Christmas Cruise 2005!!!

[Aisling]

Hi Gang,

Franco, Happy Belated Birthday!

And if Ginny is still reading, thank you for all your informative and friendly posts at the beginning of this thread. Hope to meet you on a futrure cruise.

I'm eagerly waiting for Song Airlines to open their tickets for Dec. 24th. They do this 331 days before, and if someone is into math, be a pal and tell me what date that is! LOL I just keep checking the site and getting the reply that it's still too early to book for 12/24.

I've been thinking about excursions, and what I have tentatively planned is to do the 12-Metre Regatta on St. Maarten. It begins at 8:15 AM and lasts for 3 hours. After that, we'll go back to the ship, eat, wash up, and go back out to visit Philippsburg/Marigot on our own. The ship leaves port at 7:30 PM, so it 'll work out timewise.

For St. Thomas, I have a dilemma. because the ship leaves port at 4:30 PM, which cuts out 3 hours of our port day. I want to snorkle (sp) at Trunk bay on St. John, which I've seen in pics and is gorgeous. But I also want to have time to visit a bit of St. Thomas on our own, without an official excursion. This is supposed to be a great pirate island, loaded with cool history, and I'd love for my kids to learn about all that.

On Castaway Cay, for sure I'm doing the Banana Boat, which goes out every 30 minutes beginning at 10:30 AM. I think Jesse and DH will pass on that slippery ride!
I want to parasail tandem with Jesse, which he isn't too sure about. Chad and parasailed seperately at WDW and it was fun.
Then there's the Personal Watercraft Eco Tour. This would be our only official excursion. This goes out 7 times during the day, and I think we'll do it at the 2:45 time, after we have spent most of the day just relaxing on CC.

Any thoughts??

 

[trinibjill]

Hi Gang,

I'm eagerly waiting for Song Airlines to open their tickets for Dec. 24th. They do this 331 days before, and if someone is into math, be a pal and tell me what date that is! LOL I just keep checking the site and getting the reply that it's still too early to book for 12/24.

QUOTE]
Hi Aisling
Just a guess but we are 350 days out
airline booking is 331 days out
That is 19 days difference
That should make it around the 26th or 27th of Jan. Good luck.
Jill

 

[Franco56]

I e-mailed Song for that same info and was told the samething, but you could only book going down, and had to wait the appropriate number of days for your return flight. I think I will do that again with song to be sure about it.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Hello all!

Aisling: Your choices look good...

I've been checking the excursions & this is what I like:

in St Maarten: The French Riviera Beach Rendezvous-
it's $45 per person, includes lunch and takes us to Orient Beach.
I've heard great things about the area (I intend to stay away from the "clothing optional " end) of Orient beach.

In St Thomas, there is a tramway near the port that goes to Paradise Point. The price is $15 whether you go with a guide or on your own. (Because DD likes to sleep in we'll go do this one on our own.) There are bird shows there, shops, a nature walk & a cafe.

In CC, I intend to sign the girls up for the teen excusion, it's called the "wild side." It's for 13 to 17 year olds exclusively. It gives them 4 hours of biking, kayaking and snorkeling and includes lunch for $35. It drops them off at the teen beach when it's over.

I intend to hang out near castaway Jo's & Goofy's sandlot. There is volleyball, hammocks, the covered arcade (ping pong, pool tables, etc.) and the Head's Up bar is right there. It is a quiet area yet not resticted to teens, children or adults only.

This is preliminary only cause Mom and I haven't spoken about this yet,
Mom, what do you think?

 

[LynnTarrant]

Happy New Year Everyone
I am still here honest, It's sad that you won't get to meet Ginny and her family, we had a blast with them in the summer having met on board last Xmas, but she's really excited about her new job.
Aisling I also had hit on the idea of the 12m regatta, the early one and then exploring either by ourselves or the boat and coach trip.
It sounds like we think alike because we want to snorkel at St Johns ( or at least I do ) but also want to see St Thomas, so at the moment myself and a few of the other ladies from 2003 cruise are looking at the early sailing of Captain Nautica whilst our menfolk organise a fishing trip. Then even with the early embarkation I think we'll have time for some exploration of St Thomas in the afternoon.
On CC the personal watercraft Eco Tour has my vote and we'd also thought a latish one would be good.
I'll probably change my mind before the cruise but that's where we're at at the moment.
As for all your NYE plans we would love to join you but need to fly straight back to the UK on the 31st, we'll then arrive on the 1st. We are back at work on Tuesday and we've tried landing on one day and going to work the next and with the Jet lag it's a killer, so as much as it grieves me we're being sensible and giving ourselves a days rest, we'll be thinking of you all as we fly.

There a long post to make up for staying away so long

 

[trinibjill]

Colleen
So far so good on the excursions. Castaway Cay I need to look at that again. Did you get the e-mail I sent you? I talked to Rose. Call me if you didn't get it.

Mom

 

[trinibjill]

HI Happy New Year
I think you'll like the eco tour & personal watercraft. My DD, DGD & I and some friends did that it was fun.
Jill

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Hi Gang!

TMI alert!Just to explain, I would Love! to get down & dirty in some of the excursions but (only recently) I've aquired skin allergies to latex and dirt, mold & mildew, pollen & trees therefore I cannot do things like snorkel & kayak & eco-tours. But it's ok because I had the chance to do all of that. I've done things like discovery cove and camping in the poconos I can continue to vacation in Orlando, No Restrictions ThereI go on cruises and go to WDW & ride roller coasters, go to concerts & sit and watch parades go by.

