Feb. 21, 2004 Eastern Cruise

[av01bps]

WHEN... when when we get the documents, are they the ones we "fill out in advance?"- so that the lines move faster, etc.

There's pinkeye in my house. AGH! I need a vacation... soon, soon soon...

Has anyone had spa-ing experience on the cruise? What about late night women's nights- I have heard about facial packages... do tell!
Thanks
Amy-in-the-pink

 

[bassoongirl]

Amy,

We didn't get our documents either. I hope they come on Tuesday. That's too bad about pink eye in your family. That is no fun!

I can use some time at the spa on the ship too!

Hopefully we will both be doing the doc dance soon!

Gayl

 

[jerseygirlinvt]

Hi everyone...

We ALMOST have our documents...Costco Travel called on Thursday and said they have them there and checked them over and will send them right out...the guy said I should get them in about A WEEK AND A HALF????I asked him how they were mailing them and he said by priority mail...he obviously didn't realize I work for the post office...so I politely told him that priority usually takes 2-3days...so with a little luck I'm hoping for early next week.Only 5 more weeks...I can't believe it. I just can't wait to see that ship for the first time! Kathy

 

[woody64]

OK, I don't want to make anyone mad but checking our docs I found great news. Our 2(ours and IL's) connecting cat. 8's were upgraded to 2 connecting cat 5's. We have a veranda(sp?). We are very excited and thought there is no way we would get upgraded with connecting rooms but it happened.

As point of reference we booked while on last years cruise. Don't know if that made a difference or not. I knew something was different because we picked our rooms and the docs had different room #'s.

Anyone else get an upgrade?

woody

 

[bassoongirl]

Woody,

Congratulations on the upgrade! You are so lucky to have a veranda! My husband's other theory as to why we haven't received our documents (besides not booking the cruise) is that we are also getting an upgrade. I wish! I was going to ask if anyone got an upgrade, but I was afraid to. I didn't want to upset anyone who was really wishing for an upgrade. I think being on the ship at all will be wonderful!

Gayl

 

[christinou]

I came back home from a week away (again) and we had received our documents, this is so exiting, we got a small upgrade from a cat 11 to a 10, but that is great, as I was really anxious about space, by the time we booked the 10 was $550 more than the 11, so for us it is a great deal.......
Woody thanks for the update about the trampoline in St. Martin, i had asked about it a while back, I know that my girls will be so excited.....
We still have not told the girls and it is killing me.....
We will be sailing away exactly 5 weeks from NOW.

 

[bassoongirl]

I did cruise shopping today! I found a Wal-Mart store sort of near my house and bought sunscreen, disposable underwater cameras, regular disposable cameras (for my kids to use), batteries, pins for our DIS nametags and phone cards for tips. There was a Sam's Club store next to the Wal-Mart, but I couldn't convince myself to stand in line over there for a half hour just to buy phone cards. The phone cards I bought were AT&T phone cards that have 60 minutes for $5.00. That's not too bad a deal, is it?

Gayl

 

[PhotoLisa]

Congrats to all the lucky upgraders!

I'm still praying that we'll be upgraded at the dock. If not, I'm considering a requested upgrade from 11 to 10. I would really prefer the 10 but when we originally booked, we booked for 3 rooms and 10 people. Because of my daughter's pregnancy and the timing of our cruise, we had to cancel her room (3 people). Had we known, we probably would have booked the better class at that time.

The cost to upgrade right now is too great.

*crossing my fingers that the upgrade fairy will smile down upon my reservation*

Lisa

 

[bassoongirl]

Lisa,

What kind of outfits did your DD-13 wear to dinner? I am taking stock of our clothes for the cruise and am having trouble getting outfits together for my DD-12. She has dresses for formal and semi-formal nights and will buy a tropical outfit in St. Maarten, but I don't know how she should dress on the other nights. Are khaki pants okay to wear in the dining rooms? Thanks for your help.

Gayl

 

[PhotoLisa]

Gayl:

On her past two cruises (11 and 12 yrs old at the times), she wore simple dresses at dinner.

