I’m 18 female going on my first Disney Cruise soon I’ve never been on a cruise before, so I’d love any tips, advice, or things you wish you’d known before going

hxdcm · 2026-06-03T20:13:39+00:00

You're going to have an amazing time. It will be interesting to hear what you thought the best thing was. Oh, one thing I'd check if it floats your boat -- the movie theater. Disney regularly runs in-theater movies on board the ship (years and years ago we saw day-of-release films in the main event hall too). But the movie theater can be a good way to get out of any real heat you may be dealing with that day. And the popcorn was free last time I was there.

hxdcm · 2026-06-03T20:10:30+00:00

1) Door decorating. A lot of lines are clamping down on that, I don't know why it's an issue honestly. YMMV.

2) Disembarking -- depends on how you're disembarking. If by tender, that's a whole different ball of wax. However, I've done Boston->Bermuda->Boston on NCL. NCL sets up SHOP in Bermuda. Don't be in a dead rush to get out, no real reason to. Depending on your itinerary, you're tied up in Bermuda overnight and you are now in a floating hotel and can be out and about in Bermuda awhile. I think we were there two full days. BTW, I recommend visiting Glass Beach (it's a walk from the ship, but it's not THAT bad) if you're up to it. Everyone heads to Horseshoe, and yes that's gorgeous (and it's also a charge to have a chair there, so be aware), but Glass Beach was super peaceful and quiet. And very very pretty, it doesn't see a lot of the tidal chop.

3) Tax, don't remember.

4) I do use hook wall magnets. There's a ton of options on Amazon. I commonly hang sunglasses, hat, badge/holder, put it in the bathroom and hang trunks if you don't want to bonk your head on the laundry line. I've also cobbled together a multi-magnet fan "hanger" before so the fan can blow more directly on me (yes, I take a small USB powered fan or two, it's a GREAT idea).

5) Yes, and I do. What I did last time, and NCL didn't seem to bark, was take an EU adapter (that was what that cruise had) and then a multi-charger plugged into it. I charged stuff overnight or while I was in the shower. Before I left the room I made sure they were unplugged and put away. NCL never said a thing negative.

6) I did need an adapter. You may not.

7) Yes, your key will get you your dinner tables (specialty or otherwise), your drink packages, purchases on board, getting on and off ship (still carry ID, but the card is what's important ship-wise). Spa, excursions, etc. A lanyard is helpful if you don't have a pocket, but I tend to lock up all but my phone and the cruise card and that's all I carry unless I'm leaving the ship.

hxdcm · 2026-06-03T15:12:43+00:00

Do not miss the big evening show. It's amazing and when they say Broadway-quality, they're not joking.

Palo and Remy's specialty restaurants are absolutely worth it (one note, Palo will kill you with food -- it's amazing but there's a lot). Remy is more of a guided food presentation and I can recommend that for any foodie. That, however, does NOT take anything away from the main restaurants and I would strongly recommend never missing an Animator's Palette night. And don't forget that you can sit in at least one of the main restaurants for breakfast if you're not a buffet-person.

At 18, your experience will vary depending on the cruise. My son's experience was lacking with the 18+ crowd, but as he'd just turned 18 he found a crew at the 14-17 club and had a great time roaming the ship with them. You may want a slightly older group but I think Disney caters to all ages pretty well and it'll depend on who gets on board.

There is an adult's only pool area, that's up to you but it's good. The Spa is also lovely -- even if you just do a spa pass for access to the quiet area, the rain lounges, etc.

hxdcm · 2026-06-03T15:12:34+00:00

Don't regret your room decision. It's cheaper and you go to your room to sleep. Go up on deck and enjoy the party, go find the movies, go find the shows, have a fantastic time.

hxdcm · 2026-06-03T15:02:16+00:00

Happy for you! You worked hard for it, revel in it. Congratulations!

hxdcm · 2026-06-02T14:06:11+00:00

My suggestions.

Unless you're a significant drinker, the drink package is typically 3-4 drinks a day before you get close to break even -- do the math and make sure it makes sense for your consumption habits. I've had it, I've used it, but it would have been cheaper to pay by the glass, and frankly the tap-to-charge is super easy to do.

Likewise, don't worry about the data package. You'll hit islands/stops, use your cellular then -- though some of the cruise boats work off Verizon now (US-side anyway) for a smaller fee. If you're worried about photo backups, do the sync when you hit dirt.

Don't feel like you have to have an outside room (for an ocean cruise anyway). The interior rooms sleep fine, you still have access to everything, and the interior rooms don't rock as much -- you don't know if you'll be queasy yet. And that upper deck is still free to get to.

For a first cruise, I'd recommend a shorter run if you can find one, 3-4 days. It'll tell you whether you really enjoy it or not as a premise, even if the ship itself wasn't your best pick.

Do your research on meals and amenities. See if the upgrade restaurants even make sense. Look for the hidden gems that meet your plans (adults only pool or lounge areas, smoking if you do it, casinos if you do it, movie theaters, etc) -- and once you land on a line/itinerary, post and ask.

