4/25/09 Magic - First Visit To Tortola!

[QRS]

Thank you dvc2themax, hoosiercruiser and JEA2009 for doing exchanges with our daughter. Just to double check, dvc2themax, you have a 15yo daughter, hoosiercruiser, you have a 4yo daughter and JEA2009, you have a 3yo daughter. I hope I didn't miss anyone. If I made any mistakes, let me know. I think our "Q" will be delighted with some surprise presents. Thanks a lot.

Hoosiercruiser, I grew up in Carmi, Illinois about 45 miles from Evansville. I live and work in Japan now. Are there any Japanese people lurking on the boards? We speak Japanese if you want to give a shout.

JEA2009, I hope our little girl enjoys the trip. She doesn't seem to really know what's going on yet.

Can anyone clarify about the tipping? I thought tipping was per person but I was just wondering if a 3 year old tipped at all or some percentage of the recommended amounts.

Sandyrella1010, thanks for the good news on the wristbands. We will do our best to meet up with everyone at the Promenade for the group picture. I will try to get a picture to Lisa in the next couple of days.

We are also going early to spend a day at (Kingdom??). I would love to meet up for a pre-sail drink and chat before hand but we're staying at (Pop?). I haven't seen that hotel name mentioned even once.

I've really got to start thinking about packing...

 

[dvc2themax]

Tipping is per cabin per person. On the one of the last days of teh crusie, they will give you envelopes and a guideline. that is all it is, a guideline. I am making this number up, but it could be $1.25 per day per person for the maid. You can either put cash in the envelope or add it to your room charge. When I get home tonight, I will dig out my "old" Navigators (these are what you will get each morning telling you what is going on such as special events, contests, etc) and post. Unless of course, someone beats me to it

 

[CKCruising]

Welcome to our group Richard and family!

I think the current guidelines are $12/day/person:
- Dining Room Server = $4
- Dining Room Asst. Server = $3
- Dining Room Head Server = $1
- Stateroom Host/Hostess = $4

It is expected that all people in the room (no matter their age) tip the same amount.

There are a few threads in the main area which address whether or not kids should tip, if you want to read these further.

 

[CKCruising]

For those of us that paid the surcharge (no negative smilies on this board), I would expect we would be getting as an OBC.

$8/day is a "free" drink.

 

[nascar8820]

So far I have received pictures from:

adnil530
aznaphorodite
dotheyes
dvc2themax
hoosiercruiser
JEA2009
LotusPoint
lsutigger
Macmonster
queen2
sanyrella1010

Keep them coming.

 

[amy2girls]

I just looked through all of our pictures- I have none of me! (I will get working on a family photo this weekend!)

 

[dotheyes]

.

We are also going early to spend a day at (Kingdom??). I would love to meet up for a pre-sail drink and chat before hand but we're staying at (Pop?). I haven't seen that hotel name mentioned even once.

I've really got to start thinking about packing...

Welcome to the happiest group around. Everyone is so helpful, so ask away with any questions someone will attempt to answer.
We have some extra FEs also, just two grown up kids in our cabin, There are several cabins in the FE group close to you, so no problem finding you.

POP Century is a great resort; we go there for lunch often. If you want a souviener their refillable mugs (cost $13.00) make good ones, and you can use them on the ship to take drinks to your cabin(they have lids).
Ole Ole Dot

 

[adnil530]

Thank you dvc2themax, hoosiercruiser and JEA2009 for doing exchanges with our daughter. Just to double check, dvc2themax, you have a 15yo daughter, hoosiercruiser, you have a 4yo daughter and JEA2009, you have a 3yo daughter. I hope I didn't miss anyone. If I made any mistakes, let me know. I think our "Q" will be delighted with some surprise presents. Thanks a lot.

Richard & Family,

Welcome

We would love to participate in your FE also. It is a lot of fun to return from an outing to find a "prize" in your FE. Cabin 6134 is on my list. It is especially fun for the kids.

