December 15, 2012 A Yo-HO-HO-HO Holiday Fantasy!

[davidls]

We are booked!!!! I did it as soon as I got in but had to run out since I had class (I'm going to college at night) at 4:30.

I can't wait to hear all about the fantasy. We were on the Dream September 1st. We booked that 17 months in advance, so the wait for the Fantasy should be a breeze, (sure)! I'm already checking out the website.

Our cabin is 8673, I haven't even looked where it is, so I hope it's good.

Looking forward to 'meeting' you all.

I am here also . pjstevens is my wife and we are so psyched for this "Fantasy". Of course it's going to take me a little time to catch up on all these posts. .

I would like to you both to the cruise. You will have fun counting down the days with all of us for the cruise to get here.

Your cabin is a nice one in a nice location. We did a back2back last month on the Dream. We were on that same deck but over on the port side of the ship, midship location. DW and I like the midship location. It was easy to get any where you wanted to go. We will be on the same deck as you for this cruise, but once again on the port side. We enjoy the port side as Disney backs into Castaway Cay and you can watch them backing in from your veranda.

 

[dstevens]

davidls, unfortunately we are an inside room. Otherwise i love to watch us dock from our veranda. Since we are sailing on DVC points, we take what we get. Maybe the virtual port hole will view the docking . Or else i could get my butt up on deck to watch.

 

[davidls]

davidls, unfortunately we are an inside room. Otherwise i love to watch us dock from our veranda. Since we are sailing on DVC points, we take what we get. Maybe the virtual port hole will view the docking . Or else i could get my butt up on deck to watch.

You got a virutal porthole!!! Lucky you!!!
Well, this cruise started out as just DW and I going. During our back2back we booked another cruise on board the Dream - which was going to be a dummy date for a future cruise. We planned on taking our granddaughter with us. When we got home, we showed our pictures and videos of the back2back cruise to our daughter and grandson. He is 5 years old now and he had me show him the video I took of DW and I riding the AquaDuck at least 10 times!!! He said he REALLY wanted to do that. Well, that is all it took and DW and I decided to change our cruise to include our granddaughter, our daughter and grandson. We are going to have one crowded stateroom!!!! This will be our daughters and grandsons first Disney cruise. His first ever cruise her second (Carnival was her first). And, this will be our granddaughters 3rd Disney cruise. We are using the booking we made on board the Dream so we have plenty of OBC to use. We will get $200 from Disney and another $200 from our TA. With this big of a group we are going to need all of the OBC we can get!!!

 

[AmandaRG]

You got a virutal porthole!!! Lucky you!!!
Well, this cruise started out as just DW and I going. During our back2back we booked another cruise on board the Dream - which was going to be a dummy date for a future cruise. We planned on taking our granddaughter with us. When we got home, we showed our pictures and videos of the back2back cruise to our daughter and grandson. He is 5 years old now and he had me show him the video I took of DW and I riding the AquaDuck at least 10 times!!! He said he REALLY wanted to do that. Well, that is all it took and DW and I decided to change our cruise to include our granddaughter, our daughter and grandson. We are going to have one crowded stateroom!!!! This will be our daughters and grandsons first Disney cruise. His first ever cruise her second (Carnival was her first). And, this will be our granddaughters 3rd Disney cruise. We are using the booking we made on board the Dream so we have plenty of OBC to use. We will get $200 from Disney and another $200 from our TA. With this big of a group we are going to need all of the OBC we can get!!!

Fun! I have a friend that I am hoping to talk into going on DCL with us sometime!

We are just 3 weeks away from our first Dream cruise and I am beyond excited! I have been sick for a week, and need to get down to business. At least I didn't get sick 3 weeks from now!

 

[davidls]

Fun! I have a friend that I am hoping to talk into going on DCL with us sometime!

We are just 3 weeks away from our first Dream cruise and I am beyond excited! I have been sick for a week, and need to get down to business. At least I didn't get sick 3 weeks from now!

I hope you are feeling better. You are right, if you are going to get sick better now then on your vacation. You and your family are going to have a GREAT time on board the Dream. Hope you have GREAT weather like we did. We had picture perfect weather for both back2back cruises. It has been raining down here in the "Sunshine State" this week-end. Raining pretty much all day today - non stop. I've looked at Port Canaveral's website with the Dream in port today. I hope the weather is better in Nassau and Castaway Cay then it is here in Florida today for those sailing today.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Yeah, it's been raining all weekend here in Central Florida.

