q If you are comfortable with it, book your excursions
on your own; you'll save money
q You can still have a fabulous time, even without paying
for excursions! “There are beautiful public beaches at every port and fairly
inexpensive transportation to get you there and back. That's what we did. We
had a blast and did not feel cheated or deprived in any way.” (sdmomof3)
q Sign up online for excursions as soon as you can.
DCL lets you create a “wish list” ahead of time, so when it’s time to make
reservations you already have all the information together
q Locate the free coupon books at the pier for
discounts you can use in the ports
q Pack the day’s necessities in a lightweight tote bag
for taking ashore. Make sure it’s large enough to hold souvenir purchases! “I
recommend you use a backpack as your beach bag, as it keeps your hands free for
shopping, checking maps, holding handrails, etc.” (PassPorter author Jennifer
Marx)
q “Go online and research the different ports. You can
get great maps, info, shopping tips, and even coupons ... all online. Then take
a three-ring binder, some dividers, and several clear three-ring pockets. Put
the coupons in the pockets and organize all of your materials in one easy
place. It also makes a great place to store receipts and things (so that your
PassPorter doesn’t get too full!). We have had a lot of fun flipping through
copies of Navigators, menus, and excursion info -- it’s an easy way to build
excitement or relive the memories!” (PassPorter/Virginia D.)
q “You can purchase inexpensive snorkel gear before
your trip and bring it with you to use in ports. You can also use it on
Castaway Cay and avoid the rental charges (you can use the snorkel vests free
of charge at the Castaway Cay snorkel lagoon). If you find cheap enough gear,
you can just leave it behind on the ship when you debark and save the space in
your luggage.” (PassPorter/Suzie C.)
q Guest Services sells foreign stamps. If you buy them
before you get to port, you don’t have to worry about finding a post office to
send those postcards.
q "If you travel in the Islands, you won't be
able to use your car seats. Taxis don't have seat belts to secure them and they
don't care for them as they take up too much room. (This is true in most
countries.) You will either have to hold [the children] in your laps or don't
do excursions that require traveling in vehicles. There may be a few
exceptions, but car seats are a rarity in the Islands." (misseulalie)
"Unfortunately, most places outside the U.S. and Canada are not big believers in seat belts or car seats. The Caribbean is one of them." (tvguy)
"Believe it or not, it is actually safer to have your little one in a bus
without a seat belt or car seat than it is to have your little one in a car
WITH a car seat. Studies have shown that buses keep people safe by a theory
called compartmentalization. Personally, my first choice is to book a Disney
excursion because of the buses. Since they are safer than a car seat in a taxi,
I don't need to bring my car seat onto the various islands with me. Also, I've
definitely gotten stuck with our car set and multiple taxis without seat belts
(argh!). I usually bring my Tote N Go car seat for these types of situations.
It is a fairly terrible car seat, but it travels easily and is better than
nothing." (JennsBabySky)
q "DCL opens the clubs early on port days. You'll
have plenty of time to drop them off before you have to meet for your
excursion. The only port day that is different is Castaway Cay day. On that day
they close the club on the ship while they set up on land. The club opens a bit
later on land. The same thing happens in reverse. You have to pickup on land
around 3 pm, and the club doesn't re-open until later on the ship. This gives
the counselors plenty of time to set up/break down and move back to the ship
from the CC location." (sweetsue)
q "The ships always use local time, so any
excursion times will be in the local times as well."
(SplashMountainManiac) "They will put a notice with the Navigator in your
room on nights you need to change your watch." (tvguy)
q 
“Don’t feel guilty if you’d
rather play on the ship than trek into town, at any port of call.” (LaurlieMT)
q Its exact position is 26 deg. 004.608 min N
latitude, 77 deg. 32.238 min. W longitude
q History of Castaway Cay:
http://outside.away.com/magazine/0199/9901blackbeard.html
q “If you have never been to CC, be sure to go up to Deck
9 or 10 to take a look at the island before people start getting off the ship.
It is so beautiful and pristine early in the morning, almost like something out
of a storybook.” (MB MinnieGirl)
q Send a postcard to yourself at home for a fun
postmark souvenir. Buy Castaway Cay postcards at Mickey's Mates, fill them out
in advance so you only have to mail them at the post office. Bring cash for
postage, as you cannot charge stamps to your KTTW card.
q “We ordered breakfast the night
before Castaway Cay and had it delivered first thing that morning. It helped us
wake up earlier and save time getting ready, so we maximized our time on CC…
They call you about 5 minutes before the waiter comes to your door, just in
case you are sound asleep.” (LaurlieMT)
q Towels are provided on Castaway Cay. There is no
need to bring them from home or from your cabin.
q Strollers are available when you disembark. There is
no charge.
q Bring your own sand toys. The ones available for
purchase ashore can be expensive, about $10/set. "Have you ever wondered
what happens to the sand toys after you leave CC? There's a great staff member
who collects them and makes gorgeous sand castles near the sting ray encounter
with the kids or by himself. Awesome!" (taeja71)
q “Much of the merchandise available in She Sells Sea
Shells shop on Castaway Cay is unique to that shop. You won’t find it for sale
onboard or anywhere else (besides possibly eBay). The prices here are also a
bit better than similar merchandise onboard!” (PassPorter/M.M.)
q The far side of the family beach is usually the
least crowded
q “My favorite [excursion] was parasailing in Castaway
Cay! My ten-year-old daughter and I flew in tandem and it was a
once-in-a-lifetime experience! I am a plus-sized woman, so this was probably
our only opportunity to go together without exceeding the weight limit. Taking
off and landing right in the boat made the experience less scary for my
daughter. My daughter is usually a talkative person, but she was silent while
airborne! She said later that she was awestruck at the amazing view from the
sky. Being together while parasailing was something so wonderful to have
shared, and something she will remember forever.” (PassPorter/Lucretia J)
q “In order to snorkel you MUST have a mask [not
goggles]!!!” (MB MinnieGirl)
q Snorkel early, before it gets crowded (and the water
gets cloudy)
q “All 10 of the Disney's snorkel vests we tried
leaked badly through the valve. You may want to consider bringing your own if
you need to rely on these for buoyancy (Note you must wear one in the CC
snorkeling area).”
q “Wear a t-shirt for snorkeling so you don’t get a
sunburn on your back. If you don’t have a swim cover-up, buy one of the Disney
Cruise Line t-shirts on the ship, in size XL or XXL. I got them for myself and
the kids and no one got burned (except me, when I was snorkeling without a
t-shirt). When you go snorkeling, go way out, as far as you can, away from the
beach. You’ll see much more that way. Look for the submerged submarine and the
Mickey statue between markers A and B.” (PassPorter/Mary B.)
q If you’d like to learn more about the island and get
a nice walk in too, take the Physical Fitness Walk the morning you arrive at
Castaway Cay (check the Navigator for meeting place and time).
q Serenity Bay is served by its own tram service that you catch at
the runway behind Cookie’s.
q At Serenity Bay (the adult beach), don’t turn in at
the first access. Instead, keep walking a little. There are fewer people on the
beach a little farther on. “I had been so excited after reading all the glowing
reports about it, that I expected more. The water was so shallow we had to go
waaaaaay out for the water to be up to our waists. I'm only 5' 3" so I
expected it to be deeper much sooner. DH is 6' 1" and I don't think he
ever found a good depth. We ended up back at the family beach which we found to
be much nicer, although it was crowded. I do have to say my beach massage at SB
made up for my disappointment though!!!” (jrose529)
q If you’re going to be playing in the water at Serenity Bay, you should bring along a pair of water shoes. The bottom there is much
rougher and many cruisers have regretted leaving their foot ware aboard. The sand
bottom at the family beach is soft and requires no protection.
q You won't have to rent floats if you are willing to
wait until around noon. By then enough are discarded and lying around, floating
"free" in the lagoon for your use.
q “The Pirates Treasure Hunt on Castaway Cay is a lot
of fun for those who like this sort of thing. The hunt is well done and offers
a variety of activities that are fun for kids and adults alike. Watch your
Personal Navigator for details on an orientation session, at which you collect
your clues. The hunt itself takes place on Castaway Cay and there’s no set
time, so you can do it when you’re ready.” (PassPorter/Kim L.) “If you miss the
orientation session, you may still be able to pick up a copy of the
clues—inquire at Guest Services or at the information booth on Castaway Cay.”
(PassPorter author Jennifer Marx)
q “I did the sting ray excursion. It was amazing; anyone
looking for a fun thing to do on Castaway Cay … I totally recommend it!!!!”
(Cruisin’Coll3) “They let non-paying guests enter the sting-ray beach and play
with sand toys while the rest of the family is doing the excursion … The
excursion includes snorkel mask and tube to be used in the contained area only
… Videotaping and pictures can be done from the shore or in shallow water. The
rays are fed 10 feet from shore. This was the best excursion - don't miss it
and make sure to take all the family!” (zukeeper)
q Go to the food line at the far right at Cookie's BBQ
- it's usually empty or short.
q “Bahama Mama” beverages are 2-for-1.
q “On Castaway Cay, we came back from the adult beach
to eat at Cookies. All around us people had tropical fruit on their plates. I
went back to the buffet and looked and looked, but never found any! Figured
they had run out. It turned out there was a fruit stand on the other side of
Cookies, closer to the ship. By the time I found it after leaving lunch, I was
already stuffed. Don't let it happen to you!”
q You can rent bikes on Castaway Cay to explore
limited areas of the island. “They have bikes w/training wheels!” (kb1esx)
q "We went on the kayaking excursion. I don't
think I would take binoculars. It starts with a hike down the bike path behind Serenity Bay. Past the end of the bike path is a trail to the beach with the kayaking. We
all had double kayaks. I can't say for sure, but I don't think there were any
singles available. Most of the participants had never been in a kayak before.
This is very shallow water kayaking. The things you see are sea urchins and
such. We are both experienced kayakers (we own both a single and a double) and
we enjoyed the excursion. Afterward there was an opportunity to snorkel on the
beach. We were not disappointed at all. The guides were great. There was plenty
of time in the kayak." (ssnyder)
q "On CC we all met up and got our spot on the
beach ... we packed a fun windsock which we hung up so no matter where any of
us were on the beach (kids or adults) we could all find where the group
was." (scrapperjill)
q "My best friend from college bought the two of
us (girls) a cabana's couples massage as a way of thanking me for all of the
group-planning that I did to lead up to our cruise. We had a blast, and ended
up chatting up with the two massage therapists, too. Yes, it was not the
traditional "quiet, introspective, aroma-laden" massage that I'm used
to, but it was awesome nonetheless that we had a blast." (flexsmom)
q Traveling with a wheelchair: "On Castaway Cay,
get off the ship early to get one of the beach wheelchairs they provide free of
charge. They are difficult to get back up the hill in the sand but are much
easier to get around the beach than a standard chair and they can be taken into
the water (beware, though, the front end floats!)." (KSDTink)
Cozumel
q If needing urgent dental treatment, take a taxi to
the Medical Centre; it's where crew members go also.
q “BEWARE of cab drivers telling you that certain
beaches are not open. They told us that San Francisco & Paradise were
closed due to hurricane, and they would take us to Mr Sanchos. They even almost
refused to turn in, even when I insisted that I KNEW they were open, and the
sign said OPEN! Some cab companies get a kickback from taking you to a certain
beach. So, if you wanna go, don't let ‘em tell you different!” (nextcruz)
q “Make sure you check out the All Inclusive Beach Resort
(http://cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/AllInclusiveResort.htm)
which is what we've decided to do. It’s an awesome deal, $40 and our kids are
half that. You get breakfast, lunch buffet, non-motorized water sports, KIDS
CLUB, all the drinks and food you want, even towels too. They have a nice
beach, 2 pools. It’s like a dream come true. It’s at the Reef Resort.”
(wavegirl)
q “We went to Paradise Beach and loved it. Told the
taxi driver we wanted to go to a public beach and we're very glad he took us
there. There were plenty of chairs and umbrellas. My DH and DD rented wave
runners and my older DD and I enjoyed the water, refreshments and shopping in
the little store. Taxis are lined up at the entrance so there is no waiting, so
you can come and go as you please and it is only 5 miles from where the Magic
docks. The ride took approximately 15 minutes. I'm looking forward to
returning. Next time, we will spend more time at Paradise Beach and less time
shopping.” (mickeym) “Paradise Beach has a great web site and the food is
reasonable. Drinks are either $7 or $13 (yard) ... The other good option I found
was Playa Mia. If you go to their web site they have the all inclusive with
food for $42 … a quick Google of these places will get you their web sites.”
(dodukes) “Here's a link to trip advisor comments on the Reef Club: Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150809-d214260-Reviews-or10-Reef_Club_Cozumel_Beach_Dive_Resort-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html). We visited Paradise Beach and enjoyed it. The
food was great - about $50 for 4 of us. And the $8 armband is a great value for
the kids. Includes water trampoline, iceberg, snorkel gear, kayak, floats. We
actually had fun snorkeling off the pier - saw a couple of big fish. A cab ride
is $12 each way, and they are waiting outside to take you back to the ship
whenever you choose. Nice bathroom/changing facilities that they were
constantly cleaning. We had 2 lounges with umbrella, and the staff takes your
order and brings your drinks and food to your chairs! Awesome! There is still
some evident hurricane damage, but we noticed it even more at San Francisco Beach. They were working feverishly on the thatch roofs and laying concrete
blocks! The 2 beaches are literally attached, so if you want to take a cab out,
then decide which beach you can do that, too. That's what we did … They do ask
if you use a lounger and umbrella that you spend $8 on food/drinks. Not a
problem. By the way, they are one of the few places that still serve tropical
drinks in the coconut shell! Fun!” (nextcruz)
q “If I had to choose between Paradise Beach and another excursion, I would choose a different excursion. We were at Paradise Beach in April and it was not anything special. The rocks in the water ate us alive.
The ice berg was extremely far out and very difficult to climb up on. Their
snorkeling equipment is very old and worn out. The kayaks were nice as were the
float mats. We tried to eat in the cafe but after sitting at a table for 25
minutes and never being able to get anyone’s attention, water or menus, we got
up and left. IMHO there are much better things to do in Cozumel.” (eeyoregon) “Paradise Beach in Cozumel is GREAT. It was one of our best days – extremely relaxing and fun.
Good food, cheap beer and a spot in the shade to boot. It was even a bit
crowded the day we were there, but we really, really had fun and we had mixed
feelings about what to do in Cozumel. We’d do it again in a minute.” (jd99)
q “I booked a private fishing trip for my son, husband
and step father. They loved it. The guide, Luis, took special interest in
making sure everyone had a great time. Luis and his crew provided everything.
My 6-year-old said it was the best part of going on the ship. Luis and his wife
Cristina have two boats. They take people on fishing trips, scuba trips, and
snorkeling. Luis speaks English and loves being around kids. He let my son
drive the boat, helped him fight a fish and talked with them about life in Mexico. The boats that they use are new and in great shape (we know -- I grew up in South Florida and drove a boat before I drove a car).” www.fishcozumel.com (Mickeyteacher)
q If you buy a rum cake, either don't break the seal
or plan to eat all of it onboard.
q www.cozumelparks.com
q www.paradisecozumel.com
q www.playamia.com/index.htm
q “I went horseback riding in Cozumel last year. I
don't remember the name of tour but it was sponsored by Disney. I went with my
son and had a good time. The horses were gentle and they asked each rider how
experienced they were. We were going to ride on the beach, but for some reason
the beach walk was cancelled. It was fun and we had a really good tour guide.”
(howardk613’s wife)
q "Cozumel is known as the place in the Caribbean to get silver. The prices are unbeatable, and keep in mind that even in the
fanciest looking stores, you can almost always talk down the price. If you
can't, leave and go next door and start over again. Most places will sell the
silver items for about half of the price you are originally quoted."
(Float My Boat)
Grand Cayman
q “Seven Mile Beach is the best beach I have ever been
to. Sand is wonderful. Snorkeling is the best I've experienced.” (chriswilliam)
“Did the 7 Mile Beach Break on 7/29/06 Magic and it was great. Close to ship,
not crowded and nice sand. Chairs and umbrellas for everyone. Best of all, I
was back to the ship in less than 5 hrs.” (hojolo)
q “Blue Iguana Souvenir Outlet is the best place by
far.” “We found that the shopping was either typical cheaper souvenirs, or very
expensive. I did find a coupon on the internet for 10% off at the Blue Iguana
Souvenir store, which is right near where you catch the tender.” (AshburnMom)
q “Rackham's is a little way down on the left from the
dock. The deck overlooks the ocean, the food looks and smells wonderful, and
for the beer lovers in your group the stingray city light and dark beers are
both wonderful. They also have a great souvenir shop; in fact, that is where we
got all our souvenirs for everyone. Better prices than most the other shops in Grand Cayman.”
q If you buy a rum cake, either don't break the seal
or plan to eat all of it onboard.
q “We rented a day room at the Westin in Grand Cayman. I know that others say they “sneak” onto property and use the pool and the
beach, but I prefer doing it the right way – that’s just me. Plus it gave us an
air-conditioned place for DD2 to take a quick nap in the afternoon. Cost was
less than the DCL beach break for our family and the beach and pool there are
immaculate. I highly recommend it.” (jd99)
Key West
q “We did Key West on our own. You can see a lot by
walking around, depending on how hot it is. We ended up buying a daily pass for
the Bone Island Shuttle ($7 each for all day riding). Not as many stops as the
Trolley, but more cost efficient and you get to see more of Key West if you
ride the entire circuit. We bought our tickets at the same booth as they sell
the trolley tickets near the Key West Aquarium.”
q "You can do the trolley tour on your own, very
easily if you choose to, no need to book it in advance. It is a very good tour
and a nice way to get a great overview of Key West. Almost everything is within
walking distance of the port. Your other option ... rent one of those golf cart
cars to get around. It is a blast, and you can see everything that is a bit
further away very quickly. They give you a map, phone number to call if you
have trouble. They are great to work with." (webray)
q "We took the trolley and had a great time. You
CAN get off the trolley at various stops and then reboard another trolley.
However, there are a couple of different types of trolleys. The one that looks
like a little train does not allow you to get off and on. The one that looks
like a traditional trolley does. If in doubt ask when you buy your ticket. My
DS8 enjoyed the trolley. The aquarium was also a big hit. When you purchase aquarium
admission it's good for the entire day, so if you go early you can stop back on
you way to the ship. There's a nice touch tank that the kids love. We took the
trolley and got off at the butterfly conservatory, which is also close to the
southern most point. It's a bit of a hike to walk there. Lots of interesting
bits of trivia on the trolley. We didn't know that Key West declared war on the
U.S. - now we do. I was hesitant about Key West, thought about staying on the
ship. I'm glad we didn't." (noahsmom)
q "There is so much to do and see around Mallory Square - you can walk to the east of Mallory Square and you will find all types of
shops, restaurants and locals here and there. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce
which is right there at Mallory Square and they will direct you to anything you
want to do and see. They will also make sure you have maps, coupons, history of
Key West. Believe me, you can NOT get lost in Key West - its a 2 by 4 island
and the main streets are Whitehead, Duval and Simonton. Yep, the chickens do
run wild there and have since the turn of the century (not this century! :-) )" (snelsonbrown)
q www.fla-keys.com
q www.keywestvisitorguide.com
q www.keywestsearch.com
q “We went to the Pirate Soul Museum (used a buy 1 get
1 free adult admission coupon that was online). The kids loved it—it was pretty
good for a pirate museum.” (AshburnMom)
q www.kinosandalfactory.com has some great shoes! "I have two pairs and
love them, I have two pairs of Lillies, white and brown. Shirley (Perfect Gift)
took a huge order with her last year to take to Key West and she filled it. She's
awesome. Anyway, they run right to size, but no half orders. If you want to see
what they look like, go right to their web site, very easy." (Jillpie)
"Between my husband and I we probably own about 25 pair. Both having grown
up in FL, we have been fans of these sandals for a very, very long time. They
are all we wear when not at the office. They also last a long time - if you get
them dirty just rinse them off. Buy as many as you can for yourself, gifts,
etc... you will not be disappointed, I promise!" (MCourtney) "I've
had one pair for close to 25 years and they still look nice and are super
comfy. They last for a long time for the money. The prices haven't changed much
in that time either. I love them!" (jilljill) "They are the best. I
have five pairs, and I wear them to the Magic Kingdom all the time. They are
the most comfy sandals I've ever owned." (jodifla)
q “The kids and I didn’t bother
getting off the [ship] since there were so many fun things to do on the ship
that first full day, and the crowds were very light since everybody else went
into town. We didn’t feel like we missed much. There are NO good beaches in Key West, and the kids aren’t into shopping or walking around. DH went into town for a
little while, just in order to go shopping at the CVS drugstore to get the few
things we forgot. Don’t feel guilty if you’d rather play on the ship than trek
into town, at any port of call.” (LaurlieMT)
Nassau
q The legal drinking age in The Bahamas is 18.
q Shopping in The Bahamas is both duty and tax free.
q The most unique and quintessentially Bahamian
holiday is Junkanoo, an Afro-Bahamian festivity. This raucous all-night
explosion of tinkling cowbells, throbbing drums, shrieking horns, rattling
shak-shaks and colourful costumes is staged on Boxing Day, the day after
Christmas, and again on New Year's. Discovery Day is big, Columbus having first
landed here on his celebrated first trip in search of a shortcut to the Orient.
The Bahamian "Fourth of July" is on July 10, a traditionally glorious
day and evening of fireworks and outdoor-indoor parties marking full
independence from Great Britain.
q “If you look in the onboard excursion itinerary, it
offers a dolphin program, which is run by “Dolphin Encounters” in Nassau. The cost through Disney Cruise Line is $99 for adults. My tip is that if you book
directly through the Dolphin Encounters web site you will save yourself about
$15 because the same program is only $85 for adults. They also offer a
Swim-With-the-Dolphins experience which is a much more hands-on experience in
deeper water (with life vests) for $165 which is NOT EVEN OFFERED by Disney.
Moreover, these programs can be booked up to six months in advance, so you can
secure your spot early, before all the other passengers! For more information,
visit www.dolphinencounters.com.” (PassPorter/Gabriella B.)
q “Disney cruise ships have no casinos, but you can
still get your gambling fix at ports of call. If you’re going to Nassau, plan to visit the Atlantis Casino (www.atlantis.com) with more than 880 slot machines and 78 table games.” (PassPorter/S.M.)
q “My advice for Nassau, unless you are in the market
for cheap jewelry, hair braiding, or tacky souvenirs, is to skip this island.
There are so many fun things to do aboard the ship, and it will not be as
crowded.” (PassPorter/BuzznWoody)
q I have not done the actual Rose Island excursion through DCL, but in October 2005, we were staying at Atlantis (me, wife, three
daughters under 10, and three teen-age nieces) and we opted for a visit to Rose Island for a day. The island is every bit as beautiful as CC, but it is far less
developed and not at all crowded. They had snorkeling and you could buy a $1
bag of dog food and have the fish eat out of your hand. They had kayaks and
hammocks. Everyone in our group loved it and we would go back again if given
the chance.
q "My family really enjoyed the Stingray
Excursion (don't worry, their barbs are removed) on Blackbeard's Cay. We met
around 9:45am for this excursion and were back around 3:30pm, so its a better
bang for your buck than the one on Castaway Cay (which only lasts about an
hour). My DDs (6&7 at the time) loved this excursion. There was about a
little over an hour with the stingrays. They were very friendly and my DDs enjoyed
petting and feeding them (they weren't big on the snorkeling part). After the
stingray portion you had a few hours to lounge on a very nice beach and were
fed lunch (just burgers and dogs --but pretty good)." (shaycamp21)
q "The pirate museum at Nassau is very good. The
historical city tour is very good if you like history. We saw two forts and
Queen Anne's staircase, which was very interesting. The dig at Atlantis is good
too. I don't usually like aquariums but this one was worth seeing. Do NOT waste
your time with the sunshine glass bottom boat ride. We did this and saw
practically no fish and the boat was dirty and the steps to the viewing area
were steep and hard to use. If you have a small child you will have to hold
them up over a half wall for them to see the window in the bottom of the boat.
We even did the horse and carriage ride at the port. It was only $10 per person
and took about 25 minutes. It was a nice way to do one more thing before
getting back on the ship." (mom x4,grandma x4)
q "I've gone to the Wyndham Resort and spent the
day enjoying their beach area (Cable Beach)." (GavinsMom) "If you
don't want to go all the way over to Atlantis, you could go to Cable Beach. My DH and I stayed at the Radisson on Cable Beach for our honeymoon and it was
wonderful. We weren't bothered too much by people wanting to sell things or
braid my hair. If so, before they could finish their sentence, I'd say
"no, thank you" and they were on their way. You must try a Bahama
Mama while there. They were yummy! You can either take a taxi or the local bus
goes right by it from downtown. We dared to take the bus and it was like being
in a movie. The driver had Bob Marley blaring and it was breezy from the open
windows. However, our driver drove like a crazy man. It was an
"experience." I'd recommend a taxi. Do they need driver's licenses in
the Bahamas? They are very scary drivers. Our driver from the airport to the
hotel made his own lane on the little two lane road. I somehow ended up in the
front seat and was holding on for dear life." (TheTXTaylors5)
St. Maarten/St. Martin
q “As soon as you walk off the ship, you come to a
little area with shops, and to the left is the water taxi, you can't miss it.
It's $5 round trip, all day. Kids under 12 are free. There are 2 stops.”
(Tarabra)
q Instead of Great Bay, “Try Little Bay. We've gone
over there twice and had a good time. It's a lot quieter and much less crowded.
There are some rental stuff there, along with restrooms and a snack bar. The
snorkeling along the east side of the bay is nice. Watch out for all the fire
coral, though.” (GeorgiaVol)
q “The 12 Metre Regatta in St. Maarten is the best
excursion I've ever taken.” (tvguy)
q “We thought Phillipsburg was dirty and run-down,
although most the shops were decent. Marigot (on the French side) was lovely,
and we found an outdoor market selling handmade jewelry and art. I could’ve
spent hours there, and wish I had known something about it before we went.”
q “We walked around the shops, but with a stroller and
VERY narrow roads, I wouldn't do it again.” (Tarabra)
q “We went on the island tour and glass-bottom boat
excursion. The bus driver narrated throughout the tour and he was really funny.
The boat experience was exciting but a little claustrophobic. Grand Case was
gorgeous.”
q St. Maarten’s official web portal:
www.st-maarten.com
q “Disney cruise ships have no casinos, but you can
still get your gambling fix at ports of call. In St. Maarten, the Princess
Casino (on the Dutch side) is the largest and most elegant.” (PassPorter/S.M.)
