20060902--Eastern Sept 2nd, 2006

[CourtneyMc]

I forgot, someone asked about excursions... We're going to probably do Coral World, but on our own. DD (4) loves fish, so that will be a big hit for her. The Disney excursion costs quite a bit more for the same thing. You can print coupons online and just take a taxi there, and do the beach and Coral World on your own schedule. The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is if the taxis charge for kids or not so I'm not sure exactly how much cheaper it will be to do it on our own.

I thought the Dolphin encounter age was 5+. I didn't even consider it b/c it didn't seem fair to leave out DD (and by default DH as I'd go with DS(7)). Can anyone confirm what the policy is now on how old kids have to be? I would LOVE to do that, but not unless we can all go.

Other than that, we're planning on a just a beach day in St. Maartan, and a couples massage on Castaway Cay =)

-Courtney

 

[Joyce]

My DD is 11 and my DH and I will be on the 9/2 East Carr cruise. We will be on deck 8. we have the late dinner. We will go on the Dolphin excursion. We are so excited, this is our first cruise.
Joyce

 

[joshua121301]

My DD is 11 and my DH and I will be on the 9/2 East Carr cruise. We will be on deck 8. we have the late dinner. We will go on the Dolphin excursion. We are so excited, this is our first cruise.
Joyce

Welcome Aboard Joyce and Crew!!!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Okay, who out there has started packing yet?! I'll admit it...I have started with the dressier clothes and several outfits I won't let anyone wear before the cruise. LOL! Now I have to figure out how I'm going to get everything on my packing list into the suitcases and not exceeding the airline's weight limit!

 

[joshua121301]

Okay, who out there has started packing yet?! I'll admit it...I have started with the dressier clothes and several outfits I won't let anyone wear before the cruise. LOL! Now I have to figure out how I'm going to get everything on my packing list into the suitcases and not exceeding the airline's weight limit!

LOL Shelley hasn't started packing quite yet, but this is only because that would take away from her shopping time. I totally lack the understanding of how important the right shoes for the right clothes are, so I just agree when I think I am supposed to. Shoes are a critical issue I am coming to understand. For myself I was thinking 1)dress shoes 2)sneakers 3)flip flops....that should cover it. Packing List?? I'm clearly not ready. I looked at the Packing List in the sticky and it seemed off to me, maybe I should compile my own. What is important?

 

[BigBlueMan]

Okay, who out there has started packing yet?!

I haven't started packing, per se. But I have a stack of all my DVC merchandise I want to carry with me.

(Shhhhh... don't tell anyone, but I have an Excel spreadsheet in my PDA that I use to check off all the things I need when I travel. I learned a LONG time ago that is is MUCH easier to be a nerd and have the stuff you need than have that unexpected "surprise" when you DON'T have something. Tiz no fun indeed being 2,000 miles from home without your phone charger.)

 

[joshua121301]

Shuttle Launch- I would HIGHLY recommend it! It's really an amazing thing to see it in person. However, keep in mind they frequently scrub at the last minute, so it's sort of hard to plan around. Brian I know you said you have younger kids (how young?) so if it's not something DW is interested in too you might want to leave her with the kids at WDW and go solo over to the cape. You have to get there early to avoid traffic so it's a lot of sitting around with nothing to do in the heat hoping they won't scrub it. Or, plan one day as a Cape Canveral day instead of a WDW day, it's a cool place to see anyway, and if the launch gets scrubbed at least you haven't spent the day just sitting around waiting. But, I'd recommend checking on admission on a launch day, I'm not sure if they change how many people are allowed in or anything. If you don't want to watch there, Jetty Park is supposed to be a great viewing spot. You could spend the day there and again not feel like you wasted a day sitting around waiting.
http://www.portcanaveral.org/funport/parks.htm
I haven't gone there to watch b/c I'm lazy- I've watched from the 528 causeway once, been onsight at the Cape once (close enough to feel the rumble!), and other than that I stay closer to home (I live about 15-20 miles south of the cape, so the view is still really good from my back yard).

Or, go over and spend the day at Cocoa Beach. That's close enough for a good view and the beach is decent.

whatever you do if you decide to try to go see a launch, go early, and be prepared for traffic and crowds.

-Courtney

Courtney,

How was it viewing it at the Cape? Kennedy Space Center still has tickets availabe. Worth it or not? The tix that are remaining are for a view from the visitors center, so I would assume if it were too hot we could retreat inside.

 

[joshua121301]

I haven't started packing, per se. But I have a stack of all my DVC merchandise I want to carry with me.

(Shhhhh... don't tell anyone, but I have an Excel spreadsheet in my PDA that I use to check off all the things I need when I travel. I learned a LONG time ago that is is MUCH easier to be a nerd and have the stuff you need than have that unexpected "surprise" when you DON'T have something. Tiz no fun indeed being 2,000 miles from home without your phone charger.)

Hense the reason I have a drawer full of phone chargers, Ipod battery pack, USB cords etc...... Maybe a "nerd" with the stuff, but I am always the "dork" without my stuff... I think the nerd is the better route.

 

[HollyTyler]

I inherited this horrible habit from my mom. I always pack the night before. I make my list a day before that or even the same day I pack, then throw everything in a suitcase or 2. It's not uncommon for me to start packing at about midnight when I'm ready to go to bed. It's always worked better for me that way. No stress for days on end. I figure the really important stuff is so important that I won't forget it. Anything else I forget, must not be too important if it wasn't in front of my mind at packing time. ALWAYS works for me.

