11-29-08 Nana Heads 3: Tiara Bob & The Dreamboats reunion Cruise CONTINUED THREAD #7!

[jd99]

Ok we need some advice. We are seriously considering a med cruise in 2010. We had originally planned to go to Greece this summer (09) to see the relatives but just think that we need another year before doing that. Thus, we were looking at 2010. So we are *in* for the airfare to Europe no matter what. Thinking of a week in Greece, followed by an 11 day Med Cruise. That way we see the relatives and get a feel for a Greece trip and what all it means (relatives summer on an island that is relatively tourist free - and thus hotel/villa free so we are challenged for a place to stay but a trip like this can get us figuring out what to do when we return for a longer stay. Then we cruise the med with Disney - a familiar ship and something we love - and get to go to Italy to see my roots too. Truly it would be a once in a lifetime trip for our family.

So the advice I need is: do I book when they come out with availability next week? or wait til we are on the ship? OR, Once on the ship, can I just rebook to earn the discount and credits (if still available)? There are only 2 weeks we can really do this if it all works out right so I want to make sure we don't get shut out. Certainly not 100 percent sure if we are going to make this happen but I'd hate to be saying "I wish we would have...." a year from now.

 

[jd99]

The biggest problem we had was that the beach wasn't swimable It was very rough and rocky. We did go snorkeling but it wasn't even close to Maui. Of course, I didn't know this until I finally went to Maui. I'll tell ya I think the only place better than Maui is going to be Tahiti

We honeymooned in Maui but I looked very seriously at Tahiti because at that time the pricing was relatively similar to our Maui trip. Chickened out eventually because of the long long long flight but Tahiti is on my "must see before I die" list for sure.

 

[jd99]

Who is lurking for the top? JoAnne?

 

[jd99]

Oh darn. I gave it away.

 

[jd99]

But to whom?

 

[jd99]

Can you tell I wasn't a math major?

Yet I still got the top. I like it better when I am not trying.

 

[Mjasp]

Woo Hoo I have actually been somewhere Jeff hasn't

Since we got married in Disney our honeymoon was also spent there. So for our 1 year anniversary I insisted on going some place tropical. Hawaii was just too far so we when to Sandals St. Lucia. It was an amazing vacation but Jeff I gotta tell you it just doesn't compare to Hawaii.

OOOHHH I have to disagree BFF-NV I think I like the Caribbean better...Been to Oahu in 1981 and we just got back from the Big Island in April, guess it's not 'just' back anymore it's 6 months ago. We loved the Big Island because we got to see the volcano in action and it was just unbelievable, Oahu in my opinion is just a beach, of course it's beautiful, but I don't think it is worth the loooong airplane trip. Oh wait you are in LV, piece of cake for you LOL

 

[jd99]

OOOHHH I have to disagree BFF-NV I think I like the Caribbean better...Been to Oahu in 1981 and we just got back from the Big Island in April, guess it's not 'just' back anymore it's 6 months ago. We loved the Big Island because we got to see the volcano in action and it was just unbelievable, Oahu in my opinion is just a beach, of course it's beautiful, but I don't think it is worth the loooong airplane trip. Oh wait you are in LV, piece of cake for you LOL

JoAnne - you GOTTA go to Maui (and Kauai). Nothing like it anywhere. The smell of Maui alone has stayed with me since the first time I got off the plane in 1994.

 

[lvstitch]

Ok we need some advice. We are seriously considering a med cruise in 2010. We had originally planned to go to Greece this summer (09) to see the relatives but just think that we need another year before doing that. Thus, we were looking at 2010. So we are *in* for the airfare to Europe no matter what. Thinking of a week in Greece, followed by an 11 day Med Cruise. That way we see the relatives and get a feel for a Greece trip and what all it means (relatives summer on an island that is relatively tourist free - and thus hotel/villa free so we are challenged for a place to stay but a trip like this can get us figuring out what to do when we return for a longer stay. Then we cruise the med with Disney - a familiar ship and something we love - and get to go to Italy to see my roots too. Truly it would be a once in a lifetime trip for our family.

So the advice I need is: do I book when they come out with availability next week? or wait til we are on the ship? OR, Once on the ship, can I just rebook to earn the discount and credits (if still available)? There are only 2 weeks we can really do this if it all works out right so I want to make sure we don't get shut out. Certainly not 100 percent sure if we are going to make this happen but I'd hate to be saying "I wish we would have...." a year from now.

I say book now and book on the ship. Then cancel the first cruise. I am pretty sure you get 100% refund on your deposit. If not see if you can transfer the deposit to the second booking.

