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

[GoofyTraci]

Aww thanks everyone. She is a doll. Her name is Zoey and she is a terrier. That is really all we know bc she was a stray. We are very happy with her.

I was able to book our excursions last night. Let me tell you I felt like I was at a crazy after thanksgiving sale. I felt like hurry get in get what you need and get out. And I was nervous. We did get everything we wanted except Palo Brunch. But I will still work on that one.

I got Nate off to school today. He was so excited he couldnt sleep last night and was up early this morning. I did get the NO pic's mom I'm in 4th grade. But he was like ok take one or two and please go. Tim came up to the school with the firetruck. Nate thought that was super cool.

Well I hope everyone has a great Monday. Work is crazy busy.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Ok me again. I have a ? I booked palo dinner for st.croix port/pirate night at 8:00pm. Are we going to miss anything? what time does things get started? And I'm guessing we dont wear pirate gear to palo obviously. But before so we can get pics? And what about the show? we are late seating? Please fill me in bc I am wondering if that was a good night to do that. A little confused.

Thanks

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Traci, no show on pirate night so you wont miss a show if you go to Palos.

The pirate party starts late, I was thinking 9 or so? But I cant remember the exact time. It is after dark anyway and lasts about an hour, so if you have 8 p.m. Palos you will probably miss all of it. Palos takes 1 1/2 hours or a bit longer most of the time.

Most of the time you can change reservations shortly after boarding the ship. On your welcome aboard paper you will say a place and time for dining reservations or to change your dining times. They always reserve several openings for those who want to change or havnt booked Palos yet . Go there and you can change the time if you want to.

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

I will need 2 medium wristbands and 1 small. Let me know how much I owe you.

Traci, your puppy is adorable!!!! She kinda looks like a terrier. Too bad you can't bring her on the cruise. My husband is trying to figure out how to pass our mastiff off as a service dog so he can bring her.

75 and counting!!!!!


Kim

Tell your DH i have been trying to figure out how to bring our dogs too. Pixie has the knot on the head like Pluto and is golden colored, so we though we could say she was his sister come to visit
For Minnie we thought we could dress her up with a pair of sunglasses and little wheel chair and say she was our special needs doggie and we were her service people. She is not a typical dog, it they looked at her closely they just might believe us. Poor doggie, she is a strange one.

If he can sneak a Mastiff on board mine may have a chance, they are 84 and 66 pounds, so a bit smaller than yours,but still good size.

Minnie would love all the kids on board. We could leave her in the kids club and she would be in heaven. I figured I could put a little sign around her neck and train her to go to Pinocchios that says 2 pieces of pepperoni pizza please.
She loves pepperoni pizza.


Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Good morning everyone,

gosh we were 42 this morning which set a record for this time of the year. I guess the next 2 nights will be that cold too, even though it will be 80+ today.

Not much happening here today.
Just dreaming of the cruise and counting the days until we can go!!!!


Now we need to go to our storage unit to find our good clothes which are packed there and wash everything. Plus to find my pirates outfit. That may take awhile to do.


Have a great day everyone,
I'll check back when I am having my lunch today,

Kathy

 

[GoofyTraci]

Traci, no show on pirate night so you wont miss a show if you go to Palos.

The pirate party starts late, I was thinking 9 or so? But I cant remember the exact time. It is after dark anyway and lasts about an hour, so if you have 8 p.m. Palos you will probably miss all of it. Palos takes 1 1/2 hours or a bit longer most of the time.

Most of the time you can change reservations shortly after boarding the ship. On your welcome aboard paper you will say a place and time for dining reservations or to change your dining times. They always reserve several openings for those who want to change or havnt booked Palos yet . Go there and you can change the time if you want to.

Kathy

OK help me pls before I loose my mind. I switched palo to the last night. Castaway Cay day do you think that time will be better?

 

[GoofyTraci]

I figured I could put a little sign around her neck and train her to go to Pinocchios that says 2 pieces of pepperoni pizza please.
She loves pepperoni pizza.


