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

[hopelea]

This will be my parents 4th or 5th CC. They say that the rooms are smaller, but the food is wonderful. The entertainment is great. They have never seen the "party" atmosphere that CC is known for. They are not late night people so that could be part of the reason there They are taking a five night Western cruise leaving out of New Orleans and it is costing them $1067.00 total. 184 sq foot room with a window.

I think I have talked DH into an excursion in GC. The only problem is we don't know if we should take the girls. I was thinking about the shipwreck & snorkel. I know my oldest will NOT get into the water. Do I leave them or do we just not go. I know they are safe in the lab. Just feel guilty. Would I have a better time if they were somewhere safe while I was swimming with the "sharks", YES. I guess I have made up my mind.

Kids go back to school tomorrow...yea!! They have been fighting with each other. I go back to work on Tuesday. I am ready to get back into a routine. I have had 25 days off. I have really enjoyed it, but I am ready. It will make the days go by quicker!

Well, back to cleaning out our junk drawer in the kitchen. I am looking for highlighters and suction hooks for the trip.

 

[HookedonDCL]

Wow that is an awesome price. I wouldn't want to do a 7 day I was kind of thinking 3-4 but a 5 would be nice. Especially for that price.

When we went snorkeling in Nassau my middle DD got off the boat and seen how close the fish were and got right back on the boat. I will not plan on her going on any snorkeling excursions. DD's 16 and 9 can't wait to go. They love it.

My girls started back Monday. I'm home today with my youngest. She is running a fever and nothing else.

 

[hopelea]

what is your 9 yr old dd's name? I have an almot 9 yr old. Her name is Sara. She would love to know some girls before she goes. I am taking a friend for my 11 year old dd. My dd's are so different, the oldest is afraid of meeting new people. My youngest has never met a stranger! While waiting in line to board the ship in '03 Sara had met "her new best friend for life". Megan on the other hand, had a great time in the clubs but she was alone most of the time. So, I told her she could bring a friend and she is much happier.

I am sorry to hear you dd has a fever.

I am really trying to decide if we want to do an excursion in GC. I do remember last year that we were so tired from all of our excursions that we had a really hard time getting up for the character breakfast. If we do the early shipwreck & snorkel in GC we should be back on the boat by 1, that isn't too bad.

Girls are outside jumping on the trampoline. Last day of freedom for them until we cruise! (unless we get SNOW)

 

[6Maddens]

Karen- Thanks for checking out those rooms. Ours are 6036 and 6038. I think the rooms you looked at were 6044 and 6046 but they are still in the cat 6 area so I assume one of them can sleep 4. Seems crazy to me that we have 2 rooms and I can add another person even with the baby sleeping in a pack-n-play.
This isn't my first time cruising with Disney but what is the passporter? My brain seems to be in a fog lately Maybe too much Disney surfing!!!

Have to go, my Peapod delivery is here!!

 

[HookedonDCL]

My youngest daughter is McKenzie. It sounds like she is a lot like your youngest. Does your daughter email? Mine is just starting. She likes to email family and one of her friends. She sits beside me and reads these board with me all the time. Just like now. She likes to pick out the "smiles" that go into my posts.

The passporter is a book full of information. It covers a lot of the same questions that are on these boards. I guess the official name is Passporter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line and it's Ports of Call. THey also have one for WDW. I like it because I take it with me and write additional info in it. They have a website at www.passporter.com That is how I found these boards.

 

[hopelea]

Oh Sara is so excited now, she knows someone. She says "HI McKENZIE" She hasn't really started emailing people. Once in a while she will email family. She was emailing her friend she met on the last cruise, but that has stopped. She loved it when she was doing it, always checking to see if she had mail!

The passporter is WONDERFUL. I had one for the first cruise and I bought the new one for this upcoming cruise! I have read it over and over....I don't want to miss anything. I felt like I knew more of what was going on because I read the passporter.

Is anyone going to be rushing for and special ressies when you first board the ship? The only appointments I want to make are hairbraiding.

 

[HookedonDCL]

I will try to IM you with her email. Her reaction to your post was sweeeeeet!!

Once we board we would like to book braids (youngest only) and also the bridge tour and wine tasting. Other than that I think we are set. Oh yeah maybe tea with wendy. Are any of you doing the REAS?

 

[hopelea]

We would like to do the bridge tour also. Where do you get the tickets for the bridge tour? My dh would love that. I did the galley tour and would like to do that again.

