June 6, 2009--Anybody going?

[Taffygirl]

Marilyn -welcome home from your Carnival cruise - tell us all about the islands and what you did and what you'd recommend

Karen (Kat 123) - there are 4 girls who will be 10 and 11 on the cruise who are emailing each other - Would your son feel comfortable with girls? If so let me know and I'll ask the girls if it is OK for him to jump on board

Suz D - great idea about breakfast on Sunday morning - the people who have their character breakfast that morning couldn't join in but I'm thinking if we have 2 or 3 get togethers people can make 1 or 2 or 3 SO

1) lets start with a meet & greet on Saturday (short & sweet) so the kids can meet each other before the Sail Away Party - the kids could do their exchange then
2) breakfast at Topsiders on Sunday morning for those who want to
3) Would anyone like to do a room tour? We would take a peek at the different categories of rooms - kind of fun and it lets you get ideas for the future
4) Fish Extender game - each cabin or group of people would put things in everybody else's FE once (at a time convenient for them - so you might get 2or 3 things one day) - gifts can be for the cabin (snacks, etc.) or for each person (pencil, sticker, musical CD that you created, etc.)

Everyone put your thinking caps on and keep in touch

Thanks Debby. Our caribbean cruise first went to Nassau where we stayed on board b/c we've been there several times and it was a tad rainy, so we just enjoyed the ship.

DH and I had never been to St. Thomas which was our 2nd stop. We took an open-air taxi ride for two hours to get a feel for the island. It was very nice. Then we took the cable ride up to Paradise Point for lunch and a drink. That is pretty much all we except I did a little shopping in the stores right at the port. Our taxi tour took us by Megan's Bay which was very nice. Wouldn't mind spending some time there. I think a taxi to Megan's Bay cost $4 pp each way.

I had never been to St. Maartin's either, though DH had about 30 years ago in another life. LOL For this port we had a previously arranged private tour for $35 pp that lasted about 6-7 hours. It took us all over the place, both Dutch and French sides, we spent about 1 1/2 hours at Orient Beach, had shopping stops, and the tour owner even had coolers full of water, beer, rum punch, and sodas (included in the tour price). He also took us to a fabulous souvenir store that DH and I both want to go back to. It had tons of stuff and very inexpensive. The tour also stopped at a place near the water where a man showed us all kinds of sea life (sea urchins, star fish, etc) and told us about them. Very interesting. The tour also went to the airport where the planes come in right over your head. It was a great tour.

I think the room tour is a fun idea. DH and I have a balcony on the port side (I think) and would be willing to show it (as long as it isn't during DH's naptime!

Marilyn

 

[AbsyBabsy]

We are booked for June 6th - we booked one year ago today!

We have mom, dad, nanny and DD 9 at the time of the cruise.

I can't wait - only 124 days from today (2/1)

 

[bode]

Just booked the 7 night cruise as well. Will be cruising with my DD 9. Single parent here and this is mine and my DD 4th cruise. 2 on RCCL and now 2 on DCL. father daughter cruising is awesome. Will be driving down from upstate SC.

 

[mousecraszy]

Welcome bode!!! We will be driving down from the midlands of SC. Disneydka will be traveling from Rock Hill, SC. We are getting excited as well. We just look forward to getting onboard and relaxing!!! It is fast approaching. Count us in for meet and greet and FE game. Grandma Debbie has been so wonderful to get several of the 9-11 yr old girls e-mailing each other. Happy planning!!

 

[AStamm]

Fourth months to go! We got our planning booklet in the mail today. It just made DS and I both more excited to go.

 

[Principessa]

Planning booklet? Was I supposed to send away for that?

I guess I'm the only one who feels like June 6th is a LONG time from now.
I have so much to get done at work before then!!!

Has everyone decided on their shore excursions already?
I can't decide if I am going to want to sit on the beach, snorkel, or
explore the town....hard to decide so far in advance.

Does anyone know if we should expect perfect weather that early
in June or not?

For any answers, thanks in advance! And welcome to recent June Bug list joiners!

 

[AStamm]

Planning booklet? Was I supposed to send away for that?

It's actually called the "My Cruise Travel Kit", but no, you don't have to order it or anything...you should be getting yours in the mail anyday now. It's got information about the excursions, what to pack, etc. Certainly nothing you won't find on-line here.

 

[AStamm]

Has everyone decided on their shore excursions already?
I can't decide if I am going to want to sit on the beach, snorkel, or
explore the town....hard to decide so far in advance.

