November 7, 2009 ~~~~ AHOY ST.CROIX ~~~~

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Good morning,

Well it finally cooled off enough to sleep last night.

We read about excusions last night, but there were just too many good ones to decide yet. Usually we just sit down and talk about it for 10 minutes and Greg says what ever you want we will book. But this time we just arn't too sure what we want to do.

Castaway Cay is easy. We always rent bikes and tour the island early, then Greg will snorkel for awhile if the water is warm enough, then head to lunch.
Then we will shop in the store there, check out the game room and sit on the beach and relax . I love to people watch there and relax.
Sometimes we head back around 2 so we can have the adult pool and hot tubs to ourselves for a few minutes.
Sometimes we check out the adult beach but the family beach is more active , so I like to people watch all the kids having so much fun there.

Another cooler day here, only 89 again. So much nicer than last week when we were way over 100 for a few days. Only in the 70's over the weekend so I can get a few things done around here.

Hope everyone has a great day.

I'll be back in a few hours. As I said before I post 3 or 4 times a day, even if I have nothing to say, which is most of the time But my mouth just keep smoving or in this case the fingers just keep typing.


Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Oops, I forgot to ask,
is anyone coming the night before the cruise and staying at one of the hotels near the airport or at The Hyatt at MCO??

We are doing this. Last time we stayed at the Hyatt but they arnt running any good deals right now so we are considering one of the 3 hotels around a mile from the airport. We are taking the cruise bus to the terminal.

Just wondering if anybody else is doing this too and where your staying?

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Good Morning All. Another crazy day in the operating room today. All I can think of is " Is it time to go home". I know terrible. I am tired and want to be home in my pj's. But since I cant I guess I will get some work done. I am getting nervous about excursions and Palo. This will be our first cruise so we are last to make reservations. I hope the things I would like to do are still avail. I have yet to know when to dine at palo. Everything seems so confusing to me these days.

Anyway just wanted to stop in to say hello. Everyone have a good day. I will be here at work wishing I was on the magic .

Traci,
They do reserve a few Palo reservations for those who have to book late.
Plus dont get too upset if on line it says they are full because they always have some reserved to book when you get on board too.

When you check in at the terminal they will give you a paper to welcome you aboard, read it because it will say the name of a club and a time to make Palos reservations and changes in dining times. Usually it is upon boarding you can do this, so plan on heading there as soon as you go through the atrium if the hour is right.
The sooner you get there, the better your chances are, plus once people board they often change their reservations and things open up too. So all is not lost if something is full.

The same thing with excursions. When people board the ship many will cancel excursions during the cruise at the excursions desk, so if there is something you really wanted to do, check back with the excursions desk throughout the cruise. Plus there are always private vendors at the ports who will take you anywhere DCL would have taken you and for less money usually. Or just pay a cab so you can set your own time.

That works great as long as you go in the morning and make sure to allow PLENTY OF EXTRA TIME TO GET BACK!! Time it and see how long it takes you to get there and add time to it for afternoon traffic for coming back because if a private excursion is late they wont wait for you, so keep an eye on your watch and grab a cab back in plenty of time.

So really you shouldnt miss anything, even if DCL fills up before you book

Kathy

 

[glindamood]

Good Morning All. Another crazy day in the operating room today. All I can think of is " Is it time to go home". I know terrible. I am tired and want to be home in my pj's. But since I cant I guess I will get some work done. I am getting nervous about excursions and Palo. This will be our first cruise so we are last to make reservations. I hope the things I would like to do are still avail. I have yet to know when to dine at palo. Everything seems so confusing to me these days.

Anyway just wanted to stop in to say hello. Everyone have a good day. I will be here at work wishing I was on the magic .

Traci. It will be our turn. And I don't think you should worry about getting the excursions and Palo times you want as DCL saves a % for each release - just be Johnny on the spot (or Traci on the spot) when midnight rolls around and you can book on your 75 day mark. You can also book once you board or change something around. They are very flexible.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Traci,
They do reserve a few Palo reservations for those who have to book late.
Plus dont get too upset if on line it says they are full because they always have some reserved to book when you get on board too.

