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

[WVURunner]

My DH, and avid blood donor, wanted me to remind everyone who donates blood, you should donate as much as possible prior to going on the cruise. With the ports of call we are visiting, you will not be able to donate blood till a year after we return.

Also, the CDC does NOT recommend the Yellow Fever Vaccine for people who will be staying within the former Panama Canal Zone and the CDC generally does not recommend the yellow fever vaccine for the city of Cartagena.

The CDC lists the former Panama Canal Zone and Cartagena as areas with out Malaria and the estimated relative risk of malaria for US travelers is these areas are considered low.

Guess I now know what my DH does at night when he is traveling for business!

 

[dthogue]

Lawrence J
Larry & Kim
The kids are too big to go with Mom & Dad
Cabin 7072
L T E M O L D @ A O L . C O M

I added you to the list - I will email you shortly.

Tammy

 

[skayrobe]

Thanks so much for the info about blood donations. I had no idea about the donation restriction after visiting certain counties. I would like to second the call to donate now. We have a daughter with ITP ( she is in remission) and platelet donations are very important to us. Sherry

 

[Started With a Mouse]

My DH, and avid blood donor, wanted me to remind everyone who donates blood, you should donate as much as possible prior to going on the cruise. With the ports of call we are visiting, you will not be able to donate blood till a year after we return.

Also, the CDC does NOT recommend the Yellow Fever Vaccine for people who will be staying within the former Panama Canal Zone and the CDC generally does not recommend the yellow fever vaccine for the city of Cartagena.

The CDC lists the former Panama Canal Zone and Cartagena as areas with out Malaria and the estimated relative risk of malaria for US travelers is these areas are considered low.

Guess I now know what my DH does at night when he is traveling for business!

Thanks for the blood donation information. We have an appointment scheduled to get the Hep A vaccine, as recommended by our physician. Kiddies are looking forward to seeing us get shots!

 

[WVURunner]

We have an appointment scheduled to get the Hep A vaccine, as recommended by our physician. Kiddies are looking forward to seeing us get shots!

Another good one to mention! The CDC recommends you get it for areas with intermediate or high prevalence of Hep A. All of our ports of call are in the intermediate category. As a reminder, from the CDC, cases of travel-related hepatitis A can occur in travelers to developing countries with “standard” tourist itineraries, accommodations, and eating behaviors.
You kiddos will get to see you get shots twice, as if I remember correctly, it is a two part vaccine given a few months a part.

Hep B is also in the intermediate category for our ports of call but that is contracted through body fluids and not food and water like Hap A, so I feel there is a much less risk of us getting it while in port. I believe that one is a three part series.

I had to get a ton of vaccines when I went to Asia and Africa and they all started to blend together.

 

[Moby]

My DH, and avid blood donor, wanted me to remind everyone who donates blood, you should donate as much as possible prior to going on the cruise. With the ports of call we are visiting, you will not be able to donate blood till a year after we return.

Also, the CDC does NOT recommend the Yellow Fever Vaccine for people who will be staying within the former Panama Canal Zone and the CDC generally does not recommend the yellow fever vaccine for the city of Cartagena.

The CDC lists the former Panama Canal Zone and Cartagena as areas with out Malaria and the estimated relative risk of malaria for US travelers is these areas are considered low.

Guess I now know what my DH does at night when he is traveling for business!

I appreciate the heads up as my dh is also an avid blood donor, so I'll pass the info on to him. He'll be disappointed that he cannot donate for a year because he donates as often as he is allowed.

 

[abbyar]

If you're a Disney visa holder you may have seen the email - Disney store is offering 25% off with card in store & online. I got a bunch of stuff today that we're going to take on the trip - items on sale are a great deal! I got new flip flops for $3, a $45 Ariel costume for $22, an 18" stuffed Mickey and Minnie for $11.25 each, and, the piece de resistance, a Cars 2 World Grand Prix set for $15 (originally $59.50). The selection wasn't great online but in store had some good stuff. I'm taking it all on the trip for surprise gifts.

