What was your worst DCL rookie mistake?

[luvthemouse71]

Getting to the Port early for our first Disney cruise- that was a doozy of a mistake! I erroneously thought that if we arrived early, they would somehow let us board early and explore the ship. Sitting in that beautifully decorated terminal for hours was not fun, and skipping breakfast to do so made for a group of unhappy campers. We now know better!!!

Sometimes you luck out though..We sailed to Bermuda out of Boston last year on Norwegian and they started boarding early.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I take the Walmart brand meclizine, and I start 2 nights before the cruise. I take it at bedtime. Also, I continue taking it when I get off the ship a few days. I had the worst land sickness once! This method has worked perfectly for me.

If you have good insurance, get the meclizine through your doctor. Recently, I had a bout with vertigo and she wrote a prescription for meclizine. $1.41 for 28 pills.

 

[JWG]

Sometimes you luck out though..We sailed to Bermuda out of Boston last year on Norwegian and they started boarding early.

Your boarding group is determined by your check-in time. Getting there significantly earlier than your check-in time will not do you any good at Cape Canaveral. Rarely do they board any earlier than their normal time of 11:15-11:30. Just not feasible for them to do so any faster.

 

[RedSox68]

Your boarding group is determined by your check-in time. Getting there significantly earlier than your check-in time will not do you any good at Cape Canaveral. Rarely do they board any earlier than their normal time of 11:15-11:30. Just not feasible for them to do so any faster.

I agree -- of all the ports and other cruise lines we have sailed out of, Disney and Port Canaveral have some of the strictest entrance and boarding time regulations. They are also the only terminal we've been in that calls out boarding numbers. Other ships have let us on as we arrived. We've boarded some ships as early as 11:30 a.m. and our rooms were ready by 1 p.m. Our favorite boarding is the way HAL does it -- once you check in you are escorted to a waiting room with rows and rows of chairs. They take you on board by rows and it is so organized and quick. No clammering around the entrance door or tripping over people to get through when your number is called!

 

[Dug720]

I agree -- of all the ports and other cruise lines we have sailed out of, Disney and Port Canaveral have some of the strictest entrance and boarding time regulations. They are also the only terminal we've been in that calls out boarding numbers. Other ships have let us on as we arrived. We've boarded some ships as early as 11:30 a.m. and our rooms were ready by 1 p.m. Our favorite boarding is the way HAL does it -- once you check in you are escorted to a waiting room with rows and rows of chairs. They take you on board by rows and it is so organized and quick. No clammering around the entrance door or tripping over people to get through when your number is called!

I have cruised HAL to Alaska and they did use boarding groups and were strict.

I have cruised RCCL to the Med in Barcelona and they were using boarding groups and were strict.

I have cruised fathom out of Miami twice and they have used boarding cards (from Carnival as they are under the Carnival umbrella and on a P&O ship (a line I will NEVER cruise again - P&O that is...fathom 2.0 pending their ship used) and were super strict.

So no, DCL is not the only line that is strict about boarding groups.

 

[RedSox68]

I have cruised HAL to Alaska and they did use boarding groups and were strict.

I have cruised RCCL to the Med in Barcelona and they were using boarding groups and were strict.

I have cruised fathom out of Miami twice and they have used boarding cards (from Carnival as they are under the Carnival umbrella and on a P&O ship (a line I will NEVER cruise again - P&O that is...fathom 2.0 pending their ship used) and were super strict.

So no, DCL is not the only line that is strict about boarding groups.

Oh, well we didn't experience that when we cruised HAL out of Alaska and HAL out of Quebec and Princess out of Southhampton. Not sure why it would have been different, but no one ever handed us boarding numbers during those particullar sailings. Once we were signed in, they took us to a waiting room like I said. Then just called us by rows. It all seemed surprisingly laid back after having cruised DCL 8 times before those lines. Oh well, maybe they've tightned things up more since we were on those other lines. Either way, I don't find any of it stressful or a detriment to our cruise, we like to just go with the flow and see what happenes

 

[JWG]

I don't mind the boarding process or strictness of it. I actually like it. I know to arrive at my time and earlier isn't worth it.

What I hate is Disney's lack of ability to manage the port crowd. It's my only real complaint about DCL. Their Canaveral port cannot handle the crowds, doesn't have adequate seating (or really any seating) and when you have an early boarding group it's like navigating the mosh pit to board while the early arrivers hover near the boarding entrance.

