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

[Rominet]

Congrats on creating your own family compound on the ship, Valerie! LOL

available in a row, mid-ship, this close to the cruise date. I'm starting to think the ship is nowhere near full!

Valerie

 

[Rominet]

Valerie -

Can I practice my French? I've got a minor in it but haven't had a lot of opportunities to use it in New Mexico! Good thing I speak Spanish also!.

Jennifer

speak very little English and my parent-in-laws don't speak any at all. They would love to hear a little piece of home. I have no doubt they would appreciate any attempt!

Valerie

 

[Rominet]

You sound like my background although you probably speak better than I do. I grew up in ranching and oil, still like to wear boots, and know more Spanish than French.

I used to travel to Europe, especially France, and my first trip started with something like "Bonjour ya'll, donde esta cerveza"

I'm originally from very, very small town in KS. I think your description pretty much describes my French!

Valerie

 

[Eeyore77]

It looks like we will be next door to part of your group! It will be fun to have so many dis folks all on one hall! Hey it will make FE delivery nice and easy on that floor!

available in a row, mid-ship, this close to the cruise date. I'm starting to think the ship is nowhere near full!

Valerie

 

[j2bmickey]

OK I have to ask because my DH thinks I'm nuts but over the weekend I went threw all of DD's clothes and started packing! Here in MI we are still in winter clothing so I just figured that I would get a jump start and pack the summer stuff that they will be taking on the trip and make a list of stuff that they need. I have also put together a spreed sheet of every days outfits. All clothing goes into a zip lock bag and is labeled with the day of the week so when we get there all they have to do is get the bag for what ever day it is and get dressed. I also have a spreed sheet of what stuff I want in what suite case so that when I go to pack I will have Little of each persons stuff in each bag including a formal and casual out fit for dinner. Just in case we lose a back I want to be prepared!! Am I nut for doing this so soon????

You're not nuts, just passionate, as are most of us on this board.

DW made a spreadsheet on the first cruise, which honestly helped in several ways:

1. It helps think if a polo shirt worn one night could be worn the next day.
2. It helps keep you from overpacking.
3. It could be used if any luggage is lost.

She also put DD clothes in seperate ziplocks so it was easier to pull out an entire outfit. Unfortunately (for packing purposes) it is already warm in Arizona so no packing those clothes yet. We have however, started gathering other essentials into a pile. Things like FE's, bracelets, pirate costumes, etc.

 

[don604]

I just got back from San Diego and found that my bracelets arrived, thanks Scottie

 

[scottie]

I'm originally from very, very small town in KS. I think your description pretty much describes my French!

Valerie

My wife is originally from Kansas...lived there till she was a tween and then moved to Texas. If I recall correctly she lived in Garden City Kansas, don’t quote me on that.

 

[DisneyMommy1022]

You're not nuts, just passionate, as are most of us on this board.

DW made a spreadsheet on the first cruise, which honestly helped in several ways:

1. It helps think if a polo shirt worn one night could be worn the next day.
2. It helps keep you from overpacking.
3. It could be used if any luggage is lost.

She also put DD clothes in seperate ziplocks so it was easier to pull out an entire outfit. Unfortunately (for packing purposes) it is already warm in Arizona so no packing those clothes yet. We have however, started gathering other essentials into a pile. Things like FE's, bracelets, pirate costumes, etc.

What part of AZ are you from??? I grew up there I lived at 19th ave and union hills. My inlaws are still there and we go back 1-2 time a year!!!

 

[j2bmickey]

What part of AZ are you from??? I grew up there I lived at 19th ave and union hills. My inlaws are still there and we go back 1-2 time a year!!!

We are in Tucson (for about 3 years). Before that we lived in Dallas for 12 years. And before that, small towns in southern New Mexico.

I know, more info than you ever wanted. But when you talk to us, the background will be very clear, ya'll.

 

[Eeyore77]

You know if I had enough clothes I would probably be tempted to start packing as well. Now days since I moved FL I have pretty much just summer clothes, so if I put them in a suitcase I would have to go to work with no clothes. They would probably frown on that...

 

[dollysmom]

I was wondering if anyone knows the approx cab fares on St. Marten and St. Thomas? We are planning on doing the butterfly farm on our own and wanted to know about how much it would cost us to get there. Also, in St Thomas we are going to Coral World on our own, and would like to know about how much it will cost us to get there.

Hope somebody can help me out.

Only 44 more days to we all experience the MAGIC!!!!!!

 

[scottie]

You know if I had enough clothes I would probably be tempted to start packing as well. Now days since I moved FL I have pretty much just summer clothes, so if I put them in a suitcase I would have to go to work with no clothes. They would probably frown on that...

I imagine that would make for a interesting day at the college!

