Cruising The Canal May 1, 2015 (Roll Call in Post 1)

[Walt & Di]

Looking forward to sailing with you again. Was talking with your wife about how we framed our EBTA print the other day.

That's so cool! My husband went through the canal when in the Navy, but he didn't get anything like this. Very neat and thank you for your service.

Thanks

Walt

 

[ravensilverlight]

Okay, folks - here's the hotel situation. My apologies for the delay - I had planned to put this up last week, but our roommate's stepfather passed away very unexpectedly and this is really the first time I've gotten a chance to sit at the laptop and really post. Now...we have two options at the moment.

First, we have an offer for up to 10 rooms at the Doubletree, courtesy of Brixton. That rate is appx. $150-170, and the hotel is located just a few minutes from the port - there is no shuttle service provided, but a group shuttle could be arranged and taxis are available also.

The second option is the Residence Inn Miami Airport, which is $164, and one mile away from Miami International Airport. There is a free shuttle to the hotel from MIA, but again, no shuttle to the port provided.

PLEASE if you are interested in either group rate, let me know and I will get booking info out to you.

 

[Lexa]

Excited about this cruise, since I had to work Radio Room during crossing, just had glimpses when I was on Bridge delivering message to Captain.

This is awesome Walt! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service!

I did something for my kids for ours 2013 crossing and they got it signed by Captain Mickey and Captain Fabian.

Here is how it looked....

 

[wilma-bride]

We are in Room 6548 and will be at the Main Dining. My husband is in the military and we live right outside of Washington, DC. This will be our first time on the Wonder and we are so excited to be on her for 14 days!!!!

Hi Jessica, thanks for the additional details. I have updated the roll call

Please sign me up for the roll call.

Chris (GoofyNewfie), DW Kim, main dining, room 2141, from Newfoundland, Canada.

Added you - welcome

Hey all!
I've got connecting 10Cs on hold right now - was planning on the EBPC and put the deposit down, but realized that if we cruised out of Miami, the kids and I could see my family in Orlando pre-cruise versus coming into Galveston and flying to FL.

Plus, I have 11Cs adjoining but not connecting on that sailing, and this was only $800 more for connecting - which is a huge plus with young kids!

So on to intros, it will be me (32) and the hubby (will be 33 a few days before the cruise!), and our 3 rapscallions, DD (6.5), DS (4th birthday just a few days before the sailing as well!) and DS (2). I'm super excited and less time to wait now!

Anyone know if I transfer a booking to Costco, do I still get the full cash card I would get if booking through them? I heard DU gives only half OBC for transfers, not sure if that works with Costco as well.

ETA: requested to join the FB group

Hi there, added you to the roll call

Hi Everyone,

I'm Pam and my DH Mike we are in the process of booking this cruise. (Just sent TA our cabin requests.) We did the Jan 2011 WBPC cruise also and think 14 nights is a great length of time to cruise. I'll be back reading for the next few day!

Guess I should add we are parents of 4 grown children (who will not be coming along on this cruise LOL.) We are having a double celebration on this cruise, DH's retirement and my 60th birthday

Added you to the roll call - what a way to celebrate your Birthday and your DH retirement

Okay, folks - here's the hotel situation. My apologies for the delay - I had planned to put this up last week, but our roommate's stepfather passed away very unexpectedly and this is really the first time I've gotten a chance to sit at the laptop and really post. Now...we have two options at the moment.

First, we have an offer for up to 10 rooms at the Doubletree, courtesy of Brixton. That rate is appx. $150-170, and the hotel is located just a few minutes from the port - there is no shuttle service provided, but a group shuttle could be arranged and taxis are available also.

The second option is the Residence Inn Miami Airport, which is $164, and one mile away from Miami International Airport. There is a free shuttle to the hotel from MIA, but again, no shuttle to the port provided.

PLEASE if you are interested in either group rate, let me know and I will get booking info out to you.

Thanks for the update Jen, sorry for your room-mate's loss. I replied to your post on the FB group

This is awesome Walt! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service!

