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I guess there is a lot to research now. I kind of enjoyed our first time in WDW, where everything was a new experience. Maybe it’s time to try something new again.
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I would say that you've done your research already. Our first cruise was on the Magic in it's inaugural year (almost 20 years ago!!). There was "nothing" to look up - you know back in the dark ages before the internet. We survived that cruise!!
My best advice is in contrast to what you have already read here ...
- Magic Happens ... but it is NOT the same for EVERYONE. NO One gets to experience ALL of the cool experiences that you read about (not enough time for EVERYTHING to happen to you). Remember, it is NOT all about YOU and your family ... we have all paid a lot of money to go on a Disney cruise. The Magic is NOT a scavenger hunt where you make a list and hunt it down ... it comes to you in the unexpected times ... serendipity!!
- Real life happens. All of the best laid plans can go up in flames in an instant. Disney's first job (well after making boat loads of money that is) is your safety. The ships will divert and change itineraries as needed (weather, local disturbances, mechanical issues, etc). If something intervenes and throws a monkey wrench into your plans, try to go with the flow. Remember anyone that you can complain to and/or berate --- has absolutely NO power to change the weather, change where the ship is going etc. They are there to try and help you make adjustments to your plans and still provide an excellent (to use a Disney term) experience.
OK I am off of my soapbox and done with being "
Disney Debbie Downer"
Now for the GOOD Stuff...
The Three Primary Rules of a
DCL Cruise
- The Sun is NOT the same as where you live (usually) - Apply Sunscreen and Reapply Frequently (Bahamian and Caribbean cruises)
- You can NOT Eat it all ... but it is time to try some foods outside of your comfort zone. If you don't like it, they will bring you something else (no additional fee)
- The hardest part of a DCL cruise is deciding what NOT to do! You can NOT do it all ... but sleep is for AFTER the cruise!
and now a bunch of random stuff that I've learned over the course of 20 DCL cruises
- Planning - it's NOT the same as a WDW trip - ie: you don't have to decide when and where you are eating 6 months in advance
- You should look at what port adventures DCL is offering for the ports that you are visiting. Then decide if you want to do any of those, tour independently, or stay on the ship
- The Golden Rule of Cruising: Don't Miss the Ship. Know in every port what time it is (on the ship vs local time - sometimes they are different ) and know when the All Aboard time is (ships time). You can write a note to the captain letting him / her know that you will be arriving after the all aboard time and telling him to wait for you! (it's been done, and guess what, the Captain did NOT wait!! )
- There are three main dining rooms onboard and two assigned dinner seating's and you will be assigned a dinning room, time and table number. The great thing about DCL is your time and table number remain the same, as do your Serving Team ... but your dining room will change from night to night. On 2 night and longer cruises you will be assigned a dinning rotation and will be scheduled to visit each MDR (Main Dining Room) at least once during your cruise. Some people are concerned as to what rotation they are on (they have their own reasons - I don't get it), but just let Disney assign it and you will be fine.
- Don't be surprised OR afraid of sharing a table with other people!! It sounds like DCL is moving towards more smaller tables (which is a shame in my opinion). We've never looked at our tablemates as strangers - but as potential friends. It takes me a couple of nights to learn everyones names (I'm horrible at this, thank goodness my wife can remember names). But by the time the first dinner is over with, we are no longer "strangers". One of the benefits of tablemates is that usually you and they will be doing different things during the day - on ship or on shore. We've enjoyed hearing about the others day and experiences.
- Room stewards - you will have one, that will take care of your room. It's NOT the same as housekeeping at a hotel. These hard working people will be in your room a couple of times a day cleaning up in the mornings (housekeeping), turn down service in the evenings (final cleaning and with fun stuff and the next days personal navigator and advertisements).
- This leads to the somewhat touchy topic of tipping (gratuities). The nasty cruise secret is that the cruise lines do NOT include much in the way of wages / salary for your Serving Team (Head Waiter ("manager"), Server and Assistant Server) and your room steward. Most cruise lines - DCL included - have gone to an automatic gratuity charged to your room for EVERY Person (yes including your 1 year old!) per "night" of your cruise. DCL has not increased this amount for many, many years. You can make adjustments to the amount for a given server or steward. It might seem like a lot, but it's not. Your serving team is working at breakfasts, lunches, "fast food" / Buffets, and other events throughout the day, every day. You do NOT leave a tip after every meal you have - like on land.
- EXCEPT - for any drink that carries a charge - DCL automatically adds 18% - so items from any of the bars - including soda (which you can get for free at the self service stations on the pool deck). Smoothies also get the auto gratuity. Buying a case of water onboard, 18% is added. BUT Soda's at Dinner and Lunch (sit down or buffet) are free!
