David - my extended family is booked through a private vender for Stingray City and two reefs to snorkel. Capt. Bryan's I think it is. You can do a search on the boards to find out more about it if you are interested. He charges $35 an adult and only takes out a small number compared to
DCL excursion. You could be a part of our big family if you wanted to
Angie - I don't know about any tax shelters, wish I could help you there. Houses in our area are selling at a slower pace this summer than last summer. They did not lose value, may have gained alittle. Buyers are able to be abit choosey instead of taking things as is. We bought last summer and had to wait to move in and they didn't repaint or even take out the nails from the walls. Lazy me, I just went ahead and hung my pictures up on the old nails. The next move is always right around the corner so I can't be too picky or I will wear myself out.
Veronica - I think you will be just fine booking direct. The money savings sure can't hurt. I personally would not spend any of my precious cruise time to do swim with the dolphins. I do love dolphins but there are many places you can do this now, it doesn't have to be on a trip to the caribbean. We did a swim with dolphins thing here in HI when my sister's family visited. The kids did enjoy it, they did kiss and love their dolphins, but they don't ever talk about it or think it was the end all be all. Dolphins make it seem so natural to be with them, like a dog. It feels so normal that you forget it is costing $$ for the experience. My kids talk about the cruise all of the time, they just can't wait to do it again. We hung their photos kissing their dolphins up and they are happy to have done it once, they don't beg to do it again however. I wouldn't knock myself out to make it happen on the cruise. Sea World in Orlando has a great program if you had a day to spare on either end of the cruise. This is just my two cents. The dolphin thing seems to be the most booked up excursion on cruises.
Becca - sorry about the name mix-up. I just looked a post ahead and used the name Monica used

. You don't have your own name at the end of your posts, in my defense. We are all getting on in years, you have to help us out!
jaycns- glad you were directed here to this thread
memickee- 30 lbs in 10 weeks, wowie

!! There is no way I could do that. If your body allows you to do that, more power to you

. If I lose fast, it comes back on even faster. Slow is the only way it stays gone for good for me. Take care of yourself and try to be happy with your body if it only lets you lose 2 lbs a week instead of 3 some weeks. You will look great no matter what size you end up with come Sept. All the activity you will be doing to lose weight this summer will have your skin glowing and you will have such energy. My goal is to maintain my fitness level on vacation. this is the first cruise I plan to workout on. Wish me luck, I tend to go into sloth mode once I get on vacation
Monica - Good luck on getting your formal pictures taken this time. We still like ours from 2004. We didn't get one of my DS in his tux with Mickey in his though. Some private party had Mickey during the time he normally poses for photos with the public in his tux. So even with my best laid plans, it didn't happen. Every cruise is different so character appearance times are always changing. I don't even know if DS will fit into his tux this cruise.