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

[momssurprise]

I'm hoping to convince DH and DD for a very light version of Christmas decorations this year. Will have enough laundry to do when we get home, don't want to have to put up a full slew of Christmas decorations too!

Speaking of laundry, is anyone else going to try to "make it" without doing laundry on ship? I have woolite packets for swimsuits in our stateroom. Thought I'd bring some of the 2 in 1 (or is it 3-in 1) sheets I've seen people recommend just in case...but seems like some days I might not wear shorts for very long and they could be reworn a few more times? Am I not thinking straight?

 

[Cruisin'Nick]

I'm hoping to convince DH and DD for a very light version of Christmas decorations this year. Will have enough laundry to do when we get home, don't want to have to put up a full slew of Christmas decorations too!

Speaking of laundry, is anyone else going to try to "make it" without doing laundry on ship? I have woolite packets for swimsuits in our stateroom. Thought I'd bring some of the 2 in 1 (or is it 3-in 1) sheets I've seen people recommend just in case...but seems like some days I might not wear shorts for very long and they could be reworn a few more times? Am I not thinking straight?

Momssurprise,

You are thinking straight, honestly. We pretty much over pack last time, since it was our first cruise and ended up not having to do laundry til the last night of the cruise, (we were going to WDW after, so we kinda needed clean clothes, hehe). We are definatley packing less this time, me for sure, probably one for each day, plus the formal stuff, and bathing suit.

 

[tinkmischief]

The full fishy list is on google docs! I am working on PMing people the link. You will note that several are still missing cabin #s - please feel free to add that information in as you receive it. I will do another sort and clean up the list closer to sail date. Also, there are 63 cabins not 62 due to a data entry error on my part sorry about that. I still only have 10 wanting the split. I know a couple felt very strongly about this option so I will throw it out to you few to see what you want to do.

With that I am off to PM and maybe actually get some work done. There is a cafe in Sedona that I'm sure would like their napkins dyed and returned at least before Thanksgiving

 

[momssurprise]

Momssurprise,

You are thinking straight, honestly. We pretty much over pack last time, since it was our first cruise and ended up not having to do laundry til the last night of the cruise, (we were going to WDW after, so we kinda needed clean clothes, hehe). We are definatley packing less this time, me for sure, probably one for each day, plus the formal stuff, and bathing suit.

One cruising tip I seem to see over and over is, unpack 50% of what you've packed. It's a bit harder this time for me (than cruising in September) b/c of needing layers depending on the weather...I find it very hard not to over pack for vacations!

 

[egorss78]

no I think even the die hard fishies would swim away in terror at that thought. No, most people give to each cabin only once during the course of the cruise.

Hope that's a load off your mind

Yup that does. Figured I could not be correct in my thinking. Keep me in the non-split group.

 

[BBQMommy]

Thank you, Melissa!


Caryn

 

[tinkmischief]

Think I got everyone! If you are a fish and did not get a PM from me with the list link please let me know.

Totals on the complete list are:
63 cabins
117 adults
0-2 yrs old - 1 boy 1girl
3-7 yrs old - 11 boys, 18 girls
8-12 yrs old - 19 boys, 23 girls
13-17 yrs old - 11 boys, 14 girls

 

[momssurprise]

Think I got everyone! If you are a fish and did not get a PM from me with the list link please let me know.

Totals on the complete list are:
63 cabins
117 adults
0-2 yrs old - 1 boy 1girl
3-7 yrs old - 11 boys, 20 girls
8-12 yrs old - 19 boys, 23 girls
13-17 yrs old - 11 boys, 14 girls

You ROCK Melissa. Thank you Thank you Thank you!

 

[3princessMommy]

Just got my tickets in hand for Harry Potter on the 19th at 7PM - WooHoo!

Our local theater is running movies 1-3 on the 17th and 4-6 on the 18th, $13 each day. So very tempting! Schedule only allows for 1-3 but to see them on the big screen again would be so nice!

With HP, Thanksgiving, etc, our departure date will be here before we know it

Caryn

I'd love to see the movies in a theater!!! Never saw any of them before this year and all on DVD - although now that DH has a BluRay they look a little crisper. I think it would be cool to see them all on the big screen. Oh well - living in Africa has it's downsides...

This time next month we will be leaving for the airport!
We will be staying at a hotel near Gatwick then flying out on the 9th. Cant wait to hit the shops.
Still working through my to-do list but everytime I take something off I find another to add on.
What traditions is everyone keeping to even though they are away from home?
We are still going to midnight mass and we are bringing crackers (not the edible kind) for our table for christmas day.
Colette

KLM just changed their flight schedule so we are no longer leaving on Dec 8. Now we are leaving at 1:45am on December 9!!! That is going to be a crappy trip! Three kids getting on a plane at 1:45am??? They really know how to screw up my vacation don't they!

