Anyone for the Western cruise 4/9/05???

[HookedonDCL]

Mary, congratulations on your new baby

Hope, I forgot about the change of booking 90 days out. My balance isn't due until February. If I remember correctly I cannot book excursion until the balance is paid in full. Correct?? I thought I still had time.

I need to get my ducks back in a row.

Karen

 

[hopelea]

Karen, as far as I know, you are correct, you can't book excursions until you are paid in full. It doesn't make much sense to me now that they changed the 60 to 90. Seems like you should be able to book excursions. Luckily, mine is paid in full

I was just looking at the excursion forms. I am trying to decide what time to book the banana boat ride. I think I am going to go for the last one that have for the day. My kids have to be back on the ship at 4 to rehearse for the special program they do.

How is the weather in MI today?? It is 72 here right now
I just finished washing my van and cleaning the outside. My windows are open in the house too!!

Hope

 

[HookedonDCL]

I wish I had mine paid off. Soon.

The banana boat looks like a blast. I know what you mean about booking the last one. I always like to book the first or the last. It seems like when you book in the middle of the day you have to keep watching the time and miss out on other things because you have to be here or there. What excursion form are you looking at?

Weather here is in the 40's and raining. Your lucky with the warmer temp. I wish I could open my windows. I love the fresh air. Do you wanna come clean my van? j/k

Karen

 

[hopelea]

Clean your van......if you only knew how long I have been putting mine off. I am hoping that I don't have to clean it out again until after the cruise.

I was looking at the excursion forms at castawayclub(dot)com. I have that sight memorized!

Karen, remind me, who all is traveling in your party? I have myself, 37, DH 38, two dd's 11 & 8 and one dd's friend, 11. My parents are also coming along both 67. We have connecting CAT 10 rooms. We are in 7007 & 7005.
They are in the front of the ship. Last time we were midship and loved it. I hope this is a good location.

Hope

 

[HookedonDCL]

I will have to check out that website.

We are actually traveling with a party of 15.

I have connecting cat 10's 2594 and 2596. We were in the same area but port side on our last cruise (04/04). It will be myself and DH both 39 (ouch that hurt to type that) and 3 DD's 16, 14 and 9. Also my mom who is 75 (don't tell her I told you that ).

My sister (ltviolets) her DH, DD, and DGD 6.

Two of my adult cousins no kids unless they can talk DD into letting them take DGS.

Two really good friends of mine and their DD 9.

Is that 15?

I bet your sorry you asked.

 

[hopelea]

My parents are taking a carnival cruise at the end of the month. One of their ports will be Cozumel. They are going to check out the new beach, Paradise Beach for me. I am hoping that it will be nice and simple to get to. My dd's want to go to a beach. I thought that one would be a nice one.

I think I have decided that there really isn't any DCL excursions that interest me in GC. I loved snorkeling with the stingray but DH doesn't want to do that again.

Maybe that will be my day to walk around the town and relax.

Karen, my parents are driving to Michigan on Tuesday. How is the weather looking. They are going to be there from the 5th - 15th. They have to babysit my 14 year old nephew in the Sagutack Douglas area. They are afraid they are going to get snowed in!!

Well, I am going to put my dd's to bed. I'll talk to you later. Have a great evening!

Hope

 

[scrappermcl]

Karen, Thanks for the congrats! We are slowly getting into a routine (the baby is 7 weeks today). It was hard to have any routine over the holidays, but now that DD6 is back to school it will force us into a routine. I just hope the baby is sleeping through the night (at least one good stretch) by cruise time.

I booked one of our excursions-- the Dolphin Encounter for Dh and DD directly through Dolphin Discovery. It works out cheaper than through DCL especially since I would have to take a taxi on my own anyway to watch. And we'll just arrive early and enjoy the park.

I'm really getting excited now!

 

[HookedonDCL]

Hope: Your parents should be fine driving here "today". It's the leaving that may be the problem. Today is 30's and raining which will be turning into freezing rain and snow by tomorrow. I can remember in April a couple of years ago it was in the 60's one day and a foot of snow the next. Michigan is full of surprises. Were about is Sagutack Douglas area? I'm not familiar with that area.

