4/27/13 Western Fantasy

[Floridagram]

I’ll ask the ladies what they want to do about the meet and greet. My wife and I have different philosophies about meet and greets. She interfaces with many different people throughout her company with has international operations and I spend my days locked in a control tower 100 feet in the sky with the same 3-5 people every day.

I am also retired active duty AF. Went home on a Friday in uniform, came back on Monday in blue jeans and a polo, my new civilian uniform doing the same job. Made the transition super easy. I’m sure I’ll see your husband up there as we spend quite a bit of time in the adult areas. Our kids are young adults out on their own and we are at least nine months from being grandparents. What is his name?

We are also going to be dressed up for pirate night! We had a great time last cruise dressing up. Probably not as fun this time as my MIL is sharing our cabin.

When we were at castaway cay the sandbar was definitely small and while I could walk most of the way out to it, some parts were definitely deeper than 6 feet.

We love Tropicante! I absolutely love sitting on their beach and looking out at the water. I don’t know what it is about their beach but I love it. Trisha was very pleased with her massage. $25 for an hour massage on the beach, shaded by trees. I doubt we would be on this cruise if it didn’t stop in Costa Maya.

He's Tom, I'm Vicki, (TV helps remember). We'll be part of an entourage of 15 including my aunt in a wheelchair, so we kind of stick out it we are all together.

$25 for a massage sounds good. I was dreading Costa Maya so I am glad to know it is safe and a good place to go.

 

[Cambsuk]

I posted about this on our facebook page but didn't get much of a response. We have a family cabana booked for the cruise. It will be myself, sister in law (husband won't be able to make it) and my 3.5 year old son. If anyone is interested in joining us and splitting the cost let me know

Have you found someone to share with? We just booked and may be interested. Thank you.

 

[Cambsuk]

I posted about this on our facebook page but didn't get much of a response. We have a family cabana booked for the cruise. It will be myself, sister in law (husband won't be able to make it) and my 3.5 year old son. If anyone is interested in joining us and splitting the cost let me know

Have you found someone to share with? We just booked and may be interested. Thank you.

 

[AllieinWonderland]

Hi everyone!

I will be going on this cruise for my honeymoon and I've never been so excited about anything (besides getting married of course)! I go to Disneyland once or twice a year, got engaged at WDW, and had little hints of Disney at our wedding last week but I've never been on a Disney cruise (or any cruise!). Luckily I have an amazing new husband who supports my Disney obsession!

Was wondering if anyone had any ideas for things to do or places to go for couples at Grand Cayman or Cozumel? I am an archaeologist so we are definitely going to see some ruins in Costa Maya, but we want to do something thats a little more relaxing. Which one of those days would be better for staying on the ship (I'm thinking Aquaduck/pool day )

Also, wanted to book a spa villa but they are all sold out during the times when we would want to go. Has anyone booked one of these on the ship?

If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them! April 27th needs to hurry up!

 

[GatorWayne]

Hi everyone!

I will be going on this cruise for my honeymoon and I've never been so excited about anything (besides getting married of course)! I go to Disneyland once or twice a year, got engaged at WDW, and had little hints of Disney at our wedding last week but I've never been on a Disney cruise (or any cruise!). Luckily I have an amazing new husband who supports my Disney obsession!

Was wondering if anyone had any ideas for things to do or places to go for couples at Grand Cayman or Cozumel? I am an archaeologist so we are definitely going to see some ruins in Costa Maya, but we want to do something thats a little more relaxing. Which one of those days would be better for staying on the ship (I'm thinking Aquaduck/pool day )

Also, wanted to book a spa villa but they are all sold out during the times when we would want to go. Has anyone booked one of these on the ship?

If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them! April 27th needs to hurry up!

Congratulations on your wedding. My wife and I love Disney and just let our season passes expire after 4 years because we are both back in college and our brand new pool is just about finished so not much time for Disney this year.

Grand Cayman to me is really a water activity island. Diving, snorkeling, stingrays, turtle farm, etc. Since my wife does not like any of the above we will probably head to royal palms and work on our tans.

I am no fan of looking at old ruins so I have never really researched ruins before. I think one thing to consider is the amount of time we are in port. Only 4.5 hours in Costa Maya vs 9 hours in Cozumel.

If I was staying on the ship at one of the ports, it would be Grand Cayman. My wife is not into water activities, it is not a cheap island to entertain oneself on, and you have to tender.

