May 30, 2009 - Western Cruise Magic

[brucechase]

Which brings us to prevention: I am sure there are people on the planet who have had pleasant experiences with the patch, but every single person I have ever known who used the patch hated it, and had problems--not from motion, but from using the stupid patch! Lots of dizziness, visions problems, etc. which resolved once the patch was REMOVED!

Dh and I both used the patch on a cruise many years ago and swore NEVER AGAIN!! I will say that we are both nurses and according to what we have been told it has been improved. However, the side effects to us just aren't worth it.

Kayla

My wife wears the patch when going to amusement parks and on our last cruise. She has never had side effects. If you are worried, try it out before the cruise or have a back up plan. If you are trying any motion sickness medicine for the first time, you should try it out long before the cruise to know what you are in for.

 

[klcason]

Bruce,

Absolutely! You don't want to try any medication for the first time on a cruise ship. That has disaster written all over it! I actually had a bad allergic reaction to Bactrim on my very last dose of 10 days. You never know!

The patch is supposed to have improved alot in the last few years, I just remember that my vision was so blurry that I couldn't read the dinner menu. And no 2 people are going to react the same way either.

That being said, even with our past experience I will have a variety of meds just in case, you never know if what worked for you before will work again!!

I looked all over the Target Pharmacy dept this morning and couldn't find the meclizine??? I guess I will have to try CVS.

Kayla

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I looked all over the Target Pharmacy dept this morning and couldn't find the meclizine??? I guess I will have to try CVS.

Kayla - It is behind the counter so you have to request it at the pharmacy.

 

[brucechase]

I looked all over the Target Pharmacy dept this morning and couldn't find the meclizine??? I guess I will have to try CVS.

Kayla

Kayla - It is behind the counter so you have to request it at the pharmacy.

I've been told by more than 1 person that if you walk down to the medical department as soon as you get on the ship (or any other time), they have a big box of these tablets laying out for you to take as many as you want. I didn't know this during my first trip (and luckily didn't need them), but more than one person swears this is true. I will still take some stuff with me (Bonine for the kids) but this is a good backup plan.

 

[klcason]

Kayla - It is behind the counter so you have to request it at the pharmacy.

Thanks so much!! Now I understand the sudafed, but why oh why would the meclizine be back there???????? Is it an ingrediant in something too?

I've been told by more than 1 person that if you walk down to the medical department as soon as you get on the ship (or any other time), they have a big box of these tablets laying out for you to take as many as you want. I didn't know this during my first trip (and luckily didn't need them), but more than one person swears this is true. I will still take some stuff with me (Bonine for the kids) but this is a good backup plan.

That is good to know, just in case!!

Thanks,

Kayla

 

[kcashner]

Yes, the ship has a large container of medication outside the medical center on a "take what you need" basis--no evaluation or appointment.

As to scopolamine patches--as with any other medication, they can have side effects as well as effects other than what the drug is being used for. Rule one with the patch--keep your hands off of it! If you get the drug on your fingers and then rub your eyes, suck on your finger, or whatever, you WILL have unintended effects. These are not side effects, but the direct result of placing a high concentration of the drug in an untended place.

Bippidy--on this trip we booked 2 cat 12s and have 2 cat 10s next to each other. It was our Feb. cruise where we booked cat 12s back to back (Feb. 8 and Feb. 12 Wonder sailings) and were placed in 2 different cabins but not upgraded. My logic was that I wouldn't mind changing cabins if upgraded, but it made NO sense if not upgraded.....we ultimately purchased an upgrade to a cat 6 for the 4 day sailing (got it at the port). We don't normally do 4 cruises in 4 months.....normally about 2 a year....All Magic until Feb. 2009.

I'm puzzled at your comment about kids sleeping. How many kids do you have? If you are placing 3 kids in one cabin, you can have the big bed split into 2 twin beds, and the couch flips into a bed--thus, you have 3 separate beds. There's no need for them to kick each other during the night. Your room steward will take care of this for you the first time he makes up the beds--just ask.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Yes, the ship has a large container of medication outside the medical center on a "take what you need" basis--no evaluation or appointment.

