May 20th 2006 Western Magic Cruise - Who's Going?

[callahanjulie10]

lilo-
we are going to Grill's Thursday night and watching the Wonder leave! On Friday- we will just be hanging around the resort, probably will order pizza. I will leave a message for you at the check-in with our room # and maybe we can chill together, have a few drinks and eat some pizza!
I am jealous of the Italy trip- a DF and me were supposed to go last September and we ended up having to cancel due to her children's schedule
The sail-a-away party is really crowded for a meet- we could try and do that or maybe meet up after the muster drill somewhere.
In 3 days I get to make my ressies- what do you think for brunch? I really dislike not knowing our seating- we know we want to do the character breakfast- any suggestions?

 

[Echo queen]

Ok, is any body else going to book at the 90 day mark with me Seeing as I am central standard time this will mean 2am on Monday morning I hope that's correct. Well who's with me

 

[Echo queen]

Oh, if your looking for nice after 5 dresses Foley's and Dillard's has a great sale going for Presidents day. I am very happy with my 50% TO 75% off deals that I picked up.

 

[anty30]

This is our first cruise, so we have to wait til 75 days out. I will try and get a ressie at Palo, maybe book the Exotic Rasul for DH and I, and then we are booking a Stingray tour for GC. Since we are probably going to Costa Maya, we will either do the All Terrain Truck Exp. or just hang out at the pier and Mahujual (sp?).
My concern with doing the truck expedition is the heat. It is an open bus type thing, and I am afraid it will be too hot. The dune buggys sound like fun too, but you have to be 10 yrs. old for that.

So, thats it. I think our date to book is March 5.

Callahanjulie, can you walk to Grills from the Raddison? I have read good things about that place.

 

[callahanjulie10]

No- Grill's is too far to walk in my opinion. I got up at 2 CST this am and made my Palo ressies. We aren't going to be doing any excursions through DCL, we usually do something on our own. Last time we did GC, we rented a 8 passenger open air vehicle and went from one end of the island the the other. We had a great day and it was not very much. I rented online in advance though. We went to 7 mile beach, Hell, West Bay (where my DH is from but in Florida!), to see the blowholes and then went shopping!
On Cozumel- I had booked a horseback to the ruins through Shoretrips but that never happened. We were the 2nd DCL cruise to Cozumel and the trip operators went to the wrong pier. By the time they showed up, it was to late to do the excursion. Shoretrips was very good about this and on the next cruise we took, gave me a free excursion (horseback riding) and we never had a problem.
I would love to go to Costa Maya- we have never been here and it seems really relaxed.
We just enjoy doing everything on our own- we live at the beach so we like a relaxed atmosphere!
I can't believe that we only have 3 months!!!

 

[Echo queen]

callahan, I guess I should have been chatting with you. I thought our booking time was Monday at 2am. When I woke up this morning I checked the DCL web site first and sure enough it was time to book. So I'm ready, kids registered, Palo dinner and brunch set, and castaway ray sting ray adventure booked. I am still waiting for my info from Shirley on Key West, out of 56 mailing she only 2 did not make it. I was 1 We are bring our snorkel gear (mask and snorkel) so will make our plans. For our first dcl we had excursions booked at all ports and there is no sea day so we really did not get a chance to enjoy the ship. We are looking forward to that this time.

 

[callahanjulie10]

At least you didn't think it was yesterday and call DCL and complain! Well, maybe not complain but I asked why I couldn't access anything and the poor girl was trying everything she could to see why it wasn't working I felt really stupid when we finally figured it out!!!!
I only made Palo brunch and high tea ressies. I am a little disappointed that I couldn't make it more than a table for 2 though. We have really great friends who have never been before that we really want to take. They told us that when day 75 rolls around we can try and get them the same time and then maybe we can put those tables together or get a table for 4 when we arrive. If we can't get the same times, who knows what we will do.
I can't believe that we only have 3 months to go

 

[Babs417]

Hi Im KIM SUE68 MOM Babs417 hope to see all of you May 20. Going with BF and 9 family members.We have just been told we cant all sit together for diner it will be 11. Is that true. Also do any of you know any transportation for 11 5 will be kids. not Disney ti much money. thanks alot hope to see you all soon.

 

[kimsue68]

Hi Mom!! We will be getting 2 tables near each other.

 

[anty30]

I love that a mom and a daughter are communicating on here. I cant wait to meet both of you. Sounds like you will be having fun with that big group.

 

[donmil723]

Welcome to the May 20th cruise, KimSue68 and Babs417!

anty30, DH read this thread and now wants to leave his suit at home. I don't mind but I'd like for him to at least wear the Mickey Mouse tie we got him at Christmas. Is your DH wearing a tie?

Here's a silly question too--Since DH doesn't usually wear a tie, I'm not sure if its appropriate for him to wear one with a short sleeve shirt or not. Comments, anyone?

We still haven't come up with a time or place for a Dis Meet. I've only been on a 3 day cruise so I'm sure others might have better suggestions? How about between the 1st and 2nd dinner seatings on our first night--7:15-7:30--perhaps in the Promenade Lounge?

