Kathamo

Hello! My friend is a first-time cruiser and trivia enthusiast. What type of trivia games can we expect on the Disney Wonder? Are they offered daily?

I've got a sort of impossible ask: Where can I enjoy a good quality tequila tasting in Puerto Vallarta at a venue that is kid-friendly? With food so the kids have something to do? A foodie-friendly restaurant with a tequila flight or food pairing and a knowledgeable server would be sufficient, or a tequila bar with tasting flights and food. We don't need a multi-hour educational experience. Bonus points if it's near the Macelón boardwalk.

We've got three adults and two 6-year-old boys. The boys are loud talkers but they know how to get through an hour or two by entertaining each other and coloring, etc.

Our in-port time is only 6 hours, so we want to do something chill, within a reasonable distance from port, that doesn't take too much time. So far we're thinking:

• A trip to the Butterfly Sanctuary Mariposario (2 hours including transportation?)
• Tequila tasting and lunch (1.5 hours?)
• Walk along the Macelón boardwalk (1 hour including transportation back to port?)

Any thoughts from experienced visitors?

Would love to know what's available on Allure!

On 6/18/2022 at 5:20 PM, BND said:

Others use it as an opportunity to teach them how to behave around others.

This! I have a five year old and I take this really seriously. How am I going to teach him to behave appropriately in a sophisticated environment if I never expose him to it? Seems like 30-45 minutes at a cruise happy hour is a perfect place to do that. We have also had success at multi-course restaurants if we bring some non-disruptive activities with us, like a coloring book. (He behaves well, or we leave.) Maybe I'll see some of you in the suite lounge next week on Allure of the Seas and you can tell me how I'm doing lol!

What are your favorite spots for Sail Away on Oasis Class ships? We'll be sailing on Allure of the Seas out of Galveston with an ocean view verandah. On other ships I have enjoyed the view from the aft bar, but Oasis Class ships don't seem to have one because of the Aqua Theater. We'll have some first time cruisers with us, and I want to make a good impression!

3 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

 

You just did

Admittedly I am threading the needle here a bit. I should have said that what “I” choose to wear is a sign of respect, because that’s my intent, and that clothing choices are often perceived as a sign of respect by others (also true).
 

I assume that most people who dress more casually than the guidelines don’t think about it that way and don’t intend to show disrespect, so I’m not going to judge them for it. In other words, I don’t hold others to the same standards as myself. 
 

Hope that clarifies. 

3 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Please explain.  Why do so many people pay attention to those OTHER than in their dining party? 

This has been the case in most human societies for centuries. I can’t explain it; it just is what it is. Maybe a sociologist will have more insight. 

Additional clarification:

I do enjoy dressing up a bit (emphasis on "a bit") and would not wear shorts to dinner in any setting outside my own home, so that's not a concern. One of my cruise companions asked if he really had to wear a suit on formal night, because he doesn't have any suits that fit him currently. Sounds like the answer is a resounding "no," so that's helpful. It also sounds like a collared shirt and pants, or a nice sundress for ladies, on formal night is not outside the norm.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but I do think that what you choose to wear is a sign of respect to others, especially in a fine dining environment (say what you will about the MDR, but at its best, the intent is for it to feel like fine dining). I know that not everyone feels that way, so I'm not going to judge others' choices, but I personally want to be respectful to those that may care.

I came to ask the same question! The official "dress code" on the Royal Caribbean website seems wildly out of step with what people are describing in these forums.

What I would like to know is: What should we wear to the MDR, to speciality restaurants, and on formal nights that would "fit in" with the general norm of dress? Because it sounds like almost nobody is following the cruise line suggestion of wearing sport coats on "smart casual" nights and tuxedos on formal night.

My goal is not to get away with the most casual attire possible because I don't like feeling under-dressed; I just want to know what most people actually wear that doesn't get side-eye from other guests and staff.

I’m not interested in characters, but I do have a small child and would like lots of photos of our cruise experience. Are there photographers wandering around taking candid or spontaneous shots, or are there just formal/scheduled photo ops?

Well not that I need to explain it to anybody, but maintaining my business requires that I at least check in once per day. An hour of emails should do it. I can’t just go totally MIA for a week. 

Has anyone tried truly working from a Disney ship? Frequent slack messages, emails, etc. I suppose Zoom audio calls are too much to ask?

Has anyone heard rumors of unlimited internet plans like on other cruise lines?

Hi all, long-time Disneyland passholder here (RIP), and I just booked my first Disney cruise. Do passengers wear Mickey and Minnie ears on board like we do at the parks?

Hello, my husband is interested in lap swimming in the new lap pools on Edge class. Are there designated lap swimming hours?

Reviving this thread to ask a question: I'm assuming that the Celebrity Suite can accommodate at least three people (me, my husband, and our small child), since most of their staterooms accommodate up to four. But where does the third person sleep? Does the sofa convert to a bed? Does anyone have a photo of that configuration?

