April 20th 2013 Fantasy

[seacruise]

Completed the online registration for everybody in our party this evening. Even still got the boarding time we wanted (11:30-12:00). 76 days to go!

Debating doing the BBB for our 6 year old. She would probably pick being a pirate, but Pirate night is the day we are in St. Thomas so it would make doing an excursion somewhat difficult as the appointments are all in the morning.

If you book an excursion or activity online in advance can it be cancelled? Do they charge a cancelation fee?

 

[tootsiemr]

OK SO This is where I will post the info please either add it on here yourself or I can do it for you just gimme you info and I will add it ASAP =) OK THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL POST AS FOLLOW DISNAME: NAMES(AGE'S time of cruise), STATEROOM # (OR GTY) THIS IS THE OFFICIAL LIST PLEASE DO NOT TAMPER WITH UNLESS YOU ARE CHANGING IT FOR SPECIFIC REASONS. THIS IS FOR FE GIFT EXCHANGE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE =) IF YOUR CURIOUS TO WHAT ON DISNEY I AM TALKING ABOUT ASK AND I WILL FILL YOU IN ;-) DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS MARCH 10TH !!!

TOOTSIEMR, Natasha (29), William (28), Room # 8662, Aft, Starboard

FIREFLY01, David (dh 31) Bobbie (dw36) Savannah (dd3)- Room 11002- deck 11 Forward, Portside

STAGEMASTER Kendra (33), Donna (60) , Room 8164, Aft, Portside

KHARRIS702 Krista (26), Ryan (30) GTY

LUCYEM Emily, Scott, Colin (7), Brian celebrating 11th birthday on cruise Room 12518, Foward, Starboard BECKIE W/AN IE, Beckie (45), Ed (49) &
Sara (9). Room 7192

TheHarrisFamily, Ward (DH), Robyn (DW), Connor (DS 12), Tylor (DS- Turns 9 on board!), Room 10070, Midship, Portside

Sixpack, Lynn (DW), Rob (DH), Matt (DS 10), Ryan (DS 7), Jack (DS 5), Elle (DD 5) Room 12008, Foward, Portside

karaintn, Kara (DW 36), Ty (DH 36), Harrison (DS 8), Jacqueline (DD 4), Susannah (DD 4) Room 6586, Midship, Starboard

melwill530, Brandon (46), Melanie (44), Ryan (DS 6), Ava (DD 4) Room 6582, Midship, Starboard

shmelmcc, Mark (40), Sarah (38), Hannah (12), Laura (10), Ella (7) Room 10596, Midship, Starboard

KDeans1010- Kim (32) and Jolyn (DM- birthday on ship)- GTY.

couponclipping1 - Kristie (36), Wayne (37), Paul (7) and Madelyn (4), Room 8112, Midship, Portside

Larkinfamily - Lynne (DW 39), Tom (DH 39 - 40th bday on board), Charlie (DS 3), Toby (DS 3), Room 7634, starboard

DisLyd1972 - DH (Chip) & DW(Kathy), Room 2036, Midship, Portside

ShanVerdi - Sumit (DH), Shannon (DW), Chase (DS 17) & Chhaya (DD 10) - Room 10156, Aft, Portside

Tracy (36), Chris (38), Colby (10), Travis (7), Room 10544, Foward, Starboard

JessRx - Jessica and Mark (38), Luke (6), Jack (4), GTY

JHARRYMAN Jennifer (38), George (13), Brendan (9) Room 7501, Foward, Inside Starboard

Erinw Erin (29), Rick (34) , Pat (60), Room 7128, Midship, Portside

Famcruise- Rebecca (36) Scott (40) Ian (8) Brandon (6) Rm 9630, Midship, Starboard

Jfahome April (DW), Jeff (DH), Parker (2) Room 6514, Foward, Starboard

Jfahome Marcia (DMIL), Elizabeth (8) Room 6512, Foward, Starboard

Topelski4: Niki (DW), Jamie (DH), Kyliee (5), Kaiden (Turns 3 on the boat on April 23rd Room 9148 , Aft, Portside

Jenniferpfromkc: John, Jennifer, Josi (4) Room 6070, Midship, Portside

Mousers: Nancy (DW), Bob (DH), Sue (Dgrammy), Cameron (DB) 8 Room 5048, Foward, Portside

~*~*~THIS IS THE UPDATED LIST I HAVE ON THE FB GROUP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED PLEASE LET ME KNOW ~*~*~*

75 MORE DAYHS TILL WE SAIL

 

[tootsiemr]

mousers would like to join sue (71) bob (53) nancy (49) cameron (8)
stateroom 5048

i added you to the list =)

 

[SailingSeas]

If you book an excursion or activity online in advance can it be cancelled? Do they charge a cancelation fee?

