January 8, 2006- 4 night Wonder- Anybody else coming with?

[Cruisin]

This is the first time that I have booked directly with DCL instead of a TA. The TA's do sometimes like to hang on to those documents it seems. Don't they know how excited we get waiting for those things to show up

I'm guessing mine will be shipped directly to me this time since I don't have a TA.

I'm going to re-book onboard for a cruise in January 07. I don't know if I want to just leave it booked directly with DCL or switch it to a TA. I kind of liked just dealing directly with DCL instead of doing it with the middleman in between.

Awww, yes, that dreaded bathing suit issue. But I'm happy because I'm 19 pounds lighter than last year when I went ( lost a total of 32 pounds since Nov 04 ) I still could stand to lose another 20 or so but I always figure ......... what the heck, I'm putting on that suit because there will always be someone who is bigger than me. And anyways, you don't know those other people and who cares what they think Go ahead, enjoy yourself.

I can't wait to get to Serenity Bay

 

[UGAFan0829]

Cruisin', I belive you are right in that the docs will be shipped directly to you...At least that's what they did last time when we cruised and booked through DCL. Have you decided which cruise you're gonna re-book? I think we're gonna do the same, but I can't decide wether or not I would rather go to Key West or St. Maarten and St. John. We are definitely planning on taking the extra $$ so that we can book onboard if we can decide on which one we want to do.

 

[Cruisin]

We are planning on taking the Jan 7, 2007 4 night Wonder Cruise.

A bunch of DISers that I hang out with over on the Community Board are all going to book that same cruise

 

[attagirlx2]

I'd love to be able to book another cruise while on board, but since my DH will be there I won't be able to get away with it! It's best if he is not around when I commit to spending lots of money.

 

[lacourre]

So true, attagirlx2!!! That's how I booked this cruise!!

 

[VickiHD]

Ok all you planners.....has anyone started tracking the weather to try and get some idea on what it may be like????
At least it's something else that we "over planners" can do.

 

[Cruisin]

Ok all you planners.....has anyone started tracking the weather to try and get some idea on what it may be like????
At least it's something else that we "over planners" can do.

I do that ALL of the time when I travel

I actually started on November 27

Oh well, to me it's part of the fun

(anybody want to know what the temperature was in Nassau on November 27 )

 

[sapphire33]

I've got the Green Turtle Cay (near Castaway Cay) weather report bookmarked. I got it off the boards but if you have not seen it, its http://weather.herald.com/auto/miamiherald/global/stations/78066.html. By the way, today its partly cloudy and 75.

That sounds lovely, since we got 4-6 inches of snow dumped on us over the last two days. Anybody want some?

I also have looked at weather.com over the last weeks just to see how things are in Orlando and the Bahamas and compare the weather they have now to what we may have in January.

Compulsive Overplanners Anonymous: Next Meeting, Jan. 8, 2006

 

[VickiHD]

I do that ALL of the time when I travel

I actually started on November 27

Oh well, to me it's part of the fun

(anybody want to know what the temperature was in Nassau on November 27 )

I just new I wasn't the only one doing this!!!!

 

[Cruisin]

I've got the Green Turtle Cay (near Castaway Cay) weather report bookmarked. I got it off the boards but if you have not seen it, its http://weather.herald.com/auto/miamiherald/global/stations/78066.html. By the way, today its partly cloudy and 75.

That sounds lovely, since we got 4-6 inches of snow dumped on us over the last two days. Anybody want some?

I also have looked at weather.com over the last weeks just to see how things are in Orlando and the Bahamas and compare the weather they have now to what we may have in January.

Compulsive Overplanners Anonymous: Next Meeting, Jan. 8, 2006

Yes, I have that one bookmarked too

No thanks to the snow. We are expecting up to 8 inches of our own throughout the rest of the day and snow is predicted for as far as the weather report is showing

I would much rather that it snows all it wants to now and then stops before we are set to leave, so that we have clear and dry roads all the way to the end of the snow country

Vicki ~~ you are definitely not alone in that obsession. My husband tries to spoil my fun by saying.... it's way too early to know what the weather is going to be like What a party pooper, half the fun is in the obsessing

 

[VickiHD]

Wow ...Thanks sapphire33 for that link. I had NO idea I could get the weather close to CC. It's a bookmark! I'm so excited !

