Best Cruising tips for first timers!

[Jeri Lynn]

HI Everyone,
Our girls trip this year is going to include a three night cruise on the Dream, followed by 5 nights at the AKL.

We are first time cruisers (middle aged women) and would appreciate any and all kinds of tips that experienced cruisers could offer!

And many thanks to Melissa at Magical Journey's, she always goes above and beyond with helping us plan and book our vacation!!

[BrerGnat]

Tips:

DON'T overplan. It's going to be a SHORT cruise. Spend time actually seeing the ship.

Get the earliest Port Arrival Time you can so you can get on the ship as early as possible.

DON'T waste time or money on spa treatments.

DO buy a one day pass for the Rainforest Room.

DON'T rush off the boat on Castatway Cay day. Stay on, ride the Aquaduck, enjoy the empty hot tubs, and then head off to the beach late morning. Go to the adult beach and eat lunch there and spend the afternoon relaxing.

DON'T get off at Nassau. Again, stay on the ship and enjoy the lower crowds onboard. You are paying a lot of money for these 2.5 days onboard this ship, so stay on the ship! Nassau=

Have brunch (not dinner) at Palo. That way, you will get to experience all three rotation restaurants AND Palo.

DO walk around and look at all the amazing Art on the walls of the ship. Use the stairs and admire the unique art at each landing.

DO visit the Champagne Bar. It's awesome!

DON'T count on good free coffee.

DO get coffee from Cove Cafe. It's really good!

DON'T eat breakfast in the dining room on the last morning. Sleep in and eat at the buffet instead.

[Jeri Lynn]

Thanks so much Natalie! I'm printing off all your suggestions and adding them to my folder!!

[Ed]

Have brunch (not dinner) at Palo. That way, you will get to experience all three rotation restaurants AND Palo.

One correction. The OP won't be able to do this. Palo Brunch is only available on 4-night and longer cruises, and is only served on "at sea" days.

We did the brunch on Valentine's Day on Fantasy last month, and it was absolutely fantastic! Wide variety of wonderful foods, excellent service, and great view out over the deep blue ocean.

[DizneyRox]

I agree with everyhing, EXCEPT I would eat in the dining room on your last morning.

The last day is a bear, you are expected to take all your earthly belongings with you when you leave your room, and I've never found there's enough room at the buffet. It's especailly hard trying to navigate the line while carrying your belongings and also trying not to get trampled by everyone else doing the same. Good luck finding a seat.

When we used the dining room, we had or regular server at our regular table and they found us a nice place to put our belongings.

[BrerGnat]

The last day is a bear, you are expected to take all your earthly belongings with you when you leave your room, and I've never found there's enough room at the buffet. It's especailly hard trying to navigate the line while carrying your belongings and also trying not to get trampled by everyone else doing the same. Good luck finding a seat.

That was totally not our experience at all on our 5 night Dream cruise last August.

We have two young kids, and we did early seating dinner, so our breakfast time was something like 6am. One of our sons is absolutely unmanageable if we wake him up at 5am (and would be ruined for the rest of the day as well due to crankiness). We opted to just do Cabanas for breakfast and said goodbye to our serving team at dinner the night before.

We got down to Cabanas around 8:30am, had a nice leisurely breakfast with PLENTY of spots available to sit (we chose to sit just outside the entrance doors) and experienced no sort of hassle, crowds, etc. We had our choice of table, sat the kids down along with our bags, and DH and I took turns going up to the buffet and bringing back food for ourselves and the kids. Easy peasy. We walked off the ship around 9:15. No one was rushing us at all. In fact, we probably had an easy time because most people ate way earlier than we did. We were in no hurry, were going to just drive to WDW and spend one more night onsite. Seems like most people were already off the ship by the time we left. They did ask that everyone disembark by 9:30, but we were well within that time frame.

I imagine if you don't have kids, the process would be that much easier.

[Tink1]

I will second the stay on the ship in Nassau.

I will add if you like Martini's do the Martini tasting. We girls had a blast!

Nanc

[Kenny1113]

Tips:




DON'T get off at Nassau. Again, stay on the ship and enjoy the lower crowds onboard. You are paying a lot of money for these 2.5 days onboard this ship, so stay on the ship! Nassau=

[Quadstriker]

Only reason to go ashore in Nassau is if you want to see the Atlantis Casino.

Wife and I are both in the gaming industry, so it was pretty much a must-see for us while there. The Casino and immediate little shopping district outside of it are very nice and worth seeing if you're into that sort of thing.

Other than that, though, forget about it!

Nat's tip list above is very good.

Rent a bike and take a bike ride on Castaway Cay, even if you haven't been on one in years! It was a nice relaxing way to see a bit of the island.

[Jeri Lynn]

Thanks so much!! I appreciate the tips!!!

[NJDad]

Make sure to go outside at sunset, sunrise too if you're up and traveling at a time of year when it's not too early.

