January Thaw cruise/Eastern January 19th/vow renewal

[chepic]

Here are a couple of Moscow shots.....I know that this is off topic...but what the heck, I started this thread!!

Now all we have to do is keep our fingers crossed for the next 2 months and we will go back to finish the adoption.

Thank you to all of you that have kept me in your thoughts...it does mean alot to know that people do care!!!! I am so glad I discovered this board!!!

Oh, BTW, his name is Alex

che

 

[chepic]

So, we met with Jamie, and we were trying to narrow down 180 pictures to 30, plus 10 8 x 10's. not an easy task for some, but being a scrapbooker, it wasn't that hard to narrow down what I wanted. I am sooooo glad that we bought the package because only one of our guests were taking pictures, and unfortunately, we had red eye in many of her shots. So, as we sat there contemplating all of our choices, we ran into people in our group and they gave their opinions, so we ended up there for a while. I asked my SIL to take shots of Mickey's Good-bye thing....

We could hear the music and the clapping, I just couldn't see what was happening, but I can imagine!!!!

I can't believe the cruise is at an end.

there was so much that I had thought we would do, but didn't.....But, I had bags to pack and get us ready, off to the cabin I trudged, pictures in hand and lots of ideas swirling in my head for scrapbooking.

I got up early the next day and did my quick lap around the deck and made certain I took pictures of anything I had forgotten. We went to eat, all of us with sad looks, and lots of carry-off stuff.

We stopped at the front desk to say goodbye to Florencia and thanked her for such a great job. She told us that we made her smile, that lots of people get married on the ship, but not with the smiles that we had for each other....AAAAAUUUUUUWWWW...we love each other!!!

I took a few more pictures of the flags and signs, all strategic for the scrapbook....and down the plank we go. We ran into Trish and Tim and crew and grabbed a porter to get our gear....worth the tip, we flew through customs and went right over to the bus. It was a really quiet ride to the airport, except for my husband....he is the social butterfly. Dave drives bus in RI and he got into a long conversation with the bus driver....I think that we will be retiring soon to Florida and Dave will get a job with Disney!!! That wouldn't be so bad!!!!

I have to run, but I will post some thoughts on our overall experience in a bit.

Happy reading!!!!

che

 

[pjstevens]

Cheryl,

He's adorable. I can imagine how long the next two months are going to feel like. Praying it flies by for you. I'm sorry if you posted previously, I read so many different TR that sometimes I can't remember wher I am, lol, but which photo package did you get for your VR? What does the special VR album look like? I am also a scrap booker, but way behind in my scrapping and want to make sure I have great pics for that.

 

[kalel29]

That...is the most awesome sight for a football fan!!! Chalk another one up for Disney!!!!

 

[chepic]

That...is the most awesome sight for a football fan!!! Chalk another one up for Disney!!!!

You bet it is great, I want to send it to Bob Kraft and tell him how devoted we are. I even wore my shirt that I have had since 1983....and I can still squeeze into it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

che

 

[chepic]

Cheryl,

He's adorable. I can imagine how long the next two months are going to feel like. Praying it flies by for you. I'm sorry if you posted previously, I read so many different TR that sometimes I can't remember wher I am, lol, but which photo package did you get for your VR? What does the special VR album look like? I am also a scrap booker, but way behind in my scrapping and want to make sure I have great pics for that.

Thanks, he is cute!!!!

We got the 1st package, I believe that it was #399.00 and then we added 6 6x8's for the people that came. She took 2 pictures of each family, which, of course came out great. The total was just over $400.00. The album they give you is really nothing big, just a small white album that each 6 x8 fits in, and it only holds 24 pictures. Had I seen it first, I would have asked if we could exchange it for another picture or two. They throw the rest out, so I can't imagine that anyone would care. Also, the "free" 8 x 10 comes with a folder that is nice because on the other side they give you a choice of a Disney Cruise shot of the boat, or characters in an 8 x 10. We will never use the leatherette folder, but the extra nice picture of the characters all dressed up is cool in the scrapbook.
I am at least 1 year behind on my scrapbooking, however we went to an all weekend scrapbooking time, that I was able to get 99% of the trip done. 40 pages!!!!! It is amazing what you can get done when there is no one to bother you. I just need to do a page with all our towel animals and the final page with last minute thoughts. I figured I would write them here and then copy them onto Microsoft and then print them out!!!!

The bag that they give you is very nice for the beach, and the 2 bathrobes are great. They are the spa, waffle material and are great right out of the shower or pool. And, they have the Disney Wedding logo on it!!!

