April 11, 2010 4 Night Cruise

[ychcjbn1]

Anyone else here doing the dolphin encounter this cruise? We booked the early one, hope the water is warm. I hope DD likes the encounter, it truly seems like a wonderful experience. Any tips from you experienced cruisers would be greatly appreciated.

We are also on this cruise and we're doing the early dolphin encounter as well. From what I've read, it looks like the water should be warm enough by April. May I ask how old your DD is? We are doing the dolphin encounter with all three of our kids. DH wouldn't have it any other way! our kids are 3, almost 5, and 7. I'm worried that they won't all be excited to do this. Especially our 3 year old. Guess we'll see. Hope you have a great time!

 

[leslie l]

Hi

Hi Rose, we are in state room#2136, can't wait. Getting closer.

 

[Tarabra]

THanks for the heads up on the room assignments. I've always gotten them 30 days exactly before cruising, so this was a nice surprise. We got a slight upgrade from a 12 to an 11, but that's expected. We've only been upgraded once in 8 cruises and that was way early on from an 11 to a 10. Not a big deal. We don't spend that much time in the room anyway.

As far as the dolphin excursion, I've never done one, but I'm sure it would be great. My kids are 2 1/2 and 5, and I KNOW my 5 year old would FREAK out. She was going crazy today over a ladybug! She's at that "afraid of everything" stage right now, and that is just WAY too much money to waste. Hope you have fun.

Tara

 

[degrapevine]

Woo hoo!

I just wanted to let anyone who is a FL Resident to know that I received a call today from our travel agent with the news that our cruise is now a FL Resident Rate sailing. We are now saving another $423 over our already great rate from the Kids Sail Free! We booked a Cat 4 for our family of 5 since it worked out cheaper than 2 Cat 10's, which we normally book, because of getting all 3 kids free rather than just one. But now, we get to enjoy the balcony room and get an extra discount! So, if you are a FL Resident, call your travel agent or DCL NOW to get the rate adjustment. I know I had read somewhere on the board that they would not do adjustments after final payment, but that's not the case for us. Also, our cruise can't be full (although it's Spring Break for many FL counties) with the FL Resident rate popping up. I also had a friend who had a request for available staterooms on our cruise get a call, too - and she booked! More fun for all.

... Now get moving on those FE gifts. We want more of you to get involved in both the exchange and the meet. Please let me know if you are interested.

Rose

 

[zalansky]

degrapevine - THANK YOU for posting this info! I am going to call my travel agent tomorrow. We had this happen on our last cruise too after we'd made full payment and they refunded us the difference. Ours isn't much, but it almost $100 less so her - thats play money! What a great travel agent you have that called you to let you know.

 

[suzyqn]

degrapevine - you beat me to it! I just got an e-mail from DU saying that we were getting a credit for the FL Resident rate.

Makes me wonder if there was one when we sailed last year but we just didn't know since we booked directly through DCL. Our savings was only $102 but I'll take it! To be able to take advantage of the Kids Sail Free & FL Resident really rocks!

We also received our cruise document booklet (or whatever they call it) yesterday with our luggage tags. I'm still a little bummed about not getting an upgrade but as someone else mentioned, there are not guarantees. Getting an upgrade 2 out of 4 cruises isn't too bad.

Anyone else in shopping mode yet? It has been hard to get excited since it has been so chilly but I am looking forward to doing some shopping (by myself)

Has any ever rented bikes at CC? I am hoping the kids can sit in a carrier on the back of each bike(if they have them) but I haven't ever done that and I wasn't sure if my 4 year old would be too big for something like that.

 

[zalansky]

We are with DU also and they didn't email me about the price change. Oh well. I emailed them!

Here's what we did. I changed from a Category 10 to a Category 9 room. DH wanted the porthole badly, I didn't - kind of wanted to sleep in the mornings. But we were able to upgrade our room (stayed on Deck 1) and we also got almost $50 back too. I am thrilled.

