6/13/2009 Western on Magic- Our Cruise Chat Continues!

[triplefigs]

Can you wear shorts on pirate night in the dining room? We have really cool t-shirts, hats, etc to wear.

 

[nikkistevej]

Can you wear shorts on pirate night in the dining room? We have really cool t-shirts, hats, etc to wear.

yeah- I am too. We did last time. I found a pirate night shirt last summer- and I was saving it for the cruise. I love it. Jordan has a pirate dress.

 

[BethA]

pirate night and the first night are the most relaxed as far as dress. Many people will be wearing shorts. I wish my family would dress up-but they refuse.

Hopefully they still will have plain steak-although the posts say the cuts of meat are not as good any more.

 

[sinnika]

I spent the last hour picking up everything off the kids bedroom floors and moving stuff into our gameroom since the carpet cleaners should be here any minute. I found so much stuff that needs to go - toys and books they've outgrown, furniture that needs to go, the list goes on! And new living room furniture is coming today and the old furniture never made it up to the ranch this past weekend as I'd hoped, so our living room is going to look like a furniture store with 2 living room sets in there!!! On top of it, my switch flops that I ordered 2 weeks ago that were supposed to be there in 1 week are not in (I think the store forgot to place the order, although they won't admit that!). I get the feeling I'll be out shoe shopping before we leave. And my custom FE gift is not ready either! I just hope its done soon so I can pick it up. My fear is that it will be ready and they stick it in the mail, and I don't get it before we leave!! Our master bedroom is a disaster - not even bothering to get those carpets cleaned! That room needs a total makeover. Where's Candace Olsen from Devine Design??? I need help there! Will tackle that project when we get home!
Kids are away at camp till Thurs evening - we have a 2 hour drive each way to pick them up plus their band concert so should make for a late Thursday night! One good thing is DH and I have had some quality time together. We went out to dinner Sun and Mon night. And last night (don't want to sound morbid), we did our funeral pre-arrangements. So now we'll be together forever! Boy, it costs almost as much to get buried as it does to get married!

 

[runwad]

OMG I'm freaking out too trying to pack. We just don't have enough room for all our stuff. And honestly I don't feel we are bringing alot, i'm consolodating outfits, wear shirt to dinner wear next day but we just don't have the room. then the shoes, my word the shoes. I told everyone wear your crocs bring dress shoes, tennis shoes and water shoes but x 5 is a lot of shoes. My DD13 is having a cow at all the stuff I keep telling her she can't bring. I thought I could get me and the 2 girls stuff in the one big suitcase and DH & DS in the other, but DH is the worst of all with all his different outfits, he cannot wear the same thing twice. So there is no way I can get DS stuff in there too so looks like we'll need 3 suitcases, but then we still have fanny packs, hats, beach bag, snorkel stuff and oh we have an overnight bag for the Radison. Oh man I just don't know that we'll have room in the back of the his parent's SUV that we're borrowing for the drive down for all the stuff. And I wanted to bring food for the ride down. Yikes we are going to be packed in like sardines. I think I need to take a break from doing this and come back to it after lunch, maybe I can do better then.

Does anyone roll their clothes in the suitcase? I've never done it before but have done it for this trip. I hope our stuff doesn't come out all wrinkled. Oh man and forgot the garment bag..geez I think we need two

 

[Paula13]

OMG I'm freaking out too trying to pack. We just don't have enough room for all our stuff. And honestly I don't feel we are bringing alot, i'm consolodating outfits, wear shirt to dinner wear next day but we just don't have the room. then the shoes, my word the shoes. I told everyone wear your crocs bring dress shoes, tennis shoes and water shoes but x 5 is a lot of shoes. My DD13 is having a cow at all the stuff I keep telling her she can't bring. I thought I could get me and the 2 girls stuff in the one big suitcase and DH & DS in the other, but DH is the worst of all with all his different outfits, he cannot wear the same thing twice. So there is no way I can get DS stuff in there too so looks like we'll need 3 suitcases, but then we still have fanny packs, hats, beach bag, snorkel stuff and oh we have an overnight bag for the Radison. Oh man I just don't know that we'll have room in the back of the his parent's SUV that we're borrowing for the drive down for all the stuff. And I wanted to bring food for the ride down. Yikes we are going to be packed in like sardines. I think I need to take a break from doing this and come back to it after lunch, maybe I can do better then.

