August 7th, 2010 Mediterranean Cruise

[CruisingSarah]

Thank you for the welcome

Best of luck to all awaiting their cabin assignments.

I have about a million questions about cruising with the Mouse!

Does anyone know if there is anything like a Meet and Mingle planned? Or a fish extender group? We wouls like to join if we may, if there is could someone please direct me to the right place?

Thanks

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Thank you for the welcome

Best of luck to all awaiting their cabin assignments.

I have about a million questions about cruising with the Mouse!

Does anyone know if there is anything like a Meet and Mingle planned? Or a fish extender group? We wouls like to join if we may, if there is could someone please direct me to the right place?

Thanks

Welcome Aboard! I have organized the the Fish Extender Exchange. I will Private Message you with the details!

 

[CruisingSarah]

Welcome Aboard! I have organized the the Fish Extender Exchange. I will Private Message you with the details!

Hi Lisa, thanks for the welcome and the PM! Unfortunately I could not reply to it as I am too new! You have to make 10 posts before you can send a PM. So I will try and get busy with my questions over the next day or so and see if I can make 10 posts! Are you able to explain a little more how the FEE works? For example is it just kids or adults too? How many people approximately in the group? What kinds of things do you give? I am just worried about luggage space and cost if I need to bring hundreds of items! I am sure we will be in but just wanted to check first! Thanks.

 

[xsjackson]

What a fantastic trip for my jr. high students. I took 15 kids and 2 parents and it was great! Everyone behaved and we saw so much in 4.5 days! It was rushed but if it had been much longer hey kids would have wanted to do nothing because they were so overwhelmed and tired. My students are not use to the heat. While it was 60 degrees at home it was 100 in DC and 95 in NYC with high humidity (something we dont have).

Despite the heat and forcing water into these teens we had a fantastic time. We even saw a broadway show - Wicked. Our flight was delayed out of JFK and we did not get home until midnight Westcoast time last night but I just couldn't sleep in. Nap time later.

One of my student's mom's had put together this wonderful little book with things to take pictures of in durng the trip. Really great way to keep kids focused. I am going to try and make something like it for my neices and nephews for this trip. Her book had one side of the book Washington DC and one side New York City. I am thinking of doing one side on the boat and another at ports.

Could not figure out how to drop a photo of it here. We ate on the 2nd floor with 2 cat 10 rooms!

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hi Lisa, thanks for the welcome and the PM! Unfortunately I could not reply to it as I am too new! You have to make 10 posts before you can send a PM. So I will try and get busy with my questions over the next day or so and see if I can make 10 posts! Are you able to explain a little more how the FEE works? For example is it just kids or adults too? How many people approximately in the group? What kinds of things do you give? I am just worried about luggage space and cost if I need to bring hundreds of items! I am sure we will be in but just wanted to check first! Thanks.

Hi -

Okay, that is weird because it allowed me to send you a PM. So you will have one waiting for you once you make the 10 posts I guess I have provided you with a link below to give you a little education on the FEE. Since I can't send you the spread sheet I will give you an idea of how many people are participating. I will need your info ASAP so I can communicate it to the rest of the group because I am going to close out the FEE so everyone can prepare for their gifts since we are almost at the 30 day mark. As for the gifts, it is your choice to give a family gift or just for the kids or just for the adults, etc... There are no rules in terms of the gifts. The only rule is to have fun doing it!

Our FEE group right now consists of 6 cabins with 11 adults, 5 boys and 8 girls, to give you a summary. Though it will be easier to show you in a spread sheet. Please respond to this post with your cabin #, names, number of girls and/or boys with ages as well as the day you would like to pass out your gifts. I want to pass it along to the other members asap. We already have two families passing out on the first sea day, so it would be great if you could select another date so we can spread things out a bit.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread....1#post33184281

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hi Gang -

In order for those who have already signed up for the Fish Extender Exchange to prepare for their gifts, we will no longer be taking new members after today.