I tried to go through the posts, I thought someone else had missed the deadline also. Was there anyone else who missed the original cut off that wanted to participate in this one??? Wouldn't want anyone to miss the "boat"

Linda

 

[aznaphrodite]

My how time flies. We will be joining you on our first cruise, celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. We're a family of three, my 3yo daughter Qiana (key-ah-gnaw) me, Richard and my wife Sanae (Saw-gnaw-eh). We will be staying in cabin 6134 and look forward to meeting lots of folks.

It took me three days to read through all the posts and regret that we missed out on the official FE activities. We did purchase an FE so if any of the smaller kids want to do an extra exchange with our three year old, we might be able to find some small things to bring with us from Japan. Just let me know.

Can anyone clarify about the tipping? I thought tipping was per person but I was just wondering if a 3 year old tipped at all or some percentage of the recommended amounts.

QRS - I also have a couple of extras that I can give your 3-year-old. We just have 2 adults in 6094 but we love Japanese stuff and anime! We're planning to visit Japan next year!

As others have already mentioned, the suggested tipping is per person regardless of age so you should tip the full amount for 3 people.

ANyone want to chime in (for the 4th time - ) on who is going down early? Anyone going to Universal Thursday or Friday, April 23/24

We're arriving on 4/24 around 9 pm. Not enough time to do anything unfortunately. We're staying at the MCO Hyatt.

 

[lsutiggeratwk]

QRS: What a small world !! My DH is from Carmi, Norris City area!! I'm sure you fellows will find you have some common acquaintances. Although, my DH is probably older - he'll be celebrating his BIG 5-0 birthday while on the cruise. And welcome to our cruise group

And I had to laugh when I saw your screen name: We have a big project at work - Quality Rating System for child care providers and we call it QRS for short!

I do have the fe list on a spreadsheet with cabin numbers and other info if you would like to have that. Just let me know.

I have to get back to work now

 

[aznaphrodite]

(Ignore this post. I'm fine with whatever everyone decides!)

 

[sandyrella1010]

To QRS -- We have an extra gift for your daughter also . I always do extras with anything I do - "just in case". You don't have to give anything to us - just make the princess happy .

You'll find the gratuity guidlines in the little travel booklet that came with your cruise docs -- it lists the 7 night cruise and it is per person -- I goofed - it's not per cabin. It's not written in stone - it is totally up to do what you do. If service is really good I will give more. I've never had bad service to give less. The service is excellent on Disney cruises!

Sandy

 

[sandyrella1010]

The dress up nights are great to have for a family or even for couples, a nice picture to be taken, wither by the ship photographers on a nice background, or someone else.

ANyone want to chime in (for the 4th time - ) on who is going down early? Anyone going to Universal Thursday or Friday, April 23/24

QUOTE]

I agree - - I love to get dressed up as I rarely get the chance and the pictures are fun to have.

I guess I'll "chime in" about going down early. I was keeping it quiet becase DH wants to have dinner alone with me that night. It's my birthday that day so after we fly down and drive to the Radisson he wants to have dinner with just me. However, that doesn't mean we can't say hi to people who are hanging out - so that's our plan. We take the 10:30 shuttle to the port.

Hope everyone has a magical weekend (packing, planning, shopping.....3 weeks

I also never mentioned why I neede pixie dust - - I just didn't want to get into it all. But I have health problems anyway and I found out recently I have a brain aneurysm. I wasn't sure if the doctors wanted to do any procedures before the cruise. I have to have a cerebral angiogram in May and I am allowed to travel - - I just have to keep my BP low and not lift things or ride the Tower of Terror when we get to Disney but I will be travelling. I am just going to not think about it while I'm away - hopefully that is possible -- this vacation is for happy thoughts and the magic of it will help to heal me . So I am thrilled to know I am going and looking forward to forgetting about doctors and health as much as I can. Now all I have to do is get my root canal next week (I had gum surgery a month ago so I've told docs and dentists that I am done with this stuff til I get back.
So DH and I are going to celebrate my 58th birthday and our 10 year anniversary and that is that. Your pixie dust and kind thoughts a few weeks ago really made me feel good and obviously worked.

