Christmas 2003 - Who's sailing (20-27 Dec 03)?

[jgalecpa]

Just Paid my final today!

(I know it's almost a month early, but it has to do with my cash back from discover, etc, and I want to make sure I can call right at the 60th day to do excursions)

Hope everyone is fully recovered from Isabel.

Jim

 

[Ginny]

Jim -

If it will help with your cash back from "Discover," I'd be happy to let you go ahead and pay our final amount!! I always like to be helpful when I can!!

Okay, Okay..........you can't blame a girl for trying!!

 

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

I truly appreciate your generous nature.

However, I have enough trouble keeping up with my own DF's (Disney Females) generosity.

And no, you can never blame a girl for trying.

Jim

 

[Ginny]

Jim -

It is always nice to see a gentleman who appreciates his DF's!!

Well, my boss signed my vacation request for two weeks yesterday and after the post-Isabel "catch up" week at work AND the ever-popular end of the FY madhouse...........I am really counting the days!!

Chuck (DH) and I took a quiet moment to talk about excursions. We have read the DCL excursions and read the different websites. CAPT Marvin's sounds like what we would enjoy for Grand Cayman. We really like the sailing challenge in Key West. We are still looking at Cozumel although we both like the idea of heading out to play mini-golf! And, we want to give DS the opportunity to go on the Teen Cruise, if he would like.

We also want to do parasailing on CC but want to make sure that DD is big enough to tandem with her dad. This would be a great Christmas surprise for her!!

 

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

We are definitely planning on letting DD-15 do the teen cruise. also. We felt that allowing that freedom (under Disney's control) would be good for her and us.

In the Caymans we have the 1115 am capt marvins booked. We will probably do seven mile beach and shopping

Key west will probably be just looking and shopping.

Coxumel will be Mr. Sanchos, the teen cruise for Caitlin and shopping

(Do you notice any theme that runs through each?)

I think the time now is just going to fly.

 

[Ginny]

Jim -

I do detect that shopping appears to be an ongoing theme!! Now, are you an active participant in the shopping marathon or the sweet, generous DH who holds the bags and allows the women in his life to raid his wallet (once they've cleaned out their own)??

Is your trip with CAPT Marvin's one of the 7 hour ones or a shorter cruise??

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny -

Do you actually have a husband who LIKES to go shopping??

My DH is not a shopper -- not even for his own clothing! I think he will fall into the latter category, if he joins us shopping.

We have not yet talked about excursions, although I know he is thinking about scuba. The girls will go on the teen cruise and do some snorkeling somewhere and of course, shop.

They had their birthdays this week and received nice checks from Grandma - I actually went to the Disney Store and bought Disney Dollars and a T-shirt for each one, to give as a gift, with Maleficient's card noting that she had a reservation for Tony's on 12/19, and Grumpy's card noting reservations at the WL -- but at the last minute couldn't get it together to give them to them. Hadn't had a chance to talk with DH about it, and didn't want him left out of the loop.

Their birthdays (Wednesday and Thursday) were just a riot - I have never been sooo unprepared in their lives. I was shopping until 10:00 the night before Megan's, and then after taking her and her BF and Grumpy out to dinner (DH at work), I left to try to finish up Grumpy's shopping at 8:00 - mall closes at 9:00 - got locked in the mall, still had to get home and finish frosting birthday cake, we had cake at 10:30 p.m., and so it goes - this having a business out of one's home is not all it is cracked up to be sometimes---

Anyway, now that those are over, hopefully we will have some time next weekend to sit down and look over everything, and perhaps give the girls their Christmas present so that they can participate in the choices.

Oh, I forgot - I took the DDs to see Pirates of the Caribbean last night - hadn't seen it - Grumpy's fourth time - swooned the whole movie over Johnny Depp - if you have seen it, is the island that Jack was left on Castaway Cay? It sure looked like the pictures I have seen!! I'm hoping that Pirates and Haunted House will be playing the Magic during our week!

 

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

I am the passive participant.

I do like to go at least once in every port to see what kind of wares they have.

I would rather find a fishing excursion while they shop.

As to cleaning out my money, I thought that was DF's do best!

