July 6, 2010 - 7/6/2010 ~ Pounds to Rubles ~ Mickey invades the Baltic Sea

[aurorafan65]

I got an email saying our PIF date is next week - I'm thinking of cancelling our transfers since I have no idea where we'll be staying when we get to London. I looked at the Disney recommended hotels, but they say their full (at least according to their website - it is during Wimbeldon so who knows)

Dh has a friend in Copenhagen who's going to show us around he suggested the HoHo buses, so we'll probably do those.

My big question is - when they tell us the port times as in we'll be in Copenhagen from 9am - 5pm - is that local time or ship time? (or is it the same since they make us change our watches for the timezones)

 

[Deb T.]

My big question is - when they tell us the port times as in we'll be in Copenhagen from 9am - 5pm - is that local time or ship time? (or is it the same since they make us change our watches for the timezones)

Those are local times, for each port city. When we did the Mexican Riviera cruise in '08, we had to change our watches almost every night!

 

[Disney Rocks]

Got the call we have been waiting for. DCL called two days ago to say a category 3 cabin came available. We have been on the wait list since day one and finally have a category 3 for this cruise (cabin 8522). We had a category 4 while hoping for a category 3.

See ya real soon.

 

[aurorafan65]

Those are local times, for each port city. When we did the Mexican Riviera cruise in '08, we had to change our watches almost every night!

thanks I think this will be similar - dh said we go through 3 timezones

 

[Deb T.]

Got the call we have been waiting for. DCL called two days ago to say a category 3 cabin came available. We have been on the wait list since day one and finally have a category 3 for this cruise (cabin 8522). We had a category 4 while hoping for a category 3.

See ya real soon.

Congratulations!

 

[Deb T.]

thanks I think this will be similar - dh said we go through 3 timezones

Each time zone change will be posted in the Navigator the night before as a reminder to change clocks/watches before retiring for the night.

 

[Disney Rocks]

Congratulations!

We were very excited. We have been checking back with them every now and then. Started thinking that we were going to be out of luck and then the phone call came.

 

[Deb T.]

We were very excited. We have been checking back with them every now and then. Started thinking that we were going to be out of luck and then the phone call came.

Even though we booked this cruise on Day 1, we still ended up having to book a Cat4 GTY instead of getting a cabin assignment. (I was disconnected once that morning and by the time I got through, they were only booking GTY. From now on, I will have DU book for us on those crazy days!) So, we started secretly hoping for an upgrade even though we figured there were probably several families waiting to pay for an upgrade. We've stayed in Cats 2 and 3 before, so we know how nice and spacious they are! Oh well. We did end up being assigned to a mid-ship Cat 4 with a plexiglas balcony, which is all we really wanted in the first place. So, we're happy for us and really happy for you! Having all those extra perks and space will be really nice for you on a cruise as long as this one is! Enjoy!

 

[Disney Rocks]

Even though we booked this cruise on Day 1, we still ended up having to book a Cat4 GTY instead of getting a cabin assignment. (I was disconnected once that morning and by the time I got through, they were only booking GTY. From now on, I will have DU book for us on those crazy days!) So, we started secretly hoping for an upgrade even though we figured there were probably several families waiting to pay for an upgrade. We've stayed in Cats 2 and 3 before, so we know how nice and spacious they are! Oh well. We did end up being assigned to a mid-ship Cat 4 with a plexiglas balcony, which is all we really wanted in the first place. So, we're happy for us and really happy for you! Having all those extra perks and space will be really nice for you on a cruise as long as this one is! Enjoy!

We got through to DCL about 1 minute after they opened and all the cat 3's were gone. My DH could not believe it and said to the lady "you just opened, how could all the cat 3's be gone" but she said they were. Maybe you will get our cat 4 room. I think we were 8040 or 8042.

 

[DisneyRedHeadPirate]

I want to participate in the Fish Extenders. How many of each item do you think I'll need? Thanks!

 

[goingsouth]

I want to participate in the Fish Extenders. How many of each item do you think I'll need? Thanks!

Hi!

So glad you are participating. I'll add your name to the list. Can you please let me know how many in your cabin and ages (if kids) and your cabin number if you have one? As far as the number, there are currently 9 families signed up. We should have a better idea about numbers in a couple of months.

Anyone else??

joanne

 

[Thistle]

9 families!!!? wow, our last cruise there were 125. Come on people, play, it's so much fun!!!