Mary: I bet that cruise will just rock your baby to sleep. It does me. My family would love to do the Dolphin Encounter but the cost will keep us from doing that. I'm sure your DH and DD have a wonderful time. I hear great things about it. You and DS will have fun watching. That's part of the fun.

I had my DH look over the passporter for excursions he wants to take. He only made it through Key West. I'll work on him some more tonight.

I'm getting so excited also. It will be here before we know it.

 

[hopelea]

Karen, it is North of South Haven, South of Holland on Lake Michigan. They get all the lake effect snow there. They left at five this AM. Should be getting there around 5 your time. It is about a 600 mile trip from where we live. (it is 70 here again today, my windows are open AGAIN )

My dh doesn't want to do any excursions. He is having a hard time with the cost of this trip. He knows it is all paid for. He is hoping not to have many more costs. Little does he know that I am going to try to upgrade us at the port

By the way, here is a question......I don't remember the check in process at the port. Do we, my dh & I both have to go to the counter to check in or can I check us all in??? That would make upgrading easier if he wasn't breathing down the back of my neck!

Hope

 

[HookedonDCL]

We were all at the check in counter together so I don't really know the answer to your question. I bet if he signs all the documents you should be fine with just his ID/birth certificate or passport. You could always hope and pray for an up-grade or waive him up after you have asked about the up grade.

 

[hopelea]

Do you think this is all of the DISers that are cruising with us:
HookedonDCL
scrappermcl
Kaitlinsmom
6maddens
ltviolets
disneydreamer315
yvettpal


We are the only people that have posted on this sight so far. Guess that means we might have a good chance for upgrades

We are taking a friend for my 11 yr old dd. I think I am going to drive the mother crazy talking about this all the time. I have to stop talking about the trip.

I just bought all three girls a personalized fleece blanket that disney had on sale. They came in the mail today. I thought they would be good for the drive down. And for an extra blanket in the room.

Has anyone started picking up little things yet? I am not sure if I am going to get the over the door shoe holder. Has anyone used one of those? I do remember that our desk was always cluttered. I guess the OTD holder would help with that!

Yes, I am getting really excited. Only 13 more cruises until ours!!!!!!!

 

[scrappermcl]

Do you think there we be upgrade opportunities at port? We have a cat. 9, but with the baby, I wish we had a verandah. It would be a nice place to nurse him or relax while he naps without feeling like I'm 'missing' any of the cruise. Even if it is a few hundred to upgrade, i don't think i could justify spending any more $$. Especially since we are splurging a little on the excursions.

I found booking the excursions on my own saves a decent amount of $$. The dolphin enc. is 75/adult, 70/ch plus 12 to enter park (under 7 free, i think), 10 for taxi each way. GC excursions to stingray work out to be even bigger savings... Hope-- maybe you could talk DH into excursions this way...

 

[hopelea]

I just don't think he has found anything that has interested him in the GC excursions. I do think the dolphin thing would be good, but since we are taking an extra child with us, I can't handle the price. I hate to ask the mother to pay for something like that.

I am really hoping that we will have upgrade opps at the port. I am with you, I don't want to spend a lot more. I wish I could afford a 6...no if I am going to dream, I want a 4 so all three of the kids traveling with me can sleep in the room with me. My youngest dd is sleeping in my parents room. I would love to have her in mine.

Hope

 

[HookedonDCL]

I think I have been picking things up since I booked our cruise in 06/04. My sister bought us the over the door hangers. This should help with the clutter on the desk. With having two teenage daughters there is plenty. I thought I could keep hair brushes/combs, suntan lotion, make up, hair ties, medicine etc. in one. I even thought about one for shoes. Imagine that. My middle DD brought something like 8 pair of flip flops last time. She is our princess. I have a funny story about her. In April we did the WDW first and because my DB passed away the morning we were to leave(we were driving down) we had to cancel the first few days of our trip. Well one of those days we booked the Cinderella's Royal Table character breakfast, which we had to cancel. We tried to rebook but they were full. I told my girls that I was sorry I couldn't get the reservations. My oldest daughter said with that it was OK because we get to eat with a princess (middle daughter) everyday.


I wish you both luck with getting those upgrades. We have a total of 5 rooms that are linked together so I would think our chances are slim to none.

I wish I wasn't such a whimp to book my excursion on my own. I can't believe how much less the dolphin encounter is.

