Fantasy - July 14, 2012

[SA53]

Noahsmom, I think I figured out what to do with all those things in your cruise bag but the fan? Is it just for up on deck or do you need it in your room? I am bringing a small hand fan for the parks but didn't think I needed it on the boat?

I am all about jewelry shopping, but dh not so much... My goal is to get a pandora/chamila boat out of him

Kereen

 

[SA53]

Oh, and Noahsmom, I jealously noticed another boat floating in your sig!!!! Time to start planning my second stowaway mission

K in SA

 

[noahsmom]

The fan is mostly for white noise while sleeping. DH likes a fan at night. It's not blowing on us. It's a very small fan I just sit on the desk. On one cruise I didn't take it and DH heard noise every night (I never heard anything ) so now it's just always in our cruise suitcase. Yes, I have a suitcase with our cruise stuff always in it.

We are very naughty and are going on the Dream next summer. A couple of years ago we really connected with our table mates. Last summer they cruised with us again on the Dream. I emailed them about a trip to WDW next summer since they are also DVC but they said they were taking a cruise. So we are using our DVC points on a 4 night cruise next summer. We also thought that after 14 nights this summer 4 just wouldn't be enough so we added a 3 night.

Who needs to ever be able to retire....

 

[linkandclover]

Noahsmom, I think I figured out what to do with all those things in your cruise bag but the fan? Is it just for up on deck or do you need it in your room? I am bringing a small hand fan for the parks but didn't think I needed it on the boat?

I am all about jewelry shopping, but dh not so much... My goal is to get a pandora/chamila boat out of him

Kereen

You should have no problem finding charms there.

 

[GarakDS9]

The fan is mostly for white noise while sleeping. DH likes a fan at night. It's not blowing on us. It's a very small fan I just sit on the desk. On one cruise I didn't take it and DH heard noise every night (I never heard anything ) so now it's just always in our cruise suitcase. Yes, I have a suitcase with our cruise stuff always in it.

We are very naughty and are going on the Dream next summer. A couple of years ago we really connected with our table mates. Last summer they cruised with us again on the Dream. I emailed them about a trip to WDW next summer since they are also DVC but they said they were taking a cruise. So we are using our DVC points on a 4 night cruise next summer. We also thought that after 14 nights this summer 4 just wouldn't be enough so we added a 3 night.

Who needs to ever be able to retire....

Retirement is overrated, carpe diem is our motto!

Regarding white noise, I too can't sleep without it. It started with an actual fan when I was in college. Afterwards I moved on to a white noise machine with 5 sounds: water running, waves crashing, birds singing, rain falling, and static...my favorite choice because it sounded like a fan. After that burned out from overuse I moved on to an app for my iPod. If you have a smartphone/iPod/iPad, there is an app for it. It is called WhiteNoise and it has over 100 combination of sounds including an actual fan. By the way my favorite setting: static...it works for me!

 

[ashly2499]

I won a facial & couples time @ the Spa on our first Disney cruise. I've really been wanting to go back on this one, but I didn't find anything that really jumped out at me (particularly for the price)! I really enjoyed the rainforest room last time, and I think it's a really special experience to get to go.

I've been looking over the Navigators for the 7 night Eastern Caribbean, and I think I'm going to wait and catch one of the daily specials! Has anyone ever done these before?

Here is that link if you want to check out the navigators.

So far they haven't posted any from the Fantasy- they have all been from the Dream. Still, I think the services will be comparable.

I liked the sound of these:

Spa Topia (Sea Day 4-9pm)
75 minutes for $135
Enjoy full body exfoliation with hot stone back massage, foot and ankle massage and booster hydrating facial.

Spa Taster Special (St. Thomas Day)
Choose from collegen eye treatment, European Facial, neck and shoulder massage, foot and ankle massage, and many more. 3/$99, 5/$119, 8/$139

What do you guys think? Spa?

 

[linkandclover]

I won a facial & couples time @ the Spa on our first Disney cruise. I've really been wanting to go back on this one, but I didn't find anything that really jumped out at me (particularly for the price)! I really enjoyed the rainforest room last time, and I think it's a really special experience to get to go.

I've been looking over the Navigators for the 7 night Eastern Caribbean, and I think I'm going to wait and catch one of the daily specials! Has anyone ever done these before?

Here is that link if you want to check out the navigators.

So far they haven't posted any from the Fantasy- they have all been from the Dream. Still, I think the services will be comparable.

I liked the sound of these:

Spa Topia (Sea Day 4-9pm)
75 minutes for $135
Enjoy full body exfoliation with hot stone back massage, foot and ankle massage and booster hydrating facial.

Spa Taster Special (St. Thomas Day)
Choose from collegen eye treatment, European Facial, neck and shoulder massage, foot and ankle massage, and many more. 3/$99, 5/$119, 8/$139

What do you guys think? Spa?

I agree the prices are quite high so I have never arranged for anything on the cruise. I also figure that I am relaxed on vacation so I use my pampering money when I am at home and had a horrible day at work (a mini vacation when I need it most). I have had a hot stone massage before and really liked it. I am not much of a facial fan.

 

[SA53]

ashly, I am thinking of getting my dh a rainforest room pass for Father's Day. I was looking on line but came to the conclusion that I can't get it until we are on board. Is this right? Don't want to miss out for him, although if there are loungers on our verandah like on the Dream I don't think I am even going to get him out of our room!!!!

K in SA

 

[GarakDS9]

ashly, I am thinking of getting my dh a rainforest room pass for Father's Day. I was looking on line but came to the conclusion that I can't get it until we are on board. Is this right? Don't want to miss out for him, although if there are loungers on our verandah like on the Dream I don't think I am even going to get him out of our room!!!!