 

[LAS2012]

Welcome LAS2012! My daughter will be turning 2 on the cruise and would love to meet your DD to play with

Are you planning to use the diaper service or pack them all?

A birthday on the cruise...how fun!!! I bet you can't wait!

Are you planning on using the nursery? I am anticipating using a fair amount of time, and am particularly thinking about meal time. We currently have late dining, which seem like it would fit us better, but I can't picture a 16 month old hanging in there until 10:00 pm each night. I am hoping that maybe we can take in the earlier shows and drop her off in the nursery for meal time if she seems tired and cranky. I guess there is no way of predicting how such a significant change in schedule is going to work out for us!

I am still on the fence about the diaper service. I think that we will probably use it just because we will be flying and all of those diapers and wipes will take up a lot of room. But on the other hand, it will free up space for souveniers on the return trip if we pack them in our suitcases. I need to do some practice runs at packing and see how it all works out. I guess that would make me the most ridiculous of over-planners if I actually do a "practice pack" more than four months ahead of time...

Are you leaning either way right now regarding the Babies Travel Lite? Any previous users of this have any comments to share?

 

[LAS2012]

Thanks to Manon, Julie and Linda for the insight on packing lightly, doing laundry and the importance of clothing changes for pictures! I typically overpack and then wear the same few favorite items anyway, so I should just plan on that from the start. I do think I will need to do some strategic separates so all the photos don't look the same. I can just hear the kids twenty years from now when we look back through the vacation pictures and they ask me if I made them wear the same clothes everyday on a two week cruise because we look the same in all the pictures! And then I will have to go into a long discussion about how in 2012 the airlines expected you to pay extra to actually take suitcases full of clothes with you on your trip...

 

[goiu]

A birthday on the cruise...how fun!!! I bet you can't wait!

Are you planning on using the nursery? I am anticipating using a fair amount of time, and am particularly thinking about meal time. We currently have late dining, which seem like it would fit us better, but I can't picture a 16 month old hanging in there until 10:00 pm each night. I am hoping that maybe we can take in the earlier shows and drop her off in the nursery for meal time if she seems tired and cranky. I guess there is no way of predicting how such a significant change in schedule is going to work out for us!

I am still on the fence about the diaper service. I think that we will probably use it just because we will be flying and all of those diapers and wipes will take up a lot of room. But on the other hand, it will free up space for souveniers on the return trip if we pack them in our suitcases. I need to do some practice runs at packing and see how it all works out. I guess that would make me the most ridiculous of over-planners if I actually do a "practice pack" more than four months ahead of time...

Are you leaning either way right now regarding the Babies Travel Lite? Any previous users of this have any comments to share?

When we did the TA trip and DS was almost 2 we used Babies Travel Lite. It was great! We only had so much luggage space since we had to fly to Barcelona. It saved a ton! Plus, I wasn't sure if they had the kind of diapers we like in Spain. Glad I did because we got there and they didn't carry it. If you have any other questions about that or traveling with toddlers let me know! We'd use it again but thankfully we are potty trained!

 

[DVCinderella]

We opted to just take a car service directly to San Pedro and stay at the Crown Plaza. There is more to do in the area than at any LAX hotel. There is a little trolley that runs up and down the waterfront, and a place with shops and restaurants and a big fountain show like at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

How do you get from the Crown Plaza to the port? Do you have to take car service again the morning of the cruise?

 

[RoxyHive]

The San Pedro Crown Plaza, San Pedro Doubletree or San Pedro Inn & Suites all have a free shuttle from the hotel to the port. When you check in to your room just confirm the time you want the shuttle to take you in the morning

 

[RoxyHive]

A birthday on the cruise...how fun!!! I bet you can't wait!

Are you planning on using the nursery? I am anticipating using a fair amount of time, and am particularly thinking about meal time. We currently have late dining, which seem like it would fit us better, but I can't picture a 16 month old hanging in there until 10:00 pm each night. I am hoping that maybe we can take in the earlier shows and drop her off in the nursery for meal time if she seems tired and cranky. I guess there is no way of predicting how such a significant change in schedule is going to work out for us!

