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

[disneycruising]

This is what we have planned for our family. I have 4 kids... 17, 15, 12, & 11.

St. Maarten Scuba trip (for DH & 3 of the kids) on there own
Guadeloupe DCL --Beach by Motorboat Shuttle 11am - 2:30
Barbados DCL--4x4 Adventure and Monkey Encounter (DH& 3 kids)
Martinique DCL--Beach & Snorkel at Bat Cave @10:45 - 2pm
St. Thomas DCL --Full Day -Sail & Snorkel to TurtleCove &Honeymoon Beach


Good luck with picking your excurtions. I find it very hard to find something that everyone will like.

 

[disneycruising]

We always use Happy Limo. This is a tradition we started on our 1st cruise and it's what we do every time. We always bring along champange and OJ and we have mimosas in the limo. It's a great way to start off our cruise.

I love this idea! I will have to remember this for the next time we rent a limo.

 

[3princessMommy]

Joann(3princessmommy) - just wanted to let you know that all excursions are showing open as of right now.

You're awesome! Thanks!

 

[3princessMommy]

I had no idea what Christmas Crackers were and had to look them up. I'm guessing anyone who brings these to dinner will get a lot of interest from surrounding tables and people will have fun with it.

If you'd read Harry Potter like everyone else in the family, you'd have known what Christmas Crackers were!

Great news. Unfortunately, I'm playing golf the morning the reservations open up for us (not that playing golf is ever really unfortunate). Maybe I can talk Joann into getting up to do this (it'll be 7am our time when they open).

Hmmmm...excursions - golf....excursions - golf. Sweetie, let's get the priorities straight. You're going to leave your DW in charge of what you're going to do on vacation....hmmmm....up to you!

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

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[BBQMommy]

I love Christmas Crackers. My Aunt usually has them Christmas Eve. Living so close to the US/Canada border for so long, it always felt like we celebrated Boxing Day. I'd always hear the Zellers and The Bay ads and the radio for the Boxing Day sales.

2.5 weeks til I can book excursions. If I can get DH and DD on the sub in Barbados, I'll be snorkling with you, Leilani fingers crossed!

I'll have the finishing touches on my FE and will post a final pic when done. I had to reinforce the iron on tape with stitches, just to be safe.

Happy Day, all --->
Caryn

 

[ISCHARCM]

You can also give iTunes, Amazon, Wal-mart and other types of gift cards - the crew gets shuttled over to the Merritt Island mall and to BJ's wholesaler when they get back to port, so they have plenty of opportunity to spend those types of funds ashore.

I like Amazon, don't forget my card, Mr Fox.

 

[BBQMommy]

We'll be booking at the same time, Sarah. I think we are only doing excursions on 3 of 6 port days (Barbados, St. Thomas, CC) Hope we all can find what we're looking for

1996 I did a three week tour around England, Scotland, and Wales. Our quick stop through Yorkshire was lovely. I think I have a photo of a sign from a public toilet from there that had won 'Loo Of The Year'. Most impressive, I still remember it 15 years past ... Actually, what I remember equally were the stunning flower boxes outside of 'James Herriot's' veterinary office.

Caryn

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

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[BBQMommy]

There have been isolated safety issues on St. Thomas this last year. There was a thread or two on DIS about it recently. St. John is much less developed than St. Thomas. A good chunk of the island is protected and part of the US Park Services, it had been bought up by a Rockefeller (John?) who had hoped it would remain natural.

Since St. Thomas is such a frequently visited port, I would think avid cruisers have been there many times, and with it being the day after Christmas/Boxing Day AND a Sunday AND with our ship being the only one in port (!) shops may or may not be open -- more may just be choosing to stay on board. Who knows?

http://www.shannontech.com/ParkVision/VirginIslands/VirginIslands.html

Lovely place! Can't wait

Caryn

 

[DVC4US]

2.5 weeks til I can book excursions. If I can get DH and DD on the sub in Barbados, I'll be snorkling with you, Leilani fingers crossed!

Caryn

Hopefully everything works out for you Caryn. If it all does, just remember we are on the 11:15 snorkel excursion.

 

[DVC4US]

There is a lot of swimming related excursions - will it be warm enough to swim in December?
I mean, is it usually warmer water with a colder air temperature or is the water cooler with a warmer air temperature?

Is St John a 'safe' place to visit? I keep reading about people who stay on the ship in this port...

Sarah - On the 2004 Christmas cruise we swam in every port and it was beautiful. The temperatures in the southern Caribbean do not fluctuate a whole lot. The average low is around 73 and the average high is around 83 in December. The only port we had a problem with was Castaway Cay and that was because a big storm blew through the night before and it caused the temperature to drop. It was cloudy and cool so all we did was sit on the beach for a little while. Hopefully we will have a nice day on this cruise.