Honestly, I have no idea what traditions we will be able to keep. We'll bring stockings with us. This will force DH to get some of the Christmas boxes out so that we can get the stockings, but he swears he won't let me decorate at all. Normally we go all out - lights on the house (really unique in Uganda!), 9 foot tree, garland all along the ceiling and windows, etc. Christmas is my season! Of course, we'll have to order room service cookies for Santa before bed, but guess we won't be able to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve this year. So will probably just read the Christmas story from the Bible before bed. From the sounds of things, DCL is only doing a Catholic mass. We love our Christmas Eve candlelit services, but we're Lutheran, so don't really want to go to Mass. I guess I can skip all the cooking this year...will let DCL do that this time!

Just a quick one, if we decide to not split the FE groups, does this mean each group will deliver 60ish items a day for 11 days, so 660 items?

AGHHHHH!!!! NO WAY!!!!

No worries, just once during the cruise.

I'm hoping to convince DH and DD for a very light version of Christmas decorations this year. Will have enough laundry to do when we get home, don't want to have to put up a full slew of Christmas decorations too!

Speaking of laundry, is anyone else going to try to "make it" without doing laundry on ship? I have woolite packets for swimsuits in our stateroom. Thought I'd bring some of the 2 in 1 (or is it 3-in 1) sheets I've seen people recommend just in case...but seems like some days I might not wear shorts for very long and they could be reworn a few more times? Am I not thinking straight?

We will definitely do some laundry onboard. And since our cabins are right across from the room, it will be easier to snag the machines when they are empty!

Think I got everyone! If you are a fish and did not get a PM from me with the list link please let me know.

Totals on the complete list are:
63 cabins
117 adults
0-2 yrs old - 1 boy 1girl
3-7 yrs old - 11 boys, 20 girls
8-12 yrs old - 19 boys, 23 girls
13-17 yrs old - 11 boys, 14 girls

You are AWESOME!!!!!!!!

 

[miatamel]

Hi...
Questions, questions...

I'm one of the 10 to split, but I had just as soon not because it would be easier to just do everyone now, so does the "Y" need to come off my name?

Should I wait until it's "cleaned up" to print the spreadsheet out? Or are y'all printing it out and penciling in staterooms, etc?

We are in room 7576 if anyone needs to pencil it in.

 

[colkath2005]

Hi...
Questions, questions...

I'm one of the 10 to split, but I had just as soon not because it would be easier to just do everyone now, so does the "Y" need to come off my name?

Should I wait until it's "cleaned up" to print the spreadsheet out? Or are y'all printing it out and penciling in staterooms, etc?

We are in room 7576 if anyone needs to pencil it in.

I am printing it out now just to start organising my FE's. I decided I was gonna give to everyone on the list even if they decided to split. (It is christmas)But will prob also print out the "cleaned up" version too.
Colette

 

[itutorfortravel]

Think I got everyone! If you are a fish and did not get a PM from me with the list link please let me know.

Totals on the complete list are:
63 cabins
117 adults
0-2 yrs old - 1 boy 1girl
3-7 yrs old - 11 boys, 20 girls
8-12 yrs old - 19 boys, 23 girls
13-17 yrs old - 11 boys, 14 girls

I got a PM from you, but there was no link. It looked like you had forwarded a msg. to me rather than sent a message, so I'm sorry but I didn't know if you were trying to send me something or if you had sent the message in error. Please let me know if you need any info for us! And if you can send me the link to google docs that would be great, too. Thank you!

 

[momssurprise]

Joann, sorry about the flight change, but the girls will be so excited they can't sleep anyway - maybe? And maybe they'll sleep better on the plane? At least you will have a nice long time to decompress after.

We are Episcopalian, but thought we might celebrate mass. It's not terribly different...just can't remember if the Romans sing Silent Night, which is my favorite part of our Christmas services -- and the heavy incense! Which I love. Then again, might be pooped from the big formal night and too tired to stay up until midnight.

I can't believe how quickly this cruise is coming. Yay!

 

[AustinAg]

I'm one of the 10 to split, but I had just as soon not because it would be easier to just do everyone now, so does the "Y" need to come off my name?

Should I wait until it's "cleaned up" to print the spreadsheet out? Or are y'all printing it out and penciling in staterooms, etc?

I agree. I thought the voting was going to be split down the middle. So, please change us to the non-split. The kids will really enjoy this.
Are we making this hard enough on you yet???

 

[tinkmischief]

KLM just changed their flight schedule so we are no longer leaving on Dec 8. Now we are leaving at 1:45am on December 9!!! That is going to be a crappy trip! Three kids getting on a plane at 1:45am??? They really know how to screw up my vacation don't they!

Honestly, I have no idea what traditions we will be able to keep. We'll bring stockings with us. This will force DH to get some of the Christmas boxes out so that we can get the stockings, but he swears he won't let me decorate at all. Normally we go all out - lights on the house (really unique in Uganda!), 9 foot tree, garland all along the ceiling and windows, etc. Christmas is my season! Of course, we'll have to order room service cookies for Santa before bed, but guess we won't be able to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve this year. So will probably just read the Christmas story from the Bible before bed. From the sounds of things, DCL is only doing a Catholic mass. We love our Christmas Eve candlelit services, but we're Lutheran, so don't really want to go to Mass. I guess I can skip all the cooking this year...will let DCL do that this time!