 

[scottie]

I was wondering if anyone knows the approx cab fares on St. Marten and St. Thomas? We are planning on doing the butterfly farm on our own and wanted to know about how much it would cost us to get there. Also, in St Thomas we are going to Coral World on our own, and would like to know about how much it will cost us to get there.

Hope somebody can help me out.

Only 44 more days to we all experience the MAGIC!!!!!!

I am not sure for your exact stops but when I checked for RT fares for ship to Magens Bay most people said around $6 or $7 per person each way plus tip. We plan to "shop" around at the port taxi area a bit and find someone who is offering the best price for our group of 6. I am budgeting about $85 for the RT for the 6 of us, including tip.
Hopefully someone can help with Butterfly and Coral World fares.

 

[scdizneydawnshubby]

...I could be persuaded...oh, yes, I could be persuaded! Depends on so many variables (such as level of exhaustion, wife's patience with me coming home smelling like cigars, etc.) but I could definitely be up for it!

OK, the wife's patience cannnot become an issue! Just get her a nice spa treatment or some jewelry. Hope to see you out there. We will make more definite plans as we get closer to the big day.

 

[MouseNDaHouse]

I am not sure for your exact stops but when I checked for RT fares for ship to Magens Bay most people said around $6 or $7 per person each way plus tip. We plan to "shop" around at the port taxi area a bit and find someone who is offering the best price for our group of 6. I am budgeting about $85 for the RT for the 6 of us, including tip.
Hopefully someone can help with Butterfly and Coral World fares.

I've booked a full-size car through Budget at both ports since it was cheaper than taxi for my family.
St. Thomas (for Coral World and beach) from 10-3:30 is currently at $53.74 and St. Maarten (for Butterfly Farm) from 12-4 is $61.56.

We booked using upromise.com so that we could get some of the $$$ back as college savings for the girls. Tried to take advantage of the Costco and AAA discounts but the rates never changed from the Budget.com site so it looks like you can't really get discounts outside of the US mainland.

I got directions to the Butterfly Farm from emailing them and it seems REALLY straightforward. Shouldn't be too hard to navigate and the cost-savings and freedom of having our own car was worth it to me.

Hope this helps.

 

[MouseNDaHouse]

OK, the wife's patience cannnot become an issue! Just get her a nice spa treatment or some jewelry. Hope to see you out there. We will make more definite plans as we get closer to the big day.

My wife cannot be bought. Believe me, I've tried. You have not gotten a look that could kill until you've gotten one from a part Cuban/part Argentine woman from Long Island! That look has several accents and all KINDS of attitude.
It literally jumps off of her face and slaps me around for several hours before letting me crawl whimpering back into a corner to rehearse my apology.

But I think she may be in a giving mood sometime during the first part of May...something about a boat...sea air...dessert buffets...we should be okay.

 

[scottie]

I've booked a full-size car through Budget at both ports since it was cheaper than taxi for my family.
St. Thomas (for Coral World and beach) from 10-3:30 is currently at $53.74 and St. Maarten (for Butterfly Farm) from 12-4 is $61.56.

We booked using upromise.com so that we could get some of the $$$ back as college savings for the girls. Tried to take advantage of the Costco and AAA discounts but the rates never changed from the Budget.com site so it looks like you can't really get discounts outside of the US mainland.

I got directions to the Butterfly Farm from emailing them and it seems REALLY straightforward. Shouldn't be too hard to navigate and the cost-savings and freedom of having our own car was worth it to me.

Hope this helps.

Great idea, we will consider this for sure as an option to get to Magens Bay! Looks like a minivan rental for the day will run us about the same as a taxi. I imagine Budget could pick us up at the port since it looks like their office is at Saphire Beach?

 

[MouseNDaHouse]

Great idea, we will consider this for sure as an option to get to Magens Bay! Looks like a minivan rental for the day will run us about the same as a taxi. I imagine Budget could pick us up at the port since it looks like their office is at Saphire Beach?

According to the Budget listing and to other postings, they should be right at the cruise ship port. There are apparently a lot of rental agencies right there, but the advice is to book in advance because the prices are much higher when you rent on-site.

 

[scottie]

According to the Budget listing and to other postings, they should be right at the cruise ship port. There are apparently a lot of rental agencies right there, but the advice is to book in advance because the prices are much higher when you rent on-site.

Cool, even better if they are right at the port! I will see what the gang wants to do and we may just be cruisin' St Thomas via minivan vs. open air bus.
Our plans for St Maarten have us within walking distance of the ship for everything as far as I know.

 

[scottie]

I just got back from San Diego and found that my bracelets arrived, thanks Scottie

Welcome Back... hope you had fun in San Diego!


1200 posts now... wonder where we will end up at????