12/16/06 10-day holiday cruise Part 2

[KatHuss]

Ok, I have an actual cruise related question.

When are you all planning to purchase air fare? I am nervous about coming back the day after Christmas and am thinking that the smart thing to do would be to get the air fare the minute it becomes available (I think next Tuesday or maybe Monday).

I know what you mean! Most airlines appear to be 331 days out which means the outgoing fares are available but the homecoming won't be until sometime next week. I think I was planning on looking into it on Wednesday and if I find something decent going ahead and buying it. My only concern is that when you buy this far out they constantly change the schedules and I don't want to have something scheduled for a time that is "safe" and then have them move it so that we risk missing the boat! That almost happened to us this summer. They kept making the flight later and later until I feared we might have a problem. But we are looking at really EARLY flights this time so hopefully that wouldn't be a problem.

 

[WMILLER86]

Does anyone know when Disney will post shore excursions for the 10 Day?


W

 

[karaeric]

Call me batty but I'm going to hold out for Southwest fares. I need the ability to bring the extra luggage without being charged $80 or $100 extra. Plus I can book the trip out there, then wait and book the return flight when it gets released a week later.

I suspect that we will not see an official list of excursions until sometime in September. The special 10 & 11-day cruises are in September and will be going to many of the same stops, so I'm thinking that's when they will start to finalize our stuff.

As for formal and semi-formal nights, I am wondering if they will do what they did last year (2 formal, 1 semi) or mix it up a bit. We didn't know until we got on the ship - made for some fun planning!

 

[magiroux]

morning all,

fell in love this weekend. I was visiting a neighbor when a lady walked by with this adorable dachsund puppy. She rescued her from a ranch in Houston and is looking for a good home. She came over on Sunday for a play date and we will have a sleepover with her this weekend. I still have to take her to get checked out by a vet and look into her breeding history if there is any. The people in Houston had kept her in a really small crate and then she got too close to a big dog that was eating. Needless to say she resembles.... .
Oh she is so sweet and playful and happy. The girls are so excited about it. DH is too. He keeps saying lets get her.We haven't had a dog in about 6 years.

just had to share. off to start the day.
ttfn, -D

dachsund??.....OK, are those what we affectionately refer to around here as "Hot Dogs"?

 

[magiroux]

Yea guys, I am always in a quandry as to when is the best time to purchase airfare. For my Easter trip I caught a one day sale ($79/each way) and the next day it went up to $299/ea way. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. I am going to take look-see next week and see how they are pricing out. Never hurts to research early.

Willie, I have heard that DCL will puts you on less desirable flights....crappy travel times/stop overs, changing planes when non-stop flights are available...stuff like that. That has just never sat right with me and coming from an area of unpredictable weather I would much rather book my own and come in the night before.

Kara, I remember that it was always a guessing game on the last 10-day. Nobody could say when/what was going to happen as far as what was going to happen each night. Enough to make a compulsive planner nuts .

 

[magiroux]

T.O.P.

Like I always say, it's the little things in life


I love this chick

 

[karaeric]

I hear ya Mary Ann! Trust me, I was totally out of my mind by the time I started packing for that last 10-day! But it was worse (believe it or not) for the Repo cruise in May...

Hey Willie, I see you are a Buffet fan...so is my DH. How many concerts have you been to?

 

[karaeric]

T.O.P.

Like I always say, it's the little things in life


I love this chick

Brutal! I knew I wasn't typing fast enough!

 

[magiroux]

yea, wasn't the repo cruise like 14 days. How the heck do ya pack for that not knowing what's going on?????

 

[karylrocks]

And I have no idea what to request for a rotation, or when to book Palo's. I guess I will just go with the flow.

I am also hesitant to book the cruise line airfare due to not knowing what we will get. Coming from Portland takes at least 8 hours with a plane change (no non-stops available), and I usually like to catch the red-eye in order to not waste an entire day. Planning to arrive Friday morning, and if we can muster enough energy and the weather permits, spend a few hours at Blizzard Beach (DS's favorite WDW park) followed by a long nap and catch a couple of shows at Pleasure Island (Comedy Club and Adventurer's Club, more DS favorites). Then crash for a good nights sleep and arrive at the port early afternoon.

 

[dobelover]

We purchased air and transfers from Disney. We may have paid a little too much, but I was not looking forward to trying to book air the day after Christmas. that may be the most traveled day this year.


W

I always use DCL air. It is easier traveling with DM. DCL handles coming in the day b4 and staying at the Hyatt. In '04 we had a change in flights and DCL stayed on top of the changes.



