January 12, 2013 Eastern on the Fantasy

[JustTJ]

Grrr - I'm getting frustrated, and maybe one of the previous cruisers here can give me the answer. I cannot, for the life of me, find out what best width for a Fish Extender is. I've seen anywhere from 8" to 12" wide. I don't want it to stick out in the passageway, but I would like it to be as wide as possible.

I make fish extenders so take it from me, anything wider than 8 inches (finished) WILL stick out I usually leave 5 inches at the top to put a decoration or something, then an inch to an inch and a half between pockets going down the length. Hope that helps you out

 

[JustTJ]

Hello, we have decided to join this cruise. We are DH Rob, Kim and DS Henry (9), our DD14 will be staying at home for this one. Our original cruise was the June 8 Med sailing, but we were concerned about the rising airfare, so we switched to this one, which will actually be a nice winter distraction. This will be our 10th on DCL, first on the Fantasy, with the other ones on the Magic and Wonder. DH and I sailed last January on the Eastern on the Magic and had a great time. We are really excited about sailing on the Fantasy, DS is already planning out our days. Our cabin is a gty, so who knows where we will be. We are interested in the FE exchange, but I will have to see if I have time to get something together. Is there a deadline?

Welcome!!! We too cancelled a cruise and moved it to this one (daughter was getting married, but what a great reason to move the cruise). We too are sailing with a 9yr old son. Good to know there will be other boys his age on board

 

[JustTJ]

Who's heading up the FE Gift exchange? Can't recall. Wanted to let you know that my family of 4 will be participating afterall. I don't know yet about our extended family, but let us know when the cutoff date is and I'll for sure have an answer to you by then

 

[kristof65]

Who's heading up the FE Gift exchange? Can't recall. Wanted to let you know that my family of 4 will be participating afterall. I don't know yet about our extended family, but let us know when the cutoff date is and I'll for sure have an answer to you by then

I don't know if anyone is officially heading up the FE, but Denise Swales has a Google doc up for the cruise with a y/n column for. Link to the doc is on the first page of this thread.

I didn't see a cutoff date discussed either, but I would vote for 30 days out (Dec 13), as most of us will also be busy with holidays during our prep time as well.

 

[kristof65]

I make fish extenders so take it from me, anything wider than 8 inches (finished) WILL stick out I usually leave 5 inches at the top to put a decoration or something, then an inch to an inch and a half between pockets going down the length. Hope that helps you out

Thanks. I went ahead and just did it. The hanging fabric portion is exactly 8" wide, while my hanging bar is 9.5".

So I guess one of my Mickey heads will be sticking out into the passageway.

 

[swalesfamily]

I don't know if anyone is officially heading up the FE, but Denise Swales has a Google doc up for the cruise with a y/n column for. Link to the doc is on the first page of this thread.

I didn't see a cutoff date discussed either, but I would vote for 30 days out (Dec 13), as most of us will also be busy with holidays during our prep time as well.

I'm in agreement with that date. I think it's reasonable and with the holidays around the corner if anyone has time off around then it will make it easier to get things wrapped up and ready to sail. Should we put it to a vote? I don't mind making a ship map with all the rooms highlighted as well to distribute during our meet and greet. It makes handing things out easier. I'm thinking for the meet and greet the first day after we all board is what most would prefer. Where is a good place for that on the Fantasy? I was thinking it should be close to the foyer to get that awesome pic of all of us
Any suggestions?

 

[Mythreeboysandme]

Also, I was just wondering if we should vote on how many people we wanted to have participating in the FE. I think it's great about having a cut off date, but did we want to think about how many cabins we wanted to have involved? I know my brother and sister in law where just on the Fantasy and they closed their FE group once they reached a certain amount and then another FE group was started. What does everyone think??

 

[mvlimmex]

I think that the December 13th cut-off date sounds good as well.
Vicki

 

[kristof65]

Also, I was just wondering if we should vote on how many people we wanted to have participating in the FE. I think it's great about having a cut off date, but did we want to think about how many cabins we wanted to have involved? I know my brother and sister in law where just on the Fantasy and they closed their FE group once they reached a certain amount and then another FE group was started. What does everyone think??