Rieann is truly a world class shopper. She has convinced jewlers to open early in Santorini and found $15 dresses on the Via Veneto in Rome. SHe can get wonderful things in spectacular places at tremendous prices.

As to Capt Marvins, we are doing the 2 hr tour (ala the SS minow).

Jim

 

[belle&beastcrazy]

How is everyone doing? Counting down the days. My girls are. My oldest came home this weekend from college and we all sat down to talk about excursions. Due to DH foot recovery we will have to take it slow. Trolly in Key West {DD-13 English teacher loves Hemmingway}, GC- city tour and string ray and Cozumel mini-golf. Shopping in all ports a must. Thinking of renting a wheelchair for DH then we can push and he can carry all the packages.

Jim, I made my final payment this week also, my bouns cheek came in and went straight to the curise line.

Bonnie, My DD-13 loves Johnny Depp too. I am trying to get her to do the teen cruise too. She is so shy.

Ginny, if we don't have the character breakfast DH and I would love to do the Palo's Bruch. Our room is 6514.

Kim

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Kim - Grumpy (Mackenzie) turned 13 on Thursday. Going to the movie with both of them was very interesting - Megan was on one side of me muttering about how "hot" Orlando (Legolas) is, and Mackenzie was swooning with a big smile on her face during the entire movie!

Mackenzie is not particularly shy, but can be a bit hesitant in new social situations where she doesn't know anyone. My older DD is anything but shy, loves meeting new people, etc. As long as her big sister is there with her, I know Kenz will have a great time. It is far enough into the cruise, too, so that the kids will have had a chance to meet others their own age and make some friends, which at 13 would make all the difference.

If we introduce the two 13 yo's and perhaps mention that they have the Johnny Depp thing in common, they will probably hit it off! I find that the younger DD much prefers the companionship of her own age group right now than Mom and Dad. The older DD many times seems to enjoy spending time with us as much as she does with her friends (we still take a back seat to the BF, however).

Good to hear from you! I guess I am going to have to tell them soon ---

 

[jgalecpa]

Dear Grumpy's mom,

I could never have held out so long.

DW and I just went to see "Under the Tuscan Sun" for her birthday and we're already scheming to get back to Italy again (without the kids!)


Jim


PS I would say the movie was not really a chick flick but a date movie. There are definitely things guys will enjoy.

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - I will have to let DH know that --

Interesting you should mention Italy - that was Plan B for this Christmas - but decided to go with Plan A because of the weather --

Neither of us have been to Europe -- Italy is our first choice when we get the chance - hoping next summer -- putting the cruise on my Miles One card - have one ticket to Europe already, trying to see if I can spend enough money to get three more!! (DH will LOVE to hear that one!!)

Bonnie

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim -- PS, nice birthday event!

Bonnie

 

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie,

Due to familial connections, I have lived in Europe and visited more time than I can count.

As a visitor, I would not go the first time, in the winter, though.

Spain and Italy are gorgeous and a wonderful, fascinating place to visit. GREECE is amazing, though. In terms of history, sun, (Shopping) it is fabulous. The bargains in Greece have to be seen to be believed.

[My travel agent said it is the most Romantic place she'd visited and I'd agree].

A would thoroughly recommend a Med. Cruise for the first time visitor to that area.

Jim

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim -

A cruise sounds like a great idea - we could see several different countries and not have to hassle with lodging, transportation, etc. When I was initially trying to pull together a budget for an Italy trip, I knew it was going to take a lot more time and energy than I had at that moment to plan an itinerary - so I started on expedia to see which city I could get the best airfare to, and then thought I would go from there. A cruise would be sooo much easier!!

Have you done a med cruise?

Do you have any suggestions as to a cruise line? (Maybe Disney will have one by the time we are ready to go.) We are trying to take some special trips with our DDs - the oldest will be on to college in a year and a half, though she is talking now about applying to the North Carolina School of the Arts for her senior year, which would take her from us this summer. That is part of the reason for our Disney cruise -

Where have you traveled in the US that you particularly liked??

Bonnie

 

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie,

We cruised summer 2000 with Royal Olympic. We took a cruise that centered around the Greek Island, and also included a stop in Turkey as well as stops in Scicly and Rome (Citavechia).

