what will you do differently on your next cruise

[pfp258]

Have my family wear something matching on embarkation day(maybe khaki's and white polo shirts) so that when we get onboard and have our picture taken it will look far better than others we have had taken!
My sister just did this for her family cruise and it looks awesome!

 

[101DalmFan]

What I did do that I want to do again:

Dinner at Palo
Brunch at Palo
Bingo
Decadent coffees at the Cove
Relax on the loungers on Deck 4
Explore the ship
Eat my fill of ice cream
Have a burger for lunch by the pool
Take LOTS of pictures
Get my picture taken with characters
Go to the pin-trading session(s) in the lobby

What I did do that I'm glad I did, but could now miss:

Spa treatment
Use the Internet service to constantly email friends and family back home

What I didn't do that I'd like to do:

Get on board as early as possible on Day 1
Linger as long as possible on the day we disembark
Order more than one dessert at least once
Have Tea at Palo
See a movie
Get up earlier to be up on Deck 10 just as morning breaks
Get upgraded!

Here's what I'd like to add to my original post (quoted above) now that I've thought about it more:

These are all things I did -- all food-related -- that I DEFINITELY want to do again:

*Have sit-down breakfasts (we did it a few times, and enjoyed it each time -- a nice change from the buffet)
*Have sit-down lunches (only did it once and it was a terrific meal, very yummy, and I wish I'd done it more often)
*Make sure room service keeps us stocked with fruit plates and cheese plates -- so nice to snack on and they keep well in the mini fridge
*Order Mickey bars from room service more often (we only did it once)

 

[msnicky28]

This thread is great, we r going on our first disney cruise saturday , so when is this pub night, where? is it on the magic and wonder or just one ? Is it on the 7 day and 3 or just one ? Thanks !
Kristen

 

[kath1210]

Yes, DH and I are going on an adults-only cruise on the Wonder in a couple of weeks. I love my DD13 so much, but she is shy, doesn't like the clubs, and sticks to us like glue when we are on a cruise. In 3 cruises I have never even seen the adult pool, so DH and I are going to indulge in the adults-only activities and areas on the ship. We cannot wait!

 

[ibouncetoo]

This thread is great, we r going on our first disney cruise saturday , so when is this pub night, where? is it on the magic and wonder or just one ? Is it on the 7 day and 3 or just one ? Thanks !
Kristen

Pub night is on all cruises, the last night of the cruise. Be sure and have your packing/luggage all taken care of (that's why I've missed it in the past!), as it's late...like 10:45pm.

 

[DMMarla07860]

This thread is great, we r going on our first disney cruise saturday , so when is this pub night, where? is it on the magic and wonder or just one ? Is it on the 7 day and 3 or just one ? Thanks !
Kristen

I'm pretty sure I read it is just on 7 and 4 night cruises and not on 3 night ones

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

this will be our second DCL - and it will be 15 nts.....so it will be different:

***more adult time and relaxing: do adult pool and time on deck 4 just reading or something. Do all possible adult seminars!

***skip dining room some nights: not rush back from shore days - relax more on sea days up by pool

***not feel guilty about having DD spend more time at kids clubs....she loves it there..

***more mochas, etc from Cove Cafe!!!!

***play more BINGO - we have won 2x out of 4 cruises thanks to the mojo from my lucky kooshball keychain!!!!

***not freak out so much if the seas get especially rough - after last Halloween cruise I have a new appreciation of what the ship can handle!!!

***catch a movie on deck 10

***have more pics taken - I am not photogenic so I ruin many while DH and DD look great - sooo I normally avoid - but this time I have promised to pose for more in the hopes a few turn out OK

***skip the kids graduation party (unless really important to DD, which I doubt)

***somehow eat less ( a must with 15 days instead of 7) and walk more (thankfully easier with more days!)

***try for Palo dinner - we have only done brunch

***if I were repeating an itinerary (east/west), I would say stay onboard more - but this trip will be all firsts for us - with less chance of getting back to

***keep a journal!!! - to better remember every Magical moment!!!!

 

[beachbratt]

Yes, DH and I are going on an adults-only cruise on the Wonder in a couple of weeks. I love my DD13 so much, but she is shy, doesn't like the clubs, and sticks to us like glue when we are on a cruise. In 3 cruises I have never even seen the adult pool, so DH and I are going to indulge in the adults-only activities and areas on the ship. We cannot wait!

When do you sail we leave on the 16th? Adults only this time for us too...

 

[ch10dad]

I plan to hide under the bed when it's time to disembark...

 

[Hobbitmomma]

The first time we went we took a four day cruise. My husband and I agree, that that was just too short. Next time it will be a 7 day.

Also, I won't do the graduation ceremony again. My kids loved it and I'm glad that they got to participate and got the t-shirt, but we got no pictures or video that were useful. We got there really early and were in about the 9th row, but as soon as the kids started to walk in, all of the parents stood up, including those in the first few rows and we couldn't see our kids at all. After they had all made it to the stage, some of these folks still kept standing! I mean they were in the front rows for cryin' out loud. My husband and I and a few other parents kept asking people to please sit down so that we could all see our kids, but we were largely ignored. I will not do that again. I can't believe the selfishness and rudeness of some people.

