Eastern Caribbean Fantasy Oct. 5, 2013

[Deb T.]

Deb,
I am glad to see that someone else is as much of an Ubber planner as I am.
By the end of the week, our clothes will be packed and we will be set to go

For me, planning is half the fun! I'm as organized as much as I'm OCD.

We travel often enough that I have packing down to a science. We have duplicate sets of toiletries that stay packed all the time and then will typically pack clothes 1-2 weeks ahead of time for bigger trips like this cruise. The biggest challenge is that we only travel with carry-on luggage! (The last time we checked suitcases, they were lost by the airlines and didn't join us until 7 days later, after 2 days in Barcelona and on the 5th day of our 12-night DCL Med cruise! Not gonna take a chance on that ever happening again!!!) One carry-on (extra large DVC tote bag) is already packed with our FE, FE gifts, FE cabin list, door magnets, etc.! Thank goodness we can take 4 carry-ons on our flights!!

Can't wait! Can't wait! Can't wait!

 

[mrs stevenson]

Deb,
I am glad to see that someone else is as much of an Ubber planner as I am.
By the end of the week, our clothes will be packed and we will be set to go

I am a planner too. Most things are laid out in our lounge ready to pack.
Fe gifts packed and labelled.
Airline tickets, villa, DVC stay,airport hotel, airport car parking, MNSSHP tickets, car rental after cruise all booked and paid for.
Estes completed.
All paperwork in a file ready to go.
All toiletries, alcohol, some clothes etc already in Orlando as we have an owners locker.
Limo transfer booked from villa to cruise by friends
Currency bought and sun trust filled up.

Still to do is book a car rental from Mco
Fill the fridge for the boys while we are away lol

Just need it to get here quicker now!

 

[Viking]

Deb,
it looks like our shore-activities are an exact match, as we also do the Kayak, Hike & Snorkel on St T, the Orient/Maho/Marigot on St M and intend to chill at SB on CC.

We're also pretty much set up:
- Money has been exchanged
- Flights are booked and seats for all five legs have been reserved
- Rental car for the week before and after have been booked. The vouchers from our agent should arrive in about two weeks
-we bought new suitcases
- my ESTA is still OK, Anja's will be renewed in early September
- our credit cards and passports are always ready to go. Additionally we'll bring our German ID as the second set of required photo-ID
- we bought two new cameras: The new ultacompact Sony with 30x optical zoom and a waterproof Olympus with 5x for the kayaking and snorkeling
-we only put an emercency set of clothes in our carry-on. With about 160 flights under my belt and well over 100 for Anja, we only had luggage-trouble once. That was right after 9-11 when we had to switch planes in Philadelphia extremely quickly and our bags didn't make it. They arrived at WDW's All Star Movies during the night and were delivered to us first thing in the morning.

But my first priority right now is to fully recover ASAP. I have an appointment with my general practitioner in two hours, and in eleven days I will have that plastic rail removed from my left kidney. Only then I will really go into 'cruise mode'. Fortunately everything we booked is fully insured, but I hope we won't need that!

 

[mrs stevenson]

Cameras another thing to remember.

 

[PontiusPython]

Hi,

We are on this cruise for fall break. We were late registering for this meet up, but we contacted Pontiuspython, through our friend Wendy (Iwannabeaprincess) because we do not have enough posts to send PMs.

We would like to be added to the late-comers FE list.

We are Tammy, Doug, Abbey (10) and Emily (8) and we are in cabin 5186. This is our first Disney cruise! So excited and can't wait to be on the ship!

Pontiuspython, we will post some so we can be able to send our information to you via PM, as well.

Thank you,
Tammy

Ha - I love it! I actually had to get my posts up last week so I could RESPOND to PMs. Isn't that funny?

As long as you follow Tink's invite to the Yahoo group & sign up on the Latecomers (Group III) FE database, we'll have you in our group and we'll be ready to rumble!

On a personal note, I love your kids' ages - my daughters are 10 and 12.

 

[Viking]

So glad you mentioned the cameras Viking-dh takes an awful lot of costly camera stuff etc so I need to upgrade our travel insurance policy to cover it. Must add it to our to do list.

I'm glad I could be of help

My doc mandated that I stay home for another two weeks til the removal of that rail takes place - and perhaps even a few days longer, depending on how I feel afterwards.
So I just have to work four weeks til we leave for the Sunshine State.

 

[Bajamama03]

Evening all- just booked the doubloon turtle snorkel saint on st thomas. Anyone else doing this or done it in the past? Only decided on the spur of the moment when our friends mentioned it. Just been having a read and it looks loads of fun- really excited now!

St Martin we are going to get taxis to great bay beach and then over to mayo in the afternoon. Can't wait!

How's everyone else's plans coming along?

