February 18, 2012 Western Caribbean

[jasec2]

There is a new thread on the cruise line forum from people just off the Magic Western cruise. I have been reading it because I was concerned about the state of the ship after readin some of the "horror" stories from the "lack of Pixie Dust" thread. Sounds like everything is good, though!!! Am looking forward to seeing some Navigators from this cruise.

 

[msnoble]

Hello fellow cruisers. Looking forward to our 8th trip on the magic. Would love to participate in the FE.
We have 3 adults (mom dad and Grammy)
3 boys aged 6,9,11
4 girls aged 7,9,11,13
I'll post rooms and who is in them once I double check ressies (6066 and thereabouts is roughly where we are)

One little thing I've found with FE's over the years is that it is helpful to designate delivery days. I'll abide by whatever rules are set but just making a recommendation
Also on occasion people get their cabins changed for whatever reason (upgraded, something wrong) and it's helpful for the FE leader to have a dry erase message board to note any cabin changes.
We usually bring items for the adults as well because aren't we all kids at heart

Looking forward to a week of awesome relaxation!

We are glad to have you join us! I will add your information to the Roll call on the first page, as well as to the FE list--can you let me know how many rooms you'll have altogether? (It's ok if you don't have room #s yet.) Also if you are comfortable giving the first names of the adults (and kids if you want) I will add them to the list for folks who like to personalize gifts.

I hear what you're saying about assigning days--we'll do whatever the consensus is for the group as a whole . Oh and I always have a whiteboard on my door, so we'll have that covered for sure!

Send me a PM if you want the link for our Facebook page

-Maureen

 

[msnoble]

There is a new thread on the cruise line forum from people just off the Magic Western cruise. I have been reading it because I was concerned about the state of the ship after readin some of the "horror" stories from the "lack of Pixie Dust" thread. Sounds like everything is good, though!!! Am looking forward to seeing some Navigators from this cruise.

This is good to see--I am going to go searching for that thread. I was having some of the same concerns, but have learned over the years to take the complaints I see here on the boards with a grain of salt

-Maureen

 

[jasec2]

Hey Maureen,
Someone from that thread also posted docs and Navigators from this past week's cruise. The name of the thread is Magic Western Caribbean Navigators & Cruise Documents October 1-8, 2011 . You know how inept I am with the computer so don't know how to post a link but I belive it is in the trip report section.
Jess

 

[msnoble]

Thanks Jessica! I just saw it too...I've subscribed to it already--hoping to have some time tonight at home to look through it.

Here is the link for anyone else who may be interested:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2814906

Some of the information is likely to change by the time we set sail, but this is a great start for anyone else who likes to plan ahead

 

[Nicsmom]

Thanks for posting these. Just reading them has got me very excited. We just made our final payment The TA said that November 20 is the day to book Palo and excursions. So that means we'll be up at midnight on the 19th. Still haven't booked my flight. I'm giving it one more day. I think I said this last week. Anyone have any suggestions on where to stay the night before either at the port or Coco Beach.

 

[jasec2]

We can't book until Dec 5th for reservations.My hope of getting a ressie at Palo is fading but maybe.....

 

[msnoble]

We can't book until Dec 5th for reservations.My hope of getting a ressie at Palo is fading but maybe.....

You've probably already seen this online, but they do hold back some Palo reservations for booking on embarkation day. Plus people cancel as the cruise goes on--the cancellation policy is up to 2pm on the day of the reservation--so if you really have your heart set on it, be persistent! I know we canceled our dinner reservation for the last night of the cruise the day before--decided to have dinner as a family the last night

Also, reservations/excursions/spa appointments open up intermittently right up until sail date, so again persistence in regularly checking the DCL website usually pays off.

 

[jasec2]

Hi Maureen,
I knew about the reservations on board but had not thought about trying to check back for reservations. Thanks! I will do that.
I can't wait to find out when our flight is. My father booked it through Disney so we won't know until sometime in Jan?? He felt it would be easier to have everything done through them since we are traveling with the little guys. It's driving me crazy because that is one of the last things I have to "plan" and have no idea what time we will arrive at the ship!!! I think I am becoming a little obsseive with this cruise! It's the first one in about 5 years and the first one with the boys so I am really excited about it.
Okay, enough blabbering. Thanks for the info!!
Jessica

 

[msnoble]

here's a re-post of the current participants for our FE Gift Exchange:

1) msnoble Room 1037 Maureen, Erica (13), Russell (11) **No sticky/chewy candy for Erica

2) rubbergypsy Room ???? Liz, DD (11)

3) jasec2 Room 6526 Jessica, Russell, Brayden (4, almost 5), Justin (3) **the boys love snacks and little toys (especially cars and trucks!)

4) Pixi Stix Room ???? Dena, Paul, Tyler (16), Matthew (10)

5) nikitta28 RoomA ?? Dad, DS (6), DS(9), DS(11)
6) nikitta28 RoomB ?? Mom, DD(7), DD(9)
7) nikitta28 RoomC ?? Grammy, DD(11), DD(13)

8) nicsmom Room 8514 Sheri, Mike, Nicole (18), Michael (7)

9) msnoble's friends Room 1039 Debbie, Zoe (13), Isabel (10)

 

[micheleq]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the input on Nachi Cocum. DH is traveling this week, but I think NC sounds like the best deal for us. My girls will love just hanging out and playing in the sand and the pool.

Leaning toward booking Nativeway for the Island Tour and Stingray City add-on in Grand Cayman. They seem to get good reviews.

