February 26, 2011 - 7 Night Caribbean Sailing

[Canadian Eh?]

I think it would be hard to show you anything that you don't already have down in the USA but I have 5 months to think of something that I can to sneek across the border 5 months does seem like a long time though, I hope it goes by quickly.

A little off topic but has anyone found any reputable tour operators that we can contact before the cruise to book excursions? We were interested in a beach break in St Thomas.

Thank you

 

[Alexis Green]

Welcome aboard Lexi!!

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I have found a few that look legit:
- Port Promotions
- ShoreTrips
- shoreexcursionsgroup

They all have pretty good prices and have some neat excursions. You can also book with Disney on their site. The plus side is if your tour ran late the boat WILL wait for you...if you book it yourself you have to find your own way back on the boat. So plan well and it might be good to even call the company's number so you know for sure what is what.

 

[Canadian Eh?]

Thank you for your help.

I agree that doing you own thing means that you are responsable for getting back to the ship on time but we plan on leaving early and getting back in the early afternoon. I just find the pricing for the excursions you purchase on any cruise line to be much higher than if you make your own arrangements.

Word of advise for those wanting to visit the Orient beach in St Maarten, the beach is very nice BUT if you have young children, there is a good chance that you will see things that can cause a weeks worth of nightmares for both parents and children. If you are ok with the nudity and have been exposed (no pun intented) this stuff before, then I highly recommend this beach.

I'll go thru the list you provided and get back to you.

 

[peachygreen]

My parents are officially joining us on the cruise in Feb! I'm so excited to have them. I might get to do some snorkeling now that I have a baby sitter in my folks.

If you only had one opportunity to snorkel and wanted to spend time with the family on the other 2 stops, which stop would your snorkel at?

Will the water be warm at CC in early March?

Any family friendly excursions for a group that includes a 10 month old, 5 year old, 2 35 year olds and 2 grandparents in their 60's and 70's?

I haven't decided on FE yet.

 

[Alexis Green]

I was told the air is cool enough that the water feels really nice. About shore excursions I've never been to either place, but I know it always depends on your children. A great place to post would be in the Disney Cruise Line Forum so all kinds of people can answer your questions.

 

[Canadian Eh?]

I don`t snorkel and can`t help you on that point but I can tell you that the water was fine when in CC in December 06.

 

[Tanooki]

Another Canadian here!
We originally booked a December cruise but switched when the Canadain rate offer was announced. And since it's also the week of our winter break, it was perfect!

We're a family of 6 : dh (42), me (40), ds (10), ds (8), dd (5) and ds (3). It'll be my 4th cruise, dh's 2nd and the kids' first but it's the first DCL cruise for all of us

There are lots of stuff we have here that is not available in the US, starting with Nestlé chocolate (Aero, real Smarties, Coffee Crisp, etc.), Map-O-Spread, Makintosh Toffee, Kinder Surprise...
Ok, I know food/candy stuff at least

Looking forward to cruising with you all

 

[babymaeby]

Hi Everyone!

Another couple of Canadians joining you here! We booked a cat 11 a couple weeks ago and today decided to upgrade to one of the secret cat 6 rooms. I was surprised they were still available, esp with the KSF in verandah rooms promotion. Anyway, we will be in 6634.

This is our 2nd disney cruise. We did a 7 night western in late Jan 2008. I did not find the water at CC too cold last time. We snorkeled all day in it. I am so excited to have a balcony this time! We had an inside stateroom last time which was fine, but I can't wait to have a place to sit and watch the ocean go by with a morning coffee!!!

 

[Alexis Green]

Welcome aboard Tanooki and babymaeby!!

Oh my goodness that candy sounds good! I love maple sugar candy

Make sure if your interested in doing the FE you post or pm me a message!

 

[Canadian Eh?]

Lexi,

I did some research on the three tour operators you suggested and I think that I would rather book the excursions through Disney, the difference in pricing is minimal. I feel safer doing it through them and I know that I will get my money's worth.

For those who want to do their own thing in st maarten, having been there twice, I can tell you that if you want to keep it simple and not have to commit to anything, you can basically walk off the ship to a nice public beach (very clean, white sand and uncrowded). The walk is about 15 minutes and it takes you through the core or the town where there are tons of shops if you want to shop. The public beach is very nice and there are locals who will approach you to offer you beach chairs for a small fee. Most are very polite and will leave you alone if you want them to. There are also a few restaurants that you can walk to which are right on the beach. The only negative I have about the public beach is that you can't really wade too far cause the beach slopes rather sharply after only a few feet.

 

[Tanooki]

Welcome aboard Tanooki and babymaeby!!

Oh my goodness that candy sounds good! I love maple sugar candy

Make sure if your interested in doing the FE you post or pm me a message!

