Dec. 2, 2007-4 night Wonder and MouseFest Cruise

[M4travels]

All you first time cruisers are going to be REALLY spoiled after being on a Disney cruise as your first cruise experience!

Our first cruise was in 2005, a Princess land/cruise tour. We said Princess was SO organized that they should give lessons to the airlines in how to move people on and off planes quickly. Well, Princess doesn't hold a candle to Disney. We still joke about how fast Disney got us on and off the ship.

Getting off in particular is a favorite story. We were in the first wave of people alowed off the ship on the last morning because we had a rental car (those taking Disney's transportation have to wait.) We came down the escalator in the terminal, grabbed a porter with a cart who sent my husband to the line to show our passports and took me to point out our luggage in the well organized color coordinated rows, joined my husband in the fast moving line, SPRINTED to the parking lot trying to keep up with the porter, and stood there at the car with our luggage wondering what had hit us. It literally was about 5 minutes from the top of the escalator to standing in the parking lot across the street. I think we were back to WDW by abou 8 am. WONDERFUL organization on Disney's part.

Yes, you will all be spoiled for any other cruiseline to come!

I agree completely with Inkmahm. I worked for Princess Cruises/P&O Cruises (before they were consumed by Carnival Corp) for 4 years in the corporate offices in Los Angeles. I was actually a temp employee for those years in the medical department and it was the job that I still talk about wishing they would have hired me on full time.

Anyway, shortly after I left Princess, Marc and I took my parents on a Princess cruise to Alaska for their 50th anniversary. LOVED it! Well, loved the cruiseline... didn't really care for Alaska. I didn't think anyone could do cruising better than Princess. We came home from that cruise and found a phenomenal deal on NCL for a cruise on the Mexican Riviera over Thanksgiving. It was NOT Princess, but we had a great time there as well.

We then found our Disney love and in January '06 we did our first 4-nighter. We then booked the DVC member cruise for October '06 and LOVED that. This will be number three for us and number four has been booked for next September when the Magic gets back to P.C. after the summer hiatus in Los Angeles. We're planning on number five being the first part of January '09 for a family extravaganza. Disney got us. Yes, other lines are most definitely less expensive (though there are others that are more expensive as well!!) but we really enjoy Disney. We wish we had more vacation time available to take longer cruises, but right now that just isn't possible so we'll deal with flying cross country, doing our 4-nighters, spending a few days at WDW, and then coming home....all the time planning the NEXT Disney cruise.

Not sure when it will end, but we hope it won't be soon!



Michael

 

[OJoyfulOne]

Inkmahm and Michael!

You guys both got me hooked and I haven't even been on the cruise yet!

We were actually thinking about going on a Carnival cruise and then we thought about doing just Walt Disney World and finally ended up booking the land/sea........ The best of both worlds!!

We are all getting exciting about the cruise. And the thing is, I know I'm going to run out of time trying to get everything organized for the trip! I keep saying that I have another month........but that is going to come so quickly I'm not going to know what hit me!

Has anyone started packing or at least got a list made of what to pack yet?

Joy

 

[granmaz]

I'm still trying to lose 14lbs and all I seem to do is eat.

 

[Inkmahm]

Anyway, shortly after I left Princess, Marc and I took my parents on a Princess cruise to Alaska for their 50th anniversary. LOVED it! Well, loved the cruiseline... didn't really care for Alaska.

Did you do the land part, too? I send my parents to Alaska on a cruise/tour with Princess in 1997 for their 50th anniversary (a few years early.) They loved it so much, it was the trip of their lifetime. My dad would have moved to Fairbanks if only mom had agreed. She iddn't.

DH and I did the 6 night land, 7 night cruise in Alaska in 2005 with Princess for our honeymoon. We LOVED Alaska and wouldn't cruise there with anyone other than Princess. Princess has the market cornered on the land portion of Alaska with their wonderful lodges. Some of the other cruise lines might be equal on the crusing portion, but no one touches Princess on the combination of land and sea. We loved Alaska so much we plan to visit again every five years to celebrate each milestone anniversary.

 

[M4travels]

Did you do the land part, too? I send my parents to Alaska on a cruise/tour with Princess in 1997 for their 50th anniversary (a few years early.) They loved it so much, it was the trip of their lifetime. My dad would have moved to Fairbanks if only mom had agreed. She iddn't.

DH and I did the 6 night land, 7 night cruise in Alaska in 2005 with Princess for our honeymoon. We LOVED Alaska and wouldn't cruise there with anyone other than Princess. Princess has the market cornered on the land portion of Alaska with their wonderful lodges. Some of the other cruise lines might be equal on the crusing portion, but no one touches Princess on the combination of land and sea. We loved Alaska so much we plan to visit again every five years to celebrate each milestone anniversary.