St. Thomas/St. John
q “St. Thomas is a US territory and their legal
currency is the US dollar.” (TnRobin)
q “Charlotte Amalie has great shops. Unique stores,
beautiful jewelry, great deals--shoppers' paradise!” (carol31j)
q “Be sure you catch the $1 taxi into town. If you can
get over to the little plaza by the ship, then walk a little ways to the left
and you'll get to a Wendy's, a little open taxi/van will pick you up for a
dollar and take you into town.” (Tarabra)
q Paradise Point Tramway:
www.paradisepointtramway.com
q If you rent a car here, remember that they drive on
the left (opposite from in the U.S.). “The Avis location is a short walk from
the ship. You walk thru the Havensight Mall and cross the street. They are on
the corner across from a large alcohol store … Cars were clean, but many
scratches, dents and such so make sure you inspect and note damage carefully so
you don't get charged.” (sdaniel105)
q “We did the Island Tour excursion. The bus had open
sides and was very noisy, which scared our DS2. The adults liked it for the
fresh air and good views, though. The island is beautiful, much cleaner than
St. Maarten, and the bus took us to some high points that gave us great views
of the island. I got some of our best pictures of the Magic from a perch on a
hill.”
q "We LOVED the Eco hike on St. John. It is such
a gorgeous island! It starts with a boat ride over to St. John, then right away
- a guided hike (not too strenuous) to a gorgeous look-out (brought tears to my
eyes). Then down to Honeymoon Beach (gorgeous) for some GREAT body surfing and
lounging - my 2 DS's LOVED that part. Also a tour of the rum factory ruins. All
in all - a GREAT time." (cantsitstill)
q "We just came back from a Carnival Cruise that
took us to St. Thomas as one of the stops and used a non-Disney excursion
called Godfrey Tours www.godfreytoursvi.com.
For $25/person he took us shopping, on a tour of the island and then our choice
of beach. It was one of the best things we've ever done on St. Thomas."
(gometros)
q "We did the Magen's Bay Beach Break, but we did
it on our own. $3 per person for beach admission and then $8 each way per
person for the cab. It worked out much cheaper then the Disney excursion and we
could leave the ship after we ate and return just before all aboard!"
(J&K'sPrincessMommy)
q "The Doubloon excursion is the best Caribbean excursion I have been on, period. Even better than a scuba I went to once. For
more info go to the website at www.doubloon.com.
You leave the harbor on the ship under motor (to get to the snorkeling faster).
The snorkeling is awesome and the guides are top notch. After the snorkeling
you go back to port under sail. They serve snacks and drinks including frosty
adult beverages if you are so inclined. To say that they are generous in the
“rum ratio” of the drink is the understatement of the year! They give everyone
a pirate tattoo (which is cool to have before the pirate party!) and take
pictures of everyone and post them on the website. I don’t remember the age
limits but I do remember kids being on my excursion and one got to pilot the
pirate ship! They provide the “Mae” vests to help weaker swimmers. I would say
your kids would love it if they like water, just bring a disposable waterproof
one!" (ashman) "We loved swimming around with the sea turtles. It was
amazing and the crew was a lot of fun!" (TSirgey) "The Doubloon Sail
and Snorkel was the best excursion we have ever been on." (steveandtonya)
q ”A great time to enjoy the ship
and have it mostly to yourselves is between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. The early diners
are eating and the late diners are at the show. DH and I would just walk decks
9 and 10 or hang out in the hot tub. We have SOOO many pics of the ship where
there is not a soul in sight.” (Tarabra) “Don’t feel guilty if you’d rather
play on the ship than trek into town, at any port of call.” (LaurlieMT)
q Wine, beer and martini tastings
are offered (check your Navigators for exact times). “At our martini tasting on
the 12/2/06 sailing, it was $15 per person and you got 4.5 small martinis. The
glasses they are in are about a third the size of a normal martini. The first
was a traditional gin martini. After a taste of that they then add olive juice
to your glass and you now have the second martini, the dirty martini (so no
more alcohol, just a different taste to test). Then we got a sour apple
martini, then a chocolate martini and then a cosmopolitan. We learned a little
about the drink itself and the history behind and learned about different
alcohols, all in all a very fun hour. Definitely get your tickets at Guest
Services before the event; ours was a sell out that day.” (Donald’s#1Fan) “We
bought tickets at Guest Services right before the scheduled time. Some people
were buying them at the tasting itself. I heard the wine tasting is very
popular so you may want to buy them in advance.” (DrCavin) “Don't worry if you
miss the martini tasting, you can go to the promenade lounge and do
the martini tasting at any time you want. They had two
different tasting menus when we were on the ship, same martinis as the
organized tasting.” (webray)
q “A snack cart is available outside the movie theatre
before the show, but the prices are steep. Instead of spending money on snacks,
order some stuff from room service in advance and take it with you to the movie
theatre. Cookies, Mickey Ice Cream Bars, and potato chips are popular snacks to
take to a movie.” (PassPorter/S.M.)
q “When you first step on the ship and then go
directly to your stateroom for your Personal Navigator, the choices of things
to do are overwhelming, but you don’t want to miss a thing. As a first-time
cruiser, I felt obligated to go to the speech in the Buena Vista Theater about
our day at Nassau and a review of the shopping and tour excursions. I actually
missed the Sail Away Party and the special “tune” as we left port because the
speech was still going on at that time. So disappointing! And when we got to
our stateroom later that evening to relax for a few minutes, the very same
speech was being replayed on our TV. So there was no need to miss something as
much fun as our first departure to hear these speeches. Almost all of them are
replayed later (at several different times) on your TV, including the
disembarkation talk.” (PassPorter/Gerry)
q For the “Who Wants to be a Mouseketeer” show, wait
to sit down until everyone else has. Pick out an empty row or one that has very
few people. When the computer picks seats for the "hot seat" it is
done randomly. If the seat is empty they go to the next closest one. So, if
your row is practically empty you have a better chance.
q You can borrow books and magazines from the Cove
Café.
q “If you have not seen a movie on the ship and have
the time - do it! We had a ball. The theater is just big enough and it has the
DCL elegance with it that you certainly don't feel at home - or at least we
don't.” (MB MinnieGirl)
q “Bring your Disney trading pins to swap at trading
sessions onboard. Not only can you get some great pins, but during those
sessions when the Captain and/or officers participate, it’s a great chance to
meet the crew.” (PassPorter/Jack D.)
q Check the info board by guest services for the
character schedule or call the hotline. Be early for the Princesses.
q To find out what movies will be playing on your
cruise, about a week before call 888-325-2500 and choose “reservations” to ask.
"Most often the "NEW" movies that they show are Disney movies.
They show the new releases the same day they come out everywhere else, just
after midnight ... so on the ship you are able to see the "new"
movies about 12 hours before anyone on land." (scrapperjill)
q Theaters: “I love the movie theater, but it is COLD.
Take the extra blanket (in one of the cabinets in your stateroom) with you to
keep warm.“ (joan4mickey) “Even if you're not always cold, take a blanket or
sweatshirt anyway! I was very comfortable with the temperatures every place
else *except* the Walt Disney Theater. It was so cold in there, it was actually
painful!” (SeaSpray)
q Go to all the productions, and don’t leave
early—some shows have surprises even after they appear to have ended!
q Go to at least one program/activity a day. The
cruise staff is great, and you get to meet people other then the ones you see
at meals.
q “Don’t be a deck chair hog. It’s inconsiderate to
put towels and personal belongings on poolside lounge chairs to “save” them
unless you are actually in the pool.” (CruiseDiva)
q “I went to the shopping seminar in the afternoon,
which I totally hated. I naively thought it would be info on local crafts and
jewelry. Instead it was a canned presentation to push all the expensive jewelry
outlets at the ports. There was even a generic movie with Robin Leach to show
on every cruise ship out there. Hated it.” (AshburnMom) “I went to a shopping
seminar and scored a free t-shirt and coupons (one for a free 1-carat tanzanite
stone!). Otherwise it was pretty boring.”
q Arrive at least 15 minutes early for bingo to avoid
long lines to purchase cards. Play, or at least attend, jackpot bingo the last
night. It's a blast.
q “If you go to a napkin folding class you will be
given a cloth napkin to take home and practice with. Do not leave it laying
around your cabin! We did, and unfortunately our steward took it away, thinking
it was a dirty one. He was very apologetic when we asked about it and got us a
white one from room service but they weren't as well starched or as a nice a
color (we had green ones from the class and this one was white).”
q “Diversions has chess/checkers boards—one day
someone had arranged the checkers in a Mickey shape!” If you're headed to
Diversions to watch a game, you can bring food from other places in. "I
even brought my own beer into Diversions, and the server was kind enough to
bring me a glass!" (Float My Boat) "They have GREAT wings and a few
other munchies." (ivanova)
q “The adult theme parties, such as ‘70s Night and
‘80s Night, often draw volunteers from among the adults attending that
evening’s festivities. Volunteers get roped into doing things like lip-sync to
Gloria Gaynor or pretend to be one of the Village People. Sure, it’s a bit
embarrassing, but it’s also a lot of fun and sometimes you get a free drink or
bauble out of the experience. If you’d like to get volunteered, the trick is to
get up and dance early in the evening—be enthusiastic, outgoing, and the ‘life
of the party.’ During this early dance the crew members are walking about looking
for ‘party people.’ This is your chance to make an impression! Good luck!”
(PassPorter/John T.)
q “If you have small kids take advantage of the
matinees of the nighttime shows when you can. This was a lifesaver for us as we
had early dinner rotation and thus would have to see the shows at 8:30 p.m.
When there was a matinee we went because generally one or both of the girls
would fall asleep at the late show.” (jd99)
q Kids can have their hair braided on Deck 9 or
Castaway Cay. How much does braiding cost? "Not sure about a full head...
my girls got the "headband" style (that's corn rows halfway back with
beads). For that style they charged $2 per braid. DD5 had 12 braids. DD8 took
14 to do her head. Don't forget to add a tip." (disneydizz) "$2 a
braid on top, $1 for the other braids. It is usually around $25 for me to get
the headband style, if you do it on the ship. On Castaway Cay the braids are
smaller ... more braids = more money, smaller braids = more hurting. I think
they say that whole head averages out around $60 for a person with normal
thickness, in- between length hair." (RrCoAsTeR) "On CC I was sitting
near a teenager getting her entire head braided. She had long thick hair. Her
mom asked in advance how much and was told about $150." (Ski-and-Sea)
"My DD(8) just had this done on Castaway Cay. She has hair to the middle
of her shoulder blades. Wound up being $109 plus tip. Ouch. But she loved it.
Be warned - it can be quite painful. We need to take two breaks - got up, went
to the restroom, took a walk, wiped away the tears and then came back. It took
about 2 hours. Now taking them out last night - 3½ hours and she looked like a
fuzzball. Not as painful as putting them in, but it did pull some. I asked her
and she said that she would do it again." (AboutTheMouse)
q "We have always had the privilege of attending
a [church/worship] service on the seven day cruise. It has been in different
places actually, from Diversions (actually before the change to Diversions) to
the small theater, to Sessions this past cruise (9/2). But it has always been
at 9:00 or 9:15 on Sunday morning and on this most recent navigator it was
listed on the "special" line of the new grid format. It is run by a
crew member and has always been very nice." (allears)
q (written Oct 2006) "Based on recent Navigators,
the Disney Magic now restricts any outdoor smoking to the port (left when
facing forward) side. However, on the Disney Wonder, this restriction only
applies to cigar smoking. At least, that's how the rules are written. The rules
for the Disney Magic are clear and unambiguous. The entire ship in non-smoking
except for very limited designated smoking areas. (It's interesting that the
Magic's list does not include private verandahs. However, I have to believe
that passengers still smoke on their private verandahs.) The rules for the
Disney Wonder are badly written. Based on the wording of the Wonder's rules, a
passenger could conclude that 's it's okay to smoke in the restaurants,
theaters and other public indoor areas, and that it's okay to smoke cigars on
the port side of the Mickey pool. That's not the case. Whoever is in charge
passenger publications for the Disney Wonder needs to improve the wording. It
makes no sense that the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder should have different
rules. The outdoor smoking rules genuinely appear to differ between the two
ships. Disney Magic: ' For the comfort of our guests the following areas
are designated as smoking areas: open decks on the port Side (excluding Mickey
Pool area), Diversions after 9:00 p.m., Sessions.' Here are the latest smoking
rules that I'm aware of on the Disney Wonder: ' Smoking is not permitted in
staterooms and is restricted in certain lounges. Cigar smoking is permitted on
outside decks 4, 9 & 10 port side only.'" (Horace Horsecollar) "I
just got off the Wonder a week ago, and signs are very clearly posted on the
starboard side of decks 4, 9 and 10 that smoking is NOT permitted there."
(101DalmFan)
q The absolute best and most comprehensive DCL guidebook
is the PassPorter’s Guide to the Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call. If
you are planning a cruise and you don’t have this book, drop everything RIGHT
NOW! It can be purchased at many locations, such as www.passporter.com, www.amazon.com, or
www.overstock.com.
q Meet incredibly wise and experienced cruisers at www.disboards.com. Get any imaginable question answered on
the DCL boards.
q Get inexpensive pirate-y wear at party supply
stores, or order online at www.oriental.com
or www.mninternational.com. If you can’t
order in small quantities, bring the extras to share with other cruisers!
q Order a gift basket made by Shirley at The Perfect
Gift (www.theperfectgift.cc)
q Plan to arrive to Port Canaveral (or a transfer
location) the day before the cruise departs
q Plan tipping amounts into your cruise budget. Excellent
tip calculator: http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
q Make address labels for postcards you plan to send
while away from home. You won’t have to pack a bulky address book.
q Find out about customs laws at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel before you
leave home. You don’t want to end up having to surrender your fabulous purchases.
q Read the most current TSA restrictions at www.tsa.gov.
q Leave a copy of your passport, driver license, and
credit cards with someone at home.
q Call your credit card companies to let them know
you’ll be using your cards out of the U.S. This will eliminate the possibility
of holds being put on your accounts for “suspicious” charges. “If you plan on
using a debit card, inform your bank and make sure they get a contact number
for, though that's hard to do on the ship, because they also have security
features that will shut down the card. The bank I work for has this service and
we've already had a couple of customers caught off guard while on vacation.”
(allears) “If your card gets declined, get on the phone to the credit card
company. I would check to find out if the company you use has any international
toll-free numbers just in case a problem arises!” (TiggerKing) “Another thing
to check is the fee the credit card company charges for overseas transactions.
Some of them can be 2 to 3%. Capital One is one of the cards that does charge a
transaction fee.” (nordkin)
q Ship yourself a package to be delivered to the ship
upon your arrival. “I would strongly advise you to call Disney to make sure
this is still the correct address: IDS,
9001 Marlin Street, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, (321)799-9100. Package must
arrive by 5:00 PM on Fri. for Sat and Sun sailings, by 11:00 AM on Thursday for
Thursday sailings. You must have your name/stateroom#/ship name on the outside
of the package.” (PURTYPAT1) “We mailed 4 boxes before our repo cruise left Florida. The boxes were waiting in our room for us when we arrived on the ship. Worked
great. We only mailed things we would not have to take home with us, the gift
bags for the DISboard people traveling, etc.” (webray) “The last 2 cruises I
mailed my packages the week before (I live in the New York area) with Fedex
ground. You can track it with them and they have GREAT customer service just in
case there is a problem. Both cruises they arrived with no problem. I did ship
soda in one of my boxes, along with some wine, and scissors. I bubble-wrapped
it and then bubble-wrapped it, and then I bubble-wrapped it some more. I just
did not want to take any chances of it opening. The only problem I had was
opening the bubble wrap. Everything arrived perfect. The second cruise, I sent
swim masks, flippers and plastic row boat (they will air fill it on Castaway
Cay). The kids had a blast in the boat. When we were through, I just threw
everything away. It saved us lots of time and money.” (PURTYPAT1)
q “Most tap water tastes like mud puddles to me. I use
a filter at home, and usually drink bottled water when I travel. Although the
water in the staterooms is treated for drinking, I thought it was horrible, and
the water at the beverage station was no better. I was all ready to ship myself
a case of bottled water for our next cruise, until I heard about water filter
sport bottles. Apparently the Brita ones have been discontinued, but the ones by
Pure Water 2Go (www.purewater2go.com) are
comparable. I’d much rather carry around a couple sport bottles than an entire
case of bottled water!”
q Need to get a passport photo taken? AAA members can
have them taken at their local AAA office at no charge. Check www.epassportphoto.com for another no-cost
option.
q Research transportation options. “My parents,
myself, my husband, and our three children will be taking a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise in October. We were stressing to find out that it would be about
$360 to purchase transportation to get us to Port Canaveral and back from MCO.
I knew that I could find it cheaper, since our entire 7-night cruise (through
Cruise.com) will only cost us (taxes included) $4,132.62 for all seven of us. I
called Budget Car Rental and much to my surprise, we were able to book a
one-way van rental to Port Canaveral for just $47. On the return, it will be
$67. $114 is much easier to swallow than $360, so we then decided to go two
days earlier and use the extra money we saved to do Disney World for a day. You
can’t go to Orlando and not see Cinderella Castle, or so our six-year-old
daughter told us.” (PassPorter/Sara Q.)
q Make contact cards so you can easily exchange
contact information with people you meet on your vacation. “A great place to
get these nearly free is www.vistaprint.com. They often run specials for 250 free full-color
business cards, so you just pay shipping costs. You can make them yourself and
choose from hundreds of designs.” (JLSM97) “Also, if you have purchases that
you will have the merchant ship home, make sure a card is attached to each item
as a safeguard. Finally, don't forget to put one in each tip envelope for the
crew/staff. You'd be surprised how many thank you notes you'll get back.”
(Calgon/SunFlower Star)
q Get a prescription snorkel mask. “My husband has
wanted (really NEEDED) a prescription mask for years. He decided that since we
would be snorkeling several times on the cruise, it was time to actually get
one. I ended up looking up Scuba stores in the phone book and online for
something local … He just had to bring in his glasses prescription and pick a
mask. It took about 2 weeks to come back. The kicker was the price--about $225.
We decided to do it since he loves to snorkel and it was well worth it. He
snorkeled at Castaway Cay for almost 3 hours.” (AshburnMom)
q Weigh your bags before you leave home!! We got
dinged with a $35 charge because one bag was over the limit.
q Need phone access? "There is an option that is
somewhat costly: on our last 10 day cruise my DH rented a satellite phone for a
month. If I remember right; he spent about $210 for the phone and calls made.
It worked everywhere we went, both at sea and in ports. His company paid for
the cost (thank goodness); but I have to admit that I used it a couple times to
call home and the reception was excellent." (tmcgin710395)
q Looking for the perfect cruise gift? Anyone can add
credit to your stateroom account by calling 1-800-601-8455. "They would
need to tell DCL your name, ship, sail date, and stateroom (DCL might be able
to look up the stateroom). They can do it for any amount and tell DCL a
personal message that you want on the card that will be left in the stateroom
telling you about the credit. My understanding is that if you don't use all of
the credit, they will refund the difference--I'm not positive, that's just what
I've heard." (stampinshauna)
q Need to board your dog? "The one I recommend
VERY highly is Barkingham Palace which is located in Rockledge which is maybe
about 15 miles or so from the port - their address is 4210 South Rockledge
Drive (which is US1) - their website is www.barkingham.com
and phone number is 321-636-7387. The Bow Meow Boarding and Grooming located at
349 N. Orlando Ave Cocoa Beach and their phone number is 321-783-7684 - they
don't have a website, but my neighbor leaves her little one and seems quite
pleased with it - I rather have someone on 24 hours watch with Tia. Now the
next one is called Remington Canine Resort and they are located at 25 N. Grove Street Merritt Island and their web site is www.remingtonresort.com." (snelsonbrown) "This
one is in Orlando, but we use it often. It really pampers dogs and cats. They
even have TV for the dogs and a huge playground. http://www.vipet.net/" (misseulalie)
q Be sure they charge your credit card for the deposit
before you leave the ship or it may create problems upon return.
q Be aware of the “secret” verandah rooms and other
insider tips, and book accordingly.
q Try to request Disney Cruise Line category 6
stateroom 6154 or 6654. These staterooms have the longest and widest verandahs
on the Disney Cruise ships. They also have walk in closets. If you have a
category five stateroom you can also request 7636 or 7136 for a long verandah.
(magicalmountain.net)
q “Most Disney staterooms accommodate just 3–4 guests,
not 5. If you’re a family or group of 5, you may think you have to book one of
the pricey category 4 staterooms which do fit 5 guests. But you do not!
Instead, book two category 10 staterooms with CONNECTING doors. This way you
get two toilets, more beds, more space, and a lower price.” (PassPorter/Janice
T.)
q “If you are prone to motion/seasickness, the best
stateroom location for you is on a lower deck in the middle of the ship, midway
between the bow and the stern. Pitch, roll, and yaw—the movements made by a
ship—will be less noticeable here than in other areas.“ (PassPorter/Angie J.)
q “Having a stateroom near the
aft elevators is a good place to be for quick access to drinks and ice cream.”
(LaurlieMT)
q When you cruise with DCL you automatically become a
member of the Castaway Club. If/when you cruise with DCL again, you might get a
small gift in your stateroom. We got a nice little duffle bag with a water
bottle built in. You’ll also get invited to a reception with the Captain and a
few senior officers. It’s worth going to. They serve hors d'oeuvres with
complimentary drinks while the captain greets everyone and gives a little
speech. “On our cruise, Capt Hans welcomed us and said that he was delighted
that we overflowed the Rockin Bar D. That means that a lot of people are return
cruisers. After he got through the line, he takes time to chat with the guests
one-on-one. If you want to meet him or get an autograph, this is a great time.”
q Booking Another Cruise 101 (EWL):
o
If you think that there's any
possibility that you may want to take another Disney cruise and can afford the
deposits, book before you get off the ship and you can get a great deal.
o
The required deposit depends on
the category and length of the cruise, but is usually $200 per person for the 3
or 4 day or land/sea and $250 per person for the 7 day cruise. It's payable
when you book. Suites and special itineraries may be higher.
o
To help afford the deposits,
plan for them in your budget for the cruise! (And don't forget, if you have the
Disney Visa, you can charge them and you'll automatically get 6 months to pay
with no interest. **BUT** watch your bill carefully since you may lose this
benefit if you use your card regularly for other purchases; they may apply your
payments to the promotional balance first! Better if you do this with a "second"
Disney Visa that you won't use for anything else.)
o
Note that much of the following
does NOT apply to suites or to Cat 1/2/3 staterooms (which also have more
strict deposit requirements and earlier cancellation deadlines). These
categories are not usually discounted.
o
Check the incentives, which can
change. But most often, for booking a 7-day cruise, you’ll get a $200 stateroom
credit and 10 percent off the current DCL price for the cruise (before adding
port fees and taxes).
o
There is usually no discount on
the 3- or 4- day cruises, but you’ll usually get a $100 stateroom credit on the
4-day. Check, though! Some folks report getting a 10% discount and $100 onboard
credit on a 3-day and were even able to change it later to a 4-day and keep the
discount and credit.
o
There is usually no discount on
the land/sea packages either. (But you're often better off booking the
components separately anyway.)
o
The stateroom credits can be
used for anything charged to your room while onboard (drinks, excursions, tips,
etc.).
o
There will be a DCL booking desk
on Deck 4 staffed during certain hours. Go early in the cruise. There will
usually be hours reserved for Castaway Club members during the first few days.
Don’t wait until the last day to book since the lines will be long.
o
When the desk is not staffed,
there will be a pad of reservation slips you can fill out and drop in the box.
Usually, you’ll get a note under your door or a phone call within a few hours
or by the next day with your quote. But if you don’t hear something, don't
assume it's all set -- go back! Your slip may have gotten lost.
o
If you do book, you may want to
try to get written confirmation of the 10% discount and stateroom credit, not
just the small slip with your reservation number. It may be a good idea to have
written proof of your incentives just in case you need it later (though in
reality many folks don't and are fine). But, some DISers here do recall reading
about people getting onboard thinking that they had a credit and Guest Services
had no record of it. There was no way to prove it without something in writing.
(Also note: the onboard credit doesn't usually appear on the confirmation or
paperwork you receive from DCL!)
o
If you need more than one cabin,
you’ll have to book all of them onboard to get the onboard booking incentives.
If you only book one cabin onboard and then book another later on, only the
first will qualify for the discount and credit.
o
If you have a large party, you
can save on the upfront cost of deposits by reserving just for 2 people and
then adding the rest later. However, if you have kids, be careful about waiting
too long since the ship could reach its limit for those particular age groups,
in which case you wouldn't be able to add them. Also, you may pay more in the
end since anyone you add will be at the then-current rate, not the rate you got
onboard.
o
You may even be able to book for
friends or others not on the cruise; some folks have done this successfully.
Some DISers report that you can reserve one cabin for each adult in your party;
you can then add people later to each cabin, but if the lead person cancels or
changes, you'll lose the onboard incentives. Here are more details on this: (1)
For each person sailing on the cruise, that's how many cabins you can book for
a future cruise and get the discount and onboard credit for. For example, this
August, my family of 4 will be cruising. During that cruise, we can book 4
cabins for a future cruise, and EACH of them will get the 10% discount, and
corresponding onboard credit. As of right now, the 7-night cruises get a $200
credit and the 4-night cruises get a $100 credit. Not sure about the 3-night
cruises. (2) Also, and this is important, you can book the cabins for the
future cruises in the other party's names, even if they are not on the cruise
with you when you book and even if they've never cruised on DCL before. Each
cabin does not have to have a former DCL cruiser booked in it. This means that
we can book a cabin for our friends, for the cruise we're planning in 2007,
even though they've never cruised on DCL before, and they'll get the discount
and credit too, because we're booking it for them while we're on our DCL cruise
This will make things so much easier for our friends and for us, because we'll
each have our own reservation numbers, and it'll make payments as well as
planning. (credit to SeaSpray-- thanks!)
o
On this same subject of booking
for someone else: boozrgrl confirms that this can be done-- you need the other
families' info (names, dates of birth, and address). Also, you will need to put
down a deposit for them, but you can do this with their credit card if you get
their number (plus expiration and the 3-digit code on the back) and their OK.
