April 18th, 2009! - PATRIOT'S OF THE CARIBBEAN - Western Magic!

[castlegazer]

My hubby, who lurks but is too chicken to post his own questions wants to know why people are always talking about bringing their own water? Is this something we need to do?

I think I need to post more drink photos as that brought him out last time.......

 

[castlegazer]

We are confirmed that this is what we will be doing in Grand Cayman! It's a 46' sailboat that will take us to several snorkeling spots and the "real stingray city" ??? didn't know there was a real and fake one. But we booked this with our friends that we found out were on the same cruise!

I am so excited! See, time is moving! It's time to make decisions like this! Woohooooooo!!!!!!

 

[o4me2playn]

We are confirmed that this is what we will be doing in Grand Cayman! It's a 46' sailboat that will take us to several snorkeling spots and the "real stingray city" ??? didn't know there was a real and fake one. But we booked this with our friends that we found out were on the same cruise!

I am so excited! See, time is moving! It's time to make decisions like this! Woohooooooo!!!!!!

Looks like you'll have a GREAT TIME!!! Yep - time moving faster. Thanksgiving "goods" are out now

 

[aljsdad]

I think I need to post more drink photos as that brought him out last time.......

Sailboat pics too!

"Boat drinks"
"Waitress I need two more boat drinks"


Someone asked earlier about your favorite spot.
I think in a hammock on the bow of that sloop with a bucket of ?? what are they "konk coolers" - - now that sounds like the perfect excursion.

Beside I'm not chicken she was already at the keyboard typing .

 

[aljsmom]

That looks WONDERFUL. Did you book this thru the cruise line or separately? We really have to start figuring out what we want to do ...besides the hammock and the konk coolers!!

 

[o4me2playn]

Just a note to let you all know that the KMart store in my hometown has 15 decorated Xmas Trees on display and several aisles filled with xmas "goodies".

April will be here soon....April will be here soon!!!!!

 

[castlegazer]

That looks WONDERFUL. Did you book this thru the cruise line or separately? We really have to start figuring out what we want to do ...besides the hammock and the konk coolers!!

Sorry, I have been buiiisie at work - life stinks when that happens. I always feel a bit out of control. It doesn't allow for toy pickup time and general maintainence of the thing we like to call "hurricane children" in our household. I have a babysitter coming tonight, and I am beyond embarassed by the state of affairs in our house right now, but alas, she has seen it clean, so I am sure I will get brownie points from a teenager showing her, "I too can be a messy slob just like teenagers!" Well, at least that is what I am telling myself because there is no chance I am getting home prior to her arrival to rush through with a toy sweeper upper.

We booked the excursion through www.grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com

They also have excursions in Cozumel. They are a pretty big and decent outfit. A lot of people had recommended them to me. They will not charge you if you do not get into port that day - which seems to occur a bit in Grand Cayman.

We love to sail, and felt that this was the best deal for us - a party of 11 - to be able to do what we wanted and have the lowest cost versus the Disney excursions. This way the kids can be comfortable and have fun too. I don't think either of my children will want to get into the water with the Rays, but they will be able to see them from the deck. My son is practicing snorkeling a lot lately too - so he is excited to get into the water.

I felt Grand Cayman was where we should do that. Cozumel we are planning to go to Chankanaab on our own for some of the day.

 

[o4me2playn]

Boy, we've been a quiet bunch this week!

I for one, and glad that the weather is changing (knock on wood) here on the Central Coast of CA. It's cool and foggy in the mornings and the late afternoons are just under 80 degrees. We really had a mild summer except for all of the fires in May/June/July. CA really needs rain so hopefully, our prayers will be answered.

I hope everyone has a great weekend - I'm heading over to my parents for the day (where it is still HOT ) so I'll see you later!

 

[cctimmom]

80 degrees??!??! sigh... I miss that already!!!!!

 

[o4me2playn]

80 degrees??!??! sigh... I miss that already!!!!!

Mid 80's today.....but the weather "people" are saying rain early next week!

