February 28, 2009 Bushwacker Banditos Magical Cruise

[ejkjmom]

Meredith,
I would like to thank your husband for all he does in our armed forces.

HERE HERE..... I AGREE!!!!!
A Big Thank-you from the ejkj family as well!!!!

How exciting..
This is our 3rd, 7 day cruise with Disney, and trust me...you won't be disappointed!!!
It really is an amazing week!!

Looking forward to meeting you,

Brenda

 

[RookieMouse]

First off... a big Bushwhacker Banditos' to our newest arrivals.

Tom, Marilu and Norma... what a great reason to go on a cruise. I'm sure your mother would approve.

Meredith, the cruise veterans here (I'm not one of them) are so helpful and I'm sure they will answer all your questions as they have answered mine so far. I think you chose wisely in spending your tax return. The memories from this cruise will last a lifetime. I second Alan in thanking your hubby... and I'm not even American... but I just retired after a 27 year career in the Canadian Air Force, so I know how important a family vacation is to a military family.

ChocoKat, I love the signs... you will have the most elegantly decorated door on the whole ship.

Speaking of which, where do I find magnetic paper or something like it to print the door signs on?

Almost bed time here and I am beat. Got up early this morning and spent the day skiing with DS on his school ski trip, then came to work at 3:30 pm... hopefully I am out of here soon.

I can almost smell the salt air...

and taste the tropical drinks...

and feel the sand in my swim trunks...

Castaway Cay... here we come!!!

John

 

[donmil723]

Wow! Everytime I read this thread, it seems like there is so much to catch up on! I guess we are all getting so excited we have to keep checking in here or we'll get even crazier than we are!!!!

ChocoKat--Your signs are fantastic!!!! Your doors will be the "best dressed" of anyone's!!!

TChrist and family--So glad you joined our group! What a special reason to cruise!!!! I'm sure you'll feel your mother looking down and smiling at you all week!!!!

tomswifemer-- to you all too!!! And, I have to pipe in here and say a great BIG THANK YOU to your husband for his service to our country, too.

vanessa--I know you have had a stressful few days but calm down now. Your docs will soon be there!!! I'm sending your way. Don't worry, we won't let them sail away without you....

I have a question...actually two questions...Does anyone know what the recommended tip amounts are for the servers and cabin steward? I thought that information used to be included in our cruise docs but I didn't see it in mine. Also, do we still have to fill out a Bahamas immigration form? I didn't see that online or in the docs either. Thanks!!!

 

[ejkjmom]

Tom Marilou and Norma...
A Big welcome to you as well
What a great thing to do in Honor of your Mom/Grandma

Vanessa...hang on..your docs will/SHOULD be coming SOON!!!! Ours came UPS!!!

ChocoKat...WOW!!! your door signs are amazing as well, I'm glad I'm not doing any, yours and Donna's would for sure put mine to SHAME!!!!

 

[Dave and Micha]

Vanessa... I just has an ESP moment and found out that your Regional Manager has the cruise docs. Seems you won't be joining us after all... but we all can't wait to meet your manager.
Just kidding...they should be there soon. The docs get sent from the cruise line to your travel agency so you should check with them.


Hi Meredith and family...welcome to the board and our little group of crazies here! Your family has earned this trip for sure! You should get your IRS refund AND a cruise in my opinion.

• Try everything... even if you think it's stupid. You'll be surprised at how much fun you have
• Don't be shy at meal times... have as much as you want, as often as you want, and never be afraid to send something back
• Be SURE to have important stuff in your carry on bag so you can enjoy your first hours onboard before your suitcases get to your room... bathing suits for kids is normally a biggie
• You can bring a cocktail to the fireboat drill disguised in sippy cups
• Bring bubbles for sail a way

So... I hear the weather in Florida is on its way back to the 80s... good news! Let's hope it stays that way!

I've been thinking of something bad to do today to pass the time, but I just can't come up with anything.

 

[Dave and Micha]

Dave - a quick count of kids from the list I've been keeping gives us:

Age:
0-3: 4
4-6: 9
7-9: 8
10-12: 6
teens: 6
TOTAL: 33 (ish!)