When you check in at the terminal they will give you a paper to welcome you aboard, read it because it will say the name of a club and a time to make Palos reservations and changes in dining times. Usually it is upon boarding you can do this, so plan on heading there as soon as you go through the atrium if the hour is right.
The sooner you get there, the better your chances are, plus once people board they often change their reservations and things open up too. So all is not lost if something is full.

The same thing with excursions. When people board the ship many will cancel excursions during the cruise at the excursions desk, so if there is something you really wanted to do, check back with the excursions desk throughout the cruise. Plus there are always private vendors at the ports who will take you anywhere DCL would have taken you and for less money usually. Or just pay a cab so you can set your own time.

That works great as long as you go in the morning and make sure to allow PLENTY OF EXTRA TIME TO GET BACK!! Time it and see how long it takes you to get there and add time to it for afternoon traffic for coming back because if a private excursion is late they wont wait for you, so keep an eye on your watch and grab a cab back in plenty of time.

So really you shouldnt miss anything, even if DCL fills up before you book

Kathy

Traci. It will be our turn. And I don't think you should worry about getting the excursions and Palo times you want as DCL saves a % for each release - just be Johnny on the spot (or Traci on the spot) when midnight rolls around and you can book on your 75 day mark. You can also book once you board or change something around. They are very flexible.

Thanks Gals. I just want everything to be special for my sons birthday and our first cruise. But I am not going to drive myself crazy with it either.

Have a good day.

 

[LindaBabe]

Kathy, we're going to take a taxi to the botanical garden on St. Croix. Then maybe beach, or not. The two little ones aren't really old enough for an excursion on a bus, so there'll be a lot of 'winging it' going on, if you wanted to join us.

Now that you're aboard, we won't hit page two so much, lol.

Traci, hope it's not TOO bad of a day in the OR. Your son is going to have a GREAT time, no matter what you get or don't get for reservations - and so are you! One of the biggest hazards for first timers is trying to do too much - then you get back and need a vacation from your vacation! lol

happy day, all!

 

[glindamood]

But I am not going to drive myself crazy with it either.

Have a good day.

I don't drive myself nuts - but my family and my co-workers think I am totally nuts. Best kind of nuts I know!

And Traci - ask away if you have questions. There is quite a bit of experience here and we will happily answer your questions. Feeds our obsession at the same time (or mine anyway). You will have an awesome time - just take the time to soak it all in.

 

[glindamood]

Oops, I forgot to ask,
is anyone coming the night before the cruise and staying at one of the hotels near the airport or at The Hyatt at MCO??

We are doing this. Last time we stayed at the Hyatt but they arnt running any good deals right now so we are considering one of the 3 hotels around a mile from the airport. We are taking the cruise bus to the terminal.

Just wondering if anybody else is doing this too and where your staying?

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

We get in around 2:30 Friday afternoon but we are staying at Saratoga Springs the night before. I had really hoped to do MVMCP but it doesn't start until the following week. We might opt for Cirque but will have to wait on that and see.

Anyway - we are using Magical Express and then renting a car at one of the hotels across from DTD (what I will not go through so as to not have to handle luggage) and driving to the port on Saturday morning.

 

[glindamood]

Kathy or Linda - or anyone that frequents the regular cruise board. Did something happen to Shirley? There is sort of a thank-you for your support thread over there that leads me to believe something happened.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Traci,
What day is your sons birthday?
I have a DD who was born in November too.


It's so nice today, its' 1 p.m. and only 78 outside

I took the pups for a nice walk and romp in the field and now they are sleeping nicely.

Hopefully they will sleep for a couple of hours.


Now I can relax and do something for me, but I dont know what?


Catch everyone later, hope your all having a great day.
Kathy

 

[stampinshauna]

So, I have cruised several times before. I have not taken a taxi anywhere on my own. I'm super paranoid about car seats for DD (who will be 2) so we are renting a car in FL and driving ourselves to the port with our own car seat. Last year we rented a car and rented the car seat and I did not like the seat--didn't feel like it was as safe. So, have any of you done the taxi thing with a baby or toddler? What do you do? Just hold them? I'm just paranoid, but she spent her first 100 days in the hospital and I don't want to have to do hospital stays again so it's all about safety for me.

I think we are going to do the Butterfly Garden at St. Thomas and just wander around St. Croix. I'm most excited to just play at the beach at Castaway Cay.

