~~~ May 16, 2009 ~~~ Western Magic ~~~

[1littlespark]

If you like Vampire stuff, I really enjoyed Tanya Huff's Blood Books. The series Blood Ties was based on it. I red Vamp books a lot. I can't stand Anne Rice, though. I loved all the Harry Potter Books, of course.

As for booking so close to the cruise, you're right, it's crazy and there isn't enough planning time. Even living in FL already, it's seriously crunch time. I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, although slightly better since I took care of a couple of things.

 

[1littlespark]

My name is Robin, but no problem on just using my user name.

The Sookie Stackhouse Books are, imo very entertaining and likeable as much as HP (I haven't read Twilight) however Sookie Stackhouse is far, far more adult than HP. I'd say Adult readers only! Especially at times. They can be a bit naughty. Even some adults would probably be all upset about some of the stuff in the book.

 

[texfinn]

What is the movie UP?

Lucky1 -- you can call the passport office at any time to expedite. They take credit cards over the phones.

Robin -- sounds like the books may be just up my alley!!!! I'll go pick up the first one in the series before the trip (no time to read before then!).

Ok, so my excursion dilemma. Yes, I know, I like to rearrange our plans -- it makes things exciting!

So here is what has been bugging me. Right now, Yoni is going diving in GC. That won't change.

Me and kids are signed up for 2 things in GC (we have to cancel one). We are signed up for the Pirate Encounter via DCL and the Stingray tour via Moby Dick tours. The idea was to cancel the Stingray thing in GC since I do not see myself doing that alone with 2 kids.

Sabrina, Yoni and I are signed up for stingrays in CC.

Here is what is eating me -- I don't know if we want to spend the time doing the stingray thing in CC. It is at 11 (the earliest we could get) and just seems to kill our morning there. From all of the reviews I have read, CC can be the best part of the whole trip so I hate to waste time petting stingrays. Instead the thought was to hang out at the family beach in the AM with the kids. Have lunch -- check them into the club and head over to Serenity beach for a bit in the afternoon. We can't do that with the stingray thing. So first thought -- cancel the Stingray tour in CC.

Here is the second thought. I am still nervous about taking Kai on any excursion on my own (he is 4). I am thinking about cancelling the pirate encounter and then leaving Kai on the ship (I know I know -- go ahead, slam me, bad Mom that I am for leaving my kid on the ship) and taking Sabrina on the stingray tour. We would probably pay the extra $$ and go via DCL just because at least then I know we will get back on the ship for sure. So the thought would be, cancel the Pirate Encounter, cancel the Moby Dick tour and book me and Sabrina on a stingray thing.

So -- my questions to all of you seasoned cruisers our there:

1. How bad is it to leave Kai on the ship (I know the pager won't reach us) if we are booked via DCL?

2. Will the stingray excursion via DCL really be that much more crowded than via Moby Dick or one of the other tour operators?

3. Am I better off skipping the stingrays altogether and hanging out on the ship with the kids?

4. How risky is it to book a non-DCL excursion in GC since it is a tender port?

At this point -- I really am at a loss on what to do......I would appreicate any advice... just please, I really am a good Mom even though, yes, I would leave Kai on the ship alone. As Yoni would say -- I leave him at the day care every day which is no where near my office.....

Any ideas? Am I missing out on another fabulous excursion we should do instead?

THANKS! I appreciate the help!!!!

Mati

 

[1littlespark]

I felt just totally fine in GC, I am a cautious person who thinks of things. Too many things. lol That was May 2001, though, so it could have changed, but I would think not too much. We didn't do an excursion we just walked and walked and walked down the street and then found an area of beach behind some condo type complex and went swimming. The beaches there are I think all open and public. There, I would probably have done whatever, but I did schedule a beach excursion just to make it easier. I kinda wanted to see thta hell place, too, but there was no good combo of that. GC was very clean & neat, english speaking and pretty comfortable. To me it didn't seem much different than hanging out on the eastern end of LI, but with a more caribbean feel, of course. I guess anyone who's gone more recently could say if it's the same now.

In Cozumel I definitely felt ore comfortable sticking with a DCL excursion, so I made a point of it.

 

[dta87]

What is the movie UP?

Lucky1 -- you can call the passport office at any time to expedite. They take credit cards over the phones.

Robin -- sounds like the books may be just up my alley!!!! I'll go pick up the first one in the series before the trip (no time to read before then!).

