I KNOW this has been asked a MILLION times but HELP!

[hydster]

I've searched back through about 5-7 pages and I have decided that the question I have may not be answered specific enough so I'm going to ask again! PLEASE bear with me!!!

We are a family of 5 going on the May 1 Eastern Caribbean cruise. We are taking a Limo from POR to the port. I have 3 kids 10, 9 and 5. The 5 year old is NOT very good about waiting in lines, dealing with anticipation and can be kind of hard to deal with for longer than about 20-30 min unless he is distracted. We are wondering what time all of you "VET" cruisers would recommend we get to the port where it is early enough we would still be able to get Palo and spa reservations (we arent picky on times or dates of the reservations per se except we'd really rather not miss formal night or the 1st night of AP) so what time do you think we could get there (the latest possible) in order to try to get reservations at Palo and the spa and still keep our 5 year old somewhat content??? What do all of you with smaller kids do to pass the time??? I asked the Limo company originally to pick us up at POR at 11am but now am wondering if I should schedule it at 10 am to get to the port by 11??? Please give me some direction. When we went last time we went with the inlaws on a 4 day and didnt do Palo or spa so we arrived around 1:30 or 2 ish because we wanted to do AK first. This time it's just us going and we can schedule anytime we want to go to the port.

One other question....I am SO confused here....we have a 15 min grocery stop scheduled (I'm kind of wondering why actually) but if we decide to buy alcohol and maybe some Diet Coke and Sprite WHAT do I do with it? I mean do I have to bring a bag with me and then carry it around with me all day or can I put it in a bag and check it??? Also coming from Utah (the NON drinking capital of the world) what KIND of alcohol can you buy at a grocery store in Florida? I LOVE Gin, hubby likes Gin and Bourbon...are those available or just beer and wine coolers? In Utah you can ONLY buy Liquor (besides beer and wine coolers) at the liquor store not in a grocery store. I have NEVER done this on any of our cruises and I'm so confused! HELP! LOL

Thank you SO much for bearing with me! I only have 4 weeks to get the finishing touches on this trip and my husband started asking me all these questions last night and I had NO idea what to say!!

Thanks!
Heidi

 

[figment52]

First - take a deep breath- exhale slowly...Repeat. You sound a bit frazzeled. Don't be there is plenty of wonderfu lhelp here.

I can't answer your questions becasue I haven't done a liquor stop and don't travel with small children but just wanted you to know you are in good hands and someone will be along very soon to address your concerns.

As I recall there will be plenty of thingto help occupy you 5 year old. I remember TV's in the lounge area playing- surprise- DIsney movies and/or cartoons, characters come out to visit too. The wait does not really seem that long at all. Plus, by meeting people here before the cruise you can be looking for your online friends while you wait.

I think I recall all liquor being available at grocery stores. DIsney is not like other ship and they do allow you to bring on your own beverages- they just don't want it to be too obvious. If you try to carry on a case of beer they will give you a trash bag
to put over it.

You will have agreat time and I suspect that your 5 years old will do fine with the wait.

 

[hydster]

Sandy--Thanks! I am frazzled beyond belief but a lot of it has nothing to do with this trip even though my post sounded like it was.

Thanks for the pep talk though I needed it desperately today!

Heidi

 

[CAMICKEY]

Hydster - It certainly does not seem like your normal self. I read the post and then had to go back to see who the poster was. When I saw it was you, I siad "Whoa". Hope things are well. Dont get too frazzled. - Mike

 

[CAMICKEY]

Ok Hydster - I just noticed your countdown time. No time to get frazzled now. To get the ressies you want for sure, you will need to get to the port around 11:00 AM I would think.

As far as the alchohol is concerned, if you buy a bottle of gin, put it in a paper bag and put it in your carryon luggage for ship boarding. We brought a bottle of rum last year but only drank about 20% of it. I do not know whether the grocery stores in Florida carry gin - they do here in California - Mike

 

[hydster]

Mike...LOL about the post not being from me! I dont know what is wrong with me..maybe it's the extra dose of ephedra I took today so I could actually fit in my cruise clothes! LOL Or maybe its the fact that I locked up ALL of the gin for the next few weeks so I could get rid of some extra calories. ROFL In 4 weeks however I'll be sitting on a plane decompressing as we speak! LOL

I thought 11 would be a good time to get to the port but then after I started reading the older threads some people say they get there around 9:30 to 10 am...I thought to myself HOLY **** I can't get there that early or I will be pulling my hair out in clumps! LOL

So if I bring a bag type thing and just put the soda (we wont buy much of anything if we buy anything at all) and the bottles of gin in a carryon type bag I'll be ok right? Like a beach bag type bag? I LOVE the grocery stores in California and Nevada..we make a pilgramage to Nevada at least once a month since we can buy the same amount of alcohol for 1/2 the cost over there! It's taxed like crazy here! Thanks for all your help and info!!

