December 11, 2004 Eastern cruise thread

[smchan]

So... today is "final payment" day for our cruise. I'm agonizing over whether to stick with it or not. Typically, I book last minute; no more than 30 days out. But this one I reservered whilst onboard back in March, so it includes a 10% discount and $200 on board credit. I also have the 14 day FL to CA cruise reserved, but if I do this one, it'll be hard for me to justify the expense of the repo cruise. The big difference being the 12/11/04 cruise is with my kids (boys, 4 & 6) and the repo cruise is just my wife and me.

I really want to go on the 12/11 eastern with my boys who have never cruised before. Come on folks, talk me into it - before DCL closes today!

Thanks,
Sam

 

[thejenjens]

I think that you should take the boys on this cruise. It will be an experience that they will never forget. An early Christmas present. Plus, the 14 day cruise is almost 7 months away. This one less than 2. YEAH! We can't wait to go. Your boys will have so much fun in the kids labs. Plus, you and your wife can still go to a nice private dinner together at Palo's. Why not! Disney is ALWAYS worth it. Just think that in two months from today you could be sitting on the ship having lunch or swimming in the pool or watching a movie. Or whatever you heart desires. My mom and I are SO excited to go on our first 7 day cruise. We have only been on one other and it was a four day.

Hope to see you and you family on the ship.

Jen

 

[momto2dkids]

What better time to share a magical time with your young boys then on a Magical boat at the most magical time of the year-Christmas!

Come on- cruise with us!! Create those memories now.

We were orginally booked on the same FL to CA repo cruise, but had to cancel because of timing issues with school, testing and such. My children are just as excited, if not more, to be going on the cruise around Christmas time and seeing all the decorations as they were about cruising for the two weeks repo cruise. My now 5 year old still remembers his first cruise when he had just turned three and is literally jumping up and down with excitement about leaving for another one in eight weeks.

 

[smchan]

OK... I'm almost there.

I'm thinking about a surprise visit to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party the night before the cruise to get into the Disney frame-of-mind. Anyone else going?

Thanks,
Sam

 

[Villaness]

I would love to go to the Christmas party!!! I went to the Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween party and it was wanderful. What goes on special for the Christmas party? We arrvie early in the morning on Friday and could go to the party. My DS and his wife want to go to Univerals Studio because they have noever made it to that park. We'll see what I do.....

Kathy

 

[smchan]

OK, gang, I'm in. Just made my final payment. I'll be down in the deck 2 dungeon.

I tell you, I'm going to be spoiled. My last cruise was the 7 night Western back in March. I've got to space these things out a bit more or go bankrupt!

Here's a link for information regarding Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

As for my plans, I'm coming from central North Carolina, so I'll likely leave Thursday night and spend the night somewhere near Jacksonville. We'll plan to get to WDW mid-afternoon on Friday, check in, attend the Christmas party (shhh... it's a surprise for my boys), and then head to the port Saturday morning.

Man, I'm psyched! See y'all on board!

Sam

 

[momto2dkids]

smchan-
Yippee!!!

Have fun at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. What a great surprise for your boys.

By the way, great picture.

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by momto2dkids
By the way, great picture.

Thank you. Self-portrait right before my wife and I went to dinner on formal night during our last cruise.

Here's another to help us get in the mood.

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by Villaness
My DS and his wife want to go to Univerals Studio because they have never made it to that park.

And what's wrong with never having visited Universal?

Sam

 

[Villaness]

Sam...........I do agree!!! I will choose Disney any day!!! Great pictures! Welcome aboard!!

Kathy

 

[jwann]

Welcome Sam and family! How old are your boys? Mine are 6 and 9. We are also doing the MVMCP the night before the cruise! Can't wait!

About our DIS meet game -- I'll think about the "rules" and post closer to the cruise.

Personally, my group will be at early seating. We are arriving at Disney the day before the cruise and staying with my dsis (jhorner) at the Beach Club Villas. As for excursions, we decided to "do" all the ports ourselves. The only thing I am worried about is not making is back to the boat on time......

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by jwann
Welcome Sam and family! How old are your boys? Mine are 6 and 9. We are also doing the MVMCP the night before the cruise! Can't wait!

Mine are 4 & 6 and a pair of stinkers at that.

We have early seating as well.

