Your best piece of advice...

[BoardwalkBabe]

... for the first time cruiser? What is the one thing you wish you had known prior to your first cruise? The one thing you wish you had brought with you or done or purchased? Thanks!!

 

[natdencro]

Wish I had lost 14lbs BEFORE I cruised............. and wish I had taken LESS luggage ON the cruise! Happy days!Nat

 

[moinab]

When you first walk onto the ship, slow down and take it all in. Don't be all focused on rushing to get ressies, etc. That first moment of walking into the atrium after all the planning and waiting is wonderful. Step off to the side, take a deep breath, look around, and let it sink in that you've finally made it!

 

[Little Twin Stars]

If you don't have a particular hotel that you insist to stay at before and after cruise, try to book one with priceline.

You will get a HUGE discount.

 

[webray]

I wish I had taken way less luggage. Next time. we will use the dry cleaning service..only take a couple pants/tops with us..and just relax.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

...that I was going to gain five lbs, as I ate the most wonderful food of my life everyday for one week.

When we cruised the following year, I lost five lbs. ahead of time!

 

[markey]

I know I will get flamed for this, but I really wish I had not know as much as I did on our first cruise in 2000. I knew everything you could find out from these boards. The 1st time was great, but I knew everything that was going to happen, as far as shows, and even the menu. A few surprises for me would have been nice. Don't get me wrong, I was glad to know about a lot of things but over knowledge is just as bad as none. It's almost like peeking at your Christmas presents before, you like what you get on Christmas morning but some of the thrill and surprise is gone.

 

[PeachyK]

I wish I had taken advantage of the advice on having them press your clothes the first day for the week. I was so obsessed with ironing , rolling, packing in plastic bags that I made myself a little crazy. I still had wrinkles.
It would definitely have been worth just packing clean clothes and having them press them, cause they just go back in the suitcase to go home. Probably would have taken up less room too!

 

[jollytammy]

I had said I wouldn't do any laundry, but the kids went through their clothes like crazy. I wish I had taken the advice and brought along a couple of wash tabs. It would have saved me a few dollars.

I wish I had known to bring my camera the last night at dinner. The servers put on a wonderful show. I had no idea that that was happening our last night at dinner!

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Stay up later.......get up earlier.......enjoy as much time on the cruise as you can. I have learned that you have an amazing amount of energy on a ship and can deal with later and earlier hours, and sleep in the sun or shade in the middle of the afternoon on deck!

Try to spend as many waking hours as you can. The week goes toooooo fast!

Participation is always good advice....even if you feel like you'll look dumb or something, who cares: stuff those ping pong balls into your bikini, do a belly flop, sing the national anthem, do a Karaoke duet with your sweetie, taste the wine, sing the songs! I will make the cruise just that much more fun!

Mrsfuzzmo

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Don't try to do everything, or don't worry about missing one thing in order to do another. Don't spend a lot of time agonizing over what to do and what to choose. Accept that you will never be able to do everything, and there will always be something else going on. Instead, pick something that you'll enjoy and just go enjoy it.

I mean this in general, but especially with regard to Palo. I think people worry way too much about which night to go. No night is a bad night, and yes, you will be missing something in the main dining room. Don't worry, Palo will be just as nice (if not nicer), so just choose a night and go.

 

[jrabbit]

Arive at the port earlier rather than later. I didn't realize that there was an embarkation day lunch buffet. We didn't arrive at the port until after 2:30 and we felt rushed the rest of the day. We like to arrive at the port around 11am, get checked in, enjoy the wait in the terminal until boarding time. There is the ship outside to look at, the model of the ship inside, the characters, the Disney/mickey cartoons on the tv's scattered around the terminal, the floor of the terminal (it's a map of the Bahamas).

We then board the ship, make Palo ressies, drop our carryon luggage in our room, check the kids into the clubs, go to the lunch buffet, and then wander the ship, or swim, or unpack. You may want to take the embarkation day "tour" of the ship. I don't remeber what it is called, but I think you start in Preludes (outside the Walt Disney Theater).

After the manditory safety drill, we put our lifejackets under the bed, and unpack our cloths. Empty suitcases go under the bed, on the shelf in the closet and/or on the floor of the closet. We also study the daily navigator that is in your room (it's different than the one you get when you check in). Now the hard choices are to be made. What activities do we participate in (easy) and which ones will we be missing (very hard). Then it's off to the Sail Away party up on deck 9/10.

Have Fun, Relax and enjoy!!

 

[figment52]

don't go ANYWHERE without a camera...magical moments happend anytime. If the kids are old enough give them disposable to take to the clubs with them. There are some mighty fun things happening there that mom and dad don't have pictures of.

 

[alexandrew]

avoiding stateroom 2520-very noisy

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Just slow down & have a good time. Do what YOU WANT not what others tell you to. Enjoy!!!

Allison an associate (DVC)

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We didn't know about topsiders when we boarded the first time 2/2000!!! We missed the lunch!!

 

[Nesnboy]

If you want to do a beach excursion, do one on your own. We did the beach through Disney on St Martin and, while we had a nice time, the kids were ready to get off the beach 1 1/2 before the buses came back. On St Thomas, we rented a car and did Coki beach on our own. It was cheaper and much mor relaxing.

 

[jwann]

Be one of the first people off the ship at Castaway Cay. The family beach is priceless in the morning, no crowd, hammocks everywhere, and the snorkeling is chrystal-clear.

 

[WIcruizer]

I know I will get flamed for this, but I really wish I had not know as much as I did on our first cruise in 2000. I knew everything you could find out from these boards. The 1st time was great, but I knew everything that was going to happen, as far as shows, and even the menu. A few surprises for me would have been nice. Don't get me wrong, I was glad to know about a lot of things but over knowledge is just as bad as none. It's almost like peeking at your Christmas presents before, you like what you get on Christmas morning but some of the thrill and surprise is gone.

I agree 100%. Same thing happened to us. We loved all the advice and it really helped, but on vacation I prefer to just take things as they come. Don't worry about msissing a "must see" "must do" or "must have."

Just slow down, take it all in, and enjoy.

 

[Magicboundagain4]

My advice is to send your laundry out every day for cleaning...it comes back the next day hung up and cleaned...don't spend your vacation in the laundry room....and you can bring along less clothes...believe me it is worth it. I have 6 in my family and believe me I do enough laundry the other 51 weeks of the year. I deserve one week off and I take it on the Magic. Spoil yourself for heavens sakes...it's Disney.