11/22/08 Thanksgiving 2008 cruise thread. Double Dipping Travelling Turkeys!

[imsomaha]

FORGET ABOUT GETTING UP AT 3AM!!!!!! Sounds like your DD already has her mind made up. I'm not much of a sports person, but if she can be in the beginning of the game perhaps she could leave early. Any chance of her skipping the game at all. Mention that you had to change your days, and/or flights.

MY DD is missing the game! DD and Susan's DD go to the same school, but my DD is a grade ahead. They try out tonight. Don't know if she will be Varisity or JV, (JV last year) but regardless we are leaving on Thursday. No 7:00 am flight for us. I will keep working on Susan, although I won't have to. Her DD will say "let's go"!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

So much easier when you can just drive up the night before (which we choose to do b/c it makes day 1 of the cruise much more relaxing) or the day of the cruise like some in Orlando will certainly do.

 

[Zandy595]

So much easier when you can just drive up the night before (which we choose to do b/c it makes day 1 of the cruise much more relaxing) or the day of the cruise like some in Orlando will certainly do.

Yes, it is easier when you don't have to deal with flights and hotels. We're driving up the morning of the cruise. It takes us about an hour and a half.

I'm just a little worried about our car. We have a tail light that's out, the windsheild wiper is broken, the driver's side inside door panel is loose and it was overheating (occaisionally) this summer. It figures, when you're weeks away from paying off a car, it starts falling apart.

 

[rlcook]

Chuck,

Unfortunatly, most of us do not have the luxury of being able to drive to the port the morning of the cruise. However, the majority of us are in fact coming to Orlando a day ahead, so that the first day will be relaxing. Anytime you are away from work and home can be relaxing even if you do have a "little" stress of the airport or making a flight.

We are going to be on an Amtrak for 17 hours. Most of it at night. Yes, we could have driven it, however 20 hours in a van with multiple stops didn't appeal to us. Not to mention we plan on making the most of our week and plan to be pretty tired when we're done. Thinking of the drive home afterward almost makes me cry. Airfare was horrible.

So it's the train for us and we will be relaxed.

Lora

 

[love2travel]

DH had his shoulder surgery yesterday. The surgery went well, he had quite a few adhesions from his previous surgery, so the doctor cleaned it all up. Hopefully it will solve his pain problem. He has a post-op appt. next week with the surgeon and then will start his physical therapy. So, hopefully he will be good to go for the cruise. Send some pixie dust our way that everything goes according to plan.

 

[Zandy595]

Chuck,

Unfortunatly, most of us do not have the luxury of being able to drive to the port the morning of the cruise. However, the majority of us are in fact coming to Orlando a day ahead, so that the first day will be relaxing. Anytime you are away from work and home can be relaxing even if you do have a "little" stress of the airport or making a flight.

We are going to be on an Amtrak for 17 hours. Most of it at night. Yes, we could have driven it, however 20 hours in a van with multiple stops didn't appeal to us. Not to mention we plan on making the most of our week and plan to be pretty tired when we're done. Thinking of the drive home afterward almost makes me cry. Airfare was horrible.

So it's the train for us and we will be relaxed.

Lora

How does that work with the train? Do you have to sleep in your seats or do you get bunks or something? Are you stopping anywhere along the way? Can you tell I've never been on a train?

 

[Zandy595]

DH had his shoulder surgery yesterday. The surgery went well, he had quite a few adhesions from his previous surgery, so the doctor cleaned it all up. Hopefully it will solve his pain problem. He has a post-op appt. next week with the surgeon and then will start his physical therapy. So, hopefully he will be good to go for the cruise. Send some pixie dust our way that everything goes according to plan.

I hope your DH heals quickly and his shoulder is as good as new for the cruise.

 

[rlcook]

Sandy,

This is our first trip on a train It would have cost $2100 R/T for the 5 of us to fly vs $780 R/T for the train. We leave Washington DC at 7:30 pm and arrive in Orlando at 1:00PM. We won't be getting off the train, but it does stop in Raliegh and Savannah and other places that I can't remember.