 

[hopelea]

I am actually a wimp when it comes to booking on my own also! I am having my dad check out paradise beach in cozumel before going there. They will be there at the end of the month. I am too chicken. I guess I am afraid of hoping in a taxi in a foreign country and getting robbed or worse!! My dh says I watch too many movies.

I'm not holding my breath about getting an upgrade. The more I think about it, the less I want it. Now, if it free, I'll take it......but I don't think I want to spend more $$ on a room that I won't be in for very long. Last cruise we were hardly in our room. I think what we have I'll be happy with. I have never had a window so I don't know what I am missing!!

Hope

 

[6Maddens]

Wow! A lot of chit chatting while I wasn't looking. I felt like I was checking in everyday and nothing new. Now we are doing the double digit dance!!
Went to the travel agent today to finalize. I AM SO EXCITED!!
We have 2 adjoining rooms 6036 and 6038. But no news on whether we can put my MOm in there too. At least we got main dining!!That is a big plus with our girls. The 2 year old is very punctual for her dinner!
So what's this about Paradise Beach. Where is everyone finding all this info from?? The dolphin encounter sounds great but I know the kids would chicken out, if I reserved it.

We are in for the same storm that someone else was talking about form MI. We always get your weather 2 days later. My sister lives in MI, Farmington Hills!
Well, I am off to dream about my cruise. We still haven't told the girls yet!! :jumping4:

 

[HookedonDCL]

Hope: Did your parents arrive safely. I was just talking to my Mom and she said 8-10 inches for us tomorrow, 2-3 by morning with some ice. That gives me a lot to look forward to in the morning. White knuckle drive into work.

We need more dis'ers to join us on our cruise? There has to be more out there.

Has anyone tried the Sail, Kayak and snorkel excursions at Key West. My DH thought he may like to do this with my oldest DD. He is concerned about the cost (75.00) and that it's not rated in the passporter.

In Grand Cayman he is deciding between Stingray City snorkel and Shipwreck and Reef snokeling. Any pros or cons on these two?

Any good snorkeling in Cozumel?

 

[HookedonDCL]

Kate: The passporter shows that 6044 sleeps 4 and 6046 sleeps 3/4. I would think they would be able to get your mom in there also. That is great news about main dining we have that also. I live about 1- 1 1/2 hours from your sister. I'm a little southwest of Ann Arbor. I'll let you know tomorrow what kind of weather you get to look forward to

 

[hopelea]

Yes, thanks for asking, my parents arrived in MI around 6:30 tonight. They will be there until the 15th. Then the end of the month they will be cruising on Carnival and checking out paradise beach for us!!

Have either of you heard of a resturant in the West Bloomfield area called GINIOPLIS' (i'm probably spelling it wrong). It is suppose to be some five star resturant. Well, anyway, a friend of mine and her husband own it!

On to excursions.....We did the stingray city through DCL in Oct '03. We loved it. Yes, there was a lot of people. But, I was more comfortable knowing it was a Disney excursion!! We had talked about doing the shipwreck
and reef snorkeling. The only thing from stopping me from booking it is I am afraid that I will be swimming around and a shark will EAT me
If I do book that one, it will be the earliest time and it will only be for my DH & I. I will leave the girls on the ship that day. When we took them to stingray, the oldest, 9 at the time, freaked!! It was too weird for her. Finally we got her on my dads back and she rode their the whole time. My youngest, 7 at the time, loved it, but still had to ride on our backs. I think my dh wants to try and carry them while snorkeling. The oldest also jumped onto my dh's head while snorkeling at CC. Almost drowned him. He sent her back to shore!

I want to book my excursion this saturday first thing in the AM!!! Anyone else?

Good night............Hope

 

[HookedonDCL]

Is this Carnival Cruise your parent's first cruise? I can't wait to hear how they liked it or hear the comparisons to Disney. Me and DH will celebrate our 20th anniversary in June 06 and I would really like to do a cruise then. A couple of problems though cost and my oldest DD will be graduating that year at that time. I can keep dreaming I guess.

I have not heard of that restaurant. I'm hardly ever in that area though.

I'm going to try to book my excursions Saturday also. I read on the other board that some were able to book 90 days out without being paid off. It never hurts to try.

Come join us Kelly