August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[wayneg]

Hi Liz,
Sounds like you have lots of planning to do.
Updated our page, Only thing I don't have is where you are from (if you want it adding)
http://www.astersflorist.co.uk/ last link on left.

Anyone else want info adding or changing let me know

 

[jhryb]

Hi Liz,
Sounds like you have lots of planning to do.
Updated our page, Only thing I don't have is where you are from (if you want it adding)
http://www.astersflorist.co.uk/ last link on left.

Anyone else want info adding or changing let me know

Thank you - this is great. You can add our cabin numbers: 2598 and 2600.

This week I purchased our airfare for this trip. I can not imagine that a better price will come along, so I grabbed it.

My DH and I are visiting WDW this October, so I plan to take advantage of the bounce back offer that is going on until October 23rd. They are offering free Disney dining if you book a new reservation that starts and ends b/w Aug 23 2009 and Oct 8 2009. My DH and my sister will be heading home after the cruise because they need to work. I plan to spend an extra week at WDW with the kids (and did I mention FREE dining?) We are also spending a week at WDW before the cruise. This could be the best 3 weeks of my life

 

[wayneg]

Thank you - this is great. You can add our cabin numbers: 2598 and 2600.

This week I purchased our airfare for this trip. I can not imagine that a better price will come along, so I grabbed it.

My DH and I are visiting WDW this October

Added cabins but still dont have name for DS (10) Unless I missed it.

I almost booked our outbound flight for next August, we want to go out 6th August for 25 nights flying economy but I found an offer on the 7th in Premium Economy, that would be OK but I would have had to use most our airmiles we have saved, didn't really want to do that.

We go this Oct also but not until the 23rd come home on the 31st. Soon be here.

 

[jhryb]

Added cabins but still dont have name for DS (10) Unless I missed it.

I almost booked our outbound flight for next August, we want to go out 6th August for 25 nights flying economy but I found an offer on the 7th in Premium Economy, that would be OK but I would have had to use most our airmiles we have saved, didn't really want to do that.

We go this Oct also but not until the 23rd come home on the 31st. Soon be here.

My DS is Mason. So you are up-ing my 21 nights are you? Oh well I guess you are allowed since you are coming from the UK. You don't even need the bounce back offer - you lucky folks can book free dining without it.

 

[wayneg]

My DS is Mason. So you are up-ing my 21 nights are you? Oh well I guess you are allowed since you are coming from the UK. You don't even need the bounce back offer - you lucky folks can book free dining without it.

Mason is added
We love going for 24 or 25 nights in August but this time it was over so fast. With RCCL cruise, drive upto Georgia, days at Daytona and Cocoa Beach and then all the parks we didn't get any rest at all.
We stay offsite mostly, don't like the value resort at all. This trip stayed at AKL for 3 nights which was great for the view of animals but bed was very uncomfortable. Rest of trip stayed at Country Inn & suites, paid $36/night incl tax, superb breakfast included, free wirless internet, and the best beds possible. For dining we have not eaten anywhere onsite that we all like, Boma I loved, Karen and Matt ate pasta and meatballs . Offsite we have loads of places we all like.
For us Disney are great for Parks and cruises but their hotels and dining are just not worth the price. (For free dining dates are always wrong for us)

 

[jhryb]

Added cabins ....

I'm new on this thread and already I am causing problems. I just found out that adjoining staterooms have become available so I switched from our side-by-side staterooms (2598 and 2600) to new adjoining staterooms (2146 and 2148). We will be hard to find since we are at the very very very back of the ship now.

 

[stsomewhere]

I'm new on this thread and already I am causing problems. I just found out that adjoining staterooms have become available so I switched from our side-by-side staterooms (2598 and 2600) to new adjoining staterooms (2146 and 2148). We will be hard to find since we are at the very very very back of the ship now.

at least you are on the ship

 

[wayneg]

We will be hard to find since we are at the very very very back of the ship now.

Changed your cabins

Don't go doing things like this from the back of the ship
I took this pic last month when we were at Coco Cay, the motorboat was out of shot and looked like these were tagging onto the NCL ship.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hey all,

Wow, what a week. It was bad enough watching the drama in the financial markets. Plus worrying about people you know who work for Lehman or Merrill Lynch. Scary stuff....just absolutely scary.

And I'm in full swing with Girl Scout stuff. In addition to running the cookie sale for about 35 troops I just began my tenure as service unit manager. So I am the "leader's leader" so to speak.

So tons of beginning-of-the-year things to do.

