May 28, 2005 Mexican Riviera

[socks68]

I'm delurking again. On our three past DCL cruises there has been plenty of time to return to our stateroom to put the lifevests back. They are stored on the top shelf in the closet so it takes just a second to run in, put them away and head up to deck 9 or 10 for the sailaway party.

 

[wccruiser]

Thanks everyone for the replies!


Sirod- Welcome and yes please join us at Scoops at 3pm. We have a daughter, Grace who will be 5 1/2 yrs on 28 May. She will love to meet your granddaughter along with all the other girls. I think we have 5 or 6 girls all around the same age! That's so great!

We had also talked about each child bringing postcards to show where they are from to exchange.

Sue- Another thing we have in common....we are late-starter parents as well.

 

[sirod]

thanks for the relpys regarding 5-6 year old girls. Have either of you been on a DC before? I was wondering about dinner.....if most eat with their parents or with the other children and if so can they eat at a different time.? We booked late, as usual, and 8:30 seems awfully late for a 6 year old to eat. Do you know how difficult it is to change seating once you get on board?? I would assume this sailing is pretty much booked. Also how about formal night for the children? P.S. Scoops sounds like a great idea.....thanks a lot.

 

[grammiegail]

I now have:
1. My own long black formal (for formal night for SURE)
2. My friends long black formal & shawl (was going to be for formal night before I found mine on great sale price)
3. My friends tea-length black print formal (was going to be for semiformal night and/or Palos)
Now I am thinking of using #2 for semiformal night and skipping bringing #3, but I'm worried about being too formal. Then again, I'm debating returning her both #2 and #3 and just wearing #1 for both nights so I have more room for other stuff. That's clear as mud, right!

DD, please don't confuse me! I'm old and it's easy!!!! I have a long satin skirt and beaded top for formal night and a short (think Audrey Hepburn) dress with shawl for semi formal. Same shoes for both. If I need more, it will just have to be Disney camp shirts! But, really, this stuff is OK, right????

 

[grammiegail]

As far as formal clothes. I am waiting to see where my weight ends up. I've lost a lot of weight in the last year and I have just recently started shopping again (it had been years, except for maternity clothes!!). I wonder if I can get into any of my old "thin" black dresses now? Not sure but I will try some things on. I was hoping to lose another 10 lbs before the cruise and then see what I can get into. Maybe even buy a new dress, who knows???

Sue, I have faith that you and I will both fit into our dresses! I know that we are both trying and working the other Challenge boards. Gosh, I just wish losing "it" was as easy and as much fun as acquiring "it"! I've been faithful with the exercise, but not so much with the "in-take". However, I have been having popcorn and sushi every weekend and have decided to change my weigh-in date until midweek. There seems to be a 2-3 pound difference. Since my rings are tight (read tourniquets) on Monday, I know it's only water-weight. I really look forward to seeing you!

 

[suesings]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Grammiegail! I am really going to pick up the exercise this last 6 weeks. I should only weigh in once a week, I know but I've been an everyday or every other day gal lately. Your rings swelling could be salt intake over the weekend too maybe?? I love Sushi too!!! YUM

I've read the Sushi onboard isn't good though....

Here's to a healthy eating/exercising week!!!

 

[grammiegail]

hi everyone....I'm new at this so be patient. We're grandparents....don't feel like it but the proof is here....and are taking our "just turns 6 in May" grand-daughter on the May 28 cruise. Just wondering if there are any others doing the same. Also would love to touch bases with anyone else with a girl that age. Hope to hear from someone.

You are not the grandparents. We hafe a 5 yo GD and 10 yo GS. However, our DD (their mom) is also cruising. I look forward to meeting you. Come along to the ice cream social on day 1.

 

[rccllap]

I've seen several people writing that they're planning on bringing a cooler onboard--Disney's literature indicates a zero-tolerance policy of not allowing guests to bring anything on board like food or beverages. I'm guessing folks with experience can say if this is enforced? To be honest, I'm a little ticked that Disney insists on being able to charge us for water, soda, etc etc all over the place except at mealtimes in the restaurants. They're already getting thousands of dollars off us, why nickel and dime any more?

What are the options for dinner, if a person chooses not to go to the sit-down meals? Is room service it, or are there other options as well?

I think I'll see how Sam does at the first night's dinner, to determine if I'll bring him to any others (Animator's Palate being the exception, he'd want to see that). Maybe having him eat with the kid's program is the best option? Then DG and I can enjoy adult conversation.

Anyone know, are all 3 ports tendered in, or will the ship be able to dock anywhere?

have a marvy day!
Rebecca

 

[first timers]

I've seen several people writing that they're planning on bringing a cooler onboard--Disney's literature indicates a zero-tolerance policy of not allowing guests to bring anything on board like food or beverages. I'm guessing folks with experience can say if this is enforced? To be honest, I'm a little ticked that Disney insists on being able to charge us for water, soda, etc etc all over the place except at mealtimes in the restaurants. They're already getting thousands of dollars off us, why nickel and dime any more?

What are the options for dinner, if a person chooses not to go to the sit-down meals? Is room service it, or are there other options as well?

I think I'll see how Sam does at the first night's dinner, to determine if I'll bring him to any others (Animator's Palate being the exception, he'd want to see that). Maybe having him eat with the kid's program is the best option? Then DG and I can enjoy adult conversation.

