A Crew Members Guide to your First Disney Cruise! | Hints and Tips | Disney Cruise Line

[@kirrieholden4794]

Just found this channel and I have to agree with the advise Harriet gives. Do everything you can online prior to Embarkation Day. You're paying for that day. Maximize your trip by not spending time in what are truly VERY LONG LINES. I've been on the Fantasy (first cruise) and the Dream. Even though there are maps of the ship by every elevator/staircase, we got turned around/lost a lot on that first cruise. For the second cruise I ordered location cards from Etsy. The cards are custom for each ship and tell you what is located on each deck and roughly where. They are about the same size as your Key to the World card so they fit in your lanyard pouch. The ones I purchased came with a hole punched in them so we just clipped them on to our lanyards for easier access. These really helped us keep our bearings and I wish I had used them for our first cruise. Also, they came in a pack of 10 (we only needed two), so my son "pixie-dusted" the remaining cards on Embarkation Day. He loved going up to other kids and surprising them! On that same note, as someone who has done fish extenders on one trip and just pixie dust on another, I found pixie dusting to be much less stressful. The packing alone was less stressful. You're going to love your Disney cruise!

[@perksofharriet]

aw thank you! you've given such good advice for first time cruisers there!

[@renise011]

I just ordered a few of those cards for our trip on the Dream and the fantasy this summer! Had no idea these existed! Cheers to hopefully not being lost 😂

[@snehalreddy351]

this was the most useful info i found so far, first timer here thank you

[@tubetop123]

Excellent info!! Cant wait for our next DCL trip!

[@laurawinn9583]

Thank you for these helpful tips! I am going on my 1st disney cruise in Dec on the Disney fantasy I’m soo excited!!

[@perksofharriet]

Yay that’s so exciting! She was my home ship and she’s beautiful! Let me know if you have any questions about the fantasy!

[@brookemcginty3898]

Thank you for this video! Super helpful! Will be looking for more :-)

[@perksofharriet]

aww thank you so much for the kind words! is there anything in particular you'd want me to cover in a video at some point?

[@angelapolly1]

They have cooking classes?? How fun!!!

[@flipthecoin888]

I love the tip about the ice cream sandwich YUM I like the bit about paying before debarking do you have to do that only for cash? I thought we need to leave card info

[@martinamanto4520]

I'm so excited to be apart of DCL . Right know I don't have a departure date because I'm finishing all the medical and visa stuff. I'm going to be a beverage server wish me luck 🍀

[@perksofharriet]

Omg congrats! That’s amazing! I’m sure you’ll have the most amazing time, good luck and Bon voyage ⚓️🚢

[@gladnessmdhluli342]

I'm done with my medicals just waiting for visa documents so I can also go do my visa im dining room server

[@JulieWallis1963]

@@gladnessmdhluli342 do you know which ship you’ll be on?

[@gladnessmdhluli342]

@@JulieWallis1963 yes I will be on fantasy on Saturday for the first time

[@jeroendendunnen]

Hi Harriet, Thank you for the helpful insights ;) We’re going on a cruise in 2023 with the Dream to the nordics from Copenhagen. It will be our daughter here first cruise and she’s very much looking forward to it, especially the kids deck. Can you share some information/insights how it will be for here as a native dutch speaker and not having any english training ) she will be 7, almost 8 years old at the moment of embarkation. Would be great to know, I’ve there is anything that we can do to let here have a great magical experience ;) Thanks and keep the vids coming!

[@perksofharriet]

Hi there, thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you've found my video helpful. Omg that sounds so exciting, I've been eyeing up that cruise myself haha. There are hundreds of nationalities on board and some of them may well also be Dutch speakers so just let them know when you register her for kids club that English isn't her native language and if at the time there isn't anyone available who can speak Dutch they will 100% ask around the ship to find someone who can to help her feel more comfortable! Enjoy your cruise!

[@brownxblonde]

Another kids club question here: I recently called the disney cruise line (twice!) and both castmembers stated that kids club offers lunch and dinner on the Fantasy, although facebook cruise group members are adamant that they don't!! Also, I'm getting conflicting information on whether or not children can go to kids club while adults go for a shore excursion. If you could speak to either of these, that would be so helpful!

