May 29, 2004---Who is with us?

[NYdiscuisers]

Originally posted by geetey
Greetings!
We will be sailing on the Eastern 5/29! This is our first cruise and we are excited and anxious! Family of 4 with dd 10 and ds 8, celebrating my dh's big 4-0 birthday.

Has everyone selected their excursions? Where is the best place to get info regarding our choices? (can you tell I am just getting started with the planning? )

Welcome geetey!

If you haven't read through the thread, we also have a DD10 on this cruise. As to excursions, you can't book the Disney ones until 60 days out (and paid in full) but we have planned on the Golden Eagle Catamaran in St. Maarten and a non-Disney day sail on St. Thomas.

To all you southern located cruisers, it was 62 today in NY. The forecast is for possible 70 on Friday!! It's about time you guys sent some warm weather our way

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Welcome geetey!

What a wonderful way to celebrate your DH's 40th birthday!

(I'd wished I'd thought of that when my DH turned 40, two years ago.)

You're in for the best vacation of your life on DCL. (Any other vacations we've taken pale in comparison.)

And NYCruisers, I'm glad to hear you're having warm weather. (It makes us think more and more of the big sail date in May.)

 

[SimbaNoodle]

Welcome Geetey

There are a lot of 9-10 year old girls going. They should have a lot of fun.

As far as excursions, we also want to do a catamaran at St. Marteen.

Can't wait.

 

[XLT800]

Welcome Geetey,

There will be plenty of kids, all close in age. The catamaran in St Marteen in great for kids and adults. I think we are going to try to do our own excursions this time.

I turn 40 this year and DW would love to cruise for it but with another one schedule for October, I don't think thats going to happen.

I am glad that we can send some sunshine up north. We have had plenty of it lately. That just means that I get a jump start on my Spring projects.

Dave

 

[geetey]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone!

It's great to see how many children in the same ages will be on board. I am sure my kids will have a blast making new friends.

We are still waiting for airfare to drop, so we haven't booked that yet, but we are planning on flying in the afternoon before. Any personal preferences on staying at the airport versus the coast that first night? Do the hotels on the coast offer a shuttle the next morning?

 

[XLT800]

Geetey....

Even though we live only 2 hours from the port we drive over the night before and stay at the Raddison. They have a shuttle over to the port. We do not usually use it though. We like to be there quite early. We have not been able to be first in line yet but we were in the first 10 last time. We don't like to give up any time the 1st day on the ship

Dave

 

[geetey]

Thanks, Dave! I was checking Expedia for hotel prices last night. Is the Radisson the closest hotel? Or is there a pocket of hotels in the surrounding area? I understand it is best to get to port @ 10:30 am. Is that correct?

We are contemplating spending an additional day or two on the coast so we can visit Kennedy Space Center, Ron Jons, etc.... Then the boys in my family will stop asking about KSC during our WDW trip.

 

[Mickeylover]

We went by KSC after our last cruise on the Wonder, which worked out very nicely. (Saw the Columbia on the launchpad for the last time as our trip was in December of '02 .) We very much enjoyed the visit--it was the first time we had ever been.

Weather here has also been much nicer than usual. The whole state got hit with a HUGE snowstorm the end of last week...except for a tiny pocket of two counties which got nothing--and by some bit of wonderful luck, we live in one of those counties. So, while people all around us were waiting for the warm weather this weekend to melt the 10 inches of snow they got. I was playing golf!

So is anyone driving to Florida besides us or is everyone else (outside of you lucky Florida residents!) flying?

 

[NYdiscuisers]

Terry,
We have booked the new Ron Jon resort for the day before our cruise (actually 2 nights since we are now flying down on Thursday evening.) No shuttle service, but it looks like a nice place.

There was a coupon code for 25% off when we booked. I don't know if its still good, but "mention code 102 from the Feb. issue of the Florida Travel Magazine," if you are interested in calling for a quote. Shirley (from Perfect Gift fame) also had a different code which was also good for 25% off. It's buried somewhere in the information in the threads below:
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=490104

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=498957

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=501174

If you check through some of the other threads, or start one yourself, I'm sure you'll turn up lots of other hotel suggestions and reviews. Dave from Marietta also has a lot hotel and other information at his site, www.dcltribute.com

Good luck!
Paul

 

[tchrmom]

,

Welcome, Geetey................

I'm XLT800's wife. I don't get to spend as much time on the boards, since I work all day! (hahahahahaha, honey! )

I like the idea of celebrating DH 40th with a cruise!
Fran

 

[chairee0]

Hello, We are taking our first Disney cruise on May 29th. We went to Disneyworld last year and had great fun! MY DH 32 & DD 8 are very excited about our trip. We are hoping to meet some interesting people, have lots of fun and experience the Disney Magic.

 

[NYdiscuisers]

Welcome chairee0! (too this thread and to the disboards too!)

We are cruise veterans...we've taken one Disney cruise, so far! Actually, with all the information available on this board, I think we were veterans even before we took our first cruise

It seems like your DD will fit right in. It looks like many of the families that have posted here have a DD in the 8-10 range. We have a DD6 and DD10.

Paul

 

[SimbaNoodle]

Welcome chairee0,

Welcome to our cruise thread and a bigger welcome to the Disboards. If you are a Disney fan, you will love these boards.

Can't wait for the cruise. We will be driving in on Friday and staying at the Radisson. I bet that it's a hopping, festive place the night before a cruise.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Welcome Chairee0!

You'll notice too, as NYdiscruisers mentioned, that there are many traveling with children in the 8-10 age range. They should have a great time!

I'm happy to see this board is now picking up momentum (with fellow cruisers 'checking in') as we near the big sail date in May!

 

[XLT800]

Welcome Chairee0......

It looks like the hair braiding ressies will go fast with all these girls.

If you like meeting people, this is the cruise to take. We have met some really great people on our first 2 cruises. The kids have also met some good friends.

Tchrmom.....I guess that I will go back to work now, someone has to pay for your cruising habit. (ha ha)

Have a great day!

Dave

 

[NYdiscuisers]

We've fallen to the second page...can't have that!

Besides, I need a few more posts to make Dis Veteran status!

 

[Mickeylover]

Yep, sounds like a lot of activity with some of the early spring cruisers. (wish I could go with them AND go again 5-29!)

Anyone paid off their cruise yet? I'll probably end up paying mine like I will my taxes--at the very last minute!

 

[NYdiscuisers]

We'll use the credit card, after this months closing date. That way we can delay the payment another few weeks.

But we still have to come up with the $'s...tax return and bonuses will take care of the cruise itself + a little more, the rest (excusions, tips, drinks-of-the-day, etc) will come from savings.

 

[XLT800]

Not payed off yet. Trying to pay as much as I can without using tax refund, but as everyone knows we are running out of time. I need tax refund for drinks and deposit on next years cruise. Still waiting to see what they do for next summer.

Another great weekend in Florida. Hope everyone else is having good weather. Hopefully the worst is behind everyone.

flhmom.......where did you go? Have not haerd from you in a while. Your cruise is paid off.

Dave

 

[NYdiscuisers]

Weather was a little wet here today, but warm. Unfortunately, that's the end of our warm weather for a little while. The forcast is for snow tomorrow night into Monday!

We're hoping no more snow days get used so our DD's won't miss as much school. Our district uses any left over snow days over Memorial Day weekend, so as it stands now, we have no school Friday, Monday and Tuesday and DD's will only miss 3 school days.

Paul