July 9th 2005 - West Coast Cruise.

[FOJMO]

Well, speaking of anniversaries -- we booked this cruise specifically because it was over our anniversary -- 24 years on JULY 11th! I hoping that's formal night. It might be, as that is a sea day.

SoccerDad - my DH will be there. His name is Stu and mine is Val. Hope to meet some of you. We'll be coming in from Tampa, FL on 7/6 and staying at the Grand Californian for 3 days before the cruise.

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Welcome Val and Stu,
Congrats on your anniversary. We look forward to meeting you. You may very well be right about formal night. Tuxes, tiaras, dinner at Palo's, and the "Wonders" of the Magic (pun intended) should make for a memorable anniversary night for you.

BTW, where is the Grand Californian? I've never heard of it.

Stu, perhaps you can help me out here. Do you have a Disney Board logon, or can you hijack Val's? I'm a lone male in a sea of posting women, and as a result I'm becoming confused and disoriented (even more so than normal), referring to Lori as Kim (or was it Kim as Lori??), and committing who-knows-what other faux paus.

Chris

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

See what happens when you let the guys out of their boxes? Pardon my verbous DH. geez!

Thanks for all of the good excursion ideas. And yeah, recruit ol' Soccerdad to make the nametags. but that means everyone has to show up at the sailaway (or a cocktail party). He gets cranky if no one is around to appreciate his handywork

If you are venturing to Sea World: get to the shows early if you want good seats and be prepared to sit for at least 30 minutes. And, avoid the splash zone - salt water that a big ol' whale has been swimming in? Eeww. Don't forget Wild Animal Park, Old Town, and The Gas Lamp (if you can get away from the kids for dinner).

Last person to get their docs buys drinks at the Sailaway! Ready? GO!

 

[jel0511]

Hey Chris---This is Kim!! I also have booked with Randi's Happy Horses and are currently looking into other options...like a dolphin encounter in Puerto Vallarta. They have a special encounter designed for the 8 and under set! My kids will be DD8 and DS4---so I'm also interested in excursions for the younger kids! I'll share anything I find out!

Kim

Hey Kim, that's GREAT you're also with Randi!! Our kids will be DD7 and DS4, so they'll have little buddies during the ride!!!!!

 

[jel0511]

I'm taking my newly appointed position (by Mr. Chris of course) very seriously!!! Anyway, here is a GREAT website I found that offers excursions in Mexico. They are a reputable company, and will offer excursions at all our ports. These are non-Disney related, though Disney might offer some similiar ones. Something for you all to look at!!!!
http://www.shoretrips.com/common/search2.asp?rcode=MEX

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

MR. CHRIS??? Aw, geez, now he's gonna go and get a big head and be impossible to live with! Just remember your mantra, DH, "Yes, Dear. Anything you say, Dear...."

Thanks for the great footwork! It would be fun to share cool adventrues with new shipmate friends.


Can we go now? How 'bout now? Now? How 'bout now?

 

[mommykeg]

Hey...I was looking into excursions through Vallarta Adventures---specifically a Dolphin encounter for kids age 4-8--but they said that we'd have to book through the cruise line because the cruise line will hold all the available spots for the day they are in port. They really limit the number of spots for a great experience, so I guess that makes sense. Anyone find anything else?

Kim

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Great job, Lori! "Mr. Chris" is very impressed with your work. Once excursions start being researched and booked, the cruise begins to seem less abstract and closer at hand!! Soccermom is right, though. It's best not to encourage me with overly respectful salutations. I'll begin to believe I have better standing than I deserve and....

... just a minute, Soccermom is calling for me.....

Sorry, gotta go.

....... Yes, dear. Anything you say dear.......

 

[Sarangel]

BTW, where is the Grand Californian? I've never heard of it.

The GC is Disneyland's answer to the Grand Floridian (or is it the answer to Wilderness Lodge). It's right in the middle of the resort, and very swank - though I happen to think it's over priced.

The pirate adventure looks kind of fun, but I'm not sure about taking a 2 year old out in the water for that long. I guess you guys will just have to tell me how the excursions turn out

Sara

 

[renknt]

And, I'm not used to being surrounded by women. :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4:

Speaking of which, are there any guys besides me who will be on this cruise?? Where are they, or more specifically, their posts? Haven't they heard of this internet thing? It's been in all the papers. Though it will truly be a lifetime dream for me to be on a cruise ship with only women aboard, I need some Y-chromosome-types with whom I can bond, drink beer, leave the toilet seat up, and avoid asking for directions (e.g. how do I get to Deck 3?).

Where are ya, guys??!!??

Chris

Don't worry you won't be all alone (though a real man wouldn't whine about it). As a card-carrying member of the Y-Chromosome Club, I too drink beer, leave the seat up (whenever possible) and Never ask directions (you know that they can take your woman if you do...).

