Feb. 21, 2004 Eastern Cruise

[bassoongirl]

Whytcrystal,

I am not sure how the airlines prioritize passengers when flights get delayed, but it seems to me to make sense to allow the passengers who were scheduled to fly out first to leave first. In any case, since you are flying out on Thursday, you shouldn't have a problem getting to Orlando by Saturday! We are planning to fly out on Friday after the kids get out of school. I wish we could leave earlier, but my husband can't leave work any earlier either. I hope we make it to Orlando in time for the cruise! I think we will unless there is some kind of "Winter Storm of the Century"!

bassoongirl

 

[woody64]

Just checked our airfare: $301 best price from Chicago. Good thing we still have 6 months to find a better price.

woody

 

[bassoongirl]

Woody64,

You are having the same problem we are having. I keep reading articles about how the cost of airfare to Orlando keeps dropping, but I haven't found that to be true between Detroit and Orlando! I am afraid the airlines are keeping the fares high because the week we are traveling is the week a lot of kids have off for Mid-
Winter break. I have been checking Cheapflights.com as well as all the other travel websites. That site has some good deals, but so far you have to travel by November. Hopefully, in the next couple of months good deals will be offered for February.

Woody64, since you are traveling from Chicago have you checked the fares for ATA? That seems to be the favorite airline for Barb & Tony of Castawayclub.com.

One way or another, we will get down to Orlando! I just hope it doesn't cost us a fortune!

bassoongirl

 

[Gina]

The airlines are all nuts... complaining about how much they're hurting, then having fares like that. I would understand, between two little-traveled cities, but between cities like Houston, Detroit, and Chicago to Orlando?? Give me a break...

I hope you two stumble onto something like I was able to. Best thing I can tell you is to pick whatever airline you usually fly to Orlando, and check their own website every day. Or twice a day, really. The stupid prices have been fluctuating that much. Sending some pixie dust your way!!

-gina-

 

[woody64]

bump so someone who just booked can be added.

woody

 

[christinou]

I am so glad to join this group, we are just so excited, the 3 day was great, but a little bit of a blur, I cannot wait for the 7 nights. It will be me 40, my DH 40, and 2 DDs 6 and 8.
The girls loved the cruise, and loved the club. We loved everything including the chance to have some time alone as the kids kept begging to go to the clubs at night.......
I am already thinking about excursions, my DH wants to scuba dive, I am happy to just stay on the ship and relax while he does that..... Or I might work on getting certified this fall to go dive with him.

 

[bassoongirl]

Gina,

Thanks for the pixie dust!

bassoongirl

 

[Gina]

Hey, Happy Cruisers!! How is everyone? I can NOT believe Labor Day is already behind us... it's going to be Halloween before we know it!

So has anyone else found their airfare yet? Or any other good deals on cruise stuff? I have got my cruise box going, with some travel-size toiletries I found (for some reason, it's hard to find Colgate Total Freshstripe toothpaste in travel size! LOL!!), the disposable underwater camera I got, some snorkel gear for myself that I picked up *really* cheap, and the leftover lime green ribbon from last time so I don't lose it.

Oo, and Walmart has lime green foam board that I'm going to cut into Mickey shapes, glue to a stiff backing, and make nametags for anyone who wants one. In fact, I'm probably going to start making a list soon of who would like one, because even at 5+ months out, I'll be out of time before I know it. I just can't decide what they should say, aside from the person's name and the dates... any ideas??

I'm also trying to gather little Texas trinkets for people...

OH!! And who else is a pin freak, and is bringing their pins?!? Tyler Dean has his Yu-Gi-Oh cards, Mommy has her pins. LOL!!

Okay, shutting up now... just so excited, and my coworkers are sick of me. LOL!!!

-gina-

 

[woody64]

We are excited as well. We retaped the DCL show on Travel Channel and rewatched it this weekend. We have this thing in our family that when watching something on tv or talking about someplace in the world we always try to be the first to say "been there" when a location is shown or mentioned. We had a lot of "been theres" watching the DCL show, even my 5 yr old DS was really into it.

No luck yet on airfare. Still around $360 each. I am flying to Scotland for $550 in a couple of weeks so tell me that makes sense. Usually the airfare drops around 90 days before so we watch weekly.

Anybody else started to think about excursions. I know I have mentioned before just checking. My DFIL is doing the 12 meter sailboat race again in St. Maarten. He loved it last year but this year he wants to win the race. We are doing one of the excursions to St. John in St. Thomas. In St. Maarten I will stay on the ship in the am asDW and DMIL go shopping. That way my 2 DS's and I have the pools almost to ourselves.

