February 26, 2005, Magic Western

[walczak4]

2xcruiser,

We are also on deck 6, room 6062 (right by the midship elevators). I think this room will work out great for us with the kids club and nursery right below us....nice and convenient! I'm hoping that, after being in kindergarten for 6 months (at time of cruise) my 5 YO will jump right into the club this time.

Tracey

 

[christinou]

MY girls loved the cruise when we went for the 3 day cruise, but did not care for them this past february during our 7 day they were 8.75 and 6.5 at the time. I am hoping that they will like the clubs again next year......

 

[christinou]

We are finally at under 300 days, I figure that we have to celebrate every milestone........

 

[kshabare]

Whoo hoooo - we found new friends!
Finally able to book our cruise for guess when??? February 26th!
We are Kim(35), Norman(36) and Joshua(9). This is cruise #5 with this being Western #2. We totally loved snorkeling in the Western Carribean.
Yesterday I went to Home Depot and pirated three Alien Green Mickey Heads.
Anyone planning on Captain Marvin? We loved them and plan on booking the early snorkel in Grand Cayman.

Need to get excited? Go to our site and check out our 2003 Disney Cruise! http://www.shabbyfam.us/WesternCarribeanFeb2003/DayoneWestern03.html

P.S. The water was gorgeous in February all 4 times before! Being from CT - anything over freezing in February is warm.

Kim ºOº

 

[natdencro]

We are hoping to be on board with you guys. Been in Feb before, and it was HOT! Nat

 

[walczak4]

My 4YO keeps asking "When do we go on Mickey's ship" & I just keep saying "After Jadon (her little bro) turns 2". He will be 2 02/06/05. The suspense is killing me too!

My MIL & FIL have decided to join us which I'm very happy about. Our kids ADORE Grandma & Papa & I'm hoping this will give hubby & I a chance for at least one night alone

BTW--has anyone stayed at the Hawthorn Suites in Orlando before? We are staying there night before cruise. Dave's website gave it a nice right up. I'm too chicken to try the Priceline or Hotwire sights.

 

[christinou]

YEAH, it is so good to "see" new faces on this thread, I am still counting the days......
Kim, I also want to swim with the sting rays, and would be interested in going to captain Marvin with you, I wonder if we could get enough people to have our own DIS boat, there would be 3 of us going. My husband is a diver, and he will go diving in Key West, Cozumel and Grand Cayman.........
I can't wait to have a minute to look at your pictures, we went on the Eastern this past February and loved it.....

 

[kshabare]

That would be fun to have a DCL Marvin boat. When we did go there were two boats. We didn't think to arrange a meet ahead of time so that we could even just sit on the same boat. Oh well, you learn, right? Can't wait to snorkel again. Don't know if I'll have the nerve to feed the stingrays this time. Like to touch them - don't want a hickey from them.

Booked our air so now I know I'm going. What deck will you all be staying on? We booked on deck 2. Same size rooms as up on 5 and as long as I have a window I'm fine. Just don't want inside - I need sunlight.

Kim

 

[christinou]

We are also on deck 2, Cat 9, we were on Deck 2 Cat 10, and I did miss the sunshine, so we are really looking forward to "a room with a view".......

 

[kshabare]

Just sent an email to Captain Marvins asking if we could book a boat just for DCL guests. Let's see what we get back from them. Loved them!

Kim

G'nite all - going to dream about cheese danish and the rainforest tiled lounge chairs and non-salt-water-pools and micky bars!

 

[christinou]

Kim, have you heard back, how many people d the actually need???
That would be so much fun...

 

[kshabare]

This is part of her email back to me:

"I can offer you a private charter so you'll be guaranteed that all of you will be on the same boat together. But if you wish to book separate, indicate in the Comment section of the form that you want to be with this particular group then we can a be notified ahead of time about this particular request. The dis-advantage though for not getting the whole boat privately is that there will be several people aside from your group on board as well."

I am keeping a list of our sailing buddies. I don't want to crowd anyone but the boat for snorkeling with Captain Marvin's would be really fun. If anyone wants to PM me, let me know if you'd be interested. I probably won't book until October/November but it'll be nice to get a head-count. I did email Joan back asking how many people on a boat...

Kim

 

[christinou]

I certainly would be interested, there would be 3 of us, 1 adult, 2 kids, at what time would we go, it would work better for me early.
I am also curious as to how many people we need to fill up a boat...
"only" 260 days left...

 

[walczak4]

My MIL & FIL have decided to definitely go with us so hubby & I will PROBABLY go with all of you on this excursion. I'll first have to discuss it with MIL & make sure they don't have any plans for an excursion that day as well. I'm just not comfortable leaving my 2 YO & 5 YO on ship while we go off on excursions.

 

[kshabare]

People,

I got the following response from Captain Marvin's:
"Thanks for writing! We have several boats ranging in length from 30-45 feet, with capacities from 16-45 people. The boat assigned to a particular trip depends on how many people sign up for that trip." Joan also sent me a price list if anyone wants me to PM or email it to them. I think we'd go on the 10:30/11:30 excursion so we could enjoy the afternoon shopping or one of the beaches. I think I recall them agreeing that if you wanted to be dropped off at 7 mile beach you could. We had enough sun from the snorkeling and passed on that option.

Tracey, MIL came with us when we went who doesn't snorkel or swim but just paid the $45.00 to come on the boat and watch. I think she had fun. But, 2 and 5 are young for this excursion of snorkeling.

I would definately bring snacks this time. They had beverages but I don't recall snacks. We had a great time in Cayman. I just cannot wait to go back.

Counting the days!

Kim

 

[christinou]

Well I really need a cruise just about now, my older DD, 9, broke her arm last wednesday and had to have it reset under general anesthesia, she is doing great but has a cast from her finger tip to her shoulder. Her favorite activity in the summer is riding her bike and swimming.......
At least she has 245 days to get better.....

 

[walczak4]

Christinou...how is your daughter doing?

We still don't have a very large group posting on this thread. We either have a lot of shy / lurker type people out there or our cruise won't be very crowded!

 

[christinou]

I am voting that we have a very uncrowded ship and we all get upgraded.......
My daughter's arm, is healing very slowly, and she is still mad at a hornet.....
It is frustrating in the summer to be in a full arm cast, and it completely destroyed the horse show season for her.....

 

[walczak4]

My 5YO has been practicing snorkeling because Grandma (who will be with us on the cruise) told her all about the sting ray excursion & now wants to go with us on excursion! Does anyone know what the minimum age requirement is?

Tracey

 

[kshabare]

christinou,
I'm so sorry to read about your daughter's arm. Owie! Pixie dust for a quick recovery. And some to you when the whining starts. I hear those casts get pretty itchy in the heat.

walczak4,
I doubt very much there's a minimum age. If you pay the $$ they'll let you on their boat, I think. If you want to email Joyce @ Captain Marvins or you want me to - just say the word. The stingray part is right off the edge of the boat and adults can touch bottom. If you want to see our photos - click on our link. As far as the snorkeling before stingray city though, they hoist ancor in around 8-10 feet of water. I'd be a little nervous with the 5 year old there. I was fine with my 9 year old son but I actually was nervous at first. I'm not what you'd call a confident swimmer.

The video they made for us rocks. It's got cool island music and their diver actually captures footage below where you are snorkeling.

I'm so excited to go again!!!

Kim