20051123 - November 23, 2005 Thanksgiving Wonder Cruise

[BethC1952]

Welcome to our thread! I agree, it's nice not to have to worry about doing the cooking. Actually, it's not the cooking that I mind, it's all the cleaning up afterwards!

Beth

 

[ImMarcik]

I have been so busy at work that I haven't checked in a while to see if a thread has started for our cruise. I am so excited to see it has. I've had our trip booked for a few months now. My DH, DD12 at cruise time and I will be taking our first cruise. We got the land/sea package so we will be starting our trip on Nov 20th. We are in category 7. I will definitely be checking back now that I know the thread is started. It will be my DH and my 7th anniversary on Nov 25th on the cruise

 

[genmasjoy]

That's nice you are doing the land and sea package. Which hotel will you be staying in at Disney World? I think you are right to do the theme parks first, then when you get on the cruise you can relax. If this is your first cruise, you are really going to love it, and I am sure your daughter will too.

 

[ImMarcik]

We are staying at the Beach Club resort. We are really thinking about doing that Animal Kindgom day on the day we go to the port. My daughter wants to see the Lion King show.

 

[BethC1952]

Bumping early today because of the holiday weekend.

I wish a Happy Easter to all who celebrate the holiday, and a great weekend to everyone!

Beth

 

[BethC1952]

Doing the weekly bump!

Beth

 

[glindamood]

Hello everyone! Hope your spring is beginning to start - time changes tonight which is another sign of spring. We still have snow here but the patches are getting smaller every day!

Have a great week - and try and take a peak at the Wonder on the webcam on Sunday!

 

[BethC1952]

Spring is beginning to show itself here at the Jersey Shore. Although it rained all day today (April showers, I guess!), it was warm enough that I actually left the house without my winter coat! There are daffodil sprouts in my backyard, and the "Bennies" (people who come to the shore for weekends and summers, unlike those of us who live here year-round) are starting to open up their homes! It's a sure sign of spring when the lines in the grocery store start to grow!

Beth

 

[aphoenix]

Well, I guess I should get around to checking in.

We are doing a family reunion cruise as well - 32 people booked. DW and I are going to be on our 4th DCL trip. The rest of the family will be first timers. We had been wanting to do a big reunion over Thanksgiving, and figured Orlando would be a good place. At least, right up until my grandmother made some comment about moving a turkey via taxi. At that point DW vetoed the whole thing and announced that we would be doing a cruise instead.

But, first up, the 14-night Westbound Panama Canal cruise....

So, here we come!

Tony

 

[thegales]

Welcome aphoenix!

Do you and DW get to do all the planning, or are others taking part in this part as well? Take plenty of notes during the Panama cruise (with pictures) to show everyone what some of the options are.



Spring is officially here in South Carolina. Cut the lawn for the second time this season yesterday. Going out today to wash the cars.

Happy Sunday!

(I was going to get a picture of the Wonder, but currently the web cam is showing a Carnival ship)

 

[aphoenix]

Welcome aphoenix!

Do you and DW get to do all the planning, or are others taking part in this part as well? Take plenty of notes during the Panama cruise (with pictures) to show everyone what some of the options are.

Thanks!

DW and I are doing most of the planning. We let a travel agent handle the cruise reservations themselves, but everything else is us. We are doing the week before on the ground at WDW, so we've handled the hotel reservations, much of the flight bookings, etc. We are chartering a bus to go to and from the port, and that is going to save a small fortune compared to Disney. Even with on 32 people, the private bus will only be $25/person.

We are definately taking notes, and are already working on the 'Big Book of Wisdom' to help everyone prepare and get the most out of our trip.

We are borrowing the Postcard idea, and are sending cards to all of the kids in the family from CC, signed by characters, saying how much they are looking forward to seeing the kids in November.

 

[BethC1952]

Welcome aboard aphoenix (and family)!

I loved your comment "At least, right up until my grandmother made some comment about moving a turkey via taxi." One of the reasons we're cruising at Thanksgiving is that the last time it was our turn to host Thanksgiving dinner, our turkey was delivered by limousine! (My BIL owned a limo company at that point, and he cooked the turkey and delivered it the night before. My next-door-neighbors looked out their door just in time to see him, in dress uniform (he was on his way to a wedding) walking up our driveway with the roasting pan with the fully cooked turkey. They were impressed!

I can't wait to meet all of you!

Beth

 

[aphoenix]

I loved your comment "At least, right up until my grandmother made some comment about moving a turkey via taxi." One of the reasons we're cruising at Thanksgiving is that the last time it was our turn to host Thanksgiving dinner, our turkey was delivered by limousine! (My BIL owned a limo company at that point, and he cooked the turkey and delivered it the night before. My next-door-neighbors looked out their door just in time to see him, in dress uniform (he was on his way to a wedding) walking up our driveway with the roasting pan with the fully cooked turkey. They were impressed!

