10-Oct-2009 - Eastern Magic St. Croix

[JDBlair]

Palo ressies DONE (Thursday night...hope we dont miss anything fun! Got in too late for BRUNCH...WAAA!)

St Criox descision to wander Confirmed!
In LAs Vegas working a trade show right now...its reallly slow! But, i'd rather be here than outside! Its a kewl 111 today! OUCH!

im SOOO EXCITED!

You can probably still get Palo brunch onboard if you want to get to the port early and make your way to Rockin Bar D.

We're going to wander St. Croix as well, probably just DH and I. We're thinking we'll tour the rum distillery and then find a bar on a beach and drink. LOL

111! Ha! Welcome to our world!!

 

[SoccrMom]

Is your foot healing up?

My foot is doing much better. I started physical therapy this week, and it looks like I am going to be good to go very soon.

YAHOOO!
FE's pretty much done. How many items should we bring anyway?????? I have asked that before...anyone?

Right now we have 12 people participating in the FE exchange, I think I am planning on about 20 so I'll have some extra. I hadn't looked at the list in a while and there are some new people on there! Yeah! Jac, are you sure you don't want to join in on the FE exchange, it'll be fun.

 

[Meredith71]

Hey everyone! My family and I will be on this cruise as well. My sister will be joining us as well as my mom. Here is our list:

Me--Meredith
DH--Carey
DD--Hannah (11)
DS--Dalton (7)

My sister--Heather
Her DD--Morgan (12)
Her DD--Reagan (10)
My mom--Pat

We are really looking forward to this cruise. I have been reading Dis for several years and planned many great trips to Disney World with all the advice. I do not post much though. This is our first Disney cruise. My sister and I have been on 2 Princess cruises and Carey and I have been on RCCL. My mom has been on Carnival and Princess. My sister has also been on NCL and RCCL. We are anxious to try Disney because of all the great things we have heard and for the kids first experiences.

I am a little bummed though. I tried to get on my reservation earlier tonight and the reservation system was down. When I got on later, the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel trip was full. Do the excursions ever open up again due to cancellations? or do they have more spots once on board? There were spaces earlier today but I had to check with my mom about going. I see a lot of y'all on this board are planning on going on this excursion. Are those plans airtight? Any other suggestions? I am limited with Dalton because he is 7. He turns 8 one week after the trip but I am locked out of booking excursions for him on some. Has anyone heard anything about the Buck Island Catamaran?

Thanks so much,

Meredith

 

[LimoFam5]

SO your kids will be missing school also. My daughter is starting Kinder this year and she will be missing TWO WEEKS of school!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG I though they would throw me in jail for sure.....BUT I have already spoken to the principle at her new school and she is ALL for the vacation experience she said it would be NO PROBLEM at all and that she was SO jealous she did not get to do stuff like that as a kid. I have to be honest my daughter missing school was my biggest worry of this whole trip, BUT after talking to the Principle I feel SO MUCH BETTER!!!! I am really looking to have a blast!

 

[SoccrMom]

Hey everyone! My family and I will be on this cruise as well. My sister will be joining us as well as my mom. Here is our list:

Me--Meredith
DH--Carey
DD--Hannah (11)
DS--Dalton (7)

My sister--Heather
Her DD--Morgan (12)
Her DD--Reagan (10)
My mom--Pat

I am glad to have you joining us! I have added your whole group to the roll call (the link is in my signature). If you are interested in joining in on the Fish Extender Gift Exchange or the Secret Mickeys let me know.

We decided against the Doubloon snorkel ourselves, and instead we are going to go to Magen's Bay on our own and then snorkel the half-day sail and snorkel at St. Croix. By what I understand, this excursion is put on by the same people who do the Doubloon snorkel. Good luck getting something that your whole family will enjoy!

 

[Meredith71]

I thought I read somewhere that the company that did the Doubloon Snorkel did a similiar excursion on St. Croix. I could not find it anywhere when I googled it or looked on old threads so I thought I must have imagined it. I am so glad you brought it up! We might change where we snorkel and do St. Croix as well. We were going to do a beach day somewhere as well anyway so maybe that will be our St. Thomas day.

I will think about the fish extenders. I have looked into them a little on here but I am really trying to keep the luggage to a minimum.

Meredith

 

[TexasGirl]

For all of you staying on Site at Disney Resorts before or after our cruise...Be sure and call your travel agent back or disney back if you booked your room direct (we booked direct.)

They just released some new discounts a few days ago for travel starting 10/4

Code is KHP


We called back Disney reservations, asked for the new Promo, gave our confirmation # and they applied it...reducing our room rate substantially. We are staying 2 nights at the Carribean Beach Resort. We'd payed the 1st day as a deposit and were supposed to pay the 2nd day upon arrival. Now with the new rate, we are just going to owe about $50 for day # 2.

 

[JDBlair]

My foot is doing much better. I started physical therapy this week, and it looks like I am going to be good to go very soon.

