August 29th, 2009--Eastern Magic...Let's Get it Started!

[My4PhillyGirls]

Anybody remember the feeling of going down the highway toward the ship and seeing the DCL buses passing you in the opposite direction

Joe

 

[Waltworshiper]

Nov was our first cruise, and when we got our first view of the ship that morning I started to tear up. It was harder for me seeing the busses and all the happy people about to go on the cruise we had just sadly gotten off of.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Nov was our first cruise, and when we got our first view of the ship that morning I started to tear up. It was harder for me seeing the busses and all the happy people about to go on the cruise we had just sadly gotten off of.

Oh! That would make me sad too!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Anyone start planning excursions yet?

 

[TVEPFOX]

You can "rent" a stroller from guest services. They put a $200 deposit on your stateroom account. It's a jogging stroller, great shape and folds for storage. Don't bother bringing one. Ask your room stewart and they will tuck it away for you at nigth.

Also, strollers and wagons are available for FREE when you get off the ship on CC. We always grab a wagon.

 

[TVEPFOX]

In Saint Thomas don't pay for an excursion! It's way too expensive and way too easy to do by yourself or with a group.

Get off the ship, find a cab at the curb and ask him to take you to Meghan's Bay. It should cost about $14 bucks roundtrip for a 20 minute ride in an open air taxi. Haggle with them and it might be less if you have a lot of people in your party. When you get to the beach you pay a small fee to enter because it's a park, $2 bucks each if I remember correctly, small children are free. Go early and you'll have the ENTIRE bay to yourself. DH, DD and I did it last time, counting us there were 6 people on the beach. We had a piece of paradise for about two hours until the DCL tour showed up. They were crowded into a small area and rushed in and out in 3 hours by the guides. We stayed the whole day playing and having fun. There's a shop right on the beach that sells everything and rents rafts, a restaurant on the beach that serves reasonably good food at good prices and serves KILLER drinks. OMG Mommy and her BFF's were toast by the second rum punch. We were seeing double! When you're ready to go back to the ship, the taxi cabs are lined up waiting to take you back to town. They will also stop at the open air market for some shopping.

Funny story happened to us last time... we're all in the water adults and kids in our group having a GREAT time. A baby shrimp swims on our raft, we call the girls over to see it. They loved it, it was really neat to see. Then we tell the kids, ok, we have to let it go... we release it, a fish comes from no where, jumps out of the water and eats the shrimp. The kids screamed. We had to explain natural selection drunk! I thought the wives were going to pee in the ocean it was so funny and we were so wasted.

Enjoy!!

 

[Waltworshiper]

Any good tips for St Maarten?

 

[TVEPFOX]

St Marteen is easy! Get off the ship, take a water taxi across the bay. It's dirt cheap and takes 5 minutes or a 15 minute walk. BAM you're on the beach. For $10 bucks you get 2 chairs, an umbrella AND 2 Heinekens! Life is good. There are plenty of restaurants and bars across the walkway with good food and cheap brew.

Here's another tip, buy your booze and bling here instead of St.Thomas, it's much cheaper. If you spend time in one jewelry store like we did, they open a bar tab for you! Drunk customers spend more money, I can swear to that. I have a jeweler right near the beach, he will bill your credit or debit card in installments to soften the blow. He gave DD a beautiful 14kt gold puppy charm and chain, he gave me 14kt gold earrings all for FREE! OBTW DH and I did each purchase diamond rings. On top of that he'll mail your reciepts back home. He will also come WAY down on the prices no bs, beautiful selection, and a very nice family run shop. They went out of their way for us and we still use them back in the states.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Before watching the special on cable this week about the last Magic Drydock I thought that DCL was cutting back on the improvements to its ships due to the economy.

But after the show, I now know that they are still maintaining their high standards.

Did anyone else see the show on DIY?

Joe

 

[Waltworshiper]

We dvr'd the dry dock show and watched it last night. Our server Sasha was shown in it. It was pretty nice seeing her, we all yelled at once, "Hey that's Sasha!" She was the one setting the table in the dining room scene.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

We dvr'd the dry dock show and watched it last night. Our server Sasha was shown in it. It was pretty nice seeing her, we all yelled at once, "Hey that's Sasha!" She was the one setting the table in the dining room scene.

Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. the Magic Drydock is back on DIY!

Joe

 

[TVEPFOX]

I work in tv and always say, don't believe everything you see on tv.

We were on the 7 day after dry dock. Because of wx they were forced to leave VA early. When we got on the ship Saturday afternoon there was work still not done. DCL even squeezed a special 4 day cruise between dry dock and our vacation, proving they had this planned. The Magic only does week long trips. They used the 4 to finish at sea.

We've cruised after dry dock before and noticed many changes. This stop was more nuts and bolts, like DIY said, as opposed to visual enhancements.

