09/08/07 Early Check in September 8, 2007 Western

[DVC Kathy]

We had cruised for years with my SIL and her family so eating with total strangers is something I'm not accustomed to but will adapt. I get my wife to do all the talking.

Bill

We've had two tables for four, each with a single Mom and her young daughter (9-12, not 2-4) and the humungous table with what seemed like a million other couples. That was the hardest one for conversations, because of the table size.

Either we've been lucky, or it's not too difficult to share a table with strangers. Just ask how the day went, or what plans people have for the evening, and it seems to flow from there. DH and I aren't the life of the party either.

Kathy

 

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We've had two tables for four, each with a single Mom and her young daughter (9-12, not 2-4) and the humungous table with what seemed like a million other couples. That was the hardest one for conversations, because of the table size.

Either we've been lucky, or it's not too difficult to share a table with strangers. Just ask how the day went, or what plans people have for the evening, and it seems to flow from there. DH and I aren't the life of the party either.

Kathy

Out of our 15 or so cruises we have ventured out alone about 3-4 times. We have muddled through. Sometimes you have great tablemates and sometimes...

One cruise we were at a table for 8 with one grandma and grandpa and 2 very obnoxious teens. This was when we first started cruising and didn't now you could request a different table. This was also before all the alternative dining options. Grandpa was 3 sheets to the wind every night and the kids, well let's just say I was close to losing it and that takes a lot.
We had prime rib one night and the one teen picked it up with his hands and to eat it. I thought I was at Medieval times dining places .

Bill

 

[DVC Kathy]

One cruise we were at a table for 8 with one grandma and grandpa and 2 very obnoxious teens. This was when we first started cruising and didn't now you could request a different table. This was also before all the alternative dining options. Grandpa was 3 sheets to the wind every night and the kids, well let's just say I was close to losing it and that takes a lot.
We had prime rib one night and the one teen picked it up with his hands and to eat it. I thought I was at Medieval times dining places .

Bill

Okay, we've obviously been *very* lucky. Here's to great dining companions for all the Dis folks!

Kathy

 

[TinkerbellTris]

That is so wonderful! Hubby comes through. Bet he's on the top of the list now! HAHAHA
I wanted an anniversary ring for our 10 year anniversary. That's all I wanted. I told DH that when we got married. When our 10 year rolled around, he bought me a diamond tennis bracelet. Okay, I wasn't disappointed, but all I wanted was the ring. For Christmas that year, he bought me a gorgeous diamond necklace. Then I got diamond earrings (two pairs!). I got all this beautiful jewelry, but all I wanted was an anniversary ring! (I know, I'm a spoiled little princess). So finally, for Christmas a couple years ago, he surprised me with the anniversary ring. Funny thing is, I'm not a big jewelry person. Pretty much wear my wedding rings and a watch. That's it. But, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. Oh, and I still have my original wedding set as well.

Can't wait to see your new ring. I bet it is absolutely gorgeous. Congrats again.

Wow! You have lots of beautiful jewelry he's given you. And you got your ring. Very nice. Yeah I'm not to much of a jewelry person myself, but for our 10 year I was hoping for a new wedding ring. I didn't tell him though until around our 5 year anniversary that it was what I hoped for. FUnny thing is I wanted him to give it to me in front on Cinderella castle in WDW. Well we are going to WDW to begin our trip but he was to afraid to carry it in a bag all the way down there. He told me to take it off in front of the castle and give it to him, and he'll give it back to me. Hahahaha, where's the romance! hahaha

 

[MamaKoss]

Out of our 15 or so cruises we have ventured out alone about 3-4 times. We have muddled through. Sometimes you have great tablemates and sometimes...

One cruise we were at a table for 8 with one grandma and grandpa and 2 very obnoxious teens. This was when we first started cruising and didn't now you could request a different table. This was also before all the alternative dining options. Grandpa was 3 sheets to the wind every night and the kids, well let's just say I was close to losing it and that takes a lot.
We had prime rib one night and the one teen picked it up with his hands and to eat it. I thought I was at Medieval times dining places .

Bill

How can people allow their kids to act that way? No manners anymore, I swear! I would have given those kids a little piece of my mind...and then some!

When we cruised the 4-day Disney Wonder eastern, we had our own table; just our family. Guess we were lucky. However, on our honeymoon cruise on RCCL, we were seated at a table for 8 and the people we dined with were all very nice. We went out on St. Marteen with them and also had a bon voyage party on the top deck last night of the cruise. I guess we were lucky too.

