November 12, 2005....7 Night Eastern...Who Else?

[barkley]

We are taking RCCL. Should be nice and we got a suite this trip

Thank you for all your tips! I'll have at least 2 martinis! One for me and one for you Hey, how'd you get up there

The mailing back boxes is a great idea What month did you go? I know May is early and we take a chance on it being extra cold But, I like the earlier trips and the prices are much better.

Any way, I'm getting very excited about it. Just have to get the house sitter all lined up and hope she gets along with the cat

Hello to all

we did august and lucked out to have (per the crew and the captain) the best weather of the season only issue i had was it was still realy wierd having the sun set around 11 pm only to start rising at 2 or 3 am. on the positive side we did get to see some awsome northern lights.

i'de def. reccommend bringing something to tape or secure the drapes in the cabin with in case they don't overlap (otherwise the kids fall asleep realy late and then their eyes pop open a few hours later ).

the mailing thing worked great for us (dirty laundry takes up so much more room than clean so our suitcases were allready pretty full). if you're considering doing any excursions look at the 'temesco' web site-most of the lines do all their excursions through them, and they sell a dvd for about $20 that gives a realy good overview of what each offers (we did the glacier helecopter tour in juneau and dh did a snorkle thing in ketchikan -actualy he loved it-caught a current that was much warmer than what he's used to scuba diving in no. calif.).

btw-i cruised by myself on celebrity this fall and found them great. ended up booking a cruise we have no intention of doing because of the on-board credit offer which we can transfer and combo with my 'captains club' previous cruiser status for both celeb and rcl (and i was told it works both ways since they are owned by the same company)-you might want to check it out.

 

[DIS NURSE]

Hi, everyone! Glad, also, to see that this thread is still alive! Ya' know, me being the thread started n' all.......

I love to hear about everone's travels! DH is doing great! Skiing and running! Only 3 months post op!

We are off to the Big Island of Hawaii next month and am soooooo looking forward to it! We are contemplating a Maui trip (Napili Point resort and Grand Wailea combo) for March of 2008. Have to dream and research a little more on that one..............

But I am REALLY excited to be saying to various people who will listen lately, "GOIN' TO VEGAS, BABY!".........................

let me explain..................you see, Allegiant Airlines decided to bring direct service into our home town to Vegas and we took advantage of an introductory offer of $59 pp one way! We are all going (yes, kids too!) to Vegas over Memorial Day weekend and staying smack dab in the middle of the
Strip!

Watch out Vegas.....here comes DIS NURSE!

Have never been, believe it or not and we are bringing the kids! Of Course had to find the best pools and water slides so we are at the
Flamingo!

I bought us tickets to see the Beatles Circ del Soliel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited on that one!

In Downtown Disney on our way back from our third DCL cruise, we have ressies for the "real" Circ for November. Again, have never seen it and am sooooooo looking forward to that one too!

.......Decided to splurge for one night and full day after the crusie and stay at either the Yacht CLub or the Beach CLub. Is there truly a differnece? I am getting the same quote and it doesn't matter to us as long as the pool access is the same.

Got the RN deal at the Swan/Dolphin for the 3 nights prior to the 7 night Eastern........$165 and they let my friends get the same rate also!

I know you lucky Floridians can get MUCH better deals ALL the time, it seems.....but I am happy with our continued dribble of Oregonian dolllars into Mickey's pocket.......slow and painless....especially when he makes you pay up front and so by the time I get there, the stab wound isn't so deep.

Now........what to do in Fall of 2008?

Any ideas? It will be very interesting being on the Magic this Fall with the temptation once again to rebook for the following Fall. Will I do it? Only time willl tell......................

And the travel diary lives on..........................

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Good Morning All.....glad to hear about the upcoming and on-going vacation plans...

We are booked for another cruise, this time on the Nekton Pilot....Barkley's DH will understand, oh yeah!!!!!

I'll see if he responds and then post details...

 

[awoltoday]

Good Morning All.....glad to hear about the upcoming and on-going vacation plans...

We are booked for another cruise, this time on the Nekton Pilot....Barkley's DH will understand, oh yeah!!!!!

I'll see if he responds and then post details...

