March 21, 2009 Western Magic

[huntbrown]

At least your just thinking about it.

I'm 90% packed.

A little over zealous

 

[gomagic]

At least your just thinking about it.

I'm 90% packed.

A little over zealous

Well actually, I have had clothes put aside and ready to go for a few months now. I just haven't felt like pulling out the suitcase quite yet. Hmmmm, I think I know what I'll start doing this weekend.

 

[MelissaE1]

Anybody else use packing cubes? I love them, especially since I don't have a very organized brain. They make it easy to pack and unpack, keep your stuff from getting all wrinkled up, and they stack perfectly in the steamer trunk with the clothes still in them.

Any suggestions for "must brings"? For me they are the over the door shoe holder, the pop up laundry basket, and an accordion file -- this holds my cruise docs, reservations, copies of passports and credit cards, etc. on the way out, and keeps my navigators, pictures, etc. flat and safe on the way home.

Can't believe we are leaving in about 5 weeks and I have NOTHING done, no plans or reservations, and no appropriate clothing! Argh, what was I thinking?

 

[BobandLee]

[FONT="Walt Disney Script V4.1"]Happy Valentine's Day[/FONT]

[FONT="Walt Disney Script V4.1"]Hope your day is a Magical one![/FONT]
​

 

[BobandLee]

Good Morning All.

Welcome MellissaE1 and Bullseyebaby.

May I add that we love "JB" too! Fins to the left!

"The weather is here......"

At least your just thinking about it.
I'm 90% packed.
A little over zealous

We are thinking about it.....every day.
But won't pack until the week of the cruise.
I hate putting stuff in and taking it out and putting it in and
Do know that the grass skirt will stay home this time.

Yes, 5 weeks to go. Starting to get anxious.
We just cruised last September, but we are ready to go again.
Hopefully, things will work out and we can do a 3 nighter in October.

Everyone have a great Valentine's Day Weekend.

 

[Piccsweety]

Apparently everyone from Illinois wants to get away...

Can you blame us with all of our politics lately?

We're leaving the night before from O'Hare (it's so much closer to us than Midway). Then staying over night at the Hyatt. Anyone else staying at the Hyatt the night before?

Is anyone bringing a little toddler? I'd love for my little one to make a couple of new friends he age. She will be almost 2 on the cruise (her birthday is a little over a week after we get back.)

So when do you all start packing? I have 2 suitcases sitting in my living room with stuff set aside in them. We're not actually packed well, the stuff is just sitting in there. It makes me excited to throw another item in there!!!

I can't believe that we are 5 WEEKS away from our trip!!!!!!!!! Can't tell if I should panic now or be excited!!! Maybe a bit of both!

Can't wait to meet you all!

 

[MelissaE1]

Hi again everyone,

Thanks for the welcome and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

So do we have an FE list going? Anyone interested? It would even be good with just a few people. This is new since our last DCL and it sounds like fun!

BTW, I know when I first saw this I was wondering what the heck everyone was talking about when they said "FE". I notice we have some new people on the thread, so for anyone new to the concept, FE stands for "fish extender," which is hung on the metal fish outside the cabin. Could be hanging pockets, a bag, whatever. Then everyone participating gets a little "surprise gift" for the other participants and sometime during the cruise sticks them into everyone's fish extender. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, some people have done things like pencils, candy, magnets, etc. or some memento of their area (although the rest of you all seem to come from the same place, so maybe not ). There are a lot of FE threads with great ideas.

If anyone has an interest, post here or send me a PM.

 

[MelissaE1]

Hey BobandLee, I guess I should tell you that I've been "driving a Mac" in one form or another for about 20 years, just in case it's against your personal ethic to talk to me or something. Just telling you up front - I hate it when people keep their preferences in the closet and then surprise you at the last minute. I promise not to try to convert you.

 

[huntbrown]

Apparently everyone from Illinois wants to get away...

Can you blame us with all of our politics lately?

We're leaving the night before from O'Hare (it's so much closer to us than Midway). Then staying over night at the Hyatt. Anyone else staying at the Hyatt the night before?

Is anyone bringing a little toddler? I'd love for my little one to make a couple of new friends he age. She will be almost 2 on the cruise (her birthday is a little over a week after we get back.)

So when do you all start packing? I have 2 suitcases sitting in my living room with stuff set aside in them. We're not actually packed well, the stuff is just sitting in there. It makes me excited to throw another item in there!!!

I can't believe that we are 5 WEEKS away from our trip!!!!!!!!! Can't tell if I should panic now or be excited!!! Maybe a bit of both!

Can't wait to meet you all!

O'Hare is SO MUCH closer to us as well. I hate that we have to fly out of midway. Financially we decided to fly out of Midway.

Happy Valentines Day to everyone.

 

[BobandLee]

Hey BobandLee, I guess I should tell you that I've been "driving a Mac" in one form or another for about 20 years, just in case it's against your personal ethic to talk to me or something. Just telling you up front - I hate it when people keep their preferences in the closet and then surprise you at the last minute. I promise not to try to convert you.

Not much chance.

Fish Extenders? They will probably just stay home in the Mickey Room.