I am still on the fence about the diaper service. I think that we will probably use it just because we will be flying and all of those diapers and wipes will take up a lot of room. But on the other hand, it will free up space for souveniers on the return trip if we pack them in our suitcases. I need to do some practice runs at packing and see how it all works out. I guess that would make me the most ridiculous of over-planners if I actually do a "practice pack" more than four months ahead of time...

Are you leaning either way right now regarding the Babies Travel Lite? Any previous users of this have any comments to share?

Yes our Christmas baby will be 2 years old I can't believe it!

I am really hoping to use the nursery a bunch of evenings but not sure how hard it will be to book time when we won't know the full schedule till we are on the ship. I'll just have to go with the flow and see how she does I guess. I mean toddlers change so fast it's pretty impossible to plan things ahead of time anyhow. Putting her in for the second half of dinner may be needed so we can actually eat, even with early seating. At least they have some cribs so the little ones can nap when it gets late.

I think we don't need to use the diaper service since now we are driving to LA and can bring pretty much all the supplies we need with us. It still sounds so convenient to not have to lug it all and if we were flying to LA I would definitely use them.

I LOVE your idea to "practice pack" and will most certainly try that. I too am a mega-planner so to just see what approximate amount of the planned items will fit in my current bags seems like a great idea. Especially all the baby stuff since we have not gone on a real vacation since she was born.

 

[LindaBabe]

GOOD Morning, Happy Cruisers!

"Practice packing" is a great idea! When I was a tour guide (back in the dark ages before many of you were born) we used to tell people to layout what you want to take and leave half of it at home. OR, even better, take half the clothes and twice the money!

I have floated a trial balloon past my dh about one of the Canadian cruises out of new york in September. Fingers crossed!

Happy day, all!

 

[BethC1952]

I love the idea of "practice packing". I think I'll look at my September Canada Cruise as a good practice packing experience. At least, I think that's what I'll tell DH--"But I had to take this cruise so I'm sure I can remember how to pack!"

LindaBabe: There are really good OGT prices for the 9/12 cruise to Canada. That would give you the opportunity to meet a couple of your fellow Panama Canal cruisers!

Beth

 

[Cruise]

I'm going to try my hardest to do carryon luggage only for our September NYC cruise. I really think I can do it. There's no way I can for the PC cruise though... not with FE gifts and formal nights. I know I could get away with less for formal night, but I like playing dress up.

 

[Cruise]

I have floated a trial balloon past my dh about one of the Canadian cruises out of new york in September. Fingers crossed!

Happy day, all!

Fingers crossed for you!

The NYC September cruises seem like a perfect holdover till the PC one. I think I'm going to turn into one of those people that always has to have a cruise booked.

 

[dthogue]

I'm going to try my hardest to do carryon luggage only for our September NYC cruise. I really think I can do it. There's no way I can for the PC cruise though... not with FE gifts and formal nights. I know I could get away with less for formal night, but I like playing dress up.

We are going to do carry on for our September cruise as well. I think we can do it I bought new suitases that are airline carryon size, with the four wheels that roll just for this trip.

Fingers crossed for you!

The NYC September cruises seem like a perfect holdover till the PC one. I think I'm going to turn into one of those people that always has to have a cruise booked.

This is what I told my DH - we booked in June which was 3 months before sailing so that when we get back from this trip we will only have 3 months til the PC cruise

 

[BethC1952]

Tammy:

Which Canada cruise are you on? I thought I saw your name on 9/7 and 9/12! Or are you doing both????

Beth

 

[socababy]

This is what I told my DH - we booked in June which was 3 months before sailing so that when we get back from this trip we will only have 3 months til the PC cruise

I also booked a Sept cruise in June but on the west coast! It will be just dd and I celebrating her bday. I couldn't pass up the VGT rate, especally knowing the Wonder's time on the west coast is limited. It will be nice to get back on the Wonder less than 3 months later. Even better than that, I will be on the Dream 3 weeks before my Sept Wonder cruise! Nothing better than getting off a cruise knowing you'll be back on soon!