NEW March 3-10, 2012 - Western Caribbean with the Magic!

[Keurigirl]

Welcome to the new thread for the March 3-10th cruise aboard the Magic! Here you can find a roll call of all the Disboard members who will be cruising together, as well as signups for the FE (fish extender) exchange! For more information about what that is, find it here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184281&postcount=2

If you are on this cruise, feel free to jump in and introduce yourself! Don't forget to sign the roll call as well. For now I'll also keep a running list of attendees in this first post - but hopefully we'll get too big to keep that up!

Find the Roll Call Here (thanks jessrose18!): https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...DFBVUh3RG82Zl9JN0M5RlVTbkJrM2c&hl=en_US#gid=0

Current List:
Jessrose18
Keurigirl
kamik86
steve igoe

Let's get posting!!!

 

[Keurigirl]

Hi to everyone from a cold and blustery North West England.

My DW ( me - Steve 49 and DW - Sue 47) and I will be on this cruise in March next year .We did the Western in '09 and loved it , especially Key West and Grand Cayman . Cozumel was a bit of a dump so we may just stay on board that day .

Hi Steve! Welcome and glad to have you! We have done a western Caribbean cruise before as well (though it was on Princess) and I also thought Cozumel was a dump. We did love love love the Grand Caymans though, so I'm excited to go back there! I've not been to Key West either, so that will also be fun.

 

[steve igoe]

Hi Keurigirl , you'll love Key West . Seems to me that it's a haven for everyone who just wants to drop out of mainstream life and "chill."

2 things to do when you're there :

1) Eat frozen key lime pie on a stick from the Blonde Giraffe.

2) Grab a beer at Sloppy joe's and people watch for an hour or so .

Great fun !

I'm looking forward to being back on the magic but a little sad that it'll probably be our last voyage on her given that the Fantasy starts operations at the end of March 2012 and it's easier for us to get to Orlando in terms of flights. But we'll enjoy while we can .

 

[jessrose18]

checking in I have been to Key West once when I was 18. It is a neat place to see, lots of souvenier shops and bars. Thinking about taking the trolley tour where you can hop on and off. Last time we rented mopeds, and yes I did almost kill myself.. Anyone else thinking about booking Nochi Cocum in Cozumel? I haven't reserved my spot yet, but I will soon, as there are other ships in port with us that day and want to get the spot. The deposit is only $25 bucks for 2 ppl and then you pay the rest when you arrive in cash. It is $55 per person, you get 3 course meal, unlimited drinks, your own beach chair, they have rentals and a pool as well. They limit to 100 people per day so beach is not crowded. I have been reading great things about it in some trip reports on here as well as trip advisor.

 

[Keurigirl]

That looks like a great option, Jessica. It looks similar to a place we went when we were in Ixtapa a few years ago, and it was really lovely to spend the day on a warm sand beach in a pretty atmosphere.

 

[devonsmommy]

I'm here!
We are still on this cruise.

Me (35), DH (39), DD (6 at time of cruise), DD (4 at time of cruise), My Mom (60s), her friend (60s)

Still up in the air about excursions. I think on the Cozumel stop we will probably just stay on the ship. We were in the Riviera Maya last year and stayed at the resort right next to the ferry dock that went to Cozumel. We are headed there again for an adults only trip in October of this year.

 

[jessrose18]

glad to hear someone who has taken the western and eastern , rebook the western! Seems like when searching the disboards most people give the eastern more love! I chose the western as we have never been to mexico and the beaches look awesome. The extra day at sea wasnt as interesting as going to an extra port for us, athough the virgin islands look beautiful as well.

I cant wait to eat at Palo again, easily in my top 10 meals ever! I will post some pics later of some of the great things we had.

Airfare is outrageous for our dates right now, I have 50,000 miles to use from Delta which should get me 2 tix, right now it would only get me one....waiting for airtran to relesase their march schedule and then delta ususally comes down in price to match it. Plan is to fly down on the 2nd stay one night in cheap orlando hotel with rental car drive to port on the 3rd return car and then fly home when we get off of ship. We dont have a lot of extra cash or vacation time to add a disney stop this time, but if for some reason we did i would love to stop by Harry Potter world again! Anybody else have set travel plans?

 

[devonsmommy]

glad to hear someone who has taken the western and eastern , rebook the western! Seems like when searching the disboards most people give the eastern more love! I chose the western as we have never been to mexico and the beaches look awesome. The extra day at sea wasnt as interesting as going to an extra port for us, athough the virgin islands look beautiful as well.

I cant wait to eat at Palo again, easily in my top 10 meals ever! I will post some pics later of some of the great things we had.

Airfare is outrageous for our dates right now, I have 50,000 miles to use from Delta which should get me 2 tix, right now it would only get me one....waiting for airtran to relesase their march schedule and then delta ususally comes down in price to match it. Plan is to fly down on the 2nd stay one night in cheap orlando hotel with rental car drive to port on the 3rd return car and then fly home when we get off of ship. We dont have a lot of extra cash or vacation time to add a disney stop this time, but if for some reason we did i would love to stop by Harry Potter world again! Anybody else have set travel plans?

I am actually going down the week before and running the princess half marathon! Then I'm staying all week BY MYSELF...ahhhh, until my family comes down Thursday. We'll do MK on Friday for my girls. Still deciding if we will move to a closer hotel Friday night or just stay on Disney property. We will definitely be flying Southwest. My flight down was $90. They haven't release March 10th yet, so not sure about flying home price.

