August 9, 2011 (8/9/2011) Taking the Wonder to see the AMERICAN CHILD

[LAWalz23]

My sister spoke to a DCL agent and he said the cruise is sold out. She was asking about an upgrade.

I don't doubt it. There are also 5 ships in port the day we are in Kectikan(sp?, I'll get it right one day). We picked this cruise for several reasons. I was cheaper than the week before and both my sister's 20th Anniversxary (11th) and my parents 57th (15th) fall during this cruise.

 

[MassDisLovers]

Anyone check cruise availability lately? First two (including ours) in August don't even come up-the one after ours is only showing cat 4B available ($7400 for 2 adults). It's gonna be a full ship...

We were told that mid- August is the absolute best time to cruise Alaska weather-wise and for seeing animals in their natural habitat. Let's hope that proves true!

 

[JoeSchmieg]

Fish Extender (FE) Gifts - This is a fun "game" that is like a Secret Santa type idea.

Participating in the Fish Extender Gift Exchange will be limited to those who sign up PRIOR to the 45 day mark for the cruise. This is to encourcage participation in the thread and to lessen the last-minute sign-ups which could happen. It also gives everyone adequate time to prepare supplies.

This means the deadline to sign up is: Saturday 6/25/2011.

Guidelines for our fish extender:
1. Each cabin is to provide AT LEAST one gift to each cabin participating in the fish extender. You can provide a gift to each person within that cabin, just the kids, or one gift for the whole cabin...that is up to you. Of course, you are welcome to give more than one gift...but the minimum is one.
2. All gifts are to be delivered between the cruise leaving port on Tuesday August 9th until 4 PM on Monday, August 15th. This gives people time to still be able to pack their bags before we leave the ship the morning of August 16th.
3.Please include a tag with your DISboard’s user name on the gift. This way everyone knows who the gift is from.
4. To take part in the FE, please provide JoeSchmieg / Joe (I know my DisBoard name is sooo creative )the following information (see below). I will post the master list periodically in this forum.
-DISboard user name
-stateroom number
-number of adults in the cabin
-number of children as well as their gender and ages
-real names
-anything else you want us to know (allergies, etc)
5. Don’t forget to check back to this thread with all the information!!!


After the sign up deadline of June 25th, I will complete master list for us to share. Then you’ll know how many FE gifts to prepare with the cabin number of where to deliver it.

Let me know if I am forgetting anything.
Thanks! I am really looking forward to this!
Joe

PS: Here is a list of IDEAS of what you might want to bring for the FE on the cruise...to add to your packing list if you'd like:
1. The FE gifts that you are making/preparing -- total number will be announced after our June 25th sign up deadline.
2. An FE pocket/hanger to hang outside your cabin. You can find them on eBay by searching "Fish Extenders" or you can make one or search on line other places.
3. A zip tie to help attach your FE HANGER. Some people have commented theirs have sadly walked away...but if you attach it with a zip tie...then it is not as likely to walk away.
4. Scissors to cut the zip tie when you're packing...LOL! Don't want to leave it for someone else.
5. On the forum, some people recommend bringing thank you notes so you can write a quick note to the person who gave you a gift.

 

[JoeSchmieg]

Here is the updated FE roster

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...UlhLR1NoclFNdmJPa2c&hl=en_US&authkey=CKrukZEB

I am thinking I will e-mail everyone the final list (with Cabins) before the trip. So if everyone participating can PM an e-mail address (you can not attach docs in the forum PM's). I will also setup a meet time on the ship or something.
Joe

 

[jilljill]

Joe I like the idea of an end time for delivering FE gifts. I don't think I've seen other groups say that or even see anyone with that suggestion.


Just another suggestion to use as an FE, a handled tote bag. We did this one time and it was so much easier on us not having to worry about things falling out of the pockets and much harder for anyone walking by to take a peek inside a pocket. We did ziptie it to the Fish.

 

[DustBunny]

Here is the updated FE roster

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...UlhLR1NoclFNdmJPa2c&hl=en_US&authkey=CKrukZEB

I am thinking I will e-mail everyone the final list (with Cabins) before the trip. So if everyone participating can PM an e-mail address (you can not attach docs in the forum PM's). I will also setup a meet time on the ship or something.
Joe

Thanks for organizing the FE Exchange, Joe!

 

[MagicMe]

giving us a little bump from page 4!!

 

[jilljill]

giving us a little bump from page 4!!

This always makes me laugh when I see people put this in a post. I never know what page threads are found on since I just find the ones I post on from my User CP.

 

[LAWalz23]

I don't want to sound dumb but I have very little knowledge of a gluten-free diet and I want to include a small candy snack with my FE gift. My rearch came up with plain Nestle chocolate bars, Raisinets, Snowcaps, Baby Ruth, Butterfinger and Hershey bars with Almonds and York peppermint patties.

My question is are all of these truly ok? I don't want to give out anything that might cause harm to anyone. I taught Sunday School for two years and had children that had peanut allergies so we had Oreos every week for snack because I knew they were safe.

Thanks for any info you can supply.

 

[Caropooh]

I don't want to sound dumb but I have very little knowledge of a gluten-free diet and I want to include a small candy snack with my FE gift. My rearch came up with plain Nestle chocolate bars, Raisinets, Snowcaps, Baby Ruth, Butterfinger and Hershey bars with Almonds and York peppermint patties.