It's almost worse than waiting to board a plane.

 

[RedSox68]

I don't mind the boarding process or strictness of it. I actually like it. I know to arrive at my time and earlier isn't worth it.

What I hate is Disney's lack of ability to manage the port crowd. It's my only real complaint about DCL. Their Canaveral port cannot handle the crowds, doesn't have adequate seating (or really any seating) and when you have an early boarding group it's like navigating the mosh pit to board while the early arrivers hover near the boarding entrance.

It's almost worse than waiting to board a plane.

100% agree -- they need to clear people from the boarding entrance so the process can be quicker and smoother and less dangerous. I saw an older man trip trying to get through (because no one would move -- it's a ride line folks) and I can't tell you how many times we had our feet stepped on trying to get to the doorway when our number was called. With two more ships coming, they need a larger terminal and more seats and a waiting area.

 

[JenTen1585]

That stinks for you too! So I'll ask you the same question then, I assume you contacted Disney, how was the embarkation process wherever you finally got on at?

Sorry, I took so long in answering! This was actually a cruise on Norwegian, but the cruise line was fantastic, as I'm sure Disney would be. They refunded our shore excursions for the days we missed. Welcomed us on easily when we caught up with the cruise in Malta (apparently this happens a lot and cruiselines have a way to embark you in each port) and had a plate of cookies and chocolates waiting for us in our room and a note welcoming us on board. There were over 50 of us with the same issue because of the same flight. We did not get refunded for the two days of the cruise we missed (we would have if we had trip insurance), but I didn't expect to because it wasn't the cruise line's fault, it was American Airlines and their crappy planes and poor service. The American Airlines flight they cancelled was a flight from New York City to Barcelona, so it was largely made up of cruise passengers from all different lines. They stranded and ruined the vacation of about 300 cruisers. They could have brought in another plane and got us over there easily that evening or cancelled the flight earlier so we could find seats on other planes (we waited about 4 hours while they tried fixing the plane), but they didn't. They waited to cancel the flight till midnight and stranded us all till the next day. I have never forgiven American Airlines and have never not flown in the day before for a cruise since.

 

[RedSox68]

Sorry, I took so long in answering! This was actually a cruise on Norwegian, but the cruise line was fantastic, as I'm sure Disney would be. They refunded our shore excursions for the days we missed. Welcomed us on easily when we caught up with the cruise in Malta (apparently this happens a lot and cruiselines have a way to embark you in each port) and had a plate of cookies and chocolates waiting for us in our room and a note welcoming us on board. There were over 50 of us with the same issue because of the same flight. We did not get refunded for the two days of the cruise we missed (we would have if we had trip insurance), but I didn't expect to because it wasn't the cruise line's fault, it was American Airlines and their crappy planes and poor service. The American Airlines flight they cancelled was a flight from New York City to Barcelona, so it was largely made up of cruise passengers from all different lines. They stranded and ruined the vacation of about 300 cruisers. They could have brought in another plane and got us over there easily that evening or cancelled the flight earlier so we could find seats on other planes (we waited about 4 hours while they tried fixing the plane), but they didn't. They waited to cancel the flight till midnight and stranded us all till the next day. I have never forgiven American Airlines and have never not flown in the day before for a cruise since.

I agree, that is now way to start a cruise. That kind of stress and tension takes a while to level off from. That was really nice of them to have those treats in your room.

When we took DCL out of LA for the Panama Canal cruise, we had a rental car that we got in Las Vegas and had to be returned near the pier. We got caught in traffic from Anaheim and when we got to the area, drove around for an hour trying to find the rental place. Turns out they were inside a building with no outside signage! We finally called and they directed us how to enter the garage and get to their office. By that time it was past 2 p.m. I have never in my life been so panicked that we were going to miss boarding the boat. By the time we checked in and returned the car and they called a taxi, we didn't arrive to the ship until 3 p.m. I was so distraught it took me until the next day to level off and calm down. I was practically hyperventilating. No way to start a cruise. But like you said, lesson learned and we have never done that again. Now if we have a rental car, we go first thing in the morning and if we get to the port too early -- better that than risk missing the boat!

