Fantasy June 29, 2013 Meet Up!

[EcbLovesMickey]

Hello all, we're less than a year and a half away from our cruise!!! I don't know about y'all, but my kids are asking me everyday to check my countdown ticker on my phone for the number of days left!

I am heading out next month with some of my girlfriends on a Mommies only cruise. Leaving kids and hubbies behind and hitting the Bahamas. I am so excited, but it is on an old Carnival ship, and I know it will feel like slumming it after being on the Dream last year.

 

[jetskigrl]

Hello all, we're less than a year and a half away from our cruise!!! I don't know about y'all, but my kids are asking me everyday to check my countdown ticker on my phone for the number of days left!

I am heading out next month with some of my girlfriends on a Mommies only cruise. Leaving kids and hubbies behind and hitting the Bahamas. I am so excited, but it is on an old Carnival ship, and I know it will feel like slumming it after being on the Dream last year.

I'm sure the trip will be awesome!! Tomorrow will be three months until our Wonder cruise and I'm also kinda wondering how it will be to go back to that ship after being on the Dream. But it will be our first 7-night cruise and I'm sure we will have a great time. DS was happy that we only have to do the safety drill one time (I told him that a lot will be different from the B2B we did last time).

I have been following the rumors about the 2013 schedule for the Wonder and Magic. I'm worried that they will move the Wonder back to the East coast. Just in case this is her last year here, I booked DH and I for a Pacific Coast cruise in September (our first real vacation without kids since our Honeymoon, LOL). But if the Wonder ends up staying here for a couple more years, I may cancel it and wait until later for that trip.

Now I need to go check the boards to see if they are still doing the float out of the Fantasy tomorrow. I'm just as excited to see this one float out as I was to see the Dream

 

[cyclenut]

I'm sure the trip will be awesome!! Tomorrow will be three months until our Wonder cruise and I'm also kinda wondering how it will be to go back to that ship after being on the Dream. But it will be our first 7-night cruise and I'm sure we will have a great time. DS was happy that we only have to do the safety drill one time (I told him that a lot will be different from the B2B we did last time).

I have been following the rumors about the 2013 schedule for the Wonder and Magic. I'm worried that they will move the Wonder back to the East coast. Just in case this is her last year here, I booked DH and I for a Pacific Coast cruise in September (our first real vacation without kids since our Honeymoon, LOL). But if the Wonder ends up staying here for a couple more years, I may cancel it and wait until later for that trip.

Now I need to go check the boards to see if they are still doing the float out of the Fantasy tomorrow. I'm just as excited to see this one float out as I was to see the Dream

Did you book the Vancouver to LA Pacific Coast cruise in September or a different one? We're on the September 10 repo Pacific Coast cruise on the Wonder. Leave from Vancouver, two days in San Fran and then back home.

 

[jetskigrl]

Did you book the Vancouver to LA Pacific Coast cruise in September or a different one? We're on the September 10 repo Pacific Coast cruise on the Wonder. Leave from Vancouver, two days in San Fran and then back home.

Right now I have the Sept 23rd Pacific Coast cruise booked. I almost booked the Sept 10th but the addition of airfare would have made it even more expensive (for one less night, I believe). Since we are so close to the Port of LA, it just makes more sense for us to do the one that starts and ends here. Of course if I had plenty of time and money, I would have booked the repo cruise in addition to the Coast Starlight to go up north But that was a no-go for this trip since I need to keep costs down, LOL.

Oh...did you all watch the float-out of the Fantasy on Sunday? The kids and I watched it later on youtube. It was so fun to watch it with them since they didn't appreciate the Dream float-out (since they still didn't know they would be on it, LOL).

 

[cyclenut]

Right now I have the Sept 23rd Pacific Coast cruise booked. I almost booked the Sept 10th but the addition of airfare would have made it even more expensive (for one less night, I believe). Since we are so close to the Port of LA, it just makes more sense for us to do the one that starts and ends here. Of course if I had plenty of time and money, I would have booked the repo cruise in addition to the Coast Starlight to go up north But that was a no-go for this trip since I need to keep costs down, LOL.