As to scopolamine patches--as with any other medication, they can have side effects as well as effects other than what the drug is being used for. Rule one with the patch--keep your hands off of it! If you get the drug on your fingers and then rub your eyes, suck on your finger, or whatever, you WILL have unintended effects. These are not side effects, but the direct result of placing a high concentration of the drug in an untended place.

Bippidy--on this trip we booked 2 cat 12s and have 2 cat 10s next to each other. It was our Feb. cruise where we booked cat 12s back to back (Feb. 8 and Feb. 12 Wonder sailings) and were placed in 2 different cabins but not upgraded. My logic was that I wouldn't mind changing cabins if upgraded, but it made NO sense if not upgraded.....we ultimately purchased an upgrade to a cat 6 for the 4 day sailing (got it at the port). We don't normally do 4 cruises in 4 months.....normally about 2 a year....All Magic until Feb. 2009.

I'm puzzled at your comment about kids sleeping. How many kids do you have? If you are placing 3 kids in one cabin, you can have the big bed split into 2 twin beds, and the couch flips into a bed--thus, you have 3 separate beds. There's no need for them to kick each other during the night. Your room steward will take care of this for you the first time he makes up the beds--just ask.

Ah yes, I agree with you- if not upgraded and still in cat 12's for both cruises there shoulidn't have been any reason they couldn't keep you in the same ones! Other categories I could understand- because maybe one cruise they had to stick you in 2 rooms and then the next cruise someone else had specifically booked those staterooms- but cat 12's no one can specifically pick the stateroom #'s, can they?

OH about the sleeping in a room for 3. In the cat 11 the bed was against the back wall- and we had them seperate the beds. It actually worked out well not just for the sleeping arrangements but also it made the room seem "roomier" -yanno? But this time with the cat 9's- the bed is in the center of the room- I wasn't sure how that would work seperating the beds and if it would make the room seem more cramped instead of more roomy? I don't know. I can't even visualize how that would look. I couldn't visualize it for the cat 11 either but afterwards I realized it was great and made their room seem roomier. How is it when the beds are seperated in a cat 9 or above when the bed is against a side wall in the center of the room? Anyone have experience with that?

 

[kcashner]

In the 9, it doesn't really change how things are except that the little walk way is between the beds instead of on one side. Either way, you have to walk past the bed to get to the "living room" part of the cabin, and you'll walk along the foot of the bed. You either walk past a 2 foot wide walk way and then along the foot of the bed or foot of twin, walkway, foot of other twin. It really doesn't affect the amount of space in the room at all. It's easier to see than to explain. Yes, the bed is in the "center" of the length of the cabin, but the head of the bed is against the wall that the bathrooms are on. They will just move the night table so it is between the beds instead of between the big bed and the bathroom wall. It works just fine, and doesn't eliminate your walking space at all.

If your steward separates that beds and you don't like it, he can always put it back together--he has to put it back after your cruise anyhow. You're not making extra work for him, just changing when he does the work.

I'm exactly with you on the back to back cat 12s. However...as we couldn't stay in the same rooms and were able to purchase an upgrade at the port it was a moot point. I was more than willing to move for an upgrade! However, that cruise is over...and the May 30 is coming.

We booked our private excursion yesterday (Captain Marvin's on Grand Cayman). The kids HAVE TO go to Hell....in part so they can do things like send a post card to their choir director from Hell....ditto to parents, etc. I love teens.

DD has 11 school days left...but who's counting?

 

[brucechase]

We booked our private excursion yesterday (Captain Marvin's on Grand Cayman). The kids HAVE TO go to Hell....in part so they can do things like send a post card to their choir director from Hell....ditto to parents, etc. I love teens.

