August 23-30, 2003 "Welcome Home Fellow Cruisers--Trip Report Completed"

[lisak1]

I made our nametags last night. They turned out very nice. It made me feel like i was doing something else to get ready to go, so i had alot of fun with them.

I'm reading alot about telephone cards for extra tips, or nice suprises for people who don't usually get tips.. like the Kids counselors. Does anyone have any other ideas about what would be nice to get for them? They must be innundated with phone cards at the end of all those weeks of people giving them the same things!

Lisa

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by lisak1
I made our nametags last night. They turned out very nice. It made me feel like i was doing something else to get ready to go, so i had alot of fun with them.

I'm reading alot about telephone cards for extra tips, or nice suprises for people who don't usually get tips.. like the Kids counselors. Does anyone have any other ideas about what would be nice to get for them? They must be innundated with phone cards at the end of all those weeks of people giving them the same things!

Lisa

Lisa,

I picked up some $10.00 gift cards from WalMart to hand out. I figured the same as you about the phone cards. I found out that there is a WalMart near the port that the CM's can go there and get personal items that they need. I also printed up my own personal thank you notes to hand out to the CM's.

Andy

 

[lisak1]

that's a very good idea, i was also thinking about some online services that do gift certificates. i'll look today, i'll post anything good i find.

Lisa

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by lisak1
that's a very good idea, i was also thinking about some online services that do gift certificates. i'll look today, i'll post anything good i find.

Lisa

I went through www.walmart.com for my gift cards.

Andy

 

[onemomo2]

I didn't even think of those people. I've sailed on two other cruises with Royal Caribbean, but I never had my children and never used any of the extra services (i.e., spa) so I didn't think of the "extra's". Thanks for bringing it up. I'm sure the novelty has worn off for them on anything we could get on the ship or at the ports.

Also, regarding paint chips - I have been to three different Home Depots, and any kind of green are always cleaned out! I go to Home Depot on a regular basis so I am confident that I will eventually get them (I mean really, it's not like we're going next week ). You would think people would pick red or something, but I guess the greens are the only Mickey shaped ones that are light enough to write on.

Anyway, I also got my PassPorter today and am itching to read it. I only was able to briefly look through a few pages concerning cabin and amenities, but I'll have to leave it for a few days because it's about time for nightly call to DH.

Well, my login doesn't seem to want to be accepted when I'm on my computer so I finally came to try on DS's computer and it let me right in so I had to write SOMETHING! Like you LisaK, anything to do with the cruise makes me feel like I'm making progress towards getting onboard. It's really a shame that we're booked for the last week of the summer because my mind keeps skipping over all the great things we've got planned for the summer and going right to the last week.

 

[onemomo2]

One more thing Verandah Man, you can change our seating from early to late on your roll call. I read on another thread that the person wasn't often hungry by 6:00 after all the eats available during the day and I checked with my travel mates and they all agreed to switch to the late.

Anyway, I'm off.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by onemomo2
One more thing Verandah Man, you can change our seating from early to late on your roll call. I read on another thread that the person wasn't often hungry by 6:00 after all the eats available during the day and I checked with my travel mates and they all agreed to switch to the late.

Anyway, I'm off.

Change has been made from early to late dining onemomo2.

My PassPorter will be on the May 3rd cruise leaving this Saturday. I am having it autographed by Jennifer and Dave, the authors of the PassPorter. They are sailing on Saturday with a group of people I have met here on the boards. One sweet dear soul is taking my PassPorter along to be signed. My DW and I tried to get in a second cruise this year, but we couldn't get all the details worked out on such short notice. I've made t-shirts and some cruise pins for some of the cruisers that are leaving Saturday on the Magic, I'm not going in person, but I'll be cruisin' with them in spirit!!!

I don't want to rush summer along too fast either, but I can't wait for Aug. 23rd!!!

Andy

 

[lisak1]

I don't want to do everything at once, just for that reason, we've got all summer to wait! And, it's going to be a long summer, but a fun summer too, waiting and getting ready to go! I purposely ordered my Passporter from someplace that was going to take a little while to deliver, so i wouldn't get it right away.


