FEB 20, 2010 Western MAGIC Cruise

[shinez]

Welcome MexiFinn!

We are late also. We are in the central time zone so even if we get 8:30 pm seating it will feel like 7:30 pm to us. Given all of the food options on the ship I'm not worried about finding a snack if I need one.

My biggest worry right now is Cozumel. I'm so torn on the shore excurrsions. At first I was planning to just keep the kids on the ship DH and I were going on the Jungle Hike alone. (I'm paranoid about the crime, etc. in Mexico) But on the other hand I read trip reports and see everyones picture and start to doubt my decission. I have a 13, 11 and 3 year old. Anyone have suggestions for me? Anyone ever been to Chankanaab National Park... did you do by taxi or how'd you get there?

Okay...what time zone are we going to be in anyway?? I'm a Mainer on EST... how slow am I??

 

[stacieps]

My biggest worry right now is Cozumel. I'm so torn on the shore excurrsions. At first I was planning to just keep the kids on the ship and DH and I were going on the Jungle Hike alone. (I'm paranoid about the crime, etc. in Mexico) But on the other hand I read trip reports and see everyones picture and start to doubt my decission. I have a 13, 11 and 3 year old. Anyone have suggestions for me? Anyone ever been to Chankanaab National Park... did you do by taxi or how'd you get there?

Remember that Cozumel is an island off of Mexico, so not quite the same issues as in mainland Mexico. There are people out selling things, but we've never felt unsafe.

We've taken our kids to Chankaanab a couple of times (did the dolphin encounter there) - it is a nice area, but the lagoon area where you can walk into the ocean is VERY rocky (and slippery last time I was there). You can go into the snorkling area down a ladder, but that might be too much for your young one. There is a pool there but it can only be used if you paid for the dolphin encounter/swim. There are some replica ruins that were fun to look at. A cab is probably about $15 each way.

Last year we took our kids (then 11 and 9) to Paradise Beach. It was great! They have water trampolines, inflatable iceberg for climbing, etc., kayaks, and on land they have a palm tree climb (instead of rock wall, it a fake palm tree and you are harnessed in to climb it); they also had land trampolines, but they were not open when we were there. At Paradise Beach if you want to use the water toys, you pay $12 for a bracelet. You do not have to pay to use the chairs/umbrellas, however, they expect you to spend $10 each on food/drinks (the smoothies are fabulous). A cab to Paradise Beach is about $15 each way.

Good luck deciding what you'll do!

 

[hollypoast]

Okay...what time zone are we going to be in anyway?? I'm a Mainer on EST... how slow am I??

I believe the "ship time" is always EST regardless of what port it is in... can someone confirm this?

So for us in the midwest, if dinner on the ship is 6 pm that's 5 pm my home time. That's why we picked late dinner seating. Don't want to eat at 5pm. Make sense?

 

[hollypoast]

Remember that Cozumel is an island off of Mexico, so not quite the same issues as in mainland Mexico. There are people out selling things, but we've never felt unsafe.

We've taken our kids to Chankaanab a couple of times (did the dolphin encounter there) - it is a nice area, but the lagoon area where you can walk into the ocean is VERY rocky (and slippery last time I was there). You can go into the snorkling area down a ladder, but that might be too much for your young one. There is a pool there but it can only be used if you paid for the dolphin encounter/swim. There are some replica ruins that were fun to look at. A cab is probably about $15 each way.

Last year we took our kids (then 11 and 9) to Paradise Beach. It was great! They have water trampolines, inflatable iceberg for climbing, etc., kayaks, and on land they have a palm tree climb (instead of rock wall, it a fake palm tree and you are harnessed in to climb it); they also had land trampolines, but they were not open when we were there. At Paradise Beach if you want to use the water toys, you pay $12 for a bracelet. You do not have to pay to use the chairs/umbrellas, however, they expect you to spend $10 each on food/drinks (the smoothies are fabulous). A cab to Paradise Beach is about $15 each way.

Good luck deciding what you'll do!

So, just curious.... what are your plans for Cozumel this time? I'm almost tempted to just wait and decide once we get on the ship or the day before. It's just stressing me out, yah know.