Yes, we would like to join the FE exchange I just showed the kids what it's like and what they could get as gifts (some posts with pics) and they are VERY excited
They don't know it, but I've also ordered a gift basket form Shirley at The Perfect Gift and I will add one for dh with all sorts fo goodies to enjoy while going to the movie theater, he's soooo looking forward to this!

So here it goes :

We are a party of 6 in cabins 2635-2637, these are connecting cabins. I will probably have only one FE for the whole family but I don't know yet on which side I will put it

My DIS name is Tanooki and there will be 2 adults (man/woman), one boy age 10, one boy age 8, one girl age 5 and one boy age 3.

I think that's about it, right?

Can't wait! Can't wait! Can't wait!

 

[peachygreen]

I don`t snorkel and can`t help you on that point but I can tell you that the water was fine when in CC in December 06.

Somehow I imagine the temps feel warmer to someone from Canada than someone from Texas. My blood is too thin. I think I'm going to plan on snorkeling at either St martin or St Thomas. Not sure which yet and just enjoy the beach and island at CC.

I've been looking at the average temps and well it seems like Texas weather in March and I dont' go swimming in Texas in March because the water is too cold for my liking.

 

[peachygreen]

5 months from now we will be on the Magic!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am so excited. I can't wait! I just finished my first custom princess dress for my DD for the cruise. This one will be a double duty as it also serves as her Halloween costume. No I just have about 20 more dresses to go in 5 months. LOL. I have lofty plans right now and have plans for at least 1 outfit each day and somedays 2 for both girls.

I've also started working on the countdown calendar I'm giving my DD for Christmas! I just realized today I should have already bought beach toys to send with my parents who are driving because they seem to be all sold out here.

 

[Alexis Green]

So here it goes :

We are a party of 6 in cabins 2635-2637, these are connecting cabins. I will probably have only one FE for the whole family but I don't know yet on which side I will put it

My DIS name is Tanooki and there will be 2 adults (man/woman), one boy age 10, one boy age 8, one girl age 5 and one boy age 3.

I think that's about it, right?

Can't wait! Can't wait! Can't wait!

Great thanks!

I can not wait for our trip!! 4 months and 4 weeks!!! I went halloween shopping yesterday and got a giselle costume (the curtain one) and will wear it on the cruise for formal night. I am so excited! I crossed all the pirate stuff and am waiting until everything goes on clearance before I try to nab the pirate anything.

 

[wld4mky]

Sign us up for the FE. So very excited.
DIS name wld4mky
Rm 5520
Family of 4
Husband and myself both 44 (DS) 7 and 1/2 and (DD) Turning 6 on Feb. 24th so we will be celebrating her Bday on the ship as we will be driving from Ontario on her actual BDay.
Thank-you Cassie for organizing this.
Our last cruise was western at the end of Feb. We missed Grand Caymen b/c of bad weather and went to Nassau instead. The water CC the day we were there was 78 degrees

 

[Dana2travel]

Hello all fellow cruisers!!

This is my first time posting to the forum, but it is our second time cruisin Disney. My husband and I have cruised before on RC.

Jan 09 was our first time on DCL. We have 16 of us cruising in Feb with all of you. We have a family group. 4 families of 4 2 adults and 2 kids each. All cousins!! We are all excited. We all cruised in 2009 on the wonder and had a great time, so we booked for the 7 night because our last cruise went so fast. Disney really knows how to give an awesome time!!

We are deck 6 for our rooms. We had balcony rooms last time so rebooked the balcony again and wow what a treat when Disney offered the KSF.

Looking forward to chatting with everyone.

 

[peachygreen]

I was talking with my mom last night about parking and hotels etc and remembered people talking about being able to park your car at Country Inn and Suites and then taking the shuttle to the port. I was thinking this would be perfect and I could get a car service to the hotel Friday night, my folks could drive in Friday night and we could all take the shuttle over in the morning to the cruise terminal. So I go look and there are not rooms available for Feb 25th.

Anyone else have any suggstions for good hotels by the port that you could leave your car for a week?

ETA I have also checked radisson and residence and same result? What is up?

 

[Alexis Green]

Karen I have you all posted up for FEs! We'll have to do something special for your daughter! I can not wait to start looking and making stuff! Anyone else that wants to be on the FE list please let me know!

Dana2travel oh my goodness 16 people is a lot! I bet everyone will have a blast!

 

[wld4mky]

Has anyone started collecting for their FE yet or are you waiting for closer to the time to see how many sign up? I am so excited to get started! Is there going to be a date to sign up by? That will give us time to make sure we have enough for every one. Less than 5 months til we sail!!

 

[Alexis Green]

I haven't started to find things for FEs yet. What date does everyone want for a deadline to sign up? We've only got a few so far so please let me know if you want to be added!