March 22-29, 2008 - Here Before You Know It!

[JerseyBelle]

Did everyone else get a package from DCL recently? We got (3) of them two days ago - we have (2) rooms booked but not sure why they sent us three?? My SIL/BIL are booked as well and did not receive the package - which seems strange to me. All it included was a letter telling us on what date we could start booking extras and then there is a packet with about 6 or 7 mini-books with cruise info. We haven't cruised DCL in 3 years and this was something new...sort of fun. I am so looking forward to this vacation!!!

We didn't get anything in the mail recently. By chance are you paid in full? We have until January 2, 2008 to make our final payment so maybe that is why.

 

[brendat22]

We are not paid in full yet. I wonder why some people got the packet and some did not???

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you

 

[akarts]

Ours came the other day...I got so excited! Is anyone thinking about doing some of the tastings onboard? I want to do the wine and tequilla/margarita tastings if possible. Do we book them onboard or online? Can't wait until December 23 ...I'll be dreaming of warm beaches and booking my excursions!

 

[HFC1969]

We are so pumped to go to do anything Disney... that we booked a quick trip down the 14th to watch the Disney Christmas Parade at the castle.. Got an awesome deal to fly into Tampa for $49 and then a quick drive up to WDW !!

 

[fantasia2400]

Hi There! We will be on the cruise with you all! We are going with another family...I have a 3 kids ages 7,6 and 4 and our friends have a 7 year old! We are excited to be back cruising with DCL..we did the land and sea in 2002.

I am really looking forward to December 23rd as well Anyone confirm is it Midnight eastern time right? I thought it was a pacific time at one point??

Anyone have any thoughts on the excursions? Anyone booking outside of DCL? I just might because our 4 year old isn't eligible to snorkle...

Oh are you all decorating your doors? Where are you all staying? Is this confidential info?

 

[dlf246]

We didn't get anything in the mail recently. By chance are you paid in full? We have until January 2, 2008 to make our final payment so maybe that is why.

Welcome FAntasia2400

JerseyBelle: have you got the packet? We too have not paid up. Let me emphasize that it is not "documents" and not important. But anything about the cruise is exciting to get I would probably give DCL a call just for reassurance... but I'm the type that likes lots of reassurance

By the way, isn't Dec 23 the date for reserving Palo/spa only if you are categories 1-3? I thought castaway club members have to wait til 75 days before?

 

[JerseyBelle]

Welcome FAntasia2400

JerseyBelle: have you got the packet? We too have not paid up. Let me emphasize that it is not "documents" and not important. But anything about the cruise is exciting to get I would probably give DCL a call just for reassurance... but I'm the type that likes lots of reassurance

By the way, isn't Dec 23 the date for reserving Palo/spa only if you are categories 1-3? I thought castaway club members have to wait til 75 days before?

No. We haven't received anything. I assume it is the package that tells you all about booking excursions and other add ons. I am going to AAA around the 20th of Dec to pay off our cruise. I am so excited as I have accumulated $350 in AAA VISA bonus certificates which I will use towards our cruise.

In reference to when castaway club members can book add ons, here is the warning I received on DCL website in the cruise plans section

Sorry, access to My Cruise Plans is not currently open for this reservation. Access opens 75 days prior to embarkation, 90 days prior for Castaway Club members, and 105 days prior for Concierge Guests. Also, note that access to My Cruise Plans closes 3 days before your cruise departure date.

 

[JerseyBelle]

Hi There! We will be on the cruise with you all! We are going with another family...I have a 3 kids ages 7,6 and 4 and our friends have a 7 year old! We are excited to be back cruising with DCL..we did the land and sea in 2002.

I am really looking forward to December 23rd as well Anyone confirm is it Midnight eastern time right? I thought it was a pacific time at one point??

Anyone have any thoughts on the excursions? Anyone booking outside of DCL? I just might because our 4 year old isn't eligible to snorkle...

Oh are you all decorating your doors? Where are you all staying? Is this confidential info?

We decorated our door for our fist cruise and will probably do it again. Here was our door.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

After the "little" snow storm we had yesterday, I am ready to get out of here! I'm sure my boss (aka DW) feels the same way.
I'm now trying to muster the courage to get the snow blower out of the garage for the 1st time this year, to get the drive way cleaned!

We're almost down to double digits?

I was checking the DCL website the other day. Anyone else note there was NO AVAILABILITY for our cruise?

