12/19/2009 - 12/26/2009 Magical Christmas Cruise! It's not that far Away?

[Downrivermama]

Checked my email and I was offered the upgrade to a cat 9 for $150! the email was from my TA at Dreams. This will be our 4 DCL cruise. I figured the price is right. Just hope our cabin isn't too close to Qcean Quest on deck 2!

 

[Downrivermama]

Hi Michelle!

Just hang out with us here and you'll have ten posts in no time! LOL!

There are lots of hotels at Port Canaveral. Three popular ones are the Residence Inn by Marriott, Country Inn and Suites, and The Radisson. Some other folks may come along to give you other suggestions, but those are the ones that stand out in my mind. Some even have park & cruise rates, so if you don't mind leaving your car at the hotel and riding the hotel shuttle over to the port, you can get a good deal that way. Last I checked the Radisson rate for that was $117 for the night and the Country Inn and Suites was $119. Since parking at the port is $105 for the week, you can see where this is a good deal that many take advantage of.

By the way, we are debating over whether to leave on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. DD will miss a day of school, but she's only in 2nd grade and her class party is on Thursday that week, so she won't miss anything important.

Oh, and I do believe you will be considered for an upgrade even if you book through a TA. If I'm not mistaken, it was either Peaceableone or Pluto who said they got a call from their TA about the upgrade offer. The angonizing part of all of this is that it's impossible to predict who will get those calls! Sometimes it's first time cruisers, other times it's folks who have cruised lots of times with DCL. So just keep your fingers crossed...I know I am!!!

Take care,
Kimberly

Kim, my daughter has a full day of school on Friday, so we are flying out Friday evening and staying at the airport Hyatt and taking the DCL transportation to the port. I think I would be too nervous flying that morning and worry about that "s" word!

I was actually surprised by the upgrade offer. I didn't think I would get one since I had requested and got a sideways cat 11. But I'll take the upgrade!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Okay, I'm throwing a pity party...anyone care to join me?!

No call, no email, no nuttin'

Those of you who did get a call, do you have one or more cabins booked? We have 2 that are linked, so I'm wondering if that is why we are not getting called? It's probably harder to upgrade 2 together than it is to do one.

 

[michellemb]

Okay, I'm throwing a pity party...anyone care to join me?!

No call, no email, no nuttin'

Those of you who did get a call, do you have one or more cabins booked? We have 2 that are linked, so I'm wondering if that is why we are not getting called? It's probably harder to upgrade 2 together than it is to do one.

I'll join you! We have two cabins booked and they are linked together.

I wonder if we will get a call closer to the travel date and upgraded to the family category 4 stateroom

One can only hope

 

[itutorfortravel]

Kim, my daughter has a full day of school on Friday, so we are flying out Friday evening and staying at the airport Hyatt and taking the DCL transportation to the port. I think I would be too nervous flying that morning and worry about that "s" word!

I was actually surprised by the upgrade offer. I didn't think I would get one since I had requested and got a sideways cat 11. But I'll take the upgrade!

Hey Tina! Okay, I was trying figure out what the "s" word was...I was thinking okay is she saying that if she's running late she'll start throwing out expletives? Then I think I figured it out - you mean SHUTTLE!!! Okay, I'm a little slooowww...ha ha.

We are driving down and staying in Port Canaveral. We will park our car at the port b/c we like do be there when the gates open. Plus, and this is just me, I like having my car in a fenced area. I know plenty of people who have left their cars at the hotels and everything is fine, but knowing my luck, well need I say more?!

Kimberly

 

[michellemb]

Hi Michelle!

Just hang out with us here and you'll have ten posts in no time! LOL!

There are lots of hotels at Port Canaveral. Three popular ones are the Residence Inn by Marriott, Country Inn and Suites, and The Radisson. Some other folks may come along to give you other suggestions, but those are the ones that stand out in my mind. Some even have park & cruise rates, so if you don't mind leaving your car at the hotel and riding the hotel shuttle over to the port, you can get a good deal that way. Last I checked the Radisson rate for that was $117 for the night and the Country Inn and Suites was $119. Since parking at the port is $105 for the week, you can see where this is a good deal that many take advantage of.

