August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[Ski-and-Sea]

Did I crusie with you last summer on Disney, your name sounds familiar?

Dawn

Last summer we did back-to-back cruises on the Wonder. I think we departed 8/17/08, it was the same day that the Magic left for the Panama Canal.

That four day cruise was the one where we got diverted to Port Everglades due to TS Fay.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hello- not sure what your name is, we are the Houle family- I am responding to your post as I saw how many DCL cruises you have been on so I have a couple questions! Hope you don't mind-
As far as shore excursions go, what has your experience been- we have friends who have been on 3 DCL cruises in the last 5 years and they told me to steer away from excursions as they are tourist traps.
I had a man at WDW (in the hottub with DH and I in Feb. ) Who told me about the national park in Cozumel, said thats were they go, a short cab ride and just $17 for the day- beach chair and all. You can snorkel there as well for a fee. I just do not want to miss anything, ie: want to really experience cozumel/ grand caymen. I should add we will be a group of 10 four of which are young children ages 5,6,8 & 8. A tall order to find something for all of us to do. My two teenage boys are certified scuba divers so they might want to try that. I am probably making this question all too complicated- Would just love to know what your opinion is.
One more question- have you had any troubles with hurricane season? I ask this as we were in WDW last august right in the midst of Fay and it was a very wet vacation! They say they go "around" it- but fay seemed to cover a huge area!
Regardless of course we are going and are very excited!
This is DH and my second DCL cruise- our honeymoon was on the wonder in 2002- the rest of our group are first time cruisers
thanks for any info!!

For our first couple of cruises we booked our excursions through DCL and were not disappointed. I do not view the shore excursions as tourist traps. The national park in Cozumel is very nice - beach swimming for the younger kids and snorkeling for the older ones. The DCL beach break excursion goes to a different beach. That one is very nice, too. Your food and transportation is included with the DCL excursion. That might be convenient for you with such a large group. One thing I will mention is that the beaches in Cozumel are not close to the cruise piers - its a bit of a drive in a cab/bus.

What happens as you get more experienced with taking the same cruises over and over is that you book your excursions directly with a vendor and not through DCL. In our case we wanted to go snorkeling at different reefs than the DCL snorkeling excursions. So we booked directly with a local vendor. We find good local vendors through the DIS.

In terms of hurricanes and cruising in the summer.....we've cruised 8 times in both August and July and only once did we get directly impacted by a hurricane. So that's pretty low odds. I would not use the risk of hurricanes to keep us from cruising in August.

The heat is a different issue. That's one thing to remember when cruising with younger children. It can be extremely hot in places like Grand Cayman or Cozumel in the summer. That's why I tell people cruising in the summer to book beach shore excursions and not walking tours.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Grumpy-gramps.....very sorry to see you won't be sailing with us but you have an excellent excuse for bailing out on us.

Well, DS had bronchitis for two weeks. Just returned to school yesterday. He started off with the flu but then his fever spiked and we took him to the doctor. Bronchitis has been going around school.

I am in the middle of reading four different books. I really need to pick one and just finish it. I'm almost done reading all four Twilight books (can't wait for that DVD to come out soon ). The fourth Twilight book is amazing. I highly recommend it.

Also started reading the book on Joe Torre about his years managing the NY Yankees. I'm a Mets fan myself but I'm enjoying reading Torre's book. I recommend that one, too.

 

[sandyh67]

Madwives of the world unite!!
motto...its a physiological process not an illness!
i was a an active member of ARM ( association of radical midwives) in my day!
should be interesting talking with you...we in the UK are very sadly following in US footsteps...will be interesting to actually hear a proper perspective..

I am really looking forward to talking to you! Sorry to hear UK is going backwards- this country, at least the area I work in, is not midwife friendly- birth is medically managed, very frustrating. anyway- I will save my ranting for our cruise! As we get closer we will set up a Madwife meet!

 

[sandyh67]

For our first couple of cruises we booked our excursions through DCL and were not disappointed. I do not view the shore excursions as tourist traps. The national park in Cozumel is very nice - beach swimming for the younger kids and snorkeling for the older ones. The DCL beach break excursion goes to a different beach. That one is very nice, too. Your food and transportation is included with the DCL excursion. That might be convenient for you with such a large group. One thing I will mention is that the beaches in Cozumel are not close to the cruise piers - its a bit of a drive in a cab/bus.

What happens as you get more experienced with taking the same cruises over and over is that you book your excursions directly with a vendor and not through DCL. In our case we wanted to go snorkeling at different reefs than the DCL snorkeling excursions. So we booked directly with a local vendor. We find good local vendors through the DIS.

In terms of hurricanes and cruising in the summer.....we've cruised 8 times in both August and July and only once did we get directly impacted by a hurricane. So that's pretty low odds. I would not use the risk of hurricanes to keep us from cruising in August.

The heat is a different issue. That's one thing to remember when cruising with younger children. It can be extremely hot in places like Grand Cayman or Cozumel in the summer. That's why I tell people cruising in the summer to book beach shore excursions and not walking tours.

Thanks so much for the great info! We were aware that it would be a cab ride, although I think even with that cost we will be saving over DCL beach excursion. There is even an online coupon I printed out for the park so it will be $16pp for adults $9 I believe for the kids. We will stick to the beaches!

