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

[BobandLee]

O.K. campers, this is it.
Packing week. The suitcases come out later today.
Pack a little here. A little there. Hopefully by friday morning, it will be done.
Fly out of Indy saturday morning.
First time in a long time we have done day of the cruise arrival.

In just six days we will be about to embark on our journey to the Med.
I guess you could say "the Farside of the World".

Everyone have a great day.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Never having cruised before with such an organized group, I have a couple of questions.

We will be bringing a small gift for the kids. Do I need to print off the rooster list before we leave so I have cabins numbers and names, or will that info be included in the "Mini Navigator" that I have seen mentioned in these postings?

I know I've also read about people getting upgrades at the pier - will those cabin changes be posted on the message boards on each deck, or only one location? If only one - where will that be?

Any special plan for distributing gifts or just whenever we get around to it?

A copy of the roster will be in the Mini navigator. If anyone would like to have an excel spreadsheet version ahead of time, just let me know.

I believe that Susie will have the changes on all of the message boards.

It is kinda fun to distribute the gifts when you get around to it It extends the magic

Hope that helps!

Debbie

 

[AuntyBrat]

My father-in-law still doesn't have his passport. He's making me crazy. He didn't mail it in until March. Up until now he's been lying and telling us he sent it expedited in February. He finally came clean. He's out in LA this week and he figured he'd just stop by the passport office and pick it up. HA HA. I've been telling him he needs to make an appointment and it's not easy. He's acting like I'm coocoo. I talked to him yesterday and he said he called the passport people and they said his passport is in New Hampshire right now and he should have it soon. He seems to think this isn't a problem - BUT ITS MAKING ME CRAZY. Thank you for letting me rant.

Well I would have hit the panic button a couple of weeks ago!!! Oh, wait I actually did do that!!!

I am going to print the address labels for our luggage tags. Should i make them for each person???? just our last name???

Anything else that should be on them???

DO NOT PUT YOUR ADDRESS - Put a friend or family members or work address on there. Thieves have been known to troll the luggage tags looking for easy pickings while folks are away. Same with the phone number. I use my cell phone and my parents. That way they can reach someone but can't trace it back to my house.

Pixie:
My mother-in-law doesn't have her passport either. My husband called Thursday to get an appt in LA or SF and was told there was nothing available for Mon/Tues. We leave Wed early am. We had to make an appointment in Miami for Friday. You really need to scare a little movement into your father-in-law. My sister's friend had an appt in SF last week for 8:30 am and she didn't get out of there until 5:30 and there were hundreds of people there. He may not be one to worry but he needs to get moving on this or he may be looking at your pictures when you get home.

AMEN!!!!

We are packing all the dispossables in a big cardboard box. Hope that flies with Disney..

I don't think they will care, but you may be responsible for getting it on the ship in one piece. Those luggage handlers are right out of the samsonite gorilla commercials (think I just dated myself)

 

[cquick]

i bought a small bottle of All 3X detergent. It only takes 2 TABLESPOONS to do a load of laundry! I filled 2 vitamin bottles that's enough to do 8 loads! So I will bring the rest of the bottle to share on the Disney cruise and save the small bottles for the Carnival cruise. So if you are going on only the Transatlantic, there should be laundry detergent to share. I hate laundry!

 

[Scott H]

How is everybody going to get a case of water on the ship? I really do not want to carry an extra suitcase to put water in. Any suggestions?

I used to be picky about water,taste etc, the ships watter is very good as it is RO. So we dont bother with a case.

 

[Scott H]

Ken that is great about Matt getting a sponsor, KEWL!!!!

 

[gydell]

I used to be picky about water,taste etc, the ships watter is very good as it is RO. So we dont bother with a case.

What about going into ports? Since you can't drink the water, what are you doing? We may just get a couple of bottles and refill them daily.

 

[jw2736]

What about going into ports? Since you can't drink the water, what are you doing? We may just get a couple of bottles and refill them daily.