Since it's just going to be DS and I on the cruise, I didn't want to plan for anything too challenging. At this point on St. Maarten we've chosen the Island and Butterfly Farm Tour for the morning and the Afternoon Beach Bash. I looked at some recently posted "Navigators" and this should be doable if we get the 8:00 am tour. DS is all excited about doing the Atlantis Submarine Adventure in St. Thomas. I figured we'd spend the remainder of the day walking around the island or just relaxing on the ship.

Have fun choosing!

 

[Suz D]

I've not been to either of the Ports of Call so this is just information that I've gleaned from the boards and other sources (including the DCL website descriptions of the shore excursions) and it's merely FYI, but apparently some of the beaches allow topless sunbathing so if that type of thing is not for you or for your kids you might want to do a little research.

We personally are only going to do CC for our beach time. We're thinking about the butterfly farm, but honestly, we often just walk around the town and do a little browsing in the morning and then we go back and enjoy a fairly empty ship, relax, catch a movie, read, etc. in the afternoon.

 

[AStamm]

I've not been to either of the Ports of Call so this is just information that I've gleaned from the boards and other sources (including the DCL website descriptions of the shore excursions) and it's merely FYI, but apparently some of the beaches allow topless sunbathing so if that type of thing is not for you or for your kids you might want to do a little research.

We personally are only going to do CC for our beach time. We're thinking about the butterfly farm, but honestly, we often just walk around the town and do a little browsing in the morning and then we go back and enjoy a fairly empty ship, relax, catch a movie, read, etc. in the afternoon.

I'm okay with the topless thing, but after seeing the newest Navigator posted to the DIS this morning (mid-January, I think), it looks as if DS and I will be changing our St. Maarten plans to the Island and Butterfly Farm tour only--the Afternoon Beach Bash doesn't start until 1:30 and with the tour lasting 3.5 to 4 hours, that won't give us enough time to get ready for PITC night. It was cutting it very close when I thought the beach bash left at 1:00, but 1:30 is definitely too late since we've got the 1st seating for dinner and DS already has his pirate costume he wants to wear that evening.

 

[bode]

Suz D, it happens so seldom be just be aware that if there are high winds or a storm the boat may not make it to CC. It has never happened to me on a cruise but I see where it has happened. You might not want to place all your eggs in one basket. Last year while we were in St. Marteen we were able to walk 15 minutes to the beach and enjoyed it. The best part is that it only cost me $10 for the rental of the covered beach chairs. That is what we are planning on doing along with CC.

 

[Suz D]

Suz D, it happens so seldom be just be aware that if there are high winds or a storm the boat may not make it to CC. It has never happened to me on a cruise but I see where it has happened. You might not want to place all your eggs in one basket. Last year while we were in St. Marteen we were able to walk 15 minutes to the beach and enjoyed it. The best part is that it only cost me $10 for the rental of the covered beach chairs. That is what we are planning on doing along with CC.

Thanks bode for the info. This is our 4th Disney cruise and we've made CC each time so we are probably overdue for a miss on that one. Strangely enough we are not big beach people. We love CC and would be sad to miss it, but doing the beach isn't a big enough deal for us to go somewhere other than CC to enjoy it.

Our first cruise was a 4 night Wonder cruise in 2005 for NYE. We were at CC for NYE and that night as we were leaving CC the captain annouced that they wanted us to be the first visitors to CC in 2006 so we were going to sail around overnight and then dock again at CC the next day. On top of that, if you paid for shore excursions on CC for NYE you would get the same ones free on New Years day. How fun is that?!

Anyway, thanks again for the input. I'm sure everything thinks it's odd to go on a Caribbean cruise when you don't love the beach, but we LOVE the ocean and DCL.

BTW, I got fun, fun, fun gifts for our FE exchange! I'm so excited to have scored this way cool thing. Is someone going to let us know the number of cabins? I know that several families are traveling with more than one cabin. Also, I'm guessing that someone will let us know how many kids are participating in the State exchange? I want to get things set out for this as we're going to have a pretty busy spring. I'm really getting excited now. It was much easier when I wasn't as excited about it!

