11/04/06 Anyone Out There Yet?

[DreamWeaver]

Hello All,

I am going to be on the Nov 4th sailing as well. It'll be me and my son, a first grader. This is our first cruise and a bit of an "I spent all summer in in Iraq and didn't get a vacation" vacation! I am really looking forward to it (to say the least)!!! I guess I wasn't the only Jersey Girl (by military transplant anyway) who thought this looked like a good week to go according to the school calendar.

Take care all.

 

[love2travel]

Hello All,

I am going to be on the Nov 4th sailing as well. It'll be me and my son, a first grader. This is our first cruise and a bit of an "I spent all summer in in Iraq and didn't get a vacation" vacation! I am really looking forward to it (to say the least)!!! I guess I wasn't the only Jersey Girl (by military transplant anyway) who thought this looked like a good week to go according to the school calendar.

Take care all.

You will aboslutely love it!!! You spent your summer in Iraq, God Bless you and your family!!!

 

[jsfein]

Welcome DreamWeaver. I also will have a 1st Grade DS from NJ (as well as DS in 3rd Grade and DD in Pre-K.) Our DS's will probably meet up in the kids clubs.

Our group of 8 purchased our JetBlue tickets a couple of months ago. Best deal we could find was out of JFK. Not that convenient from NJ, but the $225 roundtrip price was better than anything out of Newark. Also flying in the day before. We'll probably head to the port area that Friday.

 

[love2travel]

jsfein, where are you staying at the port? We will be at the Residence Inn, we are coming in on Friday also.

 

[lindaso]

Welcome DreamWeaver. I also will have a 1st Grade DS from NJ (as well as DS in 3rd Grade and DD in Pre-K.) Our DS's will probably meet up in the kids clubs.

Our group of 8 purchased our JetBlue tickets a couple of months ago. Best deal we could find was out of JFK. Not that convenient from NJ, but the $225 roundtrip price was better than anything out of Newark. Also flying in the day before. We'll probably head to the port area that Friday.

What flight are you on? We're flying on Friday at 1:30 from JFK. We are sending the kids to school for an hour or two so they're not marked absent for the day, then off to the airport.

Add us to the list of first-grade boys. I also have a preschool boy and a 4th grade girl. We should put some kind of list together for each age group.

And we're also staying at Residence Inn the night before.

Love2travel...thanks for the words of encouragement. I really hope it's worth the cost. Being a family of 5 really puts the price up there. We have 2 rooms but have to pay for 2 adults per room. My fear is I'll love it so much that I'll want to rebook!!

 

[love2travel]

What flight are you on? We're flying on Friday at 1:30 from JFK. We are sending the kids to school for an hour or two so they're not marked absent for the day, then off to the airport.

Add us to the list of first-grade boys. I also have a preschool boy and a 4th grade girl. We should put some kind of list together for each age group.

And we're also staying at Residence Inn the night before.

Love2travel...thanks for the words of encouragement. I really hope it's worth the cost. Being a family of 5 really puts the price up there. We have 2 rooms but have to pay for 2 adults per room. My fear is I'll love it so much that I'll want to rebook!!

Linda, I have a DD going into 4th grade also.

 

[jsfein]

I currently have ressies at both Radisson and Residence Inn, but am leaning towards Residence Inn (a bit less expensive). Looks like there may be a bunch of us Dis-ers at Residence the night before.

Love2Travel, I think we're flying out around 10ish am on Nov. 3. We must be on the flight before yours. Where do you live on Long Island? I grew up in Melville.

I agree that at some point we should put a list together. Any volunteers?

 

[lindaso]

Linda, I have a DD going into 4th grade also.

Would your DD like an email buddy? She had one from this thread but she hasn't heard from her in a long while. PM me if yes.

Jsfein...I think your question was for me. We live in Manorville, way out there. Right by the L.I. Game Farm. MacArthur is so much more convenient than JFK but we just couldn't wait for Southwest. With gas prices as they are, we had to jump on the somewhat decent fare (it could have been a lot worse!!). My DH used to work in Melville. How long have you lived in NJ?

 

[SweetSpot]

Unbelievable that it's almost time to start booking excursions, etc. Anyone know what they will be doing on the islands?

 

[love2travel]

Linda, I just sent you a PM.

 

[Suzy Mouse]

Hi All...

Another New Jersian here that will be cruising with you on the 4th. It's our 3rd cruise (2nd on the Western).

Traveling in our group....DH, myself, DD (10), DS (7) and my dad .

My parents were scheduled for the Southern Caribbean in Sept. After the tragic accident in Chile claimed my mother's life we were able to talk my dad into cancelling his trip and joining us on ours. He was hesitant at first but we were able to convince him to be with us. So while we're truly looking forward to being away it's going to be a bittersweet trip.

Hopefully we'll be able to meet up sometime.

 

[love2travel]

Hi All...

Another New Jersian here that will be cruising with you on the 4th. It's our 3rd cruise (2nd on the Western).

Traveling in our group....DH, myself, DD (10), DS (7) and my dad .

My parents were scheduled for the Southern Caribbean in Sept. After the tragic accident in Chile claimed my mother's life we were able to talk my dad into cancelling his trip and joining us on ours. He was hesitant at first but we were able to convince him to be with us. So while we're truly looking forward to being away it's going to be a bittersweet trip.

Hopefully we'll be able to meet up sometime.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Hopefully you'll be able to enjoy the trip. Look forward to meeting you.