 

[stina]

We had an unfortunate seating assignment once. This was on our '05 cruise. With only two of us we knew we'd be assigned to sit with other people which we were actually looking forward to. What we didn't expect was to be assigned to a table for 4 along with two people who had absolutely ZERO interest in us. So much so that they actually pretended we weren't there at all! No hello, no nothing. It was a mother and daughter, I think they were from Spain and perhaps offended by us in some way. Even our lovely server realized there was an "issue" and attempted to get them to socialize with us or at least smile! So after an awkward and uncomfortable first meal we went right to guest services and requested a change. We were able to keep the same seating and rotation and were moved to sit with a family of 5 from New Mexico. They turned out to be wonderful and we had a great time dining and talking with them every night! I'm not sure we would have looked forward to dinner as much every night if we hadn't been eating with them. It was nice at the end of every day to have other people to talk to about the day's activities or the upcoming night's plans. We did run into our original server later at Topsiders. She seemed sad that we had left and asked us why, but when we explained it wasn't her at all just the table companions she totally understood. So the lesson here is: feel free to request a table change! It's better to ask for what you want than to risk being uncomfortable for the whole cruise.

stina

 

[MamaKoss]

Wow! You have lots of beautiful jewelry he's given you. And you got your ring. Very nice. Yeah I'm not to much of a jewelry person myself, but for our 10 year I was hoping for a new wedding ring. I didn't tell him though until around our 5 year anniversary that it was what I hoped for. FUnny thing is I wanted him to give it to me in front on Cinderella castle in WDW. Well we are going to WDW to begin our trip but he was to afraid to carry it in a bag all the way down there. He told me to take it off in front of the castle and give it to him, and he'll give it back to me. Hahahaha, where's the romance! hahaha

Tinkerbelltris, you crack me up! Where's the romance is right! I hope he at least made it romantic when he gave it to you. My DH had the ring wrapped in a small box and placed it in this huge box with a leaf vaccuum machine I told him he better not buy me for Christmas! Well, he did buy the leaf vaccuum (which is very helpful in the Fall since we have woods that surround us, so lots of leaves) and he bought the ring. He told me I could only open one gift on Christmas Eve (while the whole family was there). Of course I chose the large box. When I opened it, there was a note pointing to the little box that said "you already chose a gift to open. Now you have to wait" and also tried to pull off that the little box was just the key to the leaf vaccuum. Talk about not fair!! I grabbed the little box and ran with it, while opening it at the same time. When I opened the ring box, I started crying because I didn't think he would ever buy the ring. I had told him that he had spent enough money on diamonds and that I was happy with everything I had. Then he buys the ring! MEN!!! Gotta love em.

 

[fltink]

We have had mostly good experience with dining mates. We have had some that we loved and stayed friends with, and we have had some that were just ok. No one too terrible, with the exception of maybe one of our Carnival Cruises where we sat with our friends, Donnica and Stick and also with two other couples who did not appear to like us at all until the last night when all of a sudden, they struck up a conversation. Wierd.

This time I am sure we will not sit with anyone else since, including Stina and Co. (Who we are hoping to sit with), we are 11 people.

 

[Donnica]

FLTink (Jennica) you forgot to mention table mates that you have to sit with you that you actualy brought on the cruise with you! ROFL! He-who-shall-not-be-named! chocolate deCADEnce! LOL I STILL laugh every time I think of him saying that!

 

[TinkerbellTris]

Tinkerbelltris, you crack me up! Where's the romance is right! I hope he at least made it romantic when he gave it to you. My DH had the ring wrapped in a small box and placed it in this huge box with a leaf vaccuum machine I told him he better not buy me for Christmas! Well, he did buy the leaf vaccuum (which is very helpful in the Fall since we have woods that surround us, so lots of leaves) and he bought the ring. He told me I could only open one gift on Christmas Eve (while the whole family was there). Of course I chose the large box. When I opened it, there was a note pointing to the little box that said "you already chose a gift to open. Now you have to wait" and also tried to pull off that the little box was just the key to the leaf vaccuum. Talk about not fair!! I grabbed the little box and ran with it, while opening it at the same time. When I opened the ring box, I started crying because I didn't think he would ever buy the ring. I had told him that he had spent enough money on diamonds and that I was happy with everything I had. Then he buys the ring! MEN!!! Gotta love em.

Awww, so sweet. What a great husband. Very nice. He brought it to me at work infront of a store full of people, and everyone including co workers got to see. He told me, I knew you couldn't wait, so I figured I'd bring it to you since it just got finished at the jewelers. It was sweet.

 

[stina]

Thanks for reminding us of he-who-shall-not-be-named Donnica! Too funny. Yeah, you had to sit with him at dinner but he latched on to us during every show!

Yay we will be 11!!!
Very exciting. We missed not sitting with you guys last time. Especially when we could HEAR you across the room.

 

[Bareacuda]

2 quick stories about my DH...
I haven't been to Disneyland ON my birthday since I was 8 years old, so this year we made it. I told him that I got a cool Peter Pan cap that day and loved it. So on my B-day he gave me another one right in front of Peter Pan's Flight. So I cried.

The other day was our anniversary, and he gave me a diamond princess crown ring... and it fits!
What a marshmello!

 

[TinkerbellTris]

2 quick stories about my DH...
I haven't been to Disneyland ON my birthday since I was 8 years old, so this year we made it. I told him that I got a cool Peter Pan cap that day and loved it. So on my B-day he gave me another one right in front of Peter Pan's Flight. So I cried.