@snoozecrooze Did I miss the patters from the rest of your trip? I'd love to get a glimpse of the last two days (Thurs/Fri) of this itinerary. Thanks!

On 12/26/2018 at 10:44 AM, jeph said:

 

I also noticed that a longtime family favorite, Lillet, a vermouth infused with a bit of orange flavor, is listed as an ingredient in one cocktail...I certainly hope they'd be willing to just make me a Lillet on the rocks with a twist of orange peel if I ask. 

I, too, was pleasantly surprised to see this!!!

Hi there, I'll be cruising with my two-year-old on the Royal Princess in April. The Princess website says that children younger than three can "explore" the kids' club with an adult (i.e., there is no drop-off childcare for kids younger than three, but they are allowed inside with a parent or other adult). My question is: Can children younger than three participate in the activities that may be going on in the kids club, under the supervision of their adult (me)? For example, a sample Kids Patter listed "Play-Doh Fun" as an activity. Another listed face painting. It would be frustrating for my son to see other kids participating in activities and not be able to join in (to the extent that they are age-appropriate).

I searched the Princess website and couldn't find any answers. Thanks!!

Can anyone recommend a children’s book to prepare a toddler for a cruise? Ideally something to get them used to the idea and get them excited. 

Hi, I know this is kind of an old thread. I need to participate in a 3-hour videoconference call in Puerto Vallarta in April, so I need a reliable and relatively secure wifi connection. Any suggestions?

I'm considering a day pass at a coworking office: https://vallartacowork.com/

11 minutes ago, kitkat343 said:

Also, please check the times Disney ships spend in port.  I have no firsthand experience, but met Disney passengers in Costa Maya who were pissed because their port times throughout their cruise were shorter than all the other cruise lines and they kept getting rushed through their private tours.

Thanks for the info. At my son's age, we probably won't get off the ship much anyway, so I'm less concerned about that. We cruise for the ship, not the itinerary.

Hi! Cross-posting from the Family Cruises forum.

My family of three needs a vacation! My husband and I are contemplating taking our 2-year-old on his first cruise, but only if we can find something with child care so that we can have time to relax and enjoy ourselves. My son has no chill, so the only way to really relax is if someone else is watching him for a time. He is outgoing and is not afraid of new environments and new people.

Is Disney the only cruise line that provides child care (paid or unpaid) for two year olds? Most cruise lines seem to offer kids' clubs for age 3+ only. We are in Southern California and prefer to sail out of a Southern California port so that we don't have to get on a plane; therefore, our options are limited. [edit: I have since been corrected that several other cruise lines offer this service, depending on the ship.]

My only concern with Disney is the quality of the food for adults - can anyone speak to that? My husband and I have taken three Celebrity cruises pre-child, which we loved, so if the Disney food is comparable we are fine with that. We also enjoy the nicer food offerings at Disneyland, as another data point.

Any other tips are appreciated. Thanks!

1 hour ago, kitkat343 said:

Carnival and cunard both have free drop off daycare at 2.   Most new or refurbished rcl ships, all disney ships and the Norwegian escape have fee nurseries for children under 3. 
 

we chose to sail cunard when my middle was 2 because we also needed care but their kids club staff on cunard was the weakest of all the lines we’ve sailed with kids (ncl, Hal, princess).

Very helpful - thanks!

Hi! My family of three needs a vacation! My husband and I are contemplating taking our 2-year-old on his first cruise, but only if we can find something with child care so that we can have time to relax and enjoy ourselves. My son has no chill, so the only way to really relax is if someone else is watching him for a time. He is outgoing and is not afraid of new environments and new people.

Is Disney the only cruise line that provides child care (paid or unpaid) for two year olds? Most cruise lines seem to offer kids' clubs for age 3+ only. We are in Southern California and prefer to sail out of a Southern California port so that we don't have to get on a plane; therefore, our options are limited. 

My only concern with Disney is the quality of the food for adults - can anyone speak to that? My husband and I have taken three Celebrity cruises pre-child, which we loved, so if the Disney food is comparable we are fine with that. We also enjoy the nicer food offerings at Disneyland, as another data point.

Any other tips are appreciated. Thanks!

It has been a while since I've sailed - I think it is well-established by now that jeans are permitted on "smart casual" nights; however, I am someone who is not comfortable wearing the minimum of what is permitted and would prefer to be in the median or a little on the formal side of the median. If my husband wears jeans with a collared shirt and a jacket in the MDR on a "smart casual" night, is he going to be one of the most casual people in the room (except for the odd outlier), or will he fit right in? I told him to pack khakis or slacks, but after browsing this thread for a while, it seems like jeans are perfectly OK (and he would prefer it, since apparently there is a shortage of khakis and slacks in our house at the moment).