1st cruise oct 9th

[traycie2201]

Hi everyone, i'm so excited about this cruise and most of all that so many nice people seem to be going too, i'll be travelling with DH and DS13 so it's great to see that others are travelling with teens. I've been e mailing a lady from key west who said avoid the t shirt shop and not to pay £20 pp for the walking tour, a don't miss is the sunset either from the ship or from mallory square. i've hear that mr sanchos beach in cozumel / paradise beach, both free with snorkelling, climbing icebergs, trampolines etc you just buy a drink to get in, taxi fares from ship about $10 i'll avoid chakannab ? and do this , any other info on excursions and things to do gratefully received.

 

[Lynda Silk]

Hey Traycie,
I'll be visiting Key West and Cozumel in about 3 weeks. I'm sailing with RCI for a 4 night cruise on April 22 with my mom and sister (I'm saving Disney for my own family!). I plan on visiting Paradise Beach because I have heard so many great things about it! And it's $12 for the taxi for up to 4 people.

When I get back, I'll post a thread on what I thought about both cities, Paradise Beach , etc.

Congrats on booking your first cruise! You'll love the cruise and be as addicted as the rest of us!

 

[traycie2201]

Thanks Lynda, have a fantastic holiday and let me know if you find out any great things to do or trips to avoid, i've also heard great things about paradise beach, keep me posted

 

[S.S.WILSON]

Hi tracie! We will be on the same cruise with you and we are from Arizona. my husband and I and our 2 girls age 5 & 7. Why do you want to avoid Chakanaab? Isnt that where the dolphin encounter is? This is also our 1st Dis cruise! We were thinking of doing that dolphin encounter, so let me know what you know about Chakanaab (?sp?) Anyhow cant wait to go!

Suzy

 

[jenschaef1]

s.s.:

Where are you from in AZ? We will be on this cruise too...we are from Chandler and taking advantage of the long school break during this time. I have also had contact with a Diser from Gilbert who will also be on our cruise. It will be me, DH, DD15, DD13, DS7, and DD4. We have 2 cat 10's up on deck 7.

ss and Tracie: We are looking into Paradise beach on Cozumel and Stingray city (probably non DCL- Capt. Marvins?) in GCayman. Key West is still open for discussion and will probably rent some rafts and just enjoy CC (We went on the Wonder last Oct and tried to fit too much in on CC)
Jennifer

 

[S.S.WILSON]

We are from Chandler also!! How crazy! Our school willalso be on Fall break. Did you have nice weather last Oct? Our girls are 5&7. We are right by Chandler new mall, where are you?

 

[jenschaef1]

Suzy:

We are in Ocotillo...gotta ask...next door neighbor just got back from DL and said the people she went with just booked a cruise and thought it was on 10/9 that's not you is it? small world if it is!

Jennifer

 

[jenschaef1]

suzy:
oops, forgot...yes the weather last year was beautiful...mid 80s perfect.

Jennifer

 

[S.S.WILSON]

Yes, are you referring to Sheri? OMG, this is a small world! Our daughter is in class with Conner! Tell her to join us!

 

[jenschaef1]

I've been talking up DCL for over a year(My children think I'm Obsessed)...It is my favorite vacation to date...you will have a Blast! I wish they would join us...how fun would that be. My DS6 (7 onboard) and Conner are great friends. What a small world!
More later...it's pizza time!

jennifer

 

[S.S.WILSON]

Jennifer, what excursions did you do last year? We are thinking of the dolphin encounter in cozumel, maybe some kind of snorkeling in cayman, annd who knows for the rest. Do you have any suggestions for any of them? Oh we are on Deck 5 cat 8. Hope its a good spot. We are pretty forward, hope I dont hurl!

