Ahoy Debra!
Congratulations on booking your very first Disney Cruise! You and your pirate crew will enjoy a lovely 3-day taste of paradise, luxury, and pampering. I totally understand wanting to get as much out of the ship as possible. For my pirate family, we often don’t even care where the ship is going because for us the ship is the vacation destination.
Do not feel pressured to get off of the ship because there is so much to experience on the ship. Our sea pups love riding the AquaDuck and the other water features on the ship and would rather stay on board than go to an excursion. In fact, we are planning a 3-day cruise next month, and we will only get off at Castaway Cay due to popular family request. You should check with your pirate family to see what their preferences are.
If you disembark for pirate adventures in the Bahamas, you will still have time to visit the slides and water features on the ship. Other convenient times to visit the pool areas include embarkation day – I have seen families board the ship in their swimsuits spraying themselves with sunscreen as they are walking through the tunnel to board. These are the rare go-getters because the pools are usually not crowded during this time. You also could plan an early excursion that comes back at noon and then visit the pools before everyone gets back onboard. We like to visit Castaway Cay early in the morning, and then we return for lunch on the ship and ride the AquaDuck. Most of the other guests spend the entire day at Castaway Cay. So Debra, as you can see, you have so many options to consider and none of your choices would be wrong. I hope that you have a wonderful first cruise and please come back to see us on the Moms Panel if you have any more questions.
Brandy