Are you just doing the island tour or are you adding stingray city to it also?

 

[klcason]

Ok, got a question. I am trying to figure out if our rooms 2046 & 2048 have steamer trunks. I did find out that they only sleep 3. So I was looking at the deck plans and some rooms have notches out and some don't. Is there a correlation, seems to me that that is where the trunk should be???

Does anyone know? The notch is def. not on all of the rooms.

Kayla

 

[mommabo]

I have been on boards since '05 or there abouts when planning our family trip to WDW. Ten days, FW cabins and AKL ..... loved it. Now decided to do cruise while the kids were still willing to travel with mom & dad and still think it is fun We had planned to go on 8/8 Western, but was not liking the cost too much. Considered RCCL out of LA (we are in AZ), but then watched the boards and heard talk of these great deals. June 13 would not work for us and I hoped a deal would come out for August. Then found a TA who had a smokin' deal on May 30 and decided to jump at it. 2 cabins, cat 12 GTY, taxes and ins. less than half what our original cruise in August would have been. Sign me up - we'll take it!!

Thought about joining FE, but knew we had so much going on end of year I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew. So if you would like to add us to your group of DISers on the ship (but not FE), feel free. If lists are complete and done, don't worry just wanted to pop in and say hi. BTW Bruce, nice job on keeping track!

Anyhow, I wanted to join those who stated Disney seems to have assigned cabins fairly well this go round with regard to keeping families together as much as possible. We were upgrade to cat 10. Not right next to each other, but only one room between us. My kids are also somewhat older (DD 15, DD12, and DS9) so not really a problem for us. I just feel badly for the people between us. I will tell kids to be considerate of people in the other room, but there will be some going between rooms and whatever noise accompanies that. I mentioned this to TA and he checked with Disney to see if change could be made, but no luck. He suggested asking the people in that room once we board if they would want to switch, but not sure if we will. I remember reading a thread about just that topic and opinions seemed to be split as to whether someone would be willing to change. I don't want to put anyone out with changing rooms, OTOH we don't want noise from us to be an issue. For the bargain we got, 2 rooms, 2A/3C only $3200 and a SBC, we are thrilled with our upgrade and chance to try a Disney cruise.

Now off to figure out what seasick medication will work best for me. Yup, everyone else in my family does fine, but I'm a mess. Tried Dramamine, Bonine, drowsy, non-drowsy, you name it, they ALL knock me out. Good news, I don't get seasick while taking them, just can't stay awake. Maybe if I take it at 8 or 9 pm? Are they 24 hrs doses? I will be taking to pharmacist and doctor and trying different things before I board ... wish me luck!

Speaking of luck, still waiting on those darn passports. Mailed out applications 5 weeks ago thinking we had plenty of time. Still have 5 weeks to go, but website shows they are not in system. I'm not going to worry yet, but I would rather have them in my hand by now.

Well, I believe I have rambled long enough ..... apologies. Looking forward to our cruise and maybe meeting some new DIS friends. BTW KCashner, looks like our rooms just about back up to each other, so it looks like we got the same upgrade Oops, forgot to mention we are cabins 2629 and 2633.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

In the 9, it doesn't really change how things are except that the little walk way is between the beds instead of on one side. Either way, you have to walk past the bed to get to the "living room" part of the cabin, and you'll walk along the foot of the bed. You either walk past a 2 foot wide walk way and then along the foot of the bed or foot of twin, walkway, foot of other twin. It really doesn't affect the amount of space in the room at all. It's easier to see than to explain. Yes, the bed is in the "center" of the length of the cabin, but the head of the bed is against the wall that the bathrooms are on. They will just move the night table so it is between the beds instead of between the big bed and the bathroom wall. It works just fine, and doesn't eliminate your walking space at all.

If your steward separates that beds and you don't like it, he can always put it back together--he has to put it back after your cruise anyhow. You're not making extra work for him, just changing when he does the work.