We haven't done our shopping yet for this cruise -- its on our to do list for today and tomorrow since she is out of school. We'll look for only a few dresses and/or capris or black pants and shirts. Casual, church-like attire is fine.

In prior years on formal night, she wore a black and white dress but not a true formal gown. Guidelines for the children are not as stringent as you would think. While there are some families that go all out in their choice of attire, there are others that do not.

We do have her tropical dress already since their 7th grade graduation party was tropical themed. We'll have to be sure it still fits before we go shopping.

Our two granddaughters that are cruising with us are recycling all of the dresses Courtney wore on the last two cruises. At least someone else will help us get the wear out of them!

When Court and I talked about clothes she would need for the cruise, she commented that she wasn't packing a ton of clothes for this cruise - that it would basically be American Eagle shirts, plastics (windshorts), and cute pajama bottoms (all of which she already has). Those will be her daytime attire. She did purchase 2 new swimsuits.

Lisa

 

[bassoongirl]

Lisa,

Thanks for the information about how to dress. You've helped a lot! My daughter, Katie, doesn't wear dresses if she can help it. So, getting her to wear a dress for formal and semi-formal night is an accomplishment. I think on the other nights she should be okay in capris, which thankfully she already has (I hope they fit!). I read that during the day, people spend most of the time in swimsuits, so I am not packing a lot of clothes for the daytime. I have never heard of "plastics" or "windshorts". Is that a Louisiana kind of thing?

Gayl

 

[whytcrystal]

Congrats for all of those who were upgraded! I can't believe it is only 1 month away. Ten of us are leaving early on Thursday AM (didn't want to have snow hold us up) and the remaining 4 will leave Thursday PM. My 'cubemate' leaves this Friday for her Eastern Carribean Cruise on Princess Cruise Lines. People are wanting her to bring back the warmth but I politely informed her to leave it where she finds it, so we can have it.

 

[Gina]

I always pack way too much, at least by other people's standards, but I usually wear all of it. True, a lot of time is spent in bathing suits and cover-ups, but then I go change for the singles' lunch.. then back to bathing suits.. then back to something else for whatever afternoon activity... then dinner attire... then party-in-Rockin'-Bar-D attire... and well, you get the picture.

Formal/semi-formal nights, if you can get the family to dress up, make for *such* wonderful pictures... and it's just for a few hours -- tell them they can change right back after dinner.

-gina-

 

[Ms. Linda]

About a year and a half ago I read about a woman who traveled all over the world, throwing away her old worn-out clothes along the way.

So if there is something that has arguably only one more wear in it, it gets tossed in the travel drawer.

My 25 year old DD disapproves. This is unusable if there are picture-takers along. Also not for wearing around those members of the family that will make fun of you.

But when we went to Legoland last New Year's there was room in the suitcase to bring back not one--but two of the largest box sets of legos.

So if I look a little ratty one day-its not the pretty frozen drinks that are the cause--it's my packing philosophy.

 

[woody64]

I like that travel philosophy MGDM(mardi Gras Disney Mama! Having gone to Legoland this past Sept. I also understand the importance of having room in your suitcase for purchases.

Just want to share a sense of relief we had today. DS(5) Cam has a hard growth on his hand just behind pinky finger. Went to Ped. who sent us to xray and Orthopedics. While at orthopedic guy on Fri. he immediately refers DW to specialist in downtown Chicago with appt. today. Time to get nervous. Then we find out this new doc is Ped. Oncologist. Very scary. Luckily it appears Cam has a benign bone tumor. He needs surgery to scrape it out but can wait until after cruise so he can swim during cruise. HUGE RELIEF!!!

We are truly thankful for this news and just wanted to share why I have been quiet here lately. I now consider all of you my friends and cannot wait to meet you.

Also, word to the wise-if you notice something doesn't look or feel right with yourselves or your children have it checked out as soon as you can. We first discovered this around Tgiving and waited until his physical to have it looked at. Shame on us but believe me we have learned.

