Whether it's your first cruise or your first Disney Cruise, part three of my Disney Cruise Line recap are my favorite tips I learned along the way.
Back in May my family and I embarked on our very first Disney Cruise and absolutely loved it! I learned a lot thru the experience so I thought it would be great to pass long the 'need to know' items for whenever you ready for your first magical adventure at sea.
Join your cruises Facebook page
Each Disney Cruise has a Facebook group created and ran by past cruisers and there are a lot of great resources in these groups. You can learn about reservation openings, ask questions and sign up for a Fish Extender.
A Fish Extender is a Disney Cruise exclusive activity where you are assigned to a group of rooms and exchange gifts by placing them in pouches hung outside the door. We opted to not participate but I did buy a magnet to decorate our door. People really go all our with the door decorations so come prepared and be sure to walk around and check them out!
Don't stress if you can't get a reservation
Disney opens up reservations and online check in based on your Castaway status or how many cruises you've been on. The more cruises, the higher your status and earlier you can book. As first time cruisers we were at the bottom of the list. When the reservations opened for us I wasn't able to get a few that I wanted but by checking back over the next few days I found some openings. This is another benefit of the Facebook group, people will often post when they are about to cancel something.
But even if you can't book ahead of time don't stress. You can always ask when you get on board and keep checking the app. Guests are always canceling reservations so openings usually pop up.
Get Magic Band +
This is optional but I thought well worth it. Each cruiser is given a Key to the World card which is placed outside their room on embarkation day. This card is used as the key to your stateroom, to make purchases and more. But you have the option to purchase a Magic Band + which can offer the same functions. I thought the band was so much easier since you can wear it and it's waterproof. No need for a lanyard or carrying around the card. Plus they are good for use at Walt Disney parks so if you have a parks visit in the future it's worth the investment.
Your children can also use their band to check in and out of the Oceaneer Club. If they do not have a Magic Band they will be given an Oceaneer Band to wear while they are in the club. However it must be returned upon disembarking or you will be charged for it.
Arrive the Day Before
This is probably the most important pre planning tip for any cruise! What if your flight is delayed? The ship will leave without you so you need to arrive the day before just in case. If you are sailing out of Port Canaveral you can even spend a day or two at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando beforehand to make the ultimate land and sea vacation.
Then be sure to book a flight home for after 1pm to give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and thru security. If you have a later flight, most ports or airports have the option for luggage storage so you can go explore without towing your bags.
Use Disney transportation to get to port
Whether you visit Disney before hand or not, I highly recommend using Disney's transportation. You can add this option right onto your reservation for pick up at your Disney resort or the airport. Her are two reasons why I loved it:
You don't need to worry about completing online check-in at midnight. Similar to reservations, your port arrival time is based on your Castaway status. So again, we would have been last with a likely later arrival time and I would have been up until midnight completing my check in. But because we had booked the Disney transport we were guaranteed an early boarding group regardless of when I completed the check in process.
They also pick up your luggage in your Disney resort hotel room and you don't see it again until it's in your stateroom! It's magical!
What to pack in your carry on bag
No matter how you arrive, your larger pieces of luggage will need to be checked so you can't carry them on board. It's similar to flying where you can carry on smaller pieces of luggage if you'd like. Any bags that you opt not to carry on you will not see until your stateroom is ready which will be later in the day. Our rooms were ready at 1:30pm but it's possible it may not come until after dinner so it's best to be prepared!
This means anything you will need between your luggage being taken and arriving in your room should be in your carry on. Medications, swimsuits, flip flops, sunscreen, hats, coverups and even pajamas and toiletries if you are having luggage picked up from your Disney resort should all be in your carry on. But most importantly, your passport and documents you need for boarding!
This also goes for debarkation. Checked luggage will be picked up at 10pm the night before. So don't pack in your checked bags anything you need in the morning like your toothbrush, medications, a change of clothes for the next day and again your immigration documents!
Bring your own alcohol
We thought it would be a hassle to bring our own so we bought it on board. Well it cost us $$$. They offer packages to buy beer and wine but it's at a premium. The restaurants may even still charge you a corkage fee. We were not charged at Palo but we were at Enchante.
To avoid this ask your stateroom attendant for a bottle opener and bring your own to save money. You are allowed 2 bottles of wine or 6 beers per person. This is at each port so disembark at Nassau for example and hit up one of the shops to bring back more if you've already run out. We will be doing this next time!
What to bring to Castaway:
While you can head back to the ship if you realize you forgot something, it's going to take some precious time. You only get around 8 hours on the island so it's a good idea to know what to pack for the day. Think of it as a beach day, what would you need?
Wear your swim gear down; suits, coverups, hats, sunglasses and flip flops. Then bring sunscreen and water shoes or snorkel gear if you have it.
Be sure to pack a beach bag. I have one that folds down and fits into a small pouch but it has pockets and can fit most of the items we need while not taking up a lot of space in my luggage.
Refillable water bottles, there are drink stations around the island to fill up on water and soda.
Extra battery, camera or Go Pro
We brought sneakers since we were renting bikes but it really wasn't necessary. I think we could have biked in water shoes or flip flops so unless you are doing the 5K I'd leave sneakers on the ship so they don't get sandy.
You can bring sand toys but they do sell some on the island.
Get up early and hit up the buffet on board before you head out. Everyone else will be doing the same things so just be mindful of the crowds.
It's not a bad idea to grab some fruit or a snack from the buffet before heading down for later. Lunch is at 3 places on the island and not until around 11am.
Towels are handed out once you leave the ship so I would grab at least 2 per person. You can't get them anywhere else on the island.
Don't overpack
I'm a chronic over packer and I did it again on the cruise! For clothes you really don't need much and the ships include a laundry room for an additional fee so you can always wash your items. Swim suits, clothes for dinner each night, swim cover ups and a few outfits to wear thru the day. An outfit for Pirate night, gym clothes or a nice outfit if you are enjoying an adult only meal are optional.
Buy the refillable popcorn bucket - first night
At the movie theater they offer a refillable popcorn bucket for purchase which you can keep. Refills are crazy cheap, $1.50!! If your kids like popcorn I'd buy the bucket night one then have it refilled each night before the shows and you can even use it at the movies and for games like Bingo. Plus the buckets are really cute and a great collectible!
Save the clear kids refillable cups
When your kids order drinks at dinner they come in these nice plastic cups with a lid and straw. The snack stand outside the theater, where you bought your popcorn bucket sells soda but you can get it for free on the pool deck! Save these cups and use them to fill up soda on the pool deck to bring down to the theater.
Melissa Lenox specializes in concierge vacation planning. I cater to those who don't have time to research and plan a vacation or those who just want some assistance along the way! Where to go, when to go, daily recommendations for your trip and even assistance while you are away so the entire process is seamless and stress free.
My specialties are theme parks, all inclusive resorts and ocean cruises. I am a Senior Travel Advisor with Coasters & Castles Travel and Blog Editor of Main Street to the World.
Follow me on my pages below or contact me at mlenox@travelcnc.com to plan your next adventure!
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