I don't know when to make the hairbraiding appointment. Should we do it the first sea day or the 2nd. I am leaning for the 2nd sea day so it will last longer when we get home.

Must go put the dd's to bed. First day back to school tomorrow. YEA FOR ME!!

Hope

 

[HookedonDCL]

In my notes I have that you can sigh up for the bridge tour at Guest Services or the Shore Excursion desk. I would be interested in the Galley tour also.

Not sure which day for the braids. I haven't tought that far ahead on that one. Has anyone had the braids before? My oldest and youngest daughters had the half head done on our last cruise.

 

[hopelea]

My dd's had the headband looking kind. It was done at Castaway Cay. It took too long. I want to get it done on the ship this time. I missed the sign up last time. I'm not going to do that this time!!

I told Sara that she would have a friend to talk too. Now, she is so excited that I don't know if she will be able to get to sleep!

My dd's will be taking their SAT tests the week before we cruise. Their last day will be on the 8th. How well do you think they will do???

Well, my dh is working late tonight so I have control of the remote
I'm going to go take advantage of it!!

Have a good evening!

 

[scrappermcl]

So good to know about the hairbraiding... I didn't know that you could sign up right away and I know DD will want to have her hair braided! Stupid question... Are they hard to take out?

No REAS for us... when DH first heard about it he seemed interested, but then when he found out the cost for what you get didn't seem to think it was worth the cost. I would rather put the money toward an upgrade at port if one is available.

I agree about the PASSPORTER. It is the best! I found the WDW info to be very accurate an my friend borrowed my cruise book this past summer for her cruise and loved it! Just another way to satisfy the pre-cruise obsession

Time to get DD up for school. Chat later!
Mary

 

[Disneydreamer315]

Good Morning All!!!

My goodness, the kids commendered (sp?) the computer over the holidays, and I just got back on yesterday when they went to school. I have missed so much!!!

First off, Madden, I am so sorry to hear about your father, my heart went right out to you when I read the post. I hope your mom is able to go on the cruise.

I have the passporters for the cruise. It is a good book, and a handy reference, but I have to say I don't love it as much as the WDW Passporters (I am a big fan of that one!) Maybe because I did not get the delux edition with all the wonderful passpockets!

You can book hairbraiding? Wow, did not know that, and I know my two DD's will love that. Where can I find out about cost and stuff?

My oldest DD is in the same boat, she is very nervouse about finding a friend on the cruise. She will be almost 11 when we cruise, and is a 'girly girl' . Here name is Megan, and she wants to say Hi to Mackenzie and Sara! As for the rest of the family, Colin is 8 years old and sorta shy, and into hockey in a big way. Emma will be almost seven, and she is like another posters dd, she has never met a stranger either!

About excursions -- I think we are going to brave it out, and book Captain Martins... and go early in the Morning. Any other Dis'ers out there that want to hook up, feel free to pm me, I think that would be great!

Now, in Cozumel, there is that Fury Catamaran Sail, snorkel and beach party --and the passporters scores it a perfect 10 (and you know how rare that is! ) I was seriously considering doing that one, as I also read somewhere (but I cant remember where) that one of the great things about this is the snorkling is in 3 feet of water, so the kids can really enjoy it. I am trying to verify that. I believe we will book this one through the DCL, and the price seems very reasonable.

Now, about upgrades-- I have a question or two. We have two connecting cat 10 cabins -- I figure the chance of an upgrade is nil for us because the rooms have to be connecting. When we check in, can I ask for one? I would really love to have a room with a view, and would be willing to pay extra for it, just not the total amount extra (not in the budget!) Can anybody tell me how this works? I plan to be at the port early, 10-10:30, is that early enough? And how do you go about asking for it? Do the ever offer the upgrade for less than the actual cost of the upgrade? Help please! I am not counting on anything -- and we will be very happy in our cabins, but if I can get a shot at a verandah room, I would like to know how to do it.

Well, this post is long enough, and I still have a million questions running through my mind... sigh....

 

[scrappermcl]

Hey Disneydreamer--I am researching Stingray City excursions on my own and am considering using Native Way which I learned about on this board. There cost is lower than Cap. Marvins-- Native Way (25/adult, 20/child). The other outfit I've been looking into is Cap. Bryan's they cost more (34/adult, 25/child), but they have catamarans which look like alot of fun! I'm worried that Cap. Marvins will be the most crowded option because they are so popular. Did you consider any other options besides Capt. Marvin's and DCL?

