Christmas Cruise 2005!!!

[tiggerwannabe]

Hi Lynn!

We should be ok if we have the late seating, right? I might like to get a little spruced up for dinner Christmas Eve.

 

[LynnTarrant]

I'm sure you will our luggage arrived just after the sailaway party others had theirs very quickly, but they were still bringing lugguage to the rooms until aorund 6 so you may not have it if you were early seating

 

[trinibjill]

All the daisy chains are back.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Did you have to change anything to get them back?

 

[trinibjill]

It was magic

 

[KKB]

I kinda feel like I am reading a foreign language reading over the last posts!
BUT you are all getting me so excited! Mourning the loss of Cancun trip this week w/ our friends...DH felt 2 cruises within 15 months was enough! (WHAT is he thinking!? It is sold out anyway--all-inclusive--but it is still his fault!)
I have never been a hot weather girl, but I was only HOT once on our last cruise, so I'm kinda hooked! Plus a Sol beer or a foo-foo drink and a dip in the pool always cools one off (or you don't even realize you are hot if you have enhoug...).
Now expedia still shows interior/exterior cabins but no balconies or above. Glad some are still getting booked then getting on here!
Stone Harbor NJ is really nice--great shopping; I could have spent A LOT more money, if I had it! FIL/MIL bought a Cadillac Escalade while we were there, so I think they took care of shopping for all of us! It is a little tough to be a family where the bread winners are 2 teachers(us), and everyone else is attorneys (w/ own firm in Pitt), and independently wealthy others...BUT we always have fun, maybe more since we certainly can't spend our way to fun!
NOT complaining; there was just one frustrating moment when we all went out to dinner and my children ordered typical kid fare, and DH and I chose moderately priced meals; others chose lobster tails--2!--kids got lobster, etc., and then they wanted to split the bill evenly to make it simple. I kinda freaked (it might have had something to do w/ spending day in and day out w/ no break from the family...). I think others forget our budget is tighter.
DANG! I think I just proved DH's justification for no Cancun! RATS! I HATE when he is right!
Again, I babble...I cannot wait for this cruise! WARNING! I can talk too much in person, too, especially if I have had a couple of cocktails.....
Kristin
PS Thanks for the pics--I feel like I am starting to get to know you guys!

 

[KKB]

Sorry about the last post! I am generally NOT a complainer, and I really do love DH's family....and I like to think that most of my coversation is purposeful...
Oh, well, guess you are getting to know me! And when I figure out how to post pics, you can see us, too--most likely at Stone Harbor!
Kristin

 

[Aisling]

Sorry about the last post! I am generally NOT a complainer, and I really do love DH's family....

Kristin, you're so cute to apologize about that!
My DHs parents are loaded, and I don't mean LOL! His father is an MD, and has never had to worry about how much something costs if he wants to buy it. We, on the other hand, have a good life, but we are definitely not in grandpa's tax bracket! So we budget and save and somehow manage to afford this cruise and vacations. Living in NYC is expensive, but it's all we know, so we're used to it. And next time you're splitting the bill, order the lobster!! Hey we get lobster on the cruise!

We went for our passport renewals yesterday, since the fees are going up on Monday. So I'm happy that's all done. DH was joking around that maybe we shouldn't get his, because he might change his mind about coming with us on the cruise. He's worried that I'm going to run him ragged, since he's more of a hammock vacationer. So if you see me roaming the ship all by my lonesome, while DH is asleep somewhere and my kids are in the clubs, feel free to !

 

[grimgrinnin]

The good new is, we are (maybe) buying a new house.
The bad news is, we might have to cancel the cruise due to the new house.

We will definately be cancelling our BCV stay after the cruise. We'll be renting our points and using the money to fix up our house a bit before we put it on the market.

Hopefully we'll still be able to go on the cruise, but toned down a bit - no REAS or Champagne Catamarans for us!

Of course, the whole thing could fall through and I could be writing this for not.

I know how disappointed you will all be if me and my speedo are a no-show, but please, don't cancel on account of me


grim

 

[Aisling]

The good new is, we are (maybe) buying a new house.

Grim, I hope you're able to do both, the new house AND the cruise!! The tone-down is a good idea...don't you think the REAS is overpriced anyway?? With a little imagination, you can make your cruise very romantic without paying an extra $400.
Whatever you decide, good luck, and my wishes for whatever is best for you and your DH.

 

[KKB]

Grim, if you aren't there, what is the use...I'm sure we could not drink cocktails, lounge in the sun, play a little bingo, gorge on wonderful meals, etc. without you...of course, I did before so MAYBE I could...
Seriously, congrats on the house (maybe)! Seems we are all in the income brackets where we cannot do it all and must make decisions! We do live in a home that we love w/ plenty of space for all 5 of us. We did just replace 10 year old vehicles last year w/ ones only 2 and 3 years old, and we actually went to Vegas, Stone Harbor and the cruise last year....we are pretty tapped out! (Gosh, did I just prove DH's argument again??!! SHEESH!) Thank goodness for MIL--gives me an excuse to lurk on this board and at least I have one trip to look forward to this year! Next year I turn 40 and I surprised DH w/ Pebble Beach a couple years back for his 40th, so apparently he is scheming (sp?) a surprise trip for me! I just enjoy PLANNING trips so much, I kinda miss that! BUT I'll take ANY trip!
Bye!
Kristin

 

[Aisling]

I'm sure we could not drink cocktails, lounge in the sun, play a little bingo, gorge on wonderful meals

I can't wait!!!!!!!!
And how about see the shows, dip our toesies in the pool, dance with Goofy, play the Mousketeer Game, laugh with a bunch of cute kids, wake up to the site of a Caribbean island, hear that When You Wish Upon A Star horn...........

