DISNEY DREAM 4 NIGHT 1/12/14-1/16/14 DREAMin' of a vacation at sea!!!!!!!!!!!

[tinabeana2]

Apparently I need to have 10 posts before I can PM regarding the FE group so I am going to quickly add a few posts.

 

[tinabeana2]

We do have a quiet group! I hope supercruiser and I didn't scare everyone away! Hoping to update FE list and roll call soon. I've been super busy earning a promotion at work and planning our September WDW trip and Aquaduck is visiting family in the Czech Republic.

What excursions are people thinking about?

I would love to find out what everyone is doing for their excursions. This is our first cruise and I am totally overwhelmed. I would LOVE to do the dolphin encounter in the Bahamas but that is a bit pricey. Anyone have any suggestions? Do it in FL before or after the cruise?

 

[tinabeana2]

Has anyone volunteered for the FE? If not, I can do it, but fair warning... I have NEVER done so before!

But since I have three cabins to worry about this time, I would like to get started!!!

Thank you so much for volunteering!

 

[tinabeana2]

Runners:
SuperCruiser420 : 2 Half Marathoners&CC5K
WVURunner : 2 Half Marathoners&CC5k
Va-NanaTink: 2 CC5k
Chris931: 5k, 10k &Half (over achiever!)
4everluvDisney: Audrey-5k
Beginningthemagic-CC5k
Jodstertx: self, DH, DS-CC5k
FE


I am currently training for my first Half Marathon to be completed Oct 20. I have run 6 5K's so far and have another one on Sept 29th. I am hoping to do the CC5K. Does anyone know if the CC5K has an age requirement? My DD who will be 11 by the time of our cruise wants to join me on the run. She has completed 3 5K's so far and is running the one on the 29th with me.

Thanks!

 

[tinabeana2]

I am looking for some advice.
We will be flying into FL on Friday and plan on going to Sea World the rest of Friday and Saturday. When we return from the cruise, we don't fly out until Sunday. We are planning a couple of days at Universal Studios and then the last day at a beach to relax.

Wondering, what are thoughts on transportation. Do we rent a car or pay taxi fees? If we rent, do we return the car when we board the ship or do we keep it?

Any suggestions on which car rental agency to go with?

Thanks!

 

[tinabeana2]

I am getting close on being able to PM

 

[tinabeana2]

Just one more to go

 

[tinabeana2]

Sorry to have to post some junk on here to be able to PM regarding the FE - Thanks so much for listening to me!

 

[jnsma]

I am looking for some advice.
We will be flying into FL on Friday and plan on going to Sea World the rest of Friday and Saturday. When we return from the cruise, we don't fly out until Sunday. We are planning a couple of days at Universal Studios and then the last day at a beach to relax.

Wondering, what are thoughts on transportation. Do we rent a car or pay taxi fees? If we rent, do we return the car when we board the ship or do we keep it?

This may not be the best advice but in this case I'd default to the easiest thing, which is rent a car and keep it the entire time and pay for parking. It probably isnt the cheapest way but is very convenient.

But it really depends on where you are staying and what kind of transportation they have. Are you staying at somewhere before that has transportation to Sea World?
I think getting to a beach without a car would be asking for trouble.

I think you should figure out when and where you want to rent a car first, then worry about which company.
Good Luck, Jeff.

 

[tinabeana2]

Thanks Jeff. We were kinda thinking the same thing - easiest just to rent once and incur the expense yet save time in the long run.

~Tina

 

[jnsma]

Hi Tina, 1 other thing to consider is that is MLK weekend. Thursday will be the least crowded at any of the parks. Friday is not bad either but Saturday and Sunday are pretty crowded. We try to get up and off the ship reasonably quickly to get a full day at the parks.
Once I'm off the ship, I'm ready to go and don't want to wait around to rent a car near the port. We've made it to the parks by 10 each trip.

We just got back from a NCL Berumda cruise and swam with dolphins there. It was a great thing to do and a highlight for my daughter. Yes, it was very expensive.
Jeff.

 

[tinabeana2]

Thanks again Jeff. I did start researching the cost to rent a car the entire trip and it really wasn't too bad so I think we will be going that route. And as a bonus we can leave a few things in the car while on the ship like dirty clothes - more room for souvenirs :0)

For those traveling with kids, passport or no passport???

Thanks again!
Tina

 

[Va-NanaTink]

Thanks again Jeff. I did start researching the cost to rent a car the entire trip and it really wasn't too bad so I think we will be going that route. And as a bonus we can leave a few things in the car while on the ship like dirty clothes - more room for souvenirs :0)

For those traveling with kids, passport or no passport???

Thanks again!
Tina

Our grandkids all have passports. Better safe than sorry imho!

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks again Jeff. I did start researching the cost to rent a car the entire trip and it really wasn't too bad so I think we will be going that route. And as a bonus we can leave a few things in the car while on the ship like dirty clothes - more room for souvenirs :0)

For those traveling with kids, passport or no passport???

