January 8, 2011 - 7 Night Western Caribbean Sailing

[newbydisney]

@ Runeash you would not be able to get free dining without booking a package including park tickets and usually a 4 night minimum stay.
I think you got an excellent deal on your cruise.

 

[luv2cruz24]

Forgot to mention that we were a Cat. 5 GTY, and when we paid off our cruise on Oct. 8 our paperwork came through with an assigned cabin #6034.

I haven't decided if we're doing the FE yet. I have to see if I can come up with something that doesn't take up too much space to pack.

 

[newbydisney]

DCL will work very hard to not turn anyone down that wants to dine, tea or brunch at Palo...I have heard of a few cases of people not being able to get tea but everyone I have ever known got what they wanted or close to it for dinner and brunch. Please do not despair if you cannot get anything. As soon as you board go to Rockin Bar D and they will take care of you I am sure...worse case you will get waitlisted...but in my experience they do not want to disappoint anyone and will accomodate you. The ship is fairly full but I do not think it will sell out....everyone should get a chance to eat at Palo. ANd if you are Cat 3 or higher I do not think you even need to worry about it..they will bring you whatever you want!

 

[Katekins13]

Ok...so stayed up and booked excursions and Palo.. couldn't get a brunch reservation, but got a dinner reservation for Day 6 (from what I was reading on here.. that seems to be a good day..wouldn't miss pirate day, last day festivies, and hopefully wont interfere with anything else special!). As soon as we get on board we will try to get a brunch reservation as well since I hear that is also amazing!

The excursions we booked were:
Key West: Catamaran Sail & Snorkel Tour
Grand Cayman: Shipwreck & Reef Snorkeling (10:15am)
Cozumel: Tulum Ruins

For Castaway Cay we figured we'd play by ear at this point... we were thinking about checking out some type of watercraft (jetski's or something?) - anyone have any experience with this at Castaway Cay?

Now that we booked some activities it feels so real... I just can't wait

 

[Katekins13]

So a snorkeling question... has anyone snorkeled at any of the locations before..and if so, can we bring an underwater camera with us? I'm sure there will be some wonderful pictures!!

Better yet... what can, or should, you bring on an excursion (any excursion off ship)?.. I'm not sure if they tell you this ahead of time, or if you just have to guess... should we carry a back pack and bring id, do we bring out passports, change of clothes, etc...

So since I stayed up to book my reservations, I am now wide awake... 5 hours until I'm suppose to wake up for work..ha ha.. well worth it

 

[Katekins13]

So I'm brainstorming ideas for my FE gifts... and I wanted to ask everybody...

What's your favorite Disney songs and movies?

I know we already have favorite color and favorite characters posted on the board, so thinking of some other favorites that might be able to help personalize FE gifts

 

[carreyw]

So I'm brainstorming ideas for my FE gifts... and I wanted to ask everybody...

What's your favorite Disney songs and movies?

I know we already have favorite color and favorite characters posted on the board, so thinking of some other favorites that might be able to help personalize FE gifts

Beauty and the Beast for me and Robin Hood for my hubby. And pretty much any song from those movies!

 

[Sir William]

Ok...so stayed up and booked excursions and Palo.. couldn't get a brunch reservation, but got a dinner reservation for Day 6 (from what I was reading on here.. that seems to be a good day..wouldn't miss pirate day, last day festivies, and hopefully wont interfere with anything else special!). As soon as we get on board we will try to get a brunch reservation as well since I hear that is also amazing!

I also stayed up to book reservations. We weren't able to get brunch or tea either, so hopefully will have better luck once we get aboard. We did book dinner on Day 6 but we'd rather do brunch if we can get it.

We also booked the spa and kayaking in Cozumel but for now we're going to play it by ear for anything else.

 

[lbgraves]

Yes, you can take underwater cameras. You don't need to take your passports off the ship -- you actually don't have to have a passport to go on this cruise since it is closed loop. What you have to have to get on and off the ship is your picture ID [Driver's License] and your KTTW card. If you want to change clothes and not go back to the ship you will need to take that with you. If you are on a DCL excursion they will also provide towels for you to take with you.

