Let's Cruise...

[mgsmom 9]

Sounds like staying on the ship is going to be in order! And I never thought about doing something like that at SeaWorld. Duh. The description of the transportation reminds me of getting around in Mexico, TCD :bugeyes: I remember one bus had so many holes in the floor, you could watch the ground fly by underneath it.

Dave! Glad you guys had a good trip! I better go see if you have a TR going... and glad to hear there was no sea sickness!

Green apples and crackers... never would have thought of that!

SO.... on that same line of thinking - the day we do Castaway Cay - I see they have paddleboats and such for rental. Has anyone ever done that?

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Sounds like staying on the ship is going to be in order! And I never thought about doing something like that at SeaWorld. Duh. The description of the transportation reminds me of getting around in Mexico, TCD :bugeyes: I remember one bus had so many holes in the floor, you could watch the ground fly by underneath it.

Dave! Glad you guys had a good trip! I better go see if you have a TR going... and glad to hear there was no sea sickness!

Green apples and crackers... never would have thought of that!

SO.... on that same line of thinking - the day we do Castaway Cay - I see they have paddleboats and such for rental. Has anyone ever done that?

We did not rent paddleboats. We did rent snorkel equipment, which I would definitely recommend! That was awesome. and if you have an underwater camera it is even more fun. We also rented some tubes for floating in the water. I wouldn't do that again. We didn't want to be floating on top of the water...we preferred being IN the water.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

SO.... on that same line of thinking - the day we do Castaway Cay - I see they have paddleboats and such for rental. Has anyone ever done that?

Are you insane?

Why would you rent a paddleboat?

Have you ever paddled a paddleboat?

It is not something a sane person would pay money to do.

Especially not at Castaway Cay.

They have a little roped off area for the rental boats. There is nothing to do or see in this little roped off area.

Save you money and use it at a bar.

You will thank me later.

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Are you insane?

Why would you rent a paddleboat?

Have you ever paddled a paddleboat?

It is not something a sane person would pay money to do.

Especially not at Castaway Cay.

They have a little roped off area for the rental boats. There is nothing to do or see in this little roped off area.

Save you money and use it at a bar.

You will thank me later.

TCD

can someone explain to me why they always rent them out for a small enclosed space? we rent one for the kids at Roman Nose State park for 30 min. It took us 10 to make the circle, 12 to be done with it, 15 to say to heck with it!

[mgsmom 9]

Snorkeling equipment sounds interesting... although DD will probably hijack my underwater camera... she's quite the photog lately.

And yes, TCD, I am insane. Well maybe just a little nutso will do it. I :heart: paddleboats, for some odd reason. Of course, I'm the crazy person who doesn't necessarily follow the rules on those things. But, if it's such a small space, perhaps there will be no room for tomfoolery. :rofl2:

Maybe we will stick to crab races and bicycles...

What's the deal with the 5K? Do they do that on every trip?

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Snorkeling equipment sounds interesting... although DD will probably hijack my underwater camera... she's quite the photog lately.

And yes, TCD, I am insane. Well maybe just a little nutso will do it. I :heart: paddleboats, for some odd reason. Of course, I'm the crazy person who doesn't necessarily follow the rules on those things. But, if it's such a small space, perhaps there will be no room for tomfoolery. :rofl2:

Maybe we will stick to crab races and bicycles...

What's the deal with the 5K? Do they do that on every trip?

Yes, I believe they do the 5k every stop at Castaway Cay.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Yes, I believe they do the 5k every stop at Castaway Cay.

True. At least for now anyway.

The 5K used to be a small event.

On our last cruise, though, they announced it as an activity during the first night's welcome show.

The way it works, if you're interested, is they designate a meeting place on the ship. If you want to do it, you report there. It is early-as they try to get the 5K participants off the ship first on Castaway Cay day. They then escort you off the ship and you run the 5K. Everyone gets a medal that says "winner." They also have t-shirts for sale. The t-shirts are for sale in the gift shop all day, and you don't have to prove you ran the 5K to buy one. On cruises where there are two stops at Castaway Cay, they have the 5K both days. There is no extra charge for the 5K or medal, but you have to pay for the t-shirt if you want one.

TCD

[mgsmom 9]

Thanks for the info - I may be interested in the 5K. DH is not as much a fan of running on sand, but I LOVE to run at the beach. And plus, a nice run will make plenty of room for a big breakfast.

Next question: Starboard or Aft?

Does it make a difference which side of the boat you are on? And the more important questions - which is which? I need to learn my ship terminology... :rofl2:

I just got my stateroom assignment in the mail and it appears we are midship not too far from some elevators. Nice. When you are standing on the ship facing the front, we are on the left side. What do you call that?

OH, I'm so excited! Only 8 million days left 'til our first cruise! :rofl3:

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Port and Starboard are left and right. The Bow is the front and Aft is the back. Thats all i got.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

How about the clothing to take? What type of clothes and how many for a three day cruise?

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

How about the clothing to take? What type of clothes and how many for a three day cruise?

I hope you are not asking me Nicki. I wontbe cruising for the first time till next summer. I just grew up next to the water and know some of the terms.

