1/17/09 Magic anyone???

[hgon76]

Just a thought, be very careful if you book an excursion on your own on St John's. If you get caught on St John's with your excursion and miss the all aboard, Disney will leave you. They will wait if you are on a Disney excursion. And Disney and all the other ships will leave. We've been on a few cruises where pilot ships had to race the cruise ships to get passengers back on. And you'll pay that out of pocket and it ain't cheap. And if you miss the boat on St John's/ St Thomas you're cruise is pretty much over. Flying from there to Abaco Bahamas isn't easy, if at all possible.
Just a thought.
You won't have that problem to the same extent on St Thomas or St Marteen since you'll be physically on the island that the port is on. Where as St John's is apparently a 40 minute boat ride from Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas.
Again, just a thought.

Don't we arrive fairly early to St Thomas? I was thinking that if we go right over to st. john when we arrive, spend a few hours there and come back to st. thomas. I think the ferry runs pretty consistently thoughout the day. The ferry from Red Hook is only a 15 minute ferry ride. I have read on other boards, as well as these that its pretty easy to do on our own. And from what I have heard about how St. John is truly one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere, there is NO WAY I'm bypassing that island. If doing the disney excursion does anyone know when the excursion leaves and comes back from St. John? Will there be time to come back to st thomas and have a look around? As for St Maarten, I was told that grabbing a cab to where you want to go is the best and easiest way to see the island, but I have read somewhere, maybe here about a tour company (www.bernardstours.com) for $35pp they will bring you sightseeing, to Orient Beach and then shopping in Phillipsburg. That sounds reasonable to me and a good way to see the island.

 

[JenKatt]

Don't we arrive fairly early to St Thomas? I was thinking that if we go right over to st. john when we arrive, spend a few hours there and come back to st. thomas. I think the ferry runs pretty consistently thoughout the day. The ferry from Red Hook is only a 15 minute ferry ride. I have read on other boards, as well as these that its pretty easy to do on our own. And from what I have heard about how St. John is truly one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere, there is NO WAY I'm bypassing that island. If doing the disney excursion does anyone know when the excursion leaves and comes back from St. John? Will there be time to come back to st thomas and have a look around? As for St Maarten, I was told that grabbing a cab to where you want to go is the best and easiest way to see the island, but I have read somewhere, maybe here about a tour company (www.bernardstours.com) for $35pp they will bring you sightseeing, to Orient Beach and then shopping in Phillipsburg. That sounds reasonable to me and a good way to see the island.

I'm not saying you can't do St John's on your own, we do get in early and what not. It is beautiful, BUT if you lose track of time, weather turns bad, ferries stop running, whatever, you will get left behind by the boat.
Case in point, we were in Cozumel a Carnival ship was docked next to the Magic. A couple sitting in front of us at Carlos and Charlies at one point turned to one another and said, "honey, look they painted our boat black!" Instantaneously the previously very inebriated couple sobered up and ran towards the dock. Luckily for the the Carnival ship wasn't far and they were able to have the pilot boat take them out (with out much of what was in their wallets). Turns out that same night the Magic left a few people in Cozumel as well. They lost track of time.
Anyway, I was just pointing out to people that if you ahve to rely on the ferry service, which does run regularly back to St Thomas, you want to extra careful not to get left behind.

 

[Eeyore77]

Hi there everybody. Chris and I had an awesome time on the DVC Members Cruise and the truth is I never wanted to coame home. The bad news is that he and I had to change our cruise date so we will not be sailing with you guys anymore..... We had to move it to May 9th since he has the Superbowl in January. I hope that you all have a fabulous cruise....

 

[Futurist]

On a side note, when entering in our online check in I realized that our (wife and I) passports will expire prior to our trip. So I quickly filled out the renewal forms for our passports. They will be out in the mail on Monday. The Department of State says the turn around time is 3 weeks. Wow that is great because I remember the last time (10 years ago) I applied and I think it was 2months. Good Luck to everyone else on the reservations.
Tim

If I could suggest, I'd keep track of the progress of your application. I'm currently living outside the States, and applied for a new (U.S.) passport by mail, without asking for expedited service because the website said it would take 3 weeks. When I was getting close to my departure date and still hadn't seen it, I checked up and found that the waiting time was MUCH longer than originally publicized. I called the branch that was processing my application (it depends on where you live), finally got hold of a very helpful woman, paid to upgrade my application to expedited, and just barely got it in time.

They had a horrendous backlog for a time,but this may no longer be the case. Still, keep tabs on the progress of your application, and don't wait until it's almost time to depart before panicking like I did!

Good luck, and see you on board!

Richard

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

If I could suggest, I'd keep track of the progress of your application. I'm currently living outside the States, and applied for a new (U.S.) passport by mail, without asking for expedited service because the website said it would take 3 weeks. When I was getting close to my departure date and still hadn't seen it, I checked up and found that the waiting time was MUCH longer than originally publicized. I called the branch that was processing my application (it depends on where you live), finally got hold of a very helpful woman, paid to upgrade my application to expedited, and just barely got it in time.

They had a horrendous backlog for a time,but this may no longer be the case. Still, keep tabs on the progress of your application, and don't wait until it's almost time to depart before panicking like I did!

Good luck, and see you on board!

Richard

I think this has changed. In August, we renewed my passport and got the first passports for my DH and DD. They were at my home in 2 weeks!! We were shocked. Not sure if it helps but we processed through a local post office.

 

[owensjro]

Well, the plans are starting to come together slowly but surely. We decided we are going to fly down as I had a couple of Southwest awards to use. So we're flying down Thursday night before, staying at Saratoga Springs on points and then flying back Sunday after the cruise. We haven't booked a room on the backend yet though. We're doing a one-way rental from WDW to the Port as it only costs $50. On the way back, though, we are going to just to DCL transfers.

