Advice

There are not many clocks on board. If you're like me, you probably don't normally wear a watch anymore, because you use the clock on your cell phone instead, but that won't work onboard, because your cell phone won't be functioning unless you are paying through the nose for "cellular at sea" service. There are many scheduled activities offered throughout the day and you will frequently need to know the time. Bring a watch.

“Cay” is pronounced “key” – so unless you want to sound like a novice, remember this both for Castaway Cay (Disney's private island) and for Parrot Cay (one of the onboard restaurants on the Wonder and the Magic).

You'll present your stateroom key as you board, have a family photo taken, and then your family will be announced as you arrive in the atrium of the ship. After that, the ship is yours!
Most people will head straight to lunch, and if you're hungry, that's a great idea. If you've brought your swimsuits in your day bag, this is a perfect time to enjoy the pool (or AquaDuck on the Dream or Fantasy, if it's running), because the ship is still relatively empty and a lot of people will not have thought ahead. If you still need to make spa appointments, change your dinner rotation, sign up for shore excursions, or book Palo or Remy, now is the time to do that. If it's your first time on the ship, this is a good time to get a map and wander around familiarizing yourself with everything.
When your stateroom attendant provides turndown service while you’re at dinner, he or she will place a Navigator (a daily newsletter listing the next day's events) in your stateroom. Study the Navigator carefully to plan your next day. It will also list the hours of operation for everything from the excursion desk to the restaurants. You may want to bring a highlighter pen on your cruise so you can mark the activities that interest you.

Beverages

You can get milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks free with meals in the dining rooms. (Bottled water, smoothies and alcoholic beverages are extra.)

The self-service drink station up by the family pool offers milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks for free at all times.

Castaway Cay offers milk, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade and soft drinks for free; alcoholic beverages are extra.

Room service offers milk, juice, tea or coffee free, but charges for soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and bottled water.

There is a charge for all drinks ordered at the bars, including soft drinks.

Consider bringing your own bottled water if you think you'll drink a lot of it on shore excursions, Castaway Cay, etc. Bottled water on the ship is expensive. Consider packing a small suitcase with just bottled water. Then on the way home you'll have room for all those things you didn't plan to buy.

Dine and Play Program

The Dine and Play program is offered for families assigned to second dining, and is open to children ages 3-12. The Dine and Play program allows children to get their meals quicker and adults to check in a child for Youth Activities without leaving the dining room.

Here's how it works: You arrive in the dining room and inform the server that your child would like to participate in Dine and Play. The dining room team brings the child's meal first while serving the adults at a more leisurely pace.
About 45 minutes after seating begins, Youth Activities Counselors arrive in the dining room and sign in the child to Disney's Oceaneer Club or Disney's Oceaneer Lab, eliminating the need for you to escort the child to Deck 5.
Adults are then able to enjoy the full dining experience with the knowledge that their children are having a great time in a safe, fun and comfortable environment.

You may want to bring a soft-sided, collapsible cooler. This is handy for shore excursion days or to keep snacks on hand in your cabin.

Skip the talks. The shopping talk is just a "rah-rah" for certain shops that are paying a marketing fee, and you might get a few coupons for free (junky) souvenirs. Both the shopping and disembarkation talks are replayed on the television repeatedly. Don't waste your vacation time attending these lectures in person.

For an inexpensive and yet priceless souvenir, purchase a new pillowcase and a pack of colored Sharpie pens before your trip. Drop it off at Guest Services on the first night with a request for the characters to sign it. Pick it up on the last night of your cruise.