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

[carolmp]

Nancy, that's pretty amazing. It is good to hear that they aren't taking as long anymore.

Have a good day!
Carol

 

[happymommy]

I called Costco travel agency yesterday. I was told we'd get a $275 Costco gift card per cabin (we have 2 cat 10's) so it would be $550 total for the cruise. I shop Costco all the time for groceries and such, so I'd use that! I am waiting but if a cabin credit can't come close, I'll switch it to Costco. Just wanted to let anyone know if they are interested!

 

[limati]

I just wanted to bump us a bit. I guess everyone is getting into the back to school activities.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Lisa

 

[nlm]

I called Costco travel agency yesterday. I was told we'd get a $275 Costco gift card per cabin (we have 2 cat 10's) so it would be $550 total for the cruise. I shop Costco all the time for groceries and such, so I'd use that! I am waiting but if a cabin credit can't come close, I'll switch it to Costco. Just wanted to let anyone know if they are interested!

Amy,

That sound like a great offer! Unfortunately, I'm in a teeny tiny townhouse with very little storage, so we don't shop at Costco very often - no storage. I've never heard of a cabin credit coming close to that - it might be your best offer.

Sherri sent me the info for her travel agent - Thanks Sherri! Since we haven't paid off the cruise yet, we still have time to decide about switching for credit.

Nancy

 

[julie t]

Count us in too!! This wil be our 2nd DCL trip, last one in March 2005.I am more excited this time than I was for our first trip. My group includes myself, DH, DD(12), DD(10/11) and DD(will be 9).

Happpymommy-I also have a child celebrating a birthday while on the cruise.

She will turn 11 on the 19th. Would like to plan something special for her on the 19th-any ideas anyone?

 

[limati]

Welcome aboard Julie! My family and I will be onboard and we are looking forward to it.

My daughter will be almost 10 (birthday on April 8) and my niece will be 10.
I hope they like the kid's activities. They sound fun to me.

We are almost at 6 months to go!

Lisa

 

[nlm]

Count us in too!! This wil be our 2nd DCL trip, last one in March 2005.I am more excited this time than I was for our first trip. My group includes myself, DH, DD(12), DD(10/11) and DD(will be 9).

Happpymommy-I also have a child celebrating a birthday while on the cruise.

She will turn 11 on the 19th. Would like to plan something special for her on the 19th-any ideas anyone?

Hi Julie!

I'm glad you are joining us. I added you to the list of cruiser located on page 1 - post #8 I think.

Which cruise did you take last March? Was it a 7 day, 4 day or 3 day? Did everyone in your family go with you?

Looks like we'll have a big crowd of 9/10 year old girls. My dd10 has emailed with a few, but perhaps we should start a yahoo group or something like that so they can all get to know each other. Anyone have any thoughts about that?

Nancy

 

[julie t]

Nancy

Thanks for adding us to the cruiser list. Our last cruise was March 5 2005, 7 day Eastern (again). All five of us went and were also joined by my parents. We had a great time though my 2 oldest DDs did not enjoy the kid clubs. Setting up an email for the girls sounds fun. It adds another level of excitement of trip planning when you can discuss it with others.

I personally love checking out cruising tips!

Julie

 

[carolmp]

I think a group sounds good. That would include all of them on the discussions. Can we just start another thread on the cruise meets? Like a "For Kids Only" thread? I've seen a couple like that there.

 

[limati]

I think a "kid cruiser" thread would be good. My daughter doesn't check her e-mails as often as I do, so I could let her know while I'm reading the cruise thread if one of her cruise friends is on.

Our list is growing. I may ask more questions to the repeat cruisers the closer we get. I hope you don't mind.

We are using our cruise to celebrate a few milestones. My sister and bil will be celebrating their 25th anniversary in April. My mom will turn 70 in May. My son will graduate 8th grade in May. It's a big year for our family.

It would be such fun for a child to celebrate their birthday while on board. I'm not sure what they do to celebrate birthdays, but I have to believe there will be a few options.

 

[nlm]

Nancy

Thanks for adding us to the cruiser list. Our last cruise was March 5 2005, 7 day Eastern (again). All five of us went and were also joined by my parents. We had a great time though my 2 oldest DDs did not enjoy the kid clubs. Setting up an email for the girls sounds fun. It adds another level of excitement of trip planning when you can discuss it with others.

