February 25, 2006 Western Magic Cruisers!!

[Mr508MA]

Cozumel is good for drift diving, but the last I heard the reef was destroyed by a huricane last year. On the other hand, be sure to go to Stingray City when you’re in Grand Cayman. The snorkeling at Stingray City is often referred to as "best snorkeling experience in the world." Actually you are not even snorkeling. You will be about a half mile from land, but you will only be standing in knee to waste deep water. Then the Stingrays will be all around you like great big puppy dogs. Even if somebody could not swim or was afraid of the water, they would still love Stingray City. In Grand Cayman I remember seeing the cruise ships anchor off shore and then ferrying the passengers in small boats. In Key West and Cozumel they have Docks.

 

[rjh8115]

Cozumel is good for drift diving, but the last I heard the reef was destroyed by a huricane last year. On the other hand, be sure to go to Stingray City when you’re in Grand Cayman. The snorkeling at Stingray City is often referred to as "best snorkeling experience in the world." Actually you are not even snorkeling. You will be about a half mile from land, but you will only be standing in knee to waste deep water. Then the Stingrays will be all around you like great big puppy dogs. Even if somebody could not swim or was afraid of the water, they would still love Stingray City. In Grand Cayman I remember seeing the cruise ships anchor off shore and then ferrying the passengers in small boats. In Key West and Cozumel they have Docks.

Normally we would dock in Cozumel, but the huricanes destroyed all the cruise ship piers. Now all ships are anchoring in the harbour and passengers are tendering to the shore. This is part of the reason DCL has not gone back to Cozumel yet. There isn't enough capacity in the tenders to cover the number of ships that used to dock there.

Rick

 

[dreaming of BCV]

Good Morning!

We're still waiting for docs. here too!

Mr508MA, Awesome website! I like the maps of the ports. I also thought that they would be good if my son has to do a vacation journal for school. He had to do one for another teacher. He also had to create his own math problem on how much we actually spent vs. our budget, now that was scary -some things we just don't want to think about!

Lisa

 

[Lew]

Now all ships are anchoring in the harbour and passengers are tendering to the shore. This is part of the reason DCL has not gone back to Cozumel yet. There isn't enough capacity in the tenders to cover the number of ships that used to dock there.

We were in Cozumel on the Star Princess in early January. There were a total of six cruise ships in port that day...all tendering. Capacity was not an issue. Tendering went very quickly.

I think DCL's decision is based on the overall quality of their guests' experience. Since we're going to be tendering in Cayman, perhaps they don't want to subject us to another tendering regardless of how efficiently it is carried out. Although Cozumel is eager to have cruise ships visit, they still may not offer a good experience for visitors.

 

[feiste]

Good Morning all, we're one day closer to fun in the sun, (and hopefully some of us our one day closer to actually getting our docs )

Lisa and klStacker -
I just noticed that you both have daughters the same age as my oldest (8). Mine is in third grade. Yours? I'm sure that she would love to meet your girls and make some new friends right away. Although she is a little quiet at first she is definatly not shy!

To any parents of a 5 y.o. (or so) girl. My younger daughter would love to make new friends too. Of course she thinks she's a princess, and loves all things "girl". I'm worried that she will be a little tentative about the club w/o a new friend. She's used to having her big sister around to pave the way for her, but they are at different club levels this year...

Does anyone have a recommendation about the Key West walking tour? My husband and Father would like to do this, I'm wondering if we could just do it on our own. Does the guide give you a lot of information?

Thanks everyone.
Jennifer

 

[Mr508MA]

Good Morning!

We're still waiting for docs. here too!

Mr508MA, Awesome website! I like the maps of the ports. I also thought that they would be good if my son has to do a vacation journal for school. He had to do one for another teacher. He also had to create his own math problem on how much we actually spent vs. our budget, now that was scary -some things we just don't want to think about!

Lisa

Hi Lisa, the journal is a good idea, but the math may be a little personal [finances] to share with a teacher, besides a budget for a cruise, unheard off
Share the cost of cruise vs budget = donate more to school, LOL

Thanks, The website should be filled with pics after the cruise...

 

[Mr508MA]

Normally we would dock in Cozumel, but the huricanes destroyed all the cruise ship piers. Now all ships are anchoring in the harbour and passengers are tendering to the shore. This is part of the reason DCL has not gone back to Cozumel yet. There isn't enough capacity in the tenders to cover the number of ships that used to dock there.

Rick

Do we know wether the Docks are rebuilt, or it's still by Tenders

 

[2littlemonkeys]

I have a question regarding the Oceaneer Club. My boys are 4 and 7. They will both be in the Club. I understand they are then split into 3 & 4 year olds and then the 5-7 year olds. Does anyone know how much interaction or closeness the 2 might have with each other? My 4 year old is pretty shy and a little nervous about these kinds of new situations, but I know if his brother is nearby (even if just for the first little while they're in there) he'll be fine. Do you know if they will eat together if they're in the club for lunch/dinner?

I hope that made sense, having trouble getting my typing to match my thoughts this morning.

Thanks,
Melanie

 

[2littlemonkeys]

Disregard my above question, I found my answer!

Melanie

 

[feiste]

I have a question regarding the Oceaneer Club. My boys are 4 and 7. They will both be in the Club. I understand they are then split into 3 & 4 year olds and then the 5-7 year olds. Does anyone know how much interaction or closeness the 2 might have with each other? My 4 year old is pretty shy and a little nervous about these kinds of new situations, but I know if his brother is nearby (even if just for the first little while they're in there) he'll be fine. Do you know if they will eat together if they're in the club for lunch/dinner?