As to whether you all must travel together on the same future cruise, we have
mixed information. ivanova reports that she's been told several times that you
must all travel on the same future cruise, but nextcruz was able to
successfully book for friends who wanted a different cruise. ivanova advises to
"be prepared for a CM to tell them they have to be sailing together; worst
case, book the same cruise, and then when you get home call DCL and move one of
the reservations."
o
If you want to book TWO future
cruises, folks report getting the promotions on BOTH!!
o
If you’re interested in a
special or longer itinerary (something other than the 7-day Eastern/Western),
check first to see whether there are onboard booking incentives for those
sailings. In the past, some special cruises longer than 7 nights have been
eligible for a $250 stateroom credit but no discount, and sometimes even a $500
stateroom credit but no discount. For booking the Mediterranean Repositioning
Cruise, folks in 9/2006 report getting 10%, a $200 credit, PLUS "Disney
will prepay our gratuities for the cruise based on their (Disney's) recommended
gratuities rates." Pretty sweet!!
o
If the dates you want aren’t
open for booking yet (i.e., more than a year ahead), just book as far ahead as
you can—the farther, the better, so that the final payment date doesn’t sneak
up on you before you’re ready. You can then move your reservation to another
date for the same cruise (but reportedly no switching from 3- or 4- days to
7-days) when the new dates come out and your stateroom credit and discount
should carry forward—but verify this to be certain. Lots of people seem to do
this. (Not sure how the onboard rate at the time you sail would compare with
the rate if you book the moment the new rates come out; if the new rates come
out before you sail, you may want to book something right away and then get a
quote onboard to see if it's less.)
o
How many times or how far
forward you can move your booking after your cruise is uncertain? There are
recent rumors floating around that DCL will charge some type of new penalty if
you want to move the date, but this hasn't been confirmed yet. One rumor is
that you'll only get the promotion in effect at the time you change your
booking -- so if you got a $200 onboard credit and 10% off originally, but call
6 months later to move the date and they're offering something less, you'd only
get the current deal. ivanova reports that "the onboard CMs are being very
careful nowadays about how they word things... when asked if you can move the
reservation into 2008, for example, they'll say something to the effect of
"based on the offering at the time you move the reservation." This
covers their backsides in case you're trying to move a reservation to a sailing
that's exempt from onboard rebooking discounts (i.e. special itinerary cruises
that they don't think they need to incentivize)." The benefits of booking
onboard could really plummet if they start restricting date changes!
o
When you’re looking at another
cruise date, you can get a good estimate of what your new trip quote will be
from the DCL website. Go through the online booking process, view the list of
categories and fares for your party for the date you’re interested in, select
the category, and when you reach the “Customize Cruise” page, decline both the
ground transportation and travel insurance. On the next page (“Review Quote”),
take the “Stateroom Price” (before government taxes and fees are added) and
subtract out the port fees for each person in your party (you will need to find
this info elsewhere since DCL doesn’t break it out for you). The resulting
amount is the DCL "cruise-only" price—take 10 percent of this,
subtract it, and the new result should be about what you will be quoted with
your onboard booking discount (just be sure to add back in the taxes, fees,
insurance, ground transport, etc. if your onboard quote also includes these to
be sure you're comparing apples to apples.)
o
Once you have booked a date, you
can—if you wish—transfer your reservation to a travel agent. It may be better
not to do this if your date is still uncertain since you can then take care of
changing dates yourself directly through DCL. Once it’s transferred to an
agent, you’ll have to work through them.
o
You can save even more by
transferring it to a travel agent that offers a booking incentive, such as a
rebate (although new tighter DCL rules are limiting discounting -- but you may
still find stateroom credits or post-trip rebates instead of pre-trip instant
discounts). You should still be able to keep your discount and $200 stateroom
credit, but as always, verify this before you transfer the reservation. We
rebooked onboard on our last cruise and then later knocked off an additional
10% using Costco (reportedly they'll now give you an in-store gift card instead
-- but it won't arrive until 4-6 weeks after your trip).
o
If you want to purchase travel
insurance and you have pre-existing medical conditions that you want covered
for trip cancellation, most companies will only waive the exclusion for
pre-existing medical conditions if you purchase the policy within a certain
number of days from your INITIAL trip payment, which is the deposit you made
while onboard. If you plan to purchase DCL’s trip insurance, this isn’t an
issue since they have no pre-existing condition waiver. But if you plan to shop
around for a better/cheaper travel insurance deal (try www.insuremytrip.com), then remember to check
into this when you get home from your cruise. Note: if your cruise date isn’t
definite and you decide to buy a policy, make sure it will allow you to change
your travel dates without losing your premium.
o
You can ONLY get these onboard
incentives by booking onboard—once you step off the ship, it’s too late!
o
Do some homework before the
cruise so that you have a general sense of when you might like to go again and
what the prices look like at that time (use the DCL website). If you find a
great quote, print it out and bring it with you—who knows, they might match it.
Also compare with travel agents offering group rates.
o
If you do find a great group
rate, you cannot combine it with the onboard discount or stateroom credit.
Group rates are already discounted so are not eligible. You may even want to
book the group rate through the travel agent before your cruise; then you can
get a quote for the same cruise onboard and see which is better. Even with the
incentives, some folks say that the group rate can be better.
o
Once you get your onboard quote,
you might also consider going to the Internet Café and getting a quote from the
DCL website yourself to compare, or call DCL from your cell phone. While the
prices ought to match, some folks have said that they haven’t. (And though the
onboard DCL rep may tell you that you won't find a better deal anywhere, they
may not be right!) Be sure, however, you are comparing apples to apples—items
such as insurance, ground transfers, taxes, and port fees can make a big
difference.
o
If you already have a
reservation for your next cruise when you sail, stop by and get a quote anyway.
Some people have reported being able to get the stateroom credit added by the
onboard DCL rep, though there's no guarantee.
q “Ahhh… the post-cruise depression… NOTHING can cure
you but to take another cruise!!” (Cruiser1969)
q Photos of staterooms can be found at www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1025732&page=1&pp=15
q Reports on individual staterooms can be found at www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/roomlist.cfm
q “www.CruiseDeckPlans.com not only has Disney deck plans, but also some
cruiser-submitted photos and 3D room layouts you may find interesting. If you
want to submit your own stateroom photos, they pay 50 cents for any photos they
use!” (PassPorter/Trina C.)
q As of October 2006, “all cabins onboard Disney Magic
and Disney Wonder will be outfitted with: Sealy Posturepedic Premium Plus
Euro-top mattresses, new pillows, Frette 300-thread-count linens of 100 percent
Egyptian cotton, larger, plusher towels and bath sheets in bathrooms, H2O
Plus Spa Sea Marine Revitalizing Shampoo, H2O Plus Spa Marine
Collagen Conditioner, H2O Plus Spa Hydrating Body Butter. Concierge
level suites will also offer a "Pillow Talk" menu with a selection of
hypo-allergenic, feather and therapeutic memory foam options, and additional H2O
Plus offerings such as Sea Salt Body Wash and Solar Relief Gel. Not a concierge
passenger? Not to worry -- an expanded line of H2O products,
including the body wash and gel as well as fruity body balms and a minty foot
rub, will be available for purchase in Treasure Ketch, the ships' gift shop,
from $8.50.” (Cruise Critic News)
q “When you get to your
stateroom, you can request down pillows. “ (booksw)
q “The beverage cooler in your stateroom is just
that—a cooler, not a refrigerator. To boost its cooling capacity, ask your
stateroom host for ice, place the ice in a Ziploc bag, and put it in your
cooler. It really helps keep the beverages and snacks you place in the cooler
cold. You will need to replace the ice daily, of course.” (PassPorter/P.P.)
q Wake-up calls are from Mickey! Order one at least
once, and make sure you turn on the speaker phone so everyone in the cabin can
hear. “You know what’s annoying? Wake-up calls on the Disney Magic. I’d read
that they were fun because it’s Mickey’s voice on the recording. But after
receiving one, I can imagine no worse sound to be awakened by than that of a
squeaky, over-excited, morning-loving rodent. I remember hearing something
about ‘ahoy’ and the ‘big doings to get to,’ but I never heard the rest because
in the history of throwing telephones against the wall with great force, my
reaction was unmatched. Have I mentioned that I’m not a morning person?”
(JLSM97)
q “Seems like everyone recommends packing an extension
cord in order to keep an alarm clock by the bed. I ordered wake-up calls and
kept my watch on the nightstand and that was good enough for me--certainly
better than tripping over an alarm clock extension cord in the middle of the
night!”
q Outlets in the bathrooms are
labeled “shavers only.” There is an outlet at the vanity table/desk, but it may
not be in a good location for you. Consider packing an extension cord. “There
are extra plug ins behind the bed and behind the TV. But it's best to bring
either a squid type surge protector or a normal surge protector to have the
extra plugs.” (Amlee)
q Ask your cabin steward for mattress liners for the
little ones
q Order room service as a wake-up call if you're in an
inside stateroom and are worried you’ll oversleep (the rooms are dark!).
q Use one of those glow sticks as a personal night
light for your child(ren). This is especially useful if you don’t want to leave
on a bathroom or closet light all night long.
q “Most Disney staterooms accommodate just 3–4 guests,
not 5. If you’re a family or group of 5, you may think you have to book one of
the pricey category 4 staterooms which do fit 5 guests. But you do not!
Instead, book two category 10 staterooms with CONNECTING doors. This way you
get two toilets, more beds, more space, and a lower price.” (PassPorter/Janice
T.)
q Post a magnetic door sign to help find your cabin
easily (especially good for kids).
q Hang a dry-erase board on your door to communicate with
your traveling companions.
q Store luggage under your bed if it will fit.
q “You can ask your cabin steward
for extra hangers.” (Amlee)
q Store the extra life vests under your bed for more
closet shelf space.
q “Our room with a large porthole was a lot cooler
than the one we had with the verandah. I also found out (from the DIS board)
that you shouldn't leave the verandah door open because the humidity and heat
will trip the A/C and turn it off.” (scrapperjill) “I had a Cat 5, 6 and 11 and
none of them were ever cold enough for my liking. I keep my room at 60 to sleep
in and it didn't get anywhere near cool enough. It wasn't warm or muggy, but
just not cold.” (aprilgail2) “I had a large porthole window in February and the
room's A/C was great!! I freeze most people to death and I was very
comfortable.” (Amlee) “My DH usually freezes me to death -- but in the room
with the verandah we both were adjusting the A/C -- we just couldn't get it
cool enough in our room -- we pulled the shades during the day and tried to remember
to close the door behind us when we went out on the verandah, and nothing
seemed to help.” (LLD&WCD) "If
you like your room cool, I'd strongly suggest that you buy a small clip-on
(desk type) electric fan for your room. The air in the rooms is cool, but it
doesn't circulate all that well. I'm used to having a cool place to sleep, and
it makes the room just that much more "fresh" if you do. Doesn't have
to be big - just a little something that you can move to various parts of the
room. We had a Cat 5 verandah, and plugged it in the back of the TV and clipped
it on to the cabinet above. Worked perfectly and kept the room very nice and
cool. Even my wife and daughter who like the room warmer remarked how much more
fresh the room felt." (bbaltes)
q Candles are not allowed on the ship, of course. But
if you’re celebrating a special occasion, or if you just really love candles
and feel your trip won’t be the same without them, get “flameless” candles
which have a realistic (even flickering!) LED to simulate candlelight. One
source for these candles is www.LittleBrightLights.com. They have lots of different types. Check eBay for
other merchants.
q There are phones near the elevators and at other
locations throughout the ship. These are “house” phones to be used to call
other phones onboard. “I used one a couple of weeks ago to call DD when I saw
Donald Duck in the Atrium!!” (nextcruz) “I'm told when you set up your voice
mail greeting [on your stateroom phone] you can also create a 'pin' number and
retrieve your messages from any of the house phones (don't need to go back to
your room to hear your messages).” (ibouncetoo)
q “Most tap water tastes like mud puddles to me. I use
a filter at home, and usually drink bottled water when I travel. Although the
water in the staterooms is treated for drinking, I thought it was horrible, and
the water at the beverage station was no better. I was all ready to ship myself
a case of bottled water for our next cruise, until I heard about water filter
sport bottles. Apparently the Brita ones have been discontinued, but the ones
by Pure Water 2Go (www.purewater2go.com) are comparable. I’d much rather carry around a
couple sport bottles than an entire case of bottled water!”
q Hair dryers in cabins are weak. If you’re particular
about this, bring one from home. “The blow dryers are 900 watts. I usually just
blow-dry my bangs, so I was fine with it. A couple of times, I decided to blow-dry
the rest of my very thick hair, and it took a little more time than usual, but
not much. I had brought my dryer from home, but didn't bother to unpack it.
Really wasn't necessary for me. Also, I would've had to have used it in the
room, near the couch/TV, which would have interrupted the kids watching TV
(which is a good thing for them to be doing if I want to get ready, LOL!).”
(scootermom32)
q The oval coffee table in your stateroom can be
raised or lowered. You can adjust it so you almost have a dining table! There’s
a lever near the top of the table’s post just below the tabletop.
q “We asked our stateroom host to
remove the little table in front of the couch. It gave us so much more space!
The kids had a spot to play on the floor, and spread out their toys. If I’d
thought about it, I’d have asked them to take the chair/footstool thing out,
too. It was tucked into the kneehole of the desk, so I didn’t think about it.
It turned out that we never pulled it out to sit on all week, and we could have
used the kneehole as another spot to store stuff.” (LaurlieMT) “Our friends
asked their steward to remove table/chair and he said he couldn't, so it may
vary from steward to steward. They just stowed them on the balcony!” (KKB)
q “We found that keeping a couple of small dessert
plates in the drawer under the dressing table was a good idea because often we
would get room service and the plates were too big for the fridge. If you go to
the evening snack areas they have side plates there so just take one back with
some food on (chocolate strawberries are always good) and then wash it and
place it in the drawer for later. We found this really useful last time.”
q “The king-size bed in your stateroom is actually two
twin-size beds attached to one another. This means you can ask to have the big
bed separated into two small beds, which some cruisers find helps to make the
stateroom seem bigger roomier. It’s almost like having your sleeping area
double as a living area because you can sit on the twin beds and chat easier
with others in the stateroom.” (PassPorter/T.C.)
q ”If your stateroom has beds that
fold down from the wall, you can request side rails so your kids don’t fall
out. Your stateroom host will take care of setting up the bed at night while
you are at dinner, and putting it away while you are at breakfast.” (LaurlieMT)
q ”If you have a baby, you can
request a pack-n-play... You can ask [your room steward] to put it away each
day, or leave it up all the time for naps. If you do this, you’ll probably need
the table taken out.” (LaurlieMT)
q Get some privacy. “Pack a short tension rod (about
36” wide), an inexpensive but relatively opaque shower curtain, and some cheap
shower rod rings. Put the rod and shower curtain up between the closet and
bathroom walls, in the entry way to your stateroom. Now you can close this
shower curtain to provide privacy for dressing (those bathrooms are almost too
tiny for proper dressing) and for privacy from people walking by in the
corridor when your door is open.” (PassPorter/S.S.)
q Pack some clothespins to keep the curtain closed
completely.
q “If your little ones usually
stand on a stepstool to brush their teeth, you might want to bring one. I have
a folding stepstool that I could have thrown in a suitcase, but I didn't know
we'd need it. DS(3) wasn't tall enough to get his chin over the edge of the
sink to brush his teeth. I held him up sometimes, and he stood on the toilet
lid and leaned oooooverrrr sometimes. That was precarious and scary! All week I
kept wishing I had our step stool, and I couldn't think of anything we had in
the room for him to stand on.” (LaurlieMT)
q "I didn't know about the loud "super
flush" toilets until I read it on [the DIS boards]. Now I know to get DD
out of there before flushing, since she hates loud toilets." (curlybop) “I
remember someone comparing the cruise toilets to the kinds in airplanes, which
are also noisy and cramped. Helps when explaining to people who haven't cruised
before.” (MrsScooby)
q "There is a little drain on the floor behind
your "super flush" toilet. This is a soils vent. Make sure there is
water in it (put some in if not) to prevent sewer gasses from coming into your
cabin." (GenieDana)
q “The bathtubs have
clotheslines. That ended up being invaluable, since we constantly had wet
bathing suits that we had to hang somewhere. It is the spring-loaded,
retractable kind like in a hotel room.” (LaurlieMT)
q "If you or your child are not feeling well, and
are stuck/confined to the room for the day and you do not like what is playing
on the schedule, request a VCR and a list of movies and they will come hook it
up for you and bring the movies." (Mickee)
q (written Oct 2006) "Based on recent Navigators,
the Disney Magic now restricts any outdoor smoking to the port (left when
facing forward) side. However, on the Disney Wonder, this restriction only
applies to cigar smoking. At least, that's how the rules are written. The rules
for the Disney Magic are clear and unambiguous. The entire ship in non-smoking
except for very limited designated smoking areas. (It's interesting that the
Magic's list does not include private verandahs. However, I have to believe
that passengers still smoke on their private verandahs.) The rules for the
Disney Wonder are badly written. Based on the wording of the Wonder's rules, a
passenger could conclude that 's it's okay to smoke in the restaurants,
theaters and other public indoor areas, and that it's okay to smoke cigars on
the port side of the Mickey pool. That's not the case. Whoever is in charge
passenger publications for the Disney Wonder needs to improve the wording. It
makes no sense that the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder should have different
rules. The outdoor smoking rules genuinely appear to differ between the two
ships. Disney Magic: ' For the comfort of our guests the following areas
are designated as smoking areas: open decks on the port Side (excluding Mickey
Pool area), Diversions after 9:00 p.m., Sessions.' Here are the latest smoking
rules that I'm aware of on the Disney Wonder: ' Smoking is not permitted in
staterooms and is restricted in certain lounges. Cigar smoking is permitted on
outside decks 4, 9 & 10 port side only.'" (Horace Horsecollar) "I
just got off the Wonder a week ago, and signs are very clearly posted on the
starboard side of decks 4, 9 and 10 that smoking is NOT permitted there."
(101DalmFan) "Here is Disney's official answer from the DCL web site: Smoking
is permitted only in designated areas of the ship. Guests are allowed to smoke
on open decks (except near Mickey's Pool) and on the verandah of their
stateroom. Inside, smoking is permitted within Sessions in the Beat Street
entertainment district on the Disney Magic®, within The Cadillac Lounge in the
Route 66 entertainment district on the Disney Wonder®, and at the bar area in
Diversions on both ships." (sdaniel105)
q Let Disney know about your celebration in advance.
q Order stateroom gifts to commemorate your special
occasion. Disney itself has a selection (www.disneycruise.com),
or try The Perfect Gift (www.theperfectgift.cc), based in Cape Canaveral (800-950-4559)
q Looking for the perfect cruise gift? Anyone can add
credit to your stateroom account by calling 1-800-601-8455. "They would
need to tell DCL your name, ship, sail date, and stateroom (DCL might be able
to look up the stateroom). They can do it for any amount and tell DCL a
personal message that you want on the card that will be left in the stateroom
telling you about the credit. My understanding is that if you don't use all of
the credit, they will refund the difference--I'm not positive, that's just what
I've heard." (stampinshauna)
q Decorate your stateroom door to celebrate your
occasion!
q DCL has packages for weddings and vow renewals
onboard. Prices and package details can be found at www.disneycruise.com. If this interests you, be aware that it can be difficult to schedule
at short notice. "Disney will only do 3 marriages per cruise." (CaptainJack)
q “We just had our 10-year anniversary on the Magic
and loved every moment of it!! There were so many things that we got to enjoy
without our DS6. We had a wonderful time at Palo (brunch and dinner), the adult
pool, and of course the spa (you must do a spa villa). [In] September, October,
January, and February there will be less children on your cruise (if that is a
concern).” (Marypoppinsiam)
q “DH and I went to the parks for 4 days and on a 4
night cruise for our honeymoon and it was perfect. I would highly recommend a
Disney cruise for anyone's honeymoon. The adult beach at Castaway Cay was the
highlight for us. It was fantastic.” (ericamanda01) “I would highly advise you
to do the Romance Package -- my DH booked all of our honeymoon himself as a
surprise for me and didn't tell me until about 2 months before we got married
(I pretty much bugged him to death to tell me ). But he booked the couples
massage the first night -- which was great -- and then after the massage we ate
dinner at Palo and when we came back to the room our bed was turned down and we
had rose petals all over it --and of course the ever famous kissing swans (very
nice)! This also came with the breakfast in bed, which we used on our day at
sea and ate it out on our verandah. But he also ordered decorations for our
stateroom and also had one of the celebration cakes for our room.”
(LLD&WCD)
q “I went to a wedding on board and it was FABULOUS! I
had gotten invited by my friend because it was her parents’ wedding. It was
LOVELY. I don't know how much it costs but you can do it at Castaway Cay on the
beach or on the boat in Deck 7 outside aft. It was windy and her veil flew off
into the ocean. We assumed it meant good luck!” (discruiselovers97)
q Valentine’s Day: “We were on the
Magic last Valentine's Day and there were a few special things. We dined in
Palo that night and they had a Happy Valentine's chocolate heart that came with
our soufflé. The Shutters photos for that evening had special Valentine's
borders. Also, there was a stand outside of the gift shops that was preparing
individual Valentine's gift baskets that you could purchase. Also, there was a
"Sweetheart's Dance" in one of the adult lounges and our towel animal
that night was two swans kissing with chocolate hearts on the bed instead of
mints. It wasn't overkill, but just nice little touches to make the day more
special. “ (atakaratemom)
q Easter: “We cruised this past Easter and we had
Shirley (www.theperfectgift.cc) make up a sand bucket basket for our DS6. It
turned out great. DH went to the room first to hide the basket until the next
morning. Also they do have activities for kids on Easter morning. There is face
painting, an egg hunt, and the characters are out (the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland is there). We had brunch at Lumiere’s; that was awesome. There is also
Sunday Mass or an interdenominational service if you are interested.“
(Marypoppinsiam)
q Halloween: “DCL does offer trick or treating, but it
is minimal, and they also offer a costume contest as well. Usually there is a
group of DISers (which you can find on the meets board) that put together trick
or treating that is great. I have sailed over Halloween two times and had a
great time with the DISers on board.” (SueEllen) “We heard DCL doesn't do too
much, so we are putting together a trick or treating of the DIS members. We
will be having a print out the decks and each room that is participating will
be highlighted. So the kids can go trick or treating at the different rooms. Of
course we all will have candy to pass out and the kids will be in costumes.”
(misseulalie) “The costume party was for adults and was at the Goofy pool.
There were some great Disney costumes. They had ‘scary-okie’ in the adult clubs
and a few other things. I'm pretty sure there were a few activities in the kids
clubs as well.” (stampinshauna)
q Christmas: “They decorate the ships for Christmas. Usually
they do it on the Thanksgiving cruise and it stays until New Years. The atrium
has the bulk of the decorations, although there are a few small trees around
the ship. There is a 5-foot tall gingerbread house near the Promenade lounge
too. They have a tree lighting ceremony the first night that is really a lot of
fun too. The last 2 years they have decorated parts of Castaway Cay too.” (mom
x4,grandma x4)
q “For those of you traveling with toddlers around the
age of 2 who cannot go into the pool (and yes, they are pretty strict about the
non-potty trained children in the pool), bring sand toys, and set up camp by
the Goofy pool. There is a railing that separates the pool area from the deck
area. Along the railing on deck side are tables and chairs. Using the table,
chairs, and railing, create a barrier. Place your child in the middle with sand
toys and bucket of water. You can sit around them in the chairs. My son was
completely satisfied with this set up and would play for hours.”
q Sand toys can be purchased on Castaway Cay but
they’re about $10, so you’ll probably save $$ by bringing them from home.
Leave them there if you don’t want to pack them to take back home.
q “It’s a good idea to bring some small toys from home
for your very young children. They’ll likely spend a fair amount of time in
their room, and without toys, they may resort to opening and closing doors and
drawers for entertainment. I recommend small plastic cups and buckets for
filling and emptying, and they’ll serve double duty at the beach and wading
pool. If you arrive empty-handed, you may find some small stuffed animals and/or
molded plastic toys at Mickey’s Mates.” (PassPorter/Jenny A.)
q DCL stateroom bathrooms have
tubs! They are small, but plenty big enough to give kids a bath in. Other
cruise lines, I am told, have showers only. Our stateroom was a category 11,
without a split bath, but the bathroom was plenty big enough, anyway. The
showerhead was a hand-held thing that you could raise or lower, or take off to
hold and rinse off a child after a bath. (LaurlieMT)
q ”If your stateroom has beds that
fold down from the wall, you can request side rails so your kids don’t fall
out. Your stateroom host will take care of setting up the bed at night while
you are at dinner, and putting it away while you are at breakfast.” (LaurlieMT)
q ”If you have a baby, you can
request a pack-n-play... You can ask [your room steward] to put it away each
day, or leave it up all the time for naps. If you do this, you’ll probably need
the table taken out.” (LaurlieMT)
q “If your little ones usually
stand on a stepstool to brush their teeth, you might want to bring one. I have
a folding stepstool that I could have thrown in a suitcase, but I didn't know
we'd need it. DS(3) wasn't tall enough to get his chin over the edge of the
sink to brush his teeth. I held him up sometimes, and he stood on the toilet
lid and leaned oooooverrrr sometimes. That was precarious and scary! All week I
kept wishing I had our step stool, and I couldn't think of anything we had in
the room for him to stand on.” (LaurlieMT)
q Use one of those glow sticks as a personal night
light for your child(ren). This is especially useful if you don’t want to leave
on a bathroom or closet light all night long.
q Pack crayons, books and plain paper for kids during
the down time in the room. Have them make a "picture" scrapbook for
when they get back home.
q We have young kids and these items I can't forget:
disposable bibs (for those melting Mickey Bars), swim diapers, swim
floaties/arm bands, Band-aids, portable potty seat (not sure how big the toilet
hole is, but don't want DD to fall thru!), extra port-a-crib sheet (with our
scent on it), stroller, Mylicon drops (for upset baby tummies)
q Many cruisers recommend you request the early
seating for dinner if you have kids under 12. The late seating might be too
late for most kids, which can really ruin dinner for your family and your
tablemates. If early seating is full when you book your cruise, get on the
waiting list.
q “The dining rooms give kids a
different coloring-page and crayons every night at dinner. DD(5) loved this and
colored hers each time. It also lists the kids menu for the night.
Unfortunately, DS(3) doesn’t care to color, and the dinners take a LONG time, so he got bored and was ready to go before
the rest of us almost every night. So, be prepared, and bring some small toys
that might entertain your little ones, or check them into Flounders Reef before
you go to eat. “ (LaurlieMT)
q “Despite the fact that there is no “baby food”
onboard, it’s really quite easy to feed your older baby and toddler. The boxes
of cereal at breakfast (especially the Cheerios-type cereal) are excellent for
snacks throughout the day—grab extras each morning at the breakfast buffets.
The fruit plates available at virtually every meal are a real winner, too.
Whole milk is available up at the beverage station on deck 9—you can fill up
cups and bring them back to the room. Better yet, call room service and request
several containers of milk along with some fruit for a snack. We found it
easier to feed our toddler on the cruise than at home thanks to the easy
availability of a variety of items.” (PassPorter/Sarah U.)
q “The kids’ dinner menu was
pretty disappointing from a nutrition point of view. It just didn’t have enough
options or change often enough. It seemed to have cheeseburgers and chicken
fingers every night, and only had other special stuff like pasta sometimes.
Plus, even though the menu said you could get mashed potatoes instead of fries,
and I requested this on more than one occasion, the kids plates had fries every
time. You can order off the adult menu for your kids if you prefer. “
(LaurlieMT)
q ”DS wanted a plain ham sandwich
from room service (not panini/grilled - he has pretty bland tastebuds
) -
They sent up a double-decker sandwich that he loved!” (michaels mom)
q “For semi-formal and formal nights, dress up your
little girl in Disney princess dresses. The photos will turn out lovely and
your little princess will get all sorts of attention. Disney magic!”
