March 15-22, 2008 Eastern - Way-Way Early Check In

[pop5]

Hey Nancy. I did get the weekly rainforest pass. I really enjoyed that. I did have a couples massage and the cellulite reduction thing. That was a BIG RIP-OFF!!! Dont forget to write "no sales pitch" on your form or you wont even be able to enjoy your treatments. They will try and sell you the sheets. Paige

 

[carolmp]

Paige,

What is the weekly Rainforest pass? What do you get?

Carol

 

[nlm]

Hey Nancy. I did get the weekly rainforest pass. I really enjoyed that. I did have a couples massage and the cellulite reduction thing. That was a BIG RIP-OFF!!! Dont forget to write "no sales pitch" on your form or you wont even be able to enjoy your treatments. They will try and sell you the sheets. Paige

Thanks for the "no sales pitch" tip. I didn't get a chance to enjoy any spa treatments on our first cruise, and am looking forward to trying some this time, so I'll make sure to write that on the form.

 

[Pammy jo]

Count me in with the cruise! This is our 2nd DCL trip. We took a 4 day prior and it just wasn't long enough. Booked another 4 day until last week when I realized that it was only $470 more for the whole family of 5 to do the 7 day . . .so here we are! It's me, by dh, 3 ds (11,9,6).

We'll be driving down the Friday before. Leaving when the boys are out at noon. It'll be long, but we're used to it. Driving is worth the savings of 5 plane tickets.

 

[nlm]

Count me in with the cruise! This is our 2nd DCL trip. We took a 4 day prior and it just wasn't long enough. Booked another 4 day until last week when I realized that it was only $470 more for the whole family of 5 to do the 7 day . . .so here we are! It's me, by dh, 3 ds (11,9,6).

We'll be driving down the Friday before. Leaving when the boys are out at noon. It'll be long, but we're used to it. Driving is worth the savings of 5 plane tickets.

Hi Pammy jo! Glad you made the change and joined us! I'll add you to our list of cruisers on page 1 (post #8).

We're from Northern VA and will be driving down as well. It takes us about 12 - 12 1/2 hours to get to Cape Canaveral from Fairfax. How about you? Where do you live in Northern VA? Did you drive down when you went on your 4 day cruise? If yes, how long did it take you?

DD10's school doesn't get out until 2:20. Last time we pulled her out at noon, got on the road at 12:30, and didn't roll into the Radisson until 1am. This time, we're pulling her out the whole day and leaving around 4 - 5 am. Hopefully we'll get to the hotel by dinnertime and we can all unwind before bedtime.


Nancy

 

[Pammy jo]

You must drive pretty fast! It takes us closer to 18 hrs to make the trek. We usually stop for breakfast at a Cracker Barrell and then at a McD's to let the boys play for awhile at lunch. We always leave at 4am, but this year we won't be leaving until noon. We're coming from Leesburg which might add about an hour to our drive from you. We plan on going straight to the port.
After the cruise we'll probably stay 2 days - haven't figured out which resort yet. My boys goes to private school so we don't have to be back until that Tuesday.

 

[nlm]

You must drive pretty fast! It takes us closer to 18 hrs to make the trek. We usually stop for breakfast at a Cracker Barrell and then at a McD's to let the boys play for awhile at lunch. We always leave at 4am, but this year we won't be leaving until noon. We're coming from Leesburg which might add about an hour to our drive from you. We plan on going straight to the port.

DH's driving? Let's just say, speed of light? faster than a speeding bullet? He's very focused. Our stops are mimimized as much as possible. When we do stop, we grab gas, food-to-go, and use the restroom all at the same time.

 

[carolmp]

Wow, that's a big time difference between you too. I wonder what each of you will look like on Saturday!

Nancy and I have already determined that we are getting up and leaving at about the same time. But I get to hop on a plane!

Pammy Jo, do you stop at a hotel along the way, or will you drive straight through?

 

[Worktoplay]

Hi Marie!



I'll add you and Jeff to our list of cruisers on page 1. Our small group is really starting to grow fast!

How did you enjoy the Med Cruise? Did you do a trip report?

Nancy

Thanks Nancy,

We loved the Med Cruise thanks to all the wonderful Disboarders that we met! It was beyond fabulous! I did not do a trip report, but we were on the June 16th cruise and many others did. If Disney goes back - don't miss it!

Marie

 

[nlm]

Wow, that's a big time difference between you too. I wonder what each of you will look like on Saturday!

Last cruise, Saturday was a bit of a blur - especially since we needed to run around and get some stuff done as soon as we got on the boat. The boat was a-movin' that night (very choppy seas), the little girl at the table behind us at dinner got motion sickness, and we all collapsed in bed at 8pm. (we were exhausted!) If you had asked me that night, I would have told you I'd never cruise again!!!!

This cruise, we plan on leaving around 4am and hope to get there before dinner. Hopefully we'll be able to relax and get organized so that we can enjoy the first day on the boat.

Nancy

 

[Pammy jo]

Well, truth be known, I sleep most of the way! We occasionally stop somewhere but not usually. My dh is pretty good on little sleep. I usually drive a few of the hours. Me? Well I'd probably have to make the trip in 3 days if I were to go at it alone!!!!

