Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise 8/2/14 - 8/9/14

[AliceIn]

I started a Facebook Group for our Cruise. Please join if you like:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/280721952075986/

I'd heard that this is a good way to find fellow cruisers with kids who have similar ages.

 

[carolbeech]

Hi all, we are going on this cruise - it will be a 20th wedding anniversary for DH and me. We are bringing the kids DD9 & DD12, just couldn't do a trip without them. Hopefully they will like the kid's clubs! I just hope the pools aren't too crowded on the Fantasy - any thoughts from the experienced?

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hi all, we are going on this cruise - it will be a 20th wedding anniversary for DH and me. We are bringing the kids DD9 & DD12, just couldn't do a trip without them. Hopefully they will like the kid's clubs! I just hope the pools aren't too crowded on the Fantasy - any thoughts from the experienced?

Welcome to the group

If your children like to go to the pools, I would recommend a couple of options:

1) If you get on the ship early, wear your bathing suits and you can swim before the ship gets crowded.
2) The first night show is a waste of time. More like an infomercial. The pools will be almost empty.
3) Get up early in the morning and swim as soon as the pools open. After 11:00 a.m. forget about it
4) Go to the pools on port days if you are not doing an excursion or go to the pools sometime on Castaway Cay day

I hope these ideas help.

Joe

 

[AliceIn]

Hi all, we are going on this cruise - it will be a 20th wedding anniversary for DH and me. We are bringing the kids DD9 & DD12, just couldn't do a trip without them. Hopefully they will like the kid's clubs! I just hope the pools aren't too crowded on the Fantasy - any thoughts from the experienced?

Welcome! I've got 3 kids and two are of similar age. Mine are 8, 9 and 12 now. Yesterday I started up a Facebook page for our cruise group. Please feel free to join. This is our first family cruise, so I've probably got a lot of the same questions as you. My oldest is really looking forward to visiting the tween kid's club.

 

[carolbeech]

Hi Joe & Alice - thanks for the info and the welcome. I will hop over to FB to join also.

 

[Rockstarmom68]

We are a family of 4 DM Rhonda, DH Sam, DD Lindsey (14) & DD Haley (10). We are about 45 miles NW of Philly. It is very cold here so the thoughts of a cruise are really what is getting us through the winter!! This is our first cruise so we are super excited and want to get the most out of it. I ran across the fish extender idea and it sounds like fun!! I will update the spreadsheet with our info and continue to monitor this thread!!

Thanks for getting this started and being so welcoming to us newbies!!!

 

[Rockstarmom68]

We just booked our first cruise and are super excited!!! DW-Rhonda, DH Sam, DD Lindsey (14), DD Haley (10). We live 45 miles or so NW of Philly and are really looking forward to warmer weather because it is so cold her right now!!! We love the parks and have been tons of times but are trying out a cruise for the first time. Read about this Fish Extender idea and it sounds like a lot of fun!! Would love to join in!! I will update the spreadsheet and look forward to getting to know everyone!!!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

We are a family of 4 DM Rhonda, DH Sam, DD Lindsey (14) & DD Haley (10). We are about 45 miles NW of Philly. It is very cold here so the thoughts of a cruise are really what is getting us through the winter!! This is our first cruise so we are super excited and want to get the most out of it. I ran across the fish extender idea and it sounds like fun!! I will update the spreadsheet with our info and continue to monitor this thread!!

Thanks for getting this started and being so welcoming to us newbies!!!

Welcome

Feel free to ask any questions as you prepare for this awesome cruise

Joe

 

[Rockstarmom68]

Welcome

Feel free to ask any questions as you prepare for this awesome cruise

Joe

Thanks Joe!!! We just booked last Friday so we are a bit overwhelmed with all the info to research. Glad we have some time before we set sail!!! We are starting to research and will jot down questions as we go. I appreciate your willingness to be a resource for us. We do that a lot for those going to DisneyWorld as we have been many times.

We are so looking forward to our first cruise. Should be a great time!!!

