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

[Poohbear 64]

Where has everyone been the past the past few days?? It is lonely here without some chatter!!!

As you all know by now, I am FE obsessed. We are going this week to buy the material and supplies to make our FE's. (the actual extender, not gifts....those are under control, well, there is always room for more!! LOL)

 

[Carable]

Hi Teri! I'm here, although I'm very busy working on cruise details as the final payment was just made. We don't get to try for reservations until the 19th, I need to find out what time I can start making them. Hopefully before work starts. I, myself, am super excited to see what FE magic you have crafted.

I think the kids and myself will be at WDW for the week before, we got a free timeshare week and it has to be used, so.... We will miss being on site this time, but can you say FREE, I just can't pass it up and I'd be here taking care of the kids, so why not do it in the happiest place on earth? I think someone else said they were visiting beforehand, maybe we could meet up??

We are also toying around with staying at Canaveral on Saturday to view Kennedy and then book airfare home on Sunday. Has anyone done that, do you think it will just be wicked busy with other people coming off the boats with the same idea?

I hope everyone is staying safe in this East Coast weather, the NC tornados were too close for comfort and we just expired a tornado warning, so I think we are in the clear for this one. I just pray for everyone affected and their families, just so so tragic.

 

[Poohbear 64]

Hey Cara,
We will be going to WDW the week before, we fly in on July 28. We have plans to go to WDW, Epcot and AK, on the fourth day it is a "whatever park you want to go to" day. Saturday after the cruise we will also be going to Kennedy as our flight home doesn't leave until 7pm. We should meet up for sure!!!

The "free' part is GREAT, a must do!!! What better place to have a "free" place to stay!!!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Where has everyone been the past the past few days?? It is lonely here without some chatter!!!

As you all know by now, I am FE obsessed. We are going this week to buy the material and supplies to make our FE's. (the actual extender, not gifts....those are under control, well, there is always room for more!! LOL)

Hello Teri,

I have been very busy at work and I took Tuesday off to take my daughter to a Middle School Track Meet near Harrisburg, PA. She finished in first place in the 100 meter dash

I had a panic moment when I realized that I didn't complete the check-in process for my second cabin

No worries, I was still able to get the 10:30 a.m. boarding time Not that it matters because we probably could have used my confirmed boarding time.

After Mother's Day I will renew my girls passports since two of them will be 18. That way they will not have to renew for 10 years instead of 5.

Philly is trying to dry out due to the heavy rains and flooding everywhere.

In three weeks I will be in Chicago for a conference. I am going to the Cubs vs. Yankees game and I will be hitting some of my favorite restaurants

 

[joycsk]

Done!

joycsk - I finally took the time to get my real cabin number and wanted to change that on the original sheet but am unable to. Would you mind making our cabin number 6152? And my son has found a love of Donald Duck on this last trip and that might be easier for anybody doing character stuff to find, so could you add the big D to Nolan's favorite characters? Sorry to add more work and if there is a way for me to do it, please let me know. I'm on a hunt for good FE gifts the kids and I can work on over summer break.

We just finished our LAST Saturday School to make up all the snow days we had this year. So crazy. We book our excursions soon (hope something is left to choose from), hoping to do a massage, Palo brunch for our anniversary and thinking about a few shore excursions for our crew. I'm reading some cruise trip reports and it is really getting me excited!!!

 

[Poohbear 64]

Hey Joe, Congrats to your daughter for the first place, woohooo. Did you get a cabana on CC?? I get to do check in on Saturday for one of our cabins, the other is on the 19th.

Four of my group needs to renew their passports, I have been after them to do it since January. It is smart of you to wait for 18 to renew them.

Going to Chicago?? Well, a thousand or so more miles and you can come see me!!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

All of the Cabanas are currently unavailable. I did notice that the new Cabanas are not listed yet.

There are plenty of Palo brunch and dinner reservations available.

After Chicago, I will be going to Dallas in early July. These air fair prices have been crazy this year.

 

[AliceIn]

All of the Cabanas are currently unavailable. I did notice that the new Cabanas are not listed yet.

There are plenty of Palo brunch and dinner reservations available.

After Chicago, I will be going to Dallas in early July. These air fair prices have been crazy this year.

When will the new Cabanas be ready? Are they expanding the family beach?

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

When will the new Cabanas be ready? Are they expanding the family beach?

The Cabanas are supposed to be completed by the beginning of the Summer

This will be an expansion of the Cabanas private beach.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Only 13 weeks until our cruise

 

[AliceIn]

Only 13 weeks until our cruise

I just watched the Fantasy leave on the Port Canaveral webcam. The booking window opens for our silver folks in just about 6.5 hours. Have folks figured out what excursions they are doing?

I'm getting so excited!

 

[AliceIn]

The Cabanas are supposed to be completed by the beginning of the Summer

This will be an expansion of the Cabanas private beach.

Keep your eyes out for when they release them. Fingers crossed for anyone who might be hoping for one.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I just watched the Fantasy leave on the Port Canaveral webcam. The booking window opens for our silver folks in just about 6.5 hours. Have folks figured out what excursions they are doing?