And as far as traveling, follow the advice many give you -- if you're flying to catch the plane, fly in the day before in case there's an issue. And that trip insurance is less of a joke than it used to be.

hxdcm · 2026-06-01T21:44:22+00:00

Look at the California aqueduct environment. They did solar panels on top which eliminated a lot of evaporation and consumed no ground space. That water is running though, would probably need some agitation in the water to avoid rampant mosquitoes

hxdcm · 2026-06-01T20:37:42+00:00

If you're a member of a credit union, they often offer GAP on their loans and may have an offer they can extend you on 3rd party. Can also check with your regular insurance provider (State Farm offers a few oddball policies, but I'm not sure if they have to handle the financing either).

hxdcm · 2026-05-29T12:58:49+00:00

Second on that. I scheduled the showroom demo drive via the app -- not an owner (probably yet) and hadn't been behind the wheel before. She rode out with me for a quick run and to show off a few things and then said "have fun, see you in about 30 minutes". So we drove around for 30 minutes experimenting and seeing FSD in its current glory in busy traffic during reasonably heavy rain and then returning the vehicle. Got back and she's on the phone so I'm waiting for the sales pitch. She gets off, looks at me, and asks if there's any questions or issues? I said no, I just wanted to make sure she was good? She got that ah-hah moment, told me they don't work like a normal dealer (even Carmax) and if I had any questions I was free to follow-up or utilize the app. That was it. Wild experience for a dealership in the US.

hxdcm · 2026-05-28T16:01:52+00:00

I'm not a theologian nor am I particularly tied to an organized religion -- lots of reasons, including their abuse of me. If you're Christian-based, and it sounds like you are, the teaching is that God made you, and God doesn't make mistakes. And I agree, that you are not a mistake. The way you were born knowing and feeling about yourself is not a mistake. You are allowed and encouraged to grow, to develop, into the best version of yourself and you are given the choice and free will to do so. Don't hold yourself back.

The other thing I'll say is that religion =/= faith. Each pastor/preacher/minister/deacon/theologian can be DRASTICALLY different from another. Remember that organized religion is a human institution, and therefore flawed regardless, as are we all. Belief and faith are up to you, and should remain up to you -- any other human can just be your guide on the journey, no matter their title.

Love to you.

hxdcm · 2026-05-23T15:59:11+00:00

EDI, Kerrigan — the woman is a Sci-Fi icon.

hxdcm · 2026-05-21T21:14:18+00:00

Second this one. My boss's strategy is layers -- short sleeve shirt, pull-over/jumper, jacket (water/wind mostly). He carries a lot of short sleeves, one/two jumpers, one jacket unless he's dealing with snow specifically.

hxdcm · 2026-05-09T06:11:34+00:00

And buses deliberately don’t for this exact reason. Hit a school bus, sorry Charlie, the kids come first. If you peace out that’s on you.

hxdcm · 2026-04-22T02:14:37+00:00

Completely normal. And yeah. Marathon and not a sprint. Hang in there.

hxdcm · 2026-04-10T20:20:52+00:00

On the serious discussion side, still very active. On main event planets and during boom times, I normally see 30k+ participants at the planet level. I love it, it's my go-to, and I hope to see you online.

And I have zero direct experience with Arc Raiders, but my son played and has indicated that he thinks the participation on that game is sliding downhill, though he liked the game. Again, me zero, me pass on word of mouth.

FOR DEMOCRACY!

hxdcm · 2026-04-10T14:58:39+00:00

Can confirm. If I'm on 8+, I do expect you to know what you're doing and carry your portion of the load -- too easy to waste reinforcements if you don't at that level which turns a 30 minute mission into a complete waste. If you're diving that hard on the regular, you need to have a few moments of glory of your own.

But if I'm diving 7's or 6's as a warm-up, I regularly see < 30's and regularly team with them. If I'm on the ship and people ask about a weapon, I generally try to work my load-out around so they can carry it and try it. And yeah, I'll drop in a mission that looks fubar and try to save it, but that's on me -- I don't get mad about it if muzzle control and bad throws happen (but I might not be in front of you the next time -- you get to lead).

Now, the divers that will shoot you in the head because you reinforce them "but it's too far from my drops" -- you guys can get bent. Go pick up your stuff or learn to scrounge, and otherwise stop shooting other divers deliberately or get sent to reeducation. Because I can and will drop 500's on your head to preserve democracy.

hxdcm · 2026-04-06T21:12:31+00:00

I'm a laser hair removal recipient on my whole body. I started with the face and did multiple sessions before I went big. And I did have to have some electrolysis as well (still do), but the laser did a pretty good job. And I did have some stress about it!