The other day was our anniversary, and he gave me a diamond princess crown ring... and it fits!
What a marshmello!

AWWWWW!!!! That is so sweet, how thoughtful of him, what a great idea, and a great surprise for you. I wanna see the ring! 37 years right?

 

[Grandma4ever]

Just a short note to say HI and hoping all is well. I only have 14 full days before we leave. Now the time is going too fast. Can't wait to meet each of you.

 

[MCourtney]

Stop reading please if you don't want to hear about Hurricane Dean....

It is a very large storm, and is predicted to get to be at least at Cat. 4; and right now the Caymans and Cozumel are right in its path..... so maybe we will be going somewhere else? Here is my vent (pls ignore if needed), DH and I picked Western (as did most of you I'm sure) for a reason. We have spent our last 2 summer vacations in St. Martin and wanted something different. Anyway... point being is if ours turns to an Eastern, I'm happy to answer St. Martin questions

It is our 10 year anniversary too...... planned this trip for a bit, and wish we were boarding NOW. I'm driving everyone nuts around me, by humming the 'horn' music My daughter has taken to singing along with me.... The next couple of weeks are going to be painful for everyone near us waiting for 9/8 to get here!

I think I have to say this - don't really want to, and am willing to get flamed if necessary, but if you live on the Gulf Coast and haven't purchased trip insurance, please do. Not that Dean is going to cause the DCL to cancel the 9/8 cruise, (it won't) but that there is a slight chance that Dean may turn northward after it passes Cuba, etc, and depending on where you live that may cause you to want to cancel. Obviously too early to tell, but these cruises are far too expensive to gamble with, at least in my opinion. Link to the National Hurricane Center site for Dean here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/graphics/al04/loop_5W.shtml

Have a great night all...and may you all 'wish upon a star'

 

[shoes99]

The Travel Channel is showing Key West right now as Florida's #6 top ten beach. They were showing the "Duval Pub Crawl".... and said bars are open until 4AM...

 

[MCourtney]

The Travel Channel is showing Key West right now as Florida's #6 top ten beach. They were showing the "Duval Pub Crawl".... and said bars are open until 4AM...

Trust me on this one.... you don't want to be "crawling" back at 4 am

 

[MamaKoss]

2 quick stories about my DH...
I haven't been to Disneyland ON my birthday since I was 8 years old, so this year we made it. I told him that I got a cool Peter Pan cap that day and loved it. So on my B-day he gave me another one right in front of Peter Pan's Flight. So I cried.

The other day was our anniversary, and he gave me a diamond princess crown ring... and it fits!
What a marshmello!

Awwww...these guys! They can be romantics when they really want to be. Us women are so gooshy about romance. Men aren't. But every now and then...they step up to the plate. I can't wait to see the ring. I'm sure it's absolutely beautiful. Congrats.

 

[MamaKoss]

Awww, so sweet. What a great husband. Very nice. He brought it to me at work infront of a store full of people, and everyone including co workers got to see. He told me, I knew you couldn't wait, so I figured I'd bring it to you since it just got finished at the jewelers. It was sweet.

I'm glad for you. Romance is so important to us women-folk. We want to be swept off our feet; even after 10 years and more!

 

[MamaKoss]

Stop reading please if you don't want to hear about Hurricane Dean....

It is a very large storm, and is predicted to get to be at least at Cat. 4; and right now the Caymans and Cozumel are right in its path..... so maybe we will be going somewhere else? Here is my vent (pls ignore if needed), DH and I picked Western (as did most of you I'm sure) for a reason. We have spent our last 2 summer vacations in St. Martin and wanted something different. Anyway... point being is if ours turns to an Eastern, I'm happy to answer St. Martin questions

It is our 10 year anniversary too...... planned this trip for a bit, and wish we were boarding NOW. I'm driving everyone nuts around me, by humming the 'horn' music My daughter has taken to singing along with me.... The next couple of weeks are going to be painful for everyone near us waiting for 9/8 to get here!

I think I have to say this - don't really want to, and am willing to get flamed if necessary, but if you live on the Gulf Coast and haven't purchased trip insurance, please do. Not that Dean is going to cause the DCL to cancel the 9/8 cruise, (it won't) but that there is a slight chance that Dean may turn northward after it passes Cuba, etc, and depending on where you live that may cause you to want to cancel. Obviously too early to tell, but these cruises are far too expensive to gamble with, at least in my opinion. Link to the National Hurricane Center site for Dean here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/graphics/al04/loop_5W.shtml

Have a great night all...and may you all 'wish upon a star'

Okay...you are bringing up the H word again! I bought the trip insurance and I don't live in the Gulf Coast. I live by Lake Erie! No chance of a hurricane hitting here! Thank God. But, just like the "horn music", when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true! My dream is to have a wonderful relaxing cruise to the western carribbean and I'm not letting anybody or anything named Dean ruin it! Let's all pray for good weather and for all those people in the hurricane's path that no deaths or destruction will occur. Amen.