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

[lostatdisney]

1. Dear Marci, if we're not too late, I'd love 2 adult and 2 kid bracelets. Not _positive_ that I can talk my DH into wearing one, but I think it's an incredible idea.

2. We are doing much of what you are. We booked a private tour of St. Maarten - and if you don't know and want to - there is a man with lots of Star Wars stuff on St. Maarten. I think he goes by the name "The Yoda Guy." That will be a 'can't miss' stop for us. In St. Thomas we are swimming with sea lions, which I mention every time 'cause I'm So excited about that. And the only thing we're doing on CC is the Stingrays. My baby was too young when we first went, so now he gets to come also, which I'm very happy about.

3. Dave, I don't know Rook, but I used to be an avid, though poor, player of pinochle and hearts. FWIW. Also, like Melissa, I don't imagine having lots of free time, but who knows. . .

Happy Wednesday. I finished work last Thursday and largely collapsed. Now I'm ready to start packing!

We were thinking of doing a private tour too. Is there a company you could recommend?

 

[marcij]

We were thinking of doing a private tour too. Is there a company you could recommend?

We've never used this company, but he's been highly recommended on cruise critic and on the DIS. If you look on the main page of the DIS Cruise boards, under the sticky titled: DIS DCL FAQ, then go to excursions, St. Maarten excursion reviews you will see some suggestions. I've been emailing Bernard and have set up a tour with him. On St. Thomas, we are using the person linked to Bernard's website. Both men have been easy to work with and I've seen good reviews about them.

 

[MelissaLG]

You're not too late! Anyone that wants bracelets, just let me know. I probably won't order for another week or so. This is a gift from me, so no charge.

Thanks for the info on The Yoda guy!

Hey Marci, add us for 4 adult sized, if you don't mind. I hadn't replied 'cause I wasn't sure if they guys will wear them (still not sure, actually) but would like them as souvenirs. Also, you are so sweet to purchase them for us but I'm happy to chip in for them! (I think we all need adult. DS14 and DH are about the same size. DS12 and I are about the same size.)

Yoda Guy is Nick Maley - http://www.yodaguy.com/

His store is not too far away from the cruise ship dock in St. Maarten. We are definitely planning a stop there but haven't planned a tour of any sort. I'd love to go to Maho beach 'cause I'm a plane geek, but we will see ... (I'm the only one excited about loud airplanes flying close overhead )

 

[lostatdisney]

We've never used this company, but he's been highly recommended on cruise critic and on the DIS. If you look on the main page of the DIS Cruise boards, under the sticky titled: DIS DCL FAQ, then go to excursions, St. Maarten excursion reviews you will see some suggestions. I've been emailing Bernard and have set up a tour with him. On St. Thomas, we are using the person linked to Bernard's website. Both men have been easy to work with and I've seen good reviews about them.

Okay thanks! We may do that too. We are doing the St. John snorkel/beach thing, but we have had trouble deciding on what to do in St. Maarten. With two teen boys, I don't think I really want to be at the clothing optional beach (although I'm sure Jonathan and Philip would not mind!), but a tour could be a good way to get in a little beach, a little shopping (definitely want to see the Yoda guy!), and an overview of the island.

 

[joycsk]

Okay thanks! We may do that too. We are doing the St. John snorkel/beach thing, but we have had trouble deciding on what to do in St. Maarten. With two teen boys, I don't think I really want to be at the clothing optional beach (although I'm sure Jonathan and Philip would not mind!), but a tour could be a good way to get in a little beach, a little shopping (definitely want to see the Yoda guy!), and an overview of the island.

We are also using Bernard's Tours based upon Dis recommendations. I haven't set up our itinerary yet, but I do know what I want to do - Butterfly farm, Maho Beach, Yoda Guy and a jewelry store, possibly in that order. I figured that once I was "officially" a month out, I would email him to set that up.

Thanks for the further info on the Yoda Guy!

 

[MelissaLG]

We are also using Bernard's Tours based upon Dis recommendations. I haven't set up our itinerary yet, but I do know what I want to do - Butterfly farm, Maho Beach, Yoda Guy and a jewelry store, possibly in that order. I figured that once I was "officially" a month out, I would email him to set that up.