I did something for my kids for ours 2013 crossing and they got it signed by Captain Mickey and Captain Fabian.

Here is how it looked....

That is pretty awesome

 

[JAM9842]

Hey all!
I've got connecting 10Cs on hold right now - was planning on the EBPC and put the deposit down, but realized that if we cruised out of Miami, the kids and I could see my family in Orlando pre-cruise versus coming into Galveston and flying to FL.

Plus, I have 11Cs adjoining but not connecting on that sailing, and this was only $800 more for connecting - which is a huge plus with young kids!

So on to intros, it will be me (32) and the hubby (will be 33 a few days before the cruise!), and our 3 rapscallions, DD (6.5), DS (4th birthday just a few days before the sailing as well!) and DS (2). I'm super excited and less time to wait now!

Anyone know if I transfer a booking to Costco, do I still get the full cash card I would get if booking through them? I heard DU gives only half OBC for transfers, not sure if that works with Costco as well.

ETA: requested to join the FB group

Welcome! My husband saw your post on FB (I am not on it) and told me that you guys are homeschooling also. Our DD (Kaiden) will almost be 7 at the time of sailing and our son (Kiellon) will actually turn 5 during the cruise. I have been starting to gather fun things to do for school during the cruise. We will have to make sure to get our girls together.

 

[granmaz]

Hi, we are fairly latecomers to this cruise, having just booked on the Eastbound Transatlantic arriving in Barcelona today!! Back home in the UK now and in the middle of unpacking after 5+ weeks away. Aaargh. We did the Panama Canal just prior to that and it was just fabulous. We love this cruise so much we just have to do it yet again. This will be number 5!!

Thought I would join the group before attempting to read through the 2 threads so far. Just me, Marilyn, and hubby John. Retired, but not yet old.

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi, we are fairly latecomers to this cruise, having just booked on the Eastbound Transatlantic arriving in Barcelona today!! Back home in the UK now and in the middle of unpacking after 5+ weeks away. Aaargh. We did the Panama Canal just prior to that and it was just fabulous. We love this cruise so much we just have to do it yet again. This will be number 5!!

Thought I would join the group before attempting to read through the 2 threads so far. Just me, Marilyn, and hubby John. Retired, but not yet old.

Hi Marilyn, nice to see you here. Have added you to the roll call The good news, though, is that there is only one thread - this one - the two were merged.

 

[granmaz]

Thank you all. I haven't joined the FB group yet. I prefer here but sadly FB seems to gain the most folk these days and if you don't join the FB groups you miss such a lot. Though I love FB generally I prefer the Dis for the cruise meet threads. I fear these Dis groups may die out in the future.

 

[granmaz]

Mmmm, looks a bit sad with the 2 'sailed' logos in my signature. I must get down to creating some more now.

I have read through the thread now and saw some posts on cruising on Mother's Day. We have been on the WBPC cruise on 3 Mother's Day cruises. The first 2 they just wished mom's a Happy Mother's Day and there was a nicely decorated cake in the entrance to the restaurants at night. But I never saw them cut into it so it could have been a decorated cardboard box!! I really thought they could have done more.

Now this year they mentioned the special day a few times throughout the day and even had a bit of a dance in the evening for moms etc. We didn't go so I can't comment on it. But at least there was something I guess.

I would still plan on doing your own thing for your moms though if you want to make it special.

On our first one(2008) we were on Castaway Cay that day and a group who were still mourning the loss of their mothers had a little quiet time together on the beach somewhere, just to remember. I know they still talk about that time so it was memorable.

 

[glindamood]

Hi Everyone,

I'm Pam and my DH Mike we are in the process of booking this cruise. (Just sent TA our cabin requests.) We did the Jan 2011 WBPC cruise also and think 14 nights is a great length of time to cruise. I'll be back reading for the next few day!

