11/28/2009 - 12/5/2009 Nana Nation 2009 - The Nana's Ride the Seas Again

[Jaime]

Jaime,
After our first cruise I decided to try to keep the traveling as simple as possible (non-stop for us last time) and also to give them a GOOD nights sleep before boarding. You just can't rush kids and push through like we adults do. Especially little kids.

I'm with you on the dining rotation. I have to admit this is the part of cruising that I like the least. I get impatient with the really long meals.

I enjoyed the company this time a lot! But for some reason we were always the last ones out of there! And once we decided to take the kids to the clubs during meals that was our only kid-free time and I would have rather been doing something else other than sitting at the same table for 2 hours!!

Travelling from here is really hard on all of us...that is the main reason we try to take at least 10 days for vacation.

We really enjoyed our dining company too. It did get a little much for our girls and us though...especially on Pirate night! Even though pirate night in the restaurants was a lot of fun we were all really cranky at dinner Late dining was really hard since at home they would be in bed by then! We are going to make sure we get early dining next time and only go if everyone is in a good mood...otherwise we will eat supper up by Goofy's pool watching movies
We found DCL offers so many great things to do that it is so easy to forget to take time to just relax especially on our first cruise!

 

[Jaime]

Kathy...I think that is a great reason to dye your hair!

Alicia was amazed with it! "Wow Mommy, how did she do that!" I did tell her not to get any idea's...it wouldn't suprise me if she tried to color her hair with markers...it is already extra short from her little stunt last week

Kierra loved that her hair matched her dress

 

[Jaime]

Okay I just priced airfare for October/ November 2008 just to give me an idea how much it would cost...it is really scary!

Last time we actually bought our airfare was in Sept/Oct 2005...4 of us(Alicia was free) went to WDW it cost around $1600. When we went on the cruise last year we had to pay just surcharges which still cost enough.

It would cost $4577.36! That's just for the airfare...for the first time ever I think it would be cheaper to drive...

Good thing we plan on using airmiles(aeroplan points) for our trip!!! We figure our free flight will still cost us $1280 in surcharges or more...

Have a great weekend!

 

[philatiger]

Airfares are getting ridiculous. We were hoping to do an adventures by disney next year but the airfare to Italy was 1200.00 each. For that money I would rather put the money towards a cruise.

 

[philatiger]

ok...I am one away

 

[philatiger]

Doing the Happy Dance

 

[philatiger]

Dropped off Saphie and Kali at the vet this morning for their checkup. Still haven't heard back from the vet....waiting anxiously.....

Chuck

 

[philatiger]

Just got the call...the vet found a mass on her sternum that wasn't there a month and a half ago when we brought her in for her cough. They are doing an xray but based on how fast it appeared the vet said there is a very strong possibility it is cancer. I am picking them up at 5:30, so i guess I will probably find out then.

no longer doing the happy dance....

Chuck

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Chuck,
sorry to hear about your dog. I know the worry. Minnie just had a growth (tumor) removed last month. I was really worried it was cancer, but we lucked out. Many times even with animals they can do treatments or surgery to take care of the problem. Of course they always have things to consider, every patient is different. here are soem prayers and pixie dust for her, and for you.



Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Jaime, Melanie,

have you ladies ever had dinner at Topsiders?? It is open from 6 to 8:30 5 of the 7 nights aboard. It is closed the first and last night.

It is NOT a buffet at night. It is sit down with table clothes and dimmed lighting, very nice and relaxing compared to the dining rooms.

many people with small kids go there because it is faster and still excellant food.

They do have a salad bar if you want and the menu is basic. steak, chicken, pasta, one veggie dish, soups dresserts etc..

This wait staff only has 2 tables at a time, they are in training to go into the main diningrooms, so they try very hard to please and do it well. The boss is standing right there watching their every move.

The only thing lacking in there is these waiters often dont have the outgoing personality yet. they are concentrating on the service for now. But they are nice.

some days there isnt anyone in there, other days it will fill up but the service is still much faster.

on port days more people seem to go there. I think they are tired and dont feel like the long meals.

we go twice a week on a 7 day, just for a change. we have even met up with other dis people and had a nice visit as we ate.

just remember to bring a couple bucks to leave a tip for these guys, or theywont get one.


This is where I would eat if I had young kids and still wanted a good meal.

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Chuck you beat me today, but I'll keep trying.
maybe i'll get it tonight??



Please keep us posted on the medical report.
keep all the fingers and toes crossed for the best

back later,

kathy

 

[dsparks]

Can you believe it! 4:35 in the p.m. and I'm just checking in!!! This fighting for rights on the computer is for the birds! I TOLD the boys that the upstairs computer was MINE for a while

Jaime, OMG on the air fare! What will you do?

Melanie, Great pictures as always! I so want to be there. Gaitlinburg is less than 2 weeks away!

Did my usual chores this morning and then went over to Stephanie's to work on my scrap book of November's cruise. Trying to get it done to take to Tennessee for everyone to see.

Oh, Chuck, for your girl.

Kathy, Careful driving. Your jam should be there. It seems most of the packages are arriving quickly.