 

[Quellman]

Sorry, I took so long in answering! This was actually a cruise on Norwegian, but the cruise line was fantastic, as I'm sure Disney would be. They refunded our shore excursions for the days we missed. Welcomed us on easily when we caught up with the cruise in Malta (apparently this happens a lot and cruiselines have a way to embark you in each port) and had a plate of cookies and chocolates waiting for us in our room and a note welcoming us on board. There were over 50 of us with the same issue because of the same flight. We did not get refunded for the two days of the cruise we missed (we would have if we had trip insurance), but I didn't expect to because it wasn't the cruise line's fault, it was American Airlines and their crappy planes and poor service. The American Airlines flight they cancelled was a flight from New York City to Barcelona, so it was largely made up of cruise passengers from all different lines. They stranded and ruined the vacation of about 300 cruisers. They could have brought in another plane and got us over there easily that evening or cancelled the flight earlier so we could find seats on other planes (we waited about 4 hours while they tried fixing the plane), but they didn't. They waited to cancel the flight till midnight and stranded us all till the next day. I have never forgiven American Airlines and have never not flown in the day before for a cruise since.

Thank you so much for your update. It helps build a knowledge base for all cruisers, no matter the line. Sad when you can't even trust the day before anymore! I've had similar problems recently with American as well. I know they try their best, but it isn't any consolation when you lose time and money. You can't get back time!

 

[Lobofan5]

My daughter and I drove to Port Canaveral...we drove most of the night and stopped in a little town for breakfast. About an hour after leaving I realized I left my purse hanging on the back of my chair at breakfast. It had both our passports, all our money and credit cards and my ID....and I wasn't even sure of where we had breakfast to call them. One VERY long hour drive back... I was lucky enough to find it still hanging on the back of the chair.
Stress. Stress. Stress.

 

[RedSox68]

My daughter and I drove to Port Canaveral...we drove most of the night and stopped in a little town for breakfast. About an hour after leaving I realized I left my purse hanging on the back of my chair at breakfast. It had both our passports, all our money and credit cards and my ID....and I wasn't even sure of where we had breakfast to call them. One VERY long hour drive back... I was lucky enough to find it still hanging on the back of the chair.
Stress. Stress. Stress.

That was just plain good karma that that bag was untouched. Glad to hear it turned out all right.

 

[JWG]

Not exploring the entire ship. We've done a handful of cruises and there are still areas we haven't explored. Cove Cafe is my biggest miss, getting a unique pastry or dessert (depending on time of day). On early mornings not trying the MDR breakfast, we always just do Cabanas. This past cruise we did skip Cabana's for embarkation lunch and did Enchanted Garden, so much more peaceful.

 

[Rabb it]

Our biggest mistake was probably not spending enough time at the pool, and not getting up early enough to go to Cabanas for breakfast

 

[JWG]

Our biggest mistake was probably not spending enough time at the pool, and not getting up early enough to go to Cabanas for breakfast

Cabana's serves breakfast until 11:30am , you're quite the late sleepers (wish I could do that). Though that does mean you were able to go straight to lunch at least, just missed out on breakfast foods.

 

[Rabb it]

Cabana's serves breakfast until 11:30am , you're quite the late sleepers (wish I could do that). Though that does mean you were able to go straight to lunch at least, just missed out on breakfast foods.

It's my girlfriend, she takes HOURS to get ready in the morning, hours!! When we would get there I feel like cabanas was in the transitional period in between breakfast and lunch and they would tell us to come back in an hour or something

 

[Dug720]

It's my girlfriend, she takes HOURS to get ready in the morning, hours!! When we would get there I feel like cabanas was in the transitional period in between breakfast and lunch and they would tell us to come back in an hour or something

That is when I would have gone myself and let her fend for herself.

 

[RedSox68]

That is when I would have gone myself and let her fend for herself.

 

[chaseg03]

My daughter and I drove to Port Canaveral...we drove most of the night and stopped in a little town for breakfast. About an hour after leaving I realized I left my purse hanging on the back of my chair at breakfast. It had both our passports, all our money and credit cards and my ID....and I wasn't even sure of where we had breakfast to call them. One VERY long hour drive back... I was lucky enough to find it still hanging on the back of the chair.
Stress. Stress. Stress.

So happy for you it was ok. That could have been BAD.