 

[Rockstarmom68]

Just booked and over the moon! I haven't started reading the thread, but wanted to introduce us. I'm Joy, traveling with my DH, DD (13), DS (10) and Dparents whose ages I am not permitted to disclose. Never been on the "new" ships before, though we've done several on the "classics." Can't BELIEVE we're sailing again. Looking forward to meeting you all.

P.S. If anyone has children of similar ages, I've set up pen pals for my kids on prior cruises (email or snail mail works for us) and the kids have Really enjoyed having a 'friend' before they ever get on the ship. (Really hoping I didn't just come off as too pushy! )

See ya Real soon!

Joy,
My name is Rhonda. My DH Sam and DD Lindsey (14 as of December ) and DD Haley (11 on 8/22) are also on the 7 Day Western Caribbean aboard the Fantasy 8/2-8/9. Best of all I see that you are from North Wales. We are from Collegeville which is only about 30 mins from you. Would love to have pen pals for the kids. If interested, you can send me a PM with your e-mail address. I am new to the boards so I can send PMs yet. Looking forward to getting to know you and hopefully seeing you on the ship!!

Thanks!!
Rhonda

 

[Rockstarmom68]

Going to head off to bed and read a little more about DCL. Thanks to folks that are adding their two cents on these boards. Even the smallest things really help those of us that are new to DCL!!

Night Night!!

 

[Rockstarmom68]

Just ordered our fish extender for the trip! Got it off of etsy. Will take a pic and post when it arrives. Also coming up with some fun gift ideas with the girls. They are really excited about making and receiving fun little gifts!!

 

[AliceIn]

Just ordered our fish extender for the trip! Got it off of etsy. Will take a pic and post when it arrives. Also coming up with some fun gift ideas with the girls. They are really excited about making and receiving fun little gifts!!

Very cool! We also got one from Etsy and it's so nice! With 5 of us, it's really long. It will likely go all the way down to the floor.

 

[joycsk]

On another note. I've got loads of questions as this is our first cruise. My kids will be 8, 10, and 13 when we cruise this summer. The 8 and 10 year old will be together in the Oceaneer Club. My 13 year old will go to Vibe. Does the 13 year old get a band and need to be signed in, or will he have run of the ship?

I haven't checked into the Dis since the new year and I've missed a LOT! AliceIn, I also have a 10 and 13 yo. I've been reading about some of the stuff, and the 13 yo, Technically, belongs in the Edge. (It's in the funnel and they need their keycard to access.) Mine will be 2 months away from turning 14. Vibe is 14-18. I've read that they will be encouraged to go to the Edge First. If they aren't happy in Edge, they may be allowed to check out the Vibe, but that kinda depends on the Youth Manager in charge. . .

 

[joycsk]

Welcome to the group

If your children like to go to the pools, I would recommend a couple of options:

1) If you get on the ship early, wear your bathing suits and you can swim before the ship gets crowded.
2) The first night show is a waste of time. More like an infomercial. The pools will be almost empty.
3) Get up early in the morning and swim as soon as the pools open. After 11:00 a.m. forget about it
4) Go to the pools on port days if you are not doing an excursion or go to the pools sometime on Castaway Cay day

I hope these ideas help.

Joe

I agree with nearly ALL of these, especially the swim early in the morning part. On the Magic and Wonder, I've often had the Goofy pool to my family alone, or with one other family. It's also terrific to swim in a "wave" pool generated by actual waves.

However, I do have one comment about the first night show. Jason Bishop, a magician, was on one of our sailings, maybe our 2nd? He did a single, SPECTACULAR trick in the opening show. Had we not gone to that, I don't know if we'd have gone to see his other shows. He was, maybe, the HIGHLIGHT of that entire cruise for me. (One cruise, we had an AWFUL, Terrible, horrible no good very bad comic about whom I complained loudly on our comment card. He was NOT Disney.)

FWIW, you may want to find out who is "playing" in the opening night show, 'cause I would not Ever miss Jason Bishop for the World.

