Long European cruise questions/tips

[Two Ears]

Hi, our family is doing a long European dcl cruise this year (12 days). Havent done a Europe cruise nor a long cruise before so have a few questions. If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

Do they do anything different on the long cruises regarding entertainment/dinners. Or will there be repeat menus at the restaurants.

Does disney tend to follow the scheduled cruise arrival times pretty closely (outside of weather events or emergencies)? Usually i dont want to get off early but with some ports there is a lot I want to pack into the day so would like to depart as early as I can? And does the arrival time refer to the time you are able to start getting off the ship or the time the ship docks? I.e. if I have arrival time of 7am is this when they aim to open doors to passengers or will it be later then that? Also does it take a long time to get off European cruises in the mornings cos everyone has the same idea and wants to leave at once? Most of our port arrival times are 7am.

When do kids clubs tend to open on port days? There are two stops on our Europe cruise where the kids will want to stay on the boat and go to the kids/teens clubs. Do they tend to open same time every day or do they delay them on port days?

Will Palo and Remy be open most port days for brunch or do they tend to close them on most port days? Is it easier to get times to brunch on the longer cruises? Can you book more than once?

Is smoking a problem on European cruises? Always have problems in Europe with people smoking everywhere and just wondering if this is also an issue with the cruise ship?

Any other tips for European/long cruises?

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Howdy.
Where are you cruising to in Europe ?
I can answer a few of your questions.
Smoking onboard is only allowed in designated areas so is relatively easy to avoid. Onshore it depends on the country as to it's approach to smoking bans.
Menus will change on the longer cruises so you shouldn't have the same thing twice.

My biggest tip is to unpack fully on your sail away day. Then it doesn't feel like you are living out of a suitcase.


Hope you have a great cruise and let us all know how it went.

 

[Two Ears]

Howdy.
Where are you cruising to in Europe ?
I can answer a few of your questions.
Smoking onboard is only allowed in designated areas so is relatively easy to avoid. Onshore it depends on the country as to it's approach to smoking bans.
Menus will change on the longer cruises so you shouldn't have the same thing twice.

My biggest tip is to unpack fully on your sail away day. Then it doesn't feel like you are living out of a suitcase.


Hope you have a great cruise and let us all know how it went.

Going to the med.

Yes definately plan on a full unpack and really chilling out on those sea days. I want to feel like im living on the boat.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Tagging @LAKid53
Haven't you done a med cruise ?

 

[cjkeating]

Do they do anything different on the long cruises regarding entertainment/dinners. Or will there be repeat menus at the restaurants.

I think the main difference is you will have variety acts in the theatre on some nights. They might sound a bit generic like a comedian, ventriloquist, magician etc but the ones I've seen have always been really good. Plus they aren't too long say 45 minutes and the theatre won't be full so you can turn up 5 minutes before. So less of a demand on your time.

There will be other extra activities but mainly more of the same quizzes, trivias etc.

Does disney tend to follow the scheduled cruise arrival times pretty closely (outside of weather events or emergencies)?

Yes for both. Definately the departure time. I'd say the arrival time is the best estimate they can have but dependent on external factors.

Also does it take a long time to get off European cruises in the mornings cos everyone has the same idea and wants to leave at once? Most of our port arrival times are 7am.

TBH I've never been the first off the ship but I doubt there will be a queue at 0700.

Will Palo and Remy be open most port days for brunch or do they tend to close them on most port days? Is it easier to get times to brunch on the longer cruises? Can you book more than once?

Palo and Remy brunch is sea days only. I'd imagine you have a few sea days so will have more availability than a shorter cruise with 1 or 2 sea days. You can't book more than 1 brunch/dinner in advance but you can ask at the restaraunt on board.

Is smoking a problem on European cruises? Always have problems in Europe with people smoking everywhere and just wondering if this is also an issue with the cruise ship?

I'd say no? However expect more people to smoke than an American cruise? TBH the worst smoking experience I have had is on the Wish due the location of the smoking area not on a European cruise.

Any other tips for European/long cruises?

I did the Iceland cruise on the Magic and I'd say the overall vibe on the ship was very similar to a 7 day Alaskan cruise which was more laid back and relaxed than 7 day Med or Florida cruise.

 

[Two Ears]

I think the main difference is you will have variety acts in the theatre on some nights. They might sound a bit generic like a comedian, ventriloquist, magician etc but the ones I've seen have always been really good. Plus they aren't too long say 45 minutes and the theatre won't be full so you can turn up 5 minutes before. So less of a demand on your time.

There will be other extra activities but mainly more of the same quizzes, trivias etc.


Yes for both. Definately the departure time. I'd say the arrival time is the best estimate they can have but dependent on external factors.


TBH I've never been the first off the ship but I doubt there will be a queue at 0700.


Palo and Remy brunch is sea days only. I'd imagine you have a few sea days so will have more availability than a shorter cruise with 1 or 2 sea days. You can't book more than 1 brunch/dinner in advance but you can ask at the restaraunt on board.

I'd say no? However expect more people to smoke than an American cruise? TBH the worst smoking experience I have had is on the Wish due the location of the smoking area not on a European cruise.

I did the Iceland cruise on the Magic and I'd say the overall vibe on the ship was very similar to a 7 day Alaskan cruise which was more laid back and relaxed than 7 day Med or Florida cruise.

Thanks for the reply. Its very useful. Hopefully with 4 sea days I can get a brunch booking. Was unable to on my last two trips (ironically i was able to on our very first dcl cruise which was only 3 days).

 

[Two Ears]

I have another question. On European cruises which dinner seating time is more crowded? On normal cruises it the earlier dinner but is this true on the European cruises (particularly Med cruises) given southern Europeans love to eat quite late and American tourists will be coming from a later timezone? Not to mention with late port times some guests may not want to rush back for dinner.

We prefer the less crowded seating given

 

[Phonedave]

The time that a ship arrives at the point where a harbor pilot needs to come on board is usually pretty accurate everywhere. Cruise ships tend to go much slower than they can. They have plenty of time to make it to port.

Hopefully there is a pilot available and the ship gets to tie up on time. That usually is the case.

How long it take the ship to clear customs and let people disembark - that is a different kettle of fish.