For those of you who have signed up for the FEE, if you have a cabin # change, now or before the cruise and haven't messaged me, please let me know. I will be sending out the final spread sheet to all participating members 2 weeks before the cruise. Also, if you have not indicated which day you would like to pass out gifts, it would be helpful to have that information as well before I send out the final spread sheet.

Thanks everyone...Let the fun begin

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

What a fantastic trip for my jr. high students. I took 15 kids and 2 parents and it was great! Everyone behaved and we saw so much in 4.5 days! It was rushed but if it had been much longer hey kids would have wanted to do nothing because they were so overwhelmed and tired. My students are not use to the heat. While it was 60 degrees at home it was 100 in DC and 95 in NYC with high humidity (something we dont have).

Despite the heat and forcing water into these teens we had a fantastic time. We even saw a broadway show - Wicked. Our flight was delayed out of JFK and we did not get home until midnight Westcoast time last night but I just couldn't sleep in. Nap time later.

One of my student's mom's had put together this wonderful little book with things to take pictures of in durng the trip. Really great way to keep kids focused. I am going to try and make something like it for my neices and nephews for this trip. Her book had one side of the book Washington DC and one side New York City. I am thinking of doing one side on the boat and another at ports.

Could not figure out how to drop a photo of it here. We ate on the 2nd floor with 2 cat 10 rooms!

Glad you had a fantastic trip! I love the photo book idea! Too bad you can't post the pic. When I have posted pics before I put them in Photobucket and then posted the link. Not sure if anyone else has an easier way to post a pic.

 

[abayaflowers]

Hi, All!

I just found out our room number 7535. We are excited! We are starting to pack. Very exciting!

I heard that this room is actually a CAT 11. Neat. We got a great deal for paying for a CAT 12 and got a CAT 11 instead.

 

[CruisingSarah]

Hi -

Okay, that is weird because it allowed me to send you a PM. So you will have one waiting for you once you make the 10 posts I guess I have provided you with a link below to give you a little education on the FEE. Since I can't send you the spread sheet I will give you an idea of how many people are participating. I will need your info ASAP so I can communicate it to the rest of the group because I am going to close out the FEE so everyone can prepare for their gifts since we are almost at the 30 day mark. As for the gifts, it is your choice to give a family gift or just for the kids or just for the adults, etc... There are no rules in terms of the gifts. The only rule is to have fun doing it!

Our FEE group right now consists of 6 cabins with 11 adults, 5 boys and 8 girls, to give you a summary. Though it will be easier to show you in a spread sheet. Please respond to this post with your cabin #, names, number of girls and/or boys with ages as well as the day you would like to pass out your gifts. I want to pass it along to the other members asap. We already have two families passing out on the first sea day, so it would be great if you could select another date so we can spread things out a bit.

Hi Lisa, I could read your PM but I couldn't reply to it, I think you can receive but not send until you have made the 10 posts. Therefore if you PM again with your email address I can then reply to you directly by email if you like so that we can exchange the details

We would definitely like to join please, it sounds like a good number for the group.

Getting excited again

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hi Lisa, I could read your PM but I couldn't reply to it, I think you can receive but not send until you have made the 10 posts. Therefore if you PM again with your email address I can then reply to you directly by email if you like so that we can exchange the details

We would definitely like to join please, it sounds like a good number for the group.

Getting excited again

You got it! I will message you now! Keep up those posts...you are almost there

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hi, All!

I just found out our room number 7535. We are excited! We are starting to pack. Very exciting!

I heard that this room is actually a CAT 11. Neat. We got a great deal for paying for a CAT 12 and got a CAT 11 instead.

That's great!! I keep checking to see if our room number has changed, no such luck yet. I had done a practice run for packing a while back. I am going to start for real next week. It won't be long now everyone

 

[makaylee]

That's great!! I keep checking to see if our room number has changed, no such luck yet. I had done a practice run for packing a while back. I am going to start for real next week. It won't be long now everyone

I know! I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself!

