June 15 - June 22 2013 Eastern Fantasy

[4newtocruise]

We got a light dusting of snow last night!! It really hasn't been a bad winter for us so far.

We are originally from the east coast, NY, and moved here two years ago. I find the weather we get here is about the same there, except colder. NY got more snow where we get more cold.

Love the pictures!!! Can't wait to see those sunsets.

Really like cruising in June, glad we changed from August. I was worried about hurricanes!!!

Thank you so much for coordinating the group list. I have done it for the past two cruises and know how much work it is.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Good morning fellow cruisers. Another week has gone by.
We now have only

weeks to go to the Fantasy.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

We got a light dusting of snow last night!! It really hasn't been a bad winter for us so far.

We are originally from the east coast, NY, and moved here two years ago. I find the weather we get here is about the same there, except colder. NY got more snow where we get more cold.

Love the pictures!!! Can't wait to see those sunsets.

Really like cruising in June, glad we changed from August. I was worried about hurricanes!!!

Thank you so much for coordinating the group list. I have done it for the past two cruises and know how much work it is.

Glad you only received a light dusting. It reached into the 60s here. I'm liking this winter. My heat bills are sooo much lower this year. I think we are at least 10 degrees on average higher.
We have cruised the last 4 October's so hurricanes are nothing new to us. We have seen Hurricane Omar, Noel and Paula. DCL does a great job of not going anywhere near them. Actually the roughest cruise was last year when a surprise tropical wave rocked the Magic and i mean rocked. Half the crew went down as well as passangers. Several other cruise ship never left PC that day. Here are a few pics of that day. June should be calm but a lot hotter. We changed to June with the kids getting older and can no longer take them out of school for the week.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

FYI, I update the first post with FE Exchange information for those who would like to participate.

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

For those that have done the Eastern before, what excursions have you done? Which were the best in your opinion and where there any you wished you had not done? Thanks.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

For those that have done the Eastern before, what excursions have you done? Which were the best in your opinion and where there any you wished you had not done? Thanks.

St Maarten: We have just done Great Bay beach and Phillipsburg twice on our own. Great Bay beach is a 10 minute water taxi ride away from where the Fantasy will dock. After we were done with the beach Phillipsburg shopping is right behind the beach do to some shopping. The advantage of doing this is that is easy and inexpensive. Another advantage is you will not see the clothing optional scary sights you will see on the French side of the island. The con is the beach is nice but not spectacular. See below for some pics.
You can take the DCL excusion or a taxi over to Orient beach. Heard it is a beautiful beach but is definately clothing optional. With kids like us not a good option. Another option that serveral DISsers did was to take "Bernards tour". They take you around the island including Orient beach and Maho beach where the planes land. Everyone loved this tour. We will most likely take this tour this cruise.

http://www.bernardstours.com/

Great Bay Beach

Maho Beach plane landing

I try to post about St Thomas tomorrow.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

St Thomas:
This port can be a tender port so be aware of this. Tendering depends on the number of ships in port that day. In the winter (high season) Disney will mostly tender in while off season will dock over at Havensight. We will not know for our cruise until the schedule comes out in a year.
As for excusions you can always visit Paradise Point and enjoy the view of the harbour (see pics). It is an easy walk from Havensight. We have done this and then taken a taxi over to Charlotte Amelia for shopping. There is lots of shopping to be had there including a visit to the Belgian Chocolate Factory (yum).
We have heard that Megan's bay that is very nice but can get crowded if a number of ships are in town that day. You can take a taxi over or take a DCL excusion over to Megan's Bay.
St John's is supposed to absolutely lovely. It is a 45 minute boat ride over to the island and Trunk Bay. We have not gone over but other DISsers have gone and had a great time (see pic)

A view of the Magic from Paradise Point

A view of the Magic from Charlotte

Trunk Bay - St John

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

Thanks for the info and pictures. I remember some type of teen only excursion on one the stops that we will probably let our DS do.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Thanks for the info and pictures. I remember some type of teen only excursion on one the stops that we will probably let our DS do.

The only Teen only excusion that I know of is the Wild Side Teen Adventure on Castaway Cay. See below for a link for a description.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/castaway-cay/the-wild-side/

 

[4newtocruise]

Wow, the pictures are georgous! Can't wait to go!!!

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

The only Teen only excusion that I know of is the Wild Side Teen Adventure on Castaway Cay. See below for a link for a description.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/castaway-cay/the-wild-side/

This is one I was thinking about.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...-john-us-virgin-islands/screamin-eagle-teens/

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

This is one I was thinking about.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...-john-us-virgin-islands/screamin-eagle-teens/

Didn't realize this was a teens only excusion. We happened to see them go by the Magic back in 2009. Here is a pic of the boat going out in the pouring rain.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

TGIF

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

They offer both. A regular one for anyone or the one just for teens. We have only just glanced at the offerings.

We are going to Aulani this summer, so I have been working on our plans for that. After we return, I am sure that we will starting thinking about this cruise more. We have been wanting to do an Eastern.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

They offer both. A regular one for anyone or the one just for teens. We have only just glanced at the offerings.

We are going to Aulani this summer, so I have been working on our plans for that. After we return, I am sure that we will starting thinking about this cruise more. We have been wanting to do an Eastern.

Hawaii sounds great. Have a great time We are doing a Western in June this summer 6/23/12. My DS 11th b-day is embarkation day and very excited to be doing the Aquaduck on his b-day.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Good morning fellow cruisers. Another week has gone by.
We now have only

weeks to go to the Fantasy.

 

[duckyfans]

We are booked on this cruise, It will be myself, DH, DD(19) and DS(17). We have done the Eastern, 7 day about 6 years ago. Had a blast and can't wait to go back. This will be the 8th Disney cruise for DH and I and 3rd for our kids.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

We are booked on this cruise, It will be myself, DH, DD(19) and DS(17). We have done the Eastern, 7 day about 6 years ago. Had a blast and can't wait to go back. This will be the 8th Disney cruise for DH and I and 3rd for our kids.

aboard the Eastern Fantasy. Congrats on your 8th cruise. This will be our 9th. Only one more to platinum. One change that you will like since you have last been on the Eastern is you no longer have to check in with Customs at St Thomas any more.

 

[4newtocruise]

We are booked on this cruise, It will be myself, DH, DD(19) and DS(17). We have done the Eastern, 7 day about 6 years ago. Had a blast and can't wait to go back. This will be the 8th Disney cruise for DH and I and 3rd for our kids.

WELCOME!!

 

[SDGoofy]

At Great Bay beach, does anyone know if there are Kayak rentals at the beach? Wanted to do this with the kids and would rather do it here than take the time at Castaway Cay.

Also has anyone done the St John Island Tour when in St Thomas? We've been looking into this one.