Jan 22, 2005 Eastern Cruise MAGIC Anyone?

[PiperG]

Hooray! The countdown clocks are working again!!!!

 

[MCazer]

BUMP BUMP for more to see!

 

[Brooklyn]

Hi Everyone! Thanks to PiperG I found this thread. My husband, our little princess (3 1/2 at the time of cruise) and my mother are all going on the cruise 1/22. We have a Cat 6 and Cat 11 across the hall from each other. They are rooms 6098 & 6099. My mom and daughter will be in the Cat 6 and my husband and I will be in the Cat 11. My husband returns in Dec from his 2nd tour in Iraq after 9 1/2 months so we will be so ready for this cruise!!! We are going to WDW and staying in the Beach Club Villas from 1/15 - 1/22 then we plan on getting to the ship early on the 22nd. What time do people suggest? I think we are going to have one of the car services with the 15 passenger vans take us there. We need to get from the airport to WDW, then to the cruise then to the airport. Between 4 people, 12 checked pieces of luggage and our carry-on's our family of 4 is going ot need a 15 passenger van, LOL. This is mine and our daughters first cruise. My husband went on cruises every Christmas when he was growing up. This will be his first Disney Cruise however. My mom has been on other cruises but this is her first Disney Cruise also. My husband and I are planning on the Romance Package. It seems like a GREAT deal. The prices are going up for 2005, hopefully not by that much. After the cruise we are off ot visit family in Lousiana. Then my husband and I are heading down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras weekend !!! Anyone else form New Orleans?

I will be going to get my Green Paint swatches so we can meet everyone!

Anyone else from CA????

 

[Brooklyn]

I lived in St Thomas for 3 years so if anyone has any questions let me know!

 

[MCazer]

Brooklyn - BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!

Ok, here is an updated list to include BROOKLYN (good name btw!)

1PRINCESSESMOM - DD4 DS23 months
1PRINCESSESSMOM - extended family - DD4 DD2 DS2
adckam - DD8 (almost 9) DS10
Boxkite - DS8 DD5
BROOKLYN - DD 3 1/2
COACHMINNIE - DD15 DD11 DD7 DD17 (exchange)
Dreamweaver5 - DS11 DD8 DD6
FIRSTTIMEMOM - DD7 DS5
JLDSMD - DS 4 (almost 5)
MCAZER - DD9 DS 6 (almost 7)
MICKEYFAN4444 -DD13 DD8 DS14 DS10
MICKEYMINDER - DD12
MOMEMOUSE - DD6 DD4
PianoGirl - DD 4 1/2 DD 6 1/2
PIPERG - DS7
Stepmom3 - DD4
TheDisFamily - DS15

 

[Brooklyn]

Thanks for adding us to the list! Brooklyn is our daughters name. My husband and I met at a Yankee Game so we thought it fitting. Yes I know the Yankees play in the Bronx but I was not about to name her that, he he

We can't wait for the cruise!!!

 

[PiperG]

Hello Brooklyn and Family!

In addition to a formal "welcome" to our thread, I want to thank you for the service DH does for our wonderful country. I know that your entire family has made so many, many sacrafices in the name of freedom. We are honored to be cruising with you! We are planning to be at the port at about 10:30, so we will be looking for you. We still need to get to Home Depot for our paint chips. I hope we can meet and let you know in person how much we appreciate the good work you do.

Brooklyn is such a cooool name, and I love how you met! I am a big baseball fan (DH is more into football). I support our Twins, but was born and raised in San Diego so I am Padres/National league fan at heart.

We stayed in 6092 on our last Eastern cruise, so I will know you will love that general location. We are a little more forward in 6548 this time.

The countdown clock keeps on tickin'

 

[Brooklyn]

PiperG,

Thank you very much for your kind words!!! This board is awesome and I am so looking forward to meeting all of you. We are planning to get there early too. Is 10:30 a good time? We will be driving from WDW, do you know how long that will take us? We were going to do the transfers through Disney but it seems like we will get to the port too late. We are just going to have a car service take us.

I am the big baseball fan and my husband is the big football. Guess what, the game we met at was Yankess vs Padres. It was the first time the teams ever played each other and it was during an exhibition game before the season in 1998. We actaully got to go to the World Series that year in SD for both games 3 & 4. It was AWESOME! My husband played football at Georgia Tech so he is the big football fan.

Is being more forward a better location? I did not really pick these rooms, the lady just told me. Since this is our first cruise I did not know where I wanted to be. Let me know if we should try to look a little more forward, if there is anything left.

I am so excited about this cruise!!!!

 

[PiperG]

Hi again!