I love Tropicante and we are going there for our Costa Maya visit. Cozumel we are doing the Mexican cooking and tasting class. Absolute blast of a class, great food, open bar, and all inclusive beach afterwards.

The adult areas on the ship are not usually crowded (but I have only been on the fantasy once) even on sea days. The family pools are packed on sea days. I rode the aquaduck 10 times or so last cruise. While it is fun, I would not miss a port day to ride it. The lines were never really long.

 

[GatorWayne]

He's Tom, I'm Vicki, (TV helps remember). We'll be part of an entourage of 15 including my aunt in a wheelchair, so we kind of stick out it we are all together.

$25 for a massage sounds good. I was dreading Costa Maya so I am glad to know it is safe and a good place to go.

When we dock at Costa Maya the port area is actually pretty big with a big swimming pool and all the typical tourist shops. We take a taxi to Mahahual which is about 5 minutes away and costs $2 each. The Malecon is a large walkway with beach on one side and the shops on the other. I feel completely safe there.

 

[Keurigirl]

Hi Allie!! Welcome! Be sure to join our facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/285354624897697/

Congrats on your marriage! My husband proposed at Disneyland A Disney cruise is a great honeymoon!

We've done this cruise route three times, although this is the first time we'll be at Costa Maya. We LOVE Grand Cayman, it's the best stop for us. It's such a beautiful island, well kept, easy to navigate, etc. Lots of great shopping, restaurants, beautiful beaches. You can go to 7 mile beach and enjoy the day, and catch some of the town just walking through it. Don't skip Grand Cayman!

In Cozumel, we are going to Nachi Cocom: http://www.cozumelnachicocom.com/ We do not like Cozumel much other than the beaches.

We plan on staying on the ship for Costa Maya.

 

[Keurigirl]

Wayne - I accidently hit the X instead of the checkmark on the facebook group for you. Sorry! Can you ask to join again??

 

[chinaadoptmom]

Hello everyone! My DH, I & DS (6) will be onboard with you as first timers (if you don't count DH deployments with the US Navy)! I am beyond excited and nervous as all get out!

I would love to hear any advise you have for us and I would love to discover more about possibly participating in a "Fish Extender"--I know last minute...like I said, newbie!

 

[Volunteer]

I'll be on board as well as my mom! Just requested to join the facebook group (Initials JA).

Looking forward to a great vacation!

 

[GatorWayne]

Hello everyone! My DH, I & DS (6) will be onboard with you as first timers (if you don't count DH deployments with the US Navy)! I am beyond excited and nervous as all get out!

I would love to hear any advise you have for us and I would love to discover more about possibly participating in a "Fish Extender"--I know last minute...like I said, newbie!

First and Foremost:

Thank you and your husband for your service. As a 20 year AF veteran I know deployments are not fun. I was thankfully only deployed a few times.
Now we can complain Disney didn’t give us MIL rates!
  
10 items of advice:

1. You cannot do it all. You just cannot and enjoy yourself. Our Fantasy cruise just 4 short months ago was our 13th overall and there are still things we are eager to go back and do.

2. Read up on the ports we are visiting and what might interest you. There is so much information available on the internet. Don ‘t settle for just what the cruise offers for excursions.

3. Buy cruise insurance. I live 15-20 minutes from Port Canaveral and within three hours of any Florida port yet I ALWAYS buy cruise or I should say trip insurance. Twice now I have watched a helicopter came pick up someone off a cruise ship. I think the starting price is around $10,000. Fall down the stairs, slip on water, didn’t see the bulkhead, etc and next thing you know the helicopter is coming for you. Do you have $10K? $25K? Cruise insurance is much cheaper.

4. Every night you will get a “menu” of tomorrow’s activities called the navigator. Read it, highlight it, talk about it, or ignore it but understand that is the next day’s activities. My wife and I usually ignore it. We cruise to avoid schedules.

5. Ref #4, Don’t plan too much. Our first cruise we tried to make WAY too many deadlines and it was stressful. Go with the flow, maybe surge here, maybe relax there.

6. Ask questions before you cruise. I have one Disney cruise but 13 total cruises. Yes the offerings on each line are different but what to pack, expect, or plan for are mostly similar.