(PassPorter/Jane F.)
q If your child is too young to need charging
privileges, have them removed completely. This is done at Guest Services. This
way if they accidentally lose their card, you won’t have to worry about
unauthorized charges.
q “When traveling with children, plan a scavenger hunt
for them. They will get to know the ship ... plus have some fun. They’ll also
learn the layout faster.” (PassPorter/Marjorie W.)
q “On our cruise (April 2004) we asked for a Diaper
Genie. It was in our stateroom when we arrived, and the steward emptied it
every day.” (JLSM97)
q Ask your cabin steward for mattress liners for the
little ones
q DCL-supplied “cribs” (playpens): “They do supply
sheets, but my advice, bring your own. Although they are fine, chances are
yours are better quality and softer. Also, your baby will be more familiar with
the scent, increasing the chances of a better nights sleep.” (staceymerrill) “[There
is] no extra charge. The room steward will set it up and take it down for you,
even for nap time if you want. The room steward can take out the coffee table
so there is more room.” (Whisker)
q “There will be moments that are breath-taking for
your children. Capture their expressions on film! Our first impulse is to take
a picture of the activity going on, rather than the much more precious looks on
their faces. After all, that’s what makes the memory.” (JLSM97)
q “Take your kids to an Ocean
Quest Open House [Magic only as of 2006]. Ocean Quest is generally the club for
the pre-teen crowd, but every day they have Open House hours, but you have to
stay with the little ones. It is a cool spot, with video games, board games,
coloring, and the ship simulator. It is a “helm” with one whole wall of giant
video screens, and your child can “drive” the ship! It is very cool, and my DS(3)
wanted to go there every day for the Super Mario Cart video game.” (LaurlieMT)
q Kids can have their hair braided on Deck 9 or
Castaway Cay. How much does braiding cost? "Not sure about a full head...
my girls got the "headband" style (that's corn rows halfway back with
beads). For that style they charged $2 per braid. DD5 had 12 braids. DD8 took
14 to do her head. Don't forget to add a tip." (disneydizz) "$2 a
braid on top, $1 for the other braids. It is usually around $25 for me to get
the headband style, if you do it on the ship. On Castaway Cay the braids are
smaller ... more braids = more money, smaller braids = more hurting. I think
they say that whole head averages out around $60 for a person with normal
thickness, in- between length hair." (RrCoAsTeR) "On CC I was sitting
near a teenager getting her entire head braided. She had long thick hair. Her
mom asked in advance how much and was told about $150." (Ski-and-Sea)
"My DD(8) just had this done on Castaway Cay. She has hair to the middle
of her shoulder blades. Wound up being $109 plus tip. Ouch. But she loved it.
Be warned - it can be quite painful. We need to take two breaks - got up, went
to the restroom, took a walk, wiped away the tears and then came back. It took
about 2 hours. Now taking them out last night - 3½ hours and she looked like a
fuzzball. Not as painful as putting them in, but it did pull some. I asked her
and she said that she would do it again." (AboutTheMouse)
q "If you travel in the Islands, you won't be
able to use your car seats. Taxis don't have seat belts to secure them and they
don't care for them as they take up too much room. (This is true in most
countries.) You will either have to hold [the children] in your laps or don't
do excursions that require traveling in vehicles. There may be a few
exceptions, but car seats are a rarity in the Islands." (misseulalie)
"Unfortunately, most places outside the U.S. and Canada are not big believers in seat belts or car seats. The Caribbean is one of them." (tvguy)
"Believe it or not, it is actually safer to have your little one in a bus
without a seat belt or car seat than it is to have your little one in a car
WITH a car seat. Studies have shown that buses keep people safe by a theory
called compartmentalization. Personally, my first choice is to book a Disney
excursion because of the buses. Since they are safer than a car seat in a taxi,
I don't need to bring my car seat onto the various islands with me. Also, I've
definitely gotten stuck with our car set and multiple taxis without seat belts
(argh!). I usually bring my Tote N Go car seat for these types of situations.
It is a fairly terrible car seat, but it travels easily and is better than
nothing." (JennsBabySky)
q “Palo’s dress code is more formal than the rotation restaurants.
If you want to take one less dressy outfit, try to schedule your dinner at Palo
on formal or semi-formal night.”
q Pack kids clothing by day in Ziploc bags.
q Pack what you think you will need, then reduce your
clothing by 25-50%. This is stressed by most experienced cruisers.
q You’ll have a little less to pack if you plan to
purchase and wear a few souvenir t-shirts
q Send out all clothes to be pressed on the first
day/night so all are ready for the week
q Take your old socks, underwear, etc. and have them
make a one-way trip with you. Saves room for souvenirs.
q Use Space Bags (the kinds you can vacuum air out of)
to save room in your suitcases
q Treat clothing with wash-in sunscreen (such as Sun
Guard from Rit). It's cheap (under $3 a wash load) and doesn't affect color or
feel of the cloth. www.sunguardsunprotection.com
q “To cut down on clothing, bring a nice pair of black
slacks. They go with just about everything, and just change tops each night. Plus
you only need one pair of nice black dress sandals to go with them.”
q Pack at least two swimsuits for each person. You can
wear one while drying the other—things take longer to dry in the Caribbean humidity.
q Pack a collapsible hamper. “We found this to be very
convenient for putting our dirty clothes in and carrying to the laundry room.”
q “We like to take a mesh laundry bag (Wal-Mart) and
hang it in the closet (loop over the hanger) and put dirty clothes in there,
when we pack, all the dirty clothes are together in one suitcase. Unpacking,
all the dirty things are ready to be sorted and washed while the clean items
are put away.”
q “Mix and match your clothes. Stick with 3 color
schemes that you can mix and match. I usually go with black, brown, jeans. My
skirts for dinner are also in this color scheme. Then I take varies tops that I
can mix and match with those bottoms. For formal night(s) I have 1 black skirt
that I mix with 2 different tops. What top you might see me wear one day around
the ship, will match up with a skirt I will wear to dinner a few nights later.“
(Amlee)
q “As you pack, put together complete outfits for each
evening of your cruise and hang them together in your closet or on your shower
curtain rod. When finished, put a plastic dry cleaning bag over each complete
outfit, fold in half, and place in your suitcase. When it comes time to unpack,
you just lift out each bag and hang in the closet. The bags not only keep
outfits together but prevent wrinkles, too. If you don’t have any dry cleaning bags
and your local dry cleaner won’t part with a few, use extra-large, 45-gallon
trash bags instead (you can find them at home improvement stores).”
(PassPorter/Diane C.)
q “Make sure your husband packs
slacks. I packed all the clothes for me and the kids, but DH was on his own. We
got on the boat and he had brought two pair of shorts and that was all!
Luckily, I had packed his suit. He needed his suit for formal night,
semi-formal night and Palo. But all the other dinners he needed slacks, too.
Dinner in the rotational dining rooms requires that you dress "cruise
casual" which means NO SHORTS. So DH wore his suit pants to dinner every
single night. Did I mention that I had to do laundry twice? Lesson learned,
supervise all the packing.” (LaurlieMT)
q “Sunscreen, oils, and chlorine can start to ruin
your swimsuit within an hour if not removed. Rinse your swimsuit with a mild
soap (such as the hand soap found in your stateroom) after swimming. This gets
the oils and chlorine out, smells fresh, and keeps your swimsuit looking new.
Don’t use Woolite or dry cleaning agents because they can damage the rubber in
the swimsuits. Also keep in mind that hot tubs are very damaging to
swimsuits—they act like a washing machine with bleach! Because you must wear a
suit in the hot tub, wear your oldest suit that you’re not worried about
hurting and rinse well afterward.” (PassPorter/M.S.)
q Pirates IN the Caribbean Night: “You will see the
normal cruise casual and tropical shirts/dresses. On our cruise last summer the
only reason I knew about pirate night dressing was from [the DIS] board. We
were one of the few families/people even semi-dressed up as pirates, but it was
a LOT of fun! (Whisker) “TONS of people were dressed as "pirates" for
the evening. That said, many of the "pirates" actually just had on
their bandana provided by DCL and a "Pirates of the Caribbean"
T-shirt or a Skull and Cross-bones T-shirt. Most men wore slacks, but given the
evening dress code I think shorts would be fine, too.” (nextcruz) “I wore
sandals with my pirate outfit in May to dinner, had no problems at all.”
(Verandah Man)
q Your cell phones may work while at port, and while
sailing past islands with roaming service. They may also work in port, but be
aware of your service provider’s international use fees. Phone calls made from
your stateroom to shore will cost $6.95 per minute.
q "There is an option that is somewhat costly: on
our last 10 day cruise my DH rented a satellite phone for a month. If I
remember right; he spent about $210 for the phone and calls made. It worked
everywhere we went, both at sea and in ports. His company paid for the cost
(thank goodness); but I have to admit that I used it a couple times to call
home and the reception was excellent." (tmcgin710395)
q
Post a magnetic door sign to
help find your cabin easily (especially good for kids). “You can also buy
write-on/wipe-off plastic sheets which are lighter and will fit in your luggage
easier. You can attach the sheet to your stateroom door with magnets.”
(PassPorter author Jennifer Marx)
q Hang a dry-erase board on your door to communicate
with your traveling companions.
q Use Skype to make low-cost phone calls with your
laptop while cruising. www.skype.com
q There are phones near the elevators and at other
locations throughout the ship. These are “house” phones to be used to call
other phones onboard. “I used one a couple of weeks ago to call DD when I saw
Donald Duck in the Atrium!!” (nextcruz) “I'm told when you set up your voice
mail greeting [on your stateroom phone] you can also create a 'pin' number and
retrieve your messages from any of the house phones (don't need to go back to
your room to hear your messages).” (ibouncetoo)
q Let your friends and family back home know that if
they need to reach you they can call 1-888-DCATSEA. It will cost them $6.95 per
minute.
q Faxes can be sent from Guest Services at a cost of
$6.95 per minute. “Each page takes about one minute to fax.” (PassPorter)
q If you know you're going to use the Internet, buy an
unlimited minutes package rather than pay by minute (note that on DCL there is
no unlimited package for wireless connections). “For wireless internet service,
be careful to really log off when you are done. That means you need to get a
“receipt” page after you hit “log off.” If you don’t, make sure you do it
manually per the instructions on screen or else you will probably be charged
for lots of minutes you don’t use and thus use up your time quickly.” (jd99)
q "You cannot download or upload files on DCL's computers,
which means that you cannot open attachments to emails. My office had to get a
Word document to me on my most recent cruise. I could not open the file on
DCL's computers. The simple fix was to tell the office to cut and paste the
text of the Word document into another email and send me the email to review,
but if you need to download or upload anything you will need to use the WiFi
services and bring your laptop." (CaptainJack) "We had to VPN in to
our corporate intranet, and the VPN dropped constantly on the wireless
connection. We had good luck in maintaining internet access, just not so well
via VPN." (flexsmom)
q Wireless Internet service locations are Cadillac
Lounge, WaveBands, Promenade Lounge, Studio Sea, Cove Café, Open Decks (9 &
10), Atrium (Decks 3, 4 and 5 Mid-Ship).
q 2-way radios are great for keeping track of each
other, but they don't work very well on the lower decks. And they are really
loud in the elevators! Check your volume. “Invaluable for locating each other
when she heads off shopping and he wasn't paying attention to where she
"claimed" she was going. Or, for when you're separated on the ship
and need to get together (I watched the porpoises escort us out of harbor, but
she was off somewhere reading).” (Calgon/SunFlower Star) “We had radios but
never used them. They didn’t work in most places we tried to use them.”
q Guest Services sells foreign stamps. If you buy them
before you get to port, you don’t have to worry about finding a post office to
send those postcards.
q Decorate your stateroom door to celebrate a special
occasion! “The staterooms doors are metal, which makes them a prime surface for
magnets! Many cruisers like to print family photos on inkjet magnet sheets and
place them on their stateroom doors as decoration. You can also just tape items
on your door. Garlands work, too, so long as they don’t interfere with the
function of your door. Get creative and have fun!” (PassPorter/Merry B.)
Measurements are “27 inches wide, 6½ feet high, and 3 inches [thick].” (NZ
KIWI) More specifically: “The door is 28¾” x 77.¾”. 13½” down from the top is a
circular door marker that you ought to make allowances for … it has a 7½”
diameter. The door assembly is 35¼” down from the top and is 9½” tall. It
extends from the edge 4½”.” (bettemom)
q Decorate your dinner table on Pirates IN the
Caribbean night! “I intend to bring pirate balloons with sticks, and we have a
pirate flag. My DD 4 will be dressed as Captain Hook. She will give out chocolate
coins and necklaces to other kids, as it’s fun and a great way to meet people.”
(Lindy Loo) “Before our cruise, I got a great deal on a package of very small
yellow rubber ducks dressed as pirates (Oriental Trading). Since our group of 9
had a table to ourselves, I put one on each plate along with tissue fold-out
palm trees and parrots and packages of tattoos and stick-on jewels.”
(Tiggerish) “I bought little cardboard treasure chests from Oriental Trading,
and I am going to put one at each place (there are 18 of us). They were shipped
flat, and I am going to keep them that way until we are on the cruise, then I
will put them together. I also ordered pirate earrings, tattoos, gold coins and
glow necklaces to put in or around each treasure chest.” (StitchandPooh’sMom)
q “We had a string of Christmas lights on our
portholes in each cabin last Christmas. They were the kind that had a battery
pack for power so I didn't need a plug. The worked fine and the room steward
said they looked great! “ (jgalecpa) “Just a heads up, no lights are permitted
on the verandahs with the exception of those installed by Disney. Coast Guard
regulates this and it could cause issues with other ships, etc. It may seem
silly, but trust me from personal experience if someone notices these lights,
security will come a knockin'. Also from personal experience, no lights plugged
into extension cords are allowed either due to fire issues. I would suggest
maybe some battery operated lights for your mirror or inside door. Have fun!”
(2angelsinheaven)
q Disney offers a few celebration gifts: www.disneycruise.com
q Avoid surface damage by hanging stateroom decor with
3M Command Adhesive instead of thumb tacks or tape. They are easy to use and
remove, and leave no residue. You might also try hanging putty or the blue
painters' tape.
q “I would recommend NOT missing your first dinner in
your assigned dining room, as this will be an orientation of sorts. At that
time, you will find your assigned table, meet your server, assistant server,
head waiter and tablemates. Your server will explain the dinner menu and give
you their recommendations. The assistant server will get to know your likes,
dislikes, and drink preferences. You (and your children, if applicable) may
strike up a new friendship or two with your tablemates. The kids may find
someone to go to the Club or Lab with. After dessert, your server will also
outline the breakfast and lunch options for the next day.”
q "If you have a food allergy, ask to speak to a
chef on day 1." (dflst)
q DCL is a Coke provider; bring your own soda if
you're Pepsi drinker or other brands.
q Fresh fruit and cookies are available at Scoops
throughout the day
q Don't be afraid to ask for more than one item per
course; mix and match from other entrees as you like
q “Take the aft staircase to your restaurant. Not only
is the aft staircase convenient to all the restaurants, but you don’t have to
wait for a crowded elevator and you’ll get in some exercise before that big
meal.” (PassPorter author Dave Marx)
q Ask your server for dessert to go if you're too full
to eat there
q Even if you can't eat the dessert/late-night buffet,
make a plate and put it in your refrigerator for the next day
q “Also we found that keeping a couple of small dessert
plates in the drawer under the dressing table was a good idea because often we
would get room service and the plates were too big for the fridge. If you go to
the evening snack areas they have side plates there so just take one back with
some food on (chocolate strawberries are always good) and then wash it and
place it in the drawer for later. We found this really useful last time.”
q Bring back fruit and cereal boxes to snack on
throughout the day.
q “I took some disposable plastic containers with me
on my cruise. I brought them with me to breakfast and filled one with fruit
that I cut up and another with banana chips. I stuck them in the stateroom
cooler so my kids had something nutritious to snack on first thing in the
morning. And because they are disposable, I just threw out the containers at the
end of the cruise.” (PassPorter/B.S.)
q “They have [Splenda] at the drink station on Deck 9,
in the dining rooms, and if you get coffee from room service it comes with
Splenda as well.” (Bethipoo4)
q “Once we knew our dining rotation, we made our Palo
reservations for the night our rotation was at Parrot Cay. (The sample menus
we’d seen from PC appealed to us less than the others.) By the end of the
cruise, though, I realized that there really isn’t much difference between the
menus in the three restaurants. Food-wise, I didn’t prefer one to the other,
though the atmosphere was certainly different for all three. My advice here is
that if you miss a night or two on rotation dining, you probably won’t miss
much. I also didn’t notice one rotation restaurant being dressier than others,
which surprised me after reading about Lumiere’s being much more formal than AP
or PC.”
q While DCL may be more relaxed with their dress code
than some cruise lines, it is still important to adhere to the dress code of
particular events and/or locations. For instance, Palo has a more formal dress
code than the other restaurants. Don’t try to get in wearing jeans or beach
attire—it’s impolite to your fellow diners. It may not be important to you, but
to many cruisers, dressing up is part of the fun and tradition of cruising. If
you’re more comfortable in casual attire, be considerate to others and spend
your time where the dress code is more relaxed.
q If you do not want to get dressed up for dinner,
there is always an alternative site available for a served meal.
q “If you are having wine or beer in your room (i.e.,
that you brought on board), buy a drink at one of the bars. Take the glass back
to your room with you (you can take drinks in and out of bars) and then you
will have something to use in your cabin. ‘Hide’ it, as your steward will
probably assume it’s dirty if it’s left out.”
q “No matter where you dine, you can request a
simpler, off-menu item like steak, roasted or grilled chicken, or plain broiled
fish.” (PassPorter)
q Make your own sangria at dinner! "They will do
this for you if you have a bottle of red wine. Ask the beverage waiter to get a
pitcher fill it about 20oz of orange juice. Add about 6oz each of cranberry
juice and Sprite. Toss in some maraschino cherries, a sliced orange, and a
bottle of red wine. Serve over ice. Most people seem to like the sangria and it
works very well with the Pirate Menu and Parrot Cay menu. Best of all, just
about any inexpensive bottle of red wine works. It is wonderful with the
Paella!" (dflst)
q If you anticipate having wine with your dinners, you
might want to order the entire bottle. Your servers will carry the bottle with
them when you travel to the other restaurants and you may enjoy it over three
or four nights if it lasts that long. The bottle is much less expensive than
multiple glasses. Make sure your waiter puts your room number on unfinished
bottles of wine so you get the remainder at your next meal.
q Each day, the line has their specialty drinks. These
drinks are also available in a non-alcohol version. You just need to ask.
q “Make friends with a specific
bartender at a favorite watering hole, tip fair, you will discover your perks.”
(DisVillainFan)
q “Adults who prefer comfort food or just enjoy
kid-favorites are welcome to order off the kids menu at the restaurants. Just
ask your server for a menu. Typical kids’ menu fare includes macaroni and cheese,
cheese pizza, chicken strips, Mickey pasta, chicken noodle soup, fruit cups,
and Mickey ice cream bars.” (PassPorter/P.E.)
q “Despite the fact that there is no “baby food”
onboard, it’s really quite easy to feed your older baby and toddler. The boxes
of cereal at breakfast (especially the Cheerios-type cereal) are excellent for
snacks throughout the day—grab extras each morning at the breakfast buffets.
The fruit plates available at virtually every meal are a real winner, too.
Whole milk is available up at the beverage station on deck 9—you can fill up
cups and bring them back to the room. Better yet, call room service and request
several containers of milk along with some fruit for a snack. We found it
easier to feed our toddler on the cruise than at home thanks to the easy
availability of a variety of items.” (PassPorter/Sarah U.)
q “The dining rooms give kids a
different coloring-page and crayons every night at dinner. DD(5) loved this and
colored hers each time. It also lists the kids menu for the night.
Unfortunately, DS(3) doesn’t care to color, and the dinners take a LONG time, so he got bored and was ready to go before
the rest of us almost every night. So, be prepared, and bring some small toys
that might entertain your little ones, or check them into Flounders Reef before
you go to eat. “ (LaurlieMT)
q “The kids’ dinner menu was
pretty disappointing from a nutrition point of view. It just didn’t have enough
options or change often enough. It seemed to have cheeseburgers and chicken
fingers every night, and only had other special stuff like pasta sometimes.
Plus, even though the menu said you could get mashed potatoes instead of fries,
and I requested this on more than one occasion, the kids plates had fries every
time. You can order off the adult menu for your kids if you prefer. “
(LaurlieMT)
q Your last morning on the ship (before disembarking)
can be rushed. “The best thing that happened to us in the dining room was our
head server told us to not rush in the morning to be there at 6:30 if we didn't
need to...and to show up at 8 for breakfast. So we were able to sleep without
worrying about it all.” (jd99)
q “Have a postcard with your address/e-mail on it at
the last night for each couple/family at your table and have the others fill in
info for each card.”
q Don’t miss your first night at Animator’s Palate.
The “show” is run only on the first night of each rotation.
q AP serves dinner only
q Try to sit where you have a view of one of the video
screens (if your assigned table will permit!)
q Snacks may be available here throughout the day.
q “If you order soda from room service or a bar you
will be charged.” (becka)
q Smoking is permitted in the back of this bar. “Poor
ventilation can make the entire club smoky.” (PassPorter)
q “There is one character breakfast. Tickets for it
(stating the date and time) will be in your cabin when you arrive the first day
(at least they were for us). It is always done on an 'at sea' day. On our
Western cruise, it was held either the second or third morning (I don't recall
which).” (2munchkins) “[Reservations] are tied to your dining rotation. Once
you know your rotation (at check-in at the port), you can find out when your
character breakfast will be. All you need to do is show up.” (pdarrah)
q The characters are: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy,
Chip, and Dale. Be warned: the characters come and go very, very quickly, much
faster than the character meals at the parks. Someone will come by and tell you
your table is next for so and so, and that you need to get your camera and
autograph book (if you have one) ready.“ (2munchkins)
q “Even if there are no children in your party, don’t
skip the character breakfast. We were three childless couples, and we had a
blast. Mickey, Goofy, and the rest of the gang spent as much time at our table
as they did at the tables with families. And we got some of the funniest
pictures of the whole cruise that morning.” (PassPorter.Margo V.)
q “If you don’t feel like getting up for your
character breakfast – don’t. It’s very rushed and there are enough other
opportunities to meet characters. Ours was on our first morning and we got up
early to get there and I think we could have easily missed it with no harm/no
foul with the kids.” (jd99)
q Go to the food line at the far right at Cookie's BBQ
- it's usually empty or short.
q “On Castaway Cay, we came back from the adult beach
to eat at Cookies. All around us people had tropical fruit on their plates. I
went back to the buffet and looked and looked, but never found any! Figured
they had run out. It turned out there was a fruit stand on the other side of
Cookies, closer to the ship. By the time I found it after leaving lunch, I was
already stuffed. Don't let it happen to you!”
q Menus can be seen at www.disneycruiser.info/covemenu.htm
q “The adults-only coffee bar on deck 9 charges for specialty
coffee drinks, but the delectable treats in the glass case are free of charge.
You may also find croissants and danish in the mornings, and cheese and
crackers at other times during the day.” (PassPorter/Beth J.)
q You can borrow books and magazines from the Cove
Café.
q Diversions serves nachos and hot dogs most of the
day. Very few people go in there for food.
q “Ask for a chocolate martini if you don’t see it on
the menu—they’re the best! There are also chess/checkers boards—one day someone
had arranged the checkers in a Mickey shape!”
q If you're headed to Diversions to watch a game, you
can bring food from other places in. "I even brought my own beer into
Diversions, and the server was kind enough to bring me a glass!" (Float My
Boat) "They have GREAT wings and a few other munchies." (ivanova)
q Fruit and cookies are available at Goofy’s Galley/Scoops
throughout the day
q “Don’t forget that the ice cream station (Goofy’s
Galley/Scoops) also has fruit, wrap sandwiches, and salad ... a healthier
alternative to burgers, fries, and pizza.” (PassPorter/Marie H.)
q "The grilled panini is to die for!"
q “Notice the details in these restaurants, like light
fixtures, décor, etc. They’re really impressive.”
q “The seven-night cruises may feature a Gala Dessert
Buffet in Lumiere’s, typically held from 11:30 pm to 12:30 am on an at-sea day.
The line can get long at the dessert buffets—to avoid a long wait, arrive just
as it begins. Desserts vary, but typical treats include crepes, cheesecakes,
tortes, pies, cookies, and pastries.” (PassPorter)
q Traveling with a wheelchair: "For
Triton's/Lumiere's, have one person go to the main entrance and let them know
you have a wheelchair and you can enter from the back, since the main entrance
has stairs up and down to enter. (KSDTink)
q “Chicken wings and panini sandwiches are offered
here around lunchtime on select days.” (PassPorter)
q “If you order soda from room service or a bar you
will be charged.” (becka)
q If you weren’t able to get reservations online
before the cruise, or immediately after boarding, ask to be put on the waiting
list.
q “If they offer you brunch at Palo (instead of dinner),
jump on it. You will not be disappointed at all.” (VAgal76)
q Palo’s dress code is more formal than the rotation
restaurants. If you want to take one less dressy outfit, try to schedule your
dinner at Palo on formal or semi-formal night.
q “When going to Palo, walk all the way aft on a deck
other than 9 or 10, and THEN use the elevators to go to Deck 10. We came up mid-ship
and had to walk across the open deck, and I was a windblown disaster when we
walked into Palo.“
q “Rosa Regale wine goes well with the Palo chocolate
soufflé.”
q Make sure your waiter puts your room number on
unfinished bottles of wine so you get the remainder at your next meal.
q If you want to experience all three restaurants plus
Palo, consider doing the “Disney Dining Double-Dip.” For this, you should have
early seating. Get a reservation for Palo as late in the evening as possible.
Then eat a light dinner in your regularly assigned restaurant that evening.
After dinner, see the show, then have a late night meal in Palo. This will only
work for late dinner seating if you don’t mind eating two meals in a row.
q “When to eat at Palo? Pick a night you’ll be in port
(like Nassau) so you can see the beautiful city lights. If you choose a night
when you’re at sea, all you’ll see is darkness (and if the ship is swaying a
little, it might spoil your dinner).” (PassPorter/Mary B.)
q “Palo is everything you hear and more. We were
skeptical and almost skipped it completely because we do a lot of traveling and
eat in great restaurants all the time. How good could a ship’s restaurant be?
Well, we didn’t have dinner but we did have brunch there and it was truly
special.” (jd99)
q Get Palo to go. "During our Aug '06 cruise, my
wife wasn't feeling well during our brunch (sea sick). She left after a few
bites. They gave us a swan shaped tin foil with the desserts to go since my
wife wasn't able to have some. Not only that, but our server advised us to talk
to the manager to get us rebooked for another day." (ma t gus) "On
our last cruise, our DS6, who was in the Oceaneer Club, had us paged while we
were at Palo. Fortunately, he only wanted to show us his art work!
Unfortunately, the page was just as our entrees were being served. The kind
manager of Palo packed up our meals to go and found an opening for us to visit
Palo later in the cruise." (suzu)
q Though you’ll be directed to Topsider/Beach Blanket
Buffet when you first board the ship, be aware that Parrot Cay is also open.
It’s the same food but probably a less crowded area.
q “You have two choices for breakfast buffets on the
ship: Topsider’s/Beach Blanket Buffet or Parrot Cay. Most folks think of
Topsider’s/Beach Blanket Buffet, but Parrot Cay is really much nicer. The same
food is here, but there’s more seating, the servers fetch your drinks for you,
and the atmosphere is more relaxing. We vote for Parrot Cay every time!”
