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

[SeaSpray]

Hi Mary Rose!!

Great to hear from you! I know what you mean about everything related to college; we just went through that with Craig, and in the next year or so will be going through it again with Robby. CONGRATULATIONS to Taryn on her college acceptances!!!

Please tell your sisters and their husbands, and their families that we say HI!!!

I really do hope that a lot of us Cruising Castaways get to cruise again together in 2009, for Cruising Castaways II.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I'm in for cruisin castaways II in 2009.

Though I think Jeff and Andy will each have to auction off a kid in order to pay for it after going on the repo cruise.

 

[Verandah Man]

Don't know how true it is, but the rumor going around is that the Magic won't be spending the summers in Florida until the 3rd ship is built and stationed in California. Like I said, that is the latest rumor going around.

 

[SeaSpray]

Ed and Diane and anyone else who reads Cruise Critic: Notice that I've added a lime green " TheCruising Castaways" line next to where I have our August 2004 DCL cruise listed in my signature!

 

[SeaSpray]

Don't know how true it is, but the rumor going around is that the Magic won't be spending the summers in Florida until the 3rd ship is built and stationed in California. Like I said, that is the latest rumor going around.

Well, if that's true, then we'll figure *something* out! LOL

 

[O'BWV]

Hi Terry, Kay & Andy!

You know, it would really stink if there were no 7 days cruises during the summer for a few years. Honestly, was is DCL thinking. Just on our thread alone, I'm trying NCL, Terry and Joanna RCCL and possibly Ed trying RCCL. We are doing this mostly because the Magic won't be around this summer or next. If any of us windng up liking the other lines then who knows what for the future. I can go on almost 2 cruises on NCL for the same price as DCL. Although I love DCL, I not too thrilled that my only option during the summer beyond 2006 - ? will be 3/4 back-to-back Wonder cruises. Just my 2 cents! Actually I'm just venting because I can't go back on the Magic for a loooong time!

If Andy is correct, we'll just have to do Cruising Castaways II on another line. You know the NCL Gem has a private deck with 8 suites with a private pool & hot tub & sun deck just for those suites. It looks awesome! So any takers for those 8 suites LOL!


-Mary Rose

 

[DMMarla07860]

haha, so I was taking to my dad about the repo cruise and cruises in ca. I told him I wanted to go on a cruise in ca, then he says he would rather go on the repo from ca to fl, maybe I'll be lucky, 2008 will most likely be my last cruise on DCL for a least a couple years and I'll try out RCCL, because I just wanna go on DCL because then I can have a reason to go to Disneyland before the cruise, never been there and Cabo San Lucas "Whatever happens in Cabo, stay's in Cabo"-gotta watch Laguna Beach on mtv to get that lol.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Yeah, I read the same rumor about the Magic not doing any summer Carribean cruises for a while.

I agree with everyone else. I cannot believe DCL would be so callous and just assume everyone will blindly follow the ship wherever it goes. I, too, think they are waaaay overestimating people's loyalty.

We only started cruising with DCL back in 2002 because they introduced the western itinerary. I cruise for the ports.

I read a post by someone who had already emailed DCL with their anger that the Magic will be away for two summers in a row.

DCL's reply was if you want to cruise the Carribean then you'll just have to do it from September to April or do the land-and-sea vacations.

Huh????? Missing the point completely. To even suggest that the Wonder with its sole choice of just one port stop is anywhere near a substitute for a longer cruise with multiple port stops is insulting.

What is so sad about all of this is that DCL really blew it by not having the Wonder do at least a few 7-day cruises with the Magic away. Its really time to revamp the Wonder's programs & itinerary - aren't they still showing Hercules? No Palo brunch on the 3-day?

So we'll see.......if its true that DCL reads the DIS boards then hopefully they are getting the message that rather than drawing in more passengers by taking the Magic away from the Carribean that they are driving them to other cruise lines.

Yeah, we'll figure something out for 2009.

 

[Mjasp]

They don't need anyone to follow their ship. The last west coast summer, was such a success and with over 30 million people living just in California, I'm sure they sailed with a full ship at every sailing.

I am actually hoping for 2009 to be another Med cruise. I just LOVE DCL's itinerary in the Med and can't find another line that has such a great itinerary.

I do agree with you they should throw about two 7 night caribbean Wonder cruises in there, just for bait and they can charge premium for it, because people will pay it.

I am doing the Wonder in about 2 weeks and can't wait. I wish I was doing back to back Wonders instead of 4 nights at DW.

