Wonder embarkation day

[ANGRebel]

We will be sailing on the Wonder out of Galveston in two weeks (WOW it's almost here!), and I was trying to get my arms around what all we will need to get taken care of once we get onboard. It will be myself, my wife, DD5 and DD2. I know we will want to go to Wavebands (I think) and get tickets for the ticketed events, and I want to go to Triton's (I think that will be the location) to request a change in our dining time (Late seating was the only one available when we booked, and I would like to try to swap to main dining). This will be the second cruise for my wife and I, but the first for our girls. We have a PAT of 12:30, so I plan to be there around 12:00 to start the check-in process. Does Parrot Cay do a lunch buffet on embarkation day? With a 2 year old in tow would it be less hectic eating there than dealing with BBB on embarkation day?

My plan is to board the ship, make dining requests, then get tickets for the ticketed events. Then we would eat lunch. Hopefully by this time the room would be ready and we could make a quick stop there before heading to the DVC member celebration, then back to the room before the safety drill. Then up to the sail away party. Does this sound like a good plan?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[dcassetta]

I think your plan is a good one, but do check that first day Navigator to make sure you have the right locations for tickets and dining changes.

Have you already asked DCL to make a note about your preference for early dining? If the request is already in the system, that may help.

There will be a lunch buffet in Parrot Cay. I prefer to eat there rather than the buffet on embarkation day as it just seems calmer to me.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Does Parrot Cay do a lunch buffet on embarkation day? With a 2 year old in tow would it be less hectic eating there than dealing with BBB on embarkation day?

It does have a less chaotic buffet than Beach Blanket. It is also easier to go back if you want to get more items. Whenever I've been to Beach Blanket, there's been a full line going through and it doesn't look like it would be easy to go back to get more of something or try something else.

 

[texas disney mom]

We will be sailing on the Wonder out of Galveston in two weeks (WOW it's almost here!), and I was trying to get my arms around what all we will need to get taken care of once we get onboard. It will be myself, my wife, DD5 and DD2. I know we will want to go to Wavebands (I think) and get tickets for the ticketed events, and I want to go to Triton's (I think that will be the location) to request a change in our dining time (Late seating was the only one available when we booked, and I would like to try to swap to main dining). This will be the second cruise for my wife and I, but the first for our girls. We have a PAT of 12:30, so I plan to be there around 12:00 to start the check-in process. Does Parrot Cay do a lunch buffet on embarkation day? With a 2 year old in tow would it be less hectic eating there than dealing with BBB on embarkation day?

My plan is to board the ship, make dining requests, then get tickets for the ticketed events. Then we would eat lunch. Hopefully by this time the room would be ready and we could make a quick stop there before heading to the DVC member celebration, then back to the room before the safety drill. Then up to the sail away party. Does this sound like a good plan?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Call dcl and get on the wait list for main dining if you have not already.

 

[pepe3penelope]

We got off Wonder in October and your plan is exactly what we did!!! If you are able to arrive at the port a little earlier, it may be better (maybe for 11:30-11:45 arrival at the latest.

We got onto the ship at 12 & I went straight to Wavebands for ticketed meet and greets, then guest services for other issues, then Triton's for Palo dining change and to book DH's alcohol tasting. Went straight to BBB (I agree you should do Parrot Cay on embarkation day). By the time we finished eating, we arrived at the cabin around 1:50. We unloaded & tried unpacking til the DVC member celebration at 2:30. Busy day!

Have a great cruise!

 

[imm93]

Awesome thanks for the tips! us too will be sailing in two weeks (first timer).

What type of events are the ticketed ones? is it just character meets?

 

[pepe3penelope]

The ticketed meet and greets we had were for the princesses- we had ariel, belle, Cinderella & rapunzel last month. We had Frozen with Olaf, anna, & elsa. This is the only way to meet the princesses & frozen characters as they aren't scheduled in the navigator like the other characters.

 

[bcwife76]

Aha! I KNEW there was a restaurant besides BBB open for lunch on embarkation day! Thanks for asking, on our next cruise we are definitely heading to Parrot Cay for lunch

 

[ANGRebel]

Have you already asked DCL to make a note about your preference for early dining? If the request is already in the system, that may help.

Call dcl and get on the wait list for main dining if you have not already

Thanks, yes our TA said that she waitlisted us for main dining.

There will be a lunch buffet in Parrot Cay. I prefer to eat there rather than the buffet on embarkation day as it just seems calmer to me.

It does have a less chaotic buffet than Beach Blanket. It is also easier to go back if you want to get more items.

I agree you should do Parrot Cay on embarkation day

Thanks! I thought Parrot Cay would be easier to deal with than BBB with my small children. I know when my wife and I went on the Fantasy in May the embarkation day buffet at Cabanas was crazy busy! It would have been very difficult to deal with our small girls with that crowd.