Magic, January 16, 2010--Winter Day Castaways

[ljcrochet]

I have never done a non-cruise tour, but I did read on Bernardtours that if the ship does not come into a port, there is no fee.

 

[pit303]

We originally signed up for the Disney excursion to St. John, but then read something highly recommending Rumbaba charters (sailboat to St. John). They are more expensive, but offer whole lots more and promise to go where the big boat excursions don't. The excursion is for 6 people; we signed up 4. Wondering if anyone else would like to make up the sixsome. You can google Rumbaba charters for all the info.

Joe and I are the other two glad it is someone else from our ship.

 

[Bunless]

We put our name into the hat for the Rumbaba tour, but you guys got to it first! lol. It sounds like a lot of fun. On St. Thomas, DH and I are going to do a self guided walking tour. I have this thing about climbing famous stairs, so I'm looking forward to 99 Stairs. I know, I'm weird.

On St. Marteen, we're doing Bernard's, but doing a private tour for just the two of us. We'd like to see the island, but not that into shopping or going to the beach (of course, that might change since I realized there are European beaches there...which I love!).

For the question about a changed itinerary, in my email from Bernard he said that if the ship doesn't come, we don't pay.

 

[pit303]

We put our name into the hat for the Rumbaba tour, but you guys got to it first! lol. It sounds like a lot of fun. On St. Thomas, DH and I are going to do a self guided walking tour. I have this thing about climbing famous stairs, so I'm looking forward to 99 Stairs. I know, I'm weird.

On St. Marteen, we're doing Bernard's, but doing a private tour for just the two of us. We'd like to see the island, but not that into shopping or going to the beach (of course, that might change since I realized there are European beaches there...which I love!).

For the question about a changed itinerary, in my email from Bernard he said that if the ship doesn't come, we don't pay.

We are also doing Bernard's tour in St. Marteen but we aren't doing a private tour I really want to stick my toes in the water in January!!

 

[GrammieMame]

We are on Bernard's as well. Looks like we'll have a Disney group

 

[GrammieMame]

13 pages into this thread, I'm wondering what an FE exchange is. I know someone can enlighten me.

 

[AimeeJ]

13 pages into this thread, I'm wondering what an FE exchange is. I know someone can enlighten me.

FE's are just a way to spread magic among friends. Think of it like a secret santa (or not secret if you prefer). Everyone who wants to participate just needs to let Shellcruiser know by 12/15. We then give small gifts of your choice to our fellow cruisers during the trip. People do lots of different things such as candy, things from the region they are from or crafty people do homemade things. It is the thought, not the gift that counts. It is very fun to come back to your stateroom and find a little surprise waiting. We call it a fish extender exchange because by your stateroom door is a small fish that CMs use to leave "mail" and we put some kind of hanger on it for people to place gifts in. Again, people get as crafty as they want with this. I've seen everything from canvas bags and decorated shoe hangers to very personalized creative works. There are even people on ebay that sell them.

I'm getting my gifts together now, so throw your name in the hat, I've got plenty to go around.

 

[ltzol]

I'm doing Bernard's too! Sounds like we'll have a great group!

I don't know how to do the quote thing - so for those of you wondering how to get free tickets to the Kennedy Space Center - just email your local congressperson - they have the ability to get a certain amount of free tickets for their constituents. I have gotten a few emails from my congresswoman's office and they are waiting for the January tickets - so keep your fingers crossed for me!

I'm just not sure what we are doing on St Thomas. I really would love to go to St. John, but I am still deciding.

 

[hgon76]

Bernards is awesome! We did it last year & are doing it again. Last year we were a group of 8 & paid the regular price, but ended up w/ a "private" van tour for just the 8 of us. We had John for our driver. He was awesome! I'm hoping we get him again. I missed out on St John last year because we planned on doing it on our own but got nervous about taking off to another island on our own. And we got off the ship a little later than planned so we headed over to Sapphire beach. I am NOT missing St John again. From what I hear it really is an amazingly beautiful island. So we're going against our "no expensive ship excursion" rule & doing the St John snorkel.

 

[shellcruiser]

13 pages into this thread, I'm wondering what an FE exchange is. I know someone can enlighten me.

AimeeJ did a great job explaining the exchange. I'm copying some of what Sarah and Janice compiled from one of my past cruises. You can find several links/ threads with people showing off their homemade fish extenders and homemade gifts. I would tell you what I have given in the past, but who knows, I may just do it again...so I'm keeping my little secret
If you want to know what I'm making you need to sign up. For those who are thinking there's not enough time to make gifts... don't worry... some folks give candy, pencils, pens, etc. (even had one friend who left shooters for the adults) Dollar Tree and Oriental trading can be your friend It's just fun to come back to your cabin and find a little extra magic waiting for you.



