FEB 20, 2010 Western MAGIC Cruise

[kadillon]

I went on the Eastern last year and now I'm bringing my WHOLE family back for the Western. It will be me and my husband, four daughters ages 7, 5, 3 and 3, and my 3 month old son. We can't wait! It will be interesting planning the shore days but I'm always up for an adventure.

My 7 (Piper) and 5 (Avery) year olds would love to get to know other girls their age before the cruise if there's anyone out there.

Kelly

 

[antici_PATION]

Nearly two months to go!

Can't wait!

 

[jtravisl]

Hi Gang...we are very excited to find this board. Will be our first cruise, and our first real family vacation outside the midwest. Kids turn 10 S and 6D week before, and I get my 40th on our departure day. We got signed up for excursions on Cozumel and Grand Cayman....planning on playing it by ear at Key West and CC.

Appreciate any and all advise. We are arriving in Orlando day of, and are planning on doing a Kennedy Space Station tour before catching a 5pm flight out.

We are really looking forward to the fun on board and the sites off board. As a photographer in the midwest, I am really looking to the great pic opportunities...even purchased a Canon camera that is waterproof to 33 feet for snorkeling etc...

Travis in Kansas City

 

[jtravisl]

Kelly, we will have our 6 year old with us...Kennedy will be excited to meet more girls her age.

Donna, Travis, Carter and Kennedy for our first cruise.

 

[BethC1952]

Kelly, we will have our 6 year old with us...Kennedy will be excited to meet more girls her age.

Donna, Travis, Carter and Kennedy for our first cruise.

Welcome to our cruise!

I found the DIS a few weeks before our first cruise way back in May, 2001.

I'm really ready for this trip now. I'm home sick with a horrible head cold and I can see 18 inches of snow out my window (very unusual for this time of year at the Jersey Shore). I don't like cold weather--I want to be onboard Magic!!!!

Beth

 

[jtravisl]

Get well Beth....we are looking for snow on Christmas here in Kansas City. Any words of wisdom for us first timers?

Anyone with knowledge of the water temps in Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay during our cruise?

How about a recommendation of how tipping works? We are normally generous, but don't want to go over board...pardon the pun.

 

[BethC1952]

I'm feeling a lot better today, thanks! I still have no voice, but my husband and my boss both seem to think that's good thing!

I can't help with the temperatures since I haven't cruised in March and I haven't been to Grand Cayman. We usually cruise in December, and I've done the seven night Eastern route and six four-night Bahamas cruises (two of those were in May).

As for tipping, we've never tipped less than the recommended amount, and usually tip a bit more. The staff has almost always gone far beyond what I would have expected. Only once did we have a problem with a server in the dining room, and we mentioned it to the head server and it was resolved before the end of the cruise.

My best advice for any first-timers is to relax and enjoy yourselves! You can't possibly do everything on your first cruise. Read through the navigators that are posted here and get an idea of the things that you'd like to do. Don't forget to leave some time to explore the ship!

We'll be arriving the day before and staying at the Hyatt at the airport. After the cruise we're heading to Walt Disney World for a week at Pop Century for some "Grandma and Grandpa alone time". Our son and his family live here with us, so it's a bit hectic with twins who are about to have their first birthdays and a granddaughter who's almost ten! We plan on going to parks for only one or two days and spending the rest of the time just doing whatever we feel like doing!

Beth

 

[BethC1952]

I wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a Happy Holiday!

I plan to be very busy today and this evening (I'm actually at work now, but only have to work a half-day), and didn't want to forget to extend Season's Greetings!

It won't be long now before I get to meet you on board!

Beth

 

[BethC1952]

Happy New Year, everybody!

It's official. We can now say that we're cruising next month!

See you then---

Beth

 

[debm]

Hi! There is a strong chance that we will get to be on this cruise but I won't know for sure until Monday. It is very difficult not to get excited! I've been trying to read through these posts. I'm looking for "friends" for two of my children. My daughter is 11 and my youngest son is 7. It is SO much more fun when we can meet at the port and they have someone that they "know" for the trip. Anyone have kids that same age that would want to be email pals for the next few weeks? Thanks! Debi

 

[jtravisl]

From what I've been reading...dinner on board is a semi formal event most nights. While our family does enjoy food, we aren't really appreciative of fine dining. As example, we prefer Diners, Drive-ins and Dives to 5 star restaurants. Palo's not on our list, but I am wondering about non theme nights. Do I need to pack dockers and a few "polo's" for dinner. What about the kids...them too?