- Back to the "Magic" - it's been a rare crew member that would not smile at you, wave or even stop and make small talk with you. This includes the "Scrape, Paint and Varnish" crews that you will see working out on deck all day keeping the ship - Ship Shape. As you walk by them you might even hear a familiar Disney tune being whistled ... while they work. For some reason, this always brings a smile to my face.
- Kids Clubs - and I as a 60 year old say - NO FAIR!!! these spaces look like a LOT OF FUN!! and I want to PLAY!! (note: I am NOT a creeper!). DCL has started having "Open House" times where families come together in the same club to play. I've tended to NOT go ... because I don't have any young kids at this point in my life ... and I don't want people to think that I'm a creeper!! But I have gone when they have had Adults time in the clubs (usually on cruises of MORE than 7 nights, and on cruises where the kid count is pretty small - Panama Canal, Northern Europe, Transatlantic...) But I digress ... most of the kids LOVE the clubs and it's hard to get them out. There are some kids that don't like them (what's wrong with them anyway ) The younger teenagers seem to like the Vibe - because they are "grown up" and the older teens seem to be pretty apathetic about it. Regardless, all of the kids (from age 4 through 18) should go to the clubs the first evening. They get to know one another and find out about the program. And a final note: if your child turns 18 on the cruise, as a "birthday present" they get locked out of the club because they have legally become an adult.
- One of the biggest complaints about ANY cruise ship is the elevators! I say, just say NO! Take the stairs. We almost always take the stairs (and we usually stay on deck 2). The advantages of climbing the stairs is that you get to eat more desserts, and will usually arrive quicker than by elevator. And the stairways are decorated with some pretty cool art!
- Speaking of Art - if you are on the Fantasy, visit the Mens AND Womens restrooms in Europa (its best if you take the art of the ship tour ) The Murals in the restrooms are pretty amazing. I don't remember if they are that cool on the Dream.
- For the main shows in the Walt Disney Theater - these are at the opposite times of the main and late dining, unless you want to be in the front row, you don't have to be there 30 minutes early. There are plenty of seating for everyone ... well except for Frozen - where families will skip dinner to see it twice! Maybe the same for Beauty and the Beast. And Tangled. (different ships, different featured shows)
- The "inbetween" shows / activities - those between the dinner seatings are usually a lot of fun - and for the last very many years, not very well attended for some reason. So usually easy to get a good seat in the venue.
- Reserving Seats: only for the 1 or 2 people in your group that are running late - of hitting the restroom. Otherwise, just say NO. Same with the pool chairs. Don't go up at 7am and put your stuff on a chair to claim for the day - it don't work that way.
- Look at the Navigator that they give you in the Cruise Terminal on Embarkation day - it will give you an overview of when things are happening throughout the cruise, and look for items that might require a ticket (princess gathering) - find out when and where to get your ticket, if you were unable to pre reserve online before your cruise (not everything can be prebooked). Speaking of the Navigator, download the DCL Navigator app to your phone BEFORE you leave home. Once onboard it will give you the detailed daily activity list. You can also use it to text each other. and to peruse dinner menus (but you can just wait for dinner time )
- Another Planning item - actually you need to know this before / while you are booking: what type of room do you want? Inside (least expensive), Oceanview (porthole), Veranda (enclosed, white wall, Plexiglas wall), suite or concierge (OMG I can do 17 cruises for this price). Then Forward, Midship or Aft. Type of room primarily determines the cost, followed by location, location, location. Also time of year (September has some pretty low rates - kids just back to school and hurricanes vs Christmas, New Years, 4th of July, summer in general)
- Last thing for now - I didn't know how rough cruising would be on my fingernails - they got pretty trashed as they were dragging me off of the ship at the end of the cruise. They kept saying that there were other people that wanted to board ... but I really didn't care!!
There's probably (I know there is) more to let you know about but I'm tired of typing right now
Bottom Line - Have Fun (and take a 4 night vs 3 night cruise - AFTER visiting WDW - it cuts down on the sadness of leaving "the world")
3 "Nights" on a cruise
Day - Night 1: Get to the Cruise Terminal, Board ship between 1 & 4pm, unpack, dinner, evening activities
Day - Night 2: Do stuff all day / night
Day - Night 3: Do stuff, PACK UP, dinner, evening, I've got to be up WHEN tomorrow morning?!!!!!
Day 4 - off of the ship by 9am
So 1/2 day, full day, 3/4 of a day (2.25 days of fun)
4 "Night" cruise
Add another Do Stuff ALL day / night (so two of these vs one)
day 5: off of the ship by 9am
so 1/2 day, 2 full days, 3/4 of a day (3.25 days of fun)