Calling All 8/19/06 Special Western Cruisers! AKA "The Cruisin' Castaways" Part 2

[Reenieny18]

Terry, did you get my email about my parasailing and catatamaran?? tube rental??
Not that you dont have enough to do already..


I have a correction to make the h20 cooler I thought I got is actually a "SMOOTHIE" keeper with a built in ice tube.. WAYHOO!!! I can make them in the room and bring them on deck in a 128oz mini keg with a spout on it..
MY person thought of me And if I loose the cup. I can just hold the spout to my mouth.. I AM ONLY KIDDING.. well... no really.. ok,, no really I wouldnt do that.. in public,,hehehe

The cruise is getting so much closer.. I cant wait for this nice weather from TINA to come this weekend.. Its still 45* here bbbrr.. I still had a winter coat on last night. I want to go shopping for SUMMER!!! ok well its an excuse...but when you go to KOHLS in a winter coat and gloves.. I just cant put on bathing suits and shorts,,lol

DOREEN

 

[Reenieny18]

TINA... my family did the beach break at COZUMEL last time and had a great time. We only changed to the catamaran beach break because everyone else is doing it..

You take a bus there.. get off at the "RESORT" type place.. go through their town of village liek shops with all the towns people asking to buy their goods. REMEMBER TO BARTER>>> BARGIN for the lowest price.. They offer 12. say 5. I bet you can pay 7 ,, and walk away.. I love doing this in NYC too.!!
you than go around the trail of sidewalk and than enter paradise.. ROWS AND ROWS of lounge chairs..and BEAURFUL OCEAN!!!
The DCL area is ropped off from the RCL and CARNIVAL ones, stake out your spots.. with your belongings.. go to the water.. go to the drink hut .. the guy with the mixed drinks is to the right of you when looking at the ocan... the drinks are VERY VERY STONG.. I tipped him the first few times.. and after that,,, couldnt walk,,lol The water is great. Never got to get my big butt on the water trampoline.. they had paddle boats too that we enjoyed also.
When it was time for lunch.... well KAREN was in the bad, as was MARTY...lol
The pool at the beach was so crystal clear and it had a swim up BAR>..

We really enjoyed this excursion..but since we want to do snorkeling again and GINNY liked this and TERRY AND MARY ROSE are doing this.. we opted for this one.. Any chance you and Bev can change your mind???

DOREEN

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Just stopping in to say: Woo Hoo, the cruise is payed off !!!!! (Well, technically, we have to pay the credit card bill next month, but y'all know what I mean).

Better late than never, but as first time cruisers in steerage, there wasn't much point in paying it off earlier. Just hoping there is something left on June 5th! (All I really want is a nice romantic dinner for two at Palo).

Messages are being posted here fast a furious, so I'm having trouble keeping up. Hope everyone is well out there!

Later

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi everyone

Wow, our ranks seem to be growing every day! WELCOME to all the new people who I didn't have a chance to say welcome to before. I just added 3 new DISers' info to the first page of this thread. Please check to see that the info is accurate.

I've also added the information that was emailed to me, to the Itinerary Page. Here's another link to that page, please check it out and let me know if any corrections need to be made: http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/CruisingCastaways.htm

Please keep in mind that I'm only adding excursions and activities to the Itinerary Page that can be shared by others; so this means that I didn't include personal/private Palo reservations that people have made, and I didn't include Spa reservations. lol I did however list the Palo dinner reservation that I made in the regular Palo dining room that we'll be taking DS18 to (he won't be joining us for the private dining room Palo dinner), because we have 1 spot open, so is there a "single" who'd like to join us??


Anyway, being the optimistic person that I am, fully convinced that we WILL be on this cruise, here is my personal list of everything that I have booked so far:

Sunday - Castaway Cay Day #1:

Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure 11am

2-day Tube/Float Rentals

Palo dinner - private dining room, unofficially confirmed with a DCL Group Specialist

Monday - at Sea:

Palo brunch - private dining room, unofficially confirmed with a DCL Group Specialist

Tuesday - Costa Maya:

Palo dinner w/ DS18 8:30pm

Wednesday - Cozumel:

Fury Catamaran Sail, Snorkel, and Beach Party

Thursday - at Sea:

Couples Choice Spa treatment at Vista Spa Villas 8am - 10:40am

Palo Afternoon Tea - hoping to book once onboard

Friday - Castaway Cay Day #2:

2-day Tube/Float Rentals


So that's it. Not too much really... Just one real excursion (plus the stingrays at CC), a few meals at Palo, and a Spa treatment in the new Vista Spa Villas with DH


Anyone else care to share their personal itineraries??

