Jammin' to Jamaica - Aug 30 2014 ~ Fantasy ~ 7-Night Western

[KJTY]

Thank you!

Done! Check out the first post and see if I have everything correct. I'll enter the Malone Family to the FE spreadsheet, too.

At some point I need their cabin number, if you have it. If they want the cabin number publically listed on this thread, like yours, just reply to this post. If you prefer, send me a private message and I'll only enter it on the spreadsheet given to the participants.

Lise

Your welcome.
They are staying in our rooms with us. Girls in one. Guys in the other.

 

[marianc]

Hi Marianc - my mom's best friend growing up was from Argentina. Her father was the diplomat so they lived in Washington DC. So glad you are joining us I would really like to visit your country. It sounds beautiful, but I cant get there until all the kids homeschool or they all get old enough to leave in the middle of winter.

Hi sweetlovin', thanks for the welcome.
I hope that you can visit my country soon.
I am very happy to go on this cruise. I count the days waiting for the big day arrives.

Mariana

 

[marianc]

Hi sweetlovin'. Thanks for the welcome.
I hope that you can visit my country soon.
I am very happy to go on this cruise. I count the days waiting for the big day arrives.

Mariana

 

[sweetlovin']

My sister and her family should be coming.... I hope i find out soon.

I hope she is able to join you!!

 

[TH5]

Just booked this cruise. Our 2nd one. Traveling with myself, DH, DD (8), DS (7) DS(1).

Not doing FE but would still love to meet everyone. Last time we traveled with a coworker and her daughter, this time might be going solo so it would be nice to meet some friends on the ship!

 

[TH5]

Has anyone cruise to this location before, how was the weather/water temp. Should we be concerned about hurricanes? Thanks!

 

[sweetlovin']

Welcome TH5

There are a few of us with 8yo (although ours are 8 now). Not sure if you put the ages at the time of the cruise or now.

I haven't done this itinerary, but Lise has done of few of these Hurricane cruises. She is more experienced than I am on the matter.

We seem to be a friendly group so I am sure we will all meet up at some point

 

[TH5]

Welcome TH5

There are a few of us with 8yo (although ours are 8 now). Not sure if you put the ages at the time of the cruise or now.

I haven't done this itinerary, but Lise has done of few of these Hurricane cruises. She is more experienced than I am on the matter.

We seem to be a friendly group so I am sure we will all meet up at some point

So glad to hear

My kids will be 7 and 8 at the time of the cruise. They are super excited this time around because last time we did a 3 day and they said it wasn't enough!

 

[sweetlovin']

So glad to hear

My kids will be 7 and 8 at the time of the cruise. They are super excited this time around because last time we did a 3 day and they said it wasn't enough!

This will be Samantha's (9) first longer cruise as well. She has done two 3 day cruises, so this will be fun. Sam will be 9 on the cruise so not too far from your kids.

 

[Cesi]

Has anyone cruise to this location before, how was the weather/water temp. Should we be concerned about hurricanes? Thanks!

I am actually wondering the same thing about hurricances. Whats the word on buying insurance? Does anyone think its really needed or would skip out on it? Thanks!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

We cruised last September in the middle of hurricane season. Honestly, I took the risk with no insurance. Depending on if a system is forming, they will switch order of the ports we go to or which ports we go to. I personally don't care too much about what ports we go to so its ok to me. They will make the best decision they can with the information given.

 

[sweetlovin']

I am actually wondering the same thing about hurricances. Whats the word on buying insurance? Does anyone think its really needed or would skip out on it? Thanks!

I think Lise bought insurance, if I buy it, I usually get it from travelex.com. I think Lise posted previously about insurance that she bought.

I haven't bought it yet. The reason is because initially Samantha and I were cruising in Jan. I bought insurance and of course, that doesn't transfer. So I don't usually buy it until we are set in stone. Lately, that seems like a feat

 

[LiseG]

TH5

Can't wait to meet your family. You're so right ... it's fun to know people on the cruise!
.

 

[LiseG]

WOW... I skip one day and my ears are burning

Has anyone cruise to this location before, how was the weather/water temp. Should we be concerned about hurricanes? Thanks!

We've cruised Western 3 different weeks in September and Eastern once for Halloween. Hurricanes yes, concerned no

I am actually wondering the same thing about hurricances. Whats the word on buying insurance? Does anyone think its really needed or would skip out on it? Thanks!

Insurance - absolutely YES.

We cruised last September in the middle of hurricane season. Honestly, I took the risk with no insurance. Depending on if a system is forming, they will switch order of the ports we go to or which ports we go to. I personally don't care too much about what ports we go to so its ok to me. They will make the best decision they can with the information given.

As Melissa (Dis_Yoda) said, Disney is great about adjusting the ports as needed. In 2005, our itinerary was switched. TIP: Book your excursions through DCL and it's easy to adjust everything onboard.

