**Fantasy Becomes Reality** Group--5/19/2012 (INDEX/ROLE CALL, PAGE 1--ENTRY 1)

[gailg3horses]

We are too!!! It makes it feel more official for us. We were on the fence about canceling this cruise up until last week and then just decided to go for it.

Funny you said that. We were on the fence about cancelling until about last week too but ours is now paid in full so we can make reservations on the 19th.

 

[5Dreamers]

Can anyone tell me how "exposed" Orient Beach is in St. Maarten? We are wanting to do the excursion there but I'm not wanting my kids to see nudeness while we are there. We have decided to stay at Country Inn and Suites the night before the cruise so just wondering if anyone else is staying there?

We'll also be at the Country Inn and Suites the night before. I liked that they have free breakfast and that the check-out is 12noon, so we don't have to rush out in the morning. We're first time cruisers, so I'm expecting we won't get an early port arrival time. We haven't decided where we'll eat supper the night before, any suggestions?

I've also booked with Bernards Tours on St.Maarten which includes Orient Beach too. I figure we'll stay on the side that is more family orientated and talk to the kids about the chance of seeing some nudity. I'm hoping it won't be too much nudity and not too obvious. The kids will probably be busy playing in the sand and such.

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Susan-- feeling great! After the puppy, I couldn't stand being in the house alone, so I went back to the gym the first day both boys went back to school (my oldest was so upset, he couldn't go for the rest of the week and then slept in my bed til Sunday too ). I had actually snuck a workout in that Saturday with our basement gym (I have a treadmill, bow flex and ablounge), which may not have been a good idea, but it's how I de-stress, so I NEEDED it after that week! Other than a misbehaving stitch under the skin, all is in order

I think I'm going to re-start my FE gifts. Don't like how these ones are turning out. I might be lazy and just order something I had an idea for. The people who are done are making me nervous, haha

Counting down to Sunday when I can make Palo reservations!!!! Skipping out on Remy-- hubby isn't a very adventurous eater and isn't into the menu. I would just do Palo brunch every day if I could! We didn't do dinner on the last one, so I'm pretty excited about that!!!! Been looking at menus and food pics (I'm a definite foodie!) and I'm counting down to yummy eats I guess I better try to overshoot my WW goal so I can just plan to gain some back

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Oh-- and I saw some posts about Kindles (I'm catching up on my reading on here, haha). LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Kindle! I just got Amazon Prime so I could get some movies and extra books here and there. I am in the middle of Hunger Games now Not too crazy about the streaming movies/shows, but I figure with AP, I can rent a few movies too for the 7-day rental and download them so I can watch them while we're by the pool soaking up the sun without using precious WiFi time

 

[bookite]

while there is a chance anywhere on the island of seeing nudity, it is mostly on the french side and even more specifically mostly at orient. we went there when our kids were younger (we lived there til they were 2 and 4) but preferred le gallion. if you really don't want to see nudity, orient beach is NOT for you. honestly, as others have mentioned there is no "safe" place there from nudity. if you can handle an occasionally "whoops, saw more than i wanted to" then you should be fine if you plop down and stay put but if you go wandering (even to the -unisex- restroom) you will most likely get an eyefull. ironically in my experience it was most often americans who wouldn't dare do something like go topless at home, rather than brazillian goddesses, just fyi

still not sure what we are doing on sxm, most likely getting jeeps and driving around to see old haunts. the airport, cupecoy beach, the med school, marigot for shopping and croissants and front street for some sparklies, not to mention Rima's for all my souvie needs (on salt pond road, near port). we may stop at le gallion if we have time but would be just as content with cupecoy and/or mullet which are the ones we went to most during our time there.

we are also paid in full, tho i'm not sure our travelling companions are yet. we are going w/ my parents and my il's and their two small children so 10 all together, not sure how you all do it w/ large groups, i'm sticking my head in the sand to not think about trying to keep everyone from killing each other i mean happy.

 

[carouselkr]

not sure how you all do it w/ large groups, i'm sticking my head in the sand to not think about trying to keep everyone from killing each other i mean happy.

It's a big ship! One of the best parts of cruising is that everyone can do their own thing...lots of hidden nooks and crannies to hide out in....then, you just meet up for dinner and say "how was your day?"