(PassPorter/Gus P.)
q Pinocchio’s usually serves pepperoni and cheese
pizzas, but occasionally they have other kinds.
q You can get nachos at Pluto's even though it's not
on the menu
q Sometimes Pluto’s has an “express breakfast”
q Hours vary; check your Navigator.
q Small bar, sells packaged snacks. Hours are 6 pm to
10 pm.
q “If you order soda from room service or a bar you
will be charged.” (becka)
q “If you order soda from room service or a bar you
will be charged.” (becka)
q ”You can order PB&J
Sandwiches (the "uncrustable" types at the grocery store) and Mickey
Ice Cream Bars from room service even though the are not on the room service
menu.” (GoofyGuy777)
q ”DS wanted a plain ham sandwich
from room service (not panini/grilled - he has pretty bland tastebuds) -
They sent up a double-decker sandwich that he loved!” (michaels mom)
q “We ordered breakfast the night
before Castaway Cay and had it delivered first thing that morning. It helped us
wake up earlier and save time getting ready, so we maximized our time on CC…
They call you about 5 minutes before the waiter comes to your door, just in
case you are sound asleep.” (LaurlieMT)
q Order “All Hands on Deck” cheese and crackers tray.
Great for snacking throughout the day.
q If going into port, order sandwiches (be aware that
some ports may not allow you to take food ashore).
q Order the room service cake of the day.
q Room service has Mickey ice cream bars, though it
isn't listed on the menu.
q Order the bottled water package; it’s all delivered
on the same day. “The Evian package is a great thing to get on day one. We used
nearly every bottle, and though it was expensive (about 40 bucks) it beat the
water on the ship and we didn’t have to lug a case of water onboard (worth half
the cost right there).” (jd99)
q “If you order soda from room service or a bar you
will be charged.” (becka)
q Order room service as a wakeup call if you're in an
inside stateroom and are worried you’ll oversleep (the rooms are dark!)
q “I took an envelope full of $1 bills for room
service - worked out so well - just reached in the drawer by the door and was
ready for room service.”
q If you are a coffee drinker, call room service the
night before and order coffee for two. They bring it in a thermal carafe and it
stays hot overnight. That way, you don't have to jump out of bed and get
dressed to go find coffee.
q "Snacks for a fee are peanuts, popcorn, candy,
soda, water, wine, and beer through room service. Cake of the day, Mickey bars,
milk, pizza, cheese and crackers, sandwiches are all free." (micmse2003)
q This area is for adults only.
q Cocktail Hours, if scheduled, are usually held in
Sessions/Cadillac Lounge. All beverages served at this time, whether alcoholic
or not, will be charged to your stateroom.
q Bar at the Quiet Cove (adult) pool.
q “If you order soda from room service or a bar you
will be charged.” (becka)
q “Soda is free from the beverage station and in the
dining rooms. If you order soda from room service or a bar you will be charged.
DCL does not sell soda cards.” (becka)
q Take a large mug on board and make one soda fill-up
trip, then keep it in your refrigerator throughout the day.
q You don’t have to pay for fancy coffee drinks, just
make your own iced mocha: mix one pack hot chocolate with coffee, then pour
over two cups filled 2/3 with ice and milk.
q “Save one of those cardboard beverage trays you get
at fast food drive-throughs for your next cruise. Use the tray to carry more
than two cups from the beverage station to your stateroom or wherever. Very
handy!” (PassPorter/D.K.)
q “Most tap water tastes like mud puddles to me. I use
a filter at home, and usually drink bottled water when I travel. Although the
water in the staterooms is treated for drinking, I thought it was horrible, and
the water at the beverage station was no better. I was all ready to ship myself
a case of bottled water for our next cruise, until I heard about water filter
sport bottles. Apparently the Brita ones have been discontinued, but the ones by
Pure Water 2Go (www.purewater2go.com) are
comparable. I’d much rather carry around a couple sport bottles than an entire
case of bottled water!”
q “Since it's instant ice tea (like most fast food
serve now), I would suggest making hot tea and then icing that down.” (atigeg)
q Straws are available wherever beverages are sold.
q The embarkation buffet is open as soon as you board,
which may be as early as 11:30 a.m. Many people try to board as soon as
possible in order to enjoy the jumbo shrimp and other delights early, so
they’ll still have room for dinner later that evening. This meal is included in
the price of your cruise, so if you opt to eat lunch elsewhere and arrive at
the port later, you miss out on this great way to start your cruise.
q “You have two choices for breakfast buffets on the
ship: Topsider’s/Beach Blanket Buffet or Parrot Cay. Most folks think of
Topsider’s/Beach Blanket Buffet, but Parrot Cay is really much nicer. The same
food is here, but there’s more seating, the servers fetch your drinks for you,
and the atmosphere is more relaxing. We vote for Parrot Cay every time!”
(PassPorter/Gus P.)
q “It is breath-taking to eat outside beside the
railing, feeling the breeze in our faces and watching the ship pull into port.
Everyone else can keep the fancy dining rooms... I'll take BB any day of the
week with this feeling!” (MB MinnieGirl)
q “I was shocked at the variety and quality of the
food. I was expecting a "downscale" buffet but no way. This was top
notch, no lines, great service - just good stuff.” (jd99)
q Traveling with a wheelchair: "Topsiders/Beach
Blanket Buffet is a little difficult to negotiate with a wheelchair, especially
on the last day of the cruise. If you can, send someone there very early and
bring food back to your room (they will let you do this) rather than deal with
the crowds up there." (KSDTink) "At Topsiders/Beach Blanket they were
very helpful to carry our tray and get us to a table." (michelle9343)
q “On the last night of your cruise you pack everything
up except what you will need in the morning (clothes and grooming supplies).
Your luggage needs to be outside of your door by 11 p.m. with the character
tags on it that they will give you on that last day. In the morning pack up all
the rest in a carry on and take it to breakfast. As you disembark the ship
you'll be directed to the luggage holding room where it will all be categorized
based on who was on your character tag (Donald, Mickey, Daisy, etc).”
q Do not schedule an outbound flight before 12:30 p.m.
It can take a lot longer than you think to get through customs and immigration
and back to MCO, through security, and to your departure gate.
q Don't worry about getting to the disembarkation
talk, as it will be repeated all evening on your stateroom television.
q You will be given a comment form to complete. DCL
takes responses very seriously—please take the time to complete it.
q Make sure you leave a set of clothes out for
debarking....people have been known to pack EVERYTHING the night before and
leave the ship in their jammies!
q If you have nothing to rush to, be the last ones off
the ship! Do not go to breakfast in the restaurant. Instead, go to the buffet,
pick up a tray and fill it for everyone in your cabin. Back at the cabin, take
your time, have a nice shower, eat breakfast on the verandah in port, relax.
The cruise is not over yet! When you are ready, you can walk off the ship, no
crowds, easily find your luggage, and cruise through customs.
q “The disembarkation process was so easy I didn’t
even realize we were done. Get a porter to help you with your bags, tip him
well, and you don’t even have to think. It was a nice way to end things given
how sad we were that things needed to end.” (jd99)
q In a hurry? “Skip the breakfast, and sneak off in
between breakfast sittings… never had any problem. Also, if you don't have a
TON of luggage and have a rolling suitcase, I always keep all my bags and just
walk them off the ship. No need for a porter, or finding luggage... just have
to get in the customs line and go. Usually takes me about 15 minutes.”
(disneygatorfan) “In all our cruises, we have never had any issues. We are
usually off within 20 minutes and that is even with breakfast.” (SpideyHulk24)
q Bring pre-addressed labels with your stateroom
number to stick on your assigned luggage tags.
q If you need a porter, stand by the doors where they
come back in so you can get one without having to chase them down.
q Make sure your party's luggage all has the same
distinctive ribbons etc.; your luggage will probably not be located together
q Pack nail clippers or a pocket knife on the outside
of your suitcase to clip zip strips
q “If you are stuck taking a late flight out of the Orlando International Airport, try getting a day room at the MCO Hyatt right at the
airport. For less than $80, you get a place to hang your hat, relax, and
decompress a bit before the long flight home. This is especially useful for
families with little kids who need their afternoon naps. MCO Hyatt also allows
you to use all of its facilities, such as the pool.” (PassPorter/Jennifer B.)
q “The best thing that happened to us in the dining
room was our head server told us to not rush in the morning to be there at 6:30
if we didn't need to...and to show up at 8 for breakfast. So we were able to
sleep without worrying about it all.” (jd99)
q See the “Port Canaveral” topic for details about the
check-in process.
q “When you first step on the ship and then go
directly to your stateroom for your Personal Navigator, the choices of things
to do are overwhelming, but you don’t want to miss a thing. As a first-time
cruiser, I felt obligated to go to the speech in the Buena Vista Theater about
our day at Nassau and a review of the shopping and tour excursions. I actually
missed the Sail Away Party and the special “tune” as we left port because the
speech was still going on at that time. So disappointing! And when we got to
our stateroom later that evening to relax for a few minutes, the very same
speech was being replayed on our TV. So there was no need to miss something as
much fun as our first departure to hear these speeches. Almost all of them are
replayed later (at several different times) on your TV, including the
disembarkation talk.” (PassPorter/Gerry)
q “They are going to take a family picture as soon as you
walk on board - if you are each carrying 2 bags or toting a wheelie bag, you
are going to look like a family of packhorses. We did.” "They offer to
take your picture when boarding. Our first cruise we didn't know this and we
looked wrinkled and tired. You might want to consider coordinating your outfits
if taking a group photo." (auntsue1)
q Don’t miss the Sail-Away celebration!
q Bring small containers of blowing bubbles for the
sail-away celebration
q Swim right after boarding; it’s the least crowded
the pools will be the whole cruise long
q Be sure to book your Castaway Cay cabana massage
ASAP online or once on board.
q “The embarkation buffet is open as soon as you
board, which may be as early as 11:30 a.m. Many people try to board as soon as
possible in order to enjoy the jumbo shrimp and other delights early, so
they’ll still have room for dinner later that evening. This meal is included in
the price of your cruise, so if you opt to eat lunch elsewhere and arrive at
the port later, you miss out on this great way to start your cruise.”
q “The buffet typically closes at 3:30 pm, in
preparation for the mandatory boat drill.”
q “If you’re a first-time cruiser, you may not realize
that the trays of drinks being served during the Sail Away Party are NOT free.
If you are offered one, accept it only if you are willing to pay for it, as you
will be asked for your Key to the World card. It’s a bit ambiguous to those
unfamiliar with cruising.” (PassPorter/Pam P.)
q If you look back at the terminal as the ship
departs, you’ll see the cast members with big Mickey gloves on waving good-bye.
Watch for the same thing to happen leaving Castaway Cay.
q “Your best bet for spotting dolphins is just as
you’re sailing out of Port Canaveral. Go up to deck 10, near the front but not
all the way, and look over the port or starboard side. If dolphins are present,
you’ll see them swimming near the bow.” (PassPorter/Carrie P.)
- Don’t
expect perfection. With today’s ships carrying three and four thousand
people at a time, trust me, the experience is not going to be perfect for
everyone. Your toilet may clog. The handle may fall off the sliding door.
Your table mates may sometimes be rude (my own children come to mind).
Have a good attitude and your cruise will go a lot more smoothly.
- Get some
exercise. Fact: The elevators are going to be crowded around dinner and
show times. A bunch of crabby people waiting for the elevators will only
stir each other up even more; I saw it happen time and again. If you are
physically able, why not walk off that crème brûlée and take the stairs —
or maybe do a lap on the Promenade Deck.
- Shut up.
It is not necessary to slam your cabin door each time you enter and exit
the cabin, and it is rude to do so at 3 a.m. (some passengers actually
sleep — at night! — on a cruise). Close the door slowly and preserve some
of the peace. Never been on a cruise? There are probably a hundred cabins
within earshot of each slammed door.
- Practice
moderation. OK, it’s your vacation: Have fun and party on. But know your
limits. No one likes a sloppy drunk, and the last thing you want to do is
spend a night in the medical facility because you planted your *** through
the glass coffee table. No one will convince me that excessive drinking is
not a huge factor in all the recent “crimes” at sea.
- Be
discreet. Aboard ship, we are all equals. I don’t need to see your Rolex
watch, or that 10-carat diamond. No need to flash a wad of cash in the
casino either. For one thing, you could be asking for trouble; for another
(listen carefully): No one really cares! And another thing, while the ship
is your home away from home, it isn’t actually your home, so if you feel
the need to wander the hallways, please do so wearing street clothes not
your curlers and nightie — or less!
- Remember
that you are a world traveler. You may hear others speaking a different or
unfamiliar language. (No, it is not a foreign language; it may be foreign
to you, but it is not foreign to millions of perfectly competent
speakers). If an announcement needs to be made, it will likely be made in
several languages; after all, people who speak a language other than yours
have the same right to safety and information as you do. Do not demand
that people accommodate you. It is all about compromise.
- Be a good
audience member. If you are tired, don’t sit in the front row. How
demeaning is it to a performer who is giving his or her all to look out
and see an audience member nodding off mid-performance? Now imagine the
reaction if there is also a line of drool dribbling from the corner of
your mouth. Not a pretty sight, although the photograph I took is a good
conversation piece!
- Stop
whining. If something has gone wrong or you are unhappy, there is no need
to drag a few thousand other people into your mess. There is a simple
solution: Ask management to correct the problem. Whining just brings
everyone down and — who knows? — your expectations may be way out of line.
And another thing: There’s not much anyone can do about a cloudy day.
- Dress for
public view. If you wouldn’t walk into Wal-Mart wearing short shorts and a
tube top, you probably shouldn’t wear them on vacation, either. Same with
a thong. People come in all shapes and sizes, but most of us are not
looking to become acquainted with your every bulge and curve.
- Be
generous. Tip. Our waitress on the Freedom of the Seas is paid $50 a
month. Yes, you read that correctly! The rest of her income comes from
gratuities. To the family in the cabins across from me: I heard you all
making plans to order room service for 16 on the last night of the cruise
so you could avoid having to tip in the dining room. Shame on you!
John Frenaye is the president of JVE Group, Inc., a
diversified company based in Annapolis, Md. With a background in business
management, he writes about the travel industry as an insider with an
outsider's perspective. http://www.tripso.com/archives/2006/08/etiquette.html
q “Don’t be a deck chair hog. It’s inconsiderate to
put towels and personal belongings on poolside lounge chairs to “save” them
unless you are actually in the pool.” (CruiseDiva)
q While DCL may be more relaxed with their dress code
than some cruise lines, it is still important to adhere to the dress code of
particular events and/or locations. For instance, Palo has a more formal dress
code than the other restaurants. Don’t try to get in wearing jeans or beach
attire—it’s impolite to your fellow diners. It may not be important to you, but
to many cruisers, dressing up is part of the fun and tradition of cruising. If
you’re more comfortable in casual attire, be considerate to others and spend
your time where the dress code is more relaxed.
q Photographers will be available for group photos in
the main lobby every evening. Arrive early if you have a large group or don’t
want to wait in lines.
q Book Flounder’s Reef on your own rather than relying
on concierge or someone else
q Children's programming counselors do not receive
tips; consider giving them a small gift
q “Make sure you have a space when you really need one
(Formal Night, Palo reservations, etc.), but you can always call at the last
minute to see if there’s any availability. It’s worth a try! On our 7-day
cruise I was surprised how easy it was to get our son in there when I called
several times. Of course, I had my fingers crossed… that might have helped.”
(JLSM97)
q “They have open hours on days at sea. It's not
listed anywhere, but go and ask.” (Tarabra)
q “We booked ahead of time but we changed almost
everything after getting on the ship. They were completely flexible and would
have taken her anytime she wanted to go. I don't know if this is the norm or if
we just hit it on a week when there weren't a lot of toddlers and babies.”
(jd99)
q There is a window where you can watch your children
and they can’t see you (one-way mirror).
q Dressing up for dinner on cruises is a longtime
tradition. While DCL may be more relaxed with their dress code than some cruise
lines, it is still important to adhere to the dress code of particular events
and/or locations. For instance, Palo has a more formal dress code than the
other restaurants. Don’t try to get in wearing jeans or beach attire—it’s
impolite to your fellow diners. It may not be important to you, but to many
cruisers, dressing up is part of the fun of cruising. If you’re more
comfortable in casual attire, be considerate to others and spend your time
where the dress code is more relaxed. “I honestly couldn’t believe how some
people came to formal night. If you don’t want to get formal and don’t want to
hit an alternative restaurant, just put on a pair of khaki’s and a golf shirt,
for goodness sakes. A t-shirt and jeans – no lie – on a husband and wife at the
table next to us… and their kids in shorts and tank tops. As someone who took
the “formal” of formal night seriously, I was offended by it.”
q You will see men in tuxedoes on dress-up nights, but
a dark suit and tie is perfectly acceptable
q DCL coordinates tuxedo rental with Cruise Line
Formalwear (www.cruiselineformal.com,
800-551-5091). Just get your measurements taken at your local tux shop and then
call or go online to order your formalwear. The rental is good for the length
of the cruise, and will be in your stateroom when you arrive. Simply leave it
in your room at the end of the cruise.
q Check eBay (www.ebay.com) or
your local tuxedo shop if you’d like to buy a tuxedo. For boys, check www.tux4boys.com. “I thought buying a tuxedo was a waste
of money until I looked into some of the prices on eBay. My husband got a
beautiful classic style for just under $100, which is what it would have cost
to rent one for the cruise. He wore it three times on the ship, and has
actually found a few occasions to wear it since—an anniversary dinner out, a
Broadway show, etc. It’s also fun for ME, because I have an excuse to get a
formal gown every couple years… I mean, I couldn’t have him looking better than
I do, right?!” (JLSM97)
q “For semi-formal and formal nights, dress up your
little girl in Disney princess dresses. The photos will turn out lovely and
your little princess will get all sorts of attention. Disney magic!”
(PassPorter/Jane F.)
q Ladies, looking for something versatile? Check out
the clothing at www.lydiasilvestry.com. Inexpensive items can sometimes be found at www.newport-news.com and www.chadwicks.com
q “I was on the “no tux” fence for a while but it was
fun to get dressed up and have a special dinner and hopefully some nice
photos.” (jd99)
q Order a gift basket made by Shirley at The Perfect
Gift (www.theperfectgift.cc)
q Assemble gifts for your kids and present them once
you’re onboard. “Princess pencils, Frisbee, glow sticks and glow jewelry for
the pirate party, bubbles, one of those rubbery spiky balls, a snorkel set for
CC, Pop Rocks candy, packs of gum, goggles… I picked up stuff for months
anytime I would find something at the $1 store that I thought would work and
then I narrowed it down when it came time to pack. Things I left behind will
work great for the Tooth Fairy or just as a treat now and then.” (MB
MinnieGirl)
q www.wellwishers.com
q Ordering stateroom gifts from DCL: “Orders must be
placed at least 48 hours before sail away date.” (VerandahMan)
q "This year at Christmas, I am giving my kids
certificates with the amounts of $$ I will put in their shipboard accounts.
They will be responsible for budgeting their own money." (Sue (mom of 3
boys!))
q Ship yourself a package to be delivered to the ship
upon your arrival. “I would strongly advise you to call Disney to make sure
this is still the correct address: IDS,
9001 Marlin Street, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, (321)799-9100. Package must
arrive by 5:00 PM on Fri. for Sat and Sun sailings, by 11:00 AM on Thursday for
Thursday sailings. You must have your name/stateroom#/ship name on the outside
of the package.” (PURTYPAT1) “We mailed 4 boxes before our repo cruise left Florida. The boxes were waiting in our room for us when we arrived on the ship. Worked
great. We only mailed things we would not have to take home with us, the gift
bags for the DISboard people traveling, etc.” (webray) “The last 2 cruises I
mailed my packages the week before (I live in the New York area) with Fedex
ground. You can track it with them and they have GREAT customer service just in
case there is a problem. Both cruises they arrived with no problem. I did ship
soda in one of my boxes, along with some wine, and scissors. I bubble-wrapped
it and then bubble-wrapped it, and then I bubble-wrapped it some more. I just
did not want to take any chances of it opening. The only problem I had was
opening the bubble wrap. Everything arrived perfect. The second cruise, I sent
swim masks, flippers and plastic row boat (they will air fill it on Castaway
Cay). The kids had a blast in the boat. When we were through, I just threw
everything away. It saved us lots of time and money.” (PURTYPAT1)
q Looking for the perfect cruise gift? Anyone can add
credit to your stateroom account by calling 1-800-601-8455. "They would
need to tell DCL your name, ship, sail date, and stateroom (DCL might be able
to look up the stateroom). They can do it for any amount and tell DCL a
personal message that you want on the card that will be left in the stateroom
telling you about the credit. My understanding is that if you don't use all of
the credit, they will refund the difference--I'm not positive, that's just what
I've heard." (stampinshauna) "This year at Christmas, I am giving my
kids certificates with the amounts of $$ I will put in their shipboard
accounts. They will be responsible for budgeting their own money." (Sue
(mom of 3 boys!))
q Disney Dollars can be used at Guest Services toward
your account but nowhere else on ship.
q The lines at guest services get longer towards the
end of the cruise, so make sure you get any business (paying tips, etc) done as
early as possible.
q “If you like extra copies of the Personal Navigators
for each member of your family, or just want to keep pristine copies as
mementos, stop by Guest Services. Extra copies are usually on the counter for
the taking, but if they are not out, you can request them from a crew member.”
(PassPorter/Ollie C.)
q Guest Services sells foreign stamps. If you buy them
before you get to port, you don’t have to worry about finding a post office to
send those postcards.
q Sea lice can be a problem. Educate yourself at www.fau.edu/safe/sea-lice.html. An anti-sea-lice lotion called SeaSafe comes
highly recommended by many cruisers that have dealt with these nasty little
critters: www.buysafesea.com/jellyfish_sting_lotion.php (taeja71) “We've never used any of the products on
the market, but just rinsed VERY, VERY well after getting wet.” (happylady)
q If you have a medical condition that DCL should be
aware of, complete this form and fax it to DCL a couple of weeks before your
cruise (DIS boards FAQ). “The medical information form is essentially a request
for special services (such as a refrigerator to keep meds cold rather than the
standard beverage cooler, a handicapped accessible room, or to have the ship's
doctor or nurse administer a medication). It is not needed by anyone not
requiring special equipment or services. An adult who takes his/her own
medications and does not need to keep them in a refrigerator or a child who
takes medications administered by a parent does not need this form.“ (kcashner)
http://adisneycruise.disney.go.com/media/dcl_v0202/en_US/media/myCruise/MedicalInformation.pdf
q "If you have a food allergy, ask to speak to a
chef on day 1." (dflst)
q See the “Seasickness” topic below for information on
dealing with that queasiness.
q The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has
published this information about Norwalk-like viruses: www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm (MNmousecouple)
q The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
also publish cleanliness reports after inspections are done on ships. Check out
their “Vessel Sanitation Program” reports at wwwn.cdc.gov/vsp/InspectionQueryTool/Forms/InspectionSearch.aspx
q “Signs are posted on the [ship] to remind you to
clean your hands. They also provide wipes to clean your hands at all meal
times. If people followed the basic clean and care recommendations, everyone will
stay healthy.“ (4formickey) “There are studies out there that show the
anti-bacterial stuff isn't proven to be the godsend it was first marketed as.
It can either allow the germs/bacteria to grow stronger/resistant to the stuff
or because you're not exposed to any germs, your immune system is less able to
fight them when it does come in contact. A lot of time the reason people are
healthier when using them is that they just end up washing their hands more
(with the soap) then they used to and that alone helps more.” (Masonpips) “The
CMs are fanatic about having the kids wash their hands with AB soap before
entering the kids' clubs. It might not be a bad idea to do it (or use the AB
gel) on the way out too.” (LuvTravelToo)
q "If you or your child are not feeling well, and
are stuck/confined to the room for the day and you do not like what is playing
on the schedule, request a VCR and a list of movies and they will come hook it
up for you and bring the movies." (Mickee)
q “I just started using AIRBOURNE to prevent colds. It
was developed by a schoolteacher who was tired of getting sick being around
young children. So far it seems to be working. You can take it just before
entering areas germs may be, like crowds, airplanes, etc. Also when you feel
like you are getting a cold you take it to prevent it from becoming full blown.
It is like Alka-Seltzer and does not taste bad at all. There is also a kids’
formula as well as adult formula.” (sy1203)
q “According to a physician friend of mine,
acidophilus is very effective in protection against the Norwalk-type virus. It
is live "good bacteria" (same as found in yogurt) in pill form that
helps the stomach kill the bad bacteria. GNC sells a kid's chewable.”
(magiroux)
q Wondering what you’ll get charged for medical
treatment on the ship? “As you're walking to the medical center there are signs
on all the rooms telling you it is $100 just to see the doctor and that it is
charged to your shipboard credit, and they do not take insurance. When we went
to check in we were again advised of this and asked if we really wanted to be
seen by the doctor.” (dletz) “My daughter had an allergic reaction to sunblock
and her eyes swelled and she was screaming 5 minutes after we stepped foot on
CC. They flushed out her eyes and gave her Benadryl. No charge. They even
followed up later to see how she was doing.” (kaykels) “No charge for minor
boo-boos. I can testify to that as DD6 cut her finger while in the club and was
bandaged up without a penny spent.” (MB MinnieGirl)
q Especially when at ports, be aware of your
surroundings. “Tourists are often targeted on public transportation and at
major tourist sights.” (woody73) “I think we can get complacent with DCL
because it’s mostly families, not a drunken party atmosphere, it's Disney, etc.
But we should never forget basic safety principles, especially when it comes to our
children.“ (amesmom)
q Just because you’re traveling with young children
doesn’t mean you can’t book a verandah cabin! “The lock on the door is pretty
complicated and out of regular reach and the door is heavy.” (BuzzNutt) “The
door requires two things to open. First, you have to unlock it. The lock is at
the very top of the door (at about 6½ feet). Then you have to move the handle
(at waist level) down. Then you have to push the door open - HARD. My DM
couldn't ever get it open herself. My DD, the infamous Houdini, never did open
it either. Then once you get out, the verandah is about chest high. My DD was
only at chest level when she stood on a table. Your child will not be able to
get out without your assistance.” (sweetsue) “If you have small children, I
think the navigator verandahs are a great way to go! They are more enclosed,
but very relaxing and enjoyable.” (princess22) “All the railings on the ship
have Plexiglas or metal behind the slats for safety. That includes the
balconies. Also I've heard you can have the steward remove the furniture from
the balcony if you are afraid your child may climb on it.” (Disney Lover Linda)
q "If you travel in the Islands, you won't be
able to use your car seats. Taxis don't have seat belts to secure them and they
don't care for them as they take up too much room. (This is true in most
countries.) You will either have to hold [the children] in your laps or don't
do excursions that require traveling in vehicles. There may be a few
exceptions, but car seats are a rarity in the Islands." (misseulalie)
"Unfortunately, most places outside the U.S. and Canada are not big believers in seat belts or car seats. The Caribbean is one of them." (tvguy)
"Believe it or not, it is actually safer to have your little one in a bus
without a seat belt or car seat than it is to have your little one in a car
WITH a car seat. Studies have shown that buses keep people safe by a theory
called compartmentalization. Personally, my first choice is to book a Disney
excursion because of the buses. Since they are safer than a car seat in a taxi,
I don't need to bring my car seat onto the various islands with me. Also, I've
definitely gotten stuck with our car set and multiple taxis without seat belts
(argh!). I usually bring my Tote N Go car seat for these types of situations.