We were at the port about 10:30 or so, and were about the 20th family in line. They board between 12:00 and 12:30, but the wait really goes fast because you are checking out the terminal (its beautiful), looking at the ship and chatting with others. Its fun to see other people with green ribbons!

Regarding the cabin location, I think midship or aft is better. We like to run up to Topsiders in the morning and grab some hot breakfast stuff and bring it down to the cabin so that we can eat on the verandah. I think midship or after is better for that. We love Deck6, because it is right over the Club/Lab. Makes it easy to drop off or pick up DS7.

I can't believe your Yankee/Padres story!

 

[Brooklyn]

Well our room is not changing. There are only 3 catergory 6 rooms left for the whole cruise. Here I thought it would be less busy in Jan. I think our location is good, he he, I do not even know the difference.

We will def. plan to be there early on Sat. I am glad I am not taking the DC transfers because we would not be leaving our hotel until 11:45.

Do you ever get the REAS package? Did you see my post about the price increase? It is not $339 for 2005.

 

[PiperG]

Nope, we are not getting the REAS package. However, I saw several threads on the Forum board about that topic. Check those out.

Really, only 3 CAT 6 rooms left???? That is amazing! Don't worry if the ship is full though. It is laid out so well, that with the exception of the pool areas you don't feel crowded. We typically stay on the ship in the ports and enjoy the pools then.

What was it like living in St. Thomas? On our past Eastern cruise, we tendered in the bay, and our cabin overlooked the town. DS fell asleep (we had to get up early for immigration so he took a nap in the afternoon) and DH and I sat out on the verandah just watching all the watercraft and drinking cocktails. That is our favorite memory! The bay area is just so beautiful. I have the bay area web-cam listed as a "favorite" and I take a peek several times a day.

Where are you stationed? Pendleton?

 

[Brooklyn]

It was an interesting experience to say the least living in St Thomas. It is not a great place for children to grow up. I was there for some of my high school years and that made it tough. It is beautiful though. I can't decide what I want to do when we get there. I really would like to go to Meagan's Bay. I was just checking out some taxi rates and I think that is what we will do. It has been rated one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world and it is! The water is crystal clear and the beach is just beautiful. There is a pizza place on the beach and they also have good bathroom/shower facilities. Disney does not offer an excursion there (which is a good thing, less people) but I think that is what we will do. I am sure I will save some time for shopping too. A new diamond tennis braclet from my husband might be nice after going through this deployment, he he. The bay area is a beautiful area. Most of the excursions I have already done. Some are worth the money and some are not. You do not sound like you will really be doing any excursions though, huh?

Did the cruise ship dock where all of the ships dock and then you walked into a huge area of shopping (buildings all looking the same)??? I read somewhere that the DCL will dock in one of 2 place on the island. I am really hoping that our cruise docks where all of the ships dock and not the remote place. The remote place will make it so you would have to take a taxi to do just about anything.

Yes we are stationed at Pendleton. We used to be stationed in Coronado. That was an awesome three years!!! Ever since he got to Pendleton we do not see him anymore. He has either been deployed or out in hte field training. I am really looking forward to this vacation.

If there are any excursions that you are thinking about doing please let me know. I will let you know if I have done it and if it is worth the money. I really do not care for the ports as much as just being on the ship and relaxing.

 

[mickey minder]

Brooklyn, Welcome, we look forward to meeting you and your family. We are grateful for DH's service to our county. There is a thread going now about sending Disney post cards to soldiers serving overseas. Perhaps your DH would like to hear from some new friends. Just an idea. We were thinking of Coral World or a helicopter ride in St. Thomas. Are there any riding stables? Any suggestions?

Mcazar - thanks for keeping the list up. It's getting to be a real job. The more the merrier.

My DD -will be 12 in October would love to email with some other kids who are going. Anyone interested can PM me.

I am so happy to see that clock working again.

 

[Mike320]

Our family, Susan and Mike, Zach - 10, Lucas 8 and Lynne 5 (all at cruise time) are so looking forward to this! Well, the kids don't know about it. We are going to give them a 3 day trip to Disney World for Christmas and when we get into the car for the 'ride to the airport' we'll give them one last gift for the trip - a surprise Cruise!

We hope to meet many of you on the cruise...maybe over a cocktail..by the pool...whatever, we are SOO out for some fun!

Can't wait to see you all there!


Mike and Sue Notarangelo
1050 & 1052

 

[PiperG]

Originally posted by Brooklyn

We used to be stationed in Coronado. That was an awesome three years!!!

We were married on Coronado!

 

[Brooklyn]

That is really neat! Coronado is a beautiful place. I am sure we will have lots to talk about. The husbands may be wrapped up in Superbowl talk since that will be just around the corner, he he.

