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Old 07-31-2007, 02:32 AM   #1
Tink'sMom
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Stressed over all the choices...

I'm feeling really stressed about all the choices aboard our 3 day cruise. It's only 3 days and I'm afraid I'm going to miss out on something. Should I do a spa treatment? Should we do Palo and ditch the kids for dinner or miss a show? And how do I know which night to book it? I don't want to miss out on Triton's or Animator's Palate, but I don't know which night we'll be scheduled for. What about shore excursions? I feel like there is too much. So, tell me, in your opinion what is not to be missed? I keep telling myself that we can always go again...

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Old 07-31-2007, 05:10 AM   #2
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Hi, Holly!

I remember well that stressed-out (in a good way!) feeling before the 3-day. Just face up to the fact that you WILL miss out on some things. There's just so much to choose from. I decided to skip Palo so that I could sample all three of the regular restaurants. I stayed on-board for the Nassau day and did a spa treatment (got completely hooked on the rainforest room and missed dinner at Lumiere's because I was sound asleep on the heated stone chair!) and lounged at a nearly-empty pool. At Castaway Cay I did the Stingray adventure (recommended) and the glass-bottomed boat (not recommended). I went to the DVC get-together and one of the pin-trading sessions, but did no other organized activities on board. Went to the shows every night and loved them.

I'm glad I didn't try to do more because I got to just enjoy the ship. I highlighted lots of activities I wanted to do in each night's Navigator, but never did any. By the end of the first day I knew I'd have to cruise with Disney again some day so I'd have another chance at all the fun.

Whatever choices you make you'll have a fabulous time!
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Old 07-31-2007, 02:04 PM   #3
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Keep stressing and you'll miss everything!!! Laurie posted some great advice above. I'd recommend skipping Palo's also and experiencing the others as a family, too. They are all so different and fun. I wouldn't miss any of the shows at night either - you'll all enjoy them. And yeah - the heated stone chairs - you've GOT to experience those at least once!!! Enjoy your trip - stress free!!!!
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Old 07-31-2007, 03:12 PM   #4
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I hear you so well - I remember thinking the same thing before we took the three night cruise. I can thoroughly recommend the Tropical Rainforest - the hot stone chairs are out of this world. I wouldn't miss any of the shows, they're all great and if you don't get a chance to do Palo, don't worry - there's always the next, longer cruise after all!
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Old 07-31-2007, 07:12 PM   #5
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Leave the stress at home and enjoy. No matter how much or little you do, you will have a great time. And, as everyone else has said, that's why you go again. We did the 4 day cruise and planned our days based on what looked appealing to us in the Navigator. I agree with the Rainforest Room. The spa treatments while nice are overpriced in my opinion so we didn't do any and that was fine. While Palo is probably very nice, we did the dinners as a family with the same thoughts as above, the dinning rooms are each different, the menus are a little different etc. The shows were great and as a family we really enjoyed Studio Sea. Enjoy!
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Old 08-01-2007, 12:41 AM   #6
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A three nighter is over before it begins, so it's definitely not the time to try to squeeze "everything" in. If you know for sure you don't want to spend much time ashore in Nassau, then you could consider a spa treatment for that day. You won't want to take time away from your time on Castaway Cay, and between meals and shows, your evenings will already be quite full. Save the spa treatment for a local day spa when you're at home (it's a great mini-vacation when you really need it). I'm with everyone else, don't worry about Palo. While Palo is a great experience, all three of the main dining rooms are also worth experiencing. If you think you're likely to cruise again, don't worry too much about enhancing the first experience - you'll have a better idea of what enhancements you may desire once you know what the "basic" experience delivers (and you can't call any DCL cruise "basic").
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Old 08-01-2007, 09:11 AM   #7
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stress

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Originally Posted by Dave Marx View Post
If you think you're likely to cruise again, don't worry too much about enhancing the first experience - you'll have a better idea of what enhancements you may desire once you know what the "basic" experience delivers (and you can't call any DCL cruise "basic").

How true!!
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Old 08-01-2007, 08:47 PM   #8
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Yeah, save something for the next half dozen trips, especially the transatlantic followed by the Med.
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Old 08-03-2007, 05:49 PM   #9
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If you've never been, then I wouldn't worry about all this extra stuff. Just go and enjoy being on the ship and seeing what there is to offer so you can add something new for the next time.
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Old 08-11-2007, 06:06 PM   #10
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Thank you for asking this, Holly. I was wondering the exact same thing (our honeymoon 4-night cruise next April will be our first cruise ever). We already decided not to do Palo because we don't want to pay extra for it (we'll do a nice romantic dinner at WDW later in our trip instead). We're most likely not gonna book any spa treatments either because that's something I can do at home (probably cheaper, too). I figured that there'll barely be enough time to explore all the "free" stuff the ship has to offer (and ever there we'll have to sort out! ).

It definitely helps a lot to hear about what you guys who have cruised before did on your cruises!
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Old 08-15-2007, 05:48 PM   #11
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Don't Stress

Don't stress....That would make it work not vacation.

My husband and I have our own little cruise tradation. We eat at Palo the first night on board. Our son is usually so wound up and excited he would rather eat with his new friends the first night anyway. It also gives us a chance to slow down and have a relaxing start to the trip.

Enjoy....and remember there is a discount if you book your next cruise while on board.

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Old 08-15-2007, 10:03 PM   #12
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I would skip the shore excursions (except for maybe something at CC - definitely get off the boat for that). Don't get off in Nassau and just enjoy the ship
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Old 08-15-2007, 10:57 PM   #13
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Thank you all for the great comments. I'm feeling much better about letting it go and just enjoying myself! It's nice to have permission to do nothing.

These boards are the best, I just love you guys.

Thanks again,
Holly
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