12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[DisneyMama27]

I think I might be the only one that has to wait until the 10th.

Nope, me too, Courtney! Now I am confused. I thought it was midnight EST - which is it? I may have to call DCL to find out. I'll let you know.

Annette, I wear a 7. Sorry, I just checked the thread for the first time in a week, I think. I am running on fumes these days...need a vacation!! I guess thinking about a vacation, making plans, etc. is going to have to be enough right now!

I had thought CC was on the 27th too, though that was not the original itinerary they gave us. DH's b-day is on the 27th so I am hoping he can parasail! DD7 is too young, but I have read that everyone that rides has to pay, so we girls may hang out on the beach while the boys fly!

I'm still working out excursion plans..I'd like to do the Dig as well, just to see it all. Then we will probably go back to the ship. Maybe there will be an exotic rasul opening for that day? We're not worrying about Palo this time, though I might take the brunch if it's still available. I don't know if I want to be racing around for that stuff when we board, so I may just take what we can get online next week and be happy with that. I'm sure it won't be our last cruise!

So tired, just had to say hello to my cruise friends! Courtney, enjoy your trip! I don't get to go on a trip, but I do have a training tomorrow, so at least I will get to sit some. And get an actual lunch HOUR. So it's a nice "mental health" break. My 2nd graders are awesome, but I am worn out! Some days I just want to stay home, sleep in until 7 and do laundry! Yikes, what am I saying? I'm delirious! Time for bed NOW! Gotta get up in 4 hours to start all over again....

 

[brendalee59]

Could we still do our own walking tour of the forts?? I hope so. This is what we were wanting to do. Would be nice to pick up something in the Straw Market so we can say we did. Hope the Tortuga place is open too. Gotta have some rum cake!

On another note, I did see some liquor prices for the Radar Trap (?) while on board for duty free from Navigators listed online. I know we are limited as to what we bring home from the ports but is there a limit as to what we buy on ship and bring back on home ground?? My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I mean.....$9 for a bottle of Absolut?!?!

I will ask Bill about the Forts and get back to you Courtney. I was wondering about it too. Keeping my fingers crossed. He said the straw market will possibly be open, but most likely not many vendors will be there.
As for your duty free liquer. The limit is the same onboard as in ports. But, the allowance is per person, so you can use the kids

 

[brendalee59]

Nope, me too, Courtney! Now I am confused. I thought it was midnight EST - which is it? I may have to call DCL to find out. I'll let you know.

Annette, I wear a 7. Sorry, I just checked the thread for the first time in a week, I think. I am running on fumes these days...need a vacation!! I guess thinking about a vacation, making plans, etc. is going to have to be enough right now!

I had thought CC was on the 27th too, though that was not the original itinerary they gave us. DH's b-day is on the 27th so I am hoping he can parasail! DD7 is too young, but I have read that everyone that rides has to pay, so we girls may hang out on the beach while the boys fly!

I'm still working out excursion plans..I'd like to do the Dig as well, just to see it all. Then we will probably go back to the ship. Maybe there will be an exotic rasul opening for that day? We're not worrying about Palo this time, though I might take the brunch if it's still available. I don't know if I want to be racing around for that stuff when we board, so I may just take what we can get online next week and be happy with that. I'm sure it won't be our last cruise!

So tired, just had to say hello to my cruise friends! Courtney, enjoy your trip! I don't get to go on a trip, but I do have a training tomorrow, so at least I will get to sit some. And get an actual lunch HOUR. So it's a nice "mental health" break. My 2nd graders are awesome, but I am worn out! Some days I just want to stay home, sleep in until 7 and do laundry! Yikes, what am I saying? I'm delirious! Time for bed NOW! Gotta get up in 4 hours to start all over again....

Hello stranger,
glad you dropped by to check in. try to get some rest, you sound like one busy lady. I have a grandson in second grade, I couldn't imagine a whole room full of him You are far more brave than I. Hang in there, the weekend is almost here

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Hey gang! Do you feel the excitement? I am starting to get pumped up for this vacation all over again. Talking about shipboard plans and shore excursions have given a whole new freshness to this vacation!