Thanks again!
Tina

For some reason my adult DS doesn't want to get passports for his family. I've explained the remote possibilities yet he persists since he had to be convinced to cruise in the first place as he never sailed with us.I hope I don't get to say I told you so in this matter since I assume there are many hoops to jump thru when arriving back in the US via plane.

Some people do the spa, I consider having a rental car my indulgence when cruising. So nice to be able to just wheel our bag and take off afterwards. We do self disembark, not sure how that will work out with young child though.

We take a cruise suitcase and leave the park ones in the vehicle. I have been warned not to let any food in it though, apparently ants used to invade when in the lot. Not sure if they've made the garage their home or not.

 

[jnsma]

For some reason my adult DS doesn't want to get passports for his family. I've explained the remote possibilities yet he persists since he had to be convinced to cruise in the first place as he never sailed with us.I hope I don't get to say I told you so in this matter since I assume there are many hoops to jump thru when arriving back in the US via plane.

We have passports for everyone. Initially I didn't see the point but it makes checkin and customs much easier. It is also good protection against a number of the "what if" situations.

....and we are going to need them anyways when we do the DCL Europe cruise next summer. I wish!

 

[Va-NanaTink]

For some reason my adult DS doesn't want to get passports for his family. I've explained the remote possibilities yet he persists since he had to be convinced to cruise in the first place as he never sailed with us.I hope I don't get to say I told you so in this matter since I assume there are many hoops to jump thru when arriving back in the US via plane.

Tell him he'd be better off getting them a passport and locking it in the room safe rather than carry their birth certificates. His choice.
Even my will-be 19 month old grandson has one!

from the DCL website:

Q: What proof of citizenship do I need to bring?
A:
In order to board the ship, all Guests are required to provide proper travel documentation. Guests unable to provide proof of citizenship will not be permitted to sail.

Passport Requirement
All travelers, including U.S. Citizens and all foreign nationals, are required to have a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air.

Visa Requirements
In addition to a valid passport, many countries require an entry visa based on your nationality. It is each Guest's responsibility to identify and to obtain all the necessary visas before embarking on the cruise. Because requirements may vary, Guests are advised to contact their local Consulate or Embassy for more information on required travel documentation for all ports of call during the cruise.

Please visit our section on Travel Document Information for your cruise itinerary for the most up-to-date proof-of-citizenship requirements.

 

[WVURunner]

Thanks again Jeff. I did start researching the cost to rent a car the entire trip and it really wasn't too bad so I think we will be going that route. And as a bonus we can leave a few things in the car while on the ship like dirty clothes - more room for souvenirs :0)

For those traveling with kids, passport or no passport???

Thanks again!
Tina

Every kid in my family has a passport but we travel internationally a lot so they get used. Little Clara used her passport for the first time at age 3 months, it was so hard to get her picture with her eyes open, they had to do it in the car seat carrier. Our little world traveller!

My mom booked my niece and her plane tickets yesterday different flights from a different city but they got a great price. Now all we need is aquaduck's mom to book tickets! On our last cruise, my sister assumed we booked them flights and we didn't and they ended up not having a flight!

 

[Va-NanaTink]

Every kid in my family has a passport but we travel internationally a lot so they get used. Little Clara used her passport for the first time at age 3 months, it was so hard to get her picture with her eyes open, they had to do it in the car seat carrier. Our little world traveller!

My mom booked my niece and her plane tickets yesterday different flights from a different city but they got a great price. Now all we need is aquaduck's mom to book tickets! On our last cruise, my sister assumed we booked them flights and we didn't and they ended up not having a flight!

When those flights are booked, makes all the difference in the world!

11 days from my excursion book date!

 

[keishashadow]

We have passports for everyone. Initially I didn't see the point but it makes checkin and customs much easier. It is also good protection against a number of the "what if" situations.

....and we are going to need them anyways when we do the DCL Europe cruise next summer. I wish![/QUOTE]



my younger DSs have their passports, likely because I paid for them lol

I directed the 'errant' DS to the DCL website too. He countered with information that in case of an emergency you will be permitted to enter the US without a passport....after being crushed by the red-tape @ the airport. It's not getting on the plane, it's getting off wherein you have to deal with US Customs & national passport agency after pleading whatever emergency case to Department of State. Would you believe he's my 'good son'? jk lucky to have good kiddos.

Seriously, don't understand why they overhauled the system requiring passports even for closed loop cruises that they didn't set a date a few years down the road when passports were mandatory for all cruisers to settle the matter once and for all.

 

[jnsma]

I just found the following on the Cape Canaveral launch schedule:

January 15, 2013 • Falcoln 9•SpaceX CRS 3 -- Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida -- SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Dragon C3 for its fifth operational cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.​

This would be our day at sea. Even from a couple hundred miles away, it maybe something neat to see.
And yes, I know the odds of this going off as scheduled are slim to none given how far off we are. Thought others might be interested.
Jeff.