January 19,2008 / Eastern Magic / "The January Thaw Cruise"

[JacobsMommy11002]

Gixer, thanks for the info on the Blackbeard. I will have to further research tonight when the kids are in bed. My main excursion issue is the ages...Abby's age really limits us unless we do thing on our own. Maybe I'll pick up a tourbook on St. Thomas and St. Martin?

Also, I figured that date, incase anyone is interested This is according to the priority seating calculator on allears:

You can make your 105 Day Advanced Reservations on 10/06/2007
You can make your 90 Day Advanced Reservations on 10/21/2007
You can make your 75 Day Advanced Reservations on 11/05/2007


This is with a sail date on January 19, which i am assuming is the way to calculate it. Now, what's this 3am thing? Is it EST? So I would get up at 2:55 on, say, 10/6 if I have 105 day ability, and I can make reservations then? Thanks!

 

[plenam]

This is with a sail date on January 19, which i am assuming is the way to calculate it. Now, what's this 3am thing? Is it EST? So I would get up at 2:55 on, say, 10/6 if I have 105 day ability, and I can make reservations then? Thanks!

Yep, it's 3 AM EST, 2 AM CST, 1 AM MST, & Midnight PST. I got up early last cruise and made my ressies. Be prepared, I thought that a lot of the more popular ressies (Palo, spa) went fairly quick, but I got what we wanted. Seems there were quite a few people up early doing the same thing. But if you don't get what you want, don't dispare, they don't release all them, you can still board the ship and try to get your ressies the day we sail.

Brett

 

[tidefan]

Does anyone know where is best to shop for jewelrey? I would love a diamond solitaire or a pink saphire, DH said I could get one in Orlando, but am I better off waiting until we get to St Marteen or St Thomas? can anyone recommend somewhere to get a really nice diamond ring?

DW does lots of jewelry shopping in St Maarten. Her favorites are Shoppers Haven, Ballerina, Splash, and Zhaveri. Boolchand's is good for electronics and watches. All of these have shops on Front Street.

Also, you can't visit Front Street in Phillipsburg without having a Guavaberry colada...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guavaberry

 

[Gixer]

I think I will hold off any jewelry purchaces then until we are in St Marteen - is it safe to use credit cards at the stores?

I love the sound of the guavaberry colada, any recommendations for a nice place to sit and enjoy one and watch the world go by?

What is St Thomas like for jewelry shops? I think I read some good things about a store called Cardow's? (sp?) I'm not usually big into wearing jewelry, but thought it would be nice to treat myself to one or two special pieces

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Also...any kids like mine to young for the mini thaw thread? I'd like in on any alternate forms of communication! Ok, back to laundry for now...

My girl just turned five yesterday, so the thread isn't going to do her much good. I'd be up for alternate forms of communication as well!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Also, you can't visit Front Street in Phillipsburg without having a Guavaberry colada...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guavaberry

Mmmmm.......Guavaberry Colada..........

I still a bottle that is hardly touched! I need to work on that!

 

[Bethipooh4]

I just booked our airfare! Woo-hoo! Usually we fly out of Boston or Manchester because it is such a tremendous savings over leaving out of Portland. However, my AAA agent found a great rate for the four of us out of Portland to Orlando on the 18th. We leave bright and early, and will be in sunny Florida before 11am!!!!! I can't wait!

Wow, how did you get your airfare already? We usually fly Southwest out of Raleigh, and they aren't letting us book past Nov 2. What airline is it on?

]

I havent worked out the 105 day date yet - let me know if you do! I guess I will be one of those crazy people that get up at 3am just to book Palo etc
Count us in to that crazy group too....last year we were up and booking at 3 am and had no problems getting anything. We all even got Palo dinner and brunch at the same time, then just went to Diversions on the first day and had them link the reservations together so we got a table together.


We are going this week to get our passports. DH already has his, so we just need to get 3.
And we just got confirmation that we are staying at Sarasota Springs on the Friday before the cruise. OUr friends who are coming from Guam are using their DVC points. I guess the got a 3 bedroom villa to hold all of us.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

I just booked our airfare! Woo-hoo! Usually we fly out of Boston or Manchester because it is such a tremendous savings over leaving out of Portland. However, my AAA agent found a great rate for the four of us out of Portland to Orlando on the 18th. We leave bright and early, and will be in sunny Florida before 11am!!!!! I can't wait!

Wow, how did you get your airfare already? We usually fly Southwest out of Raleigh, and they aren't letting us book past Nov 2. What airline is it on?

We are flying on Delta..which I am NOT thrilled about, as we have had problems with them before, and they changed our flights about 100 times last year before we left. But, it was an incredibley good rate, and the convenience of leaving out of Portland is worth the chance.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

I think I will hold off any jewelry purchaces then until we are in St Marteen - is it safe to use credit cards at the stores?

I love the sound of the guavaberry colada, any recommendations for a nice place to sit and enjoy one and watch the world go by?

What is St Thomas like for jewelry shops? I think I read some good things about a store called Cardow's? (sp?) I'm not usually big into wearing jewelry, but thought it would be nice to treat myself to one or two special pieces

MMmmmm... the guavaberry colada sounds wonderful I really want to try one now!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

MMmmmm... the guavaberry colada sounds wonderful I really want to try one now!

Oh they are great. They have some other great liquors there too. I love the Anis. It is great by itself. Sort of like Sambuca, but lighter.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

More cruise excitement!!!!! I just booked our transportation to the Port from the airport. We were planning to rent a car and drive to the Port, but by the time you pay for two one way car rentals, plus the carseat/booster fee, and add in gas, etc, it was easier and about the same price to book a carservice! I just can't wait, we have everything in place now! Woo-hoo!

