February 18, 2012 Western Caribbean

[msnoble]

hi all.........we were on the aug 2012 alaska cruise but dh didnt win that vacation bid........so we transferred to this cruise! We couldnt get our preferred balcony but did get a navigator balcony room.......

lets see,...this is our second cruise..first one was aug 2011 on the dream...it was so wonderful we automaticly became addicted!!

it will be me (mom), dh and our son who is 4!

So glad to have you join us! Sorry to hear that you 'll have to miss the Alaska cruise, but I am sure that the Caribbean will be a welcome break come February We did the Alaska cruise this August, and thought DCL did a fabulous job with it. Hopefully you'll get to try that one out in the future (might be better when your little one is a little older anyway, some of the excursions were pretty active)

what is the fish extenders program?

So the Fish Extender gift exchange is an opportunity for those in our meet thread who want to participate to leave small trinkets/gifts for each other while on the cruise. It's basically an extra way to add a little fun to the cruise. It is called a Fish Extender because the pockets that you hang to collect the gifts are hung from the metal fish outside each stateroom door (I'm not sure but I think maybe the Dream has something other than fish outside the doors )

here is a link explaining the Extender itself:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

and here is a link that showcases some of the gifts that folks have put together for their various exchanges:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980639

Some folks really go to town with the gifts, but that is certainly not necessary! Here is the link for the guidelines set forth for our particular exchange:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42669220&postcount=54

Hope that helps--if you are interested just post indicating that you're interested, with your room # and any names you are comfortable sharing

 

[msnoble]

Everyone getting ready for Turkey day next week? I am able to book online reservations this weekend--getting so excited for the cruise!

 

[FREEZIN]

Hi all,late to join the forums,but better late than not at all.
This will be our 8th Disney Cruise since 2003'.This cruise it will be my wife and I,as well as our two boys Nick(14)and Matt(11)my brother and his wife will join us again for their 2nd Disney CruiseI think we got them hooked.We are really looking forward to this one,we usually go in Dec or Jan
But this will be worth the wait.
I just finished booking Palos for dinner,and brunch.I didn't realize we were able to do our bookings back on Nov 5th,no worries though it seems as all the time slots were available for dinner and the brunch.It was a little tricky getting our reservations for a party of four,but as usual Disney worked their Magic.
Look forward to see all our fellow cruisers.

 

[Nicsmom]

Maureen, when can we book? midnight on 11/19 or 11/20? This is the first time that I've booked on line. On my last cruise, there was no on line option. We just booked Palo on the ship. Very excited!

I'm going to my sisters for Thanksgiving. So, I don't have much to do. Just some cooking and baking. Trying to decide if I'll do Black Friday this year. Not really feeling it this year. We'll see if there's anything worth risking my life at WalMart.

 

[msnoble]

Hi all,late to join the forums,but better late than not at all.
This will be our 8th Disney Cruise since 2003'.This cruise it will be my wife and I,as well as our two boys Nick(14)and Matt(11)my brother and his wife will join us again for their 2nd Disney CruiseI think we got them hooked.We are really looking forward to this one,we usually go in Dec or Jan
But this will be worth the wait.
I just finished booking Palos for dinner,and brunch.I didn't realize we were able to do our bookings back on Nov 5th,no worries though it seems as all the time slots were available for dinner and the brunch.It was a little tricky getting our reservations for a party of four,but as usual Disney worked their Magic.
Look forward to see all our fellow cruisers.

Glad to have you join us on the thread! Sounds like you are very experienced Disney Cruisers--have you done this particular itinerary before?

I have an 11 year old son as well--he is so excited for the Edge, and of course the ping pong tables Has Matt tried out the Edge yet? Hopefully we can introduce them at the Meetup on embarkation day. Once you've posted a few more times you can send me a Private Message if you'd like to be included in our Facebook group as well.

 

[msnoble]

Maureen, when can we book? midnight on 11/19 or 11/20? This is the first time that I've booked on line. On my last cruise, there was no on line option. We just booked Palo on the ship. Very excited!

I think we can do Palo/Spa/Excursions beginning at 12:01 AM Eastern time on the 20th (Saturday night into Sunday). Arrival times don't open up for booking until 3 AM I am not sure about when the CC Cabanas open for booking...

I'm going to my sisters for Thanksgiving. So, I don't have much to do. Just some cooking and baking. Trying to decide if I'll do Black Friday this year. Not really feeling it this year. We'll see if there's anything worth risking my life at WalMart.

Nice to not have too much to do...we are hosting for the first time in several years, but it will just be us, my parents and my MIL. Trying to get the house cleaning done ahead of time....I have never done the Black Friday thing--I value my sleep and safety too much I do as much shopping online as I can!

 

[Nicsmom]

Maureen,

Thanks for the info, I hope you don't mind if I ask a few more questions as this is the first time I've done this.

When booking reservations online (Palo, cabanas, spa, etc...) is a credit card required? Charged?

Do I have to do online check in before I can make any reservations? Any special info I need to complete this task?

Thank you!

 

[msnoble]

Maureen,

Thanks for the info, I hope you don't mind if I ask a few more questions as this is the first time I've done this.

When booking reservations online (Palo, cabanas, spa, etc...) is a credit card required? Charged?

Do I have to do online check in before I can make any reservations? Any special info I need to complete this task?

Thank you!

