You board the ship... and then...

[RedSox68]

Our routine has always been:

visit all the store and restaurant and lounge areas to get great pictures sans people.
hit up the buffet
go to room, unpack and organize
checkout Navigator for evening events
after safety drill, get drink of the day and watch our sail out on our verandah with feet up!

 

[elphie101]

Well, our first cruise didn't exactly go according to plan (left WDW late and then had to stop at CVS along the way) so we didn't actually get on the ship till around 1:00pm, but our progression was somewhat like this:

• Get a drink at the atrium bar (highly recommend!)
• Wait 5 minutes for the dining adjustments to open to confirm our private table/book Palo
• By this time it was 1:30pm, so go up to our stateroom to drop bags off
• Immediately go to Cabanas for lunch - best part was at 1:40pm-ish it wasn't crowded at all!

I highly recommend the above

 

[RedSox68]

Well, our first cruise didn't exactly go according to plan (left WDW late and then had to stop at CVS along the way) so we didn't actually get on the ship till around 1:00pm, but our progression was somewhat like this:

• Get a drink at the atrium bar (highly recommend!)
• Wait 5 minutes for the dining adjustments to open to confirm our private table/book Palo
• By this time it was 1:30pm, so go up to our stateroom to drop bags off
• Immediately go to Cabanas for lunch - best part was at 1:40pm-ish it wasn't crowded at all!

I highly recommend the above

I agree. Anymore we do not rush to Cabanas, but explore and maybe get a drink and by the time we go it is much less crowded.

 

[Nutsmom]

• Guest services for character meet & greets (although you can now prebook at least some of them which is fab)
• Dining room to sort out alcohol tastings and check on large print menus (bad eyes mean I can't easily read the normal ones so always request them in advance but have to check once onboard)
• Lunch - now I tend to go to the open restaurant rather than the buffett just because with my eyes carrying a drink and a tray is a bad combination
• Drink up by the pool unless the rooms are open in which case drop off hand luggage then drink by the pool
• Tour of the ship - this is a must for me even though I have been on her before as just makes me feel like I'm home (and helps me orientate where my room is)
• Lifeboat drill
• Sailaway

You can book character greetings ahead of time?! I didn't realize this. Assuming this happens while we are doing the 90 day out shore excursions, etc., or does it happen at a different time? Tell me more, please.

 

[AndreAggie]

Scan through the navigator before boarding the ship.

Once onboard, we usually go get tickets for meet/greets, then go to lunch in the dining room. This is so much more relaxed than cabanas or beach blanket buffet. Usually by this time, we go to our room to drop off our bags, change into swim suits and slather on sunscreen and hit the pool! Hubs and I usually grab a drink to officially kick off vacation.

Our son DREADS the muster drill, so we are those people that literally wait until the last second to get to our muster station to make the whole process last as short as possible. Usually, after the muster drill, I go to the room to start unpacking and getting ready for dinner, then the rest of the family makes their way to the room to get ready. Then it's a quick round of character photos and dinner.

The next cruise we're doing late dining, so we'll have to see how this goes. I'm hoping to get some aquaduck rounds in before we have to get ready for dinner.

 

[Weedy]

You can book character greetings ahead of time?! I didn't realize this. Assuming this happens while we are doing the 90 day out shore excursions, etc., or does it happen at a different time? Tell me more, please.

Yes you can book ahead of time!! This just happend within the last few weks. Just log onto your reservation once you booking window opens and you are payed in full

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

You can book character greetings ahead of time?! I didn't realize this. Assuming this happens while we are doing the 90 day out shore excursions, etc., or does it happen at a different time? Tell me more, please.

Currently

Two meet and greets.
One character breakfast

Can be booked by the:- on board fun - button, when your reservation window opens.

Note- many character interactions are still turn up and queue.

Online you can book one of each meet and greet, and one character breakfast. These are by time slots.

 

[CamColt]

We are usually one of the first on board so we go to and empty buffet (usually have to wait for it to open), eat, relax with a frozen drink, take care of anything we have to at Guest Services, then its about 1;30 and our room is ready.

 

[jne7043]

I understand that non-concierge rooms are ready at 1:30. However, sometimes I see people mention their room was ready early. How would I know if mine is ready early?

 

[Sir William]

Depends on when we actually board, but usually this is our procedure:

Lunch in the MDR
Sign up for any tastings we want to attend
Head to the room (usually open by then)
If our bags have been delivered, we unpack & meet our steward.
Head to the Meet & Greet and/or to the DVC reception.
Attend the mandatory Muster
Get a drink and enjoy our departure
After that, whatever we feel like!

 

[lillygator]

since we can now book the meet and greets online my boarding routine will definitely change!

 

[CamColt]

I understand that non-concierge rooms are ready at 1:30. However, sometimes I see people mention their room was ready early. How would I know if mine is ready early?

The hallways are usually roped off until all rooms are ready which is usually 1:30. We have seen some times when the halls are very crowded with guests just waiting for them to drop the rope and other times when it's been quiet.

 

[gismo1554]

I understand that non-concierge rooms are ready at 1:30. However, sometimes I see people mention their room was ready early. How would I know if mine is ready early?

I've always wondered this and just assumed they went to room and found corridor was t blocked off. They block corridors on embarkation day I've found when on the Magic until 1.30

 

[OKW Lover]

So you board the ship. What is your first mission?

Ours is typically to head for the dining room they are serving the embarkation day lunch. After that we either head for the location where they take Palo/Remy bookings if we couldn't get those on line ahead of time, or we go over to the Cove Bar for a bon-voyage drink or two.

 

[AZMermaid]

Is there a non buffet lunch option on all ships?

 

[OKW Lover]

Is there a non buffet lunch option on all ships?

No. Even the Main Dining Room is a buffet lunch on embarkation day. However, you could just go to the counter service locations on the pool deck if all you want is chicken, burgers, pizza etc.

 

[Alicatt]

I am so glad that someone posted about this. I'm a first timer and I just can't picture it. How urgent is signing up for the tastings? Are they all gone by 3 or is it just something you need to do before the muster?

 

[gismo1554]

Is there a non buffet lunch option on all ships?

The lunch served in one of the main dining rooms will be a buffett with drinks served at the table rather than having to carry them with the food. Both meals have the same food on the buffett itself. There is as others have said also the quick service restaurants open

 

[phinz]

Non-concierge: Straight to Bon Voyage for a beer in my mug, then off to set up my tastings/mixology/etc.
Concierge: Straight to the lounge for a glass of Glenfiddich or three and setting up my tastings/mixology/etc.

 

[CJinMD]

DO you have kids you are traveling with? On our cruises, we have always had our swimsuits on at the terminal. We board early (usually boarding group 2) and head straight to the pool. Once we get up there, get settled and get our sunscreen on, pool is open and Aquaduck, which opens slightly after the pools, has opened and they are empty. My kids love that time because they get crowded later in the day/cruise!