Ok, so my excursion dilemma. Yes, I know, I like to rearrange our plans -- it makes things exciting!

So here is what has been bugging me. Right now, Yoni is going diving in GC. That won't change.

Me and kids are signed up for 2 things in GC (we have to cancel one). We are signed up for the Pirate Encounter via DCL and the Stingray tour via Moby Dick tours. The idea was to cancel the Stingray thing in GC since I do not see myself doing that alone with 2 kids.

Sabrina, Yoni and I are signed up for stingrays in CC.

Here is what is eating me -- I don't know if we want to spend the time doing the stingray thing in CC. It is at 11 (the earliest we could get) and just seems to kill our morning there. From all of the reviews I have read, CC can be the best part of the whole trip so I hate to waste time petting stingrays. Instead the thought was to hang out at the family beach in the AM with the kids. Have lunch -- check them into the club and head over to Serenity beach for a bit in the afternoon. We can't do that with the stingray thing. So first thought -- cancel the Stingray tour in CC.

Here is the second thought. I am still nervous about taking Kai on any excursion on my own (he is 4). I am thinking about cancelling the pirate encounter and then leaving Kai on the ship (I know I know -- go ahead, slam me, bad Mom that I am for leaving my kid on the ship) and taking Sabrina on the stingray tour. We would probably pay the extra $$ and go via DCL just because at least then I know we will get back on the ship for sure. So the thought would be, cancel the Pirate Encounter, cancel the Moby Dick tour and book me and Sabrina on a stingray thing.

So -- my questions to all of you seasoned cruisers our there:

1. How bad is it to leave Kai on the ship (I know the pager won't reach us) if we are booked via DCL?

2. Will the stingray excursion via DCL really be that much more crowded than via Moby Dick or one of the other tour operators?

3. Am I better off skipping the stingrays altogether and hanging out on the ship with the kids?

4. How risky is it to book a non-DCL excursion in GC since it is a tender port?

At this point -- I really am at a loss on what to do......I would appreicate any advice... just please, I really am a good Mom even though, yes, I would leave Kai on the ship alone. As Yoni would say -- I leave him at the day care every day which is no where near my office.....

Any ideas? Am I missing out on another fabulous excursion we should do instead?

THANKS! I appreciate the help!!!!

Mati

Mati

I am not sure if the full boat pictured is a cruise ship excursion or not but there is a definite difference between that and the boat they (Craftymouse) are on:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=22209970&postcount=68

and here is another account from a non ship run excursion:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31455729&postcount=16

hopefully this helps

 

[dta87]

What is the movie UP?



Mati

Up is the new 3D movie from Disney/Pixar. We were mad when we found out it was coming out on the 29th. We definitely wanted to see it onboard. It would be great if they had a sneak preview.

 

[texfinn]

Thanks Dave! That did help. Makes me want to go via Moby Dick versus DCL. The second TR was great -- the girl there looks about the same age as my daughter.

I didn't know about UP. That would be good to see, bummer that it won't be out yet. I need to get out more!

 

[Tink113]

Can you send me a copy of the design in .jpg or some other format. Webshots will not let me download the photo.​

Can I use Webshots images outside of the Webshots Desktop software and website?
No. You can't extract or print the Webshots images. They are all specially encoded to protect the copyright privileges of our professional photographers. Webshots images can only be used within the Webshots Desktop software and on our website.

Sorry about that! What a pain they are... just email me at Tink113@aol.com & I'll email it back to you!

 

[Tink113]

Hi everyone.

Will probably be fired as I am doing this from work, but I don't have time to come on the thread in the evenings now, since I have been sucked into the world of vampires. I have read 500 pages of the 2nd book in 2 nights! Tony doesn't have a wife anymore, just a blob that sits on the sofa moaning that the TV is too loud!! I love these books so much! I have ordered the 4th one today and am gutted its only out in hardback at the minute. I have a rule about not taking hardback books on vacation . . . a rule which is about to be broken I fear!

Anyway, hope everyone is doing Ok!! Does any one not have their tickets yet?



Ah-ha! I have had Michael Jacksons "Earth Song" going round my head all day, and now I realise why!!!!!!!

Warned ya! Those books are like crack!

 

[lucky1]

Lucky1 -- you can call the passport office at any time to expedite. They take credit cards over the phones.

