May 28, 2005 Mexican Riviera

[wmjivey]

GrammieGail - welcome. I am also a Gail. My family looks forward to meeting your family during this cruise. The boys should have a great time with one another since they are all around the same age and are all cub scouts.

We are also the family looking at touring Mazatlan with you. I think it will be really interesting and fun setting up our own type of tour with Frank.

Challada - don't worry if you call Tyler, Ty; he will still respond. It is hard to believe how close we are finally to this trip. It really doesn't seem that long ago that we were all rushing to the phones on May 5, 2004. Let me know what you guys want to do with Frank and we can go from there.

Gail, John, Tyler and Toby

 

[challada]

Carrie-

I believe door tag will be w/one tag (I've made one already) that will get passed among the doors of the Dis-ers, so we only need the one that goes around...

As for postcards, I assumed that I would bring 20-30 postcards so the kids could give them to all the other kids at the ice cream party, but I'm sure we can do it however anyone wants to...

Gail (not my mom...that's what I'll start calling you GNMM)...I will work on Tyler, Tyler, Tyler! I also have two Tylers and a Tyson in my preschool I teach so I just am lazy and use Ty so I don't get them all confused! We've started a vacation fund between us teachers for each time we call someone the wrong name

Again welcome aboard, one and all...LET'S GO HAVE SOME ICE CREAM!

 

[poconoboatniks]

OMG aren't we the chatty bunch. Welcome Grammie Gail & Grandpa Bob. We too will be traveling with Grandma & Grandpa. We need a dis meet for the Grandparents.

I was thinking that the kids should bring enough post cards for each of the other kids. Each kid should walk away with a complete set of post cards from all the other kids. We do this sort of swap thing with Girl Scouts and the girls love swapping and making new friends.

Gonna start that list tonight.

Pocono

 

[Jedisan]

Welcome Moley and Grammie Gail. Looks like we have lots of scouts. My oldest, Sarah, is a Jr. Girl Scout and I'm a co-leader for her troop. Katie will start Brownies in September.

Challada, thanks for explaining the Door Tag rules. I was wondering how that would work (thanks for asking Carrie).

I picked up the lime green Mickey's at Home Depot. We still need to get the postcards. We are in the "Heart of Screenland," so hopefully we'll be able to find some fun ones

These boards are great. I look forward each day to see who has posted. It's adding to the excitement

 

[carriep1657]

Thanks to all that answered my questions. I know my kids would love to get a bunch of postcards and share with everybody. My DS (Sammy) is 4 and would love to do this too.

It is getting exciting. May 28th is coming quickly.

Mattie is in Brownies. I've only got a couple of more boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to deliver.

For the list, DH (Mark), myself, DD (Mattie) and DS (Sammy) will be in 8062.

 

[suesings]

Hi to all the new posters. Looking forward to meeting everyone. There are a lot of us now (finally....this board was slow for quite a while and I was getting nervous we would be the only ones on the boat

So with the Door Tag, does it stay on one DIS'ers door for a day and then they put it on someone elses?? Sorry, I guess I'm confused

Let me know when we know how many postcards to bring. We are from the land of the San Jose Sharks!!

We don't know our cabin number yet but there will be DH-Mark; me-Sue; DD turning 5 in late April-Kelly; and DD will-be 22 months when we sail-Ava.

So is there a place to hang out and talk around Scoops? It sounds like there will be a lot of us. I will try to have my limegreen mickey head on something so to be spotted

I'd be happy to exchange email photos with any of the people from the girl's ice cream party so our little girls will know what the others look like. If anyone is interested, just PM me your email address and I'll send a photo of our family.

 

[challada]

I guess I didn't think too much about the rules of door tag...I was just excited about playing!

I would guess that how long it stays on your door would be up to you, but not MORE than 1 day...if we have lots of folks on board, we might need more than one "tag" so it can make it's way around the boat.

Poconos...great to hear you'll have grandparents along too...maybe we can let the grandparents share some icecream at scoops to get to know eachother.