K in SA

The rainforest pass online is for the length of cruise. You can purchase a day pass once aboard on the day or days of your choice. There is some per day savings to length of cruise but since this is the first time on the Fantasy we feel that one day will be enough. We did the rainforest for the first time on the Wonder in Feb. and loved it. The new ships look that much better.

 

[linkandclover]

What is the rainforest pass? I am curious as I have never done this before and everyone seems so positive about it.

 

[ashly2499]

Thanks for the jewelry advice/comments! I will definitely keep all those in mind for future reference.

What is the rainforest pass? I am curious as I have never done this before and everyone seems so positive about it.

For a $15 one day pass it gets you into the Rainforest Room, which includes a Hamam (steam bath), a Caldarium (steam room) and Laconium (dry sauna). They are on the DCL website when you log in under planning center under Gifts & Amenities. I haven't seen the longer passes.

Has anyone done the Salon onboard before?

I have another question for you guys: Who has purchased pictures on a cruise before? I would love to see pics!!!
We've never had pictures taken but we are thinking about it this time. Can you buy pictures individually or are they all in packages like this:

Photo Value Pkg: 10 Photo Credits
$89
Use photo credits in any combination, each 6 x 8 photo = 1 credit, and each 8 x 10 photo = 2 credits. Receive a gift message card in your stateroom to redeem at Shutters.


Photo Choice Pkg: 20 Photo Credits
$149
Use photo credits in any combination, each 6 x 8 photo = 1 credit, and each 8 x 10 photo = 2 credits. Receive a gift message card in your stateroom to redeem at Shutters.


Photo Premium Pkg: 30 Photo Credits
$199
Use photo credits in any combination, each 6 x 8 photo = 1 credit, and each 8 x 10 photo = 2 credits. Receive a gift message card in your stateroom to redeem at Shutters.

(That comes from the "Gift and Amenities" page in the Planning Center)

Also, thanks for the White Noise App info! I will be using that!!!!!

p.s. Page 19!!!!!

 

[ashly2499]

Ashly, my DH (Bill) is also a teacher. But school isn't out here until mid June, then he coordinates summer school so he's not done until early July.

Not until JULY?! Poor thing!!!!! Well, at least he has a Disney cruise to look forward to so he can get his "summer" started off right!
This is going to be me in 18 more school days:

Palo & Remy, we have Palo brunch and dinner reservations during this cruise. Remy reservations for the 25th which is our 25th wedding anniversary.

Awww that is so sweet! Congrats again on 25 years! Disney cruise & Remy sound like the perfect way to celebrate! This cruise will be celebrating our 3rd anniversary.

 

[ashly2499]

Oh, and Noahsmom, I jealously noticed another boat floating in your sig!!!! Time to start planning my second stowaway mission
K in SA

When you get ready to plan adventure #2, you should send me a PM. DH & I are full service travel agents now!
You guys can check us out Cross The World Adventures website or our facebook page.

 

[linkandclover]

We have done photos in the past but I think it has changed now. The packages are definitely a cheaper way to go and in the past you could swap out packages as you needed and could swap out photos as well. If you see one you like and then like a different one better they will let you exchange them. Our current method is to avoid the cameras and the photos but I might have some done if everyone is in the mood for a family shot.

 

[noahsmom]

Spa - we have done the Rasul couples thing, a couple spa taster (massage & facial), and as gold castaway club members I can get a mini facial free. My thoughts - save your money. The Rasul thing has had rave reviews. You and up to 2 other rolleyes1) have a private, tiled room where you have a variety of muds and creams that you spread on each other. There is a steam room and showers to use. Many report romantic interludes in this room but - it's totally tiled, not my thing. The couples massage/facial was nice but so over priced! A free facial - that I will do. I get my pedicure before I leave home for less than 1/2 the price of the ship's spa. I've never tried the rainforest, maybe this will be the time!

Photo packages - we used to do the small package. Now that DS is a teen it's difficult to get any pictures taken. He certainly won't do character photos anymore. Last summer I purchased 3 pictures, embarkation, one from castaway cay, and one family photo from dinner. They are nice pictures but it really matters how many photo ops you take advantage of to know which package is right for you. I have seen people in shutters with piles of photos over an inch thick! Seems they must spend most of the cruise waiting in line to get a picture taken.

 

[noahsmom]

 

[ashly2499]

Spa - we have done the Rasul couples thing, a couple spa taster (massage & facial), and as gold castaway club members I can get a mini facial free.

We did the Rasul couples thing too! I couldn't remember what it was called. We won it and it was ok but not my thing either! I was curious about the spa taster- how long did that last? You just had 2 services?
I know they are alot more expensive, but I really enjoy getting to go to the "Disney Spa". I will probably get a mani/pedi at home too.

I'm jealous of your free mini facial! A few more cruises to go for us! This will be DH's 3rd Disney cruise and my 2nd.

Thanks for sharing the pics! Love it!

What are you guys holding here?
Also, I love your mickey shirts in the other one.

 

[noahsmom]

We had just gone to the bar to get buckets of ice. In Bill's shoulder bag is beer (we bring our own). The pictures they take at CC are 6x8, the embarkation photo and many of the posed photos are 8x10.

The Mickey shirts were cool. Someone on the DISigns board made it for me. Our names repeat in the Mickey, it's the shading.
here it is:

 

[SA53]

Noahsmom, we must have been separated at birth!!! I have the same design for our shirts this cruise!!! I even have the same vneck white shirt--spooooky...

I also like your "story" about that being an ice bucket... Looks like a fun time to me

10-aft is going to be rocking

Kereen

 

[Burymom]

Thanks for the navigator link ashly2499 I know someone from my town going on the Fantasy June 9 so I imagine I'll see one of theirs before we go as well!