 

[mermster]

Just stopping by again to say I can't believe how close we're getting
You guys are so ahead of me, doing trial runs with packing and all! Now that school is out, I need to get busy! I've at least starting to make a list of everything I need to do (not that I've done much of it yet, but it's a start, right?).
Any of you coming in ahead of time and staying at a "Disney" hotel? We're at the AC Diplomat two nights ahead of time. Does anyone know if you booked air through Disney if you can see your flight info on their website, or do you just need to wait to get your cruise documents in the mail?

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Just stopping by again to say I can't believe how close we're getting
You guys are so ahead of me, doing trial runs with packing and all! Now that school is out, I need to get busy! I've at least starting to make a list of everything I need to do (not that I've done much of it yet, but it's a start, right?).
Any of you coming in ahead of time and staying at a "Disney" hotel? We're at the AC Diplomat two nights ahead of time. Does anyone know if you booked air through Disney if you can see your flight info on their website, or do you just need to wait to get your cruise documents in the mail?

Hey Mermster - I will join you with your Happy Dance!!

I have been going crazy waiting for this cruise from the first day I booked it! My family has been dealing with me talking about this trip 24-7. I have lists for my lists

I did cross a few more things off my list this week...my rewards card from Disney Visa has arrived and I plan to put my final points on it in a couple of weeks. I have obtained some Euros and my separate debit card for ATM withdrawals from my credit union. Next week will be dedicated to getting organized with making copies of our passports, organizing important phones numbers, etc...I actually had made a binder that includes all my info for this trip. Helps me stay organized

We arrive a few days before the cruise, but we are staying at Hotel Arts, a non-Disney hotel. We liked the location and the fact that we could get 4 in a room. We also booked our own air, so sorry I can't offer any help with the hotel/airfare question.

 

[mermster]

Hey Mermster - I will join you with your Happy Dance!!

Yea!!! The more people doing the happy dance, the better!


I did cross a few more things off my list this week...my rewards card from Disney Visa has arrived and I plan to put my final points on it in a couple of weeks. I have obtained some Euros and my separate debit card for ATM withdrawals from my credit union. Next week will be dedicated to getting organized with making copies of our passports, organizing important phones numbers, etc...I actually had made a binder that includes all my info for this trip. Helps me stay organized


You reminded me of something I actually did - made copies of our passports!
If you don't mind me asking, how many Euros are you starting off with? I hate to carry too much money around with me, but also don't want to pay the bank fees every time I withdraw from an ATM...
I'm also trying to decide if I can get away with not bringing a backbpack on excursions, but with the long rides from port to cities, I think I'll definitely need things for DD to do and snacks and whatnot... If I'm buying something anyway, do you think I should buy a Pacsafe backback, or do I not need to be as worried since we'll be on Disney excursions??? I'd appreciate any opinions!

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hey Mermster - I will join you with your Happy Dance!!

Yea!!! The more people doing the happy dance, the better!


I did cross a few more things off my list this week...my rewards card from Disney Visa has arrived and I plan to put my final points on it in a couple of weeks. I have obtained some Euros and my separate debit card for ATM withdrawals from my credit union. Next week will be dedicated to getting organized with making copies of our passports, organizing important phones numbers, etc...I actually had made a binder that includes all my info for this trip. Helps me stay organized


You reminded me of something I actually did - made copies of our passports!
If you don't mind me asking, how many Euros are you starting off with? I hate to carry too much money around with me, but also don't want to pay the bank fees every time I withdraw from an ATM...
I'm also trying to decide if I can get away with not bringing a backbpack on excursions, but with the long rides from port to cities, I think I'll definitely need things for DD to do and snacks and whatnot... If I'm buying something anyway, do you think I should buy a Pacsafe backback, or do I not need to be as worried since we'll be on Disney excursions??? I'd appreciate any opinions!

I actually got a small Pacsafe backpack for the trip. I used it for the first time the other day when we went to Boston. I loved the backpack! I don't think it matters if you are on Disney excursions or not. Though, just be aware of your surroundings. I even tried out my new sandals that I bought for the trip...need to start breaking them in!

