Magic 3-19-05 ANYONE OUT THERE GOING?

[macbasset]

We really prefer the western to eastern, but this will be third time eastern because that's where it was going on our week off from school---- and any DCL cruise is better than not going! I think we only experienced rough seas in the winter, december and january, not in the summer. However, when you cross from the Atlantic into the caribbean that first night, you do feel the movement and after that, not so much. The catamarran in st. martin was great, one of our favorite excursions. St. John is beautiful. I have heard wonderful things about that 12 metre regatta, but never experienced it.

 

[BeeSkip]

We are looking forward to the cruise so very much!!!! Too Cold Here Now!!!
We have never done the Eastern Carribbean and I am looking forward to the extra sea day, The ship is always full of fu things to do. I will miss getting the vanilla from Cozumel....I need more!!!! but I just found out a friend of mine just booked a last minute cruise on Celebrity cruiselines, a western cruise< I'm going to ask her to bring back a large bottle of vanilla!!!

can't wait, Bee

 

[BeeSkip]

Just got over our first "real" snow fall of the winter. Cold and miserable as I am NOT a WINTER person. I would NEVER consider going on a ski trip. Can't wait for the cruise. We booked last year on board and it is unreal how fast the time flies. The kids are very excited. I am glad to hear about the new Pirate night. It sounds like a lot of fun. I wish some more fellow cruiser would come out of the closet and check in!!!

Bee

 

[macbasset]

How and when will we meet up with our fellow dis board cruisers? Bee, how will we know you at the airport? Will you be part of a large group? It will soon be a month to go. I'm starting to think about what to pack. I wonder if any of us might get an upgrade. One time, when we did land and sea, they upgraded us to the Grand Floridian concierge. It was fantastic!

 

[BeeSkip]

I was at Walmart and Target today and I started to think about things I'll need to get for the trip. We have done the concierge before at the Polynesian...It's the only way to go (if you don't mind spending the big bucks!)
I don't think we'll get any upgrades because it is so close to Easter, as I'm sure the cruise will be quite full....We can only hope for an upgrade...My sister is hoping for one because she is booked in an inside cabin. With 4 in our room, we have a veranda and the only place to go up is a suite! We'll be at BWI early that morning....I'll be with a party of 6...BWI will be very busy, spring break is the busiest time I ever encounter there. Do you know the weight restrictions for SW airlines off hand? I usually fly DElta.. Delta is 50 lbs and it is really difficult to keep a large suitcase under 50 lbs. Someone told me that SW is 75lbs. I hope they are right. If so, packing will be easier.

50 days and counting....Bee

 

[jhorstma]

... Do you know the weight restrictions for SW airlines off hand? I usually fly DElta.. Delta is 50 lbs and it is really difficult to keep a large suitcase under 50 lbs. Someone told me that SW is 75lbs. I hope they are right. If so, packing will be easier.

50 days and counting....Bee

I just checked the actual contact (page 22 on http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/coc.pdf, for what it's worth) - it's 50 lbs max - each person gets to check 3 bags.

You might actually be in luck for an upgrade on-board. A couple interesting things on the www.discruise.com: a) verandahs, outside and inside cabins are all still available (GTY up to Cat 6), and b) nothing's available for families. This leads me to believe that they've maxed out the kids allotment (which means that it will be a zoo) and can only accomodate adult-only parties at this late date. Which I would guess means that they'll have very few new bookings, which would hopefully mean that folks booked in inside cabins would be upgraded.

 

[macbasset]

Hey, that's us!! Maybe we will get an upgrade. We are on deck 5, back behind the movie theatre--- it was quiet there last time. We could've had deck 5, 6 , or 7. We liked this location last time, no hall traffic. What decks are you all on?
I found out you can print boarding passes for your day of departure at 12:01 a.m., but if you have seniors or children priced tickets, you can't. So, since our son has a youth fare, we will have to get to BWI early for boarding passes, hoping for "A".
I guess we will have to weigh suitcases too. Mine are usually stuffed and heavy. It was embarrassing the last time when they opened them to inspect them and had trouble zipping them back up!

 

[BeeSkip]

Isn't it interesting that just us "mid-atlantics" are watching and checking the Dis boards! Maryland and Virginia will be well served on the Magic! It will be nice to have a non-stp flight this time. We usually go on Delta and they always stop in Atlanta. That's not fair about the boarding passes and the youth fare. We have 3 youth and 3 adult so I guess we'll be at BWI hoping for A boarding. MacBassent, How far are you from BWI? We are about 25 minutes. One year we went to Disneyworld and it snowed that particular morning in March. We were the last flight out before they shut down all flights. I worry about this happening again but this time not being able to get out of BWI. That would really be bad for cruising.

By the way, are there any other Magic 3-19 cruisers out there?

I'll check back soon,

Bee

 

[jhorstma]

I thought w/Southwest you could print your boarding passes online but still needed to go to the counter for your "seat assignment" (e.g., A/B/C/dreaded D). If anyone in your party qualifies for advance seating then your entire party can board with them. You'll get some evil looks as you pass everyone standing in line, but oh well too bad so sad.

We're flying out from Dulles the afternoon before - I've learned that even the night before don't take the last flight or you can be socked in by weather. If it snows/ices Friday and the flights are delayed or cancelled we'll probably go to Plan B and start driving south Friday morning (13 hours). I can sleep once we get on the boat.