There are sleeper rooms available, but it would have cost another $900. I think that was one-way, also. My best friend and her family took Amtrak from Washington to NYC (5 hours). She said that the seats were huge and we would have plenty of room, there are trays that fold down on the seats, individual lighting, and your free to move around. There is also a dining car. We figured that we would eat dinner at Union Station and get a snack on the train before bed, curl up in the seats and then eat breakfast on the train.

We'll arrive in Orlando at 1:00, meet up with a car from Mears and go to the Hyatt at the airport. Then spend the rest of the day, shopping at the airport, roaming around, swimming on the roof of the Hyatt and watch the planes come in. I am hoping for a runway room, so we can watch the planes. If not, an inside balcony room will do.

SO we'll see how it goes. At least on the way home when we are all exhausted, we can sleep instead of driving and keeping each other awake or have the "mom she's touching me"

Lora

 

[Mean Queen]

Hopefully not to affend anyone here but:


GO RAYS!!

I am so excited! Though I'm a little sad we didn't get chosen to buy tickets for game 5, if there is one. I just hope I can get tickets to the World Series.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Well being from Baltimore and having attended UVA and having made the drive down to Florida on a number of occasions, Amtrak should work fine...just one word of caution, although it has been many years since I took Amtrak up to NY/NJ, I hope for your sake the food has improved b/c it was awful in those days...of course you can also bring snacks/breakfast...but all in all, not a bad idea and i suspect there will be plenty of room to stretch out.

 

[disneypoor]

I'm about to cave in to the peer pressure. The hotel is booked, and I'm seriously considering going ahead and switching our flight. Steph (imsomaha) is twisting my arm, and I'm about to let her talk me in to changing everything. You all have some very valid points. Getting up at 3:30 in the morning, flying to Orlando, and then doing MVMCP might just be too much for one day. I'll let you know what we decide.

Love2travel--sending some pixie dust your way! Hope your DH has a fast recovery and can enjoy himself on our upcoming cruise.

I forgot to add: Steph is right. Having our kids together on the plane just might not be a good idea. Right, Stacie?
Susan

 

[imsomaha]

I'm about to cave in to the peer pressure. The hotel is booked, and I'm seriously considering going ahead and switching our flight. Steph (imsomaha) is twisting my arm, and I'm about to let her talk me in to changing everything. You all have some very valid points. Getting up at 3:30 in the morning, flying to Orlando, and then doing MVMCP might just be too much for one day. I'll let you know what we decide.

Love2travel--sending some pixie dust your way! Hope your DH has a fast recovery and can enjoy himself on our upcoming cruise.

I forgot to add: Steph is right. Having our kids together on the plane just might not be a good idea. Right, Stacie?
Susan

Stacie - our boys have already been told no dining room if we all go to Palos together! They are asking "why not"? For those of you that don't know us - our boys are GREAT friends and like to have a little too much fun sometimes.

 

[disneypoor]

When you mix an ornery server with our two boys, trouble is bound to appear. Seriously, our boys are very good boys. When they vacation, they just like to have fun!

BTW: I changed the car rental. Do you think I'm bound to change the flights as well?

 

[HerrQSmee]

Just checking in! Had to read several pages to catch up with all the news. Understand your pain about making decisions about when to leave. We were very tempted to leave early and have the girls miss school on Friday but it is near the end of a six week grading period for our 7th grader and the teachers like to give tests on that Friday so we are taking a early evening flight. We will be resting up at the airport hotel watching the planes land, too. We have been too busy to do real packing. DW has been busy with girl scouts and planning our youngest DD birthday celebration on the 26th but we have started putting things aside. Looking forward to early November when we can concentrate entirely on the cruise.

 

[TwoByFour]

When you mix an ornery server with our two boys, trouble is bound to appear. Seriously, our boys are very good boys. When they vacation, they just like to have fun!

BTW: I changed the car rental. Do you think I'm bound to change the flights as well?

Susan--Just go ahead and chenge it, it's one BB game. Then you'll have time to eat lunch at the Whispering Canyon. I wonder where your DS gets his naughtiness?

