09/21/08 SSMC08 S.S. Member Cruise 2008

[TnRobin]

Well I was able to get our Palo Dinner reservation and one spa treatment booked this morning before getting booted. All the early Palo dining is booked, but they still had 8:00 and later on all three nights a few minutes ago.

All I have left to book is my start of the cruise facial. There were still quite a few spots left when I got booked. Wish me luck. I will try again in about 20 minutes.

 

[acourtwdw2]

Mimi - I believe that is correct. They put out half the reservations for online booking (open to the 105, 90 and 75 days in that order). The rest are held for on board booking with everyone getting the same chance. If it makes you feel any better we didn't do Palo until our 4th cruise and I don't regret that. Many think it is a MUST do and while I love it I wouldn't classify it as that.

We have only done it once and it was great but we missed one of the presentations we wanted to see and had to leave the 1st one early. On the sea day they fill the entire day with presentations and events. So if you miss it on your first Member cruise i feel it wont be a great loss. However we did book dinner on pirates night (hopefully). I wanted to try it again. I hope its not a let down after the private room with Mary, Mark, Cheryl, Todd and Jim Lewis. That was a great night.

 

[TnRobin]

Okay, I was able to get back in and get my facial. the ones for Sunday were booked so I got an early morning one on Monday. Mike will get to sleep late. At first I was worried that we would be getting off the ship late and not get a good spot on the beach, but then I remembered. Matt will be at home and we can spend the day at the adult beach

 

[cherylp3]

Amanda, I'm with you but last year more and more people were spotting the dvc guests in Palo.

 

[WDWLVR]

There were definately a number of the guests in Palo for Brunch last year. We sat next to a really sweet older couple that we found out later was X Atencio and his wife.

I figured if Palo was going to interfere with anything we wanted to see we'd cancel. Checking last years navigator from that day I found that the presentation that would conflict with a late Palo seating was repeated later in the day. So we'll just play it by ear.

Amanda - that was a great dinner. Definately a once in a lifetime experience.

Robin - the last two member cruises we got into Castaway Cay after 10 due to a DVC show running so you should be fine getting a facial that morning and Mike will definately get to sleep in.

 

[acourtwdw2]

There were definately a number of the guests in Palo for Brunch last year. We sat next to a really sweet older couple that we found out later was X Atencio and his wife.

I just said the same thing to Annette.

 

[cobbler]

Robin - the last two member cruises we got into Castaway Cay after 10 due to a DVC show running so you should be fine getting a facial that morning and Mike will definately get to sleep in.

I was pretty sure that is what happened last year, this is why I booked the glass bottom boat thing from 11:15-12:45 on our first CC day. They had an earlier one but I was leary thinking we might not be docked yet.

Ok, just a quick question, if by some chance there is a reason why we can't get to CC because of weather or whatever, I am assuming they refund you the excursion - correct?

 

[JOANNEL]

Do you know if Roger got reservations for Parlo's Nancy tried this morning and the Brunch is filled for now but as Mary said they hold back half of them for people boarding. So if we are getting to Port early Mary said you can request reservations at the lounge at Route 66. If we can't gt in between now at the time we cruise we will have to do the Route 66.
Joan hope your having a good time?
Everybody have a great Monday
danandnan

Good morning all from Northern CA.

Roger wasn't able to get brunch either. He said the site kept hanging up. But he was at work and those super secret military computers don't like the internet!!!He did get dinner for the last night. So we will get to the port early and see what we can do. Oh well, we can eat at topsiders and pretend we are at Palo's!!!

I still have my # 3 from last year do they change the cards?


The wedding was beautiful. Except there was no a/c in the church since it's on Mailbu. It was so hot. The bride was beautiful. She married a Russian. Boy do they like to drink. The vodka shots were flowing. I had my one pina colada and that was enough for me. I would hate to see that bar bill.

It is very smoky here. WE are going to a water park today and then either Muir Woods or Lake tahoe tomorrow. My nephew is a firefighter/paramedic and he is off fighting these fires so I may not get to see him.

Have a great day every one.

 

[Empress Room]

A little update from my experience: by 5:30 a.m. E.D.T. this morning, there were no Palo brunches available, very limited (8:30 p.m. Day 2 only) Palo dinners and extremely limited spa appointments (late evening Day 1 and 2 for Well-Being massages).

Perhaps DCL should have opened up and made available additional opportunities for brunch, dining etc. This is a Members' Cruise, so the itinerary and services provided typically deviate from the norm any way.

Of course, there will be availability in person on the day of embarkation as well, but that creates a bit of a hassle.

