ONBOARD LAUNDRY, DRY CLEANING, PRESSING & SELF LAUNDRY: DCL offers several options when it comes to laundry.
Guest self-laundry facilities are available on the ship (I believe on decks 2, 6 & 7). Cost was $2 for a load of laundry (washer
or dryer). Some guests have mentioned having to use the dryer for 2 cycles (room charge, use your KTTW card). Laundry detergent and fabric softener are available for purchase within the guest laundry (room charge, use your KTTW card).
Dry Cleaning (via your stateroom host(ess): Approximate pricing as follows: Ties $2, 2-pc Suits $7, 3-pc Suits $9, Shirts $3.50, Coats $7, Clouses / Sweaters $4, Pants $4.25, Jackets / Skirts $4.50, Evening Dress $8
(PRESSING ONLY is about half of the posted price)
Laundry (via your stateroom host(ess): Approximate pricing as follows: Socks $1, Undershorts / Undershorts / Bras $1.25, Shorts / Short Pants / Sport Shirts / Polo Shirts $2.50, Shirts / Slips / Nightgowns $3, Blouses / Pants / Skirts $3.50, PJ's $4.
ONBOARD BEER OFFER:
DCL offers a tall, 22 oz. glass DCL-branded beer mug, available for purchase ($14.95), which can be pre-purchased online (DCL Amenities and Gifts, BEV BEER MUG PK, $14.95), or at any onboard bar. With this mug, you can get a 22 oz refill of beer, for the price of 16 oz. You do not have to carry an empty mug around with you everywhere you go! Take advantage of the
beer mug token, which allows you to turn in your empty mug (you get a token). When you want another beer, redeem your token at any onboard bar for a fresh mug - pay ONLY for 16 oz of beer - but get 22 ounces in a DCL-branded beer mug. The mug is yours to keep for your return trip home.
COVE CAFE - specialty coffee offer:
Cove Cafe, located Deck 9/forward (adults only) sells speciality coffee drinks. When you make a purchase, ask for a COVE CAFE card. For each drink you purchase, you get one stamp on your card. When you receive your fifth stamp, you can redeem the card for a complimentary Cove Cafe drink of your choice.
***This card does not currently have an expiration date! If you do not get five stamps on a cruise, simply bring it back on your next DCL cruise, and continue where you left off!
Scheduled DCL Events and Dress Codes:
*Nights 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14:
CRUISE CASUAL
*Nights 3 & 8:
FORMAL NIGHT - Men: tuxedo/suit or shirt & tie suggested; Women: gown/dress or pant suit suggested
*Night 9:
PIRATE NIGHT with Deck Party - cruise casual or bring your best pirate outfit!
*Night 13:
SEMI-FORMAL NIGHT - Men: suit/jacket, or shirt & tie suggested; Women: dress or pantsuit suggested
SHIPPING TO PORT CANAVERAL: Make your travel plans easier ... ship your FE supplies, overweight luggage or jealous stowaways for delivery to your stateroom! Package your shipment for delivery via UPS or Fed Ex (USPS is also an option, but keep delivery date options in mind). Address the shipment to:
DCL Warehouse, 8633 Transport Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832. You will be required to indicate the following information on the
outside of the box ... YOUR NAME AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR CRUISE RESERVATION, CRUISE SHIP NAME, STATEROOM NUMBER, EMBARKATION DATE, as well as a Packing slip. I believe there is another requirement, should you be shiupping prescription drugs. Telephone number for contact / questions: 407-566-8196.
ENGLISH TO SPANISH TRANSLATION:
thief - el Ladrone
change (verb) - cambiar
police - policia
public toilet - el cuarto de banyo
water - agua
drink (noun) - bebida (any liquid)
liquor - copa trago
small beer - cerveza floja
strong beer - cerveza fuerte
pale beer - cervesa Blanca
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY REMINDER:
You've booked the cruise, airfare, hotel, and excursions. You packed your luggage, arranged transfers to / from the airport, put a hold on the newspaper, arranged for a pet-sitter, and you're on your way to the airport, or are driving to Port Canaveral. You're soooo excited, you know exactly what you will do the moment you step onboard the ship.
You've entered the terminal, and are crossing the gang-way when your name is announced as you board the ship. You whip out the camera to get a few family shots in the atrium ...
THAT'S when you realize ...
your battery is DEAD!
Take a few days NOW, to charge
all batteries for your digital camera and/or camcorder. In order to properly check quality and life of the batteries, make sure you take "practice" photos and/or video over a few days time. If your electronics die prematurely, make sure you get the batteries replaced ASAP, as SOME batteries may not be readily available at your local retailer. At the same time,
make sure you have enough blank tape, memory or media for you camera or camcorder. Don't wait to check your equipment one week before the cruise!