I think that if you plan on spending a total of $2500 for the renewal, you will be in budget. It was $1500 for the ceremony, $400 for the pictures, and another $350 for Palo....that was because we paid for the group of 10 of us. Dave and I were free, but between the $10 per person and all the alcohol that was consumed, the bill was higher....but worth it!!!! It was also $45 for each of our hair do's. And I ordered the extra flowers for Trish and the girls. Oh yeah, because we had more than 10 guests, it was an extra $100.00 for the champagne and cake. The one thing that I really regret is that I could have had them wrap the cake up really good, kept it in the fridge and then put it in my packed luggage. They never checked at customs and we would have been able to eat it at home. Because we renewed on Thurs., we couldn't really enjoy the flowers or eat the cake. If you renew earlier in the week, they will keep the cake for you and serve it for dessert each night, and you can have your beautiful flowers all week in your cabin. The only thing is you won't be very tan!!! I ended up giving my flowers to our photographer so she could enjoy them, and told the staff at Palo to take the cake for the staff.

cheryl

 

[suzannef]

Oh Cheryl
He is sooooo cute and looks so happy and healthy. Best of luck to all of you. I hope you can bring him home soon

 

[chepic]

Oh Cheryl
He is sooooo cute and looks so happy and healthy. Best of luck to all of you. I hope you can bring him home soon

Thank you suzannef....we hope so too.

Of course, he will then be forced to join our troup of disney-aholic family members. Maxim stepped foot off the boat and wanted to know how much longer before we went back, and oh yeah, why didn't we go into the parks?! He is taking after his mom!!!!

che

 

[pjstevens]

Thanks, he is cute!!!!

We got the 1st package, I believe that it was #399.00 and then we added 6 6x8's for the people that came. She took 2 pictures of each family, which, of course came out great. The total was just over $400.00. The album they give you is really nothing big, just a small white album that each 6 x8 fits in, and it only holds 24 pictures. Had I seen it first, I would have asked if we could exchange it for another picture or two. They throw the rest out, so I can't imagine that anyone would care. Also, the "free" 8 x 10 comes with a folder that is nice because on the other side they give you a choice of a Disney Cruise shot of the boat, or characters in an 8 x 10. We will never use the leatherette folder, but the extra nice picture of the characters all dressed up is cool in the scrapbook.
I am at least 1 year behind on my scrapbooking, however we went to an all weekend scrapbooking time, that I was able to get 99% of the trip done. 40 pages!!!!! It is amazing what you can get done when there is no one to bother you. I just need to do a page with all our towel animals and the final page with last minute thoughts. I figured I would write them here and then copy them onto Microsoft and then print them out!!!!

The bag that they give you is very nice for the beach, and the 2 bathrobes are great. They are the spa, waffle material and are great right out of the shower or pool. And, they have the Disney Wedding logo on it!!!

I think that if you plan on spending a total of $2500 for the renewal, you will be in budget. It was $1500 for the ceremony, $400 for the pictures, and another $350 for Palo....that was because we paid for the group of 10 of us. Dave and I were free, but between the $10 per person and all the alcohol that was consumed, the bill was higher....but worth it!!!! It was also $45 for each of our hair do's. And I ordered the extra flowers for Trish and the girls. Oh yeah, because we had more than 10 guests, it was an extra $100.00 for the champagne and cake. The one thing that I really regret is that I could have had them wrap the cake up really good, kept it in the fridge and then put it in my packed luggage. They never checked at customs and we would have been able to eat it at home. Because we renewed on Thurs., we couldn't really enjoy the flowers or eat the cake. If you renew earlier in the week, they will keep the cake for you and serve it for dessert each night, and you can have your beautiful flowers all week in your cabin. The only thing is you won't be very tan!!! I ended up giving my flowers to our photographer so she could enjoy them, and told the staff at Palo to take the cake for the staff.

cheryl

Cheryl,

Thanks for all the info. It will just be hubby and I, so our budget will be a little less. I was thinking of doing the romantic escape thing but thought I read somewhere that you get robes in the wedding package (gift). I found that our vow renewal will be the only day at sea, which is our day before arriving back at port. So, if I ask them to wrap our cake REALLY good, I could try to put it in my luggage. I so wanted to 'bring' my flowers home, but I don't want to end up getting arrested before we make it home.

 

[chepic]

Cheryl,

Thanks for all the info. It will just be hubby and I, so our budget will be a little less. I was thinking of doing the romantic escape thing but thought I read somewhere that you get robes in the wedding package (gift). I found that our vow renewal will be the only day at sea, which is our day before arriving back at port. So, if I ask them to wrap our cake REALLY good, I could try to put it in my luggage. I so wanted to 'bring' my flowers home, but I don't want to end up getting arrested before we make it home.

Florencia told us we could take the flowers home because they were from the USA, but our photographer didn't think so, so we went on the side of caution and left them behind. Flowers, unfortunately won't make it in the suitcase.... , but the cake should if wrapped really good. It's a shame too, because the flowers are ssssooooo beautiful, but I took pictures of them, and I scrapbooked it, so I have the memory of them.

I wouldn't have changed a thing about the vow renewal, I am glad we splurged, there are so many people out there that will never see 5 years of marriage, let alone 20+ so it should be celebrated!!!!!

cheryl

 

[pjstevens]

Florencia told us we could take the flowers home because they were from the USA, but our photographer didn't think so, so we went on the side of caution and left them behind. Flowers, unfortunately won't make it in the suitcase.... , but the cake should if wrapped really good. It's a shame too, because the flowers are ssssooooo beautiful, but I took pictures of them, and I scrapbooked it, so I have the memory of them.

