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

[don604]

Scottie - Glad you finally got your docs. Have a GREAT trip and be sure to tell us all about when you return

j2bmickey - Glad you like the signature graphic! Would love to design door graphics I dont know much about what belongs on a door graphic but I'm sure they will turn out nice. I havent cruised yet but I did see a few posts about door graphics.. pretty cool

 

[scottie]

Scottie - Glad you finally got your docs. Have a GREAT trip and be sure to tell us all about when you return

Thanks! Really looking forward to getting away from this COLD weather for a few days. Now just need to hope my MIL is able to fly here tomorrow so we can head out Wednesday! A big winter storm is supposed to start in a couple of hours and run till dinner time tomorrow. Her flight is scheduled to arrive around lunch time tomorrow.

 

[scottie]

So we are fresh back from our couples-only Disney cruise and night at AKL. We both had a fabulous time and I wouldn’t hesitate to do another 3 or 4 night Disney cruise without the kids in a couple of years. Even my wife who was so worried about leaving the kids at home had a wonderful time and kept talking about how she couldn’t wait to sail again in 15 months! I can tell you she has never talked about a future cruise during our prior sailings so this one must have really won her over! I was amazed how many things we spotted or did that we never realized on prior Wonder cruises when we had the kids along.


Wow didn’t even realize we are over 100 posts already!

 

[alanapapa]

Welcome Back Scottie,
Glad to see you two had a great trip. Are you going to do a TR?

TTFN

 

[scottie]

Welcome Back Scottie,
Glad to see you two had a great trip. Are you going to do a TR?

TTFN

Not sure on a TR. Maybe I will see if I can throw a brief something or another together so that I don’t have to rush back to reality so soon

 

[don604]

So we are fresh back from our couples-only Disney cruise and night at AKL. We both had a fabulous time and I wouldn’t hesitate to do another 3 or 4 night Disney cruise without the kids in a couple of years. Even my wife who was so worried about leaving the kids at home had a wonderful time and kept talking about how she couldn’t wait to sail again in 15 months! I can tell you she has never talked about a future cruise during our prior sailings so this won must have really won her over! I was amazed how many things we spotted or did that we never realized on prior Wonder cruises when we had the kids along.


Wow didn’t even realize we are over 100 posts already!

Welcome back Scottie!! Glad to hear that your trip went well. I saw that you took a peek of 5520 SPH... cool. Anyways, glad to hear you're back safe

 

[scottie]

Welcome back Scottie!! Glad to hear that your trip went well. I saw that you took a peek of 5520 SPH... cool. Anyways, glad to hear you're back safe

Thanks, glad to be back... kind of! Yep, we snuck into all the SPH rooms before we left the ship yesterday to see what the view etc. was like. I am pleased with the view from our room. The view from MIL/girls room is not that great but oh well we have connecting rooms so they can walk over and look out our window if needed

 

[don604]

Thanks, glad to be back... kind of! Yep, we snuck into all the SPH rooms before we left the ship yesterday to see what the view etc. was like. I am pleased with the view from our room. The view from MIL/girls room is not that great but oh well we have connecting rooms so they can walk over and look out our window if needed

Thats cool. Glad you got to check em out. Gets you looking forward to the next cruise even more, huh? How was the weather?

 

[scottie]

Thats cool. Glad you got to check em out. Gets you looking forward to the next cruise even more, huh? How was the weather?

Made me look forward to the next cruise too much maybe! 15 or so months away is a long time! But we do have softball season starting up for the girls in a couple of months so that will keep us busy for the spring and summer and we have a big family outing planned to Disneys Hilton Head Island resort for a week in June and a DisneyWorld trip for 4 nights over Thanksgiving to get our Disney fix in before the cruise.

As for the weather...
-Arrived in Orlando Wednesday and it was around 70 and sprinkled later in the day. No biggie since we just hung out at the hotel.
-Thursday we sailed out and it was in maybe low/mid 70s with sun and breeze so very nice for the sailaway party.
-Friday we were in Nassau and it was in the low/mid 70s again and started to rain right when we finished up shopping and were heading back to the ship. DW was so worried her new purse purchase was going to get wet!
-Saturday Castway Day woke up to low 70s and headed to the adult beach. Left there quickly because it was WAY too windy on that beach. Headed over to the family beach with little wind and warmed up to low/mid 80s by 1pm and Sun beat down on us. Got a solid sunburn in just a couple of hours on the family beach.

We talked and plan to re-book while onboard in May for a future cruise so we can try one of the new ships out!

 

[don604]

Made me look forward to the next cruise too much maybe! 15 or so months away is a long time! But we do have softball season starting up for the girls in a couple of months so that will keep us busy for the spring and summer and we have a big family outing planned to Disneys Hilton Head Island resort for a week in June and a DisneyWorld trip for 4 nights over Thanksgiving to get our Disney fix in before the cruise.

As for the weather...
-Arrived in Orlando Wednesday and it was around 70 and sprinkled later in the day. No biggie since we just hung out at the hotel.
-Thursday we sailed out and it was in maybe low/mid 70s with sun and breeze so very nice for the sailaway party.
-Friday we were in Nassau and it was in the low/mid 70s again and started to rain right when we finished up shopping and were heading back to the ship. DW was so worried her new purse purchase was going to get wet!
-Saturday Castway Day woke up to low 70s and headed to the adult beach. Left there quickly because it was WAY too windy on that beach. Headed over to the family beach with little wind and warmed up to low/mid 80s by 1pm and Sun beat down on us. Got a solid sunburn in just a couple of hours on the family beach.