Sue...I would LOVE to exchange pics of the kids...but I'm digitally challenged, maybe I can figure out how to get one out (or beg grandpa to do it!). I'll pm you my email.

Oh...girl scout moms...Emi will be a Daisy next year in kinder (we already have a group of girls ready to go), so I'll want to pick your brains about the girl side of scouting...I'm an expert at the boys stuff now that they are moving on!

THANKS!
Chris

 

[wccruiser]

Hi Suesings,

I would love to exchange photos. I just want to make sure. Is this what you mean by PMing you? If this is correct, I will forward my email address. Thanks

 

[grammiegail]

Hi Suesings,

I would love to exchange photos. I just want to make sure. Is this what you mean by PMing you? If this is correct, I will forward my email address. Thanks

Thanks for asking the question.....I have to admit that it made me stop and think. I know that I'm PM (postmenopausal), but I don't think that's what Chris means. I think it's private message.

:thewave:

 

[grammiegail]

I was hoping to do our own thing in Mazatlan...(Mazatlan Frank almost has me convinced to do the lighthouse!)

I checked out Mazatlan Frank's website. It looks good. I also googled his name and found a number of testimonials to his good service. I'm up for either wandering around on our own or taking his tour. It sounds like he is reliable and will make sure that we don't miss the boat (my biggest fear!).

About the dolphins, I know that Grampa wants to swim with them and assume that Alex does, too. I'd like to swim with them again, but if you want to swim with them, I can be with Em at the Kid Encounter. I would hate for you to miss the opportunity. The other thing is if Em has to be by herself (well, with others, but not with you or me in the water) for the Kid Encounter, maybe she would be better with all 5 of us in the swim. They will let 5 year olds to it. If it gets too scaring, then I can get out with her. Let me know. We should probably book them soon. Since there is the time difference of 2 hours, we should probably look at the later ones.

 

[carriep1657]

GrammieGail, your post regarding PM made me laugh out loud.

 

[poconoboatniks]

You guys are making me LOL.

Jedisan Where is Screenland? My dd, Kate, is a 2nd yr. Junior.

Challada, I've been a GS leader for the past 5 years. I'm sure Jedisan and I will have lots of stories to tell. MY DD loves to tell GS overnight camp stories.

I guess I missed the door tag rules. I'll have to go back and read somemore.


Pocono

 

[challada]

Gail (mom) and Gail (not my mom)...

I will go ahead and tell Frank that we are a go for Mazatlan. I've seen nothing but positives on him and definitely think that if we don't "grab him" someone else will! Besides, he's got cute kids of his own on his website, so how can you not trust a guy like that!

Also, Gail (mom), I think Emi would be up for doing the swim. Alex is dying to swim w/the dolphins and already bragged at scouts yesterday that while all the other boys were just visiting the old butterfly house, he would be swimming with the dolphins! Emi got a postcard from Mickey and Minnie on the boat yesterday (thanks to the pay-it-forward postcard exchange here on Dis) and almost cried she was so excited. We had to watch the whole DVD again!

Poconos- I don't really have any rules for door tag...I just made a tag sign...I didn't know it would get so complicated!

Hey...anyone bringing wine? I know my mom and dad would love to do it but we need to figure out how. The 14-dayers are shipping theirs to port so I wonder if we could do that to CA???

 

[wmjivey]

Challada - yes, go ahead and confirm with Frank for all of us.

As for wine, John will be possibly bringing his own beer and I will definitely be bringing Mike's Hard Lemonade, etc. The only thing I am not sure about is whether LA is more strict with this type of thing that PC. We bought a soft sided cooler that we plan on putting the beer and Mike's into and then we will just carry it on. Since you guys are arriving a few days ahead of time, you should be able to go to a nearby grocery and pick up whatever wine you want to take along.

Swimming with the dolphins sounds like a lot of fun but it was just out of our price range; maybe next time. Enjoy and we look forward to hearing your reviews afterward.

