May 12, 2007 -- Taking the Magic to the Mediterranean -- 14 day Repo Cruise! Part 2

[AuntyBrat]

Duct Tape..... never travel without it.

AMEN!!!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks Laura!

 

[eller]

We are so excited! We just booked this cruise for our family. Me, DH, DD-5, DD-1, and DM.

We are crazy to do this at the last minute but it is ok.

I had to get over the intial shock of my daughter missing her Kindergarten graduation. She could have cared less, I was the one who was sad about it.

My husband just returned from a year in Iraq (he has spent 29 out of the last 48 months there) so being surrouned by water for 14 days is exactly what he needs!

Anyway, we are excited to meet all of you!

Welcome aboard. And give your DH a great big hug and thank you from our family!

Has anyone heard from Laura this morning? I am assuming that she did not die at the play last night, but she could be in jail for beating up a director.

It is such a good think I wasn't having a sip of wine at the time I read this! (I pretty much just drink red wine.) The computer would have been purple!

We live in Murrieta. It is near Temecula (between San Diego and LA).

Yes, we def need it! He has been in Iraq more then CA in the last 4 years. This is going to be exactly what we need as a family!

That must mean that you DH hasn't spent much time with DD. I will pray for this to be a great bonding experience for your whole family.

.... any other suggestions?

Check with guest services as soon as you get there. And keep checkin back.

What a wonderful home! Thank you to everyone for making a wonderful banner!

Harry and I will be there, arriving around 5 pm from Seattle by way of Cincinnati.

Beth

Seattle? Maple Valley is just a bit South East of Seattle!

Sorry I did not post sooner, but I truely did not know that A Midsummer Nights Dream was a mini series...We did not get home until almost midnight, from a play that was supposed to start at 8pm, and NO we did NOT go to Denny's for the post production munching. So I slept in and knew I HAD to pop on and post before I took a shower and headed off to night two of Ghetto Shakespear

We started about 1/2 an hour late, which in itself would not have been so bad, but then intermission ran long (30 min instead of 15) and we didn't actually finish the play until almost 11pm. Hopefully we will run a tighter ship tonight!

Most of the set was done 2 hours before we started. Well kind of, they put plants where people had been blocked to go and that caused some chaos on the stage later

Most of the kids did well, except for Helen. She was the arm flapper and once again she got airborne. In fact she actually flapped and slapped her thighs so often that it got kind of funny and people started laughing at her, especially when she would get near a microphone and it would echo through the auditorium. And then she started doing this hand gesture stuff, and in the back of my mind, I started hearing 'bad boys, bad boys, watcha gonna do, watcha goona do when they come for you' which I started humming under my breath in the balcony, and a couple of the girls heard it and we all started giggling and then she managed to swing her arm out and whack one of the mics...and that left every one in hysterics. So Helen was whacking mics and flashing gang signs...Ghetto Shakespear...Word...

Lysander did not flash us his tighty whities, but Demetrius could have. Fortunately he listened to aged costume mom, and wore bike shorts and saved everyone the humiliation. The actors were supposed to stash their props on the stage. Demetrius stashed his so well he couldn't find it with the new stage dressing. But bless his heart instead of fighting with a sword, he improvised by trying to fight Puck with his fists. Of course he still forgot his lines at the end, however, I told Miranda (my child) that if he forgot his lines to just say, play on, play on to the mechanicals doing the play for them. This worked out well, and kept things moving.

Things were going pretty well, until the pivital scene where the father, Thesius and Hypolita discover the sleeping lovers in the glen, and Thesius orders that the hunting horns be sounded to wake them....there is dead silence...nothing, the hiss of the microphones and then..............................................

the sound of.................

an ELEPHANT TRUMPETING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At this point, everyone lost it!!!! The kids on stage actually jumped because they were not expecting it!! They had the total deer in the head lights look. Fortunately they got a chance to recover and compose while the audience quit laughing. After the show, everyone kept asking what was up with the elephant? Then at the end when there was supposed to be the sound of 12 chimes, indicating it was midnight and time for the lovers to go to bed after the festivities, a **** crowed.