We did not do the land portion. It was all we could do to convince my mother that she should cruise. My dad was no problem as he's just got that adventure streak in him (I think that's where I get it), but my mother hates to fly so trying to get her there from the U.P. of Michigan to Seattle was quite a feat, so much so that they drove!!! We twisted the arm of one of my sisters who lives in Seattle to join us (yeah, it REALLY took a lot of arm twisting - NOT) and she and her husband fell into line with the plan!

Princess is wonderful. I would travel on them again in a heartbeat IF I didn't develop this love for DCL. The fact that Princess has such a presence on the west coast does make it an easy target for the Mexican cruises (which I love!), but DCL allows me to visit the OTHER park that Walt was involved with at the same time! We love the fact that we can get to D'land every weekend, but we also love the fact that we can now force ourselves to spend time at WDW and revel in that as well.... if it weren't such a schlep across the country!!!

Ah, who am I kidding... I'll cruise with just about any line! It's on a cruise that I do totally relax. You'll all probably catch me doing a LOT of that relaxing!!

Michael

 

[M4travels]

bumping us up to the top.

M

 

[DragonSlyr]

Helping push to the top.

Watched the Wonder leave on Ron Jon's cam yesterday. Brings back fond memories of last years member cruise. Makes me that much more excited to be there.

Under six weeks to go.

Tom

 

[granmaz]

Morning all.

Just a couple of questions about clothes.

Pirate night. I think I have said I won't be dressing up to the hilt, just making the best of what I have, so a slightly frilly blouse and blackor brown skirt with jewellery and belt plus the bandana for me, so the only extras I have to bring is the jewellery. But what about John?

Dressy night(we're at Palos) - black skirt and either more sparkly top or a nice dressy top, dress sandals. John, beige trousers, smart shirt either short or long sleeved, will that be ok?

Tropical night - just no idea, so cruise casual?

Cruise casual the other night. We would always change to smarter clothes for dinner, even at WDW.

Does that sound ok? I just don't want to pack lots of things we will only wear the once.

 

[Inkmahm]

Morning all.

Just a couple of questions about clothes.

Pirate night. I think I have said I won't be dressing up to the hilt, just making the best of what I have, so a slightly frilly blouse and blackor brown skirt with jewellery and belt plus the bandana for me, so the only extras I have to bring is the jewellery. But what about John?

Dressy night(we're at Palos) - black skirt and either more sparkly top or a nice dressy top, dress sandals. John, beige trousers, smart shirt either short or long sleeved, will that be ok?

Tropical night - just no idea, so cruise casual?

Cruise casual the other night. We would always change to smarter clothes for dinner, even at WDW.

Does that sound ok? I just don't want to pack lots of things we will only wear the once.

For pirate night last year, we both had Pirates of the Caribbean tshirts and also Mickey pirate ears or goofy pirate hat/ears. We didn't do much else to dress up for it. You'll see people that go all out like it is a Halloween costume and people that do nothing but put the bandana on their head that their waitstaff will give them at dinner. We didn't bring extra clothes (other than the hats) for pirate night.

For Palos, they want a jacket and tie for the guy. You can probably get away without the jacket but you really need the shirt and tie to look dressy enough. For women it is a nice dress or pantsuit so what you're planning sounds fine.

 

[granmaz]

For pirate night last year, we both had Pirates of the Caribbean tshirts and also Mickey pirate ears or goofy pirate hat/ears. We didn't do much else to dress up for it. You'll see people that go all out like it is a Halloween costume and people that do nothing but put the bandana on their head that their waitstaff will give them at dinner. We didn't bring extra clothes (other than the hats) for pirate night.

For Palos, they want a jacket and tie for the guy. You can probably get away without the jacket but you really need the shirt and tie to look dressy enough. For women it is a nice dress or pantsuit so what you're planning sounds fine.

Ah, I forgot about the tie - I did know!!! We don't want to bring a suit over this time, though we will for the repo next year.

 

[OJoyfulOne]

bumping up.......

 

[DragonSlyr]

Had a really nice weekend, but so far this week been cold and raining. High temps have only been in the 50s. Has me dreaming of tropical breezes.

Tom

 

[M4travels]

Well, we have more than just a breeze going on out here in So. Cal. The winds have been whipping up since Saturday, we've been surrounded by smoke from all the local fires, Marc's father is in San Diego with a glut of fires (fortunately they haven't had to evacuate at this time although they have evacuated complete cities down there to the tune of approximately 350,000 people), and we're getting ready for another new fire that just popped up slightly northeast of us. Yeah, a cruise would be LOTS more relaxing!!!

We usually worry about earthquakes but these fires are quite bad. (I still don't want to move back to Michigan to deal with winters though).

Think good thoughts for the So. Cal folks, please!

