June 15 '08 Mexican Riv. Cruise

[Steven41782]

As far as pictures go... there are camera people EVERYWHERE. They are opportunities for pictures all the time. They have a lot of different backdrops, plus we got our picture made with the captain and with various characters. Camera people are also roaming around on deck to capture candid shots. They also come around at the restaurants and take them. We got a lot of great quality photos... but it is expensive.. I forget how much, but if you look on www.wdwinfo.com you should be able to find.

DW has been accepted to grad school.... we are now worried that her schedule will conflict with the cruise... I am crossing my fingers though!

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

I was checking DCL's website...like I do every day to see if the prices for our cruise went down ...and I noticed that there's only Cat. 9 & Cat 5 left. Looks like our ship is sellin out. All the other dates have several Cats. available. C'mon out all you lirkers....we know you're there and would love you to hear from you

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

As far as pictures go... there are camera people EVERYWHERE. They are opportunities for pictures all the time. They have a lot of different backdrops, plus we got our picture made with the captain and with various characters. Camera people are also roaming around on deck to capture candid shots. They also come around at the restaurants and take them. We got a lot of great quality photos... but it is expensive.. I forget how much, but if you look on www.wdwinfo.com you should be able to find.

DW has been accepted to grad school.... we are now worried that her schedule will conflict with the cruise... I am crossing my fingers though!

Thanks! I'm excited to hear they capture candid shots throughout the cruise...as much as a formal posed shot it great, I love, love a great shot when nobody knows you're taking it....most times

CONGRATS to your DW but I hope you're still able to make the cruise! It's better that you find out now BEFORE you've paid in full.

 

[Steven41782]

I had two travel agents tell me that our cruise is sold out last week. I don't know what that means. If you use cruisecompete website, several travel agents will email you with quotes. DreamsUnlimited was within 50$ of the lowest offer so we went with them. We've used them before, so it's worth the money because we know they'll do a great job.

I bet there are lurkers out there!

 

[Steven41782]

Looks like we'll have a murderer on board... so far i've killed a thread.

Guess what... I got great news today! I got results back from my CPA exam and I passed! I have one more section and I am done! Hopefully by the time this cruise comes around we will have reason to celebrate.

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

Hey there! Crazy day yesterday....I hate when work gets in the way of my DIS time

Doin the happy dance that you passed your CPA exam! CONGRATS. That cannot be easy...I hate to balance my check book...oh wait, I don't balance my checkbook I'm sure you'll do great on the last part...when do you take that exam? Between this and your DW being accepted to Grad School you'll have a ton to celebrate - perfect excuse for a Disney Cruise! We should try and meet for a toast on the ship

I've started the countdown to making that final payment...yikes After I pick my DH up off the floor, then we can start the fun countdown to actually getting on board.

I'm gunna be a proud parent for a sec....my DD made All-State Band. This is a pretty big deal in "Band World"...it means she's one of the best flute players in Nevada. Flute is one of the most competetive instruments because there are so many of them so we're sooo proud of her AND she got on the varsity swim team - it's been a good week!

Quick question....Since you have cruised before, you can make reservations for excurusions and Palo earlier right as CC members? Did you make any decisions on what you think you might do. I'm leaning toward dinner at Palo (if I can get that day) on semi-formal night since we'll be dressed up anyway.

 

[Steven41782]

CONGRATS on the Allstate and swim team news... I play the trumpet, but I never made all state, only region band. She must be an exellent musician. My DW and I both play the trumpet at our church and actually met through marching band (please don't picture the stereotypical band nerds at this point)... We can understand your excitement. I think music education is so important. It develops a lot of areas of your brain at once. Congrats again.

As for palo... we haven't decided. We enjoy our dinner and waitstaff so much, but everyone says it's a must do. We have not had time to look at excursions yet. I am under the impression that castaway members can book 90 days out, if paid in full for palo, spa, and excursions. We will probably wait until mid-march to start really getting in to full cruise mode as that is when DW finds out her grad school schedule (crosses fingers).

Yeah... our final payment is due on March 31st, right? We are using our tax refund and some savings for this trip. Right now airfare is sitting at 4 to 500 per. YIKES! It will be worth it though!

We're going to try to fit in an LA sight seeing tour upon debarkation. Does anyone have suggestions? What can we do with our luggage? I'm assuming a hotel room wouldn't be ready until 3 or 4, but I figure it could be my last chance to go to LA so we better get cultured.

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

So funny, her boyfriend plays Trumpet in the Band...guest we know what instrument your kids will play

Hopefully someone from LA or that area can help you out with tours. There are lots of them and some areas you can just do on your own like G.Chinese Theatre etc. Just be careful to choose a hotel in a nice area. My DSIL lives nearby, I'll ask her if she has any recommendations.

Just watched all the NASCAR car haulers pass my office building on the highway...I"m not a race fan but it was pretty cool to see them. They're getting ready to parade down Las Vegas Boulevard this afternoon. In case it makes national news, a friend's brother drives the hauler for the #17 car sponsored by DeWalt...it's school bus orange - you can't miss it.

 

[Nevada]

I have my excursions, Palo and Flounder's booked! Woot!

