20051123 - November 23, 2005 Thanksgiving Wonder Cruise

[BethC1952]

Bump

We're one week closer to the cruise!

Beth

 

[BethC1952]

This week's bump--better late than never!

Beth

 

[BethC1952]

Hi, everybody!

I hope you're all having a good summer! This is this week's bump.

Beth

 

[genmasjoy]

Four more months! We're finally getting closer!

 

[BethC1952]

Hi everyone!

Roof is on, new windows are in, I finally have electricity in my kitchen (after almost seven weeks), but construction on my son's new apartment has been delayed until completion of the outside of the building.

For our trouble and patience the landlord has agreed to give us washer/dryers and dishwashers, so it's not all bad! And because of the water damage, my son's current apartment will have to be gutted when they finally move into the new one, so I was allowed some input into how it will be redesigned.

Maybe by the time the cruise comes I'll have my new apartment (even though the landlord now says the first week of September ).

I'll see you all in less than four months!

Beth

 

[ImMarcik]

Just thought I would give us a bump.

Beth I am glad you have electricity in your kitchen again!

We got our passports in the mail over the weekend!!!!!!
Just 2 more days I am in double digits from when I leave for Disney.

Hope everyone is having a good week!

 

[BethC1952]

Sorry I didn't get to bumping this for the week! While we have electricity now, we temporarily lost our home network for some reason...the contractors moved some equipment where our router is located and it took us DAYS to get things back to normal. However, the good news is that the project is done...at least the part that affects us right now! Once my son's new apartment is finished his family will move in, and then our new place will be created in their old space according to the plans I drew up two weeks ago with the architect. By the time we sail, I should be all settled in my new, slightly larger, apartment. I can't wait for my new bathroom. The one I have now is very nice, but it's smaller than the ones on the ship!

Beth

 

[slindamood]

100 days from tomorrow - we sail!

Hope everyone is having a great summer. I have not been checking the boards too much, but now, this trip is fast approaching - can't believe it. I look at posts that were 100 days ago and it seems like yesterday. All 20 of us have air tickets, a place to stay the night before, and a way to get to the port. What more could we want? We are good to go.

 

[genmasjoy]

I'm getting excited, it is almost time to make dinner reservations at Palo, book a shore tour in Nassau, and book a spa treatment. According to the DCL website, if you are a castaway club member, you can book 90 days from date of embarkation, otherwise it is 75 days. So, since I'm a castaway club member, soon I'll be booking.... Also, dh's birthday is Sept 10, so decided to book a quick weekend trip to WDW. We are going to stay at the Contemporary for two nights and see the Cirque du Soleil while we are there. I hadn't really planned a Disney trip in addition to the cruise this year, but couldn't think of a better way to make his birthday special.

 

[ImMarcik]

I have to wait until 75 days to book my ressies. I plan on being up in the middle of the night to try to get them. Not long now. I did get to book all of my WDW dining ressies this week. I got Cinderella's Castle for breakfast. I am excited about that. This looks like it's going to be such a "Wonder"ful vacation.

 

[BethC1952]

Sounds like your plans are coming along nicely! I'm paid in full and can make my reservations now (I'm a Castaway Club member, these will be cruises #5 and #6 for us), but we plan to take the Thanksgiving cruise just to relax and do a whole lot of nothing, and the next week we might do a few things.

Our moving plans have changed...in the end, we've decided to stay right where we are. While the new apartment would give me a formal dining room, it would take away my beautiful home office "studio" for my knitting and artwork (the way those rooms are arranged, the dining room wouldn't work because I like to be able to leave my "work in progress" on the desk or table and just close the door). So now I'm all ready to start REALLY planning this trip! I've gotten my vacation time approved, scheduled my major projects so that they will all be completed before I leave, so that when I walk out of my office door on November 10 I won't have to worry about anything until December 12. I do have to work the week of November 14, but that week is our convention in Atlantic City, so I will be spending the week in a hotel room there.

I love seeing my counter in double digits!

Beth

 

[glindamood]

I got up in the middle of the night yesterday and booked a brunch ressie for Palo - system worked great, which is good because I was only half awake! Then I get the reservation number and I am pumped - at 3:10 in a hotel room by myself. But, I managed to get back to sleep but it took a long time.

Have a good day everyone - TGIF!!!

 

[genmasjoy]

Hi, I just booked a massage at Castaway Cay and a brunch reservation at Palo, so it's getting closer. We are fortunate that Hurricane Katrina just brushed by us, all we had were some wind and rain from the outer feeder bands.

 

[BethC1952]

Way back in December, when thegales started this thread:

The Ports of call:
Day 1 Depart Port Canaveral (Wednesday)
Day 2 Castaway Cay (Thursday)
Day 3 Nassau (Friday)
Day 4 Day at Sea (Saturday)
Day 5 Return to Port Canaveral (Sunday)

For those paying attention, you will notice that the Wonder switched the three and four day cruises for this week. And normally the four day has Nassau, CC, day at sea. However, that would put the Magic and Wonder both at CC on Friday, so they reversed the ports of call. I think Thanksgiving at Castaway Cay will be fun.

Anyone else spending Thanksgiving 2005 on Castaway Cay?"

I booked my Palo brunch reservation last night (first time to Palo!) for Friday, Nov. 25, and noticed that the itinerary now lists Nassau for Thanksgiving, then our day at sea, and then Castaway Cay on Saturday. So it appears that none of us will be spending Thanksgiving on Castaway Cay. However, Thanksgiving in Nassau is still better than Thanksgiving at my MIL's house! BTW, I didn't have any trouble getting the date and time (Noon) that I wanted.

I can't believe it's getting so close. It seemed like it would never be time to start booking things!

Beth

 

[aphoenix]

I just booked our Palo and Shore Excursions, and the site is now reporting an updated Itinerary for us:

Day 1 Depart Port Canaveral (Wednesday)
Day 2 Nassau (Thursday)
Day 3 Day at Sea (Friday)
Day 4 Castaway Cay (Saturday)
Day 5 Return to Port Canaveral (Sunday)

Brunch is only being offered on Friday, which matches up with this schedule. Not sure why they keep juggling it, but....?

 

[BethC1952]

If they change the itinerary again, do you suppose they will just change the reservation? Since the brunch is only offered on the day at sea, I won't have to change any other plans to accommodate it. On our day in Nassau (whatever day that might be!) I plan to meet friends from home who also own a home in Nassau, and are planning to spend the Thanksgiving holiday there. It would be nice to be able to tell them what day I'll be in town!

Beth

 

[aphoenix]

Who knows at this point. I'm not planning on anything until we are on the ship and have the navigator in hand.

 

[ImMarcik]

Friday is my anniversary so I am hoping that is the day for Palo Brunch. I have to wait until 75 days to book though. Hope there are times left.

 

[glindamood]

Wishing everyone a nice holiday weekend - and lots of prayers for those effected by Katrina, I can not even imagine....

 

[genmasjoy]

We're going up to WDW this weekend, it is only 2.5 hours from our house, staying at the Contemporary. Haven't stayed there in several years, we are getting a Tower room, so it will be fun. This will have to hold us over till the cruise,,,,