Kids have moved back into their school routine with no problems. They like their teachers. DD is only one grade behind DS so she has many of the same teachers.

And of course, fall sports kicked in.

At least the weather has been very nice.

And its fun watching professional sports - we have one baseball team that (hopefully) will make the playoffs; the New York Giants are playing like Superbowl champions; and of course, we're all tuning into the New Jets games just to watch Brett Favre.

I totally agree with the comment about the food at WDW just being outrageously expensive. I do not see it as a good value at all.

I've heard nothing but good things about the RCCL cruise out of NJ. Nine nights is a nice length and you can't beat being able to drive to the port. The only funny comment someone made is that all the passengers come from the NY/NJ/CT region so they are all the same personality type. This coming from a former NJer who moved to a different part of the country. She didn't mean anything negative about people from NY/NJ/CT but on DCL you get such a mix of people from all over the US/different countries.

 

[wayneg]

Hey all,

Wow, what a week. It was bad enough watching the drama in the financial markets. Plus worrying about people you know who work for Lehman or Merrill Lynch. Scary stuff....just absolutely scary.

I dare not look at my investments, just burying my head in the sand and hope things go back to normal. At least I have had them for a number of years and seen good rises before all this. Anyone investing in the past year or 2 will have taken a big hit.
Jobs are going left, right and centre here. In my birth town there is a possibility of the Biscuit factory closing losing 2,000 jobs, this is in a town of only 43,000 residents.
Very scary times.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I dare not look at my investments, just burying my head in the sand and hope things go back to normal. At least I have had them for a number of years and seen good rises before all this. Anyone investing in the past year or 2 will have taken a big hit.
.

I've been doing the same thing the past couple of months. That way I don't do this when I see my monthly brokerage statement.

It certainly has been the talk around here at local soccer games/parties/meetings/etc.

Thank goodness this cruise has been already budgeted for so no surprises. I'm beginning to think maybe its a good thing the Magic will be away in the summer of 2010 so I can start budgeting for a cruise on the new ship in the summer of 2011.

 

[stsomewhere]

I need a vacation now. I am working too hard. Erik only worked half a day to help me with the kitchen.
Hopefully tonight I will have a counter and a sink.

Sunday, MAtt was helping us putty and take down the wallpaper. I thought he was being so helpful. I thanked him. He told me that the only reason he was helping was because he was sick of not having a kitchen. That was the only reason he was doing it.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Can't wait to hear from Joisymom how her Panama Canal cruise went. I must say its been discouraging to read that so many kids misbehaved on that cruise. I can imagine that 15 days on a ship was just too long for them.

Sorry I have been neglecting you guys!! When we got home on the first we had so much to do, plus I got sick...at least I was well on the cruise. It was actually the first vacation where we all stayed healthy on vacation!! The cruise was awesome!! Very crowded though! We did verly little swimming since the pools were packed! I went 1 day with DH after an excursion. DD12 did more swimming then the rest of us, but she had the run of the ship. DD had some issues with other kids, but we found the staff pretty good, especially Angela who was a manager for the kids. DD let us know where whould would be and when, and came back to the room on time all but once! Aince it was vacation we let her hang with the friends she made. She had to be back bet 1 and 2 am. Yes I let her stay up that late..but it was her vacation too!! She wasn't out that late every night. One night it was almost 2 and she wasn't back, and I went searching for her!! I checked Quest, which I knew was closed..then I went up to deck 9, and I found her there with some freinds coming back to the elevators. She apologized about ht e time..she lost track!!

I never had any real issues with the teens and tweens. I met them in elevators and they were nice to me, I also never had the issue of the buttons being pressed. I did here the stories on the ship though, and knew there were big issues. When the changed the rules for the kids, we explained to DD12 the reasons and why she was ok with it.

Mexico was nice but HOT!! We did our own excursion in PV and will lean towards doing things on our own from now on. We did a private excursion with another DIS family for Cartagena with Mr. Emerald and it was AWESOME!! What a beautiful city. It was our favorite port.

We did feel the food wasn't as good as it was when we were on the Magic in December. We also weren't thrilled with our servers. They were very nice, but new. Our beverage server was brand new..but did ok, for being new. Our server was just promoted and well...he was not very good. We also kept comparing him to our server in Decemember, who we had requested, but was on vacation. He had been one of the most senior servers DCL has..so it was hard not to compare.

Most of the entertainment was great. The new band, The Leonard Brothers was amazing. John Charles was great and Jim Pearson. The magician Dan Romeo SUCKED. OMG he was so so so so bad. DH and lots of people walked out.

