August 1st 2009 - Eastern 8/1/2009 The Eastern Caribbean Castaways

[joycsk]

wow post 500 on this thread

Congrats to all the shoppers.

I am really looking forward to this cruise.

Ok, so how's this for crazy - I'm not yet shopping for clothes - that's a summer project and since I live near the mother of all thrift shops, I'll wait until I'm done teaching. However, I've already started shopping for souvenirs! My family is going to the butterfly farm on St. Maarten - been there before and it is Wonderful! (There is a sister farm on St. Thomas.) Well, recently in a little craft shop, I saw beautiful pendants made from butterfly wings. I thought it would be great to get some in St. Maarten as souvenirs. By dumb luck, I checked online and the farm charges 2 to 5 times the prices of my little craft store for their pendants. I have no problem with the farm's fundraising, but that up charge is awfully steep! So I went back to my little crafts store and bought some to pack for the cruise and give out at dinner. Sigh. I'm a freak, but as least on this board, I know I'm not alone!

 

[FirstTimeDC]

Melissa,

Glad to hear there are other teen boys on board. We are taking my nephew on the cruise (15yrs old - immature, even for a boy). He doesn't care for the clubs either. He's a great kid but he always seems to meet other kids on cruises and they run around together - instead of doing the "club" thing. Are you coming to the meet at 3:00pm?

 

[joycsk]

Dear newcomers,

It's great to have you! I haven't posted for a few weeks, but it is exciting to see that more are joining us!

I thought that Helen had a great idea of giving our group a name, but I haven't seen anyone reply. I don't usually think of myself as creative in this way. Maybe some ideas can spark others: Eastern (Helen); August or Augustan, Virgin Islands, Dutch/French/American/Bahamanian, When you wish upon a cruise?, Come sail away -- anyone with other ideas - that's all I'm pulling from my brain right now. . .

On a completely other note, even though I'm an American, I have NO idea why the United States does this crazy thing with St. Thomas. Does anyone here know why we clear customs all together at 7 am?

 

[MelissaLG]

FirstTime- Yes, I'm planning on it ... sometimes as a family we get totally sidetracked and go a different direction but I'm not planning on letting that happen; I want to at least meet everyone!

Joy- I thought I read on the boards here somewhere that they weren't doing the St. Thomas customs thing anymore? Hmmm ... I'll see if I can find it.

 

[marcij]

Dear newcomers,

It's great to have you! I haven't posted for a few weeks, but it is exciting to see that more are joining us!

I thought that Helen had a great idea of giving our group a name, but I haven't seen anyone reply. I don't usually think of myself as creative in this way. Maybe some ideas can spark others: Eastern (Helen); August or Augustan, Virgin Islands, Dutch/French/American/Bahamanian, When you wish upon a cruise?, Come sail away -- anyone with other ideas - that's all I'm pulling from my brain right now. . .

On a completely other note, even though I'm an American, I have NO idea why the United States does this crazy thing with St. Thomas. Does anyone here know why we clear customs all together at 7 am?

I'm not good with creating names either...

FirstTime- Yes, I'm planning on it ... sometimes as a family we get totally sidetracked and go a different direction but I'm not planning on letting that happen; I want to at least meet everyone!

Joy- I thought I read on the boards here somewhere that they weren't doing the St. Thomas customs thing anymore? Hmmm ... I'll see if I can find it.

Melissa -- you are correct. No more clearing customs in St. Thomas early in the morning. That was a huge pain!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi Guys

I am so pleased there is no more early clearing of customs

I dont think I need to go to collect passports at 6am as well on the last morning.

Not sure about good cruise name - I like

August 1st a cruise of Eastern promise

Well I am very excited- as today I have been and bought my new iphone
I am now waiting for my old service provider to transfer my phone number then there will be no stopping me!

Oh and the dollar rate is climbing back up for me

Good news all around

 

[MelissaLG]

Helen-

Congrats on getting an iPhone! DH and I are planning on getting iPhones when our current plan is up in July. I have an iPod Touch, which is basically an iPhone without the phone, and I LOVE it. We actually fight over it because there are so many fun apps on it besides just listening to music! Enjoy!

Oh, and another "eye roll" moment from DH to share w/everyone: I've been making a list of "recommended" food items that we seem to have missed on previous Disney Cruises. (Such as paninis from Goofy's, Cove Cafe treats, room service steak sandwich, etc.)

 

[MrsJobba1]

Helen-

Congrats on getting an iPhone! DH and I are planning on getting iPhones when our current plan is up in July. I have an iPod Touch, which is basically an iPhone without the phone, and I LOVE it. We actually fight over it because there are so many fun apps on it besides just listening to music! Enjoy!

Oh, and another "eye roll" moment from DH to share w/everyone: I've been making a list of "recommended" food items that we seem to have missed on previous Disney Cruises. (Such as paninis from Goofy's, Cove Cafe treats, room service steak sandwich, etc.)

my fave food on the cruise

Palo - brunch I love the scallops wrapped in Bacon & Choc dipped strawberries
Palo dinner - choc souffle

For breakfast it has to be Mickey shaped waffles
Also I love ordering room service at bed time - I get a choc milk and cookie
I'm a big kid.

