You’ll never get me on a cruise. Unless it’s to ALASKA! Recap and New PTR Link! 2/1

[eandesmom]

I love it! Barely back from your cruise & the TR has already begun!!

Well the first part was easy to get up so I figured why not, had time to kill during trombone lessons. Of course I'm still behind an update on the girls trip so need to get on that one.

[Your time crunch was stressing me out a bit but it sounds like it worked out perfectly!

When you do online registration they have slots going all the way until 3 or 3:30 I think. Originaly I'd picked 1:30-2 or maybe even 2:30 but then moved it up. While in some ways, had I stuck with my gut instinct on our arrival time I'd likely have been less twitchy, the reality is that with a later official time...we'd have been even later knowing us!

What a cute picture of your family!

Okay, I would totally be stressing out! I am always running behind and late to everything. However, it looks really nice to be boarding by yourselves with no wait and lots of picture opportunities!

Can't wait to read more.

We are always late. It generally works out just fine but it was slightly nerve racking. It was lovely to have no lines! About the only downside, besides the stress was that I have a feeling our entry announcment was a bit "less" than those in the major rush of things and we had less time to get ourselves oriented before the drill.

You are impressively organized to be starting the TR so quickly upon return! That's not a complaint, mind you!!

Not really, just killed time during Evan's trombone lesson. But I wanted to get started before the weekend if I could. I still need to do an update on our girls trip so I'm behind there.

I think part of what holds me back on a cruise is having to learn all the new processes and requirements. It all seems a little overwhelming but I am sure it is so worth it. I wonder if that is how "newbies" feel about a regular trip to WDW?

I think that is a great comparison. I'm helping my best friend plan a WDW trip and she is a newbie. She is SO overwhelmed! And, I suppose in all fairness, the stuff they don't explain well on the cruise in terms of how boarding works, dining, etc, really isn't any different than the missing info for a WDW trip (tranportation, DME, dining plan etc). That's where this board is invaluable! For the most part, thanks to the board, we weren't overwhelmed all that much. It was certainly different, and an adjustment but we adjusted relatively quickly I think.

You'd be fine! It would be a great girls trip.

Love the family picture!!

Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

your ninja beer skills has my interest. what are the rules on bringing booze on board? why did yo uhave to put it in your carry on luggage?

 

[Flossbolna]

Cynthia, wonderful update!!

Having met your mother I can very well imagine that she convinced those UK people that it would be a great pleasure to have your family at their table! And I am sure it was a pleasure for them, she is a lovely lady!!

It sounds like you had the perfect boarding experience. I always read from people boarding in Florida that the terminal is extremely crowded etc... But I guess that's why getting there a little bit later makes sense. I need to try to remember that for my first cruise (whenever that may be...).

 

[eandesmom]

your ninja beer skills has my interest. what are the rules on bringing booze on board? why did yo uhave to put it in your carry on luggage?

Ninja beer skills.

So the rules about bringing stuff on board are..bring whatever you want and however much you want. BUT it has to be in your carry on luggage. You can't check it thru.

Rules for crossing the border are 2 bottles of wine OR 1.25L of alcohol OR some equivalent volume in beer. No mix and match approach.

Cynthia, wonderful update!!

Having met your mother I can very well imagine that she convinced those UK people that it would be a great pleasure to have your family at their table! And I am sure it was a pleasure for them, she is a lovely lady!!

They were SO sweet and were having quite the lovely vacation, a 3 week extravaganza by train across Canada, down into NY and sailing back on the Queen Mary! But oh, the woman's face when she smelled the root beer was priceless! They had no idea what sassafras was.

It sounds like you had the perfect boarding experience. I always read from people boarding in Florida that the terminal is extremely crowded etc... But I guess that's why getting there a little bit later makes sense. I need to try to remember that for my first cruise (whenever that may be...).

I've always read that too and had read similar stories for AK early arrivals. Given that folks are still getting off the ship at 9:30 or later I can see how crazy it would be at that 10:30-12 time frame. Not sure if the same strategy would work as well for other ports but I'll definitely keep in it mind for the future.

 

[Happydog]

You are home, you have had a great time, and I am so excited to hear all about it!! Great arrival photo! Such a cute one!

Looking forward to hearing what you thought about the cruise! I am so behind on my TR as well, I wanted to finish before our October trip! I got my work cut out for me!!! LOL! The start of the school year is so busy... how much more time to your kids have? Labor day is next week so is that when school starts?

 

[eandesmom]

You are home, you have had a great time, and I am so excited to hear all about it!! Great arrival photo! Such a cute one!

Looking forward to hearing what you thought about the cruise! I am so behind on my TR as well, I wanted to finish before our October trip! I got my work cut out for me!!! LOL! The start of the school year is so busy... how much more time to your kids have? Labor day is next week so is that when school starts?

I hear you! I meant to finish the grand gathering report before the cruise and ALMOST pulled it off.

We start SO late this year. Usually it's either this week or the day after labor day. This year, due to budget cuts, they cut in-service days which meant the whole schedule got shorter and they pushed the start date way back (but not the end date or any of the breaks). We don't start until the 12th! Craziness! Evan actually missed orientation and we didn't even realize it as they mailed the packet out while we were gone. So I have to go by tomorrow to get his schedule and then again next week to pay fees. Bleh. You have so many trips coming up, exciting!!!