Thanks again!

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Last summer we did back-to-back cruises on the Wonder. I think we departed 8/17/08, it was the same day that the Magic left for the Panama Canal.

That four day cruise was the one where we got diverted to Port Everglades due to TS Fay.

Yes, we did sail together. Were you the one that had broke/sprained her ankle, right before the cruise?

We went to Disney after the cruise and had to take a bus from that port because Port Caneveral was closed.

Dawn

 

[stsomewhere]

My neighbor ROCKS

She saved me some $$$.

While Matt was in the hospital, Marina lost her lower expander(removable).
Since, my neighbor works at the orthodonist and did not charge me for a replacement.

 

[TheFatMansWife]

hello everyone
I haven't posted for sometime,thought I'd let you know I'm still around.

 

[stsomewhere]

The thread has been pretty quiet lately.

Marina (dd-8) was hoping that a girl -Lab age would like to email or Pm.

She is feeling at little left out because Matt is emailing with James and Kyle.

Thanks

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Yes, we did sail together. Were you the one that had broke/sprained her ankle, right before the cruise?

We went to Disney after the cruise and had to take a bus from that port because Port Caneveral was closed.

Dawn

Yes, that's me!!!! Just finishing up physical therapy from that surgery. I'll admit that skiing has slowed the recovery. But it was the reason for the surgery in the first place.

That 4-night Wonder cruise was terrific. What a great group of passengers and DISers.

DD still wears her DIS shirt from that cruise.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

The thread has been pretty quiet lately.

I can't believe its mid-March already. And spring sports are just starting so my life will get crazy So I will definitely be posting more to keep my sanity.

 

[trimix]

I can't believe its mid-March already. And spring sports are just starting so my life will get crazy So I will definitely be posting more to keep my sanity.

Posting more helps? In just over five months we'll be boarding our cruise, in just under five months I will be flying to Orlando for my dream vacation. Right now I am trying to keep my impatience from driving me insane!

 

[wayneg]

updated website. removed Grumpy Gramps
www.astersflorist.co.uk

Busy with Mothers day this weekend so hopefuly get more time to post after its over.

 

[trimix]

Busy with Mothers day this weekend so hopefuly get more time to post after its over.

You have no idea how much stress you just gave me! Fortunately, I still do have almost two months before Mothers Day in the US...

 

[wayneg]

You have no idea how much stress you just gave me! Fortunately, I still do have almost two months before Mothers Day in the US...

Sorry!!!!

Ours is always 3 Sundays before Easter Sunday, would prefer it in May. Sometimes its too close to Valentines day, last year was very close no more than 3 weeks between.

 

[FINCANTIERI]

updated website. removed Grumpy Gramps
www.astersflorist.co.uk

Busy with Mothers day this weekend so hopefuly get more time to post after its over.

I will try to get you info re: our group of 33. I am waiting for the final tally so you will not have to make changes.

 

[kylelover1]

Hello All,
I am sorry I haven't been on in a while. Working extra nights! Hope everyone is doing well. I can tell you for shore excurtions at this point, we plan to do walking tour in Key West. Beach in Cozumel (and couples massage!) swim with sting rays in Grand Cayman, and snorkling, beach, bike rides on Cataway Cay. Those are our plans for now. We would have loved to do the ruins in Cozumel but with a 4 year old, we thought that would be too much for him. Christi, I promise to send you an email this week just to say hi. I've been thinking about you all and look forward to Aug. Have a wonderful day Marianne

 

[stsomewhere]

Marianne- I thought you had a bunch of days off?

Erik and I were debating whether or not to do the tulum tour. It is just so far to travel each way.

We were thinking about a Mexcio cruise next year or just visiting Mayan riveria. But, after much debate we have decided against it. Matt would like to go out West. We are thinking about Yellowstone or an Alaskan cruise.


Our kids really want to go on a North Europe or Med. cruise. So, we will probably be for going any cruises in 2010(unless we can get a really good rate on DCl while we are on board) I was looking at the TA.

The weather here has been great for March in the 50's.

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

I am getting confused with this website. I have a hard time finding out how to get back on after I am off.

I want to be part of any get together you are all having. I looked at the "Asterflorist" website, but couldn't figure out how to get my info on it.

I am horrible with computers. I even tried to get a nice countdown clock that i saw. I failed. I will keep trying.

I will keep working on everything but, I definitely do want to be added in to any meet that you have.

Thanks
Dawn:

I figured out how to get an avatar!! yipee

 

[wayneg]

I am getting confused with this website. I have a hard time finding out how to get back on after I am off.

I want to be part of any get together you are all having. I looked at the "Asterflorist" website, but couldn't figure out how to get my info on it.

I am horrible with computers. I even tried to get a nice countdown clock that i saw. I failed. I will keep trying.

I will keep working on everything but, I definitely do want to be added in to any meet that you have.

Thanks
Dawn:

I figured out how to get an avatar!! yipee

Well done on the Avatar
Rather than going to my homepage try this direct link Dismeet page Any info you want adding either post on here or PM me I will add it for you.

I am recovering from Mothers day now, turnover up 21% on last year, total suprise with current financial problems.