Feb. 21, 2004 Eastern Cruise

[christinou]

I got my excursions document yesterday from Disney, I was so excited, and my husband was looking at me like if I had 2 heads, I read the entire booklet, he did not even look at it........

 

[bassoongirl]

christinou,

We got our excursion booklet yesterday too! I was so excited to get it! Receiving this booklet from DCL makes the cruise more of a reality now! My husband didn't share my excitement either!

We keep changing our minds about the excursions we want to do. In St. Maarten, we were considering the kayaking excursion because my husband loves to kayak. But the minimum age for that excursion is 10. Our son is only nine. I suggested that my husband go with our daugter while I hang out at Great Bay Beach with our son. My husband would rather do something with the whole family. Now we are looking at the Pinel Island excursion. The cost is only $35 per person, we'd get to see a lot of the island driving to the excursion, and Pinel Island is supposedly deserted (which would be cool). In St. Thomas, we are planning to do one of the excursions to Trunk Bay.

Both of these excursions involve snorkeling and swimming. Our concern is that between these two excursions and Castaway Cay, that might be too much beach time. Do any of you experienced cruisers have an opinion about too much beach time?

Thanks for your help,

Gayl

 

[woody64]

Gayl: I never knew there was such a thing as too much beach time. To us that was the best part of the trip. You are "forced" to relax and do relatively nothing.

About 14 years ago(wow that hurts, I sound like my parents) my DW and I were on a RCC cruise and did the Pinel Island snorkle. It was nice as you drive to the other side of the island. You then take a little boat to the island. The beach was nice and I thought the snorkling was good. Just remember it is the French side and there will probably be topless women there on the beach.

A family we met last year on the cruise really liked the Golden Eagle Catamaran excursion(I think that's the name). Just another thought.

woody

 

[bassoongirl]

Woody,

I have to agree that there probably can never be too much beach time! I am sure when we are back in Michigan on a dreary March day, we will look back fondly on all the beach time we had on the cruise.

Thanks for the warning about the topless sunbathers on Pinel Island. My husband will be thrilled, but my kids may find it kind of odd!

Gayl

 

[woody64]

Gayl: Trust me, even your husband may not be thrilled! Think of grandmothers laying out topless. Gravity can be a really bad thing! Hope I didn't offend anyone but you can ask my wife about the sights we saw in Martinique and St. Maarten on the same cruise we did Pinel.

woody

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I wanted to post a special "HI!" to a DMB fan that will be on this cruise!!!

LOVE!BABY!

 

[HeatherDMB]

Hi DisneyDMBNut!! Thanks for sending me this way!
So my family and I will be on this cruise. We have a 4 year old and a 9 year old. We are all looking forward to this A LOT! It is the kids first cruise and my husband and my 2nd (the first was our honeymoon on Carnival).
I am sure I will think of lots of questions.

 

[HeatherDMB]

OK, I just aged my son by one year He's actually 8.
All this excitement has got me koko!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Link to Timer!

 

[woody64]

HeatherDMB: Welcome to our cruise link. Check back one page and you will find a link to our private group on Yahoo. Let us know who is going as I have a 9(turns during cruise)DS and a 5.5DS and of course DW.

Welcome again(and what is DMB?).

woody

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Thanks DIS'ers for welcoming Heather...we are on another chat board together for DMB ( Dave Matthews Band )

My sister (tchrmom) and BIL (XLT800) are on the cruise forum too!

 

[av01bps]

Hey
Do the kids on the cruise ever sleep? Is it true they confine you to a cabin if you're sick (this is both a good and not so good idea)...

Does anyone know about small boat time? How long are you on small boats for the various excursions?

Has anyone done the dolphin trip with kids?

Can't wait to go- Have to give FINALS first...
Amy

 

[Gina]

Welcome, Heather!! I have a little boy who will be turning 8 on Tropical Night. Lots of DIS-kids on this cruise in the same age range!

Great to have you here!!

-gina-

 

[bassoongirl]

Hello and Happy Holidays!

By my calculations, we can start booking our excursions starting this Sunday. Have you made any final decisions? I think we are planning to do the Pinel Island Snorkel Tour (even with the topless sunbathers!) in St. Maarten and probably the cataraman excursion to Trunk Bay in St. Thomas. When I speak to a DCL representative about the excursions, I am going to ask for clarification about the amount of time we will actually spend at Trunk Bay and what the cataraman is like. Did anyone besides Woody see the picture of Trunk Bay posted on the thread from Alex who is live on the Magic? It looks incredible!

Gayl

 

[PhotoLisa]

I faxed in our excursion request just after midnight Disney time (11 PM Central time). I'm hoping that since Dreams Unlimited showed at midnight eastern time we officially have 60 days that Disney accepts the fax as long as it was received after midnight.

Anyone know for sure?

We requested Pinel Island in St. Maarten, the Doubloon in St. Thomas (have done this one before and we loved it) and parasailing on Castaway for Ed and I with Wild Side for my 13 yo dd.

Lisa

 

[bassoongirl]

Hello!

I was doing some last minute research before faxing in my excursion requests to DCL tonight and ended up changing our excursion choices.

It turns out that the Barefoot Cataraman tour to St. John doesn't go to Trunk Bay - it goes to Honeymoon Bay. I am glad I called the DCL reps tonight to find that out. We really want to see Trunk Bay! However, we also wanted to ride on a cataraman. So, I am now requesting the following:

St. Maarten - 1st Choice: Golden Eagle Cataraman (Thank you Woody for the recommendation!)
2nd Choice: Pinel Island Snorkel Tour

St. Thomas - 1st Choice: St. John Trunk Bay Beach & Snorkel Tour
2nd Choice: 5 Star St. John Snorkel & Beach Adventure

I am very excited to book our excursions! Happy Holidays!

Gayl

 

[Gina]

Well, the only thing we're doing excursion-wise is Coral World on our own, but I'll probably go ahead and reserve floats like usual... it's just easier for me to simply take the tickets over there and have it already taken care of. What can I say, I'm lazy.

Made final payment Saturday... I love this point, when it really seems real.

Hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!!

-gina-

 

[woody64]

We just booked the St. John Trunk Bay Beach and Snorkle Tour also. I called 877-566-0968 and they checked availability and it is confirmed we are on this excursion. You have until 2 days prior to sailing to cancel.

Happy Holidays,

woody

 

[av01bps]

I just called and we got all three excursions. It was very easy via the 877 #.

Dolphin on St Martin
St John's Trunk Bay
Castaway Cay getaway package

Happy Holidays!!!

 

[bassoongirl]

I faxed our excursion requests last night and received a confirmation from DCL this morning. We got our first choices:
St. Maarten - Golden Eagle Cataraman
St. Thomas - St. John Trunk Bay Beach & Snorkel Tour

It sounds like a lot of us will be on the Trunk Bay Tour. That should be fun!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Gayl