However, I know when to let the X-Chromosome types do what they do best - i.e. plan. My only "must do" is a deep sea fishing expedition, and given sailing times, I've been waiting for the Disney excursion lists before I plan anything. It appears that there is Sail Fishing in Mazatlan (thanks for the link, Lori). Do you fish? Wanna get a group together to do a charter? Or do you just want to be a deck ape & down a few brews...

Oh wait, it's baseball season. The beer will have to be in the sports bar. Go Giants!

Mike

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Alright, Mike!! :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4:

Welcome to the show. My complaints about being surrounded by women were just an underhanded way to get some superficial sympathy, and hopefully attract some more action on the boards.

As for excursions, we're just starting to take a look at the options, so getting a group together might be a good way to go. We did that on our last cruise in October, and we had a great time.

I don't know anything about fishing. Can't I just get a pole with a really big reel and cast it off the side of the Magic? That'll work, won't it?? Our SR is at the back of the ship on Deck 8 and I've got a pretty good arm--I'll bet I could get that sucker out there a long ways.

Chris

 

[renknt]

Just to let you know I am the DH(weird term I keeping thinking "Designated Hitter" for some reason) of Sarangel. Thiswill be our 3rd cruise all on the Magic(1,3 day 1,7 day East)!

I am so looking foreward to not being on an airplane for 8 hrs.

I don't know anything about fishing. Can't I just get a pole with a really big reel and cast it off the side of the Magic? That'll work, won't it?? Our SR is at the back of the ship on Deck 8 and I've got a pretty good arm--I'll bet I could get that sucker out there a long ways.

thats the beauty of a charter we dont have to thats what the crew an Captin are for.
As for off the balcony I am sure that someone will probaly take offense and then we would end up polishing brass somewhere

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

BTW Mike,

In your earlier post you mentioned the sports bar. The ESPN sports bar that used to be on Deck 11 is now called "The Stack", and is reserved for teenagers only. On our October cruise, I tried making the case that I act like a teenager most of the time, but they held firm.

What they did (the World Series was being played while we were on the ship) was have big screen TVs in one of the lounges on Deck 3. I don't know if that is done all the time or just when major sporting events happen.

Don't worry, though. We'll have no problem finding places to be "deck apes".

Chris

 

[jel0511]

... just a minute, Soccermom is calling for me.....

Sorry, gotta go.

....... Yes, dear. Anything you say dear.......

Now, "Mr. Chris" that's exactly right.... I like to hear the same things from my DH...... Cheri - You're doing a GREAT job with Mr. Chris, keep up the good work!!!

Ha Ha!!!! I really can't wait until we go. To continue my excursion information for the day. I did find out that you can go to the Krystal for the day and use their facilities. I really like the sound of the Dolphin excursion for 4 - 8 year olds, since that's right up our alley with a 4 and 7 YO. Hopefully DCL will offer it, if they don't we'll be the only ship in port that day (we're the only Mexican Rivieria cruise leaving LA that day, Carnival departs on Sunday and runs a day behind us) so we shouldn't have too much trouble booking it once DCL releases their excursions!!!

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Lori--

I just took notice of your post count. You're close to the "big 5,000". Do you happen to know if you get some sort of prize or recognition for that?? Perhaps some on-board credit?

 

[jel0511]

Lori--

I just took notice of your post count. You're close to the "big 5,000". Do you happen to know if you get some sort of prize or recognition for that?? Perhaps some on-board credit?

I wish!!! Now, that definately would be nice, but alas, I don't believe you get anything except more addiction to the DIS!!

 

[GrumpyMom1]

Ha Ha!!!! I really can't wait until we go. To continue my excursion information for the day. I did find out that you can go to the Krystal for the day and use their facilities.

Ok, all this talk of the Krystal is confusing me because that's my daughters name! I think we'll have to go there just to take her picture in front of a sign. She'll think she's really special to have her own resort.

 

[mommykeg]

Where is the Krystal, and what do you do there?

Kim

 

[jel0511]

Where is the Krystal, and what do you do there?

Kim

The Krystal is a resort in Puerta Vallerta. It's approx a 5 minute ride from the dock. You can use the pool and beach at the hotel for a $10 fee. After looking at the website Kim had mentioned http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/ I'm leaning towards the Las Caletas excursion. It looks like a GREAT day, and I think my kids would enjoy it. We're planning on all going on the dolphin excursion in Anguilla dueing our Eastern cruise, so this way we'll all be able to experience the dolphins together. I hope DCL will offer it, but I'm thinking they will. This list is VERY similiar to the ones offered by RCCL, Carnival and Princess for their Puerta Vallarta excrusions, so my guess is that the cruise lines contract with this company. Anyway, enjoy your weekend everyone!!

 

[FirstTimeCruiser]

Lori,
If you want to visit Krystal, do you know if you have to make arrangements ahead of time, or just show up when we get there? My son will only be 2 so that pretty much rules out excursions, so we're looking forward to spending some time on the beach!!
Suzy