On the other hand itinerary adjustments don't always do the trick. in 2004, the cruise ahead of us became a 10-Day as Disney kept everyone safe and happy. Our 7-day Eastern became a 4-Day with Cozumel as our only port. What would have been Day 1 & 2 of our cruise, we spent "hunkered down" at Disney All-Star Movie watching The Weather Channel showing Hurricane Frances go over us on the Doppler radar. Disney was great and even had characters entertaining the kids. "Day 3" we spent an awesome post-hurricane day at a deserted Magic Kingdom. Day 4 we boarded Disney Magic in Miami (Port Canaveral wasn't ready for guests). Disney took care of transportation for everyone! The insurance paid for the extra hotel nights and all meals plus had our reimbursement money in our bank before the cruise ended. It was a great cruise and we have lots of stories to share

I think Lise bought insurance, if I buy it, I usually get it from travelex.com. I think Lise posted previously about insurance that she bought.

I haven't bought it yet. The reason is because initially Samantha and I were cruising in Jan. I bought insurance and of course, that doesn't transfer. So I don't usually buy it until we are set in stone. Lately, that seems like a feat

We use TravelGuard with some great advice from out local travel agent.

Here's the plan I've used:
Gold Plan - our most popular package of travel insurance & assistance services. Offering comprehensive coverage for individual travelers and families, this plan includes children 17 and under covered at no additional cost! If you purchase within 15 days of initial trip deposit, this plan provides additional benefits for pre-existing medical conditions and financial default. Optional coverage upgrades include Cancel for Any Reason and Medical Evacuation home or to the hospital of choice.

Depending on what you book when ( air, cruise, etc.) you have to think about how to do the insurance and get all the extra benefits. You'll want to cover the air, hotel (whatever amount you can't cancel), any non refundable activities, etc. For a DL trip we had to do a medical cancellation. We were covered.. I bought enough insurance to cover the one night we couldn't cancel on the hotel, flights and tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.


Traveling on DVC points it's different. Disney now is offering a plan to cover them.

 

[TH5]

On the other hand itinerary adjustments don't always do the trick. in 2004, the cruise ahead of us became a 10-Day as Disney kept everyone safe and happy. Our 7-day Eastern became a 4-Day with Cozumel as our only port. What would have been Day 1 & 2 of our cruise, we spent "hunkered down" at Disney All-Star Movie watching The Weather Channel showing Hurricane Frances go over us on the Doppler radar. Disney was great and even had characters entertaining the kids. "Day 3" we spent an awesome post-hurricane day at a deserted Magic Kingdom. Day 4 we boarded Disney Magic in Miami (Port Canaveral wasn't ready for guests). Disney took care of transportation for everyone! The insurance paid for the extra hotel nights and all meals plus had our reimbursement money in our bank before the cruise ended. It was a great cruise and we have lots of stories to share

Wow - so if it was the case that the cruise went from 7 days to 4 days would Disney refund us the money for cutting short our cruise or would we have to buy insurance to compensate for that? Now I am a little worried...

 

[sweetlovin']

TH5 what insurance company did you use with in the past?

 

[TH5]

TH5 what insurance company did you use with in the past?

Sorry Sweetlovin - the insurance paragraph in my previous comment was suppose to be a quote from LissG previous comments, I don't know why it did not appear in quotes (just fixed it)

I have never bought insurance for any cruise before, never really wanted to spend the money, but I am a little worried about this one being so long (7 days) and during hurricane season. I might have to do more research.

 

[Cesi]

Thanks for the tips. There is so much to look into before the trip! Are there perks to stay on the ship when it docks at port or activities going on? We will have grandpa (74yrs) and my little one (3 yrs), so a lot of those really active excursions don't really work out for us. I guess we could walk around town...?

 

[sweetlovin']

Sorry Sweetlovin - the insurance paragraph in my previous comment was suppose to be a quote from LissG previous comments, I don't know why it did not appear in quotes (just fixed it)

I have never bought insurance for any cruise before, never really wanted to spend the money, but I am a little worried about this one being so long (7 days) and during hurricane season. I might have to do more research.

LOL! I'm easily confused.

 

[sweetlovin']

Thanks for the tips. There is so much to look into before the trip! Are there perks to stay on the ship when it docks at port or activities going on? We will have grandpa (74yrs) and my little one (3 yrs), so a lot of those really active excursions don't really work out for us. I guess we could walk around town...?

That is a good mix of ages. I know a dad that got out at Nassau and took his 9yo to the beach. He walked off the ship onto the beach played for about 3-4 hours and came back. Last cruise, my mom ended up getting off at Nassau and ended up walking around by herself for a few hours. I am sure that is a good option for your travel party.