Time will fly now as school has started. We can't wait to finally meet everybody. We will have to get the kids to "talk" so they kind of know each other before the trip. As far as name tags, I am taking the Home Depot paint cards to use as they are the right color and have the Mickey head shape. Gina, maybe you can arrange a Dis Meet onboard?

Sorry for the long message. Just can't wait.

woody

 

[christinou]

We are taking the auto train, and will arrive on Friday, we will be staying at the Radison that night, anyone else??
I also picked some of the paint sample from Home Depot.
My husband want to go scuba diving on both St. Martin and St. Thomas.
I will probably just to the beach on my own in St. Martin, and take the tramway on St. Thomas, of course my girls will go with me (6 and 8).
The girls do not know yet, I think that the wait just would be too hard for them, and we like to surprise them with trips.
I would love to meet others, and have the kids get to know each other.....

 

[bassoongirl]

I am excited about our cruise too! I am trying to keep my excitement contained around my family because they think I am nuts to look forward to something so much. My daughter is afraid I will be disappointed once we are onboard because I will know what to expect. I doubt that!

I have had no luck with airfare either. The prices have not dropped yet. I think Woody64 is correct in thinking the prices will drop 90 days out. (I hope so!)

I am sorry I missed the DCL program on the Travel Channel. We don't have cable. I would have loved to see it!

Gina, please count us in for name tags. Thank you for making them. My husband and I were at Home Depot a couple weeks ago and I stopped myself from grabbing some of those green Mickey samples. If I did pick up those samples, it would have confirmed my husband's suspicions that I am nuts! I will wait until the cruise is closer. Our names are:

Steve Parr
Gayl Parr (yes, the spelling of my first name is weird!)
Katie Parr
Ryan Parr

We haven't decided on excursions yet. I was thinking that spending the days at the beach would be nice. Great Bay Beach on St. Maarten and Coki Beach on St. Thomas sound good. Do you think that is too much beach time since we will be spending the day at the beach on Castaway Cay? My husband is a kayaker and is interested in some of the kayaking excursions. We will decide which excursions we want to take in the next few months so we can book them ahead of time.

I am not a pin trader, but my son is planning to bring his Yu-Gi-Oh cards. I have bought an over the door shoe holder and a collapsible laundry basket so far. We used the laundry basket on our trips this summer and it was great!

Have a nice day.

bassoongirl

 

[Gina]

Originally posted by woody64
Gina, maybe you can arrange a Dis Meet onboard?

Absolutely!! I love doing DIS meets. I'd like to do one Friday night at the Radisson, for any DIS-ers there. That's always fun, under the stars poolside, with the kids running around with glowsticks and getting to know each other too.

Next would be at sailaway, up on deck 10 right by the funnels, for anyone else who doesn't like being down in the people crush below. Bubbles will be provided.

Then Sunday late morning is a good time to have a small get-together on the secret 7-aft deck. Last time, I ordered up a plate of croissants and danishes, and we all just munched and chatted and stuff.

By then, everyone will have had a few chances to get to know each other, and have most of the week still ahead to plan things with the new friends they have made.

As far as excursions, I'm really hoping I have the $$ to do the Golden Eagle Catamaran this time. But then, I'm also big on relaxing onboard and just wandering ashore long enough to do a little shopping. Especially in St. Maarten! I can't wait to get some more pretty tropical wear there like last time. I get so many compliments on the outfit I got. Of course, now Tyler Dean has suddenly been saying he wants to go to St. John... I'm not sure what he thinks is there LOL. But that is an all-day thing, and I really don't want to do that.

Now I just need to go see what paint chips you guys are talking about!! I'm kinda a fish out of water in a home improvement store, so I've never seen those.

-gina-

 

[woody64]

We may have to have a Dis meet/Yugi Oh! duel get together. Gina, I think the Trunk Bay excursions are half day as you go early and are back around noon. That is what we are planning/hoping.

Christnou:Great Bay Beach is great in St. Maarten. It's right off the water taxi 1 block from shopping(and facilities...we used Burger King). They will rent you float mats, chairs and umbrellas. My kids(4 & 8 at the time) liked this beach better than Megans Bay-waves gently pushed them up the beach.

If anyone wants I can scan and email pictures of the beaches we have been to so you can have a look or wait and be surprised. Let me know.