I'm getting so excited!

We are doing the Segway/Beach Excursion at Cozumel; The Island Tour at Grand Cayman and a private company Island Tour and Dunns River Falls at Jamaica

 

[Carable]

joycsk - THANK YOU!

Teri - We should definitely meet up. I am just now figuring out park days and reservations, but it would be fun to meet before the cruise! Anyone else coming in early to WDW?

Good luck everyone who is lucky enough to do excursions tomorrow!

We are still going back and forth, we are thinking of just doing the Playa Mia excursion in Cozumel (or maybe just staying on the boat), one of the submarines in Grand Cayman, either the inclusive beach day or a Dunn's River in Jamaica, and maybe renting snorkeling equipment for CC. I also tried to remind the family that it is hurricane season, and we may end up in a totally different place than we imagined. We're just so happy to be on the boat for a week, that excursions are only gravy! We are really hoping for a Palo ressie for our anniversary on the 3rd, but we'll just have to see if anything is open on the 19th. Can we start booking at midnight as the clock turns to the 19th on the East Coast?

I'm hoping to get passport pictures this week and send off the paper work by the end of the week, hopefully it will be here in time.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Teri - We should definitely meet up. I am just now figuring out park days and reservations, but it would be fun to meet before the cruise! Anyone else coming in early to WDW?

Good luck everyone who is lucky enough to do excursions tomorrow!

We are still going back and forth, we are thinking of just doing the Playa Mia excursion in Cozumel (or maybe just staying on the boat), one of the submarines in Grand Cayman, either the inclusive beach day or a Dunn's River in Jamaica, and maybe renting snorkeling equipment for CC. I also tried to remind the family that it is hurricane season, and we may end up in a totally different place than we imagined. We're just so happy to be on the boat for a week, that excursions are only gravy! We are really hoping for a Palo ressie for our anniversary on the 3rd, but we'll just have to see if anything is open on the 19th. Can we start booking at midnight as the clock turns to the 19th on the East Coast?

I'm hoping to get passport pictures this week and send off the paper work by the end of the week, hopefully it will be here in time.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

If you can't book Palo before the cruise, just go up to Palo's as soon as you board and make the request

Half of the Palo's reservations are help back until the cruise begins.

 

[AliceIn]

After Mother's Day I will renew my girls passports since two of them will be 18. That way they will not have to renew for 10 years instead of 5.

Hey Joe - just FYI, in case you don't want to wait to apply for the passports. Once you hit 16, your new passport is good for 10 years.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/16-and-17.html

 

[momtomattclare]

Hello Teri, I have been very busy at work and I took Tuesday off to take my daughter to a Middle School Track Meet near Harrisburg, PA. She finished in first place in the 100 meter dash I had a panic moment when I realized that I didn't complete the check-in process for my second cabin No worries, I was still able to get the 10:30 a.m. boarding time Not that it matters because we probably could have used my confirmed boarding time. After Mother's Day I will renew my girls passports since two of them will be 18. That way they will not have to renew for 10 years instead of 5. Philly is trying to dry out due to the heavy rains and flooding everywhere. In three weeks I will be in Chicago for a conference. I am going to the Cubs vs. Yankees game and I will be hitting some of my favorite restaurants

Wow, congrats to your DD on the track meet--way to go!!

My Chicago boy will be jealous of that Yankees game--he loves the Yankees and our White Sox. If nothing has changed by cruise time, he'll be the one in the Yankees hat!

Hope you have a great trip when you're here visiting! Lots of good eats!!

 

[momtomattclare]

I just watched the Fantasy leave on the Port Canaveral webcam. The booking window opens for our silver folks in just about 6.5 hours. Have folks figured out what excursions they are doing? I'm getting so excited!

I'm getting excited too!! I shared this on the FB page but I'll share here too for those not on FB. No, Disney excursions for us. We're doing non-Disney Nachi Cocom in Cozumel. Staying onboard in Jamaica. Just going to the beach in Grand Cayman and CC.

So while I didn't book excursions, I was happy to get a 10:30 PAT. Also booked Palo brunch for the first at sea day, Palo dinner for Aug. 5, and the new Remy dessert party for the 2nd sea day.

Also booked DD for BBB for pirate night and got DS some time on the Simulators one day. So all in all I'm pleased!! Now just have to coach my traveling buddy, Tanya, for when she books her families stuff in 2 weeks!

 

[Carable]

Where do we go to find out what night is Pirate night, formal night, etc? I looked on our "homepage" that shows up when I log in , but I can't find it. I'm sure it is hiding in plain sight.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hey Joe - just FYI, in case you don't want to wait to apply for the passports. Once you hit 16, your new passport is good for 10 years.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/16-and-17.html

Thanks Middle DD turns 18 on Mother's Day

The youngest DD is only 14 so she won't get her passport renewed again until she turns 19.

All of my girls passports expired a month ago and that's why they are just getting them done.

They will probalby want to get their hair done to take their pictures