Kathy

this makes me laugh and smile!

 

[LindaBabe]

Just the lunch time check in and bump back to the top!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

OK help me pls before I loose my mind. I switched palo to the last night. Castaway Cay day do you think that time will be better?

That would be my choice if I was going to miss a nights dinner.
All they do is say good by to your waiters as they parade around the dining room and typically give out tips but you can just add them to your on board account and they will give them to your waitstaff or drop by the dining room for just a minute to give the tips to them, anytime that evening.

Also you dont have to miss the last show, just go to the early showing. Then go to Palos.

Should work great, just try to pack some of your luggage before Palos so when your done you can easily go back and finish packing so you can set out your suitcases for your room hosts to take.


Should work great,

Kathy

 

[TiggerzFan]

Traci -

I see you've already switched but I seem to recall the Pirate Party starting around 9:45pm... because they have to give the second seating diners time to finish (though it's a rush).
The last night will be fine .... as Kathy said you just miss saying goodbye to the servers, etc. But don't miss the "Til we Meet Again" show in the Atrium (9:30, 10:00, not quite sure). It is absolutely the BEST opportunity for character photos (on your own, not with Shutters). After the whole parade of characters on the stairways and the showers of Mickey confetti, the characters are scattered throughout the atrium area of decks 3 & 4 with short lines.

 

[GoofyTraci]

That would be my choice if I was going to miss a nights dinner.
All they do is say good by to your waiters as they parade around the dining room and typically give out tips but you can just add them to your on board account and they will give them to your waitstaff or drop by the dining room for just a minute to give the tips to them, anytime that evening.

Also you dont have to miss the last show, just go to the early showing. Then go to Palos.

Should work great, just try to pack some of your luggage before Palos so when your done you can easily go back and finish packing so you can set out your suitcases for your room hosts to take.


Should work great,

Kathy

Traci -

I see you've already switched but I seem to recall the Pirate Party starting around 9:45pm... because they have to give the second seating diners time to finish (though it's a rush).
The last night will be fine .... as Kathy said you just miss saying goodbye to the servers, etc. But don't miss the "Til we Meet Again" show in the Atrium (9:30, 10:00, not quite sure). It is absolutely the BEST opportunity for character photos (on your own, not with Shutters). After the whole parade of characters on the stairways and the showers of Mickey confetti, the characters are scattered throughout the atrium area of decks 3 & 4 with short lines.

Thanks so much. I feel so much better. I am so excited to go on this cruise. But I dont want to miss out on stuff for my Nate. This is his b-day cruise. And you know he loves those pirates .

 

[stampinshauna]

But don't miss the "Til we Meet Again" show in the Atrium (9:30, 10:00, not quite sure). It is absolutely the BEST opportunity for character photos (on your own, not with Shutters). After the whole parade of characters on the stairways and the showers of Mickey confetti, the characters are scattered throughout the atrium area of decks 3 & 4 with short lines.

On my 4 DCL cruises, I've never been to this. I'm always packing at that time. I didn't realize that it was even going on. I'll be sure to be to the Atrium the last night--thanks for the info.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

On my 4 DCL cruises, I've never been to this. I'm always packing at that time. I didn't realize that it was even going on. I'll be sure to be to the Atrium the last night--thanks for the info.

We did the same thing I was always packing the last night and missed that event until our 19th Cruise, I finally said we're going to see this no matter what! It was worth it too. Loads of fun. So much more informal, plus many of the performers from the shows were there in their costumes so you could get their autographs and photos too which you cant do during the week.


Remember all the first time crusiers :
When you are packing up that last night to set your luggage outside your door to leave room in your carry on to put everyones pajamas and leave out clothes to put on that last morning.

Once they take your luggage you cant get to it until you disembark the ship.