Woody

 

[bassoongirl]

Gina, thanks for being willing to plan those DIS meets. They sound great!

The paint chips are found in the paint area at Home Depot. The Disney paint samples use Mickey's head to show the colors. There are lime green ones that a lot of DISers have used to make name tags for their cruise. Some people even said that that particular color is often missing from their store! There must a lot of DISers out there!

bassoongirl

 

[christinou]

Woody, I would love to see pictures of the beach, are you planning on going to great bay beach, we could have a mini DIS meet......
Gina, I will be at the Radisson for the meet on Friday night, I mentionned it to my husband, who asked if he needed to behave. I told him no, just have fun......

 

[Gina]

I am sorry I missed the DCL program on the Travel Channel. We don't have cable. I would have loved to see it!

Gayl ~ It's coming on again several times this weekend, and I would be very happy to tape it for you! Just let me know, and I'll make a sticky for myself so I don't forget. It's a great show!

And thanks for the info on the paint chips!! I live about a block from a Home Dept, so I think I might have to stop in there very soon.

Christinou ~ Behaving is overrated, and your husband obviously knows that. Smart man. Seriously, there are a ton of tables and chairs by the pool, the bar inside makes awesome drinks, we'll have a great time all getting to know each other and being hyper about sailing the next day. *grin*

Woody ~ A Yu-Gi-Oh dueling match for the kids while we all get to chat is a *great* idea... how about those couches/chairs around that nice low table in the Atrium, right by where they set up the pin cart?? The table would be a great height for the kids and their cards, and we could sit comfortably. I just wonder when a good time for that would be, when it isn't so crowded?

And I would love to see the beach pictures, too!

-gina-

 

[bassoongirl]

Gina,

Thanks for the offer to tape the DCL show on the Travel Channel. I will ask my neighbor to tape it for me.

Gayl

 

[Gina]

I just talked -- for like 40 minutes!! -- to the nicest lady named Diana at Castaway Club. I only called to just see what the price difference was between my cat. 11 that I am having anxiety attacks over, and one with at least a porthole. As she was checking, she was looking at my past history and asked me why I hadn't booked the same stateroom again as with the last two cruises. I explained that the $$ just wasn't there this time, but that I'm still praying for a lottery win between now and then. LOL

She said if I liked (!!!) she could note my account that I am flexible about stateroom category, and perfectly willing to be bumped up if they need to move people around. She said that if they do start moving people around as it gets closer to sailing, when they look to who they can move my record will come up as one of the first possibilities. As always, there are no promises or guarantees or anything like that, but I'll take any slight bettering of the odds!!!

We talked about excursions, and third ship location possibilities, and things we love about the Magic, and she was just THE nicest person.

Oh!! And she told me a bunch of stuff about the upcoming changes to the Magic! The new teen club, where the current ESPN Skybox is, will be called Cove Corner (I'm *almost* sure I'm remembering that name right), and teens will have special KTTW cards that allows them onto the elevator that goes up there -- no grownups allowed! You know where the bus cutout behind the stage is in Offbeat? They are knocking three big portholes into that wall and making it into a very sophisticated tavern called Diversions. She said she got to see the sketches of it, and that it is going to be really nice. She said it will have an upscale pub feel, a nice quiet place to escape from the crowded dance club or whatever. And the new adult coffee bar that will be where Common Grounds is now will be really nice to, she said. Can't remember what she told me the name of that is going to be.

She was as excited and enthusiastic about the Magic as I am, and I didn't think that was possible. She was a gem. And I'm way excited that at least I am "marked" in the computer now as being ready willing and able to be bumped, if need be.

Just wanted to share!

-gina-

 

[bassoongirl]

Congratulations Gina!

I hope you do get an upgrade. Maybe you will be like Verandah Man and get the room you really wanted. I am secretly hoping that we will get upgraded from the Category 9 room we currently have to a room with a verandah. They sound wonderful! We just couldn't justify spending an extra $700 for the verandah. When we travel, we are hardly ever in our room.

The changes to the Magic sound good. Since I have never been on it before, I won't be able to really appreciate them.

Gayl

 

[Gina]

At this point, I would be thrilled to just have a porthole and some natural light... then I won't feel so claustrophobic. But I will be so happy to just be back on that beautiful ship at all! If nothing else, I'll just have to wake up earlier and go have coffee on an outside deck instead of on the veranda. Still a pretty good situation.

-gina-