What's something you wish you'd done differently on your last cruise?

[foolish-mortal]

When I go to WDW I always come back with things I want to tweak or adjust on my next trip. Less ADRs, more down-time, more pool time, get to the parks earlier, etc. I don't personally have a list like this from my other 2 DCL cruises. But maybe I'm just not remembering. Do others? Things you missed or wished they hadn't wasted their time on?

 

[stkgator]

Stay on the ship in Nassau and book a Palo Brunch!

 

[AquaDame]

I always wish we'd have gone to Palo earlier in the trip... after a couple of days of eating I find I'm really not interested in full meals anymore. I also always wish I could stay up later but at the end of a sunny jam packed day I'm always beat!

 

[kathi]

Honestly - I wish I had not gone on it. (12/26 Fantasy)

 

[freshmanjs]

Honestly - I wish I had not gone on it. (12/26 Fantasy)

Why? We were on that cruise and had a great time (as mentioned in another thread). Sorry it wasn't good for you.

 

[kathi]

Why? We were on that cruise and had a great time (as mentioned in another thread). Sorry it wasn't good for you.

I'm glad you had a good experience - I'm honestly too exhausted to rehash it all. We sailed Christmas also and it was a totally different experience. Biggest issues for us were lack of options for teens, lack of mask compliance and lack of information being shared by DCL as to what they were doing to remedy both of those issues. It also was not festive, which I expected on a cruise that includes New Year's Eve. Even the staff were shocked they took down all the decorations. One disorganized New Year's Eve night does not make up for everything else that was missing.


We booked it almost 2 years ago (which means no discounts for us and it was a VERY expensive cruise). I do not feel it was anywhere close to worth what we paid. Maybe if we had gotten a steep discount on it, we wouldn't be as disgusted by it all.

 

[KashasMom]

I'm glad you had a good experience - I'm honestly too exhausted to rehash it all. We sailed Christmas also and it was a totally different experience. Biggest issues for us were lack of options for teens, lack of mask compliance and lack of information being shared by DCL as to what they were doing to remedy both of those issues. It also was not festive, which I expected on a cruise that includes New Year's Eve. Even the staff were shocked they took down all the decorations. One disorganized New Year's Eve night does not make up for everything else that was missing.

We booked it almost 2 years ago (which means no discounts for us and it was a VERY expensive cruise). I do not feel it was anywhere close to worth what we paid. Maybe if we had gotten a steep discount on it, we wouldn't be as disgusted by it all.

Oh no, I'm sorry that was your experience. I'm so not anticipating our upcoming cruise. I know that the things that are important to us are not going to be there, not to mention a likely additional sea day (4 out of 5). I'm very surprised about the lack of mask compliance!

As to the original question - we sailed concierge and I wish we'd made better use of that - we didn't order dinner in our room, didn't even order any room service (not even Mickey bars!). I also wished we'd skipped Palo - we'd never done it before and had the opportunity but it was something I could have missed. Oh, and I wish we'd stayed with our usualy late dining (had a toddler with us) - what a noisy mess main seating is.

 

[tvguy]

On the cruise? No. Still have no interest in Palo or Remy, loved the MDR. My kids had zero interest in kids clubs. Maybe we'll take the Grandkids and they may feel differently.
WDW is another can of worms. We are Disneyland buffs and went to WDW for the first time 5 years ago. Not sure we'll be back. I was shocked at how late the parks open and how early they close compared to Disneyland. I would expect given how much more isolated WDW is, they might have longer hours. A second trip we might do a better job planning so we don't spend so much time in transit from the hotel to the parks.

 

[CrowMomma]

I tried to do too many activities. I don't go to shows, that's usually my time to hit the aquaduck or go to bars/cove cafe, but crafts, trivia, drawing and bingo type of things dominated my schedule and I always felt rushed and had to be constantly checking the time.