 

[AboutTheMouse]

Moira - I think that all you will need to do is PM me with your reservation number and the name of the lead person on your reservation. I'll call my travel agent and ask them to link us together.

Buddy Bear - Thanks for the info. We'll probably go into town for a while and then head back to the port for a few hours.

The excitement is really building. We are at 86 days before we leave Chicago!

Denise

 

[Reenieny18]

DENISE.. whaoo to paying it off Isnt it a great feeling...

DENISE in CHICAGO>>> My DH and I are going there next month to ST CHARLES... we are staying in PHESANT RUN RESORT... for my lis sophia conference.. How close are you to there?

We are on late dining and have links to many of us that requested it.. In COSTA MAYA.. we are just doing a casual day of it!! This is a much needed vacation of leisure and NO STRESS!!!..

DOREEN

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

A couple of questions

1. Customs Declaration
I understand if we buy items or receive gifts on the ship this must be declared,
Does this include the excusions, photos , spa or Palo too?


2. If we take on excusion can we leave dd in clubs on board, or does someone need to be onboard if problems arise.

 

[Buddy Bear]

A couple of questions

1. Customs Declaration
I understand if we buy items or receive gifts on the ship this must be declared,
Does this include the excusions, photos , spa or Palo too?

Actually that is not accurate. Customs forms are used to declare items when the total exceeds the customs limit for purchases outside the US. You can read more about this on the DCL Website This would not include purchases on the ship, photos, excursions or other souvenirs. There is a duty free shop onboard, but I don't think those items apply either. The rules are mostly for purchases in the ports.

2. If we take on excusion can we leave dd in clubs on board, or does someone need to be onboard if problems arise.

Yes, many people do although I don't have any personal experience with this.

 

[zack&alexmom]

Welcome to all of our new members. I think we are going to start growing quickly as we get closer to the cruise.

Terry - I am glad that the interview went well. I don't think that you will have any problems finding work. I hope so because after talking to you for a year I would be sad not to finally get to meet you. Also, thanks for adding my info, I was just thinking that I still need to email you with my info and I looked and you already had me there.

Andy - where are you - we miss you.

Buddy Bear - thanks for the info on booking the brunch, by the time I would have figured out how to make the reservation for 4 they would have been all gone.

RobinMarie - did you get your package yet?

Tina & Doreen - when are we going to get together?

Moira - How old is your DD? My daughter will be almost 7 when we board. We also have early seating, I requested APL dining rotation but who knows if we will get it.

Linda

 

[SamRoc]

Hi everyone! I can't believe this is my 1000th post! Haven't been posting for awhile as we have been busy going back and forth to Florida (we built a house 3 miles from Disney!) I haven't made any other excursion plans for the cruise except the David and Ivan Chacchoben tour (got the confirmation email from them) My friend whose daughter is getting married on the cruise Thursday night decided not to do the wedding shower on the cruise but here at home so we take advantage of everything on the ship. Even though we are Castaway club members and could have done our excursions 90 days out, we probably won't make any more except for our kids parasailing at Castaway Cay. Really looking forward to the cruise!
Susan

 

[Walsh clan]

Moira - How old is your DD? My daughter will be almost 7 when we board. We also have early seating, I requested APL dining rotation but who knows if we will get it.

Linda

Hi Linda!

SNAP! DD will be 7 in early October so I am delighted there is another "nearly seven" onboard! I have a feeling she is going to have a ball!

Denise - thanks so much for the info on the link... will PM my details to you... The only American cousins I have are in Chicago.. my maiden name is Brophy, but I haven't met any of them in years.. I know that Chicago is a bit place (can remember some of my geography!) and it's probably like saying Ryan here is Ireland! (one of most regular surnames)..

Andrew, quick question.. is the UK part of the Visa Waiver Program for US? If it is (and Ireland is) do you get the green I94 form on checking in at the airport or is it possible to download? Sorry about all the questions but you are definitely the expert for me on this side of the water!

Have a nice day everyone...Moira.

