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

[mmouse37]

Welcome! Glad to see our group expanding.

Thx...so excited!!!

MJ

 

[glnrcker]

We have good friends in Ridgewood and my dad has worked in Ho-Ho-kus for 50 years!!!

I just booked today too!!! (Not a TA though)...bit the bullet and booked. My cousin and I are going for our birthday cruise...we have the same birthday! Can't wait to sail from NYC!!! Did you book the verandah that I wanted......there was only O/V left when I booked...lol!!

MJ

We are next door to Ridgewood and visit often. Have a wonderful birthday! We did not book a verandah, O/V for us too.

I think I read 56 days left! Very exciting!

 

[SeaSpray]

Yay, they just opened it up to travel agents so we are on!!
Me, DH, DD (6), and DS (5). Anyone from Bergen County? We are very excited, the last cruise was on the MAGIC in 2010.

Welcome aboard!

We have good friends in Ridgewood and my dad has worked in Ho-Ho-kus for 50 years!!!

I just booked today too!!! (Not a TA though)...bit the bullet and booked. My cousin and I are going for our birthday cruise...we have the same birthday! Can't wait to sail from NYC!!! Did you book the verandah that I wanted......there was only O/V left when I booked...lol!!

MJ

MJ, welcome aboard! A DIS Boards celebrity is on our cruise!!!

 

[mmouse37]

Welcome aboard!



MJ, welcome aboard! A DIS Boards celebrity is on our cruise!!!

LOL....hardly....but thanks for the welcome!!!

We are lucky in that we have a short drive into town. We are only about 30 minutes from the port.

Can't wait!!!

MJ

 

[rgrovr]

Yay, they just opened it up to travel agents so we are on!!
Me, DH, DD (6), and DS (5). Anyone from Bergen County? We are very excited, the last cruise was on the MAGIC in 2010.

This is funny. We are dead-smack in the middle of looking for a house to rent in Bergen Cty as we're moving from Ohio at the end of April!!

Good to see so many other folks here from the area. Any advice you folks could PM my way would be highly appreciative of good places we should be looking for in North Bergen Cty.

See you all soon!

 

[ge0rgette2]

TA's can't book normal reservations for themselves?

Do they hold back room for TA's?

 

[glnrcker]

This is funny. We are dead-smack in the middle of looking for a house to rent in Bergen Cty as we're moving from Ohio at the end of April!!

Good to see so many other folks here from the area. Any advice you folks could PM my way would be highly appreciative of good places we should be looking for in North Bergen Cty.

See you all soon!

I am of course partial to Glen Rock. Great small town feel with good schools and everyone knows everyone. Close to Ridgewood which has good restaurants.

TA's can't book normal reservations for themselves?

Do they hold back room for TA's?

They offer reduced rates for travel agents once they see that the sailing has lots of cabins left and it's getting closer to sail date.

 

[ge0rgette2]

TY!!
That answers my inquiring mind!

The 'bug' has hit the house again today -- Caitlin is sick! ICK!!!

4am and all over my comforter and bed!
What a joyful day this has turned out to be, plus she's upset because
I had to cancel her birthday party for tonight.

 

[eyes]

Hear Ye Hear Ye -
The FE list is officially closed.

ok, now I am done yelling...
final count:

16 cabins
35 adults
21 children

does anyone need me to break down gender or age bracket?

Cayla

Hi I am sailing on the June 22 cruise out of NYC. I would to love to hear from you guys after the cruise to see how your cruise went

 

[glnrcker]

Just cancelled aquaventure (too much $ and my kids aren't old or tall enough for the slides). Now trying to decide between Atlantis Beach Day, Blue Lagoon Beach Day, or Discover Atlantis. I recall being bothered often the last time we were on Paradise Island beach by locals trying to sell stuff, of course that was about 15 years ago! But I'm worried it may be like that still on the Atlantis beach day. Then, if we go to Blue Lagoon, will miss out on seeing the Atlantis (never been). So I thought Discover Atlantis may be good but then we get no beach at all. What are everyone's thoughts on this??

It's driving me (and me driving my husband) CRAZY!!

Also, do they still offer Dine & Play for the kids on second seating dining?

 

[ge0rgette2]

Us too!!! I didnt cancel yet though.

My Mom has a bad back, had surgery a few months ago, my DD might not be tall enough. I didnt check those requirements yet. She will be 9 tomorrow (Happy Birthday).

I think my son will go to Atlantis with our friends... He is 20. We will go the Shraton or Marriott instead of Atlantis. Im still thinking.