Got the packing almost done. We tried a new thing and used Space Bags. The vacuum up the air type. They saved a lot of room and we were able to put alot of stuff into the bags. I just hope the TSA doesnt open the suitcases up for inspection. We plan on borrowing those our "room ninjas" Little Henry vacuum when packing to leave the ship.

Just an FYI....weather in Orlando today is hot and cloudy, temps near 90. Its getting dark North of Kissimmee now and looks like it'll be raining soon.

 

[Scott H]

What about going into ports? Since you can't drink the water, what are you doing? We may just get a couple of bottles and refill them daily.

That is what we do. it works for us.

 

[MrsMork]

To our DISer friends on this cruise....HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!! For the DISers on this cruise that we have not yet met.....HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!

 

[Scott H]

OK Credit card companies notifed of our travel.

Neighbors over for dinner tomorrow night, letting them know we will be gone.

Need to make arrangements for the house plants.

Out side work done, planted some wild flowers, moved a rain downspout, got a little water in the basement. Moved some scrap lumber from the pole barn work site, make nice outdoor fire pit fodder.

Listening to some real Groovy Tunes, getting in the mood.

Yes soon we will be on our way to the "far side of the world".

Sorry for you all going to Paris, I ate the Last Mango that was there, LOL

 

[padalyn]

What about going into ports? Since you can't drink the water, what are you doing? We may just get a couple of bottles and refill them daily.

I use a bladder pack - it is a small backpack that has a 2 qt water/juice bladder built into it. Since the bladder has a wide mouth opening we usually fill them with mostly ice then lemonaid or water - keeps the back cool and one has liquid all day long. Worked great in Curacao when it was 104 in the shade....can get them at WalMart, Target, camping stores, even KMart I think. they run from 20 to 200.

 

[CACruisin']

Traveling with a small carry on is out of the norm for me. I usually subscribe to the two types of luggage theory, lost and carry on. QUOTE]
You and my DH too!

As for laundry detergent we decided to scoop out powder in little ziplock bags and double bag them. We are also adding a scoop of laundry booster to each bag to help with those tough stains that I know the kids will have on their clothes. Hopefully there are no restrictions to this??? Not sure what airline security is going to think of a bunch of ziplock bags with white powder in them???? I have a feeling that that bag will come out of baggage claim with the little note on it that says it had been opened and sealed by airport officials.

I've got the same concern, but I'm about ready to go this route. I'll make one more attempt to find the small boxes/bottles of Tide and then I'm "packin' baggies"

put a label on the bag - sometimes that helps - they have an idea of what it might be and test for that first. I have a similar issue - I am taking magnets (the business card sticky kind) for the door stuff - well as a block they show up on xray the same as explosive does. So I am hand carrying them (away from the laptop and other electronics) so if they don't like them I can just ditch them without having my bags searched. I have had things dissapear from my luggage during a seach. (twice actually) both small things, but of value. Annoying since one can't prove it was taken.

I'll label my baggies . Good to know about the magnets. I'd planned on putting it into the checked luggage since no way do I want it near the laptop, but maybe I'll put the magnets in one of DH's backpacks instead. I don't want to ditch them though. I like my magnets!

My father-in-law still doesn't have his passport. He's making me crazy.

My mother-in-law doesn't have her passport either.

AACKKK!!! Good luck to those still working on passport issues. Here's that it all comes together.

Hi everyone

Here is a wrap up on the beach volleyball tournament. Matt lost his first match yesterday to a higher ranked team. He then won his second match - again against a higher rank team. And he finished the tournament with a lose in his third match - again against a higher ranked team. So he finished in 7th place. He was very happy because this is his best finish ever. He also picked up a sponsor to help pay travel costs for the rest of the season - so that is huge!

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Ken

Coongrats to your son on doing so well at the tournament and congrats on the sponsor too!

How is everybody going to get a case of water on the ship? I really do not want to carry an extra suitcase to put water in. Any suggestions?

I am planning on bringing an extra suitcase with water, juice boxes, gingerale and assorted snacks for DD3. When I leave the ship I will fill same suitcase with stuff I have bought, etc on the trip!

