09/16/06 Double Scoop Group- see ya real soon!!

[rocketralph]

Maybe I'm just a 'veranda snob' but once you get a room with a veranda you never want to go back. I love waking up in the morning and having my breakfast and coffee on the balcony.

 

[ericamanda01]

Amanda-keep your chin up! maybe you can use the math to figure out the exact time till we cruise!
Darcy

That is a great way to look at it. I wonder how I could break down the time until we leave into fractions. Naaaaa. I hate fractions. I'll just rely on my ticker!

Gail, on our first disney cruise we spent so little time in the room, it was a cat. 11, that it didn't matter. We got the same cat. for our honeymoon cruise and still didn't spend too much more time in the room. If it's your first cruise and you don't have a real need for a veranda then I would stick with a lower cat. Another plus to getting the lower cat. is if you find that cruising isn't for you then your not out too much money.

But for our third cruise we are getting a veranda! I want coffee and sunrises this time.

 

[mommyz]

Hey guys! I've been reading all of the posts about various rooms and categories. I'm just wondering if the room really matters that much on a ship. This will be my first cruise ever, but with the land vacations that I have taken, I always find a clean, safe hotel in a location that is convenient to the activities that I planned to do, and then reserved the cheapest room they had. I spent my money having fun. We have never spent much time in our rooms. I would not think it would be any different on a ship. I am hoping that there is enough to do that my daughter and I will not want to be in our room. If all works out as planned, we will sleep, shower and change in the room. With that in mind, I booked the cheapest room, a category 12. My DD and I are cruising alone, space should not be an issue. Am I going to be very disappointed, or will it be alright?

On our 1st DCL cruise we booked the cheapest...the way that I see it is if you have nothing else to compare it to you will be fine. Dh and I have been on several RCCL cruises and the cabins are smaller.....BUT we were upgraded to a Cat 9 and now we do know we prob won't go back. The room size in Cat 10 and above are a little larger and have an extra sink. We never spent a lot of time in the room but when we were trying to get ready (which we were always in a rush) the extra sink helped a lot! But since it's you and dd you should be fine. You both will have soooooooooooo much fun

 

[gssmks]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I will stick with my reservation. I know that I would be able to make my DD spend any time in the room if I tried, and the veranda is not that important to me. I guess with me being divorced, my DD and I spend plenty of time alone together on a daily basis. On vacations, and even just nigths out, we like to do things that allow us to spend time with others. We would rather go to one of the top decks and watch the ocean pass and people watch at the same time. Besides, my DD is a true shopper. She would rather have the extra money to spend. We are already planning a second disney cruise. She wants to go on the Wonder just to say that she has been on both. If the inside room ends up being a mistake, we will go with a veranda next time.

So what do you guys think about the damage to Cozumel? Some of the people on some of the other threads are saying that they think it will be a year or longer before cruise ships can resume stopping there. Do you really think this might affect our cruise? If so, where do you think they will take us? The November 2005 ships are going to Costa Maya instead of Cozumel, but we are already scheduled to stop there.

 

[rocketralph]

So what do you guys think about the damage to Cozumel? Some of the people on some of the other threads are saying that they think it will be a year or longer before cruise ships can resume stopping there. Do you really think this might affect our cruise? If so, where do you think they will take us? The November 2005 ships are going to Costa Maya instead of Cozumel, but we are already scheduled to stop there.

I think Cozumel will rebuild sooner than that. There is a lot of revenue being loss and the more time passes, the more money they loose. A lot of the Bahamian islands recovered very quickly after the hurricanes last year. Tourists are a source of income and when the tourist don't come the cash flow doesn't roll in.

 

[TooPure4u]

Hi all...

About the cat's...My first cruise I had a clear plexiglass verandah courtesy of the Make-A-Wish foundation because my 16 year old son had cancer. It was wonderful. My second cruise I had a navigators verandah and was just as happy with that. I loved them both....especially for the coffee and danish at sunrise.

