August 2, 2011 - WONDERful Alaskan Adventure

[M&C]

Hi M&C - yes, we're the other San Diego family - we live near Sea World in Bay Park actually.

Welcome to the Cruise Meet and FB page...maybe we can get together sometime before the cruise and compare notes!!

We have a DS (4 1/2), so not much fun for your DDs unless they like to babsit!

Hi SanDiegoSteph, Yeah, what's up with this weather? Enough already. Flowers are already blooming.

We live down south in Chula Vista, but my older daughter goes to school around 8/805 so we're up there quite a bit. I also work downtown.

I thought I saw that you're pretty far along with your plans. I've only just finally figured out the cruise date. My husband booked us for the July 26 sailing, but we realized that would be too close to summer classes. This sailing gives us a little time (I think) after the first summer session. They won't post the schedule till April so I still hesitate to set up other details till I at least know that.

I'll have to go back to the posts to find the facebook link.

Oh, and babysitting can be arranged.

 

[M&C]

Hi, M & C! While I can't help with the older DD, my DD is 10 and will be headed toward 11 on the cruise. She'll be stoked to learn that I've found another girl. I've had two families take me up on writing pen pal letters, but they've both been boys.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Hi joycsk!

Oh, we don't expect to see our older daughter during the cruise. I think there's a black hole where teenagers disappear to.

That is so nice that your daughter is having a birthday during the cruise. My DD's birthday is on August 6, our little atomic bomb I asked her if she wants to be a penpal. After the explanation, she said yes. I think if you said Skype or email, she would have responded faster. I do like the letter writing though. That should be fun.

Have a great rest of the week!

 

[joycsk]

Hi joycsk!

Oh, we don't expect to see our older daughter during the cruise. I think there's a black hole where teenagers disappear to.

That is so nice that your daughter is having a birthday during the cruise. My DD's birthday is on August 6, our little atomic bomb I asked her if she wants to be a penpal. After the explanation, she said yes. I think if you said Skype or email, she would have responded faster. I do like the letter writing though. That should be fun.

Have a great rest of the week!

So sorry to have mis-led you. Alison's birthday isn't until October, but she'll be closing in on 11. If you prefer to use email, we would be happy to do that as well as real mail. Alison does have her own email acct, but doesn't always check it. I can PM you either way. If your DD prefers email, that's fine with us!

Good luck with the Black Hole. I teach teenagers, so I kinda understand; however, I'm sure I'll suffer withdrawal when the time comes!

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Hi joycsk!
My DD's birthday is on August 6, our little atomic bomb

Wahoo - we'll have to celebrate on the 6th together - it will be my hubby and my anniversary (6 years). Our DS will turn 5 on Aug 14th, so just missing a cruising celebration, but we may do it early since DCL is such a special place.

 

[PE_TCR]

My parents (joining us on the cruise will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Aug 7)

San Diego people - what do you think about meeting up the last week in March? I will be in San Diego for the National Physical Education Teachers conference. I'll be atthe Embassy Suites downtown. Anyone want to get together for a bit?

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Hey Brian:

Just let us know your dates and your available evenings and we'd love to join you downtown for a drink or even dinner if everyone has time.

See you soon!
Stephanie

 

[M&C]

My parents (joining us on the cruise will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Aug 7)

San Diego people - what do you think about meeting up the last week in March? I will be in San Diego for the National Physical Education Teachers conference. I'll be atthe Embassy Suites downtown. Anyone want to get together for a bit?

Yes, I'm up for an early meet! Let me know what works for you.

 

[motherofallfans]

Just booked this cruise as a surprise for DH for our anniversary. We are coming without the kids (the're going to camp!) so it will just be us: me (39) DH (39).
We live just North of Vancouver and I am very much looking forward to the ease of this cruise.
We would like to take part in the FE &/or Secret Mickey

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

We live just North of Vancouver and I am very much looking forward to the ease of this cruise.

Hello and WELCOME! How nice for all of us to have a "local" cruising with us and part of our little merry band of DISers.

Would love to pick your brain as to all things Vancouver since we'll be spending a couple of days in your fine city prior to the cruise. Would you mind?

Can you suggest your favorite reasonable cost restaurants for kids near Stanley Park? We're staying at the Times Square Suites right near Stanley Park on Denman.

Do you have a list of "must dos" in/around Vancouver that you would suggest for folks with small children and/or older (not great walkers) grandparents?

Do you know how crazy things may be for the PRIDE parade/fest on Sunday? We're a bit concerned that the festivities will not be appropriate for our 5 year old to witness. Do you think we could escape the chaos if we spend the day in Stanley park? I understand the parade doesn't start until noon and wraps up by 3pm, but I'm not sure how much pre/post-parade stuff we can expect around our hotel.

Again, welcome, welcome, welcome to our group and thanks in advance for any insight you can give about Vancouver-ish stuff!