 

[carouselkr]

I want to know about brunch at palo's? Is it the same food as dinner? Is the price the same?

We had a Palo brunch on the Disney Dream & imagine it will be similar: several different sections with fruits, cheeses, pastries...the waiter gives you a "tour" and there is a display of the entrees (specially prepared egg dishes, etc) of which you choose one to order, then you go around and serve yourself the rest. There was a lot of food! I don't specifically remember alcohol but would say it was likely available.

Someone else posted about "will it get me on the ship faster" to try & book....not sure how they work it at the boarding desk, (DH thinks the boarding numbers they give you are random LOL), but after you board, you can go at a specified time to one of the lounges (it should say in the Personal Navigator that you get before boarding) and try to book Palo/Remy dining, if there are any slots left. It is easier to get a dinner reservation than a high tea or brunch one, because there is more availability...tea/brunch only on sea days, and they limit how many people they seat. When we did tea on the Disney Dream, there were only about 10 tables occupied. (it was pretty nice - but still ranked 2nd to Grand Floridian's Garden View Tea!). We also saw someone w/ gluten-free tea menu and that was quite nice as well.

Just checked: 1st Sea Day (day 2 of cruise): brunch & tea sold out, dinner at P or R available; 2nd Sea Day (day 3 of cruise): brunch sold out, tea & both dinners available; 3rd Sea Day (day 6 of cruise): Tea sold out, brunch and both dinners available. I did not look to see if P/R dinners were available on the non-sea days, but imagine that they are. I do not know if they keep back some reservations for those who don't book ahead so worth going to the sign-up when you board to ask...

 

[dlf246]

Just checked: 1st Sea Day (day 2 of cruise): brunch & tea sold out, dinner at P or R available; 2nd Sea Day (day 3 of cruise): brunch sold out, tea & both dinners available; 3rd Sea Day (day 6 of cruise): Tea sold out, brunch and both dinners available. I did not look to see if P/R dinners were available on the non-sea days, but imagine that they are.

Carouselkr: thank you so much for doing the above. It helps so much! And for those of you booking March 5th, I plan to post the same info if possible March 2 or 3rd. (not sure how much you can "view" when you already have reservations; sure don't want to risk losing any )

 

[bookite]

it would be great if we were the "go your separate ways and meet up at dinner" kind of people. well dh and i are and my il's might be, but my parents are not at all. they also like different things than we do (understandably so, they don't have kids and are older) so it gets sticky sometimes. we've cruised w/ both sets of parents before, separately, but never together. i'm a little skeered, lol!

kids still don't know we are going. xmas came and went and we didn't tell them. dd's bday is also past, as is valentines. that leaves mine, ds' and dh's bdays left to announce the surprise, unless we make it the pot of gold on st patty's day, lol!

 

[OKraysLoveDisney]

Looking forward to making reservations and checking in after midnight, but we have satellite internet and severe storms are headed our way this evening in to the morning hours!

 

[cncDisney4]

Carouselkr: thank you so much for doing the above. It helps so much! And for those of you booking March 5th, I plan to post the same info if possible March 2 or 3rd. (not sure how much you can "view" when you already have reservations; sure don't want to risk losing any )

Thank you so much!

 

[wdwgoose]

WE are still here dealing with life,

have booked nothing just did palo on the dream thinking we will do that again luv the queitness in there, REMY no thats way outta my league.


no other plans yet.

the ladie ask about the shirts so I will be placing my order soon still need to ask for a price so if theres any interest let me know I understand with me not having a price yet.


garRy

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Thank you for posting the Palo availabilities! Nice to have an idea before diving in Ahhhh! It's getting closer!!!!!

 

[DizDaddy]

Looking forward to making reservations and checking in after midnight, but we have satellite internet and severe storms are headed our way this evening in to the morning hours!

We also are looking forward to checking tonight and scheduling Palo, hopefully for brunch and dinner. We are overpaid, so we have approx. $500 in our 'amenities' to cover some of what we book, and for our gratuities. Nice to have that to fall back on....

 

[dlf246]

Looking forward to making reservations and checking in after midnight, but we have satellite internet and severe storms are headed our way this evening in to the morning hours!

