January 14, 2012 Eastern Carribbean Cruise

[dmarie5]

We are booked!

There will be 11 of us as planned(5 adults, 6 kids). Have late dining, but would really like first seating, mostly for Pirate night.

None of us have ever cruised before.

We're on deck 7, three cabins in a row, near the adult area (I think). Will this be a problem having kids in cabins near the adult area?

Now figuring out passports. Do most of you cruise with passports? Is it a must for you, or more for convenience? We're leaning more towards getting them than not.

Lastly, my 3 boys are special needs. Anyone else traveling with special needs children?

So excited! Neither my 4 kids nor my niece and nephew have a clue! They will find out at Christmas. I can't wait to see their shock ad excitement when they find out. I hope i can contain myself till then!

Elizabeth

Welcome aboard Elizabeth!
My DS who is 5 has no clue yet he is going until Christmas as well! He keeps asking if he can go on a plane and go see Mickey Mouse....Little does he know in due time we will be there!
This is my first DCL cruise I have done other lines many years ago but this is my DH and DS first cruise! I am hoping that my DH is going to love cruising as much as I used too!

 

[StarGazer99]

SullyMonster Great FE!!!

Elizabeth and Family

We are booked!

There will be 11 of us as planned(5 adults, 6 kids). Have late dining, but would really like first seating, mostly for Pirate night.

None of us have ever cruised before.

We're on deck 7, three cabins in a row, near the adult area (I think). Will this be a problem having kids in cabins near the adult area?

Now figuring out passports. Do most of you cruise with passports? Is it a must for you, or more for convenience? We're leaning more towards getting them than not.

Lastly, my 3 boys are special needs. Anyone else traveling with special needs children?

So excited! Neither my 4 kids nor my niece and nephew have a clue! They will find out at Christmas. I can't wait to see their shock ad excitement when they find out. I hope i can contain myself till then!

Elizabeth

Deck 7 is where it's happening!!!

for Americans no passports needed, just birth certificates.... crap I need to find those!!!

Welcome aboard Elizabeth!
My DS who is 5 has no clue yet he is going until Christmas as well! He keeps asking if he can go on a plane and go see Mickey Mouse....Little does he know in due time we will be there!
This is my first DCL cruise I have done other lines many years ago but this is my DH and DS first cruise! I am hoping that my DH is going to love cruising as much as I used too!

I'm envious of everyone doing the surprise thing... I did it last year Surprising my DD with Universal Studios and Disney World on the day we left, and then while down there I surprised my DH AND DD with the Cruise to the Bahamas. I think I hit just a bit of surprise overload but it was amazing to do. I think I'm going for a surprise WDW trip before the cruise.

dmarie5 I'm sure DH will love it and you will to. It's even nicer when you've had the experience of cruising other lines... It allows you to truly appreciate it. My DH is spoiled now and doesn't want anything but a veranda, On another cruise line, we'd have to get a suite and I still don't think those rooms are big enough. lol

 

[Tolson70]

Passports aren't needed for Americans but I tend to bring them just for piece of mind. Since we are close to the BVIs and some excursions go there, you would need them to get on that excursion.

 

[StarGazer99]

My little girl starts 5th grade today and it's also her 10th Birthday. They just grow up too fast!!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

My little girl starts 5th grade today and it's also her 10th Birthday. They just grow up too fast!!

Yes they do...we don't start school for almost 2 weeks, but when they do...our oldest will be a jr. in college, our middle will be a h.s. senior, and our "baby" is starting h.s.
The good parts of life are definitely fast forwarded, and children are the best part!!

 

[SullyMonster]

My little girl starts 5th grade today and it's also her 10th Birthday. They just grow up too fast!!

Yes they do! Mine started 3rd yesterday and my boy started Kindergarten! Time's a flyin'!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

SullyMonster Great FE!!!

I think I'm going for a surprise WDW trip before the cruise.