Drinks wise I love sitting in the water at Serenity Bay with a strawberry daquari mmmmmm

I can;t wait

 

[MrsJobba1]

my fave food on the cruise

Palo - brunch I love the scallops wrapped in Bacon & Choc dipped strawberries
Palo dinner - choc souffle

For breakfast it has to be Mickey shaped waffles
Also I love ordering room service at bed time - I get a choc milk and cookie
I'm a big kid.

Drinks wise I love sitting in the water at Serenity Bay with a strawberry daquari mmmmmm

I can;t wait

Needless to say thats why I'm working out and losing weight -My friends at school are really supportive - they say I'm a woman with a mission.

I've lost half a stone in 3 weeks and dropped a dress size

 

[MsLeFever]

A stone is 16 pounds right? Good for you! I'm down 5 pounds and struggling!

 

[disneymom8589]

Ooohhh...food talk! I agree, Helen, the chocolate souffle is fabulous!! I also love Palo's melt-in-the-mouth filet! OK, I'm ready to board the ship right now!! I was hoping I could have lost some more weight before our daughter's wedding and the cruise. There's still some time!!

Kim

 

[MrsJobba1]

A stone is 16 pounds right? Good for you! I'm down 5 pounds and struggling!

I barbara a stone = 14 pounds so its 7 I've lost

Well done on your loss, keep going

Kim there still is time -but judging from the recent photos of your daughters graduation you look great anyway.

Do you have the wedding organised? I can appreciate you'll need the cruise to rest and unwind as a wedding is a very stressfull .

 

[MelissaLG]

Okay, it won't let me post the link because I haven't made 10 posts yet , BUT I watched the Wonder set sail yesterday afternoon on the Port Canaveral webcam. Very cool.

If you watch it at 5pm Florida time on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday you can see the ships leaving port for about 5 minutes. Then, about 20 minutes later you can go to the Cocoa Beach webcam and watch it pass the jetties and go out to sea.

 

[disneymom8589]

I barbara a stone = 14 pounds so its 7 I've lost

Well done on your loss, keep going

Kim there still is time -but judging from the recent photos of your daughters graduation you look great anyway.

Do you have the wedding organised? I can appreciate you'll need the cruise to rest and unwind as a wedding is a very stressfull .

We are definitely coming along with the plans, but it always seems like there is one more thing to remember and write down!! Originally, we were going to take our cruise from July 4-11 because our 25th anniversary fell during that week, but when DD chose July 18 for her wedding date, I just couldn't be gone that soon before the wedding...especially without cell phone coverage! It will be much more relaxing going after the event! Plus, now I can meet all of you!!

Kim

 

[Momtoredheads]

I had seen some really cute ideas on here in which the characters autographed pillowcases and mats for picture frames. Has anyone had any experience with this? From what I can tell, you leave the item(s) in a ziploc bag along with a Sharpie at Guest Services at the beginning of the cruise and it will be returned to you by the end.

I went to Joann's craft store yesterday and picked up a few white mats that will be perfect. I also got a two-pack of standard pillowcases at Target. I was wondering if the Sharpie will wash off over time or do I need to get fabric markers and somehow make it permanent?

OK...I am getting excited as the days are flying by so it gives me something to obsess over!

Thanks guys!!

Maria

 

[MsLeFever]

I'm planning on doing the pillowcase or mat thing too - but I haven't decided exactly which.

Not sure about the sharpie's staying power...although I'm sure that if I got some on a shirt by mistake that it would stay forever!

 

[Momtoredheads]

I am being a total dork and doing both just in case one doesn't come out as I hope. I'll have to look into it a bit more since I had read somewhere about some type of Rit dye that would permanently keep markers and colors from running. I have only looked at one store but, of course, I am not really sure exactly what I am looking for!

Maria

 

[MsLeFever]

Maria; I bet that they make some sort of fabric marker - that might be more reliable than plain old Sharpies!

 

[joycsk]

I am being a total dork and doing both just in case one doesn't come out as I hope. I'll have to look into it a bit more since I had read somewhere about some type of Rit dye that would permanently keep markers and colors from running. I have only looked at one store but, of course, I am not really sure exactly what I am looking for!

Maria

Dear Maria,

I'm planning to do both, too! The pillowcases are for my kids, the mats will be for myself and the other adults on the cruise! I haven't investigated fabric markers yet, but I plan to. Also, I _think_ that the quality of the pillowcase can also have an effect. My kids made some "color in" pillowcases with their grandmother 2 summers ago. (Sold in kits at AC Moore/Michael's crafts.) The cases are lousy quality and are pilling like mad. The marker is still visible, but it has faded over time. The woman on the boards with the killer embroidery machine might be a good person to ask. On the most popular auction site, her username is "gradysmommy." I forget her username here on dis. She posts in the FE forum; I'll try to find it.

 

[MsLeFever]

I've been looking at some of "gradysmommy"'s stuff there! I didn't know that she was a DISer - now I'm more likely to buy one of her FEs. They are a titch pricey but I was thinking of how it could be used at home too - as a place for mail or something....