Bound for Barcelona - April 10, 2010 EB TA - Part 4

[KrisannB]

When is your husband coming home? What airline does he usually fly?
My DH is coming in on March 27. We bought his ticket back in November.

My hubby is coming home on April 3 - we will buy his ticket on Monday. He has to buy a fully refundable ticket so it costs the same clear up to the day he leaves. He flys Northwest/Delta/KLM into Memphis - he has been there for almost 4.5 years and we decided to settle on one airline to get the miles - he gets to the top rank in their club every year - so it is nice when we all fly because we get 2 bags free.

Is your hubby going back to the desert after the cruise? My hardest thing is a one way ticket is as much as a RT - so we are talking about doing the WBTA too!


Hey on a side note did you get my PM about the FE money? You probably replied but my box was full so I did not get your answer - if you could resend it I would appreciate it

Krisann

 

[bound2travel]

lol - yikes!! The epidural was awful but it sure did work!

Haven't had an epidural (no kids), but I did have a spinal tap. The tap didn't really hurt. It was the (BLEEP) headache I got for five days even though I laid down for the rest of the day!!!!

Kristi

 

[bound2travel]

I Have an idea....How about ......
THE COUGAR FAMILY!:

Thanks Michelle2...for the FE comment

So.... should I be announced as "THE COUGAR QUEEN"?

Don't think I will though.


Question for other solo traveler's - how do you prefer to be announced? It's not like they can call you the "(name) family" - though they did that my first cruise.

Kristi

 

[woody73]

Done my last two papers ...whoooo hooooo! School is OUT!

Congratulations!

Woody

 

[thossink]

From Disney Travel Guru:

http://www.disneytravelguru.com/2008/11/08/a-disney-dozen-things-about-boarding-a-disney-cruise/

A Disney Dozen Things You Need to Know about Boarding a Disney Cruise

• The Disney Cruise Line Terminal is located in Port Canaveral, Florida and you can arrive anytime after the previous cruise passengers have disembarked. Sometime between 9:30am and 10:00am is the earliest you should arrive. However, you must be on board no later than 4:00pm. I recommend that you plan to arrive at the port early (by 10am) if you wish to be one of the first on board the ship. Reasons to be first on board the ship include making any changes to your dining rotations, changing or adding Palo reservations (it is always best to book your Palo reservations online as early as you possibly can for the best availability), changing or adding any spa reservations, getting the kids checked into the kids’ clubs prior to boarding, or you just want to start your vacation as early as possible. If none of the previous apply, you’re probably better off waiting to arrive after 1:00pm to let the early crowds dissipate.
  
• If you are driving to the port (by means of your own car, a rental car, or car service), you will be asked to present a photo ID to enter the drop off area. If you are parking, it is best to drop off your luggage first and then park your car. There are porters available to take your luggage. They do not work for Disney Cruise Line and will be expecting a gratuity. A good rule of thumb is one dollar per piece of luggage they take from you. Be sure you have already affixed your Disney Cruise Line luggage tags before you give your luggage to the porter. The luggage tag is the way that your luggage will find its way to your cabin. If you are arriving via the Disney Cruise Line bus transportation, your luggage will have already been taken care of for you.
  
• Before entering the terminal, each adult must show photo ID. Once inside the terminal, you will pass through a security screening much like airport screening. Your carry-on luggage will go through an x-ray machine and you will walk through a metal detector. Once through security, you will be asked to move upstairs to the second level of the terminal via the stairs, escalator, or elevator.
  
• As you enter the second level of the terminal, go directly to check-in. You will receive a card with a number on it. The number indicates what group you will be in for boarding. Obviously the earlier you arrive, the lower your boarding number. On our last cruise, we arrived at the port around 10:15 and were in group number 3. Only one person from each cabin needs to go through the check-in line. Everyone else can find a comfy spot on the couches by the TVs, explore the ship model in the middle of the terminal, or have their pictures taken with the various characters that wander about. (Character pictures usually begin around 11:00am in the terminal.)
  