Michael

 

[granmaz]

Keep safe you So Cal folk. It is scary.

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

Well, we have more than just a breeze going on out here in So. Cal. The winds have been whipping up since Saturday, we've been surrounded by smoke from all the local fires, Marc's father is in San Diego with a glut of fires (fortunately they haven't had to evacuate at this time although they have evacuated complete cities down there to the tune of approximately 350,000 people), and we're getting ready for another new fire that just popped up slightly northeast of us. Yeah, a cruise would be LOTS more relaxing!!!

We usually worry about earthquakes but these fires are quite bad. (I still don't want to move back to Michigan to deal with winters though).

Think good thoughts for the So. Cal folks, please!

Michael

Michael and Marc,
I have been thinking about you guys since I heard, I will continue to pray for you and the people in So Cal.
Everytime I turn on the TV seems like things are getting worse

 

[M4travels]

Keep safe you So Cal folk. It is scary.

Michael and Marc,
I have been thinking about you guys since I heard, I will continue to pray for you and the people in So Cal.
Everytime I turn on the TV seems like things are getting worse

I spent from 12:30 a.m. until 4:00 this morning flipping through the channels just watching the coverage. Not a fun night (but there are LOTS of infomercials for some VERY questionable items which make you shake your head and go: HUH????) and now it's back to work.

Michael

 

[OJoyfulOne]

Well, we have more than just a breeze going on out here in So. Cal. The winds have been whipping up since Saturday, we've been surrounded by smoke from all the local fires, Marc's father is in San Diego with a glut of fires (fortunately they haven't had to evacuate at this time although they have evacuated complete cities down there to the tune of approximately 350,000 people), and we're getting ready for another new fire that just popped up slightly northeast of us. Yeah, a cruise would be LOTS more relaxing!!!

We usually worry about earthquakes but these fires are quite bad. (I still don't want to move back to Michigan to deal with winters though).

Think good thoughts for the So. Cal folks, please!

Michael

My prayers are with everyone out there as well.

Joy

 

[Inkmahm]

If you're considering renting a room at Atlantis to get access to their water park for the day when we're in Nassau, I got this in my email:

$129 -- Bahamas 'Atlantis' Resort, up to 50% OFF*
Paradise Island, Bahamas


By Laura Taylor
Travelzoo Staff

Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas just announced a special rate of $129 per night at the resort's Beach Tower rooms. Normally, we'd expect these rooms to go for twice as much.
The special offer applies to Sunday-Wednesday nights through Dec. 25. Upgrade to the centrally located Coral Towers for an additional $20 per night, or the iconic Royal Towers for $40 per night. Weekends are available for slightly more.

If you asked friends and family which resorts appear on their "must-go" lists, Atlantis is probably on it. They recently completed several new attractions, enticing visitors with even more reasons to go. To name a few:

New Aquaventure with thrilling water slides, Mandara Spa and 7000 square foot Aura nightclub
Ranked #1 “Best Resort Casino” and #1 “Best Family Vacation Resort” 2007 Caribbean Travel & Life Readers’ Choice Awards
18-hole, par 72 championship golf course overlooking the ocean
See the new resort within the resort, The Cove Atlantis
To take advantage of the offer, you must book by Nov. 4.
For reservations and more information:
Call 800-ATLANTIS (800-285-2684) and mention rate code TZLF. Or, Click here to book online at Atlantis.com. Note: Rates displayed online include all nights. To confirm the nightly rate, divide the total displayed by the number of nights you're staying.


Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas


* Terms/Conditions:
Rate is per room per night, based on double occupancy and effective for Sun. – Wed. night stays only through 12/25/07 in Beach Tower Terr. promo. Rate is valid for new bookings only and must be booked by 11/4/07. +Mandatory hotel taxes, mandatory housekeeping gratuities and service fees are additional and must be paid at the hotel. Reservation must be paid in full at time of booking. Additional rates available for Coral Towers and Royal Towers upon request. Weekend, holiday and black out periods apply. All rates and availability are subject to change without notice. Not applicable to groups & restrictions apply. Atlantis and its tour operator do not assume responsibility for errors or omissions within the content of this ad.

 

[SideshowBob]

Does look like SSB making the 4-day!

For Travelzoo offer, as of yesterday, they did have the day at Nassau available... at the special rate. There are some add ons per person, etc... but seems like if multiple persons the way to go. Just greatly enjoyed the water park on the 10/18 3-day!

 

[M4travels]

Does look like SSB making the 4-day!

For Travelzoo offer, as of yesterday, they did have the day at Nassau available... at the special rate. There are some add ons per person, etc... but seems like if multiple persons the way to go. Just greatly enjoyed the water park on the 10/18 3-day!

SSB, glad you had a good time on the 3-day and welcome to the 4-day!!!

Michael