August 25 2012

[threeiscrazy]

We have a $400 credit with Southwest because our airfare from our July 2011 WDW trip dropped drastically after we purchased it......I'm hoping to book with them to use that up. I have until Spring 2012 to use the credit or lose it.

Will you call SouthWest and verify that you can travel in August on that credit. I only say this because in the past they've said you have to purchase AND travel by that use it or lose it date. I'd hate for it not to work out and be a surprise come this spring.

 

[hortontrio]

Just wondering if anyone here has been on a 7 night Eastern before?? This will be our first ( we have done 2 4 nights) so im trying to get some heads up on what to expect for a 7 night...we are super excited about this. Looking forward to FE's though, always a fun part of the cruise!~~

 

[Pudo]

Just wondering if anyone here has been on a 7 night Eastern before?? This will be our first ( we have done 2 4 nights) so im trying to get some heads up on what to expect for a 7 night...we are super excited about this. Looking forward to FE's though, always a fun part of the cruise!~~

Yes, this will be our 3rd DCL Eastern Caribbean cruise. We went in 2003 and 2004 although the latter included Puerto Rico instead of St. Maarten. We loved both cruises and after 3 Westerns, a Panama Canal repo, and a double dip Dream cruise we are looking forward to going back on an Eastern. What questions did you have?

Jeff

 

[hortontrio]

Yes, this will be our 3rd DCL Eastern Caribbean cruise. We went in 2003 and 2004 although the latter included Puerto Rico instead of St. Maarten. We loved both cruises and after 3 Westerns, a Panama Canal repo, and a double dip Dream cruise we are looking forward to going back on an Eastern. What questions did you have?

Jeff

Thanks Jeff~`just wondering the cruise itself how it differs..I hears there is a semi and formal night? Will DH need a tux or will his suit work for both nights?

Are there themed dinner nights? I saw somewhere about Golden Mickey Menu and stuff that i havent seen on a 4 night.
Just basic things we should know about regarding a 7 night from a 4 night... any excursions you would recommend, or things you would recommend us do, it will be dh and i (both 40 at the time) and an DD 8 at the time. DH and I like to snorkel but DD does not, none of us have been to St. Maarten so we dont knwo what to expect...thanks so much!!!

 

[hortontrio]

oh BTW our Stateroom is 6690..forgot the include that with the FE stuff..Thanks for organizing this and keeping a running list!!~~

 

[Pudo]

Thanks Jeff~`just wondering the cruise itself how it differs..I hears there is a semi and formal night? Will DH need a tux or will his suit work for both nights?

Are there themed dinner nights? I saw somewhere about Golden Mickey Menu and stuff that i havent seen on a 4 night.
Just basic things we should know about regarding a 7 night from a 4 night... any excursions you would recommend, or things you would recommend us do, it will be dh and i (both 40 at the time) and an DD 8 at the time. DH and I like to snorkel but DD does not, none of us have been to St. Maarten so we dont knwo what to expect...thanks so much!!!

Hmm. Lots to talk about. I'll start with the themed nights. There will be a formal, semi-formal, and pirate night. I believe the formal falls the same night as the Golden Mickeys, Pirate night will normally be the Wednesday night after departing St. Thomas. You have 3 sea days (Sunday, Monday, Thursday) so you'll want to book Palo Brunch one of those three. There will also be a character breakfast which will happen on one of the 3 sea days based on your dining rotation.

I will have to revist the excursions, I am sure they have changed since we have been there. The sea days are great! The eastern is relaxing, especially in the beginning since you leave Port Canaveral at 5 PM on Saturday and don't arrive at your first port of call (St. Maarteen) until Tuesday morning.

Will add more as I think of things...

 

[hortontrio]

Thanks Jeff!!~~ Anything you got we are much appreciated it~~ CANT WAIT!!!! Thanks so much!!

 

[JKSWonder]

Will you call SouthWest and verify that you can travel in August on that credit. I only say this because in the past they've said you have to purchase AND travel by that use it or lose it date. I'd hate for it not to work out and be a surprise come this spring.

I'll check it out, though I don't recall having a problem before as long as we purchased prior to the expiration date....possibly I'm not remembering the policy correctly.

Either way, we will would likely still use it (and travel) before it expires. My mother is visiting an Uncle in Florida in January and we are considering going somewhere for a quick getaway in March. We haven't purchased tickets for either trip yet, and I would likely look at Southwest first. We also have a $175.00 Jetblue credit that is good until around that same time also.

 

[Gmilligan]

Unfortunately me and dh will not be on this cruise due to his job. We have moved our cruise to the end of October 2012. It adds another 2 months of waiting. however, good luck on the planning.

 

[Chrisd12]

Hi...would love to join FE exchange, we are Christina (DW), Demetrios (DH), Nicholas (DS-10), and Sophia (DD-7) Doupis. We are in cabin 8582. Can't wait, keep researching the ins & outs of Disney cruising, so any tips would be greatly appreciated, especially about FE exchange. We do a gift for each participating cabin or are we assigned a particular cabin. Thanks for the help, and hopefully the time will go by fairly quickly.

 

[Disneydonnam]

Please add us to the FE. Curt and Donna room number 2030. 345 Days to go

 

[Pudo]

We booked 2 Cat 4As back on 11/2/10 for $7,600 with 2 adults and 2 children. The only non-suite stateroom available for a family of 4 is now $11,138!! We have been sailing on DCL for 10 years and this is by far the craziest pricing I have ever seen.

