Christmas Cruising 2005

[LynnTarrant]

I don't know if any of you are spa babies and are interested in the new spa villas but you can now book them on line.
Just booked a couples choice villa for myself.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Wow! After waiting since August of 2004 I cannot believe it's finally here

Aisling, I saw your Rock Tree cam shot...I've only seen it twice in my life and I am still in awe...thinking of Chad on his date calling your from there made such a lovely picture in my head. I feel like we are all already old friends. I guess we are since we've been talking for a year now

Nan, please take a breath and trust that everything will be great! You're very organized to the point that I know you'll be fine. And if you find you are not you have my number...feel free to call me for a venting if you need one.

Lynn, I like the idea of the new spa salons, they sound incredible I'll check out the offerings cause I would like to get a mani, pedi and facial while onboard.

Ladies, Are we still have a hair dressing party before Christmas dinner? I want to try to get a salon appt but am pretty sure they will be well booked for that day. Holler if you are in...those not in can join us anyway....bring your beverages and socialize with us if you like

I gotta head to grocery store, and the bank and the mall and then I have laundry to do...so I'll check back in when I return....Ta Ta for Now..........

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Where is everybody

I made it to the bank and the mall, have to go back out & hit CVS and the beer store

I'll be PMing our MIA swappers so I can get names on the rest of these boxes...

 

[3xthecharm]

I'm getting excited/nervous.
Is it too early to pack clothes? Tonight I'm going to pack other stuff (It's either that or clean the bathrooms), but will the clothes look like a mess if I pack them now?

I've been planning this for so long, and now I feel like I'm running out of time.

Anyone else feel the same?

 

[trinibjill]

It seems like everyone has been packing for the whole year. Well-----------My plan is to pack the day before & not a minute sooner. I look at it this way. If I pack ahead of time I will probably have to unpack & repack just to make sure its all there;; cause I just wouldn't believe my list. & not only that I would probably want to wear what I packed. silly me.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I'm ready to start packing, it's so cold here I doubt that I'll wear anything I'm taking on the cruise...

Everything except for my jeans anyway~

3xthecharm, I tried to PM you but you have chosen not to accept them...Do you want in on our swap? Details are in my sig...since we are down to the last three weeks I will have to close this soon and wanted to give you a final shot at getting in.

still gotta go to the store...I'll be back...

 

[nskjerven]

okay Wilson has lots of wonderful cruise wear BUT I CAN'T find his swim suits!!!! Where could they have gone???? Seems strange huh? I'm not looking forward to trying to find size 5 swim suits and rash guards this time of year. I'm sure I can get them in WDW but geez I've been so good I can't believe they are MIA.

I think I have my packing plan made in my head. Kids one suit case for WDW one suit case for cruise. I think I have enough matchey matchey for them that they will be set for the whole cruise. I wish I liked to shop for me that way. Just not the same when you got the extra lbs on ya huh?

We got all the electronic equip un plastic wrapped this morning, ugghhh, that was a job. We figured out we would borrow a "media" backpack from a friend. It's great. It will hold count this....Laptop, DVD player (xmas gift from Grandparents to the kids) Wilson's ninetendo DS (from Santa) Molly's MP3 Tinker Bell player (from Santa) Video camera, 3 digital cameras. I'm so glad Paul is willing to lug all this stuff. It's not the kind of stuff you can check. I'm sure we "could" check the MP3 and Ninetendo, but I'd be really bumming if there Xmas gifts went missing. Not worth the risk.

My carry on gets the meds & jewerly and our change of clothes.

The kids carry on each of there own change of clothes.

Went I flew to Rome in 10/01 I just didn't want to be boher with carry extra clothes and they lost our bags, so I had to shop for undies under the gun, won't do that again at least carrying a few pairs just in case.

We figured all shoes go in one suitcase (won't that be a good one to lose) and all formal wear (2 tuxes and 2+ dresses) in the garment bag. Again hope that one is safe.

YEAH Paul found Wilson's swin suits!!!! In his sweater drawer. OKay with that back to packing....

Jill, you are packing for one, that's how you can wait until the day before wanna come and help me????

Hair...If we don't get ressies at the spa I want to room it. But I'm hoping for a ressie...

Nice to see you 3x

 

[trinibjill]

I love California. If I could do it I'd be there in a minute.

I have been gloating at work & at the rink about our Xmas Cruise. & WDW with my family & our new friends.

I guess I am mentally thinking about what to pack. & yes, it is soooo much easier to pack for one. Just remember this. I have been there & done that. We packed for many family trips.

 

[grimgrinnin]

Well-----------My plan is to pack the day before & not a minute sooner.

I knew I wasn't alone!

grim

 

[LynnTarrant]

I'm a last minute packer too

 

[Aisling]

Ladies, Are we still have a hair dressing party before Christmas dinner? I want to try to get a salon appt but am pretty sure they will be well booked for that day. Holler if you are in...those not in can join us anyway....bring your beverages and socialize with us if you like

Count me in!

About packing, I'm basically done. Half the clothes I originally packed had to be taken out, because they must have shrunk while in the suitcase all year!
I just have to decide how much Christmas decor to take. I think I'll just do stockings, a little tree, and maybe a Christmas table runner. And of course a small creche/nativity. We have a tradition in our family that wherever you put up a Christmas tree, a nativity creche has to be put under it. We have small trees in every room of our house. I just like to teach the kids about the best gift of all, which in our religion is the birth of Jesus. I hope there's a priest onboard our cruise. Imagine celebrating Mass out at sea? Awesome!