Last night I booked the horse drawn sleigh for sunset on December 29th at the Wilderness Lodge. We have a 7:30 dinner ressie at Artist Point, so that should make for a memorable last night of our 'Wonder'ful Sandwich vacation.

As far as the opening time for booking being a midnight vs. 3 AM EST, I only know what the Passporter says, which is midningt PST. If I was up making reservations at 2 AM CST for no reason last week, I don't want to know about it!!! Annette, didn't you say that you were up at 10 PM Mountain time and the system would't let you on until the next morning? I'm sure you guys will figure it out. Isn't fun that you can call DCL three times about the same thing and get three different answers?

 

[drag n' fly]

I am booking Tim and the boys on the 10th also. Booking opens up 12:00midnight ET which is 10:00pm my time. Our reservation had not opened up because of a glitch. It had said we had not paid in full when we booked the whole thing on points so I gave up and went to bed.
I am not trying to think about it because it makes the time drag

Dh is off again this morning to the airport. He is going to go to Quebec for a few days on a CSUG field trip to study shale formations in the Quebec lowlands


Thanks for the shoe size Shari! The kids have been very squirrely here too I think it is the heat! It has been 80f for the last few days! We need a good blizzard to quiet them down!

Have fun Courtney!

Your holiday sounds incredible Adrianna!

Thanks for the Nassau info Brenda!

I heard they approved the bailout? Hopefully that will trickle down to the families and not jusy bail out the large corporations!

 

[scuba.mom]

I had thought CC was on the 27th too, though that was not the original itinerary they gave us. DH's b-day is on the 27th so I am hoping he can parasail! DD7 is too young, but I have read that everyone that rides has to pay, so we girls may hang out on the beach while the boys fly!

That was true when we did the Para-sailing, you either paid and participated or you were not allowed on the boat. I went up Tandum with my DD because she was too light to go by herself. I HATE heights, but went because I wanted her to have the chance to go. It turned out to be a lot of fun and she talked the whole time we were in the air, so I was kept distracted from my fear.

 

[TXdeVille]

I will ask Bill about the Forts and get back to you Courtney. I was wondering about it too. Keeping my fingers crossed. He said the straw market will possibly be open, but most likely not many vendors will be there.
As for your duty free liquer. The limit is the same onboard as in ports. But, the allowance is per person, so you can use the kids

I thought it was for every person over 21 that you can have bottles for.....

I am booking Tim and the boys on the 10th also. Booking opens up 12:00midnight ET which is 10:00pm my time. Our reservation had not opened up because of a glitch. It had said we had not paid in full when we booked the whole thing on points so I gave up and went to bed.
I am not trying to think about it because it makes the time drag

Dh is off again this morning to the airport. He is going to go to Quebec for a few days on a CSUG field trip to study shale formations in the Quebec lowlands


Thanks for the shoe size Shari! The kids have been very squirrely here too I think it is the heat! It has been 80f for the last few days! We need a good blizzard to quiet them down!

Have fun Courtney!

Your holiday sounds incredible Adrianna!

Thanks for the Nassau info Brenda!

I heard they approved the bailout? Hopefully that will trickle down to the families and not jusy bail out the large corporations!

I hope I don't have the same problem with the points issue when I try to get on to do my excursions. I will most likely call today or tomorrow to find out about the time. And recheck the Passporter. I'm halfway through my PassPorter Disney Cruise Clues. I want to print it out and put it in the binder but it seems a bit complicated and would use a lot of ink....95 pages!

My father-in-law said that in the next decade or so that Canada will become the new Middle East in regards to oil production. Sounds like good news for you guys!

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']The tar sands in Alberta, Yukon, British Colombia, and Northwest Territories of Canada are in the early stages of development as a source of oil. The technology is young and has not been fully optimized in regard to environmental impact. There are HUGE amounts of it. It is almost certain that Canada will eventually replace the Mideast (by 2020) as one of the primary oil producers (along with Russia). The population and economic growth in those areas will be staggering.[/FONT]

I hope the bailout does help. Supposedly they included some tax breaks for corporations and middle class. Don't know the details yet. The news is depressing.