Lisa

 

[allshookup]

Well Verandah Man consider this an official entry into the 8-23-03 cruise meet for dis members. You see I am pretty much a lurker on these boards although I have been know to get into a few "difference of opinions" here on the dis boards. I think that is why my DH has been reluctant for me to announce my participation on the 8-23-03 cruise. Now it is my DH who is eager for me to give you a little ribbing. I hope you have a sense of humor and take this as the joke it is meant to be because my DH likes to be a "wise guy". He asked me to pass on that he is the "real' verandah man since you gave up your verandah due to extra family members traveling with you? He says from here on in you are to be known as the Non-verandah man and he is THE verandah man! Don't be surprised if he makes you a special T-shirt!



By the way if we are still welcome to meet with you, we are also staying at the Raddison the night before. My DH 38, me 39, DD 9, and DS 6 and we have late seating for dinner.

P.S. Danjulia....you keep asking why we're not on the 8-23-03 cruise list so hopefully Verandah Man will add us to the list and we will be from now on!

I was going to edit this completely but I have already been quoted. I wanted to clarify that it is only the debate board that I found some posters can be nasty if you don't agree with them...find most people on the dis very friendly!

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by allshookup
Well Verandah Man consider this an official entry into the 8-23-03 cruise meet for dis members. You see I am pretty much a lurker on these boards although I have been known to get into a few "difference of opinions" here on the dis boards. I think that is why my DH has been reluctant for me to announce my participation on the 8-23-03 cruise. Now it is my DH who is eager for me to give you a little ribbing. I hope you have a sense of humor and take this as the joke it is meant to be because my DH has quite the wise mouth, if you know what I mean. He asked me to pass on that he is the "real' verandah man since you gave up your verandah due to extra family members traveling with you? He says from here on in you are to be known as the Non-verandah man and he is THE verandah man! Don't be surprised if he makes you a special T-shirt!



By the way if we are still welcome to meet with you, we are also staying at the Raddison the night before. My DH 38, me 39, DD 9, and DS 6 and we have late seating for dinner.

P.S. Danjulia....you keep asking why we're not on the 8-23-03 cruise list so hopefully Verandah Man will add us to the list and we will be from now on!

I will be happy to add you and your family to the 8-23-03 list. BTW, my DW and I just added more DVC points into our account, and looks like I might get my verandah back after all. I don't give up that easy. We wanted to add more points and this was the best time to do it. So, Verandah Man might not be verandahless after all!!!

Join us around the Raddison pool. We arrive in MCO around 5:30pm, then will be getting our rental car and stopping for a bite to eat. I imagine we should get to the pool by 8:00pm Friday night.

Believe me, if you have read any of the May 3rd thread, you will see that I can take all kinds of ribbing, especially from Rae519.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Andy(who is not giving up on getting his verandah)

LOL!!!

 

[allshookup]

Oh Oh I'll have to tell DH not to start printing up those Non-Verandah Man T-shirts yet!

Seriously though, we hope you get that Verandah you've been hoping for and thank you for adding us to the list.

Can't wait for our first cruise ever!

 

[Verandah Man]

Latest Updated Cruise List as of May 7, 2003

August 23, 2003 DCL Eastern Caribbean DISboard Cruise List

Verandah Man (Andy) 48 from West Deptford, NJ (late dining)
DW (Hazel) 49
DD (Angelina) 12
Dmom (Vi) 67
DSis (Vicki) 50
Dniece (Vicki-VJ) 28
*Staying at the Radisson 8-22-03

aa4mom (AnnMarie) from Boston, Mass. (late dining)
DH (Andy, what a great name!!!--celebrating 39th Birthday during cruise)
DD (Angela) 9
DD (Amanda) 7
*Staying at the Radisson 8-22-03

Tricia T (Trish) 30 from Nutley, NJ
DH (Michael) 33
DS (Chris) 11
DS (Nick) 7
Dmom (Roxanne) 54
Dnephew (Matthew) 9
*Staying at the Radisson 8-22-03

Mnmomof1 (Kim) from Minnesota
DH
DD 12 (Ashley)

gdulaney (Ginny) from Atlanta, Ga.
DH

DisneyNutMary (Mary) 30 from Staten Island, NY (early dining)
DH (Jimmy) 47
DS (Bobby) 9
DS (Tommy) 5 Celebrating birthday on 8-23-03 on cruise!
*Staying at the Radisson 8-22-03

dvcer97 (Jackie) 39 from Babylon, NY
DH 48
DS 12
Baby 2 ½
Dsis 42

Ian Parkes 43 from Staffordshire, England (late dining)
DW (Tina) 41
DD (Grace) 9