 

[Pixarfans]

Just like the parks, I feel each trip is a little different and I always find new must do things! I’d say more room service, just cause it’s fun. More swims after dinner. The pool at night is a whole different experience!

 

[CamColt]

On our last night we were in Evolution and I asked my husband, do you think we can book tomorrow's cruise to do B2Bs? I wish I had just gone ahead and booked it, and stayed on the ship!

 

[Cheburashka]

On my next cruise I'm going to have breakfast in the available MDR instead of Cabanas.

 

[CrowMomma]

On my next cruise I'm going to have breakfast in the available MDR instead of Cabanas.

Any specific reasons why?

I'm going this weekend. I know my mom will have to do MDRs as she basically only eats omelets, but any other misses from Cabanas or gains MDR wise?

 

[KGmomoftwins]

On my next cruise I'm going to have breakfast in the available MDR instead of Cabanas.

Do it! On our seven night fantasy in 2019 we did this 3 times. Back then it was royal court and in enchanted garden they had a buffet that was way better than cabanas in our opinion. We also loved the character breakfast. With little ones that you have to carry all their stuff cabanas is not my idea of a relaxing breakfast time.

 

[KGmomoftwins]

Any specific reasons why?

I'm going this weekend. I know my mom will have to do MDRs as she basically only eats omelets, but any other misses from Cabanas or gains MDR wise?

My husband loved the omelets hot and fresh. I have pictures in my TR in my signature if you’re interested

 

[Cruising Engineer]

On my next cruise I'm going to have breakfast in the available MDR instead of Cabanas.

I've never thought about the MDRs. We just autopilot to Cabanas in the morning. Great idea!

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Any specific reasons why?

I'm going this weekend. I know my mom will have to do MDRs as she basically only eats omelets, but any other misses from Cabanas or gains MDR wise?

We only eat in the main dining rooms or do room service on our cruises. First off, If I am paying for tips, I am going to take advantage of that. Vacation to us is sitting down for a nice meal and not having to get up every few minutes to go get more food. We love interacting with different servers at breakfast and lunch other than our own. Also, I love the theming in the MDR's and its nice to eat in the different restaurants several times instead of just once or twice.

There are some options on the breakfast menu's that you have to avoid (regular Belgian waffles as sadly they are ALWAYS served cold) but most are delicious. The French toast is one of my favorites.

 

[CrowMomma]

There are some options on the breakfast menu's that you have to avoid (regular Belgian waffles as sadly they are ALWAYS served cold) but most are delicious. The French toast is one of my favorites.

Thanks for the tip! I get up super early, so I'll probably end up doing both and getting something small at Cabanas and joining my parents later in the MDR.

I always do embarkation lunch in the MDR as I try to avoid crowds and Cabanas and the top decks can be a mad house on that first afternoon, but with reduced numbers maybe that will be different.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Thanks for the tip! I get up super early, so I'll probably end up doing both and getting something small at Cabanas and joining my parents later in the MDR.

I always do embarkation lunch in the MDR as I try to avoid crowds and Cabanas and the top decks can be a mad house on that first afternoon, but with reduced numbers maybe that will be different.

With the limited options in Cabanas, we didn't even eat there once on our cruise in November. I generally dislike buffets in the first place being a mild germaphobe but now its even easier to justify eating in the MDR's for breakfast and lunch.

What I usually do is get up and go to Cove Café for a cinnamon scroll and cranberry triangle! Even if you don't buy fancy coffee, its a great way to hold yourself over until sit down breakfast.

 

[MomOTwins]

Thanks for the tip! I get up super early, so I'll probably end up doing both and getting something small at Cabanas and joining my parents later in the MDR.

I always do embarkation lunch in the MDR as I try to avoid crowds and Cabanas and the top decks can be a mad house on that first afternoon, but with reduced numbers maybe that will be different.

Cabanas was almost eerily quiet on embarkation day because of the way they are enforcing port arrival times.