November 10, 2007 - MAGIC - Eastern

[Stimpy]

We'll in just a day those of us who are cruising for the first time can finally book our excursions and Paolo?

Any suggestions? Since I'm Pacific time, I think I read somewhere that I can get on at 9 my time (12 eastern time). Is that true?

And if I'm trying to do a few things with friends, do you suggest we try and be together on our computers?


I'm thinking we will try parasailing in Castaway Cay and possibly the dolphin encounter in Anguilla.

Have any of you returning cruisers done those before?

Are your ressies linked? I was able to book Palo for me, my mother and sister for brunch all at once since our reservations are linked together. When I hit the book Palo button, it came up asking who in the party was going and listed all the adults in all 3 staterooms. I was able to check off who was attending. It also asked if I wanted to book Flounders at the same time for my nephew who is not in my stateroom (even though it's his family's 1st cruise)

Good Luck to everyone tryingfor their ressies tonight!!!

 

[spoohs]

For the dolphin encounter, i think I'm gonna go with my DD and then DH will stay back with the other kiddos. It is a long excursion (7hrs.) and we didn't feel right about keeping them in the club for that long. QUOTE]

I think you and your DD will enjoy the dolphin encounter! We did this last year and although I thought it was expensive I had no regrets doing it and we all really enjoyed ourselfs. You do not actually "swim" with the dolphins, but you are in the water with them and you do get to interact. Everyone gets a chance to kiss and dance with the dolphin and while you are waiting for your turn the trainer has the dolphin swim by everyone and do different things such as splash or swim on its back for a tummy rub. The beach is nice, but be VERY careful of the current in the water it was quite strong. You get about an hour on the beach either before or after your dolphin encounter. It depends on which group your in. We had the beach time first, then the dolphin encounter and then lunch. I wasn't thrilled with lunch, but it was at least something to eat. Good luch with your reservations tonight.

 

[PurplePrincess4]

For those of you that waited until that clock turned exactly. Were you already into "my reservations, my cruise plans ready to hit enter"? Or did you have to go all the way out and back in at the stroke of midnight? Strange question....I know!

 

[yndygo]

Excited for you newbies getting to book your excursions tonight!

Just remember that if you don't get Palo, there will still be available times on board!

Sending you pixie-dust to get all of your wishes booked for ressies with ease!

 

[lbullard]

We are sailing the 10-17 of Nov

dh39
me 37
ds 8 turning 9 on the boat
we are having our 12 year anniversary room 2050

Bullard's

 

[lbullard]

Ok now i am freaking here. First time cruisers I think I want to book stingray at cc what time do they offer it morning better then evening?
Also my husband wants to do some trip in St John was told it was gorgeous, what about the Dooblin trip? You know the one with pirates and snorkling?

I so need suggestions and would really really appreciate anything you have to say, please.

Also the last night on the ship is that a good night for Palo? Or what about a night leaving one of the ports. Ok help if you can. Thanks

 

[Lauri]

For those of you that waited until that clock turned exactly. Were you already into "my reservations, my cruise plans ready to hit enter"? Or did you have to go all the way out and back in at the stroke of midnight? Strange question....I know!

I started logging in before midnite. I knew it was time when I got a message saying something like--you have either not paid in full or are not authorized to book at this time. Of course, I was paid in full, and couldn't call my TA at that time. After a few palpitations, I logged out and then logged back in. It was quick and easy--done in about 5 minutes.

If you are booking excursions, it is helpful to have them added to your wish list. Much quicker to book through your wish list, rather than scrolling through every Disney excursion.

Good luck to all booking tonight.

Lauri

 

[yndygo]

We are sailing the 10-17 of Nov

dh39
me 37
ds 8 turning 9 on the boat
we are having our 12 year anniversary room 2050

Bullard's

There's a thread on page 5 that Woody so kindly maintains that shows all the DISers currently booked!
There are a LOT of kids around your DS's age...

How cool that you are celebrating both a birthday and an anniversary!

 

[yndygo]

Ok now i am freaking here. First time cruisers I think I want to book stingray at cc what time do they offer it morning better then evening?
Also my husband wants to do some trip in St John was told it was gorgeous, what about the Dooblin trip? You know the one with pirates and snorkling?

I so need suggestions and would really really appreciate anything you have to say, please.