Does anyone roll their clothes in the suitcase? I've never done it before but have done it for this trip. I hope our stuff doesn't come out all wrinkled. Oh man and forgot the garment bag..geez I think we need two

We have 3 suitcases,garmet bag,carry on bag, my back pack, plus DD will probably bring a back pack...I know what you mean about freakin' out! If we can't get everything in the trunk, guess the girls are going to be squeshed in the back seat until we get to Pittsburgh.

 

[runwad]

We have 3 suitcases,garmet bag,carry on bag, my back pack, plus DD will probably bring a back pack...I know what you mean about freakin' out! If we can't get everything in the trunk, guess the girls are going to be squeshed in the back seat until we get to Pittsburgh.

Well at least you only have to go to Pittsburgh, we're driving down from Cleveland and all 3 will be in the back of a saturn vue....thats not very big. We tried to buy a used mini van b/4 we left but just didn't have any luck with the dealers dealing with us...but that's a whole nother thread you can read on the budget board.haha I just wanted to be able to bring a small suitcase or duffle bag of snacks but ya know what if we can't we can't, we'll just buy stuff there I won't sweat it. I just dropped the kids off at the community pool so now I can finish without listening to their mouths, that'll help.

 

[Paula13]

Well at least you only have to go to Pittsburgh, we're driving down from Cleveland and all 3 will be in the back of a saturn vue....thats not very big. We tried to buy a used mini van b/4 we left but just didn't have any luck with the dealers dealing with us...but that's a whole nother thread you can read on the budget board.haha I just wanted to be able to bring a small suitcase or duffle bag of snacks but ya know what if we can't we can't, we'll just buy stuff there I won't sweat it. I just dropped the kids off at the community pool so now I can finish without listening to their mouths, that'll help.

Oh goodness.. that is a drive We wouldn't make it that long in the car. We are about an hour to two hours (depending on traffic) from Pittsburgh. We hear 'are we there yet', I couldn't tell you how many times. I couldn't imagine driving 24 hours
Try not to sweet it, it will all work out in the end!

 

[Morgey24]

If it makes you feel better, we haven't started packing because DD didn't want to limit her clothing options for the week by having them packed! So I had, in a moment of weakness, agreed to do on Friday night and then she'll pack. Que sera, sera.

However, my right eye is starting to do that "twitchy" thing it does when I get stressed..... to much to do at work and here I am daydreaming...

 

[Paula13]

If it makes you feel better, we haven't started packing because DD didn't want to limit her clothing options for the week by having them packed! So I had, in a moment of weakness, agreed to do on Friday night and then she'll pack. Que sera, sera.

However, my right eye is starting to do that "twitchy" thing it does when I get stressed..... to much to do at work and here I am daydreaming...

That is funny!
I have been on my DD since Saturday about not wearing her clothes. I also let her know that I wasn't washing any more clothes, so if anything needed washed, it better get off her bedroom floor & into the hamper!
Don't ya love how kids don't stress. Guess we do enough of that!

 

[runwad]

Oh goodness.. that is a drive We wouldn't make it that long in the car. We are about an hour to two hours (depending on traffic) from Pittsburgh. We hear 'are we there yet', I couldn't tell you how many times. I couldn't imagine driving 24 hours
Try not to sweet it, it will all work out in the end!

