February 03 2007 Eastern

[momrek06]

ERICA to our wonderful thread of DISer's headed to

the Eastern Caribbean in FEB 2007!!!

Welcome to your entire FAMILY as well.

 

[FLmomof2]

Hello everyone! I read through the whole Passporter and it was great! Answered a ton of my questions but the one thing I still feel uneasy about is the kids getting sick. I have been reading some threads on kids that got some sort of illness (not seasick) on a recent Disney cruise and people were recommending bringing your own crayons for them at dinner because of germs. Do you really have to be that careful on the cruise? I didn't think I would have to be so obsessive about everything. Am I just worrying to much or is it something that happens more often then not? My kids will be 4 and 1 and I would hate for them to get sick!

Just wondered if anyone else was worried or had an opinion on this!

 

[PiperG]

Hello Feb. 3rd cruisers!

Erica here, posting from the Midwest. MN, to be exact....."Oh, YA, you bettcha!"

Hello Erica! We are also from MN and live in Maple Grove, northwest of Minneapolis. Welcome! This will be our fourth Eastern. We love getting out of the cold for a week, and especially love the two days we spend steaming south to the warmer climates.

Our story is similar to yours. In 2001, we did a land and sea during which we got hooked on cruising. The 3-day was waaaay to short so we have been taking an Eastern about once a year ever since. Having said that, we are spinkling in a Wonder cruise in October. DS9 has a short break from school. What better way to spend it than on the Disney Wonder

 

[tjeagle]

FLmom,
I was reading the same threads last night. I guess it could be a concern since we will be traveling in cold and flu season!
I think I will bring my own crayons and lots of disinfectent wipes! My guys will be alittle older (8 yrs. old) but they are always eating with their hands etc.
Any opinions from you experienced cruisers??

(p.s. I still havent gotten my Passporter , I ordered the deluxe and it hasn't shipped yet...)
Jackie

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

Good Morning & thanks for the warm welcomes everyone!

As far as ship germs & sickness go, in my experience, wiping hands before eating is key. All restaurants will have hand sanitizer or wipes that will be given to you as you enter. As long as you are religious about sanitizing your hands whenever possible, you should be clear from getting sick. Everyone in our last January group stayed healthy, including my 75yo Granny. The plane is really your worst enemy for germs! The kids shouldn't mind using the sanitzer either, those automatic dispensers are kinda fun. Kids can make a game out of using the dispensers.

PiperG, Maple Grove?! HA! I grew up in Plymouth & my parents still live there. I went to Wayzata HS & currently live in Shakopee. Maple Grove is a great place to live. We should consider our own little MN Dismeet! What fun! We'll have to talk.

Erica J.

 

[FLmomof2]

Guess I rather be safe than sorry. I will stock up on hand sanitizer wipes and crayons....and try not to worry about it too much!

 

[rjh8115]

We've had the kids on three DCL cruises now and neither one has been sick (knock on wood). We are very big on washing and sanitizing hands throughout the day and before all meals. Neither boy has experienced any seasickness (they don't get carsick either), so I can't help you there.

Cool and wet here in Detroit today. Wishing for sunshine and blue water . . .

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

Cool and wet here in Detroit today. Wishing for sunshine and blue water . . .

Well, we have the sunshine you're looking for here in MN...but no blue water anywhere in sight. It's more of a lakey, greenish, brownish....(sigh). I'm with you, bring on the sand and sun of the Caribbean anytime!

I can't wait to shop in St. Maarten! I've done some great excursions there too. Anyone else in love with the Regatta race?...or the Rhino rafts? I sure loved those excursions. I'm thinking this time I'll go low-key, since my Granny will be limited to which things she can do. Anyone ever travel to St. Maarten / St. Thomas with a senior? Let me know if you have any excursion suggestions for me & my family.

Thanks!
Erica J.

 

[mickeyfanatic3]

I agree that the hand washing is a must. I work in a public school and I'm always scared of bringing something home. I started using hand sanitizer and frequent washings. I keep it on my desk, in my car and in my purse. I plan on packing a lot of it when we go on the cruise.

My DD's pediatrician told me that one of the biggest problems is that we don't wash our hands long enough. She suggested that we sing "Happy Birthday" while we wash our hands. DD loves this and we sing together while washing our hands. Just a suggestion for those who have kids.

I also plan on packing my own crayons for DD to use in the Dining Room. You can't be too careful!

Cathy

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

Seems like we have a very health-concious group of cruisers here! It's nice to know that everyone is concerned about staying germ-free and having a fabulous cruise. Thumbs up to all of you parents for trying to keep your kids healthy. I'm not a parent yet, but am guessing I'll be practicing the same rituals someday.

Joksten2000, have you made it home from the Magic yet? I'm new to this thread & haven't met you yet, but am dying to hear your tales of my favorite ship! When you get settled, please tell all about your recent cruise! How's the Dumbotron working? Do you like the new fitness center? Who were your dining servers? Who is the current Captain & cruise director? You get the picture! Hope you had a great trip!

Erica J.

