12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[adrianna_sarah]

If I had a suite, I might feel obligated to never leave.

We had the conch fritters at Key West. Not too bad, so we may have to give that cracked conch a try. I love seafood.

We are hoping to try the Palo brunch. In Nassau, I think we'll try to take the kids on one of the dolphin encounters. I plan to parasail at CC, whether the hubby joins me or not! He wants to do a couples cabana massage on CC, but a massage is just not as relaxing when shared-at least for me, so maybe we'll do the couples massage at CC and I'll have another by myself on the ship. So, maybe I am happy that we booked the "bargain basement" of the ship after all. Two massages in four days. That would be a treat!

Hey! I was on the 6:00 KSWO News the other night for the Salvation Army fashion show. Did you see me? I missed the newscast, but am told I looked decent.

Adrianna

 

[brendalee59]

If I had a suite, I might feel obligated to never leave.

We had the conch fritters at Key West. Not too bad, so we may have to give that cracked conch a try. I love seafood.

We are hoping to try the Palo brunch. In Nassau, I think we'll try to take the kids on one of the dolphin encounters. I plan to parasail at CC, whether the hubby joins me or not! He wants to do a couples cabana massage on CC, but a massage is just not as relaxing when shared-at least for me, so maybe we'll do the couples massage at CC and I'll have another by myself on the ship. So, maybe I am happy that we booked the "bargain basement" of the ship after all. Two massages in four days. That would be a treat!

Hey! I was on the 6:00 KSWO News the other night for the Salvation Army fashion show. Did you see me? I missed the newscast, but am told I looked decent.

Adrianna

Exactly...we feel obligated to never leave. I forgot about the parasailing. Last I heard CC had cancelled it. DD and I parasailed on South Padre Island a couple years ago and loved it. DH and DS won't go, but we girls sure will.
Sometimes I think I would love to try out the Villa spa pkg. But then I think about all the money we already spent, and back off. We may book a late afternoon massage for Nassau when they are a little cheaper. I know once I'm done, all I'm gonna want to do is melt into a lounge chair for the duration.
I'm hoping the twins will want to do the teen thing on CC so DH and I can relax at SB. It's not as easy to drop them off at 16 as it was at 8. They tend to kick up more of a fuss now
Gosh girl, I probably did see it, (unless it was Friday night) but at my age I wouldn't remember it anyway But I'm sure you looked better than decent
Well, Time to balance the checkbook,pick up the house, and get ready to hit the gym. Catch ya later, Have a great day!

 

[TXdeVille]

Brendalee and Adrianna-

Gosh! Sorry I have been gone for just over a week and you guys have been going on and on!! I am certainly jealous of the suite. It is our first cruise....ever! For any of us. Usually DH has been everywhere that I haven't been since he was military and travelled a lot with his dad, but he has never done a cruise. Our whole family even 11 year old DS are seafood lovers but we have never experienced conch. I can imagine what the fritters are like, but what is cracked conch??

I FINALLY got my confirmation letter in the mail so once I slow down enough I will go to DCL website and get started on the fun, counting down the days til I can do reservations. I think DH and I will do Palo since we never have. Haven't even told him about it. I guess the kids could be on their own and have dinner without us as several people have suggested.

As for Nassau, I am pretty torn about what to do. I first thought Atlantis but saw how expensive it is and to wait so long in a line to go down a slide....it is just a waterpark. I will have to see what else I can arrange.

As for CC, I am definitely putting DD 16 on the excursion. I think she would love it. The kids don't know anything about the trip other than we are going to WDW and Universal. We just went to WDW in January. They were excited to go back but it has been their "dream" to go to Universal so we may bypass the world this time. Tough choice with it being Christmas and all but we could always come back. Don't they start the Christmas stuff at the beginning of November?? The only other thing I could think of is renting some paddleboats or something and getting as close as possible to the Flying Dutchman. The kids are such POTC freaks , they would absolutely LOVE IT!! Have the twins sign up and they can all go together after we all meet up and finally put faces to names. So exciting!!

I think our 2nd seating choice was the best idea. We usually eat late most of the time anyways due to all the activities we are in.

Anyone ever done the Rainforest Showers accessibility, or whatever it is called, on the boat?

Oh....almost forgot! Adrianna, we are going to be in 7543, midship near the midship elevators. Where are you?? Can't believe I am talking with a celebrity! Are you going to the world first? Where are you staying if you are?

Brendalee, I forgot where you said you are staying....

 

[adrianna_sarah]

We are in 2112, down in the basement with a porthole window, just a few rooms up from the aft elevators. According to Passporter it is one of the quieter rooms on deck 2, as many of the staterooms are near engines or under the theater, a nightclub or a restaurant on this floor. We are under the internet cafe, so overhead noise shouldn't be too much of an issue. We were on Deck 7 last time in 7558. It is so close to almost every place that you might want to go to, both up and down that we rarely waited for an elevator and just took the stairs instead. It would get a little noisy at night when the big kids and teens would head back to their staterooms, but I suppose that would be the case on any deck that is all staterooms.