 

[danandnan]

Thats sound like a great idea if we can't get Paro's when we get on board we can eat at TopSiders. Nancy say's if we eat at TopSiders we won't have to change.
Glad your having a great time. Sunday will be my last day of work until I do it again next spring. Going to be to busy the rest of the summer Joan to find another part time job.
How about those sox's in 14 innings .
Have a great day Joan. Nancy and I are on our way to pick up grand kids Pete is working at the Fire Dept and Shannon has office hours until 7PM so we watch the kids
danandnan

 

[mohrt2]

We weren't so anxious to get a Palo brunch reservation as others, so I waited until this morning. I didn't want to have to deal with a lot of the frustrations people mentioned above, so I just went to bed at my usual time (long before the appointed time). I have to confess, though, that I snuck a look in the middle of the night when I had to get up. At 1:44 am EDT, the Palo brunch was booked. So, we will take our chances when we get to the ship; if we get them fine, if not.... We were more concerned about spa reservations anyway and we got what we wanted for them this morning.

 

[disrailfan]

Wow! I am really feeling bummed. DW and I have to wait till the 75 day window to book our things. Hopefully they stage the avalability so that there are a few openings for us folks that it is our first time.

If not I guess if nothing else we will get there as early as we can to board on the departure day. WE are staying just a about 5 minutes away on the beach the night before since we are driving.

We are driving because we are bringing our Golf Clubs as we plan on playing gold at LB the three days after the cruise and we really did not want the added expense or hassle of flying with them.

Thanks for the advise everyone on the dress code as well.

 

[icydog]

I stayed up until after 1:30 Am this morning trying to get reservations made. The site kept throwing me off which frustrated me to death when I was so tired.

I never gave brunch a thought. I could have gotten it but never thought it would be that worthwhile.

I got one Palo reservation for dinner but could not book another one. Is there some rule that you can have only one dinner at Palo per trip?

The whole thing with the website snafu was so upsetting but today i am happy I got one dinner reservation, one glass bottom boat reservation and one pedicure on the first day on board.

 

[acourtwdw]

For folks who didn't get what they wanted last night, keep in mind this:when DVC releases more information about the cruise, people will cancel ressies. That will open up spots for more people. Happy thoughts

 

[WDWLVR]

I stayed up until after 1:30 Am this morning trying to get reservations made. The site kept throwing me off which frustrated me to death when I was so tired.

I never gave brunch a thought. I could have gotten it but never thought it would be that worthwhile.

I got one Palo reservation for dinner but could not book another one. Is there some rule that you can have only one dinner at Palo per trip?

The whole thing with the website snafu was so upsetting but today i am happy I got one dinner reservation, one glass bottom boat reservation and one pedicure on the first day on board.

Marylyn - yes you are only allowed one dinner, one brunch and one high tea (available on the 7 day or longer cruises) per stateroom. You can, of course, get on a waiting list for additional nights. This makes it available to as many people as possible.

 

[WDWLVR]

Another thing to keep in mind is that DVC often raffles off dinner in Palo at some of their presentations. You just might be a lucky winner of a free dinner in Palo!

 

[tikimimi]

Winning a dinner there would be nice. We thought we might enjoy brunch more than dinner. Those of you who have done both - which do you like better and why?

 

[tinkerbelle77]

Happy Monday all! After watching the Cubs sweep the sox we were able to book a brunch for Tim and I at 10am, along with dinner on the last evening for Tim, myself, his dad, and grandma! I went in to get a brunch ressie for Tim's dad, because they only had ressies for 1 or 2, and they were booked! Oh well, we will be on board for the cruise before, so we will see what we can do about getting them a brunch ressie!

Today was a very busy and sad day for us, my grandma's funeral was this morning. She lived a full and happy life, she was 88...I only hope that I can live that long and have the joy that she had. I went to work this morning until 10:30 then went to the funeral home, and now am back at work again. I have to take my friend to the airport at 5:30, then Tim and I have dinner for our anniversary today, then we pick up his dad at 8:30 from the airport! Then we will sit down and relax.

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[tikimimi]

Today was a very busy and sad day for us, my grandma's funeral was this morning. She lived a full and happy life, she was 88...I only hope that I can live that long and have the joy that she had. I went to work this morning until 10:30 then went to the funeral home, and now am back at work again. I have to take my friend to the airport at 5:30, then Tim and I have dinner for our anniversary today, then we pick up his dad at 8:30 from the airport! Then we will sit down and relax.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Tina - I'm sorry about the loss of your grandmother, and I am glad you can appreciate her life and its fullness. My mother is 88 - it is a delicate age for many. Have a nice anniversary dinner!

 

[WDWLVR]

Tina - to you on the loss of your Grandmother. I'm glad you have so many happy memories to get you through this. Enjoy your anniversary dinner with Tim.