SOME BACKGROUND ON THE TRIP
About a year ago, I finally convinced DH to try a cruise. He was VERY SKEPTICAL, but he loves Disney and trusts their reputation for service...so he agreed. Plus, his brother in law told him how much he enjoyed it when they went the year before. They are a lot alike so DH started warming up to the idea. I basically had a year to plan. All summer long I bought clothes along the way so we'd have plenty for the trip. You cant buy shorts and flip flops in NC in January!
I did a lot of research and heard things like this...I did all these things and STRONGLY SUGGEST you do this too! I may think of more
but this is a good start.
TIPS FOR YOUR CRUISE
---bring your own cups for the soda station. Tervis tumblers with lids are great!
---You dont have to have a passport (as of Jan. 2014) to sail to the Bahamas but it is strongly recommended by
DCL
---If you order sodas from room service or the bar, there is a fee. You can order them for free at dinner and use the all you can drink soda fountain on deck 11. The lemonade with a splash of fruit juice is a great mixer for vodka or rum (just sayin
)
---you can bring alcohol onboard as long as it fits in your carry on. If you carry on has rollers, you are good to go!
---If you buy the drink of the day in a fancy glass, you will pay extra for the glass. It makes a cool souvenir
but after buying it
just have them refill it so you dont have to pay for it again. The drink of the day special is about $5.20 and the 18% is ALREDY included on the slip you sing. Just look and you will see it!
---Send your kids to the kids club (if that applies) and have brunch or dinner at Palo ($25 extra per person) or Remy ($75 extra per person). The tip WAS NOT already added here so be sure to add it,
---bring something like a photo matte to drop off at guest services for characters to sign (so you dont have to tote it with you when you go stand in line to visit with them)
---put plenty of $1 in your pocket to trip luggage porters, bus drivers, etc
---bring cash if you plan to shop at the straw market at Nassau
---know that time evaporates on a cruise ship
---pack a day bag with swimsuits because when you first get on the ship, it is not very busy and its a great time to ride ( Also sunscreen and a little pack of meds you might need
.Bonine or Dramamine
just in case)
---Call guest services ****in advance of the cruise**** and give them your credit card number or gift card numbers to save time so you dont have to do that once onboard
do anything you can to maximize your FUN TIME on the ship. Remember, time evaporates on a cruise ship!
---have lunch on the ship (We ate about 11:15 at Cabanas)
---if you follow a GLUTEN FREE diet, let the chef know and they will help you when ordering. They walked DH through the line at Cabanas and he had a wonderful meal. They also have gluten free waffles and donuts! Flos made gluten free pizza for him in under 8 minutes.
---as soon as you can, register your activities online and pick a boarding time as early as possible. We got onboard at 10:30 to get the most out of Day #1 since it was a short cruise.
---make sure your boarding documents are in a convenient place so you can get to them quickly and easily as you get on and off the boat
---bring some shoe hangers or organizers for your makeup / toiletries/etc
---if you go to the spa, take your "get ready stuff" (makeup, hair products) and get ready in their NICE and BIG bathroom! (not in the tiny time one in your state room)
---Consider parking somewhere other than the Disney parking lot. We parked at "Park Port Canaveral;" which was connected to the Radisson for half the Disney price. They had a free shuttle. It was very nice and convenient and we saved about $40.
---Get a hotel room somewhere close by the night before the cruise so you don't have any travel delays. DH paid for the trip in full before I had a chance to buy trip insurance so I was nervous about this. Once you pay in full, you cant add trip insurance
---make some magnets for your door to decorate it so you dont look like a newbie
---consider joining a "Fish Exchange" group. It was fun and we had a FB group that we all posted on before the trip. It was very fun
We had a meet and greet...more on this later in the report...[/FONT]