January 13, 2007 - 7 Night Magic Western

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone!

Well, it looks like DS7 will NOT be wearing a tux this year! Just tried it on and the pants and sleaves are an inch too short. It was a little big on him 15 months ago, so I thought it would still be OK.... Oh well, he has dress pants and a white shirt he can wear this time and maybe we'll get another tux next time.

Anyway... I have a size 5 tux with size 12 shoes free to a good home. Anyone with a boy that size who would like it? DH doesn't think its worth the effort to sell it on ebay and was just going to drop it off at a local charity. I figured we might as well see if a fellow DISer would like it! It is a formal "tails" jacket, pants and bow tie. You'ld still need a white shirt to go with it.

If anyone wants it, let me know and I'll bring it with and get it to you when we get to the ship....

pdarrah

 

[familycruiser]

pdarrah - my son is 5 and it would probably fit him if it is still available. That is really nice of you. I can try to find a shirt in the next couple days. Let me know. Thanks.


Monica

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Monica,

Sure - it is available! I'll pack it and get it to you once we board (maybe you could email your room number and we can coordinate once we get our luggage). Can he also use the size 12 shoes? They are shiny dress shoes that look good with a tux...

I'm glad someone else will get some use from it. Little boys in tuxedos are just so cute! Here is a photo of DS from Oct 2005 so you can see how it looks.

pdarrah

 

[sopandbass]

Hi, Everyone!

What are you most looking forward to during our upcoming cruise?

 

[DiaLady]

Hi, Everyone!

What are you most looking forward to during our upcoming cruise?

Besides getting to meet all the cool people on the DIS boards?? I'm looking forward to sitting by the ADULT pool with my copy of Eldest and enjoying a good book while eating ice cream . . .

No flames, please ... I know this is a family vacation, but I homeschool which means my kids are with me every minute of every day (except when they're not . . LOL) so a break where I can be alone (okay alone with all the others at the pool) is such a dream

Can't wait to see the other comments . . ..

 

[mrclean62415]

I'm a newbie to this site, but my wife and I are sailing on the January 13 cruise and we were just hoping to meet some nice people here who are on that same sailing. We are just going to play it by year in Key West, doing the island tour and snorkling in GC, nothing planned for Cozumel and we are doing the island cruise at CC. I think we are in the late dining too. Hope to see some of you on the ship.

 

[Bytor01]

Just in case anyone was wondering, here is the latest long range forecasts for our stops. They all look pretty good except for Cozumel, so far.

Key West
Saturday, Jan 14 Mostly sunny High: 78 °F Low: 68 °F

Grand Cayman
Tuesday, Jan 16 Humid with periods of sun High: 85 °F Low: 73 °F

Cozumel,MX
Wednesday, Jan 17 Overcast, t-storms; humid High: 81 °F Low: 75 °F

Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas (closest reporting station 40 miles N. of Castaway Cay)
Friday, Jan 19 Clouds and sun High: 80 °F Low: 61 °F



Tim

 

[Ginny]

Dear Tim -

Thanks so much for all your research and the high percentage of good news. After you've been able to arrange such great weather elsewhere, could you work a bit more on Cozumel??? Also, could you ensure the winds at Castaway Cay are really mellow for the ship's docking?

Dear SopAndBass -

What a great question - What am I most looking forward to?:

- Having lots of time with (DH) Chuck and (DD) Erin..............creating special memories, new inside jokes and lots of giggles.

- I am really looking forward to the Buffet in Parrot Cay right after we board..........then, it will be official and we will be "home!" The fresh shrimp and fresh fruit....................what a treat~

- I can't wait to see our stateroom - Neither can DH so we are always dying by the time they let us enter.....again, I think it is just knowing that the adventure has really begun.

- I love the Sailaway Party and the Horn..................for me, that horn blowing makes me teary every single time. I know it sounds a bit sappy, but it always does.

- I can't wait for Disney Dreams................I could see that show a million times and it would still be magical and I would still love it! And, since DD hasn't seen it since she was 9, it is like seeing it again for the first time.

Anything beyond the above will be extra magic!!

Thanks to all of you for helping to make the waiting so pleasant and fun!!