Online it looks like Palo's is booked every night. Is it possible to book any nights when we get on the ship?
On another note...
OMG, I can't beleive we are going, my head is spinning. I have the week off so my DW can pull it all together for the family.

yes, they set aside a certain number of ressies for Palo to be booked onboard. On the info sheet you get at check in it will say where to go to book Palo after boarding the ship.

Those luggage handlers are right out of the samsonite gorilla commercials (think I just dated myself)

I remember those commercials.

OK Credit card sompanies notifed of our travel.

Thanks for the reminder. Just added that to the To Do list!

 

[CACruisin']

Spent the morning with DH having him explain all the "How do I ....upload the camera pics, work the camcorder, GPS, etc" stuff for me. He is the tech guru and I never have to think about that stuff. Brain is fried now, but I think I got it ... maybe!

 

[hopemax]

What about going into ports? Since you can't drink the water, what are you doing? We may just get a couple of bottles and refill them daily.

Where did you read that you shouldn't drink the water? Spain, and the rest of Europe isn't like Mexico or the Caribbean. The European Union has water regulations. I've read that the taste is different, so bottled water may be preferable from a taste standpoint, but it isn't necessary.

 

[misseulalie]

Spent the morning with DH having him explain all the "How do I ....upload the camera pics, work the camcorder, GPS, etc" stuff for me. He is the tech guru and I never have to think about that stuff. Brain is fried now, but I think I got it ... maybe!

If you have any problems on the ship, Find Richard (aka: Kissimmee). He knows everything about the internet, cameras, uploading, etc...

 

[misseulalie]

Where did you read that you shouldn't drink the water? Spain, and the rest of Europe isn't like Mexico or the Caribbean. The European Union has water regulations. I've read that the taste is different, so bottled water may be preferable from a taste standpoint, but it isn't necessary.

I politely disagree. Even though the water is "safe" your stomach isn't used to it, so those with sensitive stomachs may have a problem. When we travel, we always drink bottled, and that's pretty much all you find anyway. I order bottled water in restaruants, not tap.

We will bring probably a dozen bottles of water and just keep re-filling.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Got the packing almost done. We tried a new thing and used Space Bags. The vacuum up the air type. They saved a lot of room and we were able to put alot of stuff into the bags. I just hope the TSA doesnt open the suitcases up for inspection. We plan on borrowing those our "room ninjas" Little Henry vacuum when packing to leave the ship.

Just an FYI....weather in Orlando today is hot and cloudy, temps near 90. Its getting dark North of Kissimmee now and looks like it'll be raining soon.

I use the space bags that you roll the air out of them. They are wonderful!! Saves lots of space.... but you then tend to pack more and the weight goes up!

I've got the same concern, but I'm about ready to go this route. I'll make one more attempt to find the small boxes/bottles of Tide and then I'm "packin' baggies"

I'll label my baggies . Good to know about the magnets. I'd planned on putting it into the checked luggage since no way do I want it near the laptop, but maybe I'll put the magnets in one of DH's backpacks instead. I don't want to ditch them though. I like my magnets!

I was at Walmart yesterday and in the Health and Beauty Section they have a travel size area. In there was small packets of Tide. It was good for three loads. Very thin and concentrated. If I did not already have my Tide blocks (that I have been holding onto) I would have bought them.

So anyone still looking for small laundry detergent, try Walmart in the travel size section.

Debbie

 

[padalyn]

Spent the morning with DH having him explain all the "How do I ....upload the camera pics, work the camcorder, GPS, etc" stuff for me. He is the tech guru and I never have to think about that stuff. Brain is fried now, but I think I got it ... maybe!

If you have trouble - find me - I can usually figure it out. We are using 4 types of cameras with different media and 2 laptops with different operating systems - I am pretty sure I could figure it out if need be

 

[padalyn]

OH MY!!! I just realized - in 96 little tiny hours I will be at OKW!!! HOORAY!!

Just a few things to take care of - my will, colonoscopy, and work...just a few little things!

Oh yea - and teaching GF to dialyze the cat...he was just started on the process. Went well the first time...we shall see how he does on the second. Then she gets to do it for a couple of weeks until the cat sitter starts.