December 13, 2013 Sailing the Magnificant Magic out of Miami

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Hey, is anyone out there sailing the December 13, 2013 Disney Magic out of Miami??? We are excited to be on this sailing. We originally were on the Fantasy but that didn't work out. We are excited to be onboard to experience the re-imagined Magic. We are a group of 9. Me, DH, DD(9), DD(13), Sister in law, DN(8), DN(5), my parents. Anyone interested in the FE???? I hope so!!! Can't wait to chat. I will keep track of anyone who joins the FE. Hope to chat soon!!!

FILL OUT THIS FORM IF YOU ARE ON THIS SAILING , PLEASE~~>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A8G4YJjfD9qbhEVY9LbkJ139qGJGpk7EFmx9ruftVbY/viewform

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Am I sailing on this cruise by myself??? As fun as it sounds to have dcl all to myself.....I would really like to have a Dis group to enjoy it with!!!!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I hope I am not alone.. ......

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Bump!!!

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

Thanks so much for adding. Just hope someone joins!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

We are tentatively looking at this after our original plans for our fall/ winter holiday went belly up.

Corinna

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

We are tentatively looking at this after our original plans for our fall/ winter holiday went belly up.

Corinna

Yeah!!!!!!! Here is to hopeing!!!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I will check tomorrow if I can get the leave and then I have to hope and pray for an interline rate.

Corinna

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I will check tomorrow if I can get the leave and then I have to hope and pray for an interline rate.

Corinna

So if you can get the leave, are you only going if you get interline rate ?? We got a decent deal. 2700 for all four of us. I would like cheaper but I believe they offer the guaranteed rates after pay off

 

[dolphingirl47]

Well, the leave is taken care of. I managed to have the leave booked and confirmed from December 3rd to 22nd by 9:00 AM this morning. I was surprised that I managed to get the leave so easily that close to Christmas. I had a look at flights yesterday and managed to find some from Manchester to Orlando for £425 each, which is a great price and they are reckoning that the price will come down further.

At the moment, I am definitely hoping for an interline rate, but if this does not materialize, we may jump on this anyway. If I were to book this today, it would cost us $1,545.40. This is a little more than I can justify at the moment. However, I still have a couple of months to make that decision. I have to say I am curious to see just what they are doing to this poor ship and I also really want to see one of the ships all decked out in its Christmas finery.

We may decide to chance flying standby as we have some buffer before the cruise and also a little at the back end. This would save a lot of money on flights, which then means we can pay a little more for the cruise.

I am really hoping that I can join you and at the moment it is about 70/30 that we will.

Corinna

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Well, the leave is taken care of. I managed to have the leave booked and confirmed from December 3rd to 22nd by 9:00 AM this morning. I was surprised that I managed to get the leave so easily that close to Christmas. I had a look at flights yesterday and managed to find some from Manchester to Orlando for £425 each, which is a great price and they are reckoning that the price will come down further.

At the moment, I am definitely hoping for an interline rate, but if this does not materialize, we may jump on this anyway. If I were to book this today, it would cost us $1,545.40. This is a little more than I can justify at the moment. However, I still have a couple of months to make that decision. I have to say I am curious to see just what they are doing to this poor ship and I also really want to see one of the ships all decked out in its Christmas finery.

We may decide to chance flying standby as we have some buffer before the cruise and also a little at the back end. This would save a lot of money on flights, which then means we can pay a little more for the cruise.

I am really hoping that I can join you and at the moment it is about 70/30 that we will.

Corinna

So if you fly into Orlando on the 3rd are you hanging at Disney? Then how are u getting to Miami? I had the flight on the way down booked already as I was going on the Fantasy... then Del's overtime has been basically lost due to the USPS hiring a bunch of new people paying them less of course. So we left the Fantasy and Lori(my SIL-sailed the Dreamers cruise) and my parents and we moved to this cruise. It's a lot cheaper. I am sad to leave the Fantasy as Robin is on that cruise but I won't be in debt over a vacation. So we moved to this one, still over the vacation time Del has and get to see the ship reimagined and at Xmas time. So we fly in Dec 12th and then are set to drive down to Miami in a rental car. If Spirit comes up with some cheap flights we will snag a flight down to Miami as much easier on us adults and 4 girls. My nieces have no idea they are going!!! Then after cruise we are staying in Tampa area and visiting my Aunt and Uncle. Gonna hit Clearwater too cause the girls wanna visit Winter from "Dolphin Tail" movie.

