Ahoy! Sailing the Wonder 2/8/09

[2gr8brits]

Audrey - Glad to hear that you are organized! My list just keeps getting longer. My boys refused to dress up for pirate night on our first cruise, but say they will this time - I have my doubts - there will be as many people dressed up as those that aren't. DH and I will not be dressing - it's just really not out thing - but I really love looking at the creative outfits that people come up with. I got DS(8) costume on ebay, but you probably don't have time for that. The gift shop onboard has some but they are $$$$ - so it just depends on what you are willing to do.
I hope your time in Colorado is fun - see you onboard!

 

[Sneeuwwitje]

Well then I think I will not bother looking for costumes the kids will probably not wear anyway! I guess bandanas will do fine.
And it will be just as much fun looking at other people's costumes!
29 nights before we set sail

 

[elmo2200]

These articles had stuff I did not know on our first cruise. Good stuff...
http://www.mousesavers.com/morecruise.html

On the same website(mousesavers.com) Jeff's Disney Cruise Line Tips and tricks.
http://www.mousesavers.com/jeffsdcltips.html

 

[kcashner]

Well, I'm rather bummed. We didn't get an upgrade on either leg of our trip--I didn't expect one. But they did move our cabin!

We're doing a back to back (Feb 8 and 12), and booked late, so have a gty cabin. That's ok. What I don't understand is why I need to pack up all my stuff to move it to a different cabin of the same level. I wouldn't mind if we'd been upgraded on one leg or the other (then there's a reason to move)! Oh well....TA talked to DCL today. Official answer, there's really very little that they can do as both sailings are "nearly full." (they are still selling cabins on the 12th sailing). They have said that they will keep working on it and see what they can do...I know our ressies were tagged as a B2B.

Just venting.

On the main boards, someone posted that they got a hanging organizer for $2.50.

 

[elmo2200]

Did you know that you can get on the shuttle list up to one year in advance!?!?!? I just put us on the 10:30am shuttle.

 

[kcashner]

That's rich! They told me that I would be assigned a shuttle time when I checked in....I rather begged and said that we were arriving late and I didn't want to be on a late shuttle. Lady gave me her name and said that if I call her on 2/6/09 before we leave, she'll put me on the list for 2/8.

 

[2gr8brits]

Did you know that you can get on the shuttle list up to one year in advance!?!?!? I just put us on the 10:30am shuttle.

Our TA made our reservation for the shuttle at 11:30 I think. How busy is the port at 10:30? and how soom are you allowed onboard? - I'm thinking about changing it if their is room.

You more experienced cruisers - what do you think the best time to arrive at port is?

 

[fasttrakphil]

My wife and I are doing a back to back also but kind of a weird one.
We are going on RCCL Independence of The Seas from Feb. 1 to Feb 7
and then driving up from FLL to get on the Wonder Feb. 8 to Feb 12.
Oh yeah 1 night at the Wilderness Lodge in between.

 

[dsjmeadors]

How many of us are staying at the Radisson the night of the 7th? We will be, and are on the 10am shuttle!

 

[pjpoohbear]

If you want to board, in the first several groups, cats 1-3 will always get boarding group 1, then others as they arrive at the terminal will be given a boarding group card #2 and up, be at the port for opening 9:30 - 10:00 am. If you are wanting to walk right on then aim for 12:30 or later, most of the ship will have boarded by then. Lately reports talk about 11:30 boarding start but it can be as late as 1:00 if there are any issues. If you are at the terminal early, there are characters, tvs playing older disney cartoons and don't forget to spot all the cool details around the terminal.

Pj

 

[anetnmike]

Hi everyone!
Yes, Mike. DH would love a T shirt from your local.He likes to collect them! As if he does not have enough of his own! DH is king sized and needs a 3XL T to fit his neck. He will mail you one from his if you'd like as his dept. are slackers and do not keep them handy for sharing. (his words)
We have early dinner seating, we booked this trip in June. I think you almost have to book really far in advance to get first seating. DS would gnaw off his arm if he had to wait until 8:15p! Actually he'd snack and then eat no dinner at dinner time.
We are doing the land/sea and we do the land portion first. I wish we were doing like you are ,Jill, and cruising first. We are planning to board as soon as possible.

 

[kcashner]

Our TA made our reservation for the shuttle at 11:30 I think. How busy is the port at 10:30? and how soom are you allowed onboard? - I'm thinking about changing it if their is room.

You more experienced cruisers - what do you think the best time to arrive at port is?

The port tends to be quite busy at 10:30 as this is arrival time for all the early birds. Boarding starts about noon (15 minute variation each way depending on the readiness of the ship).

If you need to make reservations, dining changes, etc. then it is worth getting there early so that you can board as soon as possible. If you don't need to do any of this, it is probably better to arrive around 11:30 to avoid the lines--by the time you are thru checking in, they will be boarding.

To totally avoid lines, arrive 12-12:30. The early birds will be on board and the buses from WDW won't have arrived yet. You will check in and walk right onto the ship.

At this point, our cruise is showing that it is totally sold out--no point in arriving early to try to purchase an upgrade at port as they are currently showing NO availability. So, not an option unless someone has a cancellation.

 

[Sneeuwwitje]

These articles had stuff I did not know on our first cruise. Good stuff...
http://www.mousesavers.com/morecruise.html

On the same website(mousesavers.com) Jeff's Disney Cruise Line Tips and tricks.
http://www.mousesavers.com/jeffsdcltips.html

Thanks, Tracey!
there were a lot helpful tips of in these articles!

Audrey

 

[anetnmike]

good stuff Tracey, thanks!

 

[plaidsmom1]

Thanks Tracey. A lot of great info.

 

[cbmeadors]

Has anyone called to find out what movies are showing during our cruise?

 

[2gr8brits]

Thanks for all the great travel tips! This OCD'r is lovin' it!
Here's another Question for the former February cruisers: Will my kids be comfy in shorts and t-shirts if the weather is "normal" for the Carribean in Feb? I know the nights can get cool, but I'm thinking about during the day !

 

[ljm23]

We were there last February and yes you can wear shorts, I mostly wore capri's. You definitely need a light sweater for the evening. The water is cold at castaway though my son did go in and did some snorkeling anyway.

 

[nokidz]

We were at Castaway last Jan and again this past Oct. You can def wear shorts but you are right, the water is too cold for me...LOL I can go upto my knees for about two minutes, then it is back to the lounge chair and please put another drink in my hand!

 

[ljm23]

Ok, this is getting so close I can smell the sea air! How about we post a pic a day to keep us revved! Here's mine!
Michael and Goofy ready to sail!