Christmas cruise 2010

[ladypirate]

We are also on the Christmas cruise and I am trying to get into the spirit of things for my girls. We are traveling with my dh mom and his sister's family (from the UK.) We went on the Wonder in Aug 2009 and had a blast, but logistically, this one is throwing me for a loop! Exactly what can we decorate? Can i bring a small lighted tree? We are basically going to be a cabin the size of a closet... Presents were decided to be just stockings, so thinking of what to give as gifts is a challenge, but for me and being the "mom", when exactly are we "doing Christmas"? What i remember from our last cruise, you wake up and you're out the door. There won't be any lazying around come Christmas morning so all this is hard for me to wrap my head around. All big "Santa" presents will be arriving at home for after and we will have to figure out how to do my family Christmas when we get back which is another annoying issue.

Sorry if this is a bit of a "rant" post, i'm just trying to figure things out and how to approach this week... anyone thought these things out? We did FEs and will do these again, and i have some magnet ears for the doors from last time too...

Help me find my Mickey spirit!

Sarah

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We are also on the Christmas cruise and I am trying to get into the spirit of things for my girls. We are traveling with my dh mom and his sister's family (from the UK.) We went on the Wonder in Aug 2009 and had a blast, but logistically, this one is throwing me for a loop! Exactly what can we decorate? Can i bring a small lighted tree? We are basically going to be a cabin the size of a closet... Presents were decided to be just stockings, so thinking of what to give as gifts is a challenge, but for me and being the "mom", when exactly are we "doing Christmas"? What i remember from our last cruise, you wake up and you're out the door. There won't be any lazying around come Christmas morning so all this is hard for me to wrap my head around. All big "Santa" presents will be arriving at home for after and we will have to figure out how to do my family Christmas when we get back which is another annoying issue.

Sorry if this is a bit of a "rant" post, i'm just trying to figure things out and how to approach this week... anyone thought these things out? We did FEs and will do these again, and i have some magnet ears for the doors from last time too...

Help me find my Mickey spirit!

Sarah

Hi Sarah - Welcome to the Christmas Cruise

I am a bit unsure how we are going to do Christmas too as it will be our first one ever away from home - we are from the UK too like your DH's family!!

My two boys will only be 3 and 6, so I know I am going to have to do something!!! At the moment I am waiting until a couple of months before the cruise to ask them for their christmas lists (my boys change their minds so often that its too early to know what they will like in December!!)

If there is anything small that they really want that I can bring over on the plane with me then I will, othewise we have a couple of weeks at Disney before the cruise and I am going to take them to DTD and see what things they like there (my eldest is very into Lego and my youngest loves Disney cars - so hopefully there will be plenty there!!)

Failing that, I have told Kai (my eldest) that we will be celebrating Christmas twice - once on the boat and once back home with his grandparents (although that won't be until Jan 7th!!!) and if the main thing they want is something big - then that will be waiting for them at home.

I can't think of any other way to do it really!!!

As we are at sea on Christmas Day, I was planning on fetching some beakfast from Topsiders and having a leisurely morning letting the boys unwarp gifts etc - but again, not sue what else will be going on onboard as have never travelled at that time of year before.

I am planning to visit the Chistmas Store at Dtd before we cruise, with the hope of getting a small pre-lit tree - but if not at least some mickey tinsel etc to decorate the room ever so slightly!! - its all so exciting!!!

 

[ShannonR]

Hi everyone! It's just a little over 4 months until sail time!!

When we were on the Christmas cruise of 2008, it was a sea day and very relaxing!!! Nothing was rushed and it was a very holiday cheer kind of mood anywhere you went on the ship!

We are getting so excited!! We just booked the Limo for the trip from POR to the cape. Since we have been on a Christmas cruise before, I have all my decorations from that cruise. That saves money since we went WAY OVERBOARD on decorations in 2008!

Have we decided what activities we want to arrange? There is a long list of things we could choose to do....FE gifts, secret santa, ornament exchange, Christmas treasure hunt, etc.....

Shannon

 

[RatherBeWithMickey]

Hi everyone! It's just a little over 4 months until sail time!!

Have we decided what activities we want to arrange? There is a long list of things we could choose to do....FE gifts, secret santa, ornament exchange, Christmas treasure hunt, etc.....

Shannon

Hi Shannon-
I would like to participate in an FE exchange, as long as we don't get too many people (or split into multiple groups like other cruises do). I have luggage limitations, plus I'd rather do a nicer gift for a smaller group than a less expensive gift for a huge group. I'm open to other things, too, keeping the luggage constraint in mind.
Mindy

 

[ladypirate]

Shannon and Mindy - we are all for it too, and agree, nicer thing rather than lots of junky things that are just a pain to lug around and get lost later. I already have something in mind that i want to do for each cabin...

