Christmas Cruise 2005!!!

[tiggerwannabe]

Lest ye forget?

~You and Franco recently returned~
It's my turn again.lol.

This trip was to be 5 days & I eeked out 2 extra days for my family at CSR...Life is Good!

I've turned my Mom into such a Disney Nut that she is the reason we are going. (to both the shades of green and the cruise)

Three cheers for Mom!

Regarding the excursions,
Yes, they can add up. Some tours IMO are for people who like to be led around. I am very independant-I research everthing beforehand to avoid paying tour guides.
CC will probably be a beach day for us, I've read that there is an open air arcade near a beach with a bar.
I've learned to avoid Phillipsburg (very dirty) and go to Marigot (great for shopping) on St Maarten. I have yet to decide how, Taxi or Tourguide.
St Thomas has Blackbeards Castle,
http://www.blackbeardscastle.com/st-thomas-history.htm
http://www.blackbeardscastle.com/historic-walking-tour.htm
Britt and I have already decided to go. It's supposedly close enough to walk to.

I also learned to always take extra water!

 

[Ginny]

Hi, all!!

I have been going in about 7 directions at once but am so happy to check in with all of you.

Franco -

I am in such awe of you and your family. You must be so proud! I can only imagine how much it means to your mom to be home with you. I am only now beginning to resurface after losing my Mom in July after a very courageous battle with Alzheimer's for the last few years. I am so grateful that she moved back here to be near both my sister and I. It was a very difficult and challenging journey but it was made easier for me when I realized so many around me were on the same journey.

Aisling -

You will laugh when you hear about our totals. Our first cruise was our first real vacation in 9 years that didn't involve a moving to a new location!! Our final total was large enough that DH had to go to Customs. We still laugh about it! We each tried multiple spa treatments, had lovely wines or champagnes with dinner and I was on a shopping frenzy because I knew you couldn't buy DCL merchandise off the ship. DS didn't realize that charging the cards in the arcade cost money. He watched his dad do it the first night and he thought that all he had to do was scan his KTTW to get a new arcade card. We thought we had secured his charging privileges when we came on board. Well, to make a long story short....................we were all surprised!! It is now permanently in family lore!!

Did I mention that I am a sucker for Shutters?? If there is a good picture of my family...............then I am buying it. DD and I always have a Mommy and Daughter Picture on each cruise. I plan to have them matted and framed for her in the future. She can watch herself grow up on the Disney Cruise Ships. This little indulgence can easily add a large $$ amount to your bill as the smaller photos are $10.00 and the larger ones are $20.00. But, where else can you get everyone dressed up at the same time and looking so lovely!!

Also, I stock up on "treasures" at both Treasure Ketch and Mickey's Mates.....................so add in another tidy sum for shopping there. It is better now that I have reigned in my "pin" addiction!! But, in my defense, I don't really shop out in town when we hit a port - just not my thing............... so I delude myself that it balances everything out.

Don't forget spa treatments, wine or cocktails with dinner, gratuities, etc......................it all adds up quickly.........and scarily.
But, I wouldn't trade the memories for anything..............on any of our cruises. I will tell you that on our last cruise, our final bill was really very low because we only did one spa treatment and the Rain Forest, we are pickier at Shutters, I don't buy as much DCL merchandise and we no longer purchase bottles of wine or champagne because we always left them half full. Also, DS has pretty much grown up through the Arcade scene. Now, we must educate DD so we don't make the same tragic mistake again.

I hope the above diatribe made you laugh!! If I have to learn lessons the hard way...................I am happy to share with others so they don't have to walk the same path!!

As for the Banana Boat ride: Been there, done that, I am old and rickety...................never again!!

 

[grimgrinnin]

My $.02 on excusions:

We did 2 on our first cruise. The Lagoon Kayaking in St. Martin and the Chapmagn Catamaran in St. Thomas.

The kayaking was terrible. The description talked about kayaking through the world's largest salt water lagoon, through mangroves, and viewing abundant wildlife. I had pictures of the beautiful, pristine mangroves I've seen on 'the TeeVee', and visions of Flipper swimming along side of us.

In actuality, it was a very long paddle through a very industrialized marina type area. There were lots of jet skis buzzing around, and I was kind of worried we'd be run over by a boat that couldn't see us. We paddled out to a small island and rested on a small beach and 'snorkled' through murky water. On the paddle back, we went to the mangroves. This consisted of a very narrow line of trees on the shore of St. Martin. Right behind this line of trees lies a very busy street. Then we saw the abundant wildlife - a bunch of upside-down jelly fish.

These were cool, but I was expecting a bit more.

I probably had a bad outlook on this excursion from the get-go, because I stayed up the whole night before working (darn that on-board internet access!), and I was exhausted before I started paddling. DW was well rested and wasn't impressed either, however.

The second excursion, the Champagn Catamaran from St. Thomas to St. John was WONDERFUL. This was a highlight of the trip. We boarded a Catamaran right next to the Magic. The sail upwind to St. John took about 2 hours. This was pure paradise - warm sun, cool breeze, Jimmy Buffet on the boat's speakers, and some kind of rum punch. We anchored off of St. John at Honeymoon Bay (I think that's what it's called). The water was crystal clear. I snorkled for almost the entire time we were on the island.

After snorkling, they provided a catered lunch on the cat. The food was really good. The sail back took less than an hour.