Guess I should add we are parents of 4 grown children (who will not be coming along on this cruise LOL.) We are having a double celebration on this cruise, DH's retirement and my 60th birthday

Cabin 7604, main dining I'm interested in doing FE so will PM the appropriate people

Hi, we are fairly latecomers to this cruise, having just booked on the Eastbound Transatlantic arriving in Barcelona today!! Back home in the UK now and in the middle of unpacking after 5+ weeks away. Aaargh. We did the Panama Canal just prior to that and it was just fabulous. We love this cruise so much we just have to do it yet again. This will be number 5!!

Thought I would join the group before attempting to read through the 2 threads so far. Just me, Marilyn, and hubby John. Retired, but not yet old.

We did the Jan 2011 PC as well so I am thinking that we have sailed together before!

And I am with you Marilyn - I am not so much a FB fan with meet threads either, I try but I can't seem to keep track of the conversation as well as I can here.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

 

[tlynk]

Hi, we are fairly latecomers to this cruise, having just booked on the Eastbound Transatlantic arriving in Barcelona today!! Back home in the UK now and in the middle of unpacking after 5+ weeks away. Aaargh. We did the Panama Canal just prior to that and it was just fabulous. We love this cruise so much we just have to do it yet again. This will be number 5!!

Thought I would join the group before attempting to read through the 2 threads so far. Just me, Marilyn, and hubby John. Retired, but not yet old.

Welcome! I was supposed to be on the EBTA, but DH couldn't get the time off. My aunt and uncle went without us and I can't wait to hear how their trip went! Which cruise did you enjoy more and why?- PC or TA?

 

[KathleenlovesMickey]

This is awesome Walt! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service!

I did something for my kids for ours 2013 crossing and they got it signed by Captain Mickey and Captain Fabian.

Here is how it looked....

Would it be possible to get this for our cruise? I would love it! Or could you tell me where/ how you you made it?
Thanks so much!

 

[granmaz]

We did the Jan 2011 PC as well so I am thinking that we have sailed together before!

And I am with you Marilyn - I am not so much a FB fan with meet threads either, I try but I can't seem to keep track of the conversation as well as I can here.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I remembered your name straight away though can't actually remember meeting you, maybe this time then?? Though that cruise was wonderful, I know there were a lot of issues onboard which many addressed actually onboard and also quite a few wrote to shoreside managers etc afterwards. When we did May 2013's WBPC it felt a completely different ship so we thought they must have had a good dressing down. This year was the same, just fantastic friendly crew and only 2 minor negatives from me(maybe almost 3)

Welcome! I was supposed to be on the EBTA, but DH couldn't get the time off. My aunt and uncle went without us and I can't wait to hear how their trip went! Which cruise did you enjoy more and why?- PC or TA?

I am sorry you didn't get to make the EBTA. It was a really good trip and we did really enjoy it. As to your question, the PC won without a doubt. Firstly it is a very special and exciting cruise anyway. The Wonder beat the Magic hands down. After the friendliness of the Wonder crew and seeing the officers everywhere chatting to passengers, it was quite a surprise to board the Magic and come up against crew walking past without even smiling at you, even officers, and we didn't see officers around as much either. It did improve as things went on but some serving crew when in Cabanas looked so miserable all the time. They certainly didn't chat as much in the buffet as they used to and I don't know why. Many did of course, it wasn't all of them. Maybe they didn't want to be going to Europe??

As far as the re-imagined areas go, some were great and some we didn't like at all, so that kind of affected our thinking as well when we boarded. Missing the Wonder and then the Magic having changed in ways we didn't particularly like meant we moaned to each other for a few days There were other issues that affected our thoughts of the cruise too but I won't go into here. But it was still a great cruise and the weather was really good too. A great way to travel home for sure.

 

[glindamood]

I remembered your name straight away though can't actually remember meeting you, maybe this time then?? Though that cruise was wonderful, I know there were a lot of issues onboard which many addressed actually onboard and also quite a few wrote to shoreside managers etc afterwards. When we did May 2013's WBPC it felt a completely different ship so we thought they must have had a good dressing down. This year was the same, just fantastic friendly crew and only 2 minor negatives from me(maybe almost 3)

I know there was a bit of complaining but we did not have any issues at all. I think that part of the Wonder's problem at the time was not being used to anything more than three and four day trips and I do think that makes a difference in how the crew interacts with the passengers. Our dining team was awesome and our cabin steward was great as well.

