May 30, 2009 - Western Cruise Magic

[loveysbydesign]

Just curious- do we ALL on this list have cat 12 gty rooms? If so.. we're going to have a lot of upgrades! How many cat 11 rooms are there? LOL
auntlynne
Bama4Disney
Bamabornnemonut
Bibbidybobbidyboo
brucechase
CarolinaBlue
cruisefanz
dawne577
Family#1
Family#2
Francisa64
Hmurry
Homespun
Jennymouse
kcashner
Keggy
klcason
liliagm
loveysbydesign
luvdmouse57
mmmagic7754
mrpawn
MRS RMM
MRS RMM DSIS
Paula13
pclair
pooh.kim
PoohFriend#1
sebamt
stlkeeler
Suzepoo

WOW....that's alot of Cat. 12's....I just hope since we have 2 booked that we don't end up too far away from each other. It might not bother my older kids but my 20 month old will be asking where's "dada"...my dh gets his own cabin to sleep in as he keeps everyone else up w/his snoring. Not sure how we'll do it the 2 nights before the cruise...I've yet to find a place cheap enough to allow me to afford booking 2 rooms

 

[chccatfish]

Ok! Looks like all us are going to be very busy looking for FE gifts. For those of you who haven't done this in the past and it's your first time, you don't need to give a gift every night. We did it last time twice. We usually did it later in the evening when we had some down time. We had 3 decks to deliver so, Bruce went to one, the girls went to another and I did one too. That way we didn't take as long as it took me the first night I delivered. It took me almost 1 hour to deliver by myself. I sent each person with a list of names, room # and what to give out. It took us a combined total of 20 minutes or less to deliver as a team.

Also, I will NOT be wearing a formal gown. First of all, I haven't worn one of those since my prom and that was a long time ago. You will see me in either the red or black infinite dress. Not sure which way I will wear it, but either way, I know it will look good. I am amazed how many different ways I can wear it and I think if you don't generally wear a dress like this, it would still make you look like a million dollars. I can't wait to wear this dress! So, please don't stress about what to wear. I will be bringing both of mine in case someone wants to borrow one. Our girls will be wearing a dress and sandals. Bruce a shirt and tie, no jacket.

I'm thinking it would be awesome if we could all get together before we get on the ship. Those of us staying at the Raddison will leaving at 10 on the shuttle. Last time, we unpacked our carry ons and waited for a short time to go in. When we did, our carry ons were checked and we were sent up stairs in the waiting area. We had an hour or so before we could get on the ship. So, I think if everyone gets to the port before the ship starts boarding, we could meet in the waiting area. What do you all think? I found out last cruise, which was our first, that it is hard to meet when we got on the ship because we are all curious to see the ship and look around to see what's new. Now, if we can't get together at the port. I do think we should plan another place to meet and greet each family.

For me, I am SO EXCITED about this cruise and to meet such wonderful people. I can't believe it is just around the corner. But, I will be ready! Bruce will be ready too! I love seeing him like this. He's definitely a disney man!

Carolyn

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Carolyn - I participated in a dis meet that first met up in the waiting area and it worked out good, but that was because we all wanted to show up early! I think that would be a great idea if everyone is going to show up early.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

Just curious- do we ALL on this list have cat 12 gty rooms? If so.. we're going to have a lot of upgrades! How many cat 11 rooms are there? LOL
auntlynne
Bama4Disney
Bamabornnemonut
Bibbidybobbidyboo
brucechase
CarolinaBlue
cruisefanz
dawne577
Family#1
Family#2
Francisa64
Hmurry
Homespun
Jennymouse
kcashner
Keggy
klcason
liliagm
loveysbydesign
luvdmouse57
mmmagic7754
mrpawn
MRS RMM
MRS RMM DSIS
Paula13
pclair
pooh.kim
PoohFriend#1
sebamt
stlkeeler
Suzepoo

No, we're booked in a Cat.9

 

[sebamt]

We're in Cat 9 too

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Okay so not everyone is in a cat 12. I thought that was a lot- if we were all in cat 12 gtys!

WOW....that's alot of Cat. 12's....I just hope since we have 2 booked that we don't end up too far away from each other. It might not bother my older kids but my 20 month old will be asking where's "dada"...my dh gets his own cabin to sleep in as he keeps everyone else up w/his snoring. Not sure how we'll do it the 2 nights before the cruise...I've yet to find a place cheap enough to allow me to afford booking 2 rooms

We have the same problem- it's very limiting with a family of more than 4. That's why we're just staying at FW even up until the night before the cruise.

