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

[pixidustmom]

Hello happy Saturday to everyone.
I have signed up for the FE and the other gift exchange. Looking forward to meeting everyone.
So my cabin roomy just finished paying portion off and I have been waiting to cancel my oldest DD's resi for the chance that my youngest will find a friend who could join us. But there's been no luck. So I sent my email to DU to cancel my oldest and so that would mean I know will have some OBC too and we will be officially paid in full.
So I need to take some time and figure out what we plan to do with excursions. My BF staying in another cabin and I want to do the dolphin one, but I don't' even remember which island it's on.lol But then again I many not as it's so not cheap and my DD want so do it too. I guess we book it and if we change our minds we cancel it. I was also remember one with a group of people floating down a river on inter tubes seeing sites? That sounded kind of fun. But again which island was it or am I crazy and there is no such excursion?

 

[lexandme]

I've updated the website, if you find any errors or want to add anything let me know.

Happy Saturday everybody!!!

The web site looks great - Thank You!

Just came from dinner (Chinese) where we again (!) discussed our shore excursions. DH is bailing on the zip line due to the length of time it takes and because he found a place in Ohio that has them. He said he'll do them in Ohio and spend time on Cozumel "exploring." I believe that translates as "shopping"!
I'm still doing the Dolphin swim on Cozumel. We're just shopping on Grand Cayman. CC remains as the jet ski tour and parasailing for DH and snorkeling and relaxing for me. I have also decided on the manicure and pedicure at the spa on a day at sea. DS doesn't have a clue what he would like to do. I think he's fearful. Last cruise he absolutely hated Nassau. We went to the straw market and he was very intimidated by how pushy the vendors were. He couldn't wait to get back on board ship. I keep telling him he's 15 now but he won't commit. Maybe once we're underway and he sees others making plans he'll change his mind. Does anyone have any experience with the teen excursions on CC?

 

[MomToSupers]

. I keep telling him he's 15 now but he won't commit. Maybe once we're underway and he sees others making plans he'll change his mind. Does anyone have any experience with the teen excursions on CC?

Judy--My DS has done the wild side excursion on all three of our cruises. He absolutely loves it. They kyak, bike, and snorkel, then have lunch together as a group. They meet in the morning and are done around 1:00. He usually meets up with us so we know he's alive, then goes back to hang out on the teen beach. He was signed up for the banana boat ride last time, but it was rainy and really windy so it was cancelled. I'll have my DS work on him and tell him how great it is.

We're trying to figure out our excursions too. In Grand Cayman I think we're going to do the semi-sub though Disney. I'd love to book an independent charter for 3-hours but the tendering in Grand Cayman last time was a nightmare, add that to the fact that we're only there for a few hours and I'm scared that we either won't make it to the excursion on time or won't make it back to the ship in time. At least if we do it through Disney we won't have to wait in the tendering mob.

In Cozumel, I really, really, really, want to go back to Nachi Cocom beach, but my parents aren't really beach people. The two days on CC are already going to be pushing it with them. I've looked at the Island Marketing website (we booked Nachi Cocom through them last time) and they have jeep tours, dune buggy tours, fishing charters, and ATV tours, but none are for a pregnant lady and a one year old. I'm fearing that DH, DDad, DS16, and DD will do one of those and DMom, DS1, and I will do something else, which won't include my favoritest beach.

 

[lexandme]

Judy--My DS has done the wild side excursion on all three of our cruises. He absolutely loves it. They kyak, bike, and snorkel, then have lunch together as a group. They meet in the morning and are done around 1:00. He usually meets up with us so we know he's alive, then goes back to hang out on the teen beach. He was signed up for the banana boat ride last time, but it was rainy and really windy so it was cancelled. I'll have my DS work on him and tell him how great it is.

We're trying to figure out our excursions too. In Grand Cayman I think we're going to do the semi-sub though Disney. I'd love to book an independent charter for 3-hours but the tendering in Grand Cayman last time was a nightmare, add that to the fact that we're only there for a few hours and I'm scared that we either won't make it to the excursion on time or won't make it back to the ship in time. At least if we do it through Disney we won't have to wait in the tendering mob.