Sandy

 

[dvc2themax]

Magic potion for you to have fun on the cruise Sandy and let the real world behind you (and all of us). Concentrate on getting ready for the cruise, get to whatever means of transportaion is getting us there: plane, train or automobile; getting checked in at port, and forget everything once you cross the threshold of the ship and the crew members welcome you on board.

Teh the worst part is to decide if you are going to do any activites that required a sign up such as beer tasting, wine tasting, margarita tasting or one of the other activies the Navigator will list for the day.
I had attended one of the meetings to talk to a few of "actors" that are in the shows and it was fasinating. I really enjoy some of the activites they have. And of course, some of the "clubs" have special events going on to like: towel making (no more details than that, new cruisers will find out about those , themed dances, magic show, mickey's game show, hair braiding. Just goies on an on depending if you want to see what the ship has to offer, or just lay in the sun at the pool.

For anyone that wants Disney Character signatures, bring whatever you want to have singed, t-shirt, pillow cases, picture frames, autograph book. You take these to guest services at the beginning of the cruise, sign a form on who you want to sign or just say all characters, and you will have the item back before the cruise returns home.

 

[nascar8820]

During our last cruise, we joined a DIS meet as well and everyone sent the organizer a family photo and she sent it out to the group before the cruise so we knew who we would look for when we board and we'd say hello and chat before we got to the actual meet up. Do you guys want to do this? I know there are a few people that have a picture in their avator but thought a bigger picture would be a neat idea.

If you are interested in doing this email me (lkw103@yahoo.com) a picture. Include your screen name and the names of the people in the picture. I will put all the pictures together and send them out to everyone.

Lisa

Don't forget to send me your pictures. As of today I have 12 pictures.

 

[LocustPoint]

QRS-We also have extra FE gifts and will gladly add you to our list.

 

[TiszBear]

I will get a picture sent this weekend. I can't believe the time is flying. All I can say is after today at work Boy Do I really need a vacation!!

Can't wait to go and not have to worry about checking email or messages. I told my office that I will not be checking any messages, voice or email, from teh time I leave work on the 23rd till I get back to work on May 4th.

 

[aznaphrodite]

I also never mentioned why I neede pixie dust - - I just didn't want to get into it all. But I have health problems anyway and I found out recently I have a brain aneurysm. I wasn't sure if the doctors wanted to do any procedures before the cruise. I have to have a cerebral angiogram in May and I am allowed to travel - - I just have to keep my BP low and not lift things or ride the Tower of Terror when we get to Disney but I will be travelling. I am just going to not think about it while I'm away - hopefully that is possible -- this vacation is for happy thoughts and the magic of it will help to heal me . So I am thrilled to know I am going and looking forward to forgetting about doctors and health as much as I can. Now all I have to do is get my root canal next week (I had gum surgery a month ago so I've told docs and dentists that I am done with this stuff til I get back.
So DH and I are going to celebrate my 58th birthday and our 10 year anniversary and that is that. Your pixie dust and kind thoughts a few weeks ago really made me feel good and obviously worked.

Sandy

Oh, Sandy. I'm glad you can go on the trip! We're cheering for you!

 

[CKCruising]

I realize we cut off the list, but I have no problem updating the FE List for everyone as I am getting confused with the sub-list. I am a guy and just started shopping today, so it's easier for me. It's harder for the people that have done their shopping (and shipping for those really on the ball).

How many people wanted on the list...2 cabins?

 

[lsutigger2]

Hey Chris (CKCruising) are you going to update the map?? I have a feeling I'm going to need it

I hope everyone has a great weekend.