05/09/2009 May 9, 2009 7-Night Eastern St Maarten... Watch Out!

[YenSid1222]

I think you will much prefer the 7 night. I had only done the 7 and did my first 3 night last month. It was far too short. You barely had time to get comfortable and see the ship and it was time to get off. I can't wait to spend the full week again.

 

[scottie]

we do love doing a 4 night cruise followed by 4 or 5 nights in WDW as we have in the past, but I am sure you are right 7 days at sea should be wonderful! Plus we will get to sneak in 2 nights at WDW after so all the better!

 

[dollysmom]

We received our shore excursion packet today. We have no idea which one to do because of the age differnece in our children. Not sure that the 8 year old and 3 year old would be interested in doing the same things. Decisions, decisions. Also, we are starting to look for deals to book our flights. Who knows, if it's too expensive we may end up driving!

Anyone know if we decided to do the FE for sure?

 

[YenSid1222]

I would love to do a Fish Extender myself...I am sure my two friends would be game too (although I will have to explain the whole thing out...and they may think I am a bit crazy...but that is part of, right?)

 

[airtime247]

Count us in for the fish extender if everyone is interested.

We've only taken one cruise that was 4 nights but, unlike everyone else who has taken a shorter cruise, we couldn't wait to get off that ship. It was a quick cruise with our DD who was 16mo at the time. It was a smaller, older Royal Caribbean ship which would have been fine for us but sorely lacked for entertainment for kids under 4yo.

We couldn't wait to get her on a Disney cruise and this will be her first! I have been reading everything I can on the ports and I still don't know what we are going to do. Does anyone know if any of the beaches in St. Marten or St. Thomas/St. John have play areas for little ones like they have at some water parks where they can splash around and have water squirt from the ground and overhead?

-steve

 

[scottie]

I have been reading everything I can on the ports and I still don't know what we are going to do. Does anyone know if any of the beaches in St. Marten or St. Thomas/St. John have play areas for little ones like they have at some water parks where they can splash around and have water squirt from the ground and overhead?-steve

To be honest, I am not sure if any of the beaches have that or not. We have decided based on reading reviews on various sites that we are going to head over to Magens Bay in St. Thomas as a family. We are not going to do the excurision via DCL though to the beach, we are going to do it on our own.

 

[scottie]

We received our shore excursion packet today. We have no idea which one to do because of the age differnece in our children. Not sure that the 8 year old and 3 year old would be interested in doing the same things. Decisions, decisions. Also, we are starting to look for deals to book our flights. Who knows, if it's too expensive we may end up driving!

We will have a 3 year old too, and it seems like the vast majority of the excursions are for kids older then that. So we decided to do a day at the beach in St. Thomas on our own and shop and sight-see in St Marteen.

 

[MickeyCruiser]

I am patiently waiting for our info packet, we are in Canada so I imagine it takes a little bit longer to get here. I know its probably the same info as whats on the Disney site but it is exciting getting stuff from Disney. I think we are going to do the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel in St. Thomas, we are excited to see Sea Turtles. In St. Martin we will definitely catch a taxi to a beach and risk the naked sunbathers, if we are in the Caribbean we are definitely taking advantage of the beaches.

 

[enchantednana]

Mickey Cruiser - We are in Canada also, and received our packages yesterday and the day before. We are in Eastern Canada. Hopefully you will get yours soon.

 

[MickeyCruiser]

Hooray I am excited to hear that, thanks for the udpate. We are in Ontario, I'm sure they will be here this week then.

 

[mopsey25]

wow this thread is great. We are on the same crusie in May. I am travelling with my mom, fiance, sister, brother-in law and 2 newphews jack (4) and Dylan (3).

What packages are you all referring to? We haven't received anything yet or will we not get them until the last payment for the cruise is made?

thanks!

 

[scottie]

wow this thread is great. We are on the same crusie in May. I am travelling with my mom, fiance, sister, brother-in law and 2 newphews jack (4) and Dylan (3).

What packages are you all referring to? We haven't received anything yet or will we not get them until the last payment for the cruise is made?

thanks!

Welcome Aboard! If I recall correctly, the packet is kind of general info and info about excursion options. It should arrive before your last payment has to be made.
You can book the excursions, spa treatments, Palo, sign up for the kids clubs, etc. on the Disney site once your final payment is made and you have hit the online booking window. I believe 105 days out for cat 1-3 rooms, 90 days for past cruisers, and 75 days for new cruisers.

Our 3yr old is also name Dylan, hopefully our rooms are not too close together or we may end up with the wrong kid for the night

 

[dollysmom]

We also have a 3 year old son, but his name is Cooper. It's good to know that he will have some friends to play with. He can be a little shy. I think that out of my 3 children (girls aged 8 and 5), he is the most excited. Can't wait until we can all meet.

 

[scottie]

We also have a 3 year old son, but his name is Cooper. It's good to know that he will have some friends to play with. He can be a little shy. I think that out of my 3 children (girls aged 8 and 5), he is the most excited. Can't wait until we can all meet.

Good, more friends for Dylan in the club He also is pretty shy for the first bit and then warms up and is ball of energy!
Maybe he can meet up with Cooper in the terminal before we board and they can get to know each other before we board the ship. I imagine we will hit the Mickey pool after we board and have lunch.