It is a fairly terrible car seat, but it travels easily and is better than
nothing." (JennsBabySky)
q “Wear a t-shirt for snorkeling so you don’t get a
sunburn on your back. If you don’t have a swim cover-up, buy one of the Disney
Cruise Line t-shirts on the ship, in size XL or XXL. I got them for myself and
the kids and no one got burned (except me, when I was snorkeling without a
t-shirt).” (PassPorter/Mary B.)
q In Cozumel, if you need urgent dental treatment,
take a taxi to the Medical Centre; it's where crew members go also.
q Counselors are trained to deal with children’s
allergies, as long as they are aware of them. “Counselors will carry the epi
pen in their bum pack, they will highlight your child’s record when you go in
and will make sure all counselors are aware of the situation. I made sure to
tell everyone I came in contact with-Head Server, and dining staff. They
checked everything with the chefs before she was served- if it was created off
the ship-and they were not sure...they would not serve it to her. The clubs
will take her to buffet dinners and lunch, so I would go the first time and
look over the food, that way you can instruct your DD what to eat and what to
stay away from. The buffets are the greatest risk because of the cross
contamination-you just need to be extra careful here. The clubs do not feed them
snacks or candy so you have no worries here. I never spoke to anyone from
Disney before the cruise, but they were well versed and attentive while we were
on the ship.” (goofysgirl)
q Don't forget to pack a first-aid kit. It should
include antibacterial packets, seasickness remedies, diarrhea remedies,
children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen, antacid, Band-aids, moleskin for
blisters, aloe for sunburn treatment, prescription medications, etc.
q Traveling with a wheelchair: "For
Triton's/Lumiere's, have one person go to the main entrance and let them know
you have a wheelchair and you can enter from the back, since the main entrance
has stairs up and down to enter. The main elevator banks midship are usually
more crowded and harder to get in and out of. We tended to use the ones aft
since we were in one of the aft handicapped accessible suites. Topsiders/Beach
Blanket Buffet is a little difficult to negotiate with a wheelchair, especially
on the last day of the cruise. If you can, send someone there very early and
bring food back to your room (they will let you do this) rather than deal with
the crowds up there. If you are in a suite you can order room service on the
last morning. On Castaway Cay, get off the ship early to get one of the beach
wheelchairs they provide free of charge. They are difficult to get back up the
hill in the sand but are much easier to get around the beach than a standard
chair and they can be taken into the water (beware, though, the front end
floats!). The hallways on the ship are narrow so be careful on the first day
and the last night when there is luggage in the hallway. It makes for a
wonderful obstacle course even without a wheelchair. Also, watch for the
housekeeping carts. The room stewards are pretty good about keeping them out of
the way when they are cleaning the rooms but sometimes they are nice obstacles
as well." (KSDTink) "It is hard to push the wheelchair when going on
to the decks. There is a "bump" to get over and could be quite a
challenge. At the theaters they ask you to arrive early (30min). Wheelchair
seating is in the back row. It was also a little difficult pushing the chair up
the ramp to get back on the ship. Otherwise it was really not bad. The crew is
extremely helpful. At Topsiders/Beach Blanket they were very helpful to carry
our tray and get us to a table. Also at deck parties there is a handicap
viewing area to the left side of the stage." (michelle9343)
q (written Oct 2006) "Based on recent Navigators,
the Disney Magic now restricts any outdoor smoking to the port (left when
facing forward) side. However, on the Disney Wonder, this restriction only
applies to cigar smoking. At least, that's how the rules are written. The rules
for the Disney Magic are clear and unambiguous. The entire ship in non-smoking
except for very limited designated smoking areas. (It's interesting that the
Magic's list does not include private verandahs. However, I have to believe
that passengers still smoke on their private verandahs.) The rules for the
Disney Wonder are badly written. Based on the wording of the Wonder's rules, a
passenger could conclude that 's it's okay to smoke in the restaurants,
theaters and other public indoor areas, and that it's okay to smoke cigars on
the port side of the Mickey pool. That's not the case. Whoever is in charge
passenger publications for the Disney Wonder needs to improve the wording. It
makes no sense that the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder should have different
rules. The outdoor smoking rules genuinely appear to differ between the two
ships. Disney Magic: ' For the comfort of our guests the following areas
are designated as smoking areas: open decks on the port Side (excluding Mickey
Pool area), Diversions after 9:00 p.m., Sessions.' Here are the latest smoking
rules that I'm aware of on the Disney Wonder: ' Smoking is not permitted in
staterooms and is restricted in certain lounges. Cigar smoking is permitted on
outside decks 4, 9 & 10 port side only.'" (Horace Horsecollar) "I
just got off the Wonder a week ago, and signs are very clearly posted on the
starboard side of decks 4, 9 and 10 that smoking is NOT permitted there."
(101DalmFan) "Here is Disney's official answer from the DCL web site: Smoking
is permitted only in designated areas of the ship. Guests are allowed to smoke
on open decks (except near Mickey's Pool) and on the verandah of their
stateroom. Inside, smoking is permitted within Sessions in the Beat Street
entertainment district on the Disney Magic®, within The Cadillac Lounge in the
Route 66 entertainment district on the Disney Wonder®, and at the bar area in
Diversions on both ships." (sdaniel105)
q The Cruise Critic web site www.CruiseCritic.com -
Discussion groups, ship reviews and cruise info. This is a must-visit site for
cruise info.
q Barb’s (Inkkognito)
site – www.castawayclub.com contains photos, Personal Navigators, dining menus, text of the
Magical Treasures brochure and lots more. A must-see.
q The official Disney Cruise Line
web site: www.disneycruise.com
q Another trip report and photos:
http://members.aol.com/tinybeetle/magic/index.htm
q The Williams’ Suite 8518 Site:
http://home.att.net/~pete-williams/magic/magic.htm
q The hidden Mickeys site:
www.hiddenmickeys.org/Disney/Cruise
q www.cruisediva.com
q http://www.goddesscruise.com/SeaSick.htm
q Find out what time the sun will rise and set on your
cruise: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html
q A list of lots of Disney web sites: www.thedisneyportal.com (Andrew
DEREK UK)
q Do laundry on port days or very
early on sea days, when it’s less crowded. “The best time to do laundry is
either during a port day or very odd hours. Usually between the hours of
midnight and 6am.” (Amlee)
q Dryers will require two cycles, which will take 80
minutes.
q “Sunscreen, oils, and chlorine can start to ruin
your swimsuit within an hour if not removed. Rinse your swimsuit with a mild
soap (such as the hand soap found in your stateroom) after swimming. This gets
the oils and chlorine out, smells fresh, and keeps your swimsuit looking new.
Don’t use Woolite or dry cleaning agents because they can damage the rubber in
the swimsuits. Also keep in mind that hot tubs are very damaging to
swimsuits—they act like a washing machine with bleach! Because you must wear a
suit in the hot tub, wear your oldest suit that you’re not worried about
hurting and rinse well afterward.” (PassPorter/M.S.)
q The laundry on Deck 7 is a bit larger and provides
more time than the one on Deck 6.
q Irons are not allowed in staterooms. If you have
ironing to do, it can only be done in the laundry rooms. Keep in mind that
because a lot of people use the irons, they may be a little beat up. It’s also
quite warm in the rooms, especially after the dryers have been running for
several hours. Plan accordingly. “I sent all of our clothes out to be pressed
on our first night, and for $40 had my clothes ready for the week.”
q Bring a bar of Fels Naptha soap and do some light
laundry in your stateroom. Just fill the sink (or tub) with hot water, suds up
the Fels Naptha soap bar in the water, knead the clothing with your hands for a
few minutes, drain the water, rinse the clothes, and twist to get the water out
(or roll the clothes in a towel to avoid wrinkles). Hang the clothes to dry on
the drying line in your shower/tub area, making sure there’s plenty of air flow
around each item. Voila! Fels Naptha bars are easy to pack, and they are great
for scrubbing out stains.” (PassPorter/Garth D.)
q Bring your own soap from home, pre-measured in
Ziploc bags and dryer sheets in another. There are no dryer sheets available on
the ship. There is no stain remover on the ship, so pack some.
q “Pack inflatable clothes hangers. They’re very good
for quick drying of blouses and shirts, almost wrinkle free, in any climate.”
(Calgon/SunFlower Star)
q Prices for laundry services (April 2005):
Regular service: next day 5 p.m.
Same day service: Add 50% to dry cleaning surcharge. Picked up before 9 am,
returned 5 pm
Express service: Add 100% express cleaning surcharge. Call for pickup, returned
in 3 hours.
Pressing only service is 50% of dry cleaning price
Dry Cleaning: Suit (2 pc) $7, Suit (3 pc) $9, Coats $7, Pants $4.25, Jackets
$4.50, Shirts $3.50, Ties $2, Sweaters $4, Blouses $4, Evening Dress $8, Skirts
$4.50
Laundry: Shirts $3, Pants $3.50, Socks $1, Undershirts/bras $1.25, Pajamas $4,
Handkerchiefs $0.75, Undershorts $1.25, T-shirts $2.50, Blouses $3.50, Slips
$3, Nightgowns $3, Short Pants $2.50, Sports Shirts $2.50 (yogibigdog)
q “Bring some of those ‘Color Catcher’ sheets made by
Shout or Whisk. They are dye-trapping cloths that you throw into a load of
laundry to absorb and trap dyes that can stain your clothes. They really work!
And when used on a cruise (when you typically wash fewer clothes at a time),
they allow you to put more into the washer without fear of whites becoming
pinks or blues. If you would have normally washed two small loads of whites and
darks, now you can wash one large load with a Color Catcher sheet to save both
time and money!” (PassPorter/Mary Ann D.)
q Excellent tip calculator: http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
q There is no ATM on the ship, but you may find them
in ports.
q Disney Dollars can be used at Guest Services toward
your account but nowhere else on ship.
q "All
purchases on the ship must be made by the KTTW, no cash is allowed (except for
tips)." (msr709)
q "This year at Christmas, I am giving my kids
certificates with the amounts of $$ I will put in their shipboard accounts.
They will be responsible for budgeting their own money." (Sue (mom of 3
boys!))
q Snorkel gear. “You can purchase inexpensive snorkel
gear before your trip and bring it with you to use in ports. You can also use
it on Castaway Cay and avoid the rental charges (you can use the snorkel vests
free of charge at the Castaway Cay snorkel lagoon). If you find cheap enough
gear, you can just leave it behind on the ship when you debark and save the
space in your luggage.” (PassPorter/Suzie C.)
q “The three big spots that cruisers tend to blow a
lot of money are Shutters (Photo Gallery), Vista Spa, and anyplace that sells
beverages (alcohol, smoothies, specialty coffees, etc.). If you budget for
these three items in advance, and stick to your budget, you can save big bucks.”
(PassPorter/Penny M.)
q You can still have a fabulous time, even without paying
for excursions! “There are beautiful public beaches at every port and fairly
inexpensive transportation to get you there and back. That's what we did. We
had a blast and did not feel cheated or deprived in any way.” (sdmomof3)
q There are lots of things on your
cruise that won’t cost extra. “We went to some of the family shows, like the
game show Mickey Mania, and took in a few movies in the theater.” (PoohJen)
“Soda, if you get it yourself at the self-serve station outside by Topsiders.”
(Almagetty) “Make sure the kids go to the Celebrate the Journey show at the end
of the cruise. They get a free shirt and hat.” (anty30) “Take your own camera
with you to the pre-dinner photo ops - a CM was generally available to snap a
shot with your camera and that saves you $ on photos from Shutters.”
(nzdisneymom) “Sit on a deck chair and watch the ocean (my favorite).“
(MommyMinnie) “There are about six movies that would be considered [pay-per-view]
that are free on the TV in your room.“ (N2DVD) “You can get free champagne at
the art auctions.“ (SnowWhite2) “Trivia contests! They're lots of fun, and we
won little Mickey medals, so that made us quite happy. Dancing lessons!
Shuffleboard! Learning how to decorate plates/make towel animals/make frosting
flowers, etc. in the Art of Entertaining series. Magic and comedy shows.”
(Footnotegirl) “Lots of free coupons if you attend a shopping seminar.”
(TSirgey) “There's ping-pong and foosball on Deck 9, and a foosball table in
Diversions where it seemed like there was never anyone in there during the day
(a nice place to relax with the kids during the day if it's too hot/too much
sun outside). Backgammon, chess, Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble are also in
Diversions.” (nzdisneymom)
q “We neglected to advise our credit card companies
that we were traveling out of the country and had to call them from Nassau to verify same. Additionally, the original card we had planned on using was
compromised the date we sailed. We didn’t find out until we tried to make our
first purchase in Nassau. We’re so glad that we brought a backup card, or we’d
still be washing dishes to pay off our bar/excursion bill.” (PassPorter/Janet
Myers)
q “Our daughter turned three years old on our Disney
cruise. We saved a bunch of money this way. She was allowed to participate in
the three-year-old activities, but we got the two-year-old rate for the cruise!
This doesn’t even account for the various gifts, perks, and fun that she
received for her birthday. As an added bonus, we used the cruise to potty train
her. When she came to understand that swimming and the Oceaneer Club activities
were contingent on her being potty trained— voila! Discounted price and no more
diapers. Such a deal!” (PassPorter/Chris W.)
q “My parents, myself, my husband, and our three
children will be taking a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise in October. We were
stressing to find out that it would be about $360 to purchase transportation to
get us to Port Canaveral and back from MCO. I knew that I could find it
cheaper, since our entire 7-night cruise (through Cruise.com) will only cost us
(taxes included) $4,132.62 for all seven of us. I called Budget Car Rental and
much to my surprise, we were able to book a one-way van rental to Port
Canaveral for just $47. On the return, it will be $67. $114 is much easier to
swallow than $360, so we then decided to go two days earlier and use the extra
money we saved to do Disney World for a day. You can’t go to Orlando and not
see Cinderella Castle, or so our six-year-old daughter told us.”
(PassPorter/Sara Q.)
q “Double-check that bill. Disney Cruise Line adds a
15% gratuity automatically to bar, beverage, wine, and deck service tabs. Don’t
give an extra tip unless it is warranted.” (PassPorter/Linden L.)
q “Want to drink but don’t want a huge bar bill at the
end of your cruise? Bring your own booze and mix it with the free beverages
available on board. For example, rum goes well with the free fruit punch and
Coca-Cola at the beverage station. Vodka goes well with orange juice. Kahlua
with coffee. Captain Morgan’s Parrot Bay Rum with fruit punch and/or Sprite.
Gin and lemonade. Champagne and orange juice. And so on! If you need more
glasses, you can request them from your stateroom host/hostess or just use the
plastic cups with lids available at the beverage station.” (PassPorter/George
J.)
q “If you’re a first-time cruiser, you may not realize
that the trays of drinks being served during the Sail Away Party are NOT free.
If you are offered one, accept it only if you are willing to pay for it, as you
will be asked for your Key to the World card. It’s a bit ambiguous to those
unfamiliar with cruising.” (PassPorter/Pam P.)
q “Unless your child is old enough to need charging
privileges, have them removed completely by stopping by Guest Services (deck 3
midship) once you’re aboard. Even if you trust your kids not to charge with
them, if they accidentally lose their card, another person could use them to
purchase game cards in the arcade.” (PassPorter/V.M.)
q “A snack cart is available outside the movie theatre
before the show, but the prices are steep. Instead of spending money on snacks,
order some stuff from room service in advance and take it with you to the movie
theatre. Cookies, Mickey Ice Cream Bars, and potato chips are popular snacks to
take to a movie.” (PassPorter/S.M.)
q Use Skype to make low-cost phone calls with your
laptop while cruising. www.skype.com
q Bring your own sand toys. The ones available for
purchase ashore can be expensive. “Disney does sell sand toy sets, but they are
pricey at about $10 each.” (PassPorter/T.P.)
q “Much of the merchandise available in She Sells Sea
Shells shop on Castaway Cay is unique to that shop. You won’t find it for sale
onboard or anywhere else (besides possibly eBay). The prices here are also a
bit better than similar merchandise onboard!” (PassPorter/M.M.)
q If you plan to bring your own wine onboard, consider
this wheeled carrier: www.beveragefactory.com/wine/accessories/rolling.shtml (mndisfam)
q Looking for the perfect cruise gift? Anyone can add
credit to your stateroom account by calling 1-800-601-8455. "They would
need to tell DCL your name, ship, sail date, and stateroom (DCL might be able
to look up the stateroom). They can do it for any amount and tell DCL a
personal message that you want on the card that will be left in the stateroom
telling you about the credit. My understanding is that if you don't use all of
the credit, they will refund the difference--I'm not positive, that's just what
I've heard." (stampinshauna)
q “They do a "graduation" ceremony for all
of the kids who have spent time in the clubs/lab during the week. It's held in
the Walt Disney Theatre and all of the kids get to go on stage. They play some
songs, show pictures that were taken during the week and of course the Big
Cheese shows up. The kids get a T-shirt and a Mickey Graduation cap (with
ears). It's very cute and a cool experience for the kids. It was at 5:00 and
lasted less than an hour.” (allears, from 2004) “The graduation is not to be
missed! It's held in the Walt Disney Theater. All the kids come up on the
stage, with the bigger ones in back and the smaller ones (the 3-4 yr olds)
sitting in the front. They are all wearing their graduation caps (complete with
Mickey ears!) and their D Sea U (Disney Sea University) T-shirts (over their
regular clothes). Before the ceremony, you must take them to the kids club.
That is where they get the caps and t-shirts. A lady spoke, and then Mickey and
Minnie came out. They sang a couple songs then there was a slideshow of various
pictures taken during the week of the kids. My girls (4 & 6) beamed the
whole time on stage! They were so excited that they wore the t-shirts all
night.” (2munchkins) “This is done on every DCL cruise.” (lbgraves) “If your
kids participate in the show - do NOT go pick them up for at least 30 minutes.
The place is a ZOO! I went directly in behind about 100 other parents again
looking for our kids in a huge mass of others.” (MB MinnieGirl)
q Children's programming counselors do not receive
tips; consider giving them a small gift. "They have to pool everything
that is given to them. Gift certificates are combined to use for group
parties." (lbgraves) "Candies are always a big treat with the
counselors. They have a team meeting at 3:30pm on the embark day and we always
share the candy that guests brought. As well mentioning the counselors name in
the comment cards entitles them to a "Guest Service Fanatic" card.
This is an award given when a guest recognizes the efforts of a CM (it is a
ship-wide program); the card can then be submitted for a raffle drawing for
onboard gifts and services such as dinner at Palo, spa treatments and shore
excursions. This is a big deal for the counselors, as they rarely get to eat in
guest areas aside from with the children and trust me, you can get really tired
of chicken strips and mac and cheese." (DonaldFan70, a former CM)
q Counselors are trained to deal with children’s
allergies, as long as they are aware of them. “Counselors will carry the epi
pen in their bum pack, they will highlight your child’s record when you go in
and will make sure all counselors are aware of the situation. I made sure to
tell everyone I came in contact with-Head Server, and dining staff. They
checked everything with the chefs before she was served- if it was created off
the ship-and they were not sure...they would not serve it to her. The clubs will
take her to buffet dinners and lunch, so I would go the first time and look
over the food, that way you can instruct your DD what to eat and what to stay
away from. The buffets are the greatest risk because of the cross
contamination-you just need to be extra careful here. The clubs do not feed
them snacks or candy so you have no worries here. I never spoke to anyone from
Disney before the cruise, but they were well versed and attentive while we were
on the ship.” (goofysgirl)
q “I know some people have the problem of their kids
never wanting to leave the clubs. Don’t be surprised if your child doesn’t like
it. I was surprised at my DD7 who neither liked it nor hated it. She is a very
social kid, into LOTS of activities, was in full time daycare for most of her
young life. Has an after school program, goes to summer camp…. And I think she
would have been fine to not go to the Oceaneer Club at all. Here’s the reason.
She was among the oldest in the 5-7 age group, didn’t want to move up to the
8-9 because she didn’t want to be the youngest. She was caught at an in-between
age for the way the OC and OL are organized and thus didn’t have a ton of fun.
So she ended up in the Club only 3 or 4 times for about 90 minutes at a time
each time.” (jd99)
q A different perspective on the children’s
programming: www.dcljobs.com/youth.asp
q Safety concerns: "In order to check a child in
or out of the Club, the adult must also show their KTTW card. This is a nice
double-check to accompany giving your password when you are checking the child
out. Also, there are locked gates and doors leading into and out of the Club.
It is not physically possible for anyone to escape, without being checked out
AND a counselor unlocking the gate for you." (thomprod) "On this last
cruise, 2 older siblings of a child in the 10-12 group came to pick-up their
sister. The child did not have permission to check herself out. Everyone agreed
that the older kids trying to pick up the younger sister were related, BUT
because the older kids did not know the password, they could NOT check out
their sister until they found their parents and got the password from them.
Overall, I believe that the counselors at among the most responsible persons on
the ship and take their responsibilities for the children VERY seriously."
(CaptainJack) "The little ones are almost always moved about the ship in
special hallways and access areas so they are not exposed to the passengers at
large. The double port-holed passageway on their deck was designed exactly for
that purpose. No issues whatsoever about losing your kids, prying them out of
the club is usually the problem, they never want to leave."
(been2marceline)
q "DCL opens the clubs early on port days. You'll
have plenty of time to drop [the kids] off before you have to meet for your
excursion. The only port day that is different is Castaway Cay day. On that day
they close the club on the ship while they set up on land. The club opens a bit
later on land. The same thing happens in reverse. You have to pickup on land
around 3 pm, and the club doesn't re-open until later on the ship. This gives
the counselors plenty of time to set up/break down and move back to the ship
from the CC location." (sweetsue)
q Bring your own bottled water (and/or other
beverages) on board, as long as you can contain it in a closed cooler or
luggage. “Bring an extra suitcase filled with bottles of water. You can buy
less expensive bottled water at home and, as you drink the water, you are emptying
the suitcase for souvenirs to bring home.” “They don't allow the hard coolers
but rolling coolers have always been allowed to go onboard.” (lbgraves)
q Pack clothes you don't want to iron on hangers and
in dry cleaning bags.
q Pack kids clothing by day in Ziploc bags.
q Pack what you think you will need, then reduce your
clothing by 25-50%. This is stressed by most experienced cruisers.
q “Tuck fabric softener dryer sheets between your
clothing in your suitcase. Your clothes will come out smelling fresh, not
stuffy.” (PassPorter/A.J.)
q “As you pack, put together complete outfits for each
evening of your cruise and hang them together in your closet or on your shower
curtain rod. When finished, put a plastic dry cleaning bag over each complete
outfit, fold in half, and place in your suitcase. When it comes time to unpack,
you just lift out each bag and hang in the closet. The bags not only keep
outfits together but prevent wrinkles, too. If you don’t have any dry cleaning
bags and your local dry cleaner won’t part with a few, use extra-large,
45-gallon trash bags instead (you can find them at home improvement stores).”
(PassPorter/Diane C.)
q A variety of packing list suggestions can be found at
Cruise Diva (www.cruisediva.com).
q Read some helpful tips at www.travelite.org and www.onebag.com
q Don’t pack beach towels—DCL provides them (though
not as large as those you’d use at home, you’ll save suitcase space!)
q You’ll have a little less to pack if you plan to
purchase and wear a few souvenir t-shirts
q Pack nail clippers or a pocket knife on the outside
of your suitcase to clip zip strips
q “Don't bring on so many carry-on bags when boarding.
We took a bag EACH because we were thinking “what if?” but they were very much
in the way and not-so-fun to carry around until our rooms opened up at 1:15PM.
Turns out we should have checked EVERYTHING and just ate, toured the ship, then
went to our room.”
q Weigh your bags before you leave home!! We got
dinged with a $35 charge because one bag was over the limit.
q “When filling out your luggage tags, always put the
phone number of someone who isn’t traveling with you, such as a family member,
friend, or even your travel agent. This way if your bag gets lost somewhere by
the airline or the transfer company, they can call the number and find out
where you are traveling, and forward the bag to that location. This worked like
a charm on our last trip!” (PassPorter/Lisa P.)
q “Leave any paperback novels you've finished for the
crew library. You'll have more room in your suitcase and crew members will have
fresh reading material.” (CruiseDiva)
q “Bring your Disney trading pins to swap at trading
sessions onboard. Not only can you get some great pins, but during those
sessions when the Captain and/or officers participate, it’s a great chance to
meet the crew.” (PassPorter/Jack D.)
q “On the last day - starting with when you get up, start
packing a little bit each time you go into your room without fail! It was so
much better than the last time when we all crammed into the room at 10pm
stressed to the hilt for the 11pm cutoff. Plus you get to enjoy more of the
last day without that looming over your head and worrying that you won't get it
done...because like it or not, it does have to go at 11 that night.” (MB Minnie
Girl)
q As of June 2006, the package prices are:
6 x 8 packages: 10 photos- $84.95, 15- $119.95, 20- $149.95, 30- $219.95
8 x 10 packages: 5 photos- $84.95, 8- $129.95, 10- $149.95, 15- $219.95
q (August 2006) “You can no longer stack pictures.
