April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Inagural Wonder to Hawaii-Part 3

[dolphingirl47]

Corinna, I know for sure they have in the past. We switched up a couple different excursions in 2008 and neither was because of what we wanted being full - we'd simply changed our minds. That said, the shore excursion dude was quite snippy with us, but didn't hesitate to change things.

debg

We had no trouble in 2006 on a WONDER cruise to Nassau. The best bet is to call DCL and ask but if they tell you NO, then ask at the Excursions Desk anyway. The home office does not always know what is going on with the ship's scheduling.

That's good to know. It might not matter. We actually just had another look at the excursions and we are both very happy with them. Our excursion to Hana is now confirmed as well.

I only ever had to swap something around once and that was entirely DCL's fault. On most cruises, we have one day were DH and I do different excursions. For our Mexican Riviera cruise, we had booked separate excursions for our second stop in Cabo and nothing for the first stop as we wanted to go exploring on our own. When we got on the ship, I noticed that they had moved my excursions to the first Cabo day. So I asked them to move DH's excursion to that day as well, which they did without any problems.

Corinna

 

[debg]

IS anyone planning to send box with FEs or something else to the port? I did it last year in Port Canaveral and had no problems for Port of Los Angeles I didn't read much reviews about that.

I'm hoping to send a box with things like my white noise fan and corkscrews and coffee mugs and all the miscellaneous schtuff that take up so much room in the suitcases, though I haven't looked into it at all for Port of Los Angeles. I've been wondering more about how to send things back home - looks like LAX doesn't have a post office. What I might end up doing is bringing stuff that's old/used up/seen better days and just trash it all at the end of the cruise. We're flying SW so I could just bring an additional suitcase but I really like to keep it light when traveling - my philosophy is just because I can take two bags for free doesn't mean I should, LOL!

debg

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Thanks so much, Deb! What a time saver! I didn't find a brunch spot but that's ok... I've already got one, I was just hoping to switch days. This way will make it much easier to check every now and then.

debg

Oh that is awesome! Thanks so much for this. Not that they have any brunch or tea's , but it makes frequent checking SO much easier! Thanks again!

Fantastic! Thanks so much. I can't believe I never noticed that before. What a time saver!

You are all very welcome and to tell you the honest truth, it took me a while to find it and that was just by accident. It's not readily displayed.....you have to look for it.

 

[Pixiegran]

I'm hoping to send a box with things like my white noise fan and corkscrews and coffee mugs and all the miscellaneous schtuff that take up so much room in the suitcases, though I haven't looked into it at all for Port of Los Angeles. I've been wondering more about how to send things back home - looks like LAX doesn't have a post office. What I might end up doing is bringing stuff that's old/used up/seen better days and just trash it all at the end of the cruise. We're flying SW so I could just bring an additional suitcase but I really like to keep it light when traveling - my philosophy is just because I can take two bags for free doesn't mean I should, LOL!

debg

We are taking the idea of taking something old that we need on trip and trashing it also ...but in this case we are considering doing it with a walker or wheelchair

My daughter needs to be in her wheelchair on the ship, but on solid ground and not large crowds- she can usually get by using her walker and on great days manages with a cane. On my bad days I use a walker, but normally I am pushing her chair so that is my walker. The two take up a lot of room in our car and when you add cruise luggage it is full.
We have a friend flying down to meet us after cruise to do Disneyland and she will drive with us back to her home north of San Francisco. So unless she wants to ride for 2 days with a suitcase in her lap?????
So at this point we are bringing our older walker and her old wheelchair and will arrange with hotel to donate the one we leave behind.
If I do much shopping in Hawaii I will mail a box home from LA and I always have Disney ship the majority of my purchases home

 

[EllaEnchanted]

IS anyone planning to send box with FEs or something else to the port? I did it last year in Port Canaveral and had no problems for Port of Los Angeles I didn't read much reviews about that.

Linda sent her scrapbooking materials and I sent my Champagne Girls things to LA for the LA/Repo - first Alaskan cruises. We both had problems. Mine arrived late, so did Linda's and Linda never got one of her boxes and I believe another one was damaged.

I can't say that it happens all the time or if this was one isolated incident because it's the only time I have mailed to LA.

Perhaps they have worked out the bugs by now.

 

[Lexa]

Linda sent her scrapbooking materials and I sent my Champagne Girls things to LA for the LA/Repo - first Alaskan cruises. We both had problems. Mine arrived late, so did Linda's and Linda never got one of her boxes and I believe another one was damaged.

I can't say that it happens all the time or if this was one isolated incident because it's the only time I have mailed to LA.

