May 25, 2012 - Magical 8-night cruise - NYC to the Bahamas!

[SeaSpray]

What's Ardastra Gardens and Blue Lagoon Beach?

I've been to Nassau but we just did the straw markets, etc... And went over to stay at the HI Paradise Island.

I'd love to do Atlantis, will have to see how much the room costs.. With that - how does one check in at 3pm?? Or do you just check-in in the morning and go back to shower after actually checkin? Am I making sense LOL

I'm disappointed with the water park thing... But we might just do Animal like I said since we haven't been there in about 2 years.

Just this past January, we did WDW, Studios and Epcot.

Have a good day!!


(I'll edit this post or repost if I find out any information regarding Atlantis or Comfort Suites, cause I'm sure it'll be more money as I need 6 adults and 1 child and if you have to pay for each additional person, theres where the cost might get higher)

From what I've read, you take a bus or ferry over to Comfort Inn, check in as if you're staying there, then they give you bracelets or tickets for access to Atlantis, and then some people do go back to the room at the hotel to wash up before returning to the ship. Supposedly doing it this way can save money, but I haven't priced it out myself.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Yup, that's what i figured... I'm sure they are used to it happening -- we arrive pretty early at port and you probably take a taxi to and from the Comfort Suites... Seems like almost a $500.00 savings for my party of 7. If I bought Atlantis tickets for $169.00 per person, the room pays for itself after 3 adults... Hmm!

 

[pattiteach]

Well that stinks that they won't let anyone use the ticket for a waterpark. I don't see what the difference is, really.

How did you make out over on cruise critic?? Were you able to find anything out? I'm still not sure what we're going to do in Nassau. Part of me wants to just stay on the ship but we've never been there before, so part of me wants to do *something* there.

I figure that we'll be getting a lot of sun during the sea days, and of course at Castaway Cay, so maybe we don't need to do a beach day in Nassau.... The Ardastra Gardens tour sounds good and seems to get good reviews. I think it'll either come down to Ardastra Gardens or Blue Lagoon Beach Day. With my health issues, I don't know if I'd be able to tackle all of the walking that it would take to really see the Atlantis aquariums, although I'd love to do that some day.



In other news: We just paid the cruise off today! We had the money aside for the cruise and DH and I were talking and decided to just pay it off so that it's one more thing off our minds.

WOW!!! you are so lucky!!!

 

[ge0rgette2]

At cruise critic the only thing I found was tour thru Majestic and getting a room at Comfort.

 

[sftnslky]

Just wanted to check in and say "Hi". I was lucky enough to catch the stomah flu have literally been in bed for the past 4 days. DH did really well stepping up to the plate. His motto was as long as they are alive and fed..its all good My house on the other hand

We are still giving it a lot of thought for Atlantis...the $$$ is down right highway robbery but I know my boys would LOVE it. I went to their website and the lazy river actually looks really nice. If we do go I would take the boards advise and book through Comfort Inn.

I have a question have any of you been to Castaway Cay since they put in the new water play thing and the cabanas? We or should I say I would LOVE to book one of the cabanas. Talk about pricey as well but just to have a spot to stay out of the sun and relax. So was wondering what you thought...was it worth the price? Where you able to reserve one as soon as you got on board? Well I need to go start to find my kitchen sink .....Enjoy your day all!! Big

 

[ge0rgette2]

Hope you are feeling better... My DD awoke last night around 2am with a fever, she was burning up -- gave her some Motrin -- she's better now as I type this - but seems under the weather.. No other symptoms only the low grade fever..


As for Atlantis, we'd LOVE to do it -- but as you said it's $$$$$.

I'll have to save up for it - either thru Comfort or Majestic.

Just wanted to check in and say "Hi". I was lucky enough to catch the stomah flu have literally been in bed for the past 4 days. DH did really well stepping up to the plate. His motto was as long as they are alive and fed..its all good My house on the other hand

We are still giving it a lot of thought for Atlantis...the $$$ is down right highway robbery but I know my boys would LOVE it. I went to their website and the lazy river actually looks really nice. If we do go I would take the boards advise and book through Comfort Inn.

I have a question have any of you been to Castaway Cay since they put in the new water play thing and the cabanas? We or should I say I would LOVE to book one of the cabanas. Talk about pricey as well but just to have a spot to stay out of the sun and relax. So was wondering what you thought...was it worth the price? Where you able to reserve one as soon as you got on board? Well I need to go start to find my kitchen sink .....Enjoy your day all!! Big

 

[SeaSpray]

Just wanted to check in and say "Hi". I was lucky enough to catch the stomah flu have literally been in bed for the past 4 days. DH did really well stepping up to the plate. His motto was as long as they are alive and fed..its all good My house on the other hand

We are still giving it a lot of thought for Atlantis...the $$$ is down right highway robbery but I know my boys would LOVE it. I went to their website and the lazy river actually looks really nice. If we do go I would take the boards advise and book through Comfort Inn.

