11/27/04 the sequel.....

[dzneprincess]

Happy post-Halloween everyone!

Tracey (and any other potential RCCL folks)--I've been looking at the reviews of DCL and RCCL and most still attest to DCL's kid-friendliness, especially the shows, which was one of the few times that we did things as a family (most of the time Claire and Spencer wanted to be in the club and there were a lot of things that the babies couldn't do). Yet by the time we cruise again, Chloe and Chris will be 13 and 14 (boy, do I feel old!) and the RCCL teen activities I'm sure will appeal to them (all Chris wanted was an arcade and all-night pizzeria, so he's set). I'll keep you advised.

Amanda--I sent you a PM a few days ago.

Well, I did my job and got the thread back to the front. Have a good week everyone!

Curt

Curt, I did not receive anything ??? Will you resend it?
Tracey, I had a greatr trip here are my pictures if anyone is interested! http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=2p9p07cn.64zcnw7j&x=0&y=-v9crkz

 

[CurtS]

Sorry Amanda, I meant Kim. Not that I have any objection to sending a PM to you, but Kim had a question for me.

Sorry--I REALLY need a vacation and another cruise!

Curt

 

[CurtS]

Bump!!!

 

[kim bremner]

Hi guys! Hope everyone is doing well!

Amanda- looked at most of your pics, they were really great and it looked like you had fun.

We got a great upgrade for our upcoming cruise so we are really excited! It still doesn't make up for not having a great group like you all to be going with. I found only one other group and they are from Ausralia.

No new news on our adoption, just waiting.

Curt thanks for all the great adoption info, really helpful! Anyone else have trips coming up?

 

[traceycooper]

Amanda, loved the photos! I cant wait to see the halloween parade next year! Where did you find the incredibles?

 

[CurtS]

Kim--hope all goes well. Adoptions seem like the longest waits in the world. We waited two years for our first three and they were with us in foster care and Caleb and Cameron took over a year. You won't have to wait that long, but it does seem like something that important runs in slow gear (you almost begin to wonder if they aren't trying to get the kid into college before they finalize the adoption--"here's your kid and a matching diploma!") Hope the information was helpful--I kind of had to wing it--Steph has had the flu. If you need anything else or have any specific questions, please let us know.

Amanda--pictures are great!

No travel plans yet--looking at RCCL for '06 or '07 (would like to do DCL again, though...I guess I've got to decide soon).

Take care everyone!

Curt

 

[CurtS]

We're getting ready to book our next cruise--sadly it will be RCCL and not Disney. We have a zero birthday coming up in early 2008, so we're planning for sometime in 2007. I looked at prices for April 2007 and there was even more difference now than when I looked previously--about $2700 worth for two staterooms (one veranda, one inner). Plus Chris and Chloe will be--gasp--teens--by then so I think the activities and the amenities will be good for them. Tracey--you going RCCL? How about the rest of you--anybody going RCCL (or already has) that can tell us if this is a good decision?

Take care everyone!

Curt

 

[traceycooper]

Wow i cant believe how the prices have shot up!!!
We wont be able to make a decision until i know where i stand job wise - that will be hopefully April or May time, but based on the current prices it is looking like RCCL part of me thinks nooooo it has to be DCL but then i think well we have never done RCCL & we love to try new things, so in a way it would be pretty exciting, have RCCl gave you any quotes Curt?

 

[dtuleya]

I think we'll be sailing on RCCL either June or July of 2007 when my oldest DS graduates from high school. We're trying to get a group together of all his closest friends (about 8) and their families. Can't wait!

 

[CurtS]

Hi everyone! Tracey, we got a quote from AAA of around $5800 for either two oceanviews or one oceanview and one inner (the difference between the two was less than $100 with the two oceanviews being more expensive). This was for December 2, 2006 Western. DCL was over $8000 for the same accomodations for December 7, 2006. I truly think Steph and I could be convinced to drink that $2200 difference in adult beverages! The furthest out that AAA has right now is April 2007 so I'm not sure what the rates will be for summer and beyond. I'm wanting to surprise Steph with a late fall/early winter 2007 cruise since she has a "zero" birthday in early 2008. So I will have to wait and see how the rates are later in 2007.

 

[april riddle]

Hi all cruise buddies from wait it can't be a whole year! we are 60 days away from our next cruise and we "jumped ship" so to speak. We will be sailing on the Mariner of the Seas out of Cape Canaveral. They are still planning not to go to Cozumel so we have an extra day at sea. The reason I switched - the same week on Disney was almost 1800 more for a smaller room. We booked a JS on RCCL. With the other 1800 I paid for my mother to come with us and got her an inside state room right across from us. I loved our Disney cruise - Eric and I went on a 4 day Carnival in June and had a pretty good time but The kids are also looking forward to the Rock climbing wall - putt-putt and the Mariner is a great looking ship. For anyone looking for any info on any ships go to Cruisecritic.com - there is tons of info on all the lines and you can even sign up for a meet and mingle for the RCCL and they have a little reception for you the first day at sea. For families like your's Curt they have a Ocean fiew Family suite that sleeps 6 with a pull out couch and a set of bunk beds. They also have a two bedroom suite that would probably be a lot cheaper than anything you would find on Disney. Yes I am really sad that we aren't doing the Magic again and hopefully DH and I might slip a four day in next year. We have our summer plans - rented a beach house for a week at Myrtle and I have surprise plans for a New Year's 06 cruise for a four night already booked for the four of us. It is on the Soverign of the Sea's - if anyone ever watches the Travel Channel it is the ship they have in drydock. I wish Disney would consider an Alaska Cruise - one son graduates 8th grade and youngest graduates 5th grade in 07 and we are planning that for a celebration trip. Time is flying and isn't it great that you can cruise? It is wonderful to read all of your posts. Hope you are all well. April

