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

[CrusinLattas]

Our Christmas tradition has been Disney since my children were old enough to know it is Christmas. We always do stockings at Disney - either WDW or Cruise depending on where we are - we usually go for two weeks and do both parks and cruise. My kids think this is normal. When we get home Santa has left a few things at the house, but they do get to see him either on Christmas Eve at the resorts or Christmas Day on the ship - so I think it is easier to keep Santa alive at Disney than if things just appear overnight at the house.

When the lines to Santa were extremely long on the ship, they usually have characters and the cruise director interacting with the line - so it does not SEEM extremely long.

We usually have received something for Christmas from DCL - always the lithogram, but other years we got a bag of games and toys with a letter from the club, or Pixar calanders, it varies every year - I'm not sure if everyone with kids got the bag of stuff from the club that year - at the time I thought everyone did, but it was during the Year of a Million Dreams and it might have been tied into that with the certificate that came with it.

Welcome new cruisers! My 4 & 6 yr old are excited more little guys will be joining us!

I have to remember to get on here more often......you all are excellent at posting and when I go a few days it takes me hours to catch up!

I really am looking forward to Christmas and the long cruise with you all! I don't know if anyone else listens to the Passporter Podcast, but there was one a few weeks ago about longer cruises that I really enjoyed. You can find it on itunes and it is free.

 

[tinkmischief]

to all the new folks!

Ditto - we are really struggling with some ideas here as well

Also, we have not received confirmation on participation in the F/E - would love to know how many are participating so I can starting picking up the necessasry amount of gifts

The last update is on pg 66 of this thread. I only have a couple more additions since then (yours included) I will try to update early next week. With all of the flooding and tornados we had in Northern AZ this week I am trying to dry out a flooded garage and repair some damage. The deadline is Nov 1st and as a group we decided anything over 50 cabins we would discuss splitting.

On a note we are going to Disneyland for a day next week while DS is on fall break. It has been so long since I have been and it is DS's first time
When we get back from our little trip it will be all about putting on a fabulous Halloween party/Haunted house at my son's school! Can't believe the cruise is getting so close so very excited! November 1st I think it will be like the DCL channel around here ...all Christmas Cruise all the time

 

[candmfox]

It is not available on iBook! So much for reading Harry Potter on my new iPad. But I still love it!

The good thing about the iPad is that you can download apps for Kindle & Nook to go with iBooks - you can have your cake and eat it too. I've got all of the apps on my iPad and "comparison shop" for books - pricing is different sometimes, so it pays to do a little footwork.

 

[momssurprise]

Just wondering what is the best sea sick medicine to plan for a 9 yo? I will get the patch for me & DH ... but not sure what's best for DD9. Opinions?

Surprise...the best I've come up with so far is to tell DH and DD the evening of the 16th. I thought I'd have a small gift for each -- for DH a new pair of swimtrunks and for DD the pillowcase I'm having emmbroidered for this cruise and a note from me to "get busy packing" b/c we are leaving for the Disney Cruise the next morning. We are usually skiing this time of year and they know we aren't this year (we plan to go in Jan/Feb instead) so this will be a big shock. They are both kind of excited to be home this year, so I hope they roll with it! I think they will.

I plan to have most things packed and hidden in the basement or a very detailed list of everything that needs to be packed so we can do it quickly since we will need to get up very early on the 17th to drive to the airport (3 hours away). Our house will have a few rooms in melee b/c of Christmas decorations, etc. so hiding stuff shouldn't be a problem.

I will be travelling overseas most of November for work so I have very little time to get all this done. Making my lists now of what I can buy when one or both is with me and what I need to get over my lunch hours and hide at the office. I also plan to ship a box of stuff to my friend who lives in Cocoa Beach--so I don't have to pack and take everything.

 

[Almagetty]

Phew!!!! Staying away from the Dis for a couple of days means lots of catching up when I finally make it back. It's a little like make-up work when you're absent from school. Only way more fun!

I'm trying to remember things in the last 8 pages that I wanted to answer, but the brain gets a little fuzzy ...

Someone asked if there was a conflict with the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and the buffet. Mass was at 11:15 PM and I don't remember hearing anything about a conflict, but we don't attend midnight buffets, so I can't help there.