I have a question have any of you been to Castaway Cay since they put in the new water play thing and the cabanas? We or should I say I would LOVE to book one of the cabanas. Talk about pricey as well but just to have a spot to stay out of the sun and relax. So was wondering what you thought...was it worth the price? Where you able to reserve one as soon as you got on board? Well I need to go start to find my kitchen sink .....Enjoy your day all!! Big

I'm glad that you're feeling better now, but sorry about the house! Your post reminds me of what happened 11 years ago when I had to have emergency gall bladder surgery, and how my husband thought he was doing such a wonderful thing by making homemade lasagna on my first night home. I'll never forget waking up the next day and limping into the kitchen, and just wanting to cry. So I stood there at the sink, half out of it from pain medication, half worrying about the staples in my skin, and washed the dishes. Yes, it's funny now but it took several years for me to view it that way.

I haven't been to CC since they built the cabanas, but they are really tempting!!! I just don't know if that's what I want to spend $$$ on. There's always the spa, which DH and I love to do on a cruise. Decisions, decisions..... LOL

 

[SeaSpray]

Good morning everyone!

47 Weeks until we cruise!!!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~​

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm looking forward to having 3 1/2 days off! Work is closing at 1pm today.

 

[sftnslky]

Good morning everyone!

47 Weeks until we cruise!!!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~​

That is AWESOME!!! And it should start going pretty fast when the kids start back to school next month. Pretty soon its Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentines day...so pretty much we are golden till Feb 14th...then the waiting will seem life forever

Well my Jennah wants me to run her to the mall, then to get her hair done..then gonna take Macy to see the new Monte Carlo movie with one of her BFF's then she is going for a sleepover. So I need to get moving. Enjoy your weekend all....big

 

[padalyn]

Good morning folks - I hope that everyone has a safe holiday weekend, please be careful - way too many folks indulge in adult beverages then think they can drive....I wouldn't want to loose any new friends before we actually get to meet!!!

On a happier note...here is this weeks updated FE list link:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...RFVWJPYUFlTVE&authkey=CMC00osD&hl=en_US#gid=0

If you wish to join the FE exchange please PM me with the following information:

your Dis name
your real world name
your cabin number
anyone who is traveling with you
ages of any children
any special needs or information (such as allergies or gift restrictions)

In the subject line of the PM please cut and paste this:
FE list addition: NY to Nassau 8 day cruise

at one point I was collecting email addresses, but the online version of the document seems to be working very well. If you would like me to email it to you please include your email address. I will NOT post or share it, I keep an offline version of the document and will not put email addresses on the Google Doc version.

I have received these votes for the cutoff date for the list:
30 days: 1 vote
60 days: 1 vote

group size (if applicable):
30 cabins: 1 vote
25 cabins: 1 vote

Feel free to weigh in on either issue!

Total number of cabins to date: 10 (one family is in two cabins and are counted as two)

I plan on updating the list on August 1st...As we get closer I am sure more folks will join the FE exchange...then I will post more often.

Cayla

 

[SeaSpray]

That is AWESOME!!! And it should start going pretty fast when the kids start back to school next month. Pretty soon its Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentines day...so pretty much we are golden till Feb 14th...then the waiting will seem life forever

Well my Jennah wants me to run her to the mall, then to get her hair done..then gonna take Macy to see the new Monte Carlo movie with one of her BFF's then she is going for a sleepover. So I need to get moving. Enjoy your weekend all....big

I know what you mean! When my sons were still in school the school years would fly by!

How was the movie? The commercials make it look really cute.

Good morning folks - I hope that everyone has a safe holiday weekend, please be careful - way too many folks indulge in adult beverages then think they can drive....I wouldn't want to loose any new friends before we actually get to meet!!!

On a happier note...here is this weeks updated FE list link:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...RFVWJPYUFlTVE&authkey=CMC00osD&hl=en_US#gid=0

If you wish to join the FE exchange please PM me with the following information:

your Dis name
your real world name
your cabin number
anyone who is traveling with you
ages of any children
any special needs or information (such as allergies or gift restrictions)

In the subject line of the PM please cut and paste this:
FE list addition: NY to Nassau 8 day cruise

at one point I was collecting email addresses, but the online version of the document seems to be working very well. If you would like me to email it to you please include your email address. I will NOT post or share it, I keep an offline version of the document and will not put email addresses on the Google Doc version.