 

[mguptill]

From what I've been reading...dinner on board is a semi formal event most nights. While our family does enjoy food, we aren't really appreciative of fine dining. As example, we prefer Diners, Drive-ins and Dives to 5 star restaurants. Palo's not on our list, but I am wondering about non theme nights. Do I need to pack dockers and a few "polo's" for dinner. What about the kids...them too?

Polo's and dockers are normal wear for non formal nights. The kids will need the same unless they eat with the kids club. My son never wants to eat in the dining room. It "wastes" too much time.

 

[mguptill]

We have just confirmed for this trip and are very excited. My daughter is 11 and my son is 8, and I was wondering if anyone has children their ages that would like to be email pals for the next few weeks so they have a “friend” for the trip. Thanks! Mark

 

[debm]

We are sailing on this one too! Just got our ressie today. I have an 11 year old daughter too who really needs a penpal and friends on board to do stuff with. We did this last cruise and it worked out awesome. Gave the girls a buddy to know ahead of time and made them feel so much more comfortable. Let me know with a PM and we can exchange emails. Now on to getting our online stuff done. We are SO excited!

A little background I have to share---My husband has been stationed away from us for 18 months but he gets home once a month or so---still not like having him here all the time. Then he also deployed to the Persian Gulf in September and will be back the beginning of February which is why we had to wait to plan this. We've never had daddy gone for T-giving and Christmas but it's already January so we are counting the weeks now. Others have it much worse though so we feel very blessed that he is coming home soon. So...this cruise is what we all wanted to do together and it is all working out. Yippee!

Everyone stay warm! I've been out working in 14 degree weather at the barn with frozen buckets, frozen pipes, tying insulation, etc. and all I can think of is "cruise...we are going to cruise...warm weather!" Debi

 

[BethC1952]

Everyone stay warm! I've been out working in 14 degree weather at the barn with frozen buckets, frozen pipes, tying insulation, etc. and all I can think of is "cruise...we are going to cruise...warm weather!" Debi

I can't imagine that! I walk a mile to my office after a quick train ride. The "real feel" temp this morning was 7 degrees. Friday it's supposed to be -7 degrees. That's mighty cold for the Jersey Shore! The thought of cruising to somewhere warm is the top thing on my mind while I'm taking that walk each way! Of course, right now just about anything warmer than freezing would be good for me. I really felt very silly trying on my bathing suits yesterday while it was snowing outside my bedroom window. I want to be warm!

Beth

 

[kbmo4444]

We just booked this sailing a few weeks ago. I have a 10 and 8 year old daughter. Both looking for some friends to email with prior to cruising. Please pm us if interested.

 

[mguptill]

We just booked this sailing a few weeks ago. I have a 10 and 8 year old daughter. Both looking for some friends to email with prior to cruising. Please pm us if interested.

I have to get 10 posts before I can pm. After I get there I will send a note.

 

[mguptill]

We are sailing on this one too! Just got our ressie today. I have an 11 year old daughter too who really needs a penpal and friends on board to do stuff with. We did this last cruise and it worked out awesome. Gave the girls a buddy to know ahead of time and made them feel so much more comfortable. Let me know with a PM and we can exchange emails. Now on to getting our online stuff done. We are SO excited!

A little background I have to share---My husband has been stationed away from us for 18 months but he gets home once a month or so---still not like having him here all the time. Then he also deployed to the Persian Gulf in September and will be back the beginning of February which is why we had to wait to plan this. We've never had daddy gone for T-giving and Christmas but it's already January so we are counting the weeks now. Others have it much worse though so we feel very blessed that he is coming home soon. So...this cruise is what we all wanted to do together and it is all working out. Yippee!

Everyone stay warm! I've been out working in 14 degree weather at the barn with frozen buckets, frozen pipes, tying insulation, etc. and all I can think of is "cruise...we are going to cruise...warm weather!" Debi

Hopefully it will warm up down that way before we go. It's been pretty cold lately.

 

[hollypoast]

The Poast Family from Wisconsin (brrrr) will also be on this cruise... the cast:
Mom- Holly
Dad- Greg
Logan 13
Ethan 11
Marin 3

2nd cruise for us
Interested in fish extenders and meet... we' ve never done either so need someone to help with details. (how much loot to bring and how do you know who's room is who's... or do you just give eveyone with an extender something.)

Looking forward to it.

 

[kbmo4444]

We would be interested in FE exchange as well. This will be our 7th Disney Cruise and we usually decorate our door but have never done the FE exchange. Our cast includes
Mom - Karen
Dad - Bill
DD10- Morgan
DD8- Olivia

We are so looking forward to this cruise!! Only 45 more days