Turkey by limo. Hmmm..... I'll have to remember that one.

I have a very interesting family - a wide group of personalities and we are such good friends - and a bunch of pranksters. It should make the 4 nights very interesting. At least I already know the lay of the ship, so I'll have a definitive advantage on my brothers. This will be the first big family reunion in close to 15 years, and it will be the largest. Except for a few people who are not coming on the ship (they really don't like the water, and they will be there at WDW) we will have the entire family together for the first time in my lifetime.

Does anyone know if they will have the Christmas decor on board that weekend, or are we going to just miss it?

 

[BethC1952]

From what I've read, the ship will be decorated by the time the Thanksgiving cruise comes around!

It's beautiful when it's decorated for Christmas. We've cruised at this time of year for the last three years (usually two weeks later).

Beth

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Beth,

I Am Northern Jersey, Just Over The Gw Bridge. We Just Booked Lbi For The End Of August. I Love.......the Jersey Shore.

Our Cruise Is Exactly One Year Later Then You All. My Family Of 16 Just Booked The 4 Day Thanksgiving Nov 2006

My Question For You All, Did You Get Your Airfare As Of Yet?
Did It Go Up Because Of The Holiday?

Are You Flying In The Morn Of?

Just Wondering. As You Can See I Am A Planner. (acually I Am Going This Nov 10-13 For The 3 Day Nj Teacher's Convention)

Any Info Would Be Great

Thanks

Patricia

Ps Any Takers For Next Year 2006?

 

[BethC1952]

Patricia:

Exactly where are you just over the GWB? I grew up in Jersey City, and DH is from West New York, where his parents still live.

LBI is great. I would have loved to be able to settle there, but work constraints keep us here, as we both now work in Long Branch.

We haven't booked our airfare yet, because we aren't quite sure of our plans. We will be flying down a couple of days before, and will be stopping to see my brother and his family in Jacksonville.

If this year's Thanksgiving cruise works out well (and I can't imagine why it wouldn't) we may do it again, this time with a family group of our own. DS and his family can't make it this year for Thanksgiving, because he has to work, but in 2006 it will be his turn to be off for that holiday (he's a 911 dispatcher), and they'd like to cruise with us again, as would DH's sister and her family who cruised with us in 2003, and possibly his other sister and her familly and his brother and his brother's wife! Perhaps we'll get to meet on that cruise!

Of course, I will cruise for any holiday (or non-holiday) that I can!

Beth

 

[thegales]

We booked our airline tickets last month. I had looked a few months ago, and fare was about $200 from SC for our ideal flight times. When I looked last month, it was a lot higher. I looked at available seats, and only a couple were left. We wound up booking a later flight home and got the cheaper fare.

We are flying down the night before (that reminds me, need to book hotel), and flying home about 7:30 pm on Sunday.

If you see a flight that is reasonably price, I would recommend booking it now.

But then again, you are looking at 2006. Hmmm. Is the 2006 Thanksgiving Wonder cruise also a four day?

 

[aphoenix]

We booked our travel back in January, but that is because I am using airline miles for the flights. Only way to get free seats in the Thanksgiving window is to book at exactly 330 days out.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

HI BETH,

I AM FROM TEANECK REALLY, RIGHT OVER THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

MY HUSBAND WORKS IN NYC, & GOES PAST YOUR FAMILY(WEST NEW YORK) EVERYDAY ON THE BUS. SMALL WORLD

NEXT YEAR IT IS A 4 DAY CRUISE FROM WED THRU SUNDAY. THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU WERE ON IT. I SAW THAT ON THANKSGIVING WE WILL BE ON CC. IS THAT WHAT YOUR CRUISE IS DOING THIS YEAR? YOU ALL ARE GOING ON THE 4 DAY CRUISE RIGHT?

aphoenix THE 330 DAY IS GREAT ADVICE, & THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. I AM BOOKING 16 (PROBABLY DIFFERENT DAYS FOR EVERY FAMILY)
AH THE HOLIDAYS, PEOPLE WILL BE PUSHING & SHOVING, & I WILL BE HUNTING ON THE COMPUTER. BETTER GO START MY SHOPPING NOW. LOL

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

PATRICIA

 

[BethC1952]

PURTYPAT

Yes, our Thanksgiving cruise is four nights with Thanksgiving Day on Castaway Cay. That's much better than Thanksgiving Day in West New York! I almost have DH convinced that we should book now for Thanksgiving 2006, too. We had a bit of pixie dust this week when he won the local Fire Department's fundraising 50/50 (well, he won 1/4 of it since he split with some co-workers, but still, it's extra $$$) and he bought himself a new set of golf clubs and there's enough money left to put a deposit on another cruise! We may use that as our Christmas gift to our son and his family, and pay for them to join us since he can't make it this year!

Beth