 

[jd99]

I say book now and book on the ship. Then cancel the first cruise. I am pretty sure you get 100% refund on your deposit. If not see if you can transfer the deposit to the second booking.

Yeah that was my thought too. I just didn't know if there was any downside to doing it that way. Just want to make sure I get a decent category. With it being so port intensive, a verandah isn't as important so I think we'll go for an 8. Got upgraded to six last time we did that (mexican riviera) so maybe we can roll those dice again and make it happen again.

 

[Mjasp]

I also found 2 choices for August 2009 for Southern Caribbean - one with Barbados and St. Lucia as a port. The other Dominica.

Here are the itineraries:

Ports of Call: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St. John's, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Island; San Juan, Puerto Rico

Ports of Call: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Roseau, Dominica; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE ITINERARIES

One has St. Lucia where Jeff wants to go and one has Domenica where Mutt wants to go.

 

[lvstitch]

JoAnne - you GOTTA go to Maui (and Kauai). Nothing like it anywhere. The smell of Maui alone has stayed with me since the first time I got off the plane in 1994.

I feel the same way about the smell...there is just nothing like it. One night we were sitting at the bar in the Rusty Harpoon and someone came around selling leis, I thought I had died and gone to heaven the smell is just that amazing. Any time a smell a combination of Tubor Rose and White Ginger I think of Maui.

 

[lvstitch]

Yeah that was my thought too. I just didn't know if there was any downside to doing it that way. Just want to make sure I get a decent category. With it being so port intensive, a verandah isn't as important so I think we'll go for an 8. Got upgraded to six last time we did that (mexican riviera) so maybe we can roll those dice again and make it happen again.

A friend of mine what on the Disney Med that last time and she said they dropped the prices a few days before the cruise. So maybe you could book the Cat 8 and if you don't get upgraded you could check a few days before the cruise and see if they have any last minute discounts.

 

[jd99]

I feel the same way about the smell...there is just nothing like it. One night we were sitting at the bar in the Rusty Harpoon and someone came around selling leis, I thought I had died and gone to heaven the smell is just that amazing. Any time a smell a combination of Tubor Rose and White Ginger I think of Maui.

The other thing for me are the wild flowers just growing on the side of the road - they look like things I would die to have in my garden. Yet in Maui they are basically weeds (hibiscus comes to mind).

And I just fell in love with the Wailea area on this last trip. The Kea Lani is really my favorite hotel of all time right now. It wasn't the fanciest place i'd ever been (we actually stayed a few days at the Four Seasons the year I turned 40) but I just loved everything about it.

I turn the big 5-0 in July and would really love to be in Maui. Don't think it's going to happen but I'm still thinking about it....

 

[jd99]

A friend of mine what on the Disney Med that last time and she said they dropped the prices a few days before the cruise. So maybe you could book the Cat 8 and if you don't get upgraded you could check a few days before the cruise and see if they have any last minute discounts.

great tip. And with the economy tanking who knows how popular this is going to be this time around.

 

[jd99]

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE ITINERARIES

One has St. Lucia where Jeff wants to go and one has Domenica where Mutt wants to go.

Actually it's the combination of Barbados and St. Lucia that intrigue me. Much more so than going to Aruba and Curacao. If only we could get Dominica and Barbados, I could deal with that.

 

[woogal]

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE ITINERARIES

One has St. Lucia where Jeff wants to go and one has Domenica where Mutt wants to go.

And I need St. Maarten

 

[jd99]

And I need St. Maarten

Hmmm. Looks like the St. Lucia/Barbados itinerary also includes St. Maarten. I'm just sayin...

 

[dsparks]

Jeff, I actually called DCL and asked "how" is the best way to book. They said to book as early as possible then when you get on the ship the sales rep will just rebook the cruise as you have already booked it. I guess they can suspend one booking and do the other. You can keep the same room and everything.

 

[dsparks]

The other thing for me are the wild flowers just growing on the side of the road - they look like things I would die to have in my garden. Yet in Maui they are basically weeds (hibiscus comes to mind).

And I just fell in love with the Wailea area on this last trip. The Kea Lani is really my favorite hotel of all time right now. It wasn't the fanciest place i'd ever been (we actually stayed a few days at the Four Seasons the year I turned 40) but I just loved everything about it.

I turn the big 5-0 in July and would really love to be in Maui. Don't think it's going to happen but I'm still thinking about it....

That was the first Bubba Gump restaurant we ever ate at--near that 100+ year old tree!