Teresa--Glad everything went well with the surgery sounds like he's on the road to being pain free.

Lora--I agree that the train sounds better than driving (bickering kids) or flying ($$$). The Hyatt is nice, we stayed there after our March 2006 cruise because we had a early flight out the next day.

Judy--How's the packing coming along?

Well, the corn maze was cancelled. They are going bowling instead. A cactus maze might be fun except if you go the wrong way.

 

[cruisecrzy]

So much easier when you can just drive up the night before (which we choose to do b/c it makes day 1 of the cruise much more relaxing) or the day of the cruise like some in Orlando will certainly do.

Chuck/Lisa I have no idea what you are talking about Get up at 8am and be on the road by 9am and race te buses from the aiport to the port...who would do such a thing?

 

[lexandme]

Susan, Give it up. You know you're gonna do it. Why waste time?

Lora,
I would like to take the train It would be an adventure! You'll get to see a lot when the sun is up!

Our flight leaves Pgh at 6:30am and we arrive in Orlando at 10:00am. We have 1/2 hour layover in Atlanta. I'm thinking we'll be at AKL by 11:00am and Downtown Disney after we explore the hotel! I want to get to MK around 5 or 6. Splash Mountain here I come!! (Ken - I promise I'll get your cookies after I ride Splash Mt!) You guys that are doing MVMCP, what time are you planning on going to MK?

What a treat it would be to have a short drive to the port. If I lived in Fla I'm sure I'd be sailing a lot more. Airfare is ridiculous and quite the deterrent to traveling far any more. DH and I have talked about going on another cruise line that sails out of Baltimore just to avoid airfare. But the way things are going the next cruise I take will probably be the "Little Toot" down the Allegheny River!

Teresa- Tell your DH I'm glad the surgery is over. It's all good from here on......... Heal quickly!

 

[lexandme]

Stacie - Packing? I spent more time than I should have at the mall. I bought 2 tops for the trip! Big sale at Macys. I paid my bill at the cash register then charged the tops! Then I came home and you guys have all been so chatty I had to catch up on everything. I am going to start working on it soon. If I don't do it today, I'll have to lug the suitcases back to the basement and I do not want to do that!

 

[disneypoor]

Stacie--I know exactly where my DS got his naughtiness! It's called Brian!

My DD is already missing a game on the Monday night of our cruise. That's why I was hesitant to book our flights for Thursday because then she would miss two games. I'm still trying to decide. It will cost us another $250 to fly out the night before, but that includes, car, hotel, etc., so I'm almost thinking it would be worth it just to be rested for MVMCP.

I'm going to talk to DD (even though I already know what her answer will be) and decide this evening. My DH says what's one more day? I like his way of thinking.

 

[cruisecrzy]

Chuck,

Unfortunatly, most of us do not have the luxury of being able to drive to the port the morning of the cruise. However, the majority of us are in fact coming to Orlando a day ahead, so that the first day will be relaxing. Anytime you are away from work and home can be relaxing even if you do have a "little" stress of the airport or making a flight.

We are going to be on an Amtrak for 17 hours. Most of it at night. Yes, we could have driven it, however 20 hours in a van with multiple stops didn't appeal to us. Not to mention we plan on making the most of our week and plan to be pretty tired when we're done. Thinking of the drive home afterward almost makes me cry. Airfare was horrible.

So it's the train for us and we will be relaxed.

Lora

The train will be such a great adventure. I know two people who do vacations by train.

Susan- I feel the pain. I am sympathetic to any kid that needs to leave for vacation..it is family time and IMO that is more important than homework and sports. but i know lots of teachers and coaches that feel differently. I know coaches who have benched players for missing games for family things....ironically those same people want the world to stop for their vacation. i think you have the right idea talking with your family then make the executive decision.

Another advantage to staying at a nearby hotel and taking the hotel bus meant you were in the port well before us. We were there, but they would not let us park and held all the drivers across the street for like 30 additional minutes. So Chuck and Lisa were nice and comfy in their seats before we checked in