2 words: free dining

 

[dmarie5]

My baby has his very last day of pre school today and had to remind him to say good bye to all his friends as he will be starting big boy Kindergarten in a week and a half at a different school with new friends....Where have the last 5 years gone.......I am very sad he is not my baby but very excited for his new school year to begin.....

 

[momster24]

Today was meet the teacher at my sons school. He starts the 4th grade Monday. Time does go fast. He is so anxious to grow up too. When we were walking towards the school in the parking lot, he did not want me to hold his hand. The mommy embarrassment must be starting.

 

[GoofTroop]

Out of my 4 kids, 3 are transitioning to new schools. My daughter is entering her first year of high school. My middle son starts his first year of middle school. And my youngest son is entering all-day kindergarten.

Blah! School starts Tuesday for all of them......I'm so not ready for this school year to start, although all school supplies are bought, sorted, and labled. School clothes are bought as well. I think I'm down to just 2 P.E. uniforms......Then I'm totally DONE!


Elizabeth

 

[GoofTroop]

Welcome aboard Elizabeth!
My DS who is 5 has no clue yet he is going until Christmas as well! He keeps asking if he can go on a plane and go see Mickey Mouse....Little does he know in due time we will be there!
This is my first DCL cruise I have done other lines many years ago but this is my DH and DS first cruise! I am hoping that my DH is going to love cruising as much as I used too!

I spent some time the other night watching surprise trips and surprise scavenger hunts, etc. on youtube, and reading how others "let the cat out of the bag", so to speak. I took a lot of ideas and personalized them to fit our needs, some I came up with on my own. Now I've got a scavenger hunt planned for all 6 kids (my 4 and my sister's 2). They will all participate together. My sister lives out of state, but comes 'home' over New Year's, so the kids won't actually find out till New Year's Eve.

My DH and I are taking our kids to Orlando Christmas Eve through December 30, but we're not doing Disney. We're going to Universal and Sea World. My kids have never been to either, we've always been loyal Disney people. Our daughter is a little bummed and feels like we're "cheating" on the mouse....LOL Little does she know!

This week, I reserved our rooms at Pop Century for the night before the cruise, bought our plane tickets, reserved ME, reserved Happy Limo (another surprise the kids won't find out about until it shows up, is a 14 passenger stretch limo driving us from Pop to Port), also made 2 ADR's, dinner at Cape May on the 13th, and breakfast at 1900 Park Fare the morning of the cruise. On Monday we go to get our passports taken care of.

If anyone is enterested in hearing more about our scavenger hunt, I'd be more than happy to share it on here.

I can't wait to see the look of shock on their faces.......

And I have to secretly admit, I'm terrified of cruising. I'm clauterphobic and don't like water.....The idea of looking out and not seeing land scares me. Hoping to overcome this on the ship.......

Elizabeth

Elizabeth

 

[shwarren70]

My little girl starts 5th grade today and it's also her 10th Birthday. They just grow up too fast!!

Tell Emma happy belated birthday from us! Can't believe she's 10! Aubrey started 3rd grade on Thursday... This is Cruise is the family Christmas present and her 9th birthday present. She turns 9 on Jan 7th. Still have held it as a surprise. Lee doesn't even have a clue.

 

[StarGazer99]

Tell Emma happy belated birthday from us! Can't believe she's 10! Aubrey started 3rd grade on Thursday... This is Cruise is the family Christmas present and her 9th birthday present. She turns 9 on Jan 7th. Still have held it as a surprise. Lee doesn't even have a clue.

Yay for eveyone who's doing surprises... It's the best feeling telling them. I bawled like a baby.. happy tears

Steph I told Emma, she's excited to see Aubrey. I'm so glad you're still with me. It looks like Donna is cancelling but I still have hopes of Kelly doing the last minute thing I didn't mention Lori because I don't want to jinx her but she still hasn't canceled yet.

Family party for Emma's bday went well.. it didn't rain thank goodness!! 35 people in a 900 sq. ft home doesn't work.