In Cozumel, I really, really, really, want to go back to Nachi Cocom beach, but my parents aren't really beach people. The two days on CC are already going to be pushing it with them. I've looked at the Island Marketing website (we booked Nachi Cocom through them last time) and they have jeep tours, dune buggy tours, fishing charters, and ATV tours, but none are for a pregnant lady and a one year old. I'm fearing that DH, DDad, DS16, and DD will do one of those and DMom, DS1, and I will do something else, which won't include my favoritest beach.

Stacie - Thanks for the info! If I was 15 again I would love to do the wild side. I'll get him on DCL website today and have him explore the offerings again. He did mention (late last night) that the ruins in Cozumel sound interesting. I'll also let him know that Shaun has done the teen excursion, loved it and is doing it again.
I have never heard of the Island Marketing website before. I will have to explore it as well. This may open up a whole new world for us! Although swimming with dolphins is a non-negotiable for me. I have wanted to do this since Kennedy was president!

110 DAYS FROM TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lexandme]

Hello happy Saturday to everyone.
I have signed up for the FE and the other gift exchange. Looking forward to meeting everyone.
So my cabin roomy just finished paying portion off and I have been waiting to cancel my oldest DD's resi for the chance that my youngest will find a friend who could join us. But there's been no luck. So I sent my email to DU to cancel my oldest and so that would mean I know will have some OBC too and we will be officially paid in full.
So I need to take some time and figure out what we plan to do with excursions. My BF staying in another cabin and I want to do the dolphin one, but I don't' even remember which island it's on.lol But then again I many not as it's so not cheap and my DD want so do it too. I guess we book it and if we change our minds we cancel it. I was also remember one with a group of people floating down a river on inter tubes seeing sites? That sounded kind of fun. But again which island was it or am I crazy and there is no such excursion?

There are 2 dolphin swims on Cozumel. They are 110.00(Dolphin Discovery) and 160.00(Dolphin Swim at Dolphinaris). You can also do Dolphin Trainer for a Day for 285.00.You get 30 min in the water, on a platform with the cheaper one. You get to pet them. The 160.00 is 40 min but you get a belly ride and can snorkle with them. The dolphin/human ratio with the more expensive is 1/12. Dolphin trainer is the same as the 160.00 but you get more time and actually "train" using edible rewards as positive reinforcement.( did enough of that with my kids!)
Plan on cleaning today and getting ready for a yard sale in a few weeks to raise extra cash for the trip!

 

[rlcook]

To you mommies and daddies ouy there--

We've started potty training Kenna today We've got the "big Girl Potty and the Big Girl Panties"

Say prayers for us. We've gotta get her trained before the cruise or that's gonna limit the mom and dad time

I know this is pretty silly to be talking about, but we've all been thru it.

Lora

 

[lexandme]

To you mommies and daddies ouy there--

We've started potty training Kenna today We've got the "big Girl Potty and the Big Girl Panties"

Say prayers for us. We've gotta get her trained before the cruise or that's gonna limit the mom and dad time

I know this is pretty silly to be talking about, but we've all been thru it.

Lora

Lora -
One "technique" that worked very well for both our kids was "sink the Cheerios". We put a few Cheerios in the toilet and had them "sink" them! It's crass but it worked! And whatever works...........!

Good Luck - she has a few months left. I'm sure Kenna will be an old pro by sail-a-way day.

 

[seadooken]

I seem to remember somebody posting a cruise logo many posts ago. Am I dreaming is it somewhere back in the archives of this thread?

 

[seadooken]

Yeah more people for the FEs!!!!

The list as of now:

love2travel-2 adults, DD11
rlcook-3 adults, DD8, DD3
MomToSupers-2 adults, DS16, DD13, DS2
Grandma&GrandpaToSupers-2 adults
Happy4Disney-2 adults, DD9, DD7
mattsmom01-2 adults, DS7, DS5

Count us in on the FEs. We have 2 adults and a DD7.

 

[MomToSupers]

Count us in on the FEs. We have 2 adults and a DD7.

Yeah!!! I hope you don't feel like I was twisting your arm, it really is a lot of fun.