Oh...did you all watch the float-out of the Fantasy on Sunday? The kids and I watched it later on youtube. It was so fun to watch it with them since they didn't appreciate the Dream float-out (since they still didn't know they would be on it, LOL).

We booked the Sept 10 cruise while on board the Wonder in Alaska. It was more than a year out at the time and we got what seems like a super deal, plus the OBC for onboard booking. Yes, we have to do the airfare but we have family in Eastern Washington so we are stopping there for a couple of nights on our way up. They don't even know it yet. Then we'll go into Seattle for one night and take the train into Vancouver.

We've been on the Coast Starlight and it just takes such a long time but it does go through some amazing scenery.

We didn't watch the Fantasy float out. We were originally booked for June 2012 and pushed it out to 2013 and chose to sail RCL for our June 2012 cruise instead.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Sorry to bombard y'all with this but I need to vent (can't do it elsewhere in case the people involved see it )...

I am going on a cruise in 3 weeks with some friends. Well TODAY one of them says they don't have a passport... ok, fine you don't REALLY need one... so I say you need your Birth certificate instead, well she DOESN'T HAVE ONE!

OMG we booked this cruise over 6 months ago and JUST NOW she's thinking about ID... Personally I have a valid passport, and I am assuming everyone else has proper ID too. AND the only reason she even thought about this was I posted in our group to be sure and pack your travel documents in your carry-on because you need them to get into the port.

I just don't get why you would travel to a foreign country and not even give a thought to travel documents, especially in this day and age when all you have to do is Google it.

Ok, sorry for the rant, I am just very frustrated and this was kinda the straw that broke the camel's back... Gosh I need a Margarita (or some Mango rum)!

 

[owensjro]

We just booked this and the 7N Western after it. Very excited for our next batch of DCL cruises

Jim, Amanda, Hannah (DD, 11 at cruise time)

 

[jetskigrl]

Sorry to bombard y'all with this but I need to vent (can't do it elsewhere in case the people involved see it )...

I am going on a cruise in 3 weeks with some friends. Well TODAY one of them says they don't have a passport... ok, fine you don't REALLY need one... so I say you need your Birth certificate instead, well she DOESN'T HAVE ONE!

OMG we booked this cruise over 6 months ago and JUST NOW she's thinking about ID... Personally I have a valid passport, and I am assuming everyone else has proper ID too. AND the only reason she even thought about this was I posted in our group to be sure and pack your travel documents in your carry-on because you need them to get into the port.

I just don't get why you would travel to a foreign country and not even give a thought to travel documents, especially in this day and age when all you have to do is Google it.

Ok, sorry for the rant, I am just very frustrated and this was kinda the straw that broke the camel's back... Gosh I need a Margarita (or some Mango rum)!

OK, now I am a planner so that would really drive me crazy, LOL. So did she get some form of ID?

We just booked this and the 7N Western after it. Very excited for our next batch of DCL cruises

Jim, Amanda, Hannah (DD, 11 at cruise time)

Welcome to the group! WOW...B2B Eastern and Western (that sounds heavenly)!!

 

[owensamo]

Hi, all! I'm Jim's wife! We're so excited to be on this cruise! We were looking at some of the Magic Med options for 2013 but it's actually less expensive for us to stay closer to home and do the B2B!! I'm sure we'll get to Greece and Italy someday!

We'd love to be included in the FE Exchange! Our last cruise was a 14n EBTA, and this will actually be our 4th Eastern Caribbean cruise on this itinerary, so if anyone has any questions - let us know! I'm sure that there have been some changes since the 2009 Christmas cruise, but the ports are pretty much the same.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!
Amanda

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Jim & Amanda! So exited to have y'all onboard with us! We're still a bit slow on the board, but I bet as our 1 year countdown hits we'll start picking up!

Jetskigrl- She said she finally found a certified BC... I was seriously about to smack her upside the head... lol I know some folks don't see the point of passports, but having lived abroad I always have mine and so do my kids.

 

[Cruella 66]

We booked this cruise when we were on the Magic at Christmas...FABULOUS cruise!

I read with interest how some were talking early in this thread that the cruise sold out in one week...hhhmmm...maybe not. Maybe DCL held back? There were a lot of rooms when we booked at the end of December. And the 10K price? Not even close for us.

