Karin1984
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2012
I booked yesterday my first cruise! I’m so excited! In 2017 I finalized my wish list to see all Disney castles, so the 4 cruise ships are next! Cruising has been on my bucket list for a long time, and now it will happen! End of January, on the Magic to the Bahamas, 4 nights. Which should be just long enough to figure out if I even like cruising. If I do, Transatlantic or Panama Canal, here I come!
Somehow, with cruising I have a feeling that it’s like a secret society where you have to be ‘in the know’, to know all the secrets. So looking for tips and tricks for first time cruisers!
Okay, who am I: European female solo traveler in her 30s, love for theater/Disney/storytelling/history, don’t drink alcohol, no kids, no beach person.
Cruise is booked (OGT), I got my flight, flying in from Amsterdam 2 days before departure, and all is left is a hotel in Miami.
Before & after cruise:
- Any recommendations for hotels (Thinking about Holiday Inn near the port) and activities in Miami?
I won’t have a car, I plan on a taxi or an Uber to the ship.
- My flight out of Miami back to Amsterdam is at 4pm, so plenty of time to do something in Miami on the departure day, any suggestions where I could store my (carry on) luggage?
During the cruise:
- PAT, I don't know anything about boarding groups, never cruised before, so I won’t be the first allowed on board. Any reason why I still should select an early PAT? All options between 12:00 and 3:30pm are still available; I selected 12:00-12:30pm for now.
- Silly question maybe, but for breakfast & lunch, the restaurants in the rotation aren’t open? Everyone goes to Cabana’s? That’s what I get from the trip reports.
- Tips: I come from a non-tipping culture, but I’ll adjust I have read the recommendations and I’m in doubt about paying in advance or not. I normally do not carry cash anymore. I take it there are ATMs on board?
- I love musical theater and I saw the stage show of Tangled on Youtube, I’ve got the music on my phone, and there are of course two shows. Is it allowed / possible to see the same show twice?
- In My Cruise Reservations I can make reservations for the stuff like the princess gathering, BBB, tastings etc. but there is a lot more offered.
If I want to do a guided tour of the ship, or a yoga class, etc. it’s not possible to register online, this happens only on the ship? And it’s only published which activities are when, when I am on board?
I have downloaded the app, and I know where to find previous navigators so I have a global idea of what is offered.
- Any suggestions for activities, on board or in the ports (Castaway Cay & Nassau)?
Only thing I really want to do is the Castaway Cay 5k, and to do a tour of the ship.
Spa treatments are much cheaper where I live, so I’ll skip the spa, but I understood you could also use the sauna in the dressing rooms in the sports area for free?
I think those are my questions now Thank you all for helping out!
Somehow, with cruising I have a feeling that it’s like a secret society where you have to be ‘in the know’, to know all the secrets. So looking for tips and tricks for first time cruisers!
Okay, who am I: European female solo traveler in her 30s, love for theater/Disney/storytelling/history, don’t drink alcohol, no kids, no beach person.
Cruise is booked (OGT), I got my flight, flying in from Amsterdam 2 days before departure, and all is left is a hotel in Miami.
Before & after cruise:
- Any recommendations for hotels (Thinking about Holiday Inn near the port) and activities in Miami?
I won’t have a car, I plan on a taxi or an Uber to the ship.
- My flight out of Miami back to Amsterdam is at 4pm, so plenty of time to do something in Miami on the departure day, any suggestions where I could store my (carry on) luggage?
During the cruise:
- PAT, I don't know anything about boarding groups, never cruised before, so I won’t be the first allowed on board. Any reason why I still should select an early PAT? All options between 12:00 and 3:30pm are still available; I selected 12:00-12:30pm for now.
- Silly question maybe, but for breakfast & lunch, the restaurants in the rotation aren’t open? Everyone goes to Cabana’s? That’s what I get from the trip reports.
- Tips: I come from a non-tipping culture, but I’ll adjust I have read the recommendations and I’m in doubt about paying in advance or not. I normally do not carry cash anymore. I take it there are ATMs on board?
- I love musical theater and I saw the stage show of Tangled on Youtube, I’ve got the music on my phone, and there are of course two shows. Is it allowed / possible to see the same show twice?
- In My Cruise Reservations I can make reservations for the stuff like the princess gathering, BBB, tastings etc. but there is a lot more offered.
If I want to do a guided tour of the ship, or a yoga class, etc. it’s not possible to register online, this happens only on the ship? And it’s only published which activities are when, when I am on board?
I have downloaded the app, and I know where to find previous navigators so I have a global idea of what is offered.
- Any suggestions for activities, on board or in the ports (Castaway Cay & Nassau)?
Only thing I really want to do is the Castaway Cay 5k, and to do a tour of the ship.
Spa treatments are much cheaper where I live, so I’ll skip the spa, but I understood you could also use the sauna in the dressing rooms in the sports area for free?
I think those are my questions now Thank you all for helping out!