They want you to purchase a package of your choice, take all the pictures with
you if you have to. You’re allowed to exchange, return or add to the package
any time you want. You’re issued a picture card where they cross out the
numbers of pictures you took so you can keep track of how many pictures you
still have left in your package. They do throw out the pictures every 2-3 days
according to the photographer.” (oo138oo)
q Throughout the cruise, you’ll see DCL photographers
around the ship. They’re there to take pictures! Ask them to take photos of
your group rather than waiting for them to ask you.
q “Take your own camera with you
to the pre-dinner photo ops - a CM was generally available to snap a shot with
your camera and that saves you $ on photos from Shutters.” (nzdisneymom)
q Give each child his/her own disposable camera to use
as they please and create their own memories.
q Purchase underwater cameras at home, where they’re
much cheaper than onboard and at ports.
q Photographers will be available for group photos in
the main lobby every evening. Arrive early if you have a large group or don’t
want to wait in lines.
q “We discovered there is an art to taking pictures
with characters. Take your time. Let the ship’s photographer take the photo
first, then the character will turn toward you and your camera for another
photo. This way you can get both the character and your child’s eyes/face
turned toward you instead of looking over somewhere else. If your children are
old enough, tell them ahead of time to look at the photographer first, then
look at you. This just makes things go more smoothly.” (PassPorter/Danielle R.)
q “Would you like to reproduce the photos taken by the
professional photographers onboard your Disney ship? Visit https://www.image.com/html/guest-postcruiseCopyrightReleaseForm.cfm to request a copyright release form, which you will
need to show to photo duplicators or copy shops if you’re hoping to make copies
of your photo.” (PassPorter/Pam C.)
q “If you have a digital camera, you know how fast
those memory cards fill up. If you run out of room and don’t want to delete any
precious photos, stop by Shutters, and they can download the contents of your
memory card to a CD for about $15.” (PassPorter reader Dell R.)
q “You can have a favorite family photo turned into a
Christmas/holiday card while onboard. It makes card season much easier when
this is already done. Just be sure to order the photo cards no later than the
night before you disembark. You can choose from a variety of holiday-themed
frames, and the photo cards come with envelopes.” (PassPorter/George F.)
q "If you forget to order Christmas cards
onboard, or couldn't find a good pic to use, check out the Disney cards at www.costco.com. Go to the Photo Center, then choose "cards" and there's a Disney category. Although I
haven't ordered the Disney photo cards before (they're new), I had our
Christmas cards done at Costco last year and they turned out great. Much
cheaper than other printers, and excellent quality!" (JLSM97)
q “There will be moments that are breath-taking for
your children. Capture their expressions on film! Our first impulse is to take
a picture of the activity going on, rather than the much more precious looks on
their faces. After all, that’s what makes the memory.” (JLSM97)
q Want a costume? “My hubby's
pirate costume just arrived from www.costumesupercenter.com. I have to say, the quality is very good. They ship
same day if you order before 3pm, and free shipping if you order over $30 in
mdse. They have a great assortment, different price points and lots of
accessories.” (webray) Another good costume store is www.buycostumes.com.
q Get inexpensive pirate-y wear at party supply
stores, or order online at www.oriental.com or www.mninternational.com. If you can’t order in small quantities, bring the
extras to share with other cruisers!
q "Halloween is a great time of year to shop
locally for fun pirate decor and costumes. Plan ahead!" Although the ship
sells eye patches and earrings, they’re a lot more expensive than if you bought
them at home.
q “Don’t forget temporary tattoos.”
q The dress code for dinner on Pirates night is more
relaxed. “You will see the normal cruise casual and tropical shirts/dresses. On
our cruise last summer the only reason I knew about pirate night dressing was
from [the DIS] board. We were one of the few families/people even semi-dressed
up as pirates, but it was a LOT of fun! (Whisker) “TONS of people were dressed
as "pirates" for the evening. That said, many of the
"pirates" actually just had on their bandana provided by DCL and a
"Pirates of the Caribbean" T-shirt or a Skull and Cross-bones
T-shirt. Most men wore slacks, but given the evening dress code I think shorts
would be fine, too.” (nextcruz) “I wore sandals with my pirate outfit in May to
dinner, had no problems at all.” (Verandah Man)
q There are fireworks set off on Pirates night.
q Decorate your dinner table! “I intend to bring
pirate balloons with sticks, and we have a pirate flag. My DD 4 will be dressed
as Captain Hook. She will give out chocolate coins and necklaces to other kids,
as it’s fun and a great way to meet people.” (Lindy Loo) “Before our cruise, I
got a great deal on a package of very small yellow rubber ducks dressed as
pirates (Oriental Trading). Since our group of 9 had a table to ourselves, I
put one on each plate along with tissue fold-out palm trees and parrots and
packages of tattoos and stick-on jewels.” (Tiggerish) “I bought little
cardboard treasure chests from Oriental Trading (www.oriental.com), and I am going to put one at each place (there are
18 of us). They were shipped flat, and I am going to keep them that way until
we are on the cruise, then I will put them together. I also ordered pirate
earrings, tattoos, gold coins and glow necklaces to put in or around each
treasure chest.” (StitchandPooh’sMom)
q “I’m probably going to get attacked for this, but I
was expecting more from the pirate show. It was fun and cute, but it was just
like the Sail Away party, except with pirate costumes. I was hoping for
something more ‘piratey.’” (AshburnMom) “This party lived up to the hype.”
(jd99)
q Make your own sangria at dinner! "They will do
this for you if you have a bottle of red wine. Ask the beverage waiter to get a
pitcher fill it about 20oz of orange juice. Add about 6oz each of cranberry
juice and Sprite. Toss in some maraschino cherries, a sliced orange, and a
bottle of red wine. Serve over ice. Most people seem to like the sangria and it
works very well with the Pirate Menu and Parrot Cay menu. Best of all, just
about any inexpensive bottle of red wine works. It is wonderful with the
Paella!" (dflst)
q "I'd be there about 30 minutes prior to the
party to ensure you get good seats!" (TheDisneyTraveler06)
q "At deck parties there is a handicap viewing
area to the left side of the stage." (michelle9343)
q “My parents, myself, my husband, and our three
children will be taking a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise in October. We were
stressing to find out that it would be about $360 to purchase transportation to
get us to Port Canaveral and back from MCO. I knew that I could find it
cheaper, since our entire 7-night cruise (through www.Cruise.com) will only cost us (taxes included) $4,132.62 for
all seven of us. I called Budget Car Rental and much to my surprise, we were
able to book a one-way van rental to Port Canaveral for just $47. On the
return, it will be $67. $114 is much easier to swallow than $360, so we then
decided to go two days earlier and use the extra money we saved to do Disney
World for a day. You can’t go to Orlando and not see Cinderella Castle, or so our six-year-old daughter told us.” (PassPorter/Sara Q.)
q “We hired a limo from Absolute Limos and their
service was excellent.” (Skallywag)
q "We just had fantastic service with Southern
Elegance. Web site is www.selimo.net and the phone number is (866) 654-1700 - toll free.
I dealt with Adam, who is the owner. We used them for three legs of our trip,
transporting 11 people. They were always on time, always courteous and the limo
was beautiful." (maryisme)
q (August 2006) Parking at the port is now $12 per
day. (PassPorter community)
q Check-in opens at 10:30 a.m.; boarding begins at
noon.
q “The person going into the terminal will need all of
the cruise docs for the party. The person dropping off the car or parking it
will only need their driver license for ID to go thru security. They can then
either join the person with the docs in the check in line or, if that has
already been completed, go to the CM that person checked in with to pick up
their KTTW card by showing their ID.” (lbgraves)
q “After you give the porters your bags you will go
inside the building where your carry-ons will be x-rayed and you go through the
security thing. Next you go up the escalator at which time you will be given a
boarding number. Then there are desks right there to double check that you have
your paperwork. Then you get into the line to fully check in and get your KTTW
cards.” (mom2of2)
q At the port, they have a special Castaway Club
check-in on the far right. “We saw it but didn’t use it because there were no
lines anywhere anyway. Apparently to get your Castaway Club pins, you need to
use the Castaway Club line.” "Castaway club members get lanyards (and
pins) upon check in." (professorandmom)
q Details about the check-in process can be found at www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-transportation.htm.
q “If you plan to arrive before the ship opens, be
sure to bring something to read, activities for the kids and maybe even snacks!
A cafe with specialty coffees, basic pastries and limited snacks opens at 11
a.m.” (allearsnet)
q General Port Canaveral information: www.portcanaveral.org
q Need to board your dog? "The one I recommend
VERY highly is Barkingham Palace which is located in Rockledge which is maybe
about 15 miles or so from the port - their address is 4210 South Rockledge
Drive (which is US1) - their website is www.barkingham.com
and phone number is 321-636-7387. The Bow Meow Boarding and Grooming located at
349 N. Orlando Ave Cocoa Beach and their phone number is 321-783-7684 - they
don't have a website, but my neighbor leaves her little one and seems quite
pleased with it - I rather have someone on 24 hours watch with Tia. Now the
next one is called Remington Canine Resort and they are located at 25 N. Grove Street Merritt Island and their web site is www.remingtonresort.com." (snelsonbrown) "This
one is in Orlando, but we use it often. It really pampers dogs and cats. They
even have TV for the dogs and a huge playground. http://www.vipet.net/" (misseulalie)
q Cay: KEE. However, Grand Cayman is “KAY-man”
q Palo: PAH-lo or PAUL-o, not PAL-o and definitely not
with an “s” on the end.
q Amalie (Charlotte Amalie is the capitol of St. Thomas): uh-MAHL-ya
q Conch (the big pink shells): KONK, like “honk.” Nothing
says “foreigner” like rhyming “conch” with “launch”
q Chankanaab: CHAHNK-en-knob
q Caribbean: your call. It’s either kar-o-BE-uhn or
kuh-RIB-bee-uhn. Both are accepted, even if one is wrong.
q If you are debating whether or not to buy a
particular souvenir, get it. You’ll probably be sorry if you didn’t.
q Treasure Ketch and Mickey’s Mates can run out of
items during a cruise; if there’s something you really want, buy it early
q There are a lot of things I packed that were hardly
worth re-packing to take home. When I shopped for "survival gear"
(medications, bandages, etc.) I bought my usual preferred brands with the
intention of bringing home whatever I didn't use. It's just not worth it. I ended
up leaving most of it in our cabin to make room for what we really wanted in
our suitcases.
q “Packed but did not use change and laundry soap for
doing laundry (did not want to sacrifice time/activities for this chore while
on vacation)”
q “Packed but never used 2-Way Radios“
q “Too many clothes. We had been on DCL before but I
still brought too many clothes when we cruised this month. Beach towels: you
won't need them, or want to carry them around. Large bottles of shampoo,
conditioner, etc.: there is little room in the bathrooms to store things, and
with the restrictions for carry-ons these items now have to take up space in
your checked baggage. Too many toys or things to occupy the time of little ones:
you won't be in the room that much. When they are in the room, they are likely
sleeping or going to be shortly. Tylenol: I was so upset I forgot mine, but
discovered I didn't need it. You can request some from guest services at NO
CHARGE.” (MB Minnie Girl)
q “Packed but did not use KTTW holders (from Wal-Mart,
PassPorter, etc.) The dry boxes used worked fine and were not nearly as
obnoxious.”
q “We didn't need a flashlight or duct tape, which are
listed on the packing. We didn't use laundry soap or quarters either, since we
didn't wash any clothes on our trip.” (GavinsMom)
q “Packed but did not use clothing steamer (between
the dry cleaning bags for our hang-up clothes and the Downy spray, we were
fine)”
q “I took way too many shoes. One or 2 pair of
dressy/casual to go with your dinner outfits, one great pair of sandals, and a
pair of beach shoes/flip flops is really all you would need. I took too much
sunscreen, Tylenol that wasn't used, hairdryer--that was already on the boat,
beach towels--they have them for you” (CastleCreations)
q Packed but did not use the extension cord. Our
laptop, battery charger, and hair dryer could all plug into the two outlets at
the desk and the one behind the TV. “I ordered wake-up calls and kept my watch
on the nightstand and that was good enough for me--certainly better than
tripping over an alarm clock extension cord in the middle of the night! “
q “Packed but did not read any books. We never had
time to read, except in the car on the way down and back. The other times we
were too busy socializing and participating in other activities.”
q “Packed but did not use binoculars”
q “Don't bring on so many carry-on bags when boarding.
We took a bag EACH because we were thinking “what if?” but they were very much
in the way and not-so-fun to carry around until our rooms opened up at 1:15PM.
Turns out we should have checked EVERYTHING and just ate, toured the ship, then
went to our room.”
q “Things I took and never used: GPS unit, scanner, laundry
supplies, snacks, games and cards (no time), envelopes for tips (they supply),
extra dress clothes”
q http://www.goddesscruise.com/SeaSick.htm
q You are more likely to run into some big seas during
August to November when the hurricanes and tropical storms can churn up the
seas.
q “If you are prone to motion/seasickness, the best
stateroom location for you is on a lower deck in the middle of the ship, midway
between the bow and the stern. Pitch, roll, and yaw—the movements made by a
ship—will be less noticeable here than in other areas.“ (PassPorter/Angie J.)
q Whatever you decide to take for your seasickness, it
is best to “practice” with it on shore, on dry land, on your day off well
before you leave on your vacation. You will want to pay attention to any side
effects that the medicine will have, such as dry-mouth, drowsiness etc.
q The infirmary and Guest Services have motion
sickness pills available. There's a small bin with pill packets of Meclizine.
The packets have directions on how to take them along with a warning on who
should not take them.
q Dramamine (dimenhydrinate): Has substantial side
effects, the most common being drowsiness.
q Bonine (meclizine HCl), Dramamine II, Non-Drowsy
Dramamine, Antivert. Causes drowsiness in a very small percentage of patients,
is very effective, has only to be taken once per 24 hours in tablets and chew
tabs. Safe for children too (check with your pediatrician).
q Scopolamine Patch: This medicine may be prescription
or over the counter, depending upon where you live. It is available in oral and
transdermal patch formulations. It takes up to 6 hours to be effective and
lasts for 3 days. It produces less drowsiness than Bonine, but a greater number
of other side-effects including dry mouth, dizziness, ocular disturbances,
disorientation, irritability (in children), slowed heart rate, psychosis, and
amnesia. These effects were usually reversed when the product was removed. If
you haven't had success with Dramamine or Bonine, this might be a good choice.
You MUST put the patch on 4-5 hours BEFORE you travel. If you wait until you
have motion sickness it will not work. “I've been on the patch twice and still
had to take the Bonine during rough seas--bring it just in case! Better safe
than sick!” “I would think twice about scop patches! Their side effects are
often worse than that which they are trying to cure!“ “The Transderm Scop
patches have more side effects than the good they do--believe me, those are not
the answer!”
q Ginger: An herbal preventative with few side effects
beyond weight gain from eating a bunch of Ginger Snaps. Ginger root has also
been studied as an agent to help with nausea after surgery. The effect seems to
be short acting and would need to be taken at least 3 to 4 times a day. “I have
a great seasickness remedy: 550mg ginger root capsules with a vitamin b
complex. Adults should take this every day to prevent and or cure seasickness.
It’s all natural and will not make you tired at all. They also make a liquid
ginger for children. I have tried most of the other stuff and this was the only
remedy that has worked for me.” (LeeBrandi) “Do not take ginger root without
clearing it with your doctor. Consumer Reports in the past year or so did an
article on why, but basically it can potentially be fatal for people on certain
common medications or with certain medical conditions.” (tvguy)
q Sea Bands: This is a wrist band that uses
acupressure to stimulate a spot on your wrist that is believed to prevent
motion sickness. They’re inexpensive and don’t have any side effects except
that they don’t coordinate well with shimmery evening dresses.
q Hyland’s Motion Sickness Tablets: another remedy
some swear by.
q Sea Legs: After most people have been at sea for a
day or two, they develop “sea legs,” a natural acclimation to the motion of the
ship.
q There are prescription medications used for nausea
and vomiting that can also help with motion sickness, such as Phenergan,
Reglan, and Zofran. Be aware that these can produce uncomfortable side effects.
“Reglan made me want to crawl out of my skin, and I know other people who’ve
had a similar reaction. Be careful.”
q “I enjoy sitting out on the wonderful deck 4 padded
lounge chairs. But in the evening during the cooler months, it can get chilly.
If you like to relax and listen to the sound of the waves even in the cooler
temps, then bring a blanket and snuggle up. Several people who passed me
commented on how cozy I looked and wondered why they had not thought of that.
By the way, I had brought a favorite feather travel-sized comforter with me; it
rolled up quite small and was very light, and it was better alternative to the
scratchy blankets provided in the staterooms. This also was the way I fought
off seasickness on our last evening. My mother headed off to the stateroom and
became more ill; I went down to deck 4 with my blanket and felt much better in
the fresh air.” (PassPorter/P.D.)
q ”Did you know that the first
floor doesn't go all the way around? Learned that the hard way playing tag.
(discruiselovers97)”
q ”Up by the where all the workout
equipment is there are two AWESOME showers. No extra charge…I went up there
every time I wanted to take a shower!!” (disneylover5) “Up until our cruise
this past February, my dd was always in our room for sleeping arrangements.
There was no way that both my daughter and I along with my dh could get ready
comfortably on formal and semi-formal night (especially). My dh would grab a
quick workout before needing to get ready for dinner and would always use the
workout room facilities. (PhotoLisa) I also have found that showering in the
ladies locker room in the spa/gym is so easy....they have shampoo/conditioner
right in the shower and I go there straight from the adult pool....shower, wash
my hair and then get dressed (temporary clothes...not my evening clothes) and
go back to the cabin to dry my hair...saves time for me and this way I don't
have to rush hubby in the shower.” (mmouse37)
q ”Because the ship moves, the
public bathroom stalls have doors on them that normally are shut - unlike land
bathrooms where unoccupied stalls have open doors. So when you go into a
bathroom, the doors will likely be shut - occupied or not. IF the person inside
has twisted the lock, there will be a little red indicator that the stall is
occupied. Look for that. But the real tip is - it seemed to take some people about
five days to discover they need to lock the public stall doors. LOCK THE DOORS.
The secondary tip is - even if it isn't red, you may want to tap or peek under
the stall door for feet. Some people don't catch on fast.” (crisi)
q ”A great time to enjoy the ship
and have it mostly to yourselves is between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. The early diners
are eating and the late diners are at the show. DH and I would just walk decks
9 and 10 or hang out in the hot tub. We have SOOO many pics of the ship where
there is not a soul in sight.” (Tarabra)
q “When you get to your
stateroom, you can request down pillows. “ (booksw)
q “You can ask your cabin steward
for extra hangers.” (Amlee)
q There is a window on Deck 4 where you can see from
the outside into the galley of Animator’s Palate
q Lost? Look at the carpet. Red anchors point toward
the back/aft (remember, red/aft have three letters); blue points toward the
front of the ship.
q Seek out and enjoy the “secret” deck 7 aft overlook.
Walk all the way aft until you reach a door with a window onto a large
verandah. Anyone is welcome to use this space, though sometimes it can be more
crowded than you’d expect. “Secret,” HAH!
q “Deck 10 is a NO SKIRT ZONE! Trust me. Change into
your capri pants, shorts or anything other than a skirt or sundress before
going up to enjoy the view or you might giving others a view that you hadn't
intended to - for better or worse.”
q “Take the aft staircase to your restaurant. Not only
is the aft staircase convenient to all the restaurants, but you don’t have to
wait for a crowded elevator and you’ll get in some exercise before that big
meal.” (PassPorter author Dave Marx)
q Aft elevators tend to be used least. Mid-ship are
usually the busiest.
q Deck 4 chairs are comfortable and quiet
q Three circuits around the Promenade Deck (4) equals
one mile
q The ship is considered non-smoking except in
designated smoking areas in the Promenade Lounge, Rockin' Bar D, and the ESPN
Skybox. You may also smoke on the open decks and on your own private verandah.
Smokers have reported that they really didn't have a problem with finding a
place to have a smoke. Sessions, Studio Sea, and Off-Beat are non-smoking
areas. There are no smoking staterooms.
q At Guest Services in the lobby, ask for the Mickey
Challenge sheet. There are fourteen rhymes that give you clues to the locations
of fourteen hidden and not so hidden Mickeys. There is also the Hidden Mickey
site at: www.hiddenmickeys.org/Disney/Cruise/
q “Are you excited to hear the one and only Disney
Cruise Line ship horn when departing ports of call? If you’d like to hear it
better, try this: Rather than immediately traveling to the bow of the ship like
most people do, stay between the forward and mid-ship stacks. The forward stack
(the one that includes the teen club) houses the horns. If you wish to have a
prime “listening” location to hear the horn, grab a lounge chair on deck 10 and
wait across from that stack for the ship to set sail. (Warning: VERY loud!)”
(PassPorter/Andy W.)
q “Your best bet for spotting dolphins is just as
you’re sailing out of Port Canaveral. Go up to deck 10, near the front but not
all the way, and look over the port or starboard side. If dolphins are present,
you’ll see them swimming near the bow.” (PassPorter/Carrie P.)
q “I enjoy sitting out on the wonderful deck 4 padded
lounge chairs. But in the evening during the cooler months, it can get chilly.
If you like to relax and listen to the sound of the waves even in the cooler
temps, then bring a blanket and snuggle up. Several people who passed me
commented on how cozy I looked and wondered why they had not thought of that.
By the way, I had brought a favorite feather travel-sized comforter with me; it
rolled up quite small and was very light, and it was better alternative to the
scratchy blankets provided in the staterooms. This also was the way I fought
off seasickness on our last evening. My mother headed off to the stateroom and
became more ill; I went down to deck 4 with my blanket and felt much better in
the fresh air.” (PassPorter/P.D.)
q “Go to deck 4 and walk around the walking/jogging
track, toward the bow of the ship. You can walk right beside the deck where the
huge anchors are kept. It’s really cool to look at.” (PassPorter/Chad L.)
q There are lots of things on your
cruise that won’t cost extra. “We went to some of the family shows, like the
game show Mickey Mania, and took in a few movies in the theater.” (PoohJen)
“Soda, if you get it yourself at the self-serve station outside by Topsiders.”
(Almagetty) “Make sure the kids go to the Celebrate the Journey show at the end
of the cruise. They get a free shirt and hat.” (anty30) “Take your own camera
with you to the pre-dinner photo ops - a CM was generally available to snap a
shot with your camera and that saves you $ on photos from Shutters.”
(nzdisneymom) “Sit on a deck chair and watch the ocean (my favorite).“
(MommyMinnie) “There are about six movies that would be considered
[pay-per-view] that are free on the TV in your room.“ (N2DVD) “You can get free
champagne at the art auctions.“ (SnowWhite2) “Trivia contests! They're lots of
fun, and we won little Mickey medals, so that made us quite happy. Dancing
lessons! Shuffleboard! Learning how to decorate plates/make towel animals/make
frosting flowers, etc. in the Art of Entertaining series. Magic and comedy
shows.” (Footnotegirl) “Lots of free coupons if you attend a shopping seminar.”
(TSirgey) “There's ping-pong and foosball on Deck 9, and a foosball table in
Diversions where it seemed like there was never anyone in there during the day
(a nice place to relax with the kids during the day if it's too hot/too much
sun outside). Backgammon, chess, Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble are also in
Diversions.” (nzdisneymom)
q "Have you ever wondered what happens to the
sand toys after you leave CC? There's a great staff member who collects them
and makes gorgeous sand castles near the sting ray encounter with the kids or
by himself. Awesome!" (taeja71)
q Take a t-shirt or pillowcases with sharpies in a
Ziploc bag to Guest Services with the kids' names, ages, and stateroom; you'll
get it all signed at end. It’s been said that Guest Services has been inundated
with these requests and are thinking about doing away with it. Ask at your own
risk. And if you do ask, remember there are probably a lot of other guests
asking too; don’t take advantage by asking for more than a few. Consider
getting autographs from the characters themselves, which is much more fun!
q "We got back from our cruise for my parent's
25th anniversary in August [2006] ... I had the characters sign white quilt
blocks that I had taped to a cardboard backing in different colored permanent
inks and then I printed out our photos onto iron-on paper and made quilt blocks
out of those too. Then I threw in some Disney fabric and I had a very
personalized quilt. I did get some looks as I stood in line to get 18 different
autographs, but it was all worth it. The characters were so nice and
understanding when I told them what I was doing with the little pieces of
fabric they were signing. The princesses even said that they would make it
extra special and that they wished they could see the final product. Our ship's
captain even signed it with our sail date." (PixieDustedPrincess)
q If you are debating whether or not to buy a
particular souvenir, get it. You’ll probably be sorry if you didn’t.
q You’ll have a little less to pack if you plan to
purchase and wear a few souvenir t-shirts
q If you buy a rum cake, either don't break the seal
or plan to eat all of it onboard.
q Get extra copies of the Personal Navigators for
scrapbooking or collections.
q Find out about customs laws at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel before you
leave home. You don’t want to end up having to surrender your fabulous
purchases.
q “Definitely get a drink in one of the souvenir
glasses—they’re plastic and easy to transport home. Then whether you’re
planning another trip and want to build excitement or simply want to relive a
bit of your time on board, make yourself a drink in your souvenir glass. It may
sound hokey, but it gave me a little fix of the Disney Cruise while waiting
what seems like forever to my next one!” (PassPorter/Amy D.)
q “The dinner menus are fun and a wonderful reminder
of your cruise. If you’d like to take a menu home, ask your server if you can
have an extra copy. They may not be able to say yes—after all, those menus are
needed for future cruises—but your server may be able to rustle up an older or
slightly damaged copy that they don’t mind parting with.” (PassPorter/Kim L.)
q “If you like extra copies of the Personal Navigators
for each member of your family, or just want to keep pristine copies as
mementos, stop by Guest Services. Extra copies are usually on the counter for
the taking, but if they are not out, you can request them from a crew member.”
(PassPorter/Ollie C.)
q “Much of the merchandise available in She Sells Sea
Shells shop on Castaway Cay is unique to that shop. You won’t find it for sale
onboard or anywhere else (besides possibly eBay). The prices here are also a
bit better than similar merchandise onboard!” (PassPorter/M.M.)
q “Buy postcards along the trip and mail them to
yourself. When you return home, not only will you have something extra special
in your mail but also a memento of your trip!!” (PassPorter/Kathy L.)
q “There are cruise line exclusive watches [in the
stores onboard]! I got a nice one with diamonds that you can't get anywhere
else. All the stuff on board is in line with other Disney items and actually, a
lot is cheaper. Keep an eye out for the specials of the day. For example, one
day they had watches reduced, another they had gold for $1 an inch or something
like that, so keep an eye out.” (gismo1554)
q Ask your cabin steward for mattress liners for the
little ones
q Don't be afraid to ask your cabin steward for extras
you need, like hangers, blankets, pillows, ice, etc.
q "Request to have your table or vanity
cushion/chair removed from your stateroom to create more walking space."
(taeja71)
q Also if you are having wine or beer in your room
(i.e., that you brought on board), buy a drink at one of the bars. Take the
glass back to your room with you (you can take drinks in and out of bars) and
then you will have something to use in your cabin. “Hide” it, as your steward
will probably assume it’s dirty if it’s left out.
q If you go to a napkin folding class you will be
given a cloth napkin to take home and practice with. Do not leave it lying
around your cabin! We did, and unfortunately our steward took it away, thinking
it was a dirty one. He was very apologetic when we asked about it and got us a
white one from room service but they weren't as well starched or as a nice a
color (we had green ones from the class and this one was white).
q "The room steward is the cast member
responsible for your room. They make the beds, turn down the beds, get your ice
for you, change out your towels, and often even leave you towel animals. They
are very hard working and seem to know when you are in your room and when you
aren't so things get done without you even seeing it." (WDWLVR) "DCL
instills in these hard working folks the attitude that we, the guests (not
passengers) are guests of the stateroom hosts themselves. Have always had great
experiences, though some greater than others. "I'm always here, always
available, if you don't see me call me anytime for anything" is a direct
quote from one DCL cruise." (logan1_2000) "You live like your
teenager in your room and they clean up after you!!" (jrabbit) "I
have back problems and our steward Nick got a board to put under my side of the
bed to make it harder for me!" (MrsJobba1)
q Pack kids’ clothing by day in Ziploc bags.
q Put your stateroom number on any items that may get
misplaced elsewhere onboard. “We lost our camera but got it back because I’d
labeled it.”
q Store luggage under your bed if it will fit. “Don’t
stumble around your luggage in your stateroom for the duration of your
cruise—hide that luggage! The best place for luggage is under your bed. You can
slide most pieces right under the bed (it has a 9” clearance), but if it
doesn’t fit, just lift up the mattress and stow it. If it’s too large, ask your
stateroom host/hostess if they have a place to keep it during the cruise.” (PassPorter/
N.R.)
q Store the extra life vests under your bed to give
more closet shelf space.
q “We like to take a mesh laundry bag (Wal-Mart) and
hang it in the closet (loop over the hanger) and put dirty clothes in there,
when we pack, all the dirty clothes are together in one suitcase. Unpacking,
all the dirty things are ready to be sorted and washed while the clean items
are put away.”
q There is a special edition of the Navigator with
just the teen activities scheduled for each day. They can be found in the
teens-only club (The Stack/Aloft).
q There is a teens-only deck (Deck 10, next to Outlook
Bar).
q Check DCL’s excursions list for teens-only
excursions.
q The teens-only clubs serve non-alcoholic beverages
at their bars.
q “Normally off-limits to anyone under 18, teens may
be able to sign up for facials/manicures [at the Vista Spa] on port days.”