By the way, we are debating over whether to leave on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. DD will miss a day of school, but she's only in 2nd grade and her class party is on Thursday that week, so she won't miss anything important.

Oh, and I do believe you will be considered for an upgrade even if you book through a TA. If I'm not mistaken, it was either Peaceableone or Pluto who said they got a call from their TA about the upgrade offer. The angonizing part of all of this is that it's impossible to predict who will get those calls! Sometimes it's first time cruisers, other times it's folks who have cruised lots of times with DCL. So just keep your fingers crossed...I know I am!!!

Take care,
Kimberly

I would love to leave a day early, but I don't think I could convince my husband. My DS is in 3rd grade and I think he probably only has his class party also. It's getting my husband to take a day another day of work that would be the tricky part.

 

[stichlover87]

I'll join the pity party! This will be our 7th Disney cruise and we have never been upgraded...but I will keep thinking positive (not sure how long that will last )

 

[itutorfortravel]

I'll join you! We have two cabins booked and they are linked together.

I wonder if we will get a call closer to the travel date and upgraded to the family category 4 stateroom

One can only hope

Ha ha Michelle! I like your thinking! Yes, maybe they are saving those unclaimed cat 1-3's for us

It will be interesting to see what happens with us. Please post if you get a call and I will do the same...

 

[itutorfortravel]

...but I will keep thinking positive (not sure how long that will last )

Thank you for being brave enough to say this! I was only thinking it!!!

 

[itutorfortravel]

I would love to leave a day early, but I don't think I could convince my husband. My DS is in 3rd grade and I think he probably only has his class party also. It's getting my husband to take a day another day of work that would be the tricky part.

See Michelle, I told you that you'd have 10 posts in no time...look, you're already at 7!

Wouldn't your DH have some time off during Christmas week for the holiday? My DH will get Christmas day off, so he's only having to take off 4 days for the actual week of the cruise, plus he is taking off Thursday and Friday prior to the cruise...so only 6 days total...my DH said he will enjoy going back to work the next week b/c it will be very quiet (lots of people on vacation) and he will get a lot done...

 

[lovesDCL]

i'll join the pity party too!

i'm now checking my inbox in hopes of finding an email from my TA but nothing is there...

well, at least we'll all get exciting news on Thursday with the news about the Disney Dream!

 

[stichlover87]

i'll join the pity party too!

i'm now checking my inbox in hopes of finding an email from my TA but nothing is there...

well, at least we'll all get exciting news on Thursday with the news about the Disney Dream!

I am so excited about the Disney Dream! I don't think we are going to do Alaska so I am really anxious for the Dream announcement.

 

[lovesDCL]

Hi Michelle! I was not excited about Alaska...I cruise to get away from the cold !

I'm hoping there will be some itineraries for at least 5 days and maybe some Double Dip ones as well! We'll know it 2 days!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Hey guess what?!

DH just called and said his sister's family and his parents (who both booked cat 12's too) just got called to upgrade to a CAT 2!!! And here's the best part...the cost was $50!!!

They were also told that if they completed an online survey they would get a $50 OBC, too!

Lastly, they were told that if they know the magic word when they board, they will also have no onboard charges on their account at the end of the cruise

Yeah for DCL!!!

 

[itutorfortravel]

I looove my DH! He knows just what to say to make me laugh!!!

 

[lovesDCL]

 

[lovesDCL]

I looove my DH! He knows just what to say to make me laugh!!!

So you're joking.... ???

 

[itutorfortravel]

So you're joking.... ???

Yes, unfortunately I am!!! I did just talk to DH and obviously he did not want to come to my pity party...and his response was to make me laugh...it really worked!

Wouldn't that be awesome though if something like that REALLY DID happen?!

 

[lovesDCL]

Yes, unfortunately I am!!! I did just talk to DH and obviously he did not want to come to my pity party...and his response was to make me laugh...it really worked!

Wouldn't that be awesome though if something like that REALLY DID happen?!

It would!!! Well....your quote make me have warms feelings toward DCL despite not offering us an upgrade!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Me too Jhoanna...there are lots of people who would be thrilled to be in our shoes and be able to go on this trip irregardless of what stateroom they are assigned. And I intend to be one of those happy people!