We're on Independence Air nonstop from Dulles to Orlando and staying at the Hyatt Friday night then taking the Disney bus Saturday morning. We'll have late seating for dinners. Anyone doing rhino boats at St. Maarten?

 

[macbasset]

We normally fly down the day before to make sure we make it; in the summer, we have gone down the day of the cruise, but prefer not to. Normally, in March, there isn't a problem with snow, so we will keep praying. We are about 30 min. from airport, but my parents are about 2 min. from airport, so we will leave our car there and they will drop us off. We have late dinner seating too. I talked to DCL yesterday and they only have rooms that sleep 3 left. I guess they Cat. 6 that are left don't have the pull down bed. You can still take a family of 5 with 3 kids, but have to get separate rooms they told me. (I was just checking out how full they are.) So they haven't filled up, the reason online may not allow you to book it is because they have to book groups of 4 or more in two rooms. They told me they choose people for upgrades based on how early they booked. They told me I was pretty early (Aug.). We'll see.

We booked Magen's Bay beach excursion in St. Thomas (something different) and Orient Beach (St. Maarten); also did the getaway pkg. at CC. which we usually get. I am thinking about buying snorkel stuff online for $30, because I always think I don't want to put used snorkel mouthpiece in my mouth, but then I forget about it. We were on that cruise a year or so ago right after all the Norwalk Virus was so bad on the Magic and they had to shut it down for a week and scrub it. It was Christmas week we went and there were lots of people sick around us-- on the bus to the port and back, on the ship, and on all the excursions. I took a huge bottle of Dial pump soap and we went through it in a week. I wouldn't let anyone touch railings, etc. on the way to meals after they washed up. It may sound a little paranoid, but none of us got sick! And believe me, we saw a lot of others being sick. (Even mattresses dragged into the halls when people had beens sick on them.)
I really hope CC is nice and warm and sunny-- our last winter trip it was cold and drizzly.

 

[BeeSkip]

The upgrade thing sounds interesting. My sister and her 15 year son are traveling with us and she keeps saying she wants an upgrade!!! I told her that I thought the ship would be full and her chances were slim to none. It will be fun to see what happens. I've booked a St. Johns barefoot catamaran excursion on St. Thomas and the Regatta at St. Maartan. I really wanted the Champagne catamaran but I was told it is not operating the week we are there. ???? Anyway, I've taken snorkel stuff before but it is extra stuff to carry and I'm the one who winds up carrying 3 or more snorkel sets. This year I'm tempted to say, "no carry, no snorkel." We booked this cruise last year on board with Donna. Amazing how fast the time rolls around!!!

Check in later, Bee

 

[BeeSkip]

By the way, we went to St. Thomas for a week in 1980 (dating self) and went to Megan's Bay. It was beautiful, very serene, picture perfect. The only thing to be careful about was someone tried to steal our stuff while we were right there!!! A native came up to our beach blanket, grabbed our bags and took off...luckily we were young and able to run as well, catch up to him and grabbed our stuff back. It was a situation which could have ruined our trip!

Can't wait! Bee

 

[macbasset]

Bee and others, sadly we will not be going on the cruise. Our DS, 16, broke his leg in a hockey game sunday night and it turns out to be quite complex and requires surgery which cannot even be done till wed. evening. They will have to put a plate and screws into his leg. He is pretty upset over missing the cruise and that the rest of the family won't be going either. I guess we will rebook for a future cruise when he is better or do a land and sea one this summer.

We will be thinking of you when you leave on march 19 and all week long. We hope you have a wonderful cruise.

 

[jhorstma]

I'm sorry to hear about your son - that's too bad! I hope he feels better soon and doesn't feel to bad about the cruise - hopefully you can rebook soon and restart the planning.

 

[samjktrasher]

Hi fellow March 19 cruisers!!!
I am looking forward to our vacation....We are not planning on doing any of the excursions, we're just beach bums.....I am getting nervous about forgetting something really important that I wish I would have brought. I have read the passporter and the boards a lot and I feel prepared...Does any one have any things that I should take besides the things that have been mentioned on the boards already. I have 3 children, 3, 7, and 8 and of course, my husband.

 

[jhorstma]

Welcome aboard AJ! Here's a good (long) thread about what to bring:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=468132

 

[BeeSkip]

Macbasset, I'm so sorry about your son's injury. What a bummer!!!!
YOu will HAVE to reschedule.....

To everyone else, I've been away from the boards for a few days, I can't believe we are at the 30 day mark....This cruise doesn't deem to have alot of DISers on aboard due to the lack of postings but hey, THat's quite alright!!!

It is so cold here today. drreaming of the warm caribbean sun....Bee

 

[natyk]

Hi everybody! We're from North Carolina, family of four: me, DH, DD13 and DS 7. It will be our 5th cruise with Disney and we're very much looking forward to it.

 

[BeeSkip]

In 4 weeks will be on board!!!! Wow.....

Bee

 

[jhorstma]

Hi everybody! We're from North Carolina, family of four: me, DH, DD13 and DS 7. It will be our 5th cruise with Disney and we're very much looking forward to it.

Hi Natyk! 1st Disney cruise for us - DS11 and DD9 - late seating - cabin right next to the bridge (8500) - rhino boats and semi-private catamaran excursion at St. Thomas - gonna be a blast! A little concerned about the weather patterns causing cruises to miss CC, but hopefully things will calm down by next month. See everyone in 26 days!