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

[dollysmom]

A goodie bag is a nice idea... do you mind if we maybe share your idea? Of course I am leaving most decisions with this FE process up to the kids!

Don't mind at all if you share our goodie bag idea.

 

[moebear]

To Disneymommy1022:

DIS Name: Moebear
Bonnie
Gerry (DH), Emma (DD 7), Morgan (DD 8)
Room: 8550
Celebrating: ???
( Will you have a FE at Both Rooms or Just one)

Lorraine & Brent (my DM & DF)
Room:8552
Celebrating: ???

We will be celebrating my Dad's birthday (Brent). I will arrange for both rooms to have the FE's. Thanks so much for doing this and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

I really don't want to wish time away, but.....May 9th cannot come fast enough!

 

[DisneyMommy1022]

Wow - You guys are really tracking a lot of info - kudos and thanks!
I thought I posted this already, but I'm losing it, so there's no telling what I've done or not done...that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
We're going to be in room 8062.
Thanks for pulling everything together Scottie and DisneyMommy!

Updated!

 

[don604]

The DCL site is now open for excursion booking for us 75 day'ers

 

[NMDisneyMom]

YEAH!!!!!!!

Was able to get on with no problems and get our excursions booked. I was worried after reading how everyone else has had problems. But it was fairly painless. Now I just have one countdown clock left to watch - the all important one til we leave!

Jennifer

 

[MouseNDaHouse]

YEAH!!!!!!!

Was able to get on with no problems and get our excursions booked. I was worried after reading how everyone else has had problems. But it was fairly painless. Now I just have one countdown clock left to watch - the all important one til we leave!

Jennifer

It was definitely painless...except for the fact that all the times I wanted were booked!
Scottie - Got the Regatta - we're golden!
Palo - got Sunday night; wanted Monday night...but oh well - beggars can't be choosers.

Gonna keep on trying back to see if Tea or Brunch open up at all over the next week or two...

 

[Mastiff]

Scottie,

Can I change my 2 youth bracelets to glow?

If it's too late no biggie!

Thanks,

 

[don604]

Very happy to finally have all of our excursions booked!!!
I do have a question though...does anyone know how payments for the excursions work? I booked all of our excursions through the DCL website. Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[scottie]

Very happy to finally have all of our excursions booked!!!
I do have a question though...does anyone know how payments for the excursions work? I booked all of our excursions through the DCL website. Thanks in advance for the input.

Happy to hear everyone had an easy time logging in and securing some reservations!
DCL booked excursions should just be added to your shipboard account charges and you will pay for it when you settle up at the end of the cruise.

 

[scottie]

It was definitely painless...except for the fact that all the times I wanted were booked!
Scottie - Got the Regatta - we're golden!
Palo - got Sunday night; wanted Monday night...but oh well - beggars can't be choosers.

Gonna keep on trying back to see if Tea or Brunch open up at all over the next week or two...

Sorry to hear you couldnt land Palo for Monday. If you would prefer that day I would say it may be worth a shot to try to change when you board the ship. If not, maybe we will run into you at Palo Sunday.

Americas Cup cant hold us back... watch out 12 Meter Regatta!

 

[scottie]

I tried to catch everyone’s request for updates to the bracelet order, please let me know if I missed anything or if you need an update to your order. I would like to order in the next few days possibly.

 

[don604]

Happy to hear everyone had an easy time logging in and securing some reservations!
DCL booked excursions should just be added to your shipboard account charges and you will pay for it when you settle up at the end of the cruise.

Easy enough... thanks!

 

[DisneyMommy1022]

OK so here are the plans I was able to get last night:

Monday: Palo 8:30pm
Tuesday: Afternoon Beach Bash Tour: 1:30 -4:30
Thursday: Exotic Rasul (For me and DH): 3:30
Friday: Seahorse Catamaran Snorkel Adventure: 9:15am

I will keep checking back on the Brunch for Me and DH. Not sure what I wanted to to in St. Thomas. Would love to see what everyone else has planed!

THE COUNT DOWN IS ON!!!!!!

 

[lulu0506]

I booked the 12 Meter Regatta for DH as a surprise .... question for those doing that excursion.... are you going with the entire family (ie kids)or alone? I was not thrilled about leaving DS7 and DS3 on the ship alone so I booked DH for the excursion and I will stay back with the kids. Not sure however what to do.... do I go to the beach alone with kids or stay on the boat and wait for DH. Is St. Martin a safe place where I would feel comfortable taking kids alone?

Any input from you expert cruisers would be greatly appreciated

 

[airtime247]

I booked the 12 Meter Regatta for DH as a surprise .... question for those doing that excursion.... are you going with the entire family (ie kids)or alone? I was not thrilled about leaving DS7 and DS3 on the ship alone so I booked DH for the excursion and I will stay back with the kids. Not sure however what to do.... do I go to the beach alone with kids or stay on the boat and wait for DH. Is St. Martin a safe place where I would feel comfortable taking kids alone?

Any input from you expert cruisers would be greatly appreciated

I've heard mixed things about St. Maarten but nothing I haven't heard about most ports. I've become a lot more cautious since our daughter was born so we generally stick with local tours now. There is some comfort with the "safety in numbers" feeling about exploring with people from your ship.

I've never had a bad experience or felt unsafe in doing this. For St. Maarten, we are going with Bernard's Tours http://www.bernardstours.com/. I posted about it on here a while back. It looks like a good taster for some of the fun touristy things to do on the island including Orient Bay and shopping in the two capital cities. The cost was only $35/pp which sounded like a good deal to us so we reserved it.