7. Write a packing list and check off items as you pack them. Not that I am some guru of cruise packing but I usually copy/paste our packing list to any cruise I am going on. We are very slowly (very SLOWLY!) breaking ourselves of overpacking. Hey, we live 20 minutes from Port Canaveral so it is always our car that we have to cram the bags into. Make sure you highlight important things like medicine, glasses, shoes (ask my wife and not me!), and any other item you cannot easily replace. You forget a t-shirt, Mickey has one for ya. You forget your glasses, not so easy.

8. Room service is free but you should tip the person. $1 or $2 per order is all we do but it is just the two of us. Scale up if your order does.
Two favorite tips to go!

9. Explore the ship!! Yeah sounds easy but go and explore. Open doors, walk down hallways that seem to go nowhere, find something new. First things first, If it says prohibited, DO NOT ENTER!!!. Second things second, if it says crew area, DO NOT ENTER. If there is not sign and it is not locked, it is a public area. Don’t be afraid to see what might be behind the door. Lots of ships have “secret” areas like the helicopter area or other “secret” doors which lead to quiet areas where you can enjoy the beauty and wonder of the ocean without the noise of humanity.

10. The crew on the ship are people just like you, they put their pants on one leg at a time.. Treat them like people and not servants and you will be richly rewarded with their charm and courtesy. You know what else? They live on your floating hotel for seven days and have been to the ports way more times they you have. Be gracious, respectful, and polite and I bet they would do just about anything within their power to make your cruise great. Ask and you may receive but please be prepared to compensate your staff if they meet your needs. Our last dining room team were one of the best we ever had so this cruise we requested them again. Courtesy and respect go a long way.

I don’t really understand the whole fish extender thing but the “FEs” on the ship are really cool.

 

[chinaadoptmom]

GatorWayne: Thank you so much for your tips! Thank you for your service as well!

 

[Kimdawn]

Just to clarify- this is for the April 27th Fantasy sailing, 7 day Western….

If you are interested in joining, please sign up on the General Roll Call. I can't post the link here because I only have 7 posts so far, but search for Keurigirl's post- she is the one who originally created it.

 

[Keurigirl]

I'll add to Kim's post!

We're creating a 2nd FE Exchange group for some of you latecomers who missed the original cutoff date. Sign ups are here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdGN1RmRUUC1pSDNtME1xakJrdUV5d2c&usp=sharing

If you are part of the original group and would like to be a part of the 2nd group you are welcome to be You will need to sign up again by posting your info under the 2nd FE group list.

 

[heatherlynn444]

Just booked this for DH and I today! This will be our first gold CC member cruise, and hubby's first time on the Fantasy. So excited!

 

[caribear]

Just booked today!!! We are surprising DD10 and DS 5....we live locally so we are telling the kids we are going to Cocoa Beach for the day!!

Would love to join one of the late FE groups....pretty please!!!! If those planning the FE can let me know where I should go to sign up/or if anyone is willing to participate with me at this late day....please let me know! I have been creating cruise FE items for weeks now....hoping to be able to book a cruise.

We are a family of 4: Me, DH, DD10 and DS5

Thanks!!!!

 

[caribear]

Just found the google doc with the late FE group and added my name!! Hope that is okay!!! Off to Michaels to get some supplies...and hide them from the kids so they have no clue what I am up to. I have already been making some Disney "stuff" and I told my DD I was going to sell them at a craft fair.....so sneaky, know!

 

[GatorWayne]

We decided we are going to Royal Palms in GC. Agenda is all set and just counting down the days. Normally a cruise takes top spot in the thought process but I just received a promotion and start the 21st and even more exciting, our brand new pool finished filling this morning!!!!!

It is going to be exciting watching my MIL as we explore the ship. Can't wait to play the detective game again. I turn into a kid with bar privileges on a cruise. I have too much responsibility at work to worry about being a responsible adult on a cruise.

I expect we'll get assigned our cabin on Monday if the trend holds. Being a somewhat regular on RCCL, I have not really studied the ship plan but an aft would be nice if they are available. I know they go really fast on RCCL, not sure about Disney.

 

[heatherlynn444]

We did Royal Palms in October, this time just going to go to the public beach/7 mile. With no entry fee.

We always go to Paradise Beach in Cozumel, it's our favorite.

Will probably just walk around Costa Maya a bit int he afternoon, we did an awesome Jeep excursion last time though.

Castaway Cay of course the 5k and Serenity bay!

 

[Keurigirl]

Ziggyblum / Carrie - I need your room number on the spreadsheet so people know where to drop of your FE gifts.