I finally played BINGO 3 times..and lost LOL. Could have really used that final jackpot LOL!!!

We had our first veranda cabin and it was amazing. Sitting on our balconey during the Panama Canal was just great. I didn't want to have to jockey to see up on deck 10 or 9.

It was a TOAL (Trip Of A Lifetime)!!!

 

[jhryb]

Sorry I have been neglecting you guys!! When we got home on the first we had so much to do, plus I got sick...at least I was well on the cruise. It was actually the first vacation where we all stayed healthy on vacation!! The cruise was awesome!! Very crowded though! We did verly little swimming since the pools were packed! I went 1 day with DH after an excursion. DD12 did more swimming then the rest of us, but she had the run of the ship. DD had some issues with other kids, but we found the staff pretty good, especially Angela who was a manager for the kids. DD let us know where whould would be and when, and came back to the room on time all but once! Aince it was vacation we let her hang with the friends she made. She had to be back bet 1 and 2 am. Yes I let her stay up that late..but it was her vacation too!! She wasn't out that late every night. One night it was almost 2 and she wasn't back, and I went searching for her!! I checked Quest, which I knew was closed..then I went up to deck 9, and I found her there with some freinds coming back to the elevators. She apologized about ht e time..she lost track!!

I never had any real issues with the teens and tweens. I met them in elevators and they were nice to me, I also never had the issue of the buttons being pressed. I did here the stories on the ship though, and knew there were big issues. When the changed the rules for the kids, we explained to DD12 the reasons and why she was ok with it.

Mexico was nice but HOT!! We did our own excursion in PV and will lean towards doing things on our own from now on. We did a private excursion with another DIS family for Cartagena with Mr. Emerald and it was AWESOME!! What a beautiful city. It was our favorite port.

We did feel the food wasn't as good as it was when we were on the Magic in December. We also weren't thrilled with our servers. They were very nice, but new. Our beverage server was brand new..but did ok, for being new. Our server was just promoted and well...he was not very good. We also kept comparing him to our server in Decemember, who we had requested, but was on vacation. He had been one of the most senior servers DCL has..so it was hard not to compare.

Most of the entertainment was great. The new band, The Leonard Brothers was amazing. John Charles was great and Jim Pearson. The magician Dan Romeo SUCKED. OMG he was so so so so bad. DH and lots of people walked out.

I finally played BINGO 3 times..and lost LOL. Could have really used that final jackpot LOL!!!

We had our first veranda cabin and it was amazing. Sitting on our balconey during the Panama Canal was just great. I didn't want to have to jockey to see up on deck 10 or 9.

It was a TOAL (Trip Of A Lifetime)!!!

I enjoyed your mini-review. My family was on the same cruise and we also thought that it was awesome. I laughed when I read your opinion on the magician - he just seemed very un-disney. I find it interesting that so many people are saying that they have had better food on other Disney Cruises - I thought it was great. I can't fairly compare because my previous Disney Cruise was only 4 nights - but I am sure looking forward to comparing next August.
Jennifer

 

[JoiseyMom]

I enjoyed your mini-review. My family was on the same cruise and we also thought that it was awesome. I laughed when I read your opinion on the magician - he just seemed very un-disney. I find it interesting that so many people are saying that they have had better food on other Disney Cruises - I thought it was great. I can't fairly compare because my previous Disney Cruise was only 4 nights - but I am sure looking forward to comparing next August.
Jennifer

We were on a 7 night this past December...and the quality of the food was much better. I was very happy we weren't in the Dining rooms on Acapulco night, I heard that the steak was awful!! We were at Palo's, but our DD12 was with our table mates, and they said the stead was tough and overdone and gray in color. The server was embarrased to serve it. She tried to convice DD to send it back, since she doesn't like well done, but she didn't want to be a bother. We lkiked the food..but it has been better.

My favorite entertainment was John Charles and Jim Pearson. They were great. I have to say we didn't see all the shows..we did a lot of time relaxing and unwiding. We had a veranda and spent more time in the cabin. It was so relaxing out there!! We do not have a veranda for the August cruise!!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hi everyone,

Good bye September. Holy cow - what a month in the financial markets. Scary to see people's life savings and jobs just wiped out in a single morning.

I don't know about you all, but I've noticed a ton of houses suddenly go on the market in my area. Of course, at ridiculously high prices. Good luck on that. Too many expensive speculative houses built during the boom years and now being dumped on the market.

I am just so glad that this cruise has been budgeted for.

We're going through our back-to-school germs. DD was home for several days last week and DS has been home since Friday. We go through this every September.

