!!!! Early Roll Call for January 21 2006 Eastern Magic Cruise !!!!

[JLDSMD]

Did you check out Palo? All they have left is brunch.

You're kidding!! Good thing I was up at 2 our time. I was able to get Dinner (7:30 p.m. Wed) and Brunch (10:30 a.m. Mon) on the days and times we wanted. I even threw in the High Tea on Sunday afternoon in case DW wants to do it. I know they only open a certain amount for each booking time. I would hope they open more at the 75 day mark for the first timers. If not, they will have slots available on the ship when we board.

We also got the St. John Island Tour. We would have done the sting rays in CC, but we are hoping to do them next weekend when we're there (we are booked to do it then). Plus, the water is swimmable in January, but only after getting use to it for a long time (much cooler than now). I'm trying to convince DW to book it again just in case we can't dock on Saturday. We can always cancel up to 2 days before the cruise.

I checked out other St. Thomas/St. John tours, but nothing else is coming up except the Tram now. I wonder if it is because we have a different tour that conflicts with the other times.

BTW, did you already book dinner at Palo? If so, maybe that is why you can't see anything but brunch.

Anyone else out there who hasn't booked dinner, what do you see for availability?

Jeff

 

[leejay22]

So I was talking to a friend about our cruise when another lady overheard us. She asked when we were sailing, I said January. When, she asks? I tell her - and it turns out we're on the same cruise! How weird is that? We had never met before last week but attend the same Church and have common friends. What a small world! She is also going with her children and parents - I think she said 9 in all.

Lisa M
Northern VA

 

[PiperG]

I was able to get Dinner (7:30 p.m. Wed) and Brunch (10:30 a.m. Mon) on the days and times we wanted.

Howdy! Jeff, I had to post here b/c we also have brunch on Monday at 10:30. Didn't you guys sit next to us at Palo this past January? Talk about a Deja Vu!!! Let me know if I am mixing you up with someone else.

Anyway, we were at the Fort Wilderness Lodge today and just returned home. However, my wonderful DH got up this morning bright and early to catch the boat to the Contemporary so that he could go on line to make Palo ressies and register DS8 in the lab. It was easy, and the CM at the Contemporary's internet cafe didn't charge him b/c he was making ressies with DCL. Gotta love that!!!!

We also booked a Feb 3, 2007 Eastern on Wednesday day when they opened up the rates.

 

[JLDSMD]

Howdy! Jeff, I had to post here b/c we also have brunch on Monday at 10:30. Didn't you guys sit next to us at Palo this past January? Talk about a Deja Vu!!! Let me know if I am mixing you up with someone else.

Yes, that was us. That time/day works best, especially if we get the PLA rotation.

Did you get your Dinner ressies as well? Any excursions?

How early did your DH go over to make the ressies? Hopefully not at 3:00 a.m.

 

[SandieT]

Hi PiperG,
How did you like the FW cabins? I mentioned earlier we stayed there in Jan and had a great time.

I read on another post that you went to Great Bay Beach on St. Martin. Did you have to plan that out in advance? What is it like? We were planning to take our two kids DD3, DD7 to a nice beach and just relax and play on St. Martin. This sounds great. Could you snorkle at all? Did you pack or buy a lunch? Also the water taxi is a bonus. We don't have those in Colorado so something else new!
Thanks for any info.
Sandie

 

[PiperG]

SandieT,

We loved the FW cabins! The best part was having a separate bedroom in the back. After a day at the parks and a night on the FW beach, DS8 would crash back there, allowing DH and I to stay up in the living room area and chat, watch TV etc. . . .Very relaxing! I was also happy with the overall location. We could still see the fireworks and EWP each night. We can't wait to go back for a longer trip. We only had three full days, which we basically spent at the parks. There just wasn't time to take advantage of all the activities at the resort itself. We got a golf cart, and thought that was worth the extra $ given our trip was so short. Although the bus system was easy, we didn't want to spend time waiting. Plus, DS loved riding in the cart. It was almost as much fun for him as the park rides.

St. Maarten day has become our favorite on the Eastern. I don't want to speak for the rest of the family, but I like it even better than CC (please, don't flame me!).

