From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 3

[CruznLexi]

Still undecided ony anything yet other than the rental car we have in Aruba. I have ordered the Panama Canal by cruise ship and may watch the old DVD I have. Would be up for the wine thing too if it is on a sea day. I am thinking of shipping a box with adult beverages to the BCV. Can I send it to the ship like that. Or will I have to carry it with US?
Lexi

 

[izma]

Morning everyone....

About the welcome party. I'm going to go ahead and make an executive decision that it is open to anyone affiliated with the DIS. So extended family and what not, i.e. anyone traveling with you. I haven't even contacted conceirge yet, I need a head count first and have only heard back from a handful of people. Jeff is trying to get a sign up list on the website so people can imput if they want to join and keep track of it that way. He's got an idea in his head on how to do, just needs the time.
Since we are opening this to more people, we'll need the drinks to cover them. Not sure how we'll do this yet. A bottle of something for every 2 or 3 people maybe. Can't be a bottle per person, that would be overkill!
Had some offers for help, I'll get back to those people in a PM, but thank you for the offer. I don't know yet what I may need help with. I have some ideas, but haven't thought them through yet.
In other news I got my syllabi for school this semester

Sounds like fun!

 

[WDW Princess 71]

I do have a question though for those of you who have paid to go to these all inclusive resorts for shore excursions, and I don't mean to sound critical at all. But is it worth it? My family's been thinking we might do one of these, but given i'm the drinker of the group i'm having a bit of difficulty as I figure at nearly two drinks an hour I'd break even and there's unlimited food on the ship (that I enjoy no less).

I think it is worth it just for a change of scenery. Dont get me wrong, I love spending long days by the Quiet Cove Pool, but it is small and it is nice to get on land, have a larger "lagoon" shaped pool with swim up bar, palm trees and beach. I do drink a lot but I dont look at this type of excursion as "getting my moneys worth"- I think the price is very reasonable for enjoying a full day at a nice resort as if I were vacationing there. Its nice to try different food too for a change from the ship.

Hi everyone,
Update on the zipline in PV. I've been speaking to Esmerelda at the Los Veranos and she was not in over the weekend. I talked to her yesterday and she was going to talk to her manager to answer a few questions I had. I should be hearing back from her today or tomorrow and then I will send another update. I had asked them if they would allow us to pay the amount with 25% off and how much time the would give us to reach the 25 minimum. I know some of you have not made final payment or made a final decision on excursion so I want to make sure they give us at least a few weeks to get the 25 person minimum so we don't have to worry about people getting refunded for the discount.

I'll send another update soon.

Once everything is finalized I will PM everyone that told em they were interested and post to this thread.

Here is everyone that I've heard from a tentative count. If you have changed your mind or wanted to be added please send me a PM.
Blue is transportation/zoo only.

LovesToRun 2A - 2C
LimoFam5 2A - 2C
PBader 2A -
accola 2A - 2C
DCLtravler 3A - 1C
Phil & Deborah 1A - 1A
Tami0220 1A 1A
JenKatt 5A - 1A - 1C
emum 2A - 4C
WDW Princess71 2A
WeLuvDCL 1A - 1A - 1C
TDCNala (?) 1A
3mmm 2A - 4C
tinkryansmom 3A - 3C -1A - 1C
KayR 2A - 2C

Thanks for the update! Do you happen to know the duration, departure and arrival back to town times yet? I'm just trying to decide how much time we'll have in PV for this and anything else.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Update for those of you interested in Tortuga Island for Puntarenas, Costa Rica. I have found another company, Varso Travel, that picks us up at 8:00 AM and is only a 5 min drive to another pier where we will board the boat to the island. They return you to that pier at 3:00 PM where it is only 5 mins drive back to the island. I'm still on the fence with this. There is something in my gut that worries me about taking an all day excursion to somewhere accessible only by boat even though this gets back in plenty of time, and I still cant help but be concerned why neither DCL nor several other cruise lines I've checked dont offer Tortuga Island excursions. Plus I'm wondering if Costa Rica is really meant for the rainforest experience, not the boat experience. Any thoughts?

 

[aan1701]

Hi all. So some really bad news. Let me start by saying if it were not for bad timing I would gave none at all. So I was out running an errand and low and behold, three weeks before final payment, my check engine light comes on in my car. I know this is not going to be cheep, it never is. I just hope I can get out for under $1000.00

 

[granmaz]

Oh that is bad news Alan. I hope it doesn't cost as much as you might be thinking.

