Feb 3 Eastern........Top 10 Trip Report

[mom2grace]

Top 10 Right Moves

1. Getting up at 3am (okay, really it was 5am) to book Palo brunch and dinner.

2. Moving towels from “reserved” chairs at the Mickey Pool at 9am, all of the lounge chairs were covered, and there wasn’t another person out there! Grrrr!

3. Moving my 5 year old daughter down to the 3-4 group to be with her brother.

4. Waiting until our youngest was potty-trained and 3 to cruise again!

5. Coming in the night before and staying at the port.

6. The over the door shoe organizer! I’ve cruised 5 times in the past 5 years and have never used one before, I won’t cruise again without one! (Get the clear ones!)

7. Ordering Mickey bars every day from room service.

8. Staying on the ship at St. Thomas, the kids loved having the Mickey pool without the crowds.

9. Hitting the pools early on sea days, our kids were ready to head inside by the time it got really crowded around 1pm.

10. Leaving our carry-on luggage in the room while we went to breakfast the last day.

11. Going to the Family Dance Parties with DD, she loved it!

12. Getting tickets for the Margarita tasting…….mmmmmm! I didn’t like any of the martinis, and the wine was okay.

13. Hooking up with all of the Happy & Laid Back Cruisers!

Top 10 Wrong Moves

1. Flying AirTran.

2. Giving up my hammock on CC to a whiny, lying 8 year old boy.

3. Forgetting the candy “thank you” gifts from the Oceaneer Club staff, I paid $10 for 2 medium bags of M-n-M’s on the ship.

4. Waiting until St. Maarten to get my hot stone massage, my attitude really needed it on the first day, even though it was less $$ on a “port day”.

5. Not spending enough time in the Rainforest Room.

6. Packing too many clothes.

7. Not playing Bingo!

8. Not sticking the kids in the club so I could spend all of CC day at Serenity Bay! JK!

9. Not booking a Double Dip, next time will be a double dip for sure.

10. Getting off the ship on the last day, and coming home to freezing cold and snow!

 

[OKWMEMBER]

Ask your room steward to get you extra soaps, shampoos and all the other creams and lotions to take home so you can pretend your still on the cruise!

 

[cmsnyder77]

Just curious, what problems did you have with Air Tran? We are flying with them on the return trip. I was a little hesitant to use them, but hadn't really heard any reviews good or bad.

 

[vic32]

We fly Airtran all the time, so far, knock wood, no trouble.
But I noticed the last couple of times I think they are over booked.
On our way down in Atlanta they were looking for volunteers to bump back.
They were offering 2 rt tickets pp!!! Wow I wanted that, but we were meeting friends at the airport.
What happened to you? By the way love your list's.

 

[MexiFinn]

Great list! I was on that same cruise, too. Here would be my top 10.

1. Dancing with my goddaughter at the family dances.
2. Winning Mickey Mania with my godson.
3. Winning Mickey 200 with my godson.
4. Not getting a bad sunburn.
5. Seeing our head server from our cruise three years ago...and he, SACHEN, remembered us!
6. Having a beautiful sunny day at Castaway Cay.
7. Being acknowledged and remembered by the entertainment staff everywhere we went (we tried to do a lot of things).
8. Drinking the delicious apple ice wine.
9. Meeting Paul from Australia (bar server in Rockin Bar D). What a cutie!
10. Cruising with my mom.

 

[mom2grace]

Just curious, what problems did you have with Air Tran? We are flying with them on the return trip. I was a little hesitant to use them, but hadn't really heard any reviews good or bad.

We had 4 seats, all over the airplane, and our kids are 3 & 5 years old! We were in 28F, 31A, 30A, and 23F. It took 2 hours just to check in at the ticketing counter in Orlando, it was insane. One of the problems from what we understand is that there were some people trying to check in more than 4 hours before their flight, and you can't do that. NO ONE would correct our seating problem. Each employee of Airtran had a print out of each ticketed passenger with their age listed! It was totally insane.

BE SURE to select your seats and print your boarding passes the last night of the cruise in the internet cafe. We didn't and it was a nightmare.

The flight attendant at the front of the plane thought it was totally reasonable that my 3 year old would sit in his seat, buckle his seat, and sit with a total stranger!

The flight attendant at the back of the plane had it solved in about 1 minute, but never again will we fly Air Tran. We had used them about 4 times in the past with good trips.

Plus, we sat on the runway for an hour!

 

[tjeagle]

Love your list!!
Still not too late to book that double dip!! (Nov 2008!!)

 

[yellowfish78]

We had 4 seats, all over the airplane, and our kids are 3 & 5 years old! We were in 28F, 31A, 30A, and 23F. It took 2 hours just to check in at the ticketing counter in Orlando, it was insane. One of the problems from what we understand is that there were some people trying to check in more than 4 hours before their flight, and you can't do that. NO ONE would correct our seating problem. Each employee of Airtran had a print out of each ticketed passenger with their age listed! It was totally insane.

BE SURE to select your seats and print your boarding passes the last night of the cruise in the internet cafe. We didn't and it was a nightmare.

The flight attendant at the front of the plane thought it was totally reasonable that my 3 year old would sit in his seat, buckle his seat, and sit with a total stranger!