Sue

 

[wdwgoose]

s U e did you get my pm???????


I'm going to call you if you don't answer


I'm getting a little worried

you have not been posting much ????????????????











gaRry

 

[wdwgoose]

OOOOOOPS

GOOD MORNIN CRUISERS



gaRry

 

[karaeric]

yea, wasn't the repo cruise like 14 days. How the heck do ya pack for that not knowing what's going on?????

Very, very carefully...and fly Southwest! You should have seen the four adults in the airport in LA after the cruise - the luggage looked like it was for a family of about 12!

Honestly, we tend to pack to for more formality now, just because we can always dress down, but it's a bit harder to dress up if you don't have the clothes to do it. Plus we like to eat at Palo's (souflees, anyone?!?). And they won't allow the Tommy Bahama style shirts there anymore, which is a bummer. That's how I was convincing DH to dress up.

Can anyone explain why Palo's got stricter on dress code but they now allow blue jeans in the other three dining rooms? I know not everyone will agree with me on this, but I don't like jeans in the dining rooms.

 

[WMILLER86]

Hey Willie, I see you are a Buffet fan...so is my DH. How many concerts have you been to?

None yet, unfortunately! I am trying to get to one, but I just became a parrothead a couple of years ago.
I love "beach music" though! There is a guy in New Orleans that plays sometimes at Margaritaville, that has put out some original stuff that is fantastic. His name is Joe Bennett and his band is the Pirates of the French Quarter. I bought his two cd's and if you love beach music, they are a must have. During the summer Joe's music plays at my poolside more than Jimmy's!


Willie

 

[WMILLER86]

Yea guys, I am always in a quandry as to when is the best time to purchase airfare. ...

Willie, I have heard that DCL will puts you on less desirable flights....crappy travel times/stop overs, changing planes when non-stop flights are available...stuff like that. That has just never sat right with me and coming from an area of unpredictable weather I would much rather book my own and come in the night before.

I am hoping for the best. There are about 2 dozen direct flights from Houston to Orlando each day, so they will have a big argument from me if they try to route me with stops. And our weather here is usually pretty mild during the winter. Also will get some argument from me if we are not seated by each other.
But as far as flight times go, I don't mind flying over early. As long as we are there before she sails, I am OK. I plan on having my stuff reserved ahead of time.
I guess all I can do is hope for the best case, and raise some hell if I am not happy with what we get. But I am not going to lose sleep over it!

Willie

 

[Denise Escola]

Hi all,
Gary I'll take you teen if he does chores.

We booked our air fare with Disney. Staying at the Hyatt and taking the bus down. With the kids the simpler the better.

I know what you all mean about planning. But the last cruise being our first, just being on the thread was a major help. We looked at the unofficial guide to the DCL for some pointers but then again they were more like guidelines. Helpful anyway. So we know there will be at least one formal night(maybe two), one semi formal, one pirate party,and I think we all need red bathing suits and Santa hats for Castaway Cay.

 

[karaeric]

Hmm...personally, I think I'll bring my red turtleneck for Castaway. It was so cold on the island on that last 10-day that we walk out, took a few pics, and practially ran back to the ship. DCL was really good about the day, though. They scrambled to put together services on the ship that aren't normally available on the CC day like movies and lunch on the ship because of the weather.

But don't get me wrong...IF it's nice that day , DH and I will be some of the first to arrive at Serenity Bay for some relaxation and a lovely lunch.

 

[KatHuss]

DH said he doesn't even want to go to CC on this trip. DD probably will, though. If she does I will go with her but probably won't get wet unless it is really warm. We did an early January cruise several years ago (2002) and it was plenty warm enough to be in the water.

DH starts Scuba class tomorrow and is hoping to be able to get his certs in time for the cruise.

We bought air through DCL once and they had the three of us in different rows (DD was 7 at the time!). We were not thrilled with that. I will start looking into what is available next week. We managed with 2 large suitcases and two carry-ons for the 7 day last year so I am hoping we won't need much more for this one. If I can convince DH to rent a tux that will help. Not knowing for sure how many formal, semi-formal doesn't help. Maybe as we get closer the CMs will know. When we start calling to link ressies for table assignments we can always ask.

 

[DCLgodess]

we always fly with disney, but it will be interesting this year because of me being at college. lol.

Kat: That's awesome that your DH is going to get his cert. for open water diving. He will have to join us on our excursions if he's certified in time. I wonder if my new PADI card ever came? I will have to ask my mom. It should have, since we were rescue certified in August. lol.

Well, I've got to post before the lab procter catches me posting. ttyl.