Did start searching thru the cruise clothes.
I thought I was in that Subway commercial!
May have to make a trip to the mall before all is done.

Hope everyone has enjoyed the holiday weekend.

 

[Bullseyebaby]

After all that.... we aren't going on this cruise. My son couldn't get out of his school commitments! I was sooooo looking forward to this!!!

May your cruise be filled with sunny days, calm seas and lots of fun!

~janie

 

[gomagic]

After all that.... we aren't going on this cruise. My son couldn't get out of his school commitments! I was sooooo looking forward to this!!!

May your cruise be filled with sunny days, calm seas and lots of fun!

~janie

Sorry to hear you had to cancel.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

Janie - sorry to hear that you had to cancel. Maybe another time will work out!


Well all, I'm back from my parental visit in Florida. It's great to have the "rents" live there. I brought down all my clothes already for the cruise and even had my mom buy DD her formal dress. Mimi's are really good for that kind of stuff! Today I broke out the dirty snorkel gear left in the bags since November (yuck) and have washed that all up.

A question regarding the Cozumel day. I have heard that the dock is a very long walk. Our friend's mom is coming with us and she sometimes has a hard time walking long distances in the heat (they are from Scotland!). Is there transportation down the dock for her?

BobandLee - I'm a Mac user too - but just recently converted. We actually have both Mac and PC in the house and all is peaceful.

 

[BobandLee]

J
A question regarding the Cozumel day. I have heard that the dock is a very long walk. Our friend's mom is coming with us and she sometimes has a hard time walking long distances in the heat (they are from Scotland!). Is there transportation down the dock for her?

I guess they are using the same dock as before.....

It is quite a walk. Don't remember any transportation.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

Wow - great visual! Thanks - I think we might have to find a way to get her down the dock on a golfcart or wheelchair. Depending on how many drinks I have on the beach, she might be sharing her ride on the way home.

 

[MelissaE1]

Hey everyone!

Janie, sorry you can't go. I hope another date works out well for you. That's the very reason we moved to this date... my son does not have school. It's tough to take out a kid out of high school!

BobandLee, cute FE's. Guess I'll have to give up on those, but there's always next time. At least it's one less thing I'll have to get done. And the other pic -- I haven't been to Cozumel for 17 years, forgot about the loooong dock.

Debbie, thanks for the clothing help. BTW, we have Macs and PCs here, too, coexisting peacefully. One thing Macs are not is gaming machines for sure. Of course, both my kids would love to have my macbook - like that's happening! If you have any "recent convert" questions, feel free to PM me.

Well, I got a dress ordered for my DD for formal night, found one in the back of my closet for myself, sending DH's suit to the cleaners. Booked the Radisson at a $99 rate, which is nice. Guess I'm making some headway...

Barely more than 4 weeks to go and I know it's going to go fast!

 

[BobandLee]

[FONT="Walt Disney Script v4.1"]DAYS TO GO![/FONT]

Starting to get stuff around. Will do a bit of shopping this weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone! ​

 

[Tinkbellfan]

Went shopping this week and found myself saving "I could wear this on the cruise"! So, I bought a bunch of stuff! My DH just shook his head when the two large "Chico's" bags where carried into the house.

I am so excited that in four weeks from now we will be in the van on the way to the port. I've been doing alittle thinking about our stop in Grand Cayman. I am acting as our groups tour guide since I have visited before many times. We will do a quick visit to the butterfly farm (DD loves it) in the morning and then depending on the weather either go to seven mile beach (if the waves are calm on the West side) or up to Kaibo Beach near Rum Point for lunch. Rum Point is too crowded for some in our party. If it's not beach weather we can always take a walk in the Botanical gardens and have lunch at The Wharf. I love a plan!

 

[MelissaE1]

Debbie, have you been to Cozumel quite a bit as well? If so, do you hire out as a tour guide? I have NO CLUE what we are going to do there. We are not too much beach people on vacation since we live in a beach town. The mainland ruins I think my DD10 is still a little young for, I'd take her if it was a shorter trip. Horseback riding looks kind of cool, but I'm allergic to anything with hair, so not sure I want to go there. The place with the clear kayaks looks pretty good as well, but it comes with snorkling which my DS doesn't like... oy. Maybe we'll just stay on the ship, lol.

In Grand Cayman we are taking the kids to Stingray City, we remember it fondly from our honeymoon. I think my kids are amazed that a place still exists from the "old days" when mom and dad got married.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

Cozumel is the only stop on our cruise that I haven't been too! I've spent many a week in Key West racing sailing boats and my family has vacationed in Grand Cayman for the last four years (week at a time) so we have gotten to know the Island fairly well. I loved being at Stingray city and it was fun to watch, but I was very freaked out being in the water with them. DD didn't get off the boat either.

Melissa, have you thought about the Dolphin swim? My dd(9) and the other kids in our party voted for "dolphin day" as it has become known. We have such a diverse group (kids, parents, grandparents) that it's hard to make everyone happy at every port, so the kids got to choose for Cozumel.

Anyone else have any opinions on the Cozumel excursions.