Fish Extender Examples: Remember.....no more than EIGHT INCHES WIDE!
http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=25722961&postcount=2963


How to Make a Fish Extender

Pockets are 11" X 5 1/2"
Back is 32" X 8"

Materials:
You need 1/4 yard of fabric
iron interfacing
wide double fold bias tape, and
3/8" dowel 8" long

Instructions:
- - - Cut out backing and pockets then iron on interfacing.
- - - Sew bias tape on top of pocket
- - - Pleat once on each side and pin bottom of pocket so that it is 8" wide.
- - - Baste, then pin bias tape on bottom and sew on
- - - Pin pockets on backing and sew bottom of pocket to backing
- - - Pin and baste around entire outside of project.
- - - Pin then sew bias tape around outside edge of whole fish extender
- - - Fold top over leaving room for you dowel at top and sew along the inside of bias tape down each side to secure.


If this sounds like too much... hang a bag...it accomplishes the same thing


Anyone who wants to play along just PM me with your names, ages of your children, and room number if you know it. Remember we set the deadline as Dec. 15.

 

[pit303]

If oldest DD wasn't getting married on Dec 19th we would do the FE it really is fun to come back to your cabin and see all the goodies. My younger DD made our FE for our Sept 08 cruise and it has two sides so we switched it around for pirate night!! If anyone wants to do the FE and needs a FE I have an extra one I had actually purchased one on Ebay before DD decided to design ours I don't mind lending the purchased one to someone if you need it.

 

[hgon76]

Watching Disney Cruise Line on the Travel Channel! Can't wait!!!!!

 

[GrammieMame]

So I'm still not clear how it works. Do you bring a specific number of gifts, like just for the people who sign up? One for each cabin? Do you give them to the FE coordinator and they take care of putting them in the bags. I'm interested, but confused.

 

[shellcruiser]

So I'm still not clear how it works. Do you bring a specific number of gifts, like just for the people who sign up? One for each cabin? Do you give them to the FE coordinator and they take care of putting them in the bags. I'm interested, but confused.

You would bring enough gifts for each person or cabin who signs up. Some folks make big gifts (like scrapbook pages, mini-albums, etc) which they would leave 1 per cabin. Some folks give candies, tatoos, pencils, goodie bags, etc. specifically for each person.
As FE coordinator I will send you a list of everyone who is participating and their room numbers. I will include the gender and ages of children participating so everyone can plan appropriately. It is up to each participant to distribute the goodies that they brought for the other participants. There is no set time to pass items out. In the past I have split my list and delivered to 2 or 3 cabins each day until I am finished. I do NOT try to go to all cabins at once.
If by some chance we get lots more participants in the next week, we could divide into 2 separate FE groups so as not to overwhelm anyone.

 

[Bunless]

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
It's the holidays, so it's like there's something to do every weekend!
Tonight for us, Bacon Strip--a monthly themed drag show. Love it!
I need to dress in theme to get a discount on the admission.

 

[shellcruiser]

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
It's the holidays, so it's like there's something to do every weekend!
Tonight for us, Bacon Strip--a monthly themed drag show. Love it!
I need to dress in theme to get a discount on the admission.

Bacon Strip--interesting name
Please let us know what you chose for attire...do you have to dress in drag?
I'm sure the show is tons of fun.

You are dressing up for Pirate night on the boat, right???

 

[AimeeJ]

Looks like everyone has been busy this weekend. DD and saw Rent with Adam and Anthony from the original Broadway cast. DD was sooo excited. The show was wonderful.

Tonight for us, Bacon Strip--a monthly themed drag show. Love it!
I need to dress in theme to get a discount on the admission.

Wish I could get DH to do something like that but he doesn't have the legs for it,

 

[williamson_ja]

hmmm. You guys are all having fun. I worked all day yesterday. Nothing much going on today either.
We did get our room assignments for our cat 12GTY rooms. We got a big porthole room cat 9!! Next weekend we have too many plans. lol. Why is it either all or nothing?
Off to my inlaws tonight for my mil birthday party. I guess that's somthing.

 

[pit303]

Our Christmas is going to be celebrated on Dec 19th when our oldest daughter gets married We still have sooo much to do and so little time left!!

 

[hgon76]

just went and cut our Christmas tree down. Got the first snowfall of the winter last night. Not much, but it was pretty to see. We'll put the tree up in the house sometime this week, and when it's time to take it down......it'll be almost time to cruise. Just realized last night that if I have anything to buy online for Christmas, I'd better do it soon so it'll be delivered in time. Have a work Christmas Party on Thurs, a friend's Christmas Party on Sat., and doing Christmas with the in laws on Sunday. Busy week!!!