9/19/09 Western Magic

[cakesnjammom]

Paige would you mind sharing more re: where you found the info on insurance/renting a vehicle? We were considering a jeep rental for Cozumel. I pretty sure we wouldn't do it if there are any liability issues. DH to be is an attorney and I'm a legal assistant.

Yeah only six more months to go!

Sure it was on the Jan 2009 Western NAVIGATOR...here I will cut and paste it in:
Guests renting cars, jeeps, scooters or other vehicles in Mexico should review the United Staes Consular Agency Advisory relating to insurance coverage. The advisory can be obtained at the Shore Excursions Desk or Guest Services Deck 3 midship.

Would not cut and paste so I typed it in! There you go...hope this helps!

 

[mamajojo]

just an update for the ones that have been following the shoretrips.com discussion....here is a PP I found regarding their cancellation policy:

You do get charged when you book it- however the issue on refund if your ship doesn't make it to port or is too late is addressed on the website. They say they refund you if you are unable to make it due to those reasons (but if your ship makes it to port and you just can't go because you changed your mind or you're sick or something- I don't think you get a refund)

And this is from their website:
Never Fear - our policy allows cancellation without penalty up to 11 days before your tour and always refunds in full for ship itinerary changes and weather-related safety considerations.

Are you thinkig about booking this? I feel better knowing that if the ship can't dock that we will be refunded. This might be an excursion that we might book.

 

[Sinderelly]

Thank you so much Paige for taking the time to type in the info.

I finally decided what I'm going to do for the FE gifts.
Hurry September!

 

[nvcruiser]

6 Months!!!! We're getting so close! These 6 months are going to FLY by! I'm so ready to be back on the water!

 

[cakesnjammom]

Are you thinkig about booking this? I feel better knowing that if the ship can't dock that we will be refunded. This might be an excursion that we might book.

I do not know yet...my kids opted to do the Halloween Party....see my pre-trip report!! Link below...we asked them if they got to chose one...HP, dolphins and stingray and they chose HP.....still planning! But I have seen good reviews on them and my TA would not suggest them otherwise, I know! They have a great website too...all about who they are...they seem very legit!

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

We have main seating for dinner as well but wish we could find out which of the earlier ones before we check-in!

The majority was June 1st for the FE cut-off so I will set that as the date in case we have any add-ons. I am sending out the list today - was trying to give those that I have not heard from at all some time to reply There is still plenty of time so I will send an update if I get any. CrazyZeus did reply and say they are on another cruise so I have taken them off the list.

We have done Chankanaab Park and LOVED it!!! In Grand Cayman we did the Turtle Farm and they were building a Dolphin Encounter across the street when we were there last April but not sure if it is open yet. We did ALOT of walking at Key West - and walked all the way to the Southern Most point to take photos and say we did it Now, that we have done that - we may do the Pirate Museum or some other things in KW this time. May go for the scooter or mini-car rental.

I posted photos a few pages back of our turtle farm visit and Chankanaab.

Give me a few minutes and I will have the FE list PM'd!!! WOOO HOOOO - shopping!!!

Wow - only 6 months to go - it will go fast!!!! We can't wait to make our 100 Days-to-go Countdown chart! We decorated it with sitckers and wrote "Magic Her we come, etc." on it and the kids wrote some of their favorite things and then we crossed off one day at a time! It was a lot of fun and really made those days fly by for us!

Thanks everyone for your patience with the FE List - just wanted to have as much info. as I could before I sent it to keep the confusion down.

WOOO HOOOOO - 6 More Months!!!

 

[b521028]

Hello everyone. Can't believe 6 months left, we can't wait. Its funny though, is anyone like me in a sense they want to lose a few pounds before the cruise just to gain it back during the cruise (well I'd hope that wouldn't happen but it may in my case). I have a home gym but would rather be outside walking, and planting the gardens, etc. Its just been crazy weather, I can't wait for spring to get here and stay. One day its 70 and the next 40.
Anyways the cutoff date is good, being new at this can anyone give me a few examples of what gifts people enjoy. I don't sew and don't fool with ebay but was wondering what people use for a backing of the FE, would a stiff cardboard work.
I have dial up and very slow dial up at that, I live in the boonies and can't get high speed so it makes reading all the treads almost impossible, and I often have trouble with the disney website but does anyone know if Key West offers a scuba dive excursion. My DH dives and was wanting to know but I couldn't pull up the site. What I have understood on the treads reguarding KW is that the beaches are not that great, so what is everyone doing there? Can you walk to most attractions from the ship? I'm sure my questions has been asked and answered a million times but again with dial up the moment I am lucky to pull up a page I get knocked off line.
Yonkrs Girl, I appreciate the time you have taken reguarding the FE exchange, I wasn't sure if you had sent the pms yet but I have not received the list.
Cakesnjammom, I am enjoying your pre cruise report so far.

 

[cakesnjammom]

Cakesnjammom, I am enjoying your pre cruise report so far.

Awwww, I am so glad and welcome to the "meets" thread! Do not know any answers but one....you can walk to most things in KW easily from dock!! We are going to too! I wish I could help more! I am sure someone else will answer that has cruised before!!! 6 mos

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

Hello Everyone!

