12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[scuba diver]

Well today I am cooking my Thanksgiving slash Christmas dinner. I have a butter basted and stuffed 25 pound turkey baking. I just made some roasted sweet potatoes and carrots. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Broccoli and cauliflower with cheese sauce...stuffing mmmmmm stuffing. Of course pumpkin pie and whip cream for dessert and a big ol magnum of Asti and a nice cheap bottle of Wolf Blass Australian Shiraz. It is a lovely sunny crisp fall day with a temp of 42f.

Come on over for dinner and spanish coffees for everyone by the fire later

Sounds good. Thanks for the invite, but guess I will just have to settle for drinks by my pool.

 

[drag n' fly]

Sounds good. Thanks for the invite, but guess I will just have to settle for drinks by my pool.

2 months and 6 days and I will be doing the same mister

 

[adrianna_sarah]

In case I forget to say it tomorrow, Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Annette and family.

 

[chhall28]

So am I really going to regret not doing Palo this time? It's our first cruise, so we want to enjoy all the restaurants. It's Christmas, and DH's birthday, but we want to celebrate WITH our kids - and they are all at ages (7,9,11) where they like eating in the cool restaurants with us. We fully anticipate this NOT being our last cruise, Disney or otherwise, so I'm sure there will be another chance to eat at Palo. I was going to shoot for a brunch time, but those were gone. I might try for it when we board, but I really don't want to stand in line or fight mobs to do it. If our kids were younger/older, it would be different, I guess. Or if the cruise were longer... I'm just 2nd-guessing when everyone talks about it!!

We are doing the exact same thing. With it being Christmas we decided that dinner together for us was important. We would have done the brunch, but like you it was all full when I went to book it. Maybe we can get two cancellations and both get in there!

Caroline

 

[adrianna_sarah]

We are doing the exact same thing. With it being Christmas we decided that dinner together for us was important. We would have done the brunch, but like you it was all full when I went to book it. Maybe we can get two cancellations and both get in there!

Caroline

Keep checking back. I was monkeying around with my reservations yesterday and Palo brunch was available at 10:30.

 

[DisneyMama27]

We are doing the exact same thing. With it being Christmas we decided that dinner together for us was important. We would have done the brunch, but like you it was all full when I went to book it. Maybe we can get two cancellations and both get in there!

Caroline

Thanks, that makes me feel better! I think DH and I will get plenty of alone time with the kids in the clubs. We have 2 rooms, and an exotic rasul scheduled, so I think we'll be fine.

Keep checking back. I was monkeying around with my reservations yesterday and Palo brunch was available at 10:30.

Thanks, Adrianna! I will do that!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, Annette! Your dinner sounds scrumptious! We will be having our American Thanksgiving with my family at WDW this year! 1st time in a Grand Villa!

 

[TXdeVille]

We are doing the exact same thing. With it being Christmas we decided that dinner together for us was important. We would have done the brunch, but like you it was all full when I went to book it. Maybe we can get two cancellations and both get in there!

Caroline

Make that THREE cancellations!!! Don't forget us!

Annette.....OMG your dinner sounds scrumpdilliumptious. I'll just hop back into the ol' Camry and start heading your way. What's 30+ more hours after doing 11 today???

Spanish coffees.....what is that? As for your sweet potatoes and carrots...sounds like the beginning of what I did for an Iron Chef campout with the Scouts. Mash them together, add butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and at the end....cooked crumbled bacon.

Would've won first prize if it was just for side dishes but our entree was lacking. Even the children and those who abhorr sweet potatoes loved them. We'll have to invite you down for our Thanksgiving. As it is....HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!!! Can't wait to meet up with you in the bar. Kindred spirits are we. Perhaps next time we can coordinate our Villas at AK, foreign friends.

 

[drag n' fly]

Make that THREE cancellations!!! Don't forget us!

Annette.....OMG your dinner sounds scrumpdilliumptious. I'll just hop back into the ol' Camry and start heading your way. What's 30+ more hours after doing 11 today???

Spanish coffees.....what is that? As for your sweet potatoes and carrots...sounds like the beginning of what I did for an Iron Chef campout with the Scouts. Mash them together, add butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and at the end....cooked crumbled bacon.

Would've won first prize if it was just for side dishes but our entree was lacking. Even the children and those who abhorr sweet potatoes loved them. We'll have to invite you down for our Thanksgiving. As it is....HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!!! Can't wait to meet up with you in the bar. Kindred spirits are we. Perhaps next time we can coordinate our Villas at AK, foreign friends.