Phew. Can't believe the planning is all almost done!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Jim

 

[JenKatt]

We booked a two bedroom the night before we sail away at Ron John's. We'll be making the long drive from Tampa . We still haven't finalized our shore excursions, but everything else (including a cabana massage in the spa ) is booked. Now its just a countdown.....

 

[Bytor01]

So for all of us that have been able to book our stuff already: Will we get a call from the concierge staff or do we contact them? Does anyone know who have sailed in one of the suites or just know from knowing? Just curious.We have made all our reservations but unlike you, JenKatt, the spa stuff are the only thinks that we have not solidified yet.

Tim

 

[JenKatt]

So for all of us that have been able to book our stuff already: Will we get a call from the concierge staff or do we contact them? Does anyone know who have sailed in one of the suites or just know from knowing? Just curious.We have made all our reservations but unlike you, JenKatt, the spa stuff are the only thinks that we have not solidified yet.

Tim

I'm not sure what you mean by calling concierge. We booked our stuff online. Concierge I don't believe calls you to book (they didn't on our other cruise). you call them. Last time we sailed in a cat 3, they did call us, but it was a few weeks before the cruise to say hi and welcome us.

 

[TaniaU]

It's been a very long time since I've been on the boards

As a refresher it's me, DH and DS going along with my sister and mom and dad. Our family and my sister are all paid for called mom today to remind her that time is tick tocking away. I booked all our airfare into Tampa the day before; going into MCO from Calgary was over $200pp more and getting a rental van and driving to PC has to be cheaper (right??? although crowded in a rental with my sister late in the evening may take some rethinking)

Have contemplated getting the REAS package to book the other stuff early, but do not know since the rest of our party will not be able to book as early.

Just booked for 17 Jan 2009, this will be our 3rd Eastern in a row,we all love St Maarten!! Hope to talk and meet more Canadians as the cruise gets closer, if anyone needs any info , just ask, we are not pros but did do our 1st Disney cruise with our 10 month old so have a few tips especially with infants.Cheers

We're all from Calgary

So we're about 130 days out (give or take a few) and I was reading a thread on fish extender ettiquette and saw that there have been some groups with 125+ rooms in the FE exchange!!! Since all the exchanges we've been part of have been around 12 rooms, I was rather shocked.

So I thought it might be about time to start asking... Is anyone interested in a FE exchange group for the cruise? I'd love to start getting a general number so I can start picking things up!!

Amanda

I'm interested, just let me know what to do (hopefully not for 125 rooms as that would be very large )

 

[fltink]

102 days and I can't wait! We are fully paid and ready to book Palo!!!! Hooray!!!

 

[4Goofys4Dis]

I have to subscribe and say hello!! We are anxiously awaiting this cruise and I have been gathering good "Dis" info for months already!! This is our 2nd Disney Cruise, but we've been cruising for a long time...just became DVC members 3 years ago so we hope to be DLC'ing more!

We are so close to that 100 day mark, but I am just WAY too excited already - I am driving DH crazy already!

I recognize many of you from the other threads and am THRILLED we'll be cruisin' in just over 100 days together! Does anyone know how booked things get at that 90 day mark? I am travelling across the country at 6 am on the 19th and would hate to think I need to get up at midnight to book to get the good Palo ressies and such and then sleep again to get up at 3am to travel! Any thoughts!?

Fortunately we have Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas to keep us going until then!!

 

[fltink]

Well, nit to be Negative Nelly, but for my last cruise, I booked right at the 3:00 am mark, when it opens up and I was ONLY able to get dinner at Palo. No brunch or tea! (Boo!) There was decent availability for the excursions and spa treatments, though.

On the upside, people cancel Palo all the time. You can just keep checking back. And if you don't get anything before the cruise, get there early and book it to Rockin' Bar D right when you get onboard. We've had loads of luck getting what we wanted this way.

 

[4Goofys4Dis]

Thanks Jen!! That is what I was afraid of...last time we booked on-board and were fine so I think I will opt for sleep instead of waking up at midnight to book. I appreciate the info!

 

[Bytor01]

Well, we are all done with our bookings. The wife has a facial and a massage on our last at sea day. I have booked myself a nice cabana massage at Castaway Cay. Man, I can't wait. Now only if it would hurry up and be January already.

Tim

 

[fltink]

Happy 100 days everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hgon76]

Time is certainly starting to fly by. Christmas stuff is already out and the cruise is just around the corner. Made my dining rotation request the other day, called DCL with my passport #'s today. Can't wait til Nov.3rd to book Palo,(I hope). 100 days and counting. Anyone recommend a particular excursion, or best bet to do on your own???

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We need to provide DCL with our passport numbers??
I just thought we showed them at the port.

 

[hgon76]

I did it because I read it in my Passporter. It states that if you have passports it's a good idea to call DCL at least 75 days out to give them your passport #'s. You probably don't HAVE to, the only place I saw this was in my Passporter guide. Maybe it speeds the check in process up a little??? Anyway, when I called she took my info, so I guess it is something you can do if you want to.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I did it because I read it in my Passporter. It states that if you have passports it's a good idea to call DCL at least 75 days out to give them your passport #'s. You probably don't HAVE to, the only place I saw this was in my Passporter guide. Maybe it speeds the check in process up a little??? Anyway, when I called she took my info, so I guess it is something you can do if you want to.

Thanks. I have the info so I will definitely call and give them the numbers!
I have to start highlighting my Passporter better!