July 18 2009 Tortola

[tinkerbell_29]

For excursions i think we are going to do Coral World at SJ but not with Disney were going to go on our own. I'm not sure about Tortola yet but I know it will be something we do on our own. The only time we have done Disney excursions was in the Med and that was just so we knew the ship wouldn't leave us stranded in a foreign country.

Lissa

 

[lwilliam]

We love getting to the terminal as early as possible, it's fun to walk around, look at the model, get pictures, watch classic cartoons, and just anticipate the fun that is about to begin!

In Grand Caymen we booked our own Turtle Farm/Stingray City excursion and it was fantastic! It was the 3 of us and 4 people from another ship. We had a great time and because there were only 7 of us the driver really was able to customize the tour for us. We had plenty of time, in fact the other people needed to get back before we did and the driver made sure they got back.

I'm toying with doing Coral World on our own. It's just a matter of taking a cab which seems simple enough. DS wants to do the sea trek and I'd like to have some time a the beach too. The DCL excursion doesn't include beach time. DH is planning on golfing.

In California, we had a race to get to the ship - Lucy said she was going to win - she booked the limo driver early.....Lucy was NOT the first one there! I LOVE getting there early. This is the most exciting "waiting" I ever do!

sorry i haven't chatted or returned phone calls......volleyball has started. Between working daily (jobs I actually LIKE), visiting mother, making dinner for Tyler who needs to eat at 4:00 and Bob who is eating at 9:30 after musical practice, attending volleyball games.....I'm looking forward to Saturday.

Maryann, what time are they picking you up at SSR???

 

[MrsG]

I think we're getting picked up from SSR around noon-12:30. We certainly won't be the first ones on the ship, but I guess because we'll be pre-checked in to DCL at SSR, they're in no rush to get us there.

 

[jlawall]

I'd love to head over to St. John for the beaches, but I'm so scared of missing the ship with three little kids! But the Trunk Bay excursion is only for 5 and over - so maybe we'll have to go to Magen's bay on St. Thomas instead.

I have to mention that most of my trips to St. Thomas were when my kids were little. You can definitely go to Trunk Bay with little kids by taking the ferry and a taxi. It really is pretty convenient. My tip would be to take the taxi to Red Hook and then the ferry from there. The ferry from Charlotte Amalie runs less frequently but it is more convenient to the ship. I've been to Magen's Bay and I was disappointed by that experience.......seriously, I've had a pic of TB on my refrigerator for about 10 years........hope that helps!

 

[jlawall]

Actually I looked at the price of the sea trek on our own vs the DCL excursion and it's less then $20 difference. I think we will do the excursion which will get us back to the ship for lunch. After lunch DS and I will go back to St. Thomas and shop a little. He loves going to Del Sol. We'll skip the beach this time. We're going to the Baths the day before and all we do in CC is stay at the beach.

Shopping in CA is a definite "must do!"

 

[jlawall]

ACK! It's been raining for almost 2 days and DS has lacrosse practice tonight. It's the 1st practice and it's going to be a mucky, wet, cold mess. It stopped raining about an hour ago. I'm hoping it starts again and soon! Although his next practice is tomorrow so I guess I better just get over it. Who starts outdoor lacrosse in March - in Wisconsin? It may snow this weekend.

It's spring....................

 

[jlawall]

In California, we had a race to get to the ship - Lucy said she was going to win - she booked the limo driver early.....Lucy was NOT the first one there! I LOVE getting there early. This is the most exciting "waiting" I ever do!

sorry i haven't chatted or returned phone calls......volleyball has started. Between working daily (jobs I actually LIKE), visiting mother, making dinner for Tyler who needs to eat at 4:00 and Bob who is eating at 9:30 after musical practice, attending volleyball games.....I'm looking forward to Saturday.

Maryann, what time are they picking you up at SSR???

I have to share, so there we were about to go on our West Coast Magic Cruise........we had met many wonderful DISers including Lucy and Jenny.........we actually met Lucy & Bob at the GC prior to the cruise.....she was saying that she had booked her transportation really early on boarding day.......so Ken & I changed our driver to earlier.......the day of the trip........there we all were standing in the lobby waiting for our cars.......all of our group were picked up before LuLu.......it was like the Amazing Race trying to beat Lucy to the ship.......so funny, but really it didn't matter, we boarded minutes apart......it made for a great story.......

 

[jlawall]

Oh yea, and DD22 probably won't be with us.......I finally found out that she will probably be in school until August...............I emailed my TA to see if there would be a possible better price at the 90 day mark to book the BFs.....we'll see.........

 

[3princessMommy]

I have to mention that most of my trips to St. Thomas were when my kids were little. You can definitely go to Trunk Bay with little kids by taking the ferry and a taxi. It really is pretty convenient. My tip would be to take the taxi to Red Hook and then the ferry from there. The ferry from Charlotte Amalie runs less frequently but it is more convenient to the ship. I've been to Magen's Bay and I was disappointed by that experience.......seriously, I've had a pic of TB on my refrigerator for about 10 years........hope that helps!

Trunk Bay is gorgeous! I was there when I was 12 with my parents and then again on my honeymoon with DH.

The day at St. Thomas seems very short to me - off the ship at 8 and last call for boarding at 4:30. How long does it take to get the ferry/taxi etc? What time would you leave St. John to ensure you get back to the ship in time? And if you had to choose, would you go to Trunk Bay or Cinnamon Bay? Also, is there food at Trunk Bay?

