November 26, 2005/ 7 day Eastern Magic

[DiaLady]

OH, I didn't know you could write "No sales pitch." That's a cool idea. I know it's rough for those folks who probably have a quota of stuff to sell each cruise. The lady at our local day spa worked on a cruiseline for a number of years (can't remember which one), but she said the pay wasn't that good, but the tips made the difference.

Thanks for the idea Michelle

 

[disneybride96]

On our last cruise, I tried the Spa Tester. I chose the back massage and facial. On this cruise, I will choose the full body massage. I didn't try the rainforest pass, I am still deciding whether to use it on this cruise. I started considering the rainforest pass after reading all the positive comment posted here.

Rainforest is the best! I think my DH would spend the entire week there if he could!

 

[april riddle]

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I just talked hubby into an adults only weekend for our anniversary at the end of May...............thinking Vegas Baby or a four night cruise (not DCL) what would you do? We love Vegas but I would like to try another cruise line so I am stumped. Can anyone help me?

 

[TinkersMagicDust]

It will be our daughter 18th birthday and I was going to take her, until grandma invited herself oh well it will be ok
COUNT US IN 18, 41, and 65
plus 7 more fun filled day in disney
We are going to play the airport game.
We are leaving 3 days early which is wednesday the 23. day before Thanksgiving. We are going to hope to get bumped off and get more free
tickets. Oh well we have to wait to get to Orlando. But it worth it if you are paying 350.00 a ticket from Portland Oregon. We have been successful for the last 12 years in getting bumped off 7 times that we have traveled. Some would not think this is fun but free tickets are free tickets. sometime they give you two ticket each...
Mary

 

[april riddle]

Hi Mary - good luck with that bump and get more ticket deal - sounds like a plan to me except that I am not patient enough to want to sit at the airport and wait for the next flight and yes it is worth it for that price. Last year I got tickets for $120 round trip. Of course we are not as far as you.

 

[disneybride96]

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I just talked hubby into an adults only weekend for our anniversary at the end of May...............thinking Vegas Baby or a four night cruise (not DCL) what would you do? We love Vegas but I would like to try another cruise line so I am stumped. Can anyone help me?

No question for me. I would cruise.

 

[april riddle]

We did decide on the four day cruise - not DCL - carnival going from Miami to Key West and Cozemel. It will give us that taste for both of those ports without the kiddos. It will be interesting since we are doing the almost cheapest room - we will have alot to compare that is for sure. I am alittle nervous about not having at least a window - but I don't suppose we will be in the room too much anyway.

 

[Michelle2]

Hey Tinkersmagicdust (Mary)! I replied to an different post of yours, especially seeing you were on this cruise and so close to where we live! I forgot where it was I posted, so if you replied and I haven't seen it, I am sorry. But I am so glad you posted here too!
Do you ever get to Boise? I see alot of people coming here to shop from Bend...and I know what you mean about the expensive plane tickets...We have 4 of our 6 tickets free and our other 2 will probably cost about that much. That is the pain of flying from the West, huh?

And April riddle, I think a cruise is a great decision. I am from Las Vegas, and my family lives there, and although it is fun, I think a cruise is a great way to go! Have fun!

 

[DiaLady]

Hi Folks --

Can you believe we're under the 9 month mark!! We are so excited. DH just proposed staying an extra day AFTER the cruise. Does anyone have any suggestions for where to stay close to Kennedy Space Center. I don't think they're renting out the shuttles yet . ..LOl.. I have two space-cadet kids so getting to Kennedy would be a huge treat for them. I haven't toured it myself since, oh, sometime in the 1970's !! Although I"ve been on the causeway for a number of launches. Actually almost got to watch from the press booth once when we were flying something on board a shuttle. Oh the good ole days . . .

I've heard Kennedy is expensive. But hey, Discovery Cove makes it look like a walk in the park (space park that is). Has anyone done the tour in recent memory . . . and was it worth it. With the shuttles going up again soon, there should be more activity there as well.

Thanks for your input!!

Have a fabulous day!

Theresa

 

[april riddle]

Hi Theresa, we did Kennedy space center last year the day before we cruised.After a week at the parks ds (9 and 11) were a little bored even though the 11 year old has been asking us about space camp. I think if we had not done Orlando before hand they would probably have enjoyed it alot more. DH and I kept saying to them - this is so much history! Be sure to get breakfast before you go in we drove right from Orlando and kept thinking we would find a McDonald's or something and ended up getting a muffin and milkfor each of the kids and coffee and danish for DH and myself and can'tremember the price but do remember grumbling that we could have eaten dinner for the same price. I don't remember it being really expensive to get into though. I think that it is probably about the same for any Florida attractions. We stayed at the Raddison - I can't recommend it - it was just ok to me - nothing special I know that alot of people swear by it on these boards but this year we will be trying somewhere else.

 

[DiaLady]

Thanks April Riddle - Yep, I can see where the history of space would play 2nd place the pizzaz of Disney . . .LOL. I'm hoping after the relaxing cruise the boys will not be desensitized to the simple pleasures in life. Hopefully Mom and Dad will be relaxed as well. don't want to need a vacation after the vacation . . .LOL. We're a homeschool family, so we'll need to get right back into the swing of school when we get home. Can you tell I'm always up for a good field trip???