Do you have a friendly neighbor with DSL or cable internet who is willing to let you use their computer as a backup?? Just a thought...

 

[Elaine Dragonlady]

We had a Palo brunch on the Disney Dream & imagine it will be similar: several different sections with fruits, cheeses, pastries...the waiter gives you a "tour" and there is a display of the entrees (specially prepared egg dishes, etc) of which you choose one to order, then you go around and serve yourself the rest. There was a lot of food! I don't specifically remember alcohol but would say it was likely available.

Someone else posted about "will it get me on the ship faster" to try & book....not sure how they work it at the boarding desk, (DH thinks the boarding numbers they give you are random LOL), but after you board, you can go at a specified time to one of the lounges (it should say in the Personal Navigator that you get before boarding) and try to book Palo/Remy dining, if there are any slots left. It is easier to get a dinner reservation than a high tea or brunch one, because there is more availability...tea/brunch only on sea days, and they limit how many people they seat. When we did tea on the Disney Dream, there were only about 10 tables occupied. (it was pretty nice - but still ranked 2nd to Grand Floridian's Garden View Tea!). We also saw someone w/ gluten-free tea menu and that was quite nice as well.

Just checked: 1st Sea Day (day 2 of cruise): brunch & tea sold out, dinner at P or R available; 2nd Sea Day (day 3 of cruise): brunch sold out, tea & both dinners available; 3rd Sea Day (day 6 of cruise): Tea sold out, brunch and both dinners available. I did not look to see if P/R dinners were available on the non-sea days, but imagine that they are. I do not know if they keep back some reservations for those who don't book ahead so worth going to the sign-up when you board to ask...

Thanks for the Palo info - midnight Eastern Time is 5am in the UK, so I will be getting up early tomorrow morning!! if we can get the bookings for brunch and afternoon tea, it willbe worth it!

 

[kimistry6]

(SNIP) Just checked: 1st Sea Day (day 2 of cruise): brunch & tea sold out, dinner at P or R available; 2nd Sea Day (day 3 of cruise): brunch sold out, tea & both dinners available; 3rd Sea Day (day 6 of cruise): Tea sold out, brunch and both dinners available. I did not look to see if P/R dinners were available on the non-sea days, but imagine that they are. I do not know if they keep back some reservations for those who don't book ahead so worth going to the sign-up when you board to ask...

Doesn't seem too hopeful for brunch for us, but we haven't even had dinner yet at Palo, so I will be happy if we at least get dinner tonight. I need to research when Pirate Night is because I do like taking the kids to dinner then, so I do not want to book it that night.

 

[donaldsgal]

Still here!

Just checking in. We paid in full yesterday, so we'll be logging in at 12:00 AM to make reservations. We're trying to Remy and Palo (dinner and brunch). We might do some DIY excursions, but until we can do more research, we're booking some excursions through DCL.

We're part of the All Ears group too. Way back when, I think i was the first person in the meet who posted that we were part of it, so it's nice to know others will be participating with that group, too!

When do we need to commit to the FEs? I still have absolutely positively no clue about what we'd make, and I don't have an FE itself yet. *Sigh.* Work has been just crazy this winter with very little time to plan these kinds of things.

We're doing some park days before the cruise, too. I'm going down solo for a few days from the 13th to the 16th at Boardwalk Villas. My sister and niece are joining me on the 16th, and we'll be at VWL until the morning of the cruise. We're still deciding how we're getting to the port.

Do we sign up for boarding times when we can book other things (as in tonight for those of us at the 90 day booking window)?

Thanks, everyone!

 

[donaldsgal]

Oh, and does anyone know when we choose boarding times for the cruise? Is that tonight, if we can book tonight, or at another time? Thanks!

 

[OKraysLoveDisney]

Do you have a friendly neighbor with DSL or cable internet who is willing to let you use their computer as a backup?? Just a thought...

Unfortunately we don't; we live in the middle of the woods (so to speak) and our nearest neighbor is about a mile away (that we don't even know). So far internet is working so I will keep hoping the storm isn't too bad.

To the person who asked about checking in this evening; at 12:01 a.m. we can make dinner and excursion reservations. At 3 a.m. you can check in online. It's going to be a long night!