 

[ACDSNY]

I know where Fiddletown is!!

The glass blowing place in Mexico sounds interesting if anyone has info on that.

You'd get the prize if there was one. My Aunt & Uncle own Calabria Vineyard.

Some more info on the glass blowing

http://www.loscabosguide.com/glassfactorycabo/

Thanks for the info, I'm really interested in this.

For anyone wanting to explore Cabo on your own, below is a link to a great map of the area. I believe #35 is where the tenders arrive and #14 is Cabo Wabo. It doesn't list the Glass Factory, it is a little way down the road from #6.

http://www.loscabosguide.com/maps/cslmap.htm
Scroll down to the bottom and the map is seperated into 4 maps, so it's larger and easier to read.

Great info, thanks! I think we might go whale watching and to the glass factory and if we have time Cabo Wabo.

 

[aan1701]

Oh that is bad news Alan. I hope it doesn't cost as much as you might be thinking.

Me too. Still between me and DW it is our only car, so it needs to be fixed.

 

[WeLuvDCL]

Here are some good maps of Puerto Vallarta too.

http://vallartainfo.com/marina.html
http://vallartainfo.com/hotelzone.html

I haven't been able to find any decent tourist maps of Manzillo, Puntarenas or Aruba. Please let me know if you find some.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Here are some good maps of Puerto Vallarta too.

http://vallartainfo.com/marina.html
http://vallartainfo.com/hotelzone.html

I haven't been able to find any decent tourist maps of Manzillo, Puntarenas or Aruba. Please let me know if you find some.

Thanks! Those are great, but I still cant seem to find out where the Hard Rock Cafe is in relation to the port. the website says its on Presidente Diaz Ordaz, but I dont see that. Has anyone been there before? I'm just trying to figure out if I'll have time after the zip line to get there depending on the location.

 

[WeLuvDCL]

Thanks! Those are great, but I still cant seem to find out where the Hard Rock Cafe is in relation to the port. the website says its on Presidente Diaz Ordaz, but I dont see that. Has anyone been there before? I'm just trying to figure out if I'll have time after the zip line to get there depending on the location.

It's on the downtown map http://vallartainfo.com/downtown.html. It's not listed on the map but it is at the end of the J. O. Dominguez street (near where the large star is at the end fo the street). I would estimate it's about 4 miles from the port.

I believe we should pass it on the way back. You could ask to be dropped off since we should have our own buss and then take a taxi back to the ship. I asked Los Veranos for a close estimate of what time we would be back if we took the 9:15am tour and I'm just waiting for her to get back to me wiht our itinerary.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

It's on the downtown map http://vallartainfo.com/downtown.html. It's not listed on the map but it is at the end of the J. O. Dominguez street (near where the large star is at the end fo the street). I would estimate it's about 4 miles from the port.

I believe we should pass it on the way back. You could ask to be dropped off since we should have our own buss and then take a taxi back to the ship. I asked Los Veranos for a close estimate of what time we would be back if we took the 9:15am tour and I'm just waiting for her to get back to me wiht our itinerary.

Awesome, thank you so much! That would be great if I could get dropped off. I didnt know we'd be getting our own bus either? Is it because we have a big group of us going? Are they picking us up at the port or do we have to taxi to their office downtown? Sorry for all the questions I know you are still waiting to hear back from them, just throwing them out now in case you know now ; )

Also I just found this link of another good PV map that actually shows Hard Rock on it (right where you just said!) in case anyone is interested: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/port_explorer/PuertoVallartaRC_ENG.pdf

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Hi all. So some really bad news. Let me start by saying if it were not for bad timing I would gave none at all. So I was out running an errand and low and behold, three weeks before final payment, my check engine light comes on in my car. I know this is not going to be cheep, it never is. I just hope I can get out for under $1000.00

That sucks, maybe a dodgy light, you can always hope.

Thanks! Those are great, but I still cant seem to find out where the Hard Rock Cafe is in relation to the port. the website says its on Presidente Diaz Ordaz, but I dont see that. Has anyone been there before? I'm just trying to figure out if I'll have time after the zip line to get there depending on the location.

