When your window opens, what do you sign up for first?

[carmiedog]

I'll be a first-timer tomorrow and not sure which I should make a priority/which best times are snatched up first. Or does the system just walk you through everything in a certain order? (I'm in the last group for window opening, so I may not even get my first choice for any of them.) Nothing is THAT important...I'm just starting to get anxious because I've never done this before.

Boarding time?
Excursion time (we definitely want earliest)?
Palo (brunch) reservation?

ETA: NEVERMIND THIS PART ~ JUST FOUND A SIMILAR QUESTION DOWN BELOW. Also, if we have rooms, do I have to walk through the process for both of them? I should have researched this earlier, I know!

 

[trimix]

First try for Palo reservations - or Remy if you are on a new ship. Regarding Palo, tea is the hardest to get, so check for tea times if you want to try for tea. Brunch is the second most difficult, so that is second priority. But, if it were me, I would go straight to booking brunch and not try for tea; tea just isn't as important to me. Dinner is priority three.

After meals you can move on to excursions, and spa appointments if you desire. You can book reservations starting at midnight ET, but can't do the online check in until 3 am. The check-in time is one of the last steps in online check in. Boarding time is based on arrival time.
With two rooms, you can link reservations between the rooms, if they aren't already linked.

One suggestion I would give you is to ask a Castaway Club member in your cruise meet thread to look and see how available Palo tea, brunch, and dinner are. If you already know that tea or brunch are booked or only have very limited availability, you know what to not waste time trying to book. And if dinner is only available on two or three days, you can choose your preferred day.

 

[carmiedog]

Thank you! So helpful! Weird that check-in isn't until 3. With lots of caffeine I can stay up until midnight, but check-in may have to wait until next morning! Great advise about asking someone to check on availability. THANK YOU!!

 

[kcashner]

Excursions first--those are not held back, so chances of getting them later are small (but do exist--people DO Cancel)

Next Palo/Remy. If you dont get these on line, you have a good chance of getting them after boarding..

On line registration doesn't start till 3 am EST, so that isn't a priority. And that assumes the system works at that time. I usually wait till later like the next morning.

 

[ldymcbth]

I do excursions first, too, b/c of the ages of our children - there are very excursions we can all do together and it's important to me that we be able to do them.

 

[Lovebug Eeyore]

We always do Palo first, especially High Tea since it's most limited.

 

[TinaRN]

Excursions first--those are not held back, so chances of getting them later are small (but do exist--people DO Cancel)

Next Palo/Remy. If you dont get these on line, you have a good chance of getting them after boarding..

On line registration doesn't start till 3 am EST, so that isn't a priority. And that assumes the system works at that time. I usually wait till later like the next morning.

I would definitely ask another CC Member in your cruise thread if what you want is still available. And if they are, I'd do Palo Brunch first!!! I was able to get dinner but not brunch and have been looking everyday since then to no avail. As for booking excursions, I haven't found any that I wanted booked yet, and we sail May 26th on the Fantasy. I've even changed my excursions several times.

The other hard to get thing is a CC Cabana! But most likely they will all be booked in the first go round of bookings!

GOOD LUCK!

 

[goofymama]

Thank you! So helpful! Weird that check-in isn't until 3. With lots of caffeine I can stay up until midnight, but check-in may have to wait until next morning! Great advise about asking someone to check on availability. THANK YOU!!

I took my laptop to bed with me and set my alarm a few minutes before 3am to do my online check-in. Surprisingly, I was able to sleep between 12 and 3 without the xcitement keeping me awake.

If you want Palo or Remy, I would definitely try those first, then your exclusions in order of importance. There seems to be lots of excursions to choose from, but Palo, especially brunch and tea, are very limited.

Good luck!

 

[CamColt]

Yesterday was my day. My priority was getting an early arrival time but as I found out, since we are now Platinum, we can arrive at any time. We dont get to choose a time.

After that I wanted Palo Brunch and our "excursion" (transportation to WDW). I wasn't sure if I wanted to do a massage or not so I didnt book that, but then I went ahead and did that today.

I would say to book things in the order which they are important to you.

 

[ratt1345]

Palo brunch first!!!! Now the newer ships have Remy as well, it will be Palo brunch first, Remy dinner second and any excursions last.

Charlie

 

[MisterBubbles]

Carmiedog, how did you do in registering for check-in time, meals, activities and excursions today?