 

[jjb42974]

Just cancelled aquaventure (too much $ and my kids aren't old or tall enough for the slides). Now trying to decide between Atlantis Beach Day, Blue Lagoon Beach Day, or Discover Atlantis. I recall being bothered often the last time we were on Paradise Island beach by locals trying to sell stuff, of course that was about 15 years ago! But I'm worried it may be like that still on the Atlantis beach day. Then, if we go to Blue Lagoon, will miss out on seeing the Atlantis (never been). So I thought Discover Atlantis may be good but then we get no beach at all. What are everyone's thoughts on this??

It's driving me (and me driving my husband) CRAZY!!

Also, do they still offer Dine & Play for the kids on second seating dining?

Hi! Our kids are 7 & 5 and we chose Discover Atlantis. My son is really interested in marine life so we think he will enjoy it. We may switch because it does look like in order to enjoy the beach as well we would have to book the Atlantis Beach Day. I just want to make sure that it also includes the Predator Lagoon. Ditto on the driving myself and my husband crazy - he doesn't understand why I am asking him now if he would want to go to the beach 2 days in a row in late May!

 

[ge0rgette2]

I love Marine life too but I dont wanna pay Atlantis prices

Whats predator lagoon?

 

[jjb42974]

I love Marine life too but I dont wanna pay Atlantis prices

Whats predator lagoon?

Atlantis is definitely pricey. Aquaventure looks great but at almost $600? Unless Grandma wants to send us there as a gift - we're not doing that! Predator Lagoon is just the underwater tunnel where you can see all the sharks swimming around you. Personally, I could do without it. It reminds me of Jaws - I think the 3D one - where the people are in one of those tunnels and Jaws just keeps ramming it. Ugh.

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi everyone!

I'm still at the Jersey Shore. I'll be back home in MA in another week. In the meantime I'm having a great time with my family here.

Well I've decided on one more item to add to my FE gift bags, and I'm happy about it because it is something made in my hometown, right around the corner from where I live, actually. It's the home-made touch that has been missing from my gift bags, so now I finally feel good about what we're giving out.


I hope everyone is doing ok.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Hi all

All is okay here.

Another ER visit with Caitlin this weekend, she had very bad stomach cramps. I think it was food poisoning and not a "bug". 7 hours later and abdominal X-ray yesterday showed nothing. Was fine in school but now is complaining.

She's a very picky eater. I don't know what to do with her.

We had to cancel her girl sleepover too ;( for her birthday

On another note, undecided about Atlantis still or the beer mug!

Hope everyone is okay.

 

[mmouse37]

Anybody hear anything about DCL doing anything "special" since it is the first official cruise out of NYC???? I am not counting when the Fantasy was here in town. I hope so!!!

Maybe a fireboat escort or something!!!

MJ

 

[ge0rgette2]

Good question...

I'm still lurking around the cruise site - even though it would be too late to upgrade to anything as I already paid.. but there are ALOT of GTY rooms there... which are about $200.00 more than I originally paid.. Hmm!!

Wish they would have come out prior to making final payment!

 

[jjb42974]

Hi All - Just a little info for those of us trying to decide what to do in Nassau. I was looking at older threads and came across a few where the ppl talked about booking a room at the Comfort Suites in Paradise Island. With your room you get a pass to Atlantis - you can use the beach, snorkel equipment, walk through the Marine Habitats and you have access to all of the waterparks. From what was written you can take a taxi the short ride over. It obviously does not include food. But I booked a room using AAA and it cost $334 with taxes. That will save us (family of 4 with minor children) $235 minus food, etc over the Aquaventure. If anybody can contribute to this info please do!

 

[mmouse37]

Good question...

I'm still lurking around the cruise site - even though it would be too late to upgrade to anything as I already paid.. but there are ALOT of GTY rooms there... which are about $200.00 more than I originally paid.. Hmm!!

Wish they would have come out prior to making final payment!

You can still upgrade after you have paid in full. I just did. I booked an oceanview and wanted a verandah but non were showing when I booked. I saw some opened up the next day and I called and upgrade even though I had paid in full already. You may not be able to book at the reduced rate but you will be able to upgrade and pay the "tier price" that you originally booked at.

DCL releases the IGT, OGT and VGT discounted rates when they want to fill the ship. Sometimes it is before the PIF date and sometimes it is after. It is their way to sell more cabins closer to the cruise date. Unfortunately, you can't cancel and book one of the discounted rates unless you are willing to take a penalty for canceling and then rebooking at the discounted rate. Some people have reported that even with the penalty they were saving money booking the discounted rates.

But, if you just want to upgrade from the cat you have to a verandah you can call DCL or your TA and ask what it would cost to upgrade. They should price it at the same tier that you made your current booking.

MJ