The list as of today:

• love2travel - 2 adults, DD11
• rlcook -3 adults, DD8, DD3
• MomToSupers - 2 adults, DS16, DD13, DS2
• Gma&GpaToSupers - 2 adults
• Happy4Disney - 2 adults, DD9, DD7
• mattsmom01 - 2 adults, DS7, DS5
• lexanme - 2 adults, DS15
• pixidustmom - 2 adults, DD17
• seadooken - 2 adults, DD7

 

[MomToSupers]

To you mommies and daddies ouy there--

We've started potty training Kenna today We've got the "big Girl Potty and the Big Girl Panties"

Say prayers for us. We've gotta get her trained before the cruise or that's gonna limit the mom and dad time

I know this is pretty silly to be talking about, but we've all been thru it.

Lora

I'm am dreading potty training. DH was looking at a book about PT last time at Babies R Us, and it caused me to become short of breath, and I could feel my blood pressure rise. Good luck, I'm sure two months is plenty of time.

 

[MomToSupers]

Stacie - Thanks for the info! If I was 15 again I would love to do the wild side. I'll get him on DCL website today and have him explore the offerings again. He did mention (late last night) that the ruins in Cozumel sound interesting. I'll also let him know that Shaun has done the teen excursion, loved it and is doing it again.
I have never heard of the Island Marketing website before. I will have to explore it as well. This may open up a whole new world for us! Although swimming with dolphins is a non-negotiable for me. I have wanted to do this since Kennedy was president!

110 DAYS FROM TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the link to the island marketing website. http://cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/ We swam with the dolphins in Nassau and really enjoyed it. I browsed the Dolphinaris website and it looks really awesome. http://www.dolphinaris.com/Cozumel/ My passporter says that it is a brand-new facility. It looks like if you do it on your own you could save quite a bit of $$$.

 

[griswalds]

Just booked the Royal Dolphin swim in Cozumel. Yahoo!

 

[MomToSupers]

Just booked the Royal Dolphin swim in Cozumel. Yahoo!

Who did you book through?

 

[seadooken]

Just booked the Royal Dolphin swim in Cozumel. Yahoo!

We did the Dolphin Encounter in 2006 with our DD6 (she was 4 at the time). It was an awesome experience. I have grown up on the water and seeing dolphins is a normal experience around here, but to get up close and personal with them was something new. You'll have one of those experiences you never forget.

 

[rlcook]

How do you make a decision to do an excursion on your own? This will be our 2nd cruise ever. So those of you who are more experienced, what do you do? I of course, like the fact of saving money, but I'm a little fearful of not making it back to the ship. We would leave in plenty of time to get back, but what if????

Lora

 

[Mean Queen]

To you mommies and daddies ouy there--

We've started potty training Kenna today We've got the "big Girl Potty and the Big Girl Panties"

Say prayers for us. We've gotta get her trained before the cruise or that's gonna limit the mom and dad time

I know this is pretty silly to be talking about, but we've all been thru it.

Lora

I was hoping to train my DD2 also, but she has developed a severe dislike of the potty. Since it's still early, I'm not pushing it just so she can swim in the pool on the ship.

 

[lexandme]

Stacie -
Thanks for the dolphin and Cozumel websites. The pictures were unbelievably beautiful and I am definitely doing Dolphinaris. It's a lot cheaper to book directly. Tim may want to parasail in Cozumel too. He thinks he's a kite and will go up whenever he gets the chance!

 

[MomToSupers]

Last cruise was the first time we did an excursion on our own. I read trip reports here and on Cruise Critic for the excursions we were interested in. They have boards for each port. I also e-mailed back and forth with the operators (in other words got it in writing) and put my deposit down on my credit card.

My biggest questions/concerns are, what happens if the ship doesn't make it to port and/or is late and we miss our time, what if it is cancelled due to weather, how/where do I get transportation and how much should it cost or is it included, do I have to pay for all of it up front or just put down a deposit?

When we did Nachi Cocom, it was a small deposit per person, then we paid in cash once we got there. I can't remember if it was a non-refundable deposit or not, but it was small enough I wasn't worried about it. The taxi to and from was cheap and we told them what time to come back and called a 1/2 hour before to make sure they were coming. We left ourselves PLENTY of time to get back to the ship.

 

[lexandme]

Here's another version I've been working on. Let me know what I should change. I tried adding Double Dipping, but it looked really cluttered with all the words, but if everyone would like that on the sign I could take out the ports or something.

Ken - Is this what you were looking for?