11/28/2009 - 12/5/2009 - The Nana's Ride the Seas Again #4

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I'm back from the ski trip. DD suffered through. She cried through her lesson (glad I got her a private one). The woman was great and really worked with her. Then she and I skiied for another hour together. She really turned it around and really liked it by the time we left.

I fed her lunch on the way home and she was so excited by the cardboard box that her lunch came in that it became the highlight of the trip. It was shaped like a convertible 1955 Ford. She just loved the stupid piece of cardboard.

Taxes are dropped off at the accountant. I feel so good! Taxes come back and pay for her Catholic school for next year, as always. But at least I don't owe a monthly tuition.

And the highlight of the entire day is that I was able to book at studio at Bay Lake Tower (new DVC timeshare at the Contemporary) for the 2 nights before the cruise!! So we will be totally immersed in Disney before we get on the boat!!!

I hope everyone had a good day! It's beautiful her in NJ. Even took DD out on her scooter that she got for Christmas. Its much easier to use outside then in my tiny kitchen.

 

[jd99]

The only reason Jeff wouldnt be posting for this long must be he is sick. It is not like him.
So Jeff if your not feeling well I sure hope you feel better soon




I saved us from page 2 again. I don't think we have ever been this slow before??

Kathy

You got it Kathy. I appears I actually have "the flu" I lost about 3 days of working last week and never left the house on Friday or Saturday. Finally going to try to get a doc's appointment tomorrow.

 

[misha]

Well it looks like I spoke too soon! We were so excited that we were going to be able to make it on the 'Nana's cruise but it appears God has other plans. I've been given the opportunity to go to Africa on a medical mission with our church at the exact time we have the cruise booked. I'd hoped I would get to go on this mission and we booked the cruise at a time we were sure they wouldn't be going - between Turkey day and Christmas. But like he often does God showed us that his plans don't always match ours. While disappointed my family is being EXTREMELY gracious - I am truly blessed! We were able to move the cruise to Jan 2010 for just a little bit more. We'll miss not getting to meet all of you! I want to thank you all for being so kind to a newbie over the last year - good luck and happy cruising to all of you!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Michelle, sorry to loose you but now it sounds like you will have 2 awesome trips, just not with us Have fun.


Jeff I was afraid you were ill. It just wasnt like you to miss posting for that long. Take it easy and i hope you feel better very soon
No whip for you.


I will save it for Brantley since he has been AWOL for a couple of weeks now!!
Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

I'm back from the ski trip. DD suffered through. She cried through her lesson (glad I got her a private one). The woman was great and really worked with her. Then she and I skiied for another hour together. She really turned it around and really liked it by the time we left.

I fed her lunch on the way home and she was so excited by the cardboard box that her lunch came in that it became the highlight of the trip. It was shaped like a convertible 1955 Ford. She just loved the stupid piece of cardboard.

Taxes are dropped off at the accountant. I feel so good! Taxes come back and pay for her Catholic school for next year, as always. But at least I don't owe a monthly tuition.

And the highlight of the entire day is that I was able to book at studio at Bay Lake Tower (new DVC timeshare at the Contemporary) for the 2 nights before the cruise!! So we will be totally immersed in Disney before we get on the boat!!!

I hope everyone had a good day! It's beautiful her in NJ. Even took DD out on her scooter that she got for Christmas. Its much easier to use outside then in my tiny kitchen.

I am so happy the ski trip turned out good in the end. I know what you mean about the box. That happened to us a few Christmas's with our kids. We would get them a nice gift but they loved to play with the box until it wore out, then they wanted their present We often teased we should just buy them a large gift box for their gift.

I got out tax papers all organized too and will be off to the accountant next saturday.


we are cold and rainy still , snow suppose to be coming on tuesday night??
we will see if they are right or not.

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Good morning nanaheads

Jeff i hope the doctor can help you to feel better today, remember to take in lots of fluids. That flu can dehydrate you very fast and that can cause lots of problems. We need you up and running at 100% again


we it was 33 when I got up 3 hours ago and its still 33 It is suppose to get to 42 today so it better start warming up pretty soon.

may get snow tomorrow. At first they said just a light dusting and will disappear fast, now it may be a bit more, but still should disappear by the endof the day which is good since another cold , wet storm is coming on Wednesday

My pups are still snuggled under their blankets to keep warm and cozy, that just proves how cool it is in here this morning I think I will put my long johns on before i take the girls out for their walk


catch you all later,

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

What still nobody here??

I need some cheering up today, So please post someone.

