"10/23/2010 Seven Days of Magic Sailing to the Saints Looking for Serenity Now!"

[sunshine1259]

Hey, Everyone.

Please check out the main cruise post on the first page, post #2 to make sure all of the information that you want is listed for you. I am going to try and go through and put FE for those who have indicated that they wish to participate in the FE exchange. So, if I miss you, please let me know.

I have already begun updating the post on page 1 with those who have indicated that they wish to participate in the FE. Just to make sure that I don't miss anyone, please be sure to let me know. And also what room number you are in. If you like, you may PM me with that info if you prefer.

 

[sunshine1259]

There's myself, Chaz (43); my wife Teresa (41); our daughters Heather (15) and Emily (10). Those are our ages at time of sailing. Looking forward to getting out of this rain & into some sunny Caribbean beaches!

Hi, Chaz. I was going through to check about FEs and what not, and realized that I had not added you all to our cruise page. Sorry about that. I have taken care of that now. Let me know if you all will be interested in the FE exchange.

 

[sunshine1259]

Hey, where did everyone go?

 

[Anjelica]

Hey Everyone!!! Long time no chat. I gotta start getting more involved with this thread especially since we only have 9 months till we go.

I want to sign my family up for the FE if its not to late.

I hope everyone is getting through this "long" January. We are definetly ready for some sun in St. Louis - it won't be before Tuesday before we see any. That will make it over a week with no sun - which is not normal around here.

 

[sunshine1259]

Hey Everyone!!! Long time no chat. I gotta start getting more involved with this thread especially since we only have 9 months till we go.

I want to sign my family up for the FE if its not to late.

I hope everyone is getting through this "long" January. We are definetly ready for some sun in St. Louis - it won't be before Tuesday before we see any. That will make it over a week with no sun - which is not normal around here.

Hi, Anjelica. Sorry to hear about all of the rain that you are having. Here in "sunny" California, we have had quite a bit of rain in the last few days. But we manage to have to sun most days.

Anyway, as you say, 9 MONTHS to go!!!.

I say onward with the planning. I will put you all on the FE list.

Hope you have to sun before Tuesday.

 

[coastiewifern]

Just checking in to say hello to everyone. Has anyone started booking excursions yet? If so share what you are planning. Debra, how many want to participate in FE? I assume if it is a lot you will divide up groups??

 

[sunshine1259]

Just checking in to say hello to everyone. Has anyone started booking excursions yet? If so share what you are planning. Debra, how many want to participate in FE? I assume if it is a lot you will divide up groups??

Hi, Christie. I am assuming that you are asking me, Sunshine Brenda, about who wants to participate in the FE exchange. Right now, I have put "FE" at the end the names of those who I know for sure want to participate.

And yes, if it does become a bit overwhelming, I will divide it up a bit. Just have to wait and see.

I will definitely have to set a cutoff date for those who are interested. Right now, I am thinking that the cutoff date should be about six weeks before we sail. That way folks have plenty of time to prepare.

Check out the cruise post (#2) on the first page to get an idea as to how many folks are interested.

As far as excursions go, I would like to know this too. Right now, we plan to book through DCL, so of course, we can't book anything yet.

Hope that helps.

 

[Evad]

As far as excursions go, I would like to know this too. Right now, we plan to book through DCL, so of course, we can't book anything yet.

When can we book?? We are new to this and don't know anything!! Please help....

 

[sunshine1259]

When can we book?? We are new to this and don't know anything!! Please help....

Hi, Dave.

When you book your excursions through DCL depends on your tier level. I am going to assume that you and those traveling with you are not Castaway CLub members, (never cruised with Disney before) so you will be able to book 75 days before the cruise, provided that you are paid in full. So, if my math is correct, you will be able to book beginning August 6th. However, that is the midnight East Coast Time. So, for us Californians, we can book at 9:00 pm August 5th. But since I am Silver Level, I will be booking at 9:00 pm on July 24th.

For Silver (1-5 Cruises), it's 90 days, Gold (6-10 Cruises), I believe is 105 days, and Platinum (10+ Cruises)/Suites are 120 days.

I have one more cruise before I move up to Gold. That will be this cruise. Can't wait.

Hope that helps.

 

[Paul2003]

That's why we booked this cruise. We were told not to go on the one right after drydock because they are usually still finishing up with minor things.