(PassPorter) “During our cruise this past May, I mentioned that my daughter
would have liked her nails done onboard while I was getting a spa treatment.
They told me that they have a Princess Package which, from what I understood,
included a manicure and a pedicure for little girls.” (sopandbass) “They had a
sign in the waiting area detailing several treatments for teens (13-17).”
(bellelinus) “The package is only offered on port days I believe. My DD9 had
the manicure and pedicure in the Princess Package. They explained that they
only offered it while the ship was docked, to avoid any accidental pokes with
the tools due to ship movement.” (been2marceline)
q Kids can have their hair braided on Deck 9. How much
does braiding cost? "Not sure about
a full head... my girls got the "headband" style (that's corn rows
halfway back with beads). For that style they charged $2 per braid. DD5 had 12
braids. DD8 took 14 to do her head. Don't forget to add a tip."
(disneydizz) "$2 a braid on top, $1 for the other braids. It is usually
around $25 for me to get the headband style, if you do it on the ship. On
Castaway Cay the braids are smaller ... more braids = more money, smaller
braids = more hurting. I think they say that whole head averages out around $60
for a person with normal thickness, in- between length hair." (RrCoAsTeR)
"On CC I was sitting near a teenager getting her entire head braided. She
had long thick hair. Her mom asked in advance how much and was told about
$150." (Ski-and-Sea) "My DD(8) just had this done on Castaway Cay.
She has hair to the middle of her shoulder blades. Wound up being $109 plus
tip. Ouch. But she loved it. Be warned - it can be quite painful. We need to
take two breaks - got up, went to the restroom, took a walk, wiped away the
tears and then came back. It took about 2 hours. Now taking them out last night
- 3½ hours and she looked like a fuzzball. Not as painful as putting them in,
but it did pull some. I asked her and she said that she would do it
again." (AboutTheMouse)
q Be aware of who your teens are with and what they’re
doing. “Any underage person caught with alcohol on the ship is fined $250 and
could get up to three days of stateroom arrest.” (PassPorter)
q "According to my son, when asked [for advice
re: teens on DCL]: "Just show up to the Stack and the counselors will
treat you like family." He did mention that it takes the kids a few days
to get to know each other, however, he has made lifelong friends there. Make
sure your [teen] attends the 411 on the first night (it will be on the Teen
Navigator); this is how they introduce all the kids to each other. Also, have
them check out the Stack when you first board and they can meet some teens that
way." (MickeyD)
q "Parents are allowed into the [Stack] until
7:00pm on the first day of the cruise. After that the space is for teens only.
As well, on the first night there is a session called 411 that is good for the
teens to attend. This gives them all the needed info regarding programs,
behavior expectations and a chance to get to know the other teens."
(DonaldFan70, a former CM)
q Air freshener. “I'd read about the bathrooms being
pretty smelly. I didn't find any strange odors in our bathroom, but I was
thankful to have it anyway.” “The bathrooms have an odd aroma.” “We were
traveling with a kid in diapers and it came in handy more than a few times
(even though our stateroom hostess emptied the Diaper Genie every day).”
q Alarm clock
q Beverage holder. “Save one of those cardboard
beverage trays you get at fast food drive-throughs for your next cruise. Use
the tray to carry more than two cups from the beverage station to your
stateroom or wherever. Very handy!” (PassPorter/D.K.)
q Binoculars. Good for sightseeing, but also handy
onboard at the shows.
q Blanket, lightweight for traveling. “I enjoy sitting
out on the wonderful deck 4 padded lounge chairs. But in the evening during the
cooler months, it can get chilly. If you like to relax and listen to the sound
of the waves even in the cooler temps, then bring a blanket and snuggle up.
Several people who passed me commented on how cozy I looked and wondered why
they had not thought of that. By the way, I had brought a favorite feather
travel-sized comforter with me; it rolled up quite small and was very light,
and it was better alternative to the scratchy blankets provided in the
staterooms. This also was the way I fought off seasickness on our last evening.
My mother headed off to the stateroom and became more ill; I went down to deck
4 with my blanket and felt much better in the fresh air.” (PassPorter/P.D.)
q Bubble wrap, a small amount. For wrapping fragile
souvenirs.
q Bungee cord. Like duct tape, this has many uses. “I
recommend a couple of two foot bungee cords for those who have a spring loaded
verandah door that just won't stay open, or shut, depending on your preference.
Can also be used for lashing two or more pieces of luggage together when doing
the ‘duffel-bag drag’ through the airport. I've never used them, but they've
been highly recommended.” (Calgon/SunFlower Star)
q Buttonhole extenders. “On our first cruise DH didn't
try on his shirt before we left and he hadn't worn it in quite awhile.”
q Candy or other snacks for movies. The snack carts
outside the theaters are VERY expensive. “We love Skittles and brought a gallon
bag full of individual serving bags. We had lots of inquiries about where to
get those Skittles from our theatre neighbors!”
q Cash. Small bills, like $1 or $2, for tipping room
service and porters.
q CD/MP3 player and headphones. For those relaxing
moments spent on Deck 4.
q Clothespins. “Pack at least four if you have an
outside stateroom and kids that will be on the other side of the privacy
curtain. You’d be surprised how useful they are, from keeping curtains closed
to hanging wet swimsuits.” “Put two or three on the bottom of the shower
curtain. That should weigh it down enough so that it doesn't blow in on you and
cling to your body. Also, it keeps the curtain from blowing out and getting the
floor all wet.” (Possum)
q Compass or GPS. “This comes in handy for those of
you who can't tell direction using your wristwatch. Remember, you're in a new
place. If you become separated from your guide or taxi driver, you may be in a
bit of a fix. The last thing you need is to miss your return to the ship. If
you're using a GPS, lock in the coordinates of your ship BEFORE you get off. If
you procrastinate, you may get distracted then later find that you are heading
back to the last port!” (Calgon/SunFlower Star)
q Contact cards (or business cards). This lets you
easily exchange contact information with people you meet on your vacation. “A
great place to get these nearly free is www.vistaprint.com. They
often run specials for 250 free full-color business cards, so you just pay
shipping costs. You can make them yourself and choose from hundreds of
designs.” (JLSM97) “Also, if you have purchases that you will have the merchant
ship home, make sure a card is attached to each item as a safeguard. Finally,
don't forget to put one in each tip envelope for the crew/staff. You'd be
surprised how many thank you notes you'll get back.” (Calgon/SunFlower Star)
q Cooler, soft-sided. (to use on excursions)
q Corkscrew. If you bring your own wine, you’ll need
one.
q Croakies ®- “Those ‘dummy cord’ thingies for your
glasses. The Croakie brand are made out of neoprene, are very lightweight, come
in a variety of colors ... and, THEY FLOAT!” (Calgon/SunFlower Star)
q Dish-washing liquid, small sample-size bottle.
“Great for washing out sippy cups in our cabin!” “Buy some dish wipes (such as
Palmolive), cut them in half or even quarters, and bring them in a Ziploc bag.
Now there’s no need to worry about spilled dish soap in your bag!”
(PassPorter/Genevieve E.)
q Dry cleaning kit. Dryel is a common brand. This is
great for emergency dry cleaning needs.
q Duct tape. Why on earth do you
need duct tape? Check out these cruiser comments, or www.ducttapeguys.com for lots of ideas.
“For securing an extension cord against the wall,” “holding a drape closed,
“When repacking, I used duct tape for holding bags closed and packing up
fragile items, and I put a nice big piece over DH's mouth when he wouldn't stop
rushing me.” (JLSM97) “I rarely use it at home, but packed it because everyone
said I should. I'm so glad I did!” “I left the remainder there because it was
awfully heavy and took up a lot of room. Next time I'd probably buy a small roll
just to use for the trip.” “I used it to repair my husband’s broken belt and
one of the kids’ water sandals that cracked.” “We had connecting staterooms
and used duct tape to keep the doors open—we taped the door handle to a nearby
drawer handle.” “Invaluable for emergency repair of a torn suitcase or holding
cabin curtains together. On hangover mornings you'll be surprised at how bright
the morning Caribbean sun is! Most supermarkets have a small roll, so don't let
him drag along the large industrial size.” (Calgon/SunFlower Star) “Duct tape
has 101 uses on a cruise. You could use it to mend a torn suitcase, keep
curtains closed, keep doors open or closed, holding up unraveling hems, and so
on. Look for the ‘Flat Pack’ travel version to avoid packing the big cardboard
roll.” (PassPorter author Jennifer Marx) “I have used duct tape (in neon colors
but now lime green) on my luggage (even brand new luggage) so that I can see it
from a mile away because I don't know how DCL does things but some lines leave
you searching for your luggage in a sea of black bags at the end of the cruise.
I have used duct tape to tape a door open when I didn't have a night light. I
used duct tape to tape a bag when I broke the zipper. Duct tape to hem a pant
leg that my shoe heel ripped the hem out. Duct tape (with paper) to wrap up
fragile souvenirs. I know there are more uses... some people use it to keep
privacy curtain closed in rooms.” (KimberlyC)
q Earplugs or a white noise machine.
q Envelopes, large. “This was a great way to preserve
important papers, photos, and other large items that I wanted to protect.” “I
prefer transparent plastic because they're more durable.” “They came home FULL
of souvenirs, photos, and important documents.”
q Extension cord. “Everyone said
to pack an extension cord, so I did. However, the only normal outlet in our
room was close to the porthole (the farthest point from the bathroom), and my
15-foot cord wouldn't reach the bathroom. No big deal, I just dried my hair at
the mirror near the window every day. But if you need to use something in the
bathroom, or if you want an electric clock near your bed, make sure the cord is
VERY long. Also, the space between the counter and the plug is too small to fit
a lot of larger plug bases--I ended up using one with my hair dryer even though
the cord was plenty long.” (JLSM97) “Bring the more expensive kind that take
the three-prong plugs because they’re more useful.” “There aren't a lot of
sockets in the room, and you aren't supposed to plug anything into the bathroom
socket except for an electric razor. We also have problems with
"brick" style plugs and trying to use them in the sockets by the desk,
so we bring a "squid" with us and that gives us all the outlets we
need for hair dryer, curling iron, laptop charger, digital camera charger,
etc.” (ivanova) “There are extra plug ins behind the bed and behind the TV. But
it's best to bring either a squid type surge protector or a normal surge
protector to have the extra plugs.” (Amlee)
q Fan, small. “I prefer the battery operated kind.”
q First-aid kit. It should include antibacterial
packets, seasickness remedies, diarrhea remedies, children’s’ acetaminophen or
ibuprofen, antacid, Band-aids, moleskin for blisters, aloe for sunburn
treatment, prescription medications, etc.
q Flashlight
q Hair care. “Also [pack] a GOOD conditioner. Not sure
what is up with things, but by the end of our cruise, my hair was like sand
paper.” (Amlee)
q Hamper, collapsible. “We found this to be very
convenient for carrying our dirty clothes to the laundry room.” “This kept our
cabin neat because everyone knew what to do with their dirty clothes each day
(just like at home!).”
q Highlighter pens in at least two colors. “Use for
marking your Personal Navigator each night. It really does help plan your day,
especially with children, when it seems like everyone’s going different
directions.”
q Hole puncher. “I used this to punch holes in our
KTTW cards so we could wear them on lanyards. As we waited to board the ship,
someone in line behind us asked how we got the holes in our KTTW cards, so I
handed her my puncher. It ended up traveling a long way down the line! For the
first few days people even stopped me to ask how I got the hole in my card. I'm
surprised Guest Services doesn't do it (or maybe they do???), or that the cards
aren't distributed with holes in them. Either way, I suggest packing a hole
puncher if you're planning to wear your KTTW card on a lanyard without a vinyl
holder.” (JLSM97)
q Hooks for the door, the plastic or metal ones that
fit over the top of the door. “These were invaluable. They didn't fit on all
the doors, but if you can get the narrowest style they should work.”
q Hooks with suction cups. “Great for hanging
swimsuits to dry.” “If you’ve put your Key to the World card in a case of some
sort, such as a lanyard, waterproof box, or PassHolder Pouch, what do you do
with them after your take them off in your stateroom? If you just set them down
on a counter, it’s easy to misplace them later when they get covered by things.
Try this instead: Get hooks with suctions cups and put them on the back of the
stateroom door. Now just hang your lanyard there when you return to your
stateroom and you’ll always know where to find it. Be sure to bring enough
hooks for each person in your room.” (PassPorter/Chrissi D.)
q ID holder, waterproof
q Labels, pre-printed with addresses for postcards.
q Laundry kit, including Tide tablets, dryer sheets,
Shout wipes, and a roll of quarters
q Life vest for small children
q Misty Mate®- “A neat gadget. Basically, it's a
cylindrical water bottle encased in vinyl. The case has a carrying strap. The
bottle has a pump and a tube with a valve. The valve has a clip for hooking
onto your lapel. At the end of a tube is a nozzle. Pump the bottle, open the
valve and you are rewarded with a VERY fine spray/cooling mist. I know; it
sounds really complicated, but it's not, and it works fantastical good!”
(Calgon/SunFlower Star) www.mistymate.com
q Night light. “Your cabin will be unfamiliar and
probably more than a little crowded. Additionally, if you have an interior
cabin, it is going to be REALLY DARK once the lights are off.”
(Calgon/SunFlower Star) “We had an inside stateroom when our family cruised. My
youngest son likes to sleep with a nightlight. Everyone else in the family
likes it dark. I was worried the nightlight would give off too much light, so I
packed a disposable glow stick for each night. This was the perfect solution.
My son hung it by the top of the bunk bed and was very comfortable with the
amount of light it gave off. The rest of the family wasn’t bothered by the soft
glow. And as I had packed extra, I also used one as a nightlight in the
bathroom.” (PassPorter/Michelle S.) “Need a nightlight but don’t want to pack
one? Keep the light on in your bathroom but close the door—the light that
spills out under the door is enough to provide low light in the stateroom and
guide your way to the loo. Another option is to keep the door to your closet
open—it has an automatic light when opened.” (PassPorter/Misty B.)
q Over-the-door shoe organizer. “We hung it on the
outside of the second bathroom door. I won't take a long vacation without it
again! Our countertops were messy enough, and this helped important things stay
within sight.” “We brought two—one for shoes and one for everything else.”
q Paper, small pad with lines. “I like to keep trip
journals, and I usually use my Palm or a pad of paper that fits easily into a
purse or backpack. This is also handy for writing notes to include with tips at
the end of the cruise.”
q Pepsi products. DCL is a Coke provider; bring your
own if you're Pepsi drinker or other brands.
q Sand toys. Bring your own, because the ones
available for purchase ashore can be expensive. “Disney does sell sand toy
sets, but they are pricey at about $10 each.” (PassPorter/T.P.)
q Scissors (small) or Swiss army knife. “You’ll find
them invaluable for cutting tags off things, remove wristbands from kids, and
trimming threads off clothing. Keep the scissors small—the cutting edge should
be four inches or less—so they’ll pass through security without an issue.”
(PassPorter/Sam P.)
q Snorkel gear. “You can purchase inexpensive snorkel
gear before your trip and bring it with you to use in ports. You can also use
it on Castaway Cay and avoid the rental charges (you can use the snorkel vests
free of charge at the Castaway Cay snorkel lagoon). If you find cheap enough
gear, you can just leave it behind on the ship when you debark and save the
space in your luggage.” (PassPorter/Suzie C.)
q Soap (liquid anti-bacterial hand soap). “I packed
two, one for each sink. I got the kind that pumps as a foam--you go through it
faster and it seems less wasteful when, at the end of the week, you decide to
throw out what's left.”
q Spritzer bottles. “I found these in my local
drugstore. One quart spray bottles with a AA battery powered, soft blade fan.
Fantastic for cooling off at the pool!” (Calgon/SunFlower Star) “We never
travel without our spray fans.”
q Steamer. Not an iron (they’re not allowed). “I
brought our steamer but didn’t use it, because the shower produced enough
steam.” “My steamer got out the last-minute wrinkles.”
q Stepstool (collapsible for easy
packing). “If your little ones usually stand on a stepstool to brush their
teeth, you might want to bring one. I have a folding stepstool that I could
have thrown in a suitcase, but I didn't know we'd need it. DS(3) wasn't tall
enough to get his chin over the edge of the sink to brush his teeth. I held him
up sometimes, and he stood on the toilet lid and leaned oooooverrrr sometimes.
That was precarious and scary! All week I kept wishing I had our stepstool, and
I couldn't think of anything we had in the room for him to stand on.”
(LaurlieMT)
q Sticky notes. “I packed a 3" square pad and
used it to remind us of appointments for Palo, Flounder's Reef, etc. It was
hard for me to remember what day was what most of the time, so I just put them
at eye level on the mirror where I knew I wouldn't miss them.” “We used them to
leave notes to each other.”
q Visine for those tired eyes
q Walkie talkies
q Wrinkle remover spray. “Thanks to shower steam and
Downy Wrinkle Releaser, I did no ironing all week.”
q Ziploc bags in several sizes. “I recommend the one
quart, one gallon and two gallon size. Pack liquids (shampoos, lotions, etc.)
in them. Also very handy for packing away those items that just didn't get dry
by the end of the cruise.” (Calgon/SunFlower Star) “Bring a good collection of
Ziploc re-sealable bags in a variety of sizes. You’ll be surprised what you can
use them for, from storing wet swimsuits to holding snacks to protecting photos
to keeping dirty diapers from stinking up your stateroom.” (PassPorter/Carrie
T.)
q Children's programming counselors do not receive
tips; consider giving them a small gift
q The concierge staff is not allowed to accept tips.
q If you’re not planning to charge tips to your
stateroom account, set aside labeled tip money in advance. DCL will provide tip
envelopes that you can label as necessary.
q Excellent tip calculator: http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
q You can go to guest services at anytime during your
cruise to take care of the tips
q “I took an envelope full of $1 bills for room
service - worked out so well - just reached in the drawer by the door and was
ready for room service.”
q "At the end of the treatment your therapist
will come in and give you the charge slip -- you can add the tip then and sign
for the total amount. It all gets posted to your room charge. I suppose if you
wanted to tip in cash you could bring it with you, but they don't seem set up
to handle cash transactions." (bellelinus)
Vista Spa & Salon
q Be sure to book your Castaway Cay cabana massage
ASAP online or once on board.
q ”Up by the where all the workout
equipment is there are two AWESOME showers. No extra charge…I went up there
every time I wanted to take a shower!!” (disneylover5) “Up until our cruise
this past February, my dd was always in our room for sleeping arrangements.
There was no way that both my daughter and I along with my dh could get ready
comfortably on formal and semi-formal night (especially). My dh would grab a
quick workout before needing to get ready for dinner and would always use the
workout room facilities. (PhotoLisa) I also have found that showering in the
ladies locker room in the spa/gym is so easy....they have shampoo/conditioner
right in the shower and I go there straight from the adult pool....shower, wash
my hair and then get dressed (temporary clothes...not my evening clothes) and
go back to the cabin to dry my hair...saves time for me and this way I don't
have to rush hubby in the shower.” (mmouse37)
q "My best friend from college bought the two of
us (girls) a cabana's couples massage as a way of thanking me for all of the
group-planning that I did to lead up to our cruise. We had a blast, and ended
up chatting up with the two massage therapists, too. Yes, it was not the
traditional "quiet, introspective, aroma-laden" massage that I'm used
to, but it was awesome nonetheless that we had a blast." (flexsmom)
q "My sister and I did the couple's massage last
year. Then we hung out in the Rainforest room, then grabbed lunch. It was a
great 'girls day' for us." (Laurarn)
q If you don't want to hear the sales pitch, request
"No Pitch" when you book your appointment.
q Go for a Rainforest session - it's economical and
well worth it. What happens in the Tropical Rainforest Room? “There are tile
loungers you can lay on, one heated tile room to sit and relax in and 2 steam rooms
- different degrees of heat. There is a tropical shower to rinse off in, a mint
shower to close your pores, and a regular shower. It is an amazing place with a
fountain in the center, lemon water to sip and hot tea to totally relax you. We
have gotten the pass for the week and find that if we pay for it we will make
time to go there every day. If we just pay daily we tend to miss a few days.”
(Mrs. Mork)
q “The Tropical Rainforest in the Vista Spa can get
quite warm. Bring a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated. While there is a
drinking fountain in the Tropical Rainforest, the cups are tiny and aren’t
suitable for bringing into any of the steam rooms. Bottled water is also handy
in the Exotic Rasul room.” (PassPorter/A.M.)
q “Normally off-limits to anyone under 18, teens may
be able to sign up for facials/manicures [at the Vista Spa] on port days.”
(PassPorter) “During our cruise this past May, I mentioned that my daughter
would have liked her nails done onboard while I was getting a spa treatment.
They told me that they have a Princess Package which, from what I understood,
included a manicure and a pedicure for little girls.” (sopandbass) “They had a
sign in the waiting area detailing several treatments for teens (13-17).”
(bellelinus) “The package is only offered on port days I believe. My DD9 had
the manicure and pedicure in the Princess Package. They explained that they
only offered it while the ship was docked, to avoid any accidental pokes with
the tools due to ship movement.” (been2marceline)
q "At the end of the treatment your therapist
will come in and give you the charge slip -- you can add the tip then and sign
for the total amount. It all gets posted to your room charge. I suppose if you
wanted to tip in cash you could bring it with you, but they don't seem set up
to handle cash transactions." (bellelinus)
q If you need to cancel spa services, do it as soon as
possible to avoid cancellation charges. " They charged us half of the fee
for a cancellation last year." (KSDisneyDad) "I believe they will
charge you the entire fee if you don't show or cancel within a certain time
frame." (DrCavin) "I have cancelled before less than 24 hours
before treatment time without being charged. I told them why I was canceling
(DD wanted nothing to do with Flounders Nursery, thus no child care). I was
pleasantly surprised that I was not charged and have no idea if it was an
oversight or what." (grlzmom) "I tried calling DCL, but they couldn't
do anything. They suggested I go to the spa as soon as it opened after
embarkation and speak to someone there, so that's what I did. The girl at the
desk was very nice and cancelled the appt without any ado. She said they would
be able to rebook the appointment time." (MickeyMagic)
q "I used the treadmills (almost) every day on
the cruise, and I never had to wait! The fitness center has been expanded, so
there are lots and lots of treadmills, ellipticals, Lifecycles, etc. Towels are
available. I think there is a drinking fountain. Each of the treadmills has its
own TV monitor. You can ask at the front desk for a set of headphones, and
watch whatever you want -- you have to leave your KTTW card, they give it back
when you return the headphones. I didn't remember a time limit for the machines
either. I did 30 minutes, and I know there were people who were there before me
who were still working out." (Deb in IA) "The strength training
equipment is limited, but there was always an elliptical trainer or treadmill
available. There was also a movement studio that was open at most times.
The attendant didn't mind my taking a ball and mat in there to do some
abs." (suzu) "My advice about headphones--take your own. I am going
to do so next time. Towels--always plenty. Water--take a bottle of water
otherwise you are left to going halfway thru the spa to get some water. Time to
go: I always went in the mid afternoon between 2 and 3:30. I used the recumbent
bikes. There were never more than about 5 people in the whole place at any
given moment at that time. And, I exercised for about an hour each time and no
one said anything. There are plenty of all of the machines that you will not
need to wait for anything." (CaptainJack) "In a hidden nook right
after the ladies changing room (on the same side) is a large divided vat of
water. This clear container was divided into three sections/one with orange
slices and water/one with lime slices and water/ and one with lemon slices.
There were small clear cups next to this container. Also next to the container
was box of tea bags/hot tea dispenser." (Cindy B)
q Spa Villas are a new offering onboard. "We
started by going into the verandah area for a foot bath and to pick our tea
(for later). Then they leave you to enjoy the hot tub for about 20 minutes or
so. They also give you the option of ordering champagne and strawberries in
advance; we opted for this so we had the champagne, strawberries and truffles
while we relaxed in the hot tub. They come and knock on the verandah door at
the end of the 20 minutes to allow you time to dry off and then to get on the
massage tables. Then they do your spa treatment. After the treatment is over
you go outside on the verandah to relax on the bed. They bring you your tea,
and then leave you to relax and enjoy it and the verandah for a while (not sure
how long that was). After that they knock again to let you know that they are
going to discuss the treatment with you, then you re-dress and it's time to go.
Overall we spent 3 hours in there and it was the most wonderful, relaxing time
ever! It was great couple time for my husband and myself also." ( Sue Ellen)
"We arrived at the spa and filled out their questionnaires and were led
into our villa. The villas are decorated in an eastern style, with what looks
like cedar trim. The main room has 2 massage beds, cabinets on the wall
inboard, a small table at one end of the room to hold the products for the
therapists to use, and some artwork on the wall at the foot of the massage
beds. It has a sliding glass door on the wall opposite the cabinets, leading to
the deck – which has a 2 person hot tub/spa, an outdoor shower to rinse off in,
and a ‘day bed’ that looks like you crossed a mattress with a porch swing. They
start with asking if you want to change into suits (or just robes, but I
recommend suits because there’s a deck 10 overlook where people can see the
front half of the villas – where the hot tub is), and then do a foot cleansing
ritual that involves putting your feet into cool tubs of water and then
scrubbing them one at a time with a peppermint granular scrub, rinsing them in
the tub and drying them. We were then given some time in the hot tub with
aromatherapy salts (I think there was eucalyptus in it, but I’m not sure and I
didn’t ask). For us this part of the treatment occurred as we were pulling into
Key West, and I wasn’t sure whether or not the crowds gathered on Deck 10
were watching us or the docking… Either way, I was glad we had chosen to go
with bathing suits and not in the buff! After our therapists collected us from
the spa, we moved onto the massage tables. Mike had the hot stones massage and
I had the Spa taster (Swedish massage plus a mini facial) as our treatments.
Both were wonderful – I’m not sure what else to say about them. Mike says that
anything that makes him drool uncontrollably while being rubbed the right way
with warm oil and rocks deserves better than “wonderful,” he suggests
“amazing,” “out of this world,” and “OFS.” We got no sales pitch at the end, as
we had requested that they didn’t do one. The final part of the Villa
experience was being allowed to sit and relax on the ‘day bed’ on the verandah,
with a tray of fresh fruit (much better than the stuff they serve in the dining
rooms) and two individual pots of tea (we had peppermint and lemon grass, which
was pretty forgettable). Afterwards we were told that we could dress in our own
time, and settle the individual bills that they had left in the main room for
us… All in all, it was a lovely experience. I had been worried about the cost,
but with the port day discount, it was absolutely worth it!" (Sarangel)