I'm getting myself more under control with the nice people responding to my post! Thanks!

Heidi

 

[dalmationlover]

Hi,

Can't answer your question about the beverages, but I can tell you are experience about what time to get to port. We went on a seven day western last July. Before the cruise we spent a couple of days with family in Orlando. They were nice enough to give us a ride to port. I had wanted to get to port early because of what I had read on the boards, so I was stressing when we didn't get out of the house until 11:00. My family then wanted to take us to see their new house very quickly. Being family and that they were nice enough to put us up for three nights I didn't feel like I could rush them. We didn't end up getting to port until 1:30. I was sure we wouldn't be getting any of our resies. Ended up that there was no line to check in, walked right up to get our picture taken and on to the ship. Went straight to get our Palo's resies, short line and got the night we wanted. Went upstairs to the spa, again no line and got both treatments we wanted on day at sea. I'm not sure if it always works out that way, but I'm sure glad it did. We never had to wait in line at all and got what we wanted. My advice is don't stress out before you get on the ship, instead be flexible on your days for Palo's and spa treatments. Hope this helps a little.

 

[jrabbit]

I would try to arrive at the port around 11am. The terminal is nice and there are mickey cartoons on the tv for the kids and the characters make an appearance.

Once on board if you can manage your ressies your self (I'm sure you can) AND IF (and it's a bigger if ) you DH can handle the kids, send them up to topsiders for lunch and a swim while you deal with making your ressies.

As far as bringing your beverages onboard, IF you could pack them safely in your checked luggage, I would do that as the first option. If not, then into a carryon they go. If you are carrying them on, I would try to go to your room to drop off your carryon luggage first (the weight must be pretty heavy)

If you don't make it to the port in time to make the ressies you want, just think, you'll have a great excuse to rebook onboard .

Don't stress to much, don't over plan too much, be flexible and have a great trip!

 

[saturday97]

Originally posted by hydster
I thought to myself HOLY **** I can't get there that early or I will be pulling my hair out in clumps! LOL

Hydster, I am laughing so hard, you sound like how I feel right now-- I am in FRANTIC planning mode and I am convinced that I am forgetting something BIG i.e. transportation to the port etc. Unlock the gin NOW!! Drive to Wyoming to get it if you have to! Luckily I live in a state with drive-through liquor stores!

See you May 1st with a Konk Kooler in hand!!

 

[outahere]

As I recall........... the only alcoholic beverages you can buy in an actual grocery store are beer and wine. However......... I've found that a lot of the grocery stores are next to (or very close to) liquor stores. The one thing that always surprises me in Florida is that some of the Walgreen's pharmacies have a liquor store.

Guess you never know what the doctor will prescribe!


It sounds like you're taking a limo to the port. If so, just tell the driver what you would like to purchase during your stop, and I'm sure they will take you where you can find what you're looking for.

 

[CAMICKEY]

hydster - Glad you got a laugh. Sounds like you needed it. We actaully bought our Rum out here in Ca and put in our Carryon to Orlando. I think you would be fine getting there by 11:00 AM or else you are just going to end up waiting. Have a wonderful cruise and heres some pixie dust for some wonderful weather. - Mike

 

[kennancat]

outahere is right - grocery stores in Florida only sell beer and wine. They need a liquor license to sell the harder drinks like rum, vodka, bourbon, and even liqueurs. Walgreens and ABC Liquors are the most common chain stores; I've seen several Sam's Clubs adding liquor stores recently too.

 

[hydster]

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL for your input! I went ahead and changed the Limo to pick us up at 10 am at POR to head to the port. Hopefully it will work out ok but if it doesnt I'll know better next time. We are open to Palo and if we dont make it we dont make it but hubby and I would REALLY like a massage and even better would be a massage on CC but any massage will do. If we can't get them so be it...we'll come home and he can give me one for Mother's Day right?? LOL Anyway thanks again! I plan on packing a few little gifts to give 5 year old at Lifeboat drill so maybe I"ll buy a few extra at a dollar store for him as well to keep him occupied in line at the port!!

As for the liquor store situation..well we will have to beg the Limo driver to take us somewhere that has one near it or take us to one as well as the grocery store (although I dont care nearly as much about getting Sprite as I do GIN since we'll probably buy at least 2 mugs anyway.) but thank you all for your input!