 

[Jaime]

Chuck your poor little pup

Hi Dawn...I don't mind the $1280 for airfare just hoping to to get the seats...they book really quick! After that though the vacations down south will have to stop for a while I really feel as though something will have to change somewhere...I feel as though people are just not going to be able to spend that kind of money of vacations...maybe DCL will offer cat 12 rooms on this cruise for family of four like last year...October 31 was one of the very few dates I could get a cat 12...and it was the best price...but still $200 more than last year. Airfare is the reason we book cat 12...at least we still get on the ship

Kathy...that explains alot! We did try Topsiders once. We really like the food but we were really taken back by the service compared to the restaurants but now I know why What we found strange about Topsiders was they did not have children's cups...which made for spills at our table...our girls had alot of trouble try to hold the full glasses and the only served mac n cheese for the children. We ended up going and bringing food back for the girls.

Have a great night everyone

 

[dsparks]

As far as eating in the restaurants this time (08), the boys and I agree it will be for the company. Since we've done the restaurants, if something else is going on somewhere else on the ship we want to do, we'll just go to Topsider's or just get chicken or pizza. We have 2nd seating instead of the early. I can see the pros of that but there is also stuff like in Studio Sea and trivia that began like at 7 - 8 p.m. that we did and enjoyed before.

 

[philatiger]

thanks for all the well wishes. The xrays showed the mammary tumor on her sternum, very small but there. There were also a few small spots on both lungs, which the doctor said is most likely spread from the tumor. Because of her age (16) we are opting not to have the surgery and let her live out her time happy and content. We would not do therapy anyway so there is no need to put her through more trauma. She was a puppy mill breeder dog we rescued when she was 12 and no longer useful to the mill. Enough with the sad thoughts...

The adult beach:

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Nice photo Chuck,

hope they can give her something to at least make her more comfortable as things progress.


we are 87 today and NO breeze at all. I had to close the windows and turn on the AC. I took the dogs out for 5 minute romp in the field and a 10 minute walk, came in and they dranks some water and went right to sleep. It zapped their strength, just like me. I am pooped too.

I only have jeans with me, all the shorts are stored at a warehouse in Atlanta Georgia until we settle in some where.
I got so hot today I cut off one pair for shorts. The seat is wearing out anyway, so need to get a patch for it.

Jean shorts are not the coolest things but certainly better than long jeans

OH and ALL our good clothes for the cruise in 08 are stored too, so if w edont get into a place by then, guess what we will be buying, that would cost a fortune may just get 2 outfits each and do topsiders and around the pool a few times. we dont do formal night anyway, so that will save.

I know it is 5 months away but we figure we will be in this RV until next June at least. Times are hard for people in the building industry, so we dont want to invest in any place right now.

when the renter is out next June in our place we may live in the downstairs and rent out the upstairs bedrooms to help pay the mortgage so we could get by with a lower paying job until times get better. 3 bedrooms have their own bathroom and they can have the loft for their common area. Kitchen is large enough for everyone to have a spot in the pantry and 4 cupboards. there is room for 2 refrigerators to share too. we get one to ourselves, they share the other. It would be tough but better than loosing the house and gives us a place to stay too with a pool and fenced in yard for the dogs.

well enough gossip for now, just trying to keep my post total going up and up!! gotta meet my goal.

If we go to Portland tomorrow I wont be online until evening.
I will try to pop back once more this evening to see who is around.

Kathy

 

[pgfour]

Jaime, Melanie,

have you ladies ever had dinner at Topsiders?? It is open from 6 to 8:30 5 of the 7 nights aboard. It is closed the first and last night.

It is NOT a buffet at night. It is sit down with table clothes and dimmed lighting, very nice and relaxing compared to the dining rooms.

many people with small kids go there because it is faster and still excellant food.

They do have a salad bar if you want and the menu is basic. steak, chicken, pasta, one veggie dish, soups dresserts etc..

This wait staff only has 2 tables at a time, they are in training to go into the main diningrooms, so they try very hard to please and do it well. The boss is standing right there watching their every move.

The only thing lacking in there is these waiters often dont have the outgoing personality yet. they are concentrating on the service for now. But they are nice.

some days there isnt anyone in there, other days it will fill up but the service is still much faster.

on port days more people seem to go there. I think they are tired and dont feel like the long meals.

we go twice a week on a 7 day, just for a change. we have even met up with other dis people and had a nice visit as we ate.

just remember to bring a couple bucks to leave a tip for these guys, or theywont get one.


This is where I would eat if I had young kids and still wanted a good meal.

Kathy

I second everything Kathy said!

We were very lucky, however, and had excellent friendly servers both times we've been there. I actually thought they were more accommodating than our regular servers!

And when Kathy mentioned the dimmed lights, she's not kidding -- one time the servers had to have flashlights for the diners to read the menu!!!!

I do think word is getting out about Topsiders. When we went there in 2006, it was practically empty; in 2007 we had to wait a while to be seated.

All that said -- I highly recommend it!

Cheri

 

[pgfour]

Hi Nanas!

Hope all is well!

Chuck -- for your doggie. It's so hard when a four-legged member of the family is not feeling well.

Not much new stuff going on here -- we had a few days without rain; rivers around here are supposed to crest about now, so hopefully there is some relief.

I have a race tomorrow morning, then on to a hotel for a pool party/ birthday party for Bill's dad.

have a great night!!

Cheri

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hi Cheri,
good to hear from you,
do good in the race!!
We use to spend almost every saturday at 5K or 10 K or marathons for a few years. greg use to run in his younger days before injuries made him feel his age

Going to watch a movie,
back later,

Kathy

 

[dsparks]

Good Night!

Just watched Camp Rock. Anyone see it. A pretty good movie for the teen set. Oh yeah, I'll never grow up.