Hi Seacruise! Great check-in time!

Yes, if you book an activity or excursion, it can be cancelled, up until 48 hours before sailing. I usually give myself four days, so i'm not forgetting.

You may also have luck onboard the ship, swapping things out. I've had to do last minute cancellations onboard for certain things. Be aware that if you cancel onboard, there may be a cancellation penalty involved.

 

[steves100]

Dad: Steve
Mom: Lilly
Son Kyle: 17
Daughter Katie:11

We are in a 5a.

 

[steves100]

We are a family of 4: Mom, dad in 40s, Son 17 and daughter 11

We are gold members who could not get a cabana. Anyone willing to split costs and share????


Steve

 

[SailingSeas]

lol Steve, i'm in the same... boat. (yeah, i know, had to make the pun.) I went on at midnight when we could do it weeks ago, it was instantly gone, and am gold as well. I've had success with last minute cancellations - have you tried that?

 

[KarenMP59]

We tried too with no luck. Concierge. Maybe they should build more of them!!!

 

[seacruise]

Hi Seacruise! Great check-in time!

Yes, if you book an activity or excursion, it can be cancelled, up until 48 hours before sailing. I usually give myself four days, so i'm not forgetting.

You may also have luck onboard the ship, swapping things out. I've had to do last minute cancellations onboard for certain things. Be aware that if you cancel onboard, there may be a cancellation penalty involved.

Great to know, Thanks for the information! Guess we will go ahead and reserve what we think we want now and can always cancel or change our plans later.

 

[SailingSeas]

As we are headed to the Boardwalk Inn in advance of our cruise, I think I would like to drive out to the port for a change (we usually use private transfers.) Has anyone done this, and which agency do you use? I'm spoiled by National and Alamo being right in the terminal at MCO, so am hoping it's one of those right at the airport.

 

[seacruise]

As we are headed to the Boardwalk Inn in advance of our cruise, I think I would like to drive out to the port for a change (we usually use private transfers.) Has anyone done this, and which agency do you use? I'm spoiled by National and Alamo being right in the terminal at MCO, so am hoping it's one of those right at the airport.

Rented a car many times at MCO and all the major companies are onsite. We reserved a private shuttle to the port the morning of the cruise, but are renting a mini-van after the cruise and returning it to MCO after our stay at Disney World. I have a couple different reservations right now with Alamo and Dollar. I prefer National/Alamo, but Dollar was half the price so may end up going with them this time.

 

[SFD998]

As we are headed to the Boardwalk Inn in advance of our cruise, I think I would like to drive out to the port for a change (we usually use private transfers.) Has anyone done this, and which agency do you use? I'm spoiled by National and Alamo being right in the terminal at MCO, so am hoping it's one of those right at the airport.

The first cruise we took we used transfers from the hotel to the port and rented a car for the return trip. The drive is very straight forward if you are not familiar with the highways. Since then we have always rented a car and driven back and forth. We rent at mco and drop off at the port and then do the reverse on the way back. We have used Budget and Avis for this and have not had a problem. Only once did we run into a long line at budget during a drop off, but our timing was bad. We were dropping off to go on the cruise and they had just returned with a van load of people getting off the previous cruise. We have even parked at a local hotel lot with a rental car because it was cheaper to keep the car than return it and re-rent. Price wise if you are alone it is cheaper to use the transfers. Two people tends to be about the same cost, but gives you more freedom to come and go. Above two is cheaper than using transfers. This of course depends on the type of car you rent obviously, but we have never had a problem with a full size and above on occassion.

The main reason we prefer the rental car is the timing is your choice. The first time with transfers we didn't get to the port until after 1:30. Since then we arrive early enough that we have to wait in the terminal, but we are usually on board and eating by 12:15. My parents and niece are going on this cruise as well and are using the transfers. We should be on board and have eaten before they even arrive at the port. It may be only a couple of hours difference, but you may as well get everything out of it you can.

 

[Billinaz]

We tried too with no luck. Concierge. Maybe they should build more of them!!!

If you are concierge, you could have tried to book one at the first opening weeks ago.