I mind when I looked at the ports lots of hrc and all close to port, after I get back from ta I cant wait to check out the hrcs

 

[LindaBabe]

Hi all. So some really bad news. Let me start by saying if it were not for bad timing I would gave none at all. So I was out running an errand and low and behold, three weeks before final payment, my check engine light comes on in my car. I know this is not going to be cheep, it never is. I just hope I can get out for under $1000.00

It may just be your catalytic converter needs service. My fingers are crossed for a low bill!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Sailing & Snorkeling
Location: Aruba, West Indies At a Glance
Activity Type: Splashtacular and Nature Adventures
Activity Level: ModerateHelp
Duration: 3-3.5 Hours
Adult Price: $45.00 (ages 10 and up)
Child Price: $35.00 (ages 5-9)
Ages: 5 And Up
On this tour you will:
Cruise the crystal-blue waters off Aruba aboard a sleek, state-of-the-art catamaran boasting spacious accommodations, and journey along the picture-perfect coastline to Boca Cathalina.
After your approximate 45-minute journey, anchor off the coast and immerse yourself in a fantastic snorkeling adventure. Explore an underwater wonderland teeming with colorful marine life and picturesque coral vistas. Explore a hidden ocean cavern at depths of up to 15-feet deep, and marvel at a school of curious tropical fish — including angelfish, snapper, damsels and parrotfish.
Following your 40-minute visit, board the catamaran once again and embark on a 10-minute ride to the second snorkel site: the world-famous Antilla shipwreck. Built by the Germans in 1939, the 397-foot, World War II freight ship was sunk in 1940 by the very country that created it in direct response to the inescapable threat of it being commandeered by the Dutch. Today, as the second largest wreck in the Caribbean, it is home to a kaleidoscope of tropical fish and is considered to be one of the world's top 10 snorkeling sites.
Marvel at the ship's remarkable condition as it silently rests — split in two halves — in 60-feet of water, and explore the cavernous chambers of age-old iron and steel.
After your 40-minute exploration, sail approximately 45-minutes back to the ship.
Important Additional Information
Beverages (rum punch, fruit juice and sparkling sodas) are included.
Wheelchairs need to be standard size and collapsible; no electric wheelchairs permitted. Guests must be able to board and debark the motor coach on their own.
This tour is not recommended for Guests with limited mobility.
Life vests are included and compulsory for all Guests.
Snorkel, mask and flippers are provided. Guests should bring towels from the ship. Snorkel instruction is available upon request.
Due to limited availability, Guests are encouraged to book early.



I really fancy this one, do you think the sail boat is near the crusie ship

 

[WeLuvDCL]

Awesome, thank you so much! That would be great if I could get dropped off. I didnt know we'd be getting our own bus either? Is it because we have a big group of us going? Are they picking us up at the port or do we have to taxi to their office downtown? Sorry for all the questions I know you are still waiting to hear back from them, just throwing them out now in case you know now ; )

Also I just found this link of another good PV map that actually shows Hard Rock on it (right where you just said!) in case anyone is interested: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/port_explorer/PuertoVallartaRC_ENG.pdf

Yes, if we have at least 35 people they will dedicate a bus to just us. Where they pick us up is another question I'm waiting on. They normally pick up at Collage Disco which is a few blocks away from port but in opposite direction. I was reading some other cruise threads and several people did not recommend walking there because there are no sidewalks. So, I've asked them if they will pick us up at the Wal-Mart across from the port. I'm going to send her an e-mail now so hopefully I will hear back from her tomorrow.

Thanks for the RCI map of PV. I'll have to check their website and see if they have anything for Aruba or Costa Rica.

 

[JenKatt]

Yes, if we have at least 35 people they will dedicate a bus to just us. Where they pick us up is another question I'm waiting on. They normally pick up at Collage Disco which is a few blocks away from port but in opposite direction. I was reading some other cruise threads and several people did not recommend walking there because there are no sidewalks. So, I've asked them if they will pick us up at the Wal-Mart across from the port. I'm going to send her an e-mail now so hopefully I will hear back from her tomorrow.

Thanks for the RCI map of PV. I'll have to check their website and see if they have anything for Aruba or Costa Rica.

If someone sends Jeff the jpgs or gifs of the port maps he will put them on the cruise webpage. He'll pretty much put anything y'all want on it anyways, but thought those maps would be very useful to have in a dedicated space.