It is easy to get to. After leaving the ship, you take a water taxi across the bay. As you face the town, you can walk down the beach to the left or the right. We choose to go right, away from the water trampoline. We rented beach chairs and an umbrella from a guy on the beach for a nominal amount. I heard you could walk further down and do more bargining, but we didn't. His offer included delivery of food and drinks to our chairs along with use of the restroom and the restaurant. We just plopped down and spent the day playing in the sand. I can PM you some pics, if you want.

The water is blue, the sand is clean, and we love the view of the port. We like seeing the Magic from the beach. On our last trip, the QM2 was tendered in port. What a site!!!

We didn't book any excursions. We don't like to be on any sort of a time constraint. It is more relaxing for us to come and go as we please. GBB is very easy. We are hoping Megans Bay in St. Thomas is also easy. We have never been there, and hear it is beautiful.


Only 82 days until we leave Yipee!!

 

[PiperG]

How early did your DH go over to make the ressies? Hopefully not at 3:00 a.m.

He got up about 7:00 and caught the boat to the Contemporary. Did I say the gal let him use the internet for free b/c he as making DCL ressies. That was a big bonus!

 

[4warmwishers]

PiperG,
Thanks for the tip about Great Bay Beach...the nudiest on Orient Bay might scare me off. We also heard Maho Bay is fun with the near by airport. Do we dock on the Dutch side of St. Martin??

 

[4warmwishers]

Could someone please give the web site for Shirley the lady who does the gift backets!! Thanks so much, I've read alot about them, they sound great!!

 

[suejmj]

PiperG
I would love to see the pictures of the beach in St. Maarten. Do you remember the cost for the water taxi? Was it far to walk from the water taxi to the beach? I have elderly parents with me so wondering if this would work for them. We were thinking of Orient Beach but this may be more convenient? I have never been to St. Maarten so any additional info would be helpful.
Thanks

 

[gydell]

4warmwishes - Shirley's email is - snelsonbrown@aol.com - the phone # is 800-950-4559. She told me to call her about 2 weeks before the cruise to order a basket.

 

[PiperG]

PiperG,
Do we dock on the Dutch side of St. Martin??

Yikes! I don't know on which side we dock. We are right in Phillipsuburg. Does that help?

 

[PiperG]

PiperG
I would love to see the pictures of the beach in St. Maarten. Do you remember the cost for the water taxi? Was it far to walk from the water taxi to the beach? I have elderly parents with me so wondering if this would work for them. We were thinking of Orient Beach but this may be more convenient? I have never been to St. Maarten so any additional info would be helpful.
Thanks

I will send you some pics shortly.

I think the water taxi was $5 each, and you could go back and forth for the entire day. The water taxi was literally right at GBB. You can get off the taxi, walk to the end of the very short pier and then step left or right onto the beach. The taxi ride is just 5 minutes.

That is one of the reasons we love GBB so much. No travel time and it maximizes our fun!

 

[unixadm]

Anyone else staying at the Radisson on the 20th?

We are driving and they have a Cruise Parking deal.

Cruise Parking-Two Room Whirlpool Suite

Includes:
-Suite with 1 King Bed
-Free Hot Breakfast Buffet for Two
-Complimentary Parking while on Cruise - SAVES $40.00 ON 4 DAY CRUISE AND $70.00 ON 7 DAY CRUISE ON PARKING
-Complimentary Shuttle available to and from the Cruise Ship

http://www.radisson.com/hoteldirect...earch.do?hotelCode=FLCOCOA&dno=01200601210622

If anyone else is staying there, maybe we can have a pre-cruise meet at the hotel.

 

[gydell]

I think a lot of us are staying at the Radisson on the 20th. What time will you be getting there? We should be arriving around 3 depending on the limo driver.

 

[unixadm]

We're driving from Georgia. Will probably get down around 2pm.

 

[sandym]

We're staying at Pop Century for Thursday & Friday. Guess we'll see everyone on the ship.

 

[gydell]

unixadm - We are from Georgia too. What part are you from?

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Dh and I are staying at the Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach and will be arriving MCO about 10:30 on Friday. We will be taking FL Tours towncar to the Hampton Inn. Being a 1st time DCL cruiser, November 6 is the big day for us to reserve online. Counting the minutes!

 

[unixadm]

unixadm - We are from Georgia too. What part are you from?

Live in Cumming....right near Alpharetta...you?