 

[joycsk]

Joy,
My name is Rhonda. My DH Sam and DD Lindsey (14 as of December ) and DD Haley (11 on 8/22) are also on the 7 Day Western Caribbean aboard the Fantasy 8/2-8/9. Best of all I see that you are from North Wales. We are from Collegeville which is only about 30 mins from you. Would love to have pen pals for the kids. If interested, you can send me a PM with your e-mail address. I am new to the boards so I can send PMs yet. Looking forward to getting to know you and hopefully seeing you on the ship!!

Thanks!!
Rhonda

Rhonda, WELCOME! I'll PM you immediately! Although my address is North Wales, I'm really more Lansdale/Montgomeryville. While I don't get to Collegeville often, we do drive by and through (especially to get to the MovieTavern!)

 

[joycsk]

I will step up and take charge of creating the documents that organize Fish Extender group(s).

(Someone may need to tell me how I can upload/link to documents.)

Questions that I would like some feedback on:

1) Do we want to have a "maximum" number of cabins and then create separate groups? (Not that cabins could not be part of multiple groups!)

2) How much information do we want on cabin members? (Basics I'm thinking of: Names, ages for children, identification of "generation" (parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle sorts of status), - do we want to ask favorite colors or characters?

3) Will a basic spreadsheet with names, cabin numbers and basic info collected be sufficient for your planning purposes?

I've participated in 3 FEs so far, (didn't know about FE or dis on our first cruise) But I've never managed one so far.

4) Would everyone who currently wishes to participate be able to access Google Docs? (That might be the easiest way to collect and gather information.)

If you can think of anything I haven't, please let me know!

P.S. AliceIN - My husband and I gave my DD 13, Your same spelling (of your actual name - per FB) Love it!

 

[joycsk]

AliceIn just let me into the FB group and I found she's WAY ahead of me on the google doc! Yipee!

 

[Rockstarmom68]

Joy,

Happy Friday to you as well!!

Emailing sounds great. I haven't yet been able to post e-mail address so I will send you a note from my home e-mail. Once I am up to 10 posts I can send them. Only 4 away!!!

Lindsey is very interested in the VIBE so that should work out fine.

We are first time cruisers and are also participating in the FE exchange. Should be loads of fun.

Someone did start an Excel spreadsheet that is on the first page of this thread. Last I checked there were 4 or so families listed.

Perhaps when the weather starts getting nicer we can work out a time to meet in Montgomeryville for lunch or dinner.

Hope Colin feels better!! Stay safe and dry this weekend!!

Rhonda Edwards

 

[joycsk]

Hi, Rhonda! I may not have expressed myself well. I think that my DD is _hoping_ to go to Vibe, but she'll need to "get approved," since she will still be 13 at time of sailing. I know there is _some_ flexibility between Edge and Vibe, with 13 and 14 yo-s, but I'm told they are completely strict with, say, ages 12 and 15. Alison _may_ be able to get into Vibe, but she'll kinda "be required" to start in the Edge before they'll let her into Vibe. At least, that's the info put out by CMontheseas, who has done a phenomenal job of answering parent questions.

I did PM you, so when you can reply, we'll set something up. If you are familiar with the intersection of Rtes 202 and 63, we live three blocks from there. Don't know if you've ever been to the Pinball Parlour, but maybe some evening we could have a 'playdate/get-together' there. (It's near Earlbowl.) We love that place (mostly), and it's more out your way.

Joy,

Happy Friday to you as well!!

Emailing sounds great. I haven't yet been able to post e-mail address so I will send you a note from my home e-mail. Once I am up to 10 posts I can send them. Only 4 away!!!

Lindsey is very interested in the VIBE so that should work out fine.

We are first time cruisers and are also participating in the FE exchange. Should be loads of fun.

Someone did start an Excel spreadsheet that is on the first page of this thread. Last I checked there were 4 or so families listed.

Perhaps when the weather starts getting nicer we can work out a time to meet in Montgomeryville for lunch or dinner.

Hope Colin feels better!! Stay safe and dry this weekend!!

Rhonda Edwards