Jan. 18 2009 Wonder - who's cruising?

[VA_mouseman]

THanks! I don't know we're doing luggage tags. MAW is not giving us our cruise docs until the Friday before we LEAVE!

As for the FE, I only know that we need to exchange room numbers so we can deliver. It's up to each participatn if they want to provide a stateroom gift or one for each member. ANything goes from post it notes, to stickers to tattos to scrapbooks, etc! I'm excited now that we'll have at least one particpant.

If you can, inquire with MAW about your cruise docs. Our tags are included in the docs, for our checked baggage. The room number is on it (along with names and barcodes) and ensures that it gets to our stateroom on Sunday afternoon.

As for the FE exchange, I'm in but I'm not going to have time to buy or make an FE. Sorry! I saw them on eBay but I just know we won't get it shipped in time (we got burned once buying birthday party items a few years back, that arrived *after* the birthday party).

So, we're all in for the exchange but we'll improv with our extender. Maybe I'll swing by Michael's to see if there's anything pre-made.

Do you do an exchange each day, or one for the whole cruise?

FYI, our stateroom is 2105.

Anyone else interested in the FE exchange??

 

[hoff41]

How do we pre-pay our tips?

 

[weired88]

to pre-pay tips just call them and tell them that it is specifically for gratuties. One last charge to incur after the cruise and if I understand right, no need to carry around those $1 bills...


Whats the FE exchange?

 

[VA_mouseman]

How do we pre-pay our tips?

I don't know how to pre-pay before the cruise, since I haven't done that before (but I suspect it can be easily done by calling DCL).

However, keep in mind you can pay your tips anytime while onboard by going to Guest Services (deck 3). You can get paper receipts indicating your tip amount and put them into provided envelopes, to pass along to your servers, etc.

My advise to all new cruisers is to not wait to the last day to go to Guest Services to pay your tips, since the line will likely be long. There's no need to pay cash for the tips, unless that's your preference. Tips can be part of your stateroom charge.

 

[iu97alum]

If you can, inquire with MAW about your cruise docs. Our tags are included in the docs, for our checked baggage. The room number is on it (along with names and barcodes) and ensures that it gets to our stateroom on Sunday afternoon.

As for the FE exchange, I'm in but I'm not going to have time to buy or make an FE. Sorry! I saw them on eBay but I just know we won't get it shipped in time (we got burned once buying birthday party items a few years back, that arrived *after* the birthday party).

So, we're all in for the exchange but we'll improv with our extender. Maybe I'll swing by Michael's to see if there's anything pre-made.

Do you do an exchange each day, or one for the whole cruise?

FYI, our stateroom is 2105.

Anyone else interested in the FE exchange??

Thanks for the info on the tags. I'll talk to our wish coordinator on Monday to make sure all docs have been received and the tags are in there.

You don't have to have a FE made. You can use a Tote bag, an over the door shoe holder, a tolietry hanging bag, possiblibties are only limited by your imagaination.
This thread has LOTs of great ideas not only on FEs but on gifts too.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1522535

In the threads I've seen, it's only one gift one time to the staterooms. Of course if you had a bunch of little items you could spread it out but I think it makes more sense to do one time (esp with how big the boat is!!!)

If it's a big group (like 50+ people!! ) then groups are broken out but I don't think we'll get near that many folks participating.

 

[iu97alum]

to pre-pay tips just call them and tell them that it is specifically for gratuties. One last charge to incur after the cruise and if I understand right, no need to carry around those $1 bills...


Whats the FE exchange?

Outside each door is your Fish where DCL can put mail for you. DISers do a Fish Extender exchange where they hang something (which is called a Fish Extender) from the fish outside the room and each DISer/Family delivers a gift to the FE/stateroom. It can be anything from tattos, to stickers, to mini scrapbooks, to treats to homemade items! Check out the thread I posted above. It's just an extra little pixie dust comeing back to your stateroom and have a little something. I figured my kiddos would LOVE it.

 

[iu97alum]

BTT! Anyone else for FE exchange? Come on! It'll be fun!!!

 

[weired88]

sorry, but, I still do not understand the FE exchange. I clicked on the other board you mentioned. But still am confused... Is it basically leaving gifts for each other? Or randomn people? How does it get delivered?

 

[VA_mouseman]

And on the topic of FE exchange ....

Do we get gifts for all parties in the exchange? And do we do it once for the whole cruise, or every day?

I'm not going to have an official "fish extender" .... so I'll have to improvise. Any suggestions?

 

[jennymc]

It is very exciting that we will be watching the Steelers beat Baltimore the first night of the cruise!!!