I was "told" that the cat 11 and 12's are like being in a coffin....dark and small. That you always oversleep because its so dark and half the time the wake up call doesnt exist. I have never been in these rooms but i could not imagine being in the dark that much. I spent alot of time in my room BECAUSE of the verandah. It is so beautiful to have and the sunsets and warmth is amazing.

I am in a room in September that has an obstructed view but has a clear plexiglass verandah...considered a cat 7 i believe...but jsut like a cat 6. There are only a handful of these rooms but I learned about them from this site.

Hurry September and get here

Tracy

 

[dzneprincess]

Yes, we have sailed in hurricaine season---right in between Katrina and Rita. The only rain we saw was in Cozumel, and we were shopping at the time. Drove the prices down as no one was getting off the ship during the down pour. The sun came out and we had already gotten our bargins, then we were off to a beautiful day at the less crowded beach. Waters were calmer than our last 2 Eastern cruises. Sailed twice in November with the same results, beautiful weather and a little less crowded ship.

Ok, now I have to share my excitement......I was able to transfer my on board ressie to Sams Club yesterday at a 5% savings on top of the 10% DCL gave me....then just for laughs I had her check the SPH rooms and I GOT THEM, with the upgrade I was still able to keep my credits, and I still saved $5.00 bucks off my original ressie for two CAT 11's.

I can't belive some Diser did not snatch up those rooms......amazing. Looking forward to meeting all of you.

Cindy

hehe I have 2 of them booked....the connecting ones on the 50 side...5022/5024 I think?

 

[dzneprincess]

Hello Everyone!

I know I haven't posted in several days. One of my best friend's daughter was killed in a car accident early Wednesday morning. We have been dealing with a lot over the past few days. She was only twenty-one. She just graduated from collage in May, started her dream job in July, purchased her first home in August, and she was married on August 20th. She was a wonderful young lady who was justing starting her life. It is so sad.

Everyone needs to call there loved ones right and now and say, "I love you!!!"

Oh Gail...I am so sorry that is horrible news

 

[gssmks]

Hi all...

About the cat's...My first cruise I had a clear plexiglass verandah courtesy of the Make-A-Wish foundation because my 16 year old son had cancer. It was wonderful. My second cruise I had a navigators verandah and was just as happy with that. I loved them both....especially for the coffee and danish at sunrise.

I was "told" that the cat 11 and 12's are like being in a coffin....dark and small. That you always oversleep because its so dark and half the time the wake up call doesnt exist. I have never been in these rooms but i could not imagine being in the dark that much. I spent alot of time in my room BECAUSE of the verandah. It is so beautiful to have and the sunsets and warmth is amazing.

I am in a room in September that has an obstructed view but has a clear plexiglass verandah...considered a cat 7 i believe...but jsut like a cat 6. There are only a handful of these rooms but I learned about them from this site.

Hurry September and get here

Tracy

I don't think the sleeping in thing will be a problem for me. I am use to getting up at 5:00 a.m. every morning and my DD has gotten up around 6:30 every morning her entire life. Even when school is out, she has to get and go to daycare. This means that seven days a week, she is up and going at 6:30 because it's what her body is use to. I wake up every morning before my alarm sounds because it's what my body is used to. Sleeping in, when I try to do it, means 6:30 or 7:00 at the latest. We are both also use to sleeping in total darkness. I've given it a lot of thought, and the only time that I think I would enjoy having a varenda would be at night when my DD goes to bed earlier than I do. If I had a varenda, I would probably sit out there and enjoy the fresh air until I got sleepy. I may regret it, but that just doesn't seem like enough to justify the additional cost. I just remembered last summer at Myrtle Beach, I reserved a room with a ocean front balcony, and during one full week, I probably did not sit out there a full hour all combined. Then again, a friend of mine who has cruise several times told me that he would never cruise without a veranda.