-steve

 

[MouseNDaHouse]

I booked the 12 Meter Regatta for DH as a surprise .... question for those doing that excursion.... are you going with the entire family (ie kids)or alone? I was not thrilled about leaving DS7 and DS3 on the ship alone so I booked DH for the excursion and I will stay back with the kids. Not sure however what to do.... do I go to the beach alone with kids or stay on the boat and wait for DH. Is St. Martin a safe place where I would feel comfortable taking kids alone?

Any input from you expert cruisers would be greatly appreciated

I don't know any of the ports myself, but my wife is staying back with my kids as well (5, 3, and 1). I'm sure that if you all choose to go shopping or beaching together you'd definitely be safer...plus it 'takes a village' with all these kids anyway!

Just judging from experiences in Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, etc. I think if you/we all keep sensibly aware of our surroundings at all times you/we should be fine. Like Steve said - it's the same risks in most places.

My wife and I will be renting a car on St. Maarten (after the Regatta) to go to the Butterfly Farm with our girls. And on St. Thomas we're considering doing the same thing to be able to do both Coral World and a beach. (The Disney excursions seem to skip the beaches...)
Does anyone have any feedback (pro or con) for renting a car on our own on St. Thomas or for any of the beaches there?

 

[Mastiff]

First, Scottie thank you for changing the kids bracelets to glow. I hadn't checked our thread in a couple of days so I apologize for the late switch. I think the kids will get a kick out of the glow ones! Thanks.

I had no problem logging in last night to book our reservations. I was bummed no Palo brunch available but I was able to book a dinner for Wednesday night. Is that a "good" night to do dinner. I went off some recent navigators and figured we would have eaten in all the different restaurants by then and Pirate night is Tuesday, right? Gosh, I hope I am getting all this right!

For excursions I booked the Doubloon Sail & Snorkel on St. Thomas. I had read good reviews on DIS and in Passporter book. I think we will have a good time. I also booked the Castaway Rays Stingray on Castaway Cay.

I haven't booked anything for St. Maarten. I was thinking maybe we would just kind of wing it and do a beach on our own and a little exploring. Can anyone recommend a nice/clean beach?

Oohh, I also booked myself a little Mothers Day gift to myself, a facial!

Is anyone staying at WDW, BEFORE, the cruise? We are going down a few days early and staying at WDW. We are going to probably get a car service to drive us from WDW to the port. Has anyone used a service they can refer?

Now I need to get my FE and pillow cases ready! Can't believe how fast time is going by.

Can't wait to meet you all!

 

[scottie]

OK so here are the plans I was able to get last night:

Monday: Palo 8:30pm
Tuesday: Afternoon Beach Bash Tour: 1:30 -4:30
Thursday: Exotic Rasul (For me and DH): 3:30
Friday: Seahorse Catamaran Snorkel Adventure: 9:15am

I will keep checking back on the Brunch for Me and DH. Not sure what I wanted to to in St. Thomas. Would love to see what everyone else has planed!

THE COUNT DOWN IS ON!!!!!!

Looks like you will be keeping busy!

We dont have many official plans-yet!:

Sunday: Palo 6:30pm
St Maarten: I am doing the 12meter Regatta and then meeting up with the rest of my group for some shopping
St Thomas: Magens Bay on our own or we may consider Saphire Beach if Magens is too busy that day.
Everyday: Fun in the sun, good food, great times!! I am going to see if I can set a record for the most chicken fingers eaten on deck 9 in one cruise... I love those little guys!

I booked the 12 Meter Regatta for DH as a surprise .... question for those doing that excursion.... are you going with the entire family (ie kids)or alone? I was not thrilled about leaving DS7 and DS3 on the ship alone so I booked DH for the excursion and I will stay back with the kids. Not sure however what to do.... do I go to the beach alone with kids or stay on the boat and wait for DH. Is St. Martin a safe place where I would feel comfortable taking kids alone?

Any input from you expert cruisers would be greatly appreciated

He should be very happy with that surprise... assuming he can put up with all us DISers on the 12 Meter Regatta excursion with him!
I am leaving DW, MIL and kids back at the ship while I go on the excursion, unless they decide to wonder out shopping while I am sailing the high seas!
I agree with others, just remember you are in a new environment and keep a watchful eye. I believe the excursion is done around 11:30 so if you want to wait on the ship I would think that will still give you some time to head out once DH returns?

First, Scottie thank you for changing the kids bracelets to glow. I hadn't checked our thread in a couple of days so I apologize for the late switch. I think the kids will get a kick out of the glow ones! Thanks.

I had no problem logging in last night to book our reservations. I was bummed no Palo brunch available but I was able to book a dinner for Wednesday night. Is that a "good" night to do dinner. I went off some recent navigators and figured we would have eaten in all the different restaurants by then and Pirate night is Tuesday, right? Gosh, I hope I am getting all this right!

For excursions I booked the Doubloon Sail & Snorkel on St. Thomas. I had read good reviews on DIS and in Passporter book. I think we will have a good time. I also booked the Castaway Rays Stingray on Castaway Cay.

Can't wait to meet you all!

no problem on the bracelet update!

I think pirate night is Tuesday so you should be okwith not missing that event and the turkey legs!
I guess depending on what time your Palo reservation is vs. your normal dinner seating you could always enjoy meals at both places that night!

I also read many good reviews about the Doubloon excursion... Enjoy!

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

Hi every one! we will be doing:

Sunday- Palo Brunch at 10:30
Tuesday- St Maarten island and butterfly farm tour and dinner at Palo @6:30pm.
Wednesday- Skyride to Paradise Point.
Thursday- Palo high tea at 3pm.
Saturday- one night at BVC (waitlist for VWL) dinner at Cal Grill!

I still need to book our excursions, but will do that soon!

Also, Scott, I sent you a PM about bracelets. Thank you, sorry I am so slow to respond!

 

[DisneyMommy1022]

how did you get brunch? when did you book?