What was your worst DCL rookie mistake?

[PrincessTrisha]

FWIW, you can still touch things as long as you never put your fingers in your mouth. I would say "until you wash them thoroughly" but nah, it's best to keep the hands from the mouth.

I do use knuckles to push elevator buttons, though.

It's not just your mouth - it can be transmitted through contact with your mouth, ears, nose, or eyes. Rubbing your eyes is one of the easiest ways to pick up a germ.

 

[EastCoastCdn]

My mistake was that I stopped talking Bonine the day before I got off the ship. It worked like a charm while I was onboard. I started swaying at the airport the day we debarked and didn't stop for 3 days

 

[bcwife76]

Not realizing that you had no choice for breakfast on the debarkation day except the MDR at your assigned time. Having to haul all our carryons into the small space was a pain. The breakfast was so rushed, it just was an uncomfortable way to end a wonderful vacation. We had no clue that Cabanas was even open. Live and learn! Every cruise since then, we leave our bags in the room, have a nice quiet breakfast at Cabanas and then grab our stuff and go. So much better!

This was us on our first cruise too!! Now we'll know better for our next cruises

 

[bcwife76]

Somehow I thought you needed only your KTTW card on Castaway Cay.

They told me I'd have to live there...

(all the Bahamian officials did was ask my stateroom number)

Ok that's all I thought you needed too - so what do we have to take off the ship then, our passports as well? And I'm assuming that's for every excursion? On our first cruise we never did any excursions so we never got off the boat until disembarkation day.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok that's all I thought you needed too - so what do we have to take off the ship then, our passports as well? And I'm assuming that's for every excursion? On our first cruise we never did any excursions so we never got off the boat until disembarkation day.

On Castaway Cay you now must bring your KTTW card, and (for those 18 and over) a photo ID. Doesn't have to be a passport - driver's license, state ID works.

It's not for excursions. Most ports require the photo ID to confirm that the person whose name is on the KTTW card is the one presenting it for entering the port area (usually a secure area in most ports).

Time was CC was basically considered part of the ship, but in reality it's in the Bahamas, so once in the foreign country, to access the port area you need the same ID that would be required in Nassau (or any other port) to gain access to the ship.

 

[Kenny1113]

Mine was not using the kids clubs enough. There was always a conflict with different offerings in the kids club, I assumed they'd come up again. But on our last full day all that was going on in the clubs was prep for a farewell show. My kids wanted nothing to do with it and wished they had done more in the clubs. They had a blast the few times they were there though.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I do use knuckles to push elevator buttons, though.

I recommend using elbows.

 

[bcwife76]

On Castaway Cay you now must bring your KTTW card, and (for those 18 and over) a photo ID. Doesn't have to be a passport - driver's license, state ID works.

It's not for excursions. Most ports require the photo ID to confirm that the person whose name is on the KTTW card is the one presenting it for entering the port area (usually a secure area in most ports).

Time was CC was basically considered part of the ship, but in reality it's in the Bahamas, so once in the foreign country, to access the port area you need the same ID that would be required in Nassau (or any other port) to gain access to the ship.

Great, thanks for that!

 

[PlanoNana]

On our first cruise we had a crew member sailing with us so avoided many rookie mistakes. But the most embarrassing one she mentioned were folks who left the ship in their pajamas on debarkation day because they had forgotten to leave clothes out to wear off the ship when packing and putting their luggage out the night before.

 

[Dug720]

On our first cruise we had a crew member sailing with us so avoided many rookie mistakes. But the most embarrassing one she mentioned were folks who left the ship in their pajamas on debarkation day because they had forgotten to leave clothes out to wear off the ship when packing and putting their luggage out the night before.

Though I guess they should be glad the do sleep in pajamas...

Yeah, I always make sure I set my going home outfit aside when packing; though usually my stuff goes out before I am turning in for the night, so worst-case I'd have what I wore the night before to wear.

 

[m3owbox]

On our first cruise we had a crew member sailing with us so avoided many rookie mistakes. But the most embarrassing one she mentioned were folks who left the ship in their pajamas on debarkation day because they had forgotten to leave clothes out to wear off the ship when packing and putting their luggage out the night before.

Haha my husband had to do this this cruise. Well kind of. He had to get off the ship in his nice clothes that he was wearing the night before. So he came off the ship all dressed up and I was in jeans and a sweatshirt.

 

[RedSox68]

On our first cruise we had a crew member sailing with us so avoided many rookie mistakes. But the most embarrassing one she mentioned were folks who left the ship in their pajamas on debarkation day because they had forgotten to leave clothes out to wear off the ship when packing and putting their luggage out the night before.

