June 6, 2009--Anybody going?

[Krisanm67]

Only 4 months....

I started working out/dieting too...not sure how that will work out, but any bit will help me.

I think I'm going to make a FE - I need to learn more about that though. Do we do the FE every night, or on certain nights - just wondering how much stuff to buy for it.

We are still planning excursions. DD and kids want to do the parasailing, we would all like to try snorkeling and we want to explore and sightsee a little bit of the islands. I think we might try and get to Pinel Island when in St. Thomas (anyone know anything about that?)

I heard that Palo is not to be missed so we will do that for one of the dinners at sea.

We have our hotel for the night before the cruise - travelling in from AZ so wont arrive 'til around 5pm the night before.

Haven't started door decorations yet - but planning it.

 

[Grandma Debby]

I don't know what happened since the first of January but I need to get back in the swing.

I don't think the kids should chat on this thread as it is open to all (worried grandmother talking here) - Emily and Sierra (who will be 11 on the cruise)have been writing back and forth using email and it works for them so if any other girls about that age want to join in we could set up an email group where the same message would go to all and they could reply to the group. Emily and Sierra have SO much in common I think they will have a great time together on the ship My email is debby@bresnan.net and I would be willing to set up the group and monitor it a little

There are different ways to do the fish extender game and I'm thinking KEEP IT SIMPLE - we are flying down so I'm trying to cut down on extras - I'm thinking if every cabin or group does it once we will have plenty of fun. If you're interested in the FISH EXTENDER GAME send me a PM or email me at the address above or jump on board here and I will keep track and let everyone know how many cabins or people are involved - shall we use
April 1st as our cutoff date? Will that give everyone enough time to get their act together?

Do we want to do a meet & greet - short & sweet - on Saturday about 3:00 before the MANDATORY drill? It's fun to see others around the ship and on shore excursions throughout the week.

Do the kids want to do an exchange? Bring something that represents your state or region - key chains, stickers, zipper pulls, post cards, macadamia nuts from Hawaii?

Post on this thread or let me know what you're thinking and enjoy the inauguration of our 44th president.

 

[Suz D]

Because things are always so crazy on the 1st day, we did something fun on our last 7 day cruise. We all met for breakfast at Topsiders on Sunday morning. Many of us dressed in Disboard green so our group was pretty easy to spot. We said we'd dine between the hours of 8:30 and 9:30 at Topsiders. Not saying that we have to do that, but it did work great for that cruise. We didn't feel rushed at all which was nice.

Suz D

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Count me in on the FE Exchange -I like the idea of keeping it simple and each family doing it once /are we to give a gift for each person /just kids in the cabin or 1 FE gift per cabin? Also I like the idea of a breakfast get together- we always seemed rushed boarding day.
Doing the Happy Dance -just paid the cruise off let's get ready to book excursions , palo etc.

My husband and DS made fun of me on our 3 day cruise because I made us shirts- this time they're requesting shirts- go figure

 

[Krisanm67]

I like all the ideas. Maybe we should meet the first day, like Debby suggested so we know each other and the kids will meet too and then recognize each other for kids activities they might do. The last day sounds fun too, so we can actually relax and visit at breakfast. I'm up for either one or both

We are in for the FE and the regional exchange - both sound fun

 

[kat123]

Count us in for the Fish Extenders exchange.

 

[Suz D]

I like all the ideas. Maybe we should meet the first day, like Debby suggested so we know each other and the kids will meet too and then recognize each other for kids activities they might do. The last day sounds fun too, so we can actually relax and visit at breakfast. I'm up for either one or both

We are in for the FE and the regional exchange - both sound fun

Actually, the breakfast on Sunday is the first full day of the cruise. On Saturday things are really crazy with unpacking, the drill, and the sail away party so it worked really great for us to get together Sunday morning which is our first "at sea" day. For those who wanted to meet up on Saturday (we did meet with one group that we'd gotten to know pretty well) then they could just do that in addition to breakfast on Sunday morning.

Suz D

 

[Principessa]

Hello!

We'll be joining you on this cruise!

From Indiana, PA (one hour from Pittsburgh)
We are:
Irene (me)
DH - Charles
DS - Kevin (13)
and MIL Oscelletta (90)

Count us in for the exchange and Sunday meet. If those are the plans...
I've read most of the posts but I'm a little sleepy!!!

