I've been on 5 Disney cruises. Here are 9 things I wish I knew before boarding my first ship.

Packing is easily the worst part of a vacation for me, especially on a cruise where the nearest store is hundreds of miles away.

One of the best things I've learned is to pack my carry-on bag with all of the essentials I'm going to need on the first day, including medicine, a swimsuit, and a set of dry clothes for dinner.

Most of the time, larger luggage isn't delivered to your stateroom until late in the afternoon on the first day. But I love the ability to get on the ship, eat lunch, and change into a swimsuit to hop in the pool.

Disney Cruise Line lets guests book activities via the app weeks in advance of sailing.

Some things, like character meet and greets, cocktails classes, and adults-only dining, can book up quickly. But that doesn't always mean they're actually full.

If the app is showing a certain activity you want to do is full, stop by guest services on the first day to see if there's still space available. The earlier you do this, the better chance you have.

If there's availability, the employee can book it for you, and it will show up on your personal itinerary on the app.

Unlike other cruise lines, Disney allows guests 21 and older to bring their own wine and beer.

The current alcohol policy states that guests can bring two bottles of wine or champagne that are 750 milliliters or under, or six beers 12 ounces or under.

For wine and Champagne, there's also a $26 corking fee per bottle.

Many guests think this is only allowed on the embarkation day, but you can actually bring more on the ship from every port (as long as you finish your other bottles).

My family likes to go to the nearest convenience store in each port to grab another six-pack of beer, especially because we sometimes get lucky with regional brews that are hard to find in the US.

Rotational dining, which is included in the cost of the cruise, allows guests to enjoy the three main dining rooms on the ship for dinners throughout their cruise.

As you go to all three restaurants your waitstaff will move with you. They really take time to get to know your family, discover your likes and dislikes, and ensure any kids you're dining with are having a good time.

Pro tip: Your dining rotation can be found on the app, and you'll get a notification each night about what dining room to go to and what your table number is.

Mickey premium ice-cream bars are an iconic treat at the Disney parks, but you can also get them on a Disney Cruise.

In the dining room, they're listed under the desserts on the kid's menu for lunch and dinner.

Even though they're not listed on the room-service menu, I've been able to order them to my room to enjoy a treat on my veranda overlooking the ocean.

There are different age-specific clubs for kids on every Disney Cruise.

Some adults might be a little jealous of all of the Marvel, Star Wars, and princess fun the kids are having. But luckily, they can play, too, during certain times.

On the cruise app, you'll see times labeled as "open house" for the different clubs. That's when anyone, regardless of age, can explore and play.

Adults should take advantage of this because there are some great photo spots inside, and of course, some of the games are really fun. If you've ever wondered what it's like to build your own roller coaster or take care of various "Star Wars" creatures, this is your chance.

As night falls, most adults on the Wonder, Magic, Fantasy, and Dream ships will make their way to the adults-only district, which is filled with beautifully themed bars, a comedy club, and plenty of entertainment.

There's usually a cruise employee guarding the entrance to the area, so even the sneakiest of kids under 18 won't be allowed to enter.

Entertainment in the area ranges from silent-disco dance parties and adult games like Match Your Mate to more grown-up variety acts.

Buying souvenirs can get pricey, and that's no different on Disney cruises.

To save a little money, guests who use a Disney Visa credit card can save anywhere from 10% to 20% on things like merchandise and spa treatments.

You'll need to connect the card to your onboard charging account and make sure to let the employee know at checkout.

Disney Vacation Club members are privy to similar discounts, but you need to show your membership card. If you didn't bring it with you on the ship, you can also show a photo of it on your phone.

Going to see a movie on a cruise is a lot of fun, especially with Disney, where movies premiere on the ship the same day they premiere on land.

If you've been looking forward to the latest from Marvel, "Star Wars," Pixar, or Disney you can see it in the movie theater on the ship. Movie tickets are even included in your overall cruise cost.

If the movie is expected to have a midnight premiere on land, the same will happen on the ship. But the movie will likely be shown in the much larger Walt Disney Theatre — where the live stage shows are performed — instead of the smaller movie theaters.