Saturday...I'm glad I"m not the only one feeling this way!!! I may have to drive to Wyoming or Wendover to get my fix...the prices here make my jaw drop every single time! I can't tell you how excited I am to buy liquor at the ports! I'll probably end up paying duty on the bottles but I'm pretty sure it will be cheaper even than buying booze here in UTah! I wish we had drive through liquor stores here...now THAT would be my downfall! LOL Where DO you live by the way???

Only 4 more weeks til we will be in hand with your Konk Kooler and my Tom Collins or Gin and Tonic! LOL Have you voted on the May 1 thread for where and when????

Outahere..thanks for the information! I've read conflicting reports (not on this website) about liquor on the way to the port so thanks alot! I plan on telling the driver we want to get LIT UP like Vegas so get us to a stop soon!! LOL I"M JUST KIDDING HERE!

Mike--thanks for the pixie dust and your advice AND for the free giggle!! I really needed that after my speeding ticket. Now I have to go to traffic school to keep it off my driving record and guess when I have to report....the NIGHT before we leave! Of all the crappy timing!! Oh well..more reason to get prepared earlier right??

Thanks again! You've saved my sanity!
Heidi

 

[CAMICKEY]

hydster - A speeding ticket???? What impeccable timing. What can you do except laugh (or cry). I hate driving school but it sure helps the insurance rates. I know where your mind will be the night before leaving. I would think since you have a 15 minute grocery stop that the limo would take you to get some alcohol instead (just ask). Hope you get all of your ressies. - Mike

 

[dharma517]

Ephedra is under investigator by the FDA for causing strokes and other terrible things. A lot of diet supplements are replacing it with other ingredients. PLEASE, PLEASE...dispose of that stuff properly...in the trash! Oh yeah..and have a great cruise!
Jenn

 

[saturday97]

Hydster, we are in Gilbert, a suburb of Phoenix. During my days at Arizona State, I frequented a drive through liquor store across the street from campus. Ahh, the good old days!! We have been considering a move to Utah so I can pursue my Ph.D at U of U-- so we've been looking into the liquor laws there and my DH has decided to start brewing his own beer!

In the poll I voted for the DIS meet to be held anywhere I can get a drink-- don't want you to have to clean up for us, you're on vacation for cryin' out loud!!

 

[hydster]

Mike--Yeah can you believe it. I got caught doing 40 in a 30 but I SWEAR I wasnt driving that fast BECAUSE I didnt want a ticket. The cop was a real jerk and wouldn't let me off with a warning but I know just a second before he pulled me over I looked at my mph and they were a little high at 34 but no way did I gain 6 mph in a second. Oh well..live and learn right??? After hubby got his new sports car he got a ticket for 19 over and went to traffic school. Never went on the record so I figure I'll do the same but he was supposed to go for an hour and he was done in 25 min. The guy let them go early. Kind of a joke but oh well.

Jenn--Yeah I know the FDA is looking into Ephedra saying it isnt safe but more people die every single year from prescription drug overdose and alcohol and drugs than die from Ephedra. Statistically speaking it isn't as dangerous as the Govt. would like you to think. The only reason it got such major hype is because sports players took it. I have taken Ma Huang for years and years and years to help me with fatigue and it was suggested by my internist. I've had no problems with it and as a side benefit for me it is good for losing weight. I may die from it or I may die from getting in my car driving to the grocery store. It's a risk but I'm willing to risk it. I only take 1 capsule a day (except for a day like the other day when I took 2 and not together about 4 hours apart) every day so my risk is greatly reduced. I also don't take it before I work out or before I plan on doing anything physical. It helps with my Epstein Barr and makes me functional and I am actually pretty bummed they are pulling it off the market because it helps me function. But thanks for the advice.

Saturday--Oye you're thinking of moving here?? LOL It really is a beautiful place but very "controlled" LOL If you do end up coming here...well we could party! I went to the U and it is a good school but I think hubby would be wise to brew his own beer. We thought about making our own machine *like MASH* but gave up and just budget the money to go the liquor store instead! LOL Too funny about you wanting to go anywhere you can get a drink..I think we may get along just great!! LOL
As for cleaining up...well that is why we bring 3 times the amount of tip money for the cabin steward! LOL


Only 4 more weeks *27 days for me but who's counting?*
Heidi

 

[Zandy595]

kennancat ~ Where I live (South FL) almost all the new grocery stores sell liquor. The new Winn Dixie by my house has a HUGE liquor selection.

As for keeping your 5 year old busy... do you have a GameBoy? That works great with my DS. How about surprising them each with a new little toy to hold their attention for a while. Wait until the 5 year old gets restless and pull them out.