Well, I'm a first timer, so I only know what I've read here. Based on the Google doc, we currently have around twenty cabins participating and we're 112 days out. Since we signed up about a month ago, we've only had one more sign up.

For previous participants, will that number likely grow faster as we get closer to cruise day? Or will it stay fairly steady? Or are we about maxxed out. Or is it a hit and miss thing that no one can predict?

Anyway, for us a cut off between 30 and 40 cabins works. I would suggest that at 40 we split into two groups of 20 and alternately add to each group.

 

[castawaycayfans]

We have decided to join the FE, how do I do it? I like the cutoff date and splitting the list if it gets too big. We were on a cruise last year that had over 50 cabins and it took forever to deliver, not to mention packing everything. On our last cruise, we had under 18 and it was really nice, a lot easier to handle.

DS is happy that there will be other kids his age on this cruise, he loves going to the Lab after dinner. We do the late seating and he can spot the "yellow shirts" across the dining room!

 

[kristof65]

We have decided to join the FE, how do I do it?

On the first post of this thread there is a link to a Google doc. You can add your name(s) there.

 

[swalesfamily]

My personal opinion is if we get up to 30 cabins we should split the group. We had 20ish or so on our last cruise I believe and it felt large enough. Plus the Fantasy is larger so it could take longer to deliver. Our last FE also started to fill quicker closer to the cruise date as well. It's fantastic to have this many people interested already!

 

[kristof65]

Split at 30 works for us, too. We'll rely on the experience of the veterans here.

 

[E2ME2]

anyone actually have a picture of a Fish Extender ??

 

[castawaycayfans]

My personal opinion is if we get up to 30 cabins we should split the group. We had 20ish or so on our last cruise I believe and it felt large enough. Plus the Fantasy is larger so it could take longer to deliver. Our last FE also started to fill quicker closer to the cruise date as well. It's fantastic to have this many people interested already!

Splitting at 30 sounds good to me. We know the Magic and Wonder really well, but the Fantasy is new to us and I have a feeling that we will get lost.

 

[kristof65]

anyone actually have a picture of a Fish Extender ??

There are quite a few in the big fish extenders thread. I'll try and post a pic of ours later on.

 

[JustTJ]

I just added my family to the Google Doc. I wonder if there are participants who have not yet added their info there? I count 18 families over 19 staterooms participating. I'm all for a cut off of 30 or 35 families/staterooms, and splitting it after that. Maps are GREAT, so to the person who offered to make maps. AWESOME. I found that VERY helpful last fall on the Dream. These ships are MUCH bigger than the Magic and Wonder, and some hallways have dead ends that puzzeled us, or seemed to have a dead end, but then turned and and turned again. The maps were great at helping not to waste time
This is something that we can all print off on our own once made. I would suggest that whoever makes the maps print off and bring a few extra as there is Always a few people who inadvertantly leave it behind. (packing for a vacation like this can be hectic so it's understandable that this could happen)

I think the Stair area, in the atrium is a perfect place to meet, to go over any last minute changes that need to be noted for all participants and for a Great Group photo
And I'm ALL for a Dec. 13th cut off date. Even Dec. 1st (since the Christmas holidays and events take up a good part of December).

 

[kristof65]

I have a feeling that we will get lost.

In my family, we don't get lost, we "have adventures."

It's part of the fun

 

[castawaycayfans]

In my family, we don't get lost, we "have adventures."

It's part of the fun

We can't wait to have a fun "adventure" on the Fantasy!

Usually we book so far in advance that it seems like it takes forever to go and this cruise was booked on a whim with short time to go.

 

[E2ME2]

How about those Replacement Refs !?
I hope the real refs are back before we sail; or the playoffs will be terrible.

Can anybody tell me why my whole signature does not display??