I personally love checking out cruising tips!

Julie

Julie,

I'd love to hear some more details about your eastern cruise in 2005. Did you do any excursions? What did your two older daughters do on sea days if they didn't like the clubs?

Nancy

 

[limati]

Julie,
I'm also curious about the excursions. I'm wondering about time issues. I'm not so concerned with Castaway Cay. I've been to St. Thomas and St. Marteen before (years ago). I think it would be nice to have a general tour of the islands, but I know how my kids get with tours.

How were the evening activities for the kids? I would definitely enjoy some time in the evening for time with the grownups in our group.

Any info. is appreciated!

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[nlm]

I just made a reservation at the Residence Inn for the night before the cruise. They had a great rate and offered free parking and a hot breakfast buffet. The shuttle to port is $6 per person.

Last cruise we stayed at the Radisson, with a free shuttle, but the prices was much higher this year and they don't include breakfast.

Since we're driving to Florida, we will need to leave our van at the hotel during the cruise. My thought was perhaps DH could drop us off, w/luggage, at the terminal and then go back and park and catch their shuttle for $6.

What's everyone else doing the night before the cruise?

Nancy

 

[carolmp]

We're flying in and should get in around 1:00. Staying at the Best Western. We would be interested in getting together for dinner or something if everyone else wants too. We've never been to Cocoa Beach before, so I was planning on seeing what is there and going to Ron Jons Surf Shop.

 

[limati]

Hello all!

Ron Jon's is a really neat place. We went on a vacation to Cocoa Beach a few years back and stayed at a hotel next to Ron Jons.

We are flying in and our flight gets in around 11:00. We are hoping to hit the beach and Ron Jon's too. My sister and her family are driving so I'm not sure what time they'll be in. If possible I would love to meet Fri. night. I think it would be great for the kids to meet each other also.

I haven't made hotel reservations yet. We have a rental car and our plan is for my husband to drop us off, turn the car in, and shuttle back. It's my understanding that I can go ahead and check us all in and all he needs to have when he returns is his driver's license.

 

[nlm]

Okay! Our first pre-cruise meet seems like it has been proposed!

Count us in for dinner - if you do a little bit later, like 7pm'ish. We're driving down to Florida from VA and will probably get there around 6pm or so.

 

[julie t]

Hey Nancy and Lisa,

On our 2005 cruise, we did not do an organized excursion on St Marteen. We just walked around the town and enjoyed the beach which was right near the area where the ferry's dropped us off. My youngest had her hair braided in town which I do not recommend. The beach is not as nice as the ones on the French side but my kids enjoyed it. It was a relaxing day.

Our excursion on St Thomas was the Doubloon Pirate cruise which included snorkling. The girls loved the ride out and back but was not crazy about how the snorkling was handled. You had to jump off the boat in the middle of the ocean which was quite intimidating for them at their age. My husband and I loved it--snorkled near a reef and it was beautiful.

Regarding kids activities in the evenings, the kids can pick and choose what activities are offered at the clubs. My kids found a few they liked but preferred to go to dinner and the shows with us. Alot of the kids enjoyed the clubs, mine not so much.

 

[carolmp]

Julie,

That's exactly what I was planning on doing this time. Just wander around St. Marten and go to the beach and the Doubloon Snorkel trip. If I have it figured right, your girls were 9/7/6 on your cruise when they didn't care for the snorkeling. I will have 14/10 year olds. Do you think they will be OK? I think the 14 year old will be fine. It's the 10 year old I'm worried about. They haven't been to the ocean before.

Thanks,
Carol

 

[limati]

Thanks Julie! I'm hoping that the kids can do some snorkeling on Castaway Cay.

I just want to have a relaxing time. Back here on land everything seems to be planned out (sports, music, etc...). I'm going to try and realize that if we choose to do things we will truly enjoy instead of "getting everything in" a better time will be had by all.

We're up for a meet and greet the night before.

What time are you going to get to port? I'm thinking that getting there a little later may work out better because a lot of people arrive on the early side. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[staceys0513]

Hi there! Add us to the group! DH, DS(11), DD(9), DS(18months), Grandpa, Grandma, and me are all flying in from KC Friday night. This is our first cruise and we can't wait! We are staying at the Hyatt and the taking the Disney transportation to PC on Saturday.