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

[traceycooper]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE
This time last year we were in Disney and had Thanksgiving dinner at the Grand Floridian.
They dont celebrate 'turkey day' over here in the UK
So have some for me guys!

 

[Popovich]

Curt,
I'll have to check out cruisecritic.com. We haven't considered another cruise line, but maybe we should. You made me feel depressed when you said you were cleaning closets. That's what I need to do. Our coat closet in the front hall is a nightmare. I need to clean it out before people start coming over and expecting to have their coats hung up!!!

April,
Good to hear from you and thanks for sharing your experience on CCL. Greg and I need to plan an Alaska or Hawaii cruise for '07. His parents really want to go. So I need to research other cruise lines for that trip. I don't know if the kids will appreciate the trip though. They'll be 9 and 8????

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Gailyn

 

[Popovich]

Tracey,
Great picture!!! Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm sure I'll eat enough Turkey for you and your whole family!!! Hope all is well with you all. How's your job? I can't remember if you got the new job you wanted??? I hope so.

We have about 5 inches of snow and the kids are beside themselves with joy! Nicole has shoveled the drive and the sidewalks and she hasn't even asked to be paid. Hmm, I wonder how long this will last????

Gailyn

 

[CurtS]

Tracey--great picture! We ate some turkey in your honor--along with eating some in honor of family, friends, some cousins I haven't see in 20 years, the Indianapolis Colts, famous pole vaulters, boxed wines, legendary folk singers and about anything else we could think of to fill our stomachs. And began it all over again for breakfast. It's amazing how many variations of turkey you can think of.

Gailyn--not to worry, we started closet cleaning right after last year's cruise. I even found a Furbie from three Christmases ago! As soon as I rescued it, it looked at me with those big Furbie eyes and said some things about our housekeeping that wasn't very charitable!

April--there was a short discussion on cruisecritic.com about CCL and the fact that they have spent millions of dollars renovating ships, upgrading childrens' programs and trying to change their image, but they're having difficulty getting past the "Kathy Lee Party Ship" image. It doesn't sound like your cruise is helping that any, although some people on cruisecritic swear that CCL is as good as RCCL on its family cruising (they did advise that certain ships were better than others and one person I talked to at CCL agreed, so it sounds like you still have to exercise more caution than DCL).

Gotta go find some new ideas for dressing now--take care everyone!

Curt

 

[april riddle]

Curt: for it's purpose - a mommy/daddy weekend away no kids (of our own) no animals, no jobs, the cruise really did suit us. It was one of the older smaller ships - The Imagination. And the ship was nice - we had an inside state room and there was enough room for the two of us and anything that we needed it for , That particular ship had a ton of kids on it - I wouldn't take my own on it. We had great table mates and we met another couple on the ship that we really clicked with and spent most of the weekend with. This guy was a disc jockey on a classic rock radio station and he and my DH had alot of trivia time together. We all did a jeep excursion in Cozumel and it was great! I have priced alot of cruises and I wouldn't hesitate booking one of the newer Carnival cruises. We also thought about taking the Legend of the Seas out of Tampa. it is about the same size as the Magic/Wonder. For the price of a balcony room on the Magic we could get a Grand Suite on the Legend. I also know now that I don't think that I am that interested in taking my kids to Key West until they are older. A lot of interesting folk live there. I think that there are so many options out there and even though it might not have the Disney "Magic" we will still have the magic of spending quality time with our family which on our next trip includes my mum. Cheers April

 

[april riddle]

By the way the food was very good on the Imagination - the only thing we missed was the great finger food from Pluto's

 

[NJ Cruisers]

I have to chime in about Carnival. In the last 2 years we've done 2 DCL and 2 CCL cruises. The only reason I'm going back on Disney is the people - and the kids for DS6 Matt to hang with. On Carnival there's a kids club and kids, but not as many as Carnival and the CruiseCritic Meeting place was just not the same - only 10 people, not kids, one VERY loud woman. And the shows are Carnival are not really for kids.

But other than that... I would pick Carnival in a minute for the price and the food (better than Disney). CCL Dinners were much better, many lunch options (including a deli and specialty station), fantastic burgers and great pizza. Ice Cream all day too. YUM!!! HOW can I be hungry after yesterday???

But I'd advise doing only 7 or more days. The shorter ones are the ones that get the bigger crowds of kids and drinkers. I also wouldn't go during Spring break. Although we went 1 1/2 years ago in March and it was okay.

