Magic Christmas Cruise 2010 (Dec 18th - 29th) - PART II

[thegales]

Working on a packing list, but a little confused....


1. Can we bring coolers? I've seen a few posts about collapsible coolers, and even one about a rolling one, but I thought I saw in the DCL FAQs that you couldn't have coolers or bring food/drink onto the ship?

2. This is silly, but are plastic swords allowed for pirate night?? They are listed on the "prohibited toys" page, but REALLY??!!??

3. So, just to clarify, each passenger can check 2 pieces of luggage that will "magically" (pun intended) show up in our stateroom....and we can carry on pretty much whatever we can responsibly manage? (with the understanding that we will have to lug the carry ons throughout the day until the staterooms are ready)


Thanks!!
-Melissa

Soft sided coolers are allowed. The most important requirement is that there be no ice in the cooler, but only the containers you are bringing on. For me, I will have a soft sided rolling cooler with cans of beer and maybe some tequila. Once I get on board, I visit the drink station to get ice. One of the servers saw me getting the cups of ice to fill it, and he came out with a full bucket of ice for me. The other requirement is that the cooler fits through the scanner, which is approximately the same size as an airline scanner. This is why hard sided coolers are not allowed.

Can't help on the sword question.

When you get your cruise documents, there will be two baggage tags per person with the name and stateroom number. I have heard some people have been able to make a phone call to DCL and get more tags, but I don't know if that is an absolute. When you get to the port, you drop your bags off at the curb then park your car (if driving), or your car service will stop there. You give your tagged bags to the porter (they do appreciate a tip). They will make sure your bag gets into one of the containers to go on the ship. At that point, you then present your ID's to a person to then go to the port building. Your bag goes to a screening process, and is put on the ship. Sometime during the afternoon, your bags will appear outside your door. While I have not known anyone who did not get their bag in time for dinner, I think DCL does not guarantee a certain time for your bag to get to your room.

 

[BBQMommy]

Walmart - Halloween costumes 50% off. Tons of adult male pirate costumes ($19 on sale for $9.50). Got one for DH. Too small, but sort of fits me , so guess who is dressing up for Pirate Night?

Caryn

 

[decked out]

Thanks for the reminder about pirate costumes! I should have gone this morning.

BTW, I am having trouble keeping up with this thread with so many posts each day...

 

[Almagetty]

Re-subscribing because somehow I became unsubscribed.

Happy November!!!! ... one more calendar page to rip off until it's our cruise month!!!

 

[DVC4US]

Checked our cruise just now, they are selling 11's, 9's and 4's. This is different from earlier this morning. I am fascinated by the apparent randomness of it!

Because I travel internationally a few times a year with my company, it's fairly easy to just add international service to my iPhone for a month - and be able to check email on the fly. However, our cell phone people said it works differently on cruise ships and to just get the internet package, it was a much better way to go...so if they are not correct I'd like the option of just using my cell phone to monitor email. Is it that I'd pay AT&T international charges PLUS the internet fee on board? I was going to bring a lap top and just buy the $100 package (& let work pay for it); but sounds like that might be not enough if it's so slow. And since I seem to believe that pounding on computers speeds them up...I might destroy the laptop? But my understanding is the ship's computers don't have Word, Excel, etc. so I'd need my lap top to open attachments.

I really don't have a answer about checking emails on a cell phone this is the first time I will have my iphone on the ship. I usually just use the computers on board or bring my laptop. The last time I had my laptop on board I remember it being slow but I would just check things when I had the time to walk away fromt the computer while it did it's thing(like when I was getting ready for dinner).

 

[cquick]

Eww, that is slow on the internet connection! DH told work he'd check his personal email a couple times while we are gone in case of an emergency...I'm not too happy about that in general, but I guess if that's what he's gotta do...

I know I know! The internet connection is slow, and sometimes you can't even get on.....but there are many people who have it anyway. Some need it to keep in touch for work, but most just want to be on. We bought the 500 minute plan for both the 2 week Baltic and the 2 week transatlantic that we did this year. Sometimes the phone actually worked better!

 

[cquick]

I saw this on the FAQ page regarding internet and email access:

There is an additional charge of $3.95 USD to send an e-mail from your onboard ship e-mail account. There is no charge to receive an e-mail from your onboard e-mail account.

Anyone know what this is? How and where do you access this "onboard account" email, and how do you know what the email address is prior to sailing?

