Shmoo here

Define "best".

It's my understanding DCL no longer offers onboard airline check in. At the end of the cruise, you can leave your bags outside your door for them to take off the ship, but you must claim them in the terminal and take them to whatever transportation you've arranged to the airport, where you check your bags in yourself.

We have the paper copies with our passports, but we also have photos of them on our travel laptop and in our phones.

We had 6 days on a LA roundtrip to Tahiti. I can't recall for sure, but I'm reasonably sure we had 6 days on our westbound TA.

I use https://www.cruisetimetables.com/ You can also google each port individually to see their schedules (that's the most accuate).

Be aware this is prohibited in some countries (Japan, for instance).

Oh, I don't doubt that others do it, but when we attempted it we were asked not to.

Well, being a Virgo, my husband thinks I bring too much (and I probably do). But I really want to be prepared as we tend to take longer trips. I'm aware that availability can be sketchy and prices onboard are ridiculous. Ibuprofen Acetaminophen anti acids/gas tablets diarrhea meds sinus/cold meds first aid cream bandaids motion sickness aids (Meclizine, and hubby get the patch) eye drops vaseline Prescription stuff remains in original bottles and all generic stuff I've previously purchased small bottles of those things that I use so I don't have big bottles filling up space in suitcases.

Not very many: Disney Holland America Princess Carnival Vantage

We were asked not to do this as it makes the legs of the chair more vulnerable to being run into by those who aren't watching where they're going.

I don't know about NCL, but it's possible. I know when COVID hit, the OTC stuff was removed from other cruise line's shops. They didn't want people self medicating if they were sick, they wanted them to go the health center. Sunscreen - possibly they removed on non-reef friendly products, I don't know.

I've never found connecting rooms to be noisier than any other next door room. It mostly depends on who's in those rooms, not so much the configuration of the room. You may be able to hear your neighbors, or maybe not.... The connecting door is actually 2 doors (each door can lock on "their side" of the connecting doorway). The 2 doors are basically just as thick as the wall the door is in, possibly less so.

You don't "have" to eat in the MDR you're assigned to each evening. There are other options on the pool deck - quick serve locations (pizza, burgers, salads). There's always the Lighter Fare options on the MDR menus. And, FYI, you can always order off the kid's menu if that appeals to you. I'm know to just request "one baked potato" for dinner on occasion.

Yes, you can request a table for 2. Yes, not all requests can be honored. Don't know about Palo Steakhouse (haven't been on the Wish yet) but the Palo brunch is still available on the other ships, although it's no longer a buffet style. They have menu service now.

It's most likely that, yes, you will be seated with others. You can have the request to "be seated alone" added to your reservation, if you wish. Be aware not all requests can be honored. While you are seated with others, DCL does a good job of matching tablemates (adult couple with other adults only; family with young children; family with older children for example). You will also have the same tablemates for the whole cruise, not a different bunch of people every night.

That's one definition of a "suite". On cruise ships a suite can just be a larger room with an actual sitting area separate from the sleeping area.

The rotation varies by cruise. As each ship has different dining rooms (all of them considered the "Main" dining room) you could start in any of the 3. For example: on the Dream the dining rooms are Enchanted Garden, Animator's Palette, and Royal Palace. The passenger load is divided in six groups (3 for each seating, early and late). 1/3 of them start in Enchanted Garden, another 1/3 start in Royal Palace, while the last 1/3 start in Animator's Palette. The rotation on a 4 night cruise is, typically, 1223, but can vary. Every one's first room is "1" in the rotation. I've been on 13 DCL cruises, all of them as adult only groups, and never "always" started in the same dining room. I would suggest you go ahead and book Palo, and then put a request on your reservation to "not be in (whichever room you don't want to miss) on night (whatever night you've got Palo)".

They would also need a connecting document between the birth certificate name and the Government ID if they changed their name.

Yep. That's mostly why we stopped using it. But it's an option for someone who just wants "some" actual cash in hand when arriving. As I said, we now just use an ATM when we get in. Although for long trips (ones where we're going to be in same monetary type for a long time) we've gotten currency at our bank, with fee.

From the DCL website: The Bahamas, Caribbean, Pacific Coast, Bermuda or Canada – Round Trip Cruises Sailing from/to: Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, San Diego, San Juan, New Orleans and New York The following guidelines are based on government regulations, which are subject to change at any time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on your cruise itinerary. Travelers can visit the US State Department's website for more information. All documents must be valid for the entire length of the voyage, unless otherwise noted. Guests without proper documentation will be denied boarding. When dropping off luggage upon arrival, please keep all documents in your possession to present during check-in at the terminal. US Citizens (Including Children) Original valid US Passport Original valid US Passport Card Original valid Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, FAST) OR Original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate AND a physical Government-issued photo ID (digital/mobile state-issued IDs are not acceptable to sail) Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/10 are not acceptable Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State AND a physical Government-issued photo ID (digital/mobile state-issued IDs are not acceptable to sail) Original Certificate of Naturalization issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services AND a physical Government-issued photo ID (digital/mobile state-issued IDs are not acceptable to sail) Children 15 years of age and younger are required to present one of the documents listed above, but do not need to present a Government-issued photo ID. Social Security Cards and Global Entry are not acceptable proof of US citizenship for purposes of traveling outside of the US

In the past we've bought what they call a "tip pak" from AAA. It's typically a small amount just so we had some money when we got into a foreign country. Then we find an ATM once incountry to get more, if we need it.

DCL doesn't "do" Black Friday/cyber Monday. For the lowest cost it's best to book as far out as you can, because that's when the lowest price is offered. Prices on DCL only increase as the space fills up.

That's why I have only 1 formal dress I take on cruises. It's fairly plain and I use accessories to change the look of it. I can wear it at least 4 times, if necessary.

While DCL may, or may not, be the be all and end all for cruising, we love it. For us the price is worth it, but we tend to compare cruises and cruise lines for comparable cruises and generally go with the best price for what we get. Sometimes it's DCL, but not always.

DCL has lifeguards.