Bahamas or Belize?

 

[Barkley's DH]

Good Morning All.....glad to hear about the upcoming and on-going vacation plans...

We are booked for another cruise, this time on the Nekton Pilot....Barkley's DH will understand, oh yeah!!!!!

I'll see if he responds and then post details...

BooYeah! That looks fantastic. I am soooooo jealous.

http://www.nektoncruises.com/default.aspx

 

[4campers]

BooYeah! That looks fantastic. I am soooooo jealous.

http://www.nektoncruises.com/default.aspx

I'm jealous too

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Hi guys --- the details on the cruise is that it is a dive trip for one week....one a boat much smaller than the Magic. I think it sleeps around 20+ with all your meals family style, small cabins and a common room for moview. Of course, a huge deck for diving. You dive 4-5 times a day and night.....Right off the boat deack. They may head into port for one night and otherwise, it is diving.

We are taking the Northern Bahamas - carribean. Reason being, this is the larger of the boats, and the more stable. Sam though I would enjoy this better (yes, he is right).

Can you believe that my fist dive experience was in preparation for our cruise. We took up the sport anew, the Sept. of 2005....And then I was hooked in St. Thomas - great dive, Barkley's DH joined us...

So, I am excited, and a bit nervous. Packing will be easy, no dress gowns, no shoes, in fact, clothes will constitute several bathings suits and comfy sweats and that is about it....Now, the bag containing shampoes and lotions will be much larger...

Take care all.......Thanks for being jealous....

 

[DIS NURSE]

That sounds so cool! When exactly are you going? I think I will take your adventures on in my next life..............when I have time to learn such techniques and have time to absorb it! I hope you have a fabulous time!!!!!!!!! We are headed to Hawaii in a few weeks, but before that....and I mean real soon.............next week DD, DS and I are flying to Pheonix and are going to be wined and dined by dear grandparents up at Desert Mountain for a week!!!!!!!!! I hear the weather is going to be in our favor!? Right, scary man? I cannot wait to start getting a base tan for the tropics of Hawaii a mear week after that!!!!!!!!
We'll swoop down and pick up DH on the way and then be off to the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous on the Big Island!

We have an opportunity to go to France this Fall with friends (no kids) on a hike and bike tour......southern France near Avoneon. (sp?) We are about to press the "buy" button and this would be a TRUE adventure! We would still join up with the Magic several weeks later for the 7 night Eastern but DIS NURSE would be broke! Happy, but broke! I am convinced that none of us will go our graves in this family saying, "I wish I had not gone on all of those darned vacations!".

See ya!

 

[barkley]

BIG NEWS!!!!!

the barkley family has found a new home! yup-these ducks are moving to washington state

i went up to spokane after dh checked it out last month with the idea of looking at the area and checking out the housing situation. went to an area outside spokane where dh's nephew and neice moved this summer and fell in love with it. as luck would have it one of the houses i went to look at was what we had long been dreaming of but did'nt realy believe existed anywhere (basicly the same house/floorplan as we sold last spring but on country property). the house is new construction that had sold twice since completion in the fall but with both purchases fell through (once due to financing and the most recent because the buyers could'nt meet their contingency to sell their existing home in oregon). i ended up seeing it right as the contingency was expiring. dh flew in and out yesterday to take a look, we made an offer which was accepted so now we are back home preparing to move mid april.

so these ducks are going to join some other ducks (and canadian geese) out in the country on 10 lovely wooded acres with 2 ponds.

 

[DIS NURSE]

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....................Congratulations on officially becoming a part of "the northwest"!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you enjoy it up here in the wilderness! We sure do! Lots to see and explore! We are truly in the high desert part of the region with VERY little rain but lots of snow! We love it here and you will too! Just make sure and get out of the cold weather once, maybe twice during the cold seasons for a sunny tropical vacation!

Something tells me you guys will!

Remember, I was raised, schooled, and tainted in good ol' California and once I left, I never looked back..........much better place to send your kids to high school (in the Pacific Northwest).