Sure hope I sent my name in!!! RedHeadedPirate is playing too, I'll nudge her to let you know.

 

[goingsouth]

9 families!!!? wow, our last cruise there were 125. Come on people, play, it's so much fun!!!


Sure hope I sent my name in!!! RedHeadedPirate is playing too, I'll nudge her to let you know.

I did not have your name before. I'd be delighted to add it now..would you like to send me your particulars? cabin number and name of peope traveling with you.

joanne

 

[Deb T.]

Hi!

So glad you are participating. I'll add your name to the list. Can you please let me know how many in your cabin and ages (if kids) and your cabin number if you have one? As far as the number, there are currently 9 families signed up. We should have a better idea about numbers in a couple of months.

Anyone else??

joanne

Only 9?? Gee whiz, there are already 15 families signed up to participate on my 3-night spring break cruise!!! I think that might be a record!

 

[Deb T.]

Hi Everyone!

I thought I'd post a "Fish Extender Exchange" explanation for those of you who might not be familiar with what it is and how it works:

Beside every cabin door is a large silver fish with an indentation in the back for cruise personnel to leave information, invitations, etc.

DISboarders have taken the silver fish one step further... by creating hanging pockets (much like cloth letter holders) to hang from the fish - thus the name, "Fish Extender". The Fish Extenders (FEs) can be made of practically anything (cloth, plastic, paper gift bags, etc.), as long as they have at least one pocket that can hold surprises. My FE is just a plain little canvas bag I purchased at Michael's Craft Store. I traced a Mickey Mouse (three-circle) shape on the front with a black Sharpie and then colored it in with a lime green highlighter. (Lime green is the official color of the DIS Boards.) I'd love to have a "real" FE like some of the creative DISers have sewn, but I've never taken the time to attempt to make one.

Then, each "Cruise Meets" thread (such as this 7-6-2010 Baltic cruise one) organizes a little gift exchange during the cruise. People sign up by giving their cabin number, names of everyone in their cabin, and ages of the kids so that everyone will know how many goodies to bring and where to deliver them. Some people give one gift per family, some people give a little gift to each person. It's totally up to the giver to decide what to give and when to give it during the cruise.

There are several threads that discuss ideas for FE gifts. Some gifts are from Dollar Stores, some are handmade, and some are bought in bulk from websites that sell trinkets, such as the Oriental Trading Company. Often, the gifts are stickers, candy, glow sticks, lanyards, etc., with themes such as pirates, beach, cruise, tropical, hometown, holiday, etc. The main idea is just to have fun finding little goodies in your FE throughout the cruise. Kids LOVE running back to their cabin to see if anything's been left in their FE. As an adult, I have to admit that I love it, too!!!

If you'd like to join in on the fun on our cruise, please let "goingsouth" know. Since most of us will travel to Europe the week prior to the cruise, we are going to close the list on June 15th to give everyone time to purchase gifts and pack them. You'll also need to print the final list of participants and pack it with your gifts so you'll know where to deliver them once you're onboard the ship.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Also, this thread has tons of info and ideas about FE Gift Exchanges: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

I hope you'll decide to give it a try!

 

[goingsouth]

Wow, Deb, good job!

..3 more families signed up today!


joanne

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Hi Joanne,

We are in too!!! I will email you our info and cabin #!

 

[MN Dis Fans]

The DW & I have been thinking / talking about this for a while now, and we have decided that we're going to scale back our vacation plans for this year.
20+k on a vacation just doesn't seem like the right thing for us to do right now, DW said something about needing some new furniture, and remodeling a bathroom?

On the up side, we're now planning to do a 5 nt. (leaving July 6, recognize the day? ), and we're going to throw a few nights pre / post cruise at WDW & Universal to make up for it. We even managed to snag all 3x SPH's on the starboard side of the Wonder, so are going to drag Grandpa & Grandma with us as well.

I'll be releasing our connecting SPH's on Monday. Not sure if it's possible, but certainly willing to try and pass these on to a loyal Disboarder if someone is interested?

It's been fun being involved with this pre-trip planning, although we did more lurking than posting, and no doubt we'll eventually run into some of you on the high seas!

 

[denise]

Got some docs today from Disney for our cruise!!!!

Like the part that says Welcome Back!!!!

 

[Deb T.]

What kind of docs? Do tell!