 

[starwood]

It's spring....................

26 degrees here right now.

 

[mickeymo]

ACK! It's been raining for almost 2 days and DS has lacrosse practice tonight. It's the 1st practice and it's going to be a mucky, wet, cold mess. It stopped raining about an hour ago. I'm hoping it starts again and soon! Although his next practice is tomorrow so I guess I better just get over it. Who starts outdoor lacrosse in March - in Wisconsin? It may snow this weekend.

I've got a lacrosse player too! This is Maggie dd11's 2nd year playing. She absolutely loves it! She grew up watching her male cousins play. They even got my son a stick when he was 4. I don't think Mike even got a chance to try it - at age 2, it was all hers. It was so cute watching this little toddler play with her (then) high school aged cousins. When she joined the team, she was rather disappointed to learn she would play in a skirt and wouldn't get to (physically) check The Texas lacrosse season is all outdoor - we begin practice in October with games from January to April. December and January pre-season tournaments can be miserable.

Send your rain this way - we desperately need it!!! (Although Mike's track meet is tonight...it could stop by 5...)

 

[disneymagic316]

We love getting to the terminal as early as possible, it's fun to walk around, look at the model, get pictures, watch classic cartoons, and just anticipate the fun that is about to begin!

In Grand Caymen we booked our own Turtle Farm/Stingray City excursion and it was fantastic! It was the 3 of us and 4 people from another ship. We had a great time and because there were only 7 of us the driver really was able to customize the tour for us. We had plenty of time, in fact the other people needed to get back before we did and the driver made sure they got back.

I'm toying with doing Coral World on our own. It's just a matter of taking a cab which seems simple enough. DS wants to do the sea trek and I'd like to have some time a the beach too. The DCL excursion doesn't include beach time. DH is planning on golfing.

We enjoy getting to the terminal early,too. We usually get there around 10:30.

I've been to St. Thomas a few times and it's very easy to get a cab off the ship and go to Coral World. I'm pretty sure there's a beach there too. I've heard it's nice, I haven't been there in about 15-16 years so I'm not sure about that beach. My favorite thing to do there is take the ferry from Red Hook to St. John and go to the beaches there. The only thing I don't like about the cabs is that they wait until they fill them before you can get where you're going. Usually, it's an open bed and it holds quite a few people.

Trunk Bay is gorgeous! I was there when I was 12 with my parents and then again on my honeymoon with DH.

The day at St. Thomas seems very short to me - off the ship at 8 and last call for boarding at 4:30. How long does it take to get the ferry/taxi etc? What time would you leave St. John to ensure you get back to the ship in time? And if you had to choose, would you go to Trunk Bay or Cinnamon Bay? Also, is there food at Trunk Bay?

We're also thinking of doing Trunk Bay on our own. I was going to post the very same questions.


We're doing The Baths in Tortola. We're booking it through DCL.

 

[disneymagic316]

Wendy,

So glad you had a great time at the party. Can't wait to see you!

Thanks, Maryann. I'm looking forward to seeing you,too!

 

[noahsmom]

Monica this is Noah's 2nd year at lacrosse also! He had been playing hockey but broke his ankle at the beginning of the season (Oct. 2007). When he was finally released by the dr to play again there was only about a month left in the season. The coach was happy to have him back but after 2 practices a couple of parents were upset that coach was going to let Noah rejoin the team so the coach told us that he would only be able to practice, not play in any games. We told him to stick it (nicely although I really wanted to tell them all what I thought). Anyway, a lacrosse team was formed on our side of town that spring and he really likes it. Over the winter he did indoor but it was more lessons. He wants to be goalie.

The team he played on last spring he is now too old for and they don't have enough players for the older age group. Lacrosse is pretty new around here. So we are driving to a town south of us for this season. Thankfully the rain has stopped but the high today is only 43 . Oh well.

 

[MrsG]

Any idea when we're going to get our excursion info from DCL. I'm not wild about looking it up on line. I'd rather have the little book in front of me.

 

[mickeymo]

Any idea when we're going to get our excursion info from DCL. I'm not wild about looking it up on line. I'd rather have the little book in front of me.

I'm not sure when we can get our excursion info - On-line booking for Castaway Club members is April 19. If they are mailing excursion info, it should be soon

 

[noahsmom]

We received a mailing from DCL a few weeks ago. It had a cover letter with our 90 day date so we can book excursions and Palo if we are paid. It also had the booklet with all kinds of info. What was missing was excursion information. The letter referenced that excursion info was included but it wasn't. I looked them up online.

 

[noahsmom]

DS and I went shopping today, mostly for me. He did a great job being patient while I tried on clothes! But - I found a cruise dress!! It will be perfect for Palo. There was also a pair of shoes on clearance for $5.98 - I got them, they have spikey heels but I have until July to learn how to walk in them

Dress and shoes - less than $40!

 

[noahsmom]

oh- DS was so good I bought him Bolt, which he's been asking to rent. He's now in the basement watching the movie even though we have to leave in 30 minutes for lacrosse practice.

 

[tinkerbell_29]

I started my new job today. Whew is this going to be a challenge beyond the normal teacher stuff I'm now dealing with medical issues. I absolutely loved it though and know i made the right choice in accepting this job. Though by the time we go on this cruise i may be exhausted and not do anything but find a lounge chair and sleep.

Lissa