Well, I finally have my home repair story to share. Leaky bathtub with water going right through the floor into the basement. Luckily, its an unfinished basement so limited damage.

Turns out the bathtub is fine. All the grout in the tiles around the bathtub had eroded away. It left enough of a gap to let water through every time we used the shower. We're talking about really tiny gaps between the tiles in the corners. I had no idea something so small can let in that amount of water. So of course the water travels under a wall and was eroding the floor on the other side of the wall.

But all is fixed now.

I'm still going to physical therapy three times a week for my ankle. I slightly resprained it Wednesday night walking back to the parking lot after back-to-school night. I was parked far away from the school building in an area not well lit and I walked right into a pot hole. Of course, its the "bad" foot and my ankle buckled.

Fortunately I was scheduled to do physical therapy the two days after that and my therapist was able to minimize the damage. I had some slight swelling and I did nothing all weekend. It still feels a little tender.

As a die hard New York Mets fan I am just distraught over the team not making the playoffs. Sheesh, what a downer. And after Johan Santana pitched that brilliant game on Saturday.

If Brett Favre can throw six touchdowns in a single game, then I think the Mets could have figured out how to score enough runs to win their last game at Shea stadium.

Joiseymom....thanks for review of the EBPC cruise. I think that was a very unique cruise with a lot of unique circumstances. I know I would get stir crazy with that many consecutive sea days.

Sounds like Christiaan had his hands full on that cruise.

I contrast that with my Wonder back-to-back cruises that had no sea days with some of the most relaxed passengers I've ever sailed with.

We, too, do our own private shore excursions. I plan on doing so with this cruise. We'll do a private snorkeling excursion in Cozumel and Grand Cayman. I know which one we'll book in Cozumel but still have to decide which one to choose in Grand Cayman.

 

[fluffy bunny]

we havent given too much thought to trips or th e like yet...just seemed too far away...maybe i will have a look on DCL website to spark some interest. with Christmas olny 12 weeks away , its nearly a whole year since we booked this cruise...so maybe time to get thinking! Last year my DB hired a moped in Nassau and saw the whole island in a day. much better than us sad buggers who did the straw market ( god awful!) and a few jewllery shops ( ask to see my eternity ring )lol....we might be a little more adventourous thistime.

DH looked on DCL at next...well 2010 cruises the other day. we fancied the england -barcalona reposition....then the Med. we though...without transatlantic airfare we would be quids in...WRONG!!!...the cruise prices are ridiculous! I wish DCL luck in selling all the cabins!

well.....things to do......

 

[stsomewhere]

Erik and I were just talking about the repo transatlanic cruises for 2010. We were considering it. We will have to check into the cost.

As for our upcoming cruise, The Travel channel ran the Disney cruise program yesterday. We watched it this morning. Erik wants to go to Mayan ruins. Other than that we are pretty open. I will have to start looking into excursions.

We are almost done with the kitchen. Erik is doing the last few things right now. We are having some friends over this evening and he wants it to be ready.

Marina went to the orthodontist this weelk. She has to get upper and lowere expanders just like Matt. Erik has decided that he is going to have lasik eye surgery in Jan. He is going to up his FSA account for next year.

 

[wayneg]

Hi everyone, hope you are all well.
Had a quick look at 2010 cruises. Repo ones look good value again although they might have to discount them again like last time.
I like look of the 12 night Baltic but out of my price bracket. I worked it out today, all our 4 trips to Florida this year totalling 55 nights, 4 roundtrip flights, hotels and car rentals incl insurance totals £26($50approx) less than it would cost us on the 12 night cruise.
With the state of the financial markets who is going to commit themselves to over $11,000 for a 12 night cruise for 3 people? not me. Makes next years cruise look cheap at $3,000 with $300obc. and to think I was complaining at that price.

 

[FINCANTIERI]

Hi everyone, hope you are all well.
Had a quick look at 2010 cruises. Repo ones look good value again although they might have to discount them again like last time.
I like look of the 12 night Baltic but out of my price bracket. I worked it out today, all our 4 trips to Florida this year totalling 55 nights, 4 roundtrip flights, hotels and car rentals incl insurance totals £26($50approx) less than it would cost us on the 12 night cruise.
With the state of the financial markets who is going to commit themselves to over $11,000 for a 12 night cruise for 3 people? not me. Makes next years cruise look cheap at $3,000 with $300obc. and to think I was complaining at that price.

We thoroughly enjoyed the EB Panama Canal and were looking forward to the WB transatlantic. But the September date does not work with school for the kids. So now we can just concentrate on this cruise.