Jessica, I'll also be booking on Dec. 5th, and hoping for a Palo brunch one of the sea days as well as Palo dinner on Formal Night (Monday - first sea day). Fingers crossed! My DH wears a suit every day and the last thing he wants to do on vacation is "suit up". He'll gladly bring a sport coat, but no ties on vacation

Nicsmom - we are staying at the Residence Inn the night before the cruise. Seems to get good reviews on the DIS and on Tripadvisor.

I've also been trying to scan the Cruise Critic boards for input on excursions (Nachi and anything in GC).

Four more months! Hmm, I should get a ticker...

 

[msnoble]

Hi Everyone,
Rather than taking up lots of space here on the thread, I've just updated the original post of the FE participants. You can find it easily by clicking the link in my signature (under my countdown ticker).

We now have 11 cabins participating--only 4 months 'til we set sail!

If you are on Facebook and want to join our group over there (but haven't yet), just send me a PM and I will send you the link.

Hope everyone is having a great week

 

[pmbunny]

Hey everyone... I'd almost forgotten about the DisBoards and this thread... Until i got a happy birthday email... lol

Can you add our family to the fish extender? Me my husband, and our 4 boys? Although... We're starting to worry that the youngest will not be able to come along. He's 13 (well, will be in December), and decided to go live with his mom this year. His grades are tanking, went from all A's and B's here with us to mostly D's with a couple of C's while living with her. We've warned him that if his teachers don't think he can afford to miss a week of school, he won't be going. It was a tough thing to say to him, and will be an even tougher thing to do, if it comes down to it.

We booked our flights, and I must say, I'm glad we used our DVC points for the cruise, because the airfare busted our budget, lol.... We'll be flying out of Green Bay, instead of Detroit, since it's closer. We could fly out of Marquette, but it adds $300 per ticket, and with 6 of us, it adds fast!

Whoooo.... I'm working on losing some weight before the trip, anyone else?

 

[Nicsmom]

PMbunny - Air fares are insane. We just booked ours and got a good price. We have to leave a few days before/after the cruise to get something under 3 or 4k. Oh well looks like we have to use some DVC points for a Disney vaca

Hopefully your son will pull it together and pick up his grades. That's a tough age.

I am also trying to lose weight. I've been on weight watchers for a while. I've lost 27 lb so far but have slowed down. Would love to lose 10-15 more before the cruise. Good luck with it!

 

[msnoble]

I will definitely add you to the FE list Robin Do you know yet which cabin(s) you'll be in? Also, do you want me to include the first names for your husband and boys? I will include your youngest, with a caveat that he may not sail at the last moment. I agree with Sheri--that is a tough age, and I'll also put in a vote for some that he pulls his grades up.

My friend Debbie (who is cruising with us) and I are also doing Weight Watchers--I've been tracking since March 2010 and she's been tracking since September 2010. Debbie has done great (within a couple of pounds of her goal), but I have kinda stalled over the last several months . I am hoping to get more consistent with the tracking and exercise here in the next 4 months so I can lose my last 10-15 pounds, but so far I have managed to keep the first 30 I lost off

 

[pmbunny]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone... We're definitely hoping everyone can make it.

I'm Robin (just turned 41)
DH- Mike (44)
DS- Brandon (18)
DS- Luke (17)
DS- Ben (14)
DS- Jacob (13)

I did weight watchers for almost a year, but didn't have too much success. I've found a great site -- myfitnesspal.com, that I use to track my calories on. Have been to a nutritionist several times, and while I know how to eat and what to eat, I still find I have a hard time following it. I started my own cake decorating business this spring, and have been eating scraps and leftovers, and of course sampling new recipes. It wasn't until I saw a picture of myself in a wedding that I realized just how much I've slipped. *sigh*

Luckily, I've got the cruise to motivate me, and hopefully using this board to keep it in the forefront of my mind, I'll be more likely to stick to plan ...

 

[jasec2]

I started WW last February to lose the baby weight from the 2 kids. I lost 25 lbs but still have 10 more to go. The cruise is my motivation as well so starting Nov 1 DH and I are going BACK on WW to lose the last few pounds. I have a great dress for formal night that I REALLY want to fit into!
Jessica

 

[jestersgypsy]

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!! The weather was perfect here in Mobile, AL. Unfortunately, we will not be sailing with you on this cruise. We had to postpone the cruise until February 2013, which means we will be on the Fantasy!

Have a great time on the cruise!!!!

Cindy

 

[msnoble]

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!! The weather was perfect here in Mobile, AL. Unfortunately, we will not be sailing with you on this cruise. We had to postpone the cruise until February 2013, which means we will be on the Fantasy!

Have a great time on the cruise!!!!

Cindy

Thanks for letting us know--and I'm sure you will love the Fantasy! Hard to wait another whole year though I bet. Will it be another Western itinerary, or did you switch to an Eastern?

Hope you have a great cruise too!

 

[msnoble]

Hey Everyone--
Hope everyone has had a great week--we now are just 3 1/2 months from setting sail! It is starting to come up quickly

I just paid off our cruise today with our TA, and finalized trip insurance. I think I have decided for sure on the on-off trolley in Key West, and we are booked for Nachi Cocum in Cozumel. I am struggling with what to do in Grand Cayman, but am leaning towards booking the 1/2 day island tour with Captain Marvin--it seems to get pretty consistent reviews on the boards. I am a little nervous about doing all of our excursions outside of DCL this time, but it is hard to pass up the cost savings/variety that seems to be available when you book on your own.

I briefly toyed with the idea of trying to book a cabana at CC, but I think we are going to save the $$ and just hang out on the beach that day.

Has anyone been able to book yet (gold or platinum)? I believe we are 105 days out, so the next window opens on 11/20 (90 days out)--that is the night I'll be staying up late Still need to settle on lodging the night before the cruise as well...