Happy New School year to everyone!!!

 

[Tolson70]

What is everyone planning for Shore Excursions? Sorry if its been brought upin the other 31 pages!

St. Maarten - We are booked with Bernard for an island tour
St. Thomas - My yongest told me it was his dream to go a on a pirate ship, so I am trying to get one of the excursions on a pirate sailboat to St. John's snorkeling
CC - R&R, snorkeling on own, beach time

 

[dmarie5]

What is everyone planning for Shore Excursions? Sorry if its been brought upin the other 31 pages!

St. Maarten - We are booked with Bernard for an island tour
St. Thomas - My yongest told me it was his dream to go a on a pirate ship, so I am trying to get one of the excursions on a pirate sailboat to St. John's snorkeling
CC - R&R, snorkeling on own, beach time

Were you already able to book with Bernard? I tried to do it a month or so ago and he asked to check back with him Sept/Oct time.

I am not sure what we are doing in St. Thomas yet. Have to think what will be best for our 5 year old son. If anyone has any recomendations I would love to hear them.

CC we will relax and perhaps do the stingray adventure

 

[StarGazer99]

What is everyone planning for Shore Excursions? Sorry if its been brought upin the other 31 pages!

St. Maarten - We are booked with Bernard for an island tour
St. Thomas - My yongest told me it was his dream to go a on a pirate ship, so I am trying to get one of the excursions on a pirate sailboat to St. John's snorkeling
CC - R&R, snorkeling on own, beach time

Blonde and clueless here... I'm hopping I can get help with that as we get closer to the date. I know at some point we just want to spend the day at the beach but I don't know where or when.

 

[SullyMonster]

What is everyone planning for Shore Excursions? Sorry if its been brought upin the other 31 pages!

St. Maarten - We are booked with Bernard for an island tour
St. Thomas - My yongest told me it was his dream to go a on a pirate ship, so I am trying to get one of the excursions on a pirate sailboat to St. John's snorkeling
CC - R&R, snorkeling on own, beach time

Not sure on St. Maarten, thought about just renting a Jeep there. Definitely want to go to the beach where the planes come in over head.

For St Thomas, I was thinking the Doubloon sail & snorkel.

http://www.doubloon.com/

Doubloon Sail & Snorkel Tour (3.5 hours)
Join the excitement! Help raise the sails of Doubloon, a 65-foot classic schooner that will take you to Turtle Cove, near Buck Island. Here, you will anchor and have time to snorkel and swim among a coral garden. Snacks, beverages and snorkel equipment are included.
Price: $49 (ages 10 & up) Child: $32 (ages 5-9)

and CC just veg on the beach

 

[Tolson70]

Were you already able to book with Bernard? I tried to do it a month or so ago and he asked to check back with him Sept/Oct time.

I am not sure what we are doing in St. Thomas yet. Have to think what will be best for our 5 year old son. If anyone has any recomendations I would love to hear them.

CC we will relax and perhaps do the stingray adventure

Yes Bernard allowed us to book with him now, we got a confirmation from him that we were all set.

 

[Tolson70]

Not sure on St. Maarten, thought about just renting a Jeep there. Definitely want to go to the beach where the planes come in over head.

For St Thomas, I was thinking the Doubloon sail & snorkel.

http://www.doubloon.com/

Doubloon Sail & Snorkel Tour (3.5 hours)
Join the excitement! Help raise the sails of Doubloon, a 65-foot classic schooner that will take you to Turtle Cove, near Buck Island. Here, you will anchor and have time to snorkel and swim among a coral garden. Snacks, beverages and snorkel equipment are included.
Price: $49 (ages 10 & up) Child: $32 (ages 5-9)

and CC just veg on the beach

We were thinking of the Dubloon as well. Looks fun.

 

[StarGazer99]

We were thinking of the Dubloon as well. Looks fun.

Ditto here