Also the last night on the ship is that a good night for Palo? Or what about a night leaving one of the ports. Ok help if you can. Thanks

Can't advise you about the excursions... but Palo is GREAT on a night leaving port!! It's my one recommendation - b/c on sails like ours where we're so close to the new moon - there's nothing but a big, black blob out the Palo window on at sea nights! When you book on nights that it's pulling out of port, at least you can see the lights receding!

That said - reminder that the night we leave St. Maarten's is Pirate Night - so if you're going to book then, you'll want to work around that!

 

[leslielightfoot]

I am counting down the minutes. i'm sure my computer will crash the minute i'm allowed on for ressies. lol.

anyhow, i'm finally ready to get excited about our cruise. we booked it so long ago that i had to put it out of my mind for a bit. now i am getting sooooooooooooo excited for us, for the kids, etc.

bring it ON.

 

[3lilpigsnprincess]

okay...so it is Pacific time midnight correct???? i'm getting worried that i have the wrong time!

woo hoo!

 

[Heynow]

Ugg. I stayed up late to make my ressies and it says that I am not paid in full yet. My TA charged my CC 2 months ago for the full amount.

 

[leslielightfoot]

log in again and you will be able to get in. that is what it told me - but then i logged out, logged back in and walllllllllllla.

 

[PurplePrincess4]

DARN...NO brunch!

I did get Night 5 Palo St. Thomas at 6 PM. I booked the Cabana Massage at 2 PM.
The only excursion I booked was the 12 metre Regatta for Mark and I. We are planning our own snorkel at St Thomas Coki Beach or Sapphire beach because the my 3 year old can't go on any of them.

 

[leslielightfoot]

we were able to get our dinner res for the st thomas day 7-9pm we weren't able to get brunch either. we'll do it on ship hopefully.
i booked the sting ray thing for us to do on castaway cay.
and a massage for me on a seaday. i was tempted to book the castaway cay massage but didn't want to schedule much for that beach day.

re: excursions...
our 4 yr old is too young for most the disney trips also. we are considering:

st thomas: catamaran sail over to trunk bay in st john for the day.
st martin: rhino rider boats or the dune buggy adventure.
both through shoretrips.com

i'd love suggestions of other private excursion places to look into.

leslie

 

[3lilpigsnprincess]

Welcome Aboard Leslie! Glad to hear you got some good stuff!


Hey Now - i hope you were able to log in later...i had the same note come up the first time, but then I tried again and it worked.

Purple Princess... you sound like us. Trying to find an excursion where we can take our 3 year olds. I think i'm gonna try doing our own on St. Thomas and try and go to Magens bay on our own.

Guess it was EST (although I could've sworn I read several places that it was midnight PST)....thankfully I checked early or i would have had to stay up much later than needed.

Thanks for the all the pixie dust! It worked! I'm happy and got Paolo dinner for Night 5. Also booked the Anguilla Dolphin encounter for DS and I and some "alone time" in the spa on day 3! I'm really getting excited now!!!

 

[3lilpigsnprincess]

I think you and your DD will enjoy the dolphin encounter! We did this last year and although I thought it was expensive I had no regrets doing it and we all really enjoyed ourselfs.

Thanks SPOOHS glad to hear your DD liked it! My DD can't wait and i think it will be a fun highlight for her.

Are you guys doing any excursions this year? or any that you recommend from last year?

 

[3lilpigsnprincess]

We are sailing the 10-17 of Nov

dh39
me 37
ds 8 turning 9 on the boat
we are having our 12 year anniversary room 2050

Bullard's

Welcome to the boards! We have a DS who is 8 too!

 

[3lilpigsnprincess]

That's great! Anyone else?

Woody

So regarding our meet & greet/tours....I think we settled on Day 2 at sea, but what's the time frame on that again? And how does it work?? I'm wanting some spa time that day and don't want to interfere with the chance to meet everyone.

Also do we still need more rooms to tour? We have two adjoining Cat 5 rooms on Deck 7, but not sure if those are too similar to what we already have scheduled.

 

[yndygo]

Yay!! I'm glad you guys got your Palo ressies!!


About brunch: check back every so often - it was greyed out when I reserved and then about a week later, a couple brunches opened up!
I'm still waiting on my Tea - but I know I can book it onboard!

woot! we're only 75 days out!!!!!!!

The planning begins in earnest now!