Jill, I think you said you were wearing a black/white gown for formalnight, even posted a photo which looked like you were possibly in a wedding party. Do you still plan on wearing that gown. And will your other ladies of your crew be wearing gowns? I'll be wearing an ankle-length gown.

I have to check and see if we still can order the kids' tuxes from the cruise website. Better go check now.

BBL

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I have a list of last minute things to do...

well, not really last minute-more like finalizing. I can't find my Christmas Tigger hat tho

I took out my door wreaths and my light up santa for out front, brought down some lights so I can start putting them up outside tomorrow. Alls we need now is our tree for the house. I want to have Christmas at home before we leave...my hubby, son and his girlfriend and my sister's family will all be here without us.

Aisling, do I hear a midnight mass on the agenda? I hadn't even thought about a nativity scene-our tradition is to wait to put the baby in the manger until Christmas Eve.

Our group will all be dressed to the nines on Christmas/Formal night-the formal photos are gonna be gorgeous! I've seen group shots done in the lobby from above, I wonder how do-able that is for us to try?

---ok, I've rambled enough, back to my SNL

 

[domiii]

Hi all lots to tell about yesterday, but am going to clean, pack decorations and go through pins right now. I just want to mention from what I have read, there is a midnight service Christmas Eve and one at 10am on Christmas Day. My family is probably going to the midnight service, if we can stay up that late. We have to leave for the airport 4am Christmas Eve.

Jill and Grim - I am a nervous traveler and won't pack until the last minute either.

 

[brooks_dee]

We have a group of 12 going on the 2005 Christmas cruise and are very unaware of the Christmas festivities planned during the cruise. Any information related to Christmans festivities would be appreciated.

 

[KKB]

From our research, it appears there are a few Xmas activities. Services Xmas Eve maybe, certainly Xmas day--looks like one mass, one interdenominational.
Xmas Eve they have tree lighting, reading of The Night Before Xmas, and perhaps some caroling.
Xmas Day Santa arrives (the rumor is by helicopter) and has a gift for everyone. Mrs. Claus has storytime, and the kids club will do some caroling.
Additonally, special Xmas dinner. And of course the ship is already decorated to the hilt!
Looking forward to meeting you! We have a very active thread w/ 5-10 of us regulars. My husband's entire family will be on the ship w/ us--about 24 of us.
Happy cruising!
Kris

 

[KKB]

I go for one night, and I have to take notes of what I need to write!
Poker party fiasco...the date was Dec. 3, 1-5AM. STUPID me, I forgot that at midnight is when the day changes! SO we missed the poker charity event, it was Sat. AM 1-5!!! OH, well, we got sleep and still gave to a good cause!
I did try on some clothes this morning...the whole undergarment issues. Good news is that I have quite a few things to return! (found some good deals...guess you get what you pay for!) I will be wearing cocktail dresses for dinner most nights, black & beaded for formal nights, a little less dressy the rest of the week. I would love to pack early, but I don't really have an extra room to put suitcases, and I refuse to step over them for the next 3 weeks! I have tucked all the kids clothes in a special spot in their closets, and my closet has piles of things to take, so there is a semblance of organization. I think the only room decor I am brining is window clings. Mostly space issue. I think the one difference in packing I will do is not have each of us have our "own" suitcase, but mix it up in case of lost bags. (frankly, I would LOVE to lose a bag--$2800 is WAY more than value of items I pack!)
I always carry a carry on w/ toiletries, extra outfit & electronics.
Nan--THREE digital cameras??!! Just curious--Why?
Well, done decorating here. Kids put some ornaments on w/ Gram last night, and I figured we are good. Also cleaned out pantry for food bank, and went through freezer...gonna clean that baby out before we leave! Gonna be the cheapest grocery month EVER! (and next month will likely be the most expensive EVER!) I wrapped today, and only a couple of gifts left to buy. SOOO I actually have the rest of the day to work on the swap! COOL!
Gotta fit in a tan & a workout, too.
Well, better go work on those swaps...where are those kids...
Bye!
Kris

 

[trinibjill]

Aisling. I changed my mind about the black & white dress. I like this jacket & dress much better. The jacket is decorated with white pearls & gold color beads. The dress has sparklys on it. Much easier to pack also. I also feel more comfortable in it.

I sure am glad I'm not the only last minute packer.

 

[Aisling]

Jill, I'm so glad you posted a picture of your dress. I love anything sparkly. Mine isn't sparkly, but I had to stop obsessing over a dress I'm only going to wear for a couple of hours, and make a decision once and for all. And comfort won.

Welcome, brooks_dee. I know there are going to be tons of Christmas-themed activities onboard. Is this your first DCL cruise? All activities will be listed in the Navigator.

Aisling, do I hear a midnight mass on the agenda? I hadn't even thought about a nativity scene-our tradition is to wait to put the baby in the manger until Christmas Eve.

I hope. It would be beautiful. Of course I'm imaging an outside Mass, on the deck with the open star-filled sky and water all around. But it'll probably be held inside somewhere.
We tried not putting the baby in the manger until Christmas Eve, but I always end up putting Him in before then.

Kris, I wish I started the tanning thing, but now it's not in the budget. I'll just feel funny about my white legs, but I have a feeling after a few minutes on the Magic, I won't care anymore.

Tig, I know what you mean about feeling like old friends. I feel the same way. Wouldn't it be funny if we when meet in person we hate each others guts!

Hi Nan, Dede, Karen, Grim, 3X, lurkers!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Got my outside lights up

Watching Jurassic Park with hubby

I'm sad I can't find my tigger hat but happy I have a brand new princess one

Two weeks and it'll be our turn to head off...

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Aisling-that's the beauty of it, if we didn't like each other we would have figured that out by now