20051123 - November 23, 2005 Thanksgiving Wonder Cruise

[BethC1952]

We'll only be at the Beach Club for the transportation. We're spending one night at Pop Century It was cheaper to fly down the day before, stay at Pop and take DCL transportation than to fly down the day of the cruise, which I wouldn't do anyway!

I think, if we decide to have a meet, that it should be something quick and casual on the first day. It seems that a lot of groups meet at around 3 PM either somewhere on Deck 10 or in the Promenade Lounge. Both places are easy to find, the Deck 10 location is outside, the Promenade Lounge is on Deck 3 slightly aft of the Atrium and Triton's. There's also the "secret" overlook on Deck 7 as a possibility.

If anyone's interested, let me know! We've cruised before, so we won't be spending much time getting to know the ship!

 

[thegales]

ImMarcik, we will be doing the Stingray Adventure together. We also are booked at 11:00 am.

BethC1952, does the Admiral still have a job? We had the same rain you did, but it only lasted for a couple of days. I work with a few people from New Jersey, and they said it was just unbelievable.

I am still booking our ground transportation. On Sunday, our flight does not leave until 7:00 pm, so we wanted to spend the day at Downtown Disney. Looking at all the options, I reserved a rental car through Budget. We will take their shuttle from the port, pick up the car and drive to Downtown Disney. When it is time to go to the airport, we will drive it and return it there. I thought about hiring a car, but couldn't figure out what to do with the luggage. I think this will be the easiest.

I haven't booked transportation yet from the Airport to the Radisson on Tuesday yet. On our last cruise, I surprised family with a limo. The DD's are expecting the same this trip. I need to look at prices and figure out if we want to do it or not. Since we won't have as much luggage as our last trip (4 day v. 7 day), I am not concerned about it all fitting in the trunk of a Town Car. I suppose I could look at Budget again for the this part of the trip. There is just something about starting the vacation in a limo that just sets the right tone.

We are definitely up for a dis meet. Our goal is to get on the ship as early as possible, so we are good for a before or after Drill meet.

 

[BethC1952]

The Admiral still has a job...says he didn't realize the tide had come in (under a railroad underpass) so early At the time his car floated, there were three others already floating in there! He tried to say he wasn't under the tracks, but I live across the street and saw the whole thing. I've never seen rain like that in my life. Long Branch is surrounded by water on three sides (one ocean, one lake, one river), and it appeared at some times like all those water sources would meet up. We also have a couple of underground rivers. Now I see that the currently projected path of Wilma will bring us even more rain!

We should arrive at the Port (along with all the other people coming from the resorts) and be on board by 1 PM. By the time we eat (can't miss that first buffet and drop our day bag in our room, we should be ready by 3, although that may cut it close for some folks. We could tentatively set 3:15 PM, Deck 10, all the way aft (outside the windows at Palo). There are relatively few people there at that time, we can all say hello and go and get ready for the safety drill, and you get a nice view of the Space Center from there while you're waiting!

What does everyone else think?

 

[ImMarcik]

thegales, small world that we booked this excursion for the same time. We are also doing the dolphin encounter so I think we may be on the same ferry as you to blue lagoon from what I've read.

Beth. That sounds good for a meet. I will be the one that's lost. This is my first ever cruise. I might look into posting pictures of my family tonight. Although, it may have to wait until tomorrow. Today is my DD's 12th bday and her and I have a date to watch the Astros! If they win this game they are in the World Series for the first time ever.

I am getting really excited about our trip. Since our malls are closed for 6 months plus I looked online for some luggage today and found a great deal so I think I might order it today. That will be one less thing I have to worry about. We already have one nice piece but with 3 of us for 10 days I think we will need more.

 

[BethC1952]

We already have one nice piece but with 3 of us for 10 days I think we will need more.

I would think so! I just got off the phone with my DIL, and she just told me that I need a new suitcase...she's taking it on her trip, and she says the bottom just about fell out. Oh well, I guess I have a bit more shopping to do!

Good luck to the Astros! I'm a Yankee fan, but I don't have to worry about them anymore this season!

You can't possibly get lost finding Deck 10 aft...if you go any further, you'll fall over the edge. Jim and I will be easy to find, we look just like the picture, and I have a nice laminated "BethC1952" Mickey head name tag that I made last year. Jim won't wear one, but he did agree to green ribbons on our last couple of trips.

 

[thegales]

Deck 10, aft at 3:15 sounds good. We also are expecting to board early (we have the 10:00 am shuttle from the Radisson). We will eat, then go to the pools. We may also try to find some time for the DD's to explore the ship.

I wouldn't mind coming up with an alternative plan just in case. On our first cruise, some dis folks missed the first meeting. Because we didn't have an alternative plan, we never did meet them. I may also try to prepare a list for all of us.



New question - do we know what night Pirate night is? I am guessing it is Friday (our day at sea), but I don't know if we have heard for certain.

 

[ImMarcik]

I am looking forward to pirate night but I have no idea when I think it is. I am so confused. We made our Palo ressies for Friday night at 6 since it's our anniversary. But, that won't interfere with the fireworks and stuff later.

 

[BethC1952]

I think an alternative plan is a good idea. I haven't had any luck with pre-planned meets on my cruises! We can also post a list of our room numbers. If we completely miss meets, a few phone calls could round us up! Even if someone gets a surprise upgrade at the port, we would still have most of the room numbers and be able to figure things out.