Hi Mrs. Stevenson!
DH & I are also signed up for Doubloon Turtle Snorkel trip on St Thomas! Used a different snorkel charter before but enjoyed it! Wanted to try a different type boat this time.
Love to snorkel!
~jackie

 

[mrs stevenson]

Hi Mrs. Stevenson!
DH & I are also signed up for Doubloon Turtle Snorkel trip on St Thomas! Used a different snorkel charter before but enjoyed it! Wanted to try a different type boat this time.
Love to snorkel!
~jackie

We could only get 8am- how about you? At least we will have time to shop afterwards!

 

[pixiehallow]

The sign up for this FE is closed


Notice to late comers, contact Pontiuspython. She has volunteered to oversee putting something together for late comers. Her current cut off date is Sept. 5th

I will try to keep the FE at (or very Near) the top of each new page from now until we cruise for convenience.

Break down of groups: (yes, some cabins are in both groups. ..they requested to be)

Group I
pixiehallow
TamaraH
CorEeyore
FrozenMinnie
Santam01
JulFromMD + 2
JulFromMD +3
JulFromMD +4
LadyCP
ozdisneyfan
Tiggerlily878
Deb T
Wanderluster25
2Crazygoofies
tatianasuv
Mrs Stevenson
MDennis28
DisneyFan_SD
Texas Lady
crews
Gillilma

Group II
pixiehallow
actnkidz
Mercinursi
jamelynn24
TCCDad
kmronnie3
Contrady family
Santam01
JulFromMD
JulFromMD +1
jbhatch
goofydvc
Tenn
chipmunklove
Jgamy
SinDee
Kprovax
Kprovax +1
Deb T
hng1979
jaimelynn4
Marchetti family
hmhaase
Texas lady
Southern gal
Aussiemickey
Fluffybunnyfeet
Ourfairytalelife
Carpenm3
Larrisje
dancegirl914

49 confirmed

Sub Groups have been sent out...If you are in group I, please remove MickeyFan from your list.

If you want a list of all Cabins, I will be happy to send one to you. All you have to do is ask

~Tink~

 

[Kprovax]

For me, planning is half the fun! I'm as organized as much as I'm OCD.

We travel often enough that I have packing down to a science. We have duplicate sets of toiletries that stay packed all the time and then will typically pack clothes 1-2 weeks ahead of time for bigger trips like this cruise. The biggest challenge is that we only travel with carry-on luggage! (The last time we checked suitcases, they were lost by the airlines and didn't join us until 7 days later, after 2 days in Barcelona and on the 5th day of our 12-night DCL Med cruise! Not gonna take a chance on that ever happening again!!!) One carry-on (extra large DVC tote bag) is already packed with our FE, FE gifts, FE cabin list, door magnets, etc.! Thank goodness we can take 4 carry-ons on our flights!!

Can't wait! Can't wait! Can't wait!

What did you do for clothes? Did you buy some until you got your bags? Please tell me the airlines gave you a I am sorry something!

OMG that would really be a nightmare.

 

[Deb T.]

What did you do for clothes? Did you buy some until you got your bags? Please tell me the airlines gave you a I am sorry something!

OMG that would really be a nightmare.

Nope, not an apology at all. In fact, it was estimated that 40% of the cruisers on our sailing were in the same boat (pun intended) due to a baggage handler's strike in France. Lucky us. DCL was wonderful, though... they actually sent cm's to the airport at each port to search for everyone's lost luggage!

Our only saving grace was that "compulsive me" had instructed everyone (DH, DD, DS) to pack a couple of changes of clothes in carry-ons in case we had any flight delays. Unfortunately, we didn't pack swimsuits in the carry-ons and (Murphy's Law) our first port stop was a beach excursion in Sicily. Also unfortunate was that Formal Night was on Day 2, and the dressiest clothing we had were the jeans/tops we wore on the flights to Barcelona. We did laundry on the ship every night. It's amazing how little you can really get by on when you only have a couple of outfits each!

Probably the worst part was that we spent our two "sight-seeing" days in Barcelona going back and forth between our hotel and the airport, desperately hoping to find our luggage before boarding the Magic. It was incredible how many pieces of luggage there were in the "lost & found" room that had DCL tags on them!!! I kept pointing them out and telling anyone who would listen that they needed to be sent to the ship!!!!!

 

[Viking]

I understand that you had a bad experience, Deb, but the percentage of luggage that gets really lost is extremely small. Sometimes stuff gets misdirected, but most of that is recovered within 24 hours.
We were in one of the first aircraft leaving Frankfurt fur the USA after 9-11. Due to the highly improvised new security screening we left with more than two hours delay and wouldn't have been able to make our connection in Philadelphia, but USAir held our plane for MCO. They only told us that we should run to the next gate - which we did. We made it in a flash thru immigration, grabbed our luggage, carried it thru Customs, rechecked it for Orlando and then really ran to our connecting flight. We made it seconds before they closed the door and a few minutes later we pushed back. I said to Anja right away that I heavily doubt that our bags made it.
In MCO we waited til there weren't any bags left on the belt and then we went to an airline representative, who told us that our bags were just in the process of being loaded onto the next flight and would be delivered straight to our hotel. There were a couple of more people who had the same problem.
So we arrived at WDW with just our carry-on and some grocery bags as our Town Car Service also provided a free grocery stop.
Upon check-in we informed the CM that our baggage got lost and would arrive in the night and that they shouldn't wake us for it.
Right after we woke up we called the Front Desk and had it delivered to our room.
I even said to Anja ' That was more comfortable than taking it from the airport ourselves!'

