This will be a "tips" report...things I wish I knew/glad I knew/found out the hard way on our Magical cruise 1/26/02!
1. If you can't get the spa treatment you want when you want it, call back the next morning! I was sooooo hoping to do the Surial Bath, but it had to happen when the nursery was open. No luck embarkation day (booked Cabana Massage instead). Called Sunday morning, and voila, SURIAL BATH!! Cancelled Cabana Massage (sure I made someone's day!)
2. At lunch, skip the regular buffet line and go straight to the "made to order" station! YUM!
3. Take your own sodas, beer, and wine! We did and it was Terrific! We stopped at the Publix courtesy of Happy Limo (they were unfamiliar with the Publix, but were more than happy to stop there for us!) We had packed a duffel bag in our luggage, pulled it out, put the sodas and beer in it, and "checked" it when we arrived at the Port!
We also had a very small (6 can) soft-sided cooler that we filled with ice-filled PLASTIC bags and took to the lounge chairs and to St. John with us.
4. If you can spare the sink, have your Cabin Steward (Clifford was amazing!) keep one of your sinks full of ice to cool your drinks before you put them in the beverage cooler.
5. Take a CLOCK! Boy did I wish we had a clock for the room! I didn't even have a watch!
6. If you have a baby, ours is 8 months old, take your stroller! She lived in it and everyone was happy! We have the car seat/stroller combination with a complete sun shade. On the sun deck, we took a few towels, attached them to the top of the stroller with those baby links and she was well-protected! Perfect for her nap, we could stay in the sun!!
7. Palos----don't eat there on your first night (you might be disappointed in the regular restaurants) or your last night (in case you get sick!)
8. Order the "All Hands on Deck" cheese and crackers plate from room service the FIRST day! And every day there after like I did!!!
9. Have you cabin steward store your luggage!
10. If you have kids but want a "quiet" sun deck space, go to the deck right above the Quiet Cove pool near the sports deck (basketball courts, etc)
11. Buy the Motorola walkie-talkie things! I about had a heart attack when DH came home with them from Sam's Club, but they were a lifesaver! (Of course, DH now wants to use them EVERYWHERE...the grocery store, etc!)
12. Take Ziploc bags!!
13. If there is a line, take a stroll along the deck for 5 minutes! There would be a line to get into the dining room, I don't understand this! The only line we waited in was to get off the ship on CC to get a hammock and umbrella! That was worth the wait! Make sure you WALK to the beach, do not take the tram if you want a hammock.
14. If you are with another adult and you only want 1 drink, be very clear about this! (This doesn't work when they are 2 for 1 though!
15. Relax and have a GREAT time!
Bryan Susan and Grace
1. If you can't get the spa treatment you want when you want it, call back the next morning! I was sooooo hoping to do the Surial Bath, but it had to happen when the nursery was open. No luck embarkation day (booked Cabana Massage instead). Called Sunday morning, and voila, SURIAL BATH!! Cancelled Cabana Massage (sure I made someone's day!)
2. At lunch, skip the regular buffet line and go straight to the "made to order" station! YUM!
3. Take your own sodas, beer, and wine! We did and it was Terrific! We stopped at the Publix courtesy of Happy Limo (they were unfamiliar with the Publix, but were more than happy to stop there for us!) We had packed a duffel bag in our luggage, pulled it out, put the sodas and beer in it, and "checked" it when we arrived at the Port!
We also had a very small (6 can) soft-sided cooler that we filled with ice-filled PLASTIC bags and took to the lounge chairs and to St. John with us.
4. If you can spare the sink, have your Cabin Steward (Clifford was amazing!) keep one of your sinks full of ice to cool your drinks before you put them in the beverage cooler.
5. Take a CLOCK! Boy did I wish we had a clock for the room! I didn't even have a watch!
6. If you have a baby, ours is 8 months old, take your stroller! She lived in it and everyone was happy! We have the car seat/stroller combination with a complete sun shade. On the sun deck, we took a few towels, attached them to the top of the stroller with those baby links and she was well-protected! Perfect for her nap, we could stay in the sun!!
7. Palos----don't eat there on your first night (you might be disappointed in the regular restaurants) or your last night (in case you get sick!)
8. Order the "All Hands on Deck" cheese and crackers plate from room service the FIRST day! And every day there after like I did!!!
9. Have you cabin steward store your luggage!
10. If you have kids but want a "quiet" sun deck space, go to the deck right above the Quiet Cove pool near the sports deck (basketball courts, etc)
11. Buy the Motorola walkie-talkie things! I about had a heart attack when DH came home with them from Sam's Club, but they were a lifesaver! (Of course, DH now wants to use them EVERYWHERE...the grocery store, etc!)
12. Take Ziploc bags!!
13. If there is a line, take a stroll along the deck for 5 minutes! There would be a line to get into the dining room, I don't understand this! The only line we waited in was to get off the ship on CC to get a hammock and umbrella! That was worth the wait! Make sure you WALK to the beach, do not take the tram if you want a hammock.
14. If you are with another adult and you only want 1 drink, be very clear about this! (This doesn't work when they are 2 for 1 though!
15. Relax and have a GREAT time!
Bryan Susan and Grace