So all in all, it was not bad, far better than the dress rehearsal. Hopefully Helen will give up on her desire to fly off the stage. I am off to take a shower and go in and help with makeup again. You would be surprised at how many high school age boys do not know how to put on eyeliner.

More tomorrow....

And not because I'm sad!

Ok, so I have a few questions... This is my first cruise. DH has been on many but it was way before kids and he is a lot simpler then I am.

If anyone has any "must brings" for the trip please let me know. I do not even know where to begin with packing. Living on a ship for 15 days is a stretch for me I have no idea what I am doing

Can you do laundry on the ship?

Is there a limit to the number of bags that we can bring on?

How "dressy" is dinner each night?

Where do you store your suitcases in the room?

Has anyone posted a packing list or know where I can look at one??? Again this not being on land thing is a new concept for me. I do not venture out of my comfort zone often and sailing across the Atlantic, what am I thinking???

So after you are done laughing and feeling sorry for me, advice would be GREAT!!!! I wish I had time to go through all of these 500 pages of posts but there is no way! So I am sorry if any of this stuff is repeated but I would apprieicate any insight that anyone can give!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Duct Tape..... never travel without it.

I was going to say duct tape! And extension cord, duct tape, a few zip ties and whatever you do don't forget your fish extender!

Someone else with have to post a picture as DH isn't up from is nap, having just got home from Korea and he had the digital.



Lori

 

[NHdisneylover]

Ghetto Shakespeare--Laura thanks for the fantastic blow by blow. Took me a while to really stop laughing so I can type again. Good thing no one was flashed by a toga boy. GREAT that the director came to his senses and trusted your costume fashion sense and Puck was a fairy

Packing tips for Stephanie--A few good things people tend to forget about:
1. Nightlight (interior cabins are very dark)
2. Tide to Go
3. twice as much sunscreen as you think you'll need
4. small bills to tip porters and for room service
5. color copies of passports and copies of credit cards (front and back) and copies of vaccination records of the kids (just in case)
6. Enough diapers, baby food, formaula to make it all the way to Tenerife--they do not sell this on baord at all.

Also, don't forget to call your bank and Credit card company before you leave and tell them where you'll be and when so they don't think your cards are stolen and put them on hold.

 

[Michelle2]

Personally I'm a huge Taylor Mason fan, but he won't be coming over to the Med until June 20th.

NOOOOOOOOOOO! Say it aint so!!
How did you find who is going to be there, and who wasn't? Now I am completely heartbroken.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Maybe they will have both kinds of Music, Country...... and ....... Western A clasic Line from the first Blues Brothers movie when they were at Bob's Country Bunker

The Banner Party should be fun wish we were closer, pictures and reports please...

And that is NOT where I know that reference from!

Banner looks good! Looks as though a good time was had by all!

Brooklyn Just keep asking questions! We will all try and help ya out. What branch of service is your husband a part of.

On another note. Found this bit of info out about Gibraltar in this article: USS Augusta wonder how long it will be there??

Debbie

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Got my docs today... or what there are of them! But we got them!

Also did a roster update tonight. Time is running out to be added to the roster and the lanyard list!

Debbie

 

[littleowensmommy]

I forgot to say WELCOME to the new folks. Temecula is a nice area--we visit friends there once in a great while. Glad to haev you on board (the cruise will be such a better memory than K graduation )

Why don't we have our own Kindergarten graduation for our 2 little girls. Any other Kindergarten graduates out there?

 

[Brooklyn]

And that is NOT where I know that reference from!

Banner looks good! Looks as though a good time was had by all!

Brooklyn Just keep asking questions! We will all try and help ya out. What branch of service is your husband a part of.

On another note. Found this bit of info out about Gibraltar in this article: USS Augusta wonder how long it will be there??

Debbie

Thank you for all of the great advice everyone!!! Keep it coming!

My husband is a Marine.

