August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[Mackie Mouse]

Hey everyone. I've been MIA (bet a lot of you are saying, "Kim WHO?", lol) for quite some time. I'm sorry to report that I cancelled our cruise today. The uncertain economic times have forced me to reevaluate the wisdom of taking this trip next year, and financial prudence indicated that postponing my dream vacation was the right thing to do. I know we'll get there someday and I'll continue to save for it.

I also wanted to let people know that a midship Category 5 stateroom opened up today in case anyone was looking to make such a booking.

I hope you all have fun planning your trips, and that the cruise is everything you dream it will be!!

I'm sorry to hear that your summer will have a little less Disney Magic in it, Kim (literally and figuratively).

Would it be selfish of me to also encourage someone to snatch up that room in case it trickles down into a free honeymoon upgrade for FH and me? *looks away sheepishly*

How is everyone's holiday season going?

 

[wayneg]

Hi Kim, Sorry to hear you have cancelled but totally understand why. It has crossed my mind also. Wouldn't go down too well with Karen and Matt though as they love DCL more than me.
If we did cancel we would actually make a profit as the $ has got so strong against the $, the $1,500 we have paid cost me £750 but I would get about £1,000 back at todays rate, over 30% profit.

 

[jhryb]

I'm curious to see what tomorrows big DCL announcement will be (according to the rumors out there). Hopefully it will be something that we can all take advantage of. With the economy the way that it is, any discount would be nice.


Oh well... not a deal that we can apply to this cruise

 

[stsomewhere]

Sorry everyone. But, Erik and I have cancelled our Aug. cruise.

We got a terrific deal for Feb 12.
3 night Wonder for $850 for the 4 of us. Plus, there is a scheduled space shuttle launch for that day.

This is a perfect opportunity to see if we like DCL.
There has been some terrific deals on some of the other lines lately.
But, we did not want to dissapoint the kids.
We will be looking to go on another cruise in summer/fall.

Added bonus is that the kids will only have to miss one day of school.

DCL took our deposit from our Aug cruise and applied it to this one. They owe us $.

 

[wayneg]

Sorry everyone. But, Erik and I have cancelled our Aug. cruise.

We got a terrific deal for Feb 12.
3 night Wonder for $850 for the 4 of us. Plus, there is a scheduled space shuttle launch for that day.

This is a perfect opportunity to see if we like DCL.
There has been some terrific deals on some of the other lines lately.
But, we did not want to dissapoint the kids.
We will be looking to go on another cruise in summer/fall.

Added bonus is that the kids will only have to miss one day of school.

DCL took our deposit from our Aug cruise and applied it to this one. They owe us $.

Hi Christi.
Glad you got a great deal. I think you booked around same time as us all them months ago. 3 nighters are very very short but you have to do whats right for your family.
I have been tempted so many times to do an Alaskan cruise with HAL. If we went in May we would only pay for 2, then you can have 2 free in same room(adults or children) 4 of us could book for 7 nighter for around $2,000. Only problem is airfare, for the dates to Seattle they are over $600 each. Other cruiselines are doing fantastic offers, I am almost certain next August will be last with Disney, just can't justify the cost anymore.
Have you ever seen a shuttle launch? We did last August, one of the best experiences of my life. Want to see a night launch now.

 

[stsomewhere]

Hi Christi.
Glad you got a great deal. I think you booked around same time as us all them months ago. 3 nighters are very very short but you have to do whats right for your family.
I have been tempted so many times to do an Alaskan cruise with HAL. If we went in May we would only pay for 2, then you can have 2 free in same room(adults or children) 4 of us could book for 7 nighter for around $2,000. Only problem is airfare, for the dates to Seattle they are over $600 each. Other cruiselines are doing fantastic offers, I am almost certain next August will be last with Disney, just can't justify the cost anymore.
Have you ever seen a shuttle launch? We did last August, one of the best experiences of my life. Want to see a night launch now.

I know that the 3 night will be short. But, DCL is so expensive. We were looking at 6 night RCCL Indepedence for $2000 for all of us.
Both kids do enjoy RCCL.
I wanted them to try DCL before thaqt got too old.

We have never seen the space shuttle launch so it is very exciting.
Erik was pricing tickets for the cuaseway. It was $250 for the 4of us.

One of the reasons ,I wanted to go on Disney was to experience Castaway Cay, pirate night and to see the amzing dining. I will get all of that on a 3 night.
We are looking at spending a day or two at WDW.

