Magic 3-19-05 ANYONE OUT THERE GOING?

[BeeSkip]

Hello, I am just trying to get some interest in this particular sailing.
My family and I and my sister and her son will be on this cruise. There must not be many Dis'ers on this sailing as a previous thread has generated very little response. I hope some fellow cruisers join in so we can discuss our upcoming Disney cruise.
Looking forward to seeing who joins in!!!

Bee

 

[flippet]

My wife and I will be on this cruise

It will be our second attempt at our honeymoon cruise, since our first was scratched by hurricane charley.

Hopefully we wont run into the same problems...

dk

 

[BeeSkip]

So glad to hear you will have an alternate cruise!!! Have you ever cruised with Disney? You will have a WONDERFUL time!!!
We'll have to compare notes as the cruise date gets closer. I was just able to book our airfare on Southwest. Delta and the others were high this year because it is so close to Easter. I was able to get decent fares on Southwest as soon as they opened their schedule.

Can't wait,
Bee

 

[flippet]

We've been on a 4 day cruise, back in Apr 04... We loved it so much that we booked on board for the Aug trip... Didnt want to take any chances with our honeymoon... But alas, plans changed.

Hopefully for the better, as getting out of pre-spring MinneSNOWta, and into someplace a bit warmer will be good come this March.

We booked our airfair on Northwest. I've been watching the fairs closely the past few weeks, and saw the price drop about a hunderd bucks, so I went for it.. Not too many other options, as we want to leave friday night, with a direct flight, and return with a direct flight.

This time we'll be a day early (no snow storms of course)

How many Disney Cruises have you been on? Any suggestions for fun things to do at the eastern ports?

TTFN

 

[jhorstma]

My family will be on the 3/19 Eastern - probably a popular cruise with a boatload of kids, as it's spring break season (immediately prior to Easter). DS11 and DD9 are looking forward to it!

 

[macbasset]

Hi, We too, are on 3/19 magic. We kept watching Soutwest for the dates to open, but missed by a couple of days and all they had were very expensive rates--- but we took them anyway! I hope the weather is nice and warm for swimming, etc. We usually go in the summer; we went over new year's one year, and it was really cold-- nobody in water or beach at castaway cay. I keep checking back to DCL and there are still lots of categories available. I wonder if they will sell out. Beeskip, what time are you flying out? We are around 7 am or so. (BWI)

 

[BeeSkip]

Hi out there!

The southwest rates were high even on the first day of opening!
All out bound flights were priced at the most expensive fare and only one flight (return flight) ( only "non" non-stop) had a discount rate ($79)
That's what we took because there are 6 of us. Although more than I'd like to spend, all the other carriers were much much more. Believe me, I've been watching it for months!!!

Getting closer each day! Bee

 

[BeeSkip]

Hello Hello Hello......Is Anyone else sailing with us??????
Please check in and say "Hi".

 

[jhorstma]

C'mon, this is the cruise for everyone with Spring Break the week before Easter - this should be a very popular cruise. Or do DIS regulars typically avoid Spring Break cruises due to the overpopulation of kids?

We're flying down the night before from Dulles on Independence Air (assuming they're still operating - Southwest out of BWI would have been a better choice from a risk mgmt perspective, but getting from NoVA around the Beltway to BWI on a Friday afternoon is not exactly my idea of starting a vacation in a stress-free environment). We'll be at the MCO Hyatt and then take the Disney bus to PC. Hopefully we'll meet you and other DISers, BeeSkip!

 

[BeeSkip]

Hello southern neighbors!!!

So glad to see we have company on this sailing!! Our group is getting really excited and watching the days count down will certainly help the January and Feb. blues. I know what you mean about Friday traffic....That's why we don't generally fly out of Dulles.... 95 and 495 traffic can be unpredictable...It's bad enough getting to BWI. We live north of Baltimore and we are leaving early Sat. am. Our flight arrives at 9:30am. We have never been on a Eastern carribean cruise. Happy Holidays!!! Bee

 

[BeeSkip]

Hello to all fellow cruisers. It's getting closer......Bee

 

[flippet]

Almost time to make those shore excursion reservations....
and final payment!

 

[macbasset]

Beeskip, we are on the same flight with you, as our southwest arrives in florida at 9:30 also. It means we will be up very early that morning!

 

[jhorstma]

Anyone else going the week before Eastern?

What excursions are you planning? Any feedback on the rhino boats in St. Maarten? And what's happened to the champagne catamaran excursion at St. Thomas?

 

[jhorstma]

St. Maarten - Rhino Boats
St. Thomas - Water Island Mountain Bikes (and beach!) plus maybe the tram on our own.
CC - Banana Boats and whatever else looks fun (and available)

Anyone out there care to comment on the good/bad/ugly of these excursions before I whack my credit card (yeesh - about $1,000 for the family of 4 all told just on these ).

 

[BeeSkip]

Hello......PAID IN FULL as of 2:00pm today!!! Now the question is: What shore excurisions are good? It's time to sign up so I need some advice. I would like to do a catamaran to St John's and is there anything fun on St Maartan? There use to be a champayne cruise but I don't see it listed. Any horseback riding? Where is the shopping best? St. Thomas? It's amazing how the time creeps up as we booked this cruise last year on board the Magic on a Western cruise in March 04.

Can't wait for the warm tropical sun!!!

Bee

 

[jhorstma]

Hi Bee! As I said in my last post we're doing the rhino boats on St. Maarten (was thinking about going to Anguilla on our own but then decided I wasn't quite that ambitious) - noonish so we can sleep in a bit if we want. I was going to take DD to the dolphin swim but decided against it based on expense and a couple less than sterling reviews. I too was looking for the champagne cruise - written up in the Passporter but apparently not offered anymore Instead we'll do a shoretrips.com 1/2 day catamaran and snorkeling excursion plus maybe the tram on our own (we were going to do the Water Island bike and beach excursion but DW's knee might not be up to it). Won't be long!!!

 

[macbasset]

Hello all,
We did the kayaking and the golden eagle catamarran at st. martin-- both were great, especially the golden eagle. this time I think we will go
to orient beach and later in afternoon take a taxi to go shopping in marigot.

The last two times we went to trunk bay, st. john while in st. thomas and it is beautiful, but we think we will go to megan's bay in st. thomas this time. We were not crazy about that long ferry ride or the leyland sneed ride over to st. john, probably because it was winter and the water was rough--- a lot of people were sick on the way.

 

[BeeSkip]

I was interested in the Champayne Catamaran but I think we'll settle for the other one which goes to St. John. Do you think we'll still have time to shop in Charlotte Amalie as well? Also, what do you think of the Regatta racer in St. Martin? Also, I have never been on an Eastern cruise before, Do you think the cruise will be "rougher" because of the extra distance traveled and the ocean currents? The Western cruise( taken X2) has always been smooth.
Also, for you seasoned cruisers, Do you like the Eastern or Western better?

Counting the days, Bee

 

[jhorstma]

We're signed up for rhino boats in St. Maarten and a morning (half-day) catamaran and snorkel trip out of St. Thomas, both booked thru Shoretrips. I tried to book the rhino boats thru DCL, but they were already sold out as of the past weekend! So we'll just cab it to our excursions and see some sights on our own. We would have done the champagne catamaran excursion if it was still offered; the other boat trips to St. John seem to have somewhat mixed reviews.

Oh, and definitely banana boating at CC!