June 23rd 2012 - Commandeering the Disney Fantasy - Pirates back in the Caribbean

[discorsner]

Are you on deck 9? We must be neighbors. We are in 9674. Being on the end of the ship looks like it will be very cool!

So the two of you will be up there above us. At least we know who will be up there throwing stuff on our heads.

Actually it will be cool to look around and "know" people who are in different places.

We are excited about being on the back of the ship too!

 

[discorsner]

I've been posting all the pictures and analysis I can find in either the "special rooms" thread or the corner rooms thread. I'd be glad to help answer questions as well.

Hi HallsofVA! Thanks for the Dream analysis. It helped us out. I forgot that you were on one of our cruises as well. Cool!

 

[HallsofVA]

Hi HallsofVA! Thanks for the Dream analysis. It helped us out. I forgot that you were on one of our cruises as well. Cool!

Glad I could help!

 

[Diznyfan68]

Was catching up on the Board and couldn't help but notice your post about Band..my DS is also in Band - plays snare in their drumline. My DD, who graduated in '08, played flute so we've been Band parents a looonnnng time . What does your son play? GREAT score...congrats to them

Thanks - we are very proud of them, this is the bands highest score ever and they also moved up from a 7th place finish last year to 2nd this year. They have really worked hard and it shows! My DS is also in drumline - this year he is playing cymbols.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Hi everyone!

Looks like our friends might not be joining us, so we will be on our own. I am sure that we will still have a blast, but I am sure that my daughter would have been happier with a built in friend in the kids clubs! Ahh well.

She still doesn't know that we are going. I am thinking that we will either wait and tell her at the port, or tell her on her birthday that year, which will be 22 days before we sail! We could get her snorkleling gear, an autograph book, etc....If we get a lot of kids close to her age though, I might tell her so that maybe she can communicate with some kids beforehand. She is a bit shy.
My boy will only be three, so I imagine that he will go along with whatever.

Anyway, we are busy here! Parent/Teacher conference tomorrow and, of course, one of my favorite days of the year, Election Day! Yes, I am one of those obsessed people who watches returns all night. My husband always makes dinner and he'll get the kiddos ready for bed so that I can watch returns! Doesn't matter whether my candidates are going to win or lose. I love election day.

Anyway, remember to vote!

 

[justmestace]

I have one of the corner rooms and am worried that I will be looking at the deck, not the ocean, through a porthole and then another piece of glass(2 windows that will be covered in salt).



Why did you decide against the corner room?

I think everyone in front will be able to see some of the ocean. The lower decks, not so much as the upper decks.

I'm guessing that the "film" that was placed on the windows is to deflect the sun.
As far up as those rooms are, there really shouldn't be a problem with the windows having salt on them, and they're probably cleaned often, too.
Personally, for the money, those rooms would be great. You're getting quite a bit more space for the same price as a smaller room.

 

[kimpossible]

Hi-

Joining up. We just got off the Magic last week and re-booked this cruise. Room 9648.

Myself (Kim)
Husband (Jeff)
Son (Jonathan will be 11)
Son (Harrison, turning 7 on board)

Love the logo!!!!

 

[justmestace]

Hi-

Joining up. We just got off the Magic last week and re-booked this cruise. Room 9648.

Myself (Kim)
Husband (Jeff)
Son (Jonathan will be 11)
Son (Harrison, turning 7 on board)

Love the logo!!!!

 

[kimpossible]

Todd, we are switched. Same room $5.00 more than the previous week. LOL! Now to find out if this is the regular itinerary or a special western.

Are we seriously going to Cozumel, GC AND Costa Maya?!?!?!? I will have to contact David again! He offers other tours there.

What is a special western? That is what it is listed on our reservation.

I would love it if they would take out Costa Maya and add 2 stops at Castaway Cay!!!

 

[ranidayz]

What is a special western? That is what it is listed on our reservation.

I would love it if they would take out Costa Maya and add 2 stops at Castaway Cay!!!

so totally agreed! I'd just love an additional sea day....I actually like my time on the ship!

 

[goingsouth]

Gydell,

Can you kindly update our cabin number- it's now 12010.

Thanks!

 

[lbgraves]

What is a special western? That is what it is listed on our reservation.

I would love it if they would take out Costa Maya and add 2 stops at Castaway Cay!!!

The regular western is Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. They have altered them in the past to have a double dip at CC and a stop at Costa Maya instead of Grand Cayman. We enjoyed Costa Maya very much when we were there in December 2006. The kids still talk about that experience. There won't be much time to do anything if the time in port stays as it is though. It takes about an hour one way to get to the ruins.