 

[stsomewhere]

I just wanted to add that I am going to miss my opportunity to meet some of you. I enjoyed chatting with all of you.

Usually, we don't book a cruise out so far in advance.
We have been looking for a winter cruise since mid-Nov.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

So sorry to hear people are cancelling this cruise, but totally understandable given the economy and the great deals DCL is giving on other cruises.

Its kind of like all the deals we're getting doing our Christmas shopping.

No question....sailing DCL in the summer is expensive. I tried to get my extended family to sail in August and my brother instead booked a DCL cruise in October to get a better price.

We will miss talking to all of you.

Makes me wonder how DCL is doing with the European cruises for 2010.

Yes, the 3-night cruise will go by very quickly. My suggestion is to print out the latest 3-night Navigators right before you sail and look through all the activities and pick out what you want to do each day.

 

[wayneg]

Makes me wonder how DCL is doing with the European cruises for 2010.

I can't believe they are going to sell them. I think many will have booked with the hype but when it comes to paying I can see many cancelling.
I priced up the 12 night Northern European, cheapest verandah over $12,000 for 3 of us and thats just the cruise, no flights needed, how much would it cost with flights from US? crazy.
Next August we have booked Business class flights to Florida, 16 nights OKW with DDP, 21 day unlimited Disney tickets, 7 nights on Magic, 2 nights AKL. Total $9,000 for 25 nights.
Would love to do the Euro cruise but not even at half that price.

 

[wayneg]

We have never seen the space shuttle launch so it is very exciting.
Erik was pricing tickets for the cuaseway. It was $250 for the 4of us.

We viewed it from Space view park Titusville http://www.titusville.com/Page.asp?NavID=207
Fantastic atmosphere, stalls selling things, food, restrooms great place and totally free.

 

[stsomewhere]

We viewed it from Space view park Titusville http://www.titusville.com/Page.asp?NavID=207
Fantastic atmosphere, stalls selling things, food, restrooms great place and totally free.

Thanks for the site. We will defintely look into it.
I think that Erik is more interested in that than the cruise.

We talked to our friends and they are considering coming with usnow. They are trying to work out the details at work. Arranging vacation time. They are going to WDW in May for 12 days, not sure if they can get extra time off.

 

[stsomewhere]

So sorry to hear people are cancelling this cruise, but totally understandable given the economy and the great deals DCL is giving on other cruises.

Its kind of like all the deals we're getting doing our Christmas shopping.

No question....sailing DCL in the summer is expensive. I tried to get my extended family to sail in August and my brother instead booked a DCL cruise in October to get a better price.

We will miss talking to all of you.

Makes me wonder how DCL is doing with the European cruises for 2010.

Yes, the 3-night cruise will go by very quickly. My suggestion is to print out the latest 3-night Navigators right before you sail and look through all the activities and pick out what you want to do each day.

When we booked our DCL crise we thought that we got a great deal. Now with the economy, there are some great deals.
My kids aren't that interested in disney. But, love to cruise. I wish it was a 4 night(we usually do at least 5 night). We can get a taste of DCL and see if it is worth the price.

My kids enjoy everything that Royal has to offer. Rock climbing, ice skating , roller blading, mini golf, and the flow rider.

Our plan is to relax. We will not be going into Nassua. We want to stay and enjoy the ship.

We are looking about doing an HAL alaska cruise soon. My extended family are interested in joining us. But, they take big vacations every few years.

 

[Maza]

sorry you wont be joining us Christi and Eric...but completelty understandable. The way the prices look for 2010 this will probably be our last DCL cruise! we could just do so much more for the money, however wonderful it all is!
we were planning to go the DRLP at New Year, but the way the £ is against the euro it would just be rediculous...we could probably get a weeks skiing in Bulgaria for what the hotel was going to cost...so we are staying in the UK instead!

How many others will be leaving our little group i wonder...

 

[BPCooper]

Thanks for the site. We will defintely look into it.
I think that Erik is more interested in that than the cruise.

We talked to our friends and they are considering coming with usnow. They are trying to work out the details at work. Arranging vacation time. They are going to WDW in May for 12 days, not sure if they can get extra time off.

This should help you, too. The tickets are worthwhile and you will understand why here

http://www.launchphotography.com/Shuttle_Launch_Viewing.html

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hi all,

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2009. Its about 35 degrees and raining here today so very dreary Christmas Eve.