Anyone know, are all 3 ports tendered in, or will the ship be able to dock anywhere?

have a marvy day!
Rebecca[/QUOT

On the Christmas cruise, a soda fountain were placed with at the coffee station on deck 9 aft. Typical sodas Sprite, Coke, Diet Coke. For alternate dinning, the pizza/hot dog spot on deck 9 is open late and maybe topsiders (don't remember for sure).

Some kids love the children's program and wind up eating with the other kids as part of the program. We often had children at or table the first night and not again until the parents dragged them to dinner on the last day.



Alex

 

[Jedisan]

Anyone know, are all 3 ports tendered in, or will the ship be able to dock anywhere? have a marvy day!
Rebecca

The cruise ships are able to dock in Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. I know there has been talk of building a dock to accommodate the cruise ships in Cabo San Lucas, but I'm not sure if that's been done. We may have to tender in Cabo.

Lara

 

[carriep1657]

Welcome, Sirod. My DD will be 7 in a few days. She'll be happy to know that there's another girl around her age on the cruise.

My SIL went to UGA. I loved going to visit her. It's an exciting place. I wish that they would give you a room at the Biltmore. There are probably lots of rooms that people rarely see.

I believe that you still have to tender in Cabo. I've read some recent trip reports on cruisecritic.com and they all mention tendering.

 

[challada]

Rebecca-
We are bringing a cooler (ok, my mom is doing that, LOL) but everyone I know has said they brought coolers on Disney boats...that's were Disney is different from the rest, I thought, in that it IS allowed to be brought on.

Mom-
I've decided on just my formal and my own black dress w/shawl for semi night...that way I can give Tand back her nice dresses in case of an "emergency".

THANKS
C

 

[ssnyder]

Does anyone have any more information on which nights will be formal and semi-formal. I was of the mind that they would be Sunday (formal) and Thursday (semi-formal). I was just reviewing the new navigators posted at the castaway club web-site and was surprised that they changed formal night to Monday on both the eastern and western cruises. That kind of makes me think that ours will be on Monday also. This kind of surprises me because this would put formal and semi-formal nights in the same restaurant. For those of us without children, that would likely put both in the Parrot Cay. Not the best of choice in my mind.

 

[ssnyder]

I sort of had a bad night on Friday. My husband and I were invited out to a banquet type dinner (he was receiving an award). I thought this would be great because I got a chance to wear some of the new clothes I had bought for the cruise.

Well, the first bad thing that happened was that my husband spilled red wine all over my new light green silk jacket. Hopefully the dry cleaners will be able to get it out.

The next thing was that I lost my wallet there, with my credit cards and driver's license. When I canceled the credit cards, there had been no activity so that was good. The bad thing about the driver's license is that the DMV says it will take up to 60 days to get my new permanent license. Will this cause me any problem on the cruise if it doesn't arrive before we leave? The good news is that my passport renewal arrived on Friday also, so at least I have that.

 

[suesings]

Susie,
What a bummer about the red wine. Ugh. I hope the cleaners can get it out. Were you planning on bringing it on the cruise?? It seems like whenever I wear something new I either snag it or spill something.
Hopefully he spilled it on you towards the end of the evening....

 

[rccllap]

My understanding from years of retail management & hiring, is that a passport supercedes any other form of ID. So if you have that, you should be golden. After all, you're not planning to drive anything on the ship are you?

But, just in case, you might check to see what your state will do for a temporary legal identification for persons who have lost their ID's. If it truly takes up to 60 days they might have another measure in place.

 

[carriep1657]

Susie, sorry to hear about your new jacket and your wallet. What a pain to have to deal with replacing everything.

If you have your passport, you'll be fine. DH used just his passport for ID during travel for years. He uses his middle name and all of his tickets are issued using his middle name. His driver's license only had his middle initial so he never even shows it.

 

[rccllap]

Every person I have ever interacted with that works in any capacity for Disney, I adore. They are so nice!

Just called the cruise line [877 566 0972 if anyone else needs to call] and spoke with Maggie about seating, tendering, and coolers. Results:

It is possible to request a certain 'area' in the dining rooms; in our case, close to the doors for ease of getting to the bathrooms for my mobility-challenged grandmother.

The only port we'll tender into is Cabo. The ship will dock at the other two.

Coolers will not be allowed. We can put certain items in our carry-ons or baggage, but no actual coolers. I did not ask about beer/wine/liquor; I was more concerned about bottles of water, which she said was okay in carry on or luggage but that they would not allow a cooler onboard.

She also let me know that dining rotation won't be totally firmed up until each family boards & checks in.

I forgot to ask about formal & semi-formal nights. Whoops! I can call again later--right now, we're off to Opening Night of baseball! (farm team for the COlorado Rockies, go Tourists!!)

peace--
Rebecca

 

[Jedisan]

Susie, so sorry to hear about your evening. Hopefully, they will be able to get the stain out. Congratulations to your husband for getting an award. What was it for?

We've used our passports only the last couple of times we have cruised. I never needed to show my driver's license. The passport was preferred. You should be fine.

Hello to SIROD, our DD Katie, will be almost 6 when we cruise. Looking forward to meeting you at Scoops.

 

[wccruiser]

Every person I have ever interacted with that works in any capacity for Disney, I adore. They are so nice!

Just called the cruise line [877 566 0972 if anyone else needs to call] and spoke with Maggie about seating, tendering, and coolers. Results:



She also let me know that dining rotation won't be totally firmed up until each family boards & checks in.



peace--
Rebecca

What??????? I thought they put it on your KTTW card when you check in?