And, I think you are correct in that we did not meet either so will need to 'fix' that this time.

 

[Lexa]

Would it be possible to get this for our cruise? I would love it! Or could you tell me where/ how you you made it?
Thanks so much!

Kathleen,

If you PM names you need on them I would gladly make some. There is a great group on FB where we create all kinds of graphics for Disney fans, but this design was not publicly published till now

 

[granmaz]

I know there was a bit of complaining but we did not have any issues at all. I think that part of the Wonder's problem at the time was not being used to anything more than three and four day trips and I do think that makes a difference in how the crew interacts with the passengers. Our dining team was awesome and our cabin steward was great as well.

And, I think you are correct in that we did not meet either so will need to 'fix' that this time.

You are right with one of the reasons for the poorer crew participation on that cruise. Also there were a load of new crew with the Dream having been fully manned and they needed to be fully Disney trained. Some felt a bit 'left out' of all the worshipping of the Dream going on when they were leaving to go to California/Alaska for what at that time was thought to be a long time. Our friend, who is American,
after a few days made an appointment to see an officer and told him how she felt things were. Things did change quickly. We have laughed as we decided Americans generally complain there and then and we Brits would rather not complain but will moan I remember at the beginning we would walk up to breakfast and officers would walk past chatting to each other and ignoring us. After our friend complained, we could hardly get to breakfast for all the officers and crew smiling and saying good morning. It really was that different. We did have a wonderful server on that cruise though so it wasn't all the crew by any means. It was fabulous from the very beginning this time, and last year actually. Just the best. Can't wait for next year.

 

[Brixton]

Okay, folks - here's the hotel situation. My apologies for the delay - I had planned to put this up last week, but our roommate's stepfather passed away very unexpectedly and this is really the first time I've gotten a chance to sit at the laptop and really post. Now...we have two options at the moment.

First, we have an offer for up to 10 rooms at the Doubletree, courtesy of Brixton. That rate is appx. $150-170, and the hotel is located just a few minutes from the port - there is no shuttle service provided, but a group shuttle could be arranged and taxis are available also.

The second option is the Residence Inn Miami Airport, which is $164, and one mile away from Miami International Airport. There is a free shuttle to the hotel from MIA, but again, no shuttle to the port provided.

PLEASE if you are interested in either group rate, let me know and I will get booking info out to you.

Trying to negotiate that rate down a bit. Also have quote requests in for variuos charter busses to get us from Doubletree to port. Since I am not on FB, I will post all updates here.

This is awesome Walt! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service!
That's amazing!

I did something for my kids for ours 2013 crossing and they got it signed by Captain Mickey and Captain Fabian.

Here is how it looked....

I'll wait in line again, if you make the certificates The girls loved theirs in 2013! Much bigger hit than the pillowcases in our family!


Welcome to all who have joined this cruise! We are very excited to return! We're looking forward to our SPH and our friends and a LONG vacation. Have a WONDERful day

 

[LocustPoint]

Trying to negotiate that rate down a bit. Also have quote requests in for variuos charter busses to get us from Doubletree to port. Since I am not on FB, I will post all updates here.

Thanks Brixton for all your work on this! It is appreciated.

 

[KalamityJane]

Trying to negotiate that rate down a bit. Also have quote requests in for variuos charter busses to get us from Doubletree to port. Since I am not on FB, I will post all updates here. I'll wait in line again, if you make the certificates The girls loved theirs in 2013! Much bigger hit than the pillowcases in our family! Welcome to all who have joined this cruise! We are very excited to return! We're looking forward to our SPH and our friends and a LONG vacation. Have a WONDERful day

On the charter busses, are we talking greyhound or maxivan? The reason I ask is because kiddos need car seats in Vans but not in greyhounds.

 

[KalamityJane]

Also, thanks so much for all the work you are doing on this!