2/9/2008 - Valentine Cruise 7 Night Western - Anyone On The Love Boat ?

[jdybnsn]

Weather here has been great this week - much warmer than usual for the time of year in the UK.

...though there is a prediction for snow this weekend - I hope not as I've got kinda use to the sun again now.

 

[jdybnsn]

No snow here......... but it is chilly again

 

[tevagirl]

We don't have snow either, Judy, but it's freezing.

 

[bkfor]

HELLO FELLOW CRUISERS!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to see the board for this date is already up and running. We just sailed the February 24 - March 3 Western and had one of our best vacations. There will be three of us: me, dw, and dd (6 at time of cruise). We plan on a few days at WDW before the cruise. It's going to be a long wait!!!

 

[jdybnsn]

Hi Bkfor and welcome aboard

My DD will also be 6 at the time of sailing

Have you done a trip report for your last cruise ? ......since you will be doing the same again with this cruise, at roughly the same time of year, I'd love to read it ..could you post a link maybe if you do

Was there anything in particular about your cruise that made you book the cruise again

Judy

 

[emtmom]

Yay!! Another for the "Love Boat"!!!

We'relooking forward to this sailing, we just completed the Eastern Caribbean cruise 1/20-1/27 and my 8 yr DD loved it!!

I'm curious which excursions you did on this past cruise and did you bring DD on them or did she stay behind on the ship?

 

[bkfor]

no, i haven't done an "official" trip report yet. I had great intentions regarding a journal while on board, but some nights we were too tired, and the next morning too busy, so there are a couple empty pages that I need to fill in before I forget the details.

Because we were already on the western when we booked again, it made sense to book an eastern for next year. but the only eastern date that really worked out was the Feb. 16 sail, and the price was substancially higher due to President's Day. Since there is soooo much to do on the western, we'll be just that much more prepared, and back to back westerns will be fine.

emtmom - regarding shore excursions, we didn't do any in Key West. Prior to starting Disney vacations we would rent a house in Key West for a couple of weeks, so we've done everything we've ever wanted to do there. For us it was great because everybody got off the boat and we stayed on, with no crowds (we did go ashore to shop for about an hour, though). In Grand Cayman, we did stingray city/snorkeling/7 mile beach. DD came with. The stingray encounter was terrible. We missed our first reservation, booked a second immediately with another operator, had to wait over an hour to be picked up, boarded a small boat that went out to big waves (one guy threw up several times onboard, DM got very sick but do not lose her breakfast) and then DD was scared of the rays. The second stop on the trip was coral gardens. I was the only one from my group to get off the boat. on our way back into town, we had the bus driver drop us off at Sea Grape Beach. This is all DD really wanted to do - play in the water and stuff. I feel we really wasted a day in Grand Cayman (other than 7mile beach). And you have to tender into port, which really stinks. Cozumel was much better. The dolphin encounter was great and you can stay in Chankanaab Park afterward. The beach here isn't really good: large, rocky, drop off. But the place was clean and the food was good. We were back on board for dinner and shows but the boat didn't push off until 1:30a.m. After my family was in bed, i went back into cozumel alone for a couple of cervezas at senor frogs. It's very convenient not tendering. We will definately be doing things differently in Grand Cayman, and in Cozumel after the dolphins we'll probably look for a better beach.

 

[bkfor]

My DD will also be 6 at the time of sailing

on the board for the last cruise, the kids started their own thread. They got to know each other before the cruise, so when they met, they were like old friends. worked out nicely.

Brian

 

[tevagirl]

Hello.

 

[emtmom]

Yahoo!! We booked our flights over the weekend!! Got great rates from Delta!! Now to book our hotel stay the night before embarkation!!

 

[bkfor]

we stayed at the radisson this year. free parking, great pool, and the first shuttle to the port leaves at 10:00. we were one of the first to check in - no lines and a great boarding number. fyi.

 

[emtmom]

We stayed at the airport Hyatt in January, so we'll probably do that again, my daughter loved all the shops and sitting out on our room balcony watching the planes take off and land. Thanks for the suggestion though!!

 

[bkfor]

i've always wanted to stay there.

 

[tevagirl]

Hello Everyone.



Bkfor. How was the weather during the cruise?

 

[emtmom]

Just curious who knows their stateroom already? We're in 7035 and 7037.
We love deck 7 midship!!

 

[bkfor]

Bkfor. How was the weather during the cruise?

we were so fortunate... 7 for 7.


We have stateroom 7598. We had 8564 this past trip and really enjoyed the aft location. taking the aft stairs lands you right at topsiders, mickeys pool, most dining. quite a hike to theatre and oceaneers club, however. i like the ship so much, i could have a bed in the engine room and still be happy!

 

[tevagirl]

we were so fortunate... 7 for 7.

Good for you! I hope we get that lucky!

We are in 60something. I forget and I'm too tired to look it up. I'll tell ya later!

 

[jdybnsn]

Hi Teva - you are almost opposite us, on the other side of the ship, I think you told me a while back - we are in 6116..we also picked this location for its location to the Mickey Pool & drinks station, Topsiders etc.

We sailed in a cat.9, quite near the front of the ship in 2514, last time - but we liked this location too because it was so quiet, and we never had an issue with motion.

The cat6. is a surprise for my DH-2B...he thinks I have booked a cat9 again.

I'm also trying to book an 2 night stay at AKL as a surprise, for when we get off the ship (we will be staying in a villa or townhouse, before our cruise) before we fly home .....however, being Presidents weekend when we return, the quotes I am getting are pretty scary , even with such a great £/$ (for us sorry )exchange rate....anybody have any tips regarding getting good rates there ?

 

[bkfor]

we too are looking for good rates for our 3 day stay before the cruise. last time we stayed at boardwalk villas and bought the timeshare points at a fundraising auction for cheap, cheap, cheap. so i am going to another fundraising auction or even ebay, etc. for a good deal.

brian

 

[tevagirl]

Hi Judy, Brian