 

[castlegazer]

OK - so I will post new pics today, the first full day of FALL!!!

Or this: it's from E-How: how to enjoy and adult Disney Cruise:

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1
Your adult planning starts when you're booking the cruise. Splurge a little and have some chocolates and champagne waiting for you in your cabin when you embark and you'll start the cruise off on a romantic note.
Step2
To avoid the greatest number of kids at meal time, request a late dinner seating. Most parents will book an early seating so they can spend supper time with their children, so you're likely to have a more adult experience by planning a later seating.
Step3
Make a reservation at the fine dining restaurant aboard ship. The atmosphere is romantic at this restaurant and is exclusively for adults. It's a wonderful way to spend an evening together.
Step4
Take advantage of the adults-only section on deck nine, reserved for guests 18 years and older. Here you can enjoy your own pool, bar and coffee lounge without worrying about an excited toddler running past your deck chair.
Step5
A visit to the onboard spa and salon is not to be missed! Here you can indulge in a couples massage, relax in the aromatherapy saunas or treat yourself to your own private villa.
Step6
One treatment at the salon and spa is tailor-made for couples. The Exotic Rasul retreat has quite a reputation! In the privacy of a secluded chamber and steam room, you and your significant other can indulge yourselves with body mud and aromatherapy massage oils. The attendant knocks on the chamber door to give you a 10-minute warning before your treatment time is up. There must be some reason for the lock on the inside of the chamber door...
Step7
The adults-only environment is available off the ship as well. On Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, a section of the island called Serenity Bay is reserved exclusively for adults.

http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Assets/360/iPIX_Vista_Spa.html

and for more 360 degree views (although their content is outdated as many areas have been renamed or don'[t exist anymore) go here:
http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Disney_Cruise_Line/Disney_Cruise_Line_360_Images.shtml

 

[castlegazer]

OK - we need something to spark conversation. My pictures aren't doing it and I am not so great about posting questions of the day.

So I will start it out to create some controversy.

I feel that a state of panic is no way to create policy.

I am pissed and all I can think of right now is my son's camp song where he sings a line from a nursery rhyme, like say Jack and Jill and then the the second line is. "through them out the window, the window, the second story window."

I pretty much feel that way about everyone in government right now!

I work in finance too, and I don't understand a blasted thing that is going on or how what they are proposing will help anyone on Main Street America!

OK rant over - I will get off my soap box now.

Oh, wait, one more thing. I want them to seize assets so that all of us taxpayers can have rides on yachts and stay for weekends in great homes of America as featured on the Travel Channel. It should be ours if we spend 700 billion dollars of my children's future!!!!

Ok - passing soap box now. sorry. It's just on my mind.

just thought it might help to start people chatting.

Tell us whats on your mind. I just joined Facebook and I really love the feature where you write what you're doing right now - it's kinda weird and kinda cool at the same time. But it inspired me to say, hey, tell us what's on your mind........

 

[o4me2playn]

OK - we need something to spark conversation. My pictures aren't doing it and I am not so great about posting questions of the day.

So I will start it out to create some controversy.

I feel that a state of panic is no way to create policy.

I am pissed and all I can think of right now is my son's camp song where he sings a line from a nursery rhyme, like say Jack and Jill and then the the second line is. "through them out the window, the window, the second story window."

I pretty much feel that way about everyone in government right now!

I work in finance too, and I don't understand a blasted thing that is going on or how what they are proposing will help anyone on Main Street America!

OK rant over - I will get off my soap box now.

Oh, wait, one more thing. I want them to seize assets so that all of us taxpayers can have rides on yachts and stay for weekends in great homes of America as featured on the Travel Channel. It should be ours if we spend 700 billion dollars of my children's future!!!!

Ok - passing soap box now. sorry. It's just on my mind.

just thought it might help to start people chatting.

Tell us whats on your mind. I just joined Facebook and I really love the feature where you write what you're doing right now - it's kinda weird and kinda cool at the same time. But it inspired me to say, hey, tell us what's on your mind........