 

[RobinMarie]

RobinMarie - did you get your package yet?

 

[Verandah Man]

I'm still here, I just haven't been able to keep up on this thread since returning home. I'm still trying to adjust to getting back to my "real life" since our trip ended.

 

[Walsh clan]

Awwwhhhh... I feel bad for you! But I'm sure it'll be worth it!

Andy, welcome back! Great to see you back in action!

Moira.

 

[Colestat]

Hi All,
You probably do not remember me, I last posted to this thread on 12/9/04. I have been doing a lot of non-Disney things with the family over the past year and a half so I haven't been on the DisBoards much.

I just paid off the cruise and our booked excursions. We are doing the Fury Catamaran in Cozumel and the David & Ivan Chacchoben Mayan Ruins tour in Costa Maya and a Banana Boat Ride in Castaway Cay.

I can't believe after nearly 2 years of waiting, it is finally so close. We are getting really excited.

Andy - I loved reading your Live reports - I am glad you had a great trip, but a little bummed we won't get a chance to meet you again on board.

Sue

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

Hi all

Welcome back to those returning cruisers and Hello and welcome aboard to our new cruise mates.

The thead is starting to pick up pace, I know Im busy reading the cruise passporter and trying to decide on what excusions to book with my window opens on June 5th.

How about some of you first time cruisers, what excusions are you looking at,
and for our returning castaways any suggestions for us first timers.

My dd will be 9 and other than the beach Im not sure if she would like anything other than the club (hi Hi)
Ed

 

[AboutTheMouse]

DENISE in CHICAGO>>> My DH and I are going there next month to ST CHARLES... we are staying in PHESANT RUN RESORT... for my lis sophia conference.. How close are you to there?
DOREEN

Doreen - St. Charles is about 45 minutes frome where I live. As a matter of fact, I've been there twice over the last month for my DD's dance competitions. We will be there again in June for her national dance competition as well. If there is anything that I can help you with, please let me know. I'd be happy to give you my phone number as well, in case you run into trouble when you're here.

P.S. What is "lis sophia"?

Moira - I knew a "Brophy" family from my childhood, but haven't seen or hear from them in years. There are a lot of people of Irish descent in the Chicago area, me being one of them (partially, at least). I would very much love to visit Ireland some day. This would be my dream trip of a lifetime!

Hope everyone is well today! We have rain and possibly some severe storms today. It's warm, though (for us) - high of 79 degrees. And back to those that were m.i.a. for a while!

Denise

 

[Walsh clan]

Hi all

My dd will be 9 and other than the beach Im not sure if she would like anything other than the club (hi Hi)
Ed

Hi Ed,

Having the same problem.. DH and myself are now looking at parasailing individually (eek!) and we are doing the Jungle Beach Break. We will be going to Discovery Cove so I won't be doing any more dolphin experiences other than that.
I think the stingrays look good and hopefully DD won't be scared (though when I showed her the DVD she had a different image of what they were so it might NOT be a runner! Time is on our side..). I know you previously said that this was not an option for your DD. My DD would really enjoy seeing her mother absolutely terrified high in the sky, that would be entertaining LOL!!! but seriously it's really all about her and us as a family so even though DH would love Tulum Ruins etc, DD wouldn't and we all need to enjoy this together.

Any suggestions??

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

My dw(Beth) and I are looking into the Tulum Ruins as a possiblity, we might put Caitlin into the clubs that day, but I'm concerned since this would mean being away from the ship for 7 - 7 1/2 hrs. Not that I think there would be a problem, but thats a long time.

Being on the ship would only mean a couple of floors before we could respond.

One thought would be for one of us to go to the ruins and the other spend time(hopefull not money lol) in the spa for part of that day.

I might try the parasailing on CC but no way would Beth or Caitlin.
Thinking of doing the two day rental on the floats and tubes.

Would also like to do Palo one night.

At least I got another week to try to firm up are plans.

 

[PoohJen]

Moira, Ed, Mary Rose(?) and anyone else on the fence about Parasailing...

It is an awesome, soaring experience. My DH was truly nervous about this, but found it exhilerating!

I "broke it" to my Mom (age 64) that I have signed her up to parasail on Castaway Cay and, while nervous, she is truly excited! She really wanted to try and experience "something different" on this cruise, and Parasailing it is! What a great opportunity to try something new, in Paradise, among friends!