Also saw your post about that beach in Cozumel. I think that is what we are going to do as well! I was on the Cruisecritic board reading about the different excursions and that one got great reviews over there too.

Also, apparently there are 2 different kinds of trolley tours and the City View one is cheaper and basically the same thing. It's the one NOT offered through Disney. There was a comparison of the two also. (Key West) We will be doing this as well. Just have to see what is around so we know when to hop off!

 

[Keurigirl]

Our plans are not 100%, but pretty close. We'll fly down the night before the cruise, stay somewhere nearby, and then do the cruise. Afterwards we're doing Disneyworld for 8 days, and my brother is flying down to meet us to do that part. He's not done Disneyworld before so I'm stoked for him to join us and my kids will love their uncle being there!

Taryn - that is awesome about the 1/2 marathon! I did my first triathlon last year and the running for me is the worst part. I'm super impressed by any runners - though doing a Disney event is on my "bucket" list.

 

[devonsmommy]

keurigirl, I saw you post about sewing and making your own clothes! Do you have an etsy???

My girls will be 6 and 4 and I would LOVE to get them some outfits!

 

[Keurigirl]

Taryn I don't have an etsy, but I do sew a ton for my own kids. What kind of stuff are you looking for?

 

[Keurigirl]

You guys are awfully quiet!

 

[jessrose18]

yes! it is quiet on this thread..... Busy summer, as for most others too I am sure. We finally did our kitchen remodel this summer, going on 2 months without a sink in our kitchen Finally have appliances in and cupboards installed, countertops are coming on Thursday. I knew it was going to be a long process, and I knew we would go over budget, but that doesnt even begin to describe it! In the middle of everything our fridge went out (the only appliance we werent going to replace!), our dog got sick to the tune of 1,000 in vet bills, and we found out we need to rebuild our chimney. Not to mention cost of eating fast food for months on end! Dont you just love when you finally allow yourself to spend some money and then life really piles it on!

Can't believe this trip is only 6 months away already! Been doing port research on cruise critic as well. The first western magic cruise is october 1st this year, cant wait until people come back with new navigators and trip reports!

 

[Rob_Misses_Fla]

Hello all!

Myself, DW Christy and DD Emily (10) will be joining this cruise. We just got off the Dream 8/2 sailing and had a blast! I booked a dummy cruise during that one, and transferred it to this cruise. This will be our 5th DCL (3 Wonder, 1 Dream), but have done this itinerary on CCL. Look forward to talking more on this cruise as it gets closer!

 

[jessrose18]

welcome rob, christy and emily! glad to see more people joining this sailing....

quick question for those of you with children is this considered spring break season? my husband works in public school system and this is not during theirs....just wondering when that "season" starts for everyone....

been researching excursions, interested in kayak/dolphin watch in key west maybe...we love dolphins would be fun to see them in natural setting. Anybody come across anything while planning they want to share?

 

[Rob_Misses_Fla]

quick question for those of you with children is this considered spring break season? my husband works in public school system and this is not during theirs....just wondering when that "season" starts for everyone....

It is not a break for our daughter, it actually falls a week after the winter break and 4 weeks before spring break. We were going to do the 2/18 sailing, but I liked the price break of this one better.

 

[aberrydisneygirl]

Me and my DH will be on this cruise (no kids). It will be our first cruise ever. I'm very excited and hope the next 6 months go by quickly. I hope to get a reservation for Palo but heard for 1st time cruisers it might be difficult. Also would love to hear recommendations for port adventures from those who have been before. Thinking about Dolphin Discovery at Cozumel and maybe Stingray city in GC, or maybe the Turtle Farm. Both sound fun.

 

[kamik86]

welcome rob, christy and emily! glad to see more people joining this sailing....

quick question for those of you with children is this considered spring break season? my husband works in public school system and this is not during theirs....just wondering when that "season" starts for everyone....

been researching excursions, interested in kayak/dolphin watch in key west maybe...we love dolphins would be fun to see them in natural setting. Anybody come across anything while planning they want to share?

I think for my college it is the week before spring break. I'm only taking one class then though as it will be my last semester so I'm hoping I won't have a test that week. (I'm an online distance education student so if I don't have tests I should be able to do my homework assignments for the week early and watch the lectures online after we get back and be fine... its just tests that mess everything up) Luckily the class I hope to take does a large group project and no test, and group projects are even easier to get around as most of the time the group is ok with you going offline for a week if you do make sure to meet your deliverables anyway.

 

[jessrose18]

welcome new cruisers! I know Palo can be hard to get for a first timer, however, I did on our first cruise and I was very nervous too! Got it right at midnight on the first night of booking. I did not however snag brunch. I know when you get on the ship and go to rockin d bar where you can book palo lots of people have luck getting a ressie then. Good luck it is worth it! I really want to do brunch and dinner this cruise. I know they do brunch 3 days on the western both sea days and on Key West day, so there is a chance.

 

[aberrydisneygirl]

I will have to try at midnight the day I'm able to book then and see if I have any luck with Palo. I have heard great things about the food at Palo, although I am also excited about the main dining as well and the different theme nights. With this being my first cruise ever I can hardly stand the wait I am so exited about everything. But If I don't get Palo this time maybe I can try for brunch.