»»June 16, 2012 Father's Day Cruise on the Fantasy!««

[GoHerd1028]

Hello Everyone!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Life here has been busy as with everyone else. We had a truly BROWN Christmas here in the MN/WI area. Amazing how it can actually put a damper on the holidays in how it really never felt like Christmas to so many because we didn't have any snow on the ground. Just a few inches would have been ok. Our warmer temps are also preventing the oldest from having ice hockey practice and games are scheduled in the next few weeks without much ice or good ice. (We are a "poor" association and play old school hockey.... outside no matter what the temperatures are ~ including -20 below w/COLD windchills to go!) Yet, I am loving the freed up time without much hockey!

So, I also need to let you know that with heavy hearts in our house, we are needing to cancel the June 2012 cruise. We have moved our date to Oct. 2013 and hope it works out for us. I even had our FE gifts accruing and started the homemade aspects of them too. Now, what will I do with all of them? Beacause as of now, NO ONE is signed up for the week that we are going. Anyone want to join us? 10/05/13 Eastern Carr. on Fantasy...

I think I am having a tougher time with this need to cancel since I am the one making all of the connections to others. And so many MN people going, it was even cooler to have even more connections on that front.

But, can I still stay on this meet thread and FB so I can "tag along" with all of you and live vicariously through you? You are like family ... and I would love to know about the trip and such. Hope so...

Sorry for the long post... but HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Bridget I am sure sorry to hear that you and your family will not be joining us, but I do understand that sometimes we have to make hard decisions in life. I am glad that you are going to remain a member here and on Facebook so we can keep in contact with you and so you can see all the fun and excitement from this trip!!

 

[Silverfox97]

So, I also need to let you know that with heavy hearts in our house, we are needing to cancel the June 2012 cruise. We have moved our date to Oct. 2013 and hope it works out for us. I even had our FE gifts accruing and started the homemade aspects of them too. Now, what will I do with all of them? Beacause as of now, NO ONE is signed up for the week that we are going. Anyone want to join us? 10/05/13 Eastern Carr. on Fantasy...

I think I am having a tougher time with this need to cancel since I am the one making all of the connections to others. And so many MN people going, it was even cooler to have even more connections on that front.

But, can I still stay on this meet thread and FB so I can "tag along" with all of you and live vicariously through you? You are like family ... and I would love to know about the trip and such. Hope so...

Sorry for the long post... but HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

OMG

 

[Susiesark]

TiggerB - sorry to see you go. I'm doing everything I can to stay on this cruise too. DH is an overseas contractor and has been without work since March. Needless to say, a cruise and WDW trip is the last thing we should be paying for right now. I'm hanging on until the final payment is due, then I'll be able to make a decision based on our current situation. Hope to be 'seeing' all of you in June!

 

[tiggerb]

Yay! I will stay to see what is happening and hopefully you will also report back on this thread afterwards too. See, that way, you all will have gone before me and can tell me the scoops on excursions, the spa, kids' stuff, and list of Hidden Mickeys on the ship!

Life can be about making the hard but right choices. That is where we are at right now... that being said, hopefully Oct. '13 works. We tried to get our same room/deck level for summer of '13, but the price went up ~ $2500 on the opening day when we checked and knew summer would be a no-go w/those prices. Now the '13 prices for June is up to almost $10,000 for the same room type.

So, it was a tough decision of having the older one miss 1 wk of school work (type A personality who puts tons of pressure on himself) especially math (advance plus @ 6th grade already). And, no days @ WDW either, but it's still Disney! And, the price was about $1200 Less than the summer '12 prices for the same room and such.

Suisesark: I totally get it and GOOD LUCK to you. Otherwise, you could join us just over 1 yr out... we welcome all!

 

[Docjason2]

Well that's a bummer we're losing another family, and potentially more. I really wish our "Fantasy Family" could all go this June, but I completely understand not being able to make it, or finding something cheaper at another date. There are days where I wonder to myself if there isn't somewhere better I could be putting our cash instead of a cruise. Usually there is, but I figure while we have the means to travel every other year, I want our kids to experience family vacations as I never did when I was a kid. Hopefully that pays off and doesn't bankrupt us lol.

At least you're just postponing your trip instead of cancelling it altogether. Unfortunately you'll have to wait even longer now

Our family is still recovering from Christmas. We made the trek up to Minneapolis to visit my family, and Wisconsin to visit my wifes. It was a long week, but the kids made out well. Now we are going to spend the next few weeks sorting toys and cleaning up the aftermath!