As for the Euros, I have OCD I kept thinking something was going to go wrong with my ATM card while on the trip. Though, on the other hand, I still worry I am going to get robbed. I created a budget and obtained enough for the beginning of the trip. I also plan to use my Capital One card too. Though, most people seem to obtain Euros while in port since the exchange rate seems to be much better than at home. I think it is a personal preference - but a budget might be a good start.

 

[mermster]

I actually got a small Pacsafe backpack for the trip. I used it for the first time the other day when we went to Boston. I loved the backpack! I don't think it matters if you are on Disney excursions or not. Though, just be aware of your surroundings. I even tried out my new sandals that I bought for the trip...need to start breaking them in!


As for the Euros, I have OCD I kept thinking something was going to go wrong with my ATM card while on the trip. Though, on the other hand, I still worry I am going to get robbed. I created a budget and obtained enough for the beginning of the trip. I also plan to use my Capital One card too. Though, most people seem to obtain Euros while in port since the exchange rate seems to be much better than at home. I think it is a personal preference - but a budget might be a good start.

I've been wearing my new sandals too, and making my DD wear hers, no blisters so far, so I think we're going to be good!
You convinced me, I'm going for the Pacsafe - thanks!

Yeah, been working on a budget - broken up by charges on my Capital One (for ports), Disney Visa (for onboard) and Euros (for incidentals). Will try to charge most things, just trying to estimate what I'll need for actual cash

Thanks for all the help Lisa!! I really appreciate it!

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

I've been wearing my new sandals too, and making my DD wear hers, no blisters so far, so I think we're going to be good!
You convinced me, I'm going for the Pacsafe - thanks!

Yeah, been working on a budget - broken up by charges on my Capital One (for ports), Disney Visa (for onboard) and Euros (for incidentals). Will try to charge most things, just trying to estimate what I'll need for actual cash

Thanks for all the help Lisa!! I really appreciate it!

That is exactly what I am doing in terms of spreading out the money - Capital One - Disney Visa - Euros. FYI: I got my Pacsafe bag through EBags, I Googled for a coupon first before purchasing

 

[Allesma]

Remember the 1 dollars for rooms service! I made a scan of our for passports, DH will cay a copy in his Blackberry and I will carry one on my e-book. Same for my digital confimations for the cruise and hotels and flight. I also have a kind of binder, its a spiral with platic A4 forms in which I keep my lists, port info, info from trip reports etc.
I intend to buy some sweets and drinks the last morning in Barca before we go to the ship we always brings some attentions for the roomhost, the CM's from the kidclubs (sweets). I'm shuffling my lsts at the moment because we found some lightweight suitcases which allow me to bring some other clothes then I had originally planned...

Going on with my happy dance.....

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Remember the 1 dollars for rooms service! I made a scan of our for passports, DH will cay a copy in his Blackberry and I will carry one on my e-book. Same for my digital confimations for the cruise and hotels and flight. I also have a kind of binder, its a spiral with platic A4 forms in which I keep my lists, port info, info from trip reports etc.
I intend to buy some sweets and drinks the last morning in Barca before we go to the ship we always brings some attentions for the roomhost, the CM's from the kidclubs (sweets). I'm shuffling my lsts at the moment because we found some lightweight suitcases which allow me to bring some other clothes then I had originally planned...

Going on with my happy dance.....

I think I also read that you can charge tips now too, but we will be bringing $1 bills as well - thanks for the reminder! We are definitely taking advantage of room service this time around. On past Disney Cruises we didn't use it much.

I picked up some of those space saving bags the other for our carryons to make a little more room so I don't go over the measurement restrictions on BA. I will be trying those out this week to see how well they work.

I think having treats for the room host and CM's a great idea.

Hmmm...we should keep this theme going by offering a tip from now until the cruise when we post I just picked up some gel hanging airfresheners yesterday for the bathroom in the cabin. As noted on this site, the bathrooms can give off a bit of an odor. Want the room smelling fresh

Let the Happy Dance continue