I looked in on the rainforest room while I was in the spa. It looked nice. There are some pics of it on the DCL site. If you are looking for some couples relaxation time you might check out the Couples Exotic Rasul. It is some of the most fun that you and partner can have on the ship IMO.

We are staying at WDW for four nights before the cruise at Shades of Green. It used to be a deluxe Disney resort and was leased from Disney by the Department of Defense as a military recreation center in 1994. We still prefer to stay at a regular Disney resort in the off season but at Christmas, the prices can't be beat. We pay rougly 25% of what a deluxe room costs out in the rest of the "World" during the Holidays. SOG guests enjoy most of all of the privelages that all other WDW Resort patrons do. It's a nice hotel, but it just doesn't have that Disney feel to it.

Tell your husband I love Fort Sill! No place could be better! I am in such a happy little niche here, it will be very hard to leave.

Adrianna

 

[brendalee59]

We are in 2112, down in the basement with a porthole window, just a few rooms up from the aft elevators. According to Passporter it is one of the quieter rooms on deck 2, as many of the staterooms are near engines or under the theater, a nightclub or a restaurant on this floor. We are under the internet cafe, so overhead noise shouldn't be too much of an issue. We were on Deck 7 last time in 7558. It is so close to almost every place that you might want to go to, both up and down that we rarely waited for an elevator and just took the stairs instead. It would get a little noisy at night when the big kids and teens would head back to their staterooms, but I suppose that would be the case on any deck that is all staterooms.


I looked in on the rainforest room while I was in the spa. It looked nice. There are some pics of it on the DCL site. If you are looking for some couples relaxation time you might check out the Couples Exotic Rasul. It is some of the most fun that you and partner can have on the ship IMO.

We are staying at WDW for four nights before the cruise at Shades of Green. It used to be a deluxe Disney resort and was leased from Disney by the Department of Defense as a military recreation center in 1994. We still prefer to stay at a regular Disney resort in the off season but at Christmas, the prices can't be beat. We pay rougly 25% of what a deluxe room costs out in the rest of the "World" during the Holidays. SOG guests enjoy most of all of the privelages that all other WDW Resort patrons do. It's a nice hotel, but it just doesn't have that Disney feel to it.

Tell your husband I love Fort Sill! No place could be better! I am in such a happy little niche here, it will be very hard to leave.
Adrianna

Yeah, cause I'm here Sorry, I couldn't resist

Courtney, Cracked conch is just deep fried conch. Back in the late 90's DH and I stayed a week on Grand Bahama Island. Our waiter told us we had to try it just once. I tend to be reluctant to try new foods, but after a bit I agreed to try it. OMG! It was sooooooo good! I plan of getting some for lunch and dinner while we are in Nassau
My DD is more socialable than our son. Hopefully the girls will hit it off. I leaned a long time ago never to assume she will want to do anything Michael is too much like DH. Antisocial sticks in the mud. They prefer to stay in the cabin and watch movies to doing things with people.


Don't be jealous of the suite. You will have more cash to spend onboard than we will We wouldn't have gotten it, but we thought DD and her family were coming too, and wanted a place we could all spread out. Now they can't go. We should have downsized, but I must admit,the very thought of giving away one of the most coveted cabins on the ship didn't last long We are in #8532. We may need ear plugs as I read it is partially under the arcade. Reports say there is more noise from staff moving deck chairs in the morning than the arcade.

Ok, anyone going to watch the new Samantha Brown special at WDW tonight? Got my DVR set. Starts at 8:00 central time.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Yeah, cause I'm here

Lawton/Ft. Sill is just an all around great place to raise a family and grow old. My big 'ol 1930's house, my son's school, my church... tornado warnings and days where the weather forcast simply states "blowing dust"!

Oh yes, and the fact that you live here, too.

Adrianna

 

[TXdeVille]

You guys are too funny!

Don't get me wrong, Oklahoma has it's good parts. That's where my family is from....Henryetta. I'm the only Texan. I know it will be hard to leave and those old houses are sometimes the best! Just going off of someone's opinion that has been to both places. Can't give you mine....I haven't been to either.

Hopefully the teens coming back to their rooms won't bother us because we will still be out partying. I will have to look into that couples thing you were talking about, Adrianna. Convincing DH might take a little work. He is usually blah about stuff that isn't man-games. But will do it reluctantly only to enjoy it. Boys.....

Can't wait to try the conch.

What suggestions do you guys give for excursions??

 

[drag n' fly]

Hi everyone! Well we just returned from a wonderful relaxing vacation to WDW. We are now finalizing our bookings for December. Where is the closest National Car Rental to Port Canaveral? Is it the Cocoa Beach one? TIA

 

[TXdeVille]

BUMP

Hi everyone! Well we just returned from a wonderful relaxing vacation to WDW. We are now finalizing our bookings for December. Where is the closest National Car Rental to Port Canaveral? Is it the Cocoa Beach one? TIA

 

[TXdeVille]

Drag n' fly,

Do you have boys and girls or just boys/girls? You gave ages but....