The Champagn Catamaran was so much fun we both want to do it again, but we also want to try something different. It will be a tough call.


grim

 

[trinibjill]

Hi everyone

Yes indeed expenses can add up. We had a bill between the three of us of $1978.
Excursions , stores, phone, internet cafe, bingo, gratuities, drinks, souveniers. It's worth every penny though.



Jill

 

[tiggerwannabe]

The weather will be warm enough for swimming/snorkling/boating right?

The catamaran sounds very nice.
If I do 1 excursion, I'd like to do the champange catamaran cruise.

Nice pics too!

 

[Franco56]

Yes, I am thinking about maybe four extra days at SOG, that would bring me to my 55th birthday and get the boys back in time for school. It's to far out to make ressies, but that is my game plan. All of you tell me more of your excursions, and what if we don't do any? Thank you kindly!!

 

[Franco56]

I just recieved my copy of "Song of the South" can't wait to watch it!! It's been a long time, 1955? Holy Moley! I'm getting old!!

 

[trinibjill]

If you celebrate your birthday while at SOG they will give you a nice card. I celebrated my 54th bd there. Went to the Polynesian for the luau & they put you on stage sing a song to you give you cake & a cute card.
Maybe our families can do a bd drink to you.
When we go to WDW in dec I am going to try & make our ressie then for NYE 2005.
Jill

Oh, we did the catamaran & snorkeling on our cruise. it was fun

 

[disneylover4]

hi every body my name is Jessika and ive been on a diffrent tread but just know got to this 1 im 13 and going on the christmas cruise! my friend is suppost to go but wants some guys to talk to her i really want her to go so can some guys im or email me at
vetlater@aol.com


u never know disney is full of magic

 

[Franco56]

A birthday family drink sounds good! I will be right on that 53 weeks out for ressies rule. there is no other way is there? I think I will let the boys pick there own excursions and DW and myself see the sites. It's a long wait but once we get by this xmas we will be golden!!!

 

[trinibjill]

I had to look that up. I forgot all about Uncle Remus & Brer Rabbit. Did you say 1955? The info I saw Says it came out before you were born in 1946. & Zippity Do Dah - I think I still know the words. Everybody else is looking at this & saying what are they talking about.

Jill

 

[LynnTarrant]

I have a copy of The Song of the South Video... Is it on DVD now in the States? I love Brer Rabbit and was thrilled with Splash Mountain when I finally got to visit Disney. I know what you're talking about ...but I honestly wasn't around in 1946 for the opening!!!

 

[Franco56]

No, I did not mean that I saw it in the forties, what I meant is that I saw it when I was five or six years old at my old town movie house. And no it is not "offical" but it's a great copy on a CD. It was great to watch it again, bringing back old memories.

 

[LynnTarrant]

I know what you mean.. I saw Bambi at the cinema when I was very little . It's being rereleased here on DVD in March and I will get it I'm sure it will bring back lots of memories too!

 

[trinibjill]

Hi

Lynn - Bambi - now that also brings back memories.

Franco - I didn't mean you were that old. I noticed it came out before you were born. Me, I was born, but - I was not even a year old yet.

Since we are talking about movies. I went & saw "Shall We Dance". It was good. What's really cool about seeing it in the theater - was the audience reaction & participation. I really enjoyed it. Next week I plan on seeing "Ray" (about Ray Charles).

By the way, On the DCL they show good movies.

Colleen - I have the passporters guide in my car for you.

Vacation time can't come soon enough.

Jill

 

[tiggerwannabe]

grim: my bad, the catamaran cruise I'd like to do is the one at St Maarten-it's not a champagne cruise, but it sounds nice and is a little cheaper

In St Thomas-we will definitely do a walking tour of Blackbeards Castle. I'm checking into the cost of the tour, it goes to 3 different historic areas of St Thomas including the castle.

Castaway Cay will still be a beach day for me,
Aisling: I don't think I could handle the banana but our girls might! I'll have my own snorkel gear, owning is always cheaper than renting.lol.

It's nice to see so many on the thread, with the holidays coming it makes the cruise seem so much closer, doesn't it?

Most of us are on the same room level of the cruise, we'll be neighbors! If everyone approves, maybe we can have a mini meet the day we board. We can introduce ourselves and then go from there---I'm sure some of us will want to go eat, some will go to the "welcome party" and some will go swimming and some of the kids, once introduced, can go to their "clubs"...
if any experienced cruisers have an idea of where to meet, please let me know.

Mom- Let me know when you're around or home during the week, Britt has me going to Philly on Sat and Great Adventure on Sunday. I'd like to see you before then please.Only more 38 more days!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

disneylover4

Check this thread for some of the teens on our cruise, I'm sure they'd be glad to hear from you...http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=640253

 

[trinibjill]

Originally posted by tiggerwannabe
any experienced cruisers have an idea of where to meet, please let me know.

[/i] [/B]

Colleen

On our cruise they had a mini-dis meet at the promenade lounge after the boat drill. That was in addition to the one that was at the Radisson the day before.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I started a thread about what to do NYE-shown below for anyone who needs, wants or has ideas, that are staying at WDW after the cruise...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=6779303#post6779303

On our cruise they had a mini-dis meet at the promenade lounge after the boat drill. That was in addition to the one that was at the Radisson the day before.

Thanks Mom,
Any more ideas?

 

[Franco56]

I am not quite sure, but I heard from people at the SOG when we were there that you could see the Magic Kingdoms fireworks from the top of the parking garage. Maybe when you go this Christmas you could find out? Just a thought.