What would you give up?

[house_of_princesses]

We are anxiously awaiting our first cruise. Everyone here on the DIS says you can't do it all, enjoy what you do. We intend to! However, what is it you opt out of doing? What is it you can live without?

Just wondering... Thanks!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Seems like I always forfeit pool and sunning time on my cruises. There are so many planned activities that I try to do, plus spa services and not to mention Ports of Call that I don't get much down time in the sun, lol. Perhaps on my next cruise...

 

[perdidobay]

I never do any spa treatments (just personal choice) and until this last cruise never did any movies, figuring I could see them at home.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow!!! Good question....

You know, that would be entirely up to you personally!!! I thought that I may have a hard time choosing, but really, I have not at all.... For me, a tropical drink and warm sunshine will beat out a movie, or bingo type activity every single time. We chose late seating, since this gives us more time to be out and about, not rushing back for dinner, or the shows. (since all the shows are not 'musts' for us.... except 'Dreams'-of course!!!!) Time with DS is high priority. But, sure hope he enjoys the kids clubs, cause time with DH is way up there too !!! So, Palo is definately a must for us. Definately beats out a repeat night at regular rotation.

Thanks to these boards, and sites like Castawayclub.com, all the stress of cruise-activity-overload will now be avoided. I feel like I have it narrowed down!

 

[Hygiene99]

I think that with these boards, sometimes people become to well educated we went on our first cruise Had an awesome Cruise and a super time ALL WITH OUT THE BENEFITS OF THESE BOARDS ....... if u can imagine that ..... we simple followed the navagator given to us each day in our staterooom and chosse what we wanted to do ........... It was that simple



peter

 

[WDWLVR]

We are going on our 5th cruise and so far have never been to Palo for dinner - we do plan on it this time.

I did the spa on our first 3 cruises, but not at all on our 4th. This time I only plan on the Rainforest Room.

Our first two cruises we did the "Big" show each night. This time the only one we feel we must see is Dreams (love that show) and plan on going to some of the smaller shows.

For all the things that we missed I don't really feel like we "missed" anything.

I have no regrets on any choices we've made on the cruise.

I'm a big believer on doing what makes you happy and not just following the crowd. For our May cruise my goal is to just relax, and maybe doing some of the smaller things that we've never done before.

 

[rae519]

Pool and movies! But never my verandah!

Rae

 

[house_of_princesses]

Interesting thoughts... Thanks for sharing everyone!

When we get back in forever from now (ARGH!!) I'll let you know what we didn't do!

 

[Werner Weiss]

I'm not sure that, "What is it you can live without?" is the right way to plan to make your choices.

I think the right way is, "What is important to me?" Some of these things benefit from advance planning, such as picking the right shore excursions or choosing a night for Palo. But for most things, you can make choices on the spur of the moment.

You'll have to "live without" most of what's on the Daily Navigator each day. Between the early big evening show and your late dinner seating (or between your early dinner seating and the late big evening show) there's about 60-minute gap. There are at least a half dozen things going on during that hour — family cabaret shows, family game shows, pin trading, sports trivia, lounge entertainment, and more. Or you can relax in your room, on your verandah, or in various indoor and outdoor locations throughout the ship. Again, you can't do it all.

I'm not sure you should worry about what other people opt out of doing. Personally, I can live without anything having to do with spectator sports, so aside from taking two minutes to see the ESPN Club, I didn't devote any time to any events there. But for a big sports fans, my lack of enthusiasm for spectator sports would be puzzling, and any advice to avoid ESPN would be meaningless.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Werner, Don't worry about me, I'm not worrying about what others are opting out of. It was just meant to be a fun question. I've been making my own decisions for a while now. A cruise isn't going to change that!

 

[aprilgail2]

I didn't do the pool or sunbathing thing the whole cruise. My daughter went in the kiddie pool for 10 minutes at 7am before it got all cloudy and really gross but we didn't miss it at all....that is something we can go out in our backyard and do, plus the kiddie pool is really so gross after a few hours that I wouldn't put my daughter in there.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Mary!

I'm a big believer on doing what makes you happy and not just following the crowd.

Just curious. What if following the crowd DOES make someone happy?...


Good morning house_of_princesses!

When we get back in forever from now (ARGH!!) I'll let you know what we didn't do!

The shorter list might be what you did do!...

 

[WDWLVR]

BD - if following the crowd really does make someone happy - then by all means they should do it.

Guess it really depends on which crowd it is too. If it was a crowd of waiters carrying desserts to the Midnight Buffet I just may have to follow too.

 

[SlyHubby]

shopping in the ports of call ... I mean tourist traps.

overpriced stuff, 99% of which you can get in the states.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Buckaroo's Dad, For me the shorter list will be what I didn't do. Like to keep moving. (Hope DH can keep up! ) And that just might include following the crowd, especially if it is the waiters carrying dessert to ANY buffet!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

 

[debm]

We went on our first cruise in Dec. and are headed back for another in a couple of weeks. We were totally unprepared for all the things to do on board, etc. One thing we chose was NOT to get off the ship in Nassau. We couldn't decide what excursion would be good for the entire family, plus wouldn't cost us tons more money. So we decided on nothing. Best decision we made. We were able to enjoy the ship while other people were gone that day. And we like the onboard movies. Sure beats paying $50 to take the whole family when we can see the latest Disney release for free!

 

[callahanjulie10]

You need to sit down with your family and decide what each one wants to do most- that is one of the reasons that we love DCL so much- everyone can do, eat, sleep, whatever. We had alone time (which we choose to do things no one else really cared about), DH/DW time, family time, and DH/DD or me/DD time. We didn't have to pick and choose as a family for 7 days like you do when everyone has to be on the same schedule. Enjoy- cruising is a stress free vacation!!!!

 

[kimtenn]

I think the shopping in the ports of call does tend to be touristy but we do like to at least do a quick walk through the main shopping areas in case there's something interesting to see/buy. I don't tend to buy a lot in the ports unless it's something specific to the island (like guavaberry liqueur in St. Martaan) that I can't get back in the States. I'm just not comfortable buying expensive jewelry, cameras, etc. that far from home. I do tend to shop A LOT on the ship and can't do without that on a Disney cruise.

We never get as much pool time as we'd like but I never feel bad about it -- there's just so much other fun stuff to do onboard!

We did a spa treatment our first cruise, but none the next. The spa is not a true priority unless there's a treatment I'm just dying to take advantage of.

We saw one movie on our last cruise, but we probably won't be doing that again because the seats were a little cramped (DH is 6'4). But if you're a smaller person, a movie would probably be enjoyable.

It's all just a matter of personal preference as to what you can leave out, and these are just my humble opinions!

 

[house_of_princesses]

Thanks for sharing, everyone! Interesting to look at things from a different angle, isn't it?

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi debm!

we like the onboard movies. Sure beats paying $50 to take the whole family when we can see the latest Disney release for free!

Why pay $50 when you can see a "free" movie for several thousands of dollars. Sounds like the recent accounting principles used at Worldcom et al...