We couldn't do a trip of three weeks on carry-on alone - no way! Even a week would be challenging.

 

[Bajamama03]

We could only get 8am- how about you? At least we will have time to shop afterwards!

Yes, that's the time we got too but we wanted that time specifically because we wanted time to shop around a bit after! Or head back to an uncrowded ship to relax!

 

[mrs stevenson]

Yes, that's the time we got too but we wanted that time specifically because we wanted time to shop around a bit after! Or head back to an uncrowded ship to relax!

We shall look out for you-we are Craig and Alison from the uk. Are you on the fb group?

 

[Viking]

Meet during Sail Away Party?

I don't want to interfere with all the FEs going on, but during our last four cruises with DIS-groups we always met at a prearranged spot before and during the Sail Away Party and exchanged small, inexpensive gifts:
-Cruisers from Ohio brought Buckeyes
-Some people brought trinkets like key rings, bubble makers, bottle coolers, etc
-We always brought little schnaps-bottles from Germany, containing one shot each with Sweet Apple, Sour Apple, Plum and other flavours
Not everybody brought something, but everybody got something


Anybody interested in doing that?
And what would be a good place to meet on the Fantasy?

 

[Bajamama03]

We shall look out for you-we are Craig and Alison from the uk. Are you on the fb group?

Yes, I will look for you there too.

 

[pixiehallow]

Meet during Sail Away Party?

I don't want to interfere with all the FEs going on, but during our last four cruises with DIS-groups we always met at a prearranged spot before and during the Sail Away Party and exchanged small, inexpensive gifts:
-Cruisers from Ohio brought Buckeyes
-Some people brought trinkets like key rings, bubble makers, bottle coolers, etc
-We always brought little schnaps-bottles from Germany, containing one shot each with Sweet Apple, Sour Apple, Plum and other flavours
Not everybody brought something, but everybody got something


Anybody interested in doing that?
And what would be a good place to meet on the Fantasy?

I know we had begun a discussion on this earlier, but I do not think a final location was chosen. Also, someone had offered to make up name tags as well.
Just jumped over to the group page to check.....and yes there is a sign up in place for this labeled 'Sail Away Meet and Greet 3pm until Lifeboat Drill Location TBD' under the database section.
If you have not already entered your info in there, please do. Currently only 16 cabins have filled in their info. And by my count, we have between 80 to 82 cabins.
As for bringing small gifts, this would give me a chance to hand cancer ribbons out to everyone

Plus, even if you are not participating in the FE, I just got some good news today. I got a local grocery to donate something special for me to give out to everyone for Cancer Awareness (if you are in my FE, you will get it as a small part of one of your daily gifts...not as the whole gift for that day, but a small part of the whole).

 

[Viking]

I guess that's a bit early to bring schnaps (liquor) - and I wouldn't want anyone to be tipsy during life boat drill
But if the najority wants to meet at 3pm, we're OK with, too.

 

[tigerlilly878]

It's never too early for schnapps

Yep I am putting together the sail away meet and greet. DCL said they would let me know 30 days prior if they will set us up with a location, I have to physically stop myself from emailing her till we get closer to 30 days out, I think sabout doing it daily but I don't want to annoy the lady in charge of setting up locations for groups. If they don't give us a spot we will just meet somewhere like the satellite pool or something like that. I am open to suggestions for that if they do not give us a private spot, but I think they will.

I am cool with people bringing gifts

So yes please don't forget to sign up for the meet and greet on the yahoo page. If you have never done one it is a great chance to meet people right away and then have fun seeing them all over the ship. Even if you just want to pop by for 10 min that's fine. You don't have to hang out the whole time

Looking forward to meeting you all!!

Christina

 

[pixiehallow]

I need some input from those who have cruised recently with Disney.

...Okay, it has not been that long since our last cruise.
However, the check-in has changed since our last cruise.

When preparing for our last cruise, we were not asked to pick a Port arrival time as we did the online check in.

So....I have a question. We are planning on catching a shuttle from our hotel in the morning (which they only have 1 per day), how closely are they now adhering to not allowing you to check in until your port arrival time?
And, to what extent? Will they let us go through security and at least wait inside?
I also notice the earliest arrival was 11 AM. We have always arrived around 10 AM (this trip the shuttle is supposed to leave the hotel just about 10 minutes from port, at 10:30). And are usually on board by 11. Not knowing this was a new addition, I was not in a hurry to do the online check in, and we got a 1 PM time. I am worried that we will have to wait outside until 1.

What has y'all's recent experience been?