Lucyluvsmickey (Lucy) from Staten Island, NY (early dining)
DH
DS 10
DD 9
Friends DH/DW/DD 7
*Staying at the Radisson 8-22-03

disnylesa from Staten Island, NY
DH
DD 9
DD 6


Lisak1(Lisa) from Michigan (late dining)
DH (Jeff) 34
DS (Kyle) 10
All three will be celebrating birthdays during our cruise.
*Staying at the Radisson 8-22-03

allshookup from Mass. (late dining)
DH (Mike) 38
DW (Diane) 39
DD (Taylor) 9
DS (Cade) 6
*Staying at the Radisson 8-22-03


onemomo2's (Melissa) (late dining)
4 y/o boy (Omar)
5 y/o boy (Evan)
8 y/o boy (Michael)
9 y/o girl (Amber)
9 y/o girl (Valerie)
12 y/o boy (Eddie) celebrating his birthday during the cruise.
14 y/o girl (Milan)
4 moms (Karen, Melissa, Michele, Toni)
4 dads (Jae, Jimmy, Johnny, Mark)
Karen and Jae will be celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary on sailaway day. Karen will also be celebrating her _??_ birhtday.
2 grandmas (Gloria, Maria)
1 grandpa (George)

alicedisney from Philadelphia, Pa.
Alice (41)
DH (44)
DS (21)
DS (13) celebrating 14th Birthday on 8-28-03 during cruise
DD (11)

 

[aa4mom]

I went to Home Depot and got my Mickey Heads. They only had a few in the alien green. There were tons of the sonic green. If anyone wants the other green Mickey heads let me know. BTW dds decided to go with the pink heads. Little girls and pink

 

[allshookup]

I was reading on another thread that they wrote their screen names on them and laminated them before the cruise. Sounds like a good idea! I hope to pick some up at our next trip to Home Depot, which should be pretty soon since my DH is so fond of shopping there.

 

[lisak1]

I put some disney stickers on ours, they turned out really cute. I will have to figure out the laminating. I used to have access to a laminator at my old office, but i switched to a new office, i haven't seen one around here anywhere.

Lisa

 

[Verandah Man]

Lisa,

I went through the DVC for our cruise, we were told to expect our docs about 2 to 3 weeks before the cruise. I know some people get them a lot sooner than that.

I made a personalized calendar. I have a photo of the Magic on the main page, and every day counted down to when we leave. The week of the cruise, I have a small photo of the Magic on each day.

I guess you couldn't tell that I am excited about this trip could you???

Andy

 

[lisak1]

me too! my job is not the most demanding, so i have alot of free time to occupy myself with these boards! (sssshhh! )

the calendar is a cute idea. maybe i'll make my own version!

Lisa

 

[lisak1]

I got my passporter last night, and made some flight changes. I checked prices and found cheaper airfare than we had originally booked. We'll be coming in 8/22, and staying at the Radisson with the rest of you, our flight comes in at MCO @ 6:14p. I guess that will put us at the hotel around 8p or so.

it will be so very nice to start the fun a day early!

 

[aa4mom]

We finally have everything worked out (I HOPE). We will be coming in on 8/22. We will be renting a car for the day and staying at the Radisson Friday night. Not sure of the arrival time. We land at MCO at noon and it will depend on what we do for the day- Magic Kingdom or NASA (never been there before).

so, We will see everyone at the pool.


we also took ourselves off the waitlist for early dining based on what I have read here on the boards

 

[Verandah Man]

Looks like we are going to have a large group meeting at the Radisson on Friday night 8-22-03.

I checked the Radisson website this morning and found a cheaper price for our room. I used the Visit Florida Ste rate and got our room for $109.00 for the one bedroom suite with two king beds and a pull out sofa in the living room.

We arrive at MCO around 5:30pm on Friday, then probably stop for a bite to eat after we get our rental car, then will be heading to the Radisson. See everyone around the pool!!!

Andy