August 6, 2005 Mexican Riviera..Who's In?

[jilljill]

Lauren don't be a stranger, we are all here to help. This is practically a new experience for all of us, sailing out of CA.

 

[jilljill]

Oh my gosh....that IS close! Now I'm going to start being really sad......

This trip is going to be bittersweet for us as well, don't remind us that you will be sad too

 

[justmestace]

I keep looking at DCL's website....checking to see if a broom closet opens...dreaming that I could escape all alone and come with you...

 

[SchultzFamily]

I keep looking at DCL's website....checking to see if a broom closet opens...dreaming that I could escape all alone and come with you...

Stacey, Do you want to share the room with my kids? It's a Cat 11 inside stateroom, that may feel like a broom closet!
Vickie

 

[jilljill]

I keep looking at DCL's website....checking to see if a broom closet opens...dreaming that I could escape all alone and come with you...

You could be a stowaway or I could get a steamer trunk and you could be another piece of my luggage.
I can't believe they won't let you have a broom closet. Don't they know you don't take up much room and don't eat too much?!?

 

[jilljill]

Stacey, Do you want to share the room with my kids? It's a Cat 11 inside stateroom, that may feel like a broom closet!
Vickie

I tried to get her to share a room with us and it has a porthole, no luck. Besides, I don't want her DH mad at me, he may not let us go to Vegas again. Gotta stay on his good side.

 

[justmestace]

I'm one of those claustrophobic types....must have at least a window. Or in this case, a port hole. I can't believe the cruise is totally booked. I'm waiting for the 30-day cancellation point. I must be nuts to even be thinking of it. The cruise leaves just days after I get back from WDW with the kids. On the other hand, by the time I've spent all summer, and a week at WDW with the kids, I not only will need a break, I will have EARNED it!

 

[Catnip0113]

Stacey, Maybe there is someone traveling alone that wouldn't mind having a roommate for company! I wonder if DCL would contact some single travelers (are there ever any?) to see if they'd be interested? Well, if we do rebook for the future, I'll look to see what cruise you are on or some of the others on this thread. I know you are going in May but that is too soon, we still have school during the beginning of the Christmas cruises too... Only 4 years till we are free to travel most times.

Cathy

 

[justmestace]

I don't think Barb & I will ever give up trying to hatch a plan to cruise together. She ended up not being able ot go on one, and I ended up not being able to go on one......so we are already looking at 2007! We are dedicated to our cruising!
I've seen people post on the main boards, looking for roommates when they have had another person in their party cancel. I just don't think I could sleep with a stranger. (I guess that makes me a cruise prude! LOL)

I checked earlier today, and after several days of all of the AUgust cruises being full, there was another opening on the LAST cruise before the Magic returns home. Why not this one??

I had lunch with a friend of mine who cruised Mexico on Carnival the week after we did. She had some great pics she shared with me of the Magic leaving Mazatlan.
They had arranged (on their own) to meet Randi, and ride her horses. They went outside the terminal, where Randi said she would be.....and everyone out there told my friends that Randi had already left with the Disney cruisers. And they were out there a half hour before the time Randi told them to be there. She wasn't too happy. They went to Stone Island on their own, and for $45 ea, they got to ride horses anyway (not Randi's) had a buffet lunch and an open bar. The ones who didn't ride only paid $15. They arranged this with a tour group just outside the terminal. She said the ride was only about 15 minutes long, and they wouldn't do the ride again, but they thought the $15 for the trip to the island and the food & drinks was a good deal. All in all, they weren't impressed with Stone Island. I saw her pictures, and the horses look strong and healthy....but it was a cloudy, gloomy day...so maybe that's why it didn't seem to be much fun. I told her about our private van tour all around Mazatlan, and she said she thought they would have enjoyed that more. But again, I think they all started off in a bad mood because they somehow got their wires crossed with Randi.
So I guess you can kind of take that for whatever it may be worth. They aren't complainers, and they have cruised before, are pretty adaptable to a change in plans....but still, everyone has different expectations.

 

[jilljill]

I don't think Barb & I will ever give up trying to hatch a plan to cruise together. She ended up not being able ot go on one, and I ended up not being able to go on one......so we are already looking at 2007! We are dedicated to our cruising!

Nope, never giving up on cruising together. My only objection to going in 2007 would be if the Maigc went back to CA to cruise Mexico again. That doesn't interest me at all. I hope they stay on the east coast or if by some chance they go back to the west coast, they cruise somewhere besides Mexico
Hopefully before we sail they will announce the 2007 itineraries so we can all book for the same cruise onboard

 

[justmestace]

Hawaii !!! And I agree...no more West Coast....we will have all "been there, done that".


Cool.....shared a T.O.P. with Barb and the banana !!!!!

 

[SchultzFamily]

Hawaii !!! And I agree...no more West Coast....we will have all "been there, done that".


Cool.....shared a T.O.P. with Barb and the banana !!!!!