This might be a better option for DH's work if they can send him an email to let him know there is a crisis at work. Then we don't have to buy and pay for an internet package if he doesn't need it.

I really don't know what that means......we just take our laptop or use the computers onboard and buy a plan.

 

[cquick]

Not sure about Skype either, however- we used the internet package for the first time our last cruise and it was SUPER slow. Like start a download of 1MB and come back and check a half hour later kind of slow.(Thank goodness it was work and they'll reimburse for that)

I'm not sure about Skype, but I'm thinking you'd probably need a connection that moves a little faster than that.

When we went on the Baltic this summer, we were able to Skype Patrick a few times, but sometimes we just phoned him. He's our 33 year old son who is disabled and we left him in respite care while we were gone. It was the first time we had done it, and it was important for us to keep in touch as much as possible. So, all in all, we were happy with the results.

 

[colkath2005]

Just checking availability and cat 12 is showing again, along with cat 11,10,9,7,6,5 and 4.

Was also talking about the shows onboard What is everyones fav/cant miss shows?

Personally I love Twice Charmed and never miss it.

Was anybody else disappointed with Villians? I dont think I will be seeing that one this time. My mum's fav is Disney Dreams.
Colette

 

[momssurprise]

I just checked 2 adults, 1 child; 11, 10, 9, 8, 5 & 4 avail.

Who's getting Pirate costumes?

More reports on Magic, talking abt WD Theatre falling apart.

Also Decks 1&2 flooding. Yuck. Hope they get it all fixed b4 Christmas.

 

[STLUCIELADY]

I know I know! The internet connection is slow, and sometimes you can't even get on.....but there are many people who have it anyway. Some need it to keep in touch for work, but most just want to be on. We bought the 500 minute plan for both the 2 week Baltic and the 2 week transatlantic that we did this year. Sometimes the phone actually worked better!

Connie is that you? From the Sept 18th Med cruise?

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick message from a couple of us teenagers.
If you could get your teenagers to post their facebook details on the teen thread that would be great. Or if they are not comfortable posting their details, they can add me through my url,

/whenyouwishuponastar

(make sure they put in the normal website url in before the name).

Thanks muchly

 

[minneapolismickey]

Good evening everybody!

After a great evening of trick-or-treating last night, I started Christmas planning in earnest today. I had a great day shopping and found what I hope to be a wonderful FE gift.

I guess at this point I would vote to split the group in two (I only bought 25 so far)- that way I can add more to the gift. Either way I will be happy. Should we PM someone about the vote? I am happy to help out, tinkmischief. Let me know what I can do to help you with the list.

I am awaiting our tropical holiday attire for the pirate party (in the mail) and measuring my rapidly growing boys for their tuxes. I am thinking that I will put up our winter house decorations over the next two weekends and refrain from very much true "Christmas decorating." I am going to use our advent calendar backwards this year as a 25 day countdown to the cruise.

So excited to get this party started.

Angie

 

[AustinAg]

Good evening everybody!
I am going to use our advent calendar backwards this year as a 25 day countdown to the cruise.

Angie

That is a great idea, since we won't be opening the doors on the calendar after the 17th.

 

[pennymike]

Just checking availability and cat 12 is showing again, along with cat 11,10,9,7,6,5 and 4.

Was also talking about the shows onboard What is everyones fav/cant miss shows?

Personally I love Twice Charmed and never miss it.

Was anybody else disappointed with Villians? I dont think I will be seeing that one this time. My mum's fav is Disney Dreams.
Colette

Love 'em all.....was REALLY excited to see a new one when Villains came out, but I will say we were under impressed. Seemed a bit disjointed. Wish the Toy Story one would come to the Magic. Really liked that one.

 

[miatamel]

Wow, that "Magic after drydock" thread just keeps getting more disconcerting. I gotta quit reading it.

 

[eve adkins]

Wow, that "Magic after drydock" thread just keeps getting more disconcerting. I gotta quit reading it.

Me too!!!! Ugh!!

 

[tinkmischief]

Hey everyone!
Currently updating the FE list thought I'd put out a quick last call notice
Numbers coming soon

 

[cquick]

Connie is that you? From the Sept 18th Med cruise?

absolutely! We meet again! Post your picture so I remember you!

 

[cquick]

Hey everyone!
Currently updating the FE list thought I'd put out a quick last call notice
Numbers coming soon

do you have us? I sent you a pm. If you need more info let me know. Connie