 

[lindaso]

Suzy Mouse...I hope you and your family find peace on your cruise. I can't imagine a better way to honor your mother's memory than the family being together on such a beautiful voyage.

What grade will your kids be in? Mine are 4th grade girl (9), 1st grade boy (almost 7) and preschool boy (4).

 

[lindaso]

Unbelievable that it's almost time to start booking excursions, etc. Anyone know what they will be doing on the islands?

We have a ressie for the dolphin royal swim on Cozumel. That's pretty much the highlight excursion. My kids are freaked out by the thought of Stingray City so we'll probably just get a cab to 7 mile beach for Grand Cayman. Still not sure what we'll do at Key West. DH has always wanted to go there so we will get off the ship, I just haven't figured out what we're gonna do once we're off.

 

[SweetSpot]

Suzy Mouse: Welcome aboard. I'm so happy you were able to talk your father into joining you on this cruise. You've all had a difficult year, you all will benefit from a week away together. I also have a DD10, they might have met last year on the ship. Let me know if she is interested in getting to know my DD before the trip.

lindaso: Last year in Key West we decided to get off the ship and walk around. We took the kids and won't do that again. Definately not a place for kids, even just walking around. The kids are older and have been on the ship 5 times (and we're still in the US) so I feel comforable leaving them on the ship for a couple hours and looking around. The bars looked like a lot of fun and most of the sites are adult oriented.

I really want to do the catamaran in Cozumel. We booked it last year but the ship never made it there so I will try again. We didn't get off in Grand Cayman last year but I think we will get Seven Mile beach a try. I do like staying on an empty ship though. Castaway Cay is hard because we are 5 and want to do the waverunners again but we need an even number. Last year a teen went to the Wild Side but won't do it again this year so we are working on it.

We're close to the 100 day mark!

 

[love2travel]

We have a ressie for the dolphin royal swim on Cozumel. That's pretty much the highlight excursion. My kids are freaked out by the thought of Stingray City so we'll probably just get a cab to 7 mile beach for Grand Cayman. Still not sure what we'll do at Key West. DH has always wanted to go there so we will get off the ship, I just haven't figured out what we're gonna do once we're off.

Linda, We did Seven Mile Beach last year and absolutely loved it!!! We are thinking about doing the dolphin swim also.

 

[love2travel]

Would your DD like an email buddy? She had one from this thread but she hasn't heard from her in a long while. PM me if yes.

Jsfein...I think your question was for me. We live in Manorville, way out there. Right by the L.I. Game Farm. MacArthur is so much more convenient than JFK but we just couldn't wait for Southwest. With gas prices as they are, we had to jump on the somewhat decent fare (it could have been a lot worse!!). My DH used to work in Melville. How long have you lived in NJ?

My DD sent your DD an e-mail today!

 

[lindaso]

My DD sent your DD an e-mail today!

Ha...they must be crossing each other in cyberspace b/c my DD just sent one tonight!! The email she wrote is hysterical...it's so funny to read what they write!! I will tell her to be on the lookout for your DD's, we haven't gotten it yet.

 

[Suzy Mouse]

love2travel...thank you for your kind words. With my dad there we'll be able to find joy in the trip.

lindaso...thank you as well. Mom will definitely be "there" with us. Being the Disney fanatics that my parents became..this defitely is a tribute to her.
My dd is going into 5th grade and my ds 2nd.

Sweetspot...yes...we do need a time to relax after what we've been going through. You'll have to forgive my memory..I don't remember if our daughters did get together last cruise. I'm sure she would love to get to know her before the trip!

As for excursions...we don't plan on doing any. WE'll probably get off at Key West just to walk around. It's a fun place to walk around. If you do get off there I highly suggest the "Blond Giraffe". I got a frozen chocolate covered piece of key lime pie there last year....DELICIOUS!!! We didn't get to find Jimmy Buffet's store there because my son was getting itchy. Hopefully we'll be able to find it this time.

We did the tour of Grand Cayman last time...but I just might get off and shop around. Maybe we'll wind up taking a cab to seven minle beach. It does look beautiful.

WE went to Costa Maya last year so as far as Cozumel goes...probably a little bit of shopping there too.

I'll try to get a list going.

 

[love2travel]

love2travel...thank you for your kind words. With my dad there we'll be able to find joy in the trip.

lindaso...thank you as well. Mom will definitely be "there" with us. Being the Disney fanatics that my parents became..this defitely is a tribute to her.
My dd is going into 5th grade and my ds 2nd.

Sweetspot...yes...we do need a time to relax after what we've been going through. You'll have to forgive my memory..I don't remember if our daughters did get together last cruise. I'm sure she would love to get to know her before the trip!

As for excursions...we don't plan on doing any. WE'll probably get off at Key West just to walk around. It's a fun place to walk around. If you do get off there I highly suggest the "Blond Giraffe". I got a frozen chocolate covered piece of key lime pie there last year....DELICIOUS!!! We didn't get to find Jimmy Buffet's store there because my son was getting itchy. Hopefully we'll be able to find it this time.

We did the tour of Grand Cayman last time...but I just might get off and shop around. Maybe we'll wind up taking a cab to seven minle beach. It does look beautiful.

WE went to Costa Maya last year so as far as Cozumel goes...probably a little bit of shopping there too.

I'll try to get a list going.

SuzyMouse, Did you like the tour of Grand Caymen? We are debating on it.