Thanks... I have something for sail away for them all... wanted to make sure I had enough. The parents will LOVE it!

 

[mark_story]

Thought I'd better chim in since it has been a few days...didn't want you to think that I jumped ship with Tink!!!!!!

Tink, our family is sad that "The Tink" family will not be with us...guess I will have to find someone else to join me in the late night buffets & chit chat time!!!
You have fun at DW... we will raise our glass high to you as we set sail!!!!! And no that you will me missed!!!

WOW!!! 2 more families, WELCOME !!!!!! How exciting, we are looking forward to meeting everyone!!!


I have to tell everyone about my Cruise NIGHTMARE I had just last night!!!!
We were setting at our table for our first dinner, I was busy talking to everyone, when all the sudden they bring out our food....I said "oh I haven't ordered yet", only to be replied with oh...we ordered for you. I politely said "Thank-you" all the time I was thinking OMGosh I knew exactly what I wanted to order, because I have been checking out the menus on-line.

When I got my food it was all the WRONG stuff, some kind of sea food soup and i didn't like it!!!!! (which is kinda odd since I pretty much LOVE most all food)
SO while you all are fearing missing the boat...my main focus is on the FOOD!!!!!!
That was my only dream so far about this trip...guess you can tell what I am looking forward to the most LOL!!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend
Brenda

Brenda,

Even your dreams are polite! Wrong soup, lack of a response like "Bite me. Wrong soup, Einstein."

My nightmares usually involve something like missing the boat - literally.

We leave for FLA two weeks from tomorrow. I must be nuts, but at this stage, even as we get closer, it feels like the trip will never come.

And as for attire, I am not sure that I can fit lederhosen AND a leather outfit in the same suitcase. Ron - is there room in yours, or is it taken up with the Indian outfit?

Mark

 

[ChocoKat]

Thanks for the compliments guys

Ness, I am sure your docs will get there soon!

The weather is warming up again here in sunny Florida... it means I have to go rummage through my closet for my warmer work clothes... again! It feels as if we really don't have seasons, by the end of the month it'll just stay lukewarm and by March the memory that there ever was any cold will have vanished.

Does everybody have their wet shoes for the beach in St Croix? DH and I bought some on clearance during the fall.

I'll make clothes inventory on Friday and finish off shopping Sunday. DH is picking up his suits tomorrow. Just 2 more weeks! I can't believe it is getting so close... I am still on denial about it. I have been dreaming of this cruise for so long and working towards it that it is difficult to imagine I'll be on that boat in no time.

 

[Dave and Micha]

We've got ours - bought them in Walgreen's a couple trips back and now they are in our constant cruise stuff bag. I liked what I read about St Croix having a decent beach 5 minutes from the port... I think we just want to chill out and have a beach day- swim and snorkel- drink loads of Bushwackers!

 

[ChocoKat]

Yup, it's warm again!
Went out with short sleeves and it was nice and coolish as mornings should be, but I didn't feel cold at all.

The humidity levels are back up as well.

 

[3Charbys]

Hey Donna,

This is what I found over on the main board...



I have a question...actually two questions...Does anyone know what the recommended tip amounts are for the servers and cabin steward?


They "suggest"
Restaurant server $28.00
Assistant restaurant server $21.00
Head server $7.00
Stateroom host $28.00
Room service is at your discretion....

 

[vanessa3198]

Vanessa... I just has an ESP moment and found out that your Regional Manager has the cruise docs. Seems you won't be joining us after all... but we all can't wait to meet your manager.
Just kidding...they should be there soon. The docs get sent from the cruise line to your travel agency so you should check with them.

HA!! If my manager has them, I don't care if he's 6'3!! I'll DROP him!
I called my travel agency and they told me they were sent out on Monday! So they're in the mail!! WOO!
I need to get here guys..I need to!!!

This picture makes me take a deep breath and say "ahhhhhh....i will be here soon...."