 

[stacieps]

So, just curious.... what are your plans for Cozumel this time? I'm almost tempted to just wait and decide once we get on the ship or the day before. It's just stressing me out, yah know.

We're going to Paradise Beach again. Its a great time and the water is usually a lot warmer than it is at Castaway Cay.

 

[stacieps]

I believe the "ship time" is always EST regardless of what port it is in... can someone confirm this?

So for us in the midwest, if dinner on the ship is 6 pm that's 5 pm my home time. That's why we picked late dinner seating. Don't want to eat at 5pm. Make sense?

On our past DCL cruises they have actually changed the time (Cozumel is CST, everywhere else is EST) - I remember because this annoyed me with the timing of our pirate night and character breakfast last cruise. I've been on other cruies lines that keep "ship time" as EST, but DCL did not last time I was on (last year). I'd be thrilled if they changed their policy on that.

 

[shinez]

Hi All!
Only 35 days till Cruise Bound!! So, here is a question for you experienced family cruisers...2 way radios- Do they work? Should we pack them? What have been your best ways to communicate with the tween and older set when they go off? Thanks Ladies and Gents!!
Shauna

 

[wld4mky]

we have booked the eco -park and snorkel. Has anyone done this?
I hope it is a good one.

 

[lubyshell]

Hi everyone just checking in, had a couple of medical events , broken ankle for me and ACL replacement surgery for DS, so we are really looking forward to this vacation. We also got upgraded from an oceanview cabin to a veranda. This will be our 3rd cruise with Disney. I look forward to meeting everyone: Our cast is

Me (Michelle)
DH (Steve)
DS Brandon 17 - HS graduation present
DD Jenna 4

 

[shinez]

we have booked the eco -park and snorkel. Has anyone done this?
I hope it is a good one.

Hi All...again!
Okay, so we did sign up for excursions via DCL, BUT...what have you all done this time and in the past?? We currently are signed up for:
Dolphin Encounter in Cozemel
Sailing via Catamaran to Stingray city in Grand Cayman...
so...stick with DCL or venture elsewhere?? What are you all doing? How do you book your daytrips? Just trying to figure this all out...
Thanks a ton!
Shauna

 

[MexiFinn]

We all have late dinner seating as well because we have to (we are friends/family of cast members so they get late seating). We'll be an obnoxiously fun bunch.

Come visit us! We are on sixth deck. We don't go crazy with our doors but we are bringing white boards from the Target dollar spot to leave each other messages. They have Disney designs (Mickey, Monsters Inc, Toy Story, etc). I forget the room numbers but they are inside staterooms (while the extra space would be nice, we aren't in the room that much to need a bigger room).

Feel free to leave us a note saying hi if you happen to walk on by.

 

[lubyshell]

Hi All...again!
Okay, so we did sign up for excursions via DCL, BUT...what have you all done this time and in the past?? We currently are signed up for:
Dolphin Encounter in Cozemel
Sailing via Catamaran to Stingray city in Grand Cayman...
so...stick with DCL or venture elsewhere?? What are you all doing? How do you book your daytrips? Just trying to figure this all out...
Thanks a ton!
Shauna

We have early seating and are on deck 6 as well.

Excursions are:
Key West - do our own thing
Cozumel - Nachi Cocum
Grand Cayman - Rays Reef and Rum Point thru Nativeways

 

[kbmo4444]

Ok so I would be willing to organize the FE exchange- please reply to this message or PM me with Stateroom# and people in stateroom and with children's ages/genders. I say we have a cut off date of next Monday 1/18/2010 of those that want to participate. Figure about 1 or 2 small items delivered to each FE once a day. Here is the list so far

wld4mky rm# 2518 DD(6) DD(4)

kbmo4444 rm's 7600 & 7602 DD(10) DD (8)

kadillon rm#1068 DD(3) DD(3) & rm#1070 DD(5) DD(7)

hollypoast rm's 5127 & 5129 DS(13) DS(11) DD(3)

Hoping to get some more participants for the FE exchange. I figured we could extend until 1/30/2010 just in case some people have not gotten their room assigments yet. If you would prefer you can pm me info along with your email address and then I can email out final list to the participants and not post info on the boards. Remember you can give as little or as much as you want to others. I have read some people do daily gifts, some a weekly gift, some per person others per stateroom. Choose as you like and have fun!!