Every cruise if you sit in the atrium long enough you will see some poor family in PJ's getting off the ship
because they packed everything after they had changed for bed and forgot to leave out clothes for the next day and the ships stores are closed. It is illegal to open them up while in port.
You dont want this as a memory for your first cruise

Kathy

 

[glindamood]

Speaking of that last night - you adults, while your kids are still in the clubs, be sure to take in pub night. It is NOT to be missed - a final farewell from the cruise staff.

Packing tip - so as to not have such a rush after boarding and the wonderful day at Castaway - do some packing on Thursday or even Wednesday afternoon - as much as you can. And like Kathy said - don't forget to leave clothes, unmentionables etc. for your departure Saturday.

 

[LindaBabe]

The farewell show has typically been at 10 pm. Be in the lobby early.

My strategy for packing has been - after I'm done with a set of clothing, it gets packed - the formal stuff after formal night, the pirate stuff after pirate night, and so forth.

What I wear the last evening is what i'm wearing off the ship the next day, so all that is left is nightclothes, toiletries, and the computer. (remember a big ziploc for your wet bathing suits!)

 

[TiggerzFan]

On my 4 DCL cruises, I've never been to this. I'm always packing at that time. I didn't realize that it was even going on. I'll be sure to be to the Atrium the last night--thanks for the info.

I shamefully admit it's one of my favorite events! All the characters are there, lining the staircases.... The Mickey Gang, Princesses, Peter Pan, Capt. Hook and they all sing the "M-I-C, K-E-Y" song and then Mickey confetti is sprinkled down from Deck 5. (Sniff.....). Then all the kids (well, and some adults, too) go scrambling to collect the confetti. They really should just sell the stuff!
I had a "magical" moment with Pluto last time - Ashley was witness. He's my FAVORITE character - I have a thing for yellow dogs.... I own a yellow lab! Pluto was acting all love struck with me, even pusing DH out of a picture, and rolling around on the floor. It was hysterical!

Oh, and as for the packing, listen to the great tips from the others. I've never been that organized - or motivated - to pack and usually do it LATE that night. The Hosts are good about still taking the luggage late into the night, thankfully for me.

 

[TiggerzFan]

Speaking of that last night - you adults, while your kids are still in the clubs, be sure to take in pub night. It is NOT to be missed - a final farewell from the cruise staff.
.

That's one of the things I've never done yet... a must do on this trip! That last night is soooo hard with everything going on.

That reminds me... another tip. If you think you're going to rebook onboard (to get that 10% discount and $200 onboard credit), do it early in the week. By the last night or two that desk is swamped! Remember, reservations for The Dream should be open by then. AND, use your Disney Visa - 6 months interest free on all vacation deposits/payments, plus a extra $50 onboard credit.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Speaking of that last night - you adults, while your kids are still in the clubs, be sure to take in pub night. It is NOT to be missed - a final farewell from the cruise staff.

Packing tip - so as to not have such a rush after boarding and the wonderful day at Castaway - do some packing on Thursday or even Wednesday afternoon - as much as you can. And like Kathy said - don't forget to leave clothes, unmentionables etc. for your departure Saturday.

Great ideas! Last time I missed the farewell since I was packing. I'll try to do better this time! And I've heard about the pub show- another thing on my list. And since CC day is our vow renewal- I'll also be picking out our ceremony pictures from Shutters that night. So prepacking is essential.

Christine

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

It was almost sad to read all the posts about the last night as if our cruise is over before it has even started

I always get a lump in my throat as we return to the ship after Castaway cay. Greg has to remind me its the last time I will be getting back on board the ship this trip I hate that.

Of course the cure for this is to have another cruise booked to look forward to.

Good night everyone,
Kathy

 

[stampinshauna]

That reminds me... another tip. If you think you're going to rebook onboard (to get that 10% discount and $200 onboard credit), do it early in the week. AND, use your Disney Visa - 6 months interest free on all vacation deposits/payments, plus a extra $50 onboard credit.[/FONT]

You can't get both the $50 onboard credit for the Disney Visa AND the $200 onboard credit for rebooking while on the ship (at least that's what I've been told and it has been true the past 2 cruises).