Happy Saturday
Joanna

 

[SeaSpray]

What is so sad about all of this is that DCL really blew it by not having the Wonder do at least a few 7-day cruises with the Magic away.

So we'll see.......if its true that DCL reads the DIS boards then hopefully they are getting the message that rather than drawing in more passengers by taking the Magic away from the Carribean that they are driving them to other cruise lines.

Yeah, we'll figure something out for 2009.

While I do agree that the west coast cruises will be relatively popular, I think DCL should've done something similar to when they did the Double Dip cruises last year; Have the Wonder do one 7-night cruise each month that the Magic will be away; one in June, one in July, and one in August. At least that'd still give some people the opportunity to sail DCL in the Caribbean, in summer 2008, on a 7-night cruise.

Honestly, for those of us who want to cruise together in 2009, if DCL doesn't have something available that appeals to us, we'll find a different cruise line and we'll have a great time. While I have to say that I absolutely LOVE the Magic, from what I've seen personally of RCI (I've sailed their smallest ship), and the pictures I've seen of their newer and bigger ships (for example the Explorer of the Seas that I'll be on in October), those ships ARE gorgeous, too, and have lots to offer. They have cabin varieties that come *very* close in size and amenities that the DCL cabins have. So like I said, we WILL have a blast, on whichever ship we end up on. And DCL if you are reading this, WE'D PREFER TO BE ON A DISNEY SHIP IN THE CARIBBEAN ON A 7-NIGHT CRUISE IN THE SUMMER OF 2009!!! LOL

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi Terry, Kay & Andy!

You know, it would really stink if there were no 7 days cruises during the summer for a few years. Honestly, was is DCL thinking. Just on our thread alone, I'm trying NCL, Terry and Joanna RCCL and possibly Ed trying RCCL. We are doing this mostly because the Magic won't be around this summer or next. If any of us windng up liking the other lines then who knows what for the future. I can go on almost 2 cruises on NCL for the same price as DCL. Although I love DCL, I not too thrilled that my only option during the summer beyond 2006 - ? will be 3/4 back-to-back Wonder cruises. Just my 2 cents! Actually I'm just venting because I can't go back on the Magic for a loooong time!

If Andy is correct, we'll just have to do Cruising Castaways II on another line. You know the NCL Gem has a private deck with 8 suites with a private pool & hot tub & sun deck just for those suites. It looks awesome! So any takers for those 8 suites LOL!


-Mary Rose

Mary Rose: One other thing that I really like about cruising other lines is that they have departure ports all over the country! For my 9-night eastern Caribbean this year, we won't have to fly at all!! I LOVE that about this cruise!!! That is a huge draw for me, right there. SO like I said, we'll make the best of whatever the situation is, at the time. With so many of us going on other cruise lines, we'll have a lot of notes to compare LOL

Oh, and a suite sounds good to me!! LOL

 

[Mjasp]

DOREEN...Did you register for conference????????????

I am in and staying at the Hyatt Regency, Let me know where you are staying!

Joanna
lia sophia
Unit Manager

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Well put everyone......

Joanna.....can't wait to hear about your trip on the Wonder. We're doing a 3-day but not until late August.

 

[Mjasp]

I'll let you know if it is too short, not worth the money etc. BUT if you are a beach person or want to swim with dolphins and not into sightseeing, back to backs on the Wonder may be something to do. Bahamas/ Caribbean it's a beach and they all have pretty much the same water adventures to do. You are only at a port for 8 hours usually, so I think you can make the best of it unless you are a sightseeing type of person.

But you know we are booked on the 8/17/07 sailing of the Explorer out of New Jersy this summer, go check it out.

Joanna

 

[DMMarla07860]

I'll join you all on another cruise if 2009, as long as it's not from august 1-13 hahaha, if it's them I wouldn't do it, can't miss my warped tours or any tours for that matter and august 15 till the end of august tours are basically warping up or done so i can cruise june and july are usually fine with me to cruise as well too lol.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I'll let you know if it is too short, not worth the money etc. BUT if you are a beach person or want to swim with dolphins and not into sightseeing, back to backs on the Wonder may be something to do. Bahamas/ Caribbean it's a beach and they all have pretty much the same water adventures to do. You are only at a port for 8 hours usually, so I think you can make the best of it unless you are a sightseeing type of person.

But you know we are booked on the 8/17/07 sailing of the Explorer out of New Jersy this summer, go check it out.

Joanna

We're booked for the land and sea leaving 8/19 (or thereabouts). The kids want to go back to WDW.