Wow, what a month for us. Our heater broke down several times and required a huge plumbing bill to fix. Our automatic garage door opener broke and had to be replaced (another huge bill) and my car had to go to the shop twice (another huge bill). There is nothing worse than driving home from getting your car serviced when the "check enginge" light turns on!!!!

And DS broke his thumb while skiing this month and he's in a cast. He had a CT scan and fortunately the damage shown on the scan doesn't warrant putting a 14 y/o through surgery. So we dodged that bullet.

So we're looking forward to a quiet Christmas here then we are off to Vermont for a week of skiing.

Then come the new year the countdown to this cruise really begins.

I've read the second Twilight book and am halfway through the third. Both books are fabulous and I recommend them highly. Love the idea of a romantic rival for Bella.

 

[wayneg]

Happy Christmas everyone.
We leave for Florida tomorrow, Flight takes off in in about 14 hours from now. There for 9 nights, will be in Epcot for New years eve Hoping for warm weather, been very mild here but temps to drop tomorrow so glad we are leaving.

 

[grumpy-gramps]

Hi All,
Hope you all hada great Holiday...

gg & Barb

 

[sandyh67]

PS...anyone interested in FE gifting? i know some have expressed an interest already but just to confirm. I will make up the list, so anyone really interested speak up
i need numbers, room numbers,ages of children. anyone not already posting these details on waynes webpage please feel free to PM me, i wont pass on any info ppl dont want common knowledge. Sex of kids would also be useful (if names not posted or if its not obvious from names...sorry ppl but sometimes names are ambiguous.. ) so anyone not wanting any info to be widely known but wanting to participate will have to cough up a few bits of info to make it all possible.
I read the 'rule' of DIS tag...and re-read then...and once again. now i dont consider myself particularly thick but it all sounded a little too much like hard work to me! Last cruise we where on a kind Disser (for this cruise read ME ) compiled a list of participants, age and sex of their kids (if appropriate!), and room numbers. She then PMed it to all participants before the cruise (no kidding Sherlock!! ) and we just all went round and filled our little FEs as we wished! some just gifted the kids or adults without kids, some gave amazingly well thought out and prepared gifts some just put in postcards from their home town.Some put stuff in immediatly for sail away, others brought a littl something for pirat night. IT IS ENTIRLY UP TO YOU!!
My plan is to set a cut off date..say the 1st of August ..for ppl to join in, then i will PM the info to everyone involved . we leave for thr US on the 16th of Aug. and i have to work right up to the day we travel , and i like to be organised so everything will be done atleast 10 daysbefore that date! (but dont quote me! )

so....answers on a postcard please...(no..not really )

also lanyards....22 down...78 to go...lol

We're in- this is Sandy chiming back in, it has been months since I have been on this board. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I have been spending my time on the podcast cruise board since Kristen (also going on the August cruise with her kids and us) and I decided to jump on after the podcast about it.
Anyway- we would love to do FE, we will be experienced FEers by then!

 

[jhryb]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I can't believe that this is the first post of the year and it is already mid January.
Today is a new milestone in terms of my families trip planning activities. It is 7 months today until we leave for WDW I get to book our DVC stay today. Only one more month and I can start booking dining. I have a Disney Christmas count-down calender (blocks) that I am using to count down the days until our trip - there are only 212 days to go. Sadly I just discovered that my favorite ride Space Mountain will likely be closed while we are there. As far as I am concerned the ride is perfect as it is
Please share your trip planning details...I would love to hear what everyone is doing.

 

[trimix]

I second the motion - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And I have news I find exciting - I BOOKED OUR FLIGHTS!

We are in cat5, we will spend a week in Orlando before the cruise, and if a suite is available I will do my best to be first at the port so I can get an upgrade. So I decided I need to go cheap somewhere and booked with frequent flier miles.
Would you believe that one day less than seven months before our trip all the 25,000 mile award seats are unavailable!?! To use FF miles, the minimum was 40,000 for a coach seat. Forget that - first class is only another 5,000 miles! After spending $140 to buy four first class tickets, maybe I'll be able to take my wife to Victoria and Alberts for dinner one night...

We'll fly out on Friday the 14th, getting in just before midnight. This trip, in addition to Disney, we plan to hit Sea World, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens in Tampa. Friday the 21st we'll leave early for the coast and tour the Kennedy Space Center.

So, if anybody actually got past my gloating about the first class tickets, is anybody else planning a visit to KSC Friday? If so, we'll have to plan a pre-cruise meetup!

I hope all is well with everybody else.