I love being a Florida resident!!!

We also got our cruise docs today from DCL with luggage tags etc. I just emailed DU to see if we can get a new one with our new stateroom. I am so excited!!!

 

[suzyqn]

Zalansky - Do you or anyone else have the number for DU? I might have to find out if there are any upgrades available to get us out of the dark

EDITED to ADD: I found it at the DU website. For some reason I had it in my head that this was a difficult number to obtain.

 

[zalansky]

Zalansky - Do you or anyone else have the number for DU? I might have to find out if there are any upgrades available to get us out of the dark

EDITED to ADD: I found it at the DU website. For some reason I had it in my head that this was a difficult number to obtain.

It is! I called the number and they told me that number is only for making payments. I had to email them and hope I got the change. it was a stressful day, I was concerned that people would start booking the available rooms when they released the good rates! I just had to email them again about an hour ago because I realized that the Cat 9's on deck 1 have 2 small portholes instead of one large one. We want one big one. long story short (too late for that right?) we did get moved up to deck 2 to a room with a large porthole. Again I am happy. To get to a Cat. 9 for less money AND get a little money back - awesome!

Suzy - did you call them?

 

[suzyqn]

It is! I called the number and they told me that number is only for making payments. I had to email them and hope I got the change. it was a stressful day, I was concerned that people would start booking the available rooms when they released the good rates! I just had to email them again about an hour ago because I realized that the Cat 9's on deck 1 have 2 small portholes instead of one large one. We want one big one. long story short (too late for that right?) we did get moved up to deck 2 to a room with a large porthole. Again I am happy. To get to a Cat. 9 for less money AND get a little money back - awesome!

Suzy - did you call them?

Your hard work and stress definitely paid off. Yes, you are right, the phone number does nothing event though it says under the number, "Existing customers can use this number to make inquiries about, or changes to their current reservations with Dreams."

I did hear back and the only option for us was Cat. 9 Deck 1 (and I even asked about a verandah cabin for the heck of it.) I think it was $100 more for the Cat. 9 Deck 1 which mean it would cost what we originally paid for the Cat. 11 before the FL Resident. I think we are going to keep our Cat. 11 Deck 6.

Although I think Deck 1 is fine, we did have a slightly smell and slightly noisy room last Spring. It would be our luck to be stuck with it again.

EDITED TO ADD: Cat 9 Deck 1 was the only stateroom available to upgrade to with the Florida Resident deal. (I missed the FL Resident deal part the first time.)

 

[princess22]

Just wanted to say that we will be joining you on the April 11 cruise!!! I'm super excited, just booked today =) It's going to be my mom, myself and my two year old daughter!

 

[zalansky]

princess22 - congrats on booking today! By chance are you a Fl resident?

I ask because it appears as if all the remaining rooms were booked today. We called DCL after changing to that big porthole - because I got on the room reviews here on the DIS and the room we had on deck 2 had reviews of horrible engine noise. People being woken up at 3am when docking and never ending noise. Couldn't have that so luckily DU was able to get us back down to deck 1 with the double portholes. I drove those poor agents crazy today.

Anyway, when I called DCL they told me they had 2 cat 9's left and that was it. Gonna be a full ship now.

 

[princess22]

Yup! I'm a Florida Resident!!

We are on deck 2. Rm 2100. I'm not too worried about engine noise. To each their own. I think I'd prefer the big window and can handle the engine noise.

I guess I bookd just in time huh!? I'm so excited to be going during a time that isn't a school break. I'm a teacher and have never taken a vacation during the school year!

 

[zalansky]

princess22 - your room is not near where the alleged engine noise has been reported I was in 2648. If you look at room reports here on the DIS, all the rooms in that area complained of really bad noise at early hours. I am a light sleeper, no way could I have that!

We're in Hillsborough county and that week is our Spring break. It worked out for us so I didn't have to take my son out of school.

