EBPC December 9, 2012!!! Who's in????

[bugsgrandma]

Hi! I've just come back to post that we have cancelled this cruise and will not be joining you - there is just too much travel and inconvenience with the ports and the end dates just before Christmas - planning for this has just become stressful, not enjoyable

So we're going to go stay at Art of Animation for 16 nights and enjoy WDW during it's wonderful Christmas season instead

I hope you all have a 'wonder'ful cruise

Sorry you won't be joining us this time. I am sure your new vacation plans will be super fun too.

 

[skoi]

to our new shipmates.

Sarah- sorry you won't be joining us.

Just thinking about Christmas two days after this cruise is driving me crazy. I'm the one who has all the family dinners, etc, and there's no way I'm going to be able to do it this year.

We have 13 in the Palo brunch group, have room for only one more. Will send PMs to everyone I have on my list to double check.

Any preference for a day for this?

Julie

 

[spiiffy]

I have created a private Facebook group page for our cruise. If you use facebook, please join us! I did this on our last cruise and it really helped get to know people, post pictures, ask questions, etc.!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/313468622054824/

 

[abbyar]

We'd just like to make sure brunch is not the same day as a character breakfast - not sure how you'd arrange that though.

 

[dthogue]

to our new shipmates.

Sarah- sorry you won't be joining us.

Just thinking about Christmas two days after this cruise is driving me crazy. I'm the one who has all the family dinners, etc, and there's no way I'm going to be able to do it this year.

We have 13 in the Palo brunch group, have room for only one more. Will send PMs to everyone I have on my list to double check.

Any preference for a day for this?

Julie

Luckily for us Christmas is low key in our family, I'm hoping to have all my shopping and wrapping done before we leave. My DD who is staying home will do my grocery shopping for me. I already told my DD's it's going to be a gift card lind of holiday

I think we are on the Palo list - if so, we don't have a preference of days - its hard to plan not knowing when or what else they will be offereing.

I have created a private Facebook group page for our cruise. If you use facebook, please join us! I did this on our last cruise and it really helped get to know people, post pictures, ask questions, etc.!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/313468622054824/

Thank you for setting up the faceboook group. My DD's call me a facebook lurker, I read, but hardly ever post


I think I missed welcoming our newest members - my apologies! Welcome to our group - we are going to have a great time

 

[BethC1952]

I sent a request to join the Facebook group. I love Facebook!

Our Christmas this year will be low key, maybe even spent in Miami, we haven't quite decided. We're going to celebrate on New Year's weekend, because that's our actual 40th anniversary.

The day of Palo brunch doesn't matter to us. Since it's only held on sea days, it certainly won't conflict with any excursions!

I'm thinking about re-shopping this cruise while we're onboard Magic in June and see if we can upgrade to an oceanview for not much more than we're paying for our inside. With the 10% discount and the OBC, we might be able to do it, although I really like the sideways Cat. 11 that we have reserved right now.

OK, it's back to work for me!

Beth

 

[DisneyZell]

Hi everyone! DW already checked in for our family, but I figured I throw my hello in there too. 14 nights! yikes! I can't wait! I've said for years that it takes me until about day 6 to relax on a 7 night cruse...so I figure when I hit that I'll have 8-9 more days! nice!

I'll be starting a PTR shortly...will post the link when I do so hopefully you guys can jump onboard that as well. Heck...we don't have anything else going on in life anyway....riiiight????

anyway I can't wait to meet you guys on Mickey's Boat!

Drew (Disneyzell)

 

[dededisney]

As far as Brunch goes, it doesn't matter to us, so whenever you can get it is fine with us. Now we just have to decide when we want to do Palo dinner. I have been going over a few previous TR from the 2008 Panama Canal crossing just to get a feel for what is in store, but I think our cruise will be very different in that we don't have a lot of port days like the others had. It will be interesting to see what things they come up with to entertain us

 

[abbyar]

I've been looking at the '08 trip reports also. Rather disappointed as Aruba is not one of our pocs, and the others on the west coast have been listed as places to avoid for American tourists, so will probably not disembark at those stops.

