April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Inagural Wonder to Hawaii-Part 4

[Pixiegran]

Great idea ... I will bring some memento of her with me .. she always wanted to cruise to Hawaii! Sorry to hear that your mom didn't make it to WDW .. My mom came to Disney with me three times. Just not cruising ... guess I waited too long.



Got my Reserved order ... I've decided to stop looking ..!

Kirstyn wanted to order a necklace from another vendor, but they won't ship to Canada... Do you think the DoubleTree will accept the order???

If not I would be happy to have it shipped to me and I can send it to you in Ontario or just bring it to ship. I am traveling by car so no problem to carry extra if it isd slow in shipping, but ordered this week should be plenty of time for me to mail it on to you. I live in Seattle area of Washington.

 

[Pixiegran]

We just returned from a 14-night Hawaii cruise (not DCL).

Here are some random thoughts.

• The days at sea can be very rough. We had rough seas the first 1-1/2 days leaving the west coast, and on the 2 days leaving Hawaii. (Bring something for motion sickness.)
  
• The weather on the islands can be unpredictable. We had rain showers on Maui and Kauai. (Pack a jacket or umbrella in your daybag when going ashore.)
  
• Port arrival times can vary widely. We arrived an hour early at one port, and two hours late at another. (If you book a private tour, be careful with the timing.)

Otherwise, it is a fantastic cruise and we would do it again.

YMMV

Woody

I think the seas are just the luck of the draw. Had neighbors return recently from sailing to New Zealand - from CA - and they has less than 2 hrs rough seas heading out..period. But good advice all around thank you for sharing.

 

[castoff]

Well, I joined the board back in 2000, and I had to go look to figure out what the heck you guys were talking about.....shows you how out of the loop I am!
CG earrings are too cute! And i do plan to bring more cash with me, for sure.....and still sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop & DCL saying we need to do the structured tasting like they did on the Magic & are doing on the Fantasy.....but fingers crossed and we will see. Either way it will be fun!
.

What is the structured tasting ?

If you need help with the dry....well. I could be convinced to assist...

No arm twisting then ? Good to know.

We just returned from a 14-night Hawaii cruise (not DCL).

Here are some random thoughts.

• The days at sea can be very rough. We had rough seas the first 1-1/2 days leaving the west coast, and on the 2 days leaving Hawaii. (Bring something for motion sickness.)
  
• The weather on the islands can be unpredictable. We had rain showers on Maui and Kauai. (Pack a jacket or umbrella in your daybag when going ashore.)
  
• Port arrival times can vary widely. We arrived an hour early at one port, and two hours late at another. (If you book a private tour, be careful with the timing.)

Otherwise, it is a fantastic cruise and we would do it again.

YMMV

Woody

Thanks for your imput. Rough seas were my concern.

 

[gdaneowner]

I think the seas are just the luck of the draw. Had neighbors return recently from sailing to New Zealand - from CA - and they has less than 2 hrs rough seas heading out..period. But good advice all around thank you for sharing.

I am hoping that we get seas like this!.. I am prone to motion sickness, so easy seas would make me happy!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

We just returned from a 14-night Hawaii cruise (not DCL).

Here are some random thoughts.

• The days at sea can be very rough. We had rough seas the first 1-1/2 days leaving the west coast, and on the 2 days leaving Hawaii. (Bring something for motion sickness.)
  
• The weather on the islands can be unpredictable. We had rain showers on Maui and Kauai. (Pack a jacket or umbrella in your daybag when going ashore.)
  
• Port arrival times can vary widely. We arrived an hour early at one port, and two hours late at another. (If you book a private tour, be careful with the timing.)

Otherwise, it is a fantastic cruise and we would do it again.

YMMV

Woody

Thank you for the update.....and for the reminder for bringing the panchos....I'll leave the Mickey ones at home.

How rough is rough? I'll keep reading maybe this was answered.

And Happy DST all...Aloha Kakahiaka.

 

[Lexa]

We just returned from a 14-night Hawaii cruise (not DCL).

Here are some random thoughts.

• The days at sea can be very rough. We had rough seas the first 1-1/2 days leaving the west coast, and on the 2 days leaving Hawaii. (Bring something for motion sickness.)
  
• The weather on the islands can be unpredictable. We had rain showers on Maui and Kauai. (Pack a jacket or umbrella in your daybag when going ashore.)
  