 

[danfromca]

Sailing & Snorkeling
Location: Aruba, West Indies At a Glance
Activity Type: Splashtacular and Nature Adventures
Activity Level: ModerateHelp
Duration: 3-3.5 Hours
Adult Price: $45.00 (ages 10 and up)
Child Price: $35.00 (ages 5-9)
Ages: 5 And Up
On this tour you will:
Cruise the crystal-blue waters off Aruba aboard a sleek, state-of-the-art catamaran boasting spacious accommodations, and journey along the picture-perfect coastline to Boca Cathalina.
After your approximate 45-minute journey, anchor off the coast and immerse yourself in a fantastic snorkeling adventure. Explore an underwater wonderland teeming with colorful marine life and picturesque coral vistas. Explore a hidden ocean cavern at depths of up to 15-feet deep, and marvel at a school of curious tropical fish — including angelfish, snapper, damsels and parrotfish.
Following your 40-minute visit, board the catamaran once again and embark on a 10-minute ride to the second snorkel site: the world-famous Antilla shipwreck. Built by the Germans in 1939, the 397-foot, World War II freight ship was sunk in 1940 by the very country that created it in direct response to the inescapable threat of it being commandeered by the Dutch. Today, as the second largest wreck in the Caribbean, it is home to a kaleidoscope of tropical fish and is considered to be one of the world's top 10 snorkeling sites.
Marvel at the ship's remarkable condition as it silently rests — split in two halves — in 60-feet of water, and explore the cavernous chambers of age-old iron and steel.
After your 40-minute exploration, sail approximately 45-minutes back to the ship.
Important Additional Information
Beverages (rum punch, fruit juice and sparkling sodas) are included.
Wheelchairs need to be standard size and collapsible; no electric wheelchairs permitted. Guests must be able to board and debark the motor coach on their own.
This tour is not recommended for Guests with limited mobility.
Life vests are included and compulsory for all Guests.
Snorkel, mask and flippers are provided. Guests should bring towels from the ship. Snorkel instruction is available upon request.
Due to limited availability, Guests are encouraged to book early.



I really fancy this one, do you think the sail boat is near the crusie ship

I'm not into snorkeling myself, but if you're going to do it at any of the ports, I'd think Aruba would be the place. Should have the warmest water. And definitely has perfect beaches.

 

[aan1701]

It may just be your catalytic converter needs service. My fingers are crossed for a low bill!

Well the good news it was something to do with the vapor system and under 200 to fix. I am having another problem fixed and that is 700. DW says it will be fine so that's good. Now I need some advice from you all. I am in possession of some info that you all want to know. Not only do I know the theme nights but I know how each rotation is going to go. The problem is my friend at DCL said it is for my eyes only right now. I really want to share it with you. So if anyone has an idea on how I can say but not be dishonest to my friend please let me know.

 

[DCLtravler]

Morning everyone....

About the welcome party. I'm going to go ahead and make an executive decision that it is open to anyone affiliated with the DIS. So extended family and what not, i.e. anyone traveling with you. I haven't even contacted conceirge yet, I need a head count first and have only heard back from a handful of people. Jeff is trying to get a sign up list on the website so people can imput if they want to join and keep track of it that way. He's got an idea in his head on how to do, just needs the time.
Since we are opening this to more people, we'll need the drinks to cover them. Not sure how we'll do this yet. A bottle of something for every 2 or 3 people maybe. Can't be a bottle per person, that would be overkill!
Had some offers for help, I'll get back to those people in a PM, but thank you for the offer. I don't know yet what I may need help with. I have some ideas, but haven't thought them through yet.
In other news I got my syllabi for school this semester

Hi All,
Wow, I'm not even CLOSE to catching up, but I am at least trying to stay updated...So, I will do my best to check in to the things that pertain to me.
**For the two who wanted the 5th grade lessons, I am in the process of scanning the items I only have in hard copy and then I will start to send them. If you can PM me, I will send it directly to your email address.
**I would love join you all for the welcome party and since our crew comes from Napa, I think we can find a bottle (or two) of wine--Anyone have a favorite?? I do agree though that I would prefer to not pay the exorbitant corkage fee.
**Jen, I am not always good with checking in on the site, but please let me know if you need any help. I cannot check anything from work as I work for a school district, so most sites are blocked, but I CAN work on projects if I know what they are ahead of time
On that line of thinking, has anyone volunteered to create the "program" for the group? I think I remember reading that someone usually takes all of the activities and puts them together into a program that each person can download and print as needed. I would be happy to create that if you would like...

I think that is it for now...I hope everyone is doing well!! I look forward to reading all of the updates in the next few days

Have a great day!!
~Melissa