July 1st, 2006 070106 07/01/06 20060701 07012006

[Skuba2]

Hello Mr. Shiny,

We will have 2 dd's going as well---8 and my oldest turning 12 the 2nd day of the cruise. We also have a son turning 5 toward the end.

This will be our third Disney Cruise as a family--although ds's first. My dh and I have been cruising for quite a while and love it.

As far as excursions for us, I will try and get the stingray city. I've snorkled and dove it but actually prefer snorkling. Doing it for the 2 older ones although we will probably bring the younger one for the ride. We have been to the islands, so I imagine we may get off for a quick jaunt and then enjoy the ship. I enjoy the spaciousness of the ship on port days. If there is a regatta anywhere--I may book that as well. I enjoy Cayman. Will definitly get off to get some rum cakes. Enough so that I can devour some on board and still bring some home.

We will have to try and meet up at castaway cay so our kids have someone to swim with. It will keep us out of the water. LOL! All I remember about the last cruise is how HOT!! CC was. OMG. We went Apr 04 and I almost passed out. I can't imagine in July. I may see about getting a cheap sun enclosure in Florida before we leave to bring with us. I never can get out there in enough time to get an umbrella.

Patti and I have been members of a small AOL email group for 9 years now and have met in person once. LOL! So, I will definitely be setting up a place to meet during the sail away party. There is usually someone who gets a dis-meet together. Everyone makes up Mickey tags. We'll figure that out before we leave. It is nice to see familiar faces throughout the trip and the kids can have a chance to get together.

My sil and her family are scheduled to be joining us, but I am not confident that they aren't going to back out.

July can't come fast enough.

Deb

 

[LongIslandMouse]

IThat will be alot of fun for the girls to get to know each other! ...

^^^ I have a 15 yo.!
Hey ya'll! I don't have time right at the moment to read this 10+ page thread but I'm so excited I had to post that I just gave my deposit for the trip! We have 4 kids going, Jack will be 3 weeks shy of 2, Mikey will be 3, Ryan will be almost 14 and Katie will be 16! We had to get two rooms and we're on deck 7 outside cabins. There were luckily two adjoining rooms left, whew. We were on the 4 day Wonder last July and loved it and so we decided to skip DW this time and just do 7 nights at sea! I'm so excited!

Hope to talk to you all in the upcoming months!
Laura

 

[ldb1030]

Hi LongIslandMouse!!!

Yes, my daughter will be 15 when we go! Will Katie be 16 by then is sounds like?

She would love to email her if you would like. She can email me at LDB1030@sbcglobal.net if she would like then I can forward to Alexa and she can email her back!

Glad to have you on board!!

 

[Husker4040]

Welcome LongIslandMouse! My daughters will be 13 and 14 at the time of the cruise. I have nieces and nephews ranging from 18 months to 10 going also.

Now that Christmas is over, I have more time to work on my cruise stuff. Passport renewals are first! I just figured out I can fill out the paperwork online and print them. Whew! It looks like 182 days and counting!


Patti

 

[MrShiny]

We made sure we got our passports too. I know they aren't required at the time of the cruise, but much easier than carrying around birth certificates!

Deb - sounds like your dd's are only slightly older than ours! My youngest will be 8 a month and a half after the cruise, the oldest 12 a week after that!

 

[ldb1030]

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!!
Please be safe and healthy!

 

[ldb1030]

Do you all know where we will be 6 months from today!!!!!!!

 

[Husker4040]

I am so ready! I didn't get my passport renewal paperwork done over the weekend, so that is my goal this week. I need to at least get it started. Since I have to renew the girls passports also, we both have to physically take them to the passport office. Not a big deal for us, the county court house isn't too far.

We have the meeting for Sara's International Baccalaureate program Thursday. That will be another application that needs to be done this week. I got to work this morning, and I have piles of paperwork here that needs to be done. Ahhhhhh!! How long until we leave?? Oh, she has tryouts for high school band coming up in the next couple of weeks also. It's going to be a busy month. Before we know it, it will be time to make the final payment!

 

[ldb1030]

Final payment!!!

I have to TRY and pay early also. Since I'm a returning cruiser, I can make my on-board reservations 90 days out.......but only if it's paid in full!!
So other than that, I'm ready to go now!!!!

 

[Husker4040]

It's Friday! I have a long weekend of paperwork ahead of me, but once it's done, I will be one step closer to the cruise! I need to get out all of the info I took the time months ago to print out, and figure out what is still good info and what has changed. I did get an email from my TA yesterday about passports. We are going to try to make sure everyone in the group has them, even though they aren't required yet. We stupidly let ours expire when we moved back to the states.

Hey Lisa - what's going on down there with the football team? aw: aw: Sounds like the new coach is cleaning house. One of your long time coaches was cut and wants to come here, but I think the job was offered to a CU guy. After our last 3 games, I can't wait to see what happens next year!

Have a great weekend everyone!


Patti

 

[ldb1030]

Hey Patti- Well, the house cleaning always seems to happen when a new coach comes along! It's to be expected I guess! I hear nothing but good things! Can't wait for football season!!