You were right about the pricing for Kennedy. It's not expense if you look at it relative to another day's activities. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is $50/day this year .. . yikes!! Makes those passes even more valuable. I think we have to go 8 times in 2 years to justify the cost

Anyway, thanks so much for your input. Our cruise vacation keeps getting extended

Have a great day!

 

[Michelle2]

page 2? I don't think so! Bump
We are now in the 8 months range!! wooo hoo! (barely, but still there!)


April riddle, now I am worried...we have our night before the cruise at the Radisson...what was disappointing to you about it? What are the reasons why you will try something different? Do you have any other recommendations for something so close to Port? I guess since it is only one night, we should be ok, and they also have suite style-2 bedroom that can sleep 6 for a reasonable price. I guess we can live with it, but would like your opinion.

 

[april riddle]

Hi Michelle, the Raddison wasn't my cup of tea that's all - I had booked the king suite when we got there - they said that all they had was a regular room. The manager wouldn't help at all with this and it just ticked me off - we had spent a long day at Kennedy space center and it was a little chilly so I was waiting to get into that whirlpool in the bedroom that is all! many people on these threads love the Raddison and it was fine - it was clean the checkin was very painful - only two people at the front desk and about fifteen people in line - it probably took about an hour to check in. It was probably a bad day for them. We are thinking about doing Discovery cove the day before we cruise this year so we may just end up staying in Orlando overnight. Or if we fly in the day before maybe checking out one of the beach front properties. My mother is also coming with us so I am thinking we may just stay at Ron Jon's. If I can't get what I want at Ron Jon's I may end up at the Raddison - it is fine really - you will be fine there.

 

[dthogue]

Bumping up our thread. What's everyone doing to past the time until the cruise. We have most of our plans in place, just waiting for SW to open dates for November so I can buy our airline tickets.

We are leaving for WDW in 12 days to celebrate my DD's 13th birthday.

Tammy

 

[grlzmom]

We are leaving for Disney in three days and hope the weather is good. Of course it has to be better than Central Pennsylvania is right now

Thumpery, how did your Valentines scavenger hunt go? Bet the kids were very excited.

They have taken away our spring break here due to using up our snowdays so that will make Thanksgiving vacation all the more special.

We still don't have airline tickets as we like Airtran and they don't have November opened up either.

Jeanne

 

[thumpery]

Ok, I'm jealous! grlzmom and dthogue have a wonderful time in Disney!
We haven't gotten our airline either. We will be using Airtran and the dates aren't open yet.

I'm looking for a discount code for WL for the day after the cruise. I've booked using the AAA discount, but it's still $241! We've never stayed there before and thought it would be a nice ending to our wonderful cruise. Hoping some pixie dust comes and lowers the price though!

grlzmom - Thanks so much for asking about the scavenger hunt. It was wonderful - the boys loved it and are very excited about the cruise!

 

[dthogue]

Hi Jeanne,

We are from Central PA too (Hershey) - small world. It seems like winter is dragging on - just heard they are calling for snow/rain on Thursday. I can't wait to leave for Florida. Hope you have a great trip! Luckily we still have our days off school for Spring Break (we have only had delays/early dismissals).

We flew Airtran fron PHL last May for our cruise. What airport do you fly from? I'm keeping an eye on Baltimore, PHL and Dulles for the best price. Driving time is about the same to all three. Let me know if you find any great deals. What day are you flying down?

Tammy

 

[DiaLady]

It's 60 degrees today in Virginia! Florida should be one step better! Hope each of you has a blast - grlzmom and dthogue! Thumbery . . . glad the scavenger hunt was a success. . . bet the kids are still talking about it!

We're planning to fly AIRTRAN as well. I had hoped they would open November by now ... it's gotta be soon My dh is flying home to Seattle this summer for his high school reunion so we have to watch flights for that trip, too. I'm looking at Independence Air for that trip .. . has anyone flown on them yet.

Someone asked what we're doing to pass the time until the cruise . . . besides playing on two baseball teams this season, we're considering the things we'd like to take with us . . . like snorkel gear. Costco has had some nice stuff available. Wonder if it goes on sale in the sporting good stores at the end of the season? I'm also loosing weight. Lost almost 25 lbs since Jan 4! Would really like to be at closer to my pre-baby weight by the time the cruise rolls around (my youngest is 8 yo . . . LOL).

What is everyone else doing??

Have a great Sunday!

Theresa

 

[grlzmom]

We fly usually from Pittsburg (almost three hours from us) or we can fly from BWI which is about three and a half hours. We are in Clearfield which is a very small town in sort of west central (about 2 hours from Hershey).

Theresa, that is an incredible amount of weight to have lost since January, are you following a particular way of eating or exercise?

Thumpery, glad the scavenger hunt was a success.

Airtran needs to hurry up and open up those dates so I can start looking for some bargains.

 

[dthogue]

Sounds like alot of us are waiting for Airtran. I'm hoping they wait until we return from WDW to open through November, I don't want to miss any great deals

Dialady - Please hold onto that weather in Virginia. We are heading down to Richmond on Friday for a soccer tournament and I have my fingers crossed for decent weather (no Rain ). Congrats on the weight loss - you must be so proud of yourself. Best wishes for continued success . Are you following a weight loss plan? I have been looking into Independence Air from Dulles. I have hear many positive things about them. I just received an email for $83/rt flights for April. Now that's a price that can't be beat.

Tammy