Sam

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

Welcome Sam - Glad you decided to take your boys. They'll have a great time! I took my DS last year when he was 6 and he did great.

We currently have late seating, but are waitlisted for early. We booked back in March and I was surprised that early seating was already filled. Hopefully now that all the final payments are in, DCL can begin to finalize the dining seating.

You guys have fun at MVMCP. We will be in WDW - arriving the Wed. before the cruise, but currently we're planning to be at Epcot on Friday night. DH wasn't too excited about staying out so late at MVMCP. (I tell him he's just getting old and too set in his ways. )

The game idea sounds fun. Will the lime green Mickey heads from Home Depot do for identification?

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by RebeccaLovesDisney
We currently have late seating, but are waitlisted for early. We booked back in March and I was surprised that early seating was already filled. Hopefully now that all the final payments are in, DCL can begin to finalize the dining seating.

Hmmm.... that's interesting. Consider checking in with DCL on the seating options. I booked only a couple months ago and got early seating no problem.

Sam

 

[thejenjens]

I would check with DCL also because when we booked we could have had early seating also. We passed and took late because I just can't eat that early.

I already have the Lime Green Mickey Head from Home Depot for the game as well, just in case we can use that.

We are sooo very excited. The more time that passes the more excited I get. I can't wait to be on the ship for 7 whole days. Plus, I can't wait to see what stateroom number we will have. Hopefully it will be a good one. Do you guys already have your numbers??

Thanks,

Jen

 

[thejenjens]

Has anyone gotten the Cruise Line Passporter?

We have had one for almost a year. I look at it all the time. It breaks the ship's decks down. Shows you where every stateroom is located and gives you GREAT tips.

It is great to have to get ideas. We love ours.

Jen

 

[Villaness]

I have the cruise passporter as well, I think I've read it from cover to cover at least twice. Now my daughter-in-law has it checking everything out. I am getting so excited!!! I think everytime I get on the DIS boards I get even MORE excited listening to everyone.

Kathy

 

[thejenjens]

I was wondering if the Disney Pro Cruisers could give us some ideas of the best things to do on the ship. And the best way to manage our time while there. I felt as if the four night cruise was such a blur as was our first ever cruise. We were kinda in ahh of the whole idea of being on the ship and what not. I think that this time will be a lot better having more time on the ship and more days at sea.

Also, when you have those days at sea does can you actually feel that there are so many people on the ship. I mean on port days everyone is off doing something most likely off the ship. But with days at sea does it seem that there really is more people than on port days?

Still a little afraid of the inside stateroom. Are they much smaller than an outside stateroom? We won't know our stateroom number until we get our cruise papers two weeks prior to the cruise.

Thank you for everyone's help.

Millie

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

This time we'll be in a SPH cabin! I don't think you'll find the inside cabin too small. We were in one on our last cruise, and other than not being able to tell when it was morning, it was fine. They're not much smaller than the outside cabins.

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by thejenjens
I was wondering if the Disney Pro Cruisers could give us some ideas of the best things to do on the ship. And the best way to manage our time while there.

As for me, I plan to sleep. Alot. And when I'm not sleeping, I'll be napping, eating, watching movies, or... *ahem*.

I felt as if the four night cruise was such a blur as was our first ever cruise. We were kinda in ahh of the whole idea of being on the ship and what not. I think that this time will be a lot better having more time on the ship and more days at sea.

Exactly my experience. The 7 day cruise really lets you disconnect from the world and you really get to know your tablemates well. I'm totally sold on the 7 day cruises.

Also, when you have those days at sea does can you actually feel that there are so many people on the ship. I mean on port days everyone is off doing something most likely off the ship. But with days at sea does it seem that there really is more people than on port days?

It does feel more crowded especially around the pools. But I don't recall ever feeling like the crowd overwhelmed me. I mean, it wasn't a crowd like Fantasyland on a Saturday in June.

Still a little afraid of the inside stateroom. Are they much smaller than an outside stateroom? We won't know our stateroom number until we get our cruise papers two weeks prior to the cruise.

Maybe you'll get an upgrade. I reserved a GTY 11 on my March western and got a deck 2 cat 9. I loved it so much, I reserved a deck 2 cat 9 for this cruise. Pop by and stare out the window with me if you like. I'll be in 2510.


Sam