Ok! Looks like all us are going to be very busy looking for FE gifts. For those of you who haven't done this in the past and it's your first time, you don't need to give a gift every night. We did it last time twice. We usually did it later in the evening when we had some down time. We had 3 decks to deliver so, Bruce went to one, the girls went to another and I did one too. That way we didn't take as long as it took me the first night I delivered. It took me almost 1 hour to deliver by myself. I sent each person with a list of names, room # and what to give out. It took us a combined total of 20 minutes or less to deliver as a team.

Also, I will NOT be wearing a formal gown. First of all, I haven't worn one of those since my prom and that was a long time ago. You will see me in either the red or black infinite dress. Not sure which way I will wear it, but either way, I know it will look good. I am amazed how many different ways I can wear it and I think if you don't generally wear a dress like this, it would still make you look like a million dollars. I can't wait to wear this dress! So, please don't stress about what to wear. I will be bringing both of mine in case someone wants to borrow one. Our girls will be wearing a dress and sandals. Bruce a shirt and tie, no jacket.

I'm thinking it would be awesome if we could all get together before we get on the ship. Those of us staying at the Raddison will leaving at 10 on the shuttle. Last time, we unpacked our carry ons and waited for a short time to go in. When we did, our carry ons were checked and we were sent up stairs in the waiting area. We had an hour or so before we could get on the ship. So, I think if everyone gets to the port before the ship starts boarding, we could meet in the waiting area. What do you all think? I found out last cruise, which was our first, that it is hard to meet when we got on the ship because we are all curious to see the ship and look around to see what's new. Now, if we can't get together at the port. I do think we should plan another place to meet and greet each family.

For me, I am SO EXCITED about this cruise and to meet such wonderful people. I can't believe it is just around the corner. But, I will be ready! Bruce will be ready too! I love seeing him like this. He's definitely a disney man!

Carolyn

I ordered some of the infinite dresses after bruce mentioned you got them. I hope they fit me right! I'm short so I'm a bit worried about that part. LOL So they fit you well and you like them? That's great! I can't wait to get mine and try them out the different styles. I hope it's easy to make the different styles! and hope it's not too long.

I think that's a great idea about beforehand. We're parking at the port and plan on doing that as soon as they let us in to park. LOL

 

[homespun]

Just curious- do we ALL on this list have cat 12 gty rooms? If so.. we're going to have a lot of upgrades! How many cat 11 rooms are there? LOL

We're actually in a Category 8 this trip. Oh how I wish we had a balcony, but we couldn't swing it. Hoping I'm seeing a lot of posts here at the 75+ day mark for lots of upgrades.

Our friends are a Cat. 12 but they are not DISers--Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you.

Karen

 

[homespun]

I'm thinking it would be awesome if we could all get together before we get on the ship. Those of us staying at the Raddison will leaving at 10 on the shuttle. Last time, we unpacked our carry ons and waited for a short time to go in. When we did, our carry ons were checked and we were sent up stairs in the waiting area. We had an hour or so before we could get on the ship. So, I think if everyone gets to the port before the ship starts boarding, we could meet in the waiting area. What do you all think? I found out last cruise, which was our first, that it is hard to meet when we got on the ship because we are all curious to see the ship and look around to see what's new. Now, if we can't get together at the port. I do think we should plan another place to meet and greet each family.

Sounds great to me

We're really excited here too--it can't get here soon enough.

Karen

 

[luvdmouse57]

if someone doesn't have something lime green colored we could wear a Lime Green Ribbon (like the pink breast cancer ribbon)

Thank Goodness!!! I look like I'm sick if I where lime green. Don't want everyone to think that I'm seasick before the cruise even starts!

 

[luvdmouse57]

We're in cat 11. DH wanted to make sure that he got a cabin in the middle of the ship. Neither of us has ever been seasick but this is our first real cruise & he didn't want to take any chances. The other one was one of those that took you to the Bahamas & dropped you off for 3 days. Our cabin number was listed as deck space.

 

[sebamt]

I really like the idea of using green ribbons for our group. It's easier/cheaper for the ones of us who don't own a lime green t-shirt

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I really like the idea of using green ribbons for our group. It's easier/cheaper for the ones of us who don't own a lime green t-shirt

True.
Plus you can't just look at anyone in just some random lime shirt (since we won't have all the SAME shirt like for our group/cruise or something) and expect them to be from DIS. Some people just wear that color! So something you can tell was put on specifically makes sense... cause what stranger would put on a lime green ribbon around their arm or something?

