20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal

[jin diesel]

Hmm, the rumor is interesting, but I'm not going to get too attached the idea yet. I guess I won't believe anything till I get it from DCL. I have a feeling this itinerary is subject to change over and over...

I don't blame you for holding off till the very end, Jeff!!

Jen & Robin - Oriental Trading is cool! Should we do a pirate theme, since it sort of fits? Or do you think the entire cruise will be a pirate theme?

 

[Scott H]

Man oh Man, I thought I was the only one who ever ordered from Oriental Trading... silly me. As a big kid they are great. I get stuff to give away to dive students etc. I have been eyeing the catalog to see what would be good for this group. We should plan so as not to duplicate our give away stuff.

Jin, I agree the itinerary will continually be subject to change, I was looking forward to the Guatemala stop as there are some pretty neat Mayan ruins at Tekil (sp?), but alas we really would not have had enough time there.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

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[Scott H]

Oops , sorry I forgot to mention. I called DVC to check on our September reservation and learned that the 2005 points for the DL resorts are our and they will start booking on August 2. So again it is ready set dial on Monday morning.

Debbi, thanks for the confirmation. I am a little bummed as I was looking forward to adding a new country to my life list, Oh well an other adventure to be planned.

 

[tap & dap]

Has anyone heard from Disney as to whether other changes will be made to the schedule?

With adding Mazatlan and dropping Puerto Quetzel, it looks like 4 days at sea in a row, assuming we cannot get off the ship in the Panama Canal.

Whether if they will add another stop in there somewhere to break it up? I hear alot of people talking about Costa Rica as a nice place to stop, just not sure how that would fit in.

 

[JenKatt]

Jeff and I were talking about that at lunch. We'll mostly have to stop somewhere in that 4 day span, most likely a 1/2day thing at Colon or something just to bring additional supplies on board and such. I would think then we would be able to actually get off in Colon.
Just FYI I don't expect Disney to release any of their excursions until about 90-120 days out from our cruise. They just, in the last 2-3 weeks released on their website the excursions for the special cruises this fall. I'm thinking tho they sent out the fliers earlier than that tho

 

[bonzie1]

Does anyone know if there will be entertainment every night... the 6:30 and 9:00 shows that we get on the 3 + 4 day cruises. I've never been on a 7 day, let alone one that's 14 days long!

Thanks.

 

[Bmwdsny]

Originally posted by Scott H
Oops , sorry I forgot to mention. I called DVC to check on our September reservation and learned that the 2005 points for the DL resorts are our and they will start booking on August 2. So again it is ready set dial on Monday morning.

Hello
I am lurking over here...I am on the eastbound panama cruise...
Do you know if and when the DL points will be posted on the DVC website? i just checked there and not posted yet...

You guys are lucky to have another port replaced...We are pretty mad about losing a port....Well, maybe it will change....

 

[Scott H]

I did not bug them for specifics but it was indicated that maybe this weekend they would be posted. We would like to do GC concierge and I was told the points were 71 per night, park view, and 68 per night, garden view. The MS castmember said that there was no difference in points for weekend and weekdays, all leveled out. We will see.

 

[Bmwdsny]

Originally posted by Scott H
We would like to do GC concierge and I was told the points were 71 per night, park view, and 68 per night, garden view. The MS castmember said that there was no difference in points for weekend and weekdays, all leveled out. We will see.

YIKES!!!!

Looks like they up from 2004!!! Figures!!!

 

[JenKatt]

I'm a little dismayed by what some people are posting in the main Panama Canal cruise changes thread. There seems to be a small movement to complain to Disney about the ports and being unhappy with them? A couple things about that... One port has changed, one day out of 14. Is it that big of a deal? And does anyone think that Disney isn't going to change the ports 6 times over between then? Anybody really botehred by this or is it just the newness of this that people are reacting to?

 

[kpros]

For me, it's all about the canal. The ports are secondary. And actually, we probably won't spend much time on land at any of the stops. I'm looking forward to the canal and 14 days on the ship.

I guess if you had your heart set on a certain port and it was changed then you would be disappointed.

If they decide to by pass the canal and go around the Cape then that might be disappointing. No wait a minute - that would be a real adventure. I think I'll write to Disney and suggest that.

Ken

 

[kellib36]

Reminds me of people who show up at WDW and say its their Bday/anniversary/whatever and then get miffed because they didn't "get" anything.....this sense of entitlement baffles me.

If people don't like what's happening, let them book a different vacation.....

