10-5-02 Magic Cruise

[abitjaded]

Your English is fine, has to be better than my French or German. I'm not much of a beer drinker, maybe from growing up in Colorado, home of Coors beer which I think is icky. My DH and I have not cruised (NCL) since our honeymoon, over ten years and two kids ago. We did go to St Marten and St Thomas on that cruise. On St Marten we rented a car and went to Orient Beach, then Marigot to buy French wine and fruit and Phillipsburg to buy Carribean music tapes. On St Thomas, we also rented a car and went to Coki Beach (which we found small and crowded) and visited the Aquarium, which was phenominal. We are snorkelers and divers, and this was the first time we saw black coral in situ. We then visited Magen's Bay which is a nice beach, but no snorkeling. This time I would like to snorkel at Turtle Cove and shop at St Tom and beach hop to good snorkel beaches on our own at St Mart. We hope to bee-line off the ship at Castaway Cay and snorkel before the crowds churn up the water, 'course, since this seems to be a 'ghost cruise' the 40 of us won't kick up the sand too badly. Then bag some bicycles and and check out the old drug runner's landing strip. Other cruisers, any plans yet?

Carla

 

[blackgauldron]

Thanks.

we don't have any plans yet.

 

[blackgauldron]

Here are two things we really want to do: relax and taste some good food.

Sonja & Patrick.

 

[cinda65]

Me, me, me - I'm going too!! Can't wait!

 

[goofysgirl]

ALL RIGHT!!!!! LOOKS LIKE SOME ADDITIONAL CRUISERS. WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY PLANS YET, BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE WILL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU ON GETTING OFF THE SHIP EARLY AND HITTING THE BEACH AND SNORKELING. MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DOESN'T LIKE TO SNORKLE, BUT I'M SURE SHE CAN FIND SOMETHING SHE LIKES IN THAT TROPICAL PARADISE. I HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS ON THE COUTDOWN OF THIS CRUISE. I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TO GO, BUT I WILL ALSO TURN 45 ON CASTAWAY CAY. I GUESS IF I HAVE TO GET OLD THAT SEEEMS LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO DO IT...... OKAY, I'M HAPPY AGAIN, CAN'T WAIT FOR THOSE TROPICAL BREEZES. GLAD SONJA AND PATRICK ARE JOINING US ALONG WITH CINDA65!!!!!!!!

 

[abitjaded]

Am I already on your ignore lists? LOL, check your user control panel for private messages!

Carla

 

[abitjaded]

Goofysgirl, if it is any consolation DH and I turn 50 in Nov-Dec. It is not so bad. Yes, yes I know, too old to have such little kids, but... My DH and I are in science and we concur that anyone in science does the family thing way behind everyone else. We'll throw you a party! Has your daughter (12) had a snorkeling lesson with a proper fitting mask? We have found having your own well-fitted gear can make all the difference in the world in enjoyment. We have often hauled a whole suitcase filled with nothing but masks, fins, snorkels and towels on trips. A pain, but worth the effort we feel.

Carla

 

[abitjaded]

OK, we have ucralum, blackgauldron, diznynut, goofysgirl, regi, cinda65 and maybe ganurse. Any more? Are all the women nurses 'cept me????

Carla

 

[blackgauldron]

Are all the women nurses 'cept me????

Are we on a cruise or on a sailing hospital?

Patrick & Sonja

 

[goofysgirl]

With two dangerous food allergies in our family, it will be a pleasure to be among so many medical people. I am an office manager for Dun & Bradstreet, I can bandage a scraped knee though!!! Hope I will still fit with the "IN" crowd. I am looking on the web site, looks like there is still a lot of availability, wonder why we are the ghost ship. The week before and the week after us on the eastern itnerary is pretty full. Oh well, I'm sure when we finally get there we will be sailing with alot of other disney nuts!

 

[abitjaded]

Allergic to what, goofysgirl? Our little DS had a bout of it earlier this winter, still haven't nailed the culprit, scary, scary.