The flight attendant at the back of the plane had it solved in about 1 minute, but never again will we fly Air Tran. We had used them about 4 times in the past with good trips.

Plus, we sat on the runway for an hour!

If you book Airtran with a TA, they can assign your seats for you next time! Just letting you know!
...and I always forget you can get a Mickey Bar from room service!!!

 

[Magicbound2007]

Love your list!!
Still not too late to book that double dip!! (Nov 2008!!)

Ok Guys...
What's the double dip I missed out on???

 

[tjeagle]

Tammy
Hey girl!

There are 4 or 5 special Western cruises in 2008 that make 2 stops at Castaway Cay, 1 in Cozumel and 1 in Costa Maya
(I think that there are some 4 day cruises that have 2 Castaway Cay stops too???)
I re-booked for Thanksgiving 2008 that is one of the Double Dips at CC! (I have been trying to gently persuade any other Happy and Laid backs to join in!!)
Tempting isn't it!!

 

[Magicbound2007]

Top 10 Right Moves

1. Getting up at 3am (okay, really it was 5am) to book Palo brunch and dinner.

2. Moving towels from “reserved” chairs at the Mickey Pool at 9am, all of the lounge chairs were covered, and there wasn’t another person out there! Grrrr!
I think the staff does that because I was on deck before we left on Saturday and they were putting towels on all the backs of the chairs~
3. Moving my 5 year old daughter down to the 3-4 group to be with her brother.

4. Waiting until our youngest was potty-trained and 3 to cruise again!
Here you here! I won't cruise again until my 2.5 yr old can be in the club and with his sister!
5. Coming in the night before and staying at the port.
Did this too! Although we didn't get in until late it was great being there already.
6. The over the door shoe organizer! I’ve cruised 5 times in the past 5 years and have never used one before, I won’t cruise again without one! (Get the clear ones!)Again, good tip! I used it for my daughters hairbows, pony holders, etc., little toys they had, and even shoes!

7. Ordering Mickey bars every day from room service.Yummy!!

8. Staying on the ship at St. Thomas, the kids loved having the Mickey pool without the crowds.

9. Hitting the pools early on sea days, our kids were ready to head inside by the time it got really crowded around 1pm.

10. Leaving our carry-on luggage in the room while we went to breakfast the last day.We went up to the buffet and brought back stuff to our room and had a nice breakfast too.

11. Going to the Family Dance Parties with DD, she loved it!

12. Getting tickets for the Margarita tasting…….mmmmmm! I didn’t like any of the martinis, and the wine was okay.

13. Hooking up with all of the Happy & Laid Back Cruisers! Wish I was there at our meet and greet!!

Top 10 Wrong Moves

1. Flying AirTran.

2. Giving up my hammock on CC to a whiny, lying 8 year old boy.
Hey, I missed those hammocks!
3. Forgetting the candy “thank you” gifts from the Oceaneer Club staff, I paid $10 for 2 medium bags of M-n-M’s on the ship.

4. Waiting until St. Maarten to get my hot stone massage, my attitude really needed it on the first day, even though it was less $$ on a “port day”.

5. Not spending enough time in the Rainforest Room.

6. Packing too many clothes.

7. Not playing Bingo!

8. Not sticking the kids in the club so I could spend all of CC day at Serenity Bay! JK!

9. Not booking a Double Dip, next time will be a double dip for sure.

10. Getting off the ship on the last day, and coming home to freezing cold and snow!

YES, YES, YES!!! It is freezing here too!!

 

[deebs]

We just got back from the 2/10 sailing and have already booked the 10/25/08 double dip cruise! It's the cheapest week to sail on this itinerary (guess Halloween isn't considered an official holiday to DCL -- although there WILL be trick-or-treating onboard).

 

[mom2grace]

The "reserved" chairs had towels all over them, not just the neat one at the top! I just moved the t-shirt/tank top to the next chair over. I think no one said anything because everyone knows it's a "no-no" and they just take their chances?

I kept a navigator in my bag as backup, as well as each chair being marked, do not reserve!

 

[mom2grace]

Tammy
Hey girl!

There are 4 or 5 special Western cruises in 2008 that make 2 stops at Castaway Cay, 1 in Cozumel and 1 in Costa Maya
(I think that there are some 4 day cruises that have 2 Castaway Cay stops too???)
I re-booked for Thanksgiving 2008 that is one of the Double Dips at CC! (I have been trying to gently persuade any other Happy and Laid backs to join in!!)
Tempting isn't it!!

I hear you Jackie, I hear you! Maybe we can hook up with a DD in 2012 or so! (That's only 5 years off or so, and I am so obsessive that 2008 and 2009/2010 vacations are already scheduled! But, not DCL )

 

[Magicbound2007]

The "reserved" chairs had towels all over them, not just the neat one at the top! I just moved the t-shirt/tank top to the next chair over. I think no one said anything because everyone knows it's a "no-no" and they just take their chances?

I kept a navigator in my bag as backup, as well as each chair being marked, do not reserve!

Oh was that you that moved my stuff....just kidding! I never even sat in one of the lounge chairs...was that an option with two little ones?? Lounging?? I can't even sit in the recliner at home for more than 1 min 37 sec....not kidding...timed it today~