Magic In Paradise: 10/8-10/15 2011 All cruisers check in here

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Great KellyJeanDVC!!! My 12 year old dd will be so excited that there's another girl about her age! She has no idea of what to expect, so she's a little anxious (but in an ok way)! She's homeschooled so she wasn't sure how many other kids would be out of school this time of year. Although our schools here in MS get a fall break.

There will be plenty of kids on the Magic during this cruise. While there will be less than if this was a summer or spring break cruise. The pic of the sailaway party was from 10/16/10 western cruise and you can see lots of kids have a great time.

 

[sullins5]

so, you actually have time to eat, swim, then take your stuff to your room...when do they actually leave the port? I know it sounds corny, but I want to be on 'a side' to see us pull away. Is this before, during or after the Sail away party?

 

[Octoberbride03]

As y'all (or you guys, or you all) are talkign about the excursions, when we went on our RCCL Navigator ship...they really totally frowned on using anyone else but them for booking excursions. Stating that IF you took one from anyone else, and there was any kind of trouble, or you were late, then it was your fault and up to you to get back to the ship. True? I suppose?
They shared several stories about ppl who rented cars/cars would break down, and those folks would have to fly to get to another port.
That being said...I don't know whether I'd feel safe taking another tour group. Although I read on the cruise forum about the bernardtours, and shoretrips.com comes highly recommended through my Ta...But... I don't know....

Well, if you use an outside tour it is your own responsibility to get back to the ship on time. And I could share some youtube videos I've seen about cruisers being late But its a small island, and I have yet to read even 1 report about him being late to get back to port. With his rep. I'd feel safe with him. Any other tour group and then its a big "we'll see"

 

[Octoberbride03]

so, you actually have time to eat, swim, then take your stuff to your room...when do they actually leave the port? I know it sounds corny, but I want to be on 'a side' to see us pull away. Is this before, during or after the Sail away party?

They close the pool for the Sail away party and have a deck rolled out over it, so swimming the muster drill and the Sail Away. We'll probably pull away from the docks about 5ish if everything is on time. Can't remember if we left on time or not last trip but we were on deck 10 and waved to the dock crew and ran up front to get a great view of heading out to sea. it was fantastic

 

[sullins5]

Well, if you use an outside tour it is your own responsibility to get back to the ship on time. And I could share some youtube videos I've seen about cruisers being late But its a small island, and I have yet to read even 1 report about him being late to get back to port. With his rep. I'd feel safe with him. Any other tour group and then its a big "we'll see"

Are you talking about the 'bernardtours'? as 'him'?

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

so, you actually have time to eat, swim, then take your stuff to your room...when do they actually leave the port? I know it sounds corny, but I want to be on 'a side' to see us pull away. Is this before, during or after the Sail away party?

If you get to the port early then you will have plenty of time for that and don't forget the DIS meet at 3pm (location TBD). You can board by noon, hit lunch, be at the pools for a while and then head to your stateroom (which do not open until around 1 to 1:30pm), relax, hit the DIS meet, safety drill at 3:45pm and then the Sail away party at 4:30pm. The ship actually sails at approx 5pm. The sailaway party is supposed to be timed with the ending being playing of the DCL horn and the ship pulling away from the dock. The ship docks on the starboard side so you can see everything from that side. If you want to just relax, you can board a little later, order a mickey bar from room service and just watch the sailaway from your verandah or deck 4. It is your choice so have fun with whatever works best for your family.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Are you talking about the 'bernardtours'? as 'him'?

Yipperdoodles

 

[tigger2002]

That being said...I don't know whether I'd feel safe taking another tour group. Although I read on the cruise forum about the bernardtours, and shoretrips.com comes highly recommended through my Ta...But... I don't know....

The tour groups do not make a living very long by allowing people to miss their ship. There are literally thousands of people that use these independent operators each week. Disney will not wait forever for you either, just a little longer . I just do a lot of research and even send a note asking when was the last time someone missed their ship and how often does that happen. Plus when we go with four people and Disney charges $90 ($360) and someone else charges $50 ($200) it really adds up especially with two island stops (save over $300).

,

 

[tigger2002]

Some Photos that my son took from the Western cruise

Magic and Key West

Various places from Magic cruise

Relaxing


>

 

[KellyJeanDVC]

Great KellyJeanDVC!!! My 12 year old dd will be so excited that there's another girl about her age! She has no idea of what to expect, so she's a little anxious (but in an ok way)! She's homeschooled so she wasn't sure how many other kids would be out of school this time of year. Although our schools here in MS get a fall break.

My kids are homeschooled also. So they will have that in common. My daughter (Courtney) will love to have someone to show around the ship. She knows the Magic well and can totally show her the ropes.

Courtney doesn't have her own email account yet, but if you'd like the girls to communicate beforehand I could give you my email address so they could write back and forth. Or we could do a traditional pen pal thing and have them write letters. PM me if you're interested in doing something like that.

Otherwise, we can meet in the terminal before we embark.

 

[sullins5]

The tour groups do not make a living very long by allowing people to miss their ship. There are literally thousands of people that use these independent operators each week. Disney will not wait forever for you either, just a little longer . I just do a lot of research and even send a note asking when was the last time someone missed their ship and how often does that happen. Plus when we go with four people and Disney charges $90 ($360) and someone else charges $50 ($200) it really adds up especially with two island stops (save over $300).