RO is the official Greek cruise line. It was very nice, but the ships in the line can very from older to more modern. We took a smaller 40,000 ton ship (Triton) that being smaller, could go places the larger ones couldnt'.

On the Med Cruises, I would definitely say the ports decide which cruise lines to look for.

Eastern Cruises can go the Italy/Greece route
Western can go the Italy/Spain route.

Italy= Beautiful and Expensive; Spain = beautiful, reasonable priced. Greece= Beautiful and cheap.

From what I remember, Costa cruises are very big over there, as are princess, etc. LOTS of lines do European Cruises.

I always recommend at least three nights before /after the cruise being allowed for flights, work stoppages, recovering from jet lag, AND decreasing the cost per day of the flight.

When booking a cruise, I would find out what % of people they have that are English speaking/american. RO was primarily Italian and other Europeans, so there we probably met fewer people on that cruise than ever.

We did Athens to Athens and what an experience. We fell in love with athens, did the Plaka (one of the best shopping districts ever) and learned the prices. Went to various Island,s etc and if something was cheaper in Athens waited till we got back to buy it there.

In this country, We haven't done too much. We just got back from Seatlle/San Juan Islands area of WA and it was beautiful.

We did San Fran. and it is one of my favorite cities in the US.

A friend is President of Texas A&M so we love Texas (Gig 'em Ags!).

We do NYC every year for at least one show.

Rieann has done the US much more than I.

One of Rieann's best friends turned 50 next year and has never been out of her Time zone. Shannon (DD-12) is already into her 2nd Passport.

We love to travel!!!

jim

 

[hawkrn]

ok, I bought my DS,10, a black suit for formal/semi-formal nights. Our clothes are ready! Kim-we are going to do the trolley tour in Key West also-apparently you can get tickets there instead of through DCL and can get on anywhere. My friend has been to Key West a few times and she has told me of a good restaurant with the best conch fritters and key lime pie so we are going to go there for lunch first. (I'm a key lime pie addict) It's right by where all the fishing boats come in and go out and she said it's interesting to watch. other than that, we are doing Tulum in Cozumel and probably stingray city and rum point beach adventure, both DCL excursions. I guess I need to call my TA to make my final payment if I need to do that before booking excursions. What is the actual date we can book them?

 

[jgalecpa]

Hawkrn:

If you book the trolley tour on-line, you save another 10% and only pay $18/adult.

http://shophta.com/acb/stores/15/keywestprod.asp?SID=15&Category_ID=7

What's the restaurant's name, if you don't mind???

I Believe the first day we can book is Tuesday October 21.

Anyone have any different info on this?

Jim

 

[LynnTarrant]

My TA said it was the 21st too Jim.
We're wanting to do the trolley tour in Key West as well,although we fancy the one where you can get on and off so we can stop en route.
Julie I'm interested inthe restaurant as well if you don't mind passing that info on. I feel another DIS meet coming on.
Jim it's interesting to hear all about your travels, Ialso have itchy feet and my longsuffering hubby comes along.
I lived in Kenya for 2 years, we've holidayed in many European countries the latest being Slovinia but we also share your love for the Greek Islands. We toured for a week on a small Greek Caique (fishing boat) with just 16 others and had a fantastic time. we've also stayed on the Islands.
I've been to the States twice and we had a wonderful 3 week holiday a couple of years ago in Western Canada.
It would be good to compare experiences on the cruise sometime.
Lynn

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim and Lynn - I am in awe of your travels!! Our ports will be my first trip off the continent of North America. Have been to all of the major cities in the US, lived in San Francisco for ten years -
lived in Birmingham, AL (that might impress someone) for five years --

Julie - would also like the name of the restaurant - something about conch fritters and key lime pie that makes my mouth water -should we call ahead??? Dis meet sounds like a possibility!

Speaking of eating - Lynn, how is the diet coming? Mine is at a stand still. I guess tomorrow would be the day, first of the month and all, though not a Monday -- I keep thinking I have three months!!

Jim - is it 60 days from the date of sail or 60 days from the date of the activity? I have no idea, haven't researched that at all.

I got confused trying to make PS's for the 19th at MK, forgot about October 31 --

Bonnie