• Port arrival times can vary widely. We arrived an hour early at one port, and two hours late at another. (If you book a private tour, be careful with the timing.)

Otherwise, it is a fantastic cruise and we would do it again.

YMMV

Woody

Thank you woody for information....rough seas are my concern too.....never before had any rough seas and no needs for any medication, but I hear so much now for sailing to Hawaii that it might be rough.....

I have a question for everyone....port times we see online...are we going on Hawaii local time or is that ship time.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

I am hoping that we get seas like this!.. I am prone to motion sickness, so easy seas would make me happy!

We were in Tropical Storm Gamma on the Magic in 2005....And that was the crew!!!! The decks were closed, Formal night was a disaster but I met one of the very BEST crew members ever and have followed her as she has gone from ship to ship....Benita.....she is now on the Dream and in January was in 687. Her old fashioned remedy worked.......I had been down for the count and then some....ever since, motion sickness tablets are in my bag....Losing two days on a 7 night cruise was not fun......

But, we will have nice weather, we will have nice weather, we will have nice weather....(where is that Dorothy and Toto smilie anyway???)

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Thank you woody for information....rough seas are my concern too.....never before had any rough seas and no needs for any medication, but I hear so much now for sailing to Hawaii that it might be rough.....

I have a question for everyone....port times we see online...are we going on Hawaii local time or is that ship time.

Good question. Every Disney cruise I have taken ship's time matches local time.

 

[SQUIGGLE]

Fran, you have two options. You can buy an internet package and use it in your stateroom with your iPad, but the connection is often slow or knocks you off a lot. You can go to the Cove Cafe or the Atrium where the signal tends to be stronger. OR you can go to the computer center next to the Promenade Lounge and for a fee you can use their computers. This tends to be a good signal. If you're only going to use it one time, I would suggest the least expensive way of going to the computer center. If you are going to use it more often, for convenience you may want to purchase an internet package. They usually charge X amount of minutes for X amount of dollars. I don't recall what the exact rates are offhand. I hope this helps.

Thanks so much. This is just what I need to know.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I just thought it was weird and yes it's the only one I have gotten.




I have no problem with chipping in more. Sippers are less right ? I am not going to have any of the dry champagne but I am interested in trying the sweet. I have never done any tasting on DCL.........one reason for me is I know I couldn't drink all that is offered.

Hi Tina, yes....sippers are only $5. We always start with Rosa Regale which is a big favorite and it's sweet. I think you will like it.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Well, I joined the board back in 2000, and I had to go look to figure out what the heck you guys were talking about.....shows you how out of the loop I am!


CG earrings are too cute! And i do plan to bring more cash with me, for sure.....and still sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop & DCL saying we need to do the structured tasting like they did on the Magic & are doing on the Fantasy.....but fingers crossed and we will see. Either way it will be fun!
.

Bev, if DCL tries to tell me that.....I will fight it fiercely!!!! I started doing the Champagne Girl tastings in 2008. I introduced it to DCL. They better not even THINK about trying to change my format. I'll go right to the top at DCL and complain.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

If you need help with the dry....well. I could be convinced to assist...

I'm a dry only champagne drinker too. You will like the ones that I pick out to try.

 

[gdaneowner]

We were in Tropical Storm Gamma on the Magic in 2005....And that was the crew!!!! The decks were closed, Formal night was a disaster but I met one of the very BEST crew members ever and have followed her as she has gone from ship to ship....Benita.....she is now on the Dream and in January was in 687. Her old fashioned remedy worked.......I had been down for the count and then some....ever since, motion sickness tablets are in my bag....Losing two days on a 7 night cruise was not fun......

But, we will have nice weather, we will have nice weather, we will have nice weather....(where is that Dorothy and Toto smilie anyway???)

Well let's hope we are tropical storm free!.. And rough seas free, and anything else that might cause a less than awesome cruise! I am in Kansas, so I will try clicking my heals!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We just returned from a 14-night Hawaii cruise (not DCL).

Here are some random thoughts.

• The days at sea can be very rough. We had rough seas the first 1-1/2 days leaving the west coast, and on the 2 days leaving Hawaii. (Bring something for motion sickness.)
  