We may just wear our lime green rubber wristbands- if I can find them. They are from the last cruise but you can't tell anything is like engraved in them (that's probably not the right word but you know what I mean) unless you look very closely and/or turn them over. It's all lime- no other coloring for like the words or anything, yanno? That way if you see a family of 5 with lime green rubber bracelets on... it's us. LOL We MIGHT be wearing FW shirts too- if I can make them well enough. Different color shirts unless I can find the same color for all of us (maybe lime green- if I can find them!) but it will have a musket mickey/FW graphic on them. Maybe.... haven't made them yet and not sure we'll wear them that day. If they come out well I might go ahead and make something DCL graphic to wear that day!

What I really wish I could do is those mickey tie-dye shirts. I want those so bad! But have no clue how to do it. sigh

 

[CarolinaBlue]

I paid off the balance last night and reserved a couple of excursions. Right now, we are booked on the Nautilus/Snorkel tour at Grand Cayman and the dolphin swim at Dolphinarius in Cozumel. This may change because I'm not too sure about the dolphin swim. I didn't know which one was better, Dolphinarius or the other one (can't remember the name right now), so I picked Dolphinarius. Does anyone know anything about either one of the dolphin swims?

Another question:What do you do with your personal belongings when you go on the excursions? I wanted to take a beach bag to keep our stuff in but I don't know what to do with it while we are in the water. Where do you put your KTTW cards/i.d./money, etc.?

 

[chccatfish]

Please don't feel obligated to go out and purchase a lime green t-shirt unless you already have one. We will probably be wearing the lime green mickey ears on our shirts. It doesn't cost you anything but a trip to Home Depot. You can get them in the paint section. It's even better if you have something else lime green like the rubber braclets BibbidyBobbidyBoo talks about. Regardless of what you wear lime green, we will still be able to look for you. I know I will be looking around like a lost puppy looking for you.

I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself!!

Carolyn

 

[loveysbydesign]

I'm starting to feel panicked at all Ihave to get done yet for this vaction..I booked our flight home but haven't booked our flight down yet as we're trying to decide whether or not we can afford to do 1-2 park days(we already have tix from last trip but need to price hotels)...plus I have to book a rental car-yikes..I need to get busy!!!! I also have to make a FE and get gifts and try and figure out what we'll wear for formal night. Oh,and I was wondering how much do you usually tip for a cruise this long and can I use OBC towards it?

 

[sebamt]

For tipping guidelines, you can go to the official DCL page to find:

7-Night:
Dining Room Server- $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server- $21.00
Dining Room Head Server- $ 7.00
Stateroom Host/Hostess- $28.00
Dining Manager- Your Discretion
Room Service- Your Discretion
Total: $84.00

or to this cool calculator: http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

 

[loveysbydesign]

For tipping guidelines, you can go to the official DCL page to find:

7-Night:
Dining Room Server- $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server- $21.00
Dining Room Head Server- $ 7.00
Stateroom Host/Hostess- $28.00
Dining Manager- Your Discretion
Room Service- Your Discretion
Total: $84.00

or to this cool calculator: http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

Sorry, but I'm a natural blond, is this per day or for the entire cruise??

 

[sebamt]

Sorry... that's per cruise, per person.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Sorry... that's per cruise, per person.

Thanks..I thought it was per day and that would be quite a bit. Do I offer full tip for my 1 y.o???

 

[brucechase]

Thanks..I thought it was per day and that would be quite a bit. Do I offer full tip for my 1 y.o???

Usually they suggest as per person regardless of the age. From what I've seen, the servers spend as much if not more tiime with the younger kids than most others in your party.

As a repeat of what was posted, I have this in my spreadsheet for our trip:

7-night cruise TOTAL TIPS per guest
$28 Dining Room Server
$21 Asst. Dining Room Server
$7 Dining Room Head Server
$28 Stateroom Host / Hostess
$84 TOTALS PER GUEST for the cruise
$336 - for 4 people
$420 - for 5 people


And yes, you can use OBC for this. That is our plan for everything since between OBC and disney reward $ we are over $600 for our shipboard account. I will probably stop by guest service and have them charge it to that account on or about the 4th day. Now this does not include Palo or Flounders (if you want to add additional tip). Need to spend it on something besides Konk Koolers for the wife!!!!!