May 13.2006 Eastern

[SQUIGGLE]

We're just planning the STJohn tour. This trip is called RELAX.

fran

 

[ragdoll]

Fran, I sure do hear you on the relaxing. That is what this trip is all about for DH and me! I just cannot wait to relax, be pampered and treated like a queen!

 

[DrCavin]

RagDoll, you sound like my wife - pampered & treated like a queen.. hey she does that now... *haha Hi honey!!!

 

[DrCavin]

All the CC members taking a nap?? Getting up early isnt high on my want-to-do list...

We booked Coronado Springs Resort for our after cruise stay.h

 

[hooksenemy]

No nap for me today but the alarm is set for 2:45 - I figured a cup of tea and then log on and I should have my fingers on the keyboard no later than 2:59 AM

No change in plans for us - catamaran, snorkeling, Palo, biking While appreciate all of you who are planning to relax for the 7 days we will try and squeeze a little of everything in on this trip. Our group of 9 which I would say are the more active type of vacationers are ready to have some FUN

Dr. Cravin let me know how you made out with your bookings!

Good Luck to all, big storm coming to Boston in the wee hours I should be up around the peek of the storm

Good-bye for now

 

[hooksenemy]

I was up (3:00) as planned and logged in, but the system wouldn't let me book anything now I am up (7:15) to try again and no LUCK

Maybe I got bad info about the 3AM and maybe it is 8:00

Sooo back to bed for me I guess I will try later - Dr. C how did you make out?

 

[b&bdiscruisers]

I was up by 2:45 am & at exactly 3:00 am I was able to book my ressies! I was finished by 3:10----wonder what the problem was for you ?

 

[hooksenemy]

still can't book and it is 8:00!

 

[DrCavin]

Sorry to report hooksenemy, we were able to book at 3:00am I called DCL yesterday to confirm my cruise was paid in full because I had not seen the charge on my card yet. I would contact DCL today & see why you cant book.

We booked Palo brunch on Monday at 1130, dinner on Weds at 730
Wife booked the well being massage for Monday at 700am she wanted to have it on sunday, but only available was 700pm
We have Rasul on thurs at 330

Excursions we got were Pinel Island tour on st. marten, 5 star st john snorkel on st thomas and stingray adventure at CC. We wanted the St John Trunk Bay excursion, but it wasnt available. I will have to call DCL & see if it is booked or what.

It is snowing here, we have about 2 inchs and it is really coming down now. It was not snowing at 4 am when we went back to bed

It is starting to feel like were going on vacation now.. The next 80+ days will fly by, last time we started packing the day before because it just came up so fast.

Good luck hooksenemy & let us know what you find out..

 

[jodifla]

Great! I was able to register DS, get Palo for Monday Brunch and Thursday dinner, and book a cabana massage on Castaway Key.

Now, I just need to decide on excursions. Looks like I may go alone snorkeling, since DH doens't want to leave DS on the ship alone.

 

[Hanover]

I got our Dolphin Encounter booked in St. Maartin, parasailing for DS8 and myself in CC and Palo dinner on Wednesday @ 7:30.

Originally I had booked the dolphin encounter at 11:00 AM but quickly realized it didn't get back until 6:30...we have dinner then and it's pirate's night and do not want to miss it... so I booked 7:30 AM instead. I guess we'll be going to bed early on Monday night. I also registered our son's in the clubs.

I called to ask about the 90 pound weight minimum for parasailing (DS8 is in the 60's) and the agent said going tandem we would be fine as long as we don't weigh over 375 together (we don't).

I had major problems trying to book Palo. Everything else went smoothly. I called DCL and they were no help and said I had to do it all online. The same Palo page kept refreshing with only the dates available. I finally just logged out and used our other computer and could book our dinner. By then brunch was already full.

Do you think more brunch openings will become available for non -cc members and I can try then or will I have to wait until we board? I couldn't book for the 5 of us for dinner. They have to do it themselves and we have to link onboard. Can you book high tea online as well and it just filled up?

I guess I really should have gotten on the computer at 3AM myself! Our puppy was keeping us up anyway....


We also have about 6 to 8 inches of snow here in Hanover, PA. Makes a Caribbean cruise all the more appealing. My parents are in Clearwater, Florida right now on vacation and said it is only 52 degrees there.

 

[ragdoll]

Hmm, just tried to book Palo Brunch and only dinner is showing up. Can't believe that brunch is booked already. Will try again later.