Cruisin...I know what you mean. My husband has the same sort of attitude. He also adds that he is much too busy working to even bother with trip obsession, I mean planning, let alone wondering about the weather.
But each vacation he does take notice on how smoothly it goes...as a result of all the planning I've done.

It's going to be a bad day. I've rewarded myself after working out this morning by getting into the Christmas fudge. I have NO will power at all. I'm going to try and hang a couple of swim suits out so I have to look at them. I'm hoping that will work.

 

[Cruisin]

Wow ...Thanks sapphire33 for that link. I had NO idea I could get the weather close to CC. It's a bookmark! I'm so excited !

Cruisin...I know what you mean. My husband has the same sort of attitude. He also adds that he is much too busy working to even bother with trip obsession, I mean planning, let alone wondering about the weather.
But each vacation he does take notice on how smoothly it goes...as a result of all the planning I've done.

It's going to be a bad day. I've rewarded myself after working out this morning by getting into the Christmas fudge. I have NO will power at all. I'm going to try and hang a couple of swim suits out so I have to look at them. I'm hoping that will work.

Men

Sometimes I think they just think everything goes so easily without any background work.

I'd like just for once to let HIM take care of an entire vacations worth of preparation. Then we'd see just how smoothly it went

I need to get up and exercise, since my dance classes are cancelled for tonight. No 2 hours of classes means I should try and do something to make up for it, I suppose.

I went to the bulk food store and everything looked good, so I bought all of my favourites. I shouldn't have done that My daughter offered to wrap them up to "save" me from myself at least until vacation time

 

[VickiHD]

Men

Sometimes I think they just think everything goes so easily without any background work.

I'd like just for once to let HIM take care of an entire vacations worth of preparation. Then we'd see just how smoothly it went
I went to the bulk food store and everything looked good, so I bought all of my favourites. I shouldn't have done that My daughter offered to wrap them up to "save" me from myself at least until vacation time

We once took a vacation like that ....DH organized it and it was horrible. We rented a RV and went to a campground that was NOT RV friendly. No hookups, nothing. We had a hard time even lasting or staying the entire night. We thought it would be fun having a RV with all the places you could visit. Well, I never want to step in one again. DH really felt bad and knows I will not try RV or even camping ever again. He will be the first to admit by not planning and doing research can result in a really bad time and can ruin one for life. (Only hotels, resorts, and cruise ships for me now)

 

[Cruisin]

I decided it was time to finally finish making space in the garage for my car, especially with all of this snow.

So, I pushed everything around the edges and now the car fits

I shovelled some too, which I don't normally bother with. It was actually quite nice outside, so I didn't mind being out for a bit.

Now it is starting to rain That means it's going to turn into an icy mess.

 

[JoyCrazy]

Man Crusin nothing worse then snow followed by rain. Somebody slap the weather bunny. I'm over my nasty flu and now I gotta nasty cold starting.lmao Better now then on vacation. I'm gonna go buy some Buckley's and suck it back. I usually wait till I'm absolutely desparate but this time I don't want it sticking around. I plan on killing that whimpy virus before it really gets started.
As for watching the weather I'm Canadian so unless it's a Hurricane the weathers garantunneed to be better then here. I'm evil I plan on calling my mother (who elected to stay home) everyday and asking her how cold it is.bhahahaha

 

[Cruisin]

As for watching the weather I'm Canadian so unless it's a Hurricane the weathers garantunneed to be better then here. I'm evil I plan on calling my mother (who elected to stay home) everyday and asking her how cold it is.bhahahaha

I'm Canadian too but I want to know how nice of weather I have to look forward to That's why I like to keep track.

The sun was shining really nicely here up to about 1/2 hour ago. It was so nice and was melting some of this snow that we got yesterday. Now it has turned gray and cloudy again

Hopefully, not more snow.

My son just left to drive to Ottawa, Ontario, about 8 hours drive on a good day. Unfortunately, he will probably catch up with the storm along the way. I hope he drives carefully.

