 

[YohoAPiratesLife4Me]

If you want to avoid crowds, go to the dining room (Carioca's) for your embarkation lunch instead of Cabanas. They serve you your drinks and it's a buffet. It's much less crowded than Cabana's. And send someone at the same time to guest services for tickets to all the activities you want to book. Not everyone needs to be at the counter.

Exactly what he said! On our first cruise with family, we didn't know about going to the sit down lunch! It totally would have saved our group of 25 from freaking out! It was super crowded at cabanas and our first time cruisers were imagining this was how the whole cruise would be. Lesson learned.

 

[xlxo]

On the Wonder.... the Parrot Cay was super quiet for that lunch when I boarded.

Not sure what they replaced it with after the reimagination.

 

[mmouse37]

The Magic has Carioca's (replaced Parrot Cay) and as others have said that is where I would go for lunch with your parents. You can head to GS upon boarding and the rest of the group can just walk down the hall and go to Carioca's. It is much less stressful as they seat you at a table (don't have to look for your own) and they serve your drinks to you. Pretty much the same food as upstairs. After lunch you can go to the open house. Carioca's is a much calmer environment.

On the Wonder Parrot Cay was replaced with Tiana's Place.

MJ

 

[Ralph&Pam]

If you want to avoid crowds, go to the dining room (Carioca's) for your embarkation lunch instead of Cabanas. They serve you your drinks and it's a buffet. It's much less crowded than Cabana's. And send someone at the same time to guest services for tickets to all the activities you want to book. Not everyone needs to be at the counter.

We always do lunch in the dining room as well. It seems much more relaxed than Cabanas.

 

[tlprice]

On the Wonder Parrot Cay was replaced with Tiana's Place.

I recently read (I think on Twitter from someone that is currently on the Wonder) that there was no lunch at Tiana's Place.

 

[mmouse37]

Thank you...that was a question of mine as well that I posted at another site (Oh My Disney). They are currently on the Wonder and posted pics of the live band in Tiana's and it looked like the stage may have taken up the space where the buffet used to be. Was waiting for confirmation if embarkation lunch would be served there.

I wonder if they will server embakation lunch at another one of the MDR's

MJ

 

[Pens Fan]

Thank you...that was a question of mine as well that I posted at another site (Oh My Disney). They are currently on the Wonder and posted pics of the live band in Tiana's and it looked like the stage may have taken up the space where the buffet used to be. Was waiting for confirmation if embarkation lunch would be served there.

I wonder if they will server embakation lunch at another one of the MDR's

MJ

There is a picture on Cruise Critic in the Wonder dry dock thread that shows an embarkation lunch menu from Tritons. It appears they did not have a MDR lunch buffet. Hopefully someone on board can confirm.