Someone asked if the doors to the cabin were metal on both sides. This was probably answered, but just in case, yes they are. There is a plaque on the back of the door with all the information on the lifeboats, etc. That takes up a nice chunk of the door at adult eye level.

Someone asked about information on the Southern Caribbean ports. Cruise Critic has good information about Barbados, not so much about the other two islands.

Welcome to all the newbies!!!!!!! Happy birthday and anniversary smooches all the way around for anyone who celebrated in the past couple of days!

I promise to try real hard not to stay away for a couple of days ever again!

Happy Friday!

 

[miatamel]

I just got my new Passporter in the mail (I LIVED by that thing our last cruises 4 & 5 years ago) and will let you know what is in there about these southern Caribbean ports as far as excursions go and what they recommend.

Now, my question: Last cruises I requested dining rotations, for instance, APL for our seven day so we would be in Lumiere's on formal and Parrot Cay for pirate night. However, I have no idea how to figure this out for this trip. Can someone help me?
And any recommended servers? We loved Adrian from the Phillipines 4 years ago but life changes so much in 4 years he's probably not even there anymore.

 

[momssurprise]

I ordered the Passporter too -- they really helped in 04 & 05. I also printed out the cruise critic info on the S Caribbean ports but haven't read through it yet.

I was all over getting the right rotation last time -- and I did, but the first night they announced our Eastern was becoming a Western b/c of a Hurricane and our whole schedule changed. It threw me off a lot b/c I had planned everything so meticulously. We still had a great time, but I confess some disappointment...so I'm gonna take the rotation I get and not even work out what would be ideal and I may just wait to schedule port trips until I'm on the boat (not sure about that one yet). I guess there is good and bad about making a late date decision to take cruise. But I'm READY.

 

[Meemous]

I know a lot of us have been talking about our iPads lately and I just wanted to share a bit of information that I've found today. I was ordering my pillowcases on eBay from the same woman who did them last year (She is going on a DCL cruise next month!), she also makes fish extenders that are adorable! But... she now makes ipad folding cases that are really cute. Mostly feminine patterns and colors, but take a look if you want... just search 'ipad folding case' on eBay and her eBay name is 'gradysmommy'.

P.S. - She monograms them for $5!

Have fun!

 

[mickey squared]

As for how we surprise them, we pack their suitcases, including buying all new undies, socks, pj's, so the empty drawers don't tip them off. We wake them in the morning and tell them to get dressed, we're going on a road trip! Since moving to Orlando 2 years ago, they pretty much know we'll be doing something for the holidays since we don't have any family here. But, they don't know where.

I've been looking on cruisecritic as well for port info. We usually just go with the flow and sometimes hook up with other cruisers to make our own excursions. I would be interested in what Passporter has to say.

 

[3princessMommy]

Hi everyone!

I made it safely to TX - 24 hours of traveling is enough! I'm trying to stay awake for just a little bit longer so that I can actually sleep through the night and get on the correct schedule. Tomorrow, Mom and I will head to the craft store to get some things she needs to make her FE and a couple of things I need to continue making my FE gifts.

Other wonderful news - I found out today I was promoted!!!! I'm really excited. This will definitely help pay for our vacation and our new DVC membership. It will also help considerably because we haven't been able to rent our house in the U.S. this year yet, so the extra income will be very nice to help with that cash flow problem. Luckily our cruise is safe because I had already socked away the payments necessary.

Finally, I'd love to join the walking/work out gang. I always find that it is so much easier for me to work out if I have someone else to do it with. If it's just me, I'll come up with any excuse in the book not to go - but if there's someone else, that's a different story.

Happy to be on the same time zone as everyone else (more or less)!

 

[discruiser]

A couple of questions for the parents that are surprising their children with the cruise:

1) When are you going to tell them?
2) How are you going to tell them?

I have spent alot of time trying to decide on when to actually tell & how...
I want to wait until my DD (10) birthday to 'tell' which is 12/15. Our flight is late on the 16th. That would give them 24 hours to be excited before we go.