[@perksofharriet]

They've always offered lunch and dinner across the whole fleet so unless that's changed recently I'm not sure what the facebook groups are talking about? And you absolutely can leave the children with kids club while you go ashore for excursions! Most excursions aren't suitable for children under a certain age and they don't allow you to bring them along so they have to have the kids club open for that exact reason, they wouldn't want the grown ups missing out so they let the kids stay in the safe and capable hands of the youth activities counselors! Hope that's helpful in some way and I'm sorry that other people have misinformed you or been unreliable on the facebook groups.

[@MegaFclef]

From January of 2022 through January of 2023, My family have been on 5 separate disney cruises, 2 on the Magic and 3 on the Dream, My 9yo daughter and 6yo son love Oceaneers Club but we always had to pick them up from the Disney kids club for lunch and dinner, not because of allergies but as far as we have understood food was not provided . Still we love Disney Cruises and are very grateful to the cast members the keep the Magic flowing.

[@dznrocks6605]

Are you able to rent a small fan on the ship? I like having one because it helps me sleep better. I don't want carry one with me.

[@MegaFclef]

We use usb rechargeable fans (the kind that are used for baby strollers) they are small enough to pack easy, just get the ones that can stand on their own and they provide plenty of airflow. These are a must for us as we get stuffy easy, we place them open the night stand so its really close but still quiet. I am pretty sure plug in electrical fans are not allowed.

[@kellieatkinson9706]

Despite all the videos I’ve watched about Disney cruises, there isn’t much info on what to expect from the Oceaneers Club/lab, so you’re the PERFECT person to ask my questions to! Do they get fed while they’re in the kid’s club? I’m wondering because my husband and I are going to brunch at Palo’s and don’t know whether we need to get her breakfast before we drop her off or if she’ll get something there. Also, how does it work for the kid’s club on Castaway Cay?

[@perksofharriet]

Aww thank you for saying that, I'm so glad you found my information helpful! In answer to your question most of the time no, the kids aren't fed up at kids club, especially if they enjoy participating in the activities on offer or they've made friends that they want to hang out with! They don't provide breakfast for the kids in the mornings, so I would say that getting them something to eat before you head to Palo is a great idea to keep them going until you come get them again or until kids club start serving lunch at around 12/12:30Pm. And Castaway Cay works in exactly the same way that the kids clubs on the ship do, you bring the kids to the front desk area, they get checked in and hang out until you guys come and pick them up and get checked out again. The only thing to keep in mind though is the wifi can be a bit spotty on Castaway Cay so be sure to check your phones often in case someone has been trying to contact you from kids club. I hope that's answered your questions! Let me know if you have any more ! :)

[@jaynekranc8607]

Going to Alaska at the end of August. No kids, though.

[@perksofharriet]

Enjoy! Those cruises always look so incredible!

[@MissKkidsfun-kid5b00k5]

Hello, I’m working on Wonder next month. I was just wondering if you got a specific SIM card for your phone when travelling?

[@perksofharriet]

Hi there! That’s so exciting that you’re joining the wonder! Congrats! For me my phone provider had a plan add on that allowed me to use my phone data like I was in the uk so when I was in range of US territories, Mexico, Puerto Rico etc it worked then. I think people bought US SIM cards to us while they were over in the states but I’m not sure about if they were travelling to other parts of the world. Sorry I couldn’t be more help there!

[@darlenelibbi7644]

I saw on vlog that Navigator wasn't showing itinerary. Should we go straight to guest services if that happens on our cruise?

[@margaretkoenig2906]

Hopefully you’re still reading comments for this video! 🤞🏼 I have been wanting to ask a cast member: what are the best pixie dust items to hand out? I want to give something inexpensive that is not going to be thrown in the trash. I was thinking clothes pin magnets with something written on it like, “you’re the best” or thanks for making it magical”. Should I just not give anything?

[@perksofharriet]

That would be so sweet! Anything maybe tiny would be cool actually because the walls on the shops are obviously magnetic so they could put them up in the cabins. Anything really that would make them feel like the long hours are worth it and just to be shown a little bit of appreciation back! Thanks for thinking of the crew members and for wanting to do something special for them!

[@margaretkoenig2906]

@@perksofharriet thank you so much for your reply!

[@victormaldonado2941]

Do servers prefer tips in cash or electronic tips?

[@jenniferh189]

I just wanted to make sure I understood your comment: you can order not only from the room service menu but from the "sit down" restaurant you were assigned to...to be delivered to your room? Was that right?

[@perksofharriet]

Yes that’s right!

[@jenniferh189]

@@perksofharriet that's an incredible deal! Thanks for sharing

[@livingthemamalife8682]

@@perksofharriet only true for Concierge level. Everyone else have a limited menu.

