Your best piece of advice...

[Tandyc]

I want to thank everyone who took the time to write. I am getting such an education here. These are great tips. My two favorite are slow down and enjoy the moment and don't know too much. Boy does that take the pressure off.

Thanks again.

Tandy

 

[The4OfUs]

I finally thought of the ONE thing that bothered me enough for me to change it next time...the coffee!

I am not one that drinks alot of coffee during the day, but I DO enjoy my morning cup or two - I feel it is MY way to start the day off. And for some reason I couldn't stomach more than a sip or two of the Nescafe on board...it just tasted awful and spoiled, for me, that morning "break".

So next time I'll pack a little 2 oz. jar of instant coffee crystals, such as Maxwell House - go up, get the hot water they have for tea, and have a cup that I can enjoy.

I DID have one of the coffees from the Cove Cafe (espresso) one day, and it was wonderful, but BOY was I electrified after that one....*grin* And they're not open at 6:45am. *sigh*

I know I know, I whine about the coffee, but if that's the only thing that really bugged me, that shows how wonderful the time was, right? *wink*

 

[musicgirl]

Ditto jwann-it was awesome to be the first ones on the beach. We did this on our second cruise with my sister and her family. It was their first cruise and I wanted to make sure to take advantage of everything I could. It was great having the hammocks right on the edge.

BIL was very happy we did this, he bought the first round of konk koolers at CC. That's another thing to add, have a drink on the beach!

If you do not have kids to watch in the water, there is a group of hammocks in a triangle under the trees in the area near the gift shop. I think we'll be going there this time!

Also, I will always use a towncar service. Even though the DCL transfers are convenient, I did not like waiting for the bus at the airport to the resort for the land portion and after the cruise. But especially, I HATED arriving so late at the port from the WDW resort. We arrived around 1:30. The only good thing about that part of the transfer was that we didn't have to check in. They took our docs on the bus and we walked right onto the ship.

 

[Farms]

Take meclazine (bonine), whether you think you'll need it or not. I have never had trouble on the water, although I had never been on a cruise. About an hour after we pulled out, I started to become really sick. Ruined the first night for me. Went to the medical center and got some meclazine and felt better late in the second day. I would recommend taking it and having it in you system regardless of whether you think you'll need it or not, becuase waiting for it to take effect stinks!!!

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by alexandrew
avoiding stateroom 2520-very noisy

What was noisy about it?

Sam

 

[crisi]

The4ofUs -

If you really want GOOD coffee, pack grounds and a press pot. Even better than instant. Requires the same hot water.

 

[cindysteve]

I wish I had known that I could go to the buffet for lunch (and to plan on it, it was awesome) when I boarded early. Also that my kids could swim right away, and to have packed their swimsuits in a carryon bag.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

If you have kids take stain wipes just in case. Don't sweat getting ready for dinner--it doesn't have to be a big production as long as you are "neat and pretty"; don't waste precious cruise time fussing with hair and makeup. A little goes a long way. And use sunscreen often on any excursion.
Robin M.

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by crisi
The4ofUs -

If you really want GOOD coffee, pack grounds and a press pot. Even better than instant. Requires the same hot water.

GREAT idea!!

 

[jhorner]

The best thing to do when you get to Castaway Cay is get off the boat as soon as you can and get chairs at the family beach. I preferred one's with shade of the trees.

 

[jhorner]

Originally posted by 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.

I can't believe I just posted the same thing my sister said...I didn't even know she said this. Trust us newbees we are totally right, not only is the beach and chairs worth getting off the boat early but so is the snokling. Early in the morning the fish are everywhere and the water is clear because the sand has not yet been stirred up by all the kiddos.