Spanish coffee....coffee with a shot of rum and shot of kahula. Rim the cup with sugar mix coffee and booze...top with whip cream and a cherry

Major leftovers

We won't be going back until March 2010 after this trip. Ya never know tho!

We have the rasul booked along with palo brunch, stingrays at CC and tour of the dig and that's about it.

 

[TXdeVille]

Spanish coffee....coffee with a shot of rum and shot of kahula. Rim the cup with sugar mix coffee and booze...top with whip cream and a cherry

Major leftovers

We won't be going back until March 2010 after this trip. Ya never know tho!

We have the rasul booked along with palo brunch, stingrays at CC and tour of the dig and that's about it.

Sounds YUMMY!! We plan on going June 2010 for Star Wars Weekend. And I have officially decided we are going to do another cruise (I do think I will love it and not have nausea problems) for September 2010....our 15th anniversary.

We are doing the stingrays too! What time? Ours is at 3.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Sounds YUMMY!! We plan on going June 2010 for Star Wars Weekend. And I have officially decided we are going to do another cruise (I do think I will love it and not have nausea problems) for September 2010....our 15th anniversary.

We are doing the stingrays too! What time? Ours is at 3.

Are you doing the Repo or the Med? Or another cruise line?

 

[drag n' fly]

Sounds YUMMY!! We plan on going June 2010 for Star Wars Weekend. And I have officially decided we are going to do another cruise (I do think I will love it and not have nausea problems) for September 2010....our 15th anniversary.

We are doing the stingrays too! What time? Ours is at 3.

Ours is 1-3. Our brunch is at 12:00. We have no intention of getting up early. Mainly due to the time difference and well...it's a holiday. We will cruise again but it will be with RCCL only. Nicer ships for less money

 

[TXdeVille]

Are you doing the Repo or the Med? Or another cruise line?

Considering everything else we are already planning for 2010 (Star Wars Weekend, DS's National Scout Jamboree; and that's ) I think we won't be doing the Repo or the Med although I would looooove to. Airfare would definitely be additional. I'll have to weigh it carefully....

Looking at the Oasis though....

 

[chhall28]

Keep checking back. I was monkeying around with my reservations yesterday and Palo brunch was available at 10:30.

Oh if only I'd checked then too! I'll keep on trying ... none available right now. Thanks!

 

[chhall28]

Make that THREE cancellations!!! Don't forget us!

Annette.....OMG your dinner sounds scrumpdilliumptious. I'll just hop back into the ol' Camry and start heading your way. What's 30+ more hours after doing 11 today???

Spanish coffees.....what is that? As for your sweet potatoes and carrots...sounds like the beginning of what I did for an Iron Chef campout with the Scouts. Mash them together, add butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and at the end....cooked crumbled bacon.

Would've won first prize if it was just for side dishes but our entree was lacking. Even the children and those who abhorr sweet potatoes loved them. We'll have to invite you down for our Thanksgiving. As it is....HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!!! Can't wait to meet up with you in the bar. Kindred spirits are we. Perhaps next time we can coordinate our Villas at AK, foreign friends.

Three cancellations it is then!!

 

[adrianna_sarah]

...am about the barf from sticker shock and the adrenaline. Final payment due Feb. 24, 2010. That's 15 months to save. I may have to get a job. Anybody want to buy some Tupperware?

Logged on at opening hour. Was worried as the site was not letting anyone book the Baltic the first hour, but was seeing a few reports on the Disboards of people getting through on the phone.

Around 8:15 CST I was finally able to get what I wanted: Cat. 6, Starboard, mid-aftish, even the exact room I was hoping for. Yes, you've heard me say that a stateroom is a stateroom unless it is a suite, but I'd have to sell more than Tupperware to be able to afford a suite and I can't imagine being trapped without a balcony for 12 nights!!!

Surprisingly, I just checked back and the pricing for all categories seems to still be exactly what they were offered at first thing this morning. In this economy Disney would be crazy to raise their prices as quickly as they have on opening day in the past.

Our hope is that the pricing stays low and we can rebook onboard at XMas and get the 10% discount, but we can live with what we have now.

 

[brendalee59]

Whooohoooo! Just got an email from our DU agent. Our club level upgrade came through! Thankfully, I was online and saw the email come though. I jumped on it and told her to please accept it for us.

 

[brendalee59]

...am about the barf from sticker shock and the adrenaline. Final payment due Feb. 24, 2010. That's 15 months to save. I may have to get a job. Anybody want to buy some Tupperware?