Trying to figure out excursions now. What are ya'll going to do? I'm one of those people who would like to do everything, but I really want to relax and just enjoy some down time on this cruise . . .something I don't usually do.

 

[carolmp]

I'm not sure what excursions we are going on. Right now I'm leaning towards just going to a beach and shopping on our own in St. Martin, and then doing the Doubloon Snorkel on St. Thomas. But Coral World sounds pretty good too, and I don't want to do both. So I'm not sure yet. Has anyone been to Coral World? Is it worth it for a 14 and 10 year old? We have Underwater Adventures here at the Mall of America. That has a giant tank with sharks and turtles and stuff that you walk through, similar to the Living Seas at DW. Is Coral World like that? If so, I think we can skip it.

 

[limati]

I think we're going to stay close to the ship, probably do a little (or a lot of)
shopping. I've heard that a good time to be on the ship is when it's docked. I would like to get some snorkeling in and have my family try it. I think we'll take our own snorkel gear. Do any of you have any teens who have done the teen excursion on Castaway Cay? This sounds like fun. From the looks of it it looks like we have quite a few 10 year olds sailing. If any kids are interested in e-mailing my 10 yo daughter, let me know.

Lisa

 

[nlm]

I think we're going to stay close to the ship, probably do a little (or a lot of)
shopping. I've heard that a good time to be on the ship is when it's docked. I would like to get some snorkeling in and have my family try it. I think we'll take our own snorkel gear. Do any of you have any teens who have done the teen excursion on Castaway Cay? This sounds like fun. From the looks of it it looks like we have quite a few 10 year olds sailing. If any kids are interested in e-mailing my 10 yo daughter, let me know.

Lisa

No teens yet, sorry. DD10 did do a scavenger hunt on CC - and she loved it!

I'll send you a PM with DD's info - she'd love another to virtually meet another 10 year old girl!

Nancy

 

[nlm]

I think we're going to stay close to the ship, probably do a little (or a lot of)
shopping. I've heard that a good time to be on the ship is when it's docked. I would like to get some snorkeling in and have my family try it. I think we'll take our own snorkel gear. Do any of you have any teens who have done the teen excursion on Castaway Cay? This sounds like fun. From the looks of it it looks like we have quite a few 10 year olds sailing. If any kids are interested in e-mailing my 10 yo daughter, let me know.

Lisa

Hi Lisa!

DD10 sent your DD10 and your DN (dear niece??)10 an email last night. She went on, and on, and on in the email.

Nancy

 

[limati]

Thanks for the heads up Nancy. She had been checking for a few days but she had a busy day yesterday. We're getting ready for school to start tomorrow.

Lisa

 

[nlm]

Hi everyone!

Well, we finally got our passport applications submitted two weekends ago. From taking the pictures at Wegman's (a supermarket - $7.99) to waiting in line at the post office on a Saturday afternoon to handing in the applications and money, it took about 4 hours total. Not bad in the DC area!

Where are you all staying the night before the cruise? I know one family is staying at the Best Western, but what about everyone else? We'll be driving down on Friday and leaving our van at the hotel, so we would like to stay at a hotel with free parking and shuttle. Last time we stayed at the Radisson. It was okay, but nothing great. We signed up for the first shuttle to port and it seemed like they let everyone sign up for the first shuttle. It was like the whole hotel emptied to the front of the hotel and were all jockeying for position at 10am! You had to find the guy with the clipboard and get your name on a list. He then filled the shuttles from the list - not from the reservation you made in advance. It wasn't horrible, but it was crazy! Large groups traveling together with LOTS of luggage. Humorous, really. Anyway, we were on the third shuttle and got to port by 10:30 or so, so no harm done. I'd do it again if we can't find anything better, but I'll be prepared for the am chaos!

So, where will you be staying the night before the cruise???

Nancy

 

[Pammy jo]

We went to get our passports yesterday. The woman at the P.O. said 6-8 weeks. Should be plenty of time. The only thing I didn't like was that they kept all my kids original birth certficates. Guess they do that, but what if I should need them for something? Sure glad we aren't going to a new school or anything where they require them to bring them in. Anyway, I'll feel better that they are in my hands once they get returned. And then I'll have passports to boot! Yay! The trip is starting to seem for real . . .even if it's a ways off yet.

 

[nlm]

We went to get our passports yesterday. The woman at the P.O. said 6-8 weeks. Should be plenty of time. The only thing I didn't like was that they kept all my kids original birth certficates. Guess they do that, but what if I should need them for something? Sure glad we aren't going to a new school or anything where they require them to bring them in. Anyway, I'll feel better that they are in my hands once they get returned. And then I'll have passports to boot! Yay! The trip is starting to seem for real . . .even if it's a ways off yet.

I know what you mean about the birth certificates. While we were waiting at the post office, a woman was at the copier and shared her passport horror story with us. It seemed that she applied in January and they mailed it to her, along with her original birth certificate, in March. Unfortuantely, she never received it! Talk about the identity theft possibilities - geez! Anyway, now it's August and she's working with her congressman's office to expedite another passport.

 

[carolmp]

Hi,

Yes, it is a strange feeling sending those birth certificates away. They do come back!

Nancy, I was looking at the web site for the Best Western, and they do offer a shuttle. I just thought I'd throw that out there. I didn't see it the first time I looked at the web site.

Talk to you later!
Carol