 

[kimpossible]

The regular western is Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. They have altered them in the past to have a double dip at CC and a stop at Costa Maya instead of Grand Cayman. We enjoyed Costa Maya very much when we were there in December 2006. The kids still talk about that experience. There won't be much time to do anything if the time in port stays as it is though. It takes about an hour one way to get to the ruins.

I was thinking the same thing. I might just use it as an at sea day.

 

[HallsofVA]

The regular western is Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. They have altered them in the past to have a double dip at CC and a stop at Costa Maya instead of Grand Cayman. We enjoyed Costa Maya very much when we were there in December 2006. The kids still talk about that experience. There won't be much time to do anything if the time in port stays as it is though. It takes about an hour one way to get to the ruins.

We went to Costa Maya in Dec 2005 after a hurricane wiped out Cozumel. We enjoyed it. But I'm looking forward to hitting both Cozumel and Costa Maya, in addition to Cayman on this stop, as I've never liked Key West. But with the short time we're scheduled to be in CM, it will probably be a psuedo sea day like Key West, with brunch offered that morning I'd assume.

 

[discorsner]

Hi-

Joining up. We just got off the Magic last week and re-booked this cruise. Room 9648.

Myself (Kim)
Husband (Jeff)
Son (Jonathan will be 11)
Son (Harrison, turning 7 on board)

Love the logo!!!!

Hi Kim,

Welcome! My two boys will be 11 and 8 on this cruise so maybe they can hook up with your two in the clubs. We are in 8188 so just down the stairs and down the hall a little ways.

Have your kids ever had sign out priviledges at the clubs before? We have only gone twice when they were younger and it wasn't an option but my understanding is it's the only option for 11 year olds so I am attempting to get use to the idea!

 

[discorsner]

So those that have done a western before...

What do you recommend for Cozumel excursions? We would like to see the ruins at one point in our lives I think but I am wondering if it is a good time with the kids ages at 11 and 8 or not.

Has anyone done the whole day long Tulum excursion? Opinions? Worried as it take so long but I know DH would love it.

 

[lbgraves]

I believe that it depends on your kids and what they enjoy or tollerate. We enjoy going to DC and touring the monuments and museums as a family. The kids are history buffs so they can last for hours. We didn't do the ruins in Tulum but the excursion we took in Costa Maya lasted about 6 hours. My kids loved it. I had booked 95 of us with the company and we filled 2 big buses. The main guide was with us and since we had the younger kids on our bus [intentionally] I asked him to do something for them that would interest them. He was interactive with many of them and while he talked to the adults, he made sure to point out things on the kids' levels as well so it didn't leave them out. My kids were 6 & 8 at the time. DD6 kept repeating facts about the ruins including how old they were for months. DS8 liked seeing all the stuff he had seen in books but was most touched by our interaction with the kids in the nearby village when we stopped to hand out school supplies at their school.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

We went to Costa Maya in Dec 2005 after a hurricane wiped out Cozumel. We enjoyed it. But I'm looking forward to hitting both Cozumel and Costa Maya, in addition to Cayman on this stop, as I've never liked Key West. But with the short time we're scheduled to be in CM, it will probably be a psuedo sea day like Key West, with brunch offered that morning I'd assume.

I think we were on the first DCL sailing to go to Costa Maya. It was due to bad weather and we ended up not going to ports in the order we were supposed to, and skipping Grand Cayman altogether, going to Costa Maya instead. I wasn't all that impressed with it, but I admit that we didn't do any type of excursions and just got off the ship toured the little area right there, then got back on. The only thing that I remember very well was that there was a HUGE shark checking out the ship. It was awesome. Some folks said it was a Great White, but I am not sure.

 

[justmestace]

I thought the area near the pier in Costa Maya was rather inventive. I haven't seen any other ports like it.

We've gone twice, with two different dive/snorkel outfits. I liked the one with the more developed (if you can call it that) resort. It had a pool. I love to snorkel, just am not wild about sandy beaches.


Cozumel, we also usually snorkel. There's a recurring theme with my cruise excursions.
I have friends who went to the ruins from Coz, but they weren't very impressed. It's a long, hot ride, but if you've never seen them, it's still pretty interesting. We've seen some really huge ruins (Tikal) in Guatemala, so I wouldn't go to Tulum......but that's just me. I heard that most of the kids who went were just glad to get onto the small beach there and get wet. And they complained about the sandwiches that were served as lunch.

I don't know anyone who's gone to the San Gervasio ruins.

 

[justmestace]

Is it insane to be planning for a cruise on a ship that isn't even built yet? I've got OCP.