We talked and plan to re-book while onboard in May for a future cruise so we can try one of the new ships out!

Wow! Sounds like you guys have alot planned to help make the year pass quicker
A sun tan in winter...sounds awesome!! Sounds like the new ships will be great!! I have a feeling I am going to love our first cruise and will most likely become a DCL regular

 

[scottie]

One thing we have learned, if you think there is ANY chance you may want to sail with DCL again while onboard the ship it is usually well worth it to book onboard for a future cruise date. You get 10% off and a room credit. You can book any date and move it to another date if you decide you want something else say after you return home and have time to consider your options. They only require a deposit onboard.

 

[don604]

One thing we have learned, if you think there is ANY chance you may want to sail with DCL again while onboard the ship it is usually well worth it to book onboard for a future cruise date. You get 10% off and a room credit. You can book any date and move it to another date if you decide you want something else say after you return home and have time to consider your options. They only require a deposit onboard.

Wow...sounds like I might have to consider doing that. How much is the deposit to book on board or does it vary?

 

[MickeyCruiser]

We just booked on the 05/09/2009. This is our second Disney Cruise. Went on the 7 night Western 05/06/2006.

 

[scottie]

Wow...sounds like I might have to consider doing that. How much is the deposit to book on board or does it vary?

If I recall correctly we paid $250 per person when we re-booked onboard this past May. If you book a cat 1-3 room then I think it is $500 per person deposit.
The amount of shipboard credit they offer varies at $100 per room for a 3/4 night cruise and $200 per room for a 7 night cruise.

 

[scottie]

We just booked on the 05/09/2009. This is our second Disney Cruise. Went on the 7 night Western 05/06/2006.

Welcome Aboard MickeyCruiser!!

 

[don604]

If I recall correctly we paid $250 per person when we re-booked onboard this past May. If you book a cat 1-3 room then I think it is $500 per person deposit.
The amount of shipboard credit they offer varies at $100 per room for a 3/4 night cruise and $200 per room for a 7 night cruise.

ok cool...thanks for that info. Thats gives me an idea of what to expect, you da man!!

We just booked on the 05/09/2009. This is our second Disney Cruise. Went on the 7 night Western 05/06/2006.

Yeah... Welcome MickeyCruiser!!! Good to have you aboard

 

[scottie]

Well all, I have a dream ... a dream to own a dSLR camera before our next trip (June)! Anyone have experience with one? We have been a digitial point and shoot family forever and I think it may be nice to move up the ladder.

 

[don604]

Well all, I have a dream ... a dream to own a dSLR camera before our next trip (June)! Anyone have experience with one? We have been a digitial point and shoot family forever and I think it may be nice to move up the ladder.

I actually own one I have a Canon Digital Rebel EOS camera and I love it I have 2 Canon lenses for it, a 58mm & a telescopic zoom lens and a Canon flash. It takes great pictures... my FIL & I actually run a side business taking photos and videotaping special events such as Weddings, Anniversaries, Quinceneras, etc... You can basically point & shoot with this camera and it will take great shots but it also has manual settings for people who are more knowledgeable with photography. The only drawback for taking our camera on trips is that its bulky and a drag to carry around sometimes (especially on HOT days ) Besides that a dSLR camera is a great thing to have.

 

[scottie]

Thats a great side business! I think I am finding myself settling on The Nikon d40 with and upgrade from the standard kit lens of 18-55mm to the kit lens of 18-135mm. I was looking at Nikon, Olympus and Cannon and found myself leaning towards the Nikon more and more as the best starter camera after reading a bunch online. I think getting the larger lens from the start will help me avoid having to carry around two lenses. That is until we become SLR pros For the current time I think we will mostly use the automatic setting on the camera.
Look at me acting like I know something about this whole dSLR thing and I have only been reading about it for a few days so I actually know little to nothing about the whole dSLR world!
Tell me your thoughts please Don and anyone else out there in 5/9/09 land!

 

[don604]

Thats a great side business! I think I am finding myself settling on The Nikon d40 with and upgrade from the standard kit lens of 18-55mm to the kit lens of 18-135mm. I was looking at Nikon, Olympus and Cannon and found myself leaning towards the Nikon more and more as the best starter camera after reading a bunch online. I think getting the larger lens from the start will help me avoid having to carry around two lenses. That is until we become SLR pros For the current time I think we will mostly use the automatic setting on the camera.
Look at me acting like I know something about this whole dSLR thing and I have only been reading about it for a few days so I actually know little to nothing about the whole dSLR world!
Tell me your thoughts please Don and anyone else out there in 5/9/09 land!

The Nikon d40 is a nice camera and takes awesome pictures. I think that lens is a great overall lens that should work great for all of your needs. I do recommend a UV Lens Filter for outside shooting though and a lens hood. Those make the pictures look so much better by blocking out excess sunlight, haze, etc... I normally get my stuff through BHPHOTOVIDEO.COM but there are tons of places to get good camera gear online now and then theres that other little site called eBay too