 

[dzneprincess]

Maybe I'm just a 'veranda snob' but once you get a room with a veranda you never want to go back. I love waking up in the morning and having my breakfast and coffee on the balcony.

See, I am just the opposite..we had a verandah for the 1st time last November, and while it was nice, it was not worth the extra cost, IMHO. I would rather take that savings and do more excursions, or buy more drinks, souvenirs etc etc etc or better yet out it towards another cruise!!!!! So because I go with a 10, 11 12...I am able to plan for 3 cruises in 2006! I'll take an inside room 3 times a year over one outside room for less cruises any time!

 

[gssmks]

Oh Gail...I am so sorry that is horrible news

It was so hard to deal with and her Mother is simply destroyed. I've hugged and kissed my own DD so much since Karin's accident that she now runs from me when she sees me walking toward her.

 

[dzneprincess]

there is no such thing as too much love.

 

[goofysgirl]

I have to post my opinion on the rooms. This will be our 8th cruise and we have had a Cat 4 Family suite with a verandah...this was a beautiful room with small kids...now that ours are bigger we take two rooms. We have had the SPH rooms on two sailings and then we have had Cat 11's for the rest. My favorite? the SPH and then a close second to the 11's. These rooms are spacious and inviting. The verandahs for us were a waste, because we just did not use them enough. I too am a shopping diva so I say pay less for the room and bring on the bargins. I love the top decks late in the evening. Just remember you are on the ship-who cares where you sleep as long as it is safe?
Is it September yet?

 

[skoi]

Our adoption social worker called this morning to tell us China has approved our plan to adopt Madalyn pending a review of our income, home study, and immigration forms. She told us 2 to 4 months until we travel to China, but I know the rule in adoption is to double the time the agency tells you, so unless the US goes to war with China, or the bird flu becomes a human pandemic, we'll be five on our cruise, plus grandma and grandpa.


Julie

 

[mommyz]

Congratulations!!! We are hoping we will have an addition by then as well!!

 

[dzneprincess]

Our adoption social worker called this morning to tell us China has approved our plan to adopt Madalyn pending a review of our income, home study, and immigration forms. She told us 2 to 4 months until we travel to China, but I know the rule in adoption is to double the time the agency tells you, so unless the US goes to war with China, or the bird flu becomes a human pandemic, we'll be five on our cruise, plus grandma and grandpa.


Julie

Great news Julie!

 

[dzneprincess]

I forgot to tell you all I picked up my vehicle yesterday! IT hurt real bad to hand that credit card over for an expense that high that was not Mouse related! LOL

 

[gssmks]

Our adoption social worker called this morning to tell us China has approved our plan to adopt Madalyn pending a review of our income, home study, and immigration forms. She told us 2 to 4 months until we travel to China, but I know the rule in adoption is to double the time the agency tells you, so unless the US goes to war with China, or the bird flu becomes a human pandemic, we'll be five on our cruise, plus grandma and grandpa.


Julie

Congrats!!!!!! I think it is wonderful that you are adopting.

 

[ericamanda01]

Our adoption social worker called this morning to tell us China has approved our plan to adopt Madalyn pending a review of our income, home study, and immigration forms. She told us 2 to 4 months until we travel to China, but I know the rule in adoption is to double the time the agency tells you, so unless the US goes to war with China, or the bird flu becomes a human pandemic, we'll be five on our cruise, plus grandma and grandpa.


Julie

How wonderful!!!! Congradulations!

 

[skoi]

Thanks to all the well wishers.

Now we need more prayers and pixie dust to make the workers over in China get moving with translations and stamping forms and filling out approvals for us to come over there. All I can think of is some of the people in my husband's government office-- get paid for 8 hours, work about 3.

Amanda-- The only time I look at the credit card bills is when we have Disney related charges on them-- at least I feel like I got something enjoyable for my money. And I won't even touch the gas/heating bill this winter. Ugh. My neighbor is on the "budget plan" and they're charging him $190 a month all year.

Julie