I'll answer as best as I can remember--it's been since May when I last checked in for a cruise, and that was the 1st time I'd done it since they changed the procedure. I believe you can book the excursions/Palo without having to complete the rest of the online check in. The way I do it is I sign in to the Castaway Club on the DCL site, and then select the appropriate upcoming cruise. Then there is a section for "My Cruise Activities"--once our window opens up, there will be a link there you can click on to reserve Palo/Excursions/Spa stuff.

When you click on the Palo link, the currently available days/times will come up, and you just click the bubble for the one you want. It will then ask you for who the 'primary' guest is, and any other adults that you want to include in the reservation (I think since she will be 18 you could also include your DD if you wanted). If the day/time you want isn't available keep checking back--spots open up right up until a few days before sailing.

For the excursions, if you have already saved them to your Saved Activities I think there is a fairly easy way to convert that to a reservation if there are spots available, and then you identify who on the reservation will be doing that excursion.

I've never booked a Spa, so I can't speak to that, but I am guessing it is similar to the Palo process.

All of the bookings are just to hold a spot--everything gets charged to your onboard account and you pay it when you are on the ship. You can cancel and change reservations without penalty up to a few days before sail date--check the website for the exact requirements.

The Cabanas on CC are new since I last cruised out of FL, so I don't know how that reservation process works.

The online check-in involves giving the website your airline details (if any), pre-cruise lodging details (if any), the credit card you are going to give them to have on file (you can remove this once onboard if you are going to pay in cash), your passport numbers, ability to register for the Kids Clubs, etc. At the very end of that process you choose an arrival time, if the 3AM window is open. You can do the online check-in in steps, so that you can complete it part way and come back later to finish it.

Remember that you can't complete any of the above unless your Cruise is already paid in full.

That is as much as I remember--hopefully I didn't get anything too wrong

 

[Nicsmom]

Maureen,
Thank you so much. This helps a lot. I can't wait!

 

[msnoble]

Maureen,
Thank you so much. This helps a lot. I can't wait!

You're very welcome I can't wait either!!

 

[msnoble]

3 Months until we Set Sail!!

Happy Friday everyone!

 

[jaober]

Hello everyone!!

We paid off the cruise and got our cabin asssignment yesterday 6062! We were on a "GTY" so I didn't think we would have an assignment til much later!

 

[spunky1968]

So glad to have you join us! Sorry to hear that you 'll have to miss the Alaska cruise, but I am sure that the Caribbean will be a welcome break come February We did the Alaska cruise this August, and thought DCL did a fabulous job with it. Hopefully you'll get to try that one out in the future (might be better when your little one is a little older anyway, some of the excursions were pretty active)



So the Fish Extender gift exchange is an opportunity for those in our meet thread who want to participate to leave small trinkets/gifts for each other while on the cruise. It's basically an extra way to add a little fun to the cruise. It is called a Fish Extender because the pockets that you hang to collect the gifts are hung from the metal fish outside each stateroom door (I'm not sure but I think maybe the Dream has something other than fish outside the doors )

here is a link explaining the Extender itself:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

and here is a link that showcases some of the gifts that folks have put together for their various exchanges:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980639

Some folks really go to town with the gifts, but that is certainly not necessary! Here is the link for the guidelines set forth for our particular exchange:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42669220&postcount=54

Hope that helps--if you are interested just post indicating that you're interested, with your room # and any names you are comfortable sharing

thank you so much!!! i will look into this and ask dh.....

 

[spunky1968]

for online reservations...its pretty easy but being your 1st cruise you have to wait longer..our last cruise they were booked solid for cabanas and many other things...the spa had lots of openings while onboard,....and you can continue to check and try to change something....

 

[msnoble]

Well several of us on the Facebook page managed to secure reservations this morning, but unfortunately the online check-in appears to be down. Last I looked there were still several slots available for Palo dinner, as well as slots (at least for 2 guests) for brunch and tea on both sea days .

I managed to grab brunch on day 3 at 10:30, and High Tea on day 6 (happens at 3 PM) Have decided to forgo the dinner at Palo--will save that for when I am next able to cruise with my DH.

All of the cabanas on Castaway Cay are reserved, with the exception of #19 on Serenity Beach (adult only area).

Hope that helps anyone who is waiting to be able to reserve excursions!

 

[mgroshans]

add us, add us. It will be our first Disney cruise. DH and myself only, no kids.

 

[msnoble]

add us, add us. It will be our first Disney cruise. DH and myself only, no kids.

Glad to have you join us! I dream of a couples-only cruise someday with my DH There is a ton of stuff to do on a Disney Cruise for adults!

Have you cruised the Caribbean before on other cruise lines?

If you'd like to be added to the Facebook group, please send me a PM with your Facebook screen name and I'll send you a link. Also, if you are interested in the FE exchange you can post that here as well.

 

[mgroshans]

Glad to have you join us! I dream of a couples-only cruise someday with my DH There is a ton of stuff to do on a Disney Cruise for adults!

Have you cruised the Caribbean before on other cruise lines?

If you'd like to be added to the Facebook group, please send me a PM with your Facebook screen name and I'll send you a link. Also, if you are interested in the FE exchange you can post that here as well.

Thanks! We have done a cruise on NCL for our honeymoon-14 years ago. We went to Key West and Cozumel. I have to read up on what FE is
I will PM you.
Thanks!

 

[msnoble]

I will PM you.
Thanks!

Got your PM from earlier--already responded

 

[mgroshans]

Got your PM from earlier--already responded

Got it- thanks
I have so much to read up on-sooooo excited! It will definetely be different without our 2 boys.