Mati

I just check the state department status and mine is showing it is in the mail. YEAH.

DD (who I am more concerned about because she was not born in the US), at one point showed it would be delivered to us by 5/9. Now it is showing it is going through normal prcoessing.

I will be calling shortly to see if I can get her rushed, that way I can put our BC, Certificate of Citizenship back into the Safety Deposit Box.

 

[texfinn]

GREAT! I am glad yours is in the mail. If you expedite DD's you should get that in plenty of time. I like to carry passports instead of birth certificates -- just seem more durable and can use them everywhere.

Let us know how it all works out!

I seriously need to get some work done today but it is just not going well.....too many things to do for the cruise! I guess that is one danger of working from home!

 

[ali004]

Warned ya! Those books are like crack!

I haven't read any of them yet but Amanda tells me there good. I have read all the books by Jim Butcher that have to do with a Wizard in Chicago.

 

[ali004]

I'm hoping that I don't get motion sick although the doctor said I can take medicine for it.

 

[texfinn]

Alison -- the books are fabulous!

I got queasy on the cruise and took Dramamine. The bad thing was I took the drowsy version so that combined with being in my first trimester -- well, Yoni will tell you, all I wanted to do was sleep! He made me promise I would be more energetic on this cruise! Just make sure you don't have to take a drowsy form of motion sickness pills and you should be ok!

 

[Tink113]

Mati -Looks like we might be on the same train after all... I just PM'd you

 

[ali004]

Alison -- the books are fabulous!

I got queasy on the cruise and took Dramamine. The bad thing was I took the drowsy version so that combined with being in my first trimester -- well, Yoni will tell you, all I wanted to do was sleep! He made me promise I would be more energetic on this cruise! Just make sure you don't have to take a drowsy form of motion sickness pills and you should be ok!

I have the non-drowsy kind otherwise I won't be able to help with the drive from VA to FL. I'd sleep the whole way

 

[ali004]

Alison -- the books are fabulous!

I got queasy on the cruise and took Dramamine. The bad thing was I took the drowsy version so that combined with being in my first trimester -- well, Yoni will tell you, all I wanted to do was sleep! He made me promise I would be more energetic on this cruise! Just make sure you don't have to take a drowsy form of motion sickness pills and you should be ok!

Ok...guess I need to get a list of books or authors that I need to go checkout before the cruise

 

[SpeedFigure]

MATI- I have done the Stingrays twice with DCL. I loved it and did not think they were crowded. I thought the tenders back to the ship were WAY crowded. Of course this was back in 2002 and 2003. Those pictures made it look crowded, but to me that's not bad.
It's up to you....

UP will not be shown on the cruise. If a Disney movie is released while you are on the ship they will have a special premiere.
I saw 'Brother Bear' at midnight on our last night of a cruise cause that is when it opened in theaters.
I'd be really shocked that they'd show it before it's official release in theaters. (A cruise ship full of people who saw it could influence sales- in their eyes). Bummer though cause I want to see it.


Wait I'm confused...which books are the really good vampire series besides Twilight? Sookie Stackhouse???

 

[tinkattude6]

We got our 2nd Docs today. I guess we r going. Unless i can't get on the cruise wa passport card. does anyone know anything about this?


Mati, i'm sure yours will come soon.

Val, Don't worry you have friends for life on this thread. I can tell.

 

[texfinn]

Mati -Looks like we might be on the same train after all... I just PM'd you

Amanda -- great minds think alike! I think it will work out. Lets synch up again before the weekend to be sure.

MATI- I have done the Stingrays twice with DCL. I loved it and did not think they were crowded. I thought the tenders back to the ship were WAY crowded. Of course this was back in 2002 and 2003. Those pictures made it look crowded, but to me that's not bad.
It's up to you....

Thanks JorDan! I think I may go that route but have to discuss again with Yoni. Normally I have no fear travelling alone but since Sabrina is with me and Kai is on the ship I don't want any chance of missing the ship and from what I understand, if it is a DCL excursion, they will wait for you to get back.

We got our 2nd Docs today. I guess we r going. Unless i can't get on the cruise wa passport card. does anyone know anything about this?

Mati, i'm sure yours will come soon.

Val, Don't worry you have friends for life on this thread. I can tell.

Crystal -- thanks -- I hope they come today. I am feeling left out! Do they come in the real mail or via Fedex/UPS?