I'm exactly with you on the back to back cat 12s. However...as we couldn't stay in the same rooms and were able to purchase an upgrade at the port it was a moot point. I was more than willing to move for an upgrade! However, that cruise is over...and the May 30 is coming.

We booked our private excursion yesterday (Captain Marvin's on Grand Cayman). The kids HAVE TO go to Hell....in part so they can do things like send a post card to their choir director from Hell....ditto to parents, etc. I love teens.

DD has 11 school days left...but who's counting?

Thanks for the info about the beds. I wonder if they can put them like an L (one along wall to sofa) and really make the room roomier? LOL But I get what you're saying. I guess that makes sense that it won't take up more room. I was thinking it would make it WIDER -or longer? You know what I mean. I was thinking it would make it a longer walk over on the right along that wall to get past bed/space/another bed rather than just the put together bed and honestly in both the 10's we had before and the cat 6 we had last time that was the one thing I disliked about the room- it gets kinda cramped walking by the bed especially if you're both going opposite directions and have to take turns walking past the bed. LOL That's true though that if we don't like it we can ask them to be changed back. thanks!

They are really going to send those to their choir director? LOL!!! My mom about had a FIT that we were going to any place even "called" Hell. I was trying to find out more info about it when she was over here the other day and boy did I find out more info- the store and the way it shows in the photo/etc. is a bit more than I expected. Our excursion with shoretrips also includes a visit there.. mom is not thrilled with us going there at all. *rolling my eyes*

Ok, got a question. I am trying to figure out if our rooms 2046 & 2048 have steamer trunks. I did find out that they only sleep 3. So I was looking at the deck plans and some rooms have notches out and some don't. Is there a correlation, seems to me that that is where the trunk should be???

Does anyone know? The notch is def. not on all of the rooms.

Kayla

I have no idea. I heard on another thread that sometimes the notches are wrong but SOMEWHERE must be a list because when I pm'd our TA about it -he said there was a list of those without steamer trunks and ours weren't on the list so we have them. I'm assuming yours do since you're so close to us right next door and does it show notches for your rooms? If so I'd just assume they have them. Unless you have a TA you can ask?

I have been on boards since '05 or there abouts when planning our family trip to WDW. Ten days, FW cabins and AKL ..... loved it. Now decided to do cruise while the kids were still willing to travel with mom & dad and still think it is fun We had planned to go on 8/8 Western, but was not liking the cost too much. Considered RCCL out of LA (we are in AZ), but then watched the boards and heard talk of these great deals. June 13 would not work for us and I hoped a deal would come out for August. Then found a TA who had a smokin' deal on May 30 and decided to jump at it. 2 cabins, cat 12 GTY, taxes and ins. less than half what our original cruise in August would have been. Sign me up - we'll take it!!

Thought about joining FE, but knew we had so much going on end of year I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew. So if you would like to add us to your group of DISers on the ship (but not FE), feel free. If lists are complete and done, don't worry just wanted to pop in and say hi. BTW Bruce, nice job on keeping track!

Anyhow, I wanted to join those who stated Disney seems to have assigned cabins fairly well this go round with regard to keeping families together as much as possible. We were upgrade to cat 10. Not right next to each other, but only one room between us. My kids are also somewhat older (DD 15, DD12, and DS9) so not really a problem for us. I just feel badly for the people between us. I will tell kids to be considerate of people in the other room, but there will be some going between rooms and whatever noise accompanies that. I mentioned this to TA and he checked with Disney to see if change could be made, but no luck. He suggested asking the people in that room once we board if they would want to switch, but not sure if we will. I remember reading a thread about just that topic and opinions seemed to be split as to whether someone would be willing to change. I don't want to put anyone out with changing rooms, OTOH we don't want noise from us to be an issue. For the bargain we got, 2 rooms, 2A/3C only $3200 and a SBC, we are thrilled with our upgrade and chance to try a Disney cruise.