How do you find out what nights are what themes so you know what to pack??? I am such a need to know person!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Why don't we have our own Kindergarten graduation for our 2 little girls. Any other Kindergarten graduates out there?

Cute idea Kathy. I bet your girls will love that and I do think there were a few others as well.

 

[Brooklyn]

Why don't we have our own Kindergarten graduation for our 2 little girls. Any other Kindergarten graduates out there?

ABSOLUTLY!!! I am heading to disneyland next Sunday to look for some Disney graduation items. The guy from DCL said to tell our server the 1st night which night we want to celebrate and give him whatever stuff I want them to bring out. What dining do you have? We are in the early seating.

Oh, I am so excited. I def want to plan something!!!

 

[eller]

Thank you for all of the great advice everyone!!! Keep it coming!

My husband is a Marine.

How do you find out what nights are what themes so you know what to pack??? I am such a need to know person!

You need to check the first post on page 500 of this thread. It has all that information and more.

Lori

 

[jw2736]

Im probably one of the few Florida locals that did not make it to the banner party. I wish I could have been there. Would liked to have met you all before the cruise, but I was at work all day (only from 0600-1800). The banner looks great!!!!

Has anyone ever come up with a scavenger hunt game to be played on board? Im guessing that people bring all sorts of crazy things with them that could added to a list. Anyone game? Or maybe some wacky suggestions. Just a thought of course.

 

[littleowensmommy]

Hi Hadley,

I decided to check the boards before heading to bed. We just got back from a crab pickin party at the next door neighbors' house. I'm sure going to miss the steamed jimmy crabs and peel-n-eat shrimp with Old Bay when we move out of Virginia. It's so messy and a lot of work for your dinner but it's so much fun. Any little nick or cut in your cuticle or finger will burn when the Old Bay gets in it. My idea of a perfect night...sitting around on the patio with a bunch a good friends pickin crabs and drinking Coronas while listening to Jimmy Buffett and watching the kids run around the yard like a bunch of monkeys. I had 2 Coronas tonight...big drinking night for me. Ted's still next door playing poker with the guys. Time for me to go to bed. Goodnight!

Kathy

 

[txaggie94gigem]

I shouldn't really be answering this, but here goes.

DO NOT ask to take the menus. Official word is.....if you ask, your server is suppose to tell you know.

Now, for the rest of the story...............

My tablemates will tell you that I am the keeper of the menus. Don't believe them. They are NOT telling the truth!

However, I have seen someone in our group (me?) carry a bag along to dinner every night, and it seems that that "bag" ends up taking out a set of menus for each family at the table.

So take the information for what it's worth, carry a bag to dinner and stash the menus!

This message will self destruct in 10 seconds!

i have a big problem...my anti social husband has asked to be at a table with just the four of us....so how am i gonna stash 2 sets of copies without anyone noticing!!!????

 

[littleowensmommy]

ABSOLUTLY!!! I am heading to disneyland next Sunday to look for some Disney graduation items. The guy from DCL said to tell our server the 1st night which night we want to celebrate and give him whatever stuff I want them to bring out. What dining do you have? We are in the early seating.

Oh, I am so excited. I def want to plan something!!!

We're first seating too. We're in 6568. Maybe we can arrange to be near each other.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

the banner looks great!!!


thanks to all who helped!!!!

 

[tig82174]

Oh my sweet heavens I didn't go to bed last night until after midnight and now I log on at about 8:30 and there are a DOZEN new pages of posts!!! Well rather than post while I was reading and then have to go back continuously.....here are some of the things I remember wanting to respond to while I was reading:

1.) Hadley---don't I remember you saying that you guys often stay at the value resorts? If so then that is possibly why you never wait for buses. The value resorts have some of the largest guest capacities AND are among the most popular resorts to stay in (because of their cost) and are necessarily much higher traffic and I read somewhere once that there is literally TWICE as much bus service to these resorts as any other really. I also have heard that the DVC resorts specifically often have less bus service (although I don't know if that's a rumore or not) because they assume that a larger proportion of DVC folks will have cars of some kind with them.