[@perksofharriet]

@@livingthemamalife8682 oh my bad, I must have been misinformed!

[@ashleythomas1425]

This will be the first year I think my kids are old enough to check themselves in and out of the club. Can I tell them to just let a cast member call me on the wave phone so I know they left and they still head to the room for me to meet them? Trying to figure out how to keep in touch with the kids on the boat

[@perksofharriet]

Hi there! Just make sure you’re child has one of the wave phones from the room with them and you can contact them that way. There is I think still a in app messaging feature on the navigator app that you can use! Just make sure to keep refreshing it so it regularly updates the messaging feature so you don’t miss messages! Hope that helps! And enjoy your cruise!

[@TheDisneylover71]

Hi former WDW CM curious to ask I know fridges aren’t in the crew member rooms but what if I needed a fridge for my insulin and other medical stuff? Am I not allowed to get hired there because I am a diabetic?

[@perksofharriet]

There are fridges in a crew cabin! So storing insulin wouldn’t be an issue!

[@lissetaceves213]

About registration for the kids area, is that done after we do the online check in as well?

[@perksofharriet]

I believe so yes, it may have changed post covid but when the kids check in for the first time the Youth Activities Counselor’s generally have to confirm they have the right info from the online registration you did

[@dangitscaleb]

My 4 years old is austistic so he is potty train for #1 but don’t like to do # 2 in toilet. So he will have to be in nursery? How much is it per hour? And how do I register?

[@perksofharriet]

When you get on board talk to the councelors at the front of kids club to see if they’ll be able to figure out a way for your 4 year old to be able to go in there. The cut off for the nursery is 3 years old unfortunately. They do have a family restroom usually that the kids/ their grown ups can go in together in the kids club if that would make your little one feel more comfortable using that with your help. I’m sure they’ll be able to come up with a solution for you all :)

[@xaprilmayjune9253]

Should tips for servers, housekeepers, etc. be in cash?

[@perksofharriet]

I believe that’s what most people do them in yes. People usually leave them in the room in an envelope at the end of the cruise from what I remember with the persons name on them

[@anthonymedeiros1962]

Outside of the included gratuities what is an expected amount to give servers and room attendants per day? Also should you give it each day or the last day of your cruise?

[@openminded5698]

She might respond to you. But from what I heard they say about 14.00 per family member in the room per day.

[@MegaFclef]

Prepaid gratuities are a great option and at the last night of sailing you are given a questionnaire sheet to fill out, and four green envelopes for the waitstaff and the cabin steward tips . We always go prepaid and its always based on how many days your cruise and I believe how many in your party. Outside of the prepaid we tip an extra cash amount and it varies on how well the service was from each castmember. During the first reopening sailings when the ships were sailing around 33% capacity we paid up to extra 120% on top of the prepaid amount do to the fact that these cast members get compensated on tips and with low capacity cruise they were working very hard for a 3rd of the usual precovid compensation.

[@jenniefowler4968]

Does Disney let people bring drinks on the cruise? I have been watching videos to get ready for my cruise and seen that some cruise lines let people bring their own soda, water or bottles of wine.

[@perksofharriet]

alcohol they take away from you unfortunately if you bring it on embark day or buy it in port but you can get it back at the end of your cruise on debark day. I would assume water and soda is ok although there's free unlimited hot and cold drinks machines on the ship so there's plenty to drink for sure!

[@jaynekranc8607]

You can carry on a six pack of beer or two bottles of wine in your carry on. I'm going in August.

[@MegaFclef]

DCL lets guests bring up to 2 750ml bottles of wine per adult. We have a travel case for four bottles, and have used it in four Disney cruises, we always bring 2 bottles of Champagne and 2 bottles of Red wine. We ask room service for glassware and have space in the stateroom fringe to place a Champagne bottle with the topper attached.

[@janetmyers3729]

Problem is. As a first thing me, not many activities are left for you.

[@peteconradjr.8605]

What the fuck kind of child carries around epinephrine???

[@perksofharriet]

Hi! Allergies are scary, you can never be too careful and you never know when you might need it hence why some children bring it with them to kids club and leave it at the front desk. Either that or they have their parents take care of it and they get called if they should ever need to have it administered. It's a perfectly normal thing to carry around and epi-pen whatever your age or your allergy just in case. It's unfortunate that at any age when you have an allergy that this is the case but better to be safe than sorry!