 

[Bethipooh4]

Who did you book through?? Not trying to be totally nosey....but....
We have some of us getting there Wednesday, and the rest of us getting there Friday. The plan is(to alleviate hassle mainly, I know there is a cheaper way...)on Friday to get 2 mini vans when we get to orlando (DD works for Enterprise and gets us rentals for 50% off) go to Sarasota Springs. Shop, eat..got to port Saturday(all 10 of us in the 2 vans) and park at the port(this is DH's idea).

Then after the cruise, one van (with 6 of us) is going back to airport while the 4 of us are going to WDW in the other van for the weekend as a surprise for our anniversary.

Now I am wondering if a car service would be cheaper and easier. Only there is 10 of us.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

Who did you book through?? Not trying to be totally nosey....but....
We have some of us getting there Wednesday, and the rest of us getting there Friday. The plan is(to alleviate hassle mainly, I know there is a cheaper way...)on Friday to get 2 mini vans when we get to orlando (DD works for Enterprise and gets us rentals for 50% off) go to Sarasota Springs. Shop, eat..got to port Saturday(all 10 of us in the 2 vans) and park at the port(this is DH's idea).

Then after the cruise, one van (with 6 of us) is going back to airport while the 4 of us are going to WDW in the other van for the weekend as a surprise for our anniversary.

Now I am wondering if a car service would be cheaper and easier. Only there is 10 of us.

I am not sure how it would work for you. We are using Sunray Transportation. I have heard wonderful things about them. We chose them over FL tours mainly because we have two children in booster seats, and they have SUVs. FL tours can't put two kids in boosters plus two adults in a towncar, so this was a better alternative for us.

 

[Gixer]

Woo Hoo! well done on getting your transport sorted - it will be such a great start to the trip be driven to the port after your flight.

Beth - I decided to book transport too, I booked through Happy Limo's, they have everything from town cars to hummers to mini vans and they were very reasonable. I have never been in a stretch limo before so you wont believe how excited I am about it!

 

[chepic]

Good day fellow shipmates. I went on Priceline today and was booted off for my offer of $50 per night stay at a 3 star hotel. I was reading on another thread that the person got the Hyatt for $40 on Priceline?!?!?!? Well, maybe I need to wait until we are a little closer to cruise time before I do that....but being the person that I am, I don't feel comfortable waiting, it makes me nervous not having things in place.

And don't think that I haven't already written the dates and times down that you posted earlier about when we can book Palo and the spa ....as my brother-in-law used to say...CCCCRRRRRAAAAZZZYYYYY!!

Have a magical day.

cheryl

 

[Bethipooh4]

I think this is why our transportation issue is bugging me, I like having everything in place wayyyyyyyyyyy ahead of time.

I am happy we have our hotel for the Friday before the cruise....

Now if they would just release airfare, and I could book our ressies and excursions......

I do have our shirts and magnets to keep me busy though.....

 

[chepic]

I was at the Disney store up here in RI and saw the cutest tropical dress for me, and matching shirts for the boys. I think I might pick them up for day 1 on the ship. It is very geeky of me I know, however....that is me!!! My son is 6 so he won't mind, and my DH will do just about whatever I ask, especially when it comes to Disney because if I am happy I am not bothering him .

che

 

[tidefan]

Mmmmm.......Guavaberry Colada..........

I still a bottle that is hardly touched! I need to work on that!

MMmmmm... the guavaberry colada sounds wonderful I really want to try one now!

 

[KayR]

Ok, I need some help from my fellow "Thaw" buddies! Especially those that have taken this or a similar cruise before.

I was trying to get a vow renewal on the ship during this trip, but the spaces are all taken up unless we want to do it on CC. That would be very nice, but the price tag is $3500 instead of $1500. If we were doing a big family renewal then we would be more likely to spend the $$. But as it stands, that amount of money on a personal thing for DH & I (plus DS & DD) is too much - we could do waaay much more with those $$ than a renewal. Anyway, isn't it all about a couple's commitment to each other rather than a $3500 bill at the end of the night!

So I am thinking about ordering the REAS package and then just organizing a personal aka 'intimate' renewal between DH and myself (save the big bucks renewal for year 20!).

I am sure I could organize a cake and champagne on the ship and perhaps some nice flowers too. There must also be a way to get a photographer to take some nice photos. The only thing I don't know is where would be a good romantic place to hold something like that. I have thought about the verandah in our room, on CC just before we return to the ship and have cake etc waiting or perhaps Palo's. Any other suggestions?

Any ideas how to go about pre-ordering a cake so it is special/perfect?

Any other suggestions? Ideas? Thoughts? Anything...

Even thinking about something special like a hot air balloon ride when we get back to Orlando.

TIA

--Kay

p.s. Although I was initially quite sad that we were unlikely to do an official vow renewal on the ship, I actually think this will be better. DH and I went off and had our wedding on the island of Sri Lanka with just us two so 'intimate' seems to be the theme for our wedding and our renewal!

p.p.s. Still need to book flights, transfers and hotels - the only thing I have booked yet is the cruise so kudos to all you with flights and cars already booked!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Ok, I need some help from my fellow "Thaw" buddies! Especially those that have taken this or a similar cruise before.

Man, too bad my Parents are not joining us on this cruise. My Father is a Photographer in his spare time! Ahh well!

How about the secret deck on Deck 7? It is a nice area and not hugely used. You couldn't 'stop' people from coming in but it isn't usually very crowded at all so I bet it wouldn't be a huge problem.

As far as a cake goes, I am clueless about that. I know they will bring you a little cake for a special occasion, but I am not sure if they will do a whole wedding cake kind of thing.

You wouldn't need someone to 'marry' you at least, since you are already married. You can just renew your vows with each other.

Hopefully you can work something out. Renewing your vows would be nice, but YIKES on the $3500 price tag!