I could go for Hawaii! I haven't even gone yet and I agree I don't think I would do Mexico again, just the been there, done that of it. I could go for Hawaii over and over though! I also don't see us flying across the country again to cruise, don't know for sure though. I would do Mexico again though if it was a Panama Canal cruise!
We've already been talking Hawaii for next summer (it was supposed to be this summer but had to do the Magic on the west coast!) We'll have to wait and see if they decide to try somewhere different.
Vickie

 

[Itinkso]

Stacey: Keep trying to get on this cruise! I'd offer you our top berth or the sofa but Brynee is pretty much a "family only" kid. I can't get her to stay over at her Grandparents yet staying over at friends' her own age is a completely different story. Thanks for the info on Randi's. I'm still planning on keeping my ressie as it is the only way to get Brynee off the ship!!

Eve: A Belated to Rhys Also, thanks for the ripway info. DH and I went shopping this week and we came home with 2 digital cameras! I just wanted a small point/shoot and he wanted 12x/macro who knows what! Now my goal is to learn to use the camera before we sail!

Vickie: We vacation in Hawaii every 5 years (an anniversary thing) and we just love it there! It is so very beautiful and there are amazing sights and activities. I would choose a land vacation over a cruise to Hawaii as there is too much to do on each island and a shore excursion wouldn't be enough. We used to stay on 1 island only when the girls were younger, but now we schedule in 2 islands. We still need to make it to the Big Island of Hawaii. If you need tips, just ask!

 

[Catnip0113]

Vickie, We just bought a small point and shoot digital camera (our first) and I am trying to learn it before we go. It keeps giving me the shaky hand which I think means the lighting is bad or something. Probably wants me to turn on a flash or something. I am reading the manual when I can. I bought a memory card that holds 500 something photos, that should be enough to take photos all week and not have to download or anything, right?
Then, how do you tell them which ones to download? I guess you delete the ones you don't want to print? The camera is so small, DH is afraid he'll drop it so he will let me do most of the photos as usual.

I would love to go to Hawaii!

Cathy

 

[justmestace]

Usually the "shaky hand" on the camera is just telling you that the automatic anti-shake thing is working. Digitals are very sensitive to the least little movement. Holding them steady is the best way to get good pics.
And, yes...you're right...you would delete the pics you don't want before you have them downloaded. I sit down at night and go through the day's pictures, deleting the ones that aren't any good.
I took 645 pics on the cruise....but a lot of them were of the room, so you should be good with 500.

Jenny....I would hope that you would still go on Randi's tour. You can't ever tell from just one person's experience. Sorry I made it sound so negative! Just repeating what I was told. All the reviews I've read are all very positive for Randi...

 

[SchultzFamily]

Jenny, we went to Hawaii 2 years ago, we went to Maui, Oahu and the Big Island. We did a great helicopter tour of the volcanos, we really enjoyed it but don't know if we would go back to the Big Island. The kids really loved Maui and maybe we would add Kaui. I went to Kaui when I was 18 with my Mom but I know its changed since then. We went to Oahu and Maui for our honeymoon back in 1980. I agree with Hawaii needing to be a land vacation but it seems we spent so much time in airports when we island hopped that at least on a cruise you could enjoy the ship between islands.
Vickie

 

[jilljill]

Cathy we bought a new digital camera a couple of weeks ago and havn't really tried it out yet. I'm supposed to be trying it out this weekend by taking pictures to put stuff on ebay, we will see how that goes. Must read the book and practice. Stacey said if her mom can do it so can I...I hope she's right

 

[Itinkso]

It sounds as if everyone will have new cameras as well as newly highlighted hair! Well, Brynee just got a "weave" with subtle auburn highlights - I'll pass as I still have jet black hair with just minimal strands of white! I still haven't found anything lime green to wear; I'll be wearing a gold glitter Mickey 50th ears lanyard with perhaps a lime green Mickey head on the back of the id holder.

Stacey - I didn't take your comments negatively; most of my friends who have cruised to Mexico have said Mazatlan is their least favorite port. I just have to stay with something organized and reputable so DH won't worry. Did you have 500 pictures on 1 memory card or did you use more than 1? I think we have at least 2 or 3 cards but will decide which is safer - pictures on only 1 card or split between 2 or does it matter

Vickie - Unpacking only 1 time in Hawaii by cruising would be ideal. My friends who have cruised Hawaii always have returned for land only vacations because there was so much more they wanted to do. We have always had a rental car and love to explore on our own. Plus, it's quite funny because "tourists" always think we are "locals!"

 

[SchultzFamily]

It sounds as if everyone will have new cameras as well as newly highlighted hair! Well, Brynee just got a "weave" with subtle auburn highlights - I'll pass as I still have jet black hair with just minimal strands of white! I still haven't found anything lime green to wear; I'll be wearing a gold glitter Mickey 50th ears lanyard with perhaps a lime green Mickey head on the back of the id holder.

I'll be joining the newly highlighted group on the 23rd! Have to have my summer blonde color!
Vickie

 

[jilljill]

I will also be sporting a new accessory for part of the cruise, will not be the whole time....I have to wear a wrist brace for at least the next 8 weeks. I saw the ortho today and he's not quite sure what is wrong; there's a bit of arthritis and a small bone spur in my thumb joint and there could also be a weird case of carpel tunnel. I have to go for an EMG to see what else is going on with my thumb/wrist. I really don't like getting old