I wouldn't have changed a thing about the vow renewal, I am glad we splurged, there are so many people out there that will never see 5 years of marriage, let alone 20+ so it should be celebrated!!!!!

cheryl

Cheryl,

I am so excited to hear that. I was just looking through my planning package and it does say NO FOOD may be brought off. I was sure I read somewhere that you couldn't take the flowers off (or I've read it on the boards some where). I hope that it is ok to bring them home!!! I will definately look into getting our cake wrapped up!!! I would love to share that with our kids.

 

[LovableGluttons]

Oh wow! I read, I laughed, and I cried!

Absolutely beautiful!

Your boys are absolutely adorable!

When are you bringing Alex on his first cruise?

You know, there's a great double dip cruise leaving October 25, 2008.....

Oh, and Chief Gluttons was born in Rhode Island, Woonsocket!

Our wedding reception was in Manville.

DH was just crushed over the Pats at the Super Bowl.

 

[chepic]

Oh wow! I read, I laughed, and I cried!

Absolutely beautiful!

Your boys are absolutely adorable!

When are you bringing Alex on his first cruise?

You know, there's a great double dip cruise leaving October 25, 2008.....

Oh, and Chief Gluttons was born in Rhode Island, Woonsocket!

Our wedding reception was in Manville.

DH was just crushed over the Pats at the Super Bowl.

Thank you for your review....I have been a lurker on your TR, as well as others, and hoped I could give something new to this board.

As for another cruise, Max would agree that we need to do one ASAP....and I love the idea of a double dip, but I think we will have to wait until 2009...I will have taken 3 1/2 weeks off when I return from this adoption, and I don't think that my business partner will be too happy if I tell him we are going away in Oct.. especially since he was on this cruise with us and his wife would probably kill him if we went before them!!!!!!! She is sold on Disney now!!!

We were crushed that the Pats didn't win. I even threw my socks at the TV and did my best pout!!! DH just laughed at me. But truely I got the last laugh when I got those pictures from that un-named woman, (no one told me her name, and I am not so sure that they remember her name either.)

Tell Chief that things have not changed much around here in little ol' Rhody. We do have the Extreme Makeover Home addition right down the road from us.

Have a great day.

 

[chepic]

Well, it has been an entire month since we cruised!!! Boo Hoo and we can't wait to go again. As a matter of fact, just got my Cast-A-Way club DVD in the mail yesterday and put it right in the computer!!! AAAHHHH the sounds of paradise.

Some last thoughts on Disney's Magic:

The ship is better than the RCL Explorer in many ways....bigger rooms, more for the kids, the huge Dumbotron to watch movies, fireworks, only 2 stores to blow your money in, Palo, and of course their own island that blows away any one elses. Comparing the two, I would have to say that the spa on the Magic could be tweaked a little/get the hallway to the fitness room away from the area one would walk through with just a robe. I think the food over all was quite comparable, neither would get 5 stars, but all very good, and I didn't have to cook. Dinners are a little long on both for kids, but are doable.

Regrets: I have a few...I never made it to the Martini tasting that Erica raved about and showed pictures of. We didn't make it to a couple of family things...like the vegatable cart race....because of overlapping activities. We didn't get to go to the first formal night because of the playoff games...I think that they should move formal night to the Monday when things like that happen. I didn't get a picture of me in the hammock!!!! Being the resident photographer, I don't have many pictures of me. I also didn't get pictures of the some of the ships unique pictures/murals. I kept saying, I will take that tomorrow, but never did.....note to others, take the darn picture when you see it!!! Also, I didn't get to mail the post cards from Cast-a-way becuase the post office was closed I think the post mark would have made a lovely addition to my scrapbook.

I want to thank all the people that traveled with us, it made for a memorable vacation. And a thank you to all that are reading this, again, most of this was inspired by those who wrote before me.

Happy Sailing

Cheryl

 

[camperman]

Thanks for the TR, first timer here and trying to get all info I can. Good pictures too.

 

[29apr00]

What a great TR, now i am totally excited to start planning my VR!

 

[chepic]

thank you to both of you....our vow renewal really was fantastic!!! We had such a wonderful time and it is fun to get all dressed up again.

Cheryl

 

[zweihund]

Great TR Cheryl! I'm so late reading it and I have no excuse
But......makes me want to do a vow renewal myself! Even though we've only been married for three years. Still. I'm sure that's a milestone somewhere this day and age.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Shelvis]

great tr it has inspired me to write one for next cruise in Jan 09 i just got off this Jan from my first and already planning my second.
Congratulations on the adoption!!!!!!

 

[frdeb1999]

What a absolutely wonderful review. You truely have a very beautiful family. We thought about doing a vow renewal this past August and opted not too...still had a fabulous time. But now I'm going to be even more persistent in doing it. The pics are wonderful.