The boys will of course be bringing postcards. It will be hard for them to decide what exactly they want on them to represent Arizona as there are so many different things to choose from. Just let us know how many are needed?

Can't wait to meet everyone, in 68 days.

 

[wccruiser]

Yes, I've been wondering about bringing wine/champagne myself. I was thinking of just putting a couple (OK, a few) bottles in my suitcase, wrapped in tshirts for padding since we can't bring coolers on board. What do you think? Will they care or take it away when they search the luggage? I know once we're in the room, you can keep it on ice. I saw that in a thread somewhere. I guess my main question is do we have to sneak it on board or is it allowed?

About the PMing thing. I cracked up as well. I figured it meant private messaging, I just don't know how to do it. Can anyone help?

Got my lime green Mickey's at Home Depot today. Am getting very excited!

 

[first timers]

Yes, I've been wondering about bringing wine/champagne myself. I was thinking of just putting a couple (OK, a few) bottles in my suitcase, wrapped in tshirts for padding since we can't bring coolers on board. What do you think? Will they care or take it away when they search the luggage? I know once we're in the room, you can keep it on ice. I saw that in a thread somewhere. I guess my main question is do we have to sneak it on board or is it allowed?

About the PMing thing. I cracked up as well. I figured it meant private messaging, I just don't know how to do it. Can anyone help?

Got my lime green Mickey's at Home Depot today. Am getting very excited!

Wine onboard
DCL allows you to bring wine on board, but if you bring it to diner there is a $15 corking fee. If you pack it in luggage, make it your carry on. We have seen several pieces of luggage leaking "rum-like" smell when we returned to port. Wouldn't want to waste a good bottle of wine. Many people on the 14 day cruise are buying wine shipping boxes. We have used these boxes which are heavy cardboard or styrofoam inside of a box and it worked well in our regular luggage. On the way home we had extra room for cruise "stuff" where the wine was.
PM- To PM someone, click on there name in the upper right side of the message. Alex

 

[AnnaS]

Hi Everyone -

I apologize if it has been posted on this thread before/earlier - I could not read the 15 pages.

We are on the July 2nd, West Coast Cruise.

Please, Please - when all of you get back - we want details ASAP

Hints/suggestions/things to avoid, etc.

Thanks everyone.

 

[challada]

Anna-

Start a collection from your group on board and we would be happy to use the money wisely towards computer live-chats on board to let you know what is happening

(we've already joked about hitting you guys up for cash!)

Oh Gail (NMM)- already said "yes" to Frank for you too! I think the boys will have a BLAST!

 

[wccruiser]

Wine onboard
DCL allows you to bring wine on board, but if you bring it to diner there is a $15 corking fee. If you pack it in luggage, make it your carry on. We have seen several pieces of luggage leaking "rum-like" smell when we returned to port. Wouldn't want to waste a good bottle of wine. Many people on the 14 day cruise are buying wine shipping boxes. We have used these boxes which are heavy cardboard or styrofoam inside of a box and it worked well in our regular luggage. On the way home we had extra room for cruise "stuff" where the wine was.
PM- To PM someone, click on there name in the upper right side of the message. Alex

Thanks for the great info! More dumb questions..Ok, so I'm bringing a backpack with documents,toiletries,swimsuit,etc and can do the wine in stryofoam in a small tote..are 2 carry-ons per person OK? Also, with all the security these days, can we bring a wine opener or does the room provide one? We are planning on only drinking this wine we bring in our stateroom.

 

[wccruiser]

Gail (mom) and Gail (not my mom)...

Emi got a postcard from Mickey and Minnie on the boat yesterday (thanks to the pay-it-forward postcard exchange here on Dis) and almost cried she was so excited. We had to watch the whole DVD again!

Poconos- I don't really have any rules for door tag...I just made a tag sign...I didn't know it would get so complicated!

Hey...anyone bringing wine? I know my mom and dad would love to do it but we need to figure out how. The 14-dayers are shipping theirs to port so I wonder if we could do that to CA???

Hi Challada,

What is pay-it-forward exchange?