1:45 am wow! Hopefully they will manage to get rest on the flight! I will send peaceful thoughts your way

As far as traditions go hmmm we will still do cookies and milk for santa and stockings. Plus we will still be spending the Holiday with my parents since I am dragging them along lol! Christmas for us has always been about spending it with them.
In my house we celebrate the Winter Solstice and I don't know that many of my traditions will be kept this year. We will decorate our Solstice tree (edible decorations for the birds are used) outside before we go. I don't think DCL will go for me burning a yule log in my cabin all night so that's a bust I will have family and new friends to gather with so there's still that I had tolaugh when someone jokingly mentioned a solstice drum circle - sounds like a blast to me

As far as decorating I am cutting WAY back. My house is one of those that you can see from space lol. I have lots of animated penguins etc. I will be putting some lights outside so it won't be quite so obvious that we are gone. We will also put the tree and a few decorations up inside as will still be making a stop at the house while we are on the ship.

 

[Disney Rocks]

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to say "hello and that we are still onboard". I haven't been on the discussion board for quite some time as work has been very busy. However, we are still here and I am still organizing the Secret Mickey gift exchange. If you have not already signed up but are interested, please send me a message so that I have your names on the list before I start matching people up and sending the info out hopefully this week. We could sure use some girls who are interested in this fun activity.

Take care.

 

[tinkmischief]

Hi...
Questions, questions...

I'm one of the 10 to split, but I had just as soon not because it would be easier to just do everyone now, so does the "Y" need to come off my name?

Should I wait until it's "cleaned up" to print the spreadsheet out? Or are y'all printing it out and penciling in staterooms, etc?

We are in room 7576 if anyone needs to pencil it in.

I actually formatted the document so that everyone can put it their cabin numbers or other missing info themselves (just thought it would be quicker for everyone but I don't mind doing it for you if that's preferrable.) Sorry that I didn't make that more clear. I have several in my PM box already so I will get to those when I can.

I agree. I thought the voting was going to be split down the middle. So, please change us to the non-split. The kids will really enjoy this.
Are we making this hard enough on you yet???

At this point the group wishing to split is so small I am just going to delete that row and say that we are officially on big happy family. I am sorry if that puts anyone out but you are down to 5 and that's not going to make much of a difference anyway.

Also, I apparently have given a cabin a couple kids that aren't theirs I am gonna go back and see where the kidnapping occured, but if you are missing children please come to the customer service desk. No stopping to go catch a movie first either!

 

[jgura]

The full fishy list is on google docs! I am working on PMing people the link. You will note that several are still missing cabin #s - please feel free to add that information in as you receive it. I will do another sort and clean up the list closer to sail date. Also, there are 63 cabins not 62 due to a data entry error on my part sorry about that. I still only have 10 wanting the split. I know a couple felt very strongly about this option so I will throw it out to you few to see what you want to do.

With that I am off to PM and maybe actually get some work done.

I also did not get an attachment with the PM. So did you actually receive 53 votes to keep everyone in one group or is that where you put the cabins who did not vote or did not care? I will just have to save my FE gifts that had bought for the next cruise. They would cost way too much for 63 cabins. Off to printing Recipe cards for everyone.

The Disney store had little girl's dresses (Cinderella, Tiana, Snow White, Tink, Belle) 40% around Halloween, well I figured that if I waited till after Halloween they might go even cheaper.


I guess that's what you get for trying to beat the system!

I hit this sale for my twins. Between the two, we will be a princess nearly every night.

 

[skypixy]

We will have a tree, and I don't think I can get away with eliminating the train underneath (DS loves trains). I am going to attempt to keep it "winter-y" and low key this year, but the boys may become suspicious (sp?). We have a tree in every room, village, lights outside, several advent calendars, the whole she-bang. After reading how much everyone is scaling back so they don't have to put it away on Dec. 30th, I am re-thinking the whole "surprise, we are going on a cruise!" thing.
I am sure to catch many TV specials before Dec.17th, and I think we have them all on disk anyway. This includes "A Christmas Story", of course.

 

[skypixy]

I'm hoping to convince DH and DD for a very light version of Christmas decorations this year. Will have enough laundry to do when we get home, don't want to have to put up a full slew of Christmas decorations too!

Speaking of laundry, is anyone else going to try to "make it" without doing laundry on ship? I have woolite packets for swimsuits in our stateroom. Thought I'd bring some of the 2 in 1 (or is it 3-in 1) sheets I've seen people recommend just in case...but seems like some days I might not wear shorts for very long and they could be reworn a few more times? Am I not thinking straight?

I must do laundry. I am a HUGE over-packer, and I am determined to keep it simple, so we don't have to break our backs with luggage.
I apologize in advance for the fact that you will see me in the same outfits for almost 2 weeks, but I promise to shower & launder!