 

[MCazer]

1PRINCESSESMOM - DD4 DS23 months
1PRINCESSESSMOM - extended family - DD4 DD2 DS2
adckam - DD8 (almost 9) DS10
Boxkite - DS8 DD5
BROOKLYN - DD 3 1/2
COACHMINNIE - DD15 DD11 DD7 DD17 (exchange)
Dreamweaver5 - DS11 DD8 DD6
FIRSTTIMEMOM - DD7 DS5
JLDSMD - DS 4 (almost 5)
MCAZER - DD9 DS 6 (almost 7)
MICKEYFAN4444 -DD13 DD8 DS14 DS10
MICKEYMINDER - DD12
MIKE320 - DS10 DS8 DD5
MOMEMOUSE - DD6 DD4
PianoGirl - DD 4 1/2 DD 6 1/2
PIPERG - DS7
Stepmom3 - DD4
TheDisFamily - DS15

 

[DreamWeaver5]

Originally posted by Mike320
Our family, Susan and Mike, Zach - 10, Lucas 8 and Lynne 5 (all at cruise time) are so looking forward to this! Well, the kids don't know about it. We are going to give them a 3 day trip to Disney World for Christmas and when we get into the car for the 'ride to the airport' we'll give them one last gift for the trip - a surprise Cruise!

We hope to meet many of you on the cruise...maybe over a cocktail..by the pool...whatever, we are SOO out for some fun!

Can't wait to see you all there!


Mike and Sue Notarangelo
1050 & 1052

Mike & Sue,

Our family, Scott & Jean Ann, Alex-12, Whitney-8, and Ansley-6 (all at cruise time) will be across the hall from you in 1051 & 1053.

It's a small world after all...

 

[Mike320]

Scott & Jean Ann -

It IS a small world isn't it...! Right across the hall...who would have thought you'd be on this site too!

And what a great deal getting two cabins compared to the $$$$ Family Suite. More room, less money...I can use it to pay my cocktail bill!

Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Michael

 

[pianogirl]

This is mine and our daughters first cruise. My husband went on cruises every Christmas when he was growing up. This will be his first Disney Cruise however. My mom has been on other cruises but this is her first Disney Cruise also. My husband and I are planning on the Romance Package. .........
Anyone else from CA???? [/B]

Hi and welcome. very nice looking family! I am traveling with DH, DD age 6 and DD age 4 (at time of cruise) and this is our 2nd Disney cruise. Took our first this past Jan 2004 on the Western Carribean and loved it. my mother-in-law came on the last one with us and that was great. this time my brother is coming along. so it will be exactly one year later.................we're going on this Eastern cruise and can't wait! by the way, I used to live in San Diego for 7 years and in Coronado for some of the time and Cardiff-by-the-Sea..............you probably know where this is. anyway, we now live in Washington................about an hour north of Seattle.

we got there early on departure day of the cruise and waited on lots of lines that morning; although most went pretty fast once they started moving. They board the ship around 11 am or so. since this is our 2nd Disney cruise, we can check in at the "Castaway club" desk. I do recommend getting there early, but don't get there too early or you'll just end up doing more waiting. we arrived around 10 and that was fine since we all didn't board the ship until 11:30.

We spent way too much money on "extras" on our last cruise, so we know all the secrets and tips for this one to save money. Namely cocktails and photos can really add up! I gotted sucked into "Shutters" (the photo studio) where they post your families photos every day and they take tons of them on board. We brought our digital camera and took over 100 pictures and so many came out great that I wish we hadn't spent so much on the professional ones. To keep it simple this time, I may just purchase formal and/or semi-formal photos.

more tips................make reservations right away for spa or Palo if you desire. kids can't check into Oceaneers club until 7pm that first night so no rush to get them "signed up" right away.

first day tips. take carry-on's that are on wheels. if you get on board early the rooms are often not ready to put down carry-on luggage until 1:30pm. we carried a bunch of heavy stuff around (mostly my husband who brought a case of beer). you can bring your own alcohol on board and save tons.............make your own cocktails. but you absolutely have to try the "Bon Voyage" cocktail on the sail away party!

speaking of photos.................when you board the ship, the line moves VERY slow. this is because they take your family photo as you board the ship and each and every family stops at the door for this. if you want to get in quicker, then skip the picture and board. We will......................now that we know. there will be no shortage of photographers on board!!! they are always snapping your pictures. dinners, character breakfast, parties, formal and semi-formal nights. photos with characters. there will be so many to choose from!

anyway, can't wait to meet you guys!

Debbie and family