Feb 7 2010 4 Night Bahamas

[Castaway Kev]

Hello All! I'm Stampin' Shauna's husband, Castaway Kev. I'm super excited for this cruise. I think Shauna has mentioned that we are booked in a category 9. This is a step up from what we normally get, and I really want to know what our room assignment will be. I keep checking DCL's website every morning, but no assignment yet. I just have to keep telling myself that no news is good news. I'm really hoping to get a free upgrade to a veranda, or even a navigator's veranda. But just an ocean view will be alright, I guess.

Has anyone booked with a guarantee been given a room assignment yet? Please post when you get it, so I can know when to check.

I read in earlier post that someone was wondering about the Super Bowl. I would be shocked if they didn't show that on the big screen. They life boat drill is at about 4:00, and the game starts at 6:00. So I don't see the life boat drill being a conflict, just early dining. Being from Salt Lake, I'm not really tied to any team in particular. But I LOVE the college game.

This thread has been pretty quiet compared to some of the other cruise threads I've read. I'd love to read more posts about people's plans. What is everyone doing in Nassau? Are there any Scuba Diver's planning to dive there? I just got certified a year ago. Then I had a head cold on the cruise and couldn't dive. I did my first real dive on the last cruise in November, and had an awesome time. I really want to get out and do it again.

Well, let me know what your plans are. Happy planning!

 

[disnemimi]

Hey Castaway Kev,
You are right; this thread is a little quiet, but as this is our first cruise, I don't know really what to expect. I am so thrilled your wife is organizing the FE exchange. Our grandkids are going to love that.

Hummm....Nassau. Don't know what we are all going to do. After hearing about the robberies our original plan of just walking the streets and seeing a few close slights might have changed. With 6 small grandchildren, ages 11 to 2, I'm not willing to take any chances with their saftely (and their parents will be with us also). Have you heard any new updates on this?

What do you think the water temp will be like for the beaches there (and Castaway Cay)??? I guess your scuba suit will keep you warm though. Being from St. Louis, we really haven't gotten into scuba diving. My brother-in-law does it and has awesome pictures to share. Hope you get to go again in Feb.

With snow on the ground and cold, cold temps. we are really looking forward to our cruise and then some fun time at Disney. See you real soon!

 

[stampinshauna]

I'm trying to decide if it is worth getting off the ship in Nassau. Last time we went, we walked to the Straw Market and wandered around in there and bought some cheap t-shirts, but I don't really want to do that this time with a 2 year old. It is crowded in there. We also took a water taxi over to Paradise Island and that was fun. We wandered inside of Atlantis and saw the aquarium (there are 9 large windows that you can see before having to pay and enter the aquarium). We tried to walk around the grounds some too, but they are pretty strict as to where you can go without being a hotel guest. So, maybe we will just stay on the ship. I wish DCL would go somewhere besides Nassau on their 3 and 4 night cruises.

Now Castaway Cay is another story. It is wonderful as I'm sure you have heard. It is the only port that we get off and stay off the ship as long as we can. We went at the end of January one year. It wasn't super warm, but it was still fun. We didn't really swim in the ocean that year, but we did parasail and do the jet ski excursion (which you do have to wade in waist deep to get on the jet skis and it wasn't too bad). I think the weather and the water temperature is all realative. We are used to highs in the 20s at home that time of year, so 60s and 70s seems warm and balmy. Now if you are from somewhere warm, it won't seem that warm. Hopefully we have a heat wave and end up with some beautiful warm days. Either way it will be fun though.

 

[HtomSirveaux]

Looks like the Cat12 GTYs have been getting assigned for the 3-nighter immediately before us...any time now!

 

[stampinshauna]

Looks like the Cat12 GTYs have been getting assigned for the 3-nighter immediately before us...any time now!

I hope so. I've been getting very impatient. I just want to know my room assignment. Crossing my fingers for some pixie dust.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

I'm crossing all fingrs and toes for beautiful pefect calm seas and warm weather- our general highs in Feb can range from a cold (to me) 50-to in the 70s...so I'm one of the ones who would be shivering with jeans and a sweatshirt if it was 60 or so in Nassu or CC...

Been gathering some things here and there for our FE... need to plan ahead Dont want to be stuck trying to figure it all out at the last minute!

As far as our Nassau plans...DH really wants to see Atlantis- so, we may head over there and decide at last minute what is worth paying for, or if just seeing what we can see for free will suffice Also thought we might walk from Atlantis towards Cabbage Beach and take a tour of those gardens..the Cloisters I think it is? Anyone doe that before? Advice? It's just DH and me, so no kids...but we don't want to have to fork ovr too much $...we plan on having a later lunch on the ship, so just thinking of being off te ship fr a few hours in the mrnng to see a few sites... any recommendations/hints/tips from you seasoned cruisers are most welcome!!! I can plan a day at DLR like nothing, but this has me confused!!!