Before Matt we did 2 other Carnival cruises, lots of Celebrity, one RCCL, lots of NCLs. I have to say that the recent Carnival cruises compare to the others favorably and a LOT less expensive.

So I don't know what I'm doing as far as rebooking. I've gotten spoiled with knowing people on the ship (DIS on Disney and family trips on Carnival). I dont' think I want to go with just the 3 of us. I'm serious about getting a group of us back together if anyone wants to do CCL or RCCL. Please think about it!!

Diane

 

[CurtS]

Thanks April and Diane. I've heard that the larger CCL ships are better for families and I've spoken to one of the CCL travel agents (they've been calling almost daily now--rather persistently). She also advised that the bigger ships offer more activities and are better for families. One of my co-workers has been on the Celebrity three times and said it is great for families (and she's never seen a rowdy group). I've also heard that the food is better than DCL--although with my kids, a good hot dog and a slice of pizza is gourmet stuff! Diane, I think it would be great to get the DCL folks together on another cruise. I'm a bit sorry that it probably wouldn't be DCL again, but I did pricing and, like April, we found that we could get a balcony and an inner stateroom for less than the price of an oceanview and an inner on DCL. RCCL also has an 8-person suite for less than two Category 9's or a veranda and inner. It's hard to pass that up!

Curt

 

[april riddle]

I would be seriously interested if you did decide to go with either RCCL or Carnival. I wish now that I had gone with the Family Oceanview on RCCL instead of the Jr. Suite. The kids get a little room with a set of bunk beds. Even if you book now it is less than $3700 for the week of January 15th (which is for alot of schools a school holiday for MLK day). I may call my agent on Monday and see if they can switch us. That would really depend if they can get a room close for my mum to switch too. I agree with Diane - it really has alot to do with the people you meet up with. Our Meet and Mingle group for that week have been very active on Cruisecritic. I think that week is going to be a blast! April

 

[CurtS]

You're right, April. One of the things I really liked about DCL were the Cruise Meets on this board that gave you a chance to get to know people before the cruise started. We had a great group! Cruisecritic seems to have very active boards that do the same with other lines. I hate to not go DCL, but the kids seem more interested in activities and not in characters and I think that makes a difference on whether it's worth the extra price. My DD10 loves the thought of seeing Minnie again, but likes the idea of an ice-skating rink a whole lot more! I like the idea of a suite instead of an outside stateroom.

Curt

 

[traceycooper]

Tracey--great picture! We ate some turkey in your honor--along with eating some in honor of family, friends, some cousins I haven't see in 20 years, the Indianapolis Colts, famous pole vaulters, boxed wines, legendary folk singers and about anything else we could think of to fill our stomachs. And began it all over again for breakfast. It's amazing how many variations of turkey you can think of. Curt

 

[traceycooper]

Hi guys hope your not all over stuffed with turkey!!!

Gailyn - i did get the job & loving every minute of it!!!

I'm recovering today as we had our christmas party last night - yes i know its early!!! It was a very merry night

Travel agent called today to say 07 prices are out up till April, so i've sent Gary out to pick up the brochures just to see how much easter is, as i'm sure christmas will be at least the same price or more & just to give me something to look at & drool over whilst i'm recovering from my hangover!!!!
I think the flights are going to be a lot more due to fuel prices rising!
Nice to see everyone keeping in touch

 

[CurtS]

We're getting ready for our first significant snow storm of the season already--5-7 inches. Not a huge amount but I still have to watch out the window with my warm cup of coffee while Chris shovels the driveway. This last week we had wind chills of below zero (and air temps in the single digits). It's depressing because a year ago, we got back from our warm weather vacation and didn't see snow until nearly Christmas--I think I think we're being punished for not going on another cruise. I made the mistake of hitting web sites for Norwegian, Carnival and RCCL. Now I'm getting calls from from NCL and CCL asking us to book. Boy is it tempting to just say "give us any time you've got, just get us out of this weather!" Take care everyone. I'll be back on the boards whenever I can pull myself away from that window (or my coffee runs out).

Curt

 

[CurtS]

We're narrowed plans down to Disney World or RCCL for next year. Just when I was sitting down with the Disney World stuff to begin plans, Steph hands me a AAA brochure touting a DCL Western cruise for October 16th at a special AAA price. Back to the drawing board!