I have a DS 11. Thought they could meet up. How was your trip??? We are AKV owners as well. Still haven't gone home though. We're gonna wait until Kidani is open, I think.

 

[brendalee59]

Yeah, cause I'm here

Lawton/Ft. Sill is just an all around great place to raise a family and grow old. My big 'ol 1930's house, my son's school, my church... tornado warnings and days where the weather forcast simply states "blowing dust"!

Oh yes, and the fact that you live here, too.

Adrianna

Gee thanks. Guess I know where I rate Boy you nailed the blowing dust right on the head. We were choking on dust out here in the country last week

 

[brendalee59]

You guys are too funny!

Don't get me wrong, Oklahoma has it's good parts. That's where my family is from....Henryetta. I'm the only Texan. I know it will be hard to leave and those old houses are sometimes the best! Just going off of someone's opinion that has been to both places. Can't give you mine....I haven't been to either.

Hopefully the teens coming back to their rooms won't bother us because we will still be out partying. I will have to look into that couples thing you were talking about, Adrianna. Convincing DH might take a little work. He is usually blah about stuff that isn't man-games. But will do it reluctantly only to enjoy it. Boys.....

Can't wait to try the conch.


What suggestions do you guys give for excursions??

My DH would like a massage, but the rest of it, forget it. The hot tubs are"too hot" for him. sissy boy


DD and I will most likey parasail on Castaway Cay. We will go on our own to the Dig, then find a nice local cafe for some conch.

 

[brendalee59]

Hi everyone! Well we just returned from a wonderful relaxing vacation to WDW. We are now finalizing our bookings for December. Where is the closest National Car Rental to Port Canaveral? Is it the Cocoa Beach one? TIA

Welcome back. I'm so glad you enjoyed your vacation. I'm sorry, I have no idea about the car rental situation. We use DCL transport. If we can't help, I'm sure someone on the general board can.

 

[drag n' fly]

Drag n' fly,

Do you have boys and girls or just boys/girls? You gave ages but....

I have a DS 11. Thought they could meet up. How was your trip??? We are AKV owners as well. Still haven't gone home though. We're gonna wait until Kidani is open, I think.

Hi there I have three kids. At the time we sail our son will be 14, our daughter will be 12 (she turns 12 in May) and our other son will just have turned 6! Our trip was great. This is the first time we have ever taken a trip without our kids!

We are new AKV owners also!! We rented points for this trip to go and do some research to see if we wanted to purchase......welll Dh had a conference in Anaheim in November so we all flew down to Disneyland. Being from Alberta, DVC legally cannot give us any information or even talk to us about DVC unless we are onsite. The incentives were so good we bought AKV in November in Disneyland. This spring trip was already booked so dh and I decided to use it as a nice getaway for the two of us! We actually stayed at OKW for this trip but will be going back for our first trip home in the spring of 2010 once Kidani is open also.

 

[drag n' fly]

Welcome back. I'm so glad you enjoyed your vacation. I'm sorry, I have no idea about the car rental situation. We use DCL transport. If we can't help, I'm sure someone on the general board can.

Hi Brenda

I found out that National does not have a shuttle to the port from their office so we may either rent from Avis/Budget etc or use Disney bus. What does the bus cost per person from WDW to port?

 

[brendalee59]

Hi Brenda

I found out that National does not have a shuttle to the port from their office so we may either rent from Avis/Budget etc or use Disney bus. What does the bus cost per person from WDW to port?

I sound like a total dumb bell,but I'm not sure. Ours is lumped into our pkg. I read somewhere that it's $60 something per person. from resort to ship,and ship to airport. I wouldn't count on that being accurate though.

 

[TXdeVille]

Hi Brenda

I found out that National does not have a shuttle to the port from their office so we may either rent from Avis/Budget etc or use Disney bus. What does the bus cost per person from WDW to port?

I believe it is $69/person for round trip transfers. Pretty steep. I have heard that some people get a rental car then drop it off or even get a limo transfer or something similar.

 

[TXdeVille]

My DH would like a massage, but the rest of it, forget it. The hot tubs are"too hot" for him. sissy boy


DD and I will most likey parasail on Castaway Cay. We will go on our own to the Dig, then find a nice local cafe for some conch.

What, and where, is the Dig? My mouth is starting to salivate for the conch. I am sure I will love it and want to marry it....

 

[TXdeVille]

Brendalee...

BTW My husband is a Mike as well. I think the behavior is all in the name.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

I believe it is $69/person for round trip transfers. Pretty steep. I have heard that some people get a rental car then drop it off or even get a limo transfer or something similar.

Yes, we hired a towncar service for cheaper than the Disney shuttle rate. And we got to be on our schedulae rather than Disney's.