 

[QVCshopper]

I'd like more tips on Atlantis, too. What can you see if you don't pay? I was interested in taking my kids to see the aquarium there. Wouldn't use their facilities, of course.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

OK, I really am not illiterate and I can type- my keyboard requires I practically pound on each key to type... I just re-read my post and I'm embarrassed

 

[stampinshauna]

We took a water taxi over to Atlantis and it was $3-5 each way (can't remember exactly) and that was in 2007. They waited until the water taxi was full to go, but that didn't take too long. Coming back was a lot more crowded so be prepared to wait a little and don't leave it to the end of the day. We were able to walk around some shops on the way to Atlantis and then walked inside the hotel where there were fancy shops, the casino, and the aquarium. There are 9 large windows that you can look through without paying admission and actually entering the aquarium. There were a few exterior walkways we were able to go on without having access to the facilities (without being a hotel guest and paying big $ for the water park). They had people stationed at certain areas to make sure non-hotel guests didn't enter those areas. I wanted to go a little ways onto the grounds just so I could get a good picture, but wasn't allowed that far since I wasn't a hotel guest.

Now if anyone is interested in paying the $ to use the grounds and water park, you can either book a room at Atlantis or the adjacent Comfort Suites (which is usually cheaper like $250ish) or you can do the excursion through DCL. DH thinks it would be fun, but I don't want to gamble that much $ in hopes of warm enough weather in February.

 

[stampinshauna]

Here are some pictures from my last trip to Nassau:

This is one of the large free aquarium windows

This is me standing on part of the exterior walkways. The water to the right is part of the aquarium. We could walk to the archway part of the hotel and be just underneath it, but we couldn't go any further on the grounds.

This is taken under the archway. I wish I could have backed up to get more in the pictures, but we couldn't go that far on the grounds.

Here is a view of some of the grounds from the exterior walkway.

Here is a picture looking over at Paradise Island from where you catch the water taxi (right near the port).

 

[Billinaz]

I have our day room booked at the Hyatt MCO for after the cruise. Our flight back to the west coast does not leave until 5PM and its a great way to wait out the time until we get on the plane......

Our kids (14F,12M,11F) would liek to start emailing other kids they can meet up with on the ship ... if anyones interested, let me know and Ill get them set up. I monitor all emails.

 

[HtomSirveaux]

Room assignment time! Got 5637, which is Cat11, Deck 5 Aft. For some reason I'm a little disappointed, but we were originally booked in a Cat11 Deck 7 Aft. Ended up in the same general area for $200 less (we're only a "group" of 2)...works for me!

 

[stampinshauna]

I've been checking daily for a room assignment, so thanks for posting that you got yours. I had checked this morning and it wasn't assigned yet, but now it is. No pixie dust for us, had a cat 9 gty and got a cat 9. We're on Deck 2 Aft. I was hoping for an upgrade as we've never had a veranda, but no such luck. Oh well, at least we are on the ship. Looking forward to a WONDERful cruise!

So, do we have any more takers on the FE swap? Does anyone have any questions about it? If you are participating and now have a room assignment, let me know what it is so I can add it to the list.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe New Years!

 

[KelsiesMommy]

Happy New Year , everyone!!! Looking forward to our cruise in just over a month!! Need to get myself a Fish Extender- anyone know the DISer's name who sells them? I am SO not crafty and figure I'm better off purchasing one

 

[stampinshauna]

Happy New Year!

I made my FE. Sorry I don't know the name of the person who makes them. They really aren't too bad to make though. I've even seen some that are just glued so you don't have to sew.

 

[disnemimi]

Happy New Year everyone. Finally, 2010 is here and our cruise is just around the corner. We are getting soooo excited.

I made 3 fish extenders for Christmas presents and I think they turned out pretty good. I'll try to post a picture when I get them back from my kids. My question is how long the ribbon (or string) should be to hang over the fish?

See you real soon.
Karen (Disnemimi)

 

[MinnieMeg]

Happy New Year!
We got our room assignment. We are cat.9, Deck 2 Mid. As this is our first cruise, we decided to take an DCL excursion in Nassau, Ardastra Gardens and City Tour. DH is plant person, so we explore gardens all the places we go. We are also looking forward to Brunch at Palo.

Meg

 

[stampinshauna]

We will be sailing in 5 weeks from today! Woohoo!!! Are you all excited?

So, here is who I have participating in the FE swap as of today:

stampinshauna (4 people)
KelsiesMommy (2 people)
Disnemimi room #1 (5 people)
Disnemimi room #2 (2 people)
Disnemimi room #3 (5 people)
Mommyof3boyz (5 people)
Overtherainbow (4 people)
MinnieMeg (2 people)
QVCshopper (4 people) Please pm me with your room #
Ldeninge (4 people)

20 Adults
9 Boys age 3, age 4, age 5, age 7, age 9, age 10, age 11, age 11, age 13
8 Girls age 2, age 2, age 5, age 8, age 10, age 12, age 15, age 17

Is my list correct? Does anyone else want to add to our group? I want to get the list emailed out to each of you in the next week or so, that way you will have the information on ages and such. Remember, it is up to you if you want to do one gift per room or one gift per person. Do as much or as little as you want to. I'll probably do one main gift per stateroom and a little something extra for the kids. If you have questions, please let me know.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

So, it looks like 10 staterooms participating, correct? I was planning on one gift per stateroom, and maybe added extras for kids in rooms, as well. Getting so excited!!!

 

[stampinshauna]

So, it looks like 10 staterooms participating, correct? I was planning on one gift per stateroom, and maybe added extras for kids in rooms, as well. Getting so excited!!!

There are 10 rooms so far. I'm going to plan on a few extra just in case we have more people add.

When do you think we should make the cutoff for participating?