 

[vanessa3198]

I can't believe it is getting so close... I am still on denial about it. I have been dreaming of this cruise for so long and working towards it that it is difficult to imagine I'll be on that boat in no time.

Me too! I've been dreaming of it for soooo long!
I keep asking myself "Is it real?? Am I REALLY going??"

My hubby woke up this morning and turned to me and goes "It's Wednesday! This week is almost over! You know what that means right???"

I go "What?"

He goes "IT'S ALMOST CRUISE TIME!!!"

Then we both did a little dance. It kinda looked like this..

 

[fairfax]

Thanks... I have something for sail away for them all... wanted to make sure I had enough. The parents will LOVE it!

Uh oh, now I'm very, very afraid!

 

[donmil723]

Hey Donna,

This is what I found over on the main board...



I have a question...actually two questions...Does anyone know what the recommended tip amounts are for the servers and cabin steward?


They "suggest"
Restaurant server $28.00
Assistant restaurant server $21.00
Head server $7.00
Stateroom host $28.00
Room service is at your discretion....

Thanks, Wanda!

 

[ChocoKat]

I have another tipping question:
How much do you tip the room service staff?
and
How much do you tip the porters?

I plan on using room service as much as I can, starting with chocolate chip cookies the very moment we arrive to our state room DH loves cookies and he'll love snacking on some during the day.

 

[jbuckent]

How many of you will be making door signs? How many do you plan to do?

I'm just starting to think it might be fun. I'll see how much time I can find between now and sail.

 

[ChocoKat]

How many of you will be making door signs? How many do you plan to do?

I'm just starting to think it might be fun. I'll see how much time I can find between now and sail.

I think there is at least 3 of us doing them.
It is helping me keep my excitement levels under control about this trip, something to do until we depart

I also want to keep them as reminders of the good times once we are back.
DH has even been helping with suggestions and input.

I am trying to not make too many, I like to keep things simple and stream lined, but that's just my style.

I have started to hatch a series of magnets to do for us and our guests on our vow renewal cruise next year too. I think I might get our coordinator to get the room stewards to put them up at the same time they distribute our wedding favors. I think it would be cute for our friends and family to find a personalized sign when they find their room, none of them have ever been on a Disney Cruise before.

 

[Johnna_Story]

So many posts - this happens as we get closer and closer. I can't possibly respond to them all...

I'll just remind anyone that's new to contact me (check post #1643) with your info and I'll share the list of this group with you. TChrist05 - I got your PM, and will update and send the list out shortly.

We are doing door signs - and JOHN - I think you asked about magnetic paper; you can get it at just about any office supply or craft store; but what we've done is print them on card stock, self-laminate them, and use the magnetic tape from the craft store and stick a little magnet in each corner. I've heard that some printers are not crazy about magnetic paper...

Which reminds me...I need to get to the craft store!

DD changed her mind about her formal night attire -rather than the brand new sleeping beauty dress and crown, she wants to wear a grey, halter dress with sparkles and with a handkerchief skirt...BRENDA - sound familiar?!?!? Yes, it is size 7, but since I can tie up the halter top, it fits okay - very long, but she loves that!! Mark actually remembered that Kaylee wore it two years ago - that SHOCKED me...

So we are returning the sleeping beauty dress tonight, and buying MY NEW IPOD since mine died on Monday. I'm very excited about it.

Back to work...been away from my desk most of the day (it's 1:30 already!) and I've got to look somewhat productive...

Ciao for now... Johnna

 

[jbuckent]

We are doing door signs - and JOHN - I think you asked about magnetic paper; you can get it at just about any office supply or craft store; but what we've done is print them on card stock, self-laminate them, and use the magnetic tape from the craft store and stick a little magnet in each corner. I've heard that some printers are not crazy about magnetic paper...

Great idea! I've been wondering about getting magnetic paper through my itty bitty printer.

So we are returning the sleeping beauty dress tonight, and buying MY NEW IPOD since mine died on Monday. I'm very excited about it.

Will it be the ipod touch? My DH and I are totally addicted to ours!