11/01/03 Eastern Cruisers, I know you're out there!!!

[SweetSpot]

Yes definitely SINGLE (gotta learn how to go back and proof read for spelling also, I changed it before I saw your post)... can you tell I'm in denial about how fast time is flying. I am usually so over prepared but I don't have very much ready yet.

 

[strasfamily]

Don't worry SweetSpot. You are not the only one who doesn't feel prepared yet. I'm sure the day before we leave I will be running around trying to do some last minute shopping after I try to pack. I am the biggest procrastinator, so I know I will really be stressed out right before we leave. Oh well, nobody's fault by my own.

Tracey

 

[CRenze]

I'M PACKED!! WOOHOO!!! Give me 1 hour to get to the airport and I could leave today!
Now, If I could just stop finding such great deals on summer stuff I could quit zipping and unzipping my suitcase!
Nope, I'm not excited, nope, not at all.

Cindy

 

[twhipple]

I'm not packed yet and it's driving me

I leave tomorrow for cruise #1 so obviously I'm ready for that, but I won't get to unpack and repack until next week. Believe me it will be all done no later than next Tuesday (need to sleep Monday night to recover ).

It's not long now!!

Tracy

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Has everyone received their docs yet?

Cruisin wk after you guys and DCL just told DVC that not all docs have been sent out yet for 11/8

 

[RudeMNcruisers]

We are also DVC members and just received our docs 3 days ago for the 11/1 cruise so I'm sure yours will be to you shortly! Enjoy your trip! I'm very excited for ours!!!!

 

[dis4me]

Tracy Have a great cruise. Wish we were all coming with you.
Toni

 

[twhipple]

Thanks Toni. I wish you guys were all with me too, because than it would be our cruise!!!

I also wish I was on Wonder and not another cruise line. Oh well, at least this will give me something to compare to and then I'll look forward to our cruise even more!

 

[SweetSpot]

Tracy:

Have a wonderful time on your cruise. Why are you going on two cruises so close together? Not that there's anything wrong with that..... (Actually, there's a lot right with that!)

Tracy

 

[Masonpips]

I am laughing at all of our count-down timers! We all have different dates/times. I had 11/1 about 10:00 a.m. Eastern time (time we'll head to the terminal) but I couldn't stand the suspense anymore and changed it to 10/30 at 12:30 pm (CDT) which is the second we'll be leaving for the airport. Vacation officially begins then right? Plus, it looks sooooo much closer



I CAN'T WAIT! I am so unfocused at work. I have a website release on Thursday, a 3 day meeting next Tues-Thurs that I'm facilitating and a training class I'm teaching the week after (Tues/Wed). I consider each item one last step in the road and they are the only items I care about now.

My dh said today "I wish we were leaving tonight". That threw me into a packing panic! I'm not ready!!!

DS's birthday is Sunday; we have the party Saturday and once that's over (lol) I can focus on the trip again.

There is TOO much going on. I swear these last 3 weeks are so fun tho; you can taste the excitement.

Soon, we will be

 

[mrspat2]

Packing question...

Am I right in thinking beach towels for the ports? Anything else besides a collapsable cooler?

 

[twhipple]

SweetSpot - My sister is using my logic against me. Last year I told her for mom & dad's anniversary that we need to give them something that they can use right away, not a promise to do something in the future (dad was too sick to go on a trip). So this year after mom retired, my sis said we needed to take mom on a cruise, just the three girls, and it needed to be shortly after she retired. My sis is a realtor and was busy with work until the end of September, last weekend was the anniversary of dad's death (won't go on a cruise then) and next weekend is just TOO soon to our trip -- hence it got scheduled now!!

I tried to get DH to let me stay in Florida between the two cruises but he said no Ok, I didn't expect him to say yes!!

mrspat2 - I didn't bring beach towels last year because I thought we could use ones from the ship. I could be wrong. Anyone else?

 

[Masonpips]

They handed out beach towels at the ports (CC for sure, I believe for all of them tho). Don't waste that valuable packing space!