24 hours are you kidding we can make it there in 15, 17 tops. The kids I have to say are super in the car, we've always went down in our conversion van, let me tell you there is just not a better way to travel, but it's getting old and we don't trust it anymore, so last time down we took my Buick LeSabre, kids were very good. They know it's either the car or we don't go. I get air sick and it's just too expensive for us to fly, plus we're going to disney afterwards and like having our car.

Ok I'm feeling more mellow...got all the laundry done and our clothes packed. Just have to wait for DH to pack so I can stick DS's clothes in his suitcase. I'm determined to get all our stuff in 2 suitcases. I need a misc bag for all the shoes and snorkel stuff.

 

[Paula13]

24 hours are you kidding we can make it there in 15, 17 tops. The kids I have to say are super in the car, we've always went down in our conversion van, let me tell you there is just not a better way to travel, but it's getting old and we don't trust it anymore, so last time down we took my Buick LeSabre, kids were very good. They know it's either the car or we don't go. I get air sick and it's just too expensive for us to fly, plus we're going to disney afterwards and like having our car.

Ok I'm feeling more mellow...got all the laundry done and our clothes packed. Just have to wait for DH to pack so I can stick DS's clothes in his suitcase. I'm determined to get all our stuff in 2 suitcases. I need a misc bag for all the shoes and snorkel stuff.

Yeah! You did it!
I couldn't imagine getting our clothes in 2 suitcases & there is only 3 of us!

 

[dbenlee]

24 hours are you kidding we can make it there in 15, 17 tops. The kids I have to say are super in the car, we've always went down in our conversion van, let me tell you there is just not a better way to travel, but it's getting old and we don't trust it anymore, so last time down we took my Buick LeSabre, kids were very good. They know it's either the car or we don't go. I get air sick and it's just too expensive for us to fly, plus we're going to disney afterwards and like having our car.

Ok I'm feeling more mellow...got all the laundry done and our clothes packed. Just have to wait for DH to pack so I can stick DS's clothes in his suitcase. I'm determined to get all our stuff in 2 suitcases. I need a misc bag for all the shoes and snorkel stuff.

I'm with Paula on this. There is no way we could just do 2 bags and there are only 3 of us as well. We have 1 bag for each person, 1 bag for FE and will probably have at least 2 carry ons!

 

[ruley3]

I'm with Paula on this. There is no way we could just do 2 bags and there are only 3 of us as well. We have 1 bag for each person, 1 bag for FE and will probably have at least 2 carry ons!

We have one suitcase per person so 5 and we each have a carry on!!!

 

[sinnika]

We have one suitcase per person so 5 and we each have a carry on!!!

That's us too! Plus I am packing additional duffle bags in our suitcases for souveniers, etc. We always come home with alot more than we left with!

 

[ruley3]

Big to all of you! Please don't go near any confirmed cases of swine flu lest you get the chance of getting denied boarding (I know they ask about recent illnesses, fever, vomiting but they might have recently added questions about exposure!)

On seasickness, I plan on giving DD Claritin-D every day prophilatically (how's that for a $3 word at 5am?). I've read that works well as it also deals with the same areas of the brain that control seasickness. She was GREEN one night in the Med when the swells were running 8-10ft. I gave her dramamine then and she was OUT in 30 minutes. As is DONE for the evening. Which may have been a good thing (and I'll certainly keep that in mind for future occassions.... ) but I thought it was too strong. I also have some Kid Strength Bonine which is supposed to be more mild. Fortunately she's good until pretty strong seas. As for me, I don't care, except I'll equilibrate on the ship and then step foot on dry land and THEN I'll start to sway & rock.

Ok, so my friend came over last night for my homemade enchiladas and says to me, "hey, I thought you were going to try to lose a couple of pounds before the cruise? looks like that's not working." He has this problem with honesty. Seriously.