 

[suzannecat]

Hi! Please add us to the FE Exchange as well, thanks! ( I sent a PM, not sure if I need to post here too...)

Suzanne and Joe (adults), David (will be 14) and Eliana (will be 10). We're in 2 staterooms (across the hall from each other), 8559 and 8563. Thanks!

--Suzanne Dropkin, Cortlandt Manor, NY

 

[AlwaysDisney4Us]

We will be booking Continental from Newark to Orlando. I noticed the rates go all the way through the beginning of August which surprised me. We will probably fly down somewhere around 08/21 since we want to stay at WDW 3 days before the cruise.

I check Continental from time to time, but if anybody notices when they open up the rest of August could you post something here. I want to lock in a rate early.

Thanks,
Jeff

HI will will either be coming out of Newark or Atlantic City on Spirit depending on the best fare. I guess they will post to the end of August in October, I will be checking the rates. Are you from NJ or just flying out of Newark? We are in central jersey.

 

[Pudo]

HI will will either be coming out of Newark or Atlantic City on Spirit depending on the best fare. I guess they will post to the end of August in October, I will be checking the rates. Are you from NJ or just flying out of Newark? We are in central jersey.

Yes, we are. In my signature I have North Brunswick, NJ. What part of Central Jersey do you live?

Jeff

 

[JustTJ]

Back from our Amazing Dream Cruise, I'm having bad Cruise Withdrawl this week. Just finished unpacking today, Going through all our FE stuff and planning a cool book I'll make for my sons collector pins (Tim has QUITE the collection now).
I loved so much about the Dream, and can't wait now to see any differences on the Fantasy!
I'm so glad we booked when we did because yes WOW, the prices sure have gone up!

We flew down this time as it was just Tim and myself. Tim loved the flights until the last leg on the way home, we had a rough landing (could be normal to a frequent flyer, but not so to an infrequent one) I swear the plane blew a tire, and the brakes made way too much noise, and was not a smooth landing nor a smooth stop. After THAT one, even Tim said "I'll never fly again". But still I find myself checking dates out of SYR. Although I can onlyl check dates leaving the week before our cruise, and thus can't check return costs, Just going by the one way costs, leaving on a Friday instead of a Saturday, seems all 4 of us could fly return for the same price I paid for just Tim and myself return, this last trip. Still, I think we'll be driving down. It'll be a two week vacation for us, and we might visit WDW for a few days prior. Gotta check the finances on that but I think we might be able to swing it I'm not going to ask for this year to pass by quickly as I did this past year. I need to stop and savour things as I find my boys are growing too quickly. We are planning hiking and biking weekends throughout the fall and look forward to picture taking amongst all the fall colours, and I've promised myself I WILL have the Dream cruise pics all scrap booked BEFORE the next cruise (that'll be a first )
Have a great weekend everyone

 

[i12go2wdw]

Hello All,
I think I am up to date on the FE participants, if not let me know. We have been having themed dinners with our friends who will be cruising with us, one of the 2 families have never been to WDW or on a cruise. We talked about the FE with them and they are pretty excited, the only concern that was raised was what if there are 100 people, I assured them that we would be capping it at 25 per group, hopefully just 20. Our theme for our last dinner was EPCOT, we had a food or drink from each of the countries, it was an interesting meal to say the least.
It won't be long before we will be talking about which WDW restaurants we want to make dining reservations for.
Is anyone planning on going to the signature restaurant on the Fantasy?

 

[Disneyholic]

Hello All,
I think I am up to date on the FE participants, if not let me know. We have been having themed dinners with our friends who will be cruising with us, one of the 2 families have never been to WDW or on a cruise. We talked about the FE with them and they are pretty excited, the only concern that was raised was what if there are 100 people, I assured them that we would be capping it at 25 per group, hopefully just 20. Our theme for our last dinner was EPCOT, we had a food or drink from each of the countries, it was an interesting meal to say the least.
It won't be long before we will be talking about which WDW restaurants we want to make dining reservations for.
Is anyone planning on going to the signature restaurant on the Fantasy?

DH & I won't be doing the FE even though it looks like a lot of fun. We are headed for retirement & downsizing and trying to get rid of STUFF.

As far as the signature restaurant, I am planning to try to get into Remy ( I think it's the same as on the Dream ) for our 40th wedding anniversary which will be on the 26th, the second day of the cruise. Wish me luck. If I can get paid in full by 91 days out I should be good to get online at 90 days since we are silver CC members. If not I will try for Palo.

 

[JKSWonder]

No Remy for us (menu doesn't really appeal to DH), but we would like Palo for sure.

I'm also hoping to get a brunch and/or tea this time. I haven't had a chance to do either yet. I think my Mom would love the tea.

 

[gdulaney]

Hello All,
I think I am up to date on the FE participants, if not let me know. We have been having themed dinners with our friends who will be cruising with us, one of the 2 families have never been to WDW or on a cruise. We talked about the FE with them and they are pretty excited, the only concern that was raised was what if there are 100 people, I assured them that we would be capping it at 25 per group, hopefully just 20. Our theme for our last dinner was EPCOT, we had a food or drink from each of the countries, it was an interesting meal to say the least.
It won't be long before we will be talking about which WDW restaurants we want to make dining reservations for.
Is anyone planning on going to the signature restaurant on the Fantasy?

We had a cruise this past August that got up pretty high, so we broke it into two FE groups. It made it much easier to do....especially since the new ships have more cabins (and more decks...and some crazy dead ends ).

Ginny