We have now been to CC 7 times and made it every time so I hope that record continues. We have only done the stingray excursion one time and booked the island tour on a boat but that was cancelled due to strong winds. My DH and the kids have rented bikes a couple times with him taking one kid each time on different cruises. I am not a beach person but am perfectly content to get a chair and umbrella at the far end of the family beach and sit and relax enjoying what is usually the last day of our cruise. I like not having to get up and be anywhere until we have to go back to the ship.

 

[Amy Fran]

The excursions we booked were:

Grand Cayman: Shipwreck & Reef Snorkeling (10:15am)

We booked the same thing at the same time so we'll see ya there!

 

[speedo]

We booked the same thing at the same time so we'll see ya there!

I booked last night at midnight also and we too are booked for the snorkeling at that time (10:15).

And we are also on the Tulum Ruins tour in Cozumel.

My sister and I are also thinking of getting mani/pedi on board. Anyone done that before?

 

[TiggerAllie]

Hi all!

DP and I just booked this cruise today . I have to say "Thank you", as finding this thread pushed us over the edge on deciding to go!

I need to go back through it and figure out what info we are supposed to post, we are definitely up for a meet & greet as well as the FE exchange.

I was able to get my reservation number this afternoon, so thanks to the heads up from this group I was able to get the excursions we wanted and a dinner at Palo.

I just wanted to say hello and thanks for now--I promise I'll post my req'd info later tonight!

 

[ddpaints]

Welcome to our meet group Tigger Allie.

 

[scrappinsandie]

I was able to get all my reservations last night - I didn't want too many but I got them all:

Tulum Ruins Tour
Palo on Tuesday night
and a couples massage on Thursda afternoon.

Now I just have to sit back and wait - 50 days until our trip begins

Sandie

 

[lbgraves]

My sister and I are also thinking of getting mani/pedi on board. Anyone done that before?

Everything that I have ever read on this board since 2002 has said to save your money and get it done before you go on the cruise for a better quality job that can last the week.

 

[Amy Fran]

and a couples massage on Thursda afternoon.

Sandie

I am quite jealous, Sandie! You'll have to let us know if it's as fabulous as it sounds!!! --Amy

 

[TiggerAllie]

Ok, we've settled in, so here's our info:
Allison (A.C.L.) and Stasia (A.L.H), both "30-something" midwesterners currently in Boston, MA.
We are Disney-a-holics (as you can see from the signature), but this is our first DCL cruise (though not first cruise).
We are definitely in for the FE exchange. Here's our info:
me: blue, Tigger, Beauty and the Beast, song... I guess anything from BatB!
Stasia: pink, Toulouse Berlioz and Marie, Aristocats, Everybody wants to be a Cat
Cabin # 6584

Because we got our reservation (and paid) today, we were able to get our reservations set up. We are going to the Hemingway House in Key West (for the kitties, as we have a polydactyl cat) so we don't have an excursion for there. Grand Cayman: Dolphin Extreme Swim & Turtle Farm (9:15). Cozumel: Tulum ruins tour. On CC I booked parasailing (we couldn't do it on our last cruise) and we'll probably snorkel, etc. as well. We were able to get a Palo dinner reservation for Day 3, but we may move it depending on what seating arrangement we get. We currently have the later seating. I also saw awesome pictures for the Palo brunch, so I really hope we can get a reservation for that in there.

It sounds there are a few groups going on the Tulum tour, so that's cool!

Let me know if there is anything I forgot! Since this is our first Disney cruise, I'll definitely be looking for lots of good tips from you veterans!

Any opinions on what we have so far would be appreciated! Looking forward to the planning!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Is the couples massage worth it? I would love to treat DW to something luxurious, she has worked very hard to make this cruise a family highlight for years to come, and I want her to have a lasting memory of her own. Whta would you all suggest for her? She is obviously going to read this so the more ideas I get the better to throw her off the scent!

** DISCLAIMER **

Honey if you are reading this these are all just suggestions, one of them will be a surprise!

 

[Katekins13]

We booked the same thing at the same time so we'll see ya there!

Cool!

 

[Katekins13]

I booked last night at midnight also and we too are booked for the snorkeling at that time (10:15).

And we are also on the Tulum Ruins tour in Cozumel.

My sister and I are also thinking of getting mani/pedi on board. Anyone done that before?

It is going to be so nice to have familar faces during the excursions! (Well familar after the meet..lol..)