I hope that made sense, having trouble getting my typing to match my thoughts this morning.

Thanks,
Melanie

How close is your youngest to turning 5? On our last cruise my niece who was not quite 3, but was potty trained was allowed into the club with her sister and cousins. From what I've heard the staff will often allow a child to move up to the next group member to be with a sibling, depending on the maturity level of the younger child. It will also depend on the number of children that are signed up in the older group, and if there is room for another child.

That being said, I am in the same situation a little bit. This is our 2nd cruise, last time my girls were in the same club, this time they will be in seperate clubs. My older daughter will be fine going in on her own, and making friends. My younger daughter will have a little hesistation staying alone (at least the first time). I almost worry though if I have my older daughter "hang out" with the younger one on the first day, then perhaps the younger one won't learn to acclimate w/o her sister for the rest of the week. I would really like to find another child my 5 y.o daughters age that she can acclimate with prior to spending time in the club. Then she can have a friend already when she goes. Even meeting another child in the port waiting area might prove to be helpful.

Good luck, I hope this helped!

 

[Mr508MA]

me again.... feeling like a kid waiting for XMas

anyways reading over some stuff i miss on the baord & you talk about PLA, APL, LAP rotation... do the letters have a meaning ? we got Main Dinner Seating 6:00 PM

you also mention the meet & I am aware of the one Sun before KeyWest, but you also talked about one on Sat... is that still a go, or only Sunday ?

You also mention wear the green Mickey paint sample for our Disney friendly Home Depot [Alien Green" Mickey paint chips] I search Home Depot online & found nothing... any clues ???

Jeff

 

[monsterchaser]

Hi Jeff. Not sure on the meet days as I am new to the board also, but for the HD paint sample, you have to go to HD. They have the Disney paint swatches and the ones at our store are in the shape of Mickey.

 

[feiste]

me again.... feeling like a kid waiting for XMas

anyways reading over some stuff i miss on the baord & you talk about PLA, APL, LAP rotation... do the letters have a meaning ? we got Main Dinner Seating 6:00 PM

you also mention the meet & I am aware of the one Sun before KeyWest, but you also talked about one on Sat... is that still a go, or only Sunday ?

You also mention wear the green Mickey paint sample for our Disney friendly Home Depot [Alien Green" Mickey paint chips] I search Home Depot online & found nothing... any clues ???

Jeff

The letters refer to which dining room rotation you will be on. Example: LAP would put you in the Lumiere's the first night, Parrot Cay the 2nd night, Animator's Palate the 3rd night, and then you start over again. From what I understand (this will be different from our last cruise) the seating rotation that you get will determine the time of your seating. If you have main seating (6:00) and LAP rotation your actual seating time will be 6:00, APL your seating time will be 5:30 and PLA your seating time will be 5:45. I think that that would be your seating time for the entire week, but as I said this is a new system since our last cruise, so I am semi-new to this as well.

 

[kj375]

We recieved with our documents, an immigration form for the Bahamas. Did anyone else?

Kathy

 

[2littlemonkeys]

Thanks Feiste...

I found a thread on another part of the board that addressed the same things you mentioned. Jack will turn 5 June 2, so he'll be 4 years and 9 months (since it's the end of Feb/beginning of March). From what I've read they will probably allow him to move up, which make me so much more comfortable.

If your daughter doesn't mind a couple of boys you can tell her Jack and Max (7) will be in the club and would love to play with her!

Thanks again for your input, glad for the confirmation!

Melanie

 

[2littlemonkeys]

We recieved with our documents, an immigration form for the Bahamas. Did anyone else?

Kathy

Yep, since Castaway Cay is in the Bahamas, we gotta fill em out.

Melanie

 

[Mr508MA]

Hi Jeff. Not sure on the meet days as I am new to the board also, but for the HD paint sample, you have to go to HD. They have the Disney paint swatches and the ones at our store are in the shape of Mickey.

a swatch like a color swatch for paint samples ??? but someone said wear it ?

 

[Mr508MA]

The letters refer to which dining room rotation you will be on. Example: LAP would put you in the Lumiere's the first night, Parrot Cay the 2nd night, Animator's Palate the 3rd night, and then you start over again.

Thanks, resturant names, duh... i"m learning

Is there other places to eat supper besides those dinning rooms ?
I really don't want to change out of my shorts every night...
for dinning rooms require slacks & dress shirt... i agreed to 1 night in there.

I am on vacation, I want to dress in my relaxed attire... where's the night Buffet ?

Jeff

 

[2littlemonkeys]

The Topsider Buffet is open for breakfast lunch and dinner and according to Disney's site you can get pizza at Pinocchio's near the Goofy pool, Pluto's snack bar for hot dogs, burgers, chicken and tacos, Goofy's Galley for salads and sandwiches and room service.

I know we are not going to be changing every night for dinner either, just not our style.

Melanie

Oh and I believe everyone just kind of pins the paint swatches to their shirts...

 

[Mr508MA]

The Topsider Buffet is open for breakfast lunch and dinner and according to Disney's site you can get pizza at Pinocchio's near the Goofy pool, Pluto's snack bar for hot dogs, burgers, chicken and tacos, Goofy's Galley for salads and sandwiches and room service.

I know we are not going to be changing every night for dinner either, just not our style.

Melanie

Oh and I believe everyone just kind of pins the paint swatches to their shirts...

Thanks Melanie, guess we may be seeing you at one of these other eating spots I usually only dress up for a wedding or funeral

also thanks for clarifying the paint swatch, now i need to go find some..