 

[MEK]

Officially welcoming you back! Will stop back later to read up. DIS is sucking up my morning and I really want to go for a run now. Later Girl!

 

[MEK]

Well - I have to say that your late arrival really worked to your advantage. Your first family picture is perfect and how awesome to get to take pictures of the boat still docked with no one around. Your view looks fabulous! You are off to a wonderful start. All three boys look like they couldn't be happier!

to the beer run! You beer snob you!

 

[englishrose47]

Love the boarding pix !!! Sounds like you are off to a good start!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Officially welcoming you back! Will stop back later to read up. DIS is sucking up my morning and I really want to go for a run now. Later Girl!

I hope you had a great run! I had a run too. A Costco run that is. I bet yours was WAY more fun than mine!

Well - I have to say that your late arrival really worked to your advantage. Your first family picture is perfect and how awesome to get to take pictures of the boat still docked with no one around. Your view looks fabulous! You are off to a wonderful start. All three boys look like they couldn't be happier!

to the beer run! You beer snob you!

Well, after seeing what was on board (which is what I thought would be) our beer run was a very good thing! I 'd our verandah and have to admit, I don't think we could do another one without having it. We were on it quite a bit. It was a bit surreal boarding and not really seeing anyone else though.

Love the boarding pix !!! Sounds like you are off to a good start!!!

Thanks Rosie!

 

[mom3sonstt]

I love the picture of you and Minnie in your signature! That mouse has quite the wardrobe!

 

[eandesmom]

I love the picture of you and Minnie in your signature! That mouse has quite the wardrobe!

She does doesn't she! Not the best picture of me, it was WINDY but I had to stop her and get a snap when she happened to walk by. And she looks fabulous I think! Glad I did as I didn't see her again in her Alaska get up.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Welcome Home Cynthia! I just got back from our vacation yesterday, so trying to catch up here. I can't wait to read your adventure, and I didn't even recognize Minnie in your siggie until I saw the post above! She does have a good image consultant, I think!

ETA: Love the boarding pic - looks like you are ready to have fun! ITA about the lack of info on boarding. The boards are such a good source prior to sailing the first time. I still had trouble reading our dinner tickets this time - Jim figured it out and he's not even on the DIS!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Ninja beer skills.

So the rules about bringing stuff on board are..bring whatever you want and however much you want. BUT it has to be in your carry on luggage. You can't check it thru.

Rules for crossing the border are 2 bottles of wine OR 1.25L of alcohol OR some equivalent volume in beer. No mix and match approach.

wonder if my 72 can igloo 5 day cooler would count as a carry on?

 

[MEK]

I have to admit that I am a little impatient for you to get on with this cruise TR. I am dying to see your pictures!!!!!! I'll try to be patient!

 

[eandesmom]

Welcome Home Cynthia! I just got back from our vacation yesterday, so trying to catch up here. I can't wait to read your adventure, and I didn't even recognize Minnie in your siggie until I saw the post above! She does have a good image consultant, I think!

You didn't recognize Minnie? She looked rather fab I must say.

ETA: Love the boarding pic - looks like you are ready to have fun! ITA about the lack of info on boarding. The boards are such a good source prior to sailing the first time. I still had trouble reading our dinner tickets this time - Jim figured it out and he's not even on the DIS!

The funny thing is that I read our dinner tickets right...for the first few nights. One day however we made an incorrect assumption as to our location and the funny part of it is that our table mates did the same thing, we ALL went to the wrong place!

wonder if my 72 can igloo 5 day cooler would count as a carry on?

Supposedly you aren't allowed to bring a cooler. Not sure if they count a cooler bag. We had an insulated tote that was full and no one blinked an eye.

I have to admit that I am a little impatient for you to get on with this cruise TR. I am dying to see your pictures!!!!!! I'll try to be patient!

Soon! Maybe tonight. I had a busy weekend. Eric turned 11 yesterday and my weekend was spent painting his room (SO sad to paint over the cute car mural it seemed like I painted yesterday), enjoying some amazing weather (finally) at the lake and then a birthday breakfast and dinner. I have at least sorted through the first 3 days of pictures and uploaded all of day 1 so I have enough for an update. I spent FAR too much time sat morning looking at my Tracy Arm pictures, seeing which ones zoomed in best on the seals.

 

[Flossbolna]

Happy Birthday to Eric!!

And spending time with your vacation pictures is always time well spent! That's why you take them, to relieve your memories!! And I will be very grateful for a good selection of seal pictures, I love seals.

 

[eandesmom]

Happy Birthday to Eric!!

And spending time with your vacation pictures is always time well spent! That's why you take them, to relieve your memories!! And I will be very grateful for a good selection of seal pictures, I love seals.

Thanks! I think he had a good one, or at least he sure said so! Best birthday ever according to him, not sure why as we didn't do anything super special but he loved his day and that's all that matters.

The seals are so cute! Though in truth better seen by my zoomed in pictures than they were by the naked eye. I had an update almost done yesterday and my computer shut down and I hadn't saved it so...hope to get it up today. I broke down and bought a cooling pad for the laptop, hopefully that will avoid future shut downs like it's been doing.

Seals are a bit off though but I promise LOTS of seal pics!

 

[englishrose47]

Just checking in !!!

 

[eandesmom]

Just checking in !!!

Hi Rosie!