 

[ladypirate]

and Shannon - how exactly did you decorate? I was thinking of putting lights up around my window but not sure what is allowed or not. Do you have any pix of how you decorated?

Sarah

 

[ShannonR]

Hi Sarah! We went WAY WAY WAY overboard when it came to decorating and plan to do it ALL AGAIN hahahaha!!!

We strung battery operated Christmas lights EVERYWHERE, Christmas wreaths on each of our stateroom doors with battery operated lights, hung huge stockings on the fish emblem of each stateroom, a miniature Christmas tree on each desk with ornaments and battery operated lights, jingle bells strung up all over each room, Christmas magnets all over each door, and Christmas door hangers on each stateroom door. I also brought pine scented spray so our staterooms ALWAYS smelled of Christmas!!! And I still didn't think it was enough hahahaha!!!

Shannon

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - I am happy to join in with whatever, but agree that I won't have that much luggage space travelling from the UK for nearly 4 weeks with 2 children!!!

But whatever anyone else wants to do I am more than happy to go along with as this will be my first time participating in anything like this so I am really looking forward to it!!!

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Hi everyone, We just got off the Wonder (end of August) and I started thinking why not book a Christmas cruise!

I haven't booked yet, but I know I will be within the next few weeks.

It will be myself and teen daughter. She will be turning 14, by the time we cruise. I haven't told her yet, but I am sure once I finalize everything, I won't be able to keep it a secret.

I will probably take a flight in the night before and stay at the hotel airport to be safe.

I am excited to be returning to the Wonder, especially at Christmas time when everything will be decorated.

This will be our 22 cruise aboard Disney. Every cruise still feels like the very first one!

Can't wait!!!

 

[ShastaDog]

Hi everybody,

Hate to say it but we are going to have to cancel on this cruise. Some changes are going on at work and we really just can't afford the more expensive Christmas prices. We will definitely be re-booking for something in the future though.

Hope you all have a "wonder"ful time!

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Hi everybody,

Hate to say it but we are going to have to cancel on this cruise. Some changes are going on at work and we really just can't afford the more expensive Christmas prices. We will definitely be re-booking for something in the future though.

Hope you all have a "wonder"ful time!

Sorry, I hope you are able to re-book in the future and have a "wonder"ful time yourself!

 

[ShannonR]

Hi everybody!! I thought I would let everyone know that today marks the end of triple digit numbers.......100 days from today we will all be boarding the Disney Wonder for Christmas!!

Has anyone given any thought as to what excursions they are going to do? We will be doing very few this cruise since it will our 3rd western caribbean itinerary. We will definately be doing the parasailing and snorkeling on Castaway Cay but that's about it since we have done so many on the other two cruises....it get's exhausting. Rest and relaxation is the theme to this year's cruise for us!!

I am leaving for Las Vegas next week for a week long conference with two of my co workers. Unfortunately, I have been to Las Vegas before and really didn't like it. The conference was originally to be held in Nashville this past June, but with all the flooding they had at that time, it was postponed and relocated. I was really looking forward to Nashville, oh well. Since I will be in Las Vagas, DH has to book these excursions himself...God help us hahahaha I will also miss DD17 senior homecoming which is more upsetting to me! I told DH to make sure he takes lots of video and pictures for me to see when I get back!!

Shannon

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Shannon, What a shame that you have to go away during an important time in your daughters life. That has to be so hard!

We are probably doing the parasailing or jet skis when we get to Castaway. We haven't booked anything yet. I always wait until I am onboard to book anything anyway.

We are probably going to pay in full by next week, and check our other options. Again, we will wait until we are onboard.

Have a safe trip and tell your husband to try and Skype you while you are away so you can see your daughter "live" on her day.

 

[ginag2010]

Hi everybody!! I thought I would let everyone know that today marks the end of triple digit numbers.......100 days from today we will all be boarding the Disney Wonder for Christmas!!

Has anyone given any thought as to what excursions they are going to do? We will be doing very few this cruise since it will our 3rd western caribbean itinerary. We will definately be doing the parasailing and snorkeling on Castaway Cay but that's about it since we have done so many on the other two cruises....it get's exhausting. Rest and relaxation is the theme to this year's cruise for us!!