 

[JerseyBelle]

Wow! You are right about the booked cruise. I wonder what this means with our category 12GTY. I am fine if we don't get upgraded but it would have been nice. For us, the room is not that high on our list of things that make a vacation special. Anyone have experience with catagory 12GTY on a fully loaded cruise?

As far as the snow, we had our first for the season overnight last night. Not much. We don't seem to get the storms of century any more but had one a little over 10 years ago but not before the holidays.

 

[fantasia2400]

What is a GTY room? I am feeling a bit of stress with these excursions...we want to include our 4 year old but there isn't a lot of things to do with her through DCL...I think if we book out we can....I am thinking about snorkeling....

What is everyone else doing for their excursions????

Jerseybelle..LOVE your decorated door...esp the michey ears!!!

 

[dlf246]

I am feeling a bit of stress with these excursions...we want to include our 4 year old but there isn't a lot of things to do with her through DCL...I think if we book out we can....I am thinking about snorkeling....

Here is where we found DCL perfect for a 4 y/o.
For Costa Maya, we did not book our then DD5, but had her stay in the kid's club. Did not worry about her and she did great. For the other ports we brought her along... kinda wished we didn't for Grand Cayman, because the weather was not good (translation: rough waves), and she would have been happier in the club. Key West and Castaway Cay have a lot to offer whole family. Keep in mind that at CC, the kid's club is on the island. So it was easy for her to spend some time with us, and some in the club.

HOpes this helps

 

[JerseyBelle]

JerseyBelle: have you got the packet? We too have not paid up. Let me emphasize that it is not "documents" and not important. But anything about the cruise is exciting to get I would probably give DCL a call just for reassurance... but I'm the type that likes lots of reassurance

We got our pre-cruise package today. When you book with AAA everything comes to them first. The cover letter inside the package says it was printed on October 24. I wonder if AAA had it for a few weeks. It's odd.

 

[dlf246]

We got our pre-cruise package today.

Woo Hoo!

 

[brendat22]

Hello!

Is it this friday at midnight or saturday that we can start booking excursions/Palo ? I was thinking it was saturday but want to be sure..........this is of course if you are a castaway club member, everyone else can start 15 days later at 75 days out. Does anyone know for sure - we haven't cruised since 2005 and back then you could not book things online so I'm not sure how to go about it.

I tried to log in to my reservation a few minutes ago and I couldn't get it to work...........I hope I don't run into this at midnight I won't have as much patience then

 

[JerseyBelle]

Hello!

Is it this friday at midnight or saturday that we can start booking excursions/Palo ? I was thinking it was saturday but want to be sure..........this is of course if you are a castaway club member, everyone else can start 15 days later at 75 days out. Does anyone know for sure - we haven't cruised since 2005 and back then you could not book things online so I'm not sure how to go about it.

Brenda22:

The cover letter with my pre-cruise package says December 23rd is the date to begin booking (castaway club). By this I assume just after midnight on Saturday night 12/22.

 

[JerseyBelle]

Hello!

I tried to log in to my reservation a few minutes ago and I couldn't get it to work...........I hope I don't run into this at midnight I won't have as much patience then

Hey! It just happened to me too. I have the same hopes as you and definitely won't have any patience.

 

[dlf246]

Hey! It just happened to me too. I have the same hopes as you and definitely won't have any patience.

As you probably know, the web site has been down since yesterday (Friday), according to the CM with whom I spoke this AM. They do not know when they will be working again. She cautioned me that when the web site is back to working, there will be a deluge of people trying to access, particularly if it doesn't get up by midnight Saturday (just to clarify: this is midnight between Sat night and Sunday AM eastern time). So for me, I am setting my alarm for 10:30 to log on and be ready to book at 11:00 central PM. Hope this helps y'all

Oh, and you must have final payment made to access palo/spa/excursions final reservations

 

[llp479]

Well, it's 9AM CST and still no reservation system. All set to book the few things we want to do, and we're out of luck. What really stinks, is since you have no way of knowing when the system will come back up, how do you know when you can book your activites? DH and I both have to work Christams Eve, so I guess I'll be trying from work to get on.

I tried calling DCL and they aren't even answering the phones. Just a recorded message telling you that have problems with the reservation system, and you can go to the web site for additional information.

Technology - ain't it great???

 

[JerseyBelle]

The reservation system is up. I don't know what time it came up but I just tried now and was able to book my Palo. Yeah!