2.) Banner....well what can I say....it looks amazing. The banner is gorgeous. The party looked amazing. I literally started to tear up a bit I was so excited seeing it!! (...and for the record I'm taking at least PARTIAL credit for that party even though I couldn't go because if you read back when we were all trying to figure out who would make the banner I think I actually threw the idea out there, "Why don't some of the folks native to Central Florida all do a pre-cruise meet and make the banner together!"...so I'm going claim that the excellent time you all had was at least partially my doing -----or course had the party been awful I'd be like, "who's crappy idea was THAT anyway?!?!" ). Anyhow....I'm so glad you guys had fun and were able to make such a HUGE and BEAUTIFUL banner!!

3.) Kissimmee----do I see a bird or parrot of some kind in a cage in the background of one of those pictures? What kind of bird do you have? Jason and I are bird fanatics....we have a Noble Macaw and I map my tours of Animal Kingdom from large parrot to large parrot!

4.) Midsummer's Nightmare----Oh....thankfully I've been blessed with a vivid imagination so i have constructed a little visual in my head of the spectacle.....and the best part?....PUCK'S FAIRY PANTS!

5.) to our new family! My brother is also in the military and he has spent a great deal of time in the Gulf in the last 3 years....including a 6 month stint in Iraq ending this past December....and he and his family are en route to Europe now because they've been restationed in Germany for a 3 year tour.

6.) I'm so glad that everyone jumped on answering all of Brooklyn's questions about the cruise....you're going to have a great time on this trip! another tip someone told me once that Jason and I love (related to one of the tips already given)....is if you have two people in your group to bring two highlighters with you in 'primary' colors (like a blue and a yellow or a blue and a pink or a yellow and a pink) then when you get the navigator have each person go through the navigator themself with one of the highlighters....when you're both done.....the things you want to do will be in one color (yellow, for ex.) and the things your companion wants to do will be int eh other color (blue) and the things you BOTH want to do will be in the combo color (GREEN!!) which makes it easy to look at the schedule and see what opportunities there are to hang out together or plan around!

I'm sure there's more to post....but this is already so long....but OH I remember one more thing.....we got our hair done today. Jason's is fine but I hate mine.....she colored it too dark and I'm not completely happy with the cut but I don't think I'll have time to get it redone before we leave!! (I have to work and/or travel for work literally every day up to the minute we take off!!). Oh well....looks like you'll all be seeing me with my hair in a ponytail for the whole trip!


Erik

 

[cquick]

Can you do laundry on the ship?
OMG YES!!!!!

Is there a limit to the number of bags that we can bring on?
NO! but you will be limited to how many can go on the airlines.

How "dressy" is dinner each night?
There is 1 fomral night 2 semi formal night, and pirate night. We are planning "Carribean night" when we go to Parrot Cay for dinner.

Where do you store your suitcases in the room? Under the bed, along with your lifejackets to make more room in the closet.

Has anyone posted a packing list or know where I can look at one???
Yes, there are several pakcing lists available. Go to the regular DisBoards and look under DCL, there is one listed there. And you can google packing lists, too. Just plan to cover your knees and shoulders if you visit cathedrals in Italy and Spain. Plan to wear shorts and Tshirts during the day on the ship.
Again this not being on land thing is a new concept for me. I do not venture out of my comfort zone often and sailing across the Atlantic, what am I thinking???
We are all wonderring this, I have never been at sea for 6 whole days with NO land in sight!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hey Kathy,

It sounds like you had a great night. The New England version of what you just described would be losbters and steamers with corn, rolls, tons of butter, etc. out on the deck while the kids run through the trees (oh and Dave makes the best margarita and ammerreto margaritas). Sometimes we end with a fire and marshmellow roast which always draws every kid in the neighborhood. That is pretty much every Sunday afternoon for us in the summer. I'm sure you'll find a replacement item in Coronado which is just as good in its own way as Old Bay (seems everywhere we live it is something different, but always special and good).

Looking forward to meeting you in two weeks. Stay off the ankle in the meantime