 

[chip&dale&fun]

That sounds so cool! When exactly are you going? I think I will take your adventures on in my next life..............when I have time to learn such techniques and have time to absorb it! I hope you have a fabulous time!!!!!!!!! We are headed to Hawaii in a few weeks, but before that....and I mean real soon.............next week DD, DS and I are flying to Pheonix and are going to be wined and dined by dear grandparents up at Desert Mountain for a week!!!!!!!!! I hear the weather is going to be in our favor!? Right, scary man? I cannot wait to start getting a base tan for the tropics of Hawaii a mear week after that!!!!!!!!
We'll swoop down and pick up DH on the way and then be off to the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous on the Big Island!

We have an opportunity to go to France this Fall with friends (no kids) on a hike and bike tour......southern France near Avoneon. (sp?) We are about to press the "buy" button and this would be a TRUE adventure! We would still join up with the Magic several weeks later for the 7 night Eastern but DIS NURSE would be broke! Happy, but broke! I am convinced that none of us will go our graves in this family saying, "I wish I had not gone on all of those darned vacations!".

See ya!

Hawaii is one of my favourite places. We were fortunate to travel there at least 3 times...What islands are you visiting? Or is it just the Big Island....Take a hike after dark and see the volcano flow - soo cool...

And enjoy this weekend in Phoenix.

We are not traveling until May for our Scuba cruise....Will try to hop to WDW for a weekend relaxation before then.

Love your attitude!!!!!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

BIG NEWS!!!!!

the barkley family has found a new home! yup-these ducks are moving to washington state

i went up to spokane after dh checked it out last month with the idea of looking at the area and checking out the housing situation. went to an area outside spokane where dh's nephew and neice moved this summer and fell in love with it. as luck would have it one of the houses i went to look at was what we had long been dreaming of but did'nt realy believe existed anywhere (basicly the same house/floorplan as we sold last spring but on country property). the house is new construction that had sold twice since completion in the fall but with both purchases fell through (once due to financing and the most recent because the buyers could'nt meet their contingency to sell their existing home in oregon). i ended up seeing it right as the contingency was expiring. dh flew in and out yesterday to take a look, we made an offer which was accepted so now we are back home preparing to move mid april.

so these ducks are going to join some other ducks (and canadian geese) out in the country on 10 lovely wooded acres with 2 ponds.

WONDEFUL NEWS.......CONGRATULATIONS.

 

[4campers]

BIG NEWS!!!!!

the barkley family has found a new home! yup-these ducks are moving to washington state

i went up to spokane after dh checked it out last month with the idea of looking at the area and checking out the housing situation. went to an area outside spokane where dh's nephew and neice moved this summer and fell in love with it. as luck would have it one of the houses i went to look at was what we had long been dreaming of but did'nt realy believe existed anywhere (basicly the same house/floorplan as we sold last spring but on country property). the house is new construction that had sold twice since completion in the fall but with both purchases fell through (once due to financing and the most recent because the buyers could'nt meet their contingency to sell their existing home in oregon). i ended up seeing it right as the contingency was expiring. dh flew in and out yesterday to take a look, we made an offer which was accepted so now we are back home preparing to move mid april.

so these ducks are going to join some other ducks (and canadian geese) out in the country on 10 lovely wooded acres with 2 ponds.

Sounds beautiful! Are the ponds stocked with trout!!

 

[barkley]

Sounds beautiful! Are the ponds stocked with trout!!

i'll ask dh to check it out with his scuba gear when we get settled . all i could see/hear was some geese, ducks and froggers. i know bambi visits cuz we saw his hoof prints next to the deck, and we thought we saw a few 'thumper holes'.

thought of all of you last night. i was going through boxes trying to weed out papers that could be tossed and came across a pile of photos from the cruise along with the postcards from the exchange-good memories

 

[chip&dale&fun]

That is sooo neat....

I am visiting an ole college friend soon and one of the things I am taking is my cruise photo album....with all its memories, including the postcards.

I love our group photo with wrist bands.....

 

[awoltoday]

Congrats to the Barkley clan! Post pics when you can?

How was DisNurse trip to the Valley?

What's everybody else up to?

We just scheduled our next cruise. NCL Pearl to Alaska next summer. Nothing big for this year - just doing DL a couple of times.