We went to the Lion King stage play yesterday, it was a lot of fun. Really great costumes, done by the same woman who did the Animal Kingdom parade animals. Save your pennies ($$$ as much or more than a day at WDW) and go see it if it comes to somewhere near you. Kept the 6 and 8 yo enthralled, too.

Carla

 

[diznynut]

Originally posted by goofysgirl
The week before and the week after us on the eastern itnerary is pretty full.

I know that the eastern on the 19th is during fall break here in Oklahoma. In our group of 9 we will have 2 nurses, 1 respiratory therapist, 1 lab tech and 1 phys. assistant. Is it time to go yet?

 

[abitjaded]

Just a reminder to those extending their trip to WDW. PS ressies can be made 120 days in advance at any Epcot or hotel sit-down restaurant, Breakfastosaurus and Rainforest at AK, MGM breakfast and lunch or Victoria and Albert's.

Carla

 

[ucralum]

Thanks for the PS reminder, Carla--I need to check with the ever-efficient Cathy from DU to see what she's got for us!

BTW, no nurses here--I've been an elementary school teacher for 19 years and my husband is a finance manager for a defense contractor. I have two cousins and a sister-in-law who are nurses, though!

 

[dvcmagic]

We are also cruising on the October 5 sailing of the Magic. There will be a total of 8 of us cruising.
DH and myself, DD (17), DD (15), DD (13), DS (9), MIL and FIL.

Now that school is out I can concentrate on planning our trip. I have found so much helpful information on this board. I wish I had found this site prior to our first cruise in 1999.

 

[Dancind]

I just booked this cruise, and found this thread! This will be our first cruise of any kind, ever. We were considering the Dec. 20 Western cruise (we have some free airline tickets to use and plenty of DVC points), but just couldn't stand the thought of a full to the brim ship for our first cruise, and wanted a little warmer weather. My DD will miss only 3 days of 6th grade due to fall break. Not good, but not too bad. This should be nice, if it's really as empty as you all think! It will be me (Disney lover, business type), DH (homebrewer & General Contractor), and DD 11 1/2 (dancer, brainiac, would have LOVED the turtle farm at Grand Cayman). Good tip about the snorkeling gear, that will help her I think. We will be in 6150 with late seating for dinner. Also booked two nights at BCV after, coming home on the 14th. Now, how am I going to get anything else done until time to go?

 

[dvcmagic]

dancind! My girls are also dancers! My youngest daughter will be 13 in June. I am hoping she will be able to go to oceanears lab and not just common grounds. We are in cabins 7004 & 7006 connecting rooms(but still hoping for an upgrade)!

We are also members of DVC and just love Disney!

I have taken the kids out of school many times for a Disney Vacation. The Teachers never have a problem with it. I feel family time is as important as school time.

 

[abitjaded]

Dacind and DVC magic join the group! Dacind is in late seating, we are in early (not just for the kids, but me, too, I fade early). Anyone else? What restaurants are folks thinking of booking at WDW extensions? Hope, hope, hope for longer hours at the parks, especially since Columbus Day weekend follows our cruise.

 

[goofysgirl]

DVC Magic and Dacind, glad to hear you have some kids going on this cruise. I thought that my girls and abitjaded sons would be mighty lonely on our trip. We also have late seating, we just can't seem to get it all together in time for the early seating. My girls are 8, 12, and 14. I took them out of school for the week, but this is only the second time they will be on vacation with their grandparents, and I think this is very important. I'm sure we will find some valuable info on this trip to share in school. Looking forward to meeting everyone. Oh, Carla, I'm not sure on the extended hours in Oct, they have cut their hours all across the board. The parks don't open before 9 and are closing at 9 and 10 in July this year, but you can always hope.We will be at OKW in just 2 and 1/2 weeks can't wait for a little Disney!

 

[abitjaded]

Sigh, yes I hope for longer hours. But I guess I will be happy if they just do not cut them more (we were there the week hours and early entry went belly-up last October with no warning.) We were just going to get four-day hoppers, but maybe a couple flex features would help, just so we do not spend every evening at Epcot....

Carla