December 12 - 19, 2009 Western Magic

[HallsofVA]

A meet thread that's out of control.

Just coming over here to mention how much I appreciate you guys!

We booked on the 8/16/11 Dream cruise last week. I don't know if anyone from here is looking at that cruise or not. But I just have to say that the meet thread for that sailing, which is 630+ days away still, is totally out of control. In the 2 weeks that it's existed, they've already racked up over 800 posts, averaging about 5 pages of post every 12 hours! They're already on page 57 after just 2 weeks!

I'm going to have to change my subscription to that thread because the updates are overwhelming. Then again, I'm afraid to get too far behind for fear that I'll never catch up. Wish there was some way to say "Tell me if something important is mentioned, but ignore these x people who are just mindlessly bantering back and forth!"

Just venting for a moment! Thanks!!

 

[redshoe9]

--- it can get be a huge time vampire to get sucked into long threads. I'm a victim of the food porn ones.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

A meet thread that's out of control.

Just coming over here to mention how much I appreciate you guys!

We booked on the 8/16/11 Dream cruise last week. I don't know if anyone from here is looking at that cruise or not. But I just have to say that the meet thread for that sailing, which is 630+ days away still, is totally out of control. In the 2 weeks that it's existed, they've already racked up over 800 posts, averaging about 5 pages of post every 12 hours! They're already on page 57 after just 2 weeks!

I'm going to have to change my subscription to that thread because the updates are overwhelming. Then again, I'm afraid to get too far behind for fear that I'll never catch up. Wish there was some way to say "Tell me if something important is mentioned, but ignore these x people who are just mindlessly bantering back and forth!"

Just venting for a moment! Thanks!!

I can see that with the excitement of the new ship it could get crazy.

 

[pamrob]

Look a few posts back. I believe Jordan is a "she" and that she has a brother.

Darn, I was hoping my memory was better than that. Sorry Jordan!!

 

[GoBison]

Darn, I was hoping my memory was better than that. Sorry Jordan!!

I work for one day and I miss all the good stuff. Yes Jordan is a she. She's 7. Bennett - male- is 12. Jillian-she- is three.

And wow... trying to organize everything is monumental. And I've known since July. I can't imagine starting now. Good Luck MemoryMaker and welcome.

And Twilight followed by New Moon for me in Iowa also. But alas... I'm for Jacob. I love an underdog. And I love this week.

Off to yoga.

 

[bevtoy]

How about a picture a day anyone guess the location?

 

[GoBison]

How about a picture a day anyone guess the location?

I have no idea, but i like it.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Obviously CC, right? By the post office? Otherwise, I have no idea.

 

[bevtoy]

Obviously CC, right? By the post office? Otherwise, I have no idea.

You are correct it is directly over the Castaway Cay Post Office...stay tuned for tomorrows mystery photo....

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Thanks guys for the welcomes!! I am almost there. Got the online paper stuff done.....whew what a time consumer that was!!! Got the airfare, car rentals and pre and post hotels booked.

Decided on what to do in the ports, except CC!

NOW, I want to get Passports for my DH and kids, but afraid they won't get here in time. Anyone done one very recently and how long did it take to get it back????

I wish I knew my cabin number, its killing me!!

 

[HallsofVA]

NOW, I want to get Passports for my DH and kids, but afraid they won't get here in time. Anyone done one very recently and how long did it take to get it back????

I wish I knew my cabin number, its killing me!!

On the passports, have they ever had passports or would these be their initial ones? If initial, do you already have the certified or original birth certificates that you'd need to submit the passport applications? Do you have additional copies of their birth certificates that you can use to travel with if your passports don't make it in time?

We got passports for our kids last year (July 2008) and it took less than a week from the time we had their pictures taken in the post office (on Saturday) until we received their passports (on Friday.) We didn't pay for rush service, and they were first time passports.

I renewed my passport recently for this cruise. I didn't put any rush on it, and also didn't specify my upcoming travel date. It took about a month or so.

If you have duplicate original birth certificates for everyone (so you can mail one with the applicaitons and keep on to travel with in case they don't make it) then you can give the passport process a try but I would recommend paying the rush fee to get them expedited since you only have 3 weeks (or less). Or, if you don't want to pay the rush fee for everyone, you might consider some combination of getting a passport expedited for your DH, regular applications for your kids, with plans to use their birth certificates to get on the ship.

If you don't have the birth certificates that you'd need to board the ship without passports, then I'd focus your time on getting them since you'd have to have them for the passport applications as well (again assuming these are new passport applications.)

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

That is our issues, we only have one copy of the Birth Certificates! We don't need to get them of course, but it would just be nice to have them. Not sure what to do!

The girls were born right here, so getting a copy at the last minute wouldn't be an issue at all if for some reason they wern't back yet...but DH wasn't. SO, I might just order a copy of his and wait and see if they get here in time.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Do you guys have a list of the movies they are showing onboard for our cruise? I got it, but a few of the movies I had NO idea what that lady was saying and I felt bad asking her to repeat herself.

