LAST CALL for the 10/18/03 Eastern Magic Cruise!

[kamgen]

Hey everyone! Welcome to all our newbies!!! This is going to be a great cruise!!!

We are not a pain in the butt Beano! I think that honor is on you! LOL!!!

Only 5 mths to go!!!



Kamy

 

[BeanoC]

Hi everyone!!

Nice to see some more people on this thread!!

Loretta, you're right - it is kinda the Beano/Kamgen/paulcrsb/tarzanman show, but that's only because we can never stop talking! Kamgen and I are also compulsive planners. We need help - We need a 12 step program.

For those of you talking about staying at the Radisson, renting a car,etc... I have a suggestion:

Take a towncar or a limo from the airport to the Radisson. If you still want to rent a car, there is an Avis rental office right inside the Radisson. I rented from them last year so we could go to Kennedy Space Center. Got a nice new Ford Escort for about $40 for the whole day. The Radisson also has a free shuttle to the port... Just a suggestion!!

I also suggest getting your ressies in for the Radisson. When they release "Fall codes", you can always get it applied so you get the lower rate.



'Beano'

 

[Serena6010]

opinions please

Do you think it is worth spending the money for the whirlpool room......or is the standard suffient? Thanks-Serena

 

[nicurnc]

I personally love having the whirlpool, but ask yourself if you think you'll get use from it. Sometimes not, especially if you're there only one night before the cruise.
But it can feel great after a long travel day, then it's worth every penny

Loretta

 

[nicurnc]

BeanoC-you're so right about the talky thing
I always wondered how some of you guys hit the 1000 mark on posts LOL!

Loretta

 

[BeanoC]

Loretta - That ain't the half of it !!

A few months ago, they did some work on these boards to fix a few things, and as a result, many of us lost hundreds of our posts!! I would be up somewhere around 1800-2000 now!!

And just wait until the cruise is only a few weeks/days away...
We'll be going NUTS here!!

You shoulda seen us last year... Kamy and I made our cruise thread look like an instant messaging program!! We were posting every 10 minutes. But we had a lot of fun doing it, and it really did make for a better cruise. I'll let Kamy confirm that, and tell you the kind of fun we had on that trip!!


'Beano'

 

[nicurnc]

Our cruise last year was on Princess. We had a group from Cruise Critics and it was fun to have a meet then be able to know friends on board. A lot of us planned excursions together and that was great, we had a blast!
Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Loretta

 

[Spud]

Okay Beano, I took your advice and booked the Radisson today. I'm not sure if we'll actually stay there because we might not get in to MCO until late. I booked a regular room for $89. I think it was a visit Florida rate (or something like that).

Anybody have any thoughts on excursions? We were thinking of doing St. Maarten on our own and maybe an excursion to St. John while we're in St. Thomas.

I think that we're all compulsive planners!

 

[tarzanman]

I am just checking in. I want you guys to know that I haven't forgot about you. I am so syched about leaving for Vero Beach this Friday that my mind is absent. This week is going to take forever. As soon as we get back, we have to clean our house for Beano and fam and their arrival in Michigan. When all of that is over, we will be chatting up a freakin storm here. Nothing new though. Can't wait to meet you all on the dance floor. Paul, you know that is where I will be.

 

[BeanoC]

Spud - If you decide to go to St. John, I strongly advise doing it on your own rather than a DCL excursion... much better and much cheaper!! I'll gladly give you the details of doing it that way if you like.


I know we all have things we are looking forward to on this cruise; Castaway Cay, sailaway parties, etc. For me? Tim on the dance floor. Best entertainment value on board!!



'Beano'

 

[nicurnc]

I'm trying to get info on scuba for the eastern route. DH & DS both dive. I did a discover scuba last year and had high hopes of becoming certified before our next cruise. However, I didn't count on the major surgery I ended up having last week and right now doing anything that strenuous seems totally out of the question
I would gladly settle for some snorkeling

Beano and friends, can you help?

Loretta

 

[BeanoC]

Beano and friends?? Sounds like a kid's TV show.


I can't really help with scuba info, as I am not yet certified. Certifiable maybe!! But for snorkeling, I can't say enough about
St. John. Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay are both gorgeous.
We probably won't go to St. John this year, only because DW wants to spend more time (and money) in St. Thomas this year.
St. John took up most all our day, and she didn't get to see all of the shopping in Charlotte Amalie.

If you want to save time and stay on St. Thomas to snorkel, Megan's Bay is also nice, although much more crowded than the beaches of St. John.

Can't say anything about St. Maarten - we just shopped there, no beachcombing!



'Beano'

 

[nicurnc]

Oh, I think you are thinking of Beany and Cecil LOL! Boy, that makes me feel old!!

I've read good things about the Golden Eagle catamaran in St. Martin, that would include snorkeling, the whole fam could do that.
But friends have told me how lovely St. John is and how incredible the snorkeling and diving is there.
So my quandry comes from trying to decide where to let DH & DS dive. They let me plan everything, then they just go along. They are both very agreeable, but I still have to make the decision
It's a tough job, but somebody has to be the compulsive planner in the family

Plus, know I've read you can also dive at CC, wonder how good that is?

Loretta

 

[BeanoC]

Loretta, you sound like me... I do ALL the planning and ressies for my family, and they just go with whatever I plan!

I haven't let 'em down yet...

If you aren't concerned about seeing too much of St. Thomas, then you should definitely make your plans to go to St. John. The snorkeling is among the best I have ever seen anywhere, including Hawaii, Cayman, Mexico and Jamaica. St. John wins hands-down!




'Beano'

 

[nicurnc]

The choices, the choices!
All decisions in life should be as tough as this one, hmmm...St Thomas or St. John LOL!

I have thought about missing out on St. Thomas, we did not get to see Cozumel after we spent the diving. I guess this is another reason to plan another cruise

Loretta

 

[paulcrsb]

Hi All!

I go to Hawaii for a week and this thread goes nuts!

Welcome to our new cruisers! You'll find that we have a great group here with lots of valuable tips.

Tim on the dance floor. That's one site that can't be missed!

Paul

 

[Perchinske]

Serena, I booked by calling Avis for the following rates yesterda. Budget was much more expensive:

17th-18th (Airport to Port Cavaveral) $33.11
25th returning to airport ($44)

That was still cheaper than going with the Disney transfer. I figure I can still keep looking for cheaper rates. I am booked at the Radisson for $89, but wish I could find something cheaper than that......

 

[Serena6010]

Rena-

I just booked today too.....I got an intermediate class car for $30.59(w/out tax) walmart discount code. This is to Port canaveral. What class did you book? What discount did you use?

-Serena

 

[nicurnc]

On Dave's DCL tribute site, there is a link for Space Coast lodging. There are quite a few hotels in the area, he had some mini reviews on them. This might help decide what is worth the cost. I have stayed at Doubletree at the port, it was pretty nice, right on the beach, but the extra day we were there it rained, so having beach front was not really an issue.
Lots of DISers meet up at the Radisson and that could be fun depending on your arrival time. If you only need a place to sleep before the night of the cruise (D/T late arrival, etc.) then you might be able to find someplace cheaper on Dave's list.

Loretta

 

[Perchinske]

Serena, I only used my double upgrade Entertainment coupon to a full size car. Where did you find the Walmart code?