 

[trinibjill]

Aisling
I have a recording of the ship whistle playing that tune. PM me your e-mail & I'll send it to you.
Jill

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I can't wait!!!!!!!!
And how about see the shows, dip our toesies in the pool, dance with Goofy, play the Mousketeer Game, laugh with a bunch of cute kids, wake up to the site of a Caribbean island, hear that When You Wish Upon A Star horn...........

Now you've got me daydreaming!

I told a coworker today that I will be dancing with Goofy on this cruise! I'll even bring home pictures!

KKB: we'll do very well together, I'm a great listener
Aisling: me thinks you'll find me on the lounge by the pool next to Mel
TBJ likes to wander, me thinks you'll be wandering with her

grim! that's so sad and yet so good
We'll be sad not to get to meet you, but very happy you'll be in a wonderful new home I know how to do scaled back if you need some pointers
~Good Luck~
[size=-2]Does this mean someone else has to don a speedo with Franco [/size]

 

[trinibjill]

Did you get my e-mail. I sent you the whistle
Jill

 

[Aisling]

Jill, thanks so much, I got the whistle. Does it play everytime we leave a port?? I'd love for everyone miles around to know that we're on a DISNEY ship!! Woo hoo!

Tig, I think you're leaving tomorrow. Have a magical time, I hope you post a TR for us. When will you be back?

I'm going to call my TA today and ask to have it put down on my booking that I'm requesting the PLA rotation. I know this is no guarantee, but it can't hurt. I really want to have Formal in Lumieres and Pirate Night in Parrot Cay. So we'll see what happens.

It's starting to snow here, mostly ice coming down. I can't wait until spring, because my heating bill has been so outrageously high this winter. They jacked up the rates mercilessly, from an average bill of $200 a month to $400 a month.

I just got home from work...on Tuesdays and Thursdays I do music therapy at a nursing/rehab facility, and I had such a good time at woork today. Working with the elderly and infirmed, and with kids in my 4th grade catechism class, makes me feel so good. I never knew I was a people-person, I thought I was more of a Dilbert...put me by myself in a cubicle and leave me alone to do my work. So now I'm home, and about to make myself a cup of hot chocolate. On my bed is a pile of laundry to fold, and I'll do that while I watch Days of Our Lives. Then it's back to school. A funny thing happened...last week I had the pile of my kids' report cards to give out to them, but someone swiped them off my desk! So I had to redo the whole bunch. The joke was on the guilty party, though, because they all got excellent grades.

I'm starting to seriously think about excursions, and as of now, I think we're going to mostly do our own thing. I want to see trunk bay, which I have heard is like paradise, and I'm checking into taxis to transport us, instead of giong througn Disney. As for St. Maarten, I don't think we're going to do any formal excursions, but just tour both sides of the island. Who knows if I'll change my mind as we get closer, but I really don't want to spend tons of money. Chad is interested in mountain-biking, and I know one of the islands has an excursion for that. He's training for a biathlon (sp) for next year, a running and biking event, so he thinks the biking excursion would be good for him. We'll see.

Have any of you made door signs? I'm working on ours, and I'll try to post it. I just have to figure out hoe to transfer it from Print Artist to this board.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Tig, I think you're leaving tomorrow. Have a magical time, I hope you post a TR for us. When will you be back?

Yay! Yes ma'am, tomorrow night
I'll be back home on Monday around noon and back to work on Tuesday. I'll take lots o pictures so I can at least post those for you

I'm going to call my TA today and ask to have it put down on my booking that I'm requesting the PLA rotation. I know this is no guarantee, but it can't hurt. I really want to have Formal in Lumieres and Pirate Night in Parrot Cay. So we'll see what happens.

Mommyyyyyyy, [size=-2](Hey TBJ, you out there?)[/size] can you do the same? I think it would be awesome if could dine together

It's starting to snow here, mostly ice coming down. I can't wait until spring, because my heating bill has been so outrageously high this winter. They jacked up the rates mercilessly, from an average bill of $200 a month to $400 a month.

We have blizzard conditions right now, very windy along with the snow has made it very ugly outside. [size=-2](I'm ok as long as it clears up before my flight tomorrow)[/size] I've been thinking the exact same thing! My heating bills this year are horrendous! Come on Spring!

A funny thing happened...last week I had the pile of my kids' report cards to give out to them, but someone swiped them off my desk! So I had to redo the whole bunch. The joke was on the guilty party, though, because they all got excellent grades.

They stole them! LOL!

Have any of you made door signs? I'm working on ours, and I'll try to post it. I just have to figure out hoe to transfer it from Print Artist to this board.

I haven't made ours yet, it's still in design stage in my head I'll probably also make key chains for everyone in our group kinda like mine. I made a few more for this upcoming trip and am using them for luggage tags. Most images I post are simply photos linked from my photo hosting site with the img code added. I did a little test below with one of your photos...

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Let's see if this works...

Scan your art just like you did your pictures, upload it to your host site, right click on the photo, copy the properties, paste the properties into your thread and put "

" at the back, then you will see your photo here.

I copied from your thumbnail page cause your full size shots are huuuuge!

 

[trinibjill]

WHen I go to the base to pay some money on the account I'll ask them at that time. However, I believe when we get on board we either go to guest services or wait & talk to the maitre d. They had us at the wrong time & all we did was go to the right time & talked to the HMIC & they fixed it then.

 

[Aisling]