Thanks for letting me vent or whatever this was. Now on with this cruise. Gina, we are finally sorting out kid clothes. They grow way too fast!

FYI for beer lovers, at the new pub they have beer tasting sesssions. I think I might have to try this!!!

woody

 

[PhotoLisa]

Woody:

Glad to know your little one will be alright!

Do you have any info you can share on the beer tastings? I think that is right up my dh and dss's alley! I'm a straight up Bud Lite kinda girl -- that or Merlot and Chardonnay . . . and Chocolate Martinis lol!

Hey -- Mardi Gras Disney Mama -- are you bringing beads with you on the cruise? I think I'll get my 13 yo ds some to give as friendship tokens to the friends she makes onboard.

Lisa

 

[Gina]

Originally posted by woody64
We are truly thankful for this news and just wanted to share why I have been quiet here lately. I now consider all of you my friends and cannot wait to meet you.

Oh Bruce, what a relief!! You must feel like a million pounds has been lifted from your shoulders... {{hugs}}

Gina, we are finally sorting out kid clothes. They grow way too fast!

*PANICPANIC* I am really getting nervous... I had him try on two more of his "wardrobe staples" pairs of shorts this weekend, and they are too small. I did manage to find him some denim and some khaki shorts last week at Target, but I don't like them very much. His others were all Garanimals-types, and so easy and cute to match up to other stuff. They are starting to clear out everything winter here, and slowly get in more springtime stuff (since our "winter" doesn't last very long here,) so I'm hoping I get lucky over the next few weeks.

WEEKS!! We only have weeks left, not months, can you believe it??

FYI for beer lovers, at the new pub they have beer tasting sesssions. I think I might have to try this!!!

You know, I saw that, and it did sound pretty interesting! I was contemplating trying that, but the only beers I really like are dark bock beers or stouts, usually. Or a nice Corona with lime on the beach.

Still, could be fun... DIS beer meet... now those would be some pictures to share!! LOL

-gina-

 

[av01bps]

OHHH WOODY- glad to hear your 5 year old will be ok! Kate and Hannah (6 and 8) are looking forward to playing without their parents. Hannah was stuck inside for the entire 3 day weekend with pinkeye and a virus-that-looked-like-strep-but-was-not-strep. None of that compares to being sent to a ped. oncologist. So phew! Glad it's ok.

Here are some online summer shopping stops I have been making:

www.oldnavy.com, www.hannahandersson.com (this week the spring play dress/day dress comes out. Matching shorts and dresses for the girls who won't wear one- Gayl's daughter?? Great stuff at that site and they last forever!)

www.landsend.com has dull but wearable stuff.

My girls will be in swimwear/playwear most of the time... mee too!
Amy

 

[christinou]

Woody, I am so glad your little guy is fine, (I also have a 6 year old Cam, but she is a girl).
It is hard to believe that it is coming up so quicly, I just got 2 "formal" dresses at Target for my girls, for $5 each, Boy what that exciting, (I love a good bargain), I am pretty sure that we still have plenty of sundresses and short, and I got them some bathing suit on clearance, in September......
I am really ready, it has been 2 straight weeks of sub zero temperature and blowing windds, we all need some sunshine.
Christine

 

[bassoongirl]

Bruce,

That is wonderful news about your son! Medical problems with your kids can be very scary! You feel so helpless. It is good the surgery can wait until after the cruise. Not being able to swim would be a bummer!

Amy,

Thanks for posting the Old Navy and Lands End websites. I am having trouble finding any kind of summer clothes at the stores. I was really hoping that my kids' summer clothes would still fit them. Some will, some won't. I wasn't planning to buy Katie and Ryan new wardrobes for the cruise!

That beer tasting sounds interesting! I much prefer beer to wine. Wine gives me a headache. Just one question--at the beer tasting are you supposed to spit out the beer after you taste it? We were supposed to do that when we went to a wine tasting, but we couldn't bring ourselves to do it! I am sure I won't spit out the beer either!

Gayl