If you have some extra pixie dust floating around out there, please send it my way for my mom, she is having a bad day today.

Thanks,
Kathy

 

[SnowWhite82]

Hi!
My name is Delanie and this will be my first cruise for me, my friend, and my daughter (5yo).

I am super excited!

=)

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

WELCOME DELANIE

It's so nice to have all of you along with us

I am Kathy, hubby is Greg. We have many here who are experienced DCL cruisers so feel free to ask any questions you may have. we are happy to help if we can.

This will be our 18th DCL crusie, I think. I tend to loose track and sometimes I forget to add them to my signature but 18 is close enough

No kids with us, ours are grown but others will have kids for your 5 year old to meet.

This is the perfect cruise because the ship is all decorated for Christmas.
you'll love all the decortions.


We havnt booked yet but we hope to just before the cruise. The economy is just too shakey for us to book it just yet. So we are keeping our fingers crossed

Looking forward to chatting with you the next few months,

Kathy

 

[SnowWhite82]

WELCOME DELANIE

It's so nice to have all of you along with us

I am Kathy, hubby is Greg. We have many here who are experienced DCL cruisers so feel free to ask any questions you may have. we are happy to help if we can.

This will be our 18th DCL crusie, I think. I tend to loose track and sometimes I forget to add them to my signature but 18 is close enough

No kids with us, ours are grown but others will have kids for your 5 year old to meet.

This is the perfect cruise because the ship is all decorated for Christmas.
you'll love all the decortions.


We havnt booked yet but we hope to just before the cruise. The economy is just too shakey for us to book it just yet. So we are keeping our fingers crossed

Looking forward to chatting with you the next few months,

Kathy

Thanks!!! I am super excited and love any info anyone would love to give.
I am aware of the FE gift idea and getting one for my daughter soon. I booked everything together for convenience and looking forward to meeting everyone!

Little bit about me:
I'm 26 but a real kid at heart! =) I work in Katy, Texas for a hospital as a scheduler in the Cardiac Cath Lab. I am a part-time clown for Chick-Fil-A and I do birthday parties as well. I have never been out of Texas in my entire life and I am looking forward for this trip to be the beginning of many!

Thanks for the nice and friendly salutation!


~Delanie~

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thanks!!! I am super excited and love any info anyone would love to give.
I am aware of the FE gift idea and getting one for my daughter soon. I booked everything together for convenience and looking forward to meeting everyone!

Little bit about me:
I'm 26 but a real kid at heart! =) I work in Katy, Texas for a hospital as a scheduler in the Cardiac Cath Lab. I am a part-time clown for Chick-Fil-A and I do birthday parties as well. I have never been out of Texas in my entire life and I am looking forward for this trip to be the beginning of many!

Thanks for the nice and friendly salutation!


~Delanie~

Welcome Delanie!
Last year I almost took a transfer to Houston. We were actually looking at living in your town. Small world!!

We cruised for the first time last month (yes, Jan 2009). We booked the another cruise immediately! You'll have a blast. Your daughter is the perfect age for the cruise. Don't forget to start getting your passports in order!

In our family its me (much older than 26), DH and DD9.
Don't be a stranger.
- Allison

 

[SnowWhite82]

Welcome Delanie!
Last year I almost took a transfer to Houston. We were actually looking at living in your town. Small world!!

We cruised for the first time last month (yes, Jan 2009). We booked the another cruise immediately! You'll have a blast. Your daughter is the perfect age for the cruise. Don't forget to start getting your passports in order!

In our family its me (much older than 26), DH and DD9.
Don't be a stranger.
- Allison

DH? and DD9?
I like living in Rosenberg but I look forward to moving to Katy in the near future. I talked to the cruiseline help desk and it told me I didn't need a passport. Should I get one?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

DH= dear husband (or whatever you want the "D" to stand for on a given day.

DD9 = dear daughter 9 years old.

We looked at Rosenberg because I believe there is a Catholic school in the area. We figured moving her from NJ to TX would be a big enough shock. Moving her from Catholic school to public would probably throw her into a tail spin. But the company cheaped out in both the salary and moving package so I stayed in NJ. Go figure, it was Citi. Probably a good thing we didn't move.

And yes, I belive that starting in June you will need passports to leave the country. I checked the website but here is the link to the state department. http://travel.state.gov/passport_cal/passport_travel_requirements.php
We got them to be on the safe side. I've heard people doing one person at a time because they can get expensive if you do them all at once. And ours came in about 10 days. I was shocked at how fast they actually arrived.