I am leaving for Las Vegas next week for a week long conference with two of my co workers. Unfortunately, I have been to Las Vegas before and really didn't like it. The conference was originally to be held in Nashville this past June, but with all the flooding they had at that time, it was postponed and relocated. I was really looking forward to Nashville, oh well. Since I will be in Las Vagas, DH has to book these excursions himself...God help us hahahaha I will also miss DD17 senior homecoming which is more upsetting to me! I told DH to make sure he takes lots of video and pictures for me to see when I get back!!

Shannon

Hi Shannon and everyone!

I am new to this board but we will be sailing on the cruise as well! Shannon- I live in Las Vegas!! Maybe we should get together while you are here and book our excursions. But if you want any ideas or have any questions about the town, I am happy to help. Sounds like you will be here awhile!

I was actually planning to post a question about the ports. We were originally interested in snorkeling in GC, but the kids want to do a dolphin swim. In Cozumel I am eyeing the Fury Catamaran excursion. It looks so relaxing!! So now I think I will ditch the snorkelling in GC and do dolphins there instead. Do you guys have any thoughts on those excursions? Is the snorkelling much different between the two places?

Thanks!!

Gina

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

I have no idea about either of those excursions. I hope someone will be able to help you with that.

The weather here in New York is going from hot (90) to cool (low 60's) each day. I can't wait to be back in hot hot temps again!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi everyone - sorry not posted for a while, I have been so busy working as its the start of the new school terms here in the UK which makes the first couple of weeks back really crazy!!

Welcome to the newbies - so pleased you could join us!! - and I am so sorry to those who have cancelled since I was last here!

Just wanted to say I have today paid my final balance!!! So I am all set to book my excursions next thursday!!

I have decided to book the trolley tour in Key West (we have never been to the Keys) - but I am booking that directly with the company, as not only is it a lot cheaper, it also has hop on / hop off privileges, which is much better for us to do a little bit of exploring!!!

We are booking a couple of things through DCL - I am doing the 7 mile beach excursion - purely because I haven't been to 7 mile beach and I think the boys will like that better than sightseeing. I know it would be far cheaper to do it on our own, but I know that I would be fretting the whole time about getting back to the boat so this way it will be more relaxing for me!!

We are staying on the boat in Cozumel as Steve and I have done Tulum before (fantastic but very hot and the boys are too young to appreciate it) - I admit I didn't think much of Cozumel or Playa Del Carmen last time though, so we will have a day enjoying a quieter boat hopefully!!

The only other thing I am booking is the Stingray snorkel for Steve and Kai at Castaway Cay (Lucas is too young so I will stay with him).

I am not bothering with Palo, as although I loved it - I want us to eat with the boys so I will leave that for another few years I think - it will give me something to look forward to!!

Its all getting very exciting now!!

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Hi Amy and everyone,

I was looking at the weather for December in Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean. I was a bit upset that the internet says it isn't hot during this time of year and can be too chilly for water sports. I was looking forward to hot hot weather. I guess I will settle for cool to warm instead. I am glad I checked because I would not have even brought one sweater with me. Now I know I have to.

I am going to pay final payment soon. I believe I can start booking excursions as soon as I pay in full, but I have nothing to book.

I am definitely going to find one night to eat up in Palo. Since it is the holiday, I would rather have most dinners with my daughter. Now, when I ask her, I am sure it will be a different story. lol

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Amy, I love the trolley in Key West! We also just walk over and do it ourselves. It will probably be comfortable weather enough for us to actually really tour the area. Every time we go it is too hot to be outside during the day. We would take the trolley and sweat the whole time.

I am happy others are posting on this thread!!! Makes it really exciting!

 

[ladypirate]

Amy - we will also be doing the Trolley. Do you have a link to book that online? I am curious where the stops are? I think in Cozumel we are leaning towards a beach day and in Grand Cayman probably the turtle farm, but yes, we plan to do all the bookings directly since they are either cheaper or a little less.

And we bit the bullet and upgraded from a 9 to a 4 so we are excited!!

working on the magnets and my FE ideas!

Sarah

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Amy - we will also be doing the Trolley. Do you have a link to book that online? I am curious where the stops are? I think in Cozumel we are leaning towards a beach day and in Grand Cayman probably the turtle farm, but yes, we plan to do all the bookings directly since they are either cheaper or a little less.

And we bit the bullet and upgraded from a 9 to a 4 so we are excited!!

working on the magnets and my FE ideas!

Sarah

Congrats on your upgrade!

Here is the site. I never book online, I usually just get the trolley once we get to KW. Maybe Amy has different info for you. Until then, try this...

http://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/