Since St. Thomas is such a frequently visited port, I would think avid cruisers have been there many times, and with it being the day after Christmas/Boxing Day AND a Sunday AND with our ship being the only one in port (!) shops may or may not be open -- more may just be choosing to stay on board. Who knows?

Caryn

In 2004 we were in St Thomas on Christmas Day and all the excursions still ran and the shops were open at the port area. I don't know if our port day being a Sunday will make a difference or not, but I think all these ports do what they can when a cruise ship docks.

 

[DVC4US]

For those of you with teens do you think they might like to talk to other teens on our cruise on their own cruise meets thread?

DD and I were talking about this today and she thought it would be a great idea. So if you have a teen let me know if they would be interested in a cruise meets thread.

 

[Evans Family]

For those of you with teens do you think they might like to talk to other teens on our cruise on their own cruise meets thread?

DD and I were talking about this today and she thought it would be a great idea. So if you have a teen let me know if they would be interested in a cruise meets thread.

YES, YES, YES!!!! My DS 13 asks everyday when I can "hook him up" with some kids from the cruise.

 

[BBQMommy]

I am just tickled that Charlotte Amalie should not be as crowded as it was the other time I visited. I had read somewhere (!) that Sundays some shops close or close earlier, but many keep their hours if ships are at port. I am tempted to email a couple of the larger stores in town and see what their hours will be on 12/26. I'll post if I get any responses.

I have it noted, LeiLani - now I just have to not lose the note.

Thanks!
Caryn

 

[thegales]

Looking at DCL Excursions...

St. Thomas/St. John
Skyride to Paradise Point is no longer available
Teen Screamin Eagle is no longer available

It looks like all other excursions are still available

 

[3princessMommy]

Is St John a 'safe' place to visit? I keep reading about people who stay on the ship in this port...

St. John is GORGEOUS!!!! If you haven't been there before, I highly recommend it. Trunk Bay is great for kids - we did it on our own last year (DCL won't take kids under 3), which was relatively easy and significantly cheaper than DCL. But before you do that this time, I'd double check the ferries are going to be running on a full schedule - you don't want to get stuck on St. John while we sail away to Castaway Cay!!!

Trunk Bay - St. John:

I think this time around, we are going to try Maegan's Bay. We've never been there - despite 4 trips to St. Thomas over the years. And we figured that we will never see it less crowded than it will be the day we are there - a Sunday morning the day after Christmas with only one cruise ship in port!

 

[SwimMama]

OK! drumroll please No one pass out from shock but FE list has been updated! Here is the latest...

Fish Bait:
3princessMommy/bigAWL
3princessgrandma
Bakerteam
BBQMommy
colkath2005
craftygramma
CrusinLattas
DisneyCamper
disneycruising
DVC4US
Evans Family
eve adkins
HFC1969
IceSk8ersMom
itutorfortravel
jenedpey
jgura
Kitster
Marcy Mouse
minneapolismickey
NaomiJayne
Ramzmich
riggins
SwimMama
thegales
tink&cinderella
tinkmischief
ucancallmetink
Vminick

The numbers for you inquiring minds:
33 cabins, 59 adults
7 & under - Boys 7, Girls 10
8-12 - Boys 10, Girls 13
13-17 - Boys 6, Girls 10

Tinkmischief- Thank you for sending this out.

 

[minneapolismickey]

Wow! You are all amazing. Thank you so much for keeping this thread updated. This group is awesome.

I have been busy the past few weeks and this thread entertained me during the several hours that it took me to catch up last night.

BigAwl and 3princessmommy- your life sounds fascinating. I cannot wait to hear more about your adventures in Uganda. Thanks for the pictures.

There are too many of you to thank for all your hard work to make this cruise extra special. I don't know how you find the time, but I appreciate it. We are still excited about the FE, although I am feeling a bit behind knowing that many of you are already planning your gift. I really want to do something special, but have no idea what yet. I have no strong opinion on splitting the group into two. I appreciate the pros and cons. We are in for whatever.

We will be interested in the ornament exchange and likely the wine tasting. I will talk to my DH and check the time against whatever PALO times we get.

Isn't tonight the time that the 90 day people can get on and book Palo and excursions? I have some research to do on that today.

I was very interested to hear about the bar in St. Martin. My DH is a stay-at-home-dad, ex-corporate pilot. He will love sipping cocktails on a beach and watch planes at the same time!

I will try to get more involved here. Getting so excited for this trip.

Angie

 

[DVC4US]

Looking at DCL Excursions...

St. Thomas/St. John
Skyride to Paradise Point is no longer available
Teen Screamin Eagle is no longer available

It looks like all other excursions are still available

Thanks David for posting these. They haven't been available since the beginning so I just skipped over them.