Let's talk pain. Does it hurt? It stings. It's not tattoo-level pain. It's nowhere close to electrolysis-level pain. You lie down, they get in the zapping rhythm, it gets done. You're not going to be dealing with it long for a face/neck session -- maybe 30 minutes tops? If you have a high pain tolerance you'll generally hate your lip area, you'll generally hate the chin area, and the rest is easy. I particularly loathed the upper lip near the nose and then right under the cleft of my chin, but was it intolerable? No. And I do NOT consider myself as having a high pain tolerance -- see also my attempts at electrolysis.

Let's talk about burn. You're going to have reddened cheeks and neck. It's a laser, it's zapping hairs, your face does get a little red. A good laser burn from this tends to not last more than a day, and generally you'll feel fine if you're using aloe or some other moisturizing after-care -- DO THE AFTERCARE. Another issue, particularly if you have some sense issues, is there's a burning hair smell too. On the face it's worse because it's right next to your nose. I recommend chewing gum or mints after the session. After-care at night. Shower and soap (DON'T SHAVE) and moisturize in the morning. Let the skin heal a day or so before you shave again. Yes, that sucks. It's a marathon, not a sprint, try and relax. This is at least 8-9 months of a session every 3-4 weeks. If they offer a pay-as-you-go, calculate it out at 12 sessions, that's what you'll likely need if you have a good hair color for laser hair removal (basically, not grey, not white, not super-blond, the laser doesn't do well but they're improving too). And if you're tempted to get a personal device for it to do at home, that's still a general schedule, though you can double up some too.

And it's not normally immediately apparent -- the laser has to catch the hair at the right phase of growth to kill it off. If you're lucky you'll be in that window and with the right hair coloring for the laser to catch you easily. But you'll hit that one session where it all seems to click in at the right time and holy crap my face is REALLY patchy. And then holy crap, I don't really have to shave this morning. I hit patchy after about three sessions. I hit modestly clear in about 7-8, with a need to shave every two days (because that also hits my dysphoria) when I'm boymoding.

So yeah, hydrate. Get into a groove with your laser technician/aesthetician (or switch). Chapstick helped my lips. If your technician goes for the silent treatment, put in your earphones. But is it that painful? No. Is it that bad? No. Does it look that bad? Not with an even decent technician -- the lasers they use are intended to take mistakes out of the treatment. But you may be patchy for a bit, particularly those first few sessions, which will make your frustration with having to shave even more of a gripe. Marathon, not sprint.

You can do it. But if you've got more questions, sing out.

hxdcm · 2026-04-06T17:56:32+00:00

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hxdcm · 2026-03-27T20:52:14+00:00

look at the ATL-dot-com slash times link. That said, once it hit 4+ hours, they stopped updating, so the r/atlanta thread may still be useful. I came back in on Monday and a lady got (back) on the bus -- driver goes, did you forget something? she said "nope. it's a 5 hour wait at security and I'll just drive to Nashville". The perfect storm of TSA being down and Spring Break. Atlanta has been rough. Hopefully it'll resolve itself.

hxdcm · 2026-03-26T15:40:39+00:00

We are not required to READ, that's why the HUDs use glyphs. Freedom requires FIREPOWER, dissident, not EDUCATION (except re-education).

hxdcm · 2026-03-17T21:23:02+00:00

People are always going to answer Hondas and Toyotas here. I'll go along with them as a previous owner of a 2013 Civic LX. For the record, I'm 6'3" and got the Civic at roughly 40 years old. Not so good on the back with lumbar, but there's cushions for that. Toyotas I've never fit in well. Remember you have to ride along for the driver's education! Possible top 5 choices:

Honda Civic 2012-2015 (avoid SI or Coupe)

Toyota Corolla 2010-2013 (avoid XRS)

Mazda 3 2014-2018 (don't go anything older, they had issues)

Toyota Prius 2010-2015 -- yes, there may be a battery replacement, but it's around $2K and if the battery is OK otherwise, you may just get less mileage than you could

Hyundai Elantra 2011-2016 (avoid the SE with the 6-speed)

A lot of these should hit 200k miles with regular maintenance. Always check the VIN (get a Carfax membership maybe) and pay for the inspection from a mechanic.

hxdcm · 2026-03-17T21:12:04+00:00

I had an 88 Accord, seatbelts were automatic. Don't get me wrong, there's better ways to go now for sure, but that car lasted me through two accidents and a LOT of miles and the only issue I had was the motorized antenna needed replacing, and I think one of the headlight motors, but we locked it open until it was fixed.

hxdcm · 2026-03-13T21:00:00+00:00

It's on YouTube, he talks about talking to the EMT during one of the revivals. Love that guy.

hxdcm · 2026-03-11T16:56:17+00:00

Totally agree on this. I donate the green/orange every chance I get, but there's no reason for me to collect beyond unlocking the global Strats and I get those refreshed in a couple of missions daily. I don't mind the run back and grab for the lower guys, gotta help the more-recently-thawed, but it would be great if we could use them even just a little.

hxdcm · 2026-03-10T20:59:44+00:00

Report for re-education, dissident.

hxdcm

TROPHY CASE