• When checking in, you will be asked for proof of citizenship for each person in your cabin. You will also be asked if anyone in your party has shown any flu or cold symptoms in the past 48 hours. Disney is VERY careful and proactive about keeping, should we say, sick germs off of their ships. Once your check-in is complete, you will be given a Key to the World Card for each person in your cabin. If you have sailed with Disney before, aka: a Castaway Club Member, you will also receive a Castaway Club lanyard and card holder for each person. Your dining rotation will appear on your Key to the World Card. Ask the cast member checking you in how to decipher the code. A good reminder here is that you can greatly speed up your check-in process by completing the required cruise documents online before you leave for your cruise.
  
• Parking at Port Canaveral is now $15 per day. If you plan to arrive the day before your cruise (which I strongly recommend), you may want to consider staying at a local resort that offers free parking and complimentary shuttle service to and from the port. On a 7-night cruise, the free parking alone will save you $105.
  
• Lunch is served on board at both Parrot Cay and Topsider Buffet. The buffet lunch is the same in both locations. The choice is yours. We prefer Parrot Cay because it is indoors and air conditioned; purely a personal choice. At Topsiders, you have your choice of eating indoors, or outside. Lunch is served in Parrot Cay until 2:15pm and at Topsiders until 3:30pm.
  
• The pools are open. Be sure to pack a swim suit to take advantage of some pool time while everyone else is still boarding. On our last trip, our daughter asked if she could wear her swimsuit onto the ship under her clothes to save time having to change later.
  
• Your cabin will be ready by 1:30pm. If you arrived to the port early, your luggage may start to be delivered by then as well. Don’t be concerned if not all of your luggage pieces arrive at the same time. Luggage is delivered throughout the day until 6:30pm. Usually the earlier you arrive, the earlier your luggage makes it to your cabin.
  
• When you get to you cabin, you will find several things waiting for you. These would include that day’s Navigator so you can see what is happening the rest of the day, your dining tickets which show you your dining time and restaurant rotation (be sure to read your dining tickets as our rotation on the tickets were different than the rotation on our Key to the World Card on our last cruise), any shore excursions that you pre-purchased through Disney, any stateroom gifts that you may have ordered, and a gift from the cruise line if you are a Castaway Club member.
  
• At 4:00pm there is a mandatory muster drill. Around 3:45pm, you should head to your cabin, put on your life jackets, and follow the directions on the back of your door to find your muster station. The drill lasts about 15 minutes so by 4:15, you’ll be heading back to your cabin with everyone else.
  
• 4:30pm is the Adventures Away sail away party at the Goofy Pool, mid-ship on deck 9. If you would like to get a table for the party, be sure to have someone from your party head to the Goofy pool as soon as the muster drill is over and you have returned your life jacket to your cabin. One person can hold a table while the rest of you party arrives. If you or your children would like to be seen on the big Ariel Vision above the pool, be sure to make your way front and center on the dance floor. Another great vantage point for the party, if you know you won’t be dancing on the dance floor, is around the railings on deck 10. One last thing about the Adventures Away party, servers will be walking around with trays of tropical drinks. The drinks are not complimentary and come in a souvenir glass which is an extra charge. Drinks are available in regular glasses as well; all you have to do is ask for one. I see a lot of souvenir glasses left behind because people don’t realize that they have paid for them and the glasses are theirs to keep. Don’t pay for the glass unless you intend to take it home.
  
• The ship will castoff at 5:00pm to the wonderful ship’s horn tooting “When You Wish Upon a Star.” The horn is pretty loud so you may not want to be standing under the forward funnel when the horn goes off. Enjoy the moment as your sail away and wave good-bye to the rest of the world.

Thanks for the reminder.

T

 

[bound2travel]

From Disney Travel Guru:

http://www.disneytravelguru.com/2008/11/08/a-disney-dozen-things-about-boarding-a-disney-cruise/

A Disney Dozen Things You Need to Know about Boarding a Disney Cruise

• When checking in, you will be asked for proof of citizenship for each person in your cabin. You will also be asked if anyone in your party has shown any flu or cold symptoms in the past 48 hours. Disney is VERY careful and proactive about keeping, should we say, sick germs off of their ships.

I have a little experience with this. Last September, I came down with a nasty cough. Saw a doctor on Thursday (cruise on Sunday). Dr. did a flu test and I was negative. He even gave me a paper stating that I did not have the flu. Friday I went down to Disney to enjoy the parks before the cruise. Still having coughing fits. So of course, I had to check the "yes" to the coughing part on the form at arrival to check in. I was asked to step to a back area and wait for the ship's doctor. She came out took my temperature (slight fever). As I had the paper and I was within the allowable temperature range, I was allowed to board. If I had a higher temp, they would have sent me to a walk-in clinic down the road for further clearance.