 

[Grandma Debby]

Here is what I have on the fish extender game:
kat123 2 adults 2 kids 11 & 8
disneydka 2 adults 2 kids 16 & 7
lrensin 4 adults 3 kids 9, 4 & 3
Principessa 3 adults 1 kid 13
AStamm 1 adult 1 kid 10
Suz D 2 adults 2 kids 13 & 3
does your df & dfd want to be a part of it?
mousecrazy 2 adults 1 kid 11
does the rest of your family want to be included?
Grandma Debby 4 adults 3 kids 11, 5 & 1
I doubt if the 1 year old participates in the kid part

ANYBODY ELSE????
If you have more than 1 cabin and they want to play also let me know
(i.e. my oldest daughter has her own cabin but she just wants to be a part of our group)

SO FAR 8 cabins 20 adults 14 kids

I'm going to put an April 1st deadline on the fish extender game and kid exchange so everyone can get their act together

Adding cruizen mamma 2 adults 1 kid 9
Suz D's friend 1 adult 1 kid 13

SO FAR 10 cabins 23 adults 16 kids

I JUST CAN'T WAIT I JUST CAN'T WAIT

ADDING MORE PLAYERS TO THE GAME
Krisanm67 2 adults 2 kids 11 & 10
twinsindisney 2 adults 2 kids (twins) 25 months

SO FAR 12 cabins 27 adults 20 kids

It's not too late to jump on board

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Here is what I have on the fish extender game:
kat123 2 adults 2 kids 11 & 8
disneydka 2 adults 2 kids 16 & 7
lrensin 4 adults 3 kids 9, 4 & 3
Principessa 3 adults 1 kid 13
AStamm 1 adult 1 kid 10
Suz D 2 adults 2 kids 13 & 3
does your df & dfd want to be a part of it?
mousecrazy 2 adults 1 kid 11
does the rest of your family want to be included?
Grandma Debby 4 adults 3 kids 11, 5 & 1
I doubt if the 1 year old participates in the kid part

ANYBODY ELSE????
If you have more than 1 cabin and they want to play also let me know
(i.e. my oldest daughter has her own cabin but she just wants to be a part of our group)

SO FAR 8 cabins 20 adults 14 kids

I'm going to put an April 1st deadline on the fish extender game and kid exchange so everyone can get their act together

I JUST CAN'T WAIT I JUST CAN'T WAIT

please add cruizen mamma & family to fish extender game

 

[Suz D]

Yes, my friend will be doing the fish extender game. Plan on Terri and her daughter Kelli participating in their cabin.

Suz D

 

[Krisanm67]

Here is what I have on the fish extender game:
kat123 2 adults 2 kids 11 & 8
disneydka 2 adults 2 kids 16 & 7
lrensin 4 adults 3 kids 9, 4 & 3
Principessa 3 adults 1 kid 13
AStamm 1 adult 1 kid 10
Suz D 2 adults 2 kids 13 & 3
does your df & dfd want to be a part of it?
mousecrazy 2 adults 1 kid 11
does the rest of your family want to be included?
Grandma Debby 4 adults 3 kids 11, 5 & 1
I doubt if the 1 year old participates in the kid part

ANYBODY ELSE????
If you have more than 1 cabin and they want to play also let me know
(i.e. my oldest daughter has her own cabin but she just wants to be a part of our group)

SO FAR 8 cabins 20 adults 14 kids

I'm going to put an April 1st deadline on the fish extender game and kid exchange so everyone can get their act together

Adding cruizen mamma 2 adults 1 kid 9
Suz D's friend 1 adult 1 kid 13

SO FAR 10 cabins 23 adults 16 kids

I JUST CAN'T WAIT I JUST CAN'T WAIT

Please add us to the FE game and kids' state exchange.
Krisanm67 - me, dh, dd (Kellie 11) ds (Ryan 10)
This will be fun! Thanks for all this planning you are doing for us

 

[twinsindisney]

I finally joined here after lurking for awhile! We are set to cruise on the Magic as well and we are so excited! This is our big family trip this summer!

We are the Hills from Irmo, SC
Amanda (me)
Brian (Dh)
Olivia (22 months)
Katie-Grace (22 months)

The girls will be 25 months when we set sail!

We are traveling with a big group from DH's family.

We would also like to be involved in the fish extenders!


It is good to meet all of you!

 

[mousecraszy]

I'm glad you signed in!!!

Grandma Debby, twinsindisney is from our group and one of the six cabins. I'll have to let you know on the others who will be participating in the FE's.

101 days to go!!!! Not that I'm counting

 

[twinsindisney]

I'm glad you signed in!!!

Grandma Debby, twinsindisney is from our group and one of the six cabins. I'll have to let you know on the others who will be participating in the FE's.

101 days to go!!!! Not that I'm counting

I am getting more and more excited! I will have to start posting some more over here.

 

[Grandma Debby]

Some more players have jumped on board the FE game so check out post
# 133

On April 1st I will ask Marilyn to add final info to post #1 so we can all find it EASY