You're right, Jen, can you imagine what the next few MONTHS are gonna be like?

 

[JenKatt]

No I can't. I do feel bad that the Eastern did lose a port, but I also think it would be really cool to stay overnight in a port. Really get the night life, especially in a busy city like Acapulco. I don't know. I'm just happy I'm going I guess.

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by jin diesel
Hmm, the rumor is interesting, but I'm not going to get too attached the idea yet. I guess I won't believe anything till I get it from DCL. I have a feeling this itinerary is subject to change over and over...

I don't blame you for holding off till the very end, Jeff!!

Jen & Robin - Oriental Trading is cool! Should we do a pirate theme, since it sort of fits? Or do you think the entire cruise will be a pirate theme?

Jindy, here's a listing of what OT has in pirate stuff. There's a bunch. We could get the crafts for the kids to work on while we work on some rum... Just a thought
Pirate Stuff

 

[bonzie1]

I am bumping this one up in the same thread...

Does anyone know if there will be entertainment every night... the 6:30 and 9:00 shows that we get on the 3 + 4 day cruises. I've never been on a 7 day, let alone one that's 14 days long! I can't begin to imagine what the selections might be.

Is there entertainment everynight on the 7-day cruises?

Thanks.

 

[JenKatt]

Yes there is entertainment everynight on a 7 day. Check on the Navigator's on the Castaway Club web site: Navigators This should answer most of your questions.

 

[Scott H]

I concur with your thoughts on the port change, so be it. The Canal is the main focus for me. I do also agree with Ken as the extended trip would be great. No complaints here.

I just think that changing ports is not an easy task, berthing space I would venture to guess is applied for and reserved several months if not a year or so in advance, and not always available. There are tenders and shore excursions to be arranged, maybe refueling and re provisioning. Probably more that we would ever know.

Yes it will be interesting.

 

[jin diesel]

I just wanted to point out that the GC Concierge really offers *nothing* special. I met a man from WI at Disneyland this past July and he was really upset that Concierge in California is not as "Magical" as it is in WDW. He was a really snotty guy so I didn't even bother to ask what the "magical" difference was; I think we're just so laid back here we could care less about *concierge* so maybe we offer less than Florida.

This is what Concierge at the GC offers:

Continental Bfast (just like every other place)

Concierge Room with snacks available all day long (aren't you going to be at the park during the day?)

Wine and Cheese at night (free wine doesn't sound bad. but will you really take advantage?)

That's it. I don't know if you guys really want to waste your DVC points on that. Maybe you can save them for something else?

 

[seaulater]

Morning all. See I'm gone for a couple of days and all these changes take place.

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PORT CHANGES!!!!!! I'm glad they backed out of the one port, I couldn't find anything to do in the short time we were there. If they add Costa Rica, we stopped in Puentarenas, CR last year on RCCL. We went on an all day river rafting trip about an hour away from the port with about 100 of our other close cruising friends. It was a blast. We would definitely do it again. Saw all kinds of wildlife and the guides were wonderful! I'll have to go back and check out the info we got if DCL happens to add that port!!!!!

Oriental Trading....love it!!!!! Yes, let's get a theme and get stuff. That would be a blast!

And, on our 14 day cruise through the canal last year, our favorite days were the sea days. They were as relaxing or as busy as you wanted. I enjoyed those more than the ports. Also, on RCCL they flew in different "stars" or should I say "old stars" to do shows. Since the crowd was older they of course brought in those that would appeal to that crowd more. In Costa Rica (I think) they had Marty Allen (the comedian) board the ship. He did two shows that night and then he got off in Acapulco. And then in Acapulco, John Davidson got on and he did two shows and then the next day he did an interview and autograph session in the bar and sold his CD. You should have seen the older women, they were out of control getting their picture with this guy. It was hilarious! He asked our DD (11 at the time) to unwrap his CD's for him since we were in there the hour before getting ready for the talent show. He told her she could have a free autographed CD if she did that for him. She did, but the CD still sits in the case. She was like "who is that guy anyway?" Pretty funny.

Okay, work to do. I can't wait to go through the PC again. Oh-Jindy, I think you were thinking we stopped in the PC. We don't. The time is the "designated appointed time" that DCL makes with the PC to enter the first lock. We actually have an appointment to enter (as do the other cruise ships), however the ships with freight can sit and wait for days at a time in line waiting to enter since they are lined up as they show up and go through 24 hours a day.

Later!!!!

Linda