November 11, 2006 - MAGIC - Special Western "Double Dip" Cruise 11/11/06

[woody73]

It won't let me in to make my resies!!!

Good morning. Well I made my bookings this morning. . .

Suzanne: I'm glad it worked out for you.

Woody

 

[woody73]

. . . don't you worry, we'll bring her back safe and sound for your November cruise!

Thanks, Jen!

Woody

 

[shelwoj]

Well we are back from our mountain camping trip in Ohiopyle PA. What an AWESOME time we had. It was so pretty and the weather was about 10 degrees cooler than it is here at home.

We hiked two days and are pretty beat up and sore from that. Ran into our first (hopefully only) rattlesnake in the woods. The area was so beautiful that it was worth the soreness. We would just all of a sudden come up on a spectacular view and sometimes a gorgeous waterfall or rapids. Wonderful!

One day we spent at the natural waterslides. It is a cut in the rock with the water going through it to make a waterslide. The boys had a blast. You have to wear sturdy clothes because the rock tears them up. There are pools of water at the bottom that make for good swimmimg. After we were done there we went to Cucumber Falls and played in that for a bit. Man we had so much fun!

We went whitewater rafting down the Youghiogheny (yok-eh-gany) River and I can't wait to do it again! It is crystal clear, a little chilly but so much fun. I was the one who fell out and floated down the river a bit before they could get me back in the boat. Panicked a little when I originally fell in because I was kind of under a big boulder but once I got up and settled it was quite funny. Scared the crap out of Dave but once I got my head together and yelled that I was ok he settled down.

On Friday we went to Frank Lloyd Wrights house the Falling Waters. It was pretty cool. You could not build that house today with all the building codes we have. So many things would have to be changed and it would be astronomical in price. All that being said, I could live there no problem! It really is cool and if you get a chance go check it out. I don't remember what magazine I read that had a listing of 50 things you should see in your lifetime but this house was one of them.

We are talking about going back again next year. Whitewater raft again but check out some of the other things we didn't get to do. We never made it to Fort Necessity (french & indian war) or the caverns and I want to see those. Dave and our friend Bob want to bike some trails and we'd like to hike some more.

All in all a great trip. Our friends who are cruising with us were there with us and if this week is any indication of how we will get along it is going to be AWESOME! Great people, I can't wait for you all to meet them.

When Dave gets our homepage updated I'll either post the link or have him do it so you can see this beautiful part of the country. Now to get caught up on the housework!

 

[dizney-cruiser]

hello all!

since my dsis never reads this (i am not even sure if she knows where to go) i can post a few surprises i have booked for her

normally in the summer we do many fun things - this summer i have been beaten down with one thing after another - never feeling good - so - im hoping and praying that come this cruise ill be feeling wonderful - so i went ahead and booked the following

sunday - castaway cay - i booked us each to go parasailing - we had thought about it last time but decided to just chill instead

monday - i booked us each a massage

friday - i booked us fun on the banana boat

im hoping i can keep this all a secret until then! but im really not too good on secrets . . .

anyone here ( jackie? linda? dee? anyone? ) have the secret info on how to put money on your account ahead of time? i would love to surprise her and have all pre-planned things pre-paid as well

see you guys in 104 days!

 

[ibouncetoo]

hello all!


sunday - castaway cay - i booked us each to go parasailing -

anyone here ( jackie? linda? dee? anyone? ) have the secret info on how to put money on your account ahead of time? i would love to surprise her and have all pre-planned things pre-paid as well

If you wouldn't mind sharing what time you booked parasailing...I'll see if we can book the same time. It would be a blast to be on the same boat!

You can 'buy' stateroom credits right now. If you used a TA, they can arrange it, otherwise call DCL, tell them the amount and give them your credit card info. I plan on doing the same thing.....this trip will be TOTALLY paid for in advance except for the few cash required things. IF you don't use all your stateroom credits, they will be refunded. I believe I've read here on the DIS that the last credits bought will be the first refunded. For example if someone 'gifted' you with a stateroom credit the day before sailing, and you didn't use the $, they would receive the refund.....and so on in reverse order of how the stateroom credits were received by DCL. There is a form on the DCL website that folks can use to order stateroom gifts and on board credits. So if any of you have a birthday or special occasion....print up some of those and pass them out to friends and family!!!

RayRing I believe the David & Ivan tour is fully booked (all folks from the Magic....and mostly us DISers!) But it wouldn't hurt to contact them anyway if you decide you are interested, in case they keep a wait-list for cancellations. We have thought about keeping our own wait-list in case any of the DISers need to cancel once we are on board the ship.

 

[ibouncetoo]

RayRing, here's a current thread about the glass bottom boat at CC

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1179282

Doesn't look like folks were too impressed, but I guess a lot could depend on the condition at sea (rough/calm) and if any fun fish happen to swim by!


While there's some good/fun excursions at CC, just 'hanging' there is the most fun of all! I'm only booking parasailing, but expect after DSis sees some of the other stuff....we may be booking something else for our second 'dip' there. I have visions of TiggersPal leading an expidition onto the banana boats! (While I watch safely from my lounge chair).

 

[RayRing]

IBOUNCETOO, Thanks for the link for the glass bottom boat. After reading that post, I am less likely to sign up for that.

I am a little dissapointed that the tours with Ivan and David are full. I thought is sounded good, and traveling with our new found freinds from DIS would also be nice. I will send them an email to see if they have a wait list, and also sign up for a wait list with the DIS group, if anyone starts one of those.

Also, if anyone has any information on the Chaccohoben Mayan Ruins tour sponsored through DCL, I would like to hear about that. Althought the Ivan and David tour appears to be the most popular, I want to explore the possibility of the DCL one, and keep my options open.