 

[Skiboy116]

Count 4 from Orlando in for the trip to the great white north.

 

[PE_TCR]

Skiboy-
Welcome. Feel free to join us on facebook as well.

Everyone- I was wondering about or meet some more. Sinmce it seems like a lot of us are staying the night before do we want to do a dinner or woudl a brunch before we board be better? I know my family gets into Vancouver from Seattle on the train on Monday about 11 and we will be going to Grouse Mountain and going to the "Eye of the Wind." Would anyone like to join us? Does dinner for pizza still work for people or do we want to do a brunch at Canada Place or someplace real close?

 

[motherofallfans]

I have to work right up until we leave for the ship on Tuesday so a Monday dinner works better for us.

 

[joycsk]

I have to work right up until we leave for the ship on Tuesday so a Monday dinner works better for us.

I'm kinda with motherofallfans on this. While a brunch before boarding _sounds_ lovely, I can also see my children wanting to be at port the moment the ship is. I feel as though dinner would be a more relaxed way to see people, rather than possibly rushing around on the morning of boarding.

 

[kate2961]

Skiboy-
Welcome. Feel free to join us on facebook as well.

Everyone- I was wondering about or meet some more. Sinmce it seems like a lot of us are staying the night before do we want to do a dinner or woudl a brunch before we board be better? I know my family gets into Vancouver from Seattle on the train on Monday about 11 and we will be going to Grouse Mountain and going to the "Eye of the Wind." Would anyone like to join us? Does dinner for pizza still work for people or do we want to do a brunch at Canada Place or someplace real close?

A meet sounds good to us before the cruise. We're flexible to what people want to do. It will be our fisrt trip to Vancouver so we are really looking forward to trying some new restaurants.

Kate

 

[M&C]

Skiboy-
Welcome. Feel free to join us on facebook as well.

Everyone- I was wondering about or meet some more. Sinmce it seems like a lot of us are staying the night before do we want to do a dinner or woudl a brunch before we board be better? I know my family gets into Vancouver from Seattle on the train on Monday about 11 and we will be going to Grouse Mountain and going to the "Eye of the Wind." Would anyone like to join us? Does dinner for pizza still work for people or do we want to do a brunch at Canada Place or someplace real close?

Hey PE_TCR, we're planning on taking the train from Seattle too. I'm just not sure if we want to do that on Sunday or Monday. We've never been to Vancouver or Seattle and haven't finalized plans yet. We might be flying in to Seattle on Saturday. What's Grouse Mountain and Eye of the Wind?

We vote for dinner too. Seems like embarkation day might get busy.

 

[SCFamily4]

For those with kids:

I have a DD age 10 and a DS age 7. Does anyone have kids in a similar age range who might be interested in being pen pals prior to the cruise. My daughter did this 2 years ago, and it went pretty well. Just a thought We can make arrangemets via PM if anyone is interested.

My DD is 8, and will turn 9 on August 2. She is so exciting about celebrating her birthday on the cruise ship! I know she would love to be a pen pal (email or snail mail!). Let me know if you are still looking for a pen pal!

Can't wait to meet everyone!!

 

[SCFamily4]

Does anyone know about theme nights for the Alaska cruise? We have our Pirate outfits from our last cruise ... but doubted that the "Pirates of the Carribean" would be a theme for the trip into Alaska!

I was trying to plan ahead a bit in case any new costumes are in order!

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Does anyone know about theme nights for the Alaska cruise? We have our Pirate outfits from our last cruise ... but doubted that the "Pirates of the Carribean" would be a theme for the trip into Alaska!

I was trying to plan ahead a bit in case any new costumes are in order!

Looks like from some of the May Alaska Cruise Meet boards that DCL is confirming that:

Day 2 - formal night
Day 5 - pirate night
Day 6 - semi formal

Obviously this may change and we'll all know for sure in just a couple of weeks when the May 3 inaugural Alaska cruise returns, but this is the info that they are betting on

 

[joycsk]

Hey PE_TCR, we're planning on taking the train from Seattle too. I'm just not sure if we want to do that on Sunday or Monday. We've never been to Vancouver or Seattle and haven't finalized plans yet. We might be flying in to Seattle on Saturday. What's Grouse Mountain and Eye of the Wind?

We vote for dinner too. Seems like embarkation day might get busy.

Since Brian isn't around right now, Eye of the Wind is a large wind turbine at the top of Grouse MT. You can ride an elevator platform up its center spin and watch the blades spin and get a great view of the area. (No first hand experience here, just quoting the info on the net.)

I am planning to try to go here on Sunday - we have a local cruise who mentioned that Monday is a Canadian Holiday, so I'm not counting on much being open that day.

 

[PE_TCR]

I am hoping that most "tourist" places will be open on Monday. We get in at about noon from the train so we will be headed right to Grouse Mountain as soon as we check in.
If you decide to take the train Monday morning let me know. We can all meet up there and go together. We have our tickets purchased already.