Anyone know if there is a beach anywhere near the port of LA? I want the kids to at least touch the Pacific on this trip.

 

[dededisney]

I've been looking at the '08 trip reports also. Rather disappointed as Aruba is not one of our pocs, and the others on the west coast have been listed as places to avoid for American tourists, so will probably not disembark at those stops.

Anyone know if there is a beach anywhere near the port of LA? I want the kids to at least touch the Pacific on this trip.

Will you have a car? And are you wanting to do this the day the ship leaves or the day before? If you just want to walk up to the walk to dip your toes in, you can stop in Long beach...Drew (DH) used to live right across from the beach on Ocean Blvd in Long Beach, and that is pretty close to the port (about a 15 - 20 minute drive).

 

[BethC1952]

Hi everyone! DW already checked in for our family, but I figured I throw my hello in there too. 14 nights! yikes! I can't wait! I've said for years that it takes me until about day 6 to relax on a 7 night cruse...so I figure when I hit that I'll have 8-9 more days! nice!

I'll be starting a PTR shortly...will post the link when I do so hopefully you guys can jump onboard that as well. Heck...we don't have anything else going on in life anyway....riiiight????

anyway I can't wait to meet you guys on Mickey's Boat!

Drew (Disneyzell)

I just read your trip report from your trip last February. I'm glad my boss took the afternoon off because I was laughing until my sides hurt. I think we're going to have a blast on this trip!

Beth

 

[Moby]

Welcome newcomers!

I'm posting the response I received from DCL about how time changes will be handled on our cruise:

It has been determined the times on the ship will be as follows:

The clocks will move forward one hour on December 10th, 12th, 15th.
The clocks will go back an hour on the December 20th.
The clocks will go forward one hour on December 22nd.

With that being said, though, all Port Times may vary depending on the
Captain's judgment at the time based on a variety of factors including,
but not limited to, sea/tidal conditions and local port operations.

On the days that time changes occur, announcements will be made onboard
the ship advising Guests to adjust their clocks/watches.

I'm asuming when we move our clock forward on Dec 10, it means that we actually move our clocks ahead the night before so that we wake up in the new time zone. Does that sound correct to you?

If correct, then the following should be our time change itinerary:

1 Sun, Dec 9 Los Angeles PST 4:00 p.m.

2 Mon, Dec 10 At Sea PST

3 Tue, Dec 11 Cabo San Lucas MST 11:15 a.m. 4:30 p.m.

4 Wed, Dec 12 Puerto Vallarta MST 10:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m.

5 Thur, Dec 13 At Sea CST

6 Fri, Dec 14 At Sea CST

7 Sat, Dec 15 At Sea CST

8 Sun, Dec 16 At Sea EST

9 Mon, Dec 17 Panama Canal EST

10 Tue, Dec 18 Cartagena EST 9:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.

11 Wed, Dec 19 At Sea EST

12 Th, Dec 20 At Sea EST

13 Fri, Dec 21 Costa Maya CST 7:45 a.m. 4:30 p.m.

14 Sat, Dec 22 At Sea EST

15 Sun, Dec 23 Miami, Florida EST 7:30 a.m.

 

[Moby]

Chaccobean ruins (Costa Maya):
Organized by - skoi (Julie)
Tour company - Native Choice (David & Ivan)
Final numbers required two months in advance
Price - $50 (adult), $45 (child)

I haven't given much thought to excursions yet, but this sounds like a winner! I'd like to see what DCL offers before I make a final commitment. Do you have a maximum number?

 

[abbyar]

Yes, we'll have a car. Was hoping to get to the beach Saturday afternoon. I will google for Long Beach. Thanks!

Only thing I'm worried about with the excursion is getting back to the ship late. I know it's a long drive and I won't want the kids out for too long. Will we be ok with the short port time?

 

[dededisney]

Yes, we'll have a car. Was hoping to get to the beach Saturday afternoon. I will google for Long Beach. Thanks!

Only thing I'm worried about with the excursion is getting back to the ship late. I know it's a long drive and I won't want the kids out for too long. Will we be ok with the short port time?