Ah, three weeks away to a cruise? Sweet! I hope you have a wonderful time. It still seems so far away to this cruise. Fortunately I have one coming up in April...even though that one seems a ways off too.

Amanda, we'll be interested to hear about your Dream cruise. Taswira is going in February - I was hoping to go on that one with her, but alas it wasn't meant to be. I told her it'll be fun for her to point out the differences in the ships.

We'll have to watch on the webcam when you sail out and wave at you!

 

[taswira]

I don't think the rain here in Port Orange, an hour from Port Canaveral, has stopped at all since Friday evening. It briefly lightens to a sprinkle now and then, then POURS down hard again. There is a waterway/pond in our backyard. Last week there was a rather large "beach" - meaning the water was way low and the birds and turtles hung out on the sandy bank. Now the water is way above the level where the grass starts, so no "beach." It keeps rising and is flowing so fast from the high winds that it looks like a racing river. Swimming pools around here are overflowing also. I had to drive to town today and along the way it sort of resembled the aftermath of a small hurricane - debris, branches and palm fronds all over the road and littering the golf course, several dead birds (not sure how that happened).

I heard that some cruise ships out of PC had a rough time and even some damage this weekend. Haven't heard about DCL though. For anyone sailing soon, I hope all this will be long gone!

 

[davidls]

I heard that some cruise ships out of PC had a rough time and even some damage this weekend. Haven't heard about DCL though. For anyone sailing soon, I hope all this will be long gone!

Yesterday evening DW and I logged on to Port Canaveral's website to watch the Dream sail out. It was raining and the skies were very cloudy but we didn't think it would hold them up from sailing out. We watched, and we watched, and we watched, and we watched...............to make a long story short we never did see her sail out. Both the Dream and one of Carnival's ships stayed in port. Last time we checked around 8:50 pm or so both were still in port. From what Shari posted above it sounds like the weather was very rough over there. Hope all is well today!!!

 

[taswira]

I saw that the Dream was able to sail at 4:55 this morning.

I think the weather has resumed a more normal (for Florida - lol) state. It's still cloudy and gloomy looking here, but wind and rain slacked off and for today and tomorrow we should be back to our usual "possibility of rain, afternoon thunderstorms" mode. I'm glad the Dream stayed safe in port overnight instead of out in the rough seas.

 

[davidls]

I saw that the Dream was able to sail at 4:55 this morning.

I think the weather has resumed a more normal (for Florida - lol) state. It's still cloudy and gloomy looking here, but wind and rain slacked off and for today and tomorrow we should be back to our usual "possibility of rain, afternoon thunderstorms" mode. I'm glad the Dream stayed safe in port overnight instead of out in the rough seas.

Thanks Shari. I was wondering when she was able to get out of the port. I figured it was the weather keeping her in, but didn't know when she put out to sea. Will they have a shortened day at Nassau - or do you think they will skip Nassau on this cruise?

 

[taswira]

Thanks Shari. I was wondering when she was able to get out of the port. I figured it was the weather keeping her in, but didn't know when she put out to sea. Will they have a shortened day at Nassau - or do you think they will skip Nassau on this cruise?

Supposedly they would make today their day at sea, then Nassau tomorrow and CC on Wednesday, back to PC Thursday morning.

 

[davidls]

Supposedly they would make today their day at sea, then Nassau tomorrow and CC on Wednesday, back to PC Thursday morning.

Well thank goodness they can salvage their cruise. Sounds like it won't be all that bad at all. Good for them.

I had to go back to work full time this past August. My boss decided to retire himself. So the owner asked me if I could come back full time to train the new supervisor and newbie in the department. Getting up early sure isn't any easier even though you know it is short term. Jan.1,2012 I am back to my part time status!!! Can't wait!!! Of course my hunny due list isn't getting any shorter either!!!! Of well, I'll be back on working that list in January.

Hope all has a GREAT day today. Talk to you soon.

 

[AmandaRG]

One of the beauties of a 4-night cruise, they are able to shift things some. Our itinerary is Nassau, CC, sea, so we should get two shots at CC if necessary. We nearly missed in March due to high winds and strong currents. They really worked the second try, and we made it in. The water was cold, but the weather was amazing!!!

