9 Months Until Cruise... What Should I Be Working On?

[il-gander]

Exactly 9 months from today, we will be beside ourselves with glee as we prepare to board the Magic for our first cruise! I've got a DCL Passporter, have read it from start to finish, I devour all of the great information on these boards, and have been to the usual web sites recommended here (ikkognito's site, Dave From Marietta's site and others).

We're thinking about excursions, what to do the night before, etc. I need to get our birth certificates ordered sometime soon. Mostly we're just enjoying the anticipation! Is there anything obvious that I'm missing or you all that would recommend?

Carla

 

[SeaSpray]

It seems like you're on the right track!! You're doing all you can do to gather information, which is important. It's a great idea to be sure that you have the birth certificates WAY before your cruise. That's one more thing you can cross off your list and not have to worry about as it gets closer.

We have 7 1/2 months until our cruise, so I understand your excitement, even this far in advance. For now, I've been researching excursions, and skimming over the threads here for things that interest me and/or pertain to our cruise (western caribbean). When DS15 turns 16 at the end of March we plan on ordering passports for both DSs (Once you turn 16, your passport is valid for 10 years, as opposed to 5 years for ages 15 and under). We just feel more comfortable with passports, than with birth certificates, but you don't *need* passports.

Have fun daydreaming and planning for the next 9 months!!

 

[jlp651]

get a passport (my personal preference-I'm too afraid I'd loose my Birth Cert)
Study, research
enjoy these boards-learn lots from them!
those are just my thoughts...I've been doing it for the past year getting ready....we leave soon-I cant wait!!!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I'm beyond excited and we don't sail until 8/21! - 7 day Eastern! At first I was bummed that we weren't stopping in St. Maarten, but since its like my second home (I make at least two trips a year there), I have become very intrigued in San Juan, I have only flown through San Juan, so this will be new and fun!! I have passports for all of us, so that's done, now to just loose some weight so I can fit into my "cruise" clothes! I have a bunch of dresses that I picked up over the years hoping to wear somewhere, just can;t pass up a bargain, now I have a place and they don't fit!!!!

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by ClarabelleCow
I'm beyond excited and we don't sail until 8/21! - 7 day Eastern! At first I was bummed that we weren't stopping in St. Maarten, but since its like my second home (I make at least two trips a year there), I have become very intrigued in San Juan, I have only flown through San Juan, so this will be new and fun!! I have passports for all of us, so that's done, now to just loose some weight so I can fit into my "cruise" clothes! I have a bunch of dresses that I picked up over the years hoping to wear somewhere, just can;t pass up a bargain, now I have a place and they don't fit!!!!

ClarabelleCow,

I see you will be cruising the same time as is on 8-21-04. If you would like to see what other DIS'ers are cruising this week, take a look on my website at www.verandahman.com look down the left hand column, and click on the link for the 8-21-04 Cruise List. There are also photos of our fellow "San Juan Sojourners." We also have a thread on the Cruise Meets Forum.

il-gander,

The anticipation is half the fun of waiting for your cruise, keep researching and reading these boards, the excitement will only build!!!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Great website - Verandah Man!!! We too are Vacation Club Members, and I have been dying to do this cruise, finally convinced DH, we are beach bums and just like to be planted!! But I convinced him and even got a Cat 4 out of him!!! Can't wait. We head down to Vero on 2/14, for 4 nights to catch the Dayotna 500, so its going to kill me not to mention to the kids what we are doing, especially if they still have the ship in one of the lobbys!!! they don't have a clue and we won't tell them until we board the bus, they will think we are going to WLV for a few days!!!

 

[denise5374]

I am also sailing on the 8/21/04 eastern and I wanted to invite you to our thread on the Cruisemeets board. I am glad you got to Andy(verandahman) website he has done agreat job!!!

My dd is also 11 (going on 21 LOL). See you in August!!

PS-I love your screen name are you a cow fan??

 

[KaitlinsMom]

How about a tan!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I am also sailing on the 8/21/04 eastern and I wanted to invite you to our thread on the Cruisemeets board. I am glad you got to Andy(verandahman) website he has done agreat job!!!

Denise, This is a surprise for my kids, they have no clue, but as we get closer, maybe the kids could e-mail, but your right about 11 going on 21!!! Regarding cows - not really a cow fan, we have a horse though!! Actually DD has and will sometimes share with me!!!! But when I was trying to come up with a screen name, I couldn't think of a not very well known character, I was reading or watching TV with my DS and Minnie was with her cow Clarabelle!!! So that is where it came from!

 

[alexandrew]

I'd say you have plenty of time to prepare....

 

[denise5374]

We surprised the kids at Christmas with the cruise....They were surprised. There is a thread here to have postcards sent to your kids before you sail....may be a way to tell them.

As for the original post in this thread......SHOPPING!!!

 

[thegales]

With all due respect to the cruisers of August 21, let's get this thread back to the cruise of October 9 (which I happen to be on as well)!

What to do nine months out?
Get Passports or Birth Certificates. Either works
Start to meet fellow Dis'rs (doing that)
Continue saving money to pay for cruise
Think about excursions and do research
Join Friday Night Cruise Chat, starts at 9:00 Eastern
Make a calendar to rip off days / weeks / months (my family thinks I am nuts for this one)
Figure out what to do on night(s) before and after cruise
Tell everyone you see that you will be cruising nine months from today!

 

[Timon]

Just my $.02...

Study the ship layout...I did that for a few months and by the time I got there, I knew where I was going right away!

Also, I enjoyed passing the time before our cruise by looking at a lot of DIS'ers pictures from the ship!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

film and batteries. lots of film. we used 17 rolls on our 3 day wonder in july. i hope this helps

 

[Surfergirl]

il-gander and thegales, We will also be on the Oct. 9 cruise.We have just recently booked our flights and the hotel for the Friday night( Radisson at the port).
Also have made reservations for Capt. Marvins stingray city tour on Grand Cayman and the Royal Swim with the dolphins on Cozumel.
If you want any of the special excursions book now. The dolphin swim time we originally wanted was already full so we got our second choice.

 

[wayneg]

Booked our flights from UK to Orlando yesterday. Arriving on 8th Oct.
I think I need to loose around 30lb to get in my cruise clothes or I will have to go to the formal night in shorts and Tshirt.
wish it was 9 days away and not 9 months.
Wayne

 

[il-gander]

Me too, wayneneg! Thanks to all for the great suggestions- I'm having so much fun dreaming and planning this cruise, I can't even imagine what the reality of it will be like!

Surfergirl- we can't book DCL excursions until 60 days out, right? The ones we're interested in are all offered by DCL only as far as I can tell... (probably not doing Stingray City)

Carla

 

[Twinave]

Carla, We will be on our 3rd Disney cruise the week before you. And let me tell you, the most fun about a cruise is the "planning". Nine months is about right as far as planning goes. I started a "cruise box". When I am shopping if I see something on sale that is on my "list" I get it and put it in the "box". What kind of things you ask??? Underwater cameras, suntan lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bathing suits, shorts, deodorant, really anything you plan on bring that will 'keep". A little at a time makes a big difference.