Hey there, Disney Fans! If you have a Disney Cruise already booked, or are looking to plan one for you and your family, it’s good to have a few tips that will allow you to be fully prepared. I have compiled a Top 10 List of tips that will send you on an awesome adventure at sea. Some of these items will save you time and some will make you aware of all the options you have available to you.

1) Packing for the trip

Disney Cruise Line provides a very casual atmosphere as far as dress is concerned. Be prepared to pack for warm weather (shorts, tank tops, flip flops, etc) . The cruise will usually designate one night as a "Dress Up Night," so be sure to pack nice slacks, dress shirt, dress shoes for the guys, and a dress and/or blouse and dress slacks and shoes for the ladies. Nights at sea can be cooler, especially with the breeze. So it is also recommended to pack a windbreaker jacket or sweatshirt that you can take on your trip. Some other items you want to be sure to bring are:

-Bathing Suits (a no-brainer)

-1 or 2 pair of jeans or Khakis

-Sunglasses

-Sunscreen

-iPod

2) Filling out the proper paperwork.

If you purchased Disney Transportation, you will be able to take the Magical Express Bus to Port Canaveral. If this is the case, your bags will magically arrive to your stateroom. When you arrive at the terminal in Port Canaveral, you will need to go through the proper procedures prior to boarding. Once your cruise is booked, you may go to www. disneycruiseline. comand click "My Disney Cruise" to retrieve your reservation. Take advantage of the online check-in, as it will save you time upon your arrival at Port Canaveral. Remember to fill out all necessary information as well as to print and sign your documents. Once all information is presented to the appropriate Cast Member, they will direct you to the next available representative who will provide you with your stateroom assignment as well as your Key To The World card. Be sure to have your Driver´s License, a valid passport, along with your confirmation number. The cast member will also give you a loading zone card.

3) Boarding the Ship

Disney Cruise Line typically will be ready to begin boarding at approximately 11:45 a. m. Be sure to have your loading zone card available, as they will call out the zone numbers. Be sure to have your Key to the World Card and ID handy as well. Once you board the ship, the Disney Difference is immediately experienced, as a cast member will announce your party´s arrival over the microphone. Another cast member will accompany you to direct you to the Beach Blanket Restaurant or wherever you would like to explore. Keep in mind that your stateroom will not be ready until approximately 1:30 p. m. In the meantime, head up to the Beach Blanket Restaurant for lunch, explore the ship, or lounge by the pool.

4) Mandatory Drill

Whether this may be your first cruise, or your 100^th cruise, you will need to participate in a mandatory emergency drill, as mandated by Maritime Law. The drill will take place at 4 p. m. sharp. Disney Cruise Line will have the television in your stateroom tuned in to the channel which will go over the procedures you will participate in as a part of the drill. The inside of your stateroom door will also have a map that shows where you will go once it is time. The ship will blow its horns 7 short times, along with a final longer horn to indicate it is time to go to your stateroom, grab your lifejackets, and head to your meeting place. The drill takes approximately 10 minutes, and is totally painless. Every cruise line is mandated to hold this drill prior to debarkation. Don´t try to avoid this drill, as they will search the ship to make sure there are no stragglers.

5) Dining

Disney Cruise Line features several dining options that are already included in your cruise price. You may ask for the early seating or the later seating for your dinner when you book your trip. Upon arrival to your stateroom, you and your party will have tickets that tell you when and where to report for your first evening meal. One unique aspect of Disney´s Cruise Line Dining is that they feature 3 restaurants that you will rotate throughout your stay. The personal navigator that is delivered to your stateroom each day will tell you the dress for that evening´s meal. You can expect one night to be a dress-up affair.

One additional dining option, available to adults only, is Palo. For an additional $10 per person, this serves as an excellent alternative to dine during one of your evenings. You may choose to dine on any of the nights during your stay, however, you will need to make a reservation. You can call in ahead of time, or reserve a table online at www. disneycruise. comby clicking "My Disney Cruise" and select, My Cruise Plans. You can also make a reservation on-board, but there is the possibility that Palo´s may be completely booked, so reserve ahead of time if you can. You will need to dress up for this dining experience.

