We're taking a DCL cruise - starting the countdown!!!

So exciting!

Awesome! Congrats! And I eagerly await your trip report! Only 2-1/2 months to go!

Yep that's basically all you can do right now! It's very frustrating, I know!! LOL. Could you see on the cruise planner what shows will be happening during your cruise? I found it somewhere for ours. Let me know if you can't find it and I'll look for it again.

Sounds like a nice cruise, I would love to do the Hawaiian islands.

How exciting! I'm super jealous.

If memory doesn't fail me , in most tabs (bar/lounges, etc.) if gratuity is not included, there will be a place on the tab to add gratuities (charged to your cabin if credit card is on file). I recall writing-in gratuities at a bar, only to notice later that it was already included on the tab. But the service was good so he earned it

But you may want to carry loose cash during your shore excursion, for tipping (driver, local tour guide, etc.).

Bon voyage

1. Palo - I am desperatly trying to remember what Joe wore that night. Believe it or not, I don't have a pic of us in our attire for the evening. I know I wore white dress pants, low heels and a blue silk top. I want to say Joe had on slacks, a buttondown and a tie... I don't remember him having a jacket. I will ask him when he gets home.

2. I would think they would have it. When we went in Feb they had GotG and BH6 which had come out 6 months and 3 months prior to our cruise.

3. We didn't make it to a movie so I am not sure about this one...

4. Ours was a 4 day so I have no idea....

I don't feel like I helped a lot lol

We pre-paid all of ours and then we tipped extra to our main server because well, he was AMAZING!!! The others we checked first to see if it was included and went from there. It was a write in and charged to our room.

If gratuity is not included, there should be a line on the bill to add it just like at a restaurant. You'll have a "key to the world" type for card that will allow you to enter your room and will have charging privileges if you set them up. (Sadly, no MagicBands yet, but I'd be willing to be that they're on their way!)

Slacks and a nice shirt with a collar are fine for Palo.

Quite possibly. They do both first run Disney movies (often opening the same day at sea as in theaters) as well as some of the older movies. The mix is decent.

I seem to recall that Tori and I stuck food in our purses and carried it down to the movie, as well as bringing in something to drink.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "additional" shows. However longer cruises do have other entertainment options planned for guests. Often there will be guest performers doing variety acts in addition to the shows that are in standard rotation.

At night I would say you can get away without a jacket as long as you have the tie. Remember there will also be a formal night though if its a longer cruise and you might want the suit for that as well but again you can get away without it. I've seen people in just a shirt and tie quite often in Palo at night. For brunch you don't need a tie

More than likely! They are still showing Cinderella and that's been out longer.

Yes you can. I also took boxes of rice crispies from breakfast with me too and you can sometimes get chips from the quick service places that are good for in there - plus remember free soft drinks on deck 9!

They only do the shows once on the cruise. They tend to have other shows on the other nights. For example on last years transatlantic on the Magic we had:
-Let the Magic Begin
-Twice Charmed
-Villians Tonight
-And the Dream Goes On
-1 drum act
-1 movie night
-2 singers
-4 different variety acts
-talent show
-Last night show
Some of these were better than others but every night was something different.

During the day they also have more activities and other options on longer cruises compared to the shorter ones like cookery demonstations, dance classes, adult time in the kids spaces and guest lecturers

And gratuity is included automatically on bar drinks but there is a line on the bill for additional gratuity. In Palo you pay a fee for the meal but then its discretionary tip on top (although any alcohol will have automatic gratuity). There is debate as to whether the nominal fee is a tip or not so I do tend to tip here as always have great service anyway.

you get use of the rainforest room included I believe

That's a good question and I'm not sure I know the answer. However I do know that if you pre-buy the pass online ($16 per person, per day through the stateroom gifts area) you can use it on any day of the cruise you would like, you don't have to book a specific day or time for it.

Honestly, on my first cruise I only had one day there, on the second cruise I booked two days, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to get a length of stay pass for my next cruise. I really love how relaxing and luxurious it is.

You can buy day passes or week long passes on board. If you pre buy the day passes online I think it's $1 less than the onboard price. The webpage doesn't offer the week long pass. I'm not sure that massages come with rainforest passes as they are not in the same areas. The massage rooms are outside the rainforest area.

Yes, Tori and I bought one of our Rainforest Days onboard in February and it was still $16 per person.

Awesome and bon voyage

I am so excited for you both!

One month until cruising day!!!

LOL Me too!!! I suspect that you'll be having to much fun to remember that you're on a boat!