I hope u can join, would be lovely to sail together again. I think we are doing dolphins in Cozumel again...we sooo loved it!

 

[dolphingirl47]

So if you fly into Orlando on the 3rd are you hanging at Disney? Then how are u getting to Miami? I had the flight on the way down booked already as I was going on the Fantasy... then Del's overtime has been basically lost due to the USPS hiring a bunch of new people paying them less of course. So we left the Fantasy and Lori(my SIL-sailed the Dreamers cruise) and my parents and we moved to this cruise. It's a lot cheaper. I am sad to leave the Fantasy as Robin is on that cruise but I won't be in debt over a vacation. So we moved to this one, still over the vacation time Del has and get to see the ship reimagined and at Xmas time. So we fly in Dec 12th and then are set to drive down to Miami in a rental car. If Spirit comes up with some cheap flights we will snag a flight down to Miami as much easier on us adults and 4 girls. My nieces have no idea they are going!!! Then after cruise we are staying in Tampa area and visiting my Aunt and Uncle. Gonna hit Clearwater too cause the girls wanna visit Winter from "Dolphin Tail" movie.

I hope u can join, would be lovely to sail together again. I think we are doing dolphins in Cozumel again...we sooo loved it!

The idea is to fly in on December 5th and probably stay on International Drive as I want to save my DVC points for next year for the big 4-0. The reason I ended up with leave from the 3rd is that this is my rostered day off and I can't be bothered to go back to work for one day. On the 12th we then would take the train down to Miami and stay the night somewhere near the port. We would take the train back up the day we arrive back in Miami and spend one night near the airport in Orlando before flying back home. I just realised that the great price on the flights is for non-stop flights from Manchester to Orlando making this deal even sweeter. I have also just found out that DISApalooza 2013 will take place the weekend we would be in Orlando and it looks like there would be an after hours party at Toy Story Mania. This whole thing is getting more attractive by the minute.

We have been discussing heading to Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman and of course we would head to Chankanaab in Cozumel also I have to say I am intrigued my the Amazing Cozumel Race, but I don't think Graham would be up for this. So Chankanaab it probably would be, with a distinct possibility of a dolphin swim for me.

That really stinks about the overtime. I am set to lose a lot of shift pay, but it is for something great. I get the chance to work on a fascinating project for a month with one of my favourite co-workers, but this will most likely mean working 10 to 6 Monday through Friday for the duration of the project. I should find out the details tomorrow.

Corinna

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

The idea is to fly in on December 5th and probably stay on International Drive as I want to save my DVC points for next year for the big 4-0. The reason I ended up with leave from the 3rd is that this is my rostered day off and I can't be bothered to go back to work for one day. On the 12th we then would take the train down to Miami and stay the night somewhere near the port. We would take the train back up the day we arrive back in Miami and spend one night near the airport in Orlando before flying back home. I just realised that the great price on the flights is for non-stop flights from Manchester to Orlando making this deal even sweeter. I have also just found out that DISApalooza 2013 will take place the weekend we would be in Orlando and it looks like there would be an after hours party at Toy Story Mania. This whole thing is getting more attractive by the minute.

Corinna

We are staying at the SpringHill Suites Miami Airport East/Medical Center
1311 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136
USA
Phone: 1-305-575-5300
Fax: 1-305-575-5301 ... never priced the train out. We can rent a van for the 4 hour drive for all 7 of us(parents are driving from my aunts) for $135 or fly spirit air for $30 each plus $20 a bag. Cheaper to drive!!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

We have been discussing heading to Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman and of course we would head to Chankanaab in Cozumel also I have to say I am intrigued my the Amazing Cozumel Race, but I don't think Graham would be up for this. So Chankanaab it probably would be, with a distinct possibility of a dolphin swim for me.

That really stinks about the overtime. I am set to lose a lot of shift pay, but it is for something great. I get the chance to work on a fascinating project for a month with one of my favourite co-workers, but this will most likely mean working 10 to 6 Monday through Friday for the duration of the project. I should find out the details tomorrow.

Corinna

I think in Grand Cayman we are going to hit the Turtle farm. Syd and Nelia want to hold a turtle so I suppose that has to be done. Del wants Hell but I have heard its not that exciting. Gonna check into Disney price, Turtle farm + taxi price and see what is the best deal. Cozumel-- definitely Chankanaab Park again for us. We loved the Royal Dolphin Swim. Nelia though would like the Sea Lion encounter. So we will have to figure out who will stay with her and Kaydence(5 yr old niece) while we swim. Maybe mom or dad, who knows.