I for one am ready for the cold air as well. Sounds pretty warm up north!! And as for the second graders.....you are braver than me too. I usually like mine anesthetized when they get to a certain point and I can't do too many at a time. They are cute at that age though.

 

[TXdeVille]

This Dig excursion at Atlantis that you guys are talking about.....does it go by that name or another one? Just curious because I don't remember the description.

TIA

 

[TXdeVille]

So I just got off the phone with DCL customer service and they quoted a 12 AM EST as the start time for making reservations online.

I happened to ask about the itinerary and Pirate Night as well and this is what I was told:

• 24th - Port Canaveral
• 25th - Nassau
• 26th - At sea
• 27th - Castaway Cay
• 28th - Port Canaveral

With Pirate Night being on the 2nd night, meaning the 25th. Of course subject to change. At the same time, I can't help but wonder if she meant the 2nd night meaning the 26th. Passporter states the second to last evening which would be the 26th as well. Makes more sense...

 

[hkatmom]

hey Drag-N-Fly - My shoe size is 8 1/2 and Mom's is 7/12. You've got my curiosity up.

 

[drag n' fly]

hey Drag-N-Fly - My shoe size is 8 1/2 and Mom's is 7/12. You've got my curiosity up.

heehee thx!

 

[drag n' fly]

Bumping check for any corrections pls!

The DIS
Making ‘Wonder’ful memories at Christmas Cruise
FE List
12/24/2008-12/28/2008

Adrianna
Cabin: 2112
Kids: Ds-6 (almost) Dd-23mos

Andy
Cabin: 7008
Kids: Ds: 5 months

Chhall28
Cabin: 7514
Kids: Ds4, Dd2

Courtney
Cabin: 7543
Kids: Ds11, Dd 16

Shari
Cabin: ?
Kids: Ds11 Dd9, Dd7

Kay and Tom
Cabin: 7006
Kids: Andy and Lynda

Lynda
Cabin: 7004
Kids: Ds 21 mos, Dd 7

 

[TXdeVille]

heehee thx!

Yeah, my curiosity is up too. My info is fine....

 

[drag n' fly]

I thought it was for every person over 21 that you can have bottles for.....



I hope I don't have the same problem with the points issue when I try to get on to do my excursions. I will most likely call today or tomorrow to find out about the time. And recheck the Passporter. I'm halfway through my PassPorter Disney Cruise Clues. I want to print it out and put it in the binder but it seems a bit complicated and would use a lot of ink....95 pages!

My father-in-law said that in the next decade or so that Canada will become the new Middle East in regards to oil production. Sounds like good news for you guys!

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']The tar sands in Alberta, Yukon, British Colombia, and Northwest Territories of Canada are in the early stages of development as a source of oil. The technology is young and has not been fully optimized in regard to environmental impact. There are HUGE amounts of it. It is almost certain that Canada will eventually replace the Mideast (by 2020) as one of the primary oil producers (along with Russia). The population and economic growth in those areas will be staggering.[/FONT]

I hope the bailout does help. Supposedly they included some tax breaks for corporations and middle class. Don't know the details yet. The news is depressing.

I for one am ready for the cold air as well. Sounds pretty warm up north!! And as for the second graders.....you are braver than me too. I usually like mine anesthetized when they get to a certain point and I can't do too many at a time. They are cute at that age though.

The only problem with the oilsands ( the americans call it dirty oil) is it only helps the people living in Fort McMurray, the large oil companies that have invested in it and the employees of the large companies that scored stock options. Oh ya and don't forget Warren Buffet and Bill Gates who were here a few weeks ago touring the oilsands as a investment potential....the rich just keep getting richer. Their is a tremendous slowdown in the economy here and we are headed into a recession. A lot of people bought houses when the prices were high and now they owe more on the house than the house is worth....lots of walk aways and foreclosures here...the boom is over.

