January 14, 2012 Eastern Carribbean Cruise

[SullyMonster]

What does that mean?

We got passport cards.

It wouldn't let me post that link till I had made 10 posts!

 

[JenGC]

Also, what does everyone do for ID for their children? The Disney site says the need a passport, but this link from travel.gov says different.

I had my daughter get a passport. The whole being out of the country idea freaks me out so I got her one. I especially got one as well. They say that you do not HAVE to get one. They just say that if there is any kind of emergency, your child can be flown back to the US without a passport but you cant go with them. That was enough for me to get one.

 

[JenGC]

I couldn't do a surprise, half the fun of the cruise for me is the anticipation of it. If I had to wait 8 months to talk about - I would burst!!

I am finally Going to book Tonight Or tomorrow morning. Thank you JenGC for info on TA. What is the linking thing, how do you do it? Sounds cool.

now to choose cabin, I know deck 76. Have to decide mid or aft!

What we did last time was that everyone sent me their reservation number, last name, and city they were from (they ask that to make sure everything is good I guess) and I say "link them with us" and they put us all at the same table if they are eating at the same time.

SullyMonster-I prefered late dining because you really had to watch your time with early dining. I thought 8 was going to be way too late but it really worked out well with us. Late dining is at what 5 or so? Any excursions you want to go on, you will have to leave around 3:30.

 

[JenGC]

I finally took the time to make a kids thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2726262

V has signed up with an account ToriGC but they havent given her privileges to post yet. I think the webmaster just hasnt gotten around to unlocking it yet because I faxed in the form he needed.

Jen

 

[JenGC]

HI Jen,

Me-42, DW-(do you REALLY think I'd put my wifes age? ), DD-9 and DS-6. I have put in for the 1st seating for dinner. This is our first cruise so I'm not sure if that is better or not. Forgive me, what is FE exchange?

(Yes I actually found some time to post...sue me!) The FE exchange is what everyone is calling a Fish Extender exchange....or something like that. Some cruisers on here thought that it would be fun to have a kind of a secret santa and exchanged gifts between all the families that participated. The name came from the fact that there is a fish outside every door that was place there to hold things like mail from the ship. They "extended it" by making a type of hanger thing that my Mom says reminds her of an over the door shoe holder. I have a picture of one in my signature.

 

[SullyMonster]

Hey, what does everyone do for flights? Earliest we can get to MCO is 12:30 the 14th for a same day flight. Would we be better flying down on Friday?

 

[Lorelei528]

We are planning on coming in the day before...

that is if we get to go at all....still not working at a permanent job...and this temp one might very well be ending at the end of June, so I might find myself unemployed again!

Believe me, I can't wait until the day I can post here that we will definitely be on this cruise!! (Hopefully that day will come before we have to cancel!)

 

[SullyMonster]

We are planning on coming in the day before...

that is if we get to go at all....still not working at a permanent job...and this temp one might very well be ending at the end of June, so I might find myself unemployed again!

Believe me, I can't wait until the day I can post here that we will definitely be on this cruise!! (Hopefully that day will come before we have to cancel!)

I was just hoping to not have to take the kids out of school one more day. We'll see I guess.

Good luck on the job-front.

 

[twoprincesses12]

Hello! I just booked our first cruise on DCL and as a family for the Magic on January 14th! Very excited to have convinced DH, the two princesses are DD (4) and DD (2) @ time of cruise. Also first time posting on DIS board so pardon mistakes. Would love to hear from all and share any travel tips. We are so excited (well the princesses don't know!!) for this trip

 

[shwarren70]

Hey, what does everyone do for flights? Earliest we can get to MCO is 12:30 the 14th for a same day flight. Would we be better flying down on Friday?

Delta typically has a flight leaving RDU at Friday afternoon 5:00 that we are planning on booking. I can take my daughter out of school an hour early, and be there for the flight. I like the extra time of having an option if my flight gets cancelled/delayed. I can always drive thru the night in a worst case scenario if there's not an option.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Hey, what does everyone do for flights? Earliest we can get to MCO is 12:30 the 14th for a same day flight. Would we be better flying down on Friday?

