We're a family of four who cruise only occasionally (NCL, Royal Carribbean) but had annual passes for Disneyland for 15 years straight...so our expectations for this cruise were more based on our Disney experiences than past cruise vacations. Here is a breakdown on what worked and what could be better:
1. Embarkation:
We arrived in FL on Thanksgiving night and spent Friday at the Magic Kingdom. Rented a car at the airport on arrival and dropped it off at the Avis location in Pt. Canaveral (this was also cheaper than a transfer for four). Avis shuttle dropped us off right at the ship - so far so good. Immediately approached by a baggage handler in Disney outfit, who asked that we "take care of him" since he would not be involved with the bag delivery ship-side. Now, while I understand the mechanics of this, I do object to being hit up for cash first thing on a 5k+ vacation. Perhaps baggage handlers could be paid per piece as part of the pre-paid gratuities? There has to be a better way!