This will be our 3rd DCL cruise; we've done 3 night Wonder and 6 night Magic.

Our cabin is a 4A...we're a family of 5. So far we've only booked the Deluxe Family Oceanview with veranda staterooms; love them. Our three children are (ages when we sail) DD17, DS 12, DD 10.

Not sure about FE yet...not crafty. And, we are on the East Coast.

Cindy

 

[stampinot]

We are so excited. This will be our 6th DCL.
My DD will be almost 11 come sailing time.
It will be myself, DD and DH going.
We will be on the 2nd deck.
We would love to do the fish extender

 

[owensjro]

Yay, more people and more girls around Hannah's age!

Now if only it were next year already

Jim

 

[ranidayz]

Welcome! I think we will start asking for FE information in a couple months when the attendance picks up! It's going to be great!

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Welcome to all the new additions to our group! I am getting so excited!

I just got off my Girl's only cruise on the Carnival Fantasy yesterday. Obviously she doesn't hold a candle to the Disney Fantasy, but we had an amazing time none the less. It was so nice to leave our husbands & kids behind and get some "me" time.

JetSkiGrl- I stocked up on Mango Rum! I also got some Banana and Pineapple too. We hit a bar in Freeport that had rum shots for $1, so we tried almost every flavor. I wish I had gotten some vanilla rum too, it was amazing!

I just hope my supply lasts a while since it will be a whole year until I hit those Duty Free shops again!

 

[jetskigrl]

Welcome to all the new additions to our group! I am getting so excited!

I just got off my Girl's only cruise on the Carnival Fantasy yesterday. Obviously she doesn't hold a candle to the Disney Fantasy, but we had an amazing time none the less. It was so nice to leave our husbands & kids behind and get some "me" time.

JetSkiGrl- I stocked up on Mango Rum! I also got some Banana and Pineapple too. We hit a bar in Freeport that had rum shots for $1, so we tried almost every flavor. I wish I had gotten some vanilla rum too, it was amazing!

I just hope my supply lasts a while since it will be a whole year until I hit those Duty Free shops again!

Welcome back!! I'm so glad that you had great time WOO HOO on another Mango Rum Run

OMG...Banana sounds awesome too! I do miss that Vanilla though...

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Welcome back!! I'm so glad that you had great time WOO HOO on another Mango Rum Run

OMG...Banana sounds awesome too! I do miss that Vanilla though...

The Banana is amazing, so sweet! It's a different brand than we got last time too. I am almost bummed we won't be hitting the Bahamas on this cruise! We also grabbed one of the taxis at the port and did a tour of the island, got to see Atlantis, the Queen's Staircase etc. It was so much fun! My friends were really into the free jewelry and dragged us to all the shops that had raffles and freebies. One of our group actually won diamond earrings.

I also bought a couple of pictures from the art auctions. I have heard how bad Park West was so really had no intentions of buying, but I fell in love with a picture and really haggled the guy down to a good price. It was a take off, so I didn't have to deal with their shipping (which is where most of the complaints I heard were centered), but I did have to lug it through customs.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

And BTW, I totally missed the Disney policy of allowing you to carry your liquor back onboard with you. I have heard rumors they may be stopping this and I hope not. I really wanted to break into my rum onboard

 

[owensamo]

And BTW, I totally missed the Disney policy of allowing you to carry your liquor back onboard with you. I have heard rumors they may be stopping this and I hope not. I really wanted to break into my rum onboard

I'm hoping it doesn't change significantly, but I'm keeping an eye on it. Princess and Celebrity both at least let you bring one bottle of wine per person (no beer or liquor, though) on board, so hopefully Disney won't go completely no-alcohol.

It's over a year away, but I'm already considering the bring-wine-or-buy-a-wine-package debate! I've found some of my favorite wines on the DCL ships (and one recommended to us by the sommalier in Palo that we have yet to locate for purchase on land! ) - I just hope they don't completely change the wine menu before next summer!

 

[stampinot]

Does anyone have a good link that has good information on the new Fantasy
Like restaurants, things to do etc?
Thanks
Julie