In the mean time, I will continue to look for activities at our ports of call.

Thanks to everyone for their welcomes, and the information I get from these posts.

 

[ibouncetoo]

RayRing just wanted to suggest if you aren't already doing it, to read trip reports from the different Magic Western and Double-dip sailings. That's where I've found lots of details on different excursions and beaches.

I'm going to backtrack and write down who has mentioned wanting to do this tour after it sold out, while we're waiting to find out if D&I will even allow a wait-list.

 

[faireygod mother]

Hi HannoMom, GrayFal, ChiChiHoney, FGM, TiggerSisters and all you other lucky cruisers!!! Just peeking in to see how you are coming along...Tsk Tsk...you'll have to start chatting it up if you're ever to compete w/ my DIS group's 9000 posts!!!

oh, by the way, did I mention we sail in 21 days!!!!! But don't you worry, we'll bring her back safe and sound for your November cruise!

I wish you well. Please let us know how great the dbl dip is.

Wee need to get together with Hannosmom soon. It would be nice if we could do it before you leave.

 

[faireygod mother]

If you wouldn't mind sharing what time you booked parasailing...I'll see if we can book the same time. It would be a blast to be on the same boat!

I am thinking about booking the parasailing as a surprise with my DH. He went the last time and loved it, but would not go again because of $$. You know how men are. I thought If I went with him he would not complain to much, if at all.

 

[aidanht]

We got back from our summer vacation this summer -- two glorious weeks with no boss and no chores!!! We spent a week in San Diego with my best friend and her husband, and then drove to the Grand Canyon via Vegas and back to San Diego via Phoenix (Jackie, we all said hi to you!) It was actually hotter when we were in San Diego than it was when we were in Phoenix, believe it or not!

Our trip was all the better knowing that our cruise is coming up in just a few months!! Two vacations in one year -- I feel so incredibly decadent!!!!

Anyway, watch out -- I plan to go into serious compulsive cruise planning mode now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone is still reading . . . does anyone know if you can request a certain dining rotation and, if so, how? When I make our Palo reservations, I want to be sure it's not on our Animator's Palate night, because they kids are totally psyched for it.

 

[ibouncetoo]

(Jackie, we all said hi to you!)

does anyone know if you can request a certain dining rotation and, if so, how? When I make our Palo reservations, I want to be sure it's not on our Animator's Palate night, because they kids are totally psyched for it.

I wondered what all that yelling of my name was about Glad you had a great trip.

Yes you can REQUEST a certain rotation, just call DCL and have them note it on your reservation (if you used a TA, they will have to take care of calling DCL). Just don't book Palo on any of the first three nights though and you will be safe! More important is selecting a rotation you prefer based on TIME. The APL's seat first, 15 mins later the PLA's then the LAPs, so if you had late seating it would be 8P APL, 8:15 PLA and 8:30 LAP.

 

[woody73]

. . . I was the one who fell out and floated down the river a bit before they could get me back in the boat. . .

On Friday we went to Frank Lloyd Wrights house the Falling Waters. It was pretty cool.

Welcome back, Shelly. That must have been terrifying. I'm glad you're safe!

When you were at Falling Waters, did they say anything about the conservations efforts to correct the saging cantelever? DW and I attended a lecture the efforts, and it was absolutely fascinating.

Woody

 

[woody73]

. . . Also, if anyone has any information on the Chaccohoben Mayan Ruins tour sponsored through DCL, I would like to hear about that. Althought the Ivan and David tour appears to be the most popular, I want to explore the possibility of the DCL one, and keep my options open.

I understand that the tour offered by DCL is very good, and on prior excurions the guide was a local and very knowledgable.

Woody

 

[woody73]

. . . read trip reports from the different Magic Western and Double-dip sailings. That's where I've found lots of details on different excursions and beaches. . .

ibouncetoo offers good advice.

I've been to CC and Cozumel multiple times (among other ports), but this will be my first time to CM (a port selected for the DD cruises). So when I say, "I understand that the tour offered by DCL is very good," it is based on my research only. After November, I'll speak about CM from my own experience.

Woody

 

[woody73]

. . . does anyone know if you can request a certain dining rotation and, if so, how? When I make our Palo reservations, I want to be sure it's not on our Animator's Palate night, because they kids are totally psyched for it.

I understand that the "show" at AP is only on the first night you are there -- so it is only on the first three nights. If you book Palo on the fourth night or later, you will be fine.

Woody

 

[dizney-cruiser]

If you wouldn't mind sharing what time you booked parasailing...I'll see if we can book the same time. It would be a blast to be on the same boat!

hey jackie! that would be great!

we are going parasailing (if i dont chicken out) on 11/12 at 10:30am -
my hope is that we can go claim a great spot on the beach first

we go on the banana boat on 11/17 - also at 10:30 am - with the same thought in mind

 

[shelwoj]

Welcome back, Shelly. That must have been terrifying. I'm glad you're safe!

When you were at Falling Waters, did they say anything about the conservations efforts to correct the saging cantelever? DW and I attended a lecture the efforts, and it was absolutely fascinating.

Woody

Right at the beginning of the tour they were asked that question by our friend and I believe they said they have or are in the process of fixing it. It was a choice of closing it to tours or fixing it and they are fixing it. I do remember her mentioning a staggering amount of money to do the job.

Dave just told me that they did fix it.

 

[ibouncetoo]

hey jackie! that would be great!

we are going parasailing (if i dont chicken out) on 11/12 at 10:30am -
my hope is that we can go claim a great spot on the beach first

Cool! That's the time I'll shoot for....hear that Dee!

 

[faireygod mother]

Cool! That's the time I'll shoot for....hear that Dee!

heard that.