I think I am going to work on getting a gameplan together for our FEs. I haven't gotten a solid idea on what we're going to do for everyone. Have we decided on when the cutoff will be? Maybe the final payment date?

Also if anyone here has any ideas for St. Thomas, we've been discussing them on facebook for awhile and could use input for excursions. I think a fair number of us have booked Bernards tours for St. Maarten, but am at a loss for St. Thomas.

Hope everyone has happy holidays this past week and a happy new year this weekend. Another milestone...at least we'll be in the same year are our cruise

 

[Susiesark]

I'm not familiar with Bernard's. What type of excursions do they offer?

 

[Docjason2]

I'm not familiar with Bernard's. What type of excursions do they offer?

http://www.bernardstours.com/

I am sure they can customize it to what we want to see, if there's anything special. I have a feeling with just the interest so far from our group we'll have a whole bus full

 

[Susiesark]

http://www.bernardstours.com/

I am sure they can customize it to what we want to see, if there's anything special. I have a feeling with just the interest so far from our group we'll have a whole bus full

Do you want to find out if we can get a group rate if we have a certain number going? Who has done this tour before? What other options are there for St. Maarten?

 

[tiggerb]

docjason2 ~

Too bad... we could've met up... maybe if you come back this way in the spring or summer! At least it was a good year for travel w/ NO snow, rain freezing or ice & snow. As for giving your kids experiences/vacations you never had, that is how we feel (especially me). My first vaca was after my parents divorced and mom took us to WI Dells. I still feel like, "yes, the $$$ could and should be used elsewhere", but as DH says, "can't take it w/ you".

Af for FE... I have a bunch of stuff if you're interested in it. As of now, no one is even signed up for the Oct. '13 cruise we have booked! Now I may have tons of stuff that won't be used.

Hope everyone has a safe night and enjoys a year to new beginnings!

 

[Susiesark]

Happy New Year Friends! Hope this year brings prosperity and lots of FUN and SUN (cruising, of course!)

 

[Sunny37]

Do you want to find out if we can get a group rate if we have a certain number going? Who has done this tour before? What other options are there for St. Maarten?

We did this tour a few years ago and it was GREAT!!! We're in if we are going to try for a group rate...ask for Slim, though. He was our tour guide and he was absolutely wonderful!

 

[ssanders79]

Happy New Year.

The FE List has been updated.

 

[Susiesark]

Happy New Year.

The FE List has been updated.

Wow - do you really have 4 cruises lined up? Awesome for you! Thanks for the update.
I have a question, that actually came up on my last cruise: I see some families are split into 2 or more staterooms. If we are giving gifts to multiple staterooms, are we RECEIVING gifts from multiple stateroom families? To be more specific, I have given 'family' gifts, one for each cabin, but I don't think the kids or inlaws in the 2nd cabin also gave gifts. Sorry if I'm unclear.

 

[ssanders79]

Wow - do you really have 4 cruises lined up? Awesome for you! Thanks for the update.
I have a question, that actually came up on my last cruise: I see some families are split into 2 or more staterooms. If we are giving gifts to multiple staterooms, are we RECEIVING gifts from multiple stateroom families? To be more specific, I have given 'family' gifts, one for each cabin, but I don't think the kids or inlaws in the 2nd cabin also gave gifts. Sorry if I'm unclear.

That is sort of a tough question to answer, like you said it depends on the make up of the multi-stateroom family. It is really a judgement call on your part. As for what the multi-stateroom family may do, well that is another unknown. In the past when I made CDs I gave out multiple copies to the multi-stateroom families.

I know DW looks at each stateroom and makes the decision.

Yes, we do have 4 cruises lined up. What can I say we're addicted.

 

[Silverfox97]

Wow - do you really have 4 cruises lined up? Awesome for you! Thanks for the update.
I have a question, that actually came up on my last cruise: I see some families are split into 2 or more staterooms. If we are giving gifts to multiple staterooms, are we RECEIVING gifts from multiple stateroom families? To be more specific, I have given 'family' gifts, one for each cabin, but I don't think the kids or inlaws in the 2nd cabin also gave gifts. Sorry if I'm unclear.