They also have a few held back for concierge guests. Email the concierge team and tell them you want one or when you board go right up to the lounge and see if you can get one of the held back cabanas (I think its 14-16)

 

[Billinaz]

The first cruise we took we used transfers from the hotel to the port and rented a car for the return trip. The drive is very straight forward if you are not familiar with the highways. Since then we have always rented a car and driven back and forth. We rent at mco and drop off at the port and then do the reverse on the way back. We have used Budget and Avis for this and have not had a problem. Only once did we run into a long line at budget during a drop off, but our timing was bad. We were dropping off to go on the cruise and they had just returned with a van load of people getting off the previous cruise. We have even parked at a local hotel lot with a rental car because it was cheaper to keep the car than return it and re-rent. Price wise if you are alone it is cheaper to use the transfers. Two people tends to be about the same cost, but gives you more freedom to come and go. Above two is cheaper than using transfers. This of course depends on the type of car you rent obviously, but we have never had a problem with a full size and above on occassion.

The main reason we prefer the rental car is the timing is your choice. The first time with transfers we didn't get to the port until after 1:30. Since then we arrive early enough that we have to wait in the terminal, but we are usually on board and eating by 12:15. My parents and niece are going on this cruise as well and are using the transfers. We should be on board and have eaten before they even arrive at the port. It may be only a couple of hours difference, but you may as well get everything out of it you can.

Same here, we always use a rental car. We have a minivan from Budget (each way) for $70 with taxes. Full size cars were going for $40

 

[KarenMP59]

If you are concierge, you could have tried to book one at the first opening weeks ago.

They also have a few held back for concierge guests. Email the concierge team and tell them you want one or when you board go right up to the lounge and see if you can get one of the held back cabanas (I think its 14-16)

I did. Back in December. Called onshore concierege, no luck. That did work last year. We didn't even know the cabanas existed until a couple of months before our cruise so I called and they had one available. I assumed it would be that easy this year, but when I saw people on FB talking about them being gone, I called and was told they were reallygone. We were kind of bummed at first but decided that we will just get off the ship after a leisurely breakfast, go rent bikes for a while, and then grab lunch. Then we will take advantage of an empty ship

 

[SailingSeas]

I've heard that quite a bit, Karen. The Fantasy and the Dream have so many more staterooms in club level too, compared to the Magic and Wonder. While I hope for them to add more, it won't be in the near future (inserts pouty smiley.) I've not seen them available when I've traveled on the D&F, but have on the Magic. We book the adult cabanas (teen can't be bothered to spend time with us on the island, too many adventures and memories to be had) and even those are hard to come by.

Thanks for the advice on the car rentals. I think I'm going to try and go with Budget (normally book Alamo/National) due to the proximity to the port terminal. Just not having luck with codes, but there's time.

On hold ATM for the Greek Isles itinerary for 2014, and it's making me all excited. Wish we could book online.

 

[SFD998]

We were hoping for a cabana this time as well. We got off the Dream last month and managed to get one at Serenity Bay. We only took it because we figured this could be our only chance of ever getting one. This way we would know if it was worth looking for in the future. Being over in Serenity Bay you really aren't hunting and hoping to find a place to sit, but the use of the cabana was really nice. They even had one available on the family beach. We were only Silver level at the time and figured we would have a better shot being Gold this time. No such luck. I've been checking back periodically just in case there's a cancellation, but I'm not too optimistic.

 

[Retroloco]

Hello All!!! I am curious if anyone has ever done the Rainforest room in the spa. If so, did you enjoy it? Did you do a day pass or week pass? Does it get crowded on sea days?
TIA
Tina

 

[KarenMP59]

Hello All!!! I am curious if anyone has ever done the Rainforest room in the spa. If so, did you enjoy it? Did you do a day pass or week pass? Does it get crowded on sea days?
TIA
Tina

We got a day pass and tried it out last year. My husband and I went together. Neither of us have ever been in a spa so we were curious. First we tried out the showers. Each one is different, some hot some cold. Next we went in the sauna. Hot. LOL. We then went into the heated lounger room. Heavenly. Warm comfy loungers, overlooking the ocean. So relaxing!! There was a woman snoring loudly next to me. There is also a large hot tub which I went into, also nice. Would we do it again? Probably not. I guess we're not spa people. I would say, however, that when our kids were little, I would have loved the relaxing time away from them. We cruise alone now, so everywhere we go is relaxing on the ship!

 

[SailingSeas]

Retroloco; I tend to enjoy it more when i'm cruising without my kids, then when my kids travel with me. I think i'm too stressed by trying to keep tabs on them (even though mine are older) to fully enjoy. That said, i'm getting a full week pass this time, and MAKING myself spend each day in it. I love the downtime, the hot tub, the heated lounges, the sauna, etc. I can't wait.