Boy, was I nervous, but so glad she cleared me. I'm sure people wondered what I was doing on the ship coughing so much though. It was a dry cough that would hit until I got enough fluid down my throat to make it stop. Still had fun though I was a bit tired the entire time.

Kristi

 

[bound2travel]

--Awkward ... I wonder how if they re-check the information, before delivery. Perhaps the tag gets scanned (before delivery), then updated?

My first cruise, I didn't get a room assignment until 2 weeks before sailing. When I returned to my room after something, I saw luggage outside my door. Mine and whoever was originally assigned the room. I pulled mine inside and called CS. The other luggage was gone within minutes. So it may take longer to get your luggage if your tags stateroom number is different than the stateroom you are assigned too. At least that was my experience.

Kristi

 

[joius24]

So.... should I be announced as "THE COUGAR QUEEN"?

Don't think I will though.


Question for other solo traveler's - how do you prefer to be announced? It's not like they can call you the "(name) family" - though they did that my first cruise.

Kristi

I think Queen of the Cougars is the right way to say it

TY for the congrats Woody

Nighty Night all!

 

[Tinked]

Tinked..I think we're on the same flight to Philly. Is yours USAir 743 at about 10am? Anybody else on that flight?

No, I'll be at the port by the time you take off. USAIR 1633 which leaves Philly at 6:40am. Another night's sleep lost between excitement at going and leaving for the airport at 4am. Happy to be getting to the port early though.

Sorry you are not on the flight, looking forward to meeting you. I've enjoyed the story of how you got your name. Are you on the 10:45am return flight, USAIR 743?

 

[Tinked]

For those who are going to WDW before the cruise and are using ME - check how many luggage tags you got - we only got one per person and needed 2 per person - I did not even pay attention there were only 1 pp when they came - it was easy to get more - I just called and they are sending me more.

KrisannB--Thanks for the info, I've been worried about that. I decided to take 2 suitcases so will probably have to call them.

 

[Tinked]

The thing about the longer cruise is it's a little easier to skip regular dining once or twice, which is possibly what I'll do for pirate night this time. Have a little something poolside or an early visit to Topsiders and actually get to taste something from the party. (hmmmmm, sliced ham sounds nice)

.

Now that sounds like a good idea!

 

[bound2travel]

I think Queen of the Cougars is the right way to say it

TY for the congrats Woody

Nighty Night all!

I'm so glad your papers are done and now you can concentrate on the cruise. Congrats.

Kristi

 

[stlkeeler]

Question for other solo traveler's - how do you prefer to be announced? It's not like they can call you the "(name) family" - though they did that my first cruise.

Kristi

I don't like to be announced at all. Even when I travel with my family. I guess I just don't like to stand out for any reason.

 

[sdlong329]

I think Queen of the Cougars is the right way to say it

... so that would make Terry, QUEEN of the PREY?

 

[disneymum2201]

Cruise Documents arrived today in Australia!!

 

[auntlynne]

--Awkward ... I wonder how if they re-check the information, before delivery. Perhaps the tag gets scanned (before delivery), then updated?

Well, if you upgrade at the port, your luggage finds you, right? Maybe that's why they also put our names on the tags.

I don't like to be announced at all. Even when I travel with my family. I guess I just don't like to stand out for any reason.

I don't think anyone (but the crew doing the clapping) are really paying any attention to this; the cruisers are off looking for lunch, excursion sign-up and Palo's reservations.

 

[auntlynne]

Cruise Documents arrived today in Australia!!

 

[mrshart]

My cruise docs haven't come yet, but I did order some pins off ebay for trading!

 

[DisneyHeather]

Cruise Documents arrived today in Australia!!

Yea!!

Still haven't found their way to California though

 

[Tinked]

AuntLynne
I put my name and stateroom on the spreadsheet. If you are doing the nametags for the lanyards could I have them with Donalds for Karen and Lorrie. Thanks.
Not interested in FE, SM, or Mickey tag but thanks for your attention to detail on this thread. It has been a pleasure following all this info. You have done a great job! Hope to meet you on the cruise.