Cruise info for 1st timers

[DSNY FN]

Ok so in Dec 06 my immediate family and extended family are going on eh 3 day Disney cruise there will be 21 of us. Just curious what to expect and so forth. There are 5 kids ranging from12 to 5 in age. Thanks for any tips and help you can provide.

[PoohsPal]

We got a book from B&N that was great for planning and knowing what to expect. It was in the Disney Travel Books Section for DCL. I'll see if I can find it and get you the title.

DCL will tell you everything yuo really need to know in teh package you get. They take good care of you. One of the things that I really liked was tehy scanned your room key to and from boat so they knew who was on and who was off, althuogh they said they would not wait for you. The kool part was this and your id were your passport. SO, you did not need to worry about losing it. Plus, they checked your id and passport when you went off the ship, so you could not leave w/o it. We watched someone trying to get back to the docks from another cruise who did not have any id. Don't know what happened in the end, but it did not look like fun. made me realize that DCL was really thinking when they set up their system.

[DSNY FN]

Wow that is great it sounds like they take care of everything for you. We just bought teh Birnbaums official guide to DCL and my wifew has been reading it I haven't even gotten a look at it yet other than the cover that is LOL. All I know is my one excursion is the fishing when we get to Cast away Key.

[PoohsPal]

That book will tell you all! You want to treat your DW? I got my hair cut at 8 am the morning we docked in the Bahamas. Just hadn't had time. That was open 'cause noone else wanted to get there that early. It was teh best view on teh ship when we docked! Book her a facial or somethign where she can look out the windoews when you dock. Very cool!

[UsedtobeSmith]

We just went on our first cruise... a 3 day like yours. It goes fast.

My tips... arrive very early on the first day (1030ish) to take advantage of every moment on the ship.

If you dont want to see the kids you wont. If you do want to see them, good luck getting them out of the clubs.

Look at the Navigators as a family and pick at least one thing, everyday, that everyone will have fun doing together....

Show up early for Photos....

[keishashadow]

We'll be 1st timers too in Dec. Have Birnbaums book but, think the Passporter is more comprehensive. Good Luck.

[DSNY FN]

That book will tell you all! You want to treat your DW? I got my hair cut at 8 am the morning we docked in the Bahamas. Just hadn't had time. That was open 'cause noone else wanted to get there that early. It was teh best view on teh ship when we docked! Book her a facial or somethign

I think I am going to book a pedicure for her thanks for the tips they are appreciated.

[QUOTE]My tips... arrive very early on the first day (1030ish) to take advantage of every moment on the ship.
Usedtobesmith we plan on being at the dock by about 9 AM we want to get teh boarding process done ASAP and get to looking around the area and then get on the ship early to explore it. Any reccomendations on sea bands for the kids I don't think we will have issues but just in case should we get them to wear them when we get on the ship or wait and see. Also do they need to wear both of them or can they get away with wearing just one of them?

[DSNY FN]

We'll be 1st timers too in Dec. Have Birnbaums book but, think the Passporter is more comprehensive. Good Luck.

Thanks for the heads up I just order the passporter one online through Coles and I will be picking it up at the store close to me in about 4 or 5 days.

[crisi]

I can't remember for sure, but I don't think the terminal opens that early, check and make sure, cause otherwise you sit in your car. The ship usually opens around 11:45. The terminal is worth spending some time in - its beautiful, the ship model is interesting, I think you get your kids clubs pagers issued in terminal now, and characters come out for photos - but it isn't three hours worth of interesting. Some people like to be among the first on board and will stand in line for an hour or two to accomplish this. Us, we like to have a leisurely morning with breakfast, arrival at the terminal about 10:30, drop off luggage and be all checked in before 11:00 and spend about 45 minutes looking at the ship, getting character autographs. The ship opens and we watch cartoons while the line shrinks from "Splash Mountain at 2:00 in March" to "Small World at 10:00 am in September." Then we haul our carryons and kids into line and onto the ship, boarding about 20 minutes after the ears open.

Regarding carryons - you will now spend the next hour and a half carrying your carryons before your room opens. Liquids (carry on wine or alcohol, the diet Dr. Pepper you can't live without) must be carried on and can't go in luggage (remember, it could be someone elses formal gown that gets spoiled when the luggage gorillas crunch your Shiraz). During this time you will probably eat lunch, and may send the kids to the pool (its a good pool time). Make sure your carryons are reasonable - ours got quite heavy after lugging them around for an hour. Doing it again, we'd still carry on the valuables (including electronics like cameras, video players), but I wouldn't carry on a change of clothes, and would have just the kids wear their swimsuits under their clothes for boarding. And I'd get my own junk (books, purse, snacks for us and the kids, etc) down to a minimum.

[keishashadow]

I tried the sea bands @ Busch Gardens this summer (useless in my book).

I just got the patches from my Dr., but son's Pediatrician sez he doesn't weight enough to use them. He'll get Dramamine...makes us tired, good for taking the night before to insure a deep sleep.

Others have posted that any antihistimine will work the same (Benadryl?).

My DH who served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier many years ago, is strutting around saying he doesn't get sea-sick (I'm taking extra patches for him, in case his sea legs have long departed).