• The weather on the islands can be unpredictable. We had rain showers on Maui and Kauai. (Pack a jacket or umbrella in your daybag when going ashore.)
  
• Port arrival times can vary widely. We arrived an hour early at one port, and two hours late at another. (If you book a private tour, be careful with the timing.)

Otherwise, it is a fantastic cruise and we would do it again.

YMMV

Woody

Hi Woody!!!! How is Mrs. Woody??? Say hi from me and John. It's so good to see you over here and thank you for the heads up.

I'm fine with the rough seas as long as I'm not doing the Champage Girls tasting. That happened to us on the Alaska cruise. It was not pleasant.

I'll bring a rain hat and I'm good with the arrival times for the non DCL excursions.....I'm doing a helicopter ride on the big island two hours after we're due to arrive in port and a hop on hop off bus in Oahu and a luau, but that's late in the afternoon. So I should be fine.

I'm glad you and Mrs. Woody loved it and would do it again. Now I know I'm going to have a great time.

Sorry we're not going to get to see you this time when we're in town since we're staying only one night before departing and we'll be at the port. No time for play, but if you get to Orlando area next year, we'll be living there and we'll get together. Keep us in mind.

 

[dylan'smom]

Bev, if DCL tries to tell me that.....I will fight it fiercely!!!! I started doing the Champagne Girl tastings in 2008. I introduced it to DCL. They better not even THINK about trying to change my format. I'll go right to the top at DCL and complain.

I'm a dry only champagne drinker too. You will like the ones that I pick out to try.

I like dry too!! My fave is Moet Chandon Imperial Brut...and maybe Dom...lol But I happily settle for Korbel when I sail....so I'm easy! Look forward to the event & hope they do not give you any grief!!!!

.......
But, we will have nice weather, we will have nice weather, we will have nice weather....(where is that Dorothy and Toto smilie anyway???)

Yes, we will have VERY nice weather!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

What is the structured tasting ?

Tina, I have been told that DCL charges $20 per person, for 1 hour, 4 champagnes, they pick the champagne and the order and they limit the number of people. That's not how I do it. I charge 0, $5 or $10, for 2 hours, 4 champagnes and I pick the champagne and the order and I don't limit the number of people, unless we hit near 100. So my event is more time to be social and chat. DCL will have a person doing all the pouring. I always have my husband so that everybody has a chance to get up and walk around and talk to each other. This time I have my DH John, and a friend Dennis and another friend Dennis pouring since we have so many ladies. YES the men will be wearing pink too. I want mine to be more of a fun atmosphere and a social gathering not just a tasting....less structure.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I like dry too!! My fave is Moet Chandon Imperial Brut...and maybe Dom...lol But I happily settle for Korbel when I sail....so I'm easy! Look forward to the event & hope they do not give you any grief!!!!

Those are my favorites too....Might I suggest that you try the Moet Chandon White Star....I like it even more than the Imperial Brut. It's good. I have never had Dom, but I'll drink Korbel Brut as well.

 

[Lexa]

Good question. Every Disney cruise I have taken ship's time matches local time.

Not this time and Hawaii is one of two states where they don't observe daylight savings time.

 

[dylan'smom]

Those are my favorites too....Might I suggest that you try the Moet Chandon White Star....I like it even more than the Imperial Brut. It's good. I have never had Dom, but I'll drink Korbel Brut as well.

Okay Deb, we not only like the same room on that massive boat, but now we like the same bubbly!!! A kindred spirit!!!

Oh yes, I have tried White Star - very nice!! Years ago my (then) boyfriend was manager of a high end restaurant with a giant wine cellar. So on special occasions he would always open a bottle of Dom. Also got to try great french vintage reds like Chateau Lafite Rothchild (sp?), and love a good red too! But......this is all a very distant memory, having been married 24 yrs (to someone else)!! I think the veuve clicquot is very yummy too, though I don't want to pay those cruise ship prices....did I mention I'm also pretty cheap?

Thanks so much for arranging this!!
.

 

[Pixiegran]

Thank you woody for information....rough seas are my concern too.....never before had any rough seas and no needs for any medication, but I hear so much now for sailing to Hawaii that it might be rough.....

I have a question for everyone....port times we see online...are we going on Hawaii local time or is that ship time.

The ships have always told us to change our watches every change in time zone, so ship time and Hawaii time should be the same.