Perhaps they have worked out the bugs by now.

Thats what I'm scared of...box getting lost or being too late....then what I'll do with FEs after the cruise ? Not sure what I'm gonna do......

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Thats what I'm scared of...box getting lost or being too late....then what I'll do with FEs after the cruise ? Not sure what I'm gonna do......

You could mail them to your hotel and then just carry them onboard, bring an extra bag with you. At least then you don't have to fly with them.

 

[MrsMork]

Linda sent her scrapbooking materials and I sent my Champagne Girls things to LA for the LA/Repo - first Alaskan cruises. We both had problems. Mine arrived late, so did Linda's and Linda never got one of her boxes and I believe another one was damaged.

I can't say that it happens all the time or if this was one isolated incident because it's the only time I have mailed to LA.

Perhaps they have worked out the bugs by now.

Three boxes out of three boxes from 2 different people doesn't sound like an isolated incident to me. I guess with that record, I would not send anything I really needed.

 

[MrsMork]

You could mail them to your hotel and then just carry them onboard, bring an extra bag with you. At least then you don't have to fly with them.

This sounds like a good idea!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I'm getting closer to being ready everyday. Just ordered an itinerary tee shirt and hawaii hat for this trip. Then bought new sizes for one formal dress and two semi-formal/Palo dresses. I'll have to buy a tropical dress onboard or in the stores when I hit the islands, unless one of mine still fits. I'll have to try it on. Then I ordered three pairs of capri pants, which on me are full length to do dinners. I have tops that I can bring to wear that still fit.

All I have to do is pay for two non-DCL excursions and I'm ready to start packing. YEAH!!!!!

 

[Pixiegran]

I'm getting closer to being ready everyday. Just ordered an itinerary tee shirt and hawaii hat for this trip. Then bought new sizes for one formal dress and two semi-formal/Palo dresses. I'll have to buy a tropical dress onboard or in the stores when I hit the islands, unless one of mine still fits. I'll have to try it on. Then I ordered three pairs of capri pants, which on me are full length to do dinners. I have tops that I can bring to wear that still fit.

All I have to do is pay for two non-DCL excursions and I'm ready to start packing. YEAH!!!!!

Where did you find an itinerary tee shirt?

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Sew, what has everyone been up to today

I've been sewing.

Good news and bad news.

The good news is that the sewing machine still works and I remember how to use it.

The bad new is the pattern I picked does not work or fit right.

The good news is I made a test skirt out of some vintage material.

The better news is that I found a different pattern that will be perfect.

I think I worked out all the bugs for when it comes time to cut the cruise cloth.

Admitttedly I am a wee bit scared of so doing.

That will be next weekend....Time for

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Where did you find an itinerary tee shirt?

Follow the link on page 182 then when you're on that page, click on Los Angeles at the top of the page and there's Hawaii items for sale. The tee shirts have a map of the itinerary.

 

[Pixiegran]

Follow the link on page 182 then when you're on that page, click on Los Angeles at the top of the page and there's Hawaii items for sale. The tee shirts have a map of the itinerary.

missed the map part of it...will check again thanks

 

[LindaBabe]

I'm shipping a box of books to my pre-cruise hotel. I know they'll look out for it - and my FE gifts are coming with me!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

missed the map part of it...will check again thanks

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Has anyone figured out or budgeted for the minimum amount for tips on this cruise.....since it's so long. I'm thinking ballpark $300-400 for two adults. Then I can always add on if I prefer. But I always budget in my base amount. Has anyone calculated it yet?

 

[dolphingirl47]

Based on the suggested tip amounts it would be $360 for two adults.

Corinna

 

[Lexa]

You could mail them to your hotel and then just carry them onboard, bring an extra bag with you. At least then you don't have to fly with them.

Sounds like a great idea. Thanks!

 

[Lexa]

I'm getting closer to being ready everyday. Just ordered an itinerary tee shirt and hawaii hat for this trip. Then bought new sizes for one formal dress and two semi-formal/Palo dresses. I'll have to buy a tropical dress onboard or in the stores when I hit the islands, unless one of mine still fits. I'll have to try it on. Then I ordered three pairs of capri pants, which on me are full length to do dinners. I have tops that I can bring to wear that still fit.

All I have to do is pay for two non-DCL excursions and I'm ready to start packing. YEAH!!!!!

You are busy LOL....well, I orders our shirts too, got a Hawaiian print dress for me, shirt for DH and outfits for kids...so we will all look like a big hibiscus LOL. Didn;t start packing just yet.