I was talking to friends over the weekend and they can't believe it's time for our cruise AGAIN!!! They think I go all the time! I WISH!!!!

I really thought about the passports, mine expired also but can't decide if I can spend another $300.00 right now.......still thinking!

 

[Husker4040]

I just don't want the hassle of having to tote birth certificates. I would have to get copies for DH and I. I got copies of the girls right after I found out that I needed them to renew their passports.

I did get some cruise things done over the weekend. We found snorkel equipment on clearance. I'm kind of a germ freak , so I thought it better to use our own. It was pretty cheap, so I don't feel too bad about spending the money. I also let everyone in our group know about the boards (anyone here yet?), and how to log on to see their reservation. I started passing along some links I found really helpful. I hope everyone else is getting as excited as I am!


Patti

 

[Skuba2]

Check the current regulations for passports. I think they are requiring them now. Not sure. I remember reading something about it---but not sure if it was resolved that we do need them or not. I always have mine and keep a copy of it in the safe in the room. Mine needs renewal and my son needs one.

Keep counting down guys and give me warning when it is 150 days out--those in Cat 1-3 can register for excursions then.

I am trying not to think about it right now. It just seems like a life-time away and so much can happen between now and then. Patti knows--but my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer last August. Not wishing any time away right now. A cure would be great but on the level of a miracle. Just hoping for a few good years and that he is feeling good enough at the end of June to join us in Orlando before the cruise.

Deb

 

[Husker4040]

Hi Deb! Current regs on the passports is December 2007 now, I think. Here is a copy of the statement I just took off their page. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.

We have ours, they just need to be renewed. TODAY I will do passports....or I will try. I got Sara's IB application done yesterday, so that is out of the way. A great big raspberry to all of those that can book excursions early! That's ok. Our time will come. I'm getting really excited, and my younger daughter is just about beside herself. I can't imagine how bad it's going to get when they are getting to the end of the school year. As you can tell, instead of working, I'm on the boards today. Too much boring work to do today!

 

[MrShiny]

I would suggest renewing the passports because a) easier to carry than birth certificates b) you will need them someday c) they will inevitably cost more in the future (and take longer with all the new applicants after the new rules go into effect).

The only other thing to remember is the requirement if you are traveling without both parents of a given child. I think it's Mexico that's really picky about you having papers showing you have the right to transport the child without the other parent (too many custody battles where one parent takes off to Mexico I think).

 

[Husker4040]

I agree MrShiny. We traveled back and forth to England for a couple of years, and are well used to having to use the passports. I started the paperwork today to get the renewals going. When we came back for the last time, we put them in the safe deposit box, and I didn't think about them again until right before they expired.

 

[Skuba2]

I knew the regulations had changed and they are now more strict. I used to always carry my passport when leaving the country. I always felt more secure with it. I do have to renew and my son needs one. I also bring along my birth certificate. CYA I always say.

Another suggestion is to make a couple copies of your passport and birth certificate. Leave one at home with a relative/friend and another in the safe on the ship. I even take a third and put them in separate places on us as we travel.

Some other cruise suggestions: Take along a couple cards with a magnetic strip--not credit cards or things you don't want to screw up. The safes are locked and unlocked by cards with magnetic strips. We used our Universal Studio Room keys as safe keys. A few lost their strip in the process which is why you don't want to use a credit card.

There are some really good posts on the main cruise board with tips and suggestions for the particular room you are in. You can always find someone who has stayed in it before. I've heard things from over the door shoe holder is a great plus for a crowded bathroom. Holds hair dryers, curling irons and such. I've heard of extension cords helping for bathrooms also.
Just post your room number with any suggestions welcome. You may even get pictures of the actual room.

You can also do this for any excursions you want as well as any spa. You can even find recent navigators (both kid's club as well as adults) to help you plan out your days. The funny thing is you can go beserk planning. On our first Disney Cruise I had put on outlook everything I wanted to do and those things I thought everyone else would want to do. Had it all color coded for each person. It looked cool. Printed it out and then threw it away. LOL!!

Gotta go get kids off to school.

Deb

 

[Deb in IA]

Hey, I'm coming to this party late, but CAN I JOIN TOO??

I booked the July 1-8 Western Caribbean too!!!

I didn't read all 15 pages of this thread, but I think I read that there would be some 14 and 15 year olds.

My daughter Jennifer will be 15, and our son, Mark will be 11.

I just booked this January 5, and only had enough DVC points for a Category 9, but at least we are going!!! Whooo!!

 

[ldb1030]

Welcome to another Deb!!
Yes, my daughter Alexa will be 15 on the cruise also!
She would love to email with Jennifer if that would be okay?!
Let me know! Is this your 1st Disney Cruise??

 

[Husker4040]

Welcome Deb! My daughters are 13 and 14. We are going with a group of 21 total. Interesting how many of us are from the midwest! Having the mildest winter that I can ever remember, but we aren't out of the woods yet!

Have a great weekend everyone! I will try and post about my passport nightmare later. You will NOT believe it!

Patti