[PoohsPal]

Your sh should not need patches. I survived 25-foot waves without anything on that cruise. HMy dh survived with the patches quite nicely. He gets VERY motion sick.

DSNY FN, a man after my own heart. :loveisint

[chimera]

My tips... arrive very early on the first day (1030ish) to take advantage of every moment on the ship.

Definitely! We've been on the DCL 3-day twice and were first in line the second time. They serve lunch before you leave the port and it's a wonderful way to relax when you get onboard. Also the only time they had chocolate mousse!

Your luggage will be checked in and loaded later in the day, so pack a small bag of things you'll need right away (like bathing suits). You can enjoy the pools as soon as you board. We were able to access our rooms right away upon boarding, but you don't get your luggage til 5 or 6 pm.

Be sure to wear something festive when you board! They take your family photo as soon as you board.

Do practice breaking balloons with your posterior. I can't remember the name of the game show they do, but DH and DD12 were picked to be in it both times. We found that DH was not skilled in the art of balloon breaking, but it makes for interesting photos :holymoly:

For motion sickness, I highly recommend meclizine (Dramamine Less Drowsy Formula, Antivert, Bonine, etc). It doesn't make you sleepy like many of the other antihistamines. If you can't find it on your pharmacy shelves, ask your pharmacist. It should still be available OTC. Whatever you choose, remember you'll need to use it about 1 hr prior to sailing. We all used meclizine the first night of the cruise, but then didn't need anything after that.

Dramamine Less Drowsy Formula (http://prodhelp.com/product.aspx?id=259)

We loved the cruises! Can't wait til DD2 is older so we can try the 4 or 7 days!

[DSNY FN]

We don't do well with medications antihistimines even the non drowsy stuff puts myself and my 3 kids to sleep. I can't take it unless I know I am not going to be needed for that day and my kids react the same way thus the sea bands are our choice. I can take allegra non drowsy and I am asleep within an hour and a half of taking it so the sea/motionsickness stuff is a no no for me unless I want to miss the whole cruise LOL.

[DSNY FN]

Your sh should not need patches. I survived 25-foot waves without anything on that cruise. HMy dh survived with the patches quite nicely. He gets VERY motion sick.

DSNY FN, a man after my own heart. :loveisint
But alas your heart is allready taken by another oh well we can dream can't we LOL. :doublekis

[PoohsPal]

Alas, this is true. My dh would never make me a spa appointemnt, though. :( He has a genetic fear of phones. Still very much a keeper, though.

[DSNY FN]

Alas, this is true. My dh would never make me a spa appointemnt, though. :( He has a genetic fear of phones. Still very much a keeper, though.

Maybe I should have a talk with the man and help him out there you know give him some pointers and such. I like to pamper the wife she is worth it well most days anyhow LOL. She will be getting a pedicure and a massage while on the cruise. She is also getting a massage the day before we leave to drive back home at the spa at SSR.

[PoohsPal]

Darn, hijacking again. DH would encourage me to pamper myself wholeheartedly. He just wouldn't book for me. That doesn't mean he doesn't do other wonderful things for me, though. He likes to bring surprises home.

He did try to book our last cruise, but something happend. DOn't remember what.

[DSNY FN]

Darn, hijacking again. DH would encourage me to pamper myself wholeheartedly. He just wouldn't book for me. That doesn't mean he doesn't do other wonderful things for me, though. He likes to bring surprises home.

He did try to book our last cruise, but something happend. DOn't remember what.


LOL my DW is the planer to an extent but when it comes time to make any bookings I am teh one that takes care of all that I have made every reservation etc for our entire group for the cruise and chosen the resorts for each family for pre and post cruise stays. I laid it out and said here are your choices you pick some and I will make final decisions LOL. They also prefer it that way as it gives them nothing to do but wait till we go.

[PoohsPal]

Typically, it's all me. I was fried last year before our cruise, though, so dh tried to help me out. He arranged our last summer vacation too. It's really hard, though, when I'm not the one who has all the confirmaiton number and such. Bad me. :rolleyes:

[DSNY FN]

Typically, it's all me. I was fried last year before our cruise, though, so dh tried to help me out. He arranged our last summer vacation too. It's really hard, though, when I'm not the one who has all the confirmaiton number and such. Bad me. :rolleyes:


Ya I am like that to I like to have all the info in front of me I like to hold hte power LOL.

[PoohsPal]

Yes, there's a Control Freak thread in Transportation that could resemble me.

[DSNY FN]

LOL to funny. So did you find the seldome used deck on level 7 I heard there was a deck near the back of the ship with chairs etc that no one ever uses did anyone find this one?

[PoohsPal]

Although we had an unplanned at Sea day, we cused it to catch up on sleep. Did not venture much into uncharted territories. Then again, it was too cold to be on deck w/o a sweatshirt or sweater and jacket. No more February cruises for me!

[DSNY FN]

Although we had an unplanned at Sea day, we cused it to catch up on sleep. Did not venture much into uncharted territories. Then again, it was too cold to be on deck w/o a sweatshirt or sweater and jacket. No more February cruises for me!


LOL I have heard Dec has some rough seas also does anyone know if this is true or not? I know when we go out to the coast for quick day trips in Dec the water seems kinda rough but all we have to compare it to is the great lakes.