February 17, 2007

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

I feel like I just wrote a research paper, LOL. I just went through every PM I received with information, and verified that I put it correctly on the list. I am planning to send it out on Tuesday.
If anyone changed rooms, or was GTY and has been assigned a stateroom, or anyone was lucky and got upgraded, please PM me and I'll change it. (Unless you PM'd me already)

I will not be including towns and e-mail addresses in the list, due to a number of requests not to do so. The list WILL contain the following information that was sent to me: DISboard name, Names/ages/sex of travellers, home state, stateroom room #/#s, early or sesond dining, and pre-cruise hotel. IF YOU DO NOT WANT ME TO INCLUDE ONE OF THESE ITEMS FOR YOU FAMILY PLEASE PM ME BY TOMORROW NIGHT.

I'll post here when/how I sent the list out.
After the list is sent, if you have changes, or I mad a mistake, PM me and I'll send the changes to everyone

Tomorrow our countdown is in the teens!!

Last night, we went cruise shopping (very unsuccessful-all winter clothes on clearance and no spring/summer yet) and as we were walking outside the store, I thought how three weeks from then, we would be walking on deck on our first night on the ship. It was COLD, but we all felt a little warmer!!

 

[justhat]

Sue, I forgot to tell you that AKL is definitely our pre-cruise hotel.

We're proabably going to be at the port around noon. We're eating breakfast at Boma at 7:30am and then packing up the rental car and heading out. But with 2 young kids that will take us while so that's why I'm guessing noon.

 

[cdnstitchfan]

Great we can organize a husband meet!!!!!!!!

A husband meet sounds great.


Sue, hopefully you can stay warm for a few more days, like 20 days or so. We are started to get cold again, but still not anything like what the east coast is getting. I actually went thru our clothes at the end of the summer season and picked up a few things will the stores were getting rid of stock. So far that plan has worked...I mean no one has grown to much so they don't fit anymore.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Our countdown to the cruise is now in the teens!

(LOL, I did have something to post, but I forgot...oh well, I am sure I'll be back later and I'll remember...)

 

[VivianDigi]

I was just reading on the main foum page about customs. Does anyone know if us US citizens have to be up at 6 am to go through customs when we get to St Thomas? I thought we did have to but the thread on the main page had confliction information.

 

[PhotoLisa]

Everyone, regardless of nationality, must go through customs BRIGHT AND EARLY on St. Thomas morning . . . unfortunately!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Everyone, regardless of nationality, must go through customs BRIGHT AND EARLY on St. Thomas morning . . . unfortunately!

...which is exactly why we scheduled an early excursion.

 

[PhotoLisa]

...which is exactly why we scheduled an early excursion.

Which brings up another question . . . oh wise one that really helps us all out . . .

I read on a thread something about having to go to the WD Theatre to get tendering tickets (for ports we tender) to get off the ship.

Is this true?

If so, when the heck did that start? I never remember doing that on all my other cruises.

In St. Thomas, I have an independent excursion as well as the following week on Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

 

[christinou]

I think that they have always done that for people who need to get out on their own for an early excursion, but once the people with disney excursions are off, they just open tender for everyone. On our Eastern cruise, we should not tender at all, In Grand Cayman you will Lisa, I think that some of the docks are open in Cozumel.
It is really getting close, I have to work 5 days this week, 4 days next week, my kids have Frebruary 6 off, and 3 days the following week......

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

We won't tender at the eastern ports. As for the western...when we cruised w/RCCL in April, we docked at Cozumel, Costa Maya, and tendered at Grand Cayman (I think everyone tenders in Grand Cayman). I think the Mexico docks are getting there--two berths were open in April in Cozumel (and that was the one that was really destroyrd).
As far as the tender tix go, I think they give priority to early DCL excursions, but I can't imagine that you couldn't get one to get off the ship early. I think if it was any kind of an issue, it would have been brought up on the DISboards by now

 

[VivianDigi]

I just called IDS about having stuff shipped to the port. The info they told me was I could not ship any liquids or food items. I think I just may ship my stuff to my hotel.

 

[stuffed w/fluff]

I made a call to IDS today as well...As you all know I sent our my 4 boxes last week and they are already at the warehouse!!!

I told him my plight about hearing all this conflicting info, that I had called ealier to check about contents and all that, in my most sweetest voice (imagine me with a cold!!) Anyway as I'm coughing and choking into this man's ear, he said that he would make sure my boxes - and that they were right infront of him - made it into house keeping. (He did describe them) I told him thank you and now I'll have room for my flip flops and we both shared a laugh. I'd like to imagine the man as a nice santa but younger, slimmer and really good looking.

With that said my sister-in-law and 6powaydisneyfans also called to get info on sending stuff in to IDS and whoever they spoke with said NO as well!

So again I am calling on all of you for some more pixie dust!

So not worth the stress!

Where can I pick up water to bring on the boat in my suitcase? We're staying at the Hyatt - that too may not be worth the hassle but thought I'd ask.

Glory-Anne

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

There's a WalMart close to the port--maybe 10 minutes away. We're stopping there for water and last minute needs.

 

[stuffed w/fluff]

Will I have enough time to get to walmart after the bus trip from the airport if I can get on the first one over? How much standing around can I expect at port you know between getting there and boarding. I don't want to stress my party by saying - hey see ya I'm off to walmart and think I'll miss the boat!

 

[kcashner]

The first bus leaves MCO about 9:30, and boarding doesn't start until a few minutes before noon---so you will have plenty of time. You must be planning on taking a cab to Walmart....if so, I'd suggest that you check in and then do your Walmart run. You will have TONS of time.

The last boarding isn't till 4 pm, so......

 

[MichiganMouse]

Just thought I'd share my husband's luggage woes from his trip to Mexico: He left Friday, thru Houston, to Saltillo Mexico. He got his luggage Sunday night at his hotel. He came home today! The worst part was that there was only 9 passengers on his flight and 7 had lost luggage. Needless to say, I am going to be packing a little of everyone's clothes in each suitcases.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Hi Everyone-
I don't think I will have the list sent out today. I have been called in to work the next 3 days, and Friday I have two appointments. Our evenings are crazy this week too. (Did I mention that I really need a vacation??) Sooo, I will get the list done ASAP and get it sent. I only have to tweek a few items that people have sent. I'll post when I send it out.

 

[christinou]

I just checked the schedule for St. Thomas http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/cruiseship/cruise_2007/STT-Feb.php
and it looks like we have to anchor which is too bad it is a lot nicer when we are docked, oh well.

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi all! Just checking in. I am really getting excited about our cruise. I am counting the days.

 

[PhotoLisa]

Christine:

Thanks for the St. Thomas info.

I should be okay -- we are scheduled to get there/be able to disembark at 7:30 and my private excursion isn't until 9:30.

Whew!

Tendering isn't awful - just inconvenient. You do get a great chance for a photo of the ship without anything mucking up the background.

Lisa