 

[dolphingirl47]

We are staying at the SpringHill Suites Miami Airport East/Medical Center
1311 NW 10th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136
USA
Phone: 1-305-575-5300
Fax: 1-305-575-5301 ... never priced the train out. We can rent a van for the 4 hour drive for all 7 of us(parents are driving from my aunts) for $135 or fly spirit air for $30 each plus $20 a bag. Cheaper to drive!!

Thanks for sharing. I have to bear this in mind. The train is $86 each pay per person, but that way Graham can enjoy the trip and does not have to worry about driving.

I think in Grand Cayman we are going to hit the Turtle farm. Syd and Nelia want to hold a turtle so I suppose that has to be done. Del wants Hell but I have heard its not that exciting. Gonna check into Disney price, Turtle farm + taxi price and see what is the best deal. Cozumel-- definitely Chankanaab Park again for us. We loved the Royal Dolphin Swim. Nelia though would like the Sea Lion encounter. So we will have to figure out who will stay with her and Kaydence(5 yr old niece) while we swim. Maybe mom or dad, who knows.

We did the Turtle Farm on our cruise 2009 through DCL and we stopped at Hell on the way back. I love Hell and its stark beauty. Here is the relevant part of the trip report from our cruise last November with a few photos.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47068312&postcount=81

Corinna

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I think we are gonna do the turtle farm. If we do it through Disney and it comes with a Hell visit, then we will go. But the girls and I aren't to excited for it. I would love to do dolphin & turtles in Grand Cayman but it's cheaper in Cozumel and they don't have Sea Lions in GC and that is Nelia's choice to do. I was really upset about switching to this cruise cause Robin and I have planned it forever. Every last detail. I mean our girls will be on opposite cruises wearing the same boarding day outfits, formal night, etc. I have been getting more excited though as I plan out details for this cruise. Although if you find my facetiming in a corner with tears...well that's cause I am so missing my dear friend. On that note though---I am overjoyed that you are seriously considering this cruise!!!! I have hoped to cruise with ya again!!!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I absolutely understand. I don't think it has really sunk in yet that I wont get to do the Panama Canal Cruise in September. We had kind of talked our friends in California into coming with us. Having said that, we were also discussing them joining us at Aulani next year so it is not that this was a one time chance and it would be wonderful to spend my 40th birthday with them. At the moment I am full steam ahead with the trip report for the most recent vacation and this was just such a magical trip that it will keep me going for a while. By the time I have posted this all, I should definitely know if this trip will work out and then I can be in full planning mode. Not that I need much encouragement

I had a look at doing a one-way car rental from Orlando to Miami. With picking up the car from International Drive and dropping it off at Miami airport, I got a price of £29 fully insured (about $43). It probably would cost us that much to get from International Drive to the Amtrak station. I need to price up the return trip, too. I had a look at the hotel you are staying at and this looks great. I could not quite figure out if they have a cruise shuttle.

Corinna

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I had a look at doing a one-way car rental from Orlando to Miami. With picking up the car from International Drive and dropping it off at Miami airport, I got a price of £29 fully insured (about $43). It probably would cost us that much to get from International Drive to the Amtrak station. I need to price up the return trip, too. I had a look at the hotel you are staying at and this looks great. I could not quite figure out if they have a cruise shuttle.

Corinna

This is what I found on their site

Port Of Miami - Cruise Transportation

Port of Miami cruise schedule operates around our Medical Campus shuttle schedule. Shuttle departs the hotel beginning at 10:30 AM departing every 30 minutes until 1:30 PM. Please schedule shuttle upon arrival. $5.00 Per Passenger. See our inclusive park and shuttle package under the "Find" tab.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

:

I had a look at doing a one-way car rental from Orlando to Miami. With picking up the car from International Drive and dropping it off at Miami airport, I got a price of £29 fully insured (about $43). It probably would cost us that much to get from International Drive to the Amtrak station. I need to price up the return trip, too. I had a look at the hotel you are staying at and this looks great. I could not quite figure out if they have a cruise shuttle.

Corinna

Also did u ever think about just renting the car for the week and then parking it at the hotel. Sometimes u can get a better deal for the week if you keep and return to same location. IN Sept I got a car for $100 for whole week through Ez car rental. The hotel has a park and cruise for $159 and includes taking you guys to the port. Just something to consider or investigate.