December 12 - 19, 2009 Western Magic

[poohfriend]

at 7:40 am central. a mere 4 hours and 20 minutes before we'd be allowed to board the ship!

 

[bevtoy]

Do you know your room number? I have some extra gift bags.

We actually might make 2000!

I think I have my excursion planned for Cayman...the Native Way Ray & Island tour...the rum facotry sounds like too much fun to pass up! Is anyone else taking this?

Also, if you’re sending out Christmas cards this year, would you kindly take a moment to send one to a healing solider? I don't know if I can post the address here or not, so PM for it. I personally went to the dollar store (love that place) and bought cards just for this purpose (along with some other fun cool stuff for the cruise!!)

I'll be hanging my FE just in case Santa comes by...even though I am not signed up!

 

[Shelebeen]

Just returned from getting the girls manicures and/or nails. A few more hours. Last minute chaos ensues.

Just had my toes done, will most likely do Sarah's once we get to the Poly either on Thursday or Friday night...

 

[Shelebeen]

Apparently there are still some cat 4's left as well as some cat 3's left. Right now the cat 3 price is 12, 275 and change...

trying to decide if I should try to change our pick up time at the poly to earlier to try for the upgrade at the port or be happy and if there is still an upgrade when we arrive, maybe it's luck

 

[the3lowes]

I know you opted out of the gift exchange, but I packed one for you anyway. If you opt to share your stateroom (and perhaps hang a stocking or other receptacle outside your door) you may just get some gifts (no obligation to return the favor.)

I think I have 2-3 extras packed up so if there is anyone else who's not planning to participate but may have a stocking hung up or something, I can happen by that way.

Right now our details state that we will be in room 6011, but it also states that we are category 10. Everything I've seen says 6011 is category 11. So I'm not sure!

You all are too kind. I think you'll make missing my hubby easier!

 

[the3lowes]

I also packed 3 extras - let me know, I would like to share the fun.

Right now it states we are in room 6011. We're down for a category 10 but everything I've seen says 6011 is a category 11? So not sure!

 

[Shelebeen]

ok, so I skimmed the stuff about upgrading at the port before, but now that Jim is into it, what are the details please?

What time should we arrive at the port (we are using Happy Limo)? What cost should we expect?

We would be moving from a cat 5 to a cat 3 I guess... if still available on Sat when we get there

Thanks

 

[pxlbarrel]

Our flight leaves for Orlando on Thursday at 10 am. Woohoo... well, except it might be snowing. ew ick

 

[poohfriend]

Right now it states we are in room 6011. We're down for a category 10 but everything I've seen says 6011 is a category 11? So not sure!

are you also a TA? there are so many on this cruise. the inside gty category for TAs on this cruise is 11. they can upgrade if they choose, but otherwise you are simply gty an inside cabin (cat 10 or 11).

If you booked a cat 10 gty and are not a TA, I'd be concerned. (but deck 6 is better to me than some other cat 10 and 11 locations.)

maybe pixie dust ill get sprinkled on you before your trip!

 

[poohfriend]

ok, so I skimmed the stuff about upgrading at the port before, but now that Jim is into it, what are the details please?

What time should we arrive at the port (we are using Happy Limo)? What cost should we expect?

We would be moving from a cat 5 to a cat 3 I guess... if still available on Sat when we get there

Thanks

lots of threads previously. seems like you need to be there early. (I was once there at 10 for a Wonder sailing. they didn't accept check-ins for another 10 or 20 minutes. They had to clear the boat first. But when we got there NO upgrades were available. So, good luck.

We're also using Happy Limo. We'll leave MCO around 10:30. Hope to be through security and in line for check-in by noon. I'll be the one dancing to the counter

 

[GoBison]

Passports
Swim suit
and.... Kids. Don't forget the kids. I had a "Home Alone" dream last night.

 

[Shelebeen]

Passports
Swim suit
and.... Kids. Don't forget the kids. I had a "Home Alone" dream last night.

Passports
Credit Cards
the family

pretty much everything else can be purchased if necessary..

 

[kcashner]

How early you need to be there for upgrades at the port depends on the cruise and how full it is. In February, we did a B2B. On the first leg, we arrived at the port about 11 and were able to purchase an upgrade. On the second leg we were obviously the first people at the port--no upgrades available. In May, we arrived about 11:30 and they STILL had upgrades available.

Normally, if you wish to purchase an upgrade, I'd suggest arriving by 10:30. I'm having some difficulty telling exactly what is available for our cruise as they are still selling cat 6-12 as gty, but showing only 4 and 5 available to choose your cabin. In the past I've been able to construct a list of available cabins, but can't do it this time with all the gtys showing.

My guess for the person interested in moving from a balcony cabin to a cat 3 is about $1400-$1500. However, it seems that they may have changed the system in the last few months; I'm seeing pricing different than it was in May (at which time I had figured out the system based on 2 years of data from the boards!) If you price the upgrade, let me know what it ends up costing.