 

[joksten2000]

We had a great cruise The warm glow is still with us. There is a cruise report in 2 parts I hope to finish it tomorrow. Felt bad about not having the extended family with us. Our last family cruise was 2003. DD got married in Mexico so that was our vacation, went to WDW in 2005. Now the kids are excited about Alaska, almost at a fever pitch. Going to get our feet wet in Sept, doing the 9/30 & 10/07 cruises, the DW thinks it will be too much ship, I'm hoping not, although about Friday morning I was looking forward to some very plain food. Starting cutting back on Thursday morning, we decided to eat in Luminere's and avoid the buffet, wife gained 2lbs and I gained 4, not bad. Could really cut back at Dinner till Friday because you have to be crazy to cut back on Lobster night, the favoritest night of the year.

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

Welcome back Joksten2000!

I'll have to check out your trip report(s). It's great that you're going to try cruising Alaska. I've never been anywhere near Alaska. Once again, you'll have to spill the beans on that one.

Don't worry about being on the ship too long for your B2B cruises in fall. When I did the 14-day Eastbound Panama trip last fall, the pace was very different from the 7-day. You really feel like you don't have to eat as much at the meals, because you always feel like there will be another chance "next week" to have more. Hopefully that makes sense! It's easier to pace yourself, because you get settled into your dining routine & realize you have plenty of time to try all of the great food DCL has to offer.

Oh, and could you pass some of that DCL "glow" this way? I'm a little cruise-starved lately!

Feb 3rd, WHERE ARE YOU?!

Erica J.

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

joksten2000,

I enjoyed your trip reports. I can appreciate your jewelry spending spree! Every time my DM hits the pavement in a new port city, she's looking for baubles for her fingers too! She has quite the collection. I've purchased some pretty cool jewelry over the past 6 years of cruising. Lately, I've been bringing home mostly DCL merchandise for my souvenirs. What can I say, I love a DCL shirt with Mickey on it!

Perhaps my DM and your DH will bump into eachother shopping in St. Maarten / St. Thomas in Feb. My DM loves "Joe's" in St. Maarten. She'll be buying from them again for certain.

It's rainy and blah here in MN today. I'm wishing I was at Castaway Cay right now! Drats! I'd better head home and look at some scrapbooks...I've got a nasty case of DCL Dementia coming on! Help!

Have a great weekend everyone. Catch you next week.
Erica J.

 

[tjeagle]

For you experienced cruisers....
How busy are the pools on excursion days? I keep reading how busy the pools (and deck chairs) are on days at sea. We LOVE sitting by the pool (expecially with a frosty beverage in hand!). DH and I have cruised before and have seen St. Maarten before...I am considering staying on the ship so we can kick back! Any thoughts??
Jackie

 

[joksten2000]

We usually stay on board to enjoy the peace and quiet, we were just on the 4/15 cruise ans ther were 5 people at the adult pool. Nice quiet lazy day was had by all. This cruise is a little up in the air now. We got some great news, our daughter is pregnant. She thinks early January. So depending on how she does will dictate our going. That's why I booked a B2B in 9/30 & 10/07. W@e'll cross our fingers

 

[FLmomof2]

We usually stay on board to enjoy the peace and quiet, we were just on the 4/15 cruise ans ther were 5 people at the adult pool. Nice quiet lazy day was had by all. This cruise is a little up in the air now. We got some great news, our daughter is pregnant. She thinks early January. So depending on how she does will dictate our going. That's why I booked a B2B in 9/30 & 10/07. W@e'll cross our fingers

CONGRATULATIONS on the great news. Although I will be a little sad not having my quiet neighbors if you decide not to go!

 

[tjeagle]

Joksten,
Congratulations!!
Jackie

 

[tjeagle]

For you experienced cruisers....
How busy are the pools on excursion days? I keep reading how busy the pools (and deck chairs) are on days at sea. We LOVE sitting by the pool (expecially with a frosty beverage in hand!). DH and I have cruised before and have seen St. Maarten before...I am considering staying on the ship so we can kick back! Any thoughts??

Any other thoughts??
Jackie

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

Good Morning All -

Jackie, in my experience, the pools are generally empty the in the morning thru early afternoon when we've been in port. Most people are off the ship as soon as they can be & then they trickle back on board as the day goes on. My group usually follows this pattern. I find that jumping in the hot tub and pool right before we get ready for dinner in St. Maarten / St. Thomas works well. A lot of people get back on the ship from their day out & they go right to their rooms to get ready for 1st dinner seating. The only cruise I've been on where the pools were "overcroweded" was the Panama repo last fall. Any 7-day cruises I've done, I've never had a problem finding space around the quiet cove pool. You'll have to ask some of the parents out there about the Goofy and Mickey pools. I don't have kids yet, so I'm not much help on those!

joksten2000, congrats on your new grandbaby! I'll cross my fingers that everything goes well & you keep your ressies for Feb 3rd! I read your trip reports and I didn't see a note of who your cruise staff was. Who's the current Captain & Cruise Director on the Magic?

Erica J.

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

I thought I'd bump us up a bit with this pic.

Hopefully this will get everyone excited to visit St. Thomas! This is a view from Mountain Top that I took on my last Eastern cruise. The ride to the top was the scariest van ride I've ever experienced! We were a bit overloaded with 10 adults and our driver smashed into a van that I was worried wouldn't be able to climb the hills. Fortunately, we made it to the top and then safely back down to the Magic. Whew! The view was worth it!

Erica J.