Thanks for the further info on the Yoda Guy!

We are SO close to being "officially" a month out!! Yea!! I check every day to see if we've been assigned a stateroom # (this is the first time I've done a lower Cat Gty; saving some $$ by not doing a verandah. Hope I don't regret that decision!).

 

[MrsJobba1]

We are SO close to being "officially" a month out!! Yea!! I check every day to see if we've been assigned a stateroom # (this is the first time I've done a lower Cat Gty; saving some $$ by not doing a verandah. Hope I don't regret that decision!).

I can't beleive we are nearly a month out!

I keep checking my phone to see if I get the call from DCL to say we have the private room at Palo for brunch - fingers x

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi guys just bumping us back to the 1st page.

So what are your plans for his weekend?

Dave and I are attending a friends wedding in Inverness ( which isright at the top of Scotland a mere 7 hrs drive. ) we set offlast night and are halfway there.

We have 3 weeks left at school! Ok I confess I'm far too excited to concentrate on anything at the moment lol x

Sorry dave we've never heard of rook.

Take care all

happy Saturday x

 

[MelissaLG]

Hi guys just bumping us back to the 1st page.

So what are your plans for his weekend?

Dave and I are attending a friends wedding in Inverness ( which isright at the top of Scotland a mere 7 hrs drive. ) we set offlast night and are halfway there.

We have 3 weeks left at school! Ok I confess I'm far too excited to concentrate on anything at the moment lol x

Sorry dave we've never heard of rook.

Take care all

happy Saturday x

Hi! Your trip to Inverness sounds like fun! We're having a quiet weekend, which I'm glad of, as last weekend we were celebrating my son's birthday so it was quite busy.

I just got back from a 3-mile run. It is so hot that it was miserable. 90 degrees and extremely high humidity already at 9am. Ugh!

Today we're doing haircuts for the guys and maybe the bookstore. Tomorrow, just grocery shopping.

Not glamorous but it will be relaxing! What's everyone else up to?

 

[disneymom8589]

Hi guys just bumping us back to the 1st page.

So what are your plans for his weekend?

Dave and I are attending a friends wedding in Inverness ( which isright at the top of Scotland a mere 7 hrs drive. ) we set offlast night and are halfway there.

We have 3 weeks left at school! Ok I confess I'm far too excited to concentrate on anything at the moment lol x

Sorry dave we've never heard of rook.

Take care all

happy Saturday x

Hope you had a fun wedding! Can you believe we are 5 weeks away from sailing!!

This morning I was at a bridal shower brunch at church for my DD, who is getting married in a mere 3 weeks!! I think my twitching eyelid is my stress!! The shower was beautiful (as was the sunny weather!)...held in the courtyard area outside.

 

[MelissaLG]

Hi guys just bumping us back to the 1st page.

So what are your plans for his weekend?

Dave and I are attending a friends wedding in Inverness ( which isright at the top of Scotland a mere 7 hrs drive. ) we set offlast night and are halfway there.

We have 3 weeks left at school! Ok I confess I'm far too excited to concentrate on anything at the moment lol x

Sorry dave we've never heard of rook.

Take care all

happy Saturday x

Hi again Helen, I have a question for you. When do you have to go back to school? I am just curious as to how your school's schedule differs from our. My boys' last day was May 28 and they start back up August 18. They are slightly bummed about the vacation timing because they have about one last week of summer when we get back, then school starts. (Ah, to be young and have such silly things to be bummed about .)

Still no SR assignment for us yet. I check every day! Should be soon!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi again Helen, I have a question for you. When do you have to go back to school? I am just curious as to how your school's schedule differs from our. My boys' last day was May 28 and they start back up August 18. They are slightly bummed about the vacation timing because they have about one last week of summer when we get back, then school starts. (Ah, to be young and have such silly things to be bummed about .)

Still no SR assignment for us yet. I check every day! Should be soon!

Hi we break up July 17th and start back sept 7th. Every 4 yrs we get seven wks off in the summer instead of the usual 6.

We have a week off in oct , then 2 weeks for Christmas .