 

[BethC1952]

And so, my fellow cruisers, after I posted the previous message I heard a strange noise in my hallway, and walked in there just in time to see...my cat delivering a kitten! Yes, I knew she was pregnant, I just didn't realize exactly HOW pregnant! She had some difficulties, but mom and baby are busy "bonding" right now. The mom still has two more kittens to deliver (I think), so it looks like I'm in for a long night!

 

[thegales]

I am looking forward to pirate night but I have no idea when I think it is. I am so confused. We made our Palo ressies for Friday night at 6 since it's our anniversary. But, that won't interfere with the fireworks and stuff later.

Oh, you meant the fireworks from Pirate night.

 

[ImMarcik]

Beth - Okay I have no plans on going over the edge of the ship so I'm sure I will find you That is so sweet about your cat. Did she have her other kitties okay? We have a 3 1/2 month old already very spoiled kitty, Charlotte, one that turns 2 next month, Mitsi & an 18 year old cat, Blackie. Poor thing he really is getting very old.

thegales - Now that made me laugh, I didn't realize how that would come out when I wrote it. But, yes I was talking about pirate night

 

[BethC1952]

Marcie:

I'm glad you're not planning on going over the edge (at least that early in the cruise)!

A quick update on the kitten situation...

By 9:30 last night, Marie (named, of course, after the kitten in The Aristocats) presented us with three very lively kittens. Two are grey striped and the third is orange. It was a bit of a learning experience for my granddaughter (age 5) and me, since Marie had a bit of trouble delivering the first one and we had to assist and cut the cord. After that, she was fine, and by this morning she and her new family settled into a rather hastily prepared box in my bathroom. My other cat, a beautiful black female named "Gizmo" has adopted the family, keeping the babies warm so that Marie can go to the kitchen for food and water, and to the litterbox. Once they start moving around a bit, I'll take some pictures and post them somewhere. I don't want to disturb them too much just yet, although Marie did let me pick each kitten up to make sure it was OK.

 

[ImMarcik]

Congratulations to the new kitty family. I would love to see pics. Are they tabbys? Our baby kitty and our old one are both solid black, Mitsi is a beautiful classic tabby.

 

[BethC1952]

The mom is part tabby and part calico (she has orange and white spots and grey and black stripes). We're not quite sure who the father is, but there are only two choices--one is my son's tabby and the other is my neighbor's orange cat. Two kittens are tabbies and one is orange, so I guess we'll never know!

As for the meet on the ship--Jim is already teasing me about meeting my "imaginary friends". He thinks it's the funniest thing! But he says he'll be there, even wearing his lime green ribbons. Maybe I can get him to wear a Mickey head, too.

 

[ImMarcik]

Okay I know some of you have cruised before. I have a question. Do you think there is time to go to the rainforest after the 8:30 show on the first night? I think I saw the spa closes at 10 pm.

 

[BethC1952]

In four cruises, I have never set foot in the spa, and I'm not sure of the closing time. The shows run for about an hour, so that would get you out at 9:30. By the time you got to the spa and to the Rainforest Room, it would be closing time (assuming, of course, that the spa closes at 10).

I'm hoping to try the Rainforest Room myself this time...I think I deserve it, especially after the day I'm having today!

 

[ImMarcik]

I'm sorry your having one of those days! I was thinking I deserve it too for the year I've had. Between a co-worker passing away, then losing my Dad, then hurricane Katrina which my DH had to leave for and work, then we had hurricane Rita's eye right through our town. But, at least all of that didn't happen at the same time, just throughout the year.
I wanted to get the whole cruise pass, but, if I don't make it there the first day I think I will just buy the daily pass. I won't be doing any massages are anything but scented showers and a warm lounger sounds awfully nice to me.

 

[genmasjoy]

I'd enjoy meeting everyone, deck 10 at 3:15 on sailing day will be fine. We are going to drive up from West Palm Beach in the morning, and plan to arrive about noon. At the moment I am a little distracted by the prospect of hurricane Wilma which might be on its way here but no one seems to know for sure. Anyway, glad to have the cruise to look forward to and it will be fun to say hello.
Beth, congrats on the new kitties. Do you have a cat sitter lined up for when you are away? I pay one of the secretaries at work to come to my house and take care of Midnight, he is a black fifteen year old cat that adopted us when my son was little. Of course I only agreed to take the cat in because my son said he would look after him. I'm sure you can predict what happened - our son is in San Diego in the navy and we're left with the cat! But of course, he's a family member and we love him.

 

[BethC1952]

My son and his family (who live next door to us) will take care of the kittens, their mother and their "aunt". The "aunt" cat, who takes care of the kittens when the mother is feeding or otherwise occupied is one of those "I'll take care of it, mom" cats--son asked us to watch her while they moved four years ago. She's part of our family now.

We also had another "can you watch her while we move" cat. The owner never returned, and the cat finally died of old age at the age of 22!

Genmasjoy...good luck with Wilma. The last projected track that I saw had the storm coming up the Atlantic coast after the weekend, but I can't remember how it was getting here. It's raining today, it rained yesterday, it's supposed to rain tomorrow, and the town is still cleaning up the mess from last week's floods. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in the real "hurricane belt", especially these past two seasons. Good luck!

Jim says as long as our meet doesn't impact on his consumption of food, he'll be glad to join us. I assured him that lunch would be over by then!

See you all one month from tomorrow!

 

[ImMarcik]

I just found out that the Blue Lagoon Beach and the dolphin excursion are cancelled as of around Nov. 12th. I called DCL and they said yes it's true. Now I'm trying to figure out what we will do that day. We are thinking about Atlantis.