 

[traycie2201]

Hi, oops. when i said i'd avoid chakannab just meant i won't bother booking it not that there was anything bad about it , in fact i've read nothing but good reports. I've been lucky enough to already swim with the dolphins elsewhere and it was out of this world , so this time just looking for a nice beach and some snorkelling which i can do at paradise / mr sanchos, we'll definately be doing stingray city so anyone who's done already let me know how it went. jenschaef1 we'll also be on deck 7 so see you there, capt marvins looks good for GC , let me know how you all get on. Traycie

 

[jenschaef1]

Hi traycie and suzy:

Here is what our tenative plans are:

Key West: None-maybe trolley tour on own
Grand Cayman: Capt. Marvins...probably the shortest tour they have as I might leave my 4 year old onboard (Maybe 7 year old too-Suzy what do you think...are you taking the girls on this?).
Cozumel: This is a tough one...alot depends on if DH wants to dive (which I'm sure he will want to) If he does...that leaves me with the kids so I need something easy...chankanaab or Paradise beach.

Suzy: I think you will like deck 5...the kids clubs are on that deck...it should be very convenient for you. We will be 2 floors above you on 7 very forward in a set of connecting cat 10s.

on a side note I was playing around with my computer yesterday and noticed that when I went to Expedia the Cat 10 cabins had gone to GTY status(they will go on and off GTY based on if DCL moves people around and if some people cancel) anyhow, I think the ship will be full by Oct. (Columbus day week right?) Suzy...I know you just booked...was 1st seating full for dinner? By the way don't worry about a full ship...it is not like a full DL or WDW.

more later...DD3(4 onboard) wants to play on the computer. (and won't take "just a minute" for an answer.)

Jennifer

 

[S.S.WILSON]

We really dont the the plans for the stops yet cause were not sure about any of them? Yes I may leave the kids for some of the things cause Im hoping they will want to stay on ship! Did your kids like the club? Yes we had to have late dinner seating, oh well takes me too long to get ready anyway especially with 2 girls! Which dinner are you at? This is our 1st Disney cruise so you will have to fill me in! What do you mean bt GTY? Our room # is 5518 so looks like a niceplace, hopefully not 10 zillion little kids bangin on my door!! J/K What excursions did you do last year? Also did you save alot of money rebooking on ship? If so id better bring next years school schedule with me!

 

[jenschaef1]

Suzy:
Last year we did the 4 day Wonder so we went to Nassau, Freeport and CC. - Only CC being a repeat for this year. At CC we did the Seahorse Snorkel...took Ryan(DS7) and Kaitlin (DD13) DD15 did the teen excursion. Kaitlin had a great time for a first snorkel...water was to rough (surge) for Ryan...he ended up staying on the boat with the other kids his age. Tom and I have done a lot of snorkeling/diving and although this is a great first snorkel for older kids...I would not recommend for small kids or those with a lot of experience...there is much better diving/snorkeling in Cozumel and GCayman - heard Chankanaab is an easy beach entry. My older kids also rode the banana boat (and will do this again this year - this one isn't for little ones) and Kaitlin and I Parasailed in honor of her B-day. The beach is beautiful at CC, this year I think I will just rent a float and build sandcastles.

Definitly plan on booking on board...you will save lots of money. At the time we rebooked the offer was 10% off DCL rack rates and $200 per stateroom credit - thats $400 credit for our big family (it will take care of the tips) DCL requires 250. per person when rebooking...thats quite a big amount of $$$ for a vacation that is a year away. If I booked now vs onboard last Oct. it would have cost me $1500. more. Ouch! (keep in mind we have 2 rooms)
Oh, almost forgot GTY means guaranteed that catagory or higher but DCL at the present time doesn't have a room number to assign to you usually rooms go GTY as the ship fills up.
Hope this helps,

Jennifer

 

[traycie2201]

Hi Suzie / Jennifer,
all sounds good to me, our tentative plans are
Key West - No tour , just walking, duval st, mallory sq, sunset etc have got some info being sent from KW and believe you can do it all alone.
Grand Cayman - Stingray city / Hell and Turtle Farm ? anyone done any of these ?
Cozumel - Paradise Beach , but it's a long day so what else could we do ?? are cozumel ruins worth a visit ?
Castaway Cay - Snorkel, Swim and Sunbathe pretty much like everyone else.

Traycie