TRAVEL SECURITY:
We picked up a two PacSafe "CarrySafe 100" anti-theft camera straps ... one to attach to the SLR camera, and another to attach to the camera case itself. We also picked up a small PacSafe travel bag (similar size to a fanny pack) for small digital camera, cell phones (etc) as well as a thin, hidden pouch to be worn about the neck ... for storage of cash, credit cards and Passports. PacSafe products feature SLASH-PROOF protection, making it virtually impossible for a thief to grab and slash (grab something from your arm - then slash the strap with a razor). We picked up ours as REI (REI.com) ... but they are also available at AAA and most sporting goods stores.
Luggage: Remember to attach a TSA lock to EACH piece of luggage (even your carry-on, when possible) prior to boarding your flight to MCO. A TSA lock is generally a small, dual-use, combination pad lock with a specially numbered pass-key ... which is attached to luggage (by the traveler). The traveler is the only party with the combination to the lock. However, there is a separate spot on the lock for the TSA to use a special pass-key (available only to the TSA), so they can bypass your combination, to open the lock, without damaging the lock or your luggage. Though most lock are about the same, they can range from $4.95 to $12.95, depending on where you purchase the lock. Packaging will identify the lock as a TSA lock in writing (probably bold print), as well as a logo with a white cross, on a red background. Available at AAA, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, REI (etc.) ... even the luggage department in your favorite department store.
DCL SUGGESTED TIPPING RATES: (14 days, per person)
Dining Room Server - $56
Dining Room Asst. Server - $42
Dining Room Head Server - $14
Stateroom Host/Hostess - $56
Total - $168 per person (14 days)
(Dining Manager -
Your Discretion )
(Room Service -
Your Discretion)
*** If you would like to make sure you have enough money to cover your gratuities, some have suggested calling DCL, to PAY FOR A SHIPBOARD CREDIT, in advance of sailing. You give your credit card number to DCL, and they will charge your card (when you call). Think of it as pre-paying for all (or portion) of excursions, spa services, gratuities, onboard shopping, alcohol (etc).
DCL INTERNET SERVICES:
$0.75 USD per minute pay as you go
$55 USD for 100 minute plan ($0.55 per minute)
$100 USD for 250 minute plan ($0.40 per minute)
$150 USD for 500 minute plan ($0.30 per minute)
*** You can select a "plan" when you initially sign-on when you first use the computer. Any un-used minutes WILL NOT be refunded.
DCL INTERNET PRINTING CHARGES: $0.25 USD per page
ONBOARD INTERNET LOCATIONS: Promenade Lounge, Cove Café, Aloft/The Stack
ONBOARD WIRELESS INTERNET LOCATIONS: Sessions, Rockin’ Bar D, Promenade Lounge, Studio Sea, Cove Café, Open Decks (9 & 10), Atrium (Decks 3, 4 and 5 Mid-Ship)
PRIVATE MESSAGING on DISboards:
DISboards offers its subscribers the ability to send
PRIVATE MESSAGES to other DISboard users (DISer's), provided you have posted
AT LEAST 10 messages. If you have posted less than 10 messages, feel free to post a few messages in succession ... with each containing tidbits about you and your travel party ... another with your past history of cruising (DCL or otherwise) ... past history at WDW or
DisneyLand ... tell us what you are looking forward to doing most ... and don't forget to ask that question you've always wanted to ask, but didn't know where to go for the best answer.
LINKING DINING RESERVATIONS - steps for sitting at the same dinner table:
1) Make sure you have the same dinner seating as your intended guest (both are first, or both are second seating ... otherwise, you will need to make this change as well).
2) You will need to link reservations together. To do so, for security purposes, you will need to know the name, date of birth, and DCL reservation number of the party with which you would like to join. It is suggested you share this information via PM or private e-mail ... please do NOT share this information on the public boards.
3) As a sample scenarion, DISer "A" has reservation #1234. DISer "B" wants to join DISer "A". DISer "B" calls DCL (or their T/A - whichever has the booking). DISer "B" provides DCL or T/A with required information for DISer "A", as noted in #2.
4) If DISer "C" would like to dine with "A" or "B" ... simply repeat steps #1 and #2 - using #3 as a sample.
Remember to discuss (amongst yourselves) if anyone has a preference for a specific server, perhaps from a previous sailing. Please make sure DCL or your T/A makes a notation of this information when changes are being made. Each server has guests in the first seating, as well as the second seating. Enjoy!