My issue is that we always go to my parents for Christmas and I am concern that DD (10) is going to be very upset about not going to Grandma. My DD is one of those kids that loves traditions. I thought about telling her we were thinking of not going to grandma's this year, but was worried that by saying that...it might 'give away' that we have other plans. I am trying to balance giving her enough notice about the change in plans, with getting a great "Christmas Surprise".

My oldest DD (17) has (mild) aspergers so advanced notice is good. I think a 24 hour notice and a long plane ride will give her enough time to adjust... to the new plans. She will have 'everything mapped' out before we land.

I don't think my 2 DS's (15 &12) will be any problem. They are very easy going. They will probably be glad that we will not have to do the 10 hour drive (each way) to Grandma's house. lol.

Right now, I am planning on putting together a "present" with a cruise shirt, MVMCP tickets, Cruise magnets (with dates). That we will put under the tree and they will open early. Unless I can come up with something more creative...still working on it.

I would love to hear what everyone else is planning?

We, too, are surprising our kids with this cruise. But, I haven't yet figured out how or when to tell them. I was originally thinking we might tell them shortly after Thanksgiving when we put up the tree, but now I'm thinking I might want to wait a while longer. We did a cruise over Thanksgiving last year. We picked them up from school and just started driving. They didn't figure out what we were doing until we got the Residence Inn in CC the night before. I loved surprising them, but it was very hard to get everything packed without them knowing, especially when it came time to try on clothes for dinner, etc.

Not sure how to tell them about this cruise either. I'm worried they might be upset about not being home for Christmas so I want to do something really special. My kids got an "elf" last year from Santa so I was thinking of maybe having the elf bring an early Christmas gift from Santa, something that would let them know we're going to be on the ship. Still thinking about this one though....

I'm also not sure how to handle gifts. I'm sure we'll bring the stockings and stuff them with candy, gift cards, pins, etc. There may one or two small gifts for each of the kids and then they can open their bigger gifts from us when we get home. We are also booked on the Dream in March and an Alaskan cruise in June so I was thinking of wrapping something up that they could open on Christmas morning that would tell them about our upcoming cruises. They are dying to go on the Dream!

Kim

 

[TheBeadPirate]

Wonder what I should get myself to put in my stocking? I definitely consider the cruise my present!!!!

A DCL Dooney & Bourke bag? or wristlet? You can only get them on the cruises.... just sayin'

to all the new folks!




The last update is on pg 66 of this thread.
On a note we are going to Disneyland for a day next week while DS is on fall break. It has been so long since I have been and it is DS's first time

When updated can we get a post number? Our thread posts number backwardds so page numbers don't do much for us. Hope clean up goes well, as for DL- you'll have a great time. We were there last week and had fun!

Since moving to Orlando 2 years ago, they pretty much know we'll be doing something for the holidays since we don't have any family here. But, they don't know where. .

Hey Marguerite, we'll have to get together and do something when we're home. We're on 535 backed up right next to WDW property. We moved from New Orleans in Feb.(well, we started moving then)


I was admonished today for ordering my Kindle and not saying anything.....apparently it was supposed to be my Christmas present. Doesn't "Santa" know that I would need to load books onto said gift before the cruise left?!? Santa definitely knows now that Mrs Claus has an agenda of her own and maybe they need to coordinate between the two of them.....

 

[eve adkins]

So frustrated!! I was just trying to book excursions and Palo and register the kids for the club....I hate that because we have two rooms we have two registrations...going back and forth was so confusing and in the process I realized they have the wrong birth date for one of my kids. Couldn't figure out how to change that. I have two questions....I didn't see where I could register my 15 year old..do we register teens? Also do they ever open more availability on the excursions? My husband only wanted to do the Sea Trek (I think that's what it's called) and it's not available...I shouldn't have waited but he was out of town all week and I wanted to do it together....Lesson learned...Sorry for the complaining and thanks for listening....

 

[Kitster]

LeiLani, the second session at Turtle Snorkle was full. I'll be at the same time as Kitster before your family, then I'll be following her to Harrison's Cave. Barbados is our busy day.