 

[branv]

Okily Dokily, wondering if any of you previous DCL cruisers can answer something for me. Liiiittle confused about the logistics of arriving at the port.

Plan is for DH to drop me off with the luggage and he will go return the rental car.

So...dropping off the luggage: is it curbside luggage check in like with the airport, where you pull up, there's a porter, and he takes your luggage away and then you can drive off and go park or whatever?

If not, how do they take the luggage?

So then you walk up to those big glass doors, show your id to get into the building and go up escalators to check in?

I think they've confirmed on the main boards that recently they've stopped allowing one person to check in for an entire family, which is really a stinkerroo.

 

[VickiHD]

Okily Dokily, wondering if any of you previous DCL cruisers can answer something for me. Liiiittle confused about the logistics of arriving at the port.

Plan is for DH to drop me off with the luggage and he will go return the rental car.

So...dropping off the luggage: is it curbside luggage check in like with the airport, where you pull up, there's a porter, and he takes your luggage away and then you can drive off and go park or whatever?

If not, how do they take the luggage?

So then you walk up to those big glass doors, show your id to get into the building and go up escalators to check in?

I think they've confirmed on the main boards that recently they've stopped allowing one person to check in for an entire family, which is really a stinkerroo.

Good question...I was wondering that too. We had the same plan as you guys. DH parks and I wait with the bags.
I was thinking I could just wait out on the curb for him. I'll have all the docs and I don't know if they let him in the terminal with out the proper docs. All I know is I hope we are among the first group at the port. We plan on getting there early.

 

[sapphire33]

Thanks for bringing that up, Branv. I'd also like to know. We'll be dropped off at the terminal by Hertz after returning the rental. With four kids and all that luggage, I would love to make the process as easy as possible!

We also hope to be among the first group on the ship! We are staying at the Best Western Oceanside the night before, so will we be able to see the Wonder come in that morning? How early do I have to get up for that?

 

[Cruisin]

Okay for all the enquiring minds that want to know, I will tell you

When you drive up to the port there will be CM's posted there and they will ask to see your id and they will check you off of a list that is on their little clipboards.

You are then allowed to drive up to the luggage drop off area. You just stop your vehicle there and take the luggage out of the car. Make sure that you have your Disney Cruise Line luggage tags, that will be in your document package, on all of your bags. That is how they know where to deliver your luggage.

Okay, you take the luggage out, there will be porters/CM's all around there also to help. They will quickly relieve you of your luggage.

Passengers may get out of the vehicle and wait on the curb or go to the terminal entrance while the driver parks the vehicle and walks back to meet you. We usually wait for the driver so that we can all enter together. I'm not sure that it is a necessity to do that though.

Right inside the terminal doors will be a metal detecter/security screening just like at an airport. You will walk through and any luggage will be screened. Have id in hand just in case, I'm not sure if they ask for it again or not.

Once you have done that you will be directed to go to the escalator, which is mere steps away and you will go up to the terminal.

At the top of the escalator to the left is the check in counter. There are different lines for different "categories".... US citizens, non-US citizens, Castaway Club Members, probably Suite staterooms too but I'm not sure on that one.

Go to the first available CM and get checked in. Have ALL documents filled out in advance before approaching counter. Show ID, hand in documents, show credit card, get Key To The World cards (cabin door opener, onboard charge card) .

Then you are free to look around the terminal until it is time to board the ship. I believe you can register children for the clubs in the terminal now. There are places to sit, cartoons being played, a large ship model to look at, characters walking through with picture opportunities, a nice outside deck to watch the ship being unloaded and restocked for your cruise.

When they start boarding, have KTTW card in hand and proceed through the giant Mickey ears. They will put your card through a machine like the ticket machine at WDW. Go down the walkway, usually do embarkation photos there and then enter the ship and enjoy

Okay, if I have forgotten anything or something is unclear just ask away and I will answer to the best of my ability.

sapphire ~~ I know that the ship docks before 6am but I'm not sure the exact time that it comes into port. At 6am there are customs officers onboard to clear all non-US citizens.