We are going to book the Wonder B2B in 2008. So we'll be getting the triple dip to CC. And yesssssss....for once I'll be able to blow off a dinner and get to a pirate night on time. We prefer late dinner and never get up to deck 9 in time.

DH would do the Med if it went in the other direction - eastern Europe as opposed to heavily Italy.

 

[Lainie1222]

Mary Rose, Mary Rose, so good to hear from you.
As you and John, Russ and I will be celebrating 25 yrs of wedded bliss in 2009, so that will probably be our next cruise venture. There is no way I will be able to take that much time off and one time for the repo cruise, plus, as someone else stated, the onboard $$ I would spend!! And also the cost of Law School is creeping up on us and that is priority. Russell is looking at Syracuse University, but he will live at home. So that will be a savings. He is dating a beautiful girl, inside and out. She is from Sacramento, but will be staying on in Syracuse after they graduate from LeMoyne in May, so we are hoping for SU.

Congratulations to Taryn for her college acceptances. GO Rutgers!!! It is nice to have them away at school, and also good for them, but nice to have them near home.

 

[allshookup]

If Andy is correct, we'll just have to do Cruising Castaways II on another line. You know the NCL Gem has a private deck with 8 suites with a private pool & hot tub & sun deck just for those suites. It looks awesome! So any takers for those 8 suites LOL!

-Mary Rose

Hi Mary Rose!!! Put me down!!! If we end up doing the Repo we will be cancelling the Gem for April/08 but we will definitely want to cruise her soon! You can NOT beat freestyle dining. It is awesome to go to dinner where & when you feel like it. Takes the stress out of having to rush to dinner. Plus we can just drive to NY & the cruise is already half the price of a DCL cruise so we saved a ton when we cruised the Dawn out of NY! It is really worth looking into.

Diane

 

[Dizzyworld]

We will be on the Aug. 19th sailing of the Wonder too this year. Also doing a few days at WDW before and afterwards a day at the Kennedy Space center and another day at WDW before coming home.

Terry I agree with you. I will miss our time on DCL. I really wonder why they are doing this? Weren't the summer cruises selling out or did they have to discount (ie FL rates, CM rates, etc.) to fill up the cabins? The Aug. '06 was going to be our last DCL trip, but we had so much fun with all of you that the family overwhelmingly wanted to go again. Plus on DCL I could give the kids a little more freedom then I might have on RCCL. With DCL away, we will probably look into the newest RCCL ships. They look great. We did 2 RCCL trips before kids and had a wonderful time.There were no negatives at all on either cruise. I figure with the ages of the kids, once we jump ships there will be no going back. This happened to us after staying at the Poly. We loved the Hawaiian feeling so much the we went to Hawaii a couple of times and traveled to other places before we returned to WDW about 15 years later. So far, I haven't found such a big difference in price between the two cruise line that people always talk about.

MaryRose....tell you crew hi from Ace. He is off to spend the weekend in the woods with scouts in the very cold weather we are having here in MD. He is camping outside. I'll take an inside cabin over that anytime.

 

[O'BWV]

Hi Everyone!

I just read over my post and I really sound like sour grapes there - sorry! I am really disappointed is all. I was really looking forward to our reunion cruise, as our last Cruisin' Castaways Cruise was such a blast! It would be really nice to sail with all of you again so maybe we CAN work something out!
I am really interested in RCCL as well as NCL so Terry & Joanna & Ed can let us know about that after their cruises. I was hoping to go on RCCL with Joanna this August, alas I waited too long and the price went out of range. You know I haven't been on another cruise line since I started going on DCL in 2000 and the prospect makes me nervous, but my nose is sorely out of joint with them at the moment. Joanna, what is say is truly correct, that don't need anyone to follow then to CA, there is a huge market there already, I was just thinking that they are putting their FL market at risk when they return there. Honestly, though, there will always be a huge market for DCL no matter what. As long as people continue to have kids, DCL will have a market LOL!

Hey there DMMarla!! How are you doing honey?

Terry - read about Craig's transfer and I say GREAT! I hope he enjoys his new school and flourishes there!!

Elaine - old buddy, old pal! Law School - Yikes! Where does the time go??? So happy your DS met a sweet girl! Ah, and I forgot, our 25th anniversaries are so close. We must cruise somewhat. Maybe we can have a group vow renewal (you know, like the Moonies) LOL!

Shirley - My crew (and friends) send a big HELLO to Ace! Such a fine young man your son!

Diane - Thanks for the info on freestyle cruising. I am looking forward to not be so much on a schedule for a change!



-Mary Rose