We then have a week off in feb & 2 weeks for Easter . Then finally a week at the end of may .

Hope that helps ! I can't believe we r nearly in July.

 

[MsLeFever]

One stop we are doing a beach excursion and the other we are doing Doubloon Sail and Snorkel. Bennett is going to Bubba's fishing with his grandpa when we go to the beach.

On Castaway he and I are going parasailing - I'm really excited about that!

Jack and I would be up for some cards - we used to play Rook and I imagine could remember how.

Had Mom and Dad's big 50th last Saturday - the actual date of their wedding which was great - lots of friends and family to celebrate. We are celebrating on formal night on the cruise as well.

 

[MelissaLG]

No magical upgrade

Got a Cat 9 which is what I reserved but did get the big porthole on Deck 2 not Deck 1 w/the two little portholes. We really loved having verandas on our previous DCs so I may see how much it would be to upgrade. But not unhappy if we don't ... don't plan on spending a lot of time in the room!

Tomorrow we are at 30 days!!!
(Okay, sort of ... technically 31 but we leave on the 31st so I'm counting it as 30!)

 

[lostatdisney]

Hooray! We set sail just one month from today!

I was curious as to how full the ship is, so yesterday I went online to see what they would list for a family of five. It looks like only the higher catergories are available - no cat 4s.

We are traveling with many relatives, so I won't do the cruise meet, but I am going to be looking for those of you with the green wristbands and will come say hello!

 

[MelissaLG]

Hi lost! I agree, the ship seems pretty full. I did some research online and then called Disney this morning. They have NO Cat. 4s, 5s, 6s, or 7s available. He offered me an upgrade to a Cat 3 (suite) for the tune of $14k! Yikes - we'll stick with our Cat. 9. It's in the aft section (aft rhymes with *** which means we're in the booty of the boat ), not thrilled with that but maybe that'll keep us out of the room more!

Did you get your tour arranged on St. Maarten?

 

[lostatdisney]

Yes, we are going with Bernard's Tours. Since there are quite a few of us, we are doing a private tour. It seems that Bernard is now asking for a credit card to hold the reservation. It sounds like people have been bad about making a reservation and not showing up or even running out before they paid! I'm a little nervous about giving my credit card number to someone in St. Maarten, but I guess I will do it. Did y'all decide for sure what you're doing in St. Maarten?

 

[MelissaLG]

Yes, we are going with Bernard's Tours. Since there are quite a few of us, we are doing a private tour. It seems that Bernard is now asking for a credit card to hold the reservation. It sounds like people have been bad about making a reservation and not showing up or even running out before they paid! I'm a little nervous about giving my credit card number to someone in St. Maarten, but I guess I will do it. Did y'all decide for sure what you're doing in St. Maarten?

Yep, we decided for sure that we're winging it! We seem to be "wing it" sort of people (everyone but me, anyway - drives me nuts), so I'm sure we'll find something fun to do!

I've heard a LOT of good things about Bernard's so hopefully you'll be fine. I'm always nervous, too, about giving my cc info to an "unknown" company. I'm still debating about the parasailing on St. Thomas. There's a company online where I can use a cc to reserve it, but I've also heard that it might be better to just show up and find a vendor when we're there.

 

[SpinDisc]

Yep, we decided for sure that we're winging it! We seem to be "wing it" sort of people (everyone but me, anyway - drives me nuts), so I'm sure we'll find something fun to do!

I've heard a LOT of good things about Bernard's so hopefully you'll be fine. I'm always nervous, too, about giving my cc info to an "unknown" company. I'm still debating about the parasailing on St. Thomas. There's a company online where I can use a cc to reserve it, but I've also heard that it might be better to just show up and find a vendor when we're there.

If you're worried about your cc & parasailing in St. Thomas, I can report that the parasailing at Castaway Cay is pretty fun! Granted it's been 3 years since I did it, and it probably is more expensive than in St. Thomas, but just an option.

1 Month!!!

 

[SpinDisc]

And not like I'm lurking or anything but wanted to be post # 700!

Sorry I haven't been around more..between closing on a house and finishing plans for the wedding I've been a little busy.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!
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