Strategies for maximizing fun and minimizing lines.

[JJSMaine]

I don't think I have seen this topic covered before. Please post link if you know of any threads that cover this thought chain.

In visiting Disney a few years back, I came upon a website that for $19.95 would taylor an itinerary for your stay at the park based on the best practices fro getting the most out of the park, while at the same time not rushing around and not waiting in lines. He had been a guide there for years and had figured out a way to make sure he deliver the above by be smarter than the majority of people entering a park on a given day. We used it and were amazed at how spot on the technique was... we got so much more from our days in the park, ,while at the same time not rushing and not being in tons of lines. The trick was multi-fold and had to do with which park are was busy at what times, and the flow of people in general.

Surely the cruise lines all do this kind of research in order to determine minimum flow and capacities for various areas and acitities on the ships and this research is a huge part of the designs.

I just posted in another thread on how a mindset and an attitude can make all the difference in a cruisers perception of the vacation. We perceived we got more for our money at Disney because we applied out selves to the process more... now for some I think I just set off the .. "oh my god, it is the planning ****, run for your life!" alarm... but hear me out.

I love to laze about and do my thing on a cruise. I try hard to research up front so I understand my options well and nail down the things I want to do, like sing on board in whatever way I can... if I can manage I try to get up early and get breakfast in the MDR out of the way as early as possible... the food is fresher as are the crew and the crush hasn't hit yet because most people sleep a bit later... it is so peaceful and calm and somewhat elegant way to start the day that way... then stroll off to the room and change for a steam or sauna...

the one I don't understand is the people that complain about lines at meal times... esp the buffets... there are real easy ways to avoid that scenario by changing your timing.. one the Disney secrets is , be where they aren't, when they aren't... seems to me that this strategy could be applied to a cruise ship with good success.

I use that same philosophy about an early dinner... that 2-3 hours that I am roaming the ship after my meal, while the other half are eating allows me more time and space to enjoy the public areas.( i enjoy my food, so I can't imagine being able to sleep until 3am if I finished dinner at 10!) You really know it when the second seating lets out! If you were keen on a certain night spot your chances are better for a good seat... but these are personal tastes or ways that work for me... and won't work for everyone.. I understand the port day rush to get to the early seating is a reall issue for many.... i could be talked into that by the right company...

What works for you? What strategy do you employ to avoid stress and hassle and maximize your vacation?

(and isn't his what the whole site is about really... sharing what works so other people can consider it for their own use to enhance their vacation... nothing better than hearing about how someone has benefited from advice here)

ok.. out to cut, slit and stack more wood!

Jason

[CruisingSarah]

We often enjoy the peace of the ship on a port day

[Happy ks]

Originally Posted by JJSMaine

I don't think I have seen this topic covered before. Please post link if you know of any threads that cover this thought chain.

In visiting Disney a few years back, I came upon a website that for $19.95 would taylor an itinerary for your stay at the park based on the best practices fro getting the most out of the park, while at the same time not rushing around and not waiting in lines. He had been a guide there for years and had figured out a way to make sure he deliver the above by be smarter than the majority of people entering a park on a given day. We used it and were amazed at how spot on the technique was... we got so much more from our days in the park, ,while at the same time not rushing and not being in tons of lines. The trick was multi-fold and had to do with which park are was busy at what times, and the flow of people in general.

Pretty good way to make a few extra $ for your guide! We used the method of going to the left all the years we visited Disneyland. For some reason, most people go to the right

Surely the cruise lines all do this kind of research in order to determine minimum flow and capacities for various areas and acitities on the ships and this research is a huge part of the designs.

You can always find an uncrowded area, just stay away from the main pool or show rooms.

I just posted in another thread on how a mindset and an attitude can make all the difference in a cruisers perception of the vacation. We perceived we got more for our money at Disney because we applied out selves to the process more... now for some I think I just set off the .. "oh my god, it is the planning ****, run for your life!" alarm... but hear me out.