 

[hooksenemy]

DCL figured out our problem this morning and we were able to get all that we wanted booked online - our only concern is our friends want the St. Martin Catamaran with us at 7:45 but they can't book until 75 days out - do they save spots for those people? If we all can't get on then we won't be going but I am hoping they save spots!

As far as brunch I found that if you click only brunch instead of show all for Palo there were more brunch opportunities - we booked Brunch 10:30 on Sunday (Mothers Day!) And Palo again on Thursday 6:30 (Semi)

We booked the getaway pkg for Castaway; Cabana Couples Massage and the St. T/St. J - Trunkbay snorkel Leylon Sneed boat - I need to look that up!

Keep in touch everyone, it helps the time fly!

 

[hooksenemy]

DCL figured out our problem this morning and we were able to get all that we wanted booked online - our only concern is our friends want the St. Martin Catamaran with us at 7:45 but they can't book until 75 days out - do they save spots for those people? If we all can't get on then we won't be going but I am hoping they save spots!

As far as brunch I found that if you click only brunch instead of show all for Palo there were more brunch opportunities - we booked Brunch 10:30 on Sunday (Mothers Day!) And Palo again on Thursday 6:30 (Semi)

We booked the getaway pkg for Castaway; Cabana Couples Massage and the St. T/St. J - Trunkbay snorkel Leylon Sneed boat - I need to look that up!

Keep in touch everyone, it helps the time fly!

 

[Hanover]

Hooksenemy-

When did you get your brunch booked? I tried at 10:00 and it showed brunch and dinner reservations. When the same page kept refreshing and I called DCL and then logged out and back in, it was gone by 10:45. I tried to click on just brunch, but it was unavailable "to book (our) reservation because there is no availablity. Please check to see if there is any availability after you board the ship" They either filled up very quickly or there weren't many spaces open to begin with. Did they ever even have high tea as an option?

I'd like to think some more spots will become available when non CC members can book. I guess we can always try once on board too. I'm just glad we got dinner when we wanted it.

 

[DrCavin]

Glad to read others are getting reservations. I do not think they open more for non-cc members, they do only put about 1/2 the reservations available for online booking, the remaining is for people to book on-board. I may be wrong, but have never read that they do save some for each group, besides the on-board.

 

[hooksenemy]

It doesn't seem very fair to first time cruisers if they don't release excursions and Palo/Spa at 75 days out!

What are the chances to book onboard (slim!) for the big things like cabana massage and Palo -

Also, as more people cancel for example if the party we are sailing with can't get on the excursions we booked but can get on alternative times we will switch to their time slot opening up more times for others to book online or do they not reload the inventory?

I had all my reservations booked by 9:30 this morning! I would check regularly until we set sail to see if people cancel and they reload inventory online!

 

[hooksenemy]

Almost 2ft. of snow fell today in our town - I am lovin' it
I am a school nurse and school is cancelled tomorrow for my kids as well as myself (different city) so another day to peruse the boards for tips.

One tip I would definitely pass on regarding online booking is to confirm and reconfirm the day before the 3AM online booking is available that way no problems Things worked out great for me today, now I need to hope the family we are sailing with can get on our excursion 75 days out

For non CC members 75 days out must be in Feb. 27 at 3AM right?

 

[DrCavin]

Hooks:

I think the people who are first-timers get screwed. They will have to see what is available once on board. The CM I spoke w/the second time did confirm they hold some back to book on-board, but she did not know how many.

Here is a potential problem when looking to see what has became available. Say you booked an excursion from 8-12, the online system will NOT show you any excursions from 8-12, so even if one became available unless you cancel the excursion you have booked you will never see if one is open. Then the real stupid part is, if someone takes the last spot on the excursion you just canceled (basically taking your spot) while your looking at what is currently available, you cant rebook it because now it is full..

We had everthing booked by 330 am, but really wanted a different excursion than the one we booked. Oh well, just wasnt in the cards this time.

We ended up with about 3" of the white stuff, I would have loved to have received a foot, two and I would still be outside standing behind my snowblower...

 

[TSirgey]

Oh boy, now I'm concerned that we will not get a Palo reservation as first timers. I will have to see what is available on the 27th at midnight and if nothing, book when we get on board. I'm not as concerned about the ressies for the excursions, but I really want to eat at Palo!!