We get in on Thursday (3 months from tomorrow) and are doing WDW for a couple of days before the cruise. Then a couple days after the cruise and MVMCP too.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Kathy or Linda - or anyone that frequents the regular cruise board. Did something happen to Shirley? There is sort of a thank-you for your support thread over there that leads me to believe something happened.

Oh I dont know anything either but will hop over and see what is going on. Hope all is well.

Traci,
What day is your sons birthday?
I have a DD who was born in November too.


It's so nice today, its' 1 p.m. and only 78 outside

I took the pups for a nice walk and romp in the field and now they are sleeping nicely.

Hopefully they will sleep for a couple of hours.


Now I can relax and do something for me, but I dont know what?


Catch everyone later, hope your all having a great day.
Kathy

Nathan will be 10 on the 11th.

 

[glindamood]

Oh I dont know anything either but will hop over and see what is going on. Hope all is well.

I hope that my suspicions are unfounded and she has just had a bad cold or something.

 

[Laurie from London]

I'm retired too, but I get aggrevated with how slow the board is, and go do other things.

I need to lose weight. Laurie - Don't particularly enjoy going through the process, but lost the option earlier in the year when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I'm down 30 pounds since the beginning of the year - big whoop - 5 whole pounds a month - but it's better than going up, right? And I'm not starving, which is good. Don't know what you're doing, but relatively low carb is working for me - no white bread, white potatos, white rice, baked goodies, etc.

Kathy, you scrap - have you been over on www.twopeasinabucket.com ? Its all scrapbooking message boards. Plus there is a scrapbook board on the dis too, under creative community.

Hey Linda!! 30 pounds is awesome, and especially great since you are doing it for your health!
I have lost 17 pounds since March on Weight Watchers. It keeps me honest anyway, so that helps. My goal is another 20 by cruise time, which means a lot more focus between now and then. I have also stepped up my workouts. I like to walk/run on the treadmill while watching downloaded back episodes of the Biggest Loser. Those people are amazingly inspirational. I missed my workout tonight. Better get moving tomorrow!

It's nice to have a goal date to work towards, isn't it?

all the best!

 

[Laurie from London]

I love that you are all as nutty about trip planning as I am! LMAO...
You are women after my own heart.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Gail,
I think Shirley had a surgery and was gone for awhile but is recovering and back to work now just moving slow still. Never saw exactly what it was but she was ill, but its my understanding she will be ok.


Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Laurie, 17 pounds is great!!

Loosing weight is very hard to do. I use to have that problem, now its taken me 25 years to get up to where my weight is now. I have problems just staying where i am.
So I will wish you ladies well and will be rooting for you

Kathy

 

[TiggerzFan]

Howdy everyone,
Its time to get this party started

We have just booked this cruise!! WOO HOO!!
We had 3 days of 105 degree weather so we decided we needed a cruise to cool off.
I am Kathy and DH is Greg, this will be DCL cruise #20 for us

Hi Kathy and welcome aboard. This is *only* cruise # 8 for us! Looking forward to meeting you!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Howdy Donna,

Nice to meet you.
Where do you live in Florida ? We have a house in Fruitland Park, next to leesburg, although we are living in Oregon for awhile. The recession leftus jobless there so came back to Oregon and got work and rented our place.

Looking back over this thread I think there about 20 of us maybe that are posting here. Does that sound about right??
I hope more will post so I can get aquainted before the cruise.


I know it seem like after so many cruises it would not be so exciting, but I get more excited now than I did to begin with. I guess its because i know what a great time we will all have.



Later all,
Kathy

 

[GoofyTraci]

Gail,
I think Shirley had a surgery and was gone for awhile but is recovering and back to work now just moving slow still. Never saw exactly what it was but she was ill, but its my understanding she will be ok.


Kathy

Oh thanks for the update Kathy. I was worried about her. Very sweet we get attached to people here on the dis that we really dont even know.

I love that you are all as nutty about trip planning as I am! LMAO...
You are women after my own heart.

That very reason is why I feel at home here on the DIS


Well guys Nathan is gone with his dad till the weekend and Tim is at the station tonight. I am a single gal tonight and for dinner I had chips and Diet Dr Pepper. I really dont feel to bad about it. I wont admit it to others but my dis family if different. Guess I am going to get to bed soon. Hope everyone has a good night will chat with everyone tomorrow.