EBTA 2014...Across the Atlantic we go!!!

[sweetlovin']

a

 

[gilsan]

We just switched to this cruise last night. I was told there may be two formal nights and a semi-formal night. Since you have done these often, I was wondering what is the formal wear for guys? Are they in tuxes or just suit and tie?

Our plan is to fly from Barcelona to DLP then over to London before flying home. I will probably Priceline the one way home, but maybe a good airfare will come out and it will be easy to book one way.

My husband has worn a suit and tie to the formal night. There were some men wearing tuxes, I think both are acceptable.

It is good to see there are more kids my DD age. I was concerned there wouldn't be many kids on the cruise.

I think we have decided against the mediterranean cruise after the TA. There is so little time in the ports especially for Florence and Rome. I think we will either stay in Barcelona, go to Rome, or Paris after. I loved Rome when we there and DD is interested with Pompeii right now, so we could spend the day visiting there of Herculaneum.

 

[sweetlovin']

I am glad to see the kids are all similar in ages (at least the OP's daughter, Georgia, Madagin and my two girls Samantha and Julianna) Samantha (9) is extremely shy, so she doesn't do much with the kids clubs. However, once she finds a friend, she is a friend forever. Julianna (11) is very outgoing and friendly. Nico is 13yo and he can make friends after a day or two. He hasn't done a cruise yet so he might be a bit reserved at first, but once he gets comfortable, his personality will come out.

We have the early dinning. We just got off the cruise Valentine's day and Sam fell asleep 15 minutes after sitting down to the late dinner. I was informed that the late dining tends to sell out more quickly, but it's just not for us.

I'm so glad your daughter likes to travel My kids travel often, so they should be able to talk to each other about the places they have been to and the places they want to see.

 

[sweetlovin']

Thanks for the information! I will let my son know about the suit. He wasn't all that excited about having to dress up.

 

[ab2008]

We are booked Now we just have to hope that DH's work schedule works out, won't know until the end of the year.

Traveling is me, DH, DD, who will be 11 and DS who will be 9 then.

I'm hoping DD will enjoy the Edge club, as we did a 3 day cruise in January and she found the Oceaneer clubs boring :-(

 

[gilsan]

I am glad to see the kids are all similar in ages (at least the OP's daughter, Georgia, Madagin and my two girls Samantha and Julianna) Samantha (9) is extremely shy, so she doesn't do much with the kids clubs. However, once she finds a friend, she is a friend forever. Julianna (11) is very outgoing and friendly. Nico is 13yo and he can make friends after a day or two. He hasn't done a cruise yet so he might be a bit reserved at first, but once he gets comfortable, his personality will come out.

We have the early dinning. We just got off the cruise Valentine's day and Sam fell asleep 15 minutes after sitting down to the late dinner. I was informed that the late dining tends to sell out more quickly, but it's just not for us.

I'm so glad your daughter likes to travel My kids travel often, so they should be able to talk to each other about the places they have been to and the places they want to see.

Georgia also can be a bit shy. On our first cruise she didn't like the kids club. It was packed with kids and I think it was overwhelming. On our last cruise we had met a couple on the boards with a daughter a few years older, they became fast friends on the cruise and if she heard her friend was going to the kids club she was there immediately.

We are doing late dining. We normally eat late at home so it seems to work for us. Nobody falling a sleep

 

[gilsan]

We are booked Now we just have to hope that DH's work schedule works out, won't know until the end of the year.

Traveling is me, DH, DD, who will be 11 and DS who will be 9 then.

I'm hoping DD will enjoy the Edge club, as we did a 3 day cruise in January and she found the Oceaneer clubs boring :-(

Welcome to the group!

 

[sweetlovin']

We are booked Now we just have to hope that DH's work schedule works out, won't know until the end of the year.

Traveling is me, DH, DD, who will be 11 and DS who will be 9 then.

I'm hoping DD will enjoy the Edge club, as we did a 3 day cruise in January and she found the Oceaneer clubs boring :-(

I hope it works out for your husband's work. Julianna will be 11 didn't love the Oceaneer club either. I think the Edge will be better for her.

 

[sweetlovin']

Georgia also can be a bit shy. On our first cruise she didn't like the kids club. It was packed with kids and I think it was overwhelming. On our last cruise we had met a couple on the boards with a daughter a few years older, they became fast friends on the cruise and if she heard her friend was going to the kids club she was there immediately.

We are doing late dining. We normally eat late at home so it seems to work for us. Nobody falling a sleep

Is Georgia home schooled? Julie is trying to decide if she wants to next year. Samantha loves her friends too much to homeschool. Nico has been home schooled for 2 years. His school put 35 kids in 1 class and he said, "I can't get straight A's in a class with 35 kids." His teachers and classmates didn't want him to leave, but in the end it was the best decision for him. It was just after the first quarter of 5th grade. I don't think he has ever looked back. He still talks to his friends and hugs his old teachers, but he wouldn't change his decision.