I love to laze about and do my thing on a cruise. I try hard to research up front so I understand my options well and nail down the things I want to do, like sing on board in whatever way I can... if I can manage I try to get up early and get breakfast in the MDR out of the way as early as possible... the food is fresher as are the crew and the crush hasn't hit yet because most people sleep a bit later... it is so peaceful and calm and somewhat elegant way to start the day that way... then stroll off to the room and change for a steam or sauna...

the one I don't understand is the people that complain about lines at meal times... esp the buffets... there are real easy ways to avoid that scenario by changing your timing.. one the Disney secrets is , be where they aren't, when they aren't... seems to me that this strategy could be applied to a cruise ship with good success.

Just stay out of the buffet altogether. We have done this for years and every time we are too late for the MDR at breakfast we swear we won't make that mistake again. Especially the last morning, not only do you have the masses to contend with, they have their carry on luggage with them.

I use that same philosophy about an early dinner... that 2-3 hours that I am roaming the ship after my meal, while the other half are eating allows me more time and space to enjoy the public areas.( i enjoy my food, so I can't imagine being able to sleep until 3am if I finished dinner at 10!) You really know it when the second seating lets out! If you were keen on a certain night spot your chances are better for a good seat... but these are personal tastes or ways that work for me... and won't work for everyone.. I understand the port day rush to get to the early seating is a reall issue for many.... i could be talked into that by the right company...

The same number of people are seated at the early dinner as the late dinner, so your theory doesn't work here. It's far less crowded in public areas for late diners during early seating. We avoid the early seating when we can, preferring to have more time to ourselves after a port day. We don;t concern ourselves with what others are doing. If a venue is too crowded, we simply leave. Relaxation is our main focus on a cruise, so if we miss a show it's not a big deal to us, we've seen them numerous times in the past. I suppose the reason it's more crowded after the second seating is because everyone is done eating...still not a great reason to select early dining for me.

What works for you? What strategy do you employ to avoid stress and hassle and maximize your vacation?

(and isn't his what the whole site is about really... sharing what works so other people can consider it for their own use to enhance their vacation... nothing better than hearing about how someone has benefited from advice here)

ok.. out to cut, slit and stack more wood!

Jason

Our best strategy is to not try to board early and to not try to use self disembarkation. This is what seems to be the most popular choice and where the crowds are.

Last Sunday we arrived at the port after 12:30, were onboard the ship within 10 minutes including check-in and security lines. We thought we'd avoid the wait to get to our cabin, but had almost 20 minutes to go. Many people write to arrive at port by 11 am, to be on the ship by 12 noon, that's an hour sitting around wasting in a cruise ship terminal...not a favorite passtime of ours, we'd rather wait until the crowd dies down.

So many people choose to disembark themselves so they don't have to hunt for their luggage. We got off the ship and our luggage was virtually at our feet the moment we walked off. There were only about 20 bags to look through in our category. People want to get off early, do that many really have early flights? It's just not worth the hassle of dragging heavy luggage for us. We'll disembark 20 minutes later instead.

While I highly doubt there is an absolute way to avoid all lines on a cruise, not going to the most popular locations, avoiding cruise excursions are just a few other ways to have a more peaceful time.

[cb at sea]

So far, we've never been in much of a hurry on vacation, so the occassional line doesn't bother us....I mean, what else do we have to do?

When we use the buffet (which isn't often) RCI has different stations, so you're not waiting through the "hot food" line to get a dessert....you can pretty much walk up and get what you like, when you like.

After shows, there's almost always a "bottleneck" with departing showgoers....we just sit in the theater until most have left....I'm not sure what everyone is in such a hurry for...but we let them jostle each other, and then we can leave without getting "stuck" in a crowded hallway!

[Me76]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

we just sit in the theater until most have left....I'm not sure what everyone is in such a hurry for...but we let them jostle each other, and then we can leave without getting "stuck" in a crowded hallway!

My DH and I did this on our first cruise, but not until the last night. Saw a few other cruisers who were walking up and down the isles collecting the "souvenir" glasses they serve the drinks in that people had left. They had a cart full of them! We were new to cruising, and didn't know that we had been paying for the cup and could keep them the entire time!

This was 2005, haven't been on a ship yet (16 more days to go!) again, I don't know if this policy has changed or not.