 

[szewong]

With less than a week to go, we are starting to talk and think about the cruise all the time!

I already dream about the cruise twice. (both times I forgot to bring something!)

Well, I'm looking forward to have a lot of fun and meet new friends so we will try our best to meet with some of you at the terminals.

On a side note, I'm actually going back to work tomorrow after 2 weeks off. I'm sure it will be hell. Tomorrow's schedule is already packed.

Another side note, anybody got game consoles this X'mas? I got myself a WII this season and it's been a great experience. Anybody from my 2 year old son to 60 year old can just jump in the action and had fun. (Well the 2 year old isn't really playing but when he sees everybody swinging the remote, he just pretend and had a lot of fun too!) Now my wife actually exercise on it everyday.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Sze

 

[crickee]

Hi folks,

DD, 9, is jealous that DS 7 has been able to email someone before going on the cruise. She would like her own email pal. So if anyone has a girl between 8 and 12 she would love to hear from you. Emily is really excited! Her interests are shopping, music, shopping, movies, shopping, clothes, and - well you get the picture.

 

[cepmom]

Has anyone seen the thread on the main board regarding Hepatitis vaccines for traveling on a Western cruise? I never even thought of this before and now I'm not sure what to do. Has everyone else had Hepatitis vaccines? Did you get them sepcifically for traveling? The kids have all been vaccinated for Hep B, but not sure about Hep A. We're leaving Friday...obviously not enough time to get the series. With all the time I spend on these boards and all my "type A" planning, I have never even heard this mentioned before. Crud.

 

[cepmom]

Hi folks,

DD, 9, is jealous that DS 7 has been able to email someone before going on the cruise. She would like her own email pal. So if anyone has a girl between 8 and 12 she would love to hear from you. Emily is really excited! Her interests are shopping, music, shopping, movies, shopping, clothes, and - well you get the picture.

crickee ~
my DD is 9 also, but unfortunately, she will not be able to email before the cruise. We are surprising the kids....as far as they know, we are only going to FL while DH has some "business" there. We are going to let them in on the surprise on Saturday morning before we head to the terminal. Are you planning on going to the terminal meet or the sail away party meet? I'm sure my DD would love to meet up with your DD....it seems they have the same interests

 

[Patio_29]

Cepmom,

My in-laws are currently stationed in Guatemala, so we have had the Hep A series. You can't get it before a child's second bday. Due to our travels and long stays in Guatemala (we've been about 5 times since they transferred there), the pediatrician suggested we get it for DS. He got shot 1 at his 2yr physical. It is a 2 shot series and even if you just get part 1, it does provide some protection. My suggestion would be to call your doctor and ask. Most kids have had Hep B because its part of the vaccine schedule, but Hep A is not required. My advice, call your doctor and ask.

Patricia

 

[familycruiser]

pdarrah - Thanks again! Did you get my pm?

crickee - my dd is 8 going on 9 and in 3rd grade. I'm sure she would love to exchange emails with your dd and would love to meet her onboard. We are leaving on Thurs. 1/11. PM me and I will give you my email, etc.

cepmom - I'm sure my dd would love to meet yours onboard as well...I wish I could pull off a surprise like that! That is great.

Looking forward to meeting all of you.

 

[DiaLady]

Has anyone seen the thread on the main board regarding Hepatitis vaccines for traveling on a Western cruise? I never even thought of this before and now I'm not sure what to do. Has everyone else had Hepatitis vaccines?

HI Cepmom --

First, I agree with Patio_29. Best answer is to call your doctor.

In Virginia, they've recently added a requirement for 6th graders to get a combo shot. My DS12 just got his a few month ago (a bit late). I remember part of it being for some type of hepatitis. I also remember being suprised about it.

As I read through the Thread about it on the DIS Boards, someone did post that it is NOT required to get on board the ship. I see this as a purely precautionary measure. The concern rises from unwashed veggies / fruits from Mexico. I've been on these boards for a number of years and I haven't seen any discussion of cases as a result of a cruise.

No worries here . . just ready to cruise (although it hasn't sunk in yet that we're going to be on vacation in less than 48 hours!!!! Yikes!!!)