Does anybody have any idea what they are doing for this drydock. I was on the Magic right after it's last drydock (well almost, they had a three days cruise before I was on). The only changes I saw were the flat screen TV's and the water falls by the pools.

 

[sunshine1259]

Does anybody have any idea what they are doing for this drydock. I was on the Magic right after it's last drydock (well almost, they had a three days cruise before I was on). The only changes I saw were the flat screen TV's and the water falls by the pools.

Hi, Paul. That is a good question. I would like to know that, too.

 

[Orlanr]

Just checking in to say hello to everyone. Has anyone started booking excursions yet? If so share what you are planning. Debra, how many want to participate in FE? I assume if it is a lot you will divide up groups??

I'm looking at an island ATV tour at St. Maarten. You ride over to Orient Beach and hang out then ride back. It's only about $70.00 US and they pick you up at the dock and take you to the ATV's. On our last cruise Anjelica chartered a boat for us and we went snorkeling and to Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman. It was only about $50.00 per person and it was a fun day.

 

[Anjelica]

I'm looking at an island ATV tour at St. Maarten. You ride over to Orient Beach and hang out then ride back. It's only about $70.00 US and they pick you up at the dock and take you to the ATV's. On our last cruise Anjelica chartered a boat for us and we went snorkeling and to Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman. It was only about $50.00 per person and it was a fun day.

That sounds fun!!!

We haven't looked at any of the tours/packages yet. I think I have been distracted by planning our upcoming trips to Ireland in March/April and then DW in May. I need to start looking at some of the tours they offer.

We are going to add the REAS package so we can start booking at the 105-day mark the spa/palo, etc. as we aren't gold or whatever they call those people who have taken 5 or more cruises. I am hoping that the Cabana's on Castaway Cay will also be booked that way so we can grab one that way to.

 

[sunshine1259]

On the main cruise page for this cruise, post #2 on page 1, is a list of tips for planning that I copied last year from the tips thread. Evidently, it has been deleted, so I posted it again on the cruise forum. Mind you, this is not a list created by me. It was a compilation of ideas from alot of other folks, put together by someone else. I hope this helps in some of your planning.

 

[coastiewifern]

Sorry Brenda

 

[sunshine1259]

Sorry Brenda

Oh, it's not a problem. I just didn't think we had a Debra, so, I figured you were talking to me. I get called "Debbie, Linda, Rhonda and Barbara" all the time.

But like I said, the list is really growing for the FE. So, we will probably break it up into groups. Just need to decide how to go about that.

I think that I am going to have a cutoff date of September 1st. That is well after the PIF date and since this cruise is pretty full already, I am hoping that those who want to participate aren't going to wait until the last minute to sign up.

Anyway, any and all ideas are welcome and greatly appreciated.

 

[sunshine1259]

That sounds fun!!!

We haven't looked at any of the tours/packages yet. I think I have been distracted by planning our upcoming trips to Ireland in March/April and then DW in May. I need to start looking at some of the tours they offer.

We are going to add the REAS package so we can start booking at the 105-day mark the spa/palo, etc. as we aren't gold or whatever they call those people who have taken 5 or more cruises. I am hoping that the Cabana's on Castaway Cay will also be booked that way so we can grab one that way to.

Hi, Anjelica. I just found out that they are not offering the REAS package for 2010 cruises. I verified this with DCL just now. Sorry about that. We were thinking of adding it as well.

 

[Anjelica]

Hi, Anjelica. I just found out that they are not offering the REAS package for 2010 cruises. I verified this with DCL just now. Sorry about that. We were thinking of adding it as well.

Eeeeckkk....Seriously? That blows!!!

 

[Orlanr]

Eeeeckkk....Seriously? That blows!!!

What's "REAS"?

 

[sunshine1259]

What's "REAS"?

It was the Romantic Escape at Sea package. It was intended as an add-on options for wedding/honeymoon cruises. But then, folks just used it as a way to ensure Palo reservations.

The package included things like champagne the first and last night of your cruise, chocolates, bathrobes, massage treatment, turn-down service, plus, you were allowed to book Palo reservations at the 105 day mark, if the PIF. There were a few other things but that is the bulk of it. The cost was about $300 or so.

We were going to book it on our honeymoon a couple of years ago, but could not quite swing it. That is why we were going to try it now. Oh well.

Hope that helps.