Now off to figure out what seasick medication will work best for me. Yup, everyone else in my family does fine, but I'm a mess. Tried Dramamine, Bonine, drowsy, non-drowsy, you name it, they ALL knock me out. Good news, I don't get seasick while taking them, just can't stay awake. Maybe if I take it at 8 or 9 pm? Are they 24 hrs doses? I will be taking to pharmacist and doctor and trying different things before I board ... wish me luck!

Speaking of luck, still waiting on those darn passports. Mailed out applications 5 weeks ago thinking we had plenty of time. Still have 5 weeks to go, but website shows they are not in system. I'm not going to worry yet, but I would rather have them in my hand by now.

Well, I believe I have rambled long enough ..... apologies. Looking forward to our cruise and maybe meeting some new DIS friends. BTW KCashner, looks like our rooms just about back up to each other, so it looks like we got the same upgrade Oops, forgot to mention we are cabins 2629 and 2633.

No apologies needed! And congrats on the upgrade- awesome to get such a great price plus any upgrade is gravy huh?

I probably wouldn't bother with switching rooms if it was a lot of trouble to do so BUT if I was there like unpacking or something and happened to catch them right as they got there (no time to unpack yet) -I'd probably ask just to see how they respond and even if they say no, just apologize in advance for any noise they might hear? HOnestly if it was me that you (or anyone) asked in this situation- the one room over/same category/etc. would be fine with me to keep from being inbetween a family. But then again we always have to book 2 rooms so I know I'd rather be next door so maybe I'm a bit biased in how I'D feel if I was in their situation and would want to help you be near one another? But really one room over shouldn't be bad- it can't be much different than our last cruise when we were across the hall from one another really? We didn't really have a problem with making noise/etc. Our kids are really close to your kids ages too! DD15, DS11.5 and our youngest DD will turn 9 like right after this cruise. Ours aren't all girls but about the same ages! I bet you'll be fine even if you keep the rooms seperated from one another by one room inbetween.

I hope you get your passports soon! We got ours so fast last year (before our last cruise)- we got them in like a week! It was amazing how fast! I know it's moving slower now though... the only thing is- if you DON'T get the passports in time, you've already sent birth certificates so you can't go that route either, right? That part would worry me but you still have time so I am going to pray you get them in time!

 

[klcason]

Ok, I know the thread is a bit old but her is the list I had seen earlier:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1216430&highlight=2046

Hope the link works!

Kayla

 

[brucechase]

I need room numbers (for the FE) for the following:

2BoysMom
casacoco
Hmurry

As soon as I get these, then we can finalize the list and I can get everything out in the final form - that is until the next upgrade fairy strikes! If I don't get them before this weekend, I will probably send out the list anyway and just have everyone pencil them in (unless there are major changes). I can also just post the names and rooms right here on the thread, but I'm not sure that everyone wants their room numbers as public knowledge. Anyone have any feelings one way or the other?????

 

[brucechase]

I have been on boards since '05 or there abouts when planning our family trip to WDW. Ten days, FW cabins and AKL ..... loved it.

... So if you would like to add us to your group of DISers on the ship (but not FE), feel free.

He suggested asking the people in that room once we board if they would want to switch, but not sure if we will.

Now off to figure out what seasick medication will work best for me. Yup, everyone else in my family does fine, but I'm a mess. Tried Dramamine, Bonine, drowsy, non-drowsy, you name it, they ALL knock me out...

Welcome aboard!!! I just added you to the list. I sent you a PM so you can send me your email.

I would ask the people in between if it was me. Explain the situation and they might be willing. If they do switch with you, I would definately get them a small something to thank them.

Have you tried the patch? I lot of people hate it and alot swear by it. Ask your Dr. and try it before you get on the ship. You definately don't want to sleep through the whole cruise.

 

[kcashner]

Hi gang....just to answer a few questions people have asked
Bruce--we're not doing Stingray City. I actually offered it to the kids and got 2 "I don't care," 1 "I don't like to snorkel," 1 "I'm afraid to put my face in the water" and 1 no response. I decided that if they didn't care, I'd snorkel on my next trip and save the money this time. Stingray city is supposed to be totally awesome. I've booked it twice on previous trips, but I'm the jinx--we've never been able to tender. Maybe not booking it will get us all in.

Bippidy--my "group" is DD + 4 high school friends; all graduating in May. Several are/were in the same choir. The director is an amazing guy--incredible musician, but also teacher, leader, father figure, etc. and totally crazy. Each year on choir retreat they have a "no talent show." This year, he put on tight pants and a wig (he's bald) and played the saxophone...which he used to play in high school band. Let's say that his woodwind ability doesn't correlate with his keyboard. The video is beyond belief--so he knows how to laugh at himself. Yes, he'll get postcards from Hell. It's the joke of the trip between the kids and the old lady chaperone.

And not to throw a monkey wrench into your thinking, but you DO know that your beds can be on the right hand or left hand wall depending on the orientation of your rooms--some rooms are mirror images of others. It sounds like all of yours have been situated in one way.

As to the switch...IF you meet them before anyone has started to unpack...like you might be "laying in wait" in the hall...I'd just sort of casually say, "We have the rooms on either side of you. If YOU'd like to trade for one of our rooms, we'd be happy to. It's easy to do thru Guest Services." That way, you've made it their choice, as if you're doing them a favor and made it clear that you want to do it officially thru GS. If they say no, just say that's fine and that you've already asked the kids to keep the noise down.

All but one of the passports has arrived. 2 ordered the same day...one arrived last week, one not yet. Ah well, plenty of time still. I need a weekend!

Our cruise is now showing 4,5,6,7,8,10, and 12 available. You can choose a cabin in 4,5,and 6....the others are gty status.

 

[brucechase]

Just sent out an email of name tags for the FE. Let me know what you think. I will send out a ship layout as soon as I finish it.

 

[Suzepoo]

This morning Disney is offering Cats 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12!!!!! I agree...not paying for another upgrade....we are ALL together and that works out GREAT, as much as I would have LOVED having a split bathroom....it's better than Cat 12!!!

Perhaps if they keep selling Cat 10 and 12, we will STILL get upgrades!!! PIXIE DUST FALL ON US!!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Cat. 12's already gone!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I need room numbers (for the FE) for the following:

2BoysMom
casacoco
Hmurry

As soon as I get these, then we can finalize the list and I can get everything out in the final form - that is until the next upgrade fairy strikes! If I don't get them before this weekend, I will probably send out the list anyway and just have everyone pencil them in (unless there are major changes). I can also just post the names and rooms right here on the thread, but I'm not sure that everyone wants their room numbers as public knowledge. Anyone have any feelings one way or the other?????

I obviously don't care- since I've posted the room numbers here so I'm fine with our room numbers shown.

Bippidy--my "group" is DD + 4 high school friends; all graduating in May. Several are/were in the same choir. The director is an amazing guy--incredible musician, but also teacher, leader, father figure, etc. and totally crazy. Each year on choir retreat they have a "no talent show." This year, he put on tight pants and a wig (he's bald) and played the saxophone...which he used to play in high school band. Let's say that his woodwind ability doesn't correlate with his keyboard. The video is beyond belief--so he knows how to laugh at himself. Yes, he'll get postcards from Hell. It's the joke of the trip between the kids and the old lady chaperone.

And not to throw a monkey wrench into your thinking, but you DO know that your beds can be on the right hand or left hand wall depending on the orientation of your rooms--some rooms are mirror images of others. It sounds like all of yours have been situated in one way.

Oh I was thinking CHURCH choir (probably because Ruby is in church choir) hahaha
Oh and yes that is true about the bed on right or left- but it's the same thing to me no matter which direction the bed is facing. We're gonna try like you said and see how it works.