It's almost as if my body forces me to relax. So I walk & I tour & I shop

It's all good.
TMI alert over!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy New Year Lynn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, Ginny, you will be missed. We never got to meet you and you've been such a help. Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Franco, and how was that birthday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I'm gonna go beck into this thread and see if can make a "who's going list."
I found myself wondering today exactly how many veterans we now have in our group and decided a list would be a good idea. I didn't even know Ginny was a vet...

As we get closer to cruise time, I'll show in my itinerary specific shows and parties we could possibly attend together. Let me know if you're interested after I post a little more detail.

Over the last few days, I've done my first 3 days of my itinerary from our flight in the day before to the sailing of the ship. Which I'll post later- I am researching the movies, shows and special events offered to get more detail for my sailing itinerary. I know our first 2 full days are spent at sea with 2 days of St Thomas and St Maarten another day at sea and our CC day then home.

Lynn: sorry to see you can't stay, but I understand.

I'd like to sneak in 1 park day but may be too exhausted when we get off the boat

Hey experienced cruisers!

It's Poll Time!

Do you...

_______ Feel exhausted at the end of a cruise

_______ Feel refreshed and ready to go

_______ Kinda Tired, Not really...

_______ Other, please explain.

 

[Franco56]

Just wanted to say hi and thanks for my birthday wishes. Back to the "Y" last week, I have missed my workouts! they keep me sane! Family is busy,busy, and so it goes. Waiting on Jan 26th to see what kind of price I can get from song airlines. We shall see.

 

[dannyb]

Hi, everybody, and Happy New Year!

This is my first post since early September, so I'll reintroduce myself. My wife Linda and I booked this cruise with our two children (DD Lianne, 13, and DS Eric, 11) while on the Aug. 21 sailing. We weren't entirely certain whether we were going to go through with the sailing, but now we've decided to go for it, and we're excited!

Our last sailing was also the Eastern itinerary, except that we stopped in San Juan rather than St. Martin. We prefer Eastern because of the extra sea day. We were, amazingly, almost completely unimpacted by any of the hurricanes, although the two sailing before us and the two sailings after us were impacted - in particular the sailing immediately after ours.

While in St. Thomas, we chartered a large sail boat along w/ a group of other DisBoarders and went snorkeling to St. Johns. We all thought it the highlight of the cruise, and we're considering doing the same thing again, although I'd probably go w/ a different charter company due to a couple of minor issues w/ the last one.

We are going to come down a day before and stay at the Raddison. We may spend a couple of days afterwards, including New Year's eve, at DVC's VB resort. We'll probably nail down the details in a couple of days.

We usually rent a car and drive to Port Canaveral, return the car, to the local agent, and then pick the car up again. The cost is very reasonable, and it is very convenient.

On our recent cruise, a large group of us met for brunch at Palo's. It was very nice.

Take care

Dan

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Welcome back Dan!

It's gonna be a great cruise!

 

[Franco56]

There are no replies for the Christmas cruise 2005 for the teens! What's up with that?

 

[Franco56]

100 posts!! Yahoo!! But I am still more confused than ever!!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

There are no replies for the Christmas cruise 2005 for the teens! What's up with that?

I think the parents are more avid about DISing than the kids

100 posts!! Yahoo!! But I am still more confused than ever!!!

Have you checked out the passporter's cruise guide?
I found that the 2 books together (passporter and birnbaums) gave me quite a bit of info. (If one didn't have it the other one did)

CONGRATULATIONS ON ACHIEVING YOUR 100TH POST FRANCO!

 

[Aisling]

My DS Jesse has been trying to log on using his own username Aladdin's Clone, but he can't remember his password. We've been trying to think of all the possibilities, but nothing works. I've emailed the Dis using the Forgotten Password form, but they keep sending info about his old username, which he actually never posted under. He's posted under Aladdin's Clone, so I don't know what the problem is. He's frustrated, because he wants to start posting on our Teen 2005 board, but we're stuck. He doesn't want to change his username and start a new account.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Dan, I was happy to see your post. My Jesse will be 13 when we cruise. It's going to be an exciting year of ppanning for us all!

Colleen, we'll make sure you stay out of the mud, but c'mon, how about the Banana Boat ride??? That'll be us bouncing off that thing! LOL

 

[Aisling]

Double post

 

[Franco56]

I am not really confused, I just think the more you look at things they all mesh as one. I have all the books, I know all the sites, I read all opionions of the pros. And I love it! It's 5:00a.m. and here I am looking at things again! And yes, most of the kids are not into the dising, thats o.k. I will do it all!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Hello Christmas Cruisers!

Aisling: for Jesse's problem, go to the tech support board and ask them for help getting him back on.

and yes, I would consider the banana boat ride
it does sound like fun...

Franco: I love planning things. Mom and I have been talking constantly about the trip...my desk in my room has books for the cruise, books for WDW and travel books for NC...I'm just a traveling, planning nutcase!

All the reading and research really does make the vacation go smoother IMO.

 

[3xthecharm]

I'm so excited. I just bought my semi-formal and maybe my formal. They are both black chiffon, but two different styles. I'm not sure if the one is formal enough for formal night. If DH wears a dark suit, it will be fine. But it will not be enough for a tux. It is a fitted,T lenght black chiffon, drape neckline, and a little sparkle beading at the bottom. With podisua(sp?) shoes and the right sparkly jewelry, I might be ok.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I'm actually hoping to lose enough weight to wear the dresses I already have in my closet-one is black with a triple layer skirt and gold accent and the other is off white wrap around with gold accent....but shhhhh-nobody knows I'm on a diet

I am so rough on shoes I'll have to shopping for new ones before the cruise.
(Just an excuse to go shopping.)

Hey Aisling! Got any good shoe stores you can take me to in NY?!

(and no EBay...I want to go SHOPPING)