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

Has anyone seen the thread on the main board regarding Hepatitis vaccines for traveling on a Western cruise? I never even thought of this before and now I'm not sure what to do. Has everyone else had Hepatitis vaccines? Did you get them sepcifically for traveling? The kids have all been vaccinated for Hep B, but not sure about Hep A. We're leaving Friday...obviously not enough time to get the series. With all the time I spend on these boards and all my "type A" planning, I have never even heard this mentioned before. Crud.

I actually posted on that thread (under DH's user name - oops!) - the only reason I knew about the Hep A vaccine was because I asked the pediatrician at DD's 5 year check up. I just wanted to know (other than don't drink the water or ice!) if there was anything else I should be thinking about. The pediatrician said the AAP guidelines for Hep A starting with infants - so DD missed that guideline by a couple years (they started just recently, and the vaccine is given with others during the first year - I don't remember the exact timeline).

Try not to worry too much - the ped gave me the literature about the vaccine and it wasn't a "requirement" so much as a "recommendation but up to us" - KWIM?

 

[Jen Filling]

DD, 9, is jealous that DS 7 has been able to email someone before going on the cruise. She would like her own email pal. So if anyone has a girl between 8 and 12 she would love to hear from you. Emily is really excited! Her interests are shopping, music, shopping, movies, shopping, clothes, and - well you get the picture.

My DD is 8 and would love to email someone before the cruise. Send me a PM with her email address and I'll have my daughter send her a note.

Thanks

 

[pdarrah]

This is our 3rd Western (sort of - the last one turned into Eastern at the last moment) and I just heard about this vaccine over on the main board this weekend. If the main concern is fruits/vegetables from Mexico, then as long as you avoid them there it shouldn't be a problem. On our first cruise when I did the Galley tour, they were VERY clear that ALL food is loaded in the USA - they do not take on food at any of the foreign ports. Theoretically, you shouldn't have any more concern for the food on the Magic than you do at home. Given the fanatic cleanliness on board, I would expect that they also thoroughly wash all the fruits and vegetables so it might be safer than eating out a restaurant at home!

I am refusing to panic over this now! My son just spent a week in Mexico in the "back of beyond" and no one involved with that trip ever suggested this vaccine ... I'll look into it before we travel again, but I just can't let myself stress over it now.

pdarrah

 

[cepmom]

This is our 3rd Western (sort of - the last one turned into Eastern at the last moment) and I just heard about this vaccine over on the main board this weekend. If the main concern is fruits/vegetables from Mexico, then as long as you avoid them there it shouldn't be a problem. On our first cruise when I did the Galley tour, they were VERY clear that ALL food is loaded in the USA - they do not take on food at any of the foreign ports. Theoretically, you shouldn't have any more concern for the food on the Magic than you do at home. Given the fanatic cleanliness on board, I would expect that they also thoroughly wash all the fruits and vegetables so it might be safer than eating out a restaurant at home!

I am refusing to panic over this now! My son just spent a week in Mexico in the "back of beyond" and no one involved with that trip ever suggested this vaccine ... I'll look into it before we travel again, but I just can't let myself stress over it now.

pdarrah

I am so relieved I'm not the only one that hadn't heard this before ( and I gather from your cruise website you are a planner too )

I won't let myself worry about it now....we are planning on going to Paradise Beach in Cozumel and were planning on eating at the restaurant there....I guess we'll just play it safe and avoid fruits and vegetables while we are there. Their website says they use only 100% purified water and ice.

Thanks to everyone else who responded. It is something I will keep in mind for next time.

As for the thing I am looking forward to most.....I don't think I can narrow it down to just one thing.....

*surprising the kids with the cruise....I can't wait to see their faces

*hearing the ship's horn....I love it!

*hanging at the adult pool with DH

*the spa!

*spendng time with the whole family...we rarely get to spend a lot of time together at home, since we are all going in different directions most of the time.

*meeting new people

 

[skylynx]

What I can't wait for

-Escape from the Land of Eternal Mud
-The first meal sitting outside at the back of the ship watching my salad blow off my plate into the harbor
-DH dressed up like James Bond
-The Sailaway party
-Checking for dolphins from the verandah
-Putting on our pirate gear!