 

[TXdeVille]

The only problem with the oilsands ( the americans call it dirty oil) is it only helps the people living in Fort McMurray, the large oil companies that have invested in it and the employees of the large companies that scored stock options. Oh ya and don't forget Warren Buffet and Bill Gates who were here a few weeks ago touring the oilsands as a investment potential....the rich just keep getting richer. Their is a tremendous slowdown in the economy here and we are headed into a recession. A lot of people bought houses when the prices were high and now they owe more on the house than the house is worth....lots of walk aways and foreclosures here...the boom is over.

Yep. That's certainly part of the problem. Rich getting richer. And no laws in place to make sure they don't. Luck. Especially Bill Gates without a college degree.

I'm sure you heard our housing market isn't ideal either. LOTS of walk aways and foreclosures, especially in California. And the Dallas/Fort Worth area was leading the nation in foreclosures for a while. I'm not sure things will ever get better...

 

[brendalee59]

Courtney, Just heard back from Bill reguarding the Forts.

Brenda,
The forts are always open, you can meander through, sans the tour guide of course!
I didnt get a chance to check on the cracked conch for Christmas day as of yet but will not forget to do so.

Bill

P.S. I called Ardastra about whether or not they are even open Christmas day, the lady could not give me a definitive answer.....ah yes, island life!

 

[brendalee59]

I thought it was for every person over 21 that you can have bottles for.....



I hope I don't have the same problem with the points issue when I try to get on to do my excursions. I will most likely call today or tomorrow to find out about the time. And recheck the Passporter. I'm halfway through my PassPorter Disney Cruise Clues. I want to print it out and put it in the binder but it seems a bit complicated and would use a lot of ink....95 pages!

My father-in-law said that in the next decade or so that Canada will become the new Middle East in regards to oil production. Sounds like good news for you guys!

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']The tar sands in Alberta, Yukon, British Colombia, and Northwest Territories of Canada are in the early stages of development as a source of oil. The technology is young and has not been fully optimized in regard to environmental impact. There are HUGE amounts of it. It is almost certain that Canada will eventually replace the Mideast (by 2020) as one of the primary oil producers (along with Russia). The population and economic growth in those areas will be staggering.[/FONT]

I hope the bailout does help. Supposedly they included some tax breaks for corporations and middle class. Don't know the details yet. The news is depressing.

I for one am ready for the cold air as well. Sounds pretty warm up north!! And as for the second graders.....you are braver than me too. I usually like mine anesthetized when they get to a certain point and I can't do too many at a time. They are cute at that age though.

You may be right about the over 21 thing. I didn't even think about it. You can tell we don't ever bring back any booze

I have a feeling the bailout will only help the rich and maybe the middle class. I think the working man is going to pay through the nose for this bail out.

 

[brendalee59]

Yep. That's certainly part of the problem. Rich getting richer. And no laws in place to make sure they don't. Luck. Especially Bill Gates without a college degree.

I'm sure you heard our housing market isn't ideal either. LOTS of walk aways and foreclosures, especially in California. And the Dallas/Fort Worth area was leading the nation in foreclosures for a while. I'm not sure things will ever get better...

The housing market here in Ok. seems to be holding fairly well. Values are still up, and no alot of forecloseures so far.
You are all so right, the rich will keep getting richer while the working class pays the tab.

Annette, I didn't know Canada was also facing a recession too

 

[drag n' fly]

The housing market here in Ok. seems to be holding fairly well. Values are still up, and no alot of forecloseures so far.
You are all so right, the rich will keep getting richer while the working class pays the tab.

Annette, I didn't know Canada was also facing a recession too

There is a significant slowdown in the economy here...we are definitely headed towards a recession. It will be no where near the magnitude of the US as we do not have the subprime mortgage issues here but everything was over inflated for too long as has finally settled down

 

[scuba diver]

I miss the cruise talk. I use DIS to get away from the real world like bailout plans, foreclosures, slumping economy.

You may all now return to regularly scheduled cruise talk.