We're traveling with another family so our group numbers 12. Various members on my party are doing Cabo - Los Arcos Sea Kayak and Snorkel, Dolphin Kids, Mazatlan - Best of Mazatlan, PV - Outdoor Adventure and Pirate Boat Sail and Snorkel Adventure!

I notice some excursions are gone such as some big ticket items and the Nikki Beach excursion. I'd say about 5 or 6 excursions are already full. That's a shame.

 

[Nevada]

We actually have 3 cabins two of which can view see the excursion list and the 3rd can't.

I don't want to rain on anyones fun but I am going to list what they are saying is full so you guys will at least have that info and can plan your excursions accordingly.

I'm really sorry! But hope this helps.

Cabo San Lucas
Baja 1000 Test Track
Sportsfishing Excursion
Nikki Beach Escape

Puerta Vallarta
Bandaras Bay Luxury Sailing Adventure
Dolphin Signature Swim
Dolphin Trainer for a Day
Extreme Amphibian Adventure

That's it so far!

 

[gou08]

hey...

just wondering if some of the other teens wanted to meet before the cruise via facebook, e-mail, aim, or myspace. i've always done this before cruises and it made it so much better once on the boat to know people already!

let me know and i can personal-message you my info, and we can get this party started before the party starts!

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

Bumpin up

 

[secretkeeper]

Final Payment today!!!! It is always sooooo terrifying to see that much $ go away BUT sooooo worth it. I have to get back to the habit of the boards. I haven't been on for several weeks and was amazed to see all the activity. I have two teens. DS will be almost 15. Our DD 17 will also have just graduated HS on the 5th of June. We are also looking at excursions as we get to book next Sunday. Don't miss Palo if you have never been. My husband & I had both a brunch & a dinner on our last trip. Both were terriffic. Worth the extra $ and the tip we left as well. I noticed someone else was looking for excusions for younger children. Our youngest is missing the cutoff for most excusions as he turns 5 on the 28th. I saw the children's Dolphin Encounter but am not sure how that works. It says ages 4 -9 but I can't see Disney not expecting an adult to attend so I have to check into that. I saw the post about the teens starting a e-mail tree of some kind. I will have my DD send a post and see if she can coordinate. She is bummed that no one she met last time is making this cruise. At one point there were two other families from our previous cruise that were planning on doing this cruise but it did not work out. It might make her feel better if she has a connection prior to leaving. However I keep reminding her how many friends she and her brother met last time and that relieves some anxiety. I'm sitting at work looking at my travel stuff and am getting very excited!

 

[Steven41782]

We have decided to go to WDW this summer instead of the cruise. Mainly due to Air Fare. I do hope that everyone has a magical cruise though.

 

[laurenbcl]

I'm confused - how are some excursions already sold out? Isn't the first day to book them for most people April 1st? Please let me know - feeling like a clueless first timer! Thanks!

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

We have decided to go to WDW this summer instead of the cruise. Mainly due to Air Fare. I do hope that everyone has a magical cruise though.

Sorry to hear that you won't be sailing with us but have a magical trip to WDW (my DD is headed there on Wednesday with school) and best of luck with your accounting exams and to your DW as she starts Grad school . Maybe we'll run into eachother again on another DC...I'm sure this won't be our last one!

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

I'm confused - how are some excursions already sold out? Isn't the first day to book them for most people April 1st? Please let me know - feeling like a clueless first timer! Thanks!

Returning cruisers can book 95 days out and someone who has added a package such as the Romance Package can book 105 days out. I have heard that even if some packages show sold out, as long as they are still offerring that excursion ('cause they are subject to change), you may still be able to book once you get on the ship. So, don't loose all hope if one of the excursions you were intending to book was on that list . Just be sure you're ready to get on-line the moment you're able to try and get the reservation. If you can't, be ready to bee-line it to the excursion desk once you board to try again at that time. I know you were concerned about getting excursions for your little ones so I'll wish for a sprinking of pixie dust and keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[secretkeeper]

We actually have 3 cabins two of which can view see the excursion list and the 3rd can't.

I don't want to rain on anyones fun but I am going to list what they are saying is full so you guys will at least have that info and can plan your excursions accordingly.

I'm really sorry! But hope this helps.

Cabo San Lucas
Baja 1000 Test Track
Sportsfishing Excursion
Nikki Beach Escape

Puerta Vallarta
Bandaras Bay Luxury Sailing Adventure
Dolphin Signature Swim
Dolphin Trainer for a Day
Extreme Amphibian Adventure

That's it so far!

Thanks as that really helps. We get to book Sunday and we were looking over choices today.

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

BUMP

 

[CRVPinMinnesota]

This will be our families 2nd trip on DCL. We are going with my sister in law, husband and daughter. They had the idea to do the DCL cruise together after their REPO cruise to the Mediterranean. My wife son and daughter did the Eastern cruise 2 years ago.

We all had a great time on our previous cruises because the cruise had something for everyone. My brother in-law likes to relax, sister in-law likes to explore and my wife and are kind of a mix plus when the sisters get together they enjoy being pampered with spa treatments. Wine, good food and shows all of this can be done without worrying about entertaining the kids. That was the giant pull to go on Disney. Looking forward to the cruise. See you folks there