 

[barkley]

Congrats to the Barkley clan! Post pics when you can?

How was DisNurse trip to the Valley?

What's everybody else up to?

We just scheduled our next cruise. NCL Pearl to Alaska next summer. Nothing big for this year - just doing DL a couple of times.

cool-alaska is stunning. if you port in ketchikan go to the alaskan amber brewery, great food, great beer-and if your kid needs a cartoon fix they have seating in the bar area with a television which they are nice enuf to change to sponge bob on request (my kids went through cartoon withdrawl on our cruise). there's also a mail boxes usa or ups type store in ketchikan-if you end up like us with a whole herd of stuffed animals being welcomed into the family on the trip it's a great way to send them home (we also put our heavy glacier clothes in there to free up luggage space for ship board liquor purchases ). if you're interested we have a dvd i could have dh burn a copy of for you-it's by the company that most of the cruise lines use for all the excursions. it's gives an overview of what each one is like (i highly reccommend the helicopter to the glacier). oh, and don't forget to go to the place that advertises 'martinis on tap'.

this is my last post to this thread before moving day. the movers come in wed., dh and my brother take off with the cars and the cat thursday, and the kids and i fly up friday (figured since dh has to be subjected to the cat yowling away in the carrier for 2 days the least i could do was 'suffer' a 3 hour plane trip alone with the kids ). right now we are at the tail end of packing-and the house resembles that final scene in citizen kane where the camera pans away and you see a sea of boxes now if i can just stop my kids from pilfering my bubble wrap and popping it.....

will post again when we arrive and dsl is up and running.

 

[4campers]

Congrats to the Barkley clan! Post pics when you can?

How was DisNurse trip to the Valley?

What's everybody else up to?

We just scheduled our next cruise. NCL Pearl to Alaska next summer. Nothing big for this year - just doing DL a couple of times.

Just returned from Las Vegas seeing Josh Groban: First time leaving the kids and I had no guilt

Glad to hear your heading to Alaska I'm just about to get our suitcases down and start packing

barkley: happy moving

 

[awoltoday]

barkley
Hope you are getting settled in the northwest by now. Were you talking about the brewery in Juneau? I can only find info on the one that closed in 2002 for Ketchikan. There aren't a whole lot of micro-breweries in southeast Alaska, so I'm guessing it was one of those two. Luckily, there are plenty of bars in SE Ak I will do my best to cover the ones that I haven't already been to!

4campers!
You should be back from Ak by now, right? How was the trip? Where's the trip report?


C&D&F
Did you do your dive cruise yet?

Where is everybody? Come back! I have to admit I've been spending most of my time over on CC since booking the Ak cruise... I still check subscribed threads here every once in a while though...

Have a great long weekend!

 

[STB ON THE BEACH]

Hey, AWOLTODAY!! and EVERYONE ELSE!!

Chris,, DS walked in as I was reading the messages and saw your photo. He said, "Mommy, there's that guy, AWOLTODAY!!" Mind you now,, he still can't read - he just remembers your name and your photo!! : You definitely leave an impression!!! BE IT GOOD OR BAD??!!

We just returned from DW - Awoke last Friday a.m. and realized that as of today (May 25th) we were going to be wide open, full speed ahead for the next 3 months. So, we better go play for a few days. So, we jumped in the car and took off! Couldn't think of a better place than good ole' Mickey to get the battery reviving jolt we needed to get ready for this summer.

Needless to say, we're booked to capacity this weekend, but overall bookings are up 97% this summer compared to last summer - whew!! That's good for the pocket book, but that's a lot of wear and tear on us! Just had a guest check-in (Carol Murphy) - and one of our front desk staff sent her to her condo. Then about an hour later another guest walked in with the same name (Carol Murphy) - At that time we realized we sent the first Carol Murphy to the wrong condo - We had to go track her down - thank goodness she was still in the condo and not at the beach AND HAD NOT UNPACKED. We informed her of our mistake, gave her a free dinner, then helped her move to the correct condo . I MEAN WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME NAME CHECK IN ON THE SAME DAY - oh,,, the summer is going to be lonnnnggg!!!

I hope everyone has a rockin' summer!!

Karen