And as for clothing I only one enough for 1 week. regardless of where I am going.

[mgsmom 9]

Thanks for the edumacation, Jason. Although I won't seek wardrobe help from you, Nikki does have a good question.

Should I bring something specific? In addition to the swim suits, flip flips, and tank tops???

I saw that Dave and TCD both dressed for dinner at some point - is there a dress code or certain places to dress well for?

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Port and Starboard are left and right. The Bow is the front and Aft is the back. Thats all i got.

If you are standing at the back of the ship looking toward the front, the left side is port and the right side is starboard. The only way I can remember is that left and port are both 4-letter words.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

If you are standing at the back of the ship looking toward the front, the left side is port and the right side is starboard. The only way I can remember is that left and port are both 4-letter words.

That is how I remember as well. and all references on a boat are based looking forward...even if you are looking backwards.

[We4mickey 6]

The shorter cruises are more informal. Dress can be anything. We saw it all, dresses, shorts and everything in between. I way over packed and would lighten it up a lot if we ever go again.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

On the DCL Bahamas cruises, I prefer Starboard to Port. The main reason is that the ship usually backs in at CC- and the Starboard side gets the view of the beaches on the island, and the Port side gets the view of the dock. But, you aren't going to be in your cabin very long on CC day- so I wouldn't bother changing for this reason.

If you read the documentation DCL sends you- they make suggestions on how you should dress in the dining rooms each evening. One night it's cruise casual, the next it might be optional dress up night, the next it might be pirate night. The literature says no shorts for men or jeans in the dining rooms, but this is not enforced, and people wear what they want. I agree with Dave on this- it detracts from the specialness of the dinners when guests show up looking like slobs in the dining rooms, but a lot of them do.

There are special dress codes for the optional restaurants, Palo and Remy. Men are supposed to wear a shirt with a colar and a jacket.

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

TCD gave you good info above on the dinner dress suggestions. Note that I use the word "suggestion", as that is how DCL puts it out there (with the exception of Palo and Remy). For a 4 night Bahamas cruise, there are 2 "cruise casual" nights (no shorts, tanks, swimsuits), one dress up optional night, and pirate night. Don't worry about Pirate night unless you want to go all out. DCL provides bandanas for those who choose to wear them, and I brought an eye patch that I picked up at Walmart for $1. Some go all out, most do little. Do as much pirate as you like.

For the cruise casual nights, I made my girls wear dresses (sundresses, which they already own) and nicer sandals. No flip flops for us. Why? Because I wanted it to feel special for them...not just another dinner out. I wore dress pants and a collared shirt with short sleeves. Except on the dress up night I wore a shirt and tie and a jacket. Most men weren't dressed quite that nice, but again it made it feel more special I thought. And I wasn't the only man with a tie and jacket. And many had ties OR jackets. And a few had on tshirts. So I guess what I am saying is, do what you are comfortable with. You really can't go wrong; you will see it all and no one bats an eye.

Now, on the 7 night cruises I believe they do have a more formal dinner night. I don't know anything about that. But I wouldn't mind finding out someday.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

My predictikns-

My son will insist on wearing a tie. I be doing good to get dh in khakis and a polo shirt. Dd will go sundress and I have two skirts that would pass but maybe I will shop for a nicer dress....

Us gypsies don't have much use for formal attire

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

DCL has their official policy posted on their site. This also covers the longer cruises that Dave wondered about.

Here's a link: DCL Dinner Dress Code

Even though it says no shorts in the dining rooms, people wear them. A lot of people.

I was also surprised to see that it now says men just have to wear a shirt or jacket to Palo. The last time I went, which was a few years back you had to wear both. I don't think the jacket with no shirt is a good look, but apparently it's OK.

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

The jacket with no shirt depends on the body beneath....

[DaveInTN 3,247]

DCL has their official policy posted on their site. This also covers the longer cruises that Dave wondered about.

Here's a link: DCL Dinner Dress Code

Even though it says no shorts in the dining rooms, people wear them. A lot of people.

I was also surprised to see that it now says men just have to wear a shirt or jacket to Palo. The last time I went, which was a few years back you had to wear both. I don't think the jacket with no shirt is a good look, but apparently it's OK.

TCD

So pants are optional at Palo?

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

So pants are optional at Palo?

Just so long as underwear is mandatory

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

So pants are optional at Palo?

Just so long as underwear is mandatory

You have both raised interesting questions.

This is what it says men are supposed to wear at Palo:

Men: dress pants and shirt or jacket

There must be some punctuation missing in that sentence, but I think Dave is right- if you choose to wear a jacket it looks like no pants or shirt are required.

Nicki, I think underwear, shoes, socks, etc. are all optional.

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

You have both raised interesting questions.

This is what it says men are supposed to wear at Palo:

Men: dress pants and shirt or jacket

There must be some punctuation missing in that sentence, but I think Dave is right- if you choose to wear a jacket it looks like no pants or shirt are required.

Nicki, I think underwear, shoes, socks, etc. are all optional.

TCD

to quote KFK.... "Oh LAWDY"

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

i am going through the online check-in for our cruise. are you not allowed to arrive before you terminal time?