Depending on how long you want to stay at the beach, there are others that are a lot better (although it has been a long time since I have lived down in Socal). Do you know where you are staying the night before the cruise? I really like Laguna Beach and Newport Beach (but I haven't been to Newport for a long time, so don't know how much it has changed). But they are both south of Long Beach...Newport is closer than Laguna. But if you go north, you could hit Manhattan Beach or Santa Monica (pier is a lot of fun, esp. for kids). I know this is pretty generic info, but if you want to narrow it down, I will fill you in as much as I can.

 

[abbyar]

I've been to Laguna Beach and loved it, but didn't want to drive that far, since we're flying into LAX.

We're staying at San Pedro at the Doubletree. They have a free shuttle to the pier, so we'll drop off the rental car Saturday night or early Sunday. I'm assuming the weather will be a little too cold to do more than walk on the beach for more than 15 minutes (or maybe less) but I want the kids to have the chance to touch the water and walk on the beach, since we probably won't get to otherwise on the trip. I'm not thrilled with the idea of either Cabo or Puerto Vallarta as stops for safety reasons.

 

[JessicasMom]

I have created a private Facebook group page for our cruise. If you use facebook, please join us! I did this on our last cruise and it really helped get to know people, post pictures, ask questions, etc.!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/313468622054824/

Member request sent!

I'm not thrilled with the idea of either Cabo or Puerto Vallarta as stops for safety reasons.

From everything I've read, Cabo is very safe...am I missing something?

 

[clukas]

We booked on board last week for the Panama Canal cruise. I REALLY want to go but we have to decide if we should take our boys (8 and 6) out of school for the 2 weeks before Christmas break.

Decisions, decisions. Come on guys tell me I'm right for allowing them to miss 2 weeks of school.

We booked a Verandah, deck 6 but that IGT rate of about $4500 for all 4 of us is very tempting. The ship looks empty, maybe we could pay for an uprgrade at the port and save some $$.

Any thoughts?

 

[Moby]

We booked on board last week for the Panama Canal cruise. I REALLY want to go but we have to decide if we should take our boys (8 and 6) out of school for the 2 weeks before Christmas break.

Decisions, decisions. Come on guys tell me I'm right for allowing them to miss 2 weeks of school.... Any thoughts?

IMHO, I wouldn't think twice about taking an 8 yo and 6 yo out of school in order to create precious memories together as a family. They have many years to be in school, but perhaps limited opportunities to enjoy a once in a lifetime family cruise through the Panama Canal.

Go for it!

 

[dededisney]

We booked on board last week for the Panama Canal cruise. I REALLY want to go but we have to decide if we should take our boys (8 and 6) out of school for the 2 weeks before Christmas break.

Decisions, decisions. Come on guys tell me I'm right for allowing them to miss 2 weeks of school.

We booked a Verandah, deck 6 but that IGT rate of about $4500 for all 4 of us is very tempting. The ship looks empty, maybe we could pay for an uprgrade at the port and save some $$.

Any thoughts?

You are right for allowing them to miss 2 weeks of school...does that help?? Hopefully. We have taken the boys out of school for past disney cruises when they were that age (granted only for a week, but same thing). I think when they are in elementary school, it is pretty easy to take them out of school, and the stuff they will learn, esp going through the panama canal! You could even do some research on the canal ahead of time with them so they will be learning even more! I am assuming your 8 yr old is in 3rd grade and your 6 yr old either 1st or kindergarden, so I personnally wouldn't have a problem with it...we are leaving our 13 yr old and 9 yr old at home, though, b/c the 13 yr old would have so much to make up, and plus, we would really like to have a vacation for just the two of us As the kids get older I think it is harder for them to miss school, but at these early ages, I say go for it And we also booked the IGT b/c the rate was so good...just looked up the price for the west coast cruise in Oct, and we are paying about $500 more for a 15 day cruise than the 7 day I am not sure if we will be able to upgrade at the port...some people say you are allowed to, others no. So hopefully the upgrade fairies will be kind to us and at least get us an oceanview!