 

[Tarabra]

Great news for all of you Florida residents. What a great deal! Even though our price hasn't dropped, my husband got the biggest bonus he's every gotten in today's paycheck. Woohoo! It couldn't have come at a better time. He works for a bank and the pay raises and bonuses have been few and far between. And NO he's not a big executive or CEO so this isn't in the hundreds of thousands or millions!!! haha!! FAR from it!! I'm getting so excited.

A friend of a friend on Facebook had the DCL logo as her profile pic, so I asked her about it. She's leaving tomorrow on a 7 day. I'm so jealous. I really want to do the 7 day. The 4 day is just soooo short. But hey, with the kids sail free, we couldn't pass it up.

Our weather here in Ohio is getting bright and sunny so it's really putting me in the mood. Can't wait.

Tara

 

[princess22]

Where in Hillsborough county are you!? I'm in Polk County (Winter Haven)

 

[zalansky]

Where in Hillsborough county are you!? I'm in Polk County (Winter Haven)

Tampa, not too far from the Lowry Park Zoo.

Oh yeah - we leave 5 weeks from today!!!!

 

[twoandtwins]

Hello everybody! We just booked the April 11th sailing on the Wonder. I cant wait!

It will be Me, DH and 2 10 yr old DD's and 1 18 yr DD and her 3 friends.

See you on board!

Donna

P.S. Rose........ I sent a PM about the the Fish Extender. We did this last time on our 7 day. IT was really alot of fun!! OUr DD's loved racing back to our room to see what we got!

 

[degrapevine]

Woo hoo! Only 5 weeks to go. Just watched Iron Chef America and it was Battle Prosciutto. It made me hungry for the yummy goodies on the Palo Brunch. Can't wait!

Rose
__________________
Dream 5 Nt. - 06/12/11, Wonder 4 Nt. - 04/11/10, Wonder 3 Nt. - 12/17/09, Wonder 4 Nt. - 11/15/09, Wonder 3 Nt. - 07/09/09, Magic 7 Nt. to St. Maarten - 06/06/09, Wonder 3 Nt. - 11/6/08, Wonder 3 Nt. - 6/19/08, Wonder 3 Nt. - 5/8/08, WDW FW - 12/07, WDW ASM - 10/07, Wonder 4 Nt. - 12/17/06, WDW FW - 12/06, DLR - Disneyland Hotel - 03/06, WDW FW - 12/05, DLR - Residence Inn - 06/05, WDW Contemporary - 12/04, WDW Wilderness Lodge - 03/04, WDW Contemporary - 12/03, WDW Yacht Club - 12/03, WDW Contemporary - 12/97-2002, WDW Caribbean Beach Club - 12/96
... and many, many day trips as WDW Passholders!

Our "Devine" Crew - DH (David), Me (Rose), Eric (DS15), Patrick (DS11), and Gina (DD9)

 

[degrapevine]

Welcome, twoandtwins (Donna)!

I've added you (both cabins) to the master list on page 4 and indicated that you will be participating in the FE Gift Exchange. So ... that brings our count to 4 cabins now. We'd love to have more join! Your gifts don't have to be complicated or homemade. Store bought little goodies like candy, stickers, stationary, magnets, postcards, Disney themed trinkets, pirate stuff, etc. can make fun gifts to exchange. So, please let us know if you are interested - Again, the more the merrier!

I'm going to ask that anyone joining the FE exchange please do so by March 28th. That will give everyone two weeks to finalize their gifts. As for the Cruise Meet, we will plan on meeting at 3 PM on Embarkation Day in the Promenade Lounge on Deck 3. Anyone who would like to come by and say hi, please do!

princess22 - We're in Hillsborough County, too (in Valrico), cruising during our Spring Break week. Gotta love those FL Resident Rates!

Have a great week, everyone - We're off to the Magic Kingdom tomorrow since the kids are off from school for the Strawberry Festival. Yeah!

Rose