 

[pjstevens]

Good day all. Thanks for the warm welcome. We too were watching the Dream in port on Sunday with all that rain and winds. Kind of scary to think it wasn't 'able' to leave port, but glad to know they got out and are now enjoying their cruise.

I love our room location. We had an aft balcony room on the Dream last month and loved being near those rear elevators, easy access to Cabanas and the drink stations I'm so excited that we are going to do a seven night. Never dreamed it was possible. And the ship at Christmas time has got to be beautiful.

For those who've done the 7 days before, can you tell me what are some of the 'special' things that go on? I've heard about 'tea' and a character breakfast, but really haven't 'heard' all about them.

 

[jilljill]

By 'tea', are you referring to the kids tea with characters or the adults only tea that is served in Palo?
The kids tea takes place in one of the clubs and they have cookies and some sort of drink, used to be chocolate milk but could be apple juice or iced tea now. They've had Alice and the Mad Hatter in the past, not sure which character(s) are there now.
Tea is Palo is high tea and is served on any length cruise that has a sea day. There is a $10 surcharge and you are served some sort of tea sandwiches, pastries and tea.

Character b'fast is just that. You are assigned a morning to go to the dining room and there will be a few characters roaming around the dining room. It's only done on the 7 day or longer cruises since you are assigned to go based on your dining rotation and takes places typically on sea days or sometimes they will have it when there is a noon or later port arrival. There are 2 seatings, just like there is for dinner, an early and a late.


There are additional family and adults only activities. A variety of alcohol tastings, some of which are offered more than once. More movies shown. More Bingo sessions.

You can look over some of the posted Navigators to see what types of activities are offered on the 7 day cruises.

 

[pjstevens]

By 'tea', are you referring to the kids tea with characters or the adults only tea that is served in Palo?
The kids tea takes place in one of the clubs and they have cookies and some sort of drink, used to be chocolate milk but could be apple juice or iced tea now. They've had Alice and the Mad Hatter in the past, not sure which character(s) are there now.
Tea is Palo is high tea and is served on any length cruise that has a sea day. There is a $10 surcharge and you are served some sort of tea sandwiches, pastries and tea.

Character b'fast is just that. You are assigned a morning to go to the dining room and there will be a few characters roaming around the dining room. It's only done on the 7 day or longer cruises since you are assigned to go based on your dining rotation and takes places typically on sea days or sometimes they will have it when there is a noon or later port arrival. There are 2 seatings, just like there is for dinner, an early and a late.


There are additional family and adults only activities. A variety of alcohol tastings, some of which are offered more than once. More movies shown. More Bingo sessions.

You can look over some of the posted Navigators to see what types of activities are offered on the 7 day cruises.

Thanks Jill. With having just done a three nighter, it was over before it started, lol, so the thought of an entire week on the ship is just mind blowing right now. We have a five night to look forward to in June, so an 'in-between' one. Hubby is excited for that one on the Magic since they have the Exotic Rasul (which he definitely calls by another name), was very disappointed that there was not one on the Dream (and I guess neither on the Fantasy).

 

[jilljill]

You'll get a little taste of things they could offer on a 7 day cruise while on the 5 day cruise - such as high tea and the tastings.

We prefer the couples villa, and love the one on the Dream. It's much nicer than the Magic/Wonder one's since it was specifically built for that reason and not a modified treatment room.
I guess only time will tell if they have the Exotic Rasul room on the Fantasy. There are already other things that will be available on the Fantasy that the Dream does not offer - a Bibbidee Boppadee Boutique for one.

 

[taswira]

IMPORTANT regarding FE: For whomever takes responsibility for organizing the Fish Extender activity - - I have reorganized our cruiser list on our cruise website. Those not participating in the FE are now listed first, followed by those who ARE participating in the FE, now organized by stateroom number in ascending order. When new sign-ups are made, I will manually move them to the proper position. This should make it easier for the FE organizer and participants, provided they have joined the cruiser list.

jilljill - You are listed between the "No" and the "Yes," as you did not answer about the FE when you submitted the form.

 

[jilljill]

Can you just leave us in that in between section for now? Not sure if we will want to participate or not. Thinking that can be the 'maybe' section.

 

[taswira]

Can you just leave us in that in between section for now? Not sure if we will want to participate or not. Thinking that can be the 'maybe' section.

Sure - - No problem! Anyone listed with no answer in the FE column will be considered a "maybe" and be positioned in between the "no" and "yes" cruisers. Thanks, jilljill!