,

Just read Bernards reviews on TripAdviser! He got great ones! Everyone was very pleased looked like. Would love to know what happened to aan1701 (if you're on here tonight) to hear about your excursion experience!

And I must be missing something about St Martin and the planes landing? Is it because they come so close to the ground that ppl like to see that?
Someone enlighten me please...

 

[KellyJeanDVC]

I am thinking on booking a limo to take us to the port has anyone used any of the limo companies before and can recommend them thanks.

We've used Happy Limo twice and have found them very professional. You don't have to book an actual limosuine through them. You can also book a town car which will be cheaper.

Hey all, I'm Kate. I've posted a few times but now that it's looking like our cruise is definite I thought I'd be a bit more open. I will have my husband and two daughters with me. My girls will be 15 and a half, and 10 and a half. My older daughter is very smart and very into reading, writing, and drawing. She's really hoping they'll have drawing classes on the ship like at the Studios at Disney World. Do they?? She wonders if there is a piano passengers can play?

My younger daughter is also very smart and loves drawing and writing, and just having fun.

Anyone have girls of similar ages with similar interests??

I will also be with my entire extended family on my side...two sisters, a brother, two brothers in law, five nephews, two nieces, and my mother who will be celebrating her 75th birthday which is what the cruise is for. This was all my mother's idea as I've never wanted to cruise so I'm rather uneasy about the whole thing and delving headfirst into all the research (I'm a research QUEEN and know pretty much all there is to know about Disney World, but the cruise is, ahem, unchartered waters for me, if you will).

Anyway, here's my official hello!

Welcome, Kate!!! My daughter is 13 and my son will be 15 on the cruise. So they are similar ages.

so, you actually have time to eat, swim, then take your stuff to your room...when do they actually leave the port? I know it sounds corny, but I want to be on 'a side' to see us pull away. Is this before, during or after the Sail away party?

We always have plenty of time! The kids wear their suits under their clothes when we board the ship. We go to Topsiders for lunch and eat outside. You can just stick your carry on near your table. The adults can relax while the kids swim or play foosball. We usually have a good 1 1/2 hours up there before going to the room. The thing about a cruise is that it doesn't take you long to get anywhere. I remember when I was planning my first I was always trying to account for "travel time". But, really, it hardly takes any time to get from one place to another.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Just read Bernards reviews on TripAdviser! He got great ones! Everyone was very pleased looked like. Would love to know what happened to aan1701 (if you're on here tonight) to hear about your excursion experience!

And I must be missing something about St Martin and the planes landing? Is it because they come so close to the ground that ppl like to see that?
Someone enlighten me please...

Oh Maho beach.

Picture this. YOU are on the Beach. The Plane with Landing Gear DOWN is like 15ft above you. Maybe 30.

 

[Octoberbride03]

And if we get there on a good day there will be 747s landing. oh boy who's got the video camera

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Just read Bernards reviews on TripAdviser! He got great ones! Everyone was very pleased looked like. Would love to know what happened to aan1701 (if you're on here tonight) to hear about your excursion experience!

And I must be missing something about St Martin and the planes landing? Is it because they come so close to the ground that ppl like to see that?
Someone enlighten me please...

Here is a youtube video of a plane landing at St Maarten. Just remember to duck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w-9G8z4RCI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AhMAP-M8ew&feature=related

 

[tigger2002]

Just read Bernards reviews on TripAdviser! He got great ones! Everyone was very pleased looked like. Would love to know what happened to aan1701 (if you're on here tonight) to hear about your excursion experience!

And I must be missing something about St Martin and the planes landing? Is it because they come so close to the ground that ppl like to see that?
Someone enlighten me please...

Just check this out

St Marteen airport

 

[aan1701]

Oh Maho beach.

Picture this. YOU are on the Beach. The Plane with Landing Gear DOWN is like 15ft above you. Maybe 30.

That's what I am looking forward too.

 

[tigger2002]

Do you guys sit and watch the ships leave from Two Palms on Saturday and Sunday?

Two Palms Web Cam

The cam is live, although stopped right now, and you can watch ships leave the Port Canaveral area. You can click on "favorite shots" on the right or click on "snap shots" and then "today's snapshots" to see pics of the wonder leaving today.

<

 

[aan1701]

Just read Bernards reviews on TripAdviser! He got great ones! Everyone was very pleased looked like. Would love to know what happened to aan1701 (if you're on here tonight) to hear about your excursion experience!

And I must be missing something about St Martin and the planes landing? Is it because they come so close to the ground that ppl like to see that?
Someone enlighten me please...

Long story short. For whatever reason DW tour in Cabo was to be back to the tender pier by 2:30. They were a hour late. If it were not for the fact that she was on a DCL tour, she would have been left behind and forced to fly home to L.A.

 

[aan1701]

Do you guys sit and watch the ships leave from Two Palms on Saturday and Sunday?

Two Palms Web Cam

The cam is live, although stopped right now, and you can watch ships leave the Port Canaveral area. You can click on "favorite shots" on the right or click on "snap shots" and then "today's snapshots" to see pics of the wonder leaving today.

<

If the Wonder is leaving PC today, that would be a true mirical.