Talk to you later * Irene

 

[lrensin]

Count us in, too, even though I have no idea what fish extenders are. The regional exchange sounds great! My 9 YO is doing geography now and this would be perfect for her.

Does anyone have little kids? I have a 5 YO boy and a 3 YO girl. I think they'd like to get in on an exchange, too.

 

[disneydka]

Count us in as well for FE and for meet & greet, whenever.

 

[Krisanm67]

Actually, the breakfast on Sunday is the first full day of the cruise. On Saturday things are really crazy with unpacking, the drill, and the sail away party so it worked really great for us to get together Sunday morning which is our first "at sea" day. For those who wanted to meet up on Saturday (we did meet with one group that we'd gotten to know pretty well) then they could just do that in addition to breakfast on Sunday morning.

Suz D

Oops I didn't realize that, not thinking straight, LOL! Ok, either, or and both are fine with us.

Kristine

 

[payogie]

Hello everyone. This will be the ninth Disney cruise for my wife and me, but our first Eastern Caribbean. We are sailing with friends of our from N.C. They have two girls that will 10 and 6 at the time of sailing. I have already started packing. We only have 134 days left.

 

[Principessa]

You've already started packing?!!!
That's great! I'm really jealous.

Nice to meet you.....9th cruise, wow, you must know the
answers to all our questions. That's great. Did I mention this
was my first cruise?

Hi Kristine,
Thanks for telling me to check the DIS boards about our cruise!

 

[Krisanm67]

Hi Kristine,
Thanks for telling me to check the DIS boards about our cruise!

Your welcome! It's good to see you here.

 

[Taffygirl]

Hi All,

DH and I returned last week from a Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Valor. Am just now trying to catch up. If you are new to posting on this thread, please check the list in the first post on the first page to see if I've added you and your group. If not, post here to let me know who you are, where you are from, and ages of any kids traveling with you.

Also, if information is missing from those I've already added, let me know. We are trying to gather a list of all us happy Disney cruisers.

Thanks,
Marilyn

 

[AStamm]

Count me in for it all.

Does anyone have a good excursion review site or a thread on these boards they can point me to? My son and I narrowed our excursion choices down last weekend and I'd like to finalize them today since I'm home on a snow day.

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Count me in for it all.

Does anyone have a good excursion review site or a thread on these boards they can point me to? My son and I narrowed our excursion choices down last weekend and I'd like to book them today since I'm home on a snow day.

Just to let you know, you cannot book excursions until 109 days out for concierge 90 out for repeat cruisers or 75 days out for 1st time cruisers

 

[payogie]

AStamm,
For the excursions reviews , I really like the Passporter reviews. Their book is great for getting an overview of all the shore excursions, and they get a lot of feedback from those that have actually been on the excursion. I believe you will need to buy the book; they don't have the reviews on their web site. Checkout passporter.com.

 

[Grandma Debby]

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

 

[Suz D]

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

1. Tell me again about the kids exchange. Is this the one that is from our state or is it something else? We're interested in whatever it is, but I just want to get going on it.

2. Count us in for the Sunday morning meet & greet but I hadn't thought about Character Breakfasts. We have never done them because our cruises have always been tacked onto a trip to WDW. This time we won't be doing that AND we're bringing our recently adopted 2 yo daughter (the whole reason we're cruising). We started fostering her when she was 5 months old and FINALLY were able to adopt her in July of 2008. We didn't bring her on our cruise in December because we thought she would be too young when we booked it. When we cruised in Dec. we all couldn't stand that she wasn't with us. She knows EVERY Disney character by name. The reason for this long story and the question about time on the Character Breakfast is that there is no way on the planet we'll miss it. We have early dining so I'm guessing that we'd also have early Character Breakfast. We met for a later breakfast last cruise (like 9:30) so those who had already eaten could just have a beverage or snack.

3. I have to look back to see what three is because after that long discourse I've forgotten...Oh! Room tours. Can you do that? I would totally LOVE to do that if we can. How does it work?

4. Okay, I've not been too enthused about the whole fish extender thing until this suggestion was made. I don't think I really understood the purpose and now I'm totally onboard (pun intended) with this idea. Count the Daniels family in on the FE's.


I haven't been really excited about crusing because we've had a lot going on, but I'm getting really excited after this post. I have one other fun thing up my sleeve that I did for our last cruise. I'll let you know soon if I can pull it together.