6) Staying Entertained

You will definitely not go bored while on board. Depending on which dining time you choose, you will be able to watch one of the world class stage shows each evening at The Walt Disney Theater. These shows are on par with the type of entertainment we have come to expect with Disney. After the shows, you are able to continue partying the night away. Disney provides all entertainment options, along with times, and the appropriate age group in their daily Personal Navigator Newsletter. Check this daily as ship itineraries will be different depending on which cruise ship you are on.

7) Shore Excursions

There are several options to explore once your cruise arrives at its port. Whether you are traveling to the Bahamas, Mexico, or the Mediterranean, you have the opportunity to book your shore excursions on the Disney Cruise Line website in the section "My Disney Cruise. "When you arrive in your stateroom, your excursion tickets will already be there. If you didn´t get a chance to book your excursion online, no need to worry, you may visit the Shore Excursion desk on Deck 3 Midship to schedule your adventure. It is recommended to book in advance so to avoid a sold out excursion.

8) Castaway Cay

To cap off your cruising experience with Disney, they will take you to their very own private island in the Bahamas. Since Disney owns the island, they have control over the type of experience they can provide. Just like the ship, they have separated Castaway Cay into three different sections, one for adults only, one for families, and one for teens. If you are able to spend time at Serenity Bay (the adults only section) it is an excellent escape into a nice and quiet setting. Don´t worry, Disney Cast members do check on guests and take drink orders for those on the beach. Another nice feature on Castaway Cay is that your lunch is an included meal as part of your cruise price. Of course, you may also go back to the ship for lunch, if you should choose to do so.

Castaway Cay also has shore excursions available, for a fee. You may elect to reserve your excursion online prior to your trip, on board, or while you are on the island. You will just need to use your Key to the World card.

9) Last Evening On The Ship

If this is your first cruise, then you will definitely want to take note of this section, as it can catch you off guard if you are unprepared. On your last day cruising, there will be a debarkation meeting in the Walt Disney Theater at 4:15 p.m. The cruise director will go over all the necessary information you will need to know prior to leaving the ship. You will be expected to have packed your items and have them outside of your stateroom between 9 and 11 p. m so that the host crew may take your luggage and prepare it to be ready at the debarkation point. This is where you want to have a day bag where you can keep your next day´s clothes, along with your toiletries. Be sure to have this ready, unless you plan to wear the same clothes the next day as you debark. Trust me, not a good idea. You will be able to claim your luggage in the claim area after you leave the ship. If you are on an airline that will allow you to check your bags to the airport, then you won´t need to worry about your luggage until you land back at home. In case you aren´t able to make the 4:15 p. m. debarkation informational meeting, they will replay it on your television in your stateroom.

It is also customary to tip specific members of your crew staff on the last evening of your cruise. Don´t worry, Disney has made this very easy to handle. In your stateroom, you will receive 4 envelopes, one for each crew member you may want to tip (Stateroom Host/Hostess, Head Server, Server, and Assistant Server) . You will also have a sheet that gives you the suggested tipping amounts for the industry. If you do not have cash, visit the Guest Services station on Deck 3 Midship, and they will charge it to your credit card, and provide you with a receipt that you can give the appropriate crew member. You will personally give the tip to your crew member on the last night of your stay. Based on my experience, and the experience of others, they definitely earn it.

10) Last Morning

Your dining staff will advise you on your last evening how to proceed for the final morning. There will be two options available for breakfast, and both are very early. Keep in mind, you will need to be off of the ship by 9 a. m. If you did not check your bags to the Orlando International Airport, then your bags will be in the main terminal, coded according to the directions you were given when you packed your bags. A porter is there to assist, should you need them. Keep in mind, these individuals are not Disney employees, but it is standard to tip them a couple dollars per bag. If you purchased Disney Transportation, you will be directed to a Magical Express bus back to Orlando.

And there you have it! By now, you already have a jump on the vacation ahead of you. I want to hear your feedback. What tips should be added? Which ones should be tweaked?This list was made to help you, the user, in mind. Let me know when you get back from your trip. Enjoy!

Eric is the owner of http://www. geomouse. com, coming soon!