 

[CurtS]

Thank you for the information, April. We were considering a suite but I couldn't find much information on RCCL's web site concerning how many it slept. I'm sorry as well that we aren't going with DCL next time, but you can't argue the prices. It appears that RCCL is making a huge effort to lure people away from DCL and my understanding is that Princess is building a ship just for families, so DCL may have to re-think its prices in the future. If that happens, we can go on the Magic again!

Curt

 

[CurtS]

**bump!!!**

 

[dtuleya]

Happy Thanksgiving to all my cruising buddies!

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I was so happy to find our thread way up near the top of page 1. And I certainly cannot believe it has been a year since our cruise. I miss all of you!!

I agree with everyone on the price of DCL. We've cruised Carnival recently (Spring of 2004 and 2005). We save so much money and the food is really better. We skipped the shows on Carnival, but every night we strolled around the deck and Matt enjoyed playing with his Buzz LightYear light thing. The only thing I really miss is the people - you guys!! Maybe we should start an 11/27/04 the sequel cruise on another cruise line. We're up for any time Late November/Early December or the spring (but not Easter).

We leave for WDW and DCL cruise in just 6 days - I'm not ready, but you can bet I'll be getting on that plane ready or not. Our group is not at all like last year, but it's been picking up a little in the last few weeks. It will be good. Gailyn will be there and DS6 Matt has a couple more pen pals (girls). And I won't be working for 10 days ... I'll be having a couple of drinks and RELAXING.

Kim - as Curt said .. this will be the longest wait of your life. It's amazing that the rest of the time the days speed by but not when you are waiting for the little one to come home. Hang in there!! The reward is fantastic.

Diane

 

[Popovich]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE........I'M THINKING OF YOU

Like Diane I was so happy to see our tread near the top of page one. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We're are getting hammered with snow as I write this. I'm thankful that I won't be cooking, we're going to Greg's parents tomorrow. Also like Diane, I'm no where near packed and ready but we'll be on the boat just the same .

Greg and I are going to rebook on board for '07. Not sure when exactly. Maybe beginning of Jan, late Feb or first week of March. Not Easter. We also talked about a special sailing but I don't know if all those dates and places are out. We also are considering a 4 day cruise and 4 nights before at Universal or Disney. I don't think we can do two weeks again with the kids getting older and missing more work.

Kim- I'll continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Miss you all!

Gailyn

 

[CurtS]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

It's hard to believe that just a year ago we were getting packed and ready to head out on the cruise! Steph and I miss all of you.

Kim--Hang in there, it will come in time and when it does all of the waiting will not only be worth it, but you'll quickly forget about how long it took when you hold that little one in your arms! We'll keep you in prayers that everything will go quickly.

Gailyn--You apparently didn't fare so well as us with your "lake effect snow". We got about an inch of snow in about 6 hours then most of it melted away.

I've been watching cruisecritic.com--they have a board very similar to this and have a lot of good information on other lines. We're seriously considering Carnival or RCCL. We've heard conflicting stories of which is better and apparently Carnival has really cleaned up its act and made itself family-friendly (though Steph says "absolutely not" on the CCL). I agree with Diane--maybe we should set up another chat room at cruisecritic. We thought about December '06, but late winter may be good if the water's decent.

Take care everyone. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Curt

 

[CurtS]

Okay...I'm not too good on this font stuff!

 

[CurtS]

Steph and I have been cleaning closets this week and I stopped long enough to wish all of you a Happy Turkey Day. I just pulled out a box from the closet and inside were Navigators, key cards, our door signs, green Mickey name badges, our wine-tasting book and our cruise packets. Now I REALLY miss the cruise!

Curt

 

[april riddle]

Happy Thanksgiving all! Eric and I did a Carnival cruise last spring. The ship we did I would not recommend for a family as it may have been the time we went but I wasn't that impressed since alot of high school seniors were on it and getting quite drunk. Of course I think that the bigger Carnival ships are more family friendly and our kids weren't with us so it was ok. As much as we loved our Disney Cruise my boys aren't as eager to do another Disney Cruise as much as I hate it. Would we go on another Carnival - yes and now we are trying the RCCL. I think it all comes down to how often you want to cruise and what you are willing to pay. I am even thinking about two inside state rooms that ajoin for the next cruise for a little time for ourselves (if you know what I mean). I am not a five star restaurant girl anyway so any food I don't cook myself isn't half bad. I loved going to Palo's and will enjoy Chops and Portifino's on the Mariner - but I really enjoy sitting down as a family and eating and talking about our day. DCL was an amazing experience and probably a good place to start. I have the cruise bug now and any cruise is a good thing. It is really nice to read all about all that you are doing. Have a safe and wonderful holiday season. april