Curt

 

[dzneprincess]

I just have to chime in here and say that Diane is the best! And she knows why! Thank you Diane!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi all, Curt - wish we could start planning, but still waiting for news on the job, whether they will keep me or not!! And also the tour operators dont put out April 07 onwards prices until April 06!!!
Had an e-mail from Darci, she is on the cruise right now, i find myself clock watching all the time & working out the time difference to guess what they are doing now.
Right now its 3.50pm so its 10.50am out there now hmmm proberbly by the pool

 

[april riddle]

Ok guys a little excited today - received my cruise documents last night - now it seems more real somehow. Only 30 days away. I will let you know how the RCCL experience is. Nice to see everyone posting once in awhile. Merry Christmas all. April

 

[CurtS]

Hi everyone! Merry Christmas in case I don't get back on the board before the 25th.

April--let me know how RCCL is. We're still debating on CCL, RCCL and WDW--so many decisions, so many kids, so many...well ONE solution would be to send the kids to WDW and Steph and I take in a cruise! Okay, maybe there ARE a few legal issues with that. If we do WDW, I've been told by several people that late September may be the best time to go (smallest crowds). Anybody have any thoughts on that?

Tracey--I hope everything works out for you on the job and you can come visit us again soon. We don't have to deal with a time change so all I have to do is looking longingly at the Port Canaveral live video when DCL is in port.

It's great to see the thread alive, albeit sleeping sometimes. Take care and have a Happy Holiday!

Curt

 

[traceycooper]

Hi guys, had an e-mail at the beginning of the week 'live from the Magic' from Darci, they have seen 'our' waiter from last year & she said their table mates are a nice family but they are missing Gary & I - bless her, i bet she is not missing us half as much as we are them!!!!
Not heard from her since Sunday, they will be far too busy having fun

Is everyone prepared for christmas? I just have to wrap a few more pressies & buy some last minute goodies,
My parents & grandfather are over for christmas dinner, You might remember i lost my grandmother last year, so i will miss her not being there, grandad has been ill, he made need a pacemaker we are waiting on some test results.
I have been up since 3am as i am full of cold, went to work though & i've got a governors meeting in an hour followed by some more work for 'surestart' & then a craft class, so hopfully i will sleep better tonight!!!!

April - i would also love to hear your trip report!
Take care everone & have a great Christmas

 

[april riddle]

Hey Curt - if you do decide to go to WDW - I have heard that the best time to go is the week after Thanksgiving. It is all decorated for Christmas and very nice. I was there for a conference the first week of October and the crowds were not too bad either. My advice - when we choose just Orlando our favorite time to go is the third week in January. There are no crowds and the weather is usually really nice. The first time we went we had a suite at Quality suites near Old town for $79 per night with two bedroomswith two full beds,pull out couch, two full baths and a pull out couch with a kitchenette. Plus it has free continental breakfast every morning. I think the price is about $109 per night now. It had a nice pool. It's not the Ritz but for the amount of time you spend in the room it was great for us. Plus there is a Publix right across the street and it is literally about 5 minutes from the gate. We drove that year and it was really good for us.
The next time we went I booked a room from price line at the Quality Inn I think and I bid $30 per night and got a king bed and pull out couch. We were there for 10 nights so we saved a ton in money for the hotel. It is on the other side of I-4 and very close to all the same stuff as the Quality Suites and we were at the gates within 5 mins again.
Last year I really splurged and spent one night at the Contemporary. It had a huge price tag of $350 per night. It was lovely but except for the fact you are right in the park I would not go to that expense again. After one night there we spent five nights at the Royal Pacific at Universal. I would highly recommend this to anyone. We paid $149 per night had two queen beds but also got front of the line privledges and just walked on every ride without waiting. Our two boys love Universal and sorry for me don't care for Disney anymore. I know you couldn't fit your whole crew in a room with two queens but this more for the info of the front of the line thing.
This year we are spending two nights pre cruise in Orlando which I got on Priceline - the first night we are going to the Wynham at Sea world for $65 since we are going to Discovery Cove on the Saturday. After Seaworld we are moving over to the Airport Marriott which I got for $60per night and then arranged for a limo to pick us up to take us to the port. If you are not set on certain hotels and with all those kiddos I know having a continental breakfast is a good thing you can find some good deals out there, especially if you are able to go in the off season which I prefer myself to cut down on the lines. Just realize that with off season the parks do close earlier but with little guys that never bothered us anyway. We were always ready to go long before it was closing. By the way the first time we went the boys were 6 and 4. the next time they were 10 and 8, last year they were 11 and 9. So most of those ages are the range of your crew. I personally love the planning as much as the vacation. When I retire from nursing I am going to be a travel agent. cheers April