 

[dursin]

It is very exciting that we will be watching the Steelers beat Baltimore the first night of the cruise!!!

Not sure I'm going to waste valuable cruise time watching the game, but I certainly hope that's the outcome!

 

[iu97alum]

sorry, but, I still do not understand the FE exchange. I clicked on the other board you mentioned. But still am confused... Is it basically leaving gifts for each other? Or randomn people? How does it get delivered?

FE is leaving gifts for those who sigend up. We exchange room numbers before we sail, and then whenever you want, you deliver to the FE outside the door. It can be on the first day or last night, whenevver it's easiest for you. It's just a nice little suprise to receive a small gift.

 

[iu97alum]

And on the topic of FE exchange ....

Do we get gifts for all parties in the exchange? And do we do it once for the whole cruise, or every day?

I'm not going to have an official "fish extender" .... so I'll have to improvise. Any suggestions?

As for who, it is up to you. You can do one for each member (which is a lot) or you can do one per couple + one per kid, or just one per family. It's totally up to you and what you want to do. The threads I've seen pretty much all combos done.

As for suggestions, do you have a small tote bag? That might work. You could use an shoe holder (I'm trying to think dollar store here). Pretty much any type of bag/holder that a gift can be placed inside would work.

Does that help?

 

[VA_mouseman]

As for who, it is up to you. You can do one for each member (which is a lot) or you can do one per couple + one per kid, or just one per family. It's totally up to you and what you want to do. The threads I've seen pretty much all combos done.

As for suggestions, do you have a small tote bag? That might work. You could use an shoe holder (I'm trying to think dollar store here). Pretty much any type of bag/holder that a gift can be placed inside would work.

Does that help?

Thanks for the clarification. We'll get something together between now and then. I have a hunch the hot glue gun will get a workout!

Anyone else participating?

 

[iu97alum]

So, we've all got passports so that's not an issue. But I was reading here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=14161396#post14161396&highlight=nassau+passport
that all you need is your KTTW card and DL. This is from 2006 so I'm not sure how accurate?

I was just looking at alternatives to taking passports (and possibly gettting them lost/stolen while beach going in Nassau)?

Anyone know?
Thanks!
dana

 

[VA_mouseman]

So, we've all got passports so that's not an issue. But I was reading here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=14161396#post14161396&highlight=nassau+passport
that all you need is your KTTW card and DL. This is from 2006 so I'm not sure how accurate?

I was just looking at alternatives to taking passports (and possibly gettting them lost/stolen while beach going in Nassau)?

Anyone know?
Thanks!
dana

On our two prior cruises, passports were not required and I believe it's still not yet a requirement for cruise travel. I recall the State Dept. had published a date by which all cruise travelers were required to have a passport, but I believe that date has slipped more than once, and is now sometime later in 2009. Having said that ....

On our prior cruises we've always traveled with passports even though it's not required. Further, when we got off the ship in foreign ports (Key West being the exception) we always had our passports with us. Frankly, the idea of being w/o passports while on foreign soil was very uncomfortable.

What do others think?

 

[stampinot]

driver's license and leave on extra copy in our suitcase, one with someone at home and the original with us. That way in case something were to happen we have copies to get us back to the states. Call DCL and ask about the passports. I thought we had to have them while traveling outside of the US on a cruise ship, but not sure.
Hope that helps. I also saw on here someone scans their stuff and keeps it with them on a thumb drive in case anything happens.
Julie

 

[VA_mouseman]

driver's license and leave on extra copy in our suitcase, one with someone at home and the original with us. That way in case something were to happen we have copies to get us back to the states. Call DCL and ask about the passports. I thought we had to have them while traveling outside of the US on a cruise ship, but not sure.
Hope that helps. I also saw on here someone scans their stuff and keeps it with them on a thumb drive in case anything happens.
Julie

That's a great idea - photcopy the documents and leave a copy at home with an emergency contact (my in-laws live nearby) but also bring along a digital copy. I scanned my park hopper tickets documentation and save it as a JPG file and transferred it to my iPhone. I'll do the same with the passports and drivers licenses.

 

[iu97alum]

That's a great idea - photcopy the documents and leave a copy at home with an emergency contact (my in-laws live nearby) but also bring along a digital copy. I scanned my park hopper tickets documentation and save it as a JPG file and transferred it to my iPhone. I'll do the same with the passports and drivers licenses.

We always do this withour passports (and even have a copy of other family members) too. We even bring a copy with us and put it in a different place (usually a safe) while on our trip. Just a little extra insurance.

 

[iu97alum]

Anyone? Anyone???