If you're at all confused about the passports, they have a toll free phone number you can call and find out the answer directly from the state department. I wouldn't trust the cruiseline help desk. No offense to the people on the help desk but the state department has been changing things and they might not be up to date on everything.

 

[SnowWhite82]

Yeah, it will be 185 bucks for me and my daughter. That is why I checked with them beforehand. That puts 200.00 out of my DCL fund. I was told all we needed was our DL and certified birth certificates. This is going to suck.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Evening ladies,

we have passports. It just made sense to have them because soon they will be required and the office will get very busy and then it can take months to get them. I figure we want to cruise every year so this way we are all set for a few years. Also I was afraid if I wait too long the price may go up like everything else.


One tip I can give you is if you want to do the gingerbread house decorating, book it the first day after you board the ship because it fills up that first day.
It is really a lot of fun and the kids will really love it but they have limited space. So go to guest services the first day to sign up.

Kathy

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Great advice Kathy! We did the tea with Alice and the Mad Hatter. That was cute. Delanie - that's another thing you want to get tickets for the first day at guest services. I understand that sells out quickly as well. It was a little story, apple juice and the best chocolate chip cookies in the world!!!

Kathy, is there anything else that we need to jump on right away? And anything else holiday related like the gingerbread decorating?

DH wants to do the galley tour. I never saw it on the Navigators on the last trip. He came home and read the Passporter's Guide and then wanted to know why I didn't tell him about it. Sometimes those men...
Anyway, do you know how to get tickets to this event?

Thanks,
Allison

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Yeah, it will be 185 bucks for me and my daughter. That is why I checked with them beforehand. That puts 200.00 out of my DCL fund. I was told all we needed was our DL and certified birth certificates. This is going to suck.

I would double check with the State Dept. Better safe then sorry. And yes, I understand about taking the money out of the cruise fund!!

I think its currently a DL and birth certificate but I do believe that changes on 6/1/09.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Morning all,

Allison, you also get the galley tour tickets at guest services. You may be able to get them the first day, I am not 100% sure about that. What ever day we saw it in the Navigator we got them. They take small groups of around 20 people at a time, it moves really fast, one group right after another becasue they only have around an hour when the galley is clear to do this. Normally there is always someone in there working.

This time I remembered my camera and took several photos of it which I didnt do the first time. They even give you a chocolate chip cookie along the way I would ask the first day when you ask for the GB House and Tea Party tickets. I bet you can do all at once.

Do you know about getting signatures on pillowcases or a matte style photos frame? That needs to be done the first day too.
Just get a large zip lock baggie and put some water proof markers in it with 2 wahsed and ironed pillowcases or 1 matte style photo frame in the baggie. Take it to Guest services the FIRST day. Ask to have them signed by the characters.
You can ask for everyone they can get, or just princesses or any specific character you want. They write it down along with your name and room number and it will be returned to your room the last night of the cruise by your room host.

I alway put a card inside with my name, room number and signing instructions too, just in case their note gets torn off the outside of the baggie.
I also try and include a Thakyou note to the signer and sometimes a small whitmans sampler as a thankyou gift. The small 3x 3 box with around 5 candies in them or something like that. It is NOT necessary but they sign hundreds of items each crusie and I think its nice to thank them.

I always recommend the tree lighting ceremony the first night and be on the atrium floor for the best effect. NOT on upper floors looking down.
But this last year I was terribly disappointed in how they changed it

I wrote and told them so Because of that I wont say what goes on but the original ceremony was great with a surprize ending which they also changed

But please go and hopefully it will be enjoyable again. Since you havnt seen the origianl show you probably wont be disappointed like I was.

Kathy.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

well I have been sititng here watching it snow for the last 2 hours. It isnt sticking and it will be gone soon, so I can relax and enjoy how pretty it looks coming down this morning.

Some areas close ot us got 2 inches over night while we got none, so this is the end of the cold front I am seeing right now


Jeff, I hope you feeling better now. You've been ill for a long time this time.

Maybe a little pixie dust will help




Kathy

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thanks Kathy!

We did the photo mat this past cruise but need to do another one. I forgot to tell them which direction I wanted it signed. So they did it vertically and I wanted it horizontally. Sounds like a good reason for another cruise. And I brought a box of GS cookies called "Thanks a Lot". Of course I forgot to give it to Guest Services for them.
It worked out though as my DH gave a box each to the bingo workers and our stateroom hostess ended up with 2. My DD even gave out boxes to two of her favorite people on the boat - one was Paula in the gift shop and Nickisha in GS. She even wrote little notes to each of them. It was cute.

Thanks for the info on the galley tour!