Dylan is pretty much fully potty trained now so I think we are A-OK with club time when he wants (AKA our late dinner seating time maybe) and whenever else.

Morgan, is our middle child and she will turn 8 towards the end of March so she will be in the lab with your daughter too.

I can’t recall, are you arriving the day of the cruise or staying somewhere before hand?

 

[DisneyMommy1022]

Hello to all,
Its been some time from my last post so I thought I would stop by and see how you all are doing. Is any one staying at the Raddison before the cruise that has kids? Just wanted to see if DD's 7 and 4 would have someone to play with and get to know before we get on the ship.

 

[scottie]

Hello to all,
Its been some time from my last post so I thought I would stop by and see how you all are doing. Is any one staying at the Raddison before the cruise that has kids? Just wanted to see if DD's 7 and 4 would have someone to play with and get to know before we get on the ship.

Hope all is well! We did consider staying near port at the Radisson, as we usually stay by port the night before. However, I think we are leaning towards staying near Orlando airport this time instead and having the driver just take us from the hotel to port the next morning.

 

[airtime247]

I'd love the opportunity for our 3yo DD to meet some friends on the cruise. It would be especially nice if she got to play with them a little before she goes to the Oceaneer's Club. We are a little worried she will be too shy and not want to go. There are only so many nice ways we can ask before saying, "Beat it kid, we've got a Palo ressie!"

We'll be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge before the cruise so no Radisson meet for us. We are starting to look into a towncar or van rental instead of the Disney coaches. It looks like we can save a little $$$ and get to the port early. I love to be lined up at the buffet for "rope drop" if I can!

-steve

 

[scottie]

I'd love the opportunity for our 3yo DD to meet some friends on the cruise. It would be especially nice if she got to play with them a little before she goes to the Oceaneer's Club. We are a little worried she will be too shy and not want to go. There are only so many nice ways we can ask before saying, "Beat it kid, we've got a Palo ressie!"

We'll be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge before the cruise so no Radisson meet for us. We are starting to look into a towncar or van rental instead of the Disney coaches. It looks like we can save a little $$$ and get to the port early. I love to be lined up at the buffet for "rope drop" if I can!

-steve

Well if you arrive at port early too then I guess we may all just end up with a big 3yr old play time (run around the terminal time)! Im sure all the other kids may like to meet up too. In the past, we have always ran into DIS familys at the seats near the ship end of the terminal- where the large windows are just past the gangway entrance. We tend to find ourselves taking up space down there. They have some tables for the kids to color disney drawings there too usually.

Our two daughters were a bit shy when they went into the club the first time, but were able to warm up pretty quickly with the great counslers and the playground! However, the whole Palo resv thing has me a bit worried at this point too, because it will only be our second night onboard when we have that reservation and I worry a tiny bit Dylan may not be fully into the club at that point. I'm sure in the end it will be fine but the thought is in the back of my mind! If I recall correctly, I dont think they can spend much time there the first night?

I confirmed our final leg of the transfers with our driver the other day. He is great and we all enjoy getting to port earlier then the bus can get us there! The cost will be less for us then using DCL transfers too.

 

[dollysmom]

Good, more friends for Dylan in the club He also is pretty shy for the first bit and then warms up and is ball of energy!
Maybe he can meet up with Cooper in the terminal before we board and they can get to know each other before we board the ship. I imagine we will hit the Mickey pool after we board and have lunch.

Dylan is pretty much fully potty trained now so I think we are A-OK with club time when he wants (AKA our late dinner seating time maybe) and whenever else.

Morgan, is our middle child and she will turn 8 towards the end of March so she will be in the lab with your daughter too.

I can’t recall, are you arriving the day of the cruise or staying somewhere before hand?

Scottie - I think that Cooper will be fine the club because he will be with his 5 year old sister. It is our 8 (almost 9) year old daughter Kennedy that tends to be the shy one. So it would be great if Kennedy and Morgan can get to know each other alittle before we get on the ship.

We have not booked our flights or hotel yet. We are flying in from Nova Scotia, Canada, and the flights are still alittle expensive. Our plan as of right now is to fly in on Friday and fly home on Sunday. But again all of that depends on the price of the flights. We are planning on staying at the port when we arrive and near the airport when we disembark (depending on flight times and such). I am hoping that in the next couple of weeks to finalize our travel plans.

 

[scottie]

Scottie - I think that Cooper will be fine the club because he will be with his 5 year old sister. It is our 8 (almost 9) year old daughter Kennedy that tends to be the shy one. So it would be great if Kennedy and Morgan can get to know each other alittle before we get on the ship.

We have not booked our flights or hotel yet. We are flying in from Nova Scotia, Canada, and the flights are still alittle expensive. Our plan as of right now is to fly in on Friday and fly home on Sunday. But again all of that depends on the price of the flights. We are planning on staying at the port when we arrive and near the airport when we disembark (depending on flight times and such). I am hoping that in the next couple of weeks to finalize our travel plans.

Sounds like a plan! Hopefully airfare will meet your needs soon, so you dont have to make that long drive! I guess the airfare costs will depend alot on what happens with fuel prices.