Yes, we are going on 4 cruises & we have a dummy date out there, too We are lucky that 1) We can get Florida Resident rates (as we did for our cruise next month - had a Cat 8A booked, upgraded to Cat 5A w/ FL res rates and SAVED $450!!!!) and 2) We just drive over to the port - we just pay for parking, vs airfare, hotel, rental car, etc.

At some point (after our Spring Break 2013 cruise), we aren't going to keep visiting the same Caribbesn ports though. So, either DCL changes it up a bit, or, we save $$$ to take a DCL cruise out of another port. We'd love to do Alaska or a Pacific Coast cruise, but that means airfare, etc. That is why we are waiting to see what's offered in 2013 for the Wonder & Magic. Right now, we'd rather take more frequent vacations than save up for 1 big one. That may change for sure!

As for the FE, it's personal. I usually give to each child. If there are adults in the room too, then only the kids get something. If its an adult only room, then they get a gift. This is not set in stone, as one year, DH did a CD & gave those to the adults in each room in addition to the kid gifts I prepared. We've received gifts that are 1 gift for entire room, gifts for us and DD separately, and just gifts for DD. it totally depends.

Also, remember, we have the luxury of driving to port, so we can bring lots of FE gifts since we don't have to worry about parking with airline baggage restrictions... (We also tend to carry on a 12 pk of beer for DH & wine and mixers for me).....

 

[Susiesark]

Yes, we are going on 4 cruises & we have a dummy date out there, too We are lucky that 1) We can get Florida Resident rates (as we did for our cruise next month - had a Cat 8A booked, upgraded to Cat 5A w/ FL res rates and SAVED $450!!!!) and 2) We just drive over to the port - we just pay for parking, vs airfare, hotel, rental car, etc.

At some point (after our Spring Break 2013 cruise), we aren't going to keep visiting the same Caribbesn ports though. So, either DCL changes it up a bit, or, we save $$$ to take a DCL cruise out of another port. We'd love to do Alaska or a Pacific Coast cruise, but that means airfare, etc. That is why we are waiting to see what's offered in 2013 for the Wonder & Magic. Right now, we'd rather take more frequent vacations than save up for 1 big one. That may change for sure!

That's why we've done the Wonder MR a couple of times this year. We are 20 minutes from the port, and the SoCal residents discount offered earlier in the year made it too good to pass up. (It's not usually available.) And taking extra luggage for FE gifts wasn't a problem. For this cruise, it is adding up fast, with air fare and hotel, I hope we can afford WDW while there. The future of the Wonder is unknown for 2013. I have a placeholder booked for the last cruise in 2012 on the Wonder, hoping for a better option.

 

[Susiesark]

I see that there are new FL Residents specials for WDW tickets (3 & 4 day Wild For Disney) but they only go through May. Can my FL friends keep your eyes open for good (GREAT) deals on tickets, to use after this cruise?
And, likewise, if anyone is coming to Disneyland before the end of May, give me a HOLLA and I'll find a great deal on tickets for you. Thanks.

 

[KeatingFamily]

Greetings fellow Cruisers! The Keating and Rickards families (from 2011 Disney Wonder Panama cruise) and first time Disney Cruisers Schloessingers are looking forward to joining you all on the Fantasy!

 

[KeatingFamily]

Hello ssanders,
Sorry to clog the thread but apparently I don't have enough posts to send a private message to you to add us to the Fish Extender list. (what can I say - I'm a shy person) And so (to contradict the previous statement), I'll post the info here and hope you read it and add us. Thanks in advance!
-Matthew

Room Number: 7034
Dinner Seating: MAIN
Show Time: ?
Family Name: Keating
DIS Board Name: KeatingFamily
Matthew DD
Suzanne DM
Arianna DD (7)
Notes/Allergies: Our 2nd cruise (Wonder Panama '11) looking forward to getting the FE thing right this time! No allergies

Room Number: (not sure yet - cat 11B)
Dinner Seating: MAIN
Show Time: ?
Family Name: Rickards
DIS Board Name: KeatingFamily
Anne Marie DM
Alyria DD (5)
Notes/Allergies: also from Panama '11, no allergies

Room Number: 7032
Dinner Seating: MAIN
Show Time: ?
Family Name: Schloessinger
DIS Board Name: KeatingFamily
Fred DH
Kathleen DW
Notes/Allergies: First Time Disney Cruise, no allergies

 

[KeatingFamily]

D'oh! I used the wrong code for myself. Actually - Matthew should be DH