My question is are all of these truly ok? I don't want to give out anything that might cause harm to anyone. I taught Sunday School for two years and had children that had peanut allergies so we had Oreos every week for snack because I knew they were safe.

Thanks for any info you can supply.

As he mom of one of the gluten-free kids on the cruise, thanks for asking the question! I read Kathryn your post and she said "mmmm, Snowcaps! They are the best candy in the world!" Here are a couple links for gluten-free candies. (probably same ones that you have seen) From what I can tell, all the candies you listed are gluten-free!
http://www.celiaccentral.org/SiteDa...94d7929e448a0/2010 Gluten-Free Candy List.pdf
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/glutenfreefoodshopping/a/GFcandies.htm
http://specialchildren.about.com/gi...ww.glutenfreeinfo.com/Diet/glutenfreeinfo.htm

 

[Caropooh]

This always makes me laugh when I see people put this in a post. I never know what page threads are found on since I just find the ones I post on from my User CP.

Same here!

 

[LAWalz23]

As he mom of one of the gluten-free kids on the cruise, thanks for asking the question! I read Kathryn your post and she said "mmmm, Snowcaps! They are the best candy in the world!" Here are a couple links for gluten-free candies. (probably same ones that you have seen) From what I can tell, all the candies you listed are gluten-free!
http://www.celiaccentral.org/SiteDa...94d7929e448a0/2010 Gluten-Free Candy List.pdf
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/glutenfreefoodshopping/a/GFcandies.htm
http://specialchildren.about.com/gi...ww.glutenfreeinfo.com/Diet/glutenfreeinfo.htm

Thanks for confirming the list. I like snowcaps myself because they are semisweet chocolate which I prefer to milk. Thanks for the additional links!

 

[cdnmomof2]

Does anyone have an idea when we should start receiving cabin assignments? Seeing as though the cruise is booked solid, maybe it will be sooner rather than later.

Cathie

 

[mom_rules]

Does anyone have an idea when we should start receiving cabin assignments? Seeing as though the cruise is booked solid, maybe it will be sooner rather than later.

Cathie

We are waiting also-hope soon.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

...Seeing as though the cruise is booked solid...

FYI - my SIL expressed interest in our cruise over the weekend, so I looked for availability this a.m. just to see what there is and there was a 6A GTY available. I looked for 1 adult and 2 kids (13&17).

 

[jilljill]

They are normally assigned about 30 days out, but some people have been getting them earlier. You'll just have to keep checking DCL's website to see if/when you get an assignment. But keep in mind, you still may not get it assigned until you get to the port or even if you do have an assignment it can get changed up until you check in.

 

[JoeSchmieg]

Roster continues to grow. Below contains all updates as of tonight. Just as a summary we have 20 cabins. I also counted up the kids, 15 Girls and 6 Boys so far. We need to ensure we take the following in to consideration if buying snacks:

Gluten Free and Peanut free

Someone said they are considering snow caps! Great Idea from what I understand. I don't have any kids but they are my favorite to eat during movies (Hint, Hint )

Here is the updated file as of tonight
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...RXZycExXcUtlSFVuRXc&hl=en_US&authkey=CN2qtucH

I am still in need of SEVERAL e-mail addresses so I can send the FE Roster final out in advance of the cruise. PM me please if you have not. Would hate for you to get on the ship with all your goodies only to realize you don't know where to deliver them.

I will setup a time to meet as well, but this will be a very limited window as I am like a little kid when I get on the ship and start running around finalizing my plans for the week.

Does anyone know if I can leave the rosters @ Guest Services, in case someone needs them over the course of the week.

I am thinking since the cruise is pretty much sold out, we will not have many folks join after the 6/25 deadline, but we need to decide if we will allow changes after the deadline. The idea with the deadline is for those who are making / buying specific items to have a final count well in advance. Thoughts?

 

[Bookworm Belle]

They are normally assigned about 30 days out, but some people have been getting them earlier. You'll just have to keep checking DCL's website to see if/when you get an assignment. But keep in mind, you still may not get it assigned until you get to the port or even if you do have an assignment it can get changed up until you check in.

OK, I'm confused. I booked through a TA (Magical Journeys) and a cabin number was already listed on my DCL receipt. Is that NOT my cabin number? Would a different number be assigned? This is my very first cruise and I am afraid that I don't know much about how this all works. And what does GTY mean?

 

[MagicMe]

GUESS WHAT FELLOW CRUISERS....
WE ARE IN SINGLE DIGIT WEEKS!!!!​

GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
BOYS AND GIRLS!
WE SET SAIL IN
9 WEEKS! ​

For our August 9 th, 2011 Alaska Cruise ​

Let the party begin

​

 

[MassDisLovers]

I am thinking since the cruise is pretty much sold out, we will not have many folks join after the 6/25 deadline, but we need to decide if we will allow changes after the deadline. The idea with the deadline is for those who are making / buying specific items to have a final count well in advance. Thoughts?

I would prefer to keep with the 6/25 deadline - or at least not add anyone after that. If someone has to drop out, that would be understandable. I have a pretty busy summer, and want to get my FE gifts settled soon after the deadline.

Just my two cents worth.....

Karen