 

[SweetSpot]

Masonpips:

I'm doing the same thing you are doing. It's a busy couple weeks but everything I need to get done before the cruise is a milestone that leads me closer to the day. We will be at the port the same time as you. Will many others be getting there early? It will be another mini DISmeet.

twhipple:

The cruise sounds like it will be a really good time. Enjoy yourself! You have plenty of time to get ready for the Disney cruise.

mrspat2:

You can bring towels off of the ship to use at the ports. They are more like white bath towels but it is one less thing to pack. They sometimes have them at the ramp when you leave the ship but they run out fast so you need to pick them up by the pools before you disembark.

We bring a collapsible rolling cooler that we keep in the room filled with ice and a smaller cooler that we take with us for drinks and snacks. The smaller one is much easier to handle especially if you doing the excursions on your own and dealing with the cabs.

Don't forget a hair dryer and extension cord if you have think hair or need to style with the blow dryer. The one they provide isn't great.

 

[mrspat2]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[tagall4]

Things are getting so crazy! I can't even go near a computer without wanting to check the dis. Isn't it fun?

My dd and I were disappointed yesterday though when we realized a counter we had been watching (not mentioning any names) was not right. we had to add on a day. Oh, the horror!!


sweetspot - i was planning on bringing a collaspible cooler as well, but then read in with our docs, that they weren't allowed. I don't want to be turned away at the gate (horrorific nitemare). What do you think?

Masonips - I'm hoping my friend Kris e-mailed you. I haven't heard from her today, so I think that's a good sign.

Budget Shuttle ques: Do the shuttles run regularly on sat. mornings and afternoons? Do you have to wait until it fills up?
If we arrive at Budget in Cape C. at 10:00, how fast will we be at the actual port? We'd like to get there early. We won't mind waiting once we're there.

Well, until the next milestone (or tomorrow), Bon Voyage!! (just practicing)

 

[2disneycruzrs]

I just joined these boards but I'm excited to see others going on the 11/1 cruise! My DH and parental units (35th ann) are setting sail as well.

Does this group do cabin signage indicating their "Board Members"? Hope we run into everyone!

 

[strasfamily]

I'm concerned about the cooler thing too. I read someone's advice that they pack their collapsable cooler in their suitcase, and just carry on their beer or sodas in plain sight, and they don't have a problem with that. This conflicting info is making me crazy!

 

[Masonpips]

last year we bought 3 bottles of wine in Pt. C and just packed them in our luggage; no questions asked; I don't think they searched it at all.

We also brought a small (think 6-8 cans) cooler that we took off ship with us on Cayman. We packed some water, 2-3 pb&js (from room service) and chips as our excursion was during lunchtime (for the kids). No questions asked.

IMO, the best thing to do is pack your cooler inside your suitcase and bring some items on board in your suitcases as well. You can get ice once on ship, so don't wheel it through the terminal (that seems a bit over the top/tacky to me anyway).

Fwiw, we never opened our wine onboard! We ended up buying some drinks and never took the time to sit in the room and drink.

Does that help? Ask questions and I'll see if I can help

 

[SweetSpot]

Last year I had a large bag cooler from Sam's which held over a case of cans and packed it folded in my suitcase. We brought a case of beer and 12 packs of soda (must have diet pepsi in a can)and packed them in another piece of rolling luggage. The porter took it and said "Beer?" We said yep and he took it, no problem. Room steward delivered it to the room and when he saw we had cases of cans and a cooler offered to keep it full with ice all week. Not a bit of a problem at all. People were walking around with cans of beer and soda on the ship all week. We didn't go that far but it was nice to have beverages in the room to drink while on the verandah.

This year I have a rolling cooler that looks like a piece of luggage. I am packing it with cans, no ice and if they don't let me check it I can wheel it on. I don't expect a problem. Even with all we brought on they still made a fortune on us from drinks of the days and smoothies!