 

[sweetlovin']

Booked on this. This is our 10th on the Magic but 1st TA. Me, Jack, and my wife CHristine.

You'll have your Platinum status!! Welcome to the group

This will be my 5th cruise, so I just be hitting gold status.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

My boss is thinking he might not be able to let me take this cruise because I might be needed to teach a class during the May short semester. I haven't canceled yet though.

 

[gilsan]

Is Georgia home schooled? Julie is trying to decide if she wants to next year. Samantha loves her friends too much to homeschool. Nico has been home schooled for 2 years. His school put 35 kids in 1 class and he said, "I can't get straight A's in a class with 35 kids." His teachers and classmates didn't want him to leave, but in the end it was the best decision for him. It was just after the first quarter of 5th grade. I don't think he has ever looked back. He still talks to his friends and hugs his old teachers, but he wouldn't change his decision.

No, Georgia goes to school with her friends. She is just shy in new situations, I also think she uses it as an excuse to stick with Mom and Dad

If she was homeschooled we would probably do the WBTA in 2014 instead. Since it is at the beginning of the year I don't want her to miss getting settled in her new class. Also at our school she can begin french immersion that year, so I wouldn't want her to miss the first 3 weeks and be really behind.

35 kids is a lot in a class, I can see why you might consider home schooling. I don't find that home schooling is very common in Canada. I may me wrong, but I only know of one person who has home schooled their children.

 

[gilsan]

My boss is thinking he might not be able to let me take this cruise because I might be needed to teach a class during the May short semester. I haven't canceled yet though.

That would be to bad. I don't officially have the time off work yet, but I am counting on it not being a problem. I work in a small department and believe I can get someone to cover while I am gone.

 

[sweetlovin']

Sam isn't home schooled and she is incredibly shy. I think that has more to do with personality. French immersion is so cool. We were able to take spanish immersion at our school starting 2nd grade. My cousin who was in class with me, chose that one and my mom kept me in regular. I would have been so much better off going into the immersion program. Such an amazing opportunity for the kids

My kids start early Aug, so grades are turned in May 16th 2014. They are still suppose to be in school that next week for three days, but it's not important. More glorified babysitting in my eyes. I think home school is gaining popularity here in the States. Our county is offering virtual school to middle schoolers as an option instead of going to school.

My youngest is in a charter school where they have 45 minutes of chinese everyday. Julie speaks and writes the best of the three, but Sam is coming along with it. I wish that school offered immersion for that, but most kids aren't ready, even after the 9 years of 45 minutes classes. Go figure

 

[ab2008]

Wow, I guess WBTAs are A LOT more popular! I just looked at the WBTA 2014 and they have so many people already. The EBTA 2013 is also popular, but I think that is only because they don't have a WB for 2013 because of the refit.

 

[ab2008]

My boss is thinking he might not be able to let me take this cruise because I might be needed to teach a class during the May short semester. I haven't canceled yet though.

Keeping my fingers crossed that you don't have to cancel.

 

[gilsan]

Wow, I guess WBTAs are A LOT more popular! I just looked at the WBTA 2014 and they have so many people already. The EBTA 2013 is also popular, but I think that is only because they don't have a WB for 2013 because of the refit.

Those threads are crazy and they have so much planning going on. That's alright our cruise will be less crowded

 

[gilsan]

Sam isn't home schooled and she is incredibly shy. I think that has more to do with personality. French immersion is so cool. We were able to take spanish immersion at our school starting 2nd grade. My cousin who was in class with me, chose that one and my mom kept me in regular. I would have been so much better off going into the immersion program. Such an amazing opportunity for the kids

My kids start early Aug, so grades are turned in May 16th 2014. They are still suppose to be in school that next week for three days, but it's not important. More glorified babysitting in my eyes. I think home school is gaining popularity here in the States. Our county is offering virtual school to middle schoolers as an option instead of going to school.

My youngest is in a charter school where they have 45 minutes of chinese everyday. Julie speaks and writes the best of the three, but Sam is coming along with it. I wish that school offered immersion for that, but most kids aren't ready, even after the 9 years of 45 minutes classes. Go figure

They didn't have french immersion where I lived when I was in school so I never had the opportunity. I wish I was fluent in another language. I think it opens up so many other opportunities.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

keeping my fingers crossed that you don't have to cancel.

thanks!

 

[sweetlovin']

Wow, I guess WBTAs are A LOT more popular! I just looked at the WBTA 2014 and they have so many people already. The EBTA 2013 is also popular, but I think that is only because they don't have a WB for 2013 because of the refit.

I noticed that thread was hopping too. I prefer the less crowded cruises, so I am good with our smaller group. I like us