I have received these votes for the cutoff date for the list:
30 days: 1 vote
60 days: 1 vote

group size (if applicable):
30 cabins: 1 vote
25 cabins: 1 vote

Feel free to weigh in on either issue!

Total number of cabins to date: 10 (one family is in two cabins and are counted as two)

I plan on updating the list on August 1st...As we get closer I am sure more folks will join the FE exchange...then I will post more often.

Cayla

Thanks again Cayla for maintaining our FE list.


I've been trying to keep my eyes open for info out on the main Cruise board for anything that would be helpful for us on this cruise.

So far, in the first post I added a link to a thread that has excellent driving directions from the George Washington Bridge, to the port, including pictures. This will be helpful for anyone driving to the port.

 

[bitocas]

hello everyone!i have sad news for personal reasons we have to cancel this cruise.hope everyone have lots of fun.

 

[SeaSpray]

hello everyone!i have sad news for personal reasons we have to cancel this cruise.hope everyone have lots of fun.

I'm sorry that we won't get to sail together, Gabriela. I hope everything is ok!

 

[sftnslky]

hello everyone!i have sad news for personal reasons we have to cancel this cruise.hope everyone have lots of fun.

I'm so sorry...I know EXACTLY how that feels. This cruise was orginally booked for Sept of 2010, then moved to March of 2011. then again to March of 2012 Then finally and forever to May 2012 twice we had to move the date due to money issues and once for becuase the school changed their yearly schedule . Hopefully you will be able to reschedule your cruise very soon.

 

[sftnslky]

How was the movie? The commercials make it look really cute.

It was cute...a little slow at times, but very sweet. Sadly there were fewer then 20 people in the theater It's sad to me when wholesome family movies can't draw the crowds like the violent/bad language/gory ones.

 

[sftnslky]

I have received these votes for the cutoff date for the list:
30 days: 1 vote
60 days: 1 vote

group size (if applicable):
30 cabins: 1 vote
25 cabins: 1 vote

Feel free to weigh in on either issue!

I would like to weigh in and vote for 60 days out. And for the 25 cabins. On our last cruise we had over 45+ cabins and a 2 week cut off...it was TOUGH.

 

[pattiteach]

Hi everyone! I have created a group page on facebook. I am not sure how this works, as I created the group page from my home page. If it doesn't work, and we want to create a separate facebook account that is fine, just let me know! Anywho, look for Patti Dunne DeLuca and befriend me! (It is really hard if not impossible to delete a facebook account, so a group is easier I think!)

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi everyone! I have created a group page on facebook. I am not sure how this works, as I created the group page from my home page. If it doesn't work, and we want to create a separate facebook account that is fine, just let me know! Anywho, look for Patti Dunne DeLuca and befriend me! (It is really hard if not impossible to delete a facebook account, so a group is easier I think!)

Hi Patti, I posted on the group page earlier. I just said "hello", to test it out. LOL Thanks for creating the page!

 

[padalyn]

Thanks again Cayla for maintaining our FE list.


I've been trying to keep my eyes open for info out on the main Cruise board for anything that would be helpful for us on this cruise.

So far, in the first post I added a link to a thread that has excellent driving directions from the George Washington Bridge, to the port, including pictures. This will be helpful for anyone driving to the port.

You are very welcome...as long as I can post weekly for the next couple of months all is good. Once my semester is over (2 weeks before Christmas) I will be much more active.


As far as getting to the port from the NJ side...it is really only one turn! from the bridge it depends if you are on the upper or lower level. The upper level stay left, lower stay right...get on the Henry Hudson Parkway (West Side Highway) go south until you see the ship...seriously...it is that easy!!!!

hello everyone!i have sad news for personal reasons we have to cancel this cruise.hope everyone have lots of fun.

So sorry to hear this, I hope all works out well...you will be missed

I would like to weigh in and vote for 60 days out. And for the 25 cabins. On our last cruise we had over 45+ cabins and a 2 week cut off...it was TOUGH.

OMG....2 weeks

 

[SeaSpray]

I went to the mall with DH and DS23 today, and stopped in to the A. C. Moore craft store and actually bought some items to start my FE gifts. I had an idea for a gift, and I wanted to put together a prototype, to see if it would look in actuality as it does in my mind.

Well, I have to say, I think they will come out cute. LOL Definitely not a professional quality gift, but I think that people will like it. I know that I'd like it. Each one is going to be slightly different, and I'm still deciding whether to personalize them with names or dates or anything, or just leave that off.

I will still need to come up with a gift for the kids, though. The items that I'm making is more for the adults or young adults.

Anyone else have an idea what they're going to make/do for the FE gift yet?? I know that it's REALLT early to think about this, but I had been reading the FE threads last night, so it was on my mind today when we went to the store.