Mary

 

[Disneydreamer315]

I did think of Native your way as well, and looked into them. The nice thing about them is they apparently pick you right up at the dock. I tried to find the captain bryon site on the internet but had no luck -- I was thinking of them as well because apparently they also have a washroom on board (thinking of my 10 year old here).

Because I am not a hugely adventurous person, I was thinking Marvins was the way to go, because so many people had done them, I felt it was a very safe environment. A psuedo DCL excursion, if you know what I mean.

I would like to find out more about Capn Bryans, so if you have a link, I would love to see it! Thanks!

 

[hopelea]

Hi DisneyDreamer!! My oldest dd is 11 and her name is MEGAN!!! I'm sure they will like that.

I don't know if I want to tell all of you about where and when to book the hairbraiding I need to make an appointment for THREE. Okay, well have any of you read the navigators from castawayclub(dot)com?? On the first one, I think, it says is a small box near the bottom, appointments for hairbraiding 5:30 - 6:30 the first night. I missed them last year because I didn't know about them either. I guess we will all be meeting there after the deck party Are they hard to take out........not really. But, it can hurt. I made my dd lay on the couch it took a little while to get them out. I was trying to be really gentle. A lot of her hair came out with the braids. But, she has a full head of hair so it wasn't noticable.

I read about the Fury beach party excursion you are talking about. It does sound like fun. I am just not sure. It will either be that or going to Paradise Beach on our own. I heard that is wonderful. And it will cost less too.

We also have two connecting 10, 7007 & 7005. I don't believe we will be able to get an upgrade either. Well, they could put all of us in a CAT 1 and we would be happy

My dd's are in school today. It is their first day back. I don't have to go back to work until Tuesday I am enjoying the day!

Hope

 

[HookedonDCL]

I had no problems getting the braids out of my daughters hair. I just snipped the rubberbands and ran my fingers through them and had them jump in the shower with conditioner. Didn't hurt ME a bit.

McKenzie says hi back to Megan

I have been thinking of getting passports. Not sure if I want to spend the $$$. What do you do, birth certificate/id or passports?

I sent my self addressed stamp envelope last Monday to Shirley for the Key West info that she sends out. I haven't received anything back yet. Have any of you received her packet of infomation?

 

[hopelea]

oh Karen.......Sara was so happy to get those emails from McKenzie! After she replied to McKenzie she kept checking to see if McKenzie sent one back.

I don't have passports for us. My parents have them. They told me I should get them, but I don't want to spend the money on them either!!

I was thinking about sending Shirley an envelope too! I want to know about taking the train/trolley on your own. I would like to get off when I want too and see sights. But I also want a person to tell me what I am seeing. Walking is just too hard on my dh's feet

We have been going back and forth on excursions here. Finally my oldest dd sat down with me. She looked at the 10 - 12 navigators. She said that in Cozumel they are doing something cool that we missed last time and she doesn't want to miss it....something about putting your face on a mouse pad! So, we are definately going to Paradise Beach for a few hours, being back at the ship by 3 so the girls can go to the lab.

Is anyone else doing the Shipwreck & Reef snorkel in Grand Cayman? If others are, I will book it also.

Hope

 

[scrappermcl]

Disneydreamer-- the link for Capt. Bryan's is Capt. Bryan's
I am torn which to do-- the catamaran looks like a lot of fun, but the cost of NativeWay is so much better... I'll decide by the end of the weekend.

I am getting way too psyched for a cruise that is still 3 months away. On one hand it is finally only 3 months away after waiting for so long. But on the other hand, 3 months is pretty far off.

I went shopping today and all I looked at was clothes for the cruise!

At least the planning and shopping add to the fun and kind of extend the cruise in a way.

 

[hopelea]

We can book our Disney Excursions tomorrow

I am going to call in the AM!!!! I just hope I don't forget.

 

[HookedonDCL]

Hope: for some reason I can not see you forgeting to book your excursions tomorrow. You have waited 9 months to do that.


Mary: Did you buy any of those clothes you were looking at?

I'm really starting to stress on our Grand Cayman excursion. I thought I had it down to Stingray City or Shipwreck Reef Snorkel. Now I'm considering Captain Marvins. Booking outside of Disney is really stepping outside my confort zone. I need to consult with DH on this one.