I did this the very first cruise, but I realized it that night and my husband ran and got our room steward and he was able to find a piece of our luggage in the pile and I grabbed jeans and a top. Never did that again!

 

[RedSox68]

My mistake was that I stopped talking Bonine the day before I got off the ship. It worked like a charm while I was onboard. I started swaying at the airport the day we debarked and didn't stop for 3 days

That's a normal affect of sailing -- Bonine or not. I always have sea legs for about two days off the ship. Even laying down I still feel the ship moving!

 

[purfectlyweird]

On our first cruise we had a crew member sailing with us so avoided many rookie mistakes. But the most embarrassing one she mentioned were folks who left the ship in their pajamas on debarkation day because they had forgotten to leave clothes out to wear off the ship when packing and putting their luggage out the night before.

I always leave the ship in my PJ's........but then I'm going straight from the ship to my car lol

 

[RedSox68]

This is a great topic, BTW! Fun stuff.

 

[jrabbit]

So what kind of medication do you take? I really dont know what to inquire about and if its OTC or I need a Dr visit. Im a first time cruiser on the Fantasy in a couple weeks and am concerned about the motion as I get blechy on Star Tours and Mission Space - motion sickness like feeling. It has gotten worse since my mid 30's

Yes, I'm interested in this too, especially for me. I have the wrist band things (with compression points). Our pediatrician recommended Benadryl/WalDryl for the kids, and said the main component was similar or the same in the motion sickness stuff like Dramamine, and we already know they can handle the Benadryl.
...

I take Dramamine EVERY DAY AT THE PARKS. I only take Dramamine the night before and the day of any snorkeling excursions. In my 120+ days on a cruise ship, I've gotten sea sick / motion sickness twice, and both times it really surprised me as the ship was not rocking and rolling "that much"

if you want to be in the better safe than sorry category, take Dramamine before bed every night (starting with the night before you get onboard). Dramamine can make people sleepy, that's why I say at night. If it doesn't effect you this way, then take it every morning (with your vitamins / daily meds).

and you might be surprised that for several days AFTER your cruise you might feel the solid ground moving under your feet. It seems that more people need Dramamine AFTER their cruise than during it.

 

[CherylA]

On our first and even 2nd cruises, even though we had been told room service was included we didn't quite understand how it worked. I also couldn't find the menu! We figured it out on our 3rd cruise but didn't use it much. On cruise 4 I tried using room service in the morning as our wake up call and have been doing that ever since! Love having coffee and fruit delivered to me in the morning!

 

[jrabbit]

Our first cruise was way back when DCL's fleet consisted of the Magic and no other ships. Embarkation information said that first boarding took place after 1pm. Well lunch is from noon to 1, right!! So we scheduled a mid / late morning character breakfast (all you can eat and I MUST GET MY MONEYS WORTH) at the world because there wouldn't be any food on the ship until dinner time... right!! Well they were serving lunch when we boarded - so we had lunch, and then went up to the pool deck and hey, there's more free food - I MUST partake, and then literally a couple hours later we had dinner - was totally stuffed. I slept through the show after dinner.

so unless you are boarding around 4pm (typical all aboard time), there is plenty of food available between boarding time and dinner time - you won't go hungry.

My Two most important pieces of advice to new cruisers are
1) you can't eat it all (but do try new things - "for free"
2) you can't do it all (but sleep is for after the cruise)

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

On Castaway Cay you now must bring your KTTW card, and (for those 18 and over) a photo ID. Doesn't have to be a passport - driver's license, state ID works.

It's not for excursions. Most ports require the photo ID to confirm that the person whose name is on the KTTW card is the one presenting it for entering the port area (usually a secure area in most ports).

Time was CC was basically considered part of the ship, but in reality it's in the Bahamas, so once in the foreign country, to access the port area you need the same ID that would be required in Nassau (or any other port) to gain access to the ship.

I was on the Fantasy two weeks ago. At the end of our Castaway day, I realized we only had our KTTW card and our photo IDs were in our safe. I assumed my parents would have to run back and get them before they'd let us on the ship... NOPE! They didn't even bother to ask for photo IDs, just let us right through.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was on the Fantasy two weeks ago. At the end of our Castaway day, I realized we only had our KTTW card and our photo IDs were in our safe. I assumed my parents would have to run back and get them before they'd let us on the ship... NOPE! They didn't even bother to ask for photo IDs, just let us right through.

Yeah, it's kinda hit and miss on Castaway Cay with this process. Others have reported that they had to send one person onboard to get their IDs.