HOWEVER, if you see me running around barefoot, it means my system finally failed me and I did indeed forget something very important!

 

[gdulaney]

Hey Ginny, I was commenting to Jan (of JanDave, former co-cruisers of yours) that you haven't been very active on this thread lately. Glad to see you're still around! Jan tells me you're hilarious! She also wants me to ask your DH if he remembers any of the Italian words she tought him.

Nope -- he needs a refresher course!!

Jan's husband and Andy had quite an adventure in one of the ports... Andy was "held hostage" until Dave could return to free him. Many countries have public restrooms -- where you pay to use the facilities. Well, they didn't have any change, so Dave had to leave Andy as "collateral" until he could get some change.

Ginny

 

[CourtneyMc]

Courtney,

How was it viewing it at the Cape? Kennedy Space Center still has tickets availabe. Worth it or not? The tix that are remaining are for a view from the visitors center, so I would assume if it were too hot we could retreat inside.

Totally AMAZING!!! Definitely worth it. I have a friend whose DH works on the Cape for Lockhead Martin and before 9/11 they could get car visitor passes for launch days (I don't know if they still do that or not) so I saw mission 100 back in 2001 I think from about as close as the general public can get. TOO COOL for words! You could literally feel the rumble thru your body as it went up. And, KSC is very cool to go see if you're at all into space stuff, so even if the rocket doesnt' go up it's a fun day IMHO. I assume you can get your $ back for the shuttle viewing part of the ticket if they scrub it?

-Courtney

 

[HollyTyler]

Nope -- he needs a refresher course!!

Jan's husband and Andy had quite an adventure in one of the ports... Andy was "held hostage" until Dave could return to free him. Many countries have public restrooms -- where you pay to use the facilities. Well, they didn't have any change, so Dave had to leave Andy as "collateral" until he could get some change.

Ginny

Too funny! Jan did mention something about restrooms where you had to pay, but I didn't hear the whole story. How funny that must have been to experience!

 

[scifihippie]

I haven't posted here in weeks. Looks like it's become very active the closer we get!

Just to catch up a bit....

Pirate night - I got my son a cute little pirate outfit. I wanted it so much that I bid a ridiculous amount on ebay for it. I doubt DH will dress up. I'm looking for something for myself. I just want a little something to get it the spirit, not an all-out costume.

Formal night - On other cruises, DH wore his suit for dinner. The last two cruises we didn't take any formal clothes and just had room service. We really enjoyed that. Now, I do not want to miss a night in the dining rooms, so I'm trying to figure out what to take since his suit no longer fits and he would only have occasion to wear one on cruises. Not worth the investment.

We were going to do the butterfly farm excursion, but the only Rasul reservation we could get was that morning. I think we'll try to do it on our own in the afternoon.

On St. Thomas we'll be doing Coral World and the adjoining beach on our own. Courtney - if you are up for it, we could probably share a taxi-bus to Coral World. It's me, DH and DS.

Big Blue - I have an excel spreadsheet going too. I'm very anal about organization and I hate it when I forget something!

I'm getting excited!

 

[allears]

Woooohoooo! A step closer, most of our passports arrived today!

 

[nuzmom]

We are considering doing the butterfly farm on are own. Is there a down side to doing this?

Taxi's - do you know if 3 adults and 2 children (10 & 5) can fit in 1 taxi?

 

[CourtneyMc]

I haven't posted here in weeks. Looks like it's become very active the closer we get!

On St. Thomas we'll be doing Coral World and the adjoining beach on our own. Courtney - if you are up for it, we could probably share a taxi-bus to Coral World. It's me, DH and DS.

I'm getting excited!

Hi there- I think when you get off the ship there are taxi 'people' of some sort who ask where you're going and just herd a bunch of people headed the same place together and charge everyoen a per-head fee, so I don't think you have to worry about trying to share a ride. That's the way i've seen it explained on the other board when I asked about it. I don't know what our schedule will be so i'd hate to promise anything!

-Courtney

 

[BelievesinMagic]

DH and I are planning to head to Coral World as well! Remember to check out their website: www.coralworldvi.com and print out the $3.00 off coupon.

 

[BelievesinMagic]

I just read back in this post, and to answer some questions,

We will be dressing up for pirates night, DH doesn't know this yet so he may just be sporting an eye patch.

He wore his tux the last time and is opting for a nice suit this time.

Holly I'm so glad you didn't cancel! And I'm with you I pack the night before. I make lists ahead of time and cram the cruise box, so far so good haven't forgotten anything important, yet.

Now for meets I have written down
2:30 pm at the promanade lounge on Sat. before sailaway
and
9/3 2:00 pm in Joshua's stateroom.
Is this correct?


I'm so excited and I just can't hide it.... :

 

[HollyTyler]

I just read back in this post, and to answer some questions,

We will be dressing up for pirates night, DH doesn't know this yet so he may just be sporting an eye patch.

He wore his tux the last time and is opting for a nice suit this time.

Holly I'm so glad you didn't cancel! And I'm with you I pack the night before. I make lists ahead of time and cram the cruise box, so far so good haven't forgotten anything important, yet.

Now for meets I have written down
2:30 pm at the promanade lounge on Sat. before sailaway
and
9/3 2:00 pm in Joshua's stateroom.
Is this correct?


I'm so excited and I just can't hide it.... :

YAY! Another last-minute packer! I was beginning to think I was the only one.

The days, times, and places for meets you listed are correct. Can't wait!

 

[nuzmom]

Just wanted to say that we're planning on doing the meet at 2:30 pm.