Here's the plan, as it stands:

Day 2- spa stuff

Day 6 - Barbados
Turtle Snorkle/Me @ 8:15am
Atlantis Sub/DH&DD6 @ 9:25am
Harrison's Cave/All @ 2:15pm

Day 9 - St. Thoamas
Magens Bay/All @ 9:15am
Palo/DH&Me @ 6:30pm

Day 10 - spa stuff

Day 11 - Castaway Cay
Extreme Getaway Package/All
w/ Stingray Encounter at 11am


Caryn

YEAH !!!! I'm being stalked Last time we went on an extended Disney cruise, it was so much fun knowing people on the excursions. You will absolutely love the turtle snorkel. Hubby's just hoping the yellow-tail snappers stay away from him this trip. He chickened out of snorkeling with the sharks in Nassau last September after he got nipped on his pinkie and was bleeding. I, on the other hand, was the 1st one in the water and the last one out.

 

[Corwin17]

Hubby's just hoping the yellow-tail snappers stay away from him this trip. He chickened out of snorkeling with the sharks in Nassau last September after he got nipped on his pinkie and was bleeding. I, on the other hand, was the 1st one in the water and the last one out.

Nipped my pinkie?! I had 3 puncture wounds on my index finger and 4 scrapes on my fingernail! That #$%@! yellow-tail tried to bite my whole finger off! Those things have real sharp point teeth!

The little fish tried to eat me, I wasn't giving the big sharks a chance!

I got my revenge on its brethren though .... when I got home .... yellow-tail SUSHI!

 

[Kitster]

You miss a few days, and the boards go wild. IT IS SO EXCITING TO SEE!
Kitser, your floors are fabulous. It is looking good. I do not know how you are doing it all: the house and planning for our cruise. My dining room table and office are a mess with cruise stuff, and I cannot imagine how crazy it would be if I had remodeling to deal with.
I know there has been some discussion about fire hazards so I have an interesting story for you. When we were staying at Disney’s Grand California, the Christmas tree caught on fire. All was okay, but the next year Disney had a firefighter posted 25/7 at the tree. Now, there is no firefighter because the tree is artificial.
I read on the boards somewhere about mailing packages to the port. Does anybody have the information on that? I cannot locate the information again on the boards. Thank you. I appreciate it because we are planning to mail our FE stuff to the port. Or do you recommend mailing it to the Hyatt?
Things that I am looking forward to: My anniversary (tomorrow), homecoming, Fall Festival, Halloween Time at Disneyland, Justin Bieber concert, and Fright Night at Universal Studios.
Take care and talk to you soon.

Lisa - First and foremost Belated Happy Anniversary; Second - here's the DIS link for package shipping info: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-plan.htm#shippingaboxtoship ; Third - Our office is IN our dining room and the living room and the garage Today the lights when in and the vertical blinds went up. Tomorrow I start painting the baseboards and hopefully get them installed either Sunday or Monday.; Fourth - When are you planning to do Halloween Time at DLR? We are going to try to get tickets for the night of Oct. 15th, since there's a big MousePlanet meet that night. LMK if you'll be there on the 15th and maybe we can meet up and say HI.

 

[Kitster]

Nipped my pinkie?! I had 3 puncture wounds on my index finger and 4 scrapes on my fingernail! That #$%@! yellow-tail tried to bite my whole finger off! Those things have real sharp point teeth!

The little fish tried to eat me, I wasn't giving the big sharks a chance!

I got my revenge on its brethren though .... when I got home .... yellow-tail SUSHI!

Yeah, I'll give ya the big, sharp pointy teeth, but at least it didn't have big floppy ears and sharp pointy teeth

 

[Evans Family]

My kids got an "elf" last year from Santa so I was thinking of maybe having the elf bring an early Christmas gift from Santa, something that would let them know we're going to be on the ship. Still thinking about this one though....

Kim

We have an elf too! I'm going to have the elf sent a gift basket (from Shirley) to them with treats as a surprise!

 

[DVC4US]

Just wondering what is the best sea sick medicine to plan for a 9 yo? I will get the patch for me & DH ... but not sure what's best for DD9. Opinions?

We have always used Bonine. I think they have a kids one out now but we have always used the adult version and when DD was younger we just gave her half a pill. They are chewables so it is easy to break in half.

 

[miatamel]

Nothing in the newest Passporter about these Southern ports as far as excursions go
Off to figure something out before there are NO options.