Yeah! Jac, are you sure you don't want to join in on the FE exchange, it'll be fun.

I'm glad to hear your foot is better!!

Yeah, I don't think I should do the FE. :-( I'm sorry.

 

[australiankaren]

Hi there, My husband and I are also sailing oct 10th. This will be our first ever cruise and I'm pumped!!! We are having 7 nights at pop resort then the cruise, and this is also the DH first time at WDW..so he has no idea what he has gotten himself in for.

We are traveling from sydney australia,a 34 hr journey door to door so you could say I am a WDW nut

Looking forward to meeting others who are just as crazy about the mouse as I am.

have a great day
Karen

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

10 weeks or 70 days to go to the Magic

 

[TexasGirl]

10 weeks or 70 days to go to the Magic

Didn't realize it was that close in. Yeah!

 

[JDBlair]

Hi there, My husband and I are also sailing oct 10th. This will be our first ever cruise and I'm pumped!!! We are having 7 nights at pop resort then the cruise, and this is also the DH first time at WDW..so he has no idea what he has gotten himself in for.

We are traveling from sydney australia,a 34 hr journey door to door so you could say I am a WDW nut

Looking forward to meeting others who are just as crazy about the mouse as I am.

have a great day
Karen

Welcome Karen!! Glad you can join us.

 

[LimoFam5]

10 weeks or 70 days to go to the Magic

Ok so I am totally excited about the cruise being just under 70days away.....BUT OMG I need to hit the gym!!!!!!!!

 

[cnktruitt]

Hey Meredith,

We booked the St. Johns Barefoot Sand & Sail for us & our kids DD 7 & DS 8. Had a hard time weighing it against the Doubloon but thought that the adults (ahem) would appreciate the Barefoot more & the kids will be thrilled with it all. We're still debating St. Croix. Hope you find one you like

 

[australiankaren]

Thanks for the welcome.....

I cant believe its only 63 sleeps till WDW then cruise....and we just upgraded our room to cat 9 with a window....very excited. The DH thought they would be tiny windows but was really impressed when he saw some photos.

so I have my Palo booking, my massage for the DH, filled in all the on line forms..so we are set. All I have to do is work out what to wear

have a great day
Karen

 

[Meredith71]

We went ahead and booked the Buck Island Sail and Snorkel. I was up in the air about this one or the St. John Sail and Snorkel. I still might change. My sister has not put her vote in but I wanted something booked so we do not miss out again. I am now thinking that this may be a better choice anyway and it may be a good thing we missed out on the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel because my mom does not plan to snorkel but just enjoy the boat. However, this could all change because I still have a call into Coral World to do the Sea Lion Swim.

I also booked the Half Day Sail and Snorkel in St. Croix but could only get the afternoon for our group size. We plan to only snorkel in one port so this might be the one we cancel because since I have never been to St. Croix, I would like to see some of the island. The afternoon excursion does not seem to allow much time to sightsee.

I have a couple of online planning questions. My DS will be turning 8 on Oct. 26. I am hoping he can go into the Lab instead of the Club. Should I still register him online or wait until we get to the ship since I am wanting to change him? If I do it online, it will be for the Club. My other question is about the spa. Is there a price advantage to booking ahead or is it just to guarantee your spot?

Thanks,

Meredith

 

[SoccrMom]

I have a couple of online planning questions. My DS will be turning 8 on Oct. 26. I am hoping he can go into the Lab instead of the Club. Should I still register him online or wait until we get to the ship since I am wanting to change him? If I do it online, it will be for the Club. My other question is about the spa. Is there a price advantage to booking ahead or is it just to guarantee your spot?

Thanks,

Meredith

I can help you with one of these questions. A couple of years ago, we had registered my ds for the club about a month before his birthday, and then when we got on the ship, he didn't like being with the younger kids, so we talked to the counselors and he was switched to the lab. No problems at all. They were very accommodating to Drew and since it was close to his birthday it was really a non-issue.

 

[cnktruitt]

Hey Again Meredith,

I don't know if there is a price advantage to booking online but I would go ahead & secure a spa reservation anyway. When I booked our massages times were blocking out fast. Would hate for you to wait & not be able to get in at all.

And you can always cancel at a later date

 

[JDBlair]

Hey Again Meredith,

I don't know if there is a price advantage to booking online but I would go ahead & secure a spa reservation anyway. When I booked our massages times were blocking out fast. Would hate for you to wait & not be able to get in at all.

And you can always cancel at a later date

The only thing I have ever heard about spa's..and I've never been to one..is that the prices are cheaper when the ship is in port as opposed to at sea.

All this spa talk is making me jealous.

 

[LimoFam5]

So this is not our first time cruising with Disney BUT this is the first time we will be arriving a day prior to our sailing date so we will have some control over what time we get to the PORT. What is a good time to arrive? How early can you arrive?