 

[wld4mky]

KW-doing our own thing
C-eco-park and snorkel
GC-dophin encounter and turtle farm

 

[kbmo4444]

KW - rent electric car tour island
Cozumel - rent jeep,tour island and paradise beach
GC - DCL tour to turtle farm,hell and stingray city
CC - Relax

 

[kadillon]

Lubyshell...we're doing Nachi Cocum too...do you have kids going? What age? We have 4 little girls who would love beach playmates!

 

[stacieps]

Hoping to get some more participants for the FE exchange. I figured we could extend until 1/30/2010 just in case some people have not gotten their room assigments yet. If you would prefer you can pm me info along with your email address and then I can email out final list to the participants and not post info on the boards. Remember you can give as little or as much as you want to others. I have read some people do daily gifts, some a weekly gift, some per person others per stateroom. Choose as you like and have fun!!

Please add us to the FE list. Room #6520; DD(12) and DS(10)


I just noticed you are also from N.H. - what area are you from? We live in Laconia.

 

[kbmo4444]

FE list as of 1/16/2010

wld4mky rm# 2518 DS(6) DD(4)

kbmo4444 rm#s 7600 & 7602 DD(10) DD (8)

kadillon rm#1068 DD(3) DD(3) & rm#1070 DD(5) DD(7)

hollypoast rm#s 5127 & 5129 DS(13) DS(11) DD(3)

stacieps rm# 6520 DD(12) DS(10)

 

[debm]

Shauna---Ive heard the 2 way radios don't work very well. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. That's why we use the dry erase board on our door or sticky notes in the room to let each other know where we are at. I will say it is SO very frustrating when we just miss each other and I spend 30 minutes looking for my husband and kids! The problem is when we go one place but then a kid wants to go somewhere else and we don't have time to leave that note. I'm not sure what the best answer is.

Eco-park and snorkel......yes, we did this a few years ago and liked it. We didn't even snorkel but enjoyed the beach. I remember the guide was very good with the kids teaching them how to snorkel though. It was shortly after a hurricane, if I remember right, and their was a lot of destruction which was sad. We did enjoy it though.

This time I want to go to the botanical gardens in Grand Cayman. Can't figure out how to do it without renting a car and with 6 of us I"m not sure that is feasible I don't even know if we can do a taxi. I suppose there are vans though. I just don't like leaving it to chance. Would rather book with some company. Any ideas? Thanks.

Debi

 

[shinez]

FE list as of 1/16/2010

wld4mky rm# 2518 DD(6) DD(4)

kbmo4444 rm#s 7600 & 7602 DD(10) DD (8)

kadillon rm#1068 DD(3) DD(3) & rm#1070 DD(5) DD(7)

hollypoast rm#s 5127 & 5129 DS(13) DS(11) DD(3)

stacieps rm# 6520 DD(12) DS(10)

KW - rent electric car tour island
Cozumel - rent jeep,tour island and paradise beach
GC - DCL tour to turtle farm,hell and stingray city
CC - Relax

Hi All!
5 weeks from today, hopefully from right now we'll be on the ship! So, why does the thought of FE slightly stress me out? Overthinging for sure...no one is going to judge on craftyness! My daughters are emailing a few of your daughters, so I really don't believe we are going to not participate...So...for a rookie cruiser and even rookier (such a word) fish exchanger...Little gifts are put in 1x a day, Sunday (first full day of cruising) thru Friday (last full day of cruising) Correct? So..right now with the current FE list, that would be 6 FE x 13 Dkids...right? It's the lack of vitamin D that is getting to my brain, I swear! Also...FE suggestions/cool ideas? Thanks for your patience! Can't wait to get my face and body warm and my hands on a strawberry smoothie!!

I also LOVE seeing what you all are up to on the port days! Keep adding!

Shauna