Dave and I are flying down on Wednesday. Being from MA, we don't want to take any chances. We almost missed a cruise another time we left on a Wednesday in the winter-we were about to drive down (24+hours from here drive time) when we were able to get on a flight--and we found out when we were in the air they shut the airport down after we left! Now I am neurotic about getting there early.
We won't have the kids with us this time though, so it's just a matter of getting off work. Most of the times we went with kids were over school vaca weeks, so taking a few days before was not a huge deal.
I really wouldn't risk flying down on the day of the cruise-too many things can go wrong.

 

[momster24]

Hello! I just booked our first cruise on DCL and as a family for the Magic on January 14th! Very excited to have convinced DH, the two princesses are DD (4) and DD (2) @ time of cruise. Also first time posting on DIS board so pardon mistakes. Would love to hear from all and share any travel tips. We are so excited (well the princesses don't know!!) for this trip

Welcome! You and your family are going to love DCL. There are a few people on this cruise are suprising loved ones! I personally couldn't keep the secret!! Tell us more...Where are you from? I know this is your first DCL, but have you cruised before?

 

[StarGazer99]

Sorry just a quick post...KELLY's LOOKING AT COMING!!!! And the room across from us is open Jen.

 

[twoprincesses12]

Welcome! You and your family are going to love DCL. There are a few people on this cruise are suprising loved ones! I personally couldn't keep the secret!! Tell us more...Where are you from? I know this is your first DCL, but have you cruised before?

Thanks so much! We will be flying in from Cleveland, our hometown~ probably the night before to be safe on arrival time. Although tempted to risk it for some $$ savings since we splurged on two connecting cabins (others are telling me this is nonsensical, but I want nothing to go wrong so my DH has a fabulous experience & will want to book again on cruise!!!) DH and I cruised previously, but not together ~ me on Celebrity (out of San Juan) and DH on Holland (also S. Carib out of San Juan).

I have been begging DH for about a year to book a cruise ~ so waiting seven months to go on this one should be easy! Will want to seek plenty of advice along the way~

 

[StarGazer99]

twoprincesses12 and to everyone I've missed coming in. I'm bummed I haven't been able to be around, I have no clue who's here or anything about them. Let me say now I'm sorry... I'm really slow at learning people, but hey I'm a fun person.

Southwest Airlines have opening the flight schedule to Jan 6th... UGH!! I'm not sure how long I have to wait for them to open it to the 13th. I just need to find the cheapest way to the port. I really wanted to do a day at Universal but I think that's out of the question at this point.

 

[SullyMonster]

Southwest Airlines have opening the flight schedule to Jan 6th... UGH!! I'm not sure how long I have to wait for them to open it to the 13th.

I'm hoping they free that up next week. I need to get my airfare DONE!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

I'm hoping they free that up next week. I need to get my airfare DONE!

They are opening the January schedule on July 26th. We are debating whether to wait it out, or book JetBlue. SW now has not-so-great schedules from our home airport now (Manchester, NH), but JetBlue has really nice ones (that are cheaper than SW) from Logan in Boston. Decisions, decisions...

 

[SullyMonster]

They are opening the January schedule on July 26th. We are debating whether to wait it out, or book JetBlue. SW now has not-so-great schedules from our home airport now (Manchester, NH), but JetBlue has really nice ones (that are cheaper than SW) from Logan in Boston. Decisions, decisions...

Where did you hear this? They opened up the 1st week on Jan last week, so I surly hope your wrong and they open the rest of the month soon!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Where did you hear this? They opened up the 1st week on Jan last week, so I surly hope your wrong and they open the rest of the month soon!

They usually open up big chunks at a time. If you go to the SW site and click on Travel Tools, then on "all travel tools", this is what is posted:
We are currently accepting air reservations through January 6, 2012. On July 26, 2011, we will open our schedule for sale through March 9, 2012. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

I wish they had opened the whole month too...

 

[SullyMonster]

They usually open up big chunks at a time. If you go to the SW site and click on Travel Tools, then on "all travel tools", this is what is posted:
We are currently accepting air reservations through January 6, 2012. On July 26, 2011, we will open our schedule for sale through March 9, 2012. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

I wish they had opened the whole month too...

Thanks. I guess we'll have to wait then. We travel out of St Louis and SW has the only non-stop flight from STL to Orlando, and traveling with kids for the 1st time I'd prefer not to have to change planes.