I tried to come up with a format that I can send the FE list in here but it is set up with columns in Excel so when I cut and paste it - it is not aligned in this message box and is so scrambled. Anyone have any suggestions? I can't attach a file using email here so not sure what to do???

IF anyone can offer any help - let me know. I even tried reducing the font size but that didn't work.

Sorry - I will work on it tonight and tomorrow morning and see if I can figure it out. If not, we may have to do it the longer way and have everyone PM their email address so I can send it that way

Thanks!

Monica

 

[mamajojo]

I do not know yet...my kids opted to do the Halloween Party....see my pre-trip report!! Link below...we asked them if they got to chose one...HP, dolphins and stingray and they chose HP.....still planning! But I have seen good reviews on them and my TA would not suggest them otherwise, I know! They have a great website too...all about who they are...they seem very legit!

Great pretrip report! I love the pictures. It is so much fun reading about what people are planning! Thanks for the info about the dolphins. I am still not sure what we are going to do yet but the more info I have the better. I don't think we will be going to the HP. We went to the Pirate and Princess party last year and I am guessing that they are pretty similar

 

[Sinderelly]

Welcome B521028! I'm from the boonies too. I moved about 2 yrs ago to be with future DH. But we are still in a small town. We are renting sccoters or an electric car and touring on our own in Key West.I can't give too much in the way of advice. This will be our first cruise.
I don't know anything about making a FE. I ordered ours through Ebay. It was only $10.08 and free shipping. I can't wait for the FE. I can't tell you what I'm doing for gifts as that will spoil the surprise.

The longest 6 months ever are ahead of us!

 

[mamajojo]

Hello Everyone!

I tried to come up with a format that I can send the FE list in here but it is set up with columns in Excel so when I cut and paste it - it is not aligned in this message box and is so scrambled. Anyone have any suggestions? I can't attach a file using email here so not sure what to do???

IF anyone can offer any help - let me know. I even tried reducing the font size but that didn't work.

Sorry - I will work on it tonight and tomorrow morning and see if I can figure it out. If not, we may have to do it the longer way and have everyone PM their email address so I can send it that way

Thanks!

Monica

Wish I could help but I am terrible with computers....sorry

 

[nvcruiser]

Just wondering... is anyone planning on doing *no* excursions while in port? I'm thinking I'd like to just wander around and shop a bit, spend enough time in each place to say I've been there, but not do anything too monumental... anyone else? My only problem is I'm going solo so, I wouldn't mind a buddy to walk around with... any takers?!?!

 

[Mrsjvb]

Nv: that will most likely be us too. DH will prolly want to hit Margaritaville in KW but other than that.. not much. in fact at this point I am not even sure we will be getting off at Castaway Cay.... and no Idea what Cozumel even has to offer...

shopping is good!

 

[Sinderelly]

In Key West we are renting scooters or an electric car and just touring on our own.

Grand Cayman-We haven't decided but DH would like to snorkel and I would like to visit the Tortuga Rum Cake Factory. We will probably do something on our own.

Cozumel-We are still brain storming this one. I'm pretty sure we won't rent a jeep on our own now due to the travel warnings and liability issues.

Nvcruiser-If DH decides to due the DCL ruins excursion in Cozumel he will be doing it on his own. I'm not interested in rocks! I would very much like a buddy to explore with. I think we'd be alot safer than alone. What type of things do you enjoy? I know DH would feel alot better if he knew I had a buddy for the day and wouldn't feel like he was leaving me to fend for myself. We are waiting for the new Passporter 2009 book that we pre-ordered. DH wants to read the reviews on the excursion before making a final decision. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.

 

[Pumbaa_]

our plans have changed and we wil not be on the cruise. have a great time everyone!!

 

[LoriS]

Just wondering... is anyone planning on doing *no* excursions while in port? I'm thinking I'd like to just wander around and shop a bit, spend enough time in each place to say I've been there, but not do anything too monumental... anyone else? My only problem is I'm going solo so, I wouldn't mind a buddy to walk around with... any takers?!?!

We aren't doing any excursions in Key West, I want to spend most of the day on the ship. We will get off for a little bit though to get Conch Fritters and Key Lime Pie, I think dh may also want to do the aquarium.

 

[hannahguad]

We aren't planning on doing too much either. DM can't walk much, I would feel bad leaving her all the time, but it is my vacation as well. Last time, we just rented a standard wheelchair. Which I think we will do that since it can be collapsed in the cabin. I guess I haven't thought about excursions too much. I have been putting more thought into our FE gifts ! And also what I will pack this time, I packed WAY too much extras, and not enough regular shirts! I was doing laundry on our 4th day!!
Can't wait to hear more of what everyone is doing for excursions, maybe I can check DM into the kid's club and then DH, DD and I can go check things out! They wouldn't mind having a senior in there, right??? JUST KIDDING FOLKS!

 

[PrincessBelle39]

our plans have changed and we wil not be on the cruise. have a great time everyone!!

Sorry to hear that Pumbaa

 

[cakesnjammom]

Sorry to hear that Pumbaa

yes sorry to hear that...hope you are scheduled on a new one!!!!