We went to Castaway Cay early and did Nassau/Atlantis and still felt we did plenty of rides on the Aquaduck, but that's just me. In fact, it was a relief to be able to tear the younger kid who had to go with an adult each time away from the Aquaduck.

Atlantis was not as wonderful as it looks in their TV ads, but still the most fun I ever had at one of those water parks my kids love so much. Since Nana was treating it was a great day! Can't speak to the casino, but for families with kids it was neat. (Realize that's not the crowd in the original post, but typing this for the wider audience).

[DizneyRox]

That was totally not our experience at all on our 5 night Dream cruise last August.

This has been my experience on every cruise I've taken, Platinum Crown and Anchor member and Gold Castaway Club... Nobody does debarkation well, although Disney does handle it better than the others (I know others who see he same on Carnival, Princess, Costa, etc). I'm not sure there's a great way to get 4000 people through a set of double doors in two hours, but it's something they all need to work on.

Morning breakfast at the buffets has been a nightmare. This time well be going without a stroller, and minimal luggage, so maybe it will make a difference, but we are planning on doing our assigned seating for sure. Main seating, which is the early time.

[BrerGnat]

This has been my experience on every cruise I've taken, Platinum Crown and Anchor member and Gold Castaway Club... Nobody does debarkation well, although Disney does handle it better than the others (I know others who see he same on Carnival, Princess, Costa, etc). I'm not sure there's a great way to get 4000 people through a set of double doors in two hours, but it's something they all need to work on.

Morning breakfast at the buffets has been a nightmare. This time well be going without a stroller, and minimal luggage, so maybe it will make a difference, but we are planning on doing our assigned seating for sure. Main seating, which is the early time.

I've taken several other cruises as well, and you are right that it is usually madness on the last morning. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was on the Dream. Our ship was only about 60% full, according to CMs we spoke to at the kid's club, so maybe that was a large reason for it. We never experienced any long waits, crowds, etc. for the entire 5 day cruise. It was nice. I'd probably be singing a different tune if we were on a cruise that was 100% occupied.

[Jeri Lynn]

Could someone comment on using room service?

Are you charged for what you order via room service? Do you tip the person when they deliver your order or is that a tip that you would add at the end of the cruise?

Is it possible to order room service last morning before leaving the boat vs going to the buffet or restaurant?

[BrerGnat]

Room service is free, but there are certain items that cost extra (soda in cans, candy). You should tip a few dollars to the person who delivers. You cannot add this tip to your shipboard account. Bring cash if you think you'll use this service.

Room service breakfast is not available on the last morning. The most you can order is a pot of coffee.

[DizneyRox]

60% vs 100% could very well be a big reason.

I don't think i've ever not been on a full ship. Room Service is not available (at least to normal guests, maybe concierge can do it) they want you out of your room, not in your room.

[WhiteRose1]

We had second seating on a New York teaser cruise, on magic and found breakfast to be fast paced, but at least it was our last sit down meal in the disney setting. It was my nephew (14), dad, hubby and myself.

If you have second seating, it might be a better experience.

Go to the pool parties a bit early to get a good spot to sit or perch.

Someone commented that getting off the ships can be a pain.. We had no problems getting off the Magic. I have also been on princess and RC. The Coral Princess and Island were not bad, we just went to our designated spot and waited till we we were called and left. But agan, we have no kids, so it's just us.

I know it does not apply here, but RC was the best because we spent extra money (it was reasonable and we got food up till lunch - we wore wristbands to identify us to the crew) to stay on the ship till mid-afternoon. there were no lines and our luggage was waiting for us. They only let a small portion of people do it. We went to the pool, hottubs and explored the empty ship before the next passengers were allowed on. We showered and changed in the gym. In fact when we left they were just letting the next cruise passengers on. We got pictures of all the suites as the stewards were finishing them.

[Auroring Good Time]

We were on the Fantasy about a month ago. We had the buffet on the last day and actually found it less crowded than during the rest of the cruise. We finished eating and then, just walked off the ship. I've cruised on 3 other cruise lines and I have found the Disney debarkation process to be the most organized.

[BrerGnat]

We were on the Fantasy about a month ago. We had the buffet on the last day and actually found it less crowded than during the rest of the cruise. We finished eating and then, just walked off the ship. I've cruised on 3 other cruise lines and I have found the Disney debarkation process to be the most organized.

Yep. I honestly think people think they HAVE to eat breakfast in the dining room. There was no advertising that Cabanas would be open as well, but when I asked about it at dinner the last night, our server reluctantly said "yes, Cabanas will be serving breakfast." I think they want people at the dining rooms, so they make it seem like the only option.

[WhiteRose1]

I guess if you were really hungry...you could do both...have breakfast in the dining room and then have a buffet breakfast...it's a cruise..why not?