Don't get me wrong, the ship looked better this year than last, but she is showing her age.

I think this will be our last DC. RCCL seems to be doing amazing things with their ships. DCL is more luxurious but the activites and menus never change. We've done RCCL pre kid. I just read on another board they changed Disney Sea U. We did noice a few changes to the menu last yeàr, and one show is scheduled to change this year. After 7 years of cruising DCL it's getting a little boring and the price keeps going up. Bùt, we say every year will be our last and we still go back.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I work in tv and always say, don't believe everything you see on tv.

We were on the 7 day after dry dock. Because of wx they were forced to leave VA early. When we got on the ship Saturday afternoon there was work still not done. DCL even squeezed a special 4 day cruise between dry dock and our vacation, proving they had this planned. The Magic only does week long trips. They used the 4 to finish at sea.

We've cruised after dry dock before and noticed many changes. This stop was more nuts and bolts, like DIY said, as opposed to visual enhancements.

Don't get me wrong, the ship looked better this year than last, but she is showing her age.

I think this will be our last DC. RCCL seems to be doing amazing things with their ships. DCL is more luxurious but the activites and menus never change. We've done RCCL pre kid. I just read on another board they changed Disney Sea U. We did noice a few changes to the menu last yeàr, and one show is scheduled to change this year. After 7 years of cruising DCL it's getting a little boring and the price keeps going up. Bùt, we say every year will be our last and we still go back.

I will never believe everything that I see on tv. In my profession I have been involved in many events that the media has attended. They have often taken my words out of context and imbellished on things to support their story

I believe that Disney will have some inovative ideas when the new ships come out like a small version of Disney on Ice and maybe a few more rotational and specialty dining options.

We too may try other options because my children are getting older but we will book very early and enjoy a DCL cruise every now and then.

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I don't think we get the DIY channel.

Anyone have the travel logistics planned for our cruise yet? If flying, have you purchased your tickets yet?

I'm leaning towards flying in/out of Miami for our cruise. I'll probably go down early, the week before, and DH will fly down Friday night before the cruise.

Haven't decided yet. I keep changing my mind which makes it difficult to plan and shop for airfare.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I don't think we get the DIY channel.

Anyone have the travel logistics planned for our cruise yet? If flying, have you purchased your tickets yet?

I'm leaning towards flying in/out of Miami for our cruise. I'll probably go down early, the week before, and DH will fly down Friday night before the cruise.

Haven't decided yet. I keep changing my mind which makes it difficult to plan and shop for airfare.

For some reason long term airline prices are going up while the more recent dates appear to be reasonable. I believe that they will come down but airlines don't want to fill up the planes early and the fuel goes up on them

My family plans to come down early. I have a floating week with my timeshare that I have to use or lose so I can't book it until 59 days out

The rest of the group will come down by Friday and we will probably meet near MCO and go to the port.

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

For some reason long term airline prices are going up while the more recent dates appear to be reasonable. I believe that they will come down but airlines don't want to fill up the planes early and the fuel goes up on them

My family plans to come down early. I have a floating week with my timeshare that I have to use or lose so I can't book it until 59 days out

The rest of the group will come down by Friday and we will probably meet near MCO and go to the port.

Joe

I guess it's time to monitor the airfare. If only I can decide on where or when to fly.

Where are you staying or hoping to stay? I know you had that bad experience at the Marriott Cypress Harbor.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I guess it's time to monitor the airfare. If only I can decide on where or when to fly.

Where are you staying or hoping to stay? I know you had that bad experience at the Marriott Cypress Harbor.

I'm not against Marriott, I loved the Beach Club in Aruba

I have to wait to see what's available or I will have to go to my timeshare at the Mystic Dunes Resort in Kissimmee.

Most people that have bad experiences at my resort usually come from the fact that they let them put them in the older buildings. The newer buildings are excellent and the pools are great.

Joe

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I checked earlier today to see about the availibility of Cat 6's and discovered that they are at guaranty stage at this point.

Boy am I glad I got my connecting cabins early

Joe

 

[bellelinus]

I checked earlier today to see about the availibility of Cat 6's and discovered that they are at guaranty stage at this point.

Boy am I glad I got my connecting cabins early

Joe

Cat 6s have been in GTY since fall (maybe Nov?) when I started looking at them for this cruise -- it's why I went with a cat 5 when I booked onboard on the NYE cruise . . . I like to pick my cabin!

I have our airfare now, and we will get in the day before and probably stay at the Hyatt the night before -- using DCL transfers to and from the airport (for the first time -- always rental car or car service before).

 

[Waltworshiper]

We're flying in Thursday late night and looking into somewhere on the beach to have a nice relaxing day on Friday before the cruise. My husband works for an airline, so we are flying standby and want to leave nothing to chance with not making it down for the cruise. The way home doesn't concern me too much, there are worse things than being stranded in Florida!