SO stoked about seeing Toy Story 3 and Christmas Carol while onboard...since we do plan to go seee them at home, we will not just wait and save ourselves that money! WooHoo!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Wanting to do an island tour of Grand Cayman, can anyone recommend a private company? Not doing Stingray City though!

 

[HallsofVA]

Do you guys have a list of the movies they are showing onboard for our cruise? I got it, but a few of the movies I had NO idea what that lady was saying and I felt bad asking her to repeat herself.

SO stoked about seeing Toy Story 3 and Christmas Carol while onboard...since we do plan to go seee them at home, we will not just wait and save ourselves that money! WooHoo!

I don't think Toy Story 3 comes out until 2010. I think they've been playing Toy Story (1&2) in 3-D on the ships, but I didn't think TS3 was out yet.

The princess and frog movie starts the day before our cruise, so I imagine we'll be seeing that one as our Thursday night movie on our cruise!

 

[Orlando36]

Thanks guys for the welcomes!! I am almost there. Got the online paper stuff done.....whew what a time consumer that was!!! Got the airfare, car rentals and pre and post hotels booked.

You're scaring me.... now I think I did something wrong or failed to do something. The online paperwork took only about 15 mins for all four of us. I just had to enter names, addresses, etc. We are coming from home and going to home, no flights, etc., so I got to skip all that. Did I miss something?

Does anyone know if there is a size limit for checked suitcases? I couldn't find one on the website or in the paperwork. I have a MAMMOTH suitcase that I am considering bringing. It does have wheels and a handle, but stands about waist high.

The cruise is running away with me! My "bargain" price is getting higher and higher, as I add formal clothes (hadn't planned on dressing up, now we are), fish extender gifts (can't help it, am getting carried away), pirate costumes, new beach clothes, snorkel gear, the list keeps growing! But it's all so much fun!!!

Would LOVE to see the Princess and the Frog on board! And, if they happened to show Toy Story 3, my kids would be OVER THE MOON!

 

[kcashner]

Wanting to do an island tour of Grand Cayman, can anyone recommend a private company? Not doing Stingray City though!

Captain Marvin's does an island tour. For us it included the turtle farm, rum place, drive around island with much info, photo stop at 7 Mile Beach, etc. Others have reported not stopping at rum place, but we definitely did. It was $30 per person (which is the admission to the turtle farm if you do it on your own). After the tour you have the option of being dropped off at a beach (7 mile or Sea Grape), or taken to the tender port to get back to the ship. The tour is offered with 3 different starting times.

It's a very reputable company. You use a credit card to secure your reservation, but if your ship can't tender, the card isn't charged.

My paperwork for the online check in took almost no time--after you've sailed once the info is in the system. You have only to change anything that needs to be updated. Car rental takes the longest as you have to try multiple codes to get a rate you are happy with. If PP did hotel, car, flights, and online check in...yeah, that would take a while!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I think she said Toy Story 3D to me...so got that mixed up!! But cool on that anywayl! And the Prince and the Frog...woohoo!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Thanks!! We used Captain Marvins last cruise actually and loved them...despite tons of issues during the entire thing. Its been 5 years though, so I have gotten rusty on my tour companies. So, I will book that again for sure. And we did the Rum Factory when we went, yummm!!!

I felt like it took forever to get all that infomation put in there!!! One thing bugged me and it was something I had to keep putting in for each of us, despite it have a check thing for it to be for the entire party. And now, it won't let me go to and print some page that has to be taken with us, because it says we haven't completed all the items above...which I did!

Captain Marvin's does an island tour. For us it included the turtle farm, rum place, drive around island with much info, photo stop at 7 Mile Beach, etc. Others have reported not stopping at rum place, but we definitely did. It was $30 per person (which is the admission to the turtle farm if you do it on your own). After the tour you have the option of being dropped off at a beach (7 mile or Sea Grape), or taken to the tender port to get back to the ship. The tour is offered with 3 different starting times.

It's a very reputable company. You use a credit card to secure your reservation, but if your ship can't tender, the card isn't charged.

My paperwork for the online check in took almost no time--after you've sailed once the info is in the system. You have only to change anything that needs to be updated. Car rental takes the longest as you have to try multiple codes to get a rate you are happy with. If PP did hotel, car, flights, and online check in...yeah, that would take a while!

 

[faithfullyeeyore]

I just booked today, got a great last minute rate! This is going to be the best cruise ever!!! Wonder why i am so excted?!?!? Because I no longer have CANCER! I'm cancer FREE !!! No more uterine cancer for me!! My last pathology came back clear, I feel better, so what am I going to do now? Take a Disney cruise, what else!!! My favorite ship, my favorite crew (I crossed the med with them!) nothing could be better! Whoohoooo! I am so excited!! Plus, I really needed a break!! LOL