Logged on at opening hour. Was worried as the site was not letting anyone book the Baltic the first hour, but was seeing a few reports on the Disboards of people getting through on the phone.

Around 8:15 CST I was finally able to get what I wanted: Cat. 6, Starboard, mid-aftish, even the exact room I was hoping for. Yes, you've heard me say that a stateroom is a stateroom unless it is a suite, but I'd have to sell more than Tupperware to be able to afford a suite and I can't imagine being trapped without a balcony for 12 nights!!!

Surprisingly, I just checked back and the pricing for all categories seems to still be exactly what they were offered at first thing this morning. In this economy Disney would be crazy to raise their prices as quickly as they have on opening day in the past.

Our hope is that the pricing stays low and we can rebook onboard at XMas and get the 10% discount, but we can live with what we have now.

Congratulations Adrianna I'm very happy for you guys The sticker shock will wear off over time.

 

[TXdeVille]

Ours is 1-3. Our brunch is at 12:00. We have no intention of getting up early. Mainly due to the time difference and well...it's a holiday. We will cruise again but it will be with RCCL only. Nicer ships for less money

Shucks! Ours is at 3. I thought it was only for an hour? I have no intention of getting up early either but I never get what I want. Recently, I tried to sleep in only to get up at 5 am.

Whooohoooo! Just got an email from our DU agent. Our club level upgrade came through! Thankfully, I was online and saw the email come though. I jumped on it and told her to please accept it for us.

So does that mean you have a BIGGER ivory tower??!!??

As for the sticker shock, I know what you guys mean. I'm having small panic attacks for DD's student ambassador trip sticker price. Of course, we are working on fundraisers but I sometimes get skeptical and worry. Anyone want to buy a pie for Thanksgiving??? Sweet potato, pecan, pumpkin?? How about a coupon book for Fort Worth??

I think I have finally decided on doing RCCL Oasis for September 2010 for our 15th anniversary. Eastern Caribbean. I wasn't too thrilled with Falmouth, Jamaica for a port. I want Montego Bay!! Just gotta decide on a room....

Congratulations Adrianna and Brenda!!! I'm so happy for you guys....and jealous too.

 

[brendalee59]

Shucks! Ours is at 3. I thought it was only for an hour? I have no intention of getting up early either but I never get what I want. Recently, I tried to sleep in only to get up at 5 am.



So does that mean you have a BIGGER ivory tower??!!??

As for the sticker shock, I know what you guys mean. I'm having small panic attacks for DD's student ambassador trip sticker price. Of course, we are working on fundraisers but I sometimes get skeptical and worry. Anyone want to buy a pie for Thanksgiving??? Sweet potato, pecan, pumpkin?? How about a coupon book for Fort Worth??

I think I have finally decided on doing RCCL Oasis for September 2010 for our 15th anniversary. Eastern Caribbean. I wasn't too thrilled with Falmouth, Jamaica for a port. I want Montego Bay!! Just gotta decide on a room....

Congratulations Adrianna and Brenda!!! I'm so happy for you guys....and jealous too.

Funny Courtney. Only thing positive about the upgrade, is the free food offerings. Breakfast foods in the morning, snacks in the afternoon, and yummy appys for dinner...free soda,juice,bottled water and some free adult drinks too. On the down side, we may be in the maids quarters of the Ivory tower. Our ressie was for a lagoon view,and we have no idea what the club level view will be. could be pool, garden or lagoon,or parking lot view I asked my DU agent, but she hasn't responded yet,and probably doesn't know.

So you are going to book Oasis? I wish you were doing the Inagural with us next year. I promise I will fill you in on all the details.
Now, about that pie....you deliver? We will be in Irving the 26th of Nov I think Pecan sounds just yummy

Good night fellow cruisers. Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite

 

[TXdeVille]

The best fundraising concept we have used for Lisa's Gymnastic Team Travel Fundraising is Great Lakes Scrip. (GLSCRIP.com) Think Gift Cards. The buyer gets the gift card worth the face value of what they purchased and the seller (has to be a non-profit) gets x% back on each sale. The amount varies by the Vendor. IE - Chili's is 9%, Marriott 12%, Disney 2%. People are willing to buy them since they get exactly what they paid for (not over priced gift wrap, cookies, pizza, etc) and the savings add up fast. Good Luck.

So this is a little different than what I thought it was. I guess you can't do this solo, huh? I just emailed the delegation leader about it. Maybe we can do it as a group. Sounds pretty cool though.