On shirts - I vacillate between under and overpacking. The closer to the cruise you pack the more you will overpack as you tend to just throw things in "just in case." By the night before you leave you'll be cramming in more "just in cases" until you can't even close your suitcase. While I believe in the aforementioned comment about "no one is going to remember you wore those pants three days ago" (SO TRUE) I also know that If I don't have some kind of idea in my head about what I am going to wear I will overpack. (Stephanie has a great planning chart on the website to help with this.)


I think the biggest challenge is the sheer number of times in a day that you can change outfits on a cruise. Wake up and put on something to get coffee in and take a walk around the ship at the crack of dawn (that's me at least), come back and get decent and change into something to go to breakfast in, find bathing suit for the day for at sea/excursion, spend the day and come back and then shower and change for dinner, or shower and slip on shorts again for show then come back to change for dinner then come back and take off dress and put on jeans for adult entertainment. You can, as women, go through multiple changes in one day!!!

Anyhow, time to start my day. So much to do to get ready to take next week off!!

Have a great day everyone.

No worries... I did not go to the swine flu school today because of being up late worried about sister Sarah and Layla with an ear infection... We went to Dr today and she got an antibiotic for her ear and Dr also gave us meds for Lance just in case while we are gone...... My sis must of had My mom as her angel to get her out of that car because it looked horrible.

So my house is a wreck.... I still have laundry to do and we are still needing hvac unit replaced.... Dad is having surgery tomorrow and Time Warner is coming Thursday.... What else What else


Ahhhhhhh Vacation in 3 days!!!!!!!!

 

[Diane71969]

Hey everyone! I'm stressing over not being able to pack yet. Yup not one single thing, I don't even have the suitcases out yet or my FE's done. Football camp ends tomorrow night so I will have a busy Wednesday & Thursday night after work of course (WHY didn't I take off Thursday?). I'm planning on 1 suitcase each plus 1 carryon each. I wanted to ship my FE's but kinda nervous about shipping overnight so close now, just hope I can get them all into suitcase. Well gotta run I'm at football camp right now and players need gatorade made. See ya all in 4 days some of you I will see in 3 days.

 

[djd7292]

I am pretty much packed but will go through it again. Jayde, of course, being a teenager needed her clothes for the week & has very little done. And will probably be doing laundry when she gets home from school Thurs (1/2 & last day). It is hard to believe she is going to be a senior in high school.

Mani & pedi's for us tomorrow. Picked up some bonine & a new hair straightener. I heard that the shampoo, cond, & body wash are really good on board so only bringing trails of a couple that I already have.

We will have 2 extra large suitcases & 1 large suitcase (FEs) & each have a large canvas bag as our carry on/day bags.

We fly out Friday AM & looking forward to spending the afternoon at DTD w/jayde, diane, & larry!

NEED ADVICE ~ hair braiding..... on ME!!! Just the top part; is it ok?!?! I will definitely take them out before going back to work but my bangs are horrible & I will just be wearing headbands the entire trip anyway.

Well off again to check my packing & watch the Wings win the STANLEY CUP!!

 

[BethA]

I guess I will be recognizable on the cruise because I will be he only one without a manicure and pedicure!!

We have 1 suitcase each, plus 2 garment bags, a small suitcase with FE bags and all our carry ons--and this was trying to pack light. I always have so many unused things I take just in case--and a ton of medicine-just in case, and somehow I still forget something.

I am partially packed and won't finish until Thursday-will be doing laundry, but at least we aren't leaving too early, so I won't be rushing like crazy in the morning Friday.

Hard to believe it is here--then I have nothing to look forward to.

 

[nikkistevej]

We are done with all of our packing- thank goodness because we're leaving tomorrow night!!! I have 4 suitcases/a garment bag/toiletry bag!! We will carry our backpack and a bag with last minute essentials that we used on our road trip.
I tried to do the online checkin for the Radisson and it was giving me problems so I'll just check in when we get there. I can't wait to see everyone at our Dismeet at the Radisson on Friday evening- I will be drinking by the pool probably. How will we know everyone?