Anyway, I think that we will also try to spend more time just relaxing and I would like to get to the adults only beach at CC. We didn't get to do that last time.

 

[princesdi]

I think the consensus among everyone is more REST and don't rush!!

 

[kath1210]

When do you sail we leave on the 16th? Adults only this time for us too...

I wish we were going on the 16th. But, alas, it's only a 3-nighter for us this time. We leave on the 20th.

Have a great time!

 

[disneytraceyl]

1. We have always gone on the 4-night. We are doing the 7-night this time.

2. Stay longer at the beach in Castaway Cay.

3. Enjoy the pool on the ship more.

4. Eat more room service for breakfast.

 

[Mom24Princesses]

**First day: pack swimsuit and relax by the adult pool after boarding and prior to drill. I may even skip Parrot Cay for lunch in favor of something from Plutos. Order the "drink of the day" on our first day.

**Drink a Conk Cooler (five prior DCL cruises and I've never had one)

1)
**Pack all week as we go instead of spending the entire afternoon packing prior to the bags needing to be in the hallway. Each cruise, I have missed ALL the activities the last night after CC, because I am in the room packing.

** Go to the adult clubs more.
** Check out the adult only stuff. The adult pool. Check out the adult only beach at CC (Serenity Bay). Check out that MUD ROOM that you guys have talked about on the boards. We have always stayed away from the spa activities.

** Heck, make sure to hit the rainforest room every single day.

**It isn't really a vacation until you have a plastic coconut in your hand.

(Where do I get a plastic coconut??)

**I will not over pack my carry on bag.

That comes close.

Eat breakfast in a sit down.
Eat lunch in a sit down
Let the girls sleep in leaving room service breakfast in our cabin for them.
Remind the girls that it is mom and dad's vacation too and we are having some grown-up time. Seemed one or two were always hanging around. Spent maybe 90 minutes of a 7-night-crusie by the adult pool. NEVER saw Serenity Bay

 

[woody73]

Spend less time posting live reports on the DIS boards.

Woody

 

[beachbratt]

I wish we were going on the 16th. But, alas, it's only a 3-nighter for us this time. We leave on the 20th.

Have a great time!

Thanks you too...

 

[princesdi]

I plan to hide under the bed when it's time to disembark...

I think I might try this, I will let you know how it works

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We'll probably take excursions, but we'll do short ones. And do more room service.

 

[CM_Mom]

We had my 80 something mom and aunt with us on our last cruise and I think I worried so much the first three or four days about whether they were having a good time and planning things they would enjoy that I didn't completely enjoy the cruise myself.

This time we have my MIL and SIL and our DS and DDIL going also but I'm going to do some general planning, make some suggestions for excursions and go with the flow more. While we have some activities planned for the whole group, DH and I have some excursions planned that only we will like.

I guess to sum it up, I plan to be more selfish this time. Hope that doesn't sound too horrible.

 

[SFed]

With #10 coming up we have done about everything you can do I think. We booked our first DCL cruise about three weeks before departure and knew absolutely nothing about the ship other than we needed to be in Port Canaveral on a Saturday. I almost feel sorry for you guys who don’t get to show up and just be amazed by the entire process without knowing everything beforehand. We did not know they would call our name. I did not know the horn was When you Wish Upon a Star (I still remember hearing that for the first time). I think that is why our first cruise is still probably my favorite (although the one last year with a double dip at least tied it).

Also, for most, your first won’t be your last.

Some dos:

Try and be the last one at the beach on Castaway Cay - if you stay till the end you get about an hour with little to no crowds. If you need another reason to linger, they usually have two for one drinks at the bar as well late in the day.

Go to Serenity Bay – one of my favorite places on earth.

Plan on getting to the ship early and realizing the first day is part of the cruise and also has the shortest lines on the Mickey slide.

Get to know the cast members all over the ship. I still wish Miguel was on the Magic.

Go to the bar at Palo for a drink on a night you are not eating there.

Your own thing at the ports.

Spend some time in a chair on Deck 4.

A late night hot tub visit.

The galley tour.

If you drink, bring some wine and beer onboard with you (yes you can).

Order some cheese and crackers from room service while getting ready for dinner.

In Cozumel, after dinner, put the kids in the clubs and then walk to the Carlos and Charles at the end of the pier for a margarita in a yard glass (see a trend).

Not waste too much time shopping – do you really have beaches with crystal clear blue water at home??

See the shows. I still love Dreams.

Have a breakfast and a lunch in Lumiers (Tritons on the Wonder)

See Darryl in Sessions if he is there.

Let lose at little bit – you will probably never see these people again. I’m not much for dancing, but I have been one of the Village People on more than one occasion, and my wife was in the Go Gos.

Go to Palo Brunch.

Check out the artwork in the hallways.

Not go to breakfast on the last day. You can sleep in and go to the buffet.

Try to be the last one off the ship (I always secretly hope they will just let us stay on for the next one).

Be kind to your fellow cruisers. If you want to be an ***, stay home (or go on Carnival).

Hear the ships horn as many times as possible during a cruise (I hit 20 one time).

Tip your wait staff and room attendant. They work harder than you can imagine.

I probably have about 50 more, but I’ll stop there.

One thing I always wanted to do is to watch a sunrise at sea.

Maybe this time I will get up early enough…