Donna

 

[Babs417]

Im taking a tie I hope BF will wear it.He also has a short sleeved shirt. My other DD is comming on the cruise with herDH,DS6,DS3 DD10 who has a birthday on May26. The lounge sounds great, but what do you do with the children?

 

[donmil723]

DH will be happy about the short sleeve shirt.

That sounds like so much fun to have lots of your family with you! I wish our DS and his girlfriend could go with us. Unfortunately (or fortunately in some ways), our DS doesn't like to travel much but its also hard for him and DH to be gone at the same time as we farm together. DH's brother and his two sons also farm with us so they help out a lot but taking 2 out of the 5 away at one time, especially for 10 days, is asking a lot.

If I remember correctly, the Promenade Lounge is a fairly open area between Parrot Cay and Lumiere's on Deck 3. I'm pretty sure kids are allowed in there at all times.
Of course, there may be something else going on in there at that time too. I just checked the 1/14/06 Western Navigator and they have a Family and Friends Get-Together in the PL from 7:15-8:15 the first night so I don't know if that will work or not. Does anybody know where others have held their meets?

Donna

 

[anty30]

I am so sorry Donmil. Like I stated earlier, the only reason my DH does not want to bring a suit is because he wears one every single day to work. He is in a suit from 6:30am to 7:00pm mon.-fri. with the exception of a few casual Fri. in the summer. As far as a short sleeve dress shirt goes, not he said he will not be wearing that either. As a matter of fact, I don't think he owns one. His closet is lined with suits and dress shirts and I dont think I have ever seen a short sleeve dress shirt except for a golf one. He will bring his dress pants and a dress shirt. No tie, no jacket. Again, I am sorry I started a debate with you and DH.

 

[donmil723]

Oh, anty30, you have nothing to be sorry for. I'm really flexible and my DH is definitely not a suit type person! Besides, if we leave his suit at home, that gives me more room for clothes for me. LOL!

Donna

 

[RavenRob]

Hello everyone! Been a while since I have been on the board. Very busy past few months with work, holidays etc. Counting down to the big day. Less than three months to go!!!! Who hoo!!!!!

 

[churchlady]

Well, I'm back, too. Guess everyone's getting pretty excited like us! We booked some excursions, Palo dinner, and Brunch. Got preboarding ressies at the new Residence Inn. Is anyone good with Excel? Maybe we could make a spreadsheet of who's going? We are DW & DH from Lawrenceville, GA. My dd's are 9,11,13.

Anty, my youngest will be so excited to celebrate your dd's birthday on May 23rd, I know. That's Grand Cayman day, right? We are taking the early Snorkel and Stingrays and then will try to squeeze in 7 mile Beach. Guess that will be our 2nd go round in Animator's Palate if we get our desired rotation.

Last time I didn't get the rotation I wanted, so I went and changed it right away, no problem. It did stress me out a bit when I saw we didn't get what we asked for.

I've got 3 months to lose 10 lbs to get into the clothes I bought for our 1st Cruise last April! Can I do it?! Must exercise!!!!

Leigh

 

[anty30]

Churchlady, Are you planning on doing your GC Snorkel through DCL? We have 3 Stingray excursions picked out through DCL, but have not been able to book one yet as we have to wait till the 75 day mark. We have picked 3 in case 2 are full. I was looking into doing the Nativeway tour on our own, but it is really early in the am and I hate to rush in the morning. Some days we are up early, and others we sleep till 8 or so. Plus, because we have 8pm dinner, I don't want the kids to get up that early on that particular morning. Since it is DD bday I obviously want them to eat with us that night. I have a feeling they will be eating most nights with the clubs.

 

[churchlady]

Anty and FYI to all, we selected the Snorkel and Stingray in GC through DCL. If you view the most recent Western Navigators, you can look at the GC excursion listing and the times people tender for them. We chose 8 am, but it also goes out at 12 noon, which might work best for you! According to the Birnbaum Cruise book, the regular Stingray City excursion was pretty crowded with other boats, where the snorkel one was more peaceful. Regular was in shallow water, where snorkel is deeper. We decided to book through DCL instead of private to avoid the stress. (Last spring we booked our dolphins in Nassau privately and saved a bundle, but then the pressure was all on us to figure out what we were doing, how to get there, watch the time, etc.) My second choice would be the Stingrays at CC.

Take a look at the kid's Navigators, too. We noticed last time when we had late seating, the kids clubs were sometimes eating during first seating or first show. We required our 3 dd's to join us for the show and dinner each night, then the rest of the time they could do what they wanted. We did let them go to the club instead of dinner the last night- they were sad to be leaving their new friends.

Happy Planning!

 

[anty30]

OK, I finally called Nativeway and booked a tour for our family. I booked the Stingray City and Island Tour. It departs the pier at 9:30am and is 4 hours. It was $45.00 per person. I am really excited to have that done. She told me if we don't dock for whatever reason, there is no charge to us. Also, we have up until 1 week before to cancel. We will go to the Turtle Farm, Hell, Tortuga Rum Factory, Governor's House, and 7-mile Beach. Then 40 minutes with the Stingrays. Sounds good to me. I am sure the Stingray City area will be crowded, but the kids are eager to do it.