You can CALL now to find out if they have any cat 3s available and ask what it would cost...then politely decline it. At least you'll be able to tell what is available. If they say there aren't any, no point in getting excited about getting one at the port.

There is obviously still some space on our sailing, but they have added quite a few people on TA rates.

 

[Shelebeen]

How early you need to be there for upgrades at the port depends on the cruise and how full it is. In February, we did a B2B. On the first leg, we arrived at the port about 11 and were able to purchase an upgrade. On the second leg we were obviously the first people at the port--no upgrades available. In May, we arrived about 11:30 and they STILL had upgrades available.

Normally, if you wish to purchase an upgrade, I'd suggest arriving by 10:30. I'm having some difficulty telling exactly what is available for our cruise as they are still selling cat 6-12 as gty, but showing only 4 and 5 available to choose your cabin. In the past I've been able to construct a list of available cabins, but can't do it this time with all the gtys showing.

My guess for the person interested in moving from a balcony cabin to a cat 3 is about $1400-$1500. However, it seems that they may have changed the system in the last few months; I'm seeing pricing different than it was in May (at which time I had figured out the system based on 2 years of data from the boards!) If you price the upgrade, let me know what it ends up costing.

You can CALL now to find out if they have any cat 3s available and ask what it would cost...then politely decline it. At least you'll be able to tell what is available. If they say there aren't any, no point in getting excited about getting one at the port.

There is obviously still some space on our sailing, but they have added quite a few people on TA rates.

Thanks so much, I guess I will call happy limo back and try to get an earlier depart from the Poly on Sat. There are a few cat 3's according to the CM I talked to today - it was 12, 000... or so for the cabin.

 

[yiddles]

OK, yesterday the wife and I started packing. I feel like we spent more time going thru our girls clothing and determining what no longer fits or what they 'refuse' to wear then actual packing.

So far we got 2 suitcases filled and now need to pack the carry on's + fun stuff for the ladies for the plane ride (I already downloaded movies and tv shows to our iphones). Wife and I both bought our books and now it's just about making sure we got everything we need.

Then need to find space for the FE stuff. Jeez I hope we don't disappoint, but as it's our 1st rodeo, we are giving it our best effort.

BTW, It's raining cats and dogs here in not so sunny L.A.

My three things..
1. Passports
2. Sun Block
3. A sunny disposition!

We leave @ 6am on Thursday, get into ORL @ like 2:30

See ya real soon...

 

[Orlando36]

Boy, I take a day off to clean my parents' house, and you guys go to town! So much to respond to.... let's see:

Poohfriend: Thanks for the kind thoughts! It IS coming together, slowly but surely. You reminded us to print our online check in forms... I had already done that, but I looked, and the computer acted like I hadn't. I printed them again. Should I be nervous?

GoBison: Dory's my favorite fish too! And her advice is surely pertinent this week!

SueEllen: Welcome! My DS is age 7, second grade... sure to see yours in the kids clubs!

Mickeymom923: Sorry to hear about your mom.... my grandmother recently did two stints in rehab after ER visits, and they take GRAND care of them. She'll be in good hands, I'm sure. Rest up for her homecoming, it's a big job!

Faithfully eeyore: Hi, neighbor! I was just up by your place last week, buying snorkelling gear at Gander Mtn. We are doing the Native Way snorkel and island tour, so we'll see you there, for sure!

Bevtoy: I'm guessing we will turn off the lights on the message board; we're leaving our house at around 10:00 - 10:30 am, shooting for 11 - 11:30 arrival at the Cape. My family seems to think we can wait until Saturday morning to start packing, since we're leaving "so late".

Off to do the last round of laundry before VACATION!

 

[kcashner]

Off to do the last round of laundry before VACATION!

Lucky you! I'll be doing laundry on Thurs nite when DD gets home from college!

And 12K for a cat 3 does not surprise me at all.....but watch that tumble down at the port!

 

[Orlando36]

Lucky you! I'll be doing laundry on Thurs nite when DD gets home from college!

Don't get me wrong... I'll be doing laundry Thurs nite, too, and probably Fri nite as well. A "round" of laundry in our house is around 8 loads, and takes me about four days. Oddly enough, despite their apparent simplicity, I seem to be the only person in our house who has mastered the controls on the washer and dryer.

 

[the3lowes]

are you also a TA? there are so many on this cruise. the inside gty category for TAs on this cruise is 11. they can upgrade if they choose, but otherwise you are simply gty an inside cabin (cat 10 or 11).

If you booked a cat 10 gty and are not a TA, I'd be concerned. (but deck 6 is better to me than some other cat 10 and 11 locations.)

maybe pixie dust ill get sprinkled on you before your trip!

I am a TA. Just started out, and never been on a cruise before. When I got the email with the excellent prices my husband and I agreed I couldn't pass it up, especially since it would help make me more knowledgeable about cruises.

Only my daughter and I are going on the cruise. She will be having her 11th birthday on the 14th. We are both so excited!

 

[bevtoy]

I plan on spending some time here: