~May 7, 2011~ 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Magic!

[mlmmom]

Rusafee1183, my sons birthday is May 11 too!

 

[rusafee1183]

Rusafee1183, my sons birthday is May 11 too!

YAY!! Happy b-day to us!!

Do you guys have anything fun planned for that port?


Also - I don't know if I ever told you guys, but my name is Heather

 

[tinkerbead]

Bali Mango
Hawiian Coconut
Figi Passionfruit

I like all 3, but the Hawiian Coconut and the Bali Mango are my FAVORITE!!!
They are so tropical and sweet and light.

Heather, I have to totally agree! I was previously faithful to B&BW's Exotic Coconut, however I have now converted to Hawaiian Coconut. I am definately packing that body lotion, spray and body wash.

 

[rusafee1183]

Hi everyone! One sleep closer to the Caribbean!

I was curious how far along everyone is with planning?? I used a TA for the 1st time this trip, and she has made everything so easy! Almost too easy.... I feel like I should be planning more or doing more.

All I have done so far is book Palo, and our excursions. I have read the Passporters DCL book and started to make a few notes of things we want to see and do on the ship.

Other than making a packing list and stashiung away some toiletries - that's ALL I have done. We're not doing FE's , and I am only bringing a few magnets. Soooo... other than contacting our credit card companies to let them know we'll be out of the country- do you guys have any other tips or preperations that you are doing or can recommend? I know most of the people here are on their 1st cruise. Has there been any advice you've picked up and want to share.


I feel like I'm not doing enough.... I guess that's the difference between planning for a cruise and planning for WDW!! You don't have to be so obsessive about it!

 

[tinkerbead]

Question about tipping.......

I read that it is good to put the tip money in envelopes and give out on the last night of the cruise. I also read that it is easiest to go to guest services and ask them to add the "suggested tip amount" onto your bill (ultimately they will totally take care of it for you). Lastly, some say it is best to tip everyday on a cruise.

Does anyone have any tips on tipping? What method works for you?

Thanks,
~Claudia

 

[Minniemiss]

Question about tipping.......

I read that it is good to put the tip money in envelopes and give out on the last night of the cruise. I also read that it is easiest to go to guest services and ask them to add the "suggested tip amount" onto your bill (ultimately they will totally take care of it for you). Lastly, some say it is best to tip everyday on a cruise.

Does anyone have any tips on tipping? What method works for you?

Thanks,
~Claudia

Your room steward will put envelopes in your room sometime the last full day, one for each tipped position.

If you have guest services add your tips to your bill, they will give a printed receipt with the tip amount on it for each position. You put this receipt in the envelope.

You hand out the envelopes at dinner the last night to your servers. You will see your room steward quite bit the last night as he is gathering luggage. You can give it to him anything that night.

DH Prefers to give out cash. We bring travelers checks with us and can cash them at guest services if needed.

 

[bellanapoli]

Soooo... other than contacting our credit card companies to let them know we'll be out of the country- do you guys have any other tips or preperations that you are doing or can recommend? I know most of the people here are on their 1st cruise. Has there been any advice you've picked up and want to share.

In a couple of weeks I'll put a hold on our mail and newspaper as well as our CSA delivery. Other than telling our neighbors we'll be out of town, that's about it.

I've been a bit slackish so far. I need to dig through our toiletries ASAP to see what I need to buy. We're having out-of-town guests the week before we leave so I'm going to have limited time for last minute errands.

 

[bellanapoli]

Does anyone have any tips on tipping? What method works for you?

Forgot to add, we like to tip in cash. I figure that's more helpful to the crew (instant movie vice money that comes later from somewhere else).

 

[Minniemiss]

Doing the document dance!
Our documents for the cruise came today!

 

[Minniemiss]

Hi everyone! One sleep closer to the Caribbean!

I was curious how far along everyone is with planning?? it!

We have our excursions and palo booked. I ordered the caribbean travel book from AAA. We have been reading thru that.

I have also gone to the library and picked up Frommer's Caribbean travel book.

DH gave me an iPAd for my birthday, I have been searching for apps. We are going to WDW after the cruise for his birthday.

The night before we leave, dh and I empty our wallets of everything. We put back our driver's licenses, AAA card (great for emergency discounts on rental cars or hotel, if needed) one different credit card each, travelers checks and cash. That's all!

We each carry a different credit card for this reason. If either of us should lose our wallet we would only have to cancel one card and we would still have one card that was good to use.

When we get to our hotel or boat, One credit card stays in the safe. If we lose a wallet or are robbed we still have that one credit card that is safe to use.

I also like traveler's checks for the same reason. They are easier to replace than a lost debit card. Plus you can cash them on the boat, if you need extra cash.

 

[rusafee1183]

We have our excursions and palo booked. I ordered the caribbean travel book from AAA. We have been reading thru that.

I have also gone to the library and picked up Frommer's Caribbean travel book.

DH gave me an iPAd for my birthday, I have been searching for apps. We are going to WDW after the cruise for his birthday.

The night before we leave, dh and I empty our wallets of everything. We put back our driver's licenses, AAA card (great for emergency discounts on rental cars or hotel, if needed) one different credit card each, travelers checks and cash. That's all!

We each carry a different credit card for this reason. If either of us should lose our wallet we would only have to cancel one card and we would still have one card that was good to use.

When we get to our hotel or boat, One credit card stays in the safe. If we lose a wallet or are robbed we still have that one credit card that is safe to use.

I also like traveler's checks for the same reason. They are easier to replace than a lost debit card. Plus you can cash them on the boat, if you need extra cash.

These are all really great tips!

Do you just get traveler's checks from your bank using your checking or savings account? It's been SO long since I have used them....

 

[Minniemiss]

These are all really great tips!

Do you just get traveler's checks from your bank using your checking or savings account? It's been SO long since I have used them....

DH gets them from our credit union.

 

[rusafee1183]

Last question!! For now

Do they accept travelers checks everywhere that they accept cash? Or is this only where checks/cards are accepted?

 

[Minniemiss]

Last question!! For now

Do they accept travelers checks everywhere that they accept cash? Or is this only where checks/cards are accepted?

Good question. We've used traveler's checks in Nassau. I'm sure you could use them in st thomas. It's a US territory. Not sure about st Martin. But I do know st Martin takes US currency so travelers checks should be ok.

 

[Lexa]

Doing the document dance!
Our documents for the cruise came today!

Great I hope our will be here soon too.....

 

[MinnieMeg]

Doing the document dance!
Our documents for the cruise came today!

YAY! We received our documents too!

 

[rusafee1183]

We haven't recieved our documents yet, but hope to be doing the dance with you all soon!!!

Good question. We've used traveler's checks in Nassau. I'm sure you could use them in st thomas. It's a US territory. Not sure about st Martin. But I do know st Martin takes US currency so travelers checks should be ok.

Thanks for the help!!!

There's always ONE thing that freaks me out more than everything else when we travel somewhere new. This time it's how to pay for things in port. There's just 2 of us, so there's not going to be the ability to leave our stuff with someone else while we go in the ocean or anything like that.


Also, we had money stolen out of our account a little less than a year ago by someone who lifted my husbands debit card number and spent almost $400 at a gas station somewhere random in New York. Luckily for us, we were using the same card at our local Home Depot at the same time - so there was no question that it wasn't us and we were reimbursed.

So, needless to say I am SUPER paranoid about using credit cards and so this is just making me have to think about what we're going to bring a lot more.

 

[rusafee1183]

Have you guys heard anything bad about Great Bay Beach? It would be nice to be able to stay there if we don't feel like leaving Philipsburg, but I heard it's a sewage runoff location... ???

 

[bellanapoli]

There's just 2 of us, so there's not going to be the ability to leave our stuff with someone else while we go in the ocean or anything like that.

We have one of those waterproof pouch/wallet type things. It's big enough to fit a credit card and some cash. DH wears swim trucks with a zipper pocket and that usually works just fine. Our main wallets stay in the safe and we only take what we need for the day.

 

[Minniemiss]

There's just 2 of us, so there's not going to be the ability to leave our stuff with someone else while we go in the ocean or anything like that.

We have one of those waterproof pouch/wallet type things. It's big enough to fit a credit card and some cash. DH wears swim trucks with a zipper pocket and that usually works just fine. Our main wallets stay in the safe and we only take what we need for the day.

We do the same. When we are in St Thomas we won't need our passports, so we will take kttw card, drivers license, cash and credit card in the waterproof pouch. In St Martin we aren't going to the beach so all will be in our security wallet.