I don't work in finance but I'm not happy about what is going on right now! Why bail out the companies? If there is all this money - why not provide lower cost loans to those of us who are struggling to pay our mortages, put food on the table, pay off credit cards etc. I don't feel that EVERYONE deserves free money and I think that those of us that need some help need to fill out paperwork, etc. and then have someone independent to look things over and get proof. Now a days everyone wants to make a BUNCH of money from others - but wouldn't it be better if ALL interest rates were at 1%, extend the timeframe on mortages in trouble so that Americans don't just walk away and do everything they can to pay their bills, even if a little late and without the high interest?

I don't know if I make sense or not. But I know that my house is underwater if I were to try and sell it and there are 8 houses in the general area where the owners walked away because they had no other choices left - wouldn't it be better if something was paid rather than nothing?

One more thought - where do you think our "leaders" have their money invested? Right...AIG, Lehman's, the banking and financial institutions - why do they deserve to get free money from the tax payers? They are already getting free money for NOT working for the people.

Just my 2 cents - OH and I AM related to an ex-President (who is no longer living) so I know a little about politics and sometimes too much to be dangerous.

 

[aljsmom]

I agree. I am not in finance and it makes absolutely no sense to me that they want to throw more money at these fat cats who blew it all. Let them bail themselves out by selling their expensive toys, don't mess with my kids' futures by dumping this debt on them.

I think they all belong in jail with the politicians who facilitated this but we know that won't happen.

 

[castlegazer]

Still waiting to see what will be the "PLAN"

Headed to a 40 th birthday party tonight - thinking that being off the wedding circuit and now on the 40th birthday party circuit is kinda weird....... But as I said, I just joined facebook and have gotten back in touch with my whole high school class, i went to a boarding school, and they are all posting pics of us in High School and I am liking the me now at close to 40 better than the me then........although, I would kill for my waistline then!

 

[aljsmom]

LOL - enjoy the birthday party!

 

[castlegazer]

I just needed one of these pics today - its been so miserable here plus the news stories - well, its time for a pick-me-up picture:

 

[aljsdad]

OK so I’ll try and get some chatter back on this board.

I’ve been looking at pictures and videos of others cruises (dreaming as it were)
And I’ve noticed a lot of parents dancing at the sail away & pirate parties with their children on their shoulders. Well I’m getting older, my children are getting heavier and I don’t have enough shoulders for all. So my question is, does anyone have an opinion as to where the best spot to be for the sail away party is ??. I know the kids are going to want to be right in the thick of things up front near the stage. But I don’t want them to be upset and whinny because they can’t see through the crowd of people stacked up in front of them.

Suggestions ?

 

[castlegazer]

So funny! I was just thinking about this this morning! I was going to post a poll, and I think I am still going to, to ask where you like to stand for the Sailaway Party - or I think its called "Adventure's Away!"

We stood up on Deck 10 because we had a mini DIS meet prior to the party up there by the bar. I loved doing this for several reasons:

1) we could see both the party and the coast line. We loved being able to watch the coast line while the band was playing prior to the characters coming out because we could look at our condo and all the places we go in Cocoa Beach from a different perspective.

2) We found out that we were placed right at the door that the characters come out of on Deck 10 - they come out from the elevator area there and then go down the stairs next to the stage. So we played with the characters through the windows of the elevator lobby for quite a while and then got to see them really up close and personal when they came out to go down to the stage! That was awesome and a totally awesome way to start our cruise on DCL!

3) BUT, we were not down in the action for the party when the characters came out and it was difficult for my kids to see down there - around big adults that would not move aside - if they were not on our shoulders or in our arms.

4) BUT, having early dinner, we were able to escape easier to get to dinner - which you need to do prior to the party being over with